Countless children worldwide have taken their first shots not with a .22LR rifle or a .410 shotgun, but an airgun, particularly a BB gun. But if state senators of New York have their way, they’re going to make BB guns (and other air rifles) sold in their jurisdiction lame and non-functioning through Senate Bill S9215.

Air rifles @ TFB:

• TFB Review: FX DRS Tactical - Air Rifle Meets AR
• New Special Flag Edition Challenger Air Rifle from Crosman
• UMAREX Introduces Replica Ruger 10/22 Air Rifle
• Gun Review: Benjamin Armada MagPul Edition .22 Air Rifle

You *won’t* shoot your eye out, kid

Most North Americans have watched the classic holiday movie A Christmas Story, where the young protagonist Ralphie longs for a new Daisy BB gun, only to be thwarted at every turn by adults, who warn him: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” But if Ralphie lived under the proposed laws in the state of New York, he wouldn’t shoot his eye with a BB gun, because that BB gun wouldn’t shoot at all.

That’s because Senate Bill S9215 places BB guns and other air rifles in the “imitation weapons” category, which means they must come with a barrel plug. Good luck plinking at targets in the backyard, dreaming of frontier shootouts with Black Bart, with a gun that doesn’t even shoot. And to add insult to injury, New York’s update on imitation weapons in 2022 says “they cannot be black, blue, silver or aluminum, and must be colored white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, bright purple, or be made entirely of transparent or translucent materials.”

Glock is bringing additional capacity to some existing pistols. In a social media post, we got our first official look at new 15-round magazines coming to the G44 .22 LR pistol and the slimline 9mm models. Let’s take a look at what we know.

Glock @ TFB:

• Glock 19 Gen6 First Impressions: The Best Glock Ever? 
• Best First Handgun: Glock 19 vs. Glock 45 
• TFB Review: The 18-Round Glock Metal Magazine By Mec-Gar 
• POTD: Rare First-Generation Glock 17L at Collectors Elite Auctions 
• TFB Review: Glock & Aimpoint COA – New Era for Concealed Carry Optics 

Details are scarce as of writing. What we do know is that these magazines are coming out in May to Glock dealers. But we can gather more from the picture, and from other appearances these magazines have made. The new 9mm slimline magazine is compatible with the G43x and G48 pistols.

One of the main complaints about current expanded capacity magazines for those guns is the need for an aftermarket steel magazine catch. Glockstore has these magazines listed for pre-order now, and they have some close-up images of the magazines. Looking at those pictures and the official image from Glock, it is clear that the indentation where the magazine catch interfaces is solid rather than the hole seen on some aftermarket options.The edges and corners are also rounded. Will this be compatible with the standard plastic magazine catch? We will see.

Glockstore has these magazines listed for $31.99 for preorder.

Magpul has announced three new M-LOK accessories aimed at supporting hand control and consistent indexing: the M-LOK SVG Short Vertical Grip, the M-LOK Thumb Shelf, and the M-LOK Index Stop. All three are around the corner, for sale for almost nothing, and available for May 2026 delivery.

Magpul Reviews @ TFB:

• TFB Review: Magpul TMAG 30 Magazines - Translucent Olive Drab Hue
• TFB Review: Magpul SL MP5 Stock
• TFB Review: R44 Magpul DAKA Hard Case – A Better Rifle Case

All three are also ambidextrous and will be available in Black, FDE, ODG, and Magpul’s new Modified Coyote Brown (MCB) color, and are specifically made to fit octagonal aluminum rails.

The SVG (MAG1567) is a short vertical grip described by Magpul as taking the approach that "bigger isn't always better." Where the existing MVG is already a compact offering, the SVG takes the concept further with a reduced profile intended for shooters who prefer minimal bulk forward of the trigger guard without giving up a positive grip reference.

Together, the three accessories give M-LOK users a wider range of options for configuring support hand ergonomics to suit individual shooting styles, whether that is a short vertical grip, a thumb reference, or a bare index point.

In short, New Magpul M-LOK Accessories:

• M-LOK SVG Short Vertical Grip (MAG1567), MSRP $24.95
• M-LOK Thumb Shelf (MAG1566), MSRP $24.95
• M-LOK Index Stop (MAG1568), MSRP $19.95
• Available in: Black, FDE, ODG, MCB
• Availability: Coming May 2026
• Made in the USA

For more information, visit the product pages for the   SVG, the   Thumb Shelf, and the   Index Stop.

I anticipate seeing these Magpul parts on various lightweight and minimalistic builds in the near future. Of the three new accessories, which one fits your shooting style best: the short vertical SVG, the Thumb Shelf, or the minimalist Index Stop?

The original Sentinel was designed around a sub-compact 1911 format with a 3.6-inch hand-fit cone barrel and a grip frame a full half-inch shorter than Wilson Combat's Compact model. The reissued Sentinel (9mm) retains that configuration, built on a carbon steel frame weighing 35.6 ounces empty with an 8+1 capacity. It ships with a high-ride Bullet Proof beavertail, Black G10 slim-line grips, a contoured magwell, fiber optic front sight, serrated Battlesight rear, and a trigger pull in the 3.5 to 4.5 lb range. MSRP is $4,085.

Sentinel Family Specs:

Sentinel (9mm)

• Frame: Carbon steel
• Barrel: 3.6 in, hand-fit cone
• Capacity: 8+1
• Weight: 35.6 oz empty
• Grips: Black G10 slim-line
• MSRP: $4,085

Sentinel XL (9mm)

• Frame: Aluminum, 60% lighter than steel
• Barrel: 4 in, fluted, Compact-length slide
• Capacity: 8+1
• Weight: 27.6 oz empty
• Grips: Black Cherry ultra-thin
• MSRP: $4,535

Sentinel XL (.38 Super)

• Same configuration as Sentinel XL 9mm
• Chambering: .38 Super
• MSRP: $4,535

Shared features across all three models:

• Match-grade stainless barrel
• Bullet Proof thumb safety
• Fiber optic front sight, serrated Battlesight rear
• Trigger pull: 3.5 to 4.5 lb
• Accuracy guarantee: 1.5 in at 25 yards
• Hand-fit, Berryville, Arkansas

All three models are available to order now at wilsoncombat.com or by contacting Wilson Combat at 800-955-4856.

Wilson Combat has offered .38 Super in custom builds since 1977. Is that a chambering you would seriously consider in a sub-compact carry gun, or does 9mm remain the practical choice for most shooters? I use a .38 Super Comp, but only for my competition race gun.

For those readers who only have time to read the bullet points, here is the Magpul ELG M-LOK Hand Guard specifications list:

• Fits: Marlin 1895, 1894, and 336, modern production (Ruger and Remington era)
• Chamberings: .45-70 Govt., .357 Mag/.38 Spl, 10mm Auto, .44 Mag/.44 Spl, .45 LC, .30-30 Win
• M-LOK slots: 18 total, at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock
• Length: 12 inches
• Features: Integrated handstop, tool-free clamp swap for magazine tube fitment
• Rail cover compatibility: Type 1 and Type 2 Magpul Rail Covers
• Colors: Black, FDE, ODG
• Made in the USA
• MSRP: $79.95

@BallisticAviation⁩ speaks with Jeremy from Bilson Arms about the company’s unique forward charging system. A pump‑style charging mechanism that moves the charging handle to the forend of the rifle and replaces the traditional rear handle on the AR platform. Jeremy walks us through how the system works, why Bilson designed it, and where it really shines in suppressed shooting. Jeremy also goes through some real‑world use cases that prove that his system has some merit beyond the casual hunting and shooting spaces.

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In this TFBTV episode, @ballisticaviation speaks with Kaya, new CEO of Tisas Arms Corporation (Tisas USA) and the latest addition to the TFBTV team, as he walks us through how he went from firearms YouTuber and consultant to leading the company’s American expansion. Kaya explains how he’s repositioning Tisas in the U.S. market and what this means for shooters used to his no‑nonsense, data‑driven commentary you typically find in his YouTube videos. We also talk about his experience working with Turkish manufacturers and why he believes Tisas’ 1911, 2011, and Browning Hi-Power-style pistols, as well as upcoming new designs, can compete head‑on with established brands.

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Alpha Foxtrot’s GOLIATH Romulus 10mm Double Stack 1911 is a serious, big‑bore take on the modern 1911/2011 platform, built around powerful 10mm Auto and designed for shooters who want maximum capacity, aggressive ergonomics, and competition‑ready performance in a single, more approachable package than your typical 2011 pistol. In this episode,  ⁨@BallisticAviation⁩  speaks with Andy from Alpha Foxtrot to discuss how the Romulus blends classic 1911 DNA with double‑stack reliability and what makes this 10mm Goliath stand out in a market exploding with new double-stack 1911 options.

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​ ⁨@BallisticAviation⁩ stops by the Glock booth at NRAAM 2026 to speak to Glock Team Shooter Morgan about Glock’s newest factory magazine releases: the 20-round metal magazines for the Glock 43X/48 and the new, larger 15-round magazine for the Glock 44.

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The people at the Firearms Policy Coalition are busy these days. Along with lawsuits over gun bans in national park facilities and new legal action against California’s sin tax on firearms, they’ve taken a step back and ranked the U.S. state-by-state for its gun laws in the new 2026 FPC State Freedom Index. The news isn’t good for shooters: Only two states, Kansas and New Hampshire, get top marks for firearms freedom from the Coalition.

Legal battles @ TFB:

• ATF Pistol Brace Ban VACATED By Court
• $11 Million Verdict In P320 Lawsuit, SIG Sauer Plans To Appeal
• Decision Released on Federal Judge's Rejection of Proposed California Restrictions
• ATF Inconsistencies Does Not Pass Muster In Court – This Is Not A Stock

The bad news you’d expect

In the 2026 FPC State Freedom Index, the Firearms Policy Coalition grades each state on the actual laws that are on its books. State leadership was not taken into account; no favoritism was given to politicians who might claim to be more freedom-loving, the organization said. Instead, they used this method of determining ranking, as per their website:

• Guided by our Core Beliefs and Current Mission, we audited the laws of all 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) using 22 specific Yes/No criteria across four categories: Arms (what you can own), Acquisition (how you get it), Carry (where you can bear it), and Other (important questions that don’t cleanly fit into the other 3 categories).
• Each question was weighted equally, and every positive (pro-freedom) response resulted in one (1) point being added to the state’s score.
• The state’s total score was divided by the total possible score (22 points), and the resulting fraction was transposed into a percentage score.
• A higher percentage represents greater respect for the right to keep and bear arms and more freedom, and a lower score represents greater disrespect and higher tyranny.

You can see a list of the questions they used here.

Using a simple yes-or-no answer means it’s harder to hide behind good intentions or flim-flam; under the system used, the Coalition can very simply determine how closely a state’s government is following the American Constitution.

If the Coalition determines a state follows the Constitution with 100 percent agreeance, then they give that state a Chad State ranking. Following with 85-99 percent agreement (based on their questionnaire) gets a state a Freeish State ranking. The next step down is a State of Confusion ranking, with 70-84 percent agreement with the Constitution. If you’re under the 70 percent mark, you get a State of Disaster ranking.

Brandon Combs, president of the Firearms Policy Coalition, says this is “not a minor oversight.” He says any state whose firearms laws don’t match up with the Constitution needs to respect the right to keep and bear arms: "Every state other than Kansas and New Hampshire has had every opportunity to get to 100%, but instead they chose not to.”

He says Americans should hold their state government accountable, no matter their political stripe, and get their laws 100 percent in line with the Constitution: “There is no excuse for bad laws and no excuse for more excuses from politicians. Look up your state. Find out exactly how your government is failing you—then make your elected officials answer for it.”

What to do next?

Of course, the Firearms Policy Coalition wants to use this information to drive people to their causes. You might agree with all that they stand for, or maybe not; you can find out more about the Coalition here. But your activism doesn’t have to start and stop with this organization. There are many other gun rights organizations in the U.S., some of them much more active than others. And of course, you can also try to work at the grassroots level of your local political scene, to influence future leaders into sensible gun policy.

But there’s one other avenue that has nothing to do with joining political parties or making donations to legal battles—you can teach new shooters. We recently told you about the Newport Rifle Club, America’s oldest rifle club, which is doing just this in Rhode Island. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your movement is simply recruit more members, and getting involved with training new shooters at your local level is a very smart place to start.

This Hunter Edition is configured with a threaded barrel and extended magazines with an olive-drab finish (not shown here). To my knowledge, the Hunter Edition is not available in the U.S., but you can find it on Glock’s EU website: https://eu.glock.com/en/Products/Pistols/G45-MOS-Hunter-Edition

Now I just need to get my H-231 color-matched B&T Impuls-XM suppressor, 3D printed in Titanium, and probably restart the process as the Gen 6 is released.

All images by the author.

For anyone who has ever wanted a conversation-starting .380 that arrives in a treasure chest, Tippmann Ordnance may have just answered the call.

Specifications:

• Caliber: .380 Auto
• Action: Pump-action with slam fire
• Barrel length: 10 inches
• Twist rate: 1:10
• Muzzle thread: 1/2-28
• Capacity: 6+1
• Construction: Solid steel
• Stocks: Custom walnut
• MSRP: $799

For more details, go to: Tippmann Ordnance .380 Pirate Pistol

Taurus has given its 22TUC micro-compact a welcome suppressor-ready upgrade. The new 22TUC Threaded Barrel is chambered in .22 LR, carries the same tip-up barrel mechanism as the original, and adds a longer threaded barrel to the mix. It carries an MSRP of $449.99.

