For the last two decades, I have looked at the 5.56mm carbine through the optic of a patrol rifle. It started in 1995 during my first police carbine school, then continued during a remote class Clint Smith taught at my home range shortly afterward. The North Hollywood bank robbery solidified that optic in 1997, when
When conducting direct-action missions to take down buildings or compounds, the norm is to expect a close-quarters combat (CQB) fight. This makes the typical choice a shorty carbine with some sort of red dot optic. The reasoning is a short weapon length is best for use in confined spaces and a red dot or holographic
Last year Ruger added a model to their AR-556® MPR line chambered for the .450 Bushmaster cartridge. The company’s Ruger American Ranch chambered for that cartridge has been one of Ruger’s best-selling rifles, so it only made sense to bring one out in the popular AR platform. In fact, this is the platform the cartridge
Rumors have swirled at every SHOT Show for years that the Designated Marksman Rifle version of the SCAR MK 17 was in the works. Now, after all the years of anticipation, the FN SCAR 20S is here for the commercial market. A Limited Edition SCAR 20S package will be offered featuring a hard case full
Photos Courtesy SIG Sauer The SIG Sauer MCX Rattler is one of the coolest new kids on the block. Billed as the “world’s smallest rifle,” it was designed from the ground up to be as discrete as possible while retaining all the capabilities of the company’s MCX platform. SIG MCX RATTLER The MCX Rattler has
Photos by Josh Locatis The wait is finally over. Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA) has entered the AR pistol market, and in a big way. The company is now offering all its models in compact pistol variants. As a result, the company’s Renegade, Renegade+, P415, P308, and award-winning Revolution can now be had in short-barreled configurations
I was scratching my hairless head trying to figure out how another AR platform could be so successful in a field inundated with numerous variations on Eugene Stoner’s military rifle. The Springfield Armory (SA) SAINT™ AR-15 rifle is a rookie in a population of very mature antecedents, but it has rapidly captured a much respected
In modern parlance, when someone says “AR-10,” they are likely talking about a larger receiver than the smaller, more commonly encountered AR-15. Younger shooters may not even know much about the original AR-10. A BIT OF HISTORY The AR-10 was created by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s at the firm of ArmaLite—then a division
Short-barreled ARs remain the preferred choice for law enforcement, home defense, and personal protection. Their lighter weight is a big factor, but they also fit better in police vehicles, ATVs, and motorcycles. They have drawbacks for sure, including loud, oppressive muzzle blast, and they can be difficult to suppress. Depending on the caliber, they may
Howa may not be a household name to Americans, but the brand has long been known for quality and strength in the form of Weatherby Vanguard rifles. That’s right: Many of the elegant rifles offered by Weatherby in their smokin’ hot calibers have, for decades, been built on Howa actions. Howa does not offer complete
