The Magnetospeed M-Series Grip, is a new AR15 grip with modular storage. The grip has a springloaded plate so your stored accessory shoots out with force.

In the midst of a sea of 2017 SHOT Show attendees, I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of the Surefire booth and their new products from none other than Andrew Wright, Surefire Public Relations. Quick side note: it is a pretty surreal experience to talk with/interview someone when you are surrounded by life-sized posters of them shooting steel. I almost asked Wright to autograph my now vintage E1B light. But, I digress.

The TORQ from First-Light USA is a small hand-held anglehead flashlight that just might be one of the most versatile small lights you’ll find. It features a bright 155 lumen lamp powered by two standard AA batteries. It has a 320-degree rotating head and, when combined with the rotating finger loop allows the TORQ to be placed and pointed in a wide range of configurations.

This was my first year attending SIG’s Range Day. It was held at the Clark County Shooting Complex which is located in the northern outskirts of Las Vegas. It is a good hour drive from the Shot Show Range in Boulder City.

Buttons, switches and pressure pads – technologies that are constantly being improved upon within the weapon light and laser market. And so far no manufacturer has truly perfected the ergonomic, functional and reliable light switch. LaserMax is hoping to change that with the introduction of capacitative activation they are calling GripSense.

Body cameras on law enforcement personnel are a hot topic these days, albeit a very controversial topic. Viridian Weapon Technologies just introduced an on-weapon camera system that can supplement body cameras worn by law enforcement or be used for recording action by sport shooters or concealed weapons carriers.

Colt announced the company is now selling its own line of tactical flashlights and weapon lights. Initially, the company is launching eight lights: four weapon mount and four handheld lights.

JW Ramp took this photo of his friend who wanted a new Tinder picture. This is what they came up with. BCM AR with DBAL, Surefire Scoutlight, Aimpoint T1 and what looks like Ramp’s bino MOD3 NODS. Who here uses NODS and Tinder? Perhaps not both at the same time.

Steiner Laser Devices makes the infamous line of DBAL laser designators. DBAL stands for Dual Beam Aiming Laser. They have both visible and infrared lasers. They also make a DBAL-PL for hand guns. It is a bit bigger than your typical pistol light but it is packed with lights and lasers.

Almost one month ago TFB, together with the blog Cornucopia, were the first to report that the Swedish SOG and Special Police Units were to get rifles from LWRCI.

The advances that manufacturers have made in the development of lights and lasers in the past five to ten years is nothing short of amazing. I, like most of you, remember a time when attaching a weapon light to a firearm was a head-turning event at the range. Thankfully, the idea of proper illumination has gone mainstream.

PK Designlab has come out with a weapon light. Here are photos of its Korean Debut at the ROK Special Warfare Command Exhibition. PK aka Paul Kim, was the Senior VP of Surefire engineering and is the man responsible for many of SureFire’s lights as well as weapon lights back in the 2000s. The Hellfighter and Millennium Weaponlights are his creations. Here is his latest light under his own company. It is a single cell CR123 light with a single mode. It has a built-in Picatinny rail mount. It is smaller than a Surefire Mini Scout and brighter at 550 lumens.

Like most modern shooters, my tech side is in an eternal battle with the analog part of my life. On the one hand, third generation night vision is something I can see researching to death. On the other hand, a simple lever action rifle with well-finished wood is pure heaven.  Anyway, the Crimson Trace Linq wireless light/laser combo definitely strokes my techie side. But is it suitable for practical defensive use?

Yes, TFB is firearms and not politics. But how awesome is this commercial for Eric Greitens, Governor Elect of Missouri? Greitens is a former Navy Seal. In the commercial he looks to be using an SBR with quad rail, Eotech, DBAL, and Surefire X300. He “takes aim” and shoots at something explosive. possibly tannerite and gasoline? I don’t recognize the exact make and model of AR he is using. Can anyone identify it?

Firefield announced a new flashlight that is specifically designed to be attached to a modern sporting rifle. The new light is called the Charge AR.

Midwest Industries recently posted up their MLOK side rail for the KRISS Vector. No mention on cost or when they will be available.

The newest Surefire 2211 Wristlight was announced at SHOW Show this past January, but like a lot of things, it was slow to hit the market. Well, it is finally on Surefire’s website and hopefully at your nearest dealer. Nicholas C 1st reported on this from SHOT Show, and now we have a little more information as well as photos to go off of.

