ARTV Preview: Firearm Basics, Heritage Barkeep and The PKM General Purpose Machine Gun

by
posted on July 20, 2021
** 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. **

There are a lot of new shooters consistently joining the community, many of whom do not know the basics of firearm handling and safety. That's why for this week's feature, we'll join NRA's Larry Quandahl to go over firearms basics, including the handling of long guns.

NRA's Larry QaundahlNRA's Larry Quandahl covering the basics of long guns. 

This week on "Rifleman Review," we test the Heritage Mfg. Inc. Barkeep revolver. This snub-nosed, single-action revolver is chambered in .22 Long Rifle with a six-round cylinder, and comes in several different flavors.

The Heritage Mfg. Inc. Barkeep.The Heritage Mfg. Inc. Barkeep revolver.

Later, we examine the history of the classic Cold War-era Russian general-purpose machine gun, the PKM. Based off the long-stroke Kalashnikov gas-operated action of the AK family of rifles, the PKM is chambered for 7.62x54 R and belt fed. It is still in widespread use today.

The Russian PKM machine gun.The Russian PKM general purpose machine gun.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.   

Latest

Springfield Armory SA-35 4"
Springfield Armory SA-35 4"

Review: Springfield Armory SA-35 4"

Springfield Armory has made its SA-35 High Power clone even more appealing to those interested in a compact, concealed-carry pistol with a new 4-inch barreled version of its SA-35.

Legacy Sports International Expands Howa Bolt-Action Rifle Lineup

Japanese-made Howa M1500 rifles continue to be some of the best value-for-the-money bolt-actions on the market, and for 2026, the company is adding two new models, along with a new chambering.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 17, 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.

Skills Check: The Tabula Rasa Method

Too many shooters step onto the range carrying the emotional residue of every missed shot, every bad stage and every ugly drill from the last six months like a tactical backpack full of disappointment. The Tabula Rasa method is designed to change that relationship.

Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Select Federal Ammunition

Federal Ammunition will supply the Canadian Department of National Defense and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with rifle and shotgun ammunition, respectively.

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.