The US Army has launched their official Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) inviting design submission for both the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad
Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR), both chambered in the Army’s new specification general purpose 6.8mm round.

The US Army has announced that they have awarded LaserMaxDefense a contract for 20,000 Pistol Enhancers, LMD’s multifunction aiming light (MFAL). The Army was seeking a commercial off the shelf laser/light system for its new pistols. The LMD-PE-IR-1 ‘Pistol Enhancer’ beat out competition from Streamlight’s TLR-8 to win the contract. LMD describe the Pistol Enhancer MFAL as “the smallest, lightest and most efficient white light/IR Illuminator/IR laser on the market.”

SHOT Show 2019 has had exhibits from just about every company even tangentially related to firearms, except one. Hudson Manufacturing, makers of the popular H9, did not show up to their booth at SHOT. In fact, they’ve been a no-show on social media recently as well.

Composite munitions manufacturer True Velocity has announced their partnership with General Dynamics – Ordnance & Tactical Systems in working to win the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon system program. Back in July 2018, TFB reported that General Dynamics was one of five manufacturers to be awarded prototype development contracts as part of the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle program.

In this episode of TFBTV’s SHOT Show 2019 Industry Day at the Range coverage, James interviews Dave Kiwacka from Hi-Point about the second generation of the Hi-Point C9. In essence, Hi-Point has taken the C9 and brought it up to date, with new tactical features like threaded barrels, forward slide serrations, interchangeable backstraps, and perhaps most notably, a double stack 10 round flush fit magazine. Dave runs down the new improvements in this exclusive TFBTV early look.

Shooting the 7.5 FK Field Pistol has been a goal of mine since I learned about the platform.  Unfortunately,   this power handgun is a rare specimen in the wild.  At SHOT this year, FK BRNO was kind enough to give us ample trigger time both pre-range day and on Industry Day at the Range as well.  While TFB’s Pete has written up a great review of the gun, Andrew has thoroughly tested the ammunition and James has had his own musings, this was the first I had seen the pistols be shot a lot by a lot of people.

In just a few short days Magpul have launched an army of new parts. Some are brand new, like the CZ Scorpion EVO 3 line of products which we told you about a few days ago and some are more of an extension of existing product lines.

The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 must be selling well. At least well enough for Magpul to start making magazines and accessories for it. Someone found a market need to feed.

It’s that time of year again, boys and girls – SHOT Show, new releases, hopes, dreams and more will start to flood your inbox. Today we will give you a preview of the 2019 Remington and Advanced Armament product catalogs. While there are some notable highlights, this year’s layout doesn’t appear to contain any earth-shattering reveals. Most of the new releases, like the 700– CP bolt action pistol, have had their own stand alone announcements.

Building on last year’s successful launch of two MP5 clones, South Carolina based firearms manufacturer  PTR is announcing two new models in their production line up. The 9KT is an MP5K clone with a custom handguard, top rail and an end cap capable of accepting slings, pistol stabilizing braces and stocks (mind the NFA, boys and girls). The 9R is an HK94 style clone with a 16.2” barrel, top rail and a fixed stock.

FightLite Industries, a division of ARES Defense Systems, Inc., will be releasing a multi-caliber platform called the MXR.

CZ-USA has kept American shooters on their toes the past few years. From sexy carry and competition pistols to Scorpion pistol caliber carbine variants, the lauded gunmaker is pushing out functional and affordable firearms. And just a week into 2019, it appears that this year will be no different. CZ-USA has sneakily announced the pending arrival of the Bren 2 Ms. These pistols will be chambered in either 7. 62×39 or 5. 56×45 with barrel lengths ranging from 8-14 inches. With an MSRP of $1,799, the street price should be accessible to many buyers looking for a pistol stabilizing brace platform with a short barrel.

Well, well, well. It looks like the Sig Rattler just got a baby brother. Just announced today is the Sig MPX Copperhead Ultra– Compact 9mm Personal Defense Weapon (PDW). Sporting a 3.5” barrel and a collapsing pistol stabilizing brace, the total overal length is an impressive 14.5”. The MPX Copperhead has fully ambidextrous controls and of course accepts current MPX magazines. Integrated into the barrel is a muzzle brake, leaving me to wonder if the MPX Copperhead can be easily suppressed.

The Hearing Protection Act has been reintroduced to Congress by Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina. The American Suppressor Association describe the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) of 2019 as “an enhanced version of previous” legislation introduced to Congress in 2015.

If you browse the list of companies that will be exhibiting at SHOT Show 2019, you’ll notice a new company with a very familiar name – Zastava Arms USA. Apparently, the famous Serbian arms manufacturer now has a new US distributor.

In what might have been this holiday season’s worst best kept secret, filled with the drama of artist renderings and feature speculations, TFB is finally ready to debut the real thing. GLOCK is releasing two new Slimline pistols – the GLOCK 43X and a longer slide GLOCK 48 – that are aimed squarely at the everyday carry market. Obviously, both guns are focused on narrow frames and slides, making carrying concealed a bit easier compared to either a compact or full size piece. But what else do these new handguns offer over current subcompact GLOCK models that will convert those shooters who are already comfortable with their current carry choices? Let’s take a look.

A new ATF documented posted today outlines the final ruling, officially banning bump stock devices once posted to the federal register. Signed by Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker, the narrative for the final rule change is 157 pages long and includes an analysis of comments submitted both in support and against a rule change, cost analysis, legal analysis and alternatives to using bump stocks. A link to the full document can be found below.

