American Handgunner Insider

Mounting a red dot on your handgun doesn’t have to be a guessing game. In this episode of American Handgunner Insider, Tom McHale takes a close look at how Night Fision is solving two of the biggest challenges shooters face when going optics-ready:

1️⃣ Finding the right adapter plate – Night Fision makes high-quality stainless steel plates for popular handguns including GLOCK, SIG SAUER, CZ, and Springfield.

2️⃣ Getting a true co-witness – Their plate + sight combo kits are engineered for a clean one-third co-witness, so your backup irons are always right where you need them—without blocking your optic.

We’ll walk through why optics make sense (especially as eyes change with age), the problems most shooters run into, and how Night Fision’s complete kits make installation simple, durable, and reliable.

👉 Explore Night Fision products: nightfision.com

👉 Subscribe to American Handgunner Insider for more gear insights and reviews.

Can you really trust what people say about handgun accuracy? In this episode of American Handgunner Insider, Tom McHale breaks down what “accuracy” actually means—and how to test it the right way.

Using the legendary Ransom Rest, we’ll walk through:

✔️ What this machine actually does

✔️ How it removes human error

✔️ How to mount your pistol properly

✔️ Some of the new options available for Ransom Rests

Whether you’re a gearhead, a 1911 lover, or just curious about what your pistol can really do at 25 yards, this is the series for you.

👉 Stay tuned—we’re heading to the range next to see how the Ed Brown 1911 and a snub-nose revolver perform.

The folks at Shadow Systems have a new pistol in their Elite series coming out in a couple of weeks. The CR920XL is a slender (about 1.07" at the grip) pistol, but thanks to its steel magazines, it still packs a 15+1 capacity. Virtually no shake and a tight lockup mean this pistol will shoot. We take it for a quick range trip to see what it will do.

—

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free American Handgunner Insider newsletter.

A quick, insider look at the SAR USA SAR9 SOCOM pistol. What's in the box? What are the basics? And most importantly, how does it shoot? Tom McHale takes a look at this affordable pistol.

👉 Subscribe for more hands-on reviews and real-world insights

—

Is it finally possible to get a high-performing handgun without breaking the bank? In this episode of American Handgunner Insider, Tom McHale takes a close look at the PSA Dagger — Palmetto State Armory’s GLOCK-style pistol — and dives into why we’re living in a golden age of value guns (not just cheap ones). With impressive accuracy, solid features, and price tags that start under $300, this could change how you think about budget firearms.

Tom shares range results, talks trigger feel, and explains what makes guns like the PSA Dagger and Rock 5.7 stand out in today’s market. If you’re looking for affordable carry options that actually perform, this is the video to watch.

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free American Handgunner Insider newsletter.

Palmetto State Armory's budget-friendly pistol delivers low recoil, high fun and impressive accuracy. American Handgunner Insider explores the PSA 5.7 Rock — a real bargain for a pistol that punches well above its weight class.

—

Tom McHale checks out the new iteration of the compact, single-action Smith & Wesson CSX — the E-Series. Refined and improved, this compact handgun easily transitions from pocket wonder to full-size with 12-, 15- and 17-round capacity configurations — in the box. How does it shoot? We take it to the range to find out!

--

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE American Handgunner Insider newsletter at www.americanhandgunner.com/newsletters

Think gun rights are "safe" for the next four years? Think again. The biggest threats are at the state and sometimes local levels. Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, joins American Handgunner Insider to explain why and what's being done about the risk.

--

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE American Handgunner Insider newsletter at www.americanhandgunner.com/newsletters

Meet the patriot who single-handedly took on the ATF and launched the successful lawsuit against the bump stock ban. As if that wasn't enough, he was also front and center in the case against the ATF's war on FFL dealers. Whether or not you care about bump stocks, this story should concern you. Army vet and Texas gun store owner Michael Cargill shares the inside details. 

--

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE American Handgunner Insider newsletter at www.americanhandgunner.com/newsletters

We've all done it. We line up the sights, prepare, press the trigger and ... BIG MISS! How did that happen? We explore the combination of physics and "freaking out" that is almost always the cause of those misses. While we’re at it, we’ll take a look at some cool trigger-management gear from the folks at Lyman.

--

Get more exclusive online content delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our FREE American Handgunner Insider newsletter at www.americanhandgunner.com/newsletters