Well, SHOT show 2017 is in the books and as I could tell, a major success. Â Range day was a blast (pun intended) and afforded a huge number of firearms and ammunition manufacturers the opportunity to have clients, distributors and the media put hands on the products they want to get out the door. Â The […]
Machine Gun Armory’s SAW-K | Hands-on at SHOT Show 2017
Meeting up with Mike and Austin from Machine Gun Armory (MGA) for some hands-on time with their SAW-K, a much improved version of the old M249 squad automatic weapon quickly became one of my favorite memories from an eventful SHOT show. Â In the video below, Chief Operations Officer Austin Lockey walks us through the features […]
V Seven Weapon Systems | Enlightened Lower Review
It wasn’t that long ago I put out my first article, an interview with Joel from V Seven Weapons Systems.  In that interview, Joel let me know he would soon be releasing ultralight upper and lower receivers made from 2055 lithium-aluminum.  Fast forward the clock a few months and the receivers are on the market, joining other […]
Falcon 37 Habu Charging Handle | Initial Impressions
When a firearm platform has been around for a little while, major fixes to its shortcomings are addressed. Â When a platform has been around as long as Eugene Stoners AR-10/15 has, the big issues have been taken care of and new products offered for that line are either designed to add functionality or to correct […]
NeoMag Magnetic Pocket Mag Holder | First Impressions
Ever head out to the range for an informal day of shooting and decide to run mag change drills with your spare mag in your pants pocket?  Unless you carefully stage that mag  just right, it usually ends up an embarrassing display.  It should also serve as a flashing red warning light for those who […]
Leupold VX-6 1-6x Riflescope | First Impressions
While there are a number of quality optics manufacturers, few enjoy name brand recognition as widespread as Leupold and Stevens, Inc. Â A fifth generation family run business, the Beaverton, Oregon based corporation has annual sales exceeding $160 million and employs over 700 people. Â Leupold has long been known for their quality optics and “Gold Ring” […]
Mountain House Foods | Food for the Fight
Nearly fifty years ago, the U.S. Army’s Green Berets needed a better option for Long Range Patrol (LRP) rations. Â Team Green put out a contract and a company named Oregon Freeze Dry won that bid. Â The LRP rations that were produced were freeze dried pre-cooked meals that could be re-hydrated by adding boiling water. Â If […]
Safariland 537 Holster | First Impressions
My holster cup runneth over.  Recently I was able to run through Safariland’s QLS holster system and now I get a crack at their 537 Open-top concealment Belt Slide holster for the Glock 17/22.  Being a belt slide holster, it offers a bit more of a low profile than the QLS system I tested earlier.  Here’s […]
Talon Grips | First Impression
Get a grip. Â Get a good, strong grip on your firearm. Â It’s just what you do, every draw and before every shot. Â Until you don’t…. until you’re in the desert and it’s 115 F and sweat is rolling down your arms. Â Until you’re in a temperate rainforest in Alaska and it hasn’t stopped raining in […]
Liberty Civil Defense 9mm | First Range Trip
Ammunition technology has improved drastically over the last 30 years, more so than the 100 years preceding it.  Such leaps and bounds are not always unqualified successes.  For every two or three steps forward, there is a step back.  Liberty Ammunition’s Civil Defense line has a small but mostly positive buzz.  How would it fare when […]