By Philip Bourjaily

My kids are both almost my height and shoot my guns, so as far as I’m concerned the biggest problem with the new Thompson/Center Hot Shot rimfire is that it wasn’t around 10 years ago when I needed it.

Youth guns should be inexpensive because kids outgrow them so fast. But, they should be good guns, too, safe, accurate and shootable. Styled to look just like a little version of Mom or Dad’s T/C Encore, the Hot Shot is a good first rifle for even very young kids. [ Read Full Post ]

By David E. Petzal

Back in 1968, the first Howa rifles were imported from Japan under the name Golden Bear. The magazine for which I worked assigned a writer to review one, the article he wrote was such an over-the-top rave that I called him.

“Just between us,” I said, “they aren’t really that good, are they?”

“Just between us,” he said, “they’re better.”

And that is why, when Roy Weatherby looked for a manufacturer to build affordable rifles with his name on them, he picked Howa. And nothing has changed since.

What attracted me to this particular Vanguard was its resemblance to an Ed Brown Ozark, a model which I believe he no longer makes. I was lucky enough to get hold of one a few years ago. It is a 7mm/08 with a 20-inch #3 contour barrel and a weight of 8 ½ pounds with scope. The rifle is not only very accurate, but has almost no recoil, and is a pure pleasure to shoot. [ Read Full Post ]

By Philip Bourjaily

That’s me -- I’m the one on the left -- on the set of “The Gun Nuts” the other day. We had just filmed a highly scientific test on the shot-resistant properties of shooting glasses. What happens when 8 shot launched at 1200 fps meets polycarbonate lenses protecting googly craft eyes on cantaloupes representing human heads? Tune in to The Gun Nuts to find out.

Starting today, every Wednesday at 9:30 PM (EST) Dave and I will do our best to bring this blog to life onscreen on the Outdoor Channel. We will blast melons, torture red dots, debunk myths and even break out Dave’s famous Ballistic Buffalo. We’ll talk about guns both classic and new, give shooting advice, and speak our minds about gunny subjects. We may give some stuff away, too. [ Read Full Post ]

By David E. Petzal

What with range-compensating devices becoming as common as rat turds in a grain elevator, I feel compelled to say once more, you got to check these things out by actually shooting.  Some weeks ago I mounted an all-conquering Zeiss Victory 6X-24X x 72 scope* on my .25/06 beanfield rifle. I use two loads with the gun, a 115-grain Nosler Partition at 3,160 fps (for deer) and an 85-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip at 3,370 fps (for annoying life forms). [ Read Full Post ]

By Philip Bourjaily

We want you to take the July issue of Field & Stream out and shoot it. Well, not the whole magazine, but the target on page 49. It’s part of the special Gun Nut issue, in which DEP and I put this blog on the pages of the Field & Stream. In the section you’ll find shooting advice, lots of guns, Gun Nut rules to live by and such vital minutiae as my five favorite gun scenes in the movies and Dave’s nominations for the Three Meanest Gunwriters Ever. The issue hits newsstands on June 22nd.

Back to the target. We want you to shoot it. Really. With any gun, at any range. One shot or many – doesn’t matter – then shoot it again, this time with a camera. You can be in the picture, too. Whoever takes the photo our editors like best wins a Smith & Wesson M&P MOE in 5.56mm. And by “wins” I mean, we give it to you (via a registered FFL dealer) and you get to keep it. You can enter the contest here once your issue arrives.

I have shot... [ Read Full Post ]

By David E. Petzal

Before we get to the Mossberg, I would like to comment on Phil Bourjaily’s suggestion that my title be changed from “Field Editor” to “Killing Editor” on the grounds of my extreme deadliness with a rifle, and generally bloodthirsty world view. Not only am I not offended, but I think it’s a good idea. What the hell is a “field” editor, anyway? It sounds like I work for a farm journal. “Killing Editor” gets down to cases, and I would be thrilled to see this on my business cards. If the folks at F&S have the guts…

Anyway, I asked Lisa Baker, Mossberg’s head of PR, why they called it the 4x4, and she said to give the impression of something tough and useful, intended for the world of hard knocks. They got that right. The 4x4 is a using bolt-action that comes with a choice of synthetic, walnut, or laminated stocks, in .25/06 to .338, plus a couple of short magnums. It has an effective muzzle brake, an honest-to-god recoil pad, and a very good trigger that is set at 2 ½ pounds. [ Read Full Post ]