Review: Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec .45

I recently had the chance to test the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec pistol in .45 ACP, positioned in the manufacturer’s line as a very reasonably priced basic service pistol — yet one that still features a rugged forged frame and slide. Except for its taller sights, it shares the silhouette of ...

By Massad Ayoob •

USPS Pushes New Firearm Mailing Rule That Gun Owners Say Defies Court Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with a proposed rule that gun rights advocates say undermines a recent federal court victory and continues to violate the Second Amendment. Gun Owners of America (GOA) won a court case earlier this year that forced the USPS to overtur...

By Luke McCoy •

Lockheed D-21: Cold War Spy Drone

In October 1962, the C.I.A. and the U.S.A.F. requested that Lockheed study a high-speed, high-altitude drone concept for reconnaissance flights over particularly hostile territories to avoid endangering aircrews. Created during the height of the Cold War and following the shootdown of a U-2 spy p...

By Friedrich Seiltgen •

USS Hornet (CV-12): Carrier that Stung Japan

The USS Hornet (CV-12) stands as one of the most storied aircraft carriers in United States naval history, playing a decisive role in World War II as part of the Essex-class fleet. From its origins as a replacement for the lost USS Hornet (CV-8) to its participa...

By Peter Suciu •

Colt Optics Unveils Scope Lineup

We recently covered the Canadian military's adoption of a new carbine, the CMAR . That announcement was shortly followed by word that a Colt scope would round out the package: the CMAR 1-6 . Colt's new line of civilian optics  has now been released, so we can take a look at what th...

By Daniel Y •

The New Bronzed & Comped Beretta 80X Cheetah Tactical Special Edition

While it’s not bronzed in the literal sense of the word, Beretta continues expanding the modernized 80X Cheetah platform with the introduction of the newest Tactical Special Edition. The “80X Cheetah Tactical” is a dual-tone variant that layers additional “tactical” ...

By Luke C. •

Triumph and Tragedy: The USS Indianapolis

No one on board the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) knew anything about the cargo they were carrying. What they did know was that the veteran cruiser (launched in 1931) made the trip from San Francisco to the island of Tinian in the Marianas in just ten days. The crew was proud of the “Indy”, and fo...

By Tom Laemlein •

Springfield Armory 1911 Ronin AOS Review

More than a century after the debut of John Browning’s most celebrated handgun design, the year 2020 marked the beginning of Springfield Armory’s most recent 1911 makeover. Long known as a premium purveyor of the .45-caliber, two-time World War champ, Springfield’s catalog of 1911s had grow...

By Joe Kurtenbach •
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