Author: news

A quick note before we get to the post. These are pretty tough times for the gear business. People are making great stuff in every part of the market, but looking at things I can’t shake the sense that we are at a precipice. Tariffs are a huge issue, of course, but the market wasn’t healthy before them. They just might be the last straw before a shake up. Competition from China has not just been strong, it has crushed the US companies. Let’s look at one discrete example—the Spyderco Button Up, a new “budget” release this year that costs…

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. —   An RC-135 Rivet Joint and an EA-37B Compass Call aircraft began the first-ever sustained, integrated sorties outside of a large force exercise performed by the two aircraft on Sept. 24, 2025. This operation was meant to advance the 55th Wing’s electromagnetic spectrum warfare capabilities. The initial mission planning for these sorties was conducted September 8th, 15th and 22nd, 2025, between the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron. Weapons officers and leaders from both communities have been creating the foundational steps for sustained integration.  Already there have been rapid developments and…

Dave Wilson of D. Wilson Manufacturing is a true master of his craft, whether it be pin & welding, upper and lower assembly, shortening a barrel, custom modifications, and more. We spoke with Dave Wilson last year, and you can read that article here. In this article, we sit down with Wilson to discuss common mistakes to avoid when building an AR-15, when to seek help, his perspective on industry-wide quality control issues, his personal AR-based projects, and more. Q: I imagine you field a lot of questions from AR builders. At what point should someone contact you if they…

M4A1 Block I We recently sat down with Chris from clonerifles.com to learn more about the state of building clone ARs in 2022, his take on the cloning community and its reputation, as well as a bit about the website’s background, what parts are getting hard to find, and some details on his upcoming clone shoot. Q: Chris, can we start with a bit about your background and how clonerifles.com came about? Chris, Clonerifles.com – I’m not a cool guy or anything; rather, just a regular person who started getting into guns and building, and I began seeing terms floating…

Why Choose Sprinco springs for your AR-15?  To find out, Last fall, we had the opportunity to chat with the godfather of springs, Alan Dugger of Tactical Springs LLC/Sprinco USA.  Life got in the way and prevented this article from appearing in a timely manner, but we are now excited to finally share it with you.  Below, Dugger discusses his early involvement with firearms, the genesis of Sprinco USA, the Sprinco springs difference, and why, in his experience, no two ARs are the same. Q:  Alan, thanks for taking the time to chat. Let’s start with who you are and…

As modern battlefields rapidly evolve, the Army remains at the forefront of capability acceleration and innovation. Through exposure to realistic, emulated threat in the Western corridor, the Army’s All-domain Persistent Experiment (APEX) accelerates technical innovation and enhances Soldier lethality in the most threat-informed, live-sky environment available. This fall, teams across the Army, Joint Force, industry, allied nations, and academia converged on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, to assess, develop and reassess technology. The goal: outpace the threat. “Today’s Warfighters must execute operations across the electromagnetic spectrum in the most contested Degraded, Denied, Intermittent, and Low-bandwidth (DDIL) environment the…

By Paul Carlson Posted in #Guns #Skills When it comes to dealing with a violent encounter, you aren’t allowed a whole lot of say in the matter. The dirtbag picks the time, the place, the weapon he uses and how close he is going to be when he attacks. But you can control your choices in personal protection long before the attack begins. What gear should you select, what skills do you train and practice, and whether or not you carry your gun are all under your control. One of the skills that folks should develop some…

Wyoming-based Big Horn Armory has now expanded its Model 89 Series to include a new variant: the Big Horn Armory Model 89 Take Down Tactical Lever-Action carbine. It has a 16-inch barrel and is chambered the powerful .500 S&W Magnum cartridge. This variant of the Big Horn Armory Model 89 combines the proven merits of the original Model 89 Take Down lever action carbine with modern tactical features including full length scope bases, specific M-Lok slots, modern iron sights and a muzzle brake.  ”The Model 89 Take Down Tactical offers the best of both worlds: a rifle that’s easy to…

Real Plastic Heroes – GWOT Set #1 Remember the plastic soldiers you used to portray epic battles as a kid? Real Plastic Heroes has opened pre-orders for their first set of Global War On Terror figures. Based on real US veterans who served in combat during the Global War on Terror (2001 – 2021) these are slightly larger and more detailed than the toys you grew up playing with, these plastic warfighters are ready to defend against all enemies.  Sculpted by the legendary artist, Tim Barry, each Real Plastic Hero is equipped with authentic weaponry and kit. Choose between Green…

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army David Fitzgerald, and U.S. Representative Thomas Kean Jr. visited Picatinny Arsenal on November 6 to see first-hand the innovative work being by the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A), U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center, and Office of the Project Manager Soldier Lethality as they strengthen the Arsenal of Freedom by increasing industrial capacity and bringing advanced technologies and improved lethality to the Warfighter. The visit was Driscoll’s first to…