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The Ruger Mini-14 never gained much traction as a military rifle, but instead was adopted by police forces all over the world, including France. The Mousqueston A.M.D. rifle—a nearly 30-year-old variant of the Ruger Mini-14—stands for “carbine intermediate defense weapon” and is France's version of the Mini-14. A magazine-fed, semi-automatic rifle, it has served France through many tumultuous times. Similar to American versions of the Mini-14, the Mousqueton A.M.D. differs slightly by having a finer detailed stock, as well as the receiver markings located underneath the wood line so they were not immediately visible. Today, the collecting public in France can own the Mousqueton A.M.D., but only as an Arme Neutralisée—or deactivated weapon. For more on the Ruger Mousqueton A.M.D. Rifle, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.
"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.
Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.
The 2026 National Firearms Survey conducted by William English of Georgetown University estimates that armed citizens in America use their guns 2.2 million to defend themselves or others.