Real guns. Real range time. Real decisions.
Most gun reviews end when the writer finishes the review. Mine often begin there. Field Notes follows the firearms, optics, ammunition, ranges and equipment I'm actually considering, buying and using — including what works for me, what doesn't, what changes my mind and what I'd do differently.
How much performance can you buy before the improvements become hard to see? A value look at custom 2011s versus my Perfect Zero-tuned Springfield Prodigy with a Cyelee Bull X Pro.
Why I chose the Cyelee Bull X Pro for my Springfield Prodigy after waiting on the Holosun 507-PROMAX — window size, 2 MOA dot, RMR footprint, and a $237.80 price that settled it.
A productive MyRangeBuddy range session with the Springfield M1A, SIG P320 and Glock 43X, including M1A zeroing progress, optic impressions and a 43X laser check.
The SIG P211 GTO Spectre is on my shortlist. Here is why I'm considering it, what I'm comparing it against, and why I'm waiting for the right deal.
Last Updated: September 12, 2026
A real-world 200-yard range session with the Tikka T3x TAC A1 and Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. See how both precision rifles performed and what the target revealed.
After watching a 2027 countdown name the ZEV OZ9 #1, I realized my own safe queen had already earned that spot. Here's what rediscovering it taught me.
My SIG P320 optic died at the range, but excellent co-witness iron sights kept the session going. Here is what the experience taught me about backup sights and battery checks.
After spending too much time in the safe, the ZEV OZ9 became one of my favorite pistols after multiple range sessions. Here's what changed my mind.
A real ownership report on the Springfield Prodigy DS AOS Comp — the thumb-safety issue, the PerfectZero correction, and why this is a Field Note, not a launch-day review.
Last Updated: August 30, 2026
A first range report on the Beretta 1301 after shooting buckshot and slugs — why it earned its reputation, what surprised me, and what I'm still testing before calling it settled.
Last Updated: August 30, 2026
The ZEV OZ9 with the bronze barrel was a curiosity purchase. Several range sessions later it's become the pistol I reach for first — here's why, and where it still falls short.
Last Updated: August 28, 2026
Research notes on the Girsan Witness 2311 Match X — the value case, the risk, and what I'd need to see before spending the money.
These notes are the same thinking I bring to a firearm selection consultation. If you'd rather work through hand fit, recoil and budget in person, we can do that on the range during a private range session in Northern New Jersey.
Ask me about a consultationField Notes reflects personal experience and general product research. Firearms, ammunition and accessories should be used only in accordance with manufacturer instructions and all applicable laws. MyRangeBuddy content is not legal advice.