G&A Online Editors - December 11, 2013

Update: Springfield Armory XD-S Recall

In Aug. 2013, Springfield Armory issued a voluntary safety recall for their .45 ACP and 9mm XD-S pistols.

Springfield Armory has since developed a solution to the potential problem, which includes a free upgrade service for every XD-S affected.

The upgrade includes a new grip safety and other internal components, which have been reported to make the action smoother than its original form.

To distinguish whether an XD-S has received the upgrade, simply inspect the outside of the grip safety without disassembling the gun. Pistols that have received the upgrade have a visible roll pin on the left and right side of the grip safety.

Any XD-S pistol that does not have a visible roll pin on its grip safety should be sent to Springfield for service.

Springfield is doing everything possible to ensure XD-S pistols are being serviced and returned to customers in a prompt time frame.

According to Springfield Armory, "We pledge to you that we are working as fast as we can, and have greatly increased our staff and number of shifts to ensure that we are leveraging every hour in the day."

They are also publishing updates to their website every Friday afternoon, regarding wait times, technical details and frequently asked questions.

If your pistol has been affected by the recall, be sure to follow the correct process for sending in a gun for service.

Shooting 600 Yards with .300 Blackout

The .300 Blackout cartridge was developed to provide greater effectiveness than a 9mm at short and medium ranges when fired from a short-barreled suppressed firearm. Just because the cartridge wasn't designed to go long doesn't mean Rifles & Optics Editor Tom Beckstrand won't take it there, using a large-format pistol, no less. Armed with SIG Sauer's 9-inch-barreled MCX Virtus Pistol loaded with Black Hills' 125-grain TMK ammunition, Beckstrand attempts to ring steel at 600 yards with help from Hornady's 4DOF ballistic calculator in this segment of “Long Range Tech.”

Guns & Ammo TV: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .375 H&H

The 6.5 Creedmoor and the .375 H&H are almost complete opposites, or are they? The 6.5 Creedmoor is a newer and popular cartridge that transcends long-range precision rifle shooting and hunting big game. The .375 H&H is more than a century old, but still a popular and versatile choice for hunting big and dangerous game. For this shoot, Pro Tom Beckstrand, former U.S. Army Special Operations officer and sniper team leader, faces off against Guns & Ammo TV cameraman Ben LaLonde in a challenge that highlights the differences between these two cartridges.

Umarex Air Ruger 10/22 Rifle Review

In this segment of "Guns & Ammo TV," Gun Tech Editor Richard Nance and Pro-Shooter Jim Tarr head to the range to wring out the Umarex Air Ruger 10/22.

Guns & Ammo TV: Wheelgun vs. Pistol

In this segment of “Pros vs. Joes,” we put competitive shooter and author James Tarr against Guns & Ammo TV cameraman Nathan Wilt. With handguns, they see who can knock down plates the fastest on two Revolution Targets Heavy Duty Plate Racks. Here's the catch: Tarr has to use a Colt King Cobra in .357 Mag. while Wilt shoots a Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 in 9mm.