The author spent weeks testing the best new handguns for hunting, personal protection, and general outdoor use. Here are his top picks for 2026
Author: Richard Mann
← Back to All AuthorsThe new Bulwark is the best everyday-carry pistol we have tested this year. Check out our expert’s full review
Want one gun to do it all? Take a close look at Franchi’s new MULE
The new Backcountry Guide Ti is simply one of the best lightweight hunting rifles you can buy. Check out our expert’s full review
The world’s most loved—and hated—cartridge just got better. With Federal’s new +PEAK loads, you can get 270—even 30-06—performance from your current 6.5 Creed rifle
The new Kodiak 1911 from Dan Wesson is one of the most accurate pistols we have ever tested. Check out our expert’s full review
Springfield’s newest Echelon pistol is not cheap exactly, but it is an excellent value. Check out our expert’s full review
Rifles chambered for the iconic .30-30 cartridge deserve great scopes—so we put some of the top models to the test
Ammo is expensive. So use these dry-fire drills to vastly improve your rifle shooting without ever firing a live round
Whether you stalk the timber, prowl the prairie, or wait in a stand overlooking ag fields, your perfect deer rifle is on this list










