Straight Talk

Welcome to the Gun Bench. This is a series where we at Straight Talk bring our readers into the thought process behind how we set up our gear for various roles and scenarios. There is a saying that purpose drives gear. In the gun world, that saying rings clear. With each selection of equipment, there is a purpose—whether it be for hunting, competitive shooting, home defense, or survival—that equipment matters and must stand up to the task at hand. This series looks to help with the thought

In the gun world, few things have surpassed the production and demand for a quality concealed carry handgun. In recent years, slim-line pistols have evolved and shaped the status quo. These new firearms push the envelope and give the end user the best in modern capabilities. To make a package even better, many companies are equipping their guns with an optic cut so a red dot aiming device can be added. The main problem is that the handguns with this capability have out produced the availab

The products companies launch are always rather interesting. In many cases, companies spend years designing, prototyping, and developing a product before it releases. That means long-term forecasting is necessary to determine if a product will be successful. In the firearm world, this can be quite the challenge. Outside circumstances such as the economy, political climate, and community trends are unpredictable. That’s why when Smith & Wesson released the FPC (Folding Pistol Carbine) o

\“Thetree of libertymust be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson wrote this line in a letter to William Stephens Smith—the son-in-law of John Adams—during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The convention itself was a reaction to an armed engagement against civilians during what is referred to as Shay’s Rebellion. At that time in history, the thirteen independent states that formed the new nation were loosely held together by articles se

Anderson Manufacturing was established more than 30 years ago by William C. Anderson. Anderson Manufacturing has long been known for producing 100% American made AR-15 components and rifles and are located in Hebron Kentucky. Today under the leadership of his sons Carl and Charles, Anderson Manufacturing announced they are entering the handgun market with the new Anderson Kiger - 9C, 15+1 9mm handgun.Our first impression when removing the polymer, striker fired Kiger - 9C from the box was t

A question that all of us shooters and hunters have asked ourselves at one point or another is, are Leupold Optics worth the price? To begin with Leupold optics have top quality glass and a lifetime warranty. If you have ever sat behind one you can immediately tell the quality craftmanship. To determine if Leupold Optics are worth it you need to determine how you will be using it. For example you would probably would not want to buy the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm Riflescope which is arou