The 22TUC, which debuted in 2024, is a hammer-fired, double-action-only pistol built around a tip-up barrel design. A lever on the frame pivots the barrel upward, allowing the chamber to be loaded or cleared without ever racking the slide. It is a mechanism Taurus previously used in its now-discontinued PT22, and one that a number of shooters with limited hand strength find preferable to working a stiff, small-frame slide.

In the lack of images of the threaded version, here’s how it looks on the normal 22 TUC. If you add a suppressor to this, I’m thinking the barrel is going to become a bit front-heavy.

For the threaded barrel variant, Taurus extended the barrel from the standard 2.5 inches to 3.1 inches to accommodate the threading. The barrel is stainless steel with a matte black finish and a 1:10 right-hand twist. Overall length grows to 5.5 inches and height is 4.35 inches. The weight is 10 ounces unloaded. Capacity is 9+1. The frame is polymer with stainless steel inserts, and both the slide and frame wear a matte black finish. Sights are fixed, with an orange dot front. Now remember that the 22 you carry always beats the 45 you left at home, and now you can do it suppressed.

Taurus 22TUC Threaded Barrel Specs:

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Double-Action Only
• Barrel: 3.1", stainless steel, matte black, 1:10 RH twist, threaded
• Overall Length: 5.5"
• Overall Height: 4.35"
• Overall Width: 1.00"
• Weight: 10 oz. (unloaded)
• Frame: Polymer, black
• Slide: Stainless steel, matte black
• Sights: Fixed (orange dot front)
• Capacity: 9+1
• Item Number: 1-22TUC131-TH
• MSRP: $449.99

Taurus manufactures the 22TUC in Bainbridge, Georgia. For more details, check the product page: https://www.taurususa.com/product/pistols/taurus-22-tuc/22-tuc-threaded-barrel/ 

Apart from the somewhat ugly looks, the 22TUC's tip-up barrel design already sets it apart in the carry market. Does adding a threaded barrel make it more interesting to you as a suppressor host, or is .22 LR still too niche for that role?

The National Shooting Sports Foundation says it will sue Maryland if Governor Wes Moore signs legislation that would ban an entire class of popular handguns, citing the Supreme Court's Heller decision as the basis for the challenge.

Maryland's legislature has passed Senate Bill 334 and its cross-filed companion House Bill 557, both titled "Criminal Law - Firearm Crimes - Machine Gun Convertible Pistols." The bills would prohibit the manufacture, sale, offering for sale, purchase, receipt, or transfer of what Maryland calls "machine gun convertible pistols" starting January 1, 2027. The House passed the bill 92-39; the Senate approved it 28-16 in March.

The legislation targets semi-automatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar, a design feature common to Glock and similar striker-fired handguns. Maryland lawmakers argue these pistols can be readily converted to fully automatic fire by replacing the slide backplate with an illegal machinegun conversion device, or MCD. The bill directs the Maryland Department of State Police to publish a list of prohibited models before the ban takes effect.

MCDs, often called Glock switches, are already illegal under federal law. Possession, manufacture, importation, or sale of an MCD violates the National Firearms Act and carries up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. NSSF emphasized that point in its April 20 statement.

"To borrow on a line from James Carville, whom Democrats revere, 'it's the criminal, stupid,'" said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "These bills, and similar laws passed in other states, punish law-abiding citizens by infringing on their Second Amendment rights to legally obtain the firearms they choose to protect themselves and their families against criminals who, by definition, have no respect for life or law."

Keane said NSSF intends to force Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown to defend the ban in court, invoking the Supreme Court's 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller ruling. The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action described the bill's language as "vague and overly broad," noting it "could sweep in many commonly owned semi-automatic handguns, including Gen 5 and later Glocks."

The ban covers the same handguns currently issued to Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department. Law enforcement is exempted from the prohibition. Opponents have seized on that mismatch: if these pistols are too dangerous for private citizens, why are they standard issue for police?

Under the bill, violations would be a misdemeanor carrying up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Individuals would only be permitted to transfer affected pistols to family members.

Maryland would become the second state to ban machine gun convertible pistols. California passed a similar law that takes effect July 1, 2026, though that law is already being challenged in court. Similar legislation has been proposed in Connecticut, New York, and Illinois. Maryland and Baltimore have both filed separate lawsuits against Glock over its pistol designs, and NSSF is already appealing to the Fourth Circuit to block Maryland's Gun Industry Accountability Act, a separate 2024 law that TFB covered when NSSF moved to block it.

SB334 was sponsored by Senators Love, Smith, and Waldstreicher. HB557 was sponsored by 14 delegates led by Williams, Coley, Embry, and Ivey. The bills carry an effective date of October 1, 2026, with the transfer prohibition taking effect January 1, 2027. The legislation now heads to Governor Moore for his signature or veto.

If signed, expect litigation quickly. NSSF has a track record of following through on these challenges, and with Heller and Bruen as precedent, the constitutional question is straightforward: Can a state ban an entire class of firearms that are in common use for lawful purposes, including by that state's own police?

Glock's G45 Hunter Edition has been making the rounds in Europe since its debut at EnforceTac and IWA 2025, but American shooters have had no access to it through normal retail channels. I’ve done my fair share of marketing of “The Hulk” here on TFB, since I own one here in Europe. Now GlockStore has imported 198 examples of the Glock 45 Gen5 Hunter Edition, all with the OEM left-hand threaded barrel, giving U.S. buyers a rare window into a limited Glock built for the European market.

Glock Hunter Edition @ TFB:

• Glock Announces Hunter Edition G45 And G20 Variants
• Glock 45 Aimpoint COA Hunter Edition On Ice
• G45 Huinter Edition - The Recoil Sequence In Stills
• The GLOCK 45 MOS Hunter Edition

One of the more interesting features on the Hunter Edition is the OEM Glock Racking Cover Plate fitted at the rear of the slide. The Glock Racking Cover Plate is movable (pivotable) relative to the base plate, minimizing the open gap between slide and frame, and the extended size of the multifunctional slide cover plate simplifies manipulation and maintains a better grip. It is a factory Glock option, not an aftermarket addition.

The plate's extended, articulating design gives the shooter something to hook onto when racking one-handed or under stress. It is an elegant piece of engineering that I first mistook for a California-compliant part, as in the Glock V, with a key focus on anti-conversion technology against illegal switches. It’s not that there was a lot of information from Glock to swim around in, so many guesses were made.

G45 Hunter Edition MOS FS TB - Specifications:

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Platform: Gen5 G45 (as in G17 frame / G19 slide, with a threaded barrel)
• Finish: Olive Drab Green (frame and slide)
• Optic Cut: MOS
• Barrel: OEM Glock threaded, extended, left-hand metric thread
• Sights: Steel
• Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds (G19X style)
• Controls: Ambidextrous slide stop, reversible magazine catch
• Racking Cover Plate: OEM Glock pivoting extended slide cover plate
• Import Quantity (U.S.): 198 units

To make my G45 Hunter Edition even more unique, and per the Enforce Tac configuration, I’ve ordered the B&T 3D-Ti-printed suppressor Impuls-XM 9mm 13,5x1 in foliage green / olive. It’s about to arrive next week. I guess I’m going to need that weaponlight as well.

At $1,599.99 for one of 198 imported units, does the Hunter Edition's collector status and European-spec features justify the premium over a standard G45? My answer is: Yes!

All images without the TFB logotype by Glockstore.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation⁩) stops by the Henry booth at NRAAM 2026 to speak with George to talk about the newly released .45‑70 Bear’s Leg lever‑action pistol and what it means for the lineup. Today, we’ll talk about how the Bear’s Leg fits into Henry’s lever‑gun ecosystem, its intended role at the range and beyond, and how it stacks up against the rest of the Henry catalog. George also gives us the lowdown on Henry’s updated rimfire offerings, with many updates and even new guns, making this a quick but solid product‑line check‑in for anyone who’s been keeping an eye on one of America’s most prolific lever-action manufacturers.

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Today @BallisticAviation speaks with Chad from Murray State College in Oklahoma to talk about one of the most unique gunsmithing programs in the country. As one of the very few programs tied to a fully accredited college, Murray State allows students to pursue a career in firearms and gunsmithing while also earning a real bachelor’s degree. Today, Chad explains how the program is structured, what sets it apart from other gunsmithing schools, and why it’s considered some of the finest instruction in the nation for aspiring gunsmiths.

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This question shows up at gun counters more than just about anything else. Someone grabs a box of ammo, notices it says .223 Remington, but their barrel is marked 5.56 NATO, and suddenly they are wondering if they made a mistake. I have watched this exact scenario play out dozens of times, and honestly, I get why people are confused. The cartridges look identical and asking the internet usually gets you either oversimplified garbage or a pressure spec lecture that nobody asked for.

So let's clear this up in a way that actually makes sense. If your barrel says 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde, you can shoot both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition without issue. If your barrel says .223 Remington only, stick with .223 ammo. That covers most situations and keeps you on the safe side.

But I know that is not enough for a lot of you guys and gals. You want to understand why that rule exists and what is actually different between these two cartridges. Fair enough. Let's get into it.

Ammo @TFB:

• [SHOT 2026] Drone Round Defense Multi-Projectile Anti-Drone Ammo
• The Rimfire Report: A Closer Look at Remington Standard V Ammo
• The Rimfire Report: Weird Ammo - CCI 22LR OEM 40gr LRN
• Fudd Friday: How The .223 Remington Became The Modern .30-30
• It's 223 Day! – 223 Remington – What, Why, and our Appreciation for It

Why These Cartridges Look Identical (And Why That Causes Problems)

The confusion starts with the fact that .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO look exactly the same. I mean exactly. You can line them up on a table and there is no reliable way to tell them apart just by looking. Same bullet diameter, same case length, same overall shape. They use the same magazines, the same bolt face, and you could swap them back and forth without noticing any physical difference.

Both cartridges share a .224-inch [no, not a typo] bullet diameter, identical case dimensions, and they fit the same firearms. If the story ended there, we would not be having this conversation. But it does not end there, and that is why we need to talk about pressure.

Pressure Is the Real Difference

The core issue between .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO comes down to pressure. Military 5.56 NATO ammunition is generally loaded hotter than commercial .223 Remington. The exact pressure numbers depend on which testing standards you use, and if you want to argue about SAAMI versus NATO specs, you can do that on your own time. What matters for practical purposes is simple. 5.56 runs at higher pressure, and .223 runs cooler.

That difference is not an accident. Military ammunition is designed to meet different performance requirements than commercial sporting ammunition. Military rifles are built to handle the increased pressure, and the ammunition is loaded to deliver specific ballistic performance.

The problem is not firing 5.56 ammo. The problem is firing it in a chamber that was not designed for it. That brings us to the part that actually matters.

The Chamber Matters More Than the Ammo

The critical difference between a .223 Remington chamber and a 5.56 NATO chamber is something called the leade, which is also referred to as the throat. This is the unrifled section of the barrel immediately in front of the chamber where the bullet sits before it engages the rifling.

A 5.56 NATO chamber has a longer leade. A .223 Remington chamber has a shorter, tighter leade. That longer leade in the 5.56 chamber gives the bullet more room to start moving before it hits the rifling, which helps keep pressures under control when firing hotter ammunition. The tighter .223 leade can improve accuracy with match-grade ammunition, but it leaves less margin for overpressure rounds.

I have seen people argue that this is overblown, that modern rifles have safety margins built in, and that plenty of people have mixed these cartridges without immediate failure. All of that is technically true. But "it did not blow up" is a terrible standard to aim for when the fix is as simple as using the correct ammunition.

What Happens When You Mix .223 and 5.56

Let's be direct about this because internet advice usually goes off the rails right about here.

Shooting Factory .223 Remington in a 5.56 NATO Chamber

This is completely safe. The ammunition is loaded to lower pressure, and the longer leade of the 5.56 chamber handles it easily. In theory, you might lose a tiny amount of accuracy because the chamber is slightly looser and the bullet has more room to move before engaging the rifling. For the overwhelming majority of shooters, that difference does not show up on target.

What you can expect:

• No safety concerns
• Normal wear on all components
• Possibly negligible accuracy loss in precision applications
• Zero reason to worry about it

Shooting 5.56 NATO in a .223 Remington Chamber

This is where caution actually makes sense. A hotter round fired into a tighter chamber increases pressure beyond what the system was designed for. Will the firearm instantly explode? Probably not. Modern firearms chambered in .223 Rem from reputable manufacturers have safety margins built in, and many people have done this (knowingly or not) without immediate failure.

But running overpressure ammunition in a .223 chamber can lead to problems you will notice over time:

• Accelerated throat erosion
• Increased bolt thrust
• Primer flattening or blowouts
• Reduced barrel life
• Increased long-term wear on critical components

You might not notice problems for hundreds or even thousands of rounds. Or you might start seeing pressure signs much sooner. There is no benefit to gambling when the fix is simply using the correct ammo.

The risk is not equal across all firearms either. Higher-risk scenarios include older firearms, lightweight or budget builds, and anything without a robust locking system.

Flattened primers, ejector swipes on the case head, and stiff extraction are all warning signs that something is wrong. If you see any of those, stop shooting and figure out what is causing it before you continue.

How to Tell What Your Rifle Is Chambered For

This part is simple, but people still mess it up. Look at your barrel. Manufacturers usually stamp/engrave the chambering near the chamber or under the handguard. Yes, even factory built firearms with a freefloat handguard blocking the barrel will have markings hidden in there somewhere.

