Wednesday Wisdom: 22 July 2026

Medal of Honor: Luther Skaggs Jr.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with a mortar section of a rifle company in the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup beachhead, Guam, Mariana Islands, 21-22 July 1944. When the section leader became a casualty under a heavy mortar barrage shortly after landing, Private First Class Skaggs promptly assumed command and led the section through intense fire for a distance of 200 yards to a position from which to deliver effective coverage of the assault on a strategic cliff. Valiantly defending this vital position against strong enemy counterattacks during the night, Private First Class Skaggs was critically wounded when a Japanese grenade lodged in his foxhole and exploded, shattering the lower part of one leg. Quick to act, he applied an improvised tourniquet and, while propped up in his foxhole, gallantly returned the enemy's fire with his rifle and hand grenades for a period of eight hours.

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What Instructors Should Know About Jacketed Frangible 5.56 Ammo

During a recent NLEFIA Shoot House Instructor Certification Course, instructors discussed frangible ammunition and its compatibility with suppressors. Students using suppressed rifles reported that some suppressor manufacturers explicitly warn against “conventional” (non-jacketed) frangible ammunition. The cited risk: projectile breakup inside the barrel, which could damage the suppressor and void the warranty.

Warranty concerns appear to stem from a reported (though unverified) incident involving three 30-round magazines of unjacketed frangible ammunition fired full-auto through a suppressed M4 until the system overheated, allegedly causing baffle strikes. (Note: Sustained full-auto fire of this volume is rarely — if ever — necessary or realistic in law enforcement training or operations.)

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Explore the Secrets of Thermal Imaging Sights-How do they work?

In low-light nighttime environments, traditional optics are limited and struggle to perform effectively, while night vision goggles rely on visible light to amplify for observation. There is a better solution in such conditions—thermal imaging sights. Thermal imaging has become a powerful tool for shooters in complete darkness. Whether for night outdoor, range shooting at night, or home defense, thermal sights significantly enhance your shooting capabilities and reduce safety threats. So, how does thermal imaging work, and why is it important?

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Bullet Expansion Testing: What Gel Tests Actually Tell You (and What They Don't)

Ballistic gelatin is a standardized testing medium designed to approximate the density and resistance of human soft tissue. The FBI protocol uses 10% ordnance gelatin calibrated to a specific density at a specific temperature.

The key word is "approximate." Gel is a uniform, consistent medium. Human tissue is not. Gel doesn't have bones, organs, fat layers, clothing, or varying density. It provides a controlled baseline for comparison, not a prediction of real-world performance. Think of gel testing like a standardized test for ammunition. It measures specific things under specific conditions. It's useful for comparing one load to another. It's not useful for predicting exactly what will happen in an uncontrolled real-world scenario.

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The Nielsen Device: How it Works and Why it's Necessary for Some Pistols

The Nielsen Device is a type of suppressor mount that allows a suppressor to move forward upon firing and thus allow a recoil-operated firearms to cycle reliably despite the added weight of a suppressor. Popularized by Doug Olsen in the 1980s, they allow pistols to be readily suppressed without needing to tinker with spring strength, slide weight, and suppressor weight. They are not necessary or useful on fixed-barrel pistols, carbines, or rifles however. (opens to a video)

If you'd rather read an in-depth article: Silencer Central's article: What is a Nielsen Device? is very informative.

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What Does the O-Ring on an AR-15 Extractor Do?

 

The O-ring on an AR-15 extractor significantly enhances the firearm’s reliability by providing increased extractor tension and improving its ability to grip and hold onto spent cartridges during the extraction cycle. This added tension helps prevent failures to extract, especially when the rifle is dirty, heavily used, or experiencing fluctuations in ammunition pressure.

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John Farnam Quips – August 2002

Per a student: I was coming to the end of my day shift. Our department runs all one-man, beat cars. I fell in behind a speeder, got a radar fix, and attempted to pull him over in traffic. It was late afternoon but still light. I became suspicions and concerned when the driver was slow to respond and started moving things around in the front seat with his right hand and arm. Eventually, he pulled over and stopped.

The moment the vehicle stopped, the driver (an extremely large, Hispanic male) hopped out and started walking back toward me. I ordered him to get back in his car, but he continued to walk as he put his hand in his right pocket, all the time saying, “License, license!” in Spanish.

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Ayoob: My Take on the SA-3 

The Hi Power, known generically as P-35 because it was introduced in 1935, is a modern classic. Conceived by the incomparable John Moses Browning and finalized into the form we know it by his protégé Dieudonne Saive after Browning’s death, the P-35 was adopted by many nations, and it was manufactured in multiple countries — sometimes with a license, and sometimes not.

It was the first popular double-stack 9mm, its magazine holding 13 rounds of 9mm. Many considered it John Browning’s ultimate handgun design. The grip shape fit both small and large hands. It was reliable with the full metal jacket 9mm Luger it was designed for. However, it had its shortcomings. Its burr hammer often bit the web of the shooter’s hand. The thumb safety was small and flat with a mushy feel that made it hard for the hand to know whether it was “on” or “off” safe. It was iffy in terms of feeding most hollow point rounds.

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 Reviewing the S&W 500 Revolver 

Big wheel guns inspire many feelings in firearm enthusiasts, whether it’s historical yearning or just a desire for power in your hand. The smooth metallic clicking as a cylinder rolls cartridges into place is a soothing sound.

Large revolvers have always been an American custom, and Smith & Wesson has been part of it for more than 170 years. One of S&W’s masterpieces is the mighty X-frame, built to carry the massive .500 S&W cartridge. The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model S&W500 7.5-inch pistol is built for shooting its mighty cartridges comfortably and accurately.

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Iran’s Unarmed Citizens Show Why the Second Amendment Still Matters

Once government decides who may possess the means of self-defense, and who may not, political favor replaces individual rights. Those trusted by the controlling regime remain armed. Those who resist are disarmed, or worse. That does not mean every government disagreement should become an armed confrontation. It means the balance of power matters. The ability to throw off the yoke of a despotic and tyrannical government matters. Elections, courts and constitutional institutions remain essential safeguards. The Second Amendment ensures those protections are backed by an independent citizenry that is never entirely dependent on government for personal security or liberty.

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The Revamped, Redesigned BANISH 30-V2 .30 Caliber Suppressor

 

The original BANISH 30 suppressor was one of the best-selling cans in America for a goodly amount of time. In 2025, BANISH gave the suppressor a thorough makeover. The result — the BANISH 30-V2 — is lighter, shorter and quieter than version 1.0. It’s a modular design that’s rated for use on everything from .17 HMR to .300 Weatherby. It has a titanium baffle stack inside a titanium tube that makes it light weight and completely user serviceable.

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This Common Travel Convenience Is Becoming One of Scammers’ Favorite Tools, According to Cybersecurity Experts

 

According to a recent 2026 McAfee report on travel scam experiences and digital behaviors, 62% of travelers are putting themselves at risk by scanning QR codes while they’re in transit or in a new place. When you mindlessly pull out your phone and scan the QR code for a restaurant menu or to download a hotel’s app, there’s a chance you could expose your personal data to scammers or malicious websites.

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