Viewpoints

Our first impression of the $679 S&W M&P 9mm was that it felt extremely comfortable in the hand. It was well balanced, not too heavy—at least without a magazine full of 17 heavy-bullet loads—and was pleasantly devoid of extraneous controls and levers. We note S&W also sells a version with a thumb safety, along with a host of variants in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP, and with longer or shorter barrels or grips, and in a variety of colors. One even has a pink grip insert.Our test gun came in a large case with two different grip inserts to make the handle larger or smaller. We liked it as it was, so we left it alone.

In the August 2013 issue, Ray Ordorica compared two full-size 9mm pistols, a surplus CZ 75 (about $350) and a new Tokarev M70A, made in Serbia by Zastava (about $330). The CZ, designed in 1975 and with more than a million having been built, is one of very few DA/SA pistols that can be carried cocked and locked. The CZ is big and stout enough that even the hottest 9mm ammo with the heaviest bullets would hardly kick enough to disturb the composure of the weakest-handed shooter.

Readers Price and Singletary point out a neat trick for popping up the ejection-port cover on an AR-15. Readers Troy and Steve worry about grade inflation with the Tavor TAR-21 bullpup

Readers Price and Singletary point out a neat trick for popping up the ejection-port cover on an AR-15. Readers Troy and Steve worry about grade inflation with the Tavor TAR-21 bullpup

Here are new videos added to GunReports.com the week of September 12: JJ Racaza expands on Natural Point of Aim tactics in a multiple target scenario. Remington’s all-new platform, the Model 783. And a Barrett 50 Cal Impossible 'V-Drill' with Jerry Miculek.

Brown plastic, actually Nylon, in a wood-grain pattern gives this rare old Nylon 12 a timeless, glossy look. The checkering was useful, and the rifle durable. It was a light and well-balanced rifle, but not many of us thought it was handsome. The full-length stock added good protection to the tubular magazine.

Here are new videos added to GunReports.com the week of September 5: Jerry Miculek shoots a Barrett .50 Cal off the shoulder. Unbelievable. Gunsite Range Master Il Ling New talks about shooting from the bench. FPSRussia takes a look at his four favorite handguns.

It is said that in Hollywood, an initial movie pitch has to be made in 25 words or fewer. When I enjoy a movie as a guilty pleasure, I try to imagine what the original pitch sounded like — such as these action movies in which guns play a big role, either as tools or metaphors.

Reader Greer asks why the tight-grouping Tok gets downgraded. Reader Mick gets his P938 fixed and likes it. And everybody knows readers have access to the electronic archives? Right?

Here are new videos added to GunReports.com the week of August 22: Josephine Terry’s son didn’t die in a “phony” gunrunning scandal; Cabela’s Chamber Boresighter sleeves are easy to install and use, and Katie Pavlich asks the NYPD to answer questions about Bloomberg's gun safety violations.

The Gun Tests Houston test team obtained an IWI Tavor TSB16 5.56 NATO Bullpup, $1999, and tested it as a Special Report in the September issue.

Gun Tests magazine tested 308 Win. bolt rifles in the January 2013 issue -- a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Compact ($880), a Savage 11/111 Lightweight Hunter ($899), and a Mossberg 4X4 No. 27656, $471. Here's what we found out about the Savage.