Video: Melvin Forbes And His Rifles

by
posted on November 2, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

When Melvin Forbes was presented with the 2011 NRA Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award, NRA Publications Editorial Director John Zent said that Forbes “shook up the shooting and hunting world with his five-pound rifles that shoot every bit as good as many twice that heavy.” As a young master gunsmith in West Virginia, Forbes had a vision of an accurate, reliable, bolt-action hunting rifle that weighed less than 6 pounds. He introduced his masterpiece at the 1985 SHOT Show and today his revolutionary approach to paring weight without sacrificing accuracy has created a template that sets the industry standard.

Watch this feature video from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV to learn why other firearm manufacturers paid attention and, to varying degrees, copied Forbes’ ideas.

For more on Forbes rifles, please enjoy the following articles:

2011 Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award Winner Melvin Forbes
How to Shoot Light Rifles
Forbes Rifle Model 24b
Keefe Report: Production Forbes Rifles
Keefe Report: Pioneer Award—An Award Worth Giving

Latest

couple in dark alley
couple in dark alley

Criminal Clues: Tips to Avoid Appearing Like a Soft Target

You don’t have to be the hardest target, but you don’t want to be the softest. Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming a target for a criminal looking for his or her next opportunity.

Beretta A400 Solo: For the One-Gun Hunter

The new Beretta A400 Solo is designed as a no-nonsense hunting shotgun that is an entry point to the company’s premium semi-auto shotgun family.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 10, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: FK Brno PSD-C

Manufacturers have achieved excellent results with small-caliber bottleneck designs, as evidenced by cartridges such as the .357 SIG and 5.7x28 mm. The .30-caliber 7.5 FK continues this legacy and is now chambered in the FK Brno PSD-C.

Firearm Industry Celebrates America's 250th With More Commemorative Options

For the entirety of 2026, we're celebrating America's 250th anniversary, and the firearm industry continues to roll out commemorative products to mark the occasion.

Maxed Out: Derya's New MAX Shotgun

The Derya Arms MAX is a new semi-auto shotgun designed for serious competitive shooters that is made entirely in the USA.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.