Gun Reviews

Here is a list of gun reviews conducted here at BlueSheepdog.com. We review a wide range of firearms including back up guns, duty pistols, shotguns and rifles.

A Florida police officer stands in uniform, carefully aiming a Smith & Wesson handgun at a shooting range target. The officer’s focus is evident as they grip the firearm with both hands, maintaining proper shooting posture. The handgun gleams slightly under the bright outdoor sunlight, showcasing its clean, polished finish. In the background, paper targets are set up at varying distances, some with visible marks from prior shots. The range itself has a neat, open layout, with safety barriers and a few spent casings scattered on the ground. This scene captures a moment of precision and professionalism as the officer tests the firearm’s performance.

Below are the firearms articles we have written:

Handgun Reviews: Revolvers and Pistols

Handguns are some of the most important tools that a police officer will carry. Should you ever need it, it must be reliable and accurate. A poorly functioning service pistol can result in tragic consequences. Some of the guns discussed here are also good for concealed carry and home defense.

Comparing the Beretta PX4C Storm and Nano Subcompact Pistols – Walt Rauch takes a look at these two diminutive handguns being made by Beretta. Both offers significant features, but are remarkably different. Is either – or both – worth the money?
Diamondback DB9 Review – Randall provides the best run down on the Diamondback DB9 pistol I have seen on the internet. Not only does he give the gun a real range workout, he fills us in on the history of the company.
Gen4 Glock 17 Review by Walt Rauch – This is another fantastic review by Walt Rauch. Rauch takes a no-holds-barred look at the Gen 4 Glock 17, the problems with the third generation pistols and what the potential problems with the Gen4 guns will be.
Glock 19 RTF2 review – This is an in-depth evaluation of the RTF2 version of the Glock 19. For those who don’t know, the RTF2 is a third generation pistol with some ergonomic changes. It does not have the interchangeable backstraps.
HK VP9SK – Aaron takes us through the features and benefits of the new Heckler & Koch VP9SK compact pistol. Sadly, no red dot sight option yet.
Micro Nines: The Snubs of the 21st Century – Mike Boyle takes a look at different compact and subcompact 9mm pistols and the role they play in law enforcement. Where the snub-nose revolver made the perfect undercover and backup gun in the last century, the 9mm may fill that role in this century.
North American Arms 22MS Revolver Review by Walt Rauch – Police & Security News contributor, Walt Rauch, gives us the skinny on the NAA mini revolver and its use as a last-ditch, backup gun.
Ruger AR-556 MPR – Aaron gives us the rundown on the new Ruger MPR rifle. Part of the AR-556 line, this gun looks like a winner.
Ruger LC380 Review – Larger than the LCP, but still chambered in the mild .380 ACP cartridge, the LC380 is an easy shooting pistol that proved to be very reliable.
SIG Sauer P938 Nightmare Review by Walt Rauch – Rauch delivers an outstanding review of the SIG P938 in Nightmare trim. It is well worth the read.
SIG SAUER P229 E2 Review by Walt Rauch – The E2 series of guns from SIG SAUER introduces a number of new features making the guns easier to shoot and operate. Rauch takes a look at those changes and if they are beneficial or just smoke and mirrors.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review – Randall runs the Bodyguard 380 through range and carry time to provide a detailed review on this pocket pistol.
Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols for Law Enforcement – Richard gives an overview of the M&P pistol line and explains why he thinks it is the best pistol on the market for law enforcement. With an optional threaded barrel, you can attach a suppressor – good for SWAT officers anticipating an indoor environment. The article includes a 30+ minute video on the handguns.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Review by Walt Rauch – Rauch takes an in-depth look at the new S&W Shield pistol, plus gets it out to the range for some testing.
Springfield XD(M) 3.8 Review by Walt Rauch – A practical evaluation of the Springfield XD(M) 3.8 by veteran writer Walt Rauch. He gives an honest assessment of the polymer pistol in this review.
Springfield XDS Review – Thinking about buying one of those new XD-S .45 ACP pistols from Springfield Armory? Well, you might want to read this handgun review from expert Walt Rauch. He gives it a very thorough work out.
Walther PPQ M2 Review – The updated PPQ pistol from Walther gets a hard look in this evaluation of the pistol for on and off duty work. Does it pass muster?

