We are in the process of restructuring the blog. The old blog post categories were deleted, so a ton of posts/articles will be in “uncategorized”. We will then start tagging the popular existing stories over to the new category structure so please bear with us – it’s going to be messy.
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10/21/2026 Note: The site is being overhauled to focus just on small arms related topics so if you are looking for posts on other topics, they were removed.
- Ammunition, Cartridges & Ballistics
- Blades and Edged Weapons Including Khukuris
- Firearm Tribology, Lubrication & Maintenance
- Handguns & Pistol Platforms
- Rifles, Carbines & PCCs
- Small Arms Engineering, Gunsmithing & Market Intel
- Suppressors, Components & Tactical Accessories
- Uncategorized
- Performance Analysis: HK VP9A1 Family September 4, 2026Executive Summary The Heckler & Koch (HK) VP9A1 series represents a highly refined, modernized evolution of the manufacturer’s flagship polymer-framed, striker-fired 9x19mm duty platform1. Originally conceived in response to a request from the Bavarian State Police to replace the legacy HK P7, the VP9 architecture was meticulously engineered over four years before its initial release3. The ...
- A Strategic Review of the 2026 Tactical Optics Market Year-to-Date September 3, 20261. Executive Summary The tactical optics market hit a major milestone in 2026. The red dot sight segment alone now has a steady 6.4% growth rate and is valued at $787 million1. This surge comes from law enforcement modernization, military contracts, and a savvy civilian market that demands professional-grade gear. Early 2026 product launches showed a clear ...
- The Rise of Gun Owners of America: A Legal Powerhouse September 2, 2026Introduction: The Shifting Face of Firearms Advocacy Over the last fifty years, the world of American firearms advocacy has changed dramatically. While established organizations once led the conversation through traditional lobbying, a new wave of “no compromise” groups has stepped up to define today’s legal and political battles. Gun Owners of America (GOA) is at the ...
- The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round: Evolution and Analysis September 1, 2026Executive Summary The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) represents a major mechanical and chemical overhaul of the standard 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The Department of Defense originally started the M855A1 program to remove heavy metals from the small arms supply chain and fix terminal ballistic inconsistencies in the legacy M855, and the M855A1 fundamentally changes how the ...
- The Evolution of Firearm Lubricants: Moving Beyond CLP August 31, 2026For nearly fifty years, the global firearms industry, military armorers, and civilian shooters relied on a single, multipurpose fluid for weapon maintenance: Cleaner, Lubricant, and Preservative (CLP). Developed in the early 1970s and codified under the U.S. military specification MIL-L-63460 (later updated to MIL-PRF-63460), CLP was hailed as a logistical breakthrough1. It promised to streamline ...
- Performance Analysis: Geissele Defense King Hunter August 31, 2026Executive Summary The Geissele Defense King Hunter marks a significant evolution in the intersection of tactical precision and extreme-environment hunting. Drawing on a deep military and law enforcement heritage, Geissele Automatics has applied its engineering expertise to create a purpose-built bolt-action platform. Rather than offering a generic hunting rifle, Geissele has produced an optimized ballistic ...
- Michigan Suppressor Laws: Navigating New 2026 NFA Regulations August 30, 20269/9/26: New post about October 9th ATF guidance click here. In August 2026, the rules for small arms in the U.S. changed dramatically, creating a complex new reality for owners and dealers. It all started with the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,”1 which slashed the federal tax on National Firearms Act (NFA) items to zero. ...
- 2026 Year-To-Date ATF Regulatory Changes and Compliance Guide August 28, 2026Executive Summary Between 2025 and 2026, the regulatory landscape for the small arms industry, federal firearms licensees (FFLs), and consumers underwent a major realignment. Following several judicial defeats and significant legislative tax changes, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has shifted its enforcement strategy and begun a substantial rewrite of its administrative regulations1. Federal ...
- Impacts of the Silencer Shop Ruling on U.S. Gun Laws August 28, 2026Executive Summary The federal district court ruling in August 2026—covering the consolidated cases of Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF and Jensen v. ATF—has caused the most significant disruption to U.S. gun laws since the National Firearms Act (NFA) was first passed in 19341. By declaring that NFA registration and approval requirements are unconstitutional for specific untaxed ...
- Performance Analysis: Geissele Defense Border Patrol August 28, 2026Executive Summary The Geissele Defense Border Patrol rifle was born from a 2022 contract for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It’s essentially a “workhorse” version of Geissele’s high-end Super Duty line, designed specifically for the tough requirements of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The goal was simple: keep the high-performance core—like the cold ...
- Palmetto State Armory’s 2026 Market Dominance Year-To-Date August 28, 2026Executive Summary The global sports gun market is currently undergoing a massive shift. Competition is moving away from simple product-vs-product battles toward fully integrated ecosystems that combine vertical manufacturing, direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, and high-tech digital logistics. In this environment, Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has continued its role as a major industry disruptor throughout 2026. By operating ...
- Future of Krebs Custom: Innovations Under Virginia Krebs August 27, 2026Executive Summary The specialized world of premium Kalashnikov rifles faced a significant loss on July 5, 2026, with the passing of Marc Krebs, the founder of Wauconda-based Krebs Custom. Known as the “godfather of the American AK,” Krebs was the architect who modernized and refined the platform for American shooters. His death raises important questions about ...
