I took the vow not to buy any more AR-15s a couple of years ago. I had enough variants to fit any normal shooting/self-defense needs, plus a couple of extras as test beds for optics, illuminators, etc because I write a lot of tactical articles. However, that was all before I received the FN 15
Last month in this space, I wrote about the trend of using rifle-caliber pistols with arm braces. I pointed out their advantages and tactical uses. In this column, I want to discuss the same type of pistol but without the arm brace. I’ve tested a half dozen of these rifle-caliber pistols, shooting them as if
I’m fortunate to live in a state where citizens can carry a loaded handgun, rifle, or shotgun in their vehicle. By far the most commonly carried weapon is a handgun. This often means an everyday carry handgun, but many people, including me, carry a larger, more powerful handgun in their vehicle when they carry a
It took a while, but I have become a convert to the rifle-caliber semi-auto pistol with arm brace. In a coming column, I’ll discuss what I see as their tactical pros and cons, the niches I feel they can fill and those for which I do not think they are well suited. But in this
In the 20 or so years I’ve been writing this column, this will be the fourth one I’ve done about a Scout Rifle. That should indicate that I like the Scout Rifle concept. If I had to explain that appreciation in one word, it would be “versatility.” When Jeff Cooper developed the Scout Rifle concept,
I’ve tried quite a few optical sights available for the AR-15 platform, and found many of them durable and effective. In fact, I have one AR-15 with a top rail that I use just to test optical sights. I have two other AR-15s for which I have optical sights that stay mounted and zeroed because
I became a fan of the Steyr SSG rifle almost 40 years ago when I got my SSG 69 rifle. At the time, it was generally rated the best sniping rifle in the world, though soon Accuracy International would challenge Steyr for that honor. U.S. Remington and Winchester sniping rifles tuned by military armorers were
To provide a reliable source of military ammunition for the Finnish Army, the Valtion Patruunatehdas (VPT) ammunition factory in Lapua, Finland was opened in 1923. VPT ammunition soon earned a reputation for excellent reliability and accuracy, especially with its match ammunition. By the start of the Winter War against the Soviet Union in 1939, VPT
A few months ago, I was at the range testing a couple guns for articles and shooting a couple more to stay current with them. During the process, I needed various tools to adjust a scope, mount and re-zero the dial, change the elevation on an AK front sight, and tighten some screws. I also
I’ve been a fan of the Trijicon ACOG since I first tried one many years ago. I’m especially fond of the TA31RCO used by the USMC, to the extent that one is on the M4 I use most often. I have also used .308 ACOGs but have not had as much experience with them as
