If you want to shoot some suppressed 300 AAC Blackout rounds downrange and have $999 laying around, there’s a new upper receiver waiting for you at Brownells. The BRN-180SH is a 10″ upper receiver, optimized to be used with suppressors, and will fit any standard AR-15 or BRN-180 lower.

The Firearm Blog is at IWA OutdoorClassics 2023 exhibition! Is there any room here for night vision and thermals? You bet, and we got you covered with the latest news from Pulsar Vision.

The IWA exhibition in Germany is usually where Pulsar release their thermal front attachments, and this year is no exception. There is a new flagship model called Krypton 2 FXG50 with a thermal sensor of 640×480 pixels @12 µm. According to Pulsar, this device can detect a standard 1.8 m tall object at an extra-long 2300-meter distance in complete darkness, which will be displayed on the full-HD multicolor 1920×1080 pixel screen.

Pulsar Vison releases a long list of new thermals at IWA Outdoors in Nuremberg, Germany. The Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 is the first model in the new Telos series, using a European-made Lynred sensor that features 640×480 pixel resolution with 17 microns pixel pitch. But, apart from the design, the coolest thing is the NETD thermal sensitivity below 18 millikelvin, which is the lowest I’ve ever seen on a commercial device. The lower the value, the better the sensitivity.

The Firearm Blog is at IWA OutdoorClassics, the world’s leading trade fair for hunting, shooting sports, outdoor activities and security from 2 – 5 March 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. InfiRay Outdoor brings a lot of products, and three new ones for the 2023 lineup, the ZH50V2, Tube SE and Thermal+ Dual.

As an addition to their 1911 family of pistols, Taylor’s & Company has released a full-sized tactical model in 10mm Auto. The pistol has a parkerized finish and features a combat hammer, skeletonized trigger, ambidextrous safety and an extended beaver tail. The black grips are made from G10. This 1911 takes 8 rounds of 10mm, and the front optic is enhanced by fiber. The MSRP is $699.

If you are a huge fan of the idea of folding pistol caliber carbines but have never been happy with the available options on the market, then you’ll be happy to hear that a new contender has arrived. Smith & Wesson has just announced the launch of their new M&P FPC or Folding Pistol Carbine. This new folding 9mm PCC comes optics ready, features a unique folding mechanism, 100% compatibility with already existing M&P series 9mm magazines, and will retail for about $699 MSRP putting it at about the same price as other folding PCCs already on the market.

PARD USA, a night vision and thermal imaging specialist, is announcing a new FT-34 thermal riflescope. The design allows the FT-34 to work as a handheld monocular, a riflescope or as a clip-on to your existing daytime optic.

SilencerCo has launched a new custom paint service for those who want to add some color to their suppressor. They now offer five different Cerakote finishes at a cost of $89 per suppressor. This gives you an opportunity to match your suppressor to your firearm, and yes – they do offer black as well. The Cerakote C Series Ceramic Coatings used for this application will perform at temperatures up to 1200°F (about 650° C). The “Cobra Black” uses the Cerakote V Series ceramic coatings, capable of temperatures up to 1800°F.

If you’ve been visiting TFB regularly, you’ve probably noticed that Primary Arms has been busy releasing a number of new products this winter. We’ve recently announced new binoculars, a 1-6x LPVO optic, pistol red dot sights, and a 5x prism sight. Primary Arms has just announced the pre-order status for their new First Focal Plane (FFP) GLx rifle scopes in 3-18x44mm and 4.5-27x56mm with several reticle configurations, all of which are illuminated models.

With the new Burris SpeedBead Vent Rib Mount, you can turn your shotgun into a dynamic hunting tool without any drilling or tapping. According to Burris, their new mount makes it easy to attach and secure any FastFire Series Red Dots, to let you shoot clays, waterfowl, upland birds, and turkeys faster and more accurately. According to the list of features, the red dot will always be centered on the rib and gun when mounted, with no play left or right. There are rib adapters included in the package, to fit multiple rib widths. The MSRP for the new mount is $60.

If you’re looking for a premium rangefinding binocular, the new Leica Geovid Pro 42 may be the answer. Many years ago I bought myself one of the earlier models of the Leica Geovid 8×42, and it’s been a great companion with excellent optical performance – the quality still amazes me. My model was bought long before companies started to incorporate any electronics more advanced than just the laser range finder, but the new Geovid Pro series is of course built from the ground up with all this integrated. Now you get anything from Bluetooth connectivity with the new Leica Ballistics App, to onboard atmospheric sensors and advanced apps like Applied Ballistics, with GPS mapping integration through BaseMap and Google Maps. The Geovid Pro 8×42 sells for $3,299, and the slightly larger Geovid Pro 10×42 for $3,299.

The Finnish Ministry of Defence announced that the Finnish Defence Forces will purchase Sako TRG M10 precision rifle systems, spare parts and sniper equipment in a deal worth 11 million euros. According to the Ministry of Defence, the multi-calibre TRG M10 precision rifle system can hit a variety of targets at ranges exceeding 1,400 metres.

Hera Arms Germany has a new bolt-action rifle called the HERA H6 Rifle, developed together with Voere Präzisisonstechnik. The Hera Arms H6 accepts STANAG/PMAG feeding like it is a bolt-action Sten gun. Some of you may remember the VOERE S16, Sten-styled Suppressed Rifle with AR15 magazines?

