Table of contents for January 2026 in Guns & Ammo

IF YOU MUST use a firearm in self-defense, your heart rate will undoubtedly spike before it’s over. Hopefully, you have enough situational awareness to see trouble coming before it arrives, but you could be lying in bed when the sound of breaking glass wakes you. (Cue the pounding heart, increased blood pressure and sweaty hands.) No matter what happens, you will experience physical stress in a defensive fight, even if it’s mentally induced. How many of us practice for stress, though? One reason I promote action pistol competition is because it’s great stress inoculation training. Not only are we physically exerting ourselves while competing, but there is usually a mental stress component as well. Competitors shoot alone in front of a range officer, in front of spectators, and maybe some…

@GUNSANDAMMOMAG FOR AS LONG AS I can remember, I’ve been a fan of stock car racing. My son, Connor, has taken fandom to another level, though. We go to as many races as we can reasonably afford, often paying extra for pit passes. Connor’s mission before and after a race is to secure as many autographs as possible — and he’s good at it! Popular drivers are easy to identify, despite many having to minimize interactions with fans apart from special events. He recognizes and pursues drivers, crew chiefs, owners, broadcasters and NASCAR leadership, and even spots those attempting to navigate the crowds incognito. Lesser-known drivers are proud to meet with kids like mine, especially those who recognize them and call out their name. Once Connor attracts the attention of…

THESE DAYS, thinking of binoculars solely as a source of magnification is like thinking your smartphone is only for making and receiving calls. There are so many technological advancements with modern ballistic rangefinding binoculars that using them feels like cheating. For instance, let’s consider the SIG Sauer KILO10-ABS HD GEN II. Developed with customer feedback received on the original KILO10K-ABS HD in 2021, SIG Sauer improved the system with HDX glass with SpectraCoat anti-reflective coatings for truer color and better low-light performance. As good as the original binos were, some reported a “bluish” tint. SIG Sauer reported that the tint was reduced by 95 percent, making the Gen II optics extremely clear. Colors downrange are vibrant, and image quality is razor-sharp. The GEN II is still compatible with the SIG…

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, Rost Martin jumped into the gun market with the RM1C, first introduced by Editor Eric R. Poole in “Born Ready,” featured in the March 2024 issue of Guns & Ammo. The RM1C is a compact pistol roughly the size of the G19, but it offered several unique features. What grabbed our attention was the build quality. These pistols have excellent fit, finish and features at an affordable price. Most striking about the price is that these pistols are not built overseas, but rather in Dallas, Texas. Rost Martin followed up the RM1C (compact) with the RM1S (subcompact) in G&A’s April 2025 issue. The year 2025 quickly produced two additional models: RM1C Comp and RM1S Comp — “Comp” as in “compensated.” The RM1C Comp has been…

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, your interest in firearms includes a keen interest in their historical roles. I am fascinated by what life was like “back then,” and have long admired the craftsmanship of vintage firearms. Following the Great War, the 1920s became a period of unprecedented change in America. The year 1925 was when Winchester introduced the Model 54, the first successful commercial bolt-action rifle. It wasn’t the first bolt-action produced, but it was the first sporting rifle to achieve widespread acceptance. It was also the predecessor to the Winchester Model 70. Winchester also introduced the .270 Winchester cartridge in 1925, which became the standard-bearer for a high-performance hunting round. Many components are taken for granted that were maturing 100 years ago. Smokeless powder was still in its infancy…

CALIFORNIA has been on a roll in recent years, doing its best to maintain its position at the cutting edge of the anti-gun movement. I wasn’t sure if the state could get any worse for gun owners, but Governor Gavin Newsom made that clear when he signed Assembly Bill 1127 in October 2025. The legislation will effectively ban Glock and Glockplatform handguns, which are some of the most popular firearms in the nation. Effective July 1, 2026, licensed firearms dealers in California “shall not sell, offer for sale, exchange, give, transfer, or deliver any semiautomatic machine gun-convertible pistol.” The new law defines a machine gun-convertible pistol as, “Any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted by hand or with common household tools ... into a…

DEVEL IS IN THE DETAILS Q: I would like to know the value of my Full House conversion of the Devel Combat pistol on a Smith & Wesson Model 59. It’s complete with a custom DeSantis holster, tools, two magazines and paperwork. The gun was made in the late 1970s or early 1980s and never fired, except at the factory. Ironically, in 1990, when I purchased the Dornaus & Dixon Bren Ten pistol, I hated everything about it and couldn’t wait to sell or trade it. So, I traded it for this Devel pistol. I know I got beat on this trade after seeing what the Bren Ten commands today, but I never bought guns for investment, only for enjoyment. A. P. Email A: The limited production (234) Full House Devel…

JUST ABOUT EVERY FIREARM REVIEW includes comments about the trigger. It is a critical interface between the shooter and the firearm, so it sees application every time a round fires. We talk about “creep,” “pull weight” and “crispiness” of the let-off. Let’s not forget overtravel, too! Bloviating about the finer characteristics of a great trigger is something no firearms enthusiast should avoid. It comes at a cost, though. Falling in love with the finer things in life can lead to some hurt feelings when we have to do without. This unfortunate phenomenon is running rampant in the trigger world with many publicly shaming rifle manufacturers for failure to put anything other than a trigger that will adjust to 1 pound or lighter on any rifle! The mentality of more and…

AT THE TIME OF WRITING, I’ve recently returned from Gunsite Academy in Arizona (gunsite.com) where I assisted in the production of Guns & Ammo TV. With Managing Editor Jack Oller at the helm, we reviewed dozens of firearms and accessories released in 2025, and then evaluated them with several instructors. Gunsite is a great place to explore firearm techniques, as well as the performance and durability of firearms, optics, ammunition and accessories. I recommend Gunsite to anyone interested in developing their mindset and skills with a particular firearm. Hosted by Gun Tech Editor Richard Nance, “G&A Personal Defense” online video series was also shot at Gunsite, which is a great primer for handgun and rifle use. Before the trip to Gunsite, I attended the opening of the Smith & Wesson…