In my trips to the range, I have only dabbled in shooting steel. Everyone’s gateway metal target is rimfire spinners or resetting targets and those are really enjoyable. Can shooting a big AR500 silhouette really be any better? I’ll let you know below in my review of the Caldwell 66% IPSC Silhouette Target. Let’s dive right in!

It is not every day you get the opportunity to review a book on the life and inventions of the grandfather of modern firearms or as the book refers to him,” the Thomas Edison of guns”. When I saw the chance to read all the way through the new book published by Simon & Schuster: The Guns of John Moses Browning by Nathan Gorenstein, I was ecstatic! Let’s dive right into the review.

Before releasing the first VP9 in 2014, Heckler & Koch had worked on the design for more than four years. Although they hadn’t been in the striker-fired pistol game for some time at that juncture, H&K was not new to the concept either, having pioneered the VP70 and P7 models more than three decades prior. Released in 1970 and 1979 respectively, these early striker-fired guns were not the norm at the time, as striker functionality wouldn’t begin seeing more widespread adoption until years later. The VP70 was notable for being the first polymer-framed handgun in production, predating first-gen Glocks by more than a decade. Both of these pistols enjoyed good reception and adoption, as well as a solid service history. In particular, the P7 managed to stay in production all the way until 2008, nearly thirty years after its introduction. Following the P7’s retirement in ’08, Heckler & Koch saw the writing on the wall. Although hammer-fired handguns and metal frames were by no means obsolete at that point, market demand was clear. Polymer frames and striker-fired mechanisms had essentially become the standard and were a must-have offering if a manufacturer hoped to compete in the pistol market. With a request from the Bavarian State Police to update their arsenal of aging P7s, in 2010 the German firm got back to work in this space.

Hello suppressor fans and welcome to the Independence Day weekend edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the awesome YHM Turbo and Turbo K 5.56mm rifle suppressors. Last week we compared the SilencerCo Octane 45HD and the newer Octane 45 pistol caliber suppressors. This holiday weekend I set out to right a wrong – finally a dedicated review of one of the best rimfire suppressors ever made – the Dead Air Mask. If rimfire is life, then the Mask is the fountain of youth, delivering years of enjoyable super-quiet shooting. Let’s take a look.

Long range shooting is one of those intersections of science, skill, and art. It’s hard enough on a flat range, but when done in high winds and from different positions, the difficulty level ramps up. A lot of the skills used in long range shooting can be honed with decent gear and enough practice, but there is nothing like a solid foundation to build upon. That is where training like that offered by RangeTech comes in. Recently, I had the opportunity to experience a one on one long range training course with Mike from RangeTech. I picked up some great skills and techniques and learned how to best utilize my gear on another level.

In an earlier review, we took a look at the jeans from Dynamis Alliance. In this review, we’ll be examining the pouch system that goes along with the jeans, called the IWS. Current pouches range from Glock 19 and SIG P365 holsters, associated magazine pouches (AR15 STANAG and handgun, even MP7), trauma kits, baton pouches, and even a small utility pouch for those slim minimalist wallets that are all the rage these days. With the exception of the handgun holsters and the knife sheaths, these pouches are made from either a thin, stretchy fabric in the case of the IWS EDC Pouch, or in the case of the magazine holsters, a smooth canvas-like material that collapses against your body when the magazine has been withdrawn.

Personally, I hate jeans. Unlike my colleague James Reeves, the outer garments have always been too tight, with too few options for pockets, and I feel they are restricting to me in warmer climates when I need clothing to be loose. I hate having to make a pincer-like motion with my fingers just to get anything out of the front pockets. And the smaller coin pockets? Why? Do we still use coins anymore?

The Cadex CDX-50 Tremor is designed to deliver the massive .50 BMG payload with extreme accuracy.  The newest variant to the Tremor lineup is the compact 20″ barreled one that’s designed specifically for Law Enforcement and Military applications. Manufactured using both Canadian and American parts, the Tremor series promises extreme range supremacy.  Eager to see how this rifle performed in civilian hands, Cadex was kind enough to send over the new 20″ Tremor for review.

Jonathan Ferguson’s new book on British bullpup rifles is one I’ve been waiting a long time for. Five years ago I wrote my Master’s thesis on the development of the early Cold War British bullpup rifle, the E.M.2, and the politics which engulfed it. It’s just over 40 years since Thomas Dugleby published his book on ‘EM-2 Concept & Design: A Rifle Ahead of Its Time’. For many years Dugelby’s book, published by Collector Grade Publications, represented the best published collection of information about Britain’s ill-fated bullpup.

At the end of last year, Tom and I went to a shoot hosted by Asgard Defense and BMC Tactical. Asgard Defense was demoing their new 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun, the Kriger, which they had promoted as one of the fastest shooting 12 gauge shotguns on the market.  They also made the claim of low recoil and coolest running. Pretty steep promises when all added together.

