First Look – Beretta’s Defensive 20-gauge
Ok, this shotgun is probably going to see much greater use by lawfully armed citizens than by uniformed law enforcement. Those lawfully armed citizens read AmericanCop, too. I say "probably" because I once wrote a proposal to buy a 20-gauge Remington 870 for a very petite trainee, before AR-15s with collapsible stocks and pencil barrels were common. We were going to buy that gun if she had made it off FTO. Back on Topic During [...]
Two Days at SHOT Show 2026
While a few attendees might still be stuck in Las Vegas because of Winter Storm Fern, SHOT Show 2026 is done and in the books. Last week’s article HERE looked at things that caught my eye during the Law Enforcement / Military range day. This event was hosted by the [...]
ThunderStick Summit’s Q&A Session
The last weekend of September saw the fourth ThunderStick Summit out at the Staccato Vegas facility in Pahrump, NV. Thunderstick is a yearly three-day event focusing on the defensive use of shotguns. Four years ago, several instructors who teach the shotgun began a conversation about hosting an event focused on [...]
The Imperium – One Forearm To Rule Them All?
Coming of age for me with shotguns meant gaining a solid understanding of a pump-action shotgun. Doing that as a road deputy in the early '90s meant that it was going to be a stock shotgun, too. Even when we adopted a personally owned shotgun program that mirrored the programs [...]
Sinister Manipulations – SemiAuto Shotguns
This is the second part of a series on left-handed manipulations of various firearms. Previously, I covered semi-automatic pistols; this article will look at semi-automatic shotguns. While there are some left-handed shotgun designs (I have a couple of them), there are some benefits to the far more commonly encountered [...]
Mossberg’s 940 PRO SPX Semi-Auto Shotgun
Prior to this year's SHOT Show, Mossberg went public with three new models: the 590R/RM with an AR-15-like rotating safety, the 590 PRO, and the 940 PRO SPX. I previously discussed the design philosophy and ethos behind the PRO guns. The 940 is Mossberg's newest semi-auto shotgun. The PRO SPX [...]
Mossberg’s PRO Series
Part one of this series covered Mossberg’s development and release of the 590R and 590RM (box magazine-fed) pump shotguns. Both utilize a rotating thumb safety, reminiscent of those on the AR-15 family of carbines and rifles. During the second day of the event, we were introduced to their new PRO [...]
Mossberg’s Evolution – Rotation Part 1
This past October, the Mossberg crew hosted several gunwriters at Gunsite. More than a few of the group were or had been working street cops. We were all there to examine the newest additions to Mossberg's defensive shotgun line. Rich Kirk, engineer Peter DuPerry, and law enforcement / military program [...]
A Haven For Shotgunners
Several subject matter-specific events are held across the defensive-minded training sphere: the Polite Society Conference, Rangemaster’s Tactical Conference (TacCon), the Combatives Summit, the Revolver Round-Up, and more. One is specifically for those interested in the practical application and art of the defensive shotgun. Darryl Bolke is covering reloading while [...]
The Case For Shotguns
Over the past decade or so, shotguns have taken a back seat to patrol rifles. While patrol rifles undoubtedly have their place, the shotgun, when properly configured, is still a viable and effective tool. Does it replace a patrol rifle? Not necessarily. Does having a patrol rifle mean you shouldn't [...]
Federal’s #1 Buck Is Back
Along with chasing the best firearm, the collective “we” chase the best in calibers and bullets. Like pretty much anything else in life, the better can be subjective. It all depends on who is being asked or offering their opinion. One of those areas is shotgun ammunition. Shooters want a [...]