Legion USA imports and sells various accessories for AKs, Veprs, Saigas, etc. I was perusing what they have and found this ridiculous weapon light that looks more at home on an off road vehicle.

For those who dabble with weapon mounted lights, specifically Surefire Scoutlights and their Millennium Series weapon lights, knows the problems with the tape switches. The ubiquitous ST07 tape switch comes with an alcohol wipe and adhesive velcro. Those don’t last long after a while. Other issues arise with the squishiness of the velcro. It gives when you push the tape switch and requires more force to activate the light. You can use rubber bands, tape or zip ties but those still have their own unique problems. One remedy is the SR07 tape switch that is molded rubber and clamps onto picatinny rails. Only problem with the SR07 is that it is not cheap. They retail for around $85.

Whether you’re focused on honing your tactical skills or interested in spending as many hours as possible in the woods you undoubtedly own more than a few lights. Some are simple flashlights, and more than likely there are untold numbers long forgotten in various drawers and boxes. Others are specifically made for tactics or hunting, but are handheld. And then there are the lights designed to be mounted to your firearms. Even those particular lights can be hard to find in your hoped-for design, whatever it may be. Companies such as Sightmark understand the importance of seeing what you’re after which is why they offer a full line of sights, lights, and binos. Now they’re also offering a 3000 lumen spotlight capable of getting the job done in more ways than one.

I was taught in a training class years ago that 60-80 lumens on a short range weapon light was more than adequate for defensive situations. Has that sentiment changed with advances in LED technology? A new pistol light, the  Valkyrie PL-1 II from Olight, projects 450 lumens, which leads me to believe that their is increased demand for high output lights on handguns.

Angle lights aren’t new, however you do not see a lot of lights that will convert from traditional to angle – especially in modern higher powered LED lights.  This light, the Rofis TR20 Angle light is just that – a modern LED flashlight utilizing an up-to-date LED emitter (XPL HI V3)  that can easily change from straight to angle

Gadgets galore these days – most using the ubiquitous USB connection for charging.  I myself have 3 or 4 high capacity batteries to bail me out when either of my iPhones (1 for work – 1 personal) or iPad is in need of a charge and I am nowhere near an outlet. Seems only logical to leverage the ever-falling prices of solar panels to utilize solar power to charge these devices.

Streamlight announced that it was introducing new versions of its Strion flashlights that have two switches. The dual switch lights will be available in the standard Strion, Strion HL and Strion HPL models.

Background: You may remember NATO’s “Powered Rail Team”, consisting of 10 nations with the common goal of bringing forward a STANAG (NATO standardization document) for a Powered Accessory Rail for small firearms? Think a Picatinny rail, but with power inside for your lamp, laser, sights etc.

Think back to the first time you saw a weapon-mounted laser in a movie. For me, it was Terminator, when Arnold Schwarzenegger cut through a smokey room with a red beam of death. That massive device shined dimly even at short distances and probably had a sub 10 minute battery-life. Thrity years later we have the LaserMax Spartan which is the size of a match box car, includes both a green laser and a 120 lumen LED light, all with an impressive battery life.

Whenever I travel somewhere, I have a tendency to notice armed police/security. Especially when they are carrying rifles. Just one week after the Chelsea bombing in NYC, my wife and I took our 4 month old to visit NYC. It was a bit of a risk since I could not legally carry in NYC, but then CCW won’t do much against an IED like what was used last week.. Anyway I noticed an increase in police activity. A lot more police officers on patrol. When I took this picture, I saw people coming up to these officers and thanking them for their service.

DeSantis Gunhide announced that its two popular pocket holsters, the Nemesis and the Super Fly, are now available for the micro Glock pistols fitted with the Streamlight TLR-6.

It’s a fantastic endorsement for any optics line, and it’s being given to SIG SAUER Electro-Optics: the Fort Collins, Colorado Police Department has chosen the company’s ROMEO4 for use on their duty weapons. SIG SAUER officially launched their Electro-Optics line at SHOT Show 2016 starting with a hands-on look at the optics at the start of that week during their invitation-only event during Industry Day at the Range. Having attended the event myself and also having had other opportunities with the optics I can attest to the fact that SIG SAUER made a solid leap into the optics world – something  the gun world at large is well aware of at this point.

The JetBeam T6 is a mid-sized flashlight, small enough to fit into the back pocket of your jeans, but one that packs a powerful 4,350 Lumen Turbo-mode punch. This flashlight is easily the most versatile flashlight I own and it has become my go-to flashlight in any situation.