The American Rifleman: Born of Armed Rebellion
The American Rifleman
By Greg Chabot
Excerpt used with permission.
“Rifleman are not born. They are made.”- H.W. McBride , 1937
“The lessons that we learn are written on the tombstones of others.” – Reid Henrichs
There is no firearm on the planet as versatile as the magazine- fed general purpose rifle. It fulfills both offensive and defensive roles. Effective from the muzzle out to hundreds of yards, the rifle is accurate, powerful, holds an adequate number of cartridges, and is easy to manipulate. In short, it is the ideal firearm for one to use in order to prevail during deadly force. Technique has evolved over hundreds of years, and as of this moment continues to do so. What does not change and will not change is the application of fundamentals. A rifleman knows his rifle and ammunition. He can hit from a variety of positions in various conditions and has the courage to fight for himself and others. He relies on himself, his rifle, his mind, and his skill. He does not rely on technology for proficiency. He engrains repetitions into his subconscious mind, drawing on them when it matters. – Reid Henrichs
Reid Henrichs is the President and founder of Valor Ridge in Harrogate TN. A former Marine and Police Officer, Reid is also a respected firearms instructor and former history teacher. His latest book The American Rifleman Born of Armed Rebellion is an excellent companion to his first book Pistolcraft.
This book focuses on rifle marksmanship and the use of iron sights to master the basics of marksmanship. Absent is range theatrics and tacticool bullshit that will get you killed in a fight. The book is well illustrated and easy to understand, the methods in this book are proven techniques not theory. It all starts and ends with the basics with both rifles and pistols. As a combat veteran I relied on the basics to survive in battle not theory. The book focuses primarily on two weapon systems the AR-15 and AK47 due to their popularity with the shooting public in America. The methods discussed in this book can be applied to any rifle one chooses to use. Reid does an excellent job of discussing how to zero sights, clear malfunctions and basic rifle maintenance. Also included in the book is an excellent chapter on why dry firing is important. And basic drills to practice at the range to build on the fundamentals of marksmanship.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the development of the rifle and why the founding fathers wrote the Second Amendment into the Constitution. The interviews with combat veterans of different wars was very eye opening and enlightening. The American Rifleman Born of Armed Rebellion will make an excellent addition to your library. I learned quite a bit from it and have implemented some of Reid’s methods into my training. Whether you are a new or experienced shooter there is always knowledge and wisdom that can be learned from others to better oneself. Reid’s book is one of those sources and I highly recommend it. American Rifleman is available in both digital and hard copy from Amazon.com.