“The P-10 F Competition Ready is an impressive shooter that provides fast and accurate fire as a long-slide, polymer-framed, striker-fired gun. CZ included some decorative and functional upgrades to this model and that makes it a little pricey compared to other guns in the line.” – Sean Curtis
Usually coming in at under $400, the Mossberg 500 Field/Security pump-action shotgun is one of the most versatile guns you can buy for the money. This gun comes with two barrels, a 28-inch field barrel with interchangeable choke tubes and an 18.5-inch security barrel with a fixed choke. Having both barrels allows you to have a do-all gun that can cover anything from hunting to sporting to home defense. Mossberg makes the barrel change process simple and easy, with a single screw making the barrel swap a 60-second affair that takes no tools. The ambidextrous tang safety makes this gun intuitive for most users, but the rest of the gun is pretty standard fare when it comes to ergonomics. The Mossberg 500 has been the gold standard for basic shotguns since the 60s, and it has the aftermarket to prove that. If you need a shotgun to cover all the bases, this is it.
The Beretta 21A is the perfect size for concealed carry and even pocket carry if that’s something you’re interested in. It’s a .22 LR model with a tip-up barrel — perfect for those that struggle with semi-auto slides. The gun is a fun plinker and a nice one to take to the range.
“The FN 502 Tactical is a .22 LR built on the 509 design. It features aggressive texturing, 15+1 capacity, and can easily accommodate a suppressor and red dot. For those seeking a similar feel to the FN 509 but also wanting to save money by training with .22 LR, this is a great option. The gun also has a place in introducing new students to the platform. If you are looking for a tactically feature-rich .22 plinker, look no further than the FN 502 Tactical.” – Sean Curtis
“The DDM4ISR is a .300 BLK integrally suppressed rifle from Daniel Defense. It sports a 9 inch cold-hammer-forged barrel with an overall length of 16-inches. This gun features a Keymod handguard and handles just about as smoothly in a shoot house as it does out on the range. We had no problems whatsoever during our testing. This rifle loaded, fired, and ejected perfectly. The grip angle may feel odd to some, but overall it’s great once you get used to it.” – John C.
Daniel Defense’s Mk18 runs extremely well. It’s a blast to shoot and handled well in CQB-type training scenarios. We’ve put well over 1,000 rounds through our model, and it’s still running like it did day one. We did have a little trouble with DD proprietary mags — but that was managed by removing a couple of rounds and gently seating it into the magwell. PMAGs run great, though!
“The CZ P-09 is an overall excellent handgun. It’s a modern option for those who desire a polymer frame, hammer-fired, DA/SA gun. It’s taken the CZ-75 platform and brought it into the modern era of defensive handguns. The P-09 is a great handgun, and it performs where it needs to.” – Travis Pike
The Mossberg 590A1 retrograde takes one of the most durable and proven shotguns in the world and dresses it up to the nines. Classic style walnut furniture gives this workhorse shotgun an old-school appeal without sacrificing any of its ability to tackle any job.
“The CZ P-01 is a small pistol that doesn’t know it. Most smaller guns feel like small guns, but CZ found the magic though and built the P-01 so that it’s smaller but doesn’t feel like it. Between an excellent cold hammer-forged barrel and outstanding design, it is the most accurate compact I have in my safe. While there is an argument to be made that it isn’t as important as some might claim it is, the P-01 has a very low bore axis. Combined with the metal frame and it simply eats recoil. Everything about the P-01 adds up to being a great pistol.” – David Lane
