Feature Articles

Most of us, at one point or another, have wanted a Tommy Gun. Among the iconic American weapons, it is a stand out just like the 1911 and the M16. Whether we grew up watching Al Capone movies or the Sands of Iwo Jima, this a weapon we remember from our youth. Unfortunately, full auto Chicago typewriters can fetch tens of thousands of dollars, and require that sticky special license. Fortunately, Auto Ordnance has been making civilian-legal versions for some time now.

After several years of development, Kinetic Research Group is finally releasing the SOTIC rifle. At the heart of the SOTIC rifle is a custom action that was designed in-house and offers an end user the ability to quickly swap out barrels.

Since its inception in 2003, Troy Industries has brought some very innovative products to market. In 2012, Troy began manufacturing military grade rifles that were met with great success. During the 2018 SHOT Show Troy, debuted the TROY Side Action Rifle (SAR).

The wares at our local gun emporia are beginning to look a bit repetitive, my friends. There are AR15 variants for every taste, proclivity, and budget. The counters are awash to their gunwales in plastic pistols. There’s the obligatory smattering of scatterguns, precision rifles, and wheelguns, but that really is about it.

We hunters, especially those of you – who like me – enjoy carrying a bolt-action rifle for big game, owe a helluva lot to a German gentleman named Mauser. Peter Paul von Mauser, to be specific. A brilliant designer, Herr Mauser gave us not only the 7×57 and 8×57 cartridges, but the Gewehr 98 rifle, which would set the standard for bolt-action rifle reliability that stands to this day. The Mauser name – synonymous in the firearms world with the reputation that German engineering has secured – is one that hunters have come to rely on for a century and a quarter.

Several weeks ago I was walking around my favorite gun store, BMC Tactical in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I saw a fancy looking Glock lower frame sitting in a plastic jig. “What is that?” I inquired. [one_half] [/one_half][one_half_last] [/one_half_last] The clerk working the gun counter pulled the assembly out of the case and explained that [...]

Yes, you read that correctly. IWI, a long time leader in bullpup design, now has a shotgun in the lineup and we spent time with it on the range. Given the history of the Tavor family of weapons, it should come as no surprise that the Tavor TS-12 is also a bullpup. The standard 18-inch barrel gives an overall length of 28-ish inches, keeping everything just above board for legal purposes.

Hunting styles vary greatly across our country, with spot-and-stalk in the west, sitting on stands in the east, corn feeders in the south and even deer run with dogs in certain states. Travel outside of our borders, and you can find an even wider variety of methods, not to mention specific customs, traditions, and expectations. What may seem natural to you or I can seem completely against the grain in a foreign land.

The Nazi’s inability to conquer Europe wasn’t their only failure of the Second World War. They also failed to invade Russia, exercise basic humanity, march-like normal people, and a host of other blunders. Suffice it to say that in 1,000 years they won’t be remembered as successful, virtuous, or honorable.