Before we begin talking about the Sureshot Armament MK3, let’s see why this concept of “chassis system” even came to exist on AKs. If we’ll take an honest look at most rifles we are using today, it seems that the progress stopped somewhere around 1959. In that year, Colt started manufacturing AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner, and IZHMASH, the biggest Soviet arms factory, began mass production of the AKM, the direct predecessor of most Kalashnikov rifles we see today.

My New Year’s resolution for 2021 was to take stock of what I have, use what I’ve got, and stop compulsively internet shopping for more shit. With that in mind, I did an ammunition inventory and discovered that while my stock of 9mm practice ammo will hopefully carry me through another couple of years, I also have (if I don’t get too trigger happy) a lifetime supply of .22 Long Rifle ammo. My primary handgun for training and home defense is a Dan Wesson TCP 1911 in 9mm, so my goal was to find a reliable, accurate, .22LR 1911 conversion kit as a training aid that didn’t burn my dwindling supply of 9mm. For the tl;dr people, I’ll say right now that the Nelson Custom conversion kit I got is working out very well in its intended role. For those who want details, here you go.

When looking at personal protection, typically the focus is on concealed carry handguns and all the gear associated with carrying a handgun. In the last few years, there has been an increase in options for body armor on the civilian market. At first, I will be honest and say I didn’t really understand what the point of having body armor in a bag would be. I kind of said it was for paranoid people but decided to buy a set of backpack armor inserts for testing. I’ve had them for the last few months and finally have enough data to take a closer look at these armor panels. Let’s dive deeper into Premier Body Armor’s Backpack Armor Insert and see what it does.

With advances in technology over the years, we have developed a lot of improved safety equipment and practices. I doubt anyone 100 years ago would have considered using hearing protection for everyday shooting (heck seatbelts weren’t even standard till 1968). From lead-free ammunition, more durable eye protection, advances in backstop decontamination, and state-of-the-art air filtration equipment, shooting has become a much less health-hazardous endeavor. Keeping your ears protected is still one of the most important safety practices in my book which is why I’m a huge fan of widespread suppressor use and the proper application of hearing protection based on the situation. AXIL, a leader in state-of-the-art hearing protection sent me a pair of their “Ghost Stryke”  GS Digital 1 Earplugs for review and today we’ll see how they perform under a variety of shooting situations.

If you ask people what kind of magic gift they would like to have if they could have only one wish, some say they would like to be able to fly like a bird or breathe under water. Others will say they want to play the electric guitar like Yngwie Malmsteen, to be able to paint like Michelangelo or think like Albert Einstein. A few will say that they want to be invisible or to able to see in complete darkness. We all know all those wishes are impossible. Or are they? Pulsar might actually be able to help you with that last thing, and it’s within reach financially for most consumers. Their latest creation is called the Pulsar Krypton FXG50, and it’s a clip-on front attachment for the riflescope(s) that you already own.

Good afternoon fellow silencer enthusiasts and welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by my friends at Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the YHM Turbo K 5.56 rifle suppressor. Last week we shot the H&K MARK 23 with the KAC MK23 suppressor; probably the most famous suppressed pairing in history. This week we get something new for the pistol platform: the Q Erector 9 modular 9mm suppressor. It’s light. It’s modular. But is it quiet? Let’s take a look.

Back again for some more Friday Night Lights? Welcome! We are sponsored by ATN Corp, manufacturers of night vision and thermal optics like the THOR LT. As with all of our sponsored series, Friday Night Lights will continue to bring you unbiased news and reviews from a variety of companies. Today we take a close look at the SureFire XVL2. It is a compact all-in-one multi-function aiming laser (MFAL) designed for pistols but has a home on small carbines.

Emissary Development is a new name in the firearms accessory game. However, by no means does that indicate they don’t know what they’re doing. Although the company only officially launched about six months ago (at the time of this writing) and began behind-the-scenes establishment roughly six months prior to that, Emissary is actually a subsidiary brand of Milspec Retail. Milspec Retail was founded in 2014 first as a military surplus distributor/reseller and has since grown into a major retailer for many of the top brands in gun parts, accessories, and related gear. As you peruse their website today, you won’t find brands or products that most people would consider “entry-level”; it’s pretty much all top-quality stuff. Combine this with customer-centric policies like fast and free shipping or 30-day free returns, and it’s clear why they’ve enjoyed the growth and success that they have. These elements of Milspec Retail also provide insights into Emissary, since it’s an in-house brand directly under the domain of Milspec’s product team. The ideas of commitment to top-tier equipment and excellent service appear to carry through.

When I was in my early years of high school, I decided that if I never have an occupation that lends me the possibility of getting to work with my dream guns that I should just save up and buy the most realistic one at the top of the list. This chosen one was the Winchester 1887 Lever Action Shotgun. I was not remotely interested in buying an actual Winchester because I intended on shooting the crap out of it. This led me to the Norinco ones which have some not great reviews and reports and eventually the Chiappa 1887 Lever Action Shotgun reproduction. I have had this shotgun for just under a decade and I still use it and adore it today. Let’s dive right in!