Common barrel markings:

• .223 Remington or .223 REM – .223 ammo only
• 5.56 NATO or 5.56×45 – Safe with both .223 and 5.56
• .223 Wylde – Safe with both .223 and 5.56

If your barrel is not marked, do not guess. Contact the manufacturer and confirm. Assumptions are cheap until they are not.

The .223 Wylde Thing (Because This Always Gets Confused)

Let's clear this up cleanly. .223 Wylde is not a cartridge. You cannot buy .223 Wylde ammunition. It will never be on an ammo box. .223 Wylde is a chamber specification, designed by Bill Wylde for shooters who wanted flexibility without giving up accuracy.

What the Wylde chamber does is use a tighter freebore diameter similar to .223 Remington, combined with a longer leade similar to 5.56 NATO. This allows it to safely handle both cartridges while often producing better accuracy than a standard 5.56 chamber. The design favors accuracy with quality .223 ammunition while maintaining safe pressure with 5.56 loads.

This is why .223 Wylde became popular with competition and precision shooters. It gives you compatibility with everything on the shelf while still favoring accuracy with quality ammunition. If you are buying a new AR and have the option, .223 Wylde is usually the smart choice unless you are chasing clone correctness for a specific military replica build.

Does Any of This Actually Affect Accuracy?

For most shooters, not in a meaningful way. Yes, a looser 5.56 chamber allows slightly more bullet movement before it engages the rifling. Precision shooters care about this. That is why match rifles often use .223 Wylde chambers and .223 match ammunition.

But for typical use, the chamber difference is way down the list of things that affect accuracy. Ammo quality, trigger control, optics, shooter fundamentals, and consistency all matter more. Where chamber differences start to matter is in precision rifle work, long-range shooting, and competition where fractions of an inch count.

For plinking, training, home defense, or most hunting scenarios, the accuracy difference is academic. You are far more likely to see accuracy improvements by upgrading your trigger or shooting better ammunition than you are by switching chamber specs.

Ammo Labeling Makes This Worse Than It Should Be

Not all ammunition is loaded the same, even when it has the same label. Most commercial .223 stays within standard pressure limits. Military surplus 5.56 is usually loaded hot. Some commercial .223 runs aggressive. Some commercial 5.56 is milder than true mil-spec.

Specialized equipment often reflects very specific mission requirements, and few examples are as niche as the modified Smith & Wesson Model 41 pistols issued for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird pilot survival kits.

In March 1967, the U.S. Air Force ordered a limited batch of 30 pistols configured for downed aircrew scenarios. These were factory-modified with threaded barrels and slide-lock mechanisms, and delivered with suppressors and spare magazines. The intent was to provide a low-signature option for both self-defense and small game foraging if a pilot was forced down behind enemy lines. As you may know, the SR-71 was a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft during the Cold War, and its missions were often covert or highly classified. Before the era of satellites, we can only imagine which areas they flew past.

Another device setting these pistols apart was the inclusion of an Oxford white-dot illuminated sight, which must have been almost as state-of-the-art as the SR-71 at the time. Installation was carried out by Art Cook, who was involved in precision military modifications under contract.

If you want your own Model 41, check this link: https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-41

Image by Smith & Wesson.

If you frequent the Rimfire Report, you’ll know that over the last few months, we’ve slowly been working our way through the UK’s ELEY .22LR ammunition catalog. This week, we’re back at it again with ELEY Club .22LR 40gr Round Nose. The ammo, as indicated by its name, is intended to be a “club level” ammunition, meaning that it should produce better consistency, performance, and accuracy downrange - provided the shooter can take advantage of it. So let's crack open a bright Orange sleeve of this fancy rimfire ammo and see what it's capable of, and how it measures up to its claims.

More Rimfire Report @ TFB:

• The Rimfire Report: The Phenomenal Angstadt Arms Reticent 22 Silencer
• The Rimfire Report: First 1,000 Rounds – S&W M&P 22X
• The Rimfire Report: ELEY Subsonic 38gr Hollow Point

The Rimfire Report: A Step-Up from Target? ELEY Club 40gr RN

ELEY Club 22LR 40gr Round Nose

Product Link: https://eley.co.uk/eley-club/

Specifications:

• Caliber: .22 Long Rifle.
• Bullet: 2.59 g / 40 gr round-nose lead; paraffin wax lubricant.
• Cartridge length: 25.4 mm / 1 inch.
• Velocity (ELEY test barrels): Muzzle 317–331 m/s (1040–1085 ft/s); 50 m: 303 m/s (994 ft/s); 91 m: 285 m/s (935 ft/s). Energy: Muzzle 14.5 kg·m / 104.9 ft·lb.
• Ballistic coefficient: 0.112 (RA4 drag model).
• Max radial standard deviation: 5.50 mm.
• Strike depth: 0.012–0.015 in (ideal for ignition).
• Recommended headspace: 0.040–0.041 in.
• Configuration notes: Tested in .22LR rifle/pistol/LSR/semi-auto pistol; results vary by firearm.
• MSRP: $11.50 per 50-round box ($0.23 cpr)

With a price approaching what you would spend on a 50-round box of 9mm back in 2010, ELEY Club is not cheap. From what I have read about it online and from its official description as the “club level cartridge”, the extra couple of cents per round can make or break a prize-winning match at a local club match in the UK or even a Rimfire PRS stage here in the States. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen this stuff for sale for about $7.50 per box, so pick it up when you can find it on sale, as it does go out of stock very often.

If you’ve got a keen eye, you’ll notice that the headstamp is slightly different; it’s the same crosshair-style headstamp typically found on Lapua 22LR offerings, or other match ammo like SK High Velocity Match. Each batch/lot, according to the ELEY website, undergoes rigorous testing against enhanced accuracy standards, giving dedicated club shooters that extra consistency when tenths of a point decide the outcome. Whether or not I’ll be able to take advantage of that extra consistency along with the Angstadt RPR is another question entirely.

Velocity Data

I’ll cut to the chase here: this stuff is insanely consistent and has provided me with the lowest standard deviation I’ve witnessed in any ELEY ammo so far. Out of a total of 48 recorded rounds (two failed to trigger the chronograph), the Standard deviation was an impressive single digit 9.2 fps with an extreme spread of 35.2. So far, these are the best metrics I’ve been able to record for an off-the-shelf rimfire ammo. These numbers beat the pants off of even the already impressive ELEY Target, which gave us an SD and ES of 15.4 and 72.4, respectively.

Normally, I’d blame any sort of vertical stringing on increases or decreases in the velocity of the ammo, but since all of them were within 35 fps of one another, I doubt they’re responsible for the vertical stringing you’re seeing on the right-hand side of the target. Meanwhile, the remaining three groups are all under an inch, with the smallest being just a hair smaller than half an inch center to center, as pictured below:

I think this more than demonstrates that ELEY Club 40gr round nose, at least out of this rifle, is genuinely a step up from its already great and slightly more affordable ELEY Target cousin.

Final Thoughts

So, is ELEY Club the step-up from Target that the orange box promises? In a word, yeah, mostly. The velocity numbers don’t lie: that 9.2 fps standard deviation is the kind of consistency that makes most centerfire handloaders drool, especially when you’re used to rimfire’s usual lottery fps values. Pair that with groups that dip under half an inch when my trigger finger behaves, and it’s clear this ammo has the mechanical goods to reward a good rifle and a truly disciplined shooter.

Compared to ELEY Target, Club delivers a noticeable bump in consistency that should translate to more first hits on target or on paper and maybe a couple extra points when the match is decided by tenths of seconds or fractions of an inch. Whether that’s worth the jump from about $0.15–0.18 cpr on sale to a quarter a round depends on your game. If you’re chasing club trophies, running Rimfire PRS stages for nice prizes, or just want the most out of a good semi-auto precision rig, it’s money well spent when you catch it on sale. If you’re mostly plinking or burning through bricks at the range, Target still does the heavy lifting without emptying your wallet quite as fast, but it’s still somewhat of a boutique ammunition over here in the States, and it's only about $1.50 less per box (about $0.02 to $0.03 per round)

I think ELEY Club earns its “club level” badge in my book. It’s not magic, obviously, and it won’t turn a mediocre shooter into a national champion, as evidenced by this article, but what it does do is give you the tools to shoot up to your potential instead of fighting the ammo. I’ll be keeping a few boxes of this stuff on hand just because I know it works well out of my particular rig. If you see it sitting at $7–8 a box, snag some before it disappears, as it's not only a steal at that price, but it also is often out of stock, as is most ELEY ammo. Your groups (and your match score) will thank you if you can catch a good deal on some.

Kentucky residents aged 18 to 20 can now apply for a provisional concealed carry license after the state legislature overrode Governor Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 312 on April 14.

The bill creates a two-tier licensing system. Adults 21 and over will continue to obtain standard concealed carry licenses under existing law, while 18 to 20-year-olds will be eligible for provisional licenses that require completion of a firearms training course. The Kentucky State Police will administer the provisional license program and must provide notice of expiration along with an application to transition to a standard license when the holder turns 21.

Kentucky has been a permitless carry state for residents 21 and older since 2019, but there was no legal mechanism for anyone under 21 to carry a concealed firearm. Open carry remains legal in the state regardless of age.

HB 312 passed the House 73 to 17 in January and cleared the Senate 30 to 7 in March. Beshear vetoed the bill on April 2, citing a personal connection to gun violence. In his veto message, Beshear referenced his friend Tommy Elliott, who was killed along with four others in the April 10, 2023 Old National Bank shooting in Louisville.

"Tonight, I'm remembering my friend Tommy Elliott, who was murdered along with four other children of God three years ago in an act of gun violence," Beshear said.

The legislature reconvened April 14 for a veto override session and overrode Beshear on HB 312, along with several other bills. The House voted 81 to 18 and the Senate voted 28 to 9. The bill was delivered to the Secretary of State the same day and is now law.

Bill sponsor Representative Savannah Maddox said on social media that Kentucky will become the 26th state to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to carry concealed firearms.

Opponents raised concerns about young adults carrying concealed weapons. Representative Erika Hancock argued that "rights are often exercised alongside reasonable guardrails that protect the public and preserve order. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand." Representative Sarah Stalker questioned the logic of allowing 18- to 20-year-olds to carry concealed when they cannot legally purchase handguns from federal licensees. "A teen can't have purchased it, but you can own it, and now we're telling you you can conceal carry. If we're following the numbers, we're not going in the right order. And this doesn't make sense," Stalker said.

Supporters counter that the training requirement makes the bill a net positive for safety. Michael Lewis, who owns   Wolfgar Concealment and teaches firearm safety courses, told WLKY that the legislation creates a regulated path rather than leaving young adults to figure things out on their own. "Even without this legislation, they can get in possession of [a firearm]. This legislation is making sure that it's regulated. It's monitored," Lewis said. "I would much rather have somebody that's educated and trained carrying a gun than just getting a firearm from a relative or whatever path that they get it, and they're out there untrained."

Even some law enforcement voices supportive of the Second Amendment expressed reservations. St. Matthews Police Chief Barry Wilkerson told   WDRB in March that accountability matters more than age. "I see age as basically just a number. We have 30 year olds who shouldn't be carrying guns because they're not responsible. They leave them in their vehicles and leave their cars unlocked and their weapons get stolen," Wilkerson said. "Really, it's not just the age. It's the responsibility and accountability factor that goes with it."

The bill also includes a House floor amendment from Representative Chuck Aull that requires the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission on fatal and nonfatal gun related incidents resulting from concealed carry of firearms and deadly weapons.

Under federal law, 18- to 20-year-olds face restrictions on handgun purchases from federal licensees but can legally possess handguns in most states. The practical effect of HB 312 is straightforward: young adults in Kentucky who previously could open carry but had no legal option to conceal a firearm now have a regulated pathway to do so, provided they complete the required training.

If you have always wanted a 1903A3 rifle to use as a shooter, you may be in luck! The Civilian Marksmanship Program is now selling reclaimed 1903A3 Springfield bolt-action rifles. These guns use receivers salvaged from guns that were, at one time, non-fireable, but now are back in action.

CMP @ TFB:

• CMP Drops M1917 Enfield Prices, Adds New 30-06 Ammo
• [SHOT 2026] CMP Shows Off New Old Guns
• CMP To Start Selling Surplus Shotguns?
• CMP Unveils NEW PRODUCTION M1 Garand Rifles
• My First Pistol Match: CMP Excellence In Competition .22LR and Service Pistol

The 1903A3 Springfield rifle in 30-06 is an American legend. It served in World War 1 and World War 2, as well as major marksmanship competitions. Surplus stocks of original rifles dried up many years ago. These “new” guns take actions from guns that were rendered inoperable through reversible means and used for things like drill rifles for honor guards. The CMP has done extensive testing to make sure the reclaimed actions are safe to use in these guns. Those original actions are mated to new production barrels and stocks to create shootable rifles once again. These 1903A3 Springfield rifles retail for $1050, plus $35 for shipping and handling. Purchasers cannot pick the manufacturer; these are strictly sent out “luck of the draw.” Head over to the CMP to order yours today.

From the CMP:

“The 1903A3 Reclaimed Rifle has been professionally assembled, inspected and function fired. Online orders will be filled by “Luck of the Draw” for manufacturer or serial number and sold as is with no refunds or exchanges.

