The 2nd Best Gun Podcast

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris hash it out over John Browning's most recognizable creation, the 1911 Government Model and its descendants.Few handguns have garnered as much interest in the firearms community, and the guys try to figure out the factors behind their longevity and reputation. This one goes long, guys, touching almost 45 minutes, so clear some space, it's worth it.Here are a few timestamps if you want to skip ahead. 00:20 The All-American Handgun (back-to-back world war champ)01:40 The Davinci of gun design (or maybe Gretzky)03:50 What makes it so special?05:20 So that's what that loop is for!07:30 It even has an air-to-air kill (possibly). 08:50 GWOT 1911 rebuilds13:20 Railguns and keeping it new15:10 10 mike-mike makes it magic (and don't forget .38 Super)17:40 And, yes, for some reason, they make it in 9mm as well. 19:20 Give me what you love about the 191121:20 Can we give it up for Para-Ordnance, man?22:50 Giving up trigger crisp for drop safety25:50 The competition shooters of the 1980s are the brands of today31:10 What is the 3011 going to look like?34:01 Favorite 1911s today

Chris and Alexander have covered lots of ground when it comes to gun lore over the past few years, and on this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, they talk about guns that should have been. Vaporware is a term borrowed from the computer industry for a product that has been advertised but either never made it past the concept phase or is still somehow "coming soon" even years later. We know a bunch of guns like that. Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:01:04 Teddy Roosevelt and M1903 suppressors.02:40 Alex pines for the AN-94 (yup, his commie gun obsession shines through early).04:05 Stoner 63 and StG-44 Sporters (and good American AKs).08:30 Magpul, quit playing with our emotions, man. We're fragile. (The FDP is now shipping, tho).15:40 Kraut space magik.17:20 Gyrojets, the Dardick, and the unobtanium WA2000.18:30 Please make the Bushmaster Arm Pistol work.19:40 Can we get a Sedgley Glove Gun? Fedorov Avtomat? FG-42? New SVT?

With bags packed, tired feet, and full hearts, the Guns.com crew hung around to bring you one last podcast episode from SHOT Show 2026. The guys hit the ground running for Industry Day at the Range on Monday and haven't stopped since, so there's lots to recap from their adventures in Vegas. It's a good Friday evening to take it easy and hear about what's new in the gun world, so get comfortable and tune in as we wrap up a hectic and exciting week. We still have lots more post-event coverage to come, so don't forget to check in with Guns.com next week for the latest firearms news.

The Guns.com gang is back on the airwaves, a little the worse for wear a few days into SHOT Show 2026 coverage, but nonetheless excited to share more discoveries from the show floor. Alexander and Chris give a rundown of their favorite products they found yesterday, and (spoiler alert) Flux Defense features prominently in this episode. There's still more to come, so stay tuned for tomorrow's episode as the guys wrap up the week in Vegas with their final reflections on the big event.

Alexander and Chris are back with our second daily dispatch from SHOT Show 2026, bringing you the hot goss on the latest and greatest finds from the show floor. If you're interested in combating drones, sick AK builds, and SCAR suppressors ... stay tuned. From the big new releases to surprise finds, the Guns.com crew has everything you need to know from SHOT, so kick back with a cold – or hot – one and enjoy the show.

The Guns.com crew laid hands on a lot of new guns at the SHOT Show 2026 Industry Range Day on Monday, and Alex and Chris are here with the tea on the guns they liked and loved.

With the chill in the air and coats out of storage, Alexander and Chris sat down for the latest 2nd Best Gun Podcast to discuss the phenomenon of "winter carry" and whether you should bother to rotate your EDC.Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:0:25 Breaking out the white tape for the FALs2:19 Winter carry?3:01 I still don't know why we did that5:10 The mighty Minx6:19 That's a beefy boy8:58 The importance of lead equity with any choice11:20 Pocket carry to the gym14:01 That's a nice junk sack, ma'am.16:50 One mag is no mag.18:30 The Hemsworth "Red Dawn" doesn't exist in this timeline19:20 Putting the "pistol" back in PCCs21:15 Why are they so short, man?26:05 Modular carry with protein-rich options.30:40 Self rescue a la carte.34:01 Alex used to Mex carry a C96 Bolo.

