Author: Jack Bogart

My streamer slapped down perfectly next to a submerged log, almost kissing the wood. In true Kelly Galloup fashion, I ripped the rod tip of the G. Loomis Asquith aggressively, using my stripping hand to keep up with the slack. My streamer darted from the cover, and a rainbow charged out and absolutely crushed my fly. I came tight to the fish and had my first fish of the day boat side in short order. At that time, I had been testing the rod for about a week and was quickly falling for it. I had taken it to a…

By Tom Laemlein Posted in #History World War II dragged on, and Japan refused to surrender even when threatened with prompt and utter destruction. Germany had given up more than two months before, and the Japanese stood alone in their opposition to the Allies. An unconditional surrender ultimatum contained in the July 26, 1945, Potsdam Declaration promised prompt and utter destruction, yet it brought no response from the Japanese. Japan had, for the most part, lost control of the airspace above the home islands. Tokyo was firebombed into ashes, and many other cities were badly damaged. The…

Brand also announces an elite firearms and tactical training program: Staccato Training Group FLORENCE, Texas – (January 19, 2026) – Staccato 2011®, the creator of the 2011® pistol platform, announced at SHOT Show the launch of a new addition to its high-performance Staccato HD lineup, and flagship model: Staccato HD C4X. This all-new compact carry model furthers Staccato’s mission to deliver duty-proven, precision-built pistols trusted by professionals and responsibly armed citizens alike. The Staccato HD C4X joins the brand’s lineup as one of the most shootable, precise, and versatile pistols, delivering the unrivaled performance and features of the Staccato HD…

Besides Lord of the Rings, New Zealand is probably most famous for its Great Walks. These specially designated 11 backpacking trails highlight the country’s natural beauty, rugged coastlines, and diverse wildlife. And since North America’s winter is New Zealand’s summer, it’s possible to escape snowy, dreary skies and go on a gorgeous, sunny adventure in December or January. But with hikes in places that vary from the mountains to the beaches, and distances ranging from 19 to 50 miles, how do you know which Great Walk is the right one? Consider this your flow chart for picking the best Great…

Carpinteria, CA (Jan. 19, 2026) – ForgeLine Solutions, renowned for its Operational Fieldwear trusted by U.S. Special Operations Forces, is expanding beyond the military uniform to launch a new line of Performance Fieldwear for people who live and work in demanding environments. SHOT Show attendees will be among the first to view the new line, which will be available for purchase in April 2026. The forthcoming Performance Fieldwear collection is purpose-built to meet the needs of first responders, outdoor professionals, and anyone who treats their gear as tools—not accessories. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in crafting durable and adaptable gear for…

A while back, I covered a few observations gleaned while working with a dozen rifle owners in both classroom and range settings. Having just repeated that process with a similar group, several new takeaways have emerged. The first is that while the class centered around improving each rifle’s accuracy potential, range testing made clear that not everyone has the same ideas about suitable ammunition for such work. As was the case last time, this group’s age ranged widely, from late 20s to early 80s. They were more experienced than the previous riflemen, both in the shop and on the range.…

CARBONDALE, PA, January 19, 2026 –Gentex Corporation announced the launch of the newly re-designed Ops-Core FAST XP Helmet System, a ballistic helmet solution purpose built and priced for law enforcement. Designed to meet the real-world needs ofspecialized units, tactical teams, and patrol officers, the FAST XPHelmet System delivers uncompromising protection, comfort, and stability for missions that require extended use and absolute reliability. Building on the proven performance of its predecessor, the new FAST XP helmet system introduces a fully NIJ lllA (sometimes referred to as NIJ 3A) and HG2-certified ballistic shell, available in both high-cut and mid-cut geometries, along with…

SOTech Debuting Cobra Drone Carrier Packs at SHOT Show SOTech will be debuting its new line of Cobra Drone Carrier Packs at SHOT Show.  The Cobra pack is being widely adopted in both conventional and special operations medicine as a comfortable pack that splays open to reveal a highly organized and labeled pouch arrangement.  SOTech adopted this design in multiple sizes to fit most sizes of drones with custom padded inserts.  The Cobras allow organization of controllers, batteries, optics, wire sets, and tools making the drone operator’s tasks quicker and smoother. SOTech will also be displaying it’s latest variants of…

BlackSea Technologies Awarded SHIELD IDIQ Contract BALTIMORE, Md., Jan. 15, 2026 — BlackSea Technologies is pleased to announce it was awarded a contract for the Missile Defense Agency Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling of 151 billion dollars. This contract encompasses a broad range of work areas that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility.  “BlackSea’s history is defined by taking innovative maritime concepts and proving them at speed in operational environments,” said Tim O’Connor, BlackSea’s chief strategy officer. “That record of success as an innovative maritime defense producer…

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Anduril a $23.9 million contract to deliver more than 600 Bolt-M systems for the next phase of the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program beginning in February 2026. The USMC’s OPF-L program is designed to provide dismounted Marine infantry rifle squads with a man-packable, easy-to-operate precision strike capability to engage adversaries beyond line of sight. The contract award comes after 13 months of rigorous testing. During that phase, Anduril delivered an initial tranche of more than 250 Bolt-M systems and validated Bolt’s performance against a variety of safety, environmental, and performance requirements. Across hundreds of flights,…