Guns & Ammo Buzz Podcast

Five years after Richard Dyke sold Bushmaster, Freedom Group moved the company out of Maine and left behind most of its employees. Founder Richard Dyke then hired the former Bushmaster workers and established Windham Weaponry in 2011. Dyke passed away in March 2023, leading to the sale of Windham Weaponry to new owners in 2024. Known for its AR-15-style rifles, Windham Weaponry has reopened under new leadership. Still operating in Maine, several former Windham Weaponry and Bushmaster employees were brought back to help the brand's revival. While still offering AR-pattern rifles, the company has expanded its catalog to include Turkish shotguns and ammunition. Suppressors are coming soon. Windham Weaponry’s Rick Gibbs discusses these developments with Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole.

Gil Ash of the Optimum Shotgun Performance shooting school has been teaching sporting clays for more than 35 years. Managing Editor Jack Oller joined Ash at an OSP travel clinic hosted at the Rock Ridge Sportsmens Club in Illinois. In this episode, Oller, Ash and Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole discuss the lessons from the clinic and how far sporting clays has evolved. Additionally, our hosts review the Guns & Ammo needed for a successful sporting clays travel clinic. Oller used two new-for-2025 products: Browning’s Citori 825 Sporting and Federal’s Masterclass shotshells. Both are uniquely optimized for sporting clays and make an excellent pair on any course. https://ospschool.com/

Don’t call it a “shotgun" — or a “pistol!" The Mossberg 990 Aftershock is a compact, hand-held semiautomatic firearm with a 5+1 capacity for 12-gauge loads. Inspired by the success of the new-for-2017 pump-action 590 Shockwave, Mossberg engineers went to work on developing a gas system unique to the short-barreled, gas-operated system required for the 990 Aftershock. It is certainly portable but is it simply a trend or a useful self-defense tool in close-quarter environments?  James Tarr reviewed the Mossberg 990 Aftershock for Guns & Ammo’s October 2025 issue. Tarr was joined by Mossberg’s Senior Director of Marketing Richard Kirk, Guns & Ammo’s Managing Editor Jack Oller, and Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole, to report on his range experience and to seek more information about the evolution leading to one of the most versatile firearms on the market.

For nearly 25 years, the Outdoor Sportsman Group’s (OSG) Roundtable has hosted the preeminent industry gathering of professional outdoor media and firearm industry leaders. After four days of morning presentations on the latest firearms, optics, suppressors, ammunition and accessories, attendees were transported to the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex, Colorado's premier shooting destination. Among the highlights revealed was the Banish 12 shotgun suppressors; new Smith & Wesson handguns and rifles such as the M&P9 Shield X, 617 .22 LR/610 10mm Mountain Guns, and FPC in .22. Kimber expanded it’s popular 2K11 lineup, while Aimpoint provided a shooting experience with its COA red-dot sight and revolutionary A-Cut mounting footprint. Savage 110 expands to include the 7mm Backcountry to produce a fine-handling, short-barrel, sporting rifle; and Savage AC30 Back Over Barrel (B.O.B.) suppressor. Suppressors also underscored 3D-printing technology’s advancement of fluid-dynamic engineering with suppressors, resulting in a collaborative effort for Ruger’s RXD30Ti suppressors developed with Dead Air Silencers. Benelli’s AI shotgun barrel technology, Hornady ammunition and Security products; and Canik TTI pistols; these are just a few things to look forward to until the next OSG Roundtable. Join the conversation with Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole and Managing Editor Jack Oller.

Garry James answers readers’ letters concerning firearms and accoutrements in “Gun Room,” a long-standing column that you’ll find towards the front of each issue of Guns & Ammo magazine. In this episode of Guns & Ammo’s “The Buzz” podcast, Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole and Field Editor Keith Wood interview Mr. James to learn the influences on his life, including his Hollywood-actor parents and his service in the U.S. Army as an Ordnance officer stationed in England. Mr. James is the longest serving contributor to Guns & Ammo, first being published in 1972. He was also the 9th editor-in-chief of Guns & Ammo, a position he held from September 1997 to August 2001. In his 53rd year of contributing to the pages of G&A, James still replies to letters, researches and writes compelling features on pre-World War II arms and ammunition. To send a question and photos about a firearm-related subject for his consideration, email gaeditor@outdoorsg.com.

