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THE GET OUTTA DODGE TRUCK: Loaded for Survival

The phrase “Get Outta Dodge” (G.O.D.) originated in Dodge City, Kansas, during the wild days of the 1870s. The Santa Fe Trail gave way to buffalo hunters, then to cattle drives, all of which led to lots of lawlessness. Marshals like Billy Brooks, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Mysterious Dave Mather, and Bill Tilghman kept the…

NEW PISTOL-CALIBER CARBINE: Lone Wolf Distributors Alphawolf .45 PCC

Pistol-caliber carbines are not a new invention. Cowboys, lawmen, outlaws, and citizens had them with their revolvers and rifles chambered in .44-40, .38-40, or .32-20. In the early 2000s, we saw the development of the first true pistol-caliber carbine, at least by American standards. Marlin developed the Camp Carbine that fed off of 1911 magazines…

MAGAZINE ACCESSORIES: Top Picks

During the first ten years of my military career—starting just in time for the first Gulf War in 1991—if you wanted to increase ammunition capacity or enhance your M16A2’s magazines in any way, you basically only had the same options as the very first soldiers who used the M16 back in the late 1960s and…

LONG GUNS: Mossberg 590A1 Retro Combat Shotgun

I remember buying my first trench shotgun, a Winchester Model 97. A local gun shop specializing in collectible and antique firearms had one showing some battle wear but in sound operable condition. A friend of mine who was an FBI agent and I stopped by the shop. One aspect of the visit that has stayed…

RUGER GP100 MATCH CHAMPION 10mm: A Long Time Coming

Every once in a while, someone brings a really good idea to fruition. Ruger has done exactly that with their GP100 Match Champion 10mm. Finally a medium-frame six-gun chambering six major caliber rounds! This idea isn’t new — it was bouncing around in Bill Jordan’s head 60 years ago. He was the originator of the…

SHOTGUN SAVVY: The Perfect Survival Gun?

The amount and variety of firearms available today is staggering. Some are designed for specific uses. When choosing a firearm to fill multiple roles, you often find that only one type of firearm will work for one specific job. Take the Barrett M82 .50-caliber sniper rifle. It is designed to engage targets at very long…

IDF COMBAT RIFLE WITH A TWIST: IWI Tavor X95 Bullpup .300 BLK

One must ask why Israel decided to invest the time and effort to develop the Tavor X95, especially considering they were being handed M16s as if from a Pez dispenser via generous U.S. aid packages. I will address why I believe the reason is because the X95 is a viable alternative to the typical AR…

THE CUTTING EDGE: CRKT Provoke

The karambit has become a very popular backup knife. Although it could be argued that it’s less instinctive than a straight-blade knife, the unique features of the karambit make it an outstanding knife for last-ditch self-defense at extreme close quarters, especially for those willing to train with it. The forebear of the modern karambit can…

.300 AAC BLACKOUT: Necessary or Niche?

Articles have been written on the .300 AAC Blackout (BLK) that give the history and purpose of the cartridge. I decided to put one together to see how it performed suppressed. I had some parts and a stripped BCM upper and got a barrel from Brownells and a forend from Diamondback. I was able to…

OFFBEAT: ETS Magazines

Elite Tactical Systems Group (ETS®) magazines have developed an excellent reputation for delivering reliable performance. The company’s AR, MP5, and Glock mags, and new for 2019 SIG Sauer P320, Smith & Wesson M&P, and M&P Shield mags offer a combination of patent-pending features that sets them apart from other magazines on the market. Some time…