Details:

1903A3 Reclaimed Rifle featuring a commercial barrel and CMP-exclusive Minelli stock

Receivers may have original finish or new parkerized finish

RMA3EXPERTRC receiver has undergone “Dual Field Magnetic Particle Inspection” to ASTM 1444E standards (same process used for CMP Reclaimed Garand receivers)

Assembled with a blend of USGI and commercial parts, all meeting Service Grade or higher criteria“

Spring is upon us and that means more of us are venturing out to the gun range to hone our shooting skills. For many of us, that starts with rimfire rifles like those chambered in .22 Long Rifle. Yet, we don’t want youth and miniature versions of firearms to practice with, we want the real deal! So, Savage Arms is delivering to us new firearms with the Model 110 RF in a Magpul, Core Tactical, and Elite Precision offering.

Savage Arms @ TFB:

• Savage Arms Now Shipping 14 Unique Rifles Chambered in 400 Legend
• New Year Inbound, New Drip! Savage Arms A22 Takedown & Model 64
• Dip it in the Dirt! Savage Arms 320 Tactical FDE Shotgun – Now Available
• Savage Arms 110 Trail Hunter Lite: Built For Tough Hunting

The NEW Savage Arms Model 110 RF Rimfire Series

These new rimfire rifles in the form of a Model 110 RF are built on actual Model 110 short-actions so you have all of the cross-compatibility to aftermarket accessories that you could ever want. Also, you have the same quality bolt as a Model 110 short-action, which ensures reliable feeding, safety, and performance. Additionally, with a newly designed reversible front baffle, it allows users to adjust the bolt throw length in under 30 seconds, offering configurations for both traditional short action and shortened .22 Long Rifle lengths as well.

At the time of this announcement, Savage Arms has three introductory models they're unveiling and those options along with their associated MSRPs are listed below:

• 110 RF Core Tactical .22 Long Rifle | SKU: 33069 | MSRP $1,099
• 110 RF Magpul .22 Long Rifle | SKU: 33070 | MSRP $1,199
• 110 RF Elite Precision .22 Long Rifle | SKU: 33071 | MSRP $2,399

A Word from Savage Arms on the Model 110 RF Rimfire Series

“Westfield, Massachusetts – March 24th, 2026 – Savage Arms®, an iconic firearm manufacturer, has expanded its heritage Model 110 series to include 22LR offerings. The new 110 RF marks a significant advancement in rimfire rifle accuracy.

The Model 110 RF models are built on the proven Model 110 action, ensuring reliability and precision. These full-size platforms are designed to be Savage's most accurate rimfire rifles to date.

“The introduction of rimfire to the legendary Model 110 platform is long overdue, and we’re excited to offer Savage’s trusted performance to rimfire enthusiasts everywhere,” said Beth Shimanski, Vice President of Marketing at Savage Arms. “The new Model 110 RF series is one of the only offerings that does not just mimic a centerfire rifle, but truly adapts the traditional frame for rimfire shooting.””

We recently covered the Canadian military's adoption of a new carbine, the CMAR. That announcement was shortly followed by word that a Colt scope would round out the package: the CMAR 1-6. Colt's new line of civilian optics has now been released, so we can take a look at what they have to offer.

Colt @ TFB:

• Wheelgun Wednesday: NEW Colt Revolvers with Hogue Overmolded Grips
• [SHOT 2026] Colt AR Pistols - Two New 5.56 SKUs with Lower Variants
• Wheelgun Wednesday: Colt Anacondas Blued, Optic Ready & Enhanced Grips
• Colt Awarded $40M+ M4/M4A1 Foreign Military Sales Contract
• A Rare Find: Series 80 Colt Mk 4 Goldcup National Match Custom

There are three scope models in this new lineup, ranging from LPVOs up to high magnification options. All three of these initial models include 34mm main tubes and Schott glass. These scopes are also rated to survive up to .338 Lapua recoil.

First up is the VMR 1-8x28. This low power variable optic (LPVO) includes two reticle options, a

“CQB-oriented” MOA reticle or a precision MRAD reticle. It measures 10.9 inches in length and weighs 25.5 ounces. The MSRP is $1759.

From the manufacturer:

“The Colt Optics VMR series riflescopes are built to give shooters the confidence to perform in demanding environments. Whether engaging at distance or operating under pressure, the VMR series delivers the clarity, durability, and consistency required to stay focused on the shot, not the equipment. With precision-engineered optics, rugged mechanical construction, and disciplined testing behind every system, each VMR scope is designed to hold zero, track accurately, and maintain performance when it matters most.

The VMR series is available in 1-8x, 3-18x, and 4.5-27x configurations to support a wide range of mission and shooting applications.

“We set out to build riflescopes that shooters can rely on without question, regardless of the environment or mission,” said Jon Meyer, Vice President of Product Development for Colt Optics. “The VMR series reflects that focus on performance, durability, and real-world usability.””

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 182! We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.

Previous TFB Weekly Web Deals:

• TFB Weekly Web Deals 174: Deals for February 23rd, 2026
• TFB Weekly Web Deals 173: Deals for February 16th, 2026
• TFB Weekly Web Deals 172: Deals for February 9th, 2026

TFB Weekly Web Deals 182: Deals for April 20th, 2026

Deals from 5.11 Tactical

Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve

Sale Price: $39.49

Combat UV radiation and stay cool doing it with the Sulli UV Hood Long Sleeve shirt. Our raglan long-sleeve shirt with a 50+ UPF rating provides complete upper body ultraviolet sun protection, including critical areas like your head, neck, and arms. Its three-panel hood blocks stray rays yet allows freedom of motion. Thumbholes keep the sleeves in place when you're working, training, or adding layers - a little detail that makes a big difference. This lightweight, form-fitting shirt features flat-locked seams for added comfort and exceptional durability. A wicking and anti-odor finish keeps you fresh from sunrise to sunset. The 5.11® Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve shirt is a UV shield for every outdoor adventure.

Women's Carmen Shirt Jacket

Sale Price: $59.49

Whether you're close to home or chasing distance, the Carmen layers easy and holds warmth close. Light on your frame. But always keeps its shape. Softens the wind, blocks the chill, and holds up when the weather shifts.

Fold-down collar with stand adds structure and clean lines for all-day wear

RapiDraw™ snap plackets button down or pop open easy

Quilted and insulated body keeps core warmth locked in without bulk

Dual chest patch pockets with ReadyLoop™ keep tools or gloves within reach

Zippered hand pockets lined with brushed tricot for warmth and comfort

Snap cuffs and sleeve plackets give you quick adjustability on the fly

Locker loop makes for easy grab-and-go from the hook or pack

Sock & Awe Crew American Flag

Sale Price: $10.49

Step up your sock game with a nod to star-spangled style. These fun and bold socks celebrate the iconic stars and stripes pattern, perfect for those who want to keep the spirit of adventure at their feet. Constructed for comfort and durability, they ensure you're ready to tackle any mission with a dash of flair. Ideal for adding personality to your tactical ensemble.

Range Ready™ Trainer Bag 50L

Sale Price: $99.49

The Range Ready Trainer Bag has space to hold everything you need for a day at the range. Fully padded with a PE board base to keep your gear safe while the removable dividers let you customize the bag. Internal quick access elastic mag and accessory panel as well as elastic loops under the lid give you the ability to carry loaded anywhere you go and that's just the main compartment. Three side compartments and MOLLE webbing let you take even more. Imported.

EDC PL 2AAA Flashlight

Sale Price: $19.49

Clipped to your chest pocket, backpack, or belt, the EDC PL2AAA flashlight is as tough, portable, and useful as it gets. It emits 107 lumens and features a runtime of 4 hours, 20 minutes. Take it anywhere and everywhere.

107 Lumens

CREE XP-G3

Single mode switch

Run time on High: 4HR 20MIN

Battery type: AAA x 2

Machined aerospace grade aluminum

Weight: (with Batteries) 2.14oz

Length: 5.00in

Diameter: .66in

Beam Distance: 26 meters

IPX-4 water resistance

Impact resistance 2 meters

Removable pocket clip

Imported

Deals at GunMagWarehouse

Holosun ARO EVO 2MOA Reflex Sight

Sale Price: $193.59

Rugged 6061-T6 aluminum construction

Corrosion-resistant hard anodized finish

Multicoated glass lenses

26mm optical window

IPX8 waterproof

Shake Awake technology

Solar Failsafe technology

12 brightness settings

2 MOA dot

Up to 50,000 hours of runtime on setting 6

Side-loading battery tray

Comes with a 1.63" lower 1/3 co-witness mount and a 1.05" low mount

Holosun 507COMP CRS 2 MOA Dot / 8, 20, 32 MOA Circle Reflex Sight

Sale Price: $347.59

Fits the Trijicon RMR Footprint

7075 aluminum housing

Parallax-free design

Multiple Reticle technology

Powerful 540nm Super LED emitter

Up to 50,000 hours battery life

8 brightness settings

Multilayer reflective glass lenses

Shake Awake technology

Holosun IRIS-3 Visible & IR Laser w/ VCSEL IR Illuminator

Sale Price: $764.99

Low-profile 7075 aluminum housing

60mW IR illuminator

Ambidextrous center-positioned fire button

Momentary- and constant-on modes

Improved rear-facing power/mode selector switches

Includes two-button remote switch with VIS override

Built-in rail mount

Magpul TMAG Gen3 AR-15 / M4 .223 / 5.56 30-Round Magazine

Sale Price: $17.99

Crack-resistant plastic material

Translucent design with olive drab hue

Ribbed front and rear straps

4-way anti-tilt follower

USGI-spec stainless steel spring

Low-profile floorplate

Paint-pen dot matrix

Compatible with any STANAG-style receiver

This is a 30-round .223/5.56 Magpul TMAG Gen3 AR-15 magazine.

Constructed from lightweight and durable crack-resistant polymer, this Magpul TMAG magazine is built for lasting service in adverse conditions.

Holosun EPS Enclosed Reflex Sight

Sale Price: $290.39

Fits the Holosun K Footprint

Includes RMR-to-K adapter plate

7075 T6 aluminum housing

User-friendly illuminated dot reticle

Multiple brightness settings

Shake Awake technology

Up to 50,000-hour battery life

Multilayer reflective glass lenses

The Holosun EPS Enclosed Reflex Sight is a convenient, lightweight, and reliable pistol-compatible optic, built around a streamlined 7075 T6 aluminum housing for lasting field service and a smooth, dependable draw in any tactical or personal defense environment. Compatible with the Holosun “K” footprint series, this enclosed reflex sight features an illuminated, user-friendly red/green dot reticle, designed to deliver quick target acquisition, while multiple user-selectable brightness settings deliver exceptional clarity in any lighting.

Deals at Primary Arms

Primary Arms Special Purchase 1-6x24mm SFP Rifle Scope - Illuminated ACSS Nova Fiber Wire Reticle

Sale Price: $239.99

The Primary Arms Special Purchase 1-6x24mm Rifle Scope is only available for a limited time. Get yours before they are gone!

Note: These Special Purchase 1-6X ACSS Nova riflescopes were found to have an illumination brightness that did not meet our expectations and are therefore being sold at a deeply discounted price due to this blemish.

Patriot Sports LLC 223 Remington 55gr FMJ - Box of 20

Sale Price: $9.99

Patriot Sports LLC .223 Remington ammunition offers shooters reliable, consistent performance. This 55-grain FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) load is ideal for target shooting or training. Patriot Sports ammo delivers quality construction and dependable accuracy for your AR-platform rifle. Each box contains 20 rounds.

Features:

.223 Remington

Full metal jacket

55 grains

20 rounds per box

Kaiser Steel Case 7.62x39 123gr FMJ Ammo - Box of 20

Sale Price: $11.50

You get a 123gr FMJ bullet at velocities of 695-725 m/s, providing reliable function and consistent point of impact for target shooting and range training. Steel-case construction keeps cost per round low for high-volume shooting sessions.

Features:

Caliber: 7.62x39mm

Bullet Weight: 123 gr

Bullet Type: FMJ (Full Metal Jacket)

Case: Steel

Velocity: 695-725 m/s (24m)

Max Pressure: 3350 bar

Quantity: Box of 20

Deals at Palmetto State Armory

Holosun 510C Reflex Sight 1x 2 MOA/65 MOA Circle

Sale Price: $309.99

The HS510C is a versatile open reflex optic specifically designed for use with long guns. Whether it's mounted on carbines, PCCs (Pistol Caliber Carbines), or shotguns, the HS510C excels thanks to its rugged and durable construction. This optic features an aluminum housing with a titanium hood, providing exceptional shock resistance. Additionally, it comes equipped with a Quick-Detach (QD) mount that offers an absolute co-witness at a 1.41" dot height.

PSA ARV 4" 9MM 1/10 GX Lightweight HEX M-Lok MOE EPT Har-15 Pistol

Sale Price: $699.99

Barrel: 4" chrome moly steel barrel. Chambered in 9mm, (9x19), with a 1/10 twist. The barrel is nitride treated for durability and finished off with a 5" PSA Lightweight MLOK Rail and a PSA Fluted Flash Can.

Upper: 6061-T6 aluminum AR-V slick side upper is hard coat anodized black for durability. These upper receivers are made for us right here in the USA.

Winchester 115gr FMJ 9mm Ammunition, 100rds

Sale Price: $27.99

Backed by generations of legendary excellence, Winchester "USA White Box" stands for consistent performance and outstanding value, offering high-quality ammunition to suit a wide range of hunter's and shooter's needs.

Consistent Accuracy - Trusted for target and range shooting

Full Metal Jacket - Provides positive functioning and no expansion

Reduced Barrel Fouling - Fewer cleanings and more range time

CMC Triggers AR-15 Tactical Single Stage Curved Trigger, Matte Black (3.5lb)

Sale Price: $79.99

CMC Triggers innovative, self-contained, and easy-to-install AR-15 trigger groups, have been completely re-tooled to maximize production capacities, incorporate new design enhancements and reduce cost. CMC Triggers AR-15 drop-in trigger groups have always yielded exceptional trigger pull dynamics.

