The Mossberg 590M Shockwave brought high capacity to short shotguns. Even though it only has an overall length of 26.3 inches, the 590M Shockwave boasts an impressive capacity of 10+1 thanks to its magazine design. Aside from the magazine, it has all the standard 590 features, including twin action bars and an ambidextrous tang safety. Everything is rounded out with a 15-inch heavy-walled barrel. The 590M Shockwave is great for those that want to cut down on length without sacrificing capacity.
After some quality control and safety issues with the original PT111 line, Taurus unveiled the PT111 Millennium G2 in a bid to rectify those issues while simultaneously lowering the price. With a 3.2-inch barrel, 12-round capacity, manual safety, and fully adjustable rear sight, the G2 is appealing at its price range of $200-300. The capacity is excellent for a gun of its size, and the trigger allows for double-strike capability if there is an ammo-related failure. Taurus successfully crafted a serviceable concealed-carry weapon with solid features at a very affordable price point.
Mossberg set out to deliver a feature-rich bolt-action rifle at a reasonable price, and they did just that. With features like detachable box magazines, a spiral fluted bolt, a recessed match barrel crown, and a patented LBA user-adjustable trigger, the Patriot offers a lot of value.
The Heritage Rough Rider is an easy-to-shoot plinker that’s great for all skill levels. This single-action army inspired revolver is designed to be light and easy to operate in a fun-to-shoot package. The standard Rough Rider features a 6-shot .22 LR cylinder (.22 Magnum cylinders are available). It sports either classic-style western grips or birdshead-style grips, and it is available in various barrel lengths from 3 to 12 inches. If you are looking for an affordable gun that is cheap to shoot, this is it.
The POF Tombstone is a unique 9mm modern lever-action rifle. It uses 10 or 20-round magazines that are also found on the POF Phoenix. A crisp trigger breaks at 3.5 pounds, and the 16.5” free-floated barrel is accompanied by a 10.5″ M-LOK. XS Ghost Ring sights allow for quick target acquisition, and POF’s removable dual port muzzle break makes for fast follow-up shots. The Tombstone is a unique and fresh take on both the PCC and lever-action platforms.
The Colt Government Series 70 is based on the original 1911 without the passive firing pin safety. These Government models feature a series 70 firing system, a 5-inch forged stainless steel barrel, short trigger, spur hammer, checkered grips, GI-style sights, and a CNC-machined forged stainless slide and frame. While these are new production Colt guns, they maintain the classic styling and design that makes the 1911 so popular.
The FNH FNS-9 is often overlooked, but it’s a solid choice for people in the market for a CCW pistol. It’s one of the few striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols with a manual safety, multiple backstop inserts help create an optical fit, and the accessory rail lets you mount a light. We’d love to see an optic-ready slide, and aftermarket support isn’t great, but it’s still a viable concealed carry or home defense platform.
The Kel-Tec SU16B is a unique rifle in that it is a 5.56 rifle with a folding stock, making for an extremely compact overall package when stored. The SU16B model is ultra-lightweight, weighing only 4.5 lbs, further solidifying its role as a versatile utility rifle. While it may not be as accurate or reliable as an AR-15, we consider the SU16B an interesting alternative for specific use cases.
The Omega Arms AR12 brings many of the ergonomic features of the AR-15 to the world of semi-auto shotguns. These magazine-fed, 12-gauge shotguns are easy to reload and make for great fun at the range. With two magazines, a hard case, sights, and a sling included, the Omega AR12 gets you a decent amount of bang for your buck.
“It feels great in hand, although we prefer a bit more aggressive grip. The slide starts off a little stiff…as does the magazine release…so make sure you can confidently rack it. And because it’s the more budget of Kahr’s offerings, there are some sharp corners in the ejection port and the front of the slide and some machining marks on the barrel. But again, as a budget 9mm for concealed carry, you have to expect some concessions. Overall, if you’re looking for a concealable single-stack 9mm at a great price, you can’t go wrong with the CW9.” – Eric Hung
