America’s first sidearm was produced at this historic Virginia landmark. A replica of the British Model 1760, the Model 1775 was a muzzle-loading .62 caliber hand cannon. Rappahannock Forge was a key manufacturing base for colonial forces during the American Revolution. In 1775, British regulators marched on Lexington and Concord, the consequence of which was […]
Holster Choice Integral to Army M17 Introduction
When it was announced that the M17 handgun would be replacing M9s in military armories, some important decisions needed to be made. First and foremost, the US Army decided that more of these new handguns would be issued down to team leaders than M9s were previously. This was a bold move since carrying handguns used […]
Why (and How) Spec. Ops Soldiers are Customizing Their AR-15s
When Major General William Rupertus famously said, “This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine,” he was emphasizing an important point about the relationship a soldier must have to his weapon. This Rifleman’s Creed illustrates the kind of bond one should have with their rifle. Despite the fact that […]
Another Microwave Weapon: Maybe this One Will Actually Work?
There was a welcome piece of news released at the beginning of December about the United States development of a microwave weapon, which could potentially fry North Korea’s electronics and render them unable to launch any missiles. Considering the world has been on edge after North Korea’s tests of missiles and even a hydrogen bomb, […]
Getting Clear on Gun Rights – Where Our Representatives Stand
Anyone with a tactical background knows the importance of carrying a reliable firearm. But politicians are always in a hurry to ban them after a mass shooting or terrorist attack. As if the answer to such an outbreak of violence is to deny our citizens the right to protect themselves against such an attack. In […]
The Marine Corps Begins Adoption of the IAR M27 Rifle
The US Marines Corps have recently started to receive a new weapon, the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. There have been calls for such a weapon for many years, which is designed to replace the M249 Light Machine Gun. [1] Today, we’ll take a look at why the new weapon is needed, and some of the […]
Three-Lane Option for VA Claim Appeals Fails to Find Favor with VVA
I should preface this post by saying that I grew up in a family whose members served in active military duty. My brother was a Marine during the Gulf War and our father was (“was” being the operative word) a proud soldier in the Vietnam War. As such, I have plenty of misgivings when it […]
Finding Deals Online is About to Get Much Easier for Veterans
That’s because the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is expanding to the online world. Where you would previously need to visit an exchange in person to take advantage of the bargain prices with no taxes, by November 11, you’ll be able to order products through an exchange website and either pick your order up […]
Technical Overview of Modern Optics Systems
Optics systems are some of the most popular after-market accessories for rifles and pistols, but there is no other area of firearm equipment that is so full of jargon. If you are new to optical systems for guns, or if you are an old pro who needs some reminders, I’m here to help. Choosing an […]