PMC X-TAC 5.56 NATO Ammo 55 Grain FMJBT, 20 rds/box – 556X

Sale Price: $9.99

Designed and manufactured as if your life depends on it because it might. PMC's exacting adherence to the precise specifications of military and law-enforcement organizations assures that X-TAC ammunition will perform perfectly in that fraction of a second when a serious threat arises and your life is on the line. Self defense begins and ends with reliable, consistent ammunition. Nothing is more important than life. Protect yours, confidently, with X-TAC from PMC. PMC X-TAC Line Manufactured to the highest industry and military specifications to ensure its performance, without fail, when your life is on the line. PMC's X-TAC ammunition is powerful, accurate and dependable, because in a life-threatening situation, no other standard is acceptable. 20 rounds per box.

@BallisticAviation stops by the Dead Air booth to speak to Mike Pappas about their two newest suppressors, the RXD 910Ti and the Nomad Ti OTB, that further round out an already extensive lineup. These cans are designed to serve very different roles; one built around optimized 9mm pistol use with 10mm capability, meanwhile, the Nomad Ti OTB (Over The Barrel) is focused on taming big‑boy rifle cartridges in an ultralight, shorter configuration that helps keep long guns balanced.

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Ruger is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a new series of commemorative firearms, including the Magpul X LCP MAX .380 pistol and special editions of several of its other most popular Firearms. From the 10/22 to the Ruger American Rifle Gen II, Mark IV 22/45, and more, this new lineup marks the semiquincentennial with unique finishes, engraved details, and classic Ruger styling.

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​ @BallisticAviation is at NRAAM 2026 in Houston, catching up with the sharp-dressed Dave Kiwacka of Hi-Point for the debut of the Hush-Point 30Ti, a DMLS-manufactured low back pressure suppressor with 3 distinct sizes (.22, 9/45 & .30. The Hush-Point line uses gas-venting cores that reduce DI rifle blowback, are compatible with HUB/QD mounts, and will be sold for an MSRP of around $850.

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Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new Victra 20-gauge shotgun suppressor. Last week, I participated in a practical rifle match and was shocked at the percentage of guns with suppressors. At least 90% of the competitors had a silencer on their rifle. But what are the pros and cons of that equipment choice?

Silencer Saturday @ TFB:

• Silencer Saturday #427: 2026 ATF NFA Data 
• Silencer Saturday #426: Mid-bore Rifle Silencers
• Silencer Saturday #425: Precision Armament TiTrex First Look
• Silencer Saturday #424: Out-of-this-world Strategic Sciences Silencers
• Silencer Saturday #423: Silencers And Overpressure Risk, Part II

This was my first competition in the “Scoped Precision AR Competition” or SPARC Series. These matches focus on speed and precision. Each stage has a required number of impacts on various targets, with the goal being the fastest time to complete the target series. Failure to hit a target within the 90-second par time adds 20 seconds to the stage time. The lowest total time score wins. The equipment rules are very broad. Shooters must use a semiautomatic rifle. Almost anything is allowed in the open class, and most competitors are in that category. A few shooters in the GPR category, which is limited to 16” barrels and optics limited mostly to LPVOs.

My friends shoot in these matches and had been asking me to come shoot one, so I finally did. After some back and forth on equipment, I decided to shoot open class so I could use the Meprolight MVO 6-36x56 scope that I'm reviewing. I needed an accurate semi-auto that was not dedicated to one of my review projects. My spare service rifle for CMP High Power competition fit the bill perfectly.

That gun started life as a Bushmaster A2 competition gun that later became a flat top ( after a saga of removing a gas block that was neither pinned nor set screwed to the barrel, which earned an entire article). It was made during the Assault Weapons Ban era, and as a result, it is not threaded. The barrel still shoots well but has a questionable amount of life left, so it is not a great candidate for a threading job.

This gun choice raised eyebrows among my shooting companions, all of whom were running suppressed DMR-style rifles. Being the guy who writes Silencer Saturday and is always working on some suppressor project or other, choosing to run a gun without a can is a little incongruous. There are good reasons to run a can on your gun, but there are also reasons to go without.

Pros

Obviously, one of the great reasons to run a silencer is noise mitigation. If you spend time around guns, you probably have some level of hearing loss, even if you routinely use ear protection. Silencers reduce this risk by cutting off the noise exposure at the source. But they also make life better for everyone around the gun. The SPARC matches are shot as a squad, with one shooter on the gun, and the rest of the group running the timer and spotting hits. Loud guns do not make you many friends in these circumstances! It can also make it hard to hear instructions from the RO, the timer beep, or calls of hits or misses from the squad.

Most guns are more accurate with a silencer added. In a competition where precision matters, that bump in accuracy can be the deciding factor on its own. Exactly how much of an accuracy gain there is varies from noticeable to possibly measurable, but not really observable in standard use. I have seen guns drop group sizes by a quarter to half MOA when a suppressor is added, which could be enough to turn a miss into a hit.

Silencers also reduce recoil. In a game where seconds count, and you need to be able to spot missed shots to make follow-up corrections, less recoil is always an advantage. This perk increases in value the lighter the gun is. More and more silencers are adding external brake features as well, which makes this effect even more noticeable without the annoying muzzle blast redirection from traditional brakes.

Cons

The primary concern I had was the added heat mirage off the suppressor. Silencers get hot, and even with a protective sleeve or wrap, that mirage can make it hard to see a target or to spot missed shots. This issue gets worse the hotter the silencer gets, and I was acutely aware that I would be missing a lot of shots and needing follow-ups in my first attempt at these matches. That volume of shooting could lead to mirage issues.

Another known downside is the additional fouling that added backpressure causes. Several hundred rounds fired in a day could be enough (especially with an older silencer) to start causing malfunctions. And if the malfunctions became an issue to the point that I had to remove the silencer, the POI shift from taking it off would be something else to manage.

Finally, adding a silencer to a gun can worsen its handling characteristics. The added weight and length of a suppressor is almost never an improvement to the way the gun feels in the hand and moves between targets. This downside is more apparent the longer the barrel. This competition features a lot of moving between firing positions, shooting on, over, around, and through obstacles, and doing all of that with time pressure. None of that would be easier with a bulkier or heavier gun.

Conclusion

Ultimately, I did not regret my choice to go without a silencer. With a 20-inch barrel, rifle-length gas system, and rifle buffer system, the gun was very stable through recoil and was not unduly loud. Towards the end of the match, when it was dirty, cold, and full of rainwater, I started to have some failure to feed malfunctions. The additional fouling from a silencer probably would have started those failures earlier in the day, but it is also possible that the extra backpressure would have cycled the gun harder, giving it more “oomph” to feed a round and seat the bolt on the return trip.

I scored respectably in the match, though I was the only unsuppressed gun on my squad. If I were to build a gun dedicated to this game, I would probably build it around a suppressor. Adding a cover and opting for a low backpressure design resolves many of the downsides. A slightly shorter barrel and a reflex suppressor take care of most of the length. And on the upside, it would be quiet and more stable for easier spotting. Sounds like I need to get a real Mk12 setup. Thanks for joining up.

SILENCER SHOP –    HANSOHN BROTHERS –    DEADEYE GUNS

MAC TACTICAL

ALL YHM PRODUCTS AT BROWNELLS

DEALERS: If you want your link to buy YHM suppressors included in future Silencer Saturday posts, email:   silencers@thefirearmblog.com

Taurus is getting into the subgun game with the new RPC. This gun features roller-delayed operation, complete with interchangeable locking pieces. Keep reading for all the details.

Taurus @ TFB:

• Taurus Re-Introduce the Snub Nose Taurus 650
• The Rimfire Report: Taurus TX 22 Long-Term Review
• The New Duty-Grade Taurus TX9 Series 9mm Pistols
• Taurus Unveils The Model 817 - A 7-Shot .38 Special +P Revolver
• Taurus Expedition: New Bolt-Action For Hunters

The barrel is 4.5 inches long and threaded. It accepts all standard AR-15 pistol grips. The top of the gun has a full-length picatinny rail, and there are MLOK slots on the handguard as well for accessory mounting. It feeds from a proprietary polymer magazine holding 32 rounds. Taurus also offers 20 and ten-round options. Interestingly, the instruction manual states that a 110-degree locking piece (that bears a resemblance to H&K ones) comes installed for use with standard ammo, and an included 85-degree locking piece should be swapped in for subsonic or suppressed use. This new design also includes ambi controls and a last round bolt hold open, unlike many legacy roller-delayed designs.

Taurus offers two primary versions of the RPC, one with a Strike Industries arm brace, and one without. Each of those versions is also available with a 10-round magazine in lieu of the standard 32-rounder for people who live in places that prohibit such things. MSRP for the non-brace model is $939, and $1,099 with the brace.

From the manufacturer:

"The RPC blends proven ergonomics with modern capability, thanks to its roller-delayed operating system that both enhances reliability and reduces felt recoil. The aluminum construction trims weight while maintaining duty-grade durability. Controls are fully ambidextrous, with the bolt release/lock and magazine release easily reached from both sides, and a reversible, non-reciprocating charging handle that adapts to the shooter, not the other way around.

The full-length Picatinny top rail provides space for optics and enablers, while the M-LOK handguard allows users to set up the platform to fit their needs. A 4.5” threaded barrel comes standard, and the quick-change barrel system adds flexibility for different configurations in the future. Available with or without a Strike Industries FSA folding brace, the rear of the receiver features a vertical Picatinny rail for attachments."

In the world of 1911s, there are a number of companies offering quality products for almost every budget. In the world of reasonably priced 1911s, Springfield Armory is one of the top companies making quality factory production handguns and occasionally, they do something a bit different from their standard models. This latest pistol, the 10-8 Master Class 1911 is one of those special variantsand it’s a Lipsey’s exclusive. These guns have a number of unique features compared to other production models, which makes these exclusive models a bit more special, but how does it perform? Let's take a closer look at the Springfield Armory 10-8 Master Class 1911.

Specs

When it comes to the 10-8 Master Class 1911, Springfield decided to work with Hilton Yam, developing this pistol with him to build a blend of modern and traditional 1911 features. One of the biggest departures from most Springfield Armory models on the market is the inclusion of a bull barrel rather than the traditional barrel bushing system. It may not make the purist happy, but a bull barrel system is a step in modernization with better accuracy and less wear over time.

Other features included a square trigger guard, Agency Arms AOS optics system and a fiber optic front sight with a textured blacked out rear sight. The 10-8 Master Class also features an enlarged slide release and magazine release button for easier access to speed up reloads. The flat-faced matte trigger gives it that classic gunsmith 1911 feeling with a 4.25lbs trigger pull. Some of my favorite features on the gun are the 25 LPI front checkering as well as the G10 grips and integrated magwell that you can comfortably concealed carry with. MSRP on the 10-8 Master Class 1911 is $2,099 and it’s available in 9mm as well as 45 ACP, which is what I went with for this review.

Range Time

So far throughout my testing, I have fired just over 850 rounds through the 10-8 Master Class 1911. I’ve only had the 10-8 pistol out on four different range sessions, so there was a higher than normal round count per session, but the gun was 100% reliable with no oddities or hiccups of any kind. For this review, I used a mix of Federal American Eagle 230gr ammo as well as the Federal Syntech training match ammo. I also tried out a box of Federal HST to make sure hollow points fed reliably through the 10-8, which they did perfectly.

One of the touches that I really liked is the flat trigger for a very consistent and predictable trigger with a clean, consistent break and fast reset. Having a flat face trigger does change where the trigger breaks, allowing for fast follow-up shots that make shooting double taps really easy.

Another feature that makes a difference at the range is the front and rear checkering that isn't too aggressive but really does lock into your hand, allowing for a positive grip on the pistol. I did think about putting an optic on the pistol, but you need specific optic plates for each style of red dot. Springfield does include a coupon so you can get an optics plate at a discount, which helps, but I was hoping to have an optics plate with the gun from the factory. Shooting the gun, though, even with the high-visibility front sight and blacked-out rear sight, makes for quick sight acquisition, so I wasn't upset at all. I appreciated the fact that it comes with three MecGar magazines since that's enough to go to the range immediately without having to pick up extra magazines from the store. I think more companies should send handguns out with multiple magazines like that, just to make life easier, so nicely done, Springfield, on that one!

How It’s Different

The 10-8 Master Class is a TRP level 1911 from Springfield Armory with a number of great upgrades that really elevate the overall shooting experience. Small things like the G10 grips with a slight cutout to easily access the magazine release, the flat-faced trigger, front fiber optic and bull barrel assembly really do offer high-end function while keeping the price relatively low for a tight fit 1911-style handgun. I really am a fan and the added extras that may be small individually add up to a special mix that allows this handgun to perform fantastically. I’ve reviewed a number of 1911s over the last few years and this is one of my personal favorites because they did such a nice job adding in a number of upgrade features that ultimately move the needle on the handgun as a whole.

Overall Thoughts

If you're looking for an upgraded 1911 pistol straight from the factory, I think this is a better pick than a TRP or anything else for the price. I have shot a ton of new production 1911s over the last few years and this truly does feel different. I think Springfield Armory did a fantastic job with this 10-8 Master Class and I certainly will give it two thumbs up approval if you're thinking about picking one up.

Let me know if you guys have had any experience with this pistol in the comments below. If you have questions about the 10-8 Master class or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next review.

The focus of the exercises remains consistent: stable weapon handling, controlled bursts, and repeatable accuracy under recoil. These are core machine gun skills, regardless of platform.

