A gun topic or two

David | March 24, 2026 | 11 Comments

The ATF is still trying to say that arm braces on things like rifle caliber pistols makes them short barreled rifles. Guess they can also say why a rifle which reduces muzzle velocity and accuracy makes the rifle more dangerous? Ah, wait, it’s more concealable… which actually accomplishes what? IF someone is bent on doing something nefarious, they’d bring a REALLY concealable handgun. Even a large one like a .44 Magnum is easier to conceal than an AR pistol. But no matter what, Bondi’s boys are still trying to enforce a Biden-administration flip-flop that made braces regulated.

In a blunt court filing from Monday, March 16, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) urged a federal judge to dismiss a high-profile challenge to its now-defunct pistol stabilizing brace rule, arguing the case has become completely moot. At the same time, the agency made clear it has no intention of abandoning enforcement against certain braced pistols under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and Gun Control Act (GCA). Ammoland.com

Pro-gun-administrations are so for only as long as they think it gets them votes, and they are not to be trusted.

The Army is looking for a smaller, lighter version of the 6.8mm M7 rifle (above). This XM8 looks to be shorter and better suited for CQB and a companion, not a replacement, for the M7.

The XM8 is about five inches shorter and roughly one pound lighter than the M7 and features a fixed buttstock, a Sig Sauer spokesperson confirmed to Task & Purpose.Stars and Stripes

This is starting to look like the early ’60s, when the M14 was considered too large and heavy despite being chambered in what became 7.62 NATO. It was based on the even longer and heavier-ammoed M-1 of WWII fame – first a marginally smaller round with close to the same capability, then to an even smaller round so soldiers could carry more. After decades of what many describe as marginal performance from the 5.56, we are going to almost-7.62 (both bullet diameter and cartridge size) 6.8mm rounds, and about 2/3 the round load-out per person. What’s next, yet another small caliber round based on the 6.8mm? Like Mr. Twain said, history may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

Just a quick note for those who may not have been following it – Beretta, the oldest continuously operating gun company in the world, has quietly bought up Ruger stock and is one of their largest shareholders. In a Ruger press release:

Beretta Sought to Buy Ruger Stock at a 15% Discount from Ruger in a Private Placement and to Obtain Disproportionate Board Representation and Voting Power that Would Give It Near-Veto Power Over Important Matters

Beretta’s Self-Serving Demands Included Appointing Its Own CEO to Ruger’s Board in Violation of U.S. Antitrust Laws

Trying to float what sounds like an aspiring hostile takeover of an armament company past government regulators – well, it’s ballsy. Stay tuned for updates.

And we’ll close with what looks like the best hope for cheap drone kills I have seen – High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical?dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS.) Most kills are made using explosive or kinetic energy weapons – but a swarm of CIWS bullets through almost anything and you’ll ruin its day. Place an explosive in close proximity – every bit as good. The issue is how close you have to get for bullets to work, or arranging for your explosive to be just at the right point that the target is within the blast radius – THAT gets expensive. So how about a laser-type weapon that can tag the target at a a distance? HELIOS. Integrated with the AEGIS system, it:

HELIOS is a 60-kilowatt class solid-state laser weapon designed to be integrated directly into a warship’s combat systems. Unlike conventional defensive weapons that rely on explosive interceptors, HELIOS fires a concentrated beam of electromagnetic energy that travels at the speed of light.

When focused on a target, the beam rapidly heats structural components or sensors until they fail.

The system operates in two distinct engagement modes. The first is a “soft-kill” function known as dazzling. In this mode the laser does not physically destroy the target but instead blinds optical sensors or guidance systems on drones and missiles, causing them to lose navigation capability and crash.

The second is a “hard-kill” mode that applies sustained heat to physically damage or destroy the airframe.

The system also contains advanced surveillance capabilities. Its sensor suite includes thermal imaging, night-vision optics and high-resolution tracking cameras that allow operators to identify and track aerial threats several miles away. These sensors can be used independently of the laser for reconnaissance and battle damage assessment. Guessing Headlights

Instead of trying to throw million dollar missiles at drones, shoot a coupla-buck laser shot. I know the eqquipment ain’t cheap, but if we save on all those expensive missiles – that’s gotta be a winner. Now if we could just get one mounted on a truck or a track somehow… LOTS more info in the linked article.