The Armory Life

Editor’s Note: This CORD Pandora PB-K review is based on hands-on testing of the red dot sight that was provided to the author by the company. All impressions regarding durability, glass clarity, reticle performance, and mounting are based on the author’s own range time and daily carry use of the optic paired with a Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro Comp.

Open carry – the wearing of a holstered gun in plain view in public – has become a hot-button issue among our nation’s pistol-packers. There are, naturally, talking points on both sides of the debate.

A few years ago, Mark Walters invited me to join a panel on this topic on his popular show, Armed America Radio. One of the panelists was an outspoken advocate of open...

Editor’s Note: Firearms and self-defense laws vary widely by jurisdiction. Readers are responsible for understanding the federal, state, and local laws that apply to them. This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional instruction. For self-defense training, consult a qualified firearms instructo...

What we are discussing here today is a rare military and police firearm that dates back to a time when Poland was behind the Iron Curtain. As a result, it was rarely seen in the United States during the Cold War, yet it still managed to earn a level of infamy as it was a sidearm of choice of East Germany’s Volkspolizei and Stasi.

This overview of the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5F paired with the Aimpoint COA is focused as a possible law enforcement duty pistol. Because if you’re carrying a pistol for the job, the question isn’t “Should I run a dot?” anymore. The real questions when looking at a duty pistol with a red dot are: Which dot? How is it mounted? Will it hold up? Is it reliable to ...