When Eugene Stoner designed the AR-10 platform in the late 1950s, it is unlikely he could have imagined the success this rifle (and it’s progeny) would achieve. While the total number of AR platform rifles in civilian hands isn’t known, estimates range from 2-30 million. Combine that with the multitude of M-4’s and other descendants […]
Ranger
Is 6.5 Creedmoor Really Better Than .308?
If anyone tries to tell you that the old battle horse known as .308 Winchester (alternatively, 7.62×51 NATO) is washed up, you’ll know right away they’re either drinking the kool-aid or are drastically ill-informed as to hunting and war history. The effectiveness of the .308 has been shown for many decades in deserts, rice paddies […]
Interview with a Patchmaker: Megaton Morale
After this year’s SHOT Show, I put up a small article covering some of the best Morale Patches I’d found while walking the floor of the convention center. The article did considerably better than expected, showing that the patch addiction may have spread further than epidemiologist’s may have initially thought. At the behest of Vince […]
Dot Torture: Improving handgun accuracy
n a few recent articles, I’ve covered a number of different shooting drills one can do to improve their shooting speed, accuracy, and target discernment. Today, I’d like to take a more in-depth look at one of them, “dot torture”. This specific drill was created by David Blinder of Personaldefensetraining.com. It’s an excellent accuracy drill […]
Vortex Crossfire: For close-in work
Vortex Optics has what are among some of the most often discussed (and sometimes polarizing) optics you can find on the web. While their supporters point out the company’s cost-to-quality ratio, excellent warranty and successful track record, their detractors mainly seem to find fault in some of their products being made overseas. In my experience testing […]
The Best (and Worst) Quick Access Safes
It’s a scenario you hope will never happen, but want to be as prepared as possible for. It’s the middle of the night. You’re sleeping, and you hear someone kicking in the door. With no time to spare, you have to jump up, shake off the gossamer webs of slumber and get ready for the […]
NFW Regulator: Captain America’s dive watch
“Submarine portholes, deep-sea dive helmets, race car gauges, adrenaline…. This is the inspiration behind the design of the NFW Regulator (named for the piece of scuba diving apparatus)”. This is the first thing you read when you pull up the NFW Regulator website. The design intent certainly came across in the aesthetic appeal of the […]
Tubb Precision flatwire springs overview
Growing up immersed in the “gun culture”, was a rewarding and character-building part of my childhood. Being raised in rural Alaska meant the only window outside of subsistence hunting culture was through the monthly gun mags in the local grocery store. When competitive shooting was brought up, one name was repeated over and over. David Tubb. […]
Photo of the day: Ranger earns Thai Jump Wings
It’s been so long I can’t remember the exact date. Let’s say 1995 based on my rank and sometime around monsoon season in Thailand. Alpha Company 2nd Ranger Battalion in support of Operation Cobra Gold, deployed to Thailand to work with and train the Thai Commandos. In this picture, I’m standing with my non-smiling Ranger […]
Zenith MKE Z-5P SB | Subgun second to none
Manufactured by MKE of Turkey and imported by Zenith Firearms, the Z-5P SB is the closest thing you can get to an authentic Mp5 without buying an HK directly. The Z-5P (and its roller-delayed brethren) are manufactured on the same machines and in the same factory as licensed Turkish-made HK guns. I’ve written about my early impressions with this […]