Dialing it back to the 1960s in this week's 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris weigh in on Mr. Eugene Stoner's most oft-forgotten child. While Stoner will always be remembered for the AR-7, AR-10, AR-15, AR-18, and SR-25, his Model 63 has slipped through the cracks. But why?Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:00:30 The Father of the Black Rifle01:28 Forgotten Weapons call out before the two-minute mark03:00 The name we are looking for is Cadillac Gage (kinda)03:30 Stoner 6204:40 Stoner 63/63A05:10 Even used different links, man07:40 Different bolts for different folks08:30 Modularity, of a sort11:10 Stoner 63, is that you?13:10 Never officially adopted twinkies14:45 SCAR predecessor15:20 Enter Robinson Armament and the semi-auto S6317:10 Forgotten Weapons call out redux19:30 Can we get a 10-pound belt-fed LMG, man?21:40 If someone could just give it a chance23:15 The KAC LAMG24:40 Eger zones out on DA/SA double-stack 9mm pistols for some reason27:00 Alex brings it back to the Stoner 63 and lands the plane (then invokes Ian McCollum again).

On this week’s 2nd Best Gun Podcast, we hang out with Logan Windfeldt, head of product development at Maxim Defense. Maxim has been cooking up some really cool stuff in the past couple of years while looking to strike a tender deal. Although details of the deal are scant, the resulting technology and how they have implemented it into their latest guns are impressive. Logan talks us through a couple of new guns and what makes them special. Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead: 00:37 - New integrally suppressed .300 BLK rifle2:32 - Deeper dive on the can and gas block3:45 - Shooting schedule and full auto4:20 - Typical titanium…5:47 - Sourcing parts and adding value7:54 - R&D and the story behind the gun8:52 - Cross compatibility11:15 - The QD cup frustration is real11:45 - Unique QD cups and buffer tube13:04 - Enhanced BCG13:47 - Special coating for shooting suppressed in extreme conditions15:52 - Impressive numbers on testing16:40 - More benefits of the coating18:27 - SOCOM testing numbers and cycles19:25 - The new SBR21:05 – Tip-to-butt features24:28 - Operator feedback26:46 - What’s most exciting, and what’s coming next?

On this week's 2nd Best Gun Podcast, we got to hang out with the president of Maxim Defense and find out all the company lore, which may or may not include ninja grappling hooks. Maxim started with just one employee in 2014 —Michael Windfeldt, who is still at the top of the ever-growing company a decade later —and we find out how this small shop became a household name and one of the biggest disruptors in the industry. Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:00:15 Grand poo-bah01:01 Florida roots, DPMS water03:15 PDW/CQB demands, Gemtech and JP Rifles05:20 10x10 basement booth at SHOT '1607:45 Right place and right time to pick up a suppressor R&D team10:20 Pivoting12:15 Vacuums and Silicon Valley proving ground14:00 Ninja Warrior Enterprises17:20 How it all comes together22:45 Brace yourself25:30 From idea in the morning to prototype in the afternoon29:05 PDX pistol will be big for 202630:01 Maxims are becoming plot points in TV shows32:20 Pushing the envelope on two-stamp guns41:15 New cartridges offer challenges that are worth it

On this week's 2nd Best Gun Podcast, we had a sit-down with GunTuber Johnny Q and dug into his backstory – which is surprising.If you don't already know, Johnny Q has millions of followers on YouTube, but the journey of how he got there is interesting and brings up the overall question of why we buy guns.Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:0:15 Kind of a big deal. (That started with spin art)1:40 3 million followers in two years2:02 Putting on the badge3:40 "Good question..."4:30 The flashlight guy5:20 It's all in the shorts6:10 People just do not like O-lights (no matter what Ben thinks)8:20 Let the hate flow through you11:30 We used to be on YouTube14:20 The three "Es."16:30 Why do we talk guns? Philosophy of Pew ensues.

How the ideal firearm worthy of your daily routine has developed over time is the subject posed to our in-house EDC nerds on this week's 2nd Best Gun Podcast. Alexander and Chris sit down in the studio to weigh in on how the human-packable gattable has evolved.Here are some timestamps if you want to jump ahead:0:40 The Great Equalizer1:30 Ugg and M'gugg were strapped (all the time)3:40 Something about their person5:15 Better than a sharp poke in the eye5:59 Enter Mr. Browning with all the ACPs8:50 All about status9:40 Running rabbits, lemon squeezers, and $2 pistols12:01 Thunderstruck flappers14:02 Keep those packages coming, folks15:00 How it was done on the Continent18:20 The American way21:00 It's so...small23:20 Ugg and M'gugg pop back up24:58 Alex really likes Mel Gibson26:25 EDC has become a personality29:05 Junk Sacking it30:30 Embigging the EDC

How best to clothe and feed your favorite light machine gun is the subject of this full-auto heavy installment of The 2nd Best Gun Podcast.00:34 "Like" in the Last Samurai, right?02:20 Those pesky Danes04:50 Banana War escapades05:20 Three Germans walk into a BAR...07:22 These LMGs are meant for walking (fire)08:30 That's me Bren gun!09:50 Alex nerds out on commie guns or something10:40 I want my Stoner 6312:10 FN makes a convertible13:00 HK for the win, but does it come with crayons?14:30 It feels awkward now17:40 Slowing down those LMGs19:30 The duel continues

