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On My 18, 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France by the French Senate. — May 18th, 1825 was the birthday of Daniel Baird Wesson (of Smith and Wesson fame). — On May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, causing a massive avalanche and killing 57 people. Ash from the volcanic eruption fell as far away as Minnesota. — Take note that we will be switching to weekly postings, on June 2nd. Thenceforth, you can look for SurvivalBlog “Fresh Every Tuesday.” — The last day! We have been running a two-week-long sale in all of our percussion…

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The name is not familiar to every gun owner, but for the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more. The organization was established in 1926 at the request of the federal government. Today, it is a sterling example of what is accomplished when engineers, designers and management—from different companies and organizations—work in concert. SAAMI’s beginnings started because of raw material shortages that lingered after World War 1. Ammunition manufacturers were hardest hit, with lead, brass and copper in short supply.…

In recent decades, the semi-automatic shotgun has become more and more popular as manufacturers have developed both gas- and recoil-operated mechanisms that are more reliable and versatile, allowing the guns to cycle a wide range of today’s available shotshells. For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs. Check out eight of the latest and greatest below: Benelli | M4 EXTThe Benelli M4 semi-automatic tactical shotgun is downright legendary, but why not improve it anyway? This M4 EXT incorporates the most commonly…

Author’s Introductory Disclaimer:  While I am a long-time reloading enthusiast, my advice and  insights are not substitutes for the information found in reloading manuals. So do confirm any information herein and draw your own conclusions. Introduction I have discovered over the years that many shooters are planning to use incorrect ammunition in their military rifles that with repeated use over time would ruin the rifle’s mechanism, or if the rifle should be used in battlefield conditions, the rifle for many reasons could fail them just when they needed to defend themselves. Few are acquainted with using their rifles in actual…

On May 17, 1792, twenty-four merchants formed the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street. — May 17, 1877: Edwin T. Holmes installed the first telephone switchboard burglar alarm. — And on May 17, 1920 First flight by Dutch airline KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij), a joint venture with British Aerial Transport; a de Havilland double-decker plane from London landed at Schiphol in Amsterdam. — Just one day left! We are running a two-week-long sale in all of our percussion revolvers at Elk Creek Company, with deep discounts. This sale will end at midnight on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Please…

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In 2017, Daniel Defense, known for its AR-15-type rifles, became one of the first established manufacturers to offer a firearms suppressor that was constructed by metal additive manufacturing, a process commonly known as “3D printing.” Known as the DD Wave, it was a pioneering step in lightweight, high-performance suppressors. New for 2026, Daniel Defense is introducing two new 3D-printed suppressors, with the MUTE30Ti and the NULL9Ti. The MUTE30Ti is designed for bolt-action and precision rifles. The internal architecture of the MUTE30Ti is designed for maximum sound reduction, reduced recoil impulse and controlled flash signature. Both the MUTE30Ti and NULL9Ti use…

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