Guns & Ammo’s Eric Poole and Patrick Sweeney are joined by Federal Premium’s Christopher Laack to discuss the .32 Harrington & Richardson (H&R) Magnum and the .327 Federal Magnum. Sweeney tested and compared modern loads for these cartridges in Ruger and Smith & Wesson revolvers in “More Than Retro,” an exclusive feature in the October 2025 issue of Guns & Ammo. These .32s are enjoying a resurgence in the concealed carry revolver segment with introductions in 2025, including S&W's Model 642 “The Ultimate Carry Revolver.”  Laack discusses the engineering that led to the .327 Federal introduction to advance bullet performance and increase capacity potential in small-frame revolvers, while Sweeney recounts his experience and test results.  The .32s are based on a .312-diameter bullet. When compared to .32 S&W and .32 S&W Long, the .32 H&R was considered a “magnum” when introduced in 1984, but the .327 Federal was a leap forward when it was introduced with modern bullets in 2008 for the Ruger SP101 and LCR. A joint venture between Federal Premium and Sturm, Ruger, & Co., Guns & Ammo re-evaluated the .327 Federal with the original SP101 prototype in .32 H&R Mag., which was re-chambered and marked “.327” over the “.32 H&R" stamping. With the new Federal Hyra-Shok Deep, engineers have renewed the .32 H&R Magnum's credentials as a viable self-defense cartridge for the modern era. Learn more about the development, details, and ballistic potential of each cartridge in this episode of Guns & Ammo’s “The Buzz Podcast."

Guns & Ammo Rifle and Optics Editor and former Special Forces sniper Tom Beckstrand discusses the 25 Creedmoor rifle setup that he used to shoot the 2025 Hornady Precision Rifle Challenge match in Utah.  Beckstrand highlights his military career as well as his history with the Precision Rifle Series.  Beckstrand is joined by Guns & Ammo Field Editor Keith Wood. www.precisionrifleseries.com

Mass-producing factories in Turkey manufacture, re-create and innovate firearms for the world market. The U.S. is Turkey’s largest customer. After visiting nine gun-making companies in Turkey during February 2025, Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief interviewed SDS Arms Engineer Gaines Davis with Handgun Editor James Tarr. Davis lives and works for several months annually in Turkey to train, engineer and inspect firearms produced for SDS Arms, including those for Military Armament Corp., Tokarev, Tisas, Spandau, and Inglis. He relates how Turkish culture, craftsmanship, and values combine to produce high-quality firearms and accessories to exceed expectations of the American gun enthusiast.

Jason Burton is the owner of Heirloom Precision and one of the most sought-after pistolsmiths in the trade. His passion for shooting the 1911 led him to dedicating his career to elevating John Browning’s masterpiece to its functional and esthetic peak. He operates a one-man shop where he creates bespoke pistols one at a time until the job is complete. An active competitive shooter, Burton won the Arizona IDPA Championship in 2002. Burton is a professional member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild and is the Co-Author of the Vicker’s Guide to the 1911 Volumes 1 & 2. The interview with Jason Burton was hosted by Guns & Ammo Field Editor Keith Wood.

The Savage Revel revives the brand’s history in making lever-actions. It is available in either a Classic model with straight grip or a Deluxe model with a curved grip and enhanced stock. Both .22 rimfire lever-action rifles proved fun and reliable to shoot and are very affordable. Field Editor Craig Boddington tested and evaluated this pair for Guns & Ammo’s August 2025 issue. Boddington compares the inspiration for these lever guns, as well as the details, with Managing Editor Jack Oller and Editor-in-Chief Eric R. Poole. The August 2025 issue of Guns & Ammo appears on newsstands July 8, 2025. Pick up your copy today to read more about modern lever actions! Visit www.gunsandammo.com to see more.

Handgun Editor James Tarr is a former police officer and private investigator who describes his journey to becoming a USPSA Grand Master, successful science-fiction book author, and frequent contributor to the world’s most widely read firearm publications. Recognized for wearing Hawaiian shirts to conceal his everyday carry, his insights offer thoughtful considerations regarding firearms and the EDC lifestyle. This episode of “The Buzz” podcast is a one-on-one interview hosted by Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole.

Guns & Ammo interviews Century Arms’ Vice President of Business Development and Marketing Adam Ruonala and discusses the popular Canik line of handguns including the Mete MC9 Prime in 9mm, which appears in the July 2025 issue. Unlike most Canik models made in Turkey, the Mete MC9 Prime is made in the U.S. and represents a complete collection of current trends. The Mete MC9 Prime is an optic-ready pistol with an RMSc footprint and has a compensated barrel and slide that keeps muzzle rise to a minimum. The gold-anodized trigger safety calls attention to the flat face and incredibly smooth pull, while an excellent texture enhances every contact point and grip surface.   Discussing the growth and changes to Century Arms’ Canik line is Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole and Handgun Editor James Tarr, who evaluated the Mete MC9 Prime for Guns & Ammo’s coverstory.

From a young Georgia boy, to combat as a U.S. Marine EOD Tech, to becoming a Fox News contributor, Johnny Joey Jones discusses his career becoming a journalist and reflects on life in and out of uniform. This New York Times bestselling author of “Unbroken Bonds of Battle” also announces his next book, “Behind the Badge,” a profile of first responders, including firefighters and law enforcement who repeatedly brave peril through dramatic acts of courage to better our lives. On sale June 17, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/books/behind-the-badge This episode of The Buzz podcast is hosted by Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole, a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the magazine’s editor since 2013.

