Articles by Herschel Smith

Task & Purpose.

An Army infantry officer has made a series of criticisms of the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, which is meant to replace the M4A1 carbine.

The Army introduced the XM7 rifle and XM250 light machine gun — both of which chamber a 6.8mm round — partly due to concerns that modern body armor could stop the 5.56mm rounds fired by the M4A1 and M249. The bigger round is also meant to give the XM7 an increased range based on lessons from Afghanistan.

But Army Capt. Braden Trent presented his research into the XM7 at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C. — research he claims shows that the rifle is inferior to the M4A1.

As part of his research, Trent said he visited the 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne,” 101st Airborne Division, which was the first active-duty Army unit to receive the XM7. Trent said he interviewed more than 150 soldiers and disassembled 23 XM7 rifles.

His 52-page report on the subject, which included testing with experts, ballistic research, and input from soldiers, concluded that the XM7 is “unfit for use as a modern service rifle,” Trent said on April 29 during his presentation at Modern Day Marine.

Trent said his research has shown that soldiers equipped with the XM7 in a live-fire exercise quickly run out of ammunition because its magazine only holds 20 rounds. He also said that gouges and scratches can form in the barrel after firing more than 2,000 rounds, the rifle’s weight makes it hard for soldiers to maneuver.

[ … ]

“The XM7 is a tactically outdated service rifle that would be better classified as a designated marksman rifle, if that,” Trent said during his presentation. “This rifle is a mechanically unsound design that will not hold up to sustained combat on a peer-on-peer conflict.”

Designated marksman rifles come in all sizes and calibers, including 5.56mm, .308, etc. The round isn’t relevant for consideration of a DM rifle (although barrel length is).

We discussed the solution to this problem many times: the 6mm ARC, which would involve a change of barrels, a change of BCGs, and a change of magazines.

The 6mm ARC would easily let shooters reach out and touch targets 600 meters away or further, while letting the DMs use other rifles.

But some general or group of generals got wealthy “consulting” to Sig on this boondoggle, not to mention the cash flowing into Sig.

I always carry (when in the bush): water, means of filtration, knife, cordage, parka, rubberized poncho, fire starter, light, and firearm(s). With those essentials, you can get cover (poncho and cordage), defend yourself, see in the dark, keep from freezing to death, have a cutting tool, and start a fire for warmth and food preparation.

David asks if anyone has seen anything on Snope. I haven’t, except that it was distributed for conference for the 13th time.

Outdoor Life.

When I was younger, I prided myself on always being prepared in the outdoors. Whether it was a backcountry hunting trip or just a casual hike, I always brought everything I could possibly need in case something went wrong. I carried a fire starter, extra clothes, and high-calorie snacks in my kit. I would always charge my phone, and I’d usually throw a satellite device and signal flares into my pack if I was heading into any serious wilderness. Yet, over the years, my preparations began to lapse.

[ … ]

That’s how it all starts. Becoming lackadaisical.

Knowing I’d hit him, I pulled out my phone to text Hayden, only to see that my battery was dead. Cursing myself for not charging it, I shrugged off my mistake and went to recover the buck at the bottom of the canyon.

Dead phone.

I dropped my pack on the ground and looked for my heavy coat before remembering I’d taken it out the day before to help pack out Andrew’s deer. With the cold wind biting into me, I knew that If I didn’t get back to the safety of our tent, I was going to be in trouble.

Improper cold weather survival apparel.

I re-shouldered the pack and dug into my pockets for my headlamp. It, too, was out of batteries.

Dead batteries for your only real source of light.

Looking up toward the rim, I suddenly sank knee-deep into a gap in the rocks and pitched forward, hyperextending my leg. In a panic, I pushed myself to the left and the weight of the buck on my back shifted down, twisting my leg even further. I felt and heard a loud snap as I was pulled from the hole, and I slid through the mud back down to the bottom of the canyon.

Injury in the darkness because of no light and no gear for emergency cover and bedding.

“Dude,” Hayden shook his head. “The tent’s gone!”

We got to camp and saw that the wind had blown our tent completely over, exposing everything inside to sleet and snow. Hayden unearthed a couple damp sleeping bags from the soaking mess, and then we climbed into my truck and flooded the cab with heat. This relief would be short-lived, too, as the truck was low on gas and we still needed to drive back to town. Shivering in our seats with the knowledge that morning was only a few hours off, we both fell into a restless sleep.

Failure to fuel your transportation.

The list of failures is long, and this guy is blessed to be alive.

Learn from his mistakes.

Source.

If enacted, the cuts would force the agency to slash hundreds or more jobs, two of the sources said, in addition to the nearly 600 people who have already accepted the government’s deferred resignation option.

The agency employs about 5,300, about half of whom are special agents, according to public records. It has been unable to fill about 150 slots for special agents due to budget cuts in 2024, forcing it to cancel its incoming agent classes, two of the sources said.

Well, it’s a start. Why don’t we send the federal Marshals over to their officers and find and destroy the illegal firearms registration lists they have? And then terminate the bureau completely?

We’ve covered this before.

I don’t think it needs an upgrade. I think it needs program cancellation. Can you imagine a branch spending more on toys than the Air Force?

The total cost for all of this is $2 trillion. Trillion, with a ‘t’.

Source.

This is how a Coyote becomes when he’s hungry. This is perhaps a stupid move but also notice the teamwork.

Source.

The gun industry could face civil damages for the misuse of firearms in limited  circumstances in Connecticut under product liability legislation passed by the House and sent to the Senate on Wednesday.

Passage of House Bill 7042 came on a largely party-line vote of 100 to 46 in the House, where Democrats have a 102-49 majority. Five Democrats were opposed and five Republicans in favor.

Republican opponents decried the bill as unfairly holding gun makers and sellers responsible for the actions of purchasers, while the Democratic sponsor described it as a reasonable effort to make an industry be more attentive to public safety.

The state legislation follows a narrow path left open by a federal law that generally protects the gun industry from damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearms or ammunition.

Exceptions to the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act include cases where harms occurred after a manufacturer or seller knowingly violated a law applicable to the sale or marketing of guns.

Nine states have passed similar laws, said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, the lead sponsor of the bill.

He said the same exception was used by families of nine Sandy Hook Elementary School families to sue Remington over its marketing of the AR-15 style rifle used to kill 20 students and six educators in 2012. They agreed to a $73 million settlement in 2022.

The U.S. Supreme Court had refused to hear an appeal of a Connecticut’s court decision that allowed the families to pursue the case.

Yep, they invoked Sandy Hook as I figured they would. They got what they wanted. They bankrupted Remington and sent chills through the gun manufacturing industry (although Remington didn’t exactly help their case by producing crap). That there is such a thing as the protection of lawful commerce in firearms act doesn’t matter to legislators in Connecticut. Nor does it matter to the SCOTUS, apparently, who doesn’t care enough about the U.S. Congress to honor laws that have been made.

By the way, if you’re a gun manufacturer who still calls Connecticut home, I have one question. Why?

"Exposing the agents to potential lines of fire." Good Lord. That's their job. If they don't want to do it they can find another. So the argument goes that any danger justifies wrong-home raids. This is odious and repugnant.https://t.co/731qpAEaLP

— CaptainsJournal (@BrutusMaximus50) April 30, 2025

That means be wary when you go on walkabouts. This includes wearing snake boots during hunting season.

Video.