October 30, 2020

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Gun News

Americans have bought a record 17m guns in 2020

Americans have bought nearly 17m guns so far in 2020, more than in any other single year, according to estimates from a firearms analytics company.

Gun sales across the United States first jumped in the spring, driven by fears about the coronavirus pandemic, and spiked even higher in the summer, during massive racial justice protests across the country, prompted by police killings of black Americans.

"By August, we had exceeded last year's total. By September, we exceeded the highest total ever," said Jurgen Brauer, the chief economist of Small Arms Analytics, which produces widely cited estimates of US gun sales.

The estimated number of guns sold in the US through the end of September 2020 is "not only more than last year, it's more than any full year in the last 20 years we have records for,", Brauer said.

The previous record for estimated firearms sold in a single year was 16.6m in 2016, when Hillary Clinton ran for president against Donald Trump and endorsed a strong gun-control platform, he said.


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Featured Firearm

Taurus Judge

The Taurus Judge is named after the Miami judges that supposedly carry it as their preferred self-defense weapon. Capable of holding five rounds of either .45 Long Colt or .410 shotshell, it is a very potent self/home defense weapon. This amazing combo gun is ideal for short distances - where most altercations occur, or longer distances with the .45 Colt ammo.

It has a five-round capacity and with exposed hammer, can fire in either single or double action. Sights are not adjustable but feature a high vis fiber optic front sight. Shallow rifling of the barrel means the Judge is not a short barrel shotgun under the NFA. However, it is illegal in California due to that states more stringent gun laws.

While not the most accurate, or powerful, or convenient firearm, the Judge is intimidating. And to be honest, fun to shoot.

Did You Know?

The Most Powerful Handgun in the World

When Harry Callahan said, "This is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off," that may have been true in 1971 when the movie came out, but today the most powerful handgun in the world is the .500 S&W Magnum.

The S&W X-frame Model 500 is a brawny handgun designed to master the most rigorous hunting fields in the world. It is not a revolver one would, or should, tuck into a waistband.

With its 8-3/8-in. barrel, the overall length of the Model 500 is 15 in. and the empty weight is 4.5 pounds. The cylinder alone is almost 2 in. in diameter and approaches 2.25 in. in length. Thumb the cylinder open and five charge holes await. Each is 1/2 in. in diameter, and the .50-cal. cartridges they hold are almost 2 in. long. Load five of them and the total weight of the handgun climbs to 5 pounds.

When the .44 Magnum laid claim to being the most powerful handgun in the world, its standard load produced about 900 ft.-lb. of muzzle energy. The 500 S&W Magnum will produce almost 2600 ft.-lb. with its heaviest load.


Thanks for reading,

The Editor

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