Join Chris and Alexander for a tour through history as they discuss their favorite guns from the World War II era.01:10 Also-ran guns03:20 Super sleeper guns05:40 Paging Mr. Johnson...07:01 Chicago typewriters07:40 H&R does SMG11:01 Marlin's unsung sub gun13:21 Again, Mr. Johnson...17:39 They just loved those little guns, man22:40 Vut about a side-loading 8mm machinegun, ja?25:15 The Ikea rifle26:50 The 11mm 191129:45 Don't count out the French33:20 From the Vatican to the Viipuri front

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris sit down to argue about the need and place for new calibers on the market. With cased cartridges available for over 200 years – Swiss gunsmith Jean Samuel Pauly is generally credited with inventing the first fully integrated self-contained cartridge in 1812 – literally hundreds of calibers have come and, in many cases, gone. So, is anything left to be created?00:30 Somebody thinks there's room.05:10 What's a gun's lifespan?06:20 Does it really not get any better than 9mm?09:23 The everlasting people's champ!11:42 It just seems like everything old is new again12:55 You have to have the guns to use it!14:20 Buy...why?15:15 The secret sauce (unlocking the coefficient)17:40 Making your way uphill to acceptance 20:01 Awaken the sleepers22:50 Forced to reload25:02 Moving forward

The guys sit down to talk about the stubby guns that some people love, some people hate, and some people just love to hate on. Bullpups undeniably have a place in the world of defensive guns, even hunting and precison guns can make a case, but where people stand on those issues couldn't be more polarizing.We're here to talk about some of the bullpups we've been shooting lately and to break down all the pros vs cons. 1:03: The 10,000 ft view on bullpups3:59  No, the AUG was not the first7:10 The Great British hype10:55 Downsides of the 'pup17:07 Moving away from the 'pup18:08 Yet the innovation, the innovation, man20:12 Are bullpups over?

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris sit down to talk about that seemingly unkillable of firearms actions: the lever action "cowboy gun." As American as the chili dog and Rocky road ice cream, the lever gun is over 175 years old and should be obsolete, but has instead become an enduring classic that has, perhaps, never been more popular. 01:00 It's all very, very American03:10 More deer shot at...03:45 The Gunsmoke effect06:10 Remlins in the mist07:08 Ruger enters the game09:35 Smith "returns" 12:05 No slouch in home defense13:10 The quiet game 15:40 Just good, wholesome, plinking, man18:45 The lever-vantage!21:08 You aren't shooting your grandpa's lever gun ammo

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris sit down and hash out what they feel are the worst guns they have come across in their travels. The guys have been in the business for a minute, so they have seen a lemon or three. Ironically, some of these are so bad they are cool, and have become wildly collectible and sought-after. And remember, this is all in the eye of the beholder.1:28 I mean, they gave them 2 (TWO) for free3:06 But it was only $69 for a brand-new pistol6:05 Pot metal is still a type of metal, right?7:03 There's no terrible milsurp guns, are there?8:37 "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could..."10:15 Greatness from small beginnings11:56 Plummer's dream14:40 I blame Jurassic Park15:30 Beautiful, but mechanically suspect16:40 The Faygo Cola of 1911s18:13 The gun everyone loves to hate20:20 A pain-bringer is a whole different thing

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris sit down and talk about their favorite historical burp guns. Pistol-caliber submachine guns have over 100 years of history, pre-dating the NFA by a generation, and the guys are true fans. Uzi does it!0:18 You want I should go get a Babka, huh? Maybe a submarine sandwich?1:50 Why the sub gun?4:50 Failure to learn from history8:10 Handguns kinda suck11:30 Bringing too much gun12:15 Bridging the gap13:30 I'm not going to not shoot a sub gun13:50 MP40 love14:30 Craftsmanship goes right out the window15:20 Bicycle workshop STENs16:20 Can we please get a 7.62x25 Renaissance?17:50 Cold War Classics18:30 The downfall of the SMG20:10 With great conflict comes great regression23:01 Millions and millions of little mushroom men...24:40 Is the PCC the SMG we have at home?26:00 Do you need a mustache to run that gun?27:20 Oddball favorite sub guns

On this episode of the 2nd Best Gun Podcast, Alexander and Chris delve into the world of modern compensated and/or ported handguns and what makes them so suddenly popular.1:01 Comped Pistol History1:58 The Best Punisher is Dolph Lungren3:20 Downsides of Comped Pistols4:30 Flash! (And we don't mean Barry Allen)7:59 More Powah!9:40 Try it before you buy it11:10 The Upsides of Using a Comped Gun13:10 But what will it do to your CoD Stats?15:39 Compensated 380s?18:45 Southpaw bennies