POTD: Beretta ARX160 - U.S. and Italian Naval Forces
Photo Of The Day and we take a look at the Beretta ARX160 in action. Here it can be seen aboard the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill in the Philippine Sea, 2024. The Beretta ARX160 was developed for the Italian Armed Forces as part of the "Soldato Futuro" project and was launched in 2008. Fast forward to 2024, and it still looks modern.
TFB Podcast Roundup 144: The August 30th Roundup
We’re back again with another roundup of fresh firearms-focused podcasts in TFB Podcast Roundup 144. Each week we’re bringing you a new set of podcasts from across the web that cover a wide variety of topics including gunsmithing, hunting, precision shooting, war stories, competition shooting, gun industry news, and much more. In addition, we’re also featuring the most recent episode of TFB’s own Behind The Gun Podcast which airs every week on Thursday mornings. If you’d like to check out the full episode list for TFB’s Behind The Gun Podcast, you can find it here on the TFB website or on your favorite podcast app. Sit back, relax, and enjoy listening to this week’s selection of gun podcasts.
![Luke C.](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/06/10/606_1.jpg?size=50x50)
TFB Weekly Web Deals 104: Labor Day Weekend Deals!
Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals and happy Labor Day! Today we bring you the best savings and exclusive offers just in time for the long weekend! As we celebrate Labor Day, take advantage of some of the year's best deals from your favorite online retailers. Whether you're looking for spare parts, optics, ammo, or even guns, there’s probably something out there for everyone. Don't miss out on these limited-time offers—shop now and make this Labor Day a fun one in honor of all of your hard work!
![Luke C.](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/06/10/606_1.jpg?size=50x50)
TFB Review Rosco Manufacturing 11.5” K9 Wedge Lock URG
AR-15 upper receivers are available in an expansive and often bewildering array, but Rosco Manufacturing’s 11.5” K9 Wedge Lock URG stands out among the rest. Rosco rolled out URDs at the start of 2024 and I am sure it has been a boom for them. Pretty natural, I mean why not toss all your product into one package (or multiple)? Everything about this URG has been crafted with purpose, from its continuous taper K9 barrel profile to its Wedge Lock handguard system. As we delve deeper into the specs and features of the 11.5" K9 Wedge Lock URG, you can decide for yourselves if this setup is worth the hype at all. Let’s dive right into the review!
![Sam.S](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/05/07/636_1.jpg?size=50x50)
TFB Review: Strike Industries Vector Handguard
The Kriss Vector is a contentious firearm for many however throughout its many iterations the platform has continued to garner a following for a few major reasons, the first being its unique looks which have always invoked a sci-fi vibe akin to Stargate or Cyberpunk 2077. The second is its Super V system that imparts its signature recoil impulse and makes the Vector a blast to shoot. Unfortunately, due to how the Vector has to be built around the Super V, there have always been ergonomic problems with the shorter pistol and SBR variants. Kriss has sold their own solutions and rails for quite a while but now Strike Industries has thrown their hat into the ring.
![Lucas D](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/06/17/720_1.jpg?size=50x50)
GOA and Henry Team Up on Tribute Edition Models
Gunowners of America is teaming up with Henry Repeating Arms to release the GOA Tribute Edition Lever Action Octagon Frontier and Big Boy X Model. Henry is selling these models directly through their website, something we don’t often see, with a few incentives that may make you look more closely at picking one up if you’re in the market for a lever action rifle. These GOA exclusives are coming to you at a special price with Henry donating $50 from every sale back to Gun Owners of America, in full support of their continued mission to defend, protect, and restore the Second Amendment.
New SPARTANAT Book Studies Combat Lessons From Ukraine Conflict
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is entering the 10-year mark if you count its beginning as February 2014, or nearing the three-year mark, if you count February 2022. Either way, this has been the most active conflict in the Western world in the past decade, and that means military thinkers are busy analyzing the use and effects of new weapons, tactics and strategies. Now, the crew at SPARTANAT have a new book to share some of those lessons with you. It’s called Combat Experience – Military Lessons From The War In Ukraine.
First NY, Now CA. Court Rules on Non-Resident Carry Permits
The California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA) recently scored a legal victory, not only for the long-oppressed residents of the state but for visiting non-residents also. The case, known as CRPA vs. LASD challenged the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and the La Verne Police Department (LVPD) on the issues of delays, denials, and other means of obstruction in the processing of concealed carry weapons (CCW) licenses. The case covered broader topics also, like non-resident carry, out-of-state permit reciprocity, exorbitant fees, and mandatory psychological exams. The outcome, which provides some relief to law-abiding citizens who chose to take personal responsibility for their safety, does come with pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look.
