Recent content by Bob Smalser

Note the Army, Navy and Marines aren't changing diddly. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-marine-corps-navy-m18-sidearm/

Paddle safeties, fat men and hip holsters still don't mix well, as evidenced by a couple local incidents in the past year, one a range officer. If you have to reholster by feel, switch to shoulder carry.

Reminder the Sig mishap is not a new story. The design of the Smith & Wesson Victory Model (Model 10) was modified in 1945 to include an improved hammer block after a sailor was killed by a loaded revolver discharging when accidentally dropped onto a steel deck. Many don't consider pre-war...

Simple and rugged with excellent trigger and sights. I prefer the lines of coined frames, but that's just aesthetics.

News incidents this week make the case for revolvers. 2 or 3 shots followed by a failure to feed.

Keep in mind that full-auto was a 1950's service rifle feature that ALL of NATO fell for, as the FAL and G3 also had it. All failed from the simple physics of insufficient mass, although as late as 1969 when I did Basic we were using full auto in under-arm "walking fire" attacks on trench...

These kick the snot out of scopes, so I thought I'd try a spring-buffered one.

Still the greatest service rifle extant, IMO. What impressed me most about the rifle in 1969 Basic Training was is between-the-hands balance akin to a fine shotgun. Making a target rifle out of it with heavy barrel and oversize stock spoils that, so consider what want out of it before buying...

Work on your skills instead. Nothing teaches follow-through like trying to group at half-speed 450fps with an air pistol. I bring the pistol box to rifle practice for the kids' break time. Shown is a Feinwerkbau 65.

I love these.

Do saved searches on Invaluable and Proxibid estate auction collators and be patient. One will come along for under 500. Be prepared to add 100-150 in fees, taxes and shipping, but you will still beat anywhere else. You do best on the tail end of large auctions after the residents have gone...

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Breaking the bonds of economic enslavement in the industrial German Ruhr for the wilds of an Illinois homestead, in-law Philip Schoenholz was so happy he included his new bird gun and hunting pouch in this ca1865 portrait. Because unless you were a Forstmeister, only aristocrats owned guns and...

Hipster Seattle urbanites protest the arrival of an Alaska-bound Shell Oil Drilling Rig by meeting it in their (oil-based) polyurethane-plastic kayaks. And in timber country to boot, with no shortage of woods suitable for canoe and boatbuilding, and boatbuilders to build them. And they can't...

Had a nice chat with Homer Pearson, owner of Champions Choice shooter supply today. Homer recently commissioned the first ISSU/NCAA competitive junior rifle since the discontinued 1980 Anschutz Achiever and has 150 of them on hand and 50 more on order. Homer designed this one himself with all...