Kel-Tec has a new Short-Barreled Rifle called the R50 Defender. It combines the P50 pistol and the R50 Rifle into one product. Kel-Tec calls it a “lightweight, compact and versatile rifle”, chambered in 5.7x28mm with a magazine capacity of 50 rounds.

Hornady’s 2023 releases continue with a new line of ammunition loaded with a new projectile. The new V-Match (no relation to the old school Bushmaster rifle) ammunition is match-grade but also optimized for varminting, thanks to the ELD-VT bullet. Let’s take a closer look. 

Pulsar have a long history with Thermal Imaging Binoculars, with models like the Accolade and the Merger – all reviewed by TFB of course. It’s now time for a more compact Merger, called the Merger LRF XQ35, which has a lot of features to become a perfect companion for hunters and rescue workers. The new, compact Merger uses a European-made thermal sensor, with 384×288 pixels @ 17 µm and a sensitivity of < 25 mK NETD. Apart from the thermal capability, there is also an integrated Laser Range Finder which is said to reach out to 1 kilometer.

German GunWorks is at it again! This time the project is a Heckler & Koch MR223A3C in Flecktarn Nacht. As many of you will know, Flecktarn (German pronunciation: [ˈflɛktaʁn]) is the official camouflage pattern of the “Bundeswehr” (German Army). Nacht means night in German, so we’re looking at a sort of MultiCam Black, but in a German interpretation. The MR223 A3C comes with an 11″ barrel length, and has undergone several hours of customization and the replacement parts list is extreme – passing beyond 6,500 €.

Once a niche cartridge only supported by one company, the 5.7×28 is becoming mainstream. Hornady is the latest contender to join the fray with two new ammunition choices. Let’s take a look at what they bring to the table. 

Hornady has a new .22-caliber Advanced Rifle Cartridge, the aptly-named 22 ARC. It joins the 6mm ARC in Hornady’s family of specialized cartridges for the AR platform. Right out of the gate, Hornady has three different factory loads available.

Colorado-based Swampfox Optics have announced the Sentinel II Micro Dot Sight. Available in red or green illumination, the Sentinel II has 10 brightness levels, shake awake initiation and a 20mm lens with a 3 MOA dot. Swampfox says the slimline Sentinel II has a 50,000-hour battery life and a 7075-T6 aluminum body and reinforced hood. MSRP for the new red dot is $269 with Blackout Rear Sight Guide, and $299 with Tritium.

Nightforce has added some new MRAD reticle options. The Mil-XT reticle is now offered for their 4-14×50 SHV F1 scope, and the Tremor 5 is available in two models. Let’s zoom in on these new reticles to see what they offer. 

The 5.7×28 renaissance continues with two new ammo options from FN. One is the SS200  defensive load available to civilian and governmental purchasers alike, and the other is a more affordable training load. Let’s dive into the specifics.

High-definition thermal Imaging is here, in the shape of the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50 riflescope. Pulsar’s first HD thermal riflescope also includes a laser rangefinder, which can be connected to a ballistic calculator and deliver on-screen aiming.

Savage just introduced a new model of the famed 110-series bolt action. The new  Trail Hunter features a Hogue Overmolded stock and a threaded medium contour barrel. Let’s see what other features it brings to the table. 

Federal Ammunition has a new shotgun load entering the market. This No. 1 Buckshot loading has 16 copper-plated pellets in every shell. Let’s take a detailed look at the rest of the features.

C&H Precision Weapons has a new line of modular ring mounts for attaching red dots to scope tubes. Rather than place the secondary optic on top of the scope ring, C&H placed it on a ring so it could be placed anywhere on the main tube. This also allows it to sit at any angle.

After what seems like an eternity, SureFire has finally released its first-ever low back pressure suppressor – the new SOCOM RC3. Much like the previous two suppressors in the SOCOM line, the new RC3 boasts industry-leading durability, and near identical specifications and features as the RC2 but with the added bonus of 60% less back pressure than the RC2 making it more suitable for shooting indoors, as well as reducing the overall amount of gas and toxins being directed back at the shooter. SureFire brought out a few media outlets including TFB to Ridgeline Defense in New Hampshire at an event they dubbed the RC3 Rally to get us all a chance to run the RC3 in various shooting situations to showcase its capabilities and durability. Today I’ll share with you my initial impressions of the suppressor and you can be sure that there will also be coverage on TFBTV from James Reeves and a future installment of Silencer Saturday from our Editor in Chief Pete.

Gemtech have announced the addition of a 7.62mm suppressor to their Abyss range. The full auto-rated can is made from 17-4PH Stainless Steel and 6AL4V Titanium and weighs in at 16.3oz. The Abyss 7.62 is designed for calibers ranging from 5.7X28 to 300WM. It is available at $945.00 MSRP.

Sons of Liberty Gun Works has a surprise new release, an M16-A5 sold exclusively through Primary Arms. “But there is no M16-A5!” the cloner may exclaim. Well, there is one now, and you can buy it.