If you shoot a suppressed gas gun, you’ve probably figured out that suppressors get a little toasty. I learned the hard way. To prevent burns and heat mirage, fabric wraps were the standard for a long time. Now, however, MODTAC has changed the landscape of suppressor covers. They offer rigid, free-float, carbon fiber suppressor shields for a number of systems, all of which have quick disconnect capabilities. This year, MODTAC has continued its growth and is releasing its brand new Gen 3.0 U-RAC.

Some of you are very good at keeping track of your things. I am not. If an object isn’t in my hand, I have no idea where it is. If it is in my hand, I’ve still only got a 50/50 shot. The role of tracking technology in the commercial world has matured from only helping you find Rover, to being able to track a package throughout the world. Lots of things get “lost” while traveling. Or, as they did to me, the TSA might destroy your mouse and monitor on your way to SHOT. Either way, having a way of locating an important item (mayhaps a rifle?) can be crucial. Introducing the Strike AirTag Holder From Strike Industries.

When I hear the name Speer, I think of duty ammunition, probably due to the type of shooting I do. However, those who take fewer shots in more rugged environments equate the name with one-shot stops on their prey. Equally known in the hunting and long-range world, Remington has joined forces with Speer, its sister brand. The Speer Impact bullet is now available for the first time in Remington’s Premier Long Range Ammunition.

Bushnell glass seems to be ever-improving. If you stopped through their booth at SHOT Show this year, you know what I mean. It must be something in that Colorado water. This year, they’re releasing a product that, as someone who is venturing more into long-range shooting, I have been hoping for. I find myself always wanting a reticle in my spotting scope. Bushnell has taken that concept and dropped it into a new 15x56mm binocular; the Match Pro ED.

Safety Harbor Firearms continues to expand the lineup of Kompact Entry Stock (KES) with the addition of a Brugger & Thomet APC-9 model. Safety Harbor makes KES stocks and stabilizing braces for many popular PCC options. These include the CZ Scorpion, Grand Power Stribog, MP-5 and MP-5K, and Sig Sauer MPX. B&T has captured a large portion of the PCC market recently, so it makes sense that Safety Harbor added this model. Also, the APC-9K won the US Army Sub Compact Weapon contract in 2019.

Black Hills Ammunition has a reputation for making high quality ammunition. They now offer a 6 ARC and 6.5 PRC load in their Black Hills Gold lineup. Also new this year is a 10mm load with their HoneyBadger branding.

Hi-Lux Optics had a few new optics on display at Shot Show 2023. Though they may be best known for their vintage scopes, the do offer modern options as well.

Mead Industries produces projectiles and ammunition under their own branding, and as a supplier for other brands. Mead announced a new 77-grain boat tailed hollow point .224″ bullet at SHOT 2023.

Shadow Systems showed off a few new models of 9mm pistols at Industry Day at the Range 2023. Their pistols share quite a bit of DNA with Glocks, but add features more often associated with custom modifications.

Meopta Sports Optics is a dual Czech and American operation offering a spectrum of shooting-related optics. Their product catalog includes multiple series of rifle scopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, and more. One of their product lines is a collection of red dot optics. Now a new red dot option is getting added to the family, this time aimed primarily at the pistol optics market. As with most pistol red dots, it can also be used on long guns or as a scope-mounted add-on for longer-range to close-quarters transitions. Check out the press release for the MeoSight IV red dot‘s announcement below.

Unity Tactical is one of the industry’s leading names when it comes to firearms accessories. Their optics mounts, helmet attachments, weaponlight/laser switches, and more tend to be some of the most popular products on the market in their respective sub-sectors. Two of their prior switch releases, the 45-degree angled Hot Button and the flat-mount ModButton have become go-to solutions for a plethora of shooters running weaponlights, lasers, or both. One configuration that has become common is to run the tandem pairing of a Hot Button in front of a ModButton, and it seems that Unity has caught on to this trend. They have recently announced a new switch that mimics this setup, but in an optimized double-button/single-housing unit. Meet the new Unity Tactical AXON.

Vortex Optics is adding a new optic to the Strike Eagle series, fitting between the low-power variable models and the 5-25×56. The new Strike Eagle 3-18×44 FFP option is specifically targeted at the DMR market.

In a few years, we’ve seen WOOX bringing to market anything from innovative rifle furniture to axes and knives. The common trait is the rather unconventional use of wood elements. Their latest product, the Gladiatore, brings the WOOX signature aesthetics to Mossberg pump action shotguns.

Leupold’s new BX-4 Range HD Rangefinding Binoculars combine a laser rangefinder, ballistics software and the optics of a binocular into one unit. This will let you find and range targets at the same time, without having to switch gears and lose the opportunity. Inside the ocular there’s a red OLED display, to make readings easy to see at any time of the day or night.

In recent years Bergara added several models to their catalog and this dynamism continues in 2023, with the introduction of carbon fiber barreled variants to the B-14 Wilderness Series rifles. Both the Wilderness Hunting & Match Rifle (HMR) and the Wilderness Ridge will now be offered with this weight-reduction feature.

If you’re not yet running a secondary red dot sight on your long-range rifle, then you should definitely look at doing so. I use mine mainly for going from one target to another, and the further apart they are in side or height the more time you will save on the transition. Once the red dot is close enough to your target, you can just drop your eye into that sweet high-magnification of your main optic, and prepare the shot. Reptilia now has another drop-in upgrade for their AUS Mount, or the Geissele Super Precision 34mm optic mounts called ROF-90. The mount is machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum and anodized in two different colors. The interface works with a number of optics from ⁣⁣Aimpoint, SIG Sauer, Vortex, Primary Arms and Holosun.