Hipefire has released a new ambidextrous AR-15 safety selector called HIPERSWITCH (High Performance Switch). The key feature of this safety selector is that it has a 60-degree throw (as opposed to conventional 90-degree) which is designed to allow faster selection between the safe and fire modes. Let’s watch the introduction video then go through the specs of this new product.

The host of  Demolition Ranch YouTube channel has published a video announcing the launch of airsoft AR-15 pattern rifles branded after the channel. These airsoft guns are the result of the collaboration of Demolition Ranch with F1 Firearms and EMG International. Let’s watch the mentioned video then go through the specs of these airsoft guns.

Customization is growing in popularity. Customers don’t settle with just another black rifle, so when we order a new one it might be a special Ceracote instead of a black rifle off the shelf.

Rise Armament is known across the firearm industry for their tremendously high quality AR-15 rifles and components. In addition to that, this year they have gone out to specifically help our veterans and law enforcement through multiple endeavors. Rise Armament in conjunction with Folds of Honor released a Patriot Trigger back over Memorial weekend this year. A portion of every sale of that trigger would go to Folds of Honor who provides scholarships to the children and spouses of disabled and deceased veterans.

CMMG’s Mk57 series is their line of 5.7x28mm firearms.  Their “Banshee”  model incorporates their shortest barrel in the caliber (5″), as well as a Tailhook PSB.  All Mk57 models use CMMG’s Patent Pending Radial Delayed Blowback (RDB) system found in their GUARD models.  The RDB blowback bolts have a head that is forced to fully rotate to unlock, causing the bolt carrier group to slow down during the firing cycle.  This allows CMMG to use lighter bolts, and lighter, slower bolts mean less recoil.   CMMG’s video illustrates the technology quite nicely.

I just can’t help it, folks (and Pete!). Whenever news like this here in Brazil come to my attention, I immediately wonder if TFB readers might be interested in also taking a look. The rate of recurrence at which such facts take place in this neck of the woods, as compared to other related news from, say the UK (e.g. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/09/10/shipment-of-twenty-guns-and-drugs-seized-at-dover/), usually prompt me to collect some of them for an almost regular feature here at “The Blog”. If you, readers and Editor, think it‘s enough, just let me know… I’ll keep all in a simple picture/short caption format, and, please, feel free to comment ID details I may lack.

Strike Industries came up with another simple yet interestingly executed product – the Pit Viper stock. In order to avoid confusion, let me tell you right away that this stock won’t work with standard AR-15 receiver extensions. It is a proprietary design that is compatible only with Strike industries Advanced Receiver Extension. The advantage of using this proprietary T-slot mounting system is the end result of a rock solid connection without any stock rattling whatsoever.

The legal definition of a rifle per the BATFE is a “weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or redesigned and made or remade to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled bore for each single pull of the trigger.“ We’ve already seen companies like Franklin Armory tackle the “rifled bore” characteristic and SB Tactical with the forearm brace rather than a stock. But now an entrepreneurial inventor has received approval for a device designed to supported on the shooters bicep.

Just so we are clear, I have not actually seen Mile 22, but I am a sucker for a flashy preview that features guns, explosions, dramatic pauses a lots of ballistic nylon. Story aside, the prop armorers behind the movie seem to have their sh*t together, displaying a wide variety of popular, historic and capable firearms for viewers. Let’s take a look.

Photographs have emerged of a captured Islamic State weapons cache which has an impressive range of firearms. The stockpile of weapons and explosive materials was captured by a rival Syrian group HTS. The cache included a wide variety of pistols, submachine guns, rifle and light machine guns from sources all over the world.

For those with a taste for true classics, this Gunbroker auction might be worth a look. Up for sale is a factory original Colt 601 machine gun in excellent condition. In its fully transferable form, this rifle is a pristine example of some of the AR-15s that left the Colt factory in 1962. Of course, a unique specimen like an original Colt 601 carries a price tag that reflects its rarity. With a starting bid of $90K and a buy-it-now price of $100K, this machine gun is reserved for those with plenty of disposable income.

Remember last March? We learned that Brownell’s was acquiring and importing HK416 and HK417 components. Well last August 13 they posted the photo above and below of their shipment of HK 416/417 parts.

Smith Tactics has released a new AR-15 accessory called Lightning Bolt Release (LBR). It is a drop-in replacement bolt catch that automatically releases the bolt once a new loaded magazine is inserted. It is designed to exclude the need of manually hitting the bolt release paddle thus decreasing the reloading time.

Steve Talischeck of Mad Pig Customs has made two custom AR-15s. His inspiration was Hi-Point and their reputation in the firearm community. Here are his Hi-Point themed AR15s.

The ninth Installment of Build of the Week was contributed by William C.  Organized desk award (with sadly empty decanter) goes too…. I know Cerakote is a “thing”, but I still have a special place in my heart for rattle can paint jobs. This rifle looks pretty clean overall and my favorite component is the sling.