Rifle Reviews

The term tactical may be a bit overplayed in the gun industry. However, tactical rifles are the kinds of long arms we are reviewing here. While some of these guns may also work in a hunting capacity, they are not reviewed from that perspective. Instead, we are looking at their usefulness and capabilities in the hands of a police offer or deputy sheriff facing an armed criminal. We want to know: how reliable they are, what accuracy do they offer, what kinds of optics to they take, which ammo loads offer the best performance.

Colt LE6940P Review – We take a hard look at the next generation piston AR-15 from Colt. Does it live up to the hype?
FN Special Police Rifle Review – Looking for a precision rifle for your sniper team? Take a look at this review of FN’s special police rifle.

Tactical Shotgun Reviews

Classic side-by-side and over/under shotguns are not what we are discussing here. We are reviewing guns intended for years of hard service stopping criminals. We tend to appreciate 12 gauge shotguns more than others, and we go hands-on with these guns to make sure they meet our standards for recommendation. Maybe we’re old school, but when choosing which to buy, we want you to have a good selection of excellent scatterguns that are capable of long-term service.

Beretta 1301 Tactical Shotgun – This semi-automatic shotgun from Beretta was a near-instant hit with many shooters. It did well in our testing, and we thought it was one of the best semi-auto shotguns on the market for law enforcement and home defense use.

A female police detective stands at an outdoor shooting range, intently testing a compact pistol. She holds the firearm with a firm grip, her stance steady as she lines up a shot. The pistol's sleek, minimal design reflects its practicality for both on-duty use and concealed carry. The range is well-lit, with paper silhouette targets visible in the distance, showing a few scattered bullet holes. The detective’s professional attire—business casual with a badge clipped to her belt—adds to her confident demeanor. This moment captures her evaluating the pistol’s handling, accuracy, and overall suitability for her needs.

Magazine and Accessory Reviews

Guns are only part of the package. Many times, the ammunition selection and other gear you choose can make a large impact on how well you perform with a given firearm. From the classic 1911 to the latest striker-fired handguns, there are many ways to improve your potential performance with the right accessories.

Ameriglo Agent Night Sights – Aaron takes a look at the Agent Night Sights on his Glock 22 pistol. How do they stack up against the stock night sights? Take a read for the full evaluation.
Carlson’s Tactical Breacher Muzzle Brake – For a tactical team needing to make emergency entry during a hostage rescue, defeating a door quickly is imperative. This specially designed muzzle brake helps you do just that.
CrossBreed SuperTuck Holster Review – In this review, Aaron takes a look at the IWB rig from CrossBreed that launched the hybrid holster design. It proved to be a solid performer, though I was surprised by one thing.
ETS Glock 42 and Glock 43 Magazines – We take a look at the cheapest Glock 43 magazines on the market, and it turns out they are pretty good. At less than $15 each, they are impressive.
Fixxxer Front Sight Tool – Designed for Glock pistols, the Fixxxer allows for a quick and easy replacement of your front sight. In this review, Aaron replaced the sights on his Glock 22 and shows the tool in action.
In Pursuit of the Ultimate Retention Holster by Captain Mike Boyle – Captain Boyle looks at the history of retention holsters and what is currently available for police officers.
ITW FastMag Review – Aaron gives us a great review of the FastMag system from ITW. Lots of details pictures, plus a video to show them in action.
J Dewey Pistol Cleaning Kit Review – The J Dewey Company makes some incredible cleaning kits, and we take a look at one of them.
Rusty’s Rags LE Pistol Care Kit Review – Detailed look at a pistol care kit from Rusty’s Rags. This was a great kit for the locker to keep your gun clean and running smooth.
Strike Industries Glock Grip Plug – Do you hate that hole in the back of your Glock’s pistol grip? Why not use it to store a tool. We review the updated Strike Industries Grip Plug.
Strike Industries Viper Enhanced AR-15 Pistol Grip – Strike Industries has a new set of AR pistol grips on the market. They offer a new angle on the standard grip and we have an early look.