The BRN-601 Complete Upper Receiver is back. Ideal for retro builds the BRN-601 is styled after the original Colt 601 which features the classic ‘duckbill’ flash hider, a 20″ lightweight 1-12 twist barrel, a classic triangular charging handle, green polymer handguards which mimic the originals and the receiver is anodized matte grey. The complete BRN-601 upper is available for $899.99 MSRP.

Girsan and EAA Corp continue to expand their High Power range with the new MCP35 PI LW. The pistols are available in two-tone tungsten or all-black finishes and with or without a frame rail. They are 1/2lb lighter than the full-size steel framed Girsan High Powers and also have an optics cut slide that accommodates RMS and RMSc footprints. Depending on the configuration, the pistols are available at $749 or $772 MSRP.

Jard Inc. is known for making aftermarket triggers for 20 different rifle manufacturers plus AR, AK and FALs. Jard recently announced that their Browning X-Bolt adjustable trigger also includes a three-position safety with a bolt-lock feature. Jard claims that this is the lightest X-Bolt trigger on the market, has order options for 6 to 46-ounce trigger pull weights, and is a drop-in trigger without requiring gunsmithing. Jard’s full description can be read below.

Caldwell Shooting Supplies recently introduced their new Caldwell Flash Bang hit indicator that combines with steel targets to provide a visual aid when the target is struck. The Caldwell Flash Bang attaches via hook and loop fasteners to the back of steel targets larger than five inches. The Flash Bang is attached with the LED light strip hanging off the edge of the target, and once the target is hit by a bullet, the LEDs light up to provide the shooter instant visual feedback as to the hit.

HUXWRX Safety Company, formerly known as OSS Suppressors, has earned every right to say ‘I told you so’ to a large swath of the suppressor industry. While they may not have been the first, HUXWRX has been the champion of reduced back pressure technology via their trademarked Flow-Through system. One of the aspects of the design that may have been holding back some potential customers has just changed with the addition of the VENTUM 762 rifle suppressor that is compatible with universal 1.375×24 mounting devices. Shooters who want HUXWRX tech paired with their preferred muzzle devices now have a HUB-outfitted rifle suppressor ready to go out of the box.

Magpul has yet another entry in their lineup of slings. This new model is the MS1 Lite. It is aptly named, as it takes the proven MS1 sling and slims it down to a much smaller and lighter package. Let’s see what it brings to the table.

FN America has announced the availability of a limited production run of the SCAR 17s DMR in 6.5 Creedmoor. The SCAR community has its faithful followers, and so does the Creedmoor for good reasons, so I think this will be a great combination. Just look at this FN SCAR in the USASOC International Sniper Competition, from one of our Photo Of The Day.

For the past few days, Heckler & Koch Germany has been teasing their new HK 421, a newly developed compact and lightweight machine gun. At DSEI 2023 in London (12-15 September 2023), an exhibition with over 2,800 defence and security suppliers, it was finally unveiled in various configurations.

Some rifles need to be wet to run well, while others enjoy a good, carbon-soaked beating. No matter how well any particular firearm can fight through grime, they all need maintenece at some point. In this regard, AR-pattered rifles do a great job of making field stripping a breeze. Pop the pins and pivot, or separate both halves completely. Not all small parts are created equally, however, and those looking to upgrade their AR-10 pins now have a new option from Strike Industries. These are the new AR-10 Extended Pivot and Takedown pins.

Welcome to TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday, where we take a look at as many aspects of revolvers as we can, one week at a time. Today, we’ll take a look at a newly available speedloader, called the Wrapid Loader. The aptly named Wrapid Loader uses links to hold revolver cartridges, between which are housed some springs to wrap the connected links into a cylinder shape. Because of the springs, the Wrapid loader can be carried flat in a belt pouch, but when deployed, it returns to the designated cylindrical shape to reload a revolver. The shooter then pulls the ring at the end of the loader, and the links release their cartridges one by one as the revolver’s cylinder turns from the force.

I don’t know if I’m a traditionalist or a Luddite, but the smartwatch trend missed me. However, my wife and almost everyone I know have one. The Apple Watch is by far one of the most popular. Apple is known for its signature slick and clean aesthetic, but that can sometimes leave something to be desired. The factory bands are pretty boring, and most aftermarket bands are the same, just in different colors. Strike Industries has decided to add its own signature aesthetic. Take a look at the new Strike Band.

Brownells continues to expand its BRN-180 offerings with the addition of new barrel lengths. Those new models have either a 14.5 or 13.9-inch barrel. This is excellent news for people who like pinned and welded muzzle devices.

Mission First Tactical has a new backpack for sale, the Achro 22L. This pack features a quick-access concealed carry pocket for firearms. It also has specialized features like a felt-lined sunglasses pocket and storage for up to a 16-inch laptop or tablet.

BLK LBL handguards with integrated bipods are really cool upgrade parts allowing you to have a bipod that when stowed completely disappears into the handguard. The company started by offering their bipod handguards for AR-pattern rifles and bolt guns. Later, they ventured into the bullpup market and designed handguards with integrated bipods for the Desert Tech MDR family of rifles. Well, BLK LBL keeps exploring the bullpup territory and has introduced a version of their bipod-integrated handguard for the IWI Tavor X95 rifles. Let’s take a look at the BLK LBL Tavor X95 bipod handguard.