Night vision for civilians used to be exorbitantly expensive, if not prohibited in some places. However, as technology has improved, the devices have gotten to a point where civilians can now afford very decent night vision devices at a price that you don’t have to take a second mortgage out on. In this episode, we break down some myths and talk about some of the practical lessons that are important to take into account when looking at night vision devices. But more importantly, we look at the ability to actually engage a target through while donning night vision and how to best go about it.

Fortis Manufacturing came up with an enhanced design of the AR-15 castle nut and end plate. They call this new product Lightweight Enhanced (LE™) Castle Nut & End Plate System. The idea behind this system is to provide a secure and robust installation of the two parts minimizing or eliminating the chances of the castle nut to come loose. Let’s take a closer look and see how they accomplished it.

Strike Industries has launched new compact AR-15 receiver extensions that are designed for AR pistol  builds. These are extremely short buffer tubes that are still compatible with mil-spec AR-15 lower receivers and bolt carrier groups. I think it is safe to say that such a short receiver extension is one of the most if not the most valuable part for a pistol build if you want it to be as compact as possible.

Spike’s Tactical has a new AR design by Rare Breed Firearms. Spike’s will be the sole exclusive distributor of this new AR design. They are calling it the Spartan.

Seekins Precision has joined the list of companies that make .224 Valkyrie products. They launched a variety of products for this caliber including barrels, complete upper receivers and complete rifles. Perhaps the most notable product in this new line is the VKR20 rifle which we will talk about in this article.

Although most Brazilian law enforcement agencies have for long been limited – mostly, forced by legal restraints – to acquiring service guns in the local market (e.g. Taurus, IMBEL, CBC), this trend is now gradually changing. To set the record straight, it should be recalled that the Departamento de Polícia Federal (Federal Police Department) and the Polícia Rodoviaria Federal (Federal Highway Police) have for some time seen more independence in this area with the procurement of foreign-made weapons, the same applying to a few other state agencies in search of specific items not available locally. Such was the case of the recent acquisition of 5,000 .40 S&W Gen5 Glock 22 pistols by PMESP – Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Military Police), and the use of 9x19mm Glock 19s and 7.62x51mm Armalite AR-10A4 rifles by Rio’s Military and Civil Police forces, as examples.

CMMG has added a new caliber to their line of AR pistols. The MK57 is an AR pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm. It is fed using the magazine from the FN Five-seveN pistol magazine.

Many of you may have seen me reference Chris Bartocci before in videos and articles (like in the recent Guns of SOCOM: Mk18 Video) or even seen Chris on TFBTV before (he cameos in the Glock 18 Mini-Documentary). Chris is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable AR-15 gurus out there, thanks in no small part to his consulting work for Colt and LMT. I have a great deal of respect for Bartocci and any time I do an AR-15 review, I try to consult one of his numerous publications on the subject to reinforce my content.

There are a lot of different techniques regarding the manipulation of the AR platform. There are quite a few just dealing with the scenario where you may not have the use of one of your hands or arm. William Petty of @Centrifugetraining has some interesting options for weapon manipulation around law enforcement vehicles. In this example, he uses a thumb trigger press to shoot his AR.

In this episode of TFBTV, James is at Triggrcon 2018 in Bellevue, WA, where he meets with the engineers at Master of Arms to talk about the world’s lightest AR-15: The 3.65 pound ENYO. Moreover, the MoA guys have a 3D printed, titanium monocore silencer to show off – the extraterrestrial-like “Duckpuppy”. See the video for more information, and see the specs below:

The 10:th Special Forces Workshop 2018 in Güstrow (Germany) was organized by the Baltic Shooters, and contained three action-packed days.

Thanks to a friend of mine for alerting me to an issue concerning  Safety Harbor Firearms and other manufacturers of .50 cal uppers. These manufacturers received a letter from the ATF.  The letter claims that bolt action .50 cal AR uppers can possibly be considered firearms. I reached out to Walter Keller of Safety Harbor Firearms and he agreed to share the letter with TFB.

Recent news from the Department of Defense has shown that the 2nd Marine Law Enforcement Battalion, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina has been working with Marine Corps Systems Command in testing a new target system that the Marine Corps could possibly purchase and integrate into marksmanship qualifications. Although the DOD imagery was very discrete about where the targets were from, not mentioning the company name or showing them up-close, the Australian-based company Marathon Robotics Corporation made it clear that 2nd LEB was indeed testing their moving target systems through a post on their Facebook page.

Mr. Kenneth Salen is a Norwegian IPSC competitive shooter. He’s now the top shooter on the Norwegian Heckler & Koch Shooting Team. According to himself he’s the guy you talk to about the best compensator in the World.

Ascend Armory added a new receiver set to their line of AR-15 receivers. Just like other receivers made by this company, the new set is also machined out of billet aluminum, however, what sets it apart is the existence of multiple relief cuts which make this receiver set a lightweight one.