Reference library
Guides to rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition, optics and archery, plus hunting know-how by species for the United States and Canada. Every page lists the sources behind it.
Article · Rifles
The Mauser 98 was the 1898 German service rifle and became one of the most influential bolt-action designs. Its controlled-round feed, dual front locking lugs, rear safety lug and three-position safety shaped later military and sporting rifles.
Comparison · Bows and Archery
Longbows and recurves are best separated by limb shape and string contact. Recurve geometry can store more energy for a given draw weight and draw length, while longbows keep the simpler traditional shape and have limited string contact.
Article · Firearms History and Technology
The AK story begins with a Soviet postwar infantry rifle program tied to Mikhail Kalashnikov and the 7.62 x 39 mm M43 cartridge. The AKM was the later modernized model, and Kalashnikov terminology can be imprecise when similar rifles are grouped under one familiar name.
Guide · Firearm Safety and Storage
A magazine disconnect safety is a mechanical feature on some semiautomatic pistols that can prevent firing when the magazine is removed. It is not proof that the chamber is empty, and it is never a substitute for opening the action and checking the chamber.
Comparison · Bows and Archery
Multi-pin bow sights keep several fixed aiming references ready for set distances, while single-pin sights use one adjustable aiming reference, usually with a sight tape or yardage indicator. For bowhunters, the main trade-off is a ready set of preset pins versus a cleaner sight picture and a pin that can be adjusted to a measured distance.
Guide · Rifles
Pump-action rifles, also called slide-action or trombone-action rifles, use a movable fore-end to operate the bolt. They exist in both rimfire and centerfire forms, but major references describe the action as much more common in shotguns than in rifles.
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