Full Disclosure: After a conversation I had with Gene Kelly of American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI), he offered me this course at no charge in exchange for an honest review in a written article for SurvivalBlog. There were no other strings attached, and I was not pressured in any way about the outcome of this review. He did not ask for a preview of the article, nor was he offered one before publication. This review is my own opinion of the course after having spent time taking it and passing the tests involved. My Background I have been interested in firearms…

Anyone who has ever hunted or who appreciates fine firearms has desired a double rifle. While a double rifle is the classic dangerous game gun, most of us don’t have the need for the elephant-stopping cartridges for which they are chambered for or can afford the cost, which can run well into the five-figure range. Pedersoli brings the double rifle into both affordable and practical territory with their Kodiak Survivalist Compact Express Rifle chambered in .44 Mag. As Pedersoli notes, the Kodiak Survivalist Compact Express Rifle combines “old-world detail with serious performance,” like many of the company’s other products. Designed…

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Newly updated for 2026, the 30th edition of the “Traveler’s Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States” is a must-have resource for those who travel often and therefore must navigate the patchwork maze of laws imposed in various localities. Read the full article here

Gun owners are catching onto the high-tech algorithms and Internet-scouring software employed by several websites can soften the blow when it’s time to buy ammunition, and more are going online. Some of these tools have been around for years, offering gun owners a particularly useful tool when events signal another shortage may be on the horizon, while others are relative newcomers to the market. Some don’t sell ammo, so there’s no sales pitch. The information is usually presented in a spreadsheet format, with lowest-price-per round the common default setting. Results can be tailored to sort by cartridge, volume desired and…

Armed Citizen® Today On June 7, a woman was walking with her two dogs through a wilderness area to gather mushrooms near Skilak Lake, Alaska, when she heard a warning yelp and then painful screeching, followed by a loud roar. She charged into the dense vegetation, screaming for her dogs, and suddenly saw a black bear only about 5 feet away with blood dripping from its face. The bear was coming toward her, so the woman drew her firearm—a Glock 43 (9 mm)—and fired. The bear dropped long enough for her to see that her dog was still alive but…

You might be familiar with some of the biggest bucks ever killed, named after hunters that bagged them. The Hanson Buck, the largest typical whitetail that still sits atop the record books. Or the Butcher Buck, the second biggest non-typical ever taken, with a rack that looks more like a geological formation than deer antlers.But, you might be less familiar with Boone and Crockett’s “Picked Up” category, which recognizes some of the world’s biggest dead heads ever found. Yes, these deer still occupy the same list on Boone and Crockett’s record book. They’re just noted as picked up under the…

Colonel George Armstrong Custer, along with the 700 men in the U.S. 7th Cavalry were ultimately defeated in the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn in southeastern Montana in June of 1876, but they certainly weren’t without firepower. Based on archeological findings, over 50 different types of firearms were used at the Battle of the Greasy Grass—these are 5 of the most notable. Springfield 1873 Trapdoor Carbine.Springfield 1873 Trapdoor CarbineU.S. troops in the frontier found themselves undergunned, stuck using slow muzzle-loading rifles amid flying arrows, charging horses, swinging war clubs, and more. In 1865, the army started converting muskets into…

Lever-action rifles have seen a recent resurgence in popularity, with many manufacturers offering modernized takes on the classic lever-action concept. While others have added polymer furniture, M-Lok handguards and Picatinny rails, Taylor’s & Co. took a different direction with its modernization. The company’s TC73 has classic lines and a classic appearance, but unlike other lever-actions, this one has a few unique features. Watch our “Gun of the Week” episode above to see it in action. “What’s really neat about this one is that it’s chambered in 9 mm. 9 mm? Why would you want 9 mm, you ask? Well, what’s…

In deer camp last year, gunwriter Richard Mann and I were talking about rifle cartridges, and he made a great point about the guns people suggest youth and women shooters use for big game. Richard is one of the most knowledgeable shooters out there. He’s tested countless cartridges and shot game all over the world for more than 25 years. So the points he makes are worth listening to.His big question was, why do we suggest women and kids hunt with cartridges like the .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .257 Roberts, then turn around and bring a .300 Win. Mag into…