Much digital ink has been spilled over the last several years regarding the US Army’s NGSW ( Next Generation Squad Weapons) Program. Most of the rifles/carbines and machine guns currently employed by America’s soldiers are not particularly modern, by any stretch. Today’s M4A1 has seen some notable updates and improvements, to be sure, but at its core it’s still based on the same M16 that first entered service in the Vietnam era, more than half a century ago. The 5.56×45mm NATO round it uses has come under fire from time to time, for being perhaps a bit too anemic for its purpose. This same cartridge is used by the belt-fed M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), which was designed in the ’70s and has been in service since 1984. Though some update attempts have been explored since then, none came to fruition.

In addition to their many excellent pistols and rifles, SIG Sauer produces a robust array of complimentary product offerings. From optics to ammo and more, SIG does quite a bit more than just guns. One of these supplemental lines is their own collection of suppressors. SIG cans come in a baker’s dozen versions, suited for a broad spectrum of calibers from rifles to handguns, and one rimfire silencer. The newest addition to this suppressor series is the MODX-45, of which we first got a glimpse at SHOT Show 2019. SIG’s 9mm version of this modular, 3D-printed design released late last year. On the heels of its 9mm little brother, this .45-caliber can is now ready. SIG announced its availability with the following April 29th press release.

EOTECH has become one of the most well-known names in the optics game over the last quarter century, since they revealed their first holographic weapon sight (HWS) with Bushnell at SHOT Show 1996. Their research and development roots run far deeper than that, back to 1972 at the University of Michigan. Over the years, EOTECH has provided millions of optics to military, law enforcement, and private customers around the globe. When Nick C toured their factory a few years ago, they were putting out roughly 500 HWS units and 100 magnifiers per day, and that doesn’t even address their other product lines, like Vudu scopes and thermal/night vision equipment.

For those of you who have been not paying attention for the past few years, Cody Wilson of DEFCAD and Ghost Gunner has been providing lawful gun owners the files and means to manufacture their own firearms. Specifically, 3D printed guns. Technology has advanced that it is easier to manufacture a working firearm at home and it is cost-effective. Recently DEFCAD wins in the Ninth Circuit Court.

The Henry brand has been synonymous with fine lever-action rifles since the days of the Wild West. As cartridges developed into a viable upgrade from older powder-and-ball ammunition during the middle of the 19th century, the need for quality firearms able to use these new rounds was obvious. Benjamin Tyler Henry patented his lever-action repeating rifle in 1860, and some of his first guns saw service during the American Civil War, where they were lauded as game-changing force multipliers. The latter part of the 19th century saw a massive proliferation of lever guns across the American landscape, sweeping from sporting uses in the East to some of the best defensive weapons of the frontier, and much more.

Griffin Armament is best known for their silencers. They’ve been putting out quality cans since their founding in 2006, and many of their models have enjoyed significant success. From their versatile Bushwacker 46, the user-configurable Optimus, their 30SD-K model, the modular Resistance 22 rimfire can, to their new GP-N A2-mountable can, and many more, Griffin usually has at least one suppressor, if not multiple options, capable of filling virtually any role for which you might need a can.

TNVC, or the Tactical Night Vision Company, has been an industry leader in the field of night vision and related shooting gear and accessories for about the last decade, as well as offering low-light/no-light training classes. They’ve come out with some excellent products of their own, like the Mohawk helmet attachment series and the PBM-A dual PVS-14 powered bridge mount. A few months ago, in January, they also put on vSHOTT, an all-online mini stand-in for the cancelled 2021 SHOT Show. They’re no stranger to collaborative product work, either, having previously partnered with companies like Steiner on the TOR-Mini laser, Unity Tactical on the TAPS dual pressure switch, L3 on the civilian version of the PEQ-15 IR laser/illuminator, and more.

Back in 2017, a new ammo brand called NovX came onto the scene. Their intended differentiators were supposed to be twofold: the use of Shell Shock NAS3 stainless steel/aluminum casings instead of standard brass, and the use of copper/polymer projectiles. NovX claimed that their designs, specs, and choice of these non-traditional materials had allowed them to create rounds that they characterized as having/being “…ballistically superior; reduced recoil, match-grade accuracy, devastating wound channels.” However, things went largely quiet after that initial release, and although some ammo appears to have been produced and sold since those early days, today NovX is not particularly widely used or known. The company may be looking to change that now, as they’ve recently ramped up media activity, and issued the following press release (their apparent first since December of 2017) regarding a new ammo offering.

Aaron Miesse, also known as “ Chamberbrake” in the ELR (Extreme Long Range) world, is an impressive shooter. He can boast a number of serious shooting accomplishments, including some 2,780 yard impacts with a 375 CheyTac in competition, 10 for 10 in a 10″ circle with a .308 at 901 yards, and 8″-10″ groups at 540 yards with a .22 LR, among others. And as if a man who could end you from a different zip code wasn’t extraordinary enough, Miesse brings an added layer of badassery to the formula: he does all of this with no hands or arms. Having suffered a tragic auger accident when he was just five years old, Miesse has never let his early double amputation slow him down. His personal motto is “Forward Forever, Backward Never”, and it shows. Now Miesse has a new amazing shooting accomplishment to add to his résumé: a connecting shot at 3 miles. Most of us who can brace a rifle on our shoulders and don’t pull the trigger with our toes would have real trouble managing such a feat.

If you shoot unsuppressed, you’ve got to wear hearing protection. Even with a suppressor, sometimes depending on the specific can and host, it can still be needed. Other than using silencers to protect your hearing, there are two basic types of ear pro, each with its own pros and cons: in-ear and over-ear.  You might prefer the fit, feel, and function of over-ear muff-style options. Muffs can be great but do come with some challenges. One of these, particularly during long range sessions, and especially outdoors in warmer temperatures, is sweat/heat retention. Thankfully, Noisefighters has come up with a solution: the new Heatsync ear pro covers.

Underground Arms Watch returns with a brief glance at recently seized craft-produced arms by law enforcement around the globe.

Over the years, TFB has periodically reported on new linear compensator products that have been released. Some previous examples of these devices have included the model that is probably the most well-known take on the linear comp concept: the SureFire Warden, as well as others like the VG6 Precision CAGE device, Area 419’s Hellfire model, and the big-bore TROMIX linear comp, among a number of others. The whole idea behind a linear comp device, for those who haven’t used them and aren’t familiar with them, is essentially to divert muzzle blast forward, away from the shooter as well as anyone around him or her laterally. Particularly for rifles with shorter barrels, this can help turn what would otherwise be a harsh fire-breather into an easier beast to tame. One of the more recent takes on this linear comp idea came from a company called Kaw Valley Precision, or KVP for short. Last year they announced a modular linear comp, dubbed the MACH system.

Any firearms-related recall is always unfortunate. Companies typically invest a significant amount of time, effort, and resources into their products’ research and development. They want to do all they can to ensure that by the time their product heads out the door into the waiting hands of distributors, retailers, and customers, it’s been well-made and thoroughly tested. Thunder Beast Arms Corporation, or TBAC for short, is no different. They’ve been putting plenty of sweat equity and passion into their suppressors for years, and normally have solid results. Unfortunately, occasionally things can and do go wrong for all of us, and one of those snafus has hit TBAC. If you have one of their Dominus or Ultra Gen2 cans that was manufactured last year, please be sure to read the following recall announcement that was just released, and check your silencer’s serial number.

In virtually any hobby, competition format, or other human endeavors, there will always be an element of participants and enthusiasts who look to push the limits. Shooting is no different. Speed, accuracy, scoring, distance, volume, and more – shooters are continually looking for more. Precision long-range shooting is one sector of shooting sports that tends to attract a lot of participants with this mindset. There are good reasons for this, too – after all, who wouldn’t be impressed by a one-quarter MOA 10-round group achieved at a range of 1000 yards?

Vista Outdoor – the parent company for CCI, Federal, Remington, and Speer has just announced that there will be price increases in response to “unprecedented raw material price increases” that have occurred just over the last couple of months. Customers can expect to start seeing the effects of these price increases around July of 2021 for both ammunition and primers.

As supply continues to struggle to meet demand in the ammunition market, several manufacturers have been announcing price increases across the board for all of their rifle, pistol, and shotgun ammunition. Fiocchi just announced in late March that there would be a minimum 5% increase on their rimfire, centerfire pistol, centerfire rifle, slug, buckshot, and target loads beginning April 30th, 2021. Full details and exact price increase percentages are contained in the press release below.

The state of Iowa has just passed legislation that will make it the 19th state to enact Constitutional Carry, also known as Permitless Carry. Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 756 on April 2, but the law won’t go into effect until July 1, 2021. Iowa becomes the third state just this year to legalize Constitutional Carry, following Utah and Montana. Governor Reynolds’ public comment on the bill follows:

Nestled into Italy’s mountainous northern region, Lombardy, you can find the small town of Lecco. This ancient and picturesque settlement has been the proud home of Fiocchi Munizioni for nearly a century and a half. Fiocchi Ammunition has been producing cartridges and shotshells since its inception in 1876, and began importing ammo into the US in the 1950s. This initial foray into the American market was made possible by virtue of a partnership with Smith & Wesson during that time. The ’50s saw the owning family establish a factory in Alton, Illinois, but this manufacturing effort – and the Smith & Wesson partnership which enabled it –  were destined to be short-lived.

Just shy of thirty years ago, in May of 1991, Karl Brügger and Heinrich Thomet established a company to produce suppressors for their domestic Swiss market. Though Thomet has since moved on, today Brügger and his team are still working to manufacture what they believe are “some of the most technologically advanced, high performance weapons in the business.” Many would agree with this assessment, and more than a few of these B&T fans work here at TFB. These are meant to be premium guns, and they carry premium price tags, but plenty of shooters who have tried them will attest to their quality.

In pretty much any circumstances or shooting discipline, scoring a 10-round group all in the center ring is something to be striven for and proud of, for virtually any shooter. The vast majority of shooters out there today would struggle to make those consistent hits. Now consider achieving this feat at 1000 yards. Impressive stuff! Even more impressive is that the man who is making headlines in the benchrest shooting world for this accomplishment, seasoned NBRSA competitor Charles Greer, is 83 years old. How many octogenarians do you know who you think could pull this off? Odds are, it’s not too many. Greer used a .300 WSM “heavy gun” – that is to say, a rifle weighing over seventeen pounds, according to the National Benchrest Shooting Association’s official classifications – at an NBRSA match near Tuscon, Arizona on February 13th. Though official NBRSA measurements are still pending at the time of this writing, the grouping is being hailed as the most accurate 10-round in competition history and is almost certain to be confirmed as a new benchrest world record.

In the world of lever guns, Mad Pig Customs has become a bit of a legend. This small Connecticut-based gunsmithing and Cerakote shop has been cranking out fun projects for years, and has garnered something of a cult following on social media. One of Mad Pig‘s particular specialties is modernizing lever-action rifles. They’ll take a customer-supplied firearm like a standard Marlin 1895, 1894, or 336, and bring it from the 19th century into the 21st using what is probably best described as a “mad scientist” approach, or perhaps “ yeehaw gat sorcery“. Imagine your grandpa’s trusty, beat-up old truck gun, a wood-stock .45-70 that’s isn’t too far removed from John Wayne, saddlebags, and tumbleweeds rolling across the prairie.

Larry Vickers has been many things. After years of experience in the US military’s Special Operations community as a member of Delta Force, Vickers gained prominence in the firearms/tactical industry. Since the end of his time in service, he has been a product developer and consultant, a shooting instructor, a YouTube personality, a television show host, a firearms book author, and more. Earlier this year, Vickers announced that he was battling cancer, which brought a cavalcade of well wishes and prayers from a firearms community that generally holds him in high regard. Apparently, he’s also a fan of Porsche cars. On March 30th, Vickers issued the following press release regarding his YouTube channel’s newest sponsor, North Carolina-based Hendrick Porsche.

This year has been one of the major ups and downs in the firearms industry and community. However, one thing we can all celebrate is the success of one of the most prolific and dependable firearms manufacturers of all time. 2021 marks the 35th anniversary of GLOCK, Inc., and they are celebrating in a big way.

Silencer Central has helped make the process of purchasing a suppressor just a tad bit less of a hassle. They handle all the messy paperwork for you and have your suppressor delivered right to your front door! Due to an increase in business, the company has decided to expand its operation by acquiring a new headquarters building in South Dakota.

At SHOT Show 2020, Griffin Armament gave us a heads up that they had a new suppressor in the works: the GP-NATO (or GP-N for short). While most of the industry’s popular cans tend to use various aftermarket mounting systems, this new 6.5″ dedicated 5.56 model would wear the NATO designation because it was designed to attach to the common A2 “birdcage” flash hider, the typical muzzle device for most NATO nations’ standard-issue M4s and similar firearms. Griffin drew inspiration and some lessons learned from Gemtech’s prior A2-compatible design, the Halo silencer. Now the GP-N is finally here and should be shipping soon. The text from Griffin‘s release announcement reads as follows.

If you run a light on a long gun, odds are you’ve wrestled with cable management issues before. Although these headaches can be circumvented by only using a clicky tailcap, or buying a Cloud Defensive OWL, these types of solutions won’t work for every gun or every shooter. Sometimes, you just need a remote switch – and that means cables. In the past, keeping your wires in place has often meant using velcro, tape, or zip ties. Unfortunately, most of these cobbled-together setups come with their own problems. Cloud Defensive’s REIN weaponlight actually provides a solid cable management solution built right into their remote switch’s mount. However, in most cases and with most other makes/models of lights, additional routing/securing hardware would be exceedingly useful in preventing snags or damage to your light’s wiring. Enter Arson Machine Co., with their WireGuide cable management system.

The Remington name has been inextricably linked to the world of American firearms for most of our nation’s history. Eliphalet Remington II, the then-23-year-old son of a colonial-era blacksmith, made his first flintlock rifle barrel on his father’s forge in 1816. The gun was so well received that he immediately began manufacturing more barrels in quantity, and the foundations of today’s Remington Arms Co. were born. Now more than two centuries later, the brand’s modern firearms are still in heavy circulation all over the United States and beyond. The company also has a major ammunition manufacturing division, Remington Ammunition, producing a wide variety of rifle and pistol calibers, as well as shotshells.

Over the years, Dead Air Silencers has become a dominant force in the suppressed shooting game. From the sound suppression performance, to feature sets and innovations, to lifespan and durability, most of the time you’d have a hard time beating the value proposition that Dead Air cans bring to the table. Founder Mike Pappas and his Utah-based team continue to grace the market with excellent products at competitive prices, and they sell these cans just about as fast as they can produce them. In addition to the commercial market, Dead Air also manufactures for some military contracts, and they recently produced a run of their Sandman-S model in FDE for one of these .gov customers. Fortunately, there’s a small batch of contract overrun cans that are now being released for public purchase. If you want a Dead Air silencer in a color other than the standard black or shiny Ti finishes they’re typically available in, you can have one! Act fast, however; the numbers will be limited. For availability, check Silencer Shop or contact your preferred local NFA dealer to ask whether they will be receiving any inventory, or to request that they do so for you.

General Austin Scott Miller is a warfighter who knows a thing or two about firearms, and has previously been noted for preferring a 1911 over the Army’s recently-retired standard-issue sidearm, the M9. Now the former Delta operator has been seen carrying a modified Glock in Afghanistan, rather than the current M17/ M18 handguns that have been chosen to replace the aging Beretta service pistol. Of particular interest is that this is no stock Glock, as some Special Operations personnel have been authorized to use in the past. The General’s gun features some auspicious modernizations commonly associated with high-end handguns, often meant for competition. In these photos, you can see Miller is employing a red-dot optic, a mag extension, and a compensator added to the gun’s muzzle. It’s not clear whether his holster is concealing the weaponlight that would be needed to qualify the pistol as a full-blown Roland Special-style sidearm, but given the General‘s other accessory choices, it would not be surprising if this was the case.

Current ammo prices are painful. If you’ve been shooting for a while, you understand this all too well. The shortage of essentially all common calibers has been absolutely rampant for months, and the basic laws of supply and demand are being felt across the industry. Demand has spiked, supply has dropped, and so costs are soaring. Unfortunately, 2020 saw a perfect storm of logistical, social, and political pressures that put an unsustainable strain on essentially all ammo manufacturers operating in the US market. At the time of this writing, even the cheapest steel-cased .223 ammo is often selling in excess of $0.60 cost per round – and even then, it’s selling out fast.