Jon Wayne Taylor

Published in 2021

43 articles published in 2021, newest first.

43 articles · 2021/archive/2021/

Dec 31, 2021Gun Review: Henry Single Shot Shotgun in 12 gaugeAlthough relatively inexpensive, I wouldn’t call the Henry Single Shot Shotgun a “budget gun.” The folks at Rice Lake, Wisconsin didn’t skimp. Leave it to Henry to make the best ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Dec 15, 2021Lessons Learned from the Shooting of Officer Nathan HeidelbergLast week, a jury acquitted David Wilson of murdering Midland police Officer Nathan Heidelberg. That Wilson shot and killed Officer Heidelberg was never in doubt. Officer Heidelberg hadn’t fired at ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
Dec 15, 2021Gear Review: 80 Percent Arms GST-9: MOD1 Pistol Frame and JigLast year, I had a good time building an 80 Percent Arms GST-9, not quite GLOCK 19 pistol. That was a fun gun to build, and it has run without ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Dec 2, 2021The Last FallI’ve watched him. We all have. For years now, his sightings have been topics of conversation. If a neighbor passed him on the dirt road, they’d be sure to stop ...HuntingThe Truth About Guns
Nov 29, 2021Gun Review: TARA Aerospace TM-9X 9mm PistolOut of Montenegro, TARA Aerospace has introduced the newest version of their striker fired polymer framed duty gun, the TM-9X. What gets most of the media attention on the TM-9X ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Nov 27, 2021Gun Review: Ruger M77 Hawkeye African in 9.3x62mmA few years ago, on a south Texas Nilgai hunt with Bill Wilson, a fellow hunter hammered a big boar hog with a Ruger rifle chambered in 9.3X62mm. The absolutely ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Nov 4, 2021Silencer Review: AB Suppressor Raptor SilencerThe Aerocharger Ballistics (AB Suppressor) Raptor suppressor is one of those rare examples of elegant innovation in the silencer industry. Despite the company having several patents, there’s nothing here that’s earth ...SuppressorsThe Truth About Guns
Nov 1, 2021Trigger Review: Bushmaster DM2S Dedicated Marksman 2 Stage TriggerMy Parts Bin AR10’s mil spec-ish trigger certainly needed an upgrade, so when Dan said he had a new AR trigger to review, I was first in line. In went ...ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Oct 27, 2021Gear Review: The TOPS Knives Tom Brown Tracker #1 Fixed Blade KnifeI do a little work in Idaho and a whole lot of hunting there, too. About a year ago I stopped by Tops Knives to pick their brains, and pick ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Oct 4, 2021Gear Review: Crimson Trace Brushline Pro 3-12X42mm BDC RiflescopeCrimson Trace is a household name among shooters. Their lasers and laser grips have adorned innumerable handguns and several major firearm manufactures have included their laser aiming grips on their ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Sep 29, 2021Hodgon Announces Closing of Their Camp Minden, Louisiana Black Powder PlantIt’s not the end of the world, but I can see it from here. Hodgdon Powder Inc. has announced that, effective immediately, it will cease all manufacturing at their Camp ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
Sep 23, 2021Gun Review: M48 Nosler Custom Handgun in 7mm-08 RemingtonWelcome to the retro-future. The single shot, bolt action M48 Nosler Custom Handgun reaches back into shooting history to create one of the coolest, most effective hunting pistols of the ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Sep 20, 2021Gear Review: Pack & Load Range Ammo and Loader by The Right Tool CompanyLoading AR magazines takes time. Sometimes we need that time to relax and get our minds right, and sometimes we just need to get shooting. The Right Tool Company has ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Sep 9, 2021Gun Review: CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis MTR RifleWhen TTAG’s Jeremy S. asked me if I wanted to review a new CZ 457 rimfire rifle, I told him yes, and to just go ahead and have them send ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Sep 7, 2021Gun Review: F1 Firearms FDR-15 RifleF1 Firearms doesn’t really do basic ARs. Except when they do. Except not really. The F1 FDR-15 is about the most “Plane Jane” AR-15 in F1’s lineup. When it comes ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Aug 31, 2021The (Current) Truth About Afghanistan and Americans Who Have Been Left BehindDespite what some TTAG staff and members of my own family may have thought, I was not in Afghanistan and I haven’t been there in a decade. I wasn’t part ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
Aug 18, 2021Hunting in Africa: Unintended Consequences, or How I learned to Love the ZebraJust like it was a few months prior, the KLM plane from Amsterdam to Johannesburg is almost completely empty. My two traveling companions, plus myself, make up a third of ...HuntingThe Truth About Guns
Aug 12, 2021Gear Review: Darkside Dashboard by Kiote RiflesOn a recent prairie dog hunt with John Stewart, the owner of Kiote Rifles, I watched him pull out a tripod and screw a flat bracket to the top of ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jul 31, 2021Gear Review: Pnuma Outdoors 3L Element Rain Proof JacketIf you had asked me at the beginning of the year what would be my favorite piece of hunting gear for 2021, I would not have thought it would be ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jul 20, 2021Gun Review: The 2021 Colt Anaconda in .44 Remington MagnumThe 2021 version of the Colt Anaconda is the big-sister re-release of last year’s new Python. The Anaconda is just as smooth, just as pretty, but considerably more powerful. Shiny ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jul 13, 2021Gear Review: Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10x42mm Binoculars2021 has been a good year. So far, I’ve been hunting in South Africa, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, all over Texas, and more. I’ve gone after all sorts of African plains ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jul 2, 2021Book Review: ‘Born Ballistic’ by Bob NoslerHave you ever heard of Nosler Produce? What about Nosler Trucking? Did you know Nosler was once owned by Leupold, or that it took a generation to get it back ...BooksThe Truth About Guns
