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

Belt1 1911 Timer
Belt1 1911 Timer

Tactical Belts For The Rest Of Us

Most shooters don’t need a "war belt." While enthusiasts like the idea of preparing for every contingency, the vast majority of us need a reliable platform for a range session, a training class or a local club match.

18 New Shotguns for 2026

Among today's firearm platforms, the shotgun remains one of the most time-tested, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Today's new crop of shotguns runs the gamut, giving modern shotgunners new options in nearly every conceivable category.

Derya Arms RAN Series: A New Take on the Lever-Action

Derya Arms' latest entry in the lever-action market, the RAN series of rifles and pistols, seeks to “reimagine” the modern lever gun.

Gun of the Week: Robinson Armament XCR-L

One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.

Maryland Bans Glocks and the NRA Responds

Legislation recently signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore essentially bans nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market from being sold within the state.

The Armed Citizen® May 29, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.