Firearms News July 2023 — Issue #13: Mountain Rifle Light/Back Country Capable

This Month in Firearms News:

On the cover: Merely an hour before, the high-country of the 49th state was displaying her iridescent charm with brilliant blue skies, light feathery breezes, the chirping of birds, and that early-fall brand of warm, Indian summer sunlight that almost feels like love. This was about to come to an abrupt end. Alaska can be a mischievous and fickle mis- tress with a penchant for raining on your parade... as well as everything you have packed into her otherworldly realm. Malevolent black clouds with wispy banners of sleet sweeping the terrain be- low them poured over the snow-capped peaks in front of me and gained momentum as they raced down the massive glacier several miles from my position. I’ve spent enough time in Alaska’s wilds to know when I was about to be on the receiving end of Mother Nature’s diabolical sense of humor, and one thing was certain; it was time to pack up shop, move from the concealed hunting position I occupied on a willow-covered glacial moraine, and seek shelter under an out-of-the-weather Sitka Gear “Flash Shelter” tarp we set up days before the current ugliness in anticipation of just such an occasion. 

The maelstrom swept off the glacier with frightening speed well before I was completely prepared to move and it’s wrath was impressive. The initial gusts knocked me off-balance as I stuffed my pack with gear in anticipation of a hasty egress to a more hospitable locale. The wind continued to pummel me as I crammed the .300 PRC Howa Carbon Stalker I was field-testing into an Eberlestock gun-pack. Normally, I stow my gear slowly, deliberately, and quietly before leaving a hide in order to not spook any last-minute visitors (moose, bear, caribou) that may arrive late for the party. This was not the case on this occasion. I loaded up my pack with unfettered gusto because I was supremely confident there was absolutely no way game animals were going to be moving in the current hurricane-like conditions. 

Also inside:

• Byrna's Less-Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun Ammunition
• Geissele Super Duty: Is this the AR-15 perfected? 
• Sterling: The UK's greatest submachine gun: Part 1
• Running the Wick Stick: Heckler & Koch's P30L, John Wick's first combat pistol.

Pick up a copy at your local magazine stand, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or major book retailer. Firearms News prints two exciting issues per month so be sure to get both copies or subscribe!