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There’s a popular new breed of space-saving “compact” riflescopes on the market today, and they bring another important feature to the game. On average, these kinds of optics offer a more generous field-of-view. Considering the current demand for shorty optics, there’s a trend brewing just around the corner.  EOTech’s Vudu 4-12×36 mm FFP is a member of that tribe of optics, measuring in at only 7.1 inches in length. It was introduced in January and covered for American Rifleman by Jeremiah Knupp last month. Comparing its measurements to nine popular centerfire 4-12X riflescopes puts the optic’s space-saving virtue into perspective.…

In American Rifleman’s 2025 coverage of the new Federal 7 mm Backcountry cartridge, much of the story wasn’t as much about the new chambering as it was about the cartridge case itself, a case that Federal called its “Peak Alloy” design. The single-piece, all-steel cartridge case, in the words of Federal Managing Engineer Jake Burns, “acts as its own mini pressure-containment vessel, absorbing some of the energy without cracking or stretching. That’s part of the case’s ability to manage pressure.” Now, that design has moved from a proprietary chambering to the mainstream cartridge world with the introduction of Federal’s new…

I was nine years into my public land hunting career when I first dipped my toe in the target-buck pool. The North Carolina hitlister showed up on my trail cameras just before Halloween, with pre-rut in full swing, and a gnarly heat wave set to roll in a week later.With nearly a decade of experience in my rearview mirror, I made one of the dumbest hunting mistakes of my life—I stayed home on November 7. The temps hit 80 degrees, and I convinced myself that the deer would sit tight until dark.Guess who cruised by my stand camera mid-morning?I know…

In our latest “I Carry” video, we’re taking a closer look at one of the latest versions of the Springfield Armory Echelon, Springfield’s modern striker-fired pistol. But that’s not the only thing that’s modern. This pistol is outfitted with Aimpoint’s new COA enclosed-emitter red-dot optic, and to carry this optic-equipped handgun, we’ve selected a JM Custom Kydex holster. Check out the details of the full kit in the video above. “We’re taking a look at the new Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0 FC. Now the FC means that it has a full size grip with a compact slide,” American Rifleman Executive…

I sat in the truck at the public boat ramp, sipping bad gas station coffee and watching a parade of glitter-covered bass boats launch and race away. They were in a hurry to get to wherever they thought the bass were holed up.I wasn’t in much of a hurry. When the last boat disappeared around the point, I grabbed my spinning rod and a Rat-L-Trap and walked down the shoreline in my flip-flops. On the third cast, my line went tight as a largemouth bulldogged for deeper water, pulling line from a rig that probably cost me less than a…

Fishing in the West has blown up in recent years, particularly river fishing for trout—and for good reason. Western states hold some of the best trout waters in the world. But the rising popularity has led to significantly increased crowding and pressure on many waterways in the West, to the detriment of fisheries and anglers alike.Thankfully, there are still plenty of underrated—and less trafficked—opportunities to catch fish out West, especially if you don’t mind using different tactics, targeting unexpected species, and fishing different types of waterbodies. This list is meant to inspire anglers to break away from the crowds and…

Pump-action shotguns, like the iconic Mossberg 500 or Remington 870, have proven themselves in some of the harshest hunting environments. They stand up to dirt, grit, and frigid temperatures that would choke or jam semi-automatics. You can abuse the hell out of a pump shotgun, cake it with mud, or drop it in the lake, and it will still perform. Many hunters often prefer the reliability of a pump over any other shooting platform because they are less apt to fail, which is important when you are miles away from the truck at a public walk-in unit.Some of the best…

Not everyone keeps the thighs from a wild turkey, and honestly, it’s a shame. Dark meat can be one of the most flavorful parts of the bird when it’s given the time it needs to cook properly. Most recipes lean toward soups, stews, or shredded barbecue, but confit, a classic French technique, is one of the best ways to turn turkey thighs into something truly special. The meat is first cured with garlicky salt, then slowly cooked in fat or oil until silky, tender, and deeply savory. A crockpot makes the process simple and nearly hands-off, keeping the temperature low…

There’s more to being competent with a rifle than static marksmanship. Being able to shoot in contextual situations, shoot from unusual positions, manipulate the rifle quickly and rapidly adjust one’s position based on distance are all essential skills for a well-trained rifleman. To train these abilities, The Complete Combatant hosted the first annual Rifle Renaissance event in March 2026. The event was designed to not only focus on marksmanship but also the other skills necessary to round out a rifleman’s repertoire. Four instructors with a wide variety of backgrounds in competition shooting, law enforcement and the military came together to…