Best Gear

2024 was a mixed bag for new firearm releases, but that didn’t stop us from putting together a list of the Top 5 Guns of 2024. From the Steyr AUG A3M2 and HK MR556A4 to the game-changing CZ Bren 3 and Steyr DMR, this year brought us some incredible updates and innovations. Whether it’s the most accurate bullpup on the market, new piston-driven designs, or modular upgrades to existing platforms, we’re covering the best guns you need to know about.

You’ll never convince me there is a better home defense firearm than the shotgun. The projectiles are less likely to over-penetrate (putting fewer innocents at risk), you are more likely to hit your target (due to the increased number of projectiles), and you’re not sacrificing effectiveness (many shotgun loads will quickly stop a threat). Many good home defense shotguns are on the market, but I’ve rounded up the top five to help you narrow your choices.

The firearm industry is completely different compared to 10 years ago. In the past when you went to pick up a full-size handgun you were limited to 2 or 3 good options on the market whereas nowadays there are excellent choices for people in every budget range. Today I will be going over 5 of what I consider the best full-size handguns in every budget range listing some of the pros of each and taking into consideration price and availability. I will be covering everything from budget polymer frame pistols to high-end 2011s and everything in between. Additionally, I will be taking into consideration the aftermarket part and holster support. During my time in the firearm industry, I have gotten my hands on a lot of different platforms. I hope that this article will help some of you first-time buyers or even some people just looking for something new and interesting make a decision on what to purchase.

I remember my first hurricane as if it were yesterday. Shelves were barren, and lines to stock up on supplies stretched the span of entire stores. When the hurricane hit, it was a spectacle to behold. Wind and heavy rain whipped through the area, taking out trees and power lines. It was the experience that showed me Mother Nature’s wrath. It taught me the lesson that you can’t fight a natural disaster, but you surely can prepare for one. Power and water were out for days. The roads were un-navigatable due to large limbs and debris scattering the roads. I imagine the gun stores were closed for quite some time.

With the recent news of Hurricane Helene and talk of another already hitting roughly the same region, natural disaster preparedness has been on virtually everyone’s mind. While there isn’t much that can be prepared for now when it comes to the ongoing disaster situation in the southeast, we can always run our minds through similar sets of circumstances for our own areas to make sure we’re prepared. Naturally, all of us here at The Firearm Blog think firearms should be an integrated part of your natural disaster preparedness plans, and today we’ll hear from Sam and Cameron about what guns they typically have on hand when it comes to natural disasters in their areas.

Picking the best concealed carry pistol for yourself can be like finding the right house or vehicle. There are endless choices and features to consider when looking at all the models and manufacturers available today. Choosing to take your personal protection into your own hands is a significant choice. This article aims to find some of the best-rated concealed carry pistols on the market in terms of features, reliability, price, and other factors to consider when purchasing your first firearm.

In this video, James Reeves asks: "What is the ultimate urban rifle?" with a specific budget of $3,000. He reviews the Bravo Company (BCM) rifle that he brought to Thunder Ranch. This review is a continuation of TFB's Ultimate Urban Rifle series, which began five years ago at Thunder Ranch, where we explored what makes a rifle ideal for urban environments. We’ll cover everything from barrel length, bolt carrier groups, and optics, to suppressors and slings, discussing why a 16" AR is a great all-around choice for urban defense. I’ll also break down my build, which totaled around $4,776, and show you how to get similar performance for as low as $2,700 without (much) compromising on quality.

A gun really isn’t all that helpful in your daily life if you don’t have a good holster, and a good gun belt to hold it all on. Ever since the invention of the handgun, holsters and belts have played an important role in helping their users efficiently carry their firearms, and allow them to have near-instant access to them should the need arise.

Join James Reeves of TFBTV and Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons as they come together in Prague to discuss the top 5 Czech guns of all time. This exciting video covers the evolution of Czech firearms from the early 20th century to the present day. They delve into the history, design, and impact of some of the most iconic and influential Czech firearms, including both historical and modern models. Discover how these guns have shaped military history and continue to be relevant in today's firearm landscape.

AI is all the rage today. It’s one of the top buzzwords in the Boardroom and on Linkedin. It seems like a lot of the work that has gone into AI over the years is starting to bubble to the top. I have personally seen everything from customer service, fast food ordering and even image generation being handled by AI. I don’t think we’re going to see a slow down in AI deployment anytime soon, in fact this is probably just the beginning. I even saw someone propose to implement AI into a vending machine yesterday. One thing my caveman brain wonders is, what happens when one too many Karens give the Chat Bot a hard time about their triple third pounder with cheese, and AI starts to despise us?

How does a Green Beret upgrade a stock Glock 19? In this video, James Reeves from TFBTV sits down with retired Green Beret Jimmy Cannon, now a training consultant with Black Trident of Austria, to walk us