Blaser’s take on the straight-pull, bolt-action rifle showcases a new, ergonomically optimized vertical pistol grip for increased comfort and improved control when shooting. The R8 Professional 2.0’s ambidextrous palm swell is designed to fit both right- and left-handed shooters. Additional enhancements include new, molded-polymer grip inserts manufactured using 2K technology, which have an improved surface texture for better grip in all environmental conditions. The Diamond-Like Carbon A+ (DLC A+) coating of the barrel surface provides excellent protection against corrosion and scratches. Now standard is a height-adjustable comb which assists in achieving exact alignment in the proper shooting position at the…

It all had to start somewhere, and for handheld firearms in Europe, Genesis is what we call the “handgonne” or hand cannon, a simple metal tube lashed to a wooden tiller. Watch our “American Rifleman Television” I Have This Old Gun segment above to see the hand cannon in action and hear how this developed as one of the most important steps in firearm evolution.  ”There was development in China, but really, we focus on the European-made hand cannons, and the first time they really can be documented is about 1326 to about 1332,” NRA Media Editorial Director Mark Keefe…

On February 11th, 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a redistricting bill. This was the origin of the word “Gerrymander”. — February 11, 2016: Confirmation of gravitational wave theory (through the observed collision of two black holes) announced by physicists from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value), American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is…

In Colorado, beetles are on the move—and it could have big impacts on mule deer habitat. The insects, mountain pine beetles, are the same ones that destroyed many of the state’s lodgepole forests over the last decade, and they’re now moving into ponderosa stands along the Front Range. The US Forest Service estimates that nearly all adult ponderosa pine trees in the area could die from the beetles in the next several years. A map of the predicted outbreak is equally as grim.Ecologists point to mild, dry winters as the main driver behind the spread. The beetles are native to…

Well, you don’t see this every day: A woman in California was recently nabbed for two wildlife infractions after attempting to conceal illegally taken shellfish in her pants.The incident took place at Van Damme State Park, along the Mendocino Coast, during the weekend of January 31-February 1, according to a Facebook post by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). A game warden watched a male and female duo taking purple sea urchins in the intertidal zone—as well as something suspicious. The warden “observed the female discreetly conceal what appeared to be an abalone down her pants, an unconventional…

Mission First Tactical (MFT) recently introduced the MFT Ultra Low Ride IWB Holster for deep concealment. This new holster sits a full 1.5 inches lower at the waist than other standard, appendix-style holsters, offering larger-framed concealed-carriers all-day comfort. For everyone else, this innovative holster design excels while seated, keeping the grip of the pistol clear of your seatbelt for pinch-free comfort—not to mention faster access while driving. “Comfort and concealment are what we wanted to achieve here,” said Bobby McGee, EVP of Product Management & Innovation at MFT. “We made a this Ultra Low Ride Holster a more concealable profile…

This will sound self-contradictory, but it is not: the Traditions Firearms Nitrobolt Rifle is a bolt-action muzzle-loader. The primer and the powder charge cartridge are loaded through the breech via bolt action. The bullet is loaded through the muzzle with a ramrod. This hybrid action offers the powder-charge-consistency and weather-resistance of a breechloading rifle while being legal to use during muzzleloading season in 29 states at the time of this writing. The Nitrobolt uses Federal Premium FireStick polymer encapsulated powder charges. The FireStick charges use Hodgdon Triple Eight powder. Triple Eight burns more cleanly than black powder or other black…

On February 10th, 1676, in King Philip’s War: A force of 1,500 Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Narragansett Indians killed more than 30 men and destroyed buildings in Lancaster, Massachusetts. King Philip’s War, sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom’s War, Pometacomet’s Rebellion, or Metacom’s Rebellion, was fought from 1675 to 1678. Even the leftist/apologist Wikipedia concedes: “King Philip’s War was the last-ditch effort by Native tribes to expel the colonists from New England. Instead, it turned out to be the beginning of the development of an independent American identity. The New England colonists faced their enemies without support from any European…

Lake County’s Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI), established after the 2022 Highland Park shooting, is moving to secure funding and develop sustained programs as it approaches its fifth year. With approximately $1 million funneled through the Waukegan Township to its Peacemakers program, the initiative employs “credible messengers” who leverage local connections to engage at-risk individuals and promote pathways away from violence. Under the direction of Shawn Lewis, a seasoned violence interruption expert, the Peacemakers have played a crucial role in reducing firearm homicides in the area—from 23 deaths and 102 non-fatal shootings in 2022 to just nine homicides and 38…

The 11th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit, held by the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., emphasizes significant progress in reducing gun violence across the U.S. A key highlight comes from Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, who reports a remarkable 60% drop in homicides since 2021, marking the city’s lowest levels in half a century. Participants, including New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, share successful strategies—such as holding the firearm industry accountable through affirmative lawsuits—that demonstrate how collaborative efforts can lead to tangible improvements in public safety. During the summit, survivors of gun violence advocate for broader…