Jul 1, 2021DIY Home Build Number 4 – The 80% Arms AR-9 and Freedom for Rich White DudesOver the last year, I’ve made a solidly-performing 9mm polymer framed pistol, a fun AR-15 style rifle and a great “parts-bin” AR10 in 6.5 Creedmoor based on kits from 80% ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
Jun 13, 2021Training: The Fine Art and Critical Importance of Chilling OutI’ve been in some combat. I performed my role adequately, but I was by no means a super soldier. What I can hang my hat on: I gained the respect ...Training and TechniqueThe Truth About Guns
May 8, 2021BPI Longshot Event Features Bergara and CVA RiflesBPI picked a hell of a day to showcase their rifles. The night before the shoot, a huge thunderstorm moved through North Texas. At least one tornado touched down, golf ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
May 5, 2021Optic Review: Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 PR2-MIL RiflescopeThe Leupold Mark 5HD model is the best riflescope on the market, and the Mark 5HD 5-25×56 PR2-MIL may be the best of the Mark 5HD series. More than a ...OpticsThe Truth About Guns
Apr 29, 2021Gun Review: Bergara Premier Competition Rifle in 6.5 CreedmoorI’ve been shooting the just-announced Bergara Premier Competition rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor for months. Any discussion of it has been embargoed during that time. Beautiful people of TTAG, keeping this ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Apr 27, 2021Gear Review: Pnuma Outdoors Bino + Tech HarnessI didn’t go looking for the Pnuma Bino Tech Harness, but I’m glad I found it. Having previously given up on the entire binocular harness concept, I passed over the ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Apr 19, 2021Gun Review: Ruger M77 Hawkeye African in .375 RugerIt was hard to write this review. Even harder to write it honestly. Still, this is ‘The Truth About Guns,’ and I guess that’s what I’ll have to stick to. ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Apr 15, 2021Africa Hunt: The 3-Gun Gnu“Ah, the poor man’s Cape Buffalo.” And with that simple quip, George described both my fantasy and my reality. On our way north from Pretoria, our young Professional Hunter had ...HuntingThe Truth About Guns
Apr 2, 2021Gun Review: Ruger M77 Hawkeye FTW Hunter in .375 RugerFirmly established in grumpy-old-manhood, I don’t like surprises. It’s usually my kids making some pricey mistake, my doctor making an even pricier one, or the dogs bringing on an absolute ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Mar 30, 2021Optics Review: Maven RS.3 5-30×56 FFP RiflescopeMaven’s B.2 Binoculars impressed me. They’d be a solid pick for any hunter or birder. So unsurprisingly, when I set to reviewing their Maven RS.3 5-30X50 FFP rifle scope, my ...OpticsThe Truth About Guns
Mar 17, 2021Gear Review: NAR Tactical Operator Response Kit (TORK) First Aid KitIf you’re going to buy a basic trauma kit, the North American Rescue Tactical Operator Response Kit (TORK) is a great one. I got this kit from LA Police Gear. ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Mar 15, 2021Gun Review: Browning X-Bolt Western Hunter in 6.8 WesternNew for 2021, Browning has released their X-Bolt Western Hunter, a budget minded rifle aimed at hunters needing a lightweight rifle capable of taking big game at longer ranges. This ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Mar 12, 2021Update: 80% Arms AR10 Lower Receiver Complete BuildLast month I completed three different AR platform lower receivers using the 80% Arms Easy Jig Gen 3 Multi-Platform 80% Lower Jig. The Easy Jig is a great product, and ...Gun NationThe Truth About Guns
Mar 12, 2021Gun Review: IFC Radikal NK-1 12 Gauge Bullpup ShotgunI think the first time I saw it was at SHOT Show a couple years ago. I had forgotten all about it until it came up for review. It was ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Feb 23, 2021Book Review: Vickers Guide SIG Sauer Volume IHere’s what I know about SIG Sauer. The P210 is a joy to shoot and everybody should have one. The German-made P226 is a phenomenal duty sidearm by any standard. ...BooksThe Truth About Guns
Feb 23, 2021Gear Review: Maven 9×45 B.2 BinocularsSkimp on your rifle, but never skimp on glass. And if there’s one piece of hunting gear that matters more than any other, it’s not part of the weapon at ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Feb 14, 2021Gear Review: 80% Arms Easy Jig Gen 3 Multi-Platform 80% Lower JigThe 80% Arms GST-9 Pistol Built Kit I reviewed late last year was easily the best pistol lower build kit I’ve seen yet. It was window-licker simple and produced a ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jan 29, 2021Gun Review: Ruger New Model Blackhawk Convertible ‘Carry Hawk’Incongruous. INcongruous. InCONgruous? However you say it, surely the picture in the dictionary next to that word should be the “Carry Hawk” revolver, a new Talo Distributors Exclusive Blackhawk .45ACP/.45 ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jan 26, 2021Gear Review: Leupold RX-2800 TBR/W Laser RangefinderIt was a shot I would have likely passed on 20 years ago. On the very last afternoon of our special doe season here in the Texas hill country, the ...Gear ReviewThe Truth About Guns
Jan 11, 2021Book Review: Nosler Reloading Guide, 9th EditionIf I ever wanted to see my name in print, it would be as one of the cartridge introduction authors for the Nosler Reloading Guide. As Robert Browning would write, ...BooksThe Truth About Guns
Jan 11, 2021Gun Review: FN 509 LS Edge Long Slide 9mm PistolFN Herstal developed the FN 509 pistol to win the US Army and Air Force’s Modular Handgun System competition. That didn’t happen. I won. You won. We all won. Because ...Gun ReviewThe Truth About Guns