There are a lot of optical sight options for your firearm. Today we take a look at an interesting optic that has a lot of potential and features you do not normally see in a reflex sight. The Mepro Foresight is an advanced augmented red dot sight that has a wide variety of reticles and options. It can also be paired with a smartphone for more features.

It’s Friday night and you know what that means. We are sponsored by ATN Corp, manufacturers of night vision and thermal optics like the THOR LT. As with all of our sponsored series, Friday Night Lights will continue to bring you unbiased news and reviews from a variety of companies. Today have a blast from the past. The WILCOX MAD AN/PEQ-7 is an all-in-one Multi-Function Aiming Laser. It predates the RAPTAR and certainly the RAID-X which both find their roots in the PEQ-7.

Telor Tactical is a Georgia-based holster company. They make holsters for all manners of concealment, as well as 40mm round carriers, masks, and even seat cushions. I was recently tasked with reviewing three of their holsters: the Comfort-Air ITW Holster, the Comfort-Air Bodyband Holster, and the Comfort-Air LE Ankle Holster. I carried each of these in rotation over the three months, and have some thoughts. Let’s get into it. 

Back in March, Custom Smith MFG (CSM) announced a chassis for the Ruger-57 pistol. Well, Michael Bonamico, owner of CSM, was kind enough to send his chassis in for review. It is called the MP-57 and it makes the Ruger-57 a more practical weapon.

There is a common misconception perpetuated with shotguns. “You don’t have to aim, just point and shoot”. Sadly, our current president made a very bad statement several years ago that has not helped the fallacy that shotguns do not need to be aimed. If you have ever shot a shotgun competitively, they most certainly need to be aimed. Otherwise trap and skeet would be easy. While shotguns do have a form of a sight, typically a bead sight, they are not great. It is 2021, let’s put red dots on our shotguns. Jawbone Tactical makes a red dot mount for the Mossberg 500/590 shotgun.

Back in December, I had the chance to let you guys know about Smith & Wesson’s newest addition to their M&P15-22 line of firearms being the M&P15-22 Pistol. This pistol technically existed previously before being discontinued. The difference is that the older version had no pistol brace and the new one has an  SB Tactical SBA3 Adjustable Arm Brace. Recently I purchased my own M&P15-22 Pistol and I am excited to give you all my review of it. Let’s dive into the rabbit hole!

Last year, Brownells dropped their new Gen 2 version of the BRN-180 upper receiver onto the market. They came out with both shorter barrel variants as well as an option for .300 Blackout. Every time I saw the new BRN-180 Gen 2 upper, it piqued my curiosity and after a while, I decided to pick up one and put it through its paces. I’ve had the BRN-180 for a couple months now and put a decent amount of ammo through it, even with this crazy ammo crunch. Let’s dive deeper into Brownells BRN-180 Gen 2 Upper Receiver.

Taurus has just released what may very well be the most economical sub-compact 9mm pistol on the market so far. The Taurus GX4 is the company’s answer to similar pistols like the SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat, and Ruger MAX-9. I was sent a Taurus GX4 pistol a little over a month in advance of its official unveiling online and I got to put the pistol through its paces, carry it and really see how much value Taurus has put into this brand new pistol. So today I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the new carry piece and hopefully give you a good idea if this would be a viable option to add to your concealed carry rotation.

Hornady, one of America’s top quality ammunition manufacturers, has had success with their BLACK line of ammunition geared towards MSR platforms for a number of years. I’ve had great luck with their 7.62×39 loading, as well as with their excellent BLACK SBR 5.56 offering.  Recently, I purchased some of the Hornady BLACK 6.5 Grendel 123gr ELD Match loads to try out.  I have a compact 16″ barrel medium game rifle chambered in 6.5 Grendel, so I’m always on the lookout for different ammunition to try out in this gun.  Let’s see how the Hornady BLACK 6.5 Grendel did.

Welcome to Friday Night Lights. We are sponsored by ATN ATN Corp, manufacturers of night vision and thermal optics like the THOR LT. As with all of our sponsored series, Friday Night Lights will continue to bring you unbiased news and reviews from a variety of companies. For those who have not heard of Noisefighters, they make gel cups for popular ear pro. Richard L. wrote about them two years ago. Neal Brace, the owner and founder of Noisefighters, has a history of innovating, he created Sinter Core and made 3D printed sintered muzzle devices.  He is now delving into the night vision world with his new Panobridge Mk1, a dual PVS-14 bridge that allows the user to have up to 75º panoramic FOV.

The Meridian Defense Pestilence is one of four rifles from Meridian Defense Corp’s Apocalypse Series.  Each of these rifles is handcrafted by using a mix of both imported and American parts.  These special projects division “apocalypse” themed rifles aim to be a cut above the rest in both looks and performance.  Rather than taking their word for it, I borrowed a friend’s Pestilence rifle and headed to the range to see just how good this AK variant could be.