Skip to content

Brian McCombie

writes about hunting and firearms, people and places, for a variety of publications including American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated, and SHOT Business. He loves hog hunting, 1911’s chambered in 10MM and .45 ACP, and the Chicago Bears.

Buy It Direct: Maven’s Fine RS.5 4-24×50 Rifle Scope

Since their optics are not sold in stores and are only available direct to customers, many shooters and hunters don’t know that the Maven Outdoor Equipment Company is producing some of the best scopes and binoculars on the market today. Yes, some of the best.

Burris Thermal Scope Plus a (Not) Boring Rifle = A Great Night Hog Hunting Rig

I dropped down onto the other side of the ranch gate and onto the saturated soil. I was hunting private property south of Longview, Texas, in early April 2021, and it had been raining much of the last 24 hours. It had been raining pretty steady for the last three days of my time here in East Texas, which made the fields and pastures even more inviting to the feral hogs that so love to root up the ground.

400 Yard Muzzleloader! Taking Long Shots With Bergara and CVA: New Rifles!

On April 29, 2021, Bergara and CVA sponsored The Long Shot Tour, held at the Fossil Pointe Shooting Grounds, outside Decatur, Texas. These two gun makers had some new and newer firearms to show off and invited a dozen writers and editors to try out several Bergara bolt action rifles and a pair of CVA muzzleloaders, plus a CVA bolt action. I was one of those writers.

Field Tests: Sitka’s Stratus Jackets

Last fall, Sitka Gear released a new hunting jacket, the Stratus, in two versions: one in Blaze Orange, the other in Sitka’s Optifade Elevated II camouflage pattern. I have been on some chilly hunts with first-rate results!

Gear: Sitka’s Flash Shelter

Best known for its hunting apparel, Sitka jumps into the emergency shelter market with its new Flash Shelter 8’x10,’ a tarp that packs light but rolls out large enough to provide cover for two people. For the backcountry hunter, the Flash Shelter is made to provide quick concealment, and shelter from rain, wind, and snow.