In an email announcement sent to ATF mailing list subscribers, the Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (FTISB) stated that they will no longer accept any accessory for determination without a being installed on a corresponding host weapon. In the past, manufacturers could submit firearm accessories to the FTISB for a classification under the Gun Control Act (GCA) and/or the National Firearms Act (NFA) as a stand-alone item. Effective immediately, the procedure has changed, with previously submitted items being returned to the manufacturer without a classification.

Back in April, we reported that the Estonian Defence Forces had narrowed their choice of new service rifles down to three from Heckler & Koch, SIG Sauer, and Lewis Machine & Tool. Estonian Public Broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling ( ERR) now report that the trials have ended and a winner has been chosen. Lewis Machine & Tool’s entries have beaten out rival bids from SIG and HK.

According to a source close to the situation, Remington CEO Anthony Acitelli has resigned from his position as head of the Madison, North Carolina based firearms company. Acitelli was elected as CEO in October of 2017 as the firearms manufacturer traversed the different stages of bankruptcy after several years of financial uncertainty. In May of this year, Remington emerged from bankruptcy that transitioned $775M of debt into equity allowing the company to resume a “normal course of business”. In June, Acitelli was named chairman of the board for Remington Outdoor Company.

Following our story this morning regarding German media outlets reporting on charges filed against Sig Sauer USA executives, TFB was able to catch up with a company representative for an exclusive look into the news. Because of the ongoing legal case, the brief statement posted below is carefully worded. But some unofficial analysis points to possible sensational journalism in the German media.

According to German media outlets, Sig Sauer USA CEO Ron Cohen was allegedly arrested in Frankfurt, Germany last month. Reports are attributing the arrest to a contract that supplied Colombian police with Sig SP 2022 pistols without an export license. At the time of the sales and deliveries, Colombia was experiencing a civil war. German authorities are alleging that Cohen and others falsified information to export the pistols in violation of the Foreign Trade Act.

The Bundeswehr’s programme to replace the Heckler & Koch G36 by 2020 has stalled. German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag reports that none of the weapons submitted have fulfilled the Bundeswehr’s “individual mandatory requirements.” Die Welt have seen a copy of a confidential report from the German Defense Ministry’s procurement office, the BAAINBw, outlining the failure.

No, it is not the weekend quite yet. Whereas we usually like to share our heavy silencer news, information and analysis on TFB’s Silencer Saturday series, today we have a special treat. Kicking off the season of new NFA product announcements is Dead Air Armament with the new Nomad 30 – a lightweight, modular 30 caliber suppressor built to live on everything from a carbine to a hunting rifle. With a variety of mounting solutions, swappable end caps, flash hiders and brakes, the Nomad was designed to be an affordable workhorse that doesn’t add on any unnecessary weight or length. How does it perform? Stick around for TFB’s first shots to find out.

SIG Sauer have unveiled their newest entry into the small arms market at the 2018 AUSA exposition, which began today in Washington, DC. Described as the Light Weight Machine Gun, the new weapon was reportedly developed for US Special Operations Command’s medium machine gun requirement and is chambered in .338 Norma Magnum – a rival to General Dynamics’ Lightweight Medium Machine Gun.

I first had the pleasure of getting hands on with the Micro Roni during an event at the end of 2016. The event was focused on the Micro Roni, the MH1 Reflex Sight, and a training course (“IDF Train the Trainer”), and was run by Mikey Hartman, CEO of CAA (and a retired Lt Col of the IDF). Since then he has remained in touch and not just about firearms related stuff–he is an all around genuine good friend.

The NGSAR is dead, long live the NGSW. We haven’t heard much from the US Army about its next generation infantry weapons programme since the announcement of six contract awards for the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle (NGSAR) back in June. Just a week before the Association of the United States Army (AUSA)’s 2018 annual meeting Army Contracting Command has released a new draft Next Generation Squad Weapons Prototype Opportunity Notice (PON).

When we last left our dear readers, I was sharing my hopes and dreams when it comes to the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the process that is required to both transfer and make NFA regulated weapons. Aside from scrapping the law in its entirety, it seems that we all have just to hope for a swifter and easier process. Today, the ATF has announced that the EForms system for Form 1 “Making” applications is back online for both entities and individuals, a category not included in past iterations of the system. The announcement seen on the EForm home page also states that the ATF is working hard to restore Form 4 “Transfer” applications to the system.

Nearly as hot-buttoned as the 9mm versus .45ACP debate, Heckler & Koch’s paddle style magazine releases are either the best thing or the worst thing about their German-engineered pistols depending on the audience. I happen to like the large paddle on the side of the trigger guard, but take a random poll of shooters and you’ll wind up with two distinct camps. H&K appears to be catering to the other side of the aisle with an upcoming release of the VP9-B – a push button magazine release version of the polymer framed VP9 pistol.

Crimson Trace, which is a subsidiary of American Outdoor Brands Corporation, has taken a huge leap with their company. Not only have they unveiled new branding with a more modern and attractively-styled logo, but they also have LOTS of new products for all of us. This includes 5 new electronic sights spanning platforms from rifles to shotguns to handguns. They also have 11 new riflescopes coming our way that are spread across three tiers of quality and design.