From Jim Shepherd

There’s a big disconnect between having a home defense gun and having a home defense gun that’s stored safely, but still quickly accessible in an emergency. The inconvenient problem with things that go bump in the night is that most of the time they don’t go bump in the night; they go bump in the wee small hours of the morning. Those hours when most of us are sleeping our soundest.

Predators, including the two-legged variety, know hunting’s easiest when the quarry’s least alert. Cheetahs and criminals aren’t looking for long runs; they’re hoping for quick hits followed by stealthy exits.

There are criminals that will commit crimes in broad daylight, but they’ve usually done enough rudimentary scouting to know that if/when they come a’knocking, no one will be home to answer the door. And the kind of criminal I’m talking about isn’t the garden variety crazy; it’s the professional thief.

Having a gun introduces a second problem: responsibility for your family’s safety and keeping your family safe while having a weapon close enough at hand you can properly greet those who bump in the night.

In the years since a Miami home invasion, I’ve used more than a couple of solutions I thought would let me protect my home from uninvited visitors while protecting the residents of my home from the gun I would use to protect them.

Early on in that process, I waited until everyone else went to bed, then put my revolver within easy reach of my bed. That ended the morning my youngest daughter woke me up trying to tug open the drawer of my night stand where the gun was “close at hand.”

At that point, my “last-in” scenario meant I would have to be “first-out” every morning.

Not always likely. My TV schedule often meant I was last one home, but the next morning I was definitely not the first one out.

So back to the proverbial drawing board. I have a biometric safe. Fine for a small handgun. But it’s not 100% foolproof when fumbling around in the dark. Honestly, nothing is 100% foolproof -and the chances of a fool operating it successfully increases exponentially if/when you add darkness and sleep to the process.

Which brings me to the next option -a “smarter gun” for home defense. No, not a smart gun- a smarter gun.

No biometrics. No electronics -unless you choose to add a light or optic.

Most importantly, there’s just no way someone can pick it up and use it against you unless they have disarmed you. If that happens, nothing’s going to help- unless you sleep in body armor.

I’m talking about the Pivot “ultracompact folding rifle” from Trailblazer Arms.

Walker’s Disrupter Electronic Ear Buds—All-New for 2023—Now Available Both In-Store and Online

Irving, TX –– The wait is over. After announcing the launch of their most innovative hearing protection and enhancement technology earlier this year, Walker’s newest product is now available both in-store and online through various retailers nationwide.

The all-new best-in-class Disrupter electronic ear buds up the ante by delivering the reliable noise protection and sound quality required everywhere from the range to the backcountry—cancelling dangerous-level noises, enhancing desired environmental sounds and delivering superior audio from cell phones, tablets and other devices through Bluetooth® connectivity. And they do so based on five programmed ambient sound settings—Universal, Clear Voice, Hi-Frequency Boost, Power Boost and Custom—each selected by the wearer to best suit the needs of their activity. Read more

Colona, IL – Rock River Arms, a firearms manufacturer known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, introduces the BT3 Predator HP 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle. Designed to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning long-range shooters, the BT3 combines superior craftsmanship and manufacturing technology to deliver exceptional performance.

The BT3 Predator HP 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle showcases Rock River Arms’ relentless pursuit of perfection in long-range shooting. Engineered with the goal of unrivaled out-of-the-box accuracy and extended effective range, and outstanding reliability, the rifle is chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. Whether destined for competitive shooting or taking down varmints, the Predator HP 6.5 Creedmoor is designed for mission success.

At the heart of the Predator HP is Rock River Arms’ innovative billet aluminum upper and lower receiver set. CNC-machined from a solid block of aerospace-grade aluminum, this lightweight yet robust construction provides enhanced strength and rigidity, ensuring consistent shot-to-shot performance. The receiver set also features a sleek, modern design, with ergonomic contours and an optimized grip for improved handling and comfort.

The Predator HP 6.5C incorporates a precision-machined, match-grade stainless steel barrel that delivers exceptional accuracy and longevity. The 24-inch barrel’s precision 1:8 twist rifling offers optimum bullet stability and to leverage the ballistic performance of the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Read more

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the reintroduction of the Marlin® Model 1894™ Classic chambered in .44 Rem Mag. The Model 1894 Classic retains the traditional characteristics that made this a truly iconic rifle.

“We’re very excited to introduce our first Ruger-made Marlin Model 1894,” said Ruger President and CEO, Chris Killoy. “We have spent many months working to make this rifle the best it can be.”

Chambered in .44 Magnum, the Model 1894 Classic sports a beautifully finished American black walnut straight stock and forend. The clean and crisp checkering accentuates both the aesthetics and utility of this carefully crafted rifle.

Richly blued and featuring a square finger lever, this alloy steel rifle is equipped with a 20” cold hammer-forged barrel with standard six-groove rifling and a 1:20” twist rate. Also capable of shooting the lighter-recoiling .44 Special, the Model 1894 is equipped with a tubular magazine that will accept 10 rounds of .44 Magnum ammunition, or 11 rounds of .44 Special. Read more

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), offers a scholarship program to reward deserving, graduating seniors in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) with needed college assistance. The main objective is to award as many scholarships as possible to qualifying SCTP / SASP graduating high school seniors.

Since 2013, the SSSF has awarded over $818,000 in scholarship funds benefiting over 900 student athletes, from nearly all 50 states in the Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting programs. This year saw 183 student athletes awarded scholarships from the youth development programs for a total of $91,500 in assistance for pursuits of higher education.

In addition to scholarships mentioned above, at the 2023 National Championships, special scholarships will be awarded by SCTP sponsors Browning, CZ-USA, and Beretta. Eligible athletes will shoot a Browning shotgun in trap singles, a Beretta shotgun in skeet events, or a CZ shotgun during sporting clays events, respectively. The grand total for scholarship opportunities for athletes at SCTP Nationals comes in at $11,500. Read more

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts –– Savage Arms is now shipping the 334 Stevens Rifles that debuted earlier this year. Both the Walnut and Synthetic models are now shipping nationwide. The Walnut version chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor also recently drew high praise in the annual and extensive Outdoor Life gun test.

With a two-stage adjustable trigger, the Stevens 334 bolt action rifle comes in a Turkish Walnut stock option with a silver bolt or a black synthetic stock with a matte black action to match. This rifle is offered in three popular calibers with a 60-degree bolt lift to allow faster loading on follow up shots, making it a suitable rifle option for any hunter or shooter.

The response to these rifles by retailers has been strong, and Savage expects to see large numbers of these rifles on ranges this summer and in the woods this fall. Outdoor Life further legitimized these value-driven rifles in their most recent gun test. Held each year, there are no favorites, shortcuts or edit buttons in this all-out test of the latest rifles the industry has to offer. Amongst its peers (and several priced significantly higher), the 334 performed extraordinarily and took home the “Great Buy, Hunting Rifle” award.

“The Stevens 334 Walnut was the most surprising gun of the rifle test,” wrote Outdoor Life Shooting Editor John B. Snow. “While the stock is nice enough, the metalwork and design of the action is basic—though in keeping with the rifle’s modest $489 price tag.” Read more