- Performance Analysis: Geissele Defense GFR Series August 27, 2026Executive Summary The Geissele Defense Freedom Rifle (GFR) Series is more than just a new firearm; it’s a major evolutionary step for intermediate-caliber rifles. It was built from the ground up to finally unlock the full ballistic potential of the 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge (6mm ARC). For years, everyone from military planners to competitive shooters ...
- PSA Ammo: Navigating the 2026 Ammunition Crisis August 27, 2026Executive Summary The U.S. commercial ammunition industry is currently undergoing a massive shift, driven by severe supply chain shortages and changing global defense needs. At the center of this transition is Palmetto State Armory (PSA) and its parent company, JJE Capital Holdings. In early 2026, the market was shaken when JJE’s Advanced Armament Company (AAC) facility ...
- Comparative Analysis and Ranking of U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Tactical Teams: August 2026 August 26, 2026Executive Summary The world of U.S. federal law enforcement tactical operations has seen a massive, multi-generational shift. What began as a niche response model inspired by the municipal SWAT units of the late 1960s has grown significantly over the last 50 years. Today, federal agencies rely on these elite teams to handle challenges that go far ...
- Custom AK Builders in the US: A Five-Year Social Media Sentiment Analysis August 26, 20261. The Geopolitical Shift and Market Stratification The modern American Kalashnikov market is a sophisticated, mature sector born from necessity. Between 2021 and 2026, import embargoes dismantled traditional supply chains for Eastern European hardware, creating a vacuum that pushed domestic builders to significantly improve their engineering standards. Before these restrictions, cheap surplus rifles and an endless ...
- Performance Analysis: Geissele Freedom Weapon (GFW) Series August 25, 2026Executive Summary The Geissele Automatics Freedom Weapon (GFW) and its Geissele Defense Pistol (GDP) counterpart are premium, ultra-compact entries in the personal defense weapon (PDW) market. By distilling the rugged reliability of the Super Duty platform into a much smaller footprint, Geissele has built a series specifically for tight spaces, vehicle operations, and low-visibility security ...
- Chemical Compatibility of Ronin’s Grips High Reliability Oil (HRO) with Modern Firearm Polymers August 24, 2026Introduction Over the last decade, the world of small arms has changed significantly. With the rise of short-barreled rifles (SBRs), high-intensity training, and the common use of suppressors, firearms now face much higher levels of heat and pressure than they used to1. At the same time, manufacturers have moved away from all-steel designs toward polymer-based systems. ...
- Top 10 MP5 and MP5K Variants in the U.S. Consumer Market (2025–2026) Based on Reported Performance August 23, 20261. Executive Summary The United States consumer market for MP5 and MP5K-patterned firearms has exploded in recent years, providing shooters with more variety than ever before. Since its debut by Heckler & Koch in the ’60s, the iconic roller-delayed blowback design has remained a favorite in the pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) world. Today, thanks to expiring patents ...
- Understanding Firearm Lubrication: Why Petroleum Oil is Obsolete August 23, 2026The Science of Firearm Friction and Wear The reliability of a firearm depends on its tribology, the study of interacting surfaces in motion, including friction, wear, and lubrication. Modern firearms, especially gas-operated systems, work in harsh environments defined by extreme heat, rapid cycling, and heavy carbon contamination1. When a cartridge fires, propellant gases create intense pressure ...
- Performance Analysis: Hodge Defense Mod 1 August 21, 2026Executive Summary The Hodge Defense Systems Inc. (HDSI) Mod 1 is regarded as a benchmark for the modern AR-15. It wasn’t built to compete with standard commercial rifles; instead, founder Jim Hodge engineered it from the ground up for elite law enforcement, special operations, and serious civilian shooters who need a tool that won’t quit. The ...
- Comparing Firearm Lubricants: Ronin’s Grips HRO vs. Lucas Extreme Duty Gun Oil August 21, 2026Understanding Modern Firearm Lubrication and Suppressors The way we use modern firearms has changed dramatically over the last twenty years. The heat and mechanical stress inside these weapons now far exceed what their original designs anticipated, due to the rise of short-barreled rifles (SBRs), intense training schedules, and the common use of suppressors. Older, standard lubricants—like ...
- Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms and VG6 Precision Exit Receivership: What’s Next For The Newly Formed Aero Ballistic Holdings? August 20, 2026Executive Summary On August 18, 2026, the American small arms manufacturing sector underwent a major transformation. A consortium of prominent firearms brands—Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms, and VG6 Precision—announced a complete change in ownership1. This move effectively ended a difficult period of receivership under Washington State jurisdiction and severed all ties with their former private ...
- Performance Analysis: Hodge Defense Mod 2 August 20, 2026Executive Summary The Hodge Defense Systems Inc. (HDSI) Mod 2 isn’t just another rifle; it represents a fundamental shift in the high-end market for professional duty carbines and modern sporting rifles. Conceived by Jim Hodge—an industry veteran who consults on research and development for major defense contractors—the Mod 2 was built from the ground up ...
- Daniel Defense: Evolution from Components to Corporate Power August 18, 20261. Executive Summary Daniel Defense LLC operates as an American firearms manufacturer that transitioned from a component fabricator into a primary supplier of small arms. Founded in Savannah, Georgia, in 2002 by Marty Daniel, the company established its initial market presence by engineering specialized mounting accessories for the AR-15 platform1. A significant milestone for the ...
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