David Westerhout went from competing as a javelin thrower for the UK in 1954 and representing England as a 400-meter hurdler in 1958 to shooting in the World Combat Pistol Championships in 1977 for Rhodesia. Westerhout gained notoriety for his dryfire training that led to victory. As Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, he competed in the rapid-fire pistol event at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Russia. Field Editor Keith Wood traveled to Zimbabwe to interview Westerhout, one of the most unlikely world champion shooters the sport has known.

The Springfield Armory Kuna is a 9mm SMG-style pistol that can be configured with a folding brace. It features bilateral controls and a reversible, folding charging handle. The AR-pattern pistol grip and funneled magazine well wears Springfield Armory’s Adaptive Grip Texture, the same that appears on popular models such as the Hellcat and Echelon series. The Kuna’s reliability and ease of control is provided by a simply roller-delayed blowback system, including a lightweight bolt assembly that moves smoothly within a machined aluminum receiver. Magazines were design specifically for the Kuna and are transparent, which provides the user a visual status check on capacity levels. The muzzle brake/compensator is extremely effective. For Guns & Ammo’s evaluation, a short and lightweight Banish 9K and Aimpoint ACRO C-2 was used to further test the Kuna’s reliability with increased backpressure and its accuracy potential. Following the announcement of the Springfield Armory Kuna on April 15, 2025, Jim Tarr, author of Guns & Ammo’s review of the Kuna (“Wild Weasel,” July 2025), joined Mike Humphries, media relations manager for Springfield Armory, and Eric R. Poole, editor-in-chief, to discuss one of the hottest new firearms.

Don’t miss the June 2025 issue of Guns & Ammo, which lands on newsstands on May 6th. It features James Tarr’s review of the Springfield Armory Kuna 9mm, a roller-locked semiautomatic pistol with an optional Strike Industries folding brace. Also inside, is Jack Oller’s report on the Savage Stance XR 9mm pistol with Crimson Trace CTS-1500 red-dot sight and Alfredo Rico’s tour of Sellier & Bellot’s ammunition factory in the Czech Republic to celebrate its 200 anniversaries. Patrick Sweeney rejoins Guns & Ammo to highlight the return of the Smith & Wesson “no-lock” Classic Series of revolvers, and Dave Emary concludes the 5-part series on World War II bolt-action sniper rifles. Also featured is a Proofhouse of the Benelli 828U in 20 gauge, Dead Air Suppressors’ Mohave 45, the Holosun DRS-TH thermal sight for rifles, and Caldwell’s amazingly fun, clay-throwing  ClayCopter. Find these stories and more in the June 2025 issue of Guns & Ammo. This episode of The Buzz podcast is hosted by Guns & Ammo Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole, Managing Editor Jack Oller and Handgun Editor James Tarr.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed legislation that will ban the manufacture and severely restrict the possession of many semiautomatic firearms, including most semiautomatic rifles and pistols that feature a detachable magazine. The law goes into full effect in August 2026. Field Editor Keith Wood went on assignment to the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia, where he interviewed Dr. David Kopel, attorney and gun rights advocate, and Jordan Egli and Phillip Harding, employees of Burris Optics and Steiner, which are based in Colorado. Burris has been in Colorado for more than 50 years and will be subject to the state’s changing landscape and forthcoming restrictions.

Eric Poole, Jack Oller and Jim Tarr talk about the features and columns in the May ’25 issue, which hits newsstands on April 1st. You can read about Ed Brown’s 25th Anniversary and the Kobra Carry G4 Dual Caliber Kit, an upgrade that affords shooters the choice between shooting 9mm or .45 ACP. Also featured in the May issue are features on Smith & Wesson’s Model 1854 Stealth Hunter in .45 Colt, a round-up of new guns and ammo from the NSSF SHOT Show, and Part III of the World War II Sniper Rifle Series by Dave Emary featuring the Mosin Nagant 91-30 PU.

Sellmark Corporation is a Texas-based manufacturer led by founder and CEO James Sellers. In this episode, Sellers discusses thermal technology and its commercial evolution from the battlefield with Guns & Ammo’s Editor-in-Chief Eric Poole and Rifle & Optics Editor Tom Beckstrand. The conversation includes highlights such as the latest Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF thermal imaging riflescopes and Dark30, a thermal camera that can be mounted to various motor vehicles and off-road UTVs.

D’Arcy Echols has spent the last five decades building custom sporting rifles. His dedication to his craft and attention to detail has made him one of the most sought-after gunmakers in the trade. As a lifelong backcountry hunter and professional guide, Echols brings vast real world field experience to his building approach. We discuss Echols’ background, career progression, and the evolution of his rifle designs including deep-dive on his iconic Legend rifle and the process of creating the new LX-1.