These Gestamen machine guns represent newer entries in the belt-fed category alongside more established systems, and we’ll take a closer look at both of them in another article.

For more Hungarian firearms, check out the “ Hungarian Gestamen Arms G9 HSP: Hammer and Striker in One Pistol” article.

Image Source: https://defence.hu/

When I was a kid growing up around marshes in the northeast, I used to pick up empty shotgun shells whenever I found them in the weeds, left there in duck season. 12 gauge was the norm, with the occasional 10 gauge hull spotted. I never found 20 gauge shells back then, but I did find my fair share of 16 gauge empties—but if I searched those same marshes today, I doubt I’d find any. What happened to the 16 gauge, and will it ever come back to popularity?

Bird blasting @ TFB:

• Mossberg Pro Waterfowl Lineup Comes Optics-Ready Now
• Fudd Friday: Is A Shotgun Ammo Crackdown Coming?
• Ruger's NEW Red Label III Shotgun: Return Of A Classic
• Fudd Friday: What Shotgun Gauge For What Hunting Season?

Why did people love 16 gauge shotguns?

Like we’ve told you before, the diameter of a shotgun gauge, or bore, gets larger as the gauge number gets smaller. A 10 gauge has a larger-diameter barrel than a 28 gauge. And since the 16 gauge is therefore larger than a 20 gauge but smaller than a 12 gauge, it was long favored by hunters and shooters who wanted a gun that “hit like a 12, but carried like a 20.”

In other words, the 16 gauge was a compromise, with a heavier payload than a 20 gauge, but a lighter frame and barrel than a 12 gauge. Or at least, that was the theory.

This wasn’t the case for all vintage repeater shotguns, but you could find a quality double or semi-auto with specific 16 gauge frames for much of the 20th century.

Interestingly, I remember watching a hunting show filmed in the Amazon jungle, and despite never being exposed to a gun magazine, the natives there were using 16 gauge shotguns for that same reason; they wanted a light gun that still had decent hitting power. Maybe it wasn’t all in North American and European shooters’ imaginations.

There was one other good reason to go with 16 gauge—supposedly, it put out a superior shot column when compared to other cartridges.

We don’t have time for an in-depth look at shot columns here, but the basic, oversimplified outline is this: Your pattern spread tells how big an area your shotgun’s pellets cover at a specific distance. Your pattern density tells how the pellets are distributed inside that area. And the length of your shot column determines at what time the pellets reach the target—ideally, you want all pellets to be arriving at the same time, but in reality, that doesn’t happen. Your pellets don’t exit the barrel at the same time; your shot column (the shape of all your pellets as they exit the barrel) is a 3D shape, not a 2D shape. Physics interferes further with the shot column once your payload is hurtling towards the target.

Theoretically, the physics of bore sizing and cartridge performance mean a 16 gauge is able to produce a superior shot column, getting more clay-breaking or bird-busting pellets on target at the same time, which means better scores on the range or more birds in your bag. Admittedly, only true shotgun nerds care about this. I never hear talk about shot columns among other waterfowl hunters. And yet, I’ve seen first-hand that it matters. My old 10 gauge killed far better at long distance than any 3.5-inch 12 gauge I’ve owned. Most crusty old goose shooters would claim that is because of the superior shot columns from the 10 gauge.

The 16 gauge might still have survived, but when Winchester developed the 3-inch magnum 20 gauge load in the 1950s, shooters could now have a shotgun that “hit like a 16, carried like a 20.” Or so they thought, at least. That mid-range between the 20 gauge and 12 gauge loads had now been taken up by a more powerful 20 gauge. The 16 gauge never came in a 3-inch load, because that would be silly with the 12 gauge already in existence, and interest withered.

Finally, the 16 gauge was also mostly ignored by clay shooters, who increasingly opted for 12 gauge or 20 gauge to fit into the rulebook and to find cheaper bulk-priced shells.

The 16 gauge today

You can still buy brand-new 16 gauge shotguns, but they’re harder to find, especially in North America. The only 16 gauges in Mossberg’s lineup are over/unders. It’s the same for Savage Arms. Remington’s website will trick you into thinking you can buy a 16 gauge Wingmaster, but they have no SKUs for such a gun. Winchester doesn’t sell a 16 gauge either. At least Browning has 10 different 16 gauge models in its lineup right now; take your choice of the new A5 platform or a Citori over/under.

More information is available through the following links:

• https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series-handguns/1911-garrison-handguns/1911-garrison-target-9mm-handgun/ 
• https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series-handguns/1911-garrison-handguns/1911-garrison-target-45-acp-handgun/ 

FN America are introducing the new PUREVIEW Holographic Micro Red Dot Sight in the US. As we reported yesterday, FN Herstal will be offering the PUREVIEW in Europe. The PUREVIEW is a fully enclosed holographic red dot, powered by a CR2032 for 800 hours (continuous) use, it weighs in at 1.5 oz, will be available in black and FDE and has an MSRP of $749.

Here's re the specs for the PUREVIEW:

• MAGNIFICATION: 1.0x
• WEIGHT (WITH BATTERY): 1.55 oz.
• DIMENSIONS (L x W x H): 1.81 x 1.18 x 1.30 in.
• SIGHT WINDOW: 0.79 x 0.59 in.
• POWER SUPPLY: CR2032 Battery
• BATTERY LIFE: 800 hours of continuous use, up to 1yr intermittent use with battery saving mode
• ELEVATION ADJUSTMENT RANGE: 200 MOA
• WINDAGE ADJUSTMENT RANGE: 200 MOA
• ADJUSTMENT RESOLUTION (CLICK RANGE): 1 MOA

Here's FN America's announcement in full:

FN America, LLC has announced the launch of the FN PUREVIEW™, a new pistol-mounted red dot sight that uses advanced holographic technology powered by ImageGuide® to improve aiming performance. This system projects the dot in a way that keeps it aligned with the user’s line of sight, resulting in a clearer image with less distortion and more accurate shooting.

“FN is known for delivering innovation and professional-grade products, and the FN PUREVIEW now brings the performance FN is known for to the optics market,” said John Ryan, Director of Product Management for FN America, LLC. “Born from FN’s expertise designing optics-ready pistols and advanced aiming systems under our FN E-NOVATION product line, this new optic allows us to deliver a lighter, clearer, and more rugged solution.”

Unlike traditional optics, the FN PUREVIEW uses this holographic approach instead of standard curved lenses, helping users see a sharper image and aim more confidently, even under pressure or in fast-moving situations.

The optic is also designed to be lightweight and compact, weighing about 25% less than similar enclosed sights. This helps maintain the natural handling of the pistol while still offering strong protection against dirt, debris, and impact.

Built with durable materials such as aluminum and titanium, the FN PUREVIEW is made to withstand tough conditions. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and able to operate at extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 126°F. Even if the lens becomes damaged, the dot remains visible and usable.

The FN PUREVIEW includes several user-friendly features:

- Automatic brightness adjustment with 14 settings, including options for night vision and bright daylight

- Motion-sensing technology that turns the optic on when moved and conserves battery when not in use

- Easy-to-use controls with clear tactile feedback

- A top-loading battery compartment for quick replacement without removing the optic

“Holographic projection is highly complex to develop, but we’ve successfully adapted it for use on a pistol,” said Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager for Pistols at FN America, LLC. “The result is a clearer sight picture and improved accuracy, especially at longer distances, giving users real-world performance benefits.”

While it’s not bronzed in the literal sense of the word, Beretta continues expanding the modernized 80X Cheetah platform with the introduction of the newest Tactical Special Edition. The “80X Cheetah Tactical” is a dual-tone variant that layers additional “tactical” features onto the compact SA/DA .380 ACP design. This special edition features a blacked-out slide, barrel, and grips paired with a bronze anodized aluminum frame, black G10 grip panels, a fiber optic front sight, and a Picatinny rail with two slots. The barrel comes threaded in 1/2x28 with a single-port compensator already mounted from the factory.

More Beretta News @ TFB:

• Inside Beretta's Workshop Where Bespoke Shotguns Are Made: Beretta Due
• TFB Review - Beretta 1301 C Chisel Stock
• 80X Cheetah Tactical Desert - Suppressor Ready Beretta .380

According to the catalogs I’ve had access to at the time of writing, the new variant of the Cheetah starts at €1,099 (roughly ~$1,288.89 USD right now). The 80X Cheetah Tactical Special Edition is scheduled to officially launch in June 2026. While it’s not completely new, it does join the rapidly expanding new 80X lineup that includes standard, Green, Gray, Bronze, and other Tactical variants in both .380 ACP and .32 ACP that we’ve covered here on TFB in years past and even as recently as SHOT Show 2026.

For Beretta fans who have followed the revival of the Cheetah platform (like James Reeves), this special edition appears to join the growing niche of .380 ACP firearms that come in a factory-ready tactical configuration with suppressor/host compatibility via the threaded barrel and compensator, plus the higher-capacity magazines and upgraded sighting options directly from the factory. Stay tuned to TFB and the official Beretta website for a whole bunch of upcoming releases from Beretta, as they roll out their 2026 lineup in honor of their 500th anniversary.

The pistol is built around the same custom-grade Model 2020 stainless steel action found in the Heatseeker rifle line, featuring dual locking lugs and wire-cut EDM raceways for smooth bolt travel. The bolt itself is a spiralized, fluted unit machined from 4140 steel and treated with a nitride finish. Optics mount via a Picatinny rail cut to the Remington 700 short-action footprint using 6-48 screws.

The Sharps Bros Heatseeker chassis housing the action has been reconfigured for the pistol role. Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished in Graphite Black Cerakote (H-146), it features a shortened handguard lined with M-Lok slots for accessory mounting and two quick-disconnect sling attachment points per side. The pistol ships with a B5 Systems P-Grip, though Springfield Armory notes that any AR-15-compatible grip can be substituted. In a World of Magpul furniture, it’s good to see other alternatives shipping.

On that point: as of January 1, 2026, the federal NFA tax stamp fee required to manufacture a short-barreled rifle was reduced to $0 under legislation signed by President Trump. For shooters who want to add a stock and register this pistol as an SBR, the cost barrier is now gone, though the paperwork requirement remains and state laws vary. Springfield Armory advises buyers to consult a qualified firearms attorney before making any such conversion.

Adding a stock is - at least to me - the only way this “pistol” is going to make any sense.

The 12-inch stainless steel barrel wears the same Cerakote finish as the action and carries a 1:10 twist rate. At the muzzle, Springfield Armory's own SA Radial Brake manages recoil by redirecting gases outward; the device threads off on 5/8x24 threads, allowing for suppressor or aftermarket brake installation. The trigger is a TriggerTech adjustable unit, field-adjustable between 2.5 and 5 pounds without disassembly using an Allen wrench. Feeding is handled by a 5-round AICS-pattern magazine. Overall weight comes in at 6 pounds, with an overall length of 22.5 inches. A heavy-duty padded rifle case is included.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker .308 Pistol Specs:

• Caliber: .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO)
• Barrel: 12 inches, stainless steel, 1:10 twist, 5/8x24 threaded, Graphite Black Cerakote H-146
• Overall Length: 22.5 inches
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Receiver: Model 2020 stainless steel, Graphite Black Cerakote H-146
• Bolt: Fluted 4140 tool steel, nitride finish
• Trigger: TriggerTech adjustable, 2.5–5 lbs.
• Magazine: 5-round AICS
• Optic Mount: Picatinny, Remington 700 SA pattern, 6-48 screws
• Muzzle Device: SA Radial Brake
• Chassis: Sharps Brothers Heatseeker, 6061-T6 aluminum, Graphite Black Cerakote
• SKU: BAH912308B
• MSRP: $1,999

Today on TFBTV, @Hoplopfheil and @BallisticAviation pit the brand new budget-oriented SIG Sauer M400 Forge against the premium M400-SDI X. The Forge is Achambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 16-inch cold hammer-forged (CHF) barrel (1:7 twist), mid-length gas system, and includes a factory-mounted ROMEO-MSR Gen II red dot optic, 15-inch M-LOK handguard, ambidextrous safety and mag release, fixed Magpul MOE SL stock, and a casette-style single-stage trigger. Weighing about 7 lbs, it offers SIG fans a reliable and capable platform, while still coming in at a price that's about $500 less than the more premium SDI X.

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For decades, Henry Repeating Arms has sold the same formula for rimfire rifles: A lever-action .22 LR (or .22 Magnum) that comes with iron sights and traditional styling. You might live in the 21st century, but you can feel and look like someone from a Louis L’Amour novel as you blast away at tin cans. The new Henry H1 Bandit breaks that formula. It’s a lever gun, like most Henry rifles, but it’s made for optics, not irons, and it looks like it’s intended to be the next step up for a learning shooter.

Henry Repeating Arms @ TFB:

• Gun Review: Henry Repeating Arms –Original Henry Rifle
• Henry Unveils SPD Predator, a Sub-MOA Lever-Action Built for Precision
• Henry Honors America’s 250th With Ultra-Limited Spirit of ’76 Rifle
• Wheelgun Wednesday: Henry Deadeye Revolvers

An in-the-middle gun

If you’ve been around a wide variety of shooters of all ages and sizes, you quickly realize that there are a few guns made for little kids and a lot of guns made for larger adults, but not many guns are made for people who are sized in-between. The H1 Bandit is made to fill that in-between gap. Says Henry:

“With its 13-inch length of pull, checkered genuine American walnut pistol grip-style buttstock, and round blued steel barrel, the Bandit is built for larger youth shooters, smaller-framed adults, and anyone who wants a compact rimfire that comes up fast and feels ready to run.”

