Nick Hall

Nick Hall is a firearms expert with over 35 years behind the trigger. He started competitive shooting at 11, won his first match that same year, and hasn't stopped since. He runs USA Gun Shop, where he tracks 830+ gun safes and thousands of firearms across 200+ retailers. Every review on this site comes from hands-on testing, not press releases. If he hasn't shot it, he doesn't review it. Nick's work has been featured in Forbes, Playboy, and Tatler Asia. He's known for honest, blunt assessments that cut through marketing fluff. A $200 budget pistol gets the same straight verdict as a $3,000 precision rifle. Reach Nick directly at nick@usa-gun-shop.com.

8 Best Shotguns for the Money in 2026: Maximum Value at Every Price

September 15, 2026May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

CZ Redhead Premier walnut over-under, wood-stocked Mossberg 500 pump, black Franchi Affinity 3 semi-auto, and FDE Winchester SXP shotguns on a cedar bench at golden hour.

The 8 best value shotguns in 2026. Maximum performance per dollar from the $200 Maverick 88 to the $1,000 Mossberg 940 JM Pro.

Shotgun vs Rifle for Hunting: When to Use Each

May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

Wood-stocked Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun on the left facing right and black synthetic-stocked Remington 700 SPS bolt-action rifle on the right facing left, with a chrome stylized military stencil VS letterform centered between their muzzles, on a weathered cedar gunsmith bench at autumn golden hour with maple and oak foliage on the left transitioning to an open field on the right

Shotgun vs rifle for hunting compared. When to use each, legal requirements, effective range, terrain considerations, and which states restrict rifles for deer.

Canik Mete MC9 vs Sig P365: Budget Contender vs the King (2026)

September 15, 2026May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

Canik MC9 vs Sig P365 compared. The $400 budget contender takes on the micro compact king on trigger, capacity, size, and concealment.

Best AR-15 Upgrades in Order (2026): What to Buy First

July 15, 2026May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

The definitive AR-15 upgrade priority guide. We rank 8 upgrades in the exact order you should buy them, from optics to BCGs, with budget and premium picks for each.

Concealed Carry for Women: Practical Guns, Holsters, and Wardrobe Solutions (2026)

May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

How to choose a gun as a woman - woman selecting a concealed carry handgun

Women are the fastest-growing segment of gun owners, and concealed carry for women comes with unique challenges. This guide covers the best carry guns for smaller hands, holster options that work with women’s clothing, wardrobe solutions, and training resources.

Concealed Carry in Summer: How to Stay Armed When It’s 100 Degrees

May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

Sig Sauer P365 pistol on a desk in front of stock market screens

Summer heat makes concealed carry harder, but not impossible. Learn the best guns, holsters, carry positions, and wardrobe tricks to stay armed when it’s 100 degrees outside.

Ruger SP101 Review (2026): 500 Round Test of the Toughest Carry Revolver

May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

The Ruger SP101 is built like a tank and handles .357 Magnum in a carry-sized package. We put 500 rounds through the 2.25-inch model and tested it for concealed carry. Full review with live pricing.

Ruger Security-9 Review (2026): 500 Round Test of Ruger’s Budget 9mm

May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

Ruger Security-9 9mm pistol review — 500 round test

The Ruger Security-9 brings Ruger reliability to the budget 9mm market at around 300 dollars. We put 500 rounds through it and tested it for home defense and range duty. Full review with live pricing.

Best Gun Magnets and Quick-Access Mounts (2026)

July 13, 2026May 18, 2026 by Nick Hall

Top-down editorial flat-lay on a weathered wooden gunsmith workbench of six different quick-access gun mount products — Magna-Arm rubber-coated magnet, StealthShelf hidden-shelf mount, two generic black neodymium magnet mounts, a Lockdown safe-interior magnet, and a Crossbreed Bedside Backup Kydex holster — with a black Glock 19 Gen 6 9mm pistol staged horizontally for scale alongside mounting screws, 3M adhesive strips, a Phillips screwdriver and a small drill bit under warm tungsten workbench lamp

The best gun magnets and quick-access mounts keep your firearm secure yet instantly accessible. We tested 6 top picks for bedside, vehicle, desk, and concealed mounting locations.