What is the Ultimate Urban AR-15 on a $3,000 Budget?
In this video, James Reeves asks: "What is the ultimate urban rifle?" with a specific budget of $3,000. He reviews the Bravo Company (BCM) rifle that he brought to Thunder Ranch. This review is a continuation of TFB's Ultimate Urban Rifle series, which began five years ago at Thunder Ranch, where we explored what makes a rifle ideal for urban environments. We’ll cover everything from barrel length, bolt carrier groups, and optics, to suppressors and slings, discussing why a 16" AR is a great all-around choice for urban defense. I’ll also break down my build, which totaled around $4,776, and show you how to get similar performance for as low as $2,700 without (much) compromising on quality.
![James Reeves](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/05/07/46_1.jpg?size=50x50)
Kimber Announces Its 45th Anniversary .45ACP
Kimber Manufacturing is celebrating its birthday with the release of the 45th Anniversary .45ACP. Based on the Raptor, one of Kimber’s most recognizable production handguns, the new 1911 features the manufacturing quality, durability, and accuracy you’ve come to expect, but with a few changes to make this model aesthetically unique. Let’s take a closer look at what sets the Kimber 45th Anniversary apart.
TFB Review: The Big Affordable Window - Vortex Defender XL
Pistol red dots are a fairly common thing these days. We’ve come a long way since the early days of mounting gigantic optics like the early Aimpoint and Tasco red dots to the frames of 1911s. We can now mount some excellent optics, directly on our pistol slides, and the options at this point are virtually endless - it just depends on what you want to do with it. Vortex has been putting in a lot of work lately to expand its pistol and rifle optics line to be as comprehensive as possible. Standard RMR-type designs were some of their first ventures into the pistol-mounted optics category, but Vortex quickly upped the game by putting in their bid to the “large window” pistol red dot category. Primarily intended for competition shooters who value a large viewing window, the Vortex Defender XL is the company’s equivalent of Trijicon’s RMR HD, Holosuns 507COMP, or Shield’s RMSX. Today we’re going to check out what it offers, how it’s priced for its specific sector of the pistol optics market, and some of my thoughts on my experiences with it over the last 9 months.
POTD: Anti-Aircraft Training With The MG3
Photo Of The Day and we take a look at the MG3, made by Rheinmetall, in anti-aircraft training. Note the ammunition, which looks like it’s partly made out of plastic. The MG3 is a belt-fed machine gun developed in Germany, derived from the WWII-era MG42. It’s known for its high rate of fire (up to 1,200 rounds per minute) and reliability and comes chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. The MG3 is widely used for infantry, vehicle-mounted, and anti-aircraft roles, remaining a staple in many armed forces globally.
Concealed Carry Corner: The Perfect-Sized Carry Gun
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at the top items to avoid when carrying concealed. If you missed that article, click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to look at some of the ways to find the perfect carry gun and find the best of both worlds when it comes to concealability as well as being usable. The firearms industry has gone through a number of trends but these phases have created handguns that can fit any need or any size someone may need. The hard part is finding the perfect carry size for your everyday life. Let’s take a closer look at the perfect-sized carry gun.
GOA, Canik, And Classic Firearms Team Up On The Limited Edition Canik
The Limited Edition Gun Owners of America Canik Mete MC9 will be available for pre-order soon, exclusively at Classic Firearms. The commemorative handgun celebrates GOA’s victories, with Canik investing proceeds back into the mission to defend, protect, and restore the Second Amendment.
The German Army Selects Heckler & Koch G210
The German Army has selected Heckler & Koch’s MR308A6 as the G210. Since 2020 the Bundeswehr has been seeking a new short-range sniper weapon (Scharfschützengewehr kurze Reichweite). Initially this was to be fielded in small numbers with the Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) und Feldjäger units but appears to have subsequently become a larger program with the option to procure up to 500 G210 rifles.
![Matthew Moss](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/05/07/472_1.jpg?size=50x50)
New Impact 100 Thermal Laser Rangefinder from X-Vision Optics
Thermal optics are great tools for nighttime hunting or pest control. If your goal is longer-range engagements, it's helpful to have ranging info so you can properly prepare your shot, a laser range finder that integrates with your thermal riflescope is the perfect tool for this. X-Vision is proud to introduce their new Impact 100 Thermal Laser Range finder which integrates seamlessly with X-Vision’s TS150, 250, and 350 thermal scopes. With the Impact 100 module, you’ll have accurate distances displayed right on your thermal sights screen out to 650 yards.
![Luke C.](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/profile/2024/06/10/606_1.jpg?size=50x50)