And while many teachers like beginners to learn the basics of marksmanship with iron sights, this rifle is made for optics. There are no irons on the barrel from the factory, only a Picatinny rail integrated atop the receiver for a riflescope or a red dot. A Monte Carlo stock raises the shooter’s cheek to be in-line with the optic, instead of dropping lower to align with iron sights.

The radio works. The harder problem is everything else.

Welcome back to Front Line Friday. This week is an editorial, and the topic is one of those problems that every first responder has opinions about and nobody has solved cleanly: interagency interoperability. The phrase usually draws attention to radio systems and frequency coordination. That’s the visible layer. Underneath it is a much more complicated set of human, organizational, and procedural problems that no frequency plan actually addresses. Front Line Friday is brought to you by Dead Air Silencers, whose support keeps this column going every week.

The reason interoperability stays on the problem list year after year, despite significant investment in radio systems and mutual aid agreements, is that the technical layer is actually the easiest part to fix. When departments buy compatible equipment and work out frequency sharing, the radios talk to each other. That problem is largely solved in most jurisdictions. What hasn’t kept pace is the organizational and operational layer that determines whether that technical capability actually gets used effectively when it matters.

Front Line Friday @ TFB:

• Front Line Friday #6: Duty Belts, Vests, and Real Load Management
• Front Line Friday #7: Writing SOPs That Actually Stick
• Front Line Friday #8: The Small Gear That Prevents Lost Workdays
• Front Line Friday #9: Range Qualification Realities
• Front Line Friday #10: The Patrol Vehicle Setup That Actually Works

What Interoperability Actually Means

The standard definition of interagency interoperability is the ability of different public safety agencies to communicate during joint operations. That definition is technically accurate and operationally incomplete. Communication is necessary but not sufficient. Effective interoperability requires:

• A common language for describing what’s happening and what’s needed
• Shared understanding of the operational picture at any given moment
• Compatible tactics and organizational structures that can be integrated under pressure
• Pre-established command protocols that don’t require on-scene negotiation in real time
• Trust between responding agencies that comes from training together, not just from formal agreements

Most interoperability investments have focused primarily on the first item: the ability to transmit voice across agency boundaries. The other four elements have received far less systematic attention, and the gap is most pronounced in large-scale incidents where multiple agencies operate in the same space for extended periods.

The Radio Problem Is Mostly Solved

The technical barriers to radio interoperability have largely been addressed. Interoperable frequencies, shared channels, cross-agency agreements, and modern digital radio systems that support multiple agencies on the same infrastructure are now standard in most metropolitan areas and increasingly available in rural regions through state-level interoperability networks.

Where the radio problem persists is typically not a technology gap. It’s a gap in training and familiarity. Officers who have never practiced using the interoperability channel are slow with it under stress. Agencies that have the technical capability but don’t regularly drill on it produce officers who default to their home department channels even when a shared channel would better serve the incident.

This is a solvable problem. It requires making interoperability channel use part of regular training, not just part of the mutual aid agreement that nobody looks at until something goes wrong.

The Real Gaps

Incident Command Structure

The single most common interagency coordination failure is not radio communication. It’s the incident command. When multiple agencies respond to a large scene, the question of who is in charge, how the command structure integrates across agencies, and how decisions get made is frequently answered differently by each agency involved.

Law enforcement, fire, and EMS each have their own command traditions. Police command structure typically vests authority in the senior on-scene officer for law enforcement operations. Fire uses the Incident Command System, which has a specific chain of command and role designation protocol. EMS often operates under medical direction that comes from off-scene medical control, creating a parallel command line that intersects with the on-scene structure in ways that aren’t always clearly delineated.

These are not abstract organizational concerns. They produce real operational failures. Scene safety announcements that only reach the law enforcement personnel because the fire command didn’t hear the radio. EMS crews were entering an area that law enforcement believed had already been cleared. Priorities set by one agency that conflict with another's operational plan.

The fix is not a better radio channel. The fix is joint training on incident command integration, with specific attention to the role designations and authority questions that arise when agencies with different command traditions work the same scene.

Common Operational Language

Agencies that don’t train together regularly develop idiosyncratic operational language. Terms that mean something specific within one department may be interpreted differently by another. Radio traffic that makes perfect sense to the originating agency can be ambiguous or confusing to the receiving agency.

This is a narrow and concrete problem. A joint training exercise in which the first thing tested is whether all participating agencies understand the same things by the same terms will almost always reveal ambiguities that nobody noticed in their home-agency drills. Building that check into regular interoperability training, rather than discovering the language gap for the first time at a real incident, is a low-cost, high-value investment.

Jurisdiction and Authority

Officers working outside their jurisdiction face an authority problem that doesn’t have a clean technical solution. An officer from Department A working in Department B’s jurisdiction under a mutual aid agreement has law enforcement authority but may have uncertainty about the specific scope of that authority, the legal basis for actions taken outside their home jurisdiction, and the notification and coordination requirements that apply.

This uncertainty creates hesitation at exactly the moments when hesitation is most costly. An officer who is uncertain about whether they have authority to take a particular action in another jurisdiction will default to waiting for jurisdictional confirmation. That delay can be the difference between a successful outcome and a bad one.

Jurisdictional authority questions are not solved by radio interoperability. They are addressed by clear mutual-aid agreements that specifically address the most likely scenarios, by training that includes cross-jurisdictional scenarios, and by command-level communication that removes uncertainty as quickly as possible when the question arises at the scene.

Resource Typing and Requesting

When an agency requests mutual aid, the receiving agency needs to understand what they’re being asked to send. Fire departments use resource typing to classify apparatus and personnel by capability. Law enforcement has no equivalent systematic classification. When a police department requests “units” from a neighboring department, what they actually get depends on what that department chooses to send, which may not match what the requesting department needs.

This is a procurement and coordination problem more than a radio problem. Agencies that have worked out specific mutual aid requests in advance, that know what each neighboring agency has available and what it can do, are far better positioned to get useful help quickly than agencies that are discovering the resource landscape in real time during an incident.

What Good Interoperability Programs Look Like

The agencies that handle multi-agency incidents well share several characteristics that have nothing to do with radio equipment:

They train together on a regular schedule, not just once a year at a required exercise. The goal of joint training is not to check a box. It’s to build the relationships and institutional familiarity that allow agencies to function as an integrated team under pressure. Annual training is better than no training. Quarterly or semi-annual training produces measurably better outcomes.

They have specific, written agreements that address the most common scenarios in detail. Vague mutual aid agreements that say agencies will “cooperate” and “coordinate” are not operational plans. Specific agreements that address command integration, resource requesting, jurisdictional authority, and communication protocols give officers the framework they need to act without waiting for on-scene negotiation.

They designate liaison personnel trained for interagency coordination roles. A properly trained liaison officer who knows the capabilities, limitations, and operating procedures of partner agencies is worth more than a shared radio channel. Agencies that invest in building a small group of people who specialize in this role get better outcomes than agencies that try to sort it out with whoever shows up.

They run their interoperability exercises as problem-solving sessions, not just radio checks. An exercise that identifies gaps in command integration, language ambiguity, or resource requesting and fixes them before a real incident is far more valuable than an exercise that simply confirms the radios work.

The Fire/EMS Parallel

Fire and EMS agencies face interoperability challenges that mirror law enforcement’s in structure but differ in specifics. Fire departments working with EMS agencies face ongoing tension over scene safety determinations, patient access, and the authority to call for additional resources. EMS agencies working across municipal boundaries face jurisdictional questions affecting how and where patients are transported.

The common thread across all three disciplines is that technical communication capability has outpaced organizational integration. The radios work. The harder problem is building the human and procedural systems that allow that technical capability to be used effectively.

Common Objections + Straight Answers

“We have a mutual aid agreement. That covers it.”

A mutual aid agreement is a legal document. It is not an operational plan. The question is not what the agreement says. The question is whether every officer in your department can explain, under pressure at 2 AM at a scene in a neighboring jurisdiction, exactly what they have authority to do, who they need to notify, and how the command structure integrates. If the answer requires looking at the agreement, the agreement is not enough.

“We train with the other agencies every year.”

Annual training is the floor, not the ceiling. If your interoperability exercise is a radio check and a tabletop discussion, you are not building the kind of familiarity that produces effective joint operations. Joint training should include realistic scenario-based exercises where command integration, resource requesting, and cross-agency communication are actually tested.

“Our radio system is compatible with everyone in the region.”

Compatibility is necessary but not sufficient. An officer who has never used the shared channel under realistic conditions will be slow and awkward with it when it matters. Radio compatibility that isn’t practiced regularly produces the same outcomes as no compatibility at all.

“Interoperability is a command-level problem. Officers just need to do their jobs.”

Officers are the ones who show up first. The decisions they make in the first minutes of an incident, before command structures are fully established, shape everything that follows. Officers who understand the interoperability framework, who know what they can do without waiting for clearance, and who have trained in cross-agency scenarios make those early decisions better than officers who are improvising.

Bottom Line / What to Do Monday

• Identify the two or three agencies your department most frequently operates with and review your mutual aid agreement with them. Does it address command integration, resource requesting, and jurisdictional authority in specific terms? If any of those are vague, request a meeting to tighten them.
• Find out when your department last ran a joint training exercise with any partner agency. If it was more than six months ago, propose a date for the next one.
• At your next interoperability training, don’t just check the radio. Run a realistic scenario that requires cross-agency communication, command integration, and resource requesting. Identify the gaps and fix them.
• Identify who your department’s liaison officers are for interagency coordination. If you don’t have designated liaisons, propose creating that role.
• Practice using the interoperability channel in your regular training, not just at the annual interoperability exercise. Make it familiar.
• For officers: if you’ve never read your department’s mutual aid agreements, read them. Know what authority you have outside your jurisdiction and the notification requirements.
• For supervisors at scenes: designate a liaison role early in any multi-agency response. Don’t wait for the command structure to get complicated before starting that conversation.
• For Fire/EMS: apply the same analysis to your interoperability with law enforcement. The command integration questions are real, and they come up at scenes whether you’ve planned for them or not.
• At your next training planning meeting, ask: Are we training for the interoperability we actually need, or the interoperability we think we’ve already solved?
• If your region doesn’t have a regular interoperability working group that includes law enforcement, fire, and EMS, find out why not and whether there’s interest in starting one.

Sign-Off

That’s Front Line Friday for this week: the radios work. The harder problem is whether we built the human systems that make the technical capability useful.

Next week: FLF #12. This was scheduled for a Dead Air suppressor review, but that suppressor isn’t in hand yet. We’re holding that one for when the product arrives. Next week: a reserve editorial on a topic that doesn’t have a scheduled slot yet. Suggestions welcome if there’s something you want addressed before we loop back to the suppressor review.

Setting the Bar

Blk Lbl is a small company out of Canada, born from professionals and avid hunters. The idea was simple: create a high-quality handguard and offer the ability for an integrated premium bipod that stores inside the handguard without creating bulk or adding excessive weight. This may seem near impossible, but upon burning the midnight oil and countless cases of Molson Canadian, the team at Blk Lbl accomplished the seemingly impossible. The Blk Lbl handguard with an integrated bipod was born.

Apart from the aesthetics, the Blk Lbl handguard is not simply an attractive choice for appearance; this handguard was intended for hard use in the worst conditions. The finest materials and massive man-hours were used to create a functional combat handguard intended for the worst of environments and still make the gun safe appear more cosmopolitan. The handguard from Blk Lbl is as much a piece of art as it is a combat accessory.

The Blk Lbl handguard comes in two different configurations: the handguard with an integrated bipod and the handguard without. There is a wide selection of handguard choices, ranging from the benevolent AR15 to the more obscure Springfield Hellion. While there is a distinct focus on higher-end bolt-action rifles, Blk Lbl has also focused on bullpup rifles to ensure these platforms have options, given the nature of a shorter handguard. Blk Lbl handguards are also designed to be suppressor compatible, allowing for the average-sized suppressor to integrate into the handguard.

A Strong Base

The Blk Lbl handguard is more than a place to hold the rifle and mount accessories; this handguard was meant to streamline use by having an integrated bipod built into the handguard and provide the end user with a highly functional bipod that would meet and exceed the needs of hunters and soldiers in one attractive package. The bipods are a full metal outer construction and carbon fibre legs with traction pads at the base of each leg. The bipod legs are independently employed and held in place with magnets. Once locked into extension, a simple pull of the leg releases the locking mechanism, and the leg can be folded back into its flush fitment of the handguard. There is a quick-release tab that provides rapid length adjustment and can easily be slipped back to the original short length. Cant is fully adjustable by up to 40 degrees and has a tightening mechanism to fix the movement of the cant for stability. This is a fully functional professional bipod that integrates directly into the handguard seamlessly and operates completely with the use of one hand.

Hell of a Handguard

The first handguard to analyze is the rarest option. The Springfield Hellion is fairly well known in the US market, but overseas, the Hellion is known by its military name, the VHS2. This platform has seen its fair share of combat in the Middle East and has earned a well-deserved reputation for its reliability, accuracy, and excellent ergonomics. The one real improvement needed was an upgraded handguard, and Blk Lbl rises to the occasion.

The Hellion handguard upgrade comes in both flavours, with or without an integrated handguard. The handguard can be acquired in either a long or short model. This option allows the user to mount forward of the carry handle and provides a little more protection for the hand and the barrel; this longer option is especially useful when considering the 20” barreled version of the Hellion. Another significant advantage of the longer-barreled variant is the extra mounting over the barrel for accessories. For a platform that, like all bullpups, has to place a premium on mounting space second to a more compact platform, the handguard with an integrated bipod provides a significant and effective use of space.

