Blog

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The AMT AutoMag II represents a rare fusion of innovation and practicality in the realm of rimfire semi-automatic handguns. Chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR), the AutoMag II tackles a unique set of challenges typically not encountered in standard autoloading pistol designs. One of the major engineering hurdles was the extraction problem caused by the high-pressure, slow-burning rifle powder used in .22 WMR cartridges. Unlike handgun rounds, these rounds ge …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the .357 Mag. market changed forever in 1955; however, when Colt introduced its first revolver chambered in .357 Mag.: the Python. By all accounts, Colt executives also considered this to be the finest revolver the company produced at the time. No expense was spared in the manufacturing process, from the revolver’s timing and lock-up to its Royal Blue finish, this would be the pinnacle of Colt’s manufacturing prowess an …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The Smith & Wesson Model 14-8 Classic Series is a modern reintroduction of a legendary target revolver, originally derived from the postwar K-38 Target Masterpiece. Manufactured between 2009 and 2012, this revolver retains the precision and balance that made its predecessors highly regarded among target shooters and collectors. Chambered in .38 S&W Special +P, it offers enhanced performance with higher-pressure loads while maintaining the accuracy and smooth …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: Colt's introduction of the Model 1889 marked a watershed moment in revolver design, pioneering the first double-action revolver with a swing-out cylinder. This innovative design was swiftly adopted by the US Navy as the Model of 1889 and later by the US Army in the Model of 1892, which featured slight improvements. The commercial variant of the Model 1889 also gained immediate popularity among civilians. Colt continued to refine the design with subsequent models such as …