Author: Braxton Taylor
Beretta USA is rolling out the full 20X Bobcat lineup, comprising a new take on a legendary pocket pistol. Combining pocket concealment with enhanced comfort, durability and easy loading, all four distinctive models are now shipping: The Bug Out Bag, Do It Yourself, In Case of Emergency, and You’re on Your Own. “We focused on ergonomics, accessibility and real-world usability—especially for those who need something ultra-reliable and easy to operate under stress, said Logan Killan, Beretta USA pistol product manager. “This lineup isn’t just about how small it carries—it’s about how confidently it shoots.” A small, concealable pistol built for…
Two big oddities infused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill this week to justify the Pentagon’s budget request to appropriators: first, the Defense Department has not publicly released its full fiscal year 2026 budget; and second, the numbers he cited require passage of the deeply controversial reconciliation bill.Without it, the Pentagon’s budget would stay flat—despite the Trump administration’s touting of a $1 trillion national-security budget, itself a hedge from Hegseth’s comments in April previewing a trillion-dollar DOD budget.“Reconciliation, Mr. Secretary, was meant to provide one-time supplemental funds to augment the defense budget, not…
Federal hiring freezes, layoffs, consolidations and restructuring in companies and agencies all over the country have led to more applications than ever on job boards. In this kind of job market, transitioning military members, veterans and job-seeking spouses need to be more strategic, more adaptable and much more knowledgeable about how the employment game is played, especially when it comes to jobs in the defense industry.You have to learn to tilt the odds in your favor, but how do you find out which tactics you should play? And how do you find out the unwritten rules of employment in the…
During his three-plus decades in the military, Aaron Nance says some service members are still surprised he flies jets. Nance, a chief warrant officer 5 in the Washington Army National Guard, considers that the biggest misconception he encounters fairly regularly.”‘Yeah, I sure do. It’s what we do,'” Nance told “The Fighter Pilot Podcast,” recalling his usual response. “‘Wow, I had no idea. I thought you guys just flew helicopters.'”As the Army prepares to commemorate its 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, 2025, “The Fighter Pilot Podcast” — hosted by former Navy fighter pilot Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello — is rebroadcasting five…
Reptilia is releasing its newest additions to the ROF line of scope mounts, the ROF-45 35mm and ROF-90 35mm. Both of these scope mounts are engineered to improve the performance of your 35mm optic mount system, no matter if you’re running a Reptilia AUS, Geissele Super Precision or any another optic which uses 35mm mounting rings. The ROF line is designed to let you easily add a red-dot sight or similar sighting system to a rifle which already has an LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic) or other magnifying optic installed. By adding a red dot to your existing optic, you…
Standing before troops, Trump called protesters in Los Angeles “a foreign enemy” and “animals” during a speech at a North Carolina Army base Tuesday. “We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy, and that’s what they are,” the president said to an audience of soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., Tuesday. “These are animals, but they proudly carry the flags of other countries but they don’t carry the American flag,” the president said. “We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again.” Worth noting: “President Donald Trump made a series of…
Falco Holsters has relaunched the G122 Sling Bag, its customer-favorite pack with a hidden upgrade that enhances functionality, improves draw performance and adds storage space. The G122 Sling Bag is known for its comfortable, discreet design and cross-body access, and has become a trusted choice for anyone who prefers off-body carry or simply finds themselves in situations where belt holsters aren’t practical. The low-profile silhouette blends into civilian environments, aided by a variety of color options, while still allowing quick firearm access in situations such as hiking, biking, commuting or traveling. Thanks to its versatile design and anti-slip lining, the…
“Finding the dot” or “fishing for the dot” is one of the biggest challenges for shooters transitioning from front-sight focused shooting using iron sights to target-focused shooting with a red dot. While instructors can articulate the finer points of grip angles, sighting planes, sight heights, bore axes and focusing on the target, the fact is, nothing is as helpful for the trainee as dedicated practice and repetition with a red-dot equipped pistol. This is especially important with regards to the correct target presentation, draw stroke and sight picture. This raises the question, can you rely on hardware to help fix…
New from CzechPoint USA is the Military Black model, the latest version of the iconic vz. 58 rifle. Czechpoint already produces many different models of the VZ.58, including rifles chambered in 7.62x39mm and 5.56 NATO. Production started on the vz. 58 rifle in 1959. Designed in the late 1950s, it was Czechoslovakia’s response to the AK-47. Initially built to fire 7.62x39mm ammo, the vz. 58 uses a short-stoke gas piston and is striker-fired. CzechPoint imports its vz. 58 from its parent company CSA (Czech Small Arms), and when the rifles arrive at CzechPoint’s facility in Knoxville, TN, the semi-automatic version…
As consumers, we usually consider having multiple product options to be a good thing. The greater the number of choices, the better our chances are for finding the best fit for our needs. The icing on the cake is that prices typically drop when competition for our dollars heats up. That’s all fine and dandy—until there are so many choices we’re overwhelmed to the point of being indecisive. While not likely to be a problem for most readers here, navigating the current jungle of Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) choices can be challenging for first-time buyers. Fortunately, other MSR enthusiasts are…