We mounted the standard handguard on the Hellion for our VCR Project. This is a fully customised Hellion, hence the name, the VCR (Very Cool Rifle). With the improved handguard being the crown jewel of the rifle and the only part truly holding the rifle back, we had the trigger reworked by Black Talon, stock/bolt release/selector by Manticore Arms, and Lunar Tech for extended mag release and flared magazine well. The VCR Project has taken the Hellion to the next level and truly customized this platform to perform.

ARs and More

What weapon accessory company would be seen as serious if they didn’t cater to the AR15 family of weapons? Blk Lbl felt the same way and created a handguard for the AR15 and AR10. The two platforms obviously have their differences, and as it pertains to the barrel-nut, they are different, but the handguards look and operate identically. There are different lengths ranging from 14”, 15.5”, and 17”, allowing for the individual to choose a length that meets their needs. The fitment is solid, and the appearance is stunning, with a clean, almost oval shape. The handguard fits into the hand very well and makes indexing targets in the off-hand as natural as setting up with the bipod. The front has a unique appearance with relief cuts to add to the appearance and clear space for side ported compensators. The use of the handguard feels the same from an AR15 to an AR10.

In the case of the AR15, the handguard was installed on a custom Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 for a gen 2 variation of at Scout Rifle and this smooth integration of the bipod built in and the comfort of the handguard coupled with a rigid mounting makes the system a significant upgrade for what I would think Mr. Cooper would be proud to call a true Scout Rifle. We had the action fluted and micro slicked by AD Arms and had Anarchy Outdoors provide us with a new bolt handle with improved angle and sweep with interchangeable bolt knobs. Indian Creek provided a chassis and an AR15 handguard adapter. Fire Castle Custom modified the receiver to use Magpul AK magazines for cross-platform compatibility, and Midwest Industries gave us the Alpha Stock for adjustable length of pull, comb, and buttplate placement, all the while allowing us to fold the stock.

On the AR-10, we set it up on a platform I am calling the SIPP or Straight-Pull Intermediate Precision Platform. This is an AR10 with a true free-floated Criterion barrel mounted to a Midwest Industries AR10 with a Devil Dog Arms Hard Charger side charger and LAW folder, combined with a Reptillia Designs Recce Stock to provide us with a compact spring-assisted bolt-action AR-10 that has all the ergonomics and logistical support of an AR with the precision of a bolt-action rifle. The seamless handguard truly finishes off the platform with a system that rewards simplicity and forward thinking by staying lightweight, streamlined, and cross-platform compatible.

Conclusion

Given the nature of such a well-designed handguard, we are left wanting more. There is so much value wrapped up in the handguards from Blk Lbl; we want to see more options for use. As more platforms are created, we would love to see the AK series and even the Jakl see adoption. Of course, known platforms like the Sig MCX and Spear would benefit greatly from the Blk Lbl touch of grace; it can only be assumed that more platforms are coming soon or are in development.

The Blk Lbl handguard is a lightweight, robust, and excessively adaptable handguard aimed at providing its users with either a traditional handguard or one with an integrated bipod. The use of either provides users with a suppressor-friendly lightweight combat handguard that lacks none of the modern considerations or the adaptability needed for the consistent evolution of combat. Black Label is a title synonymous with quality and exclusivity. Blk Lbl handguards meet this name from the front with class and tenacity rarely seen, embodying both. Blk Lbl is a true masterclass of performance and appearance.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we discussed the first part of our holster rundown series with what materials to carry and what to expect to spend. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to talk about some of the most popular carry positions and why they could be beneficial to you. In the gun world, there are preferred favorites, but each style has its own benefits in various situations.

When it comes to carrying concealed, there are a number of ways to get the job down from a simple inside the waistband holster or putting it in your pocket to wearing a shoulder rig to conceal larger handguns. Whatever your preference is, there are certainly benefits to carrying each way. The pocket holster way is fantastic, for example, to carry with almost no effort. There are size and capacity limitations with pocket holsters, but the big positive is the fact that they are incredibly easy to conceal. Each of these styles have their own benefits and now's the best time to explore more of these benefits.

Outside The Waistband (OWB) holsters keep your handgun outside your waistline but are still connected to the belt. This allows for a more comfortable option compared to having the handgun ride inside your waistband. These are fantastic options for carrying larger handguns during the colder months that won't rub or cause hot spots since the handgun is on the outside of your pants. This is one of the most comfortable ways to carry a concealed handgun, but the biggest issue with OWB style holsters is the inability to easily conceal your handgun. You will need a fairly heavy cover garment to properly conceal your handgun.

Appendix

Carrying appendix was all the rage about 10 years ago. Everyone online who was “high speed” said if you weren't carrying appendix style, you were carrying concealed the wrong way. Appendix holsters ride right in the front of your waistline, allowing for fast access, which allows you to draw from concealment and present the firearm faster than you would from carrying strong side on your hip. Many younger people who carry concealed started off by appendix carrying because it's one of the fastest positions and if you're a skinnier individual, you will usually be able to conceal a slightly larger handgun without it printing rather than carrying on your hip.

Although it's by far the fastest method of carrying, the appendix certainly has a couple of disadvantages when it comes to comfort. The number one issue most people have is when they are sitting down and putting a seat belt on. That area of the body can be tricky to carry and draw from when sitting down. Some people complain about bad hot spotting, which can happen if you have a few extra pounds around your mid section. Despite the drawbacks, carrying an appendix holster can be one of the easiest methods to quickly draw your gun if you put the practice in.

Shoulder Rigs

The old school method, or as some like to call it, the Gentleman's carry method. Having a shoulder holster can be a fantastic option if you find yourself sitting or cannot carry with a belt for one reason or another. When it comes to carrying on longer road trips, having quick access to your handgun while not having to deal with hot spotting on your body is a real plus. Having a shoulder holster if you have a suit is also another fantastic option since it won't pull on your dress belt or pull on your tucked-in shirt.

Some people don't mind just tucking their shirt in around their carry gun, but personally, I love to carry a shoulder holster under my suit coat. I am a big fan of both vertical and horizontal shoulder holsters, but the biggest issue with both is the fact that you need a fairly substantial cover garment in order to truly conceal them. Whether that's a light jacket, suit coat or something similar, you absolutely have to have a cover garment to make sure these larger holsters are covered. Once you get the hang of it, it's not tough at all, but carrying a shoulder holster does take a bit of preplanning.

Pocket Carry

Out of everything on the list, pocket carrying is by far the easiest way to carry a concealed pistol. Having a smaller pistol to just slip in your pocket and go on with your day is almost effortless. When you decide to carry a pocket gun, you have to keep that specific pocket completely empty of everything except your actual carry gun. Most jeans and pants have rather constricting pockets, so you will be careful with how big of a gun you can easily conceal and draw from that pocket.

Overall Thoughts

The different carry positions are important to consider because there's not a single definitive answer for what's best. Certain styles shine in various situations, while others are great choices for everyday use. If you have a favorite style and it works for you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Let me know your favorite carry style in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for the final part.

TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK

The Bear's Leg is offered in four chamberings: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .30-30 Winchester, and .45-70 Government. Every model ships with a factory-threaded barrel (5/8x24), a polymer handguard with M-LOK slots and a Picatinny rail section, fiber optic sights, a large loop lever, and a side loading gate. MSRP is $1,129 across the lineup.

Henry is also flagging the Bear's Leg as an SBR conversion candidate. With the appropriate ATF paperwork, adding a stock is a clean path since the rail furniture is already factory-fitted. This should be a meaningful detail for NFA enthusiasts.

The chambering choices are worth unpacking. The pistol-caliber options (.357 and .44 Mag) are the obvious practical picks: manageable recoil, widely available ammo, and reasonably fast follow-up shots in a compact platform. The .30-30 model puts one of America's most proven hunting cartridges in a very packable format, which makes real sense as a truck or trail gun.

The .45-70 version is the one that will get attention, though, at least in my opinion. A .45-70 lever pistol is a legitimate big-bore statement in a small package, and paired with a suppressor and a stock, it becomes something genuinely unusual.

At $1,129, is it priced right? It's not cheap for a lever-action pistol, but the M-LOK furniture and fiber optics add real value over basic Mare's Leg clones. Whether it justifies the premium over a standard Henry lever rifle depends on how much you actually want the compact pistol format.

The Bear's Leg is available now through licensed dealers. Full specs at HenryUSA.com, or https://www.henryusa.com/firearm/bears-leg-pistol/ directly.

The PUREVIEW is built around ImageGuide technology, a licensed holographic laser projection system developed in collaboration with Creative Micro Systems Corp. (CMC) and produced through FN's Finnish subsidiary Noptel Oy. Rather than the curved, tinted glass used in most competing red dot sights, the system uses flat, clear glass with billions of microscopic structures etched into bonded layers via nanoimprint lithography. The result, per FN's claims, is a parallax-free 3 MOA red dot with no optical distortion or tinting, allowing both-eyes-open shooting with full peripheral vision retained. The reticle is projected as though it sits at the same distance as the target, eliminating the focus split between a near sight and a distant threat.

The housing is fully enclosed, nitrogen-purged, and constructed from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum. FN claims the enclosed architecture achieves a 25% weight reduction compared to competing rugged optics in the same class. Submersion is rated to 35 meters under IP68 standards, and the operating temperature range runs from -40°C to +52°C. The sight has been tested to MIL-STD-810 and can survive multiple drops onto concrete from 1.8 meters (6 feet). Notably, FN's fail-safe reticle design keeps the aiming point functional and correctly zeroed even if the glass is shattered. During development, more than 100,000 rounds were fired in testing, with individual units validated to withstand over 25,000 rounds.

Brightness management includes 14 settings: three ultra-bright, eight standard, and three NVG-compatible, along with an automatic brightness adjustment mode. Power comes from a single CR2032 battery, rated for approximately 800 hours of continuous use or up to one year of intermittent use at roughly two hours per day.

While primarily designed for pistols, the PUREVIEW can be mounted on (via 1913 rail adapters) rifles, submachine guns, and shotguns, and can serve as a backup sight on magnified or sniper platforms. FN states that adapter plates will be provided for widely used pistols from other manufacturers.

The sight will be initially offered in a black anodized finish with an FDE option to follow.

The PUREVIEW is manufactured entirely in Finland at Noptel Oy, with FN retaining full IP and production control. Components are sourced from Europe with some ITAR-free U.S. parts.

"At FN, our innovation is driven by an over 135-year legacy of industrial excellence and an unwavering commitment to those who serve, defend and protect us. The FN PUREVIEW™ is another example of this innovative spirit, being the first holographic sight in this form factor to use a nano-structured glass to guide light. This was driven by a user-first philosophy, combining our bold and accurate approach to the rugged reliability that defence forces and law enforcement need," said François Legras, VP FN E-NOVATION.

Specs at a glance:

• Reticle: 3 MOA holographic red dot
• Dimensions: 46x30x33 mm (1.81x1.18x1.30 in)
• Weight (with battery): 44 g (1.55 oz)
• Sight window: 20x15 mm (0.79x0.59 in)
• Adjustment range: 200 MOA elevation/windage; 1 MOA per click
• Brightness settings: 14 (including 3 NVG modes), plus auto
• Battery: CR2032, up to ~800 hours continuous / ~1 year intermittent
• Water resistance: IP68, 35 meters submersion
• Operating temperature: -40°C to +52°C (-40°F to +126°F)
• Drop resistance: 1.8 m (6 ft) onto concrete, MIL-STD-810 tested
• Rounds tested: 100,000+ during development; 25,000+ per unit validation
• Mounting: MRD-ready pistol slides; Picatinny adapter for long guns
• Manufactured: Finland (Noptel Oy)
• Colors: Black (FDE coming soon)

The Veil 400 ships with two rechargeable 18650 batteries, a battery charger, USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB-C cables, a hard storage case, neck lanyard, lens cloth, utility clip, and 2mm hex wrench. I always see the American market begging for this battery option, so here we are.

Vortex Veil 400 Specs:

• SKU: TML-VEIL425
• Detector resolution: 400x300
• Display: 1024x768 OLED
• Detector pixel pitch: 12µm
• Refresh rate: 50 Hz
• Objective lens: 25mm
• Base magnification: 2.3x
• Digital zoom: 1x, 2x, 4x
• Field of view: 57.8 ft at 100 yds
• Detection range: 1,100 yds
• Color palettes: White Hot, Black Hot, Red Hot, Multicolor
• Viewing modes: Balanced, Contrast, Brush
• Battery: 18650 rechargeable (two included)
• Charging: USB-C, power bank compatible
• Operating temperature: -4°F to 140°F
• Length: 4.9 in
• Weight: 13.3 oz
• Features: Integrated compass, rubber armor, waterproof, fogproof, shockproof, tripod adaptable, photo/video capture
• Warranty: Vortex VIP, lifetime including electronics

For more information, visit   vortexoptics.com.

​ @BallisticAviation is at NRAAM 2026 in Houston, catching up with the sharp-dressed Dave Kiwacka of Hi-Point for the debut of the Hush-Point 30Ti, a DMLS-manufactured low back pressure suppressor with 3 distinct sizes (.22, 9/45 & .30. The Hush-Point line uses gas-venting cores that reduce DI rifle blowback, are compatible with HUB/QD mounts, and will be sold for an MSRP of around $850.

TFB Official Apparel Sponsor is 5.11 Tactical: https://www.rb.gy/mzdc5p

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