Since SIG SAUER launched their TREAD series in 2018, TFB has brought you news coverage and reviews on this AR lineup. From their original 16″ 5.56 M400 model, to the 11.5″ pistol variant, to the 7.62 upsize in the 716i model, to the enhanced Coil version, the TREAD lineup has typically been well received. In general, they have been assessed as offering good value and performance for the price point, for those who can’t/don’t want to shell out bigger bucks and just need a straightforward AR on the more wallet-friendly end of the cost spectrum. SIG is now further expanding the lineup to include a specialized variant optimized for hunting predator animals. Meet the new SIG SAUER TREAD Predator, announced with the following March 29th press release.

It seems the big theme of the year is Permitless Carry. The State of Texas has recently seen 3 new bills come into play in regards to carrying a concealed handgun without a permit. Currently, Texans are allowed to carry a concealed firearm within their own property which includes their vehicles. Texas also allows the open carrying of long guns in public. However, yet to be allowed is the right to carry a concealed firearm on oneself without the issuance of a permit. The three new NRA-backed bills that have been introduced would allow Texas permitless carry to go from being an idea to a reality.

Concealed carriers of the Beehive state, rejoice! Governor Spencer Cox signed constitutional carry into law on February 15th, a late but welcome Valentine’s gift for gun owners. Adults age 21 and older will be able to carry concealed firearms with no permit. This new law takes effect on May 5th. Until then, the old law still applies.

The Polish Army is seeking a new Designated Marksman Rifle. It has been reported by Polish media sources that FB Radom and Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów have been approached to submit proposals to fulfill the Polish Army’s requirements.

Several of Ted Nugent’s firearms, knives, bows, and other toys are currently up for auction to the general public. Ted Nugent will auction off over 400 items from his personal collection which also includes prototype guitars and personal hot rods. Since Ted is a massive fan of guns, it is no surprise that a big portion of the auctioned goods is firearms of all types.

In a 65-31 vote in the Indiana House, Bill 1369 passed meaning Indiana’s citizens will be able to carry concealed without the need for a license if the bill passes through the Senate. This is just on the heels of Montana becoming the most recent state to pass constitutional carry laws within its borders. However, the passing of this bill has led to some controversy with some saying that it won’t make residents any safer.

Ruger have introduced a new micro-compact carry pistol – the Ruger MAX-9. with a 3.2in barrel, a weight of 18.4 ounces and a standard capacity of the 12+1 it is firmly aimed at the EDC market to compete with pistols like SIG Sauer’s P365 series and Springfield Armory’s Hellcat.

Just in from Germany is the H&K SP5L – an SP5 pistol variant that boasts a longer 16.1” barrel. Because the SP5L is imported by our friends at H&K USA, it legally can’t come outfitted as a rifle with a stock. However, new owners are free to swap out the pistol endcap for a stock, without having to wait for ATF approval to make a short barrel rifle. The MSRP is listed as $2,949 and will begin shipping to dealers at the end of this month.

It seems that the ATF may be targeting Form 1 suppressors soon. Form 1 suppressors are 100% legal to make and own and they in no way violate NFA regulations. However, despite this, last December (2020) Diversified Machine of Detroit had their facility raided by the ATF and had all of their inventory seized by the agency. Just a few short months later on January 14th, the ATF has sized their website DiversifiedMachine.us.

A recent bill introduced to the Utah State Legislature ( HB0258) would allow Utah High School students to participate in a half-semester gun safety class which would be worth half a credit. The bill is being sponsored by Representative Rex Shipp of Cedar City. The course would be offered at the schools and be supported by local training providers who would develop the curriculum for the safety program.

Bear Creek Arsenal recently sent over a nicely done infographic detailing some updated statistics for the firearms industry in 2020. The infographic can give you a brief insight into the direction that the industry is going now and how circumstances during the tumultuous year changed a lot of things for the industry by providing 7 key facts to understanding 2020 and the firearms industry.

Desert Tech has issued an immediate recall on  SRS rifles in regards to strikers made between December 8th and March 5th. The recall notice was published on March 1st and states that a mistake in the manufacturing process of their striker for the SRS rifle could cause strikers to break when used. The full recall notice is posted below.

Thirty-five years after it was invented, the 5.7x28mm caliber is now standardized by NATO. The new standardization comes after the 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm calibers, which were both designed by FN Herstal, and standardized by NATO in 1957 and 1981 respectively. Two other NATO calibers are the 9x19mm NATO and the 12.7x99mm NATO. The main use for the 5.7x28mm is for handguns and Personal Defense Weapons (PDW) like the FN P90.

Germany’s rifle debacle continues with the German government looking set to award the Bundeswehr rifle contract to the only other contender – Heckler & Koch. With Haenel disqualified after infringements of Heckler and Koch’s patents (for the magazine and water drainage holes in the receiver) were found, Germany’s options narrowed dramatically. In October the Bundeswehr’s contract with Haenel for the MK556 was officially withdrawn.

Wait times for Detroit residents to submit Concealed Pistol License (CPL) applications seem to be stretching well into 2022 with Wayne County Commissioner Melissa Daub confirming herself that there is currently a 10 month wait time. In order for Detroit residents to submit an application, they must first make an appointment as opposed to merely dropping the application off.

The highly popular and highly anticipated Big Sandy Machine Gun Shoot is on for March of 2021 at the Big Sandy range in Wikieup, Arizona! Due to scares surrounding COVID-19 in 2020, both shoots were canceled last year along with many other popular gun-related events. However, the 2021 Big Sandy Shoot is back by popular demand and promises to be better than ever.

As you know, 2020 was a record-breaking year in terms of firearm sales primarily due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Many people (over 8 million!) who bought firearms in 2020 are first-time buyers. Understanding the importance of educating these new firearm owners on everything gun-related (safety, handling, maintenance, legal aspects, etc.), Nosler started an initiative called  Project 48. The company plans to invite the industry’s most renowned experts, professional athletes and 2A activists to join the Project 48 and create content that will help new firearm owners. Nosler has recently announced that the first partners of Project 48 are Colion Noir and Tim Kennedy.

Springfield Armory have announced the launch of a new line of red dot optics for pistols and rifles. The new HEX line launches with two new sights: the WASP, a micro red dot reflex sight designed for concealed carry pistols, and the DRAGONFLY, a standard size red dot which can be mounted on rifles and pistol caliber carbines.

Over the past several years, Raniero Testa, an Italian athlete sponsored by Winchester, has set multiple world records of shooting airborne clay targets. A little over a year ago, he set a record of breaking  14 clays pigeons in mid-air which earned him a nickname/stage name RT14. Well, apparently, his new stage name is now RT17 as the latest achievement of this professional shooter is a new world record of busting a whopping amount of 17 hand-thrown clay targets in 2.08 seconds with 17 shots. Watch the video below.

The United States Supreme Court has taken on a fourth amendment case that asks whether or not police can seize guns from a home without a warrant, under a previously decided case allowing for “ community caretaking“. Whether or not this new case regarding the home will meet that muster or not is yet to be seen, but it will have to face tougher scrutiny in dealing with the home, rather than to a vehicle in which the community caretaking exception dealt with. This new case, Caniglia v. Strom, involves the plaintiff Edward Caniglia, his wife Kim, and several officers of the Cranston Police Department in Rhode Island.

Most gun owners will know that in order to have a handgun manufactured or sold in the State of Califonia, it first must be certified and entered into California’s Roster of Handguns. A handgun that has been entered and certified on this roster is good to sell, own and resell within the state without any issues. However, near the start of this year, California de-certified nearly 1,500 handguns of various configurations that already meet the certification standards.

Somehow, the ATF keeps figuring out exactly where to find the line between safe, responsible gun ownership and catastrophic, utter chaos. They know that 16″ barrels are safe for rifles, while 12.5″ means the end of humanity. They know that if you want to use a 12.5″ barrel, you have to call it a pistol and put on a stock brace with a hole in it, and then you’re miraculously safe again. They know that putting a vertical foregrip on an AR pistol would instantly give you cancer in literally every part of your body, but angled grips can counteract those negative waves. Luckily they can help you stay cancer-free if you pay them an extra $200 to rename your gun a short-barreled rifle, and then vertical grips get mysterious ATF chemotherapy to become safe for you again. They know that sound suppressors can only keep your hearing safe if you pay them yet another $200 – otherwise, unfortunately, your granny living hundreds of miles away would almost certainly keel over with a massive heart attack while lovingly tending her gardenias. You do care about dear old Nana, don’t you?!

Leupold have announced that they are adding a 4-24X52mm CDS-ZL2 Illuminated TMOA model with a low-profile elevation dial to their VX-6HD riflescope line. It has a 6:1 zoom, a fast focus eye piece, is available in a number of reticles and weights 23.7oz.

The numbers coming in from the FBI this month indicate that the current record for NICS Firearm Background Checks completely shatters every previous year going back to 1998 when records begin with a staggering 4,317,804 background checks being made for the month of January alone.

Beretta Holding has announced the acquisition of Holland & Holland Ltd., which is one of the most iconic gunmakers in the world. According to the Beretta Holding Group, this acquisition solidifies their commitment to the key UK market in the post-Brexit era. To our knowledge, all the shares of Holland & Holland were previously owned by the French luxury group Chanel.

Canadian media outlets have reported that a member of Canada’s elite Joint Task Force 2 was wounded in the leg when his pistol allegedly misfired. The accident occurred last November when the operator was training with a newly purchased SIG Sauer P320. The variant of the Canadian P320 procured is unknown.

Firearms storage and transport solutions run the full gamut, from mild to wild. Some shooters are fine tossing their guns in the back of a vehicle unprotected. Others may employ an abundance of caution in babying their beloved safe queens and will lament even the slightest spot of discoloration on a weapon’s finish. Most of us fall somewhere in between, with certain guns getting a bit more care paid to them, and others existing closer to the “beater gun” or “truck gun” side of the spectrum. Commonly, the level of shielding we provide our weapons is going to depend largely on the situation. For short car rides with a smaller equipment load, many times a decent soft case may be sufficient. However, for longer travel or with more gear, a more protective hard shell case is often necessary. In particular, if you’re going to fly with a firearm, a quality hard case is essentially an absolute must. For years, Pelican has served as the gold standard for hard cases in the firearms world. Although there are certainly other options, most other gun case makes and models tend to scale back from the Pelican level, offering decreased toughness and weight in exchange for lower price points. However, now one new company, Bear Hyde, is looking to go upscale. See their introductory press release, copied below.

On the 19th January, the Irish Defence Forces issued a request for tender notice calling for submissions to fulfil their requirement for a new 7.62x51mm ‘Designated Marksman and Sniper Support’ weapon to replace the FN FAL currently in service.

Primary Arms is a prolific optics manufacturer. Their house-brand optics product lines span dozens of models of riflescopes, LPVOs, prism scopes, red dots, and magnifiers – along with a cavalcade of various mounts and accessories to support them. With only a half-dozen of the current models requiring a cash outlay north of the $1000 mark, and the overwhelming majority of their options sitting at less than $500 MSRP, Primary Arms tends to weight affordability, and they strive for value on a budget with the bulk of their glass. When they came to TFB and TFBTV’s recent GunFest, they brought three such optics along with them, some of their newest models. None of these were entirely new, never-before-seen announcements, as each has been discussed in some form here on TFB before, but they are examples of the Houston-based company’s latest offerings.

Colorado-based Burris Optics turns a whopping 50 years old this year, having been founded in 1971. For many old-school hunters, scopes like those of Burris’ venerable Fullfield series often get mentioned in the same breath as icons of yesteryear such as Weaver and Redfield. From their half-century history, Burris lays claim to some industry firsts, including the first US-made scopes with multi-coated lenses, the first Scout-style scope, and the first variable-power handgun scope. While they still offer current versions of some of those classic optics types, they also produce some more modern offerings as well. At TFB and TFBTV’s GunFest 2021, Burris came to discuss three such pieces.