Gun Tests evaluates firearms, accessories, and ammunition head to head every month, and our highest accolade is the Best Buy ranking, which considers performance and value — how well a product shoots and how much it costs.
We award Best Buy ratings for all types of guns and ancillary items, so if you’re looking for a specific kind of handgun, rifle, shotgun, or accessory, you’re likely to find one that will suit your needs.
We always advise you take our recommendations and try them out yourself at a range that rents guns. Then you can align what you feel and see with our results and decide what to buy, or not buy, with some confidence.
10CANIK METE SF TWO-TONE HG5367 9MM LUGER, $475
GUN TESTS GRADE: A [BEST BUY]
The Canik Mete SF is a well-designed, reliable pistol. The Mete SF handled all loads and came out of the box running. The pistol made the best showing in both combat shooting and in bench accuracy.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- [BEST BUY]
The LCR has been adapted to a variety of cartridges, and in our opinion, this 327 Fed Mag version is a good combination power, capacity, and concealability.
8SPRINGFIELD 1911 TRP 4.25-IN. CC PC9124LR-CC 45 ACP, $1900
GUN TESTS GRADE: A [BEST BUY}
The Springfield TRP CC is well made and nicely fitted. Three-dot tritium sights, an ambidextrous slide-lock safety, and a nicely contoured grip frame are good features. The lightweight cutaway frame is easy to carry.
7RUGER AMERICAN GEN II PREDATOR 46940 22 ARC, $597
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+ [BEST BUY]
By far the least expensive rifle in this group, the Ruger Gen II delivered sub-MOA accuracy and functioned reliably.
6Galco Corvus OWB/IWB Glock Holster, $86
GUN TESTS GRADE: A [BEST BUY]
The holster is Kydex construction with a finish that offers more visual appeal than plain Kydex gear. It features adjustable cant and ride via 11 positioning holes, and it has a raised sweat guard — a feature we prefer on nearly any holster. The Corvus ships with hardware for both OWB and IWB carry, and the shell is cut for optics. As an IWB holster, the Corvus offers a clean draw and easy reholstering. As a belt holster, it provides good security with rapid presentation. We awarded the Corvus a Best Buy based on its versatility as both an IWB and OWB holster.
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+ [BEST BUY]
Lighter and a lot less expensive than the Christensen, we found the Ruger American in 22 Magnum eminently suitable for field work or fun, though not quite as accurate as the MPR.
GUN TESTS GRADE: B (BEST BUY)
This is another load with a long lineage. It appears to be an unplated Winchester Silvertip. However, the last 115-grain Silvertip tested was much faster. Feed reliability is flawless and its recoil is modest, about middle of the road for the test. The load is available in a 50-round box and seems for sale about everywhere. Cost per round is 56 cents, lowest in the test. We would have liked a better balance of expansion and penetration, so we rated the load down a grade. But for the money, it’s hard to beat.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- [BEST BUY]
Even with a slightly sharper recoil impulse than the other two shotguns, the Stoeger was very fast and controllable. It may not be a Benelli, but for under $700, we think this is a heck of a shotgun.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- [BEST BUY]
The Bersa came out of the box firing, without coughing on any of the loads we fed it. The pistol turned in the best combat groups. There is no light rail, and left-hand use is possible, but not the best of the test.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A- [BEST BUY]
The Winchester XPR did a great job, especially for what we initially thought might be a more entry-level rifle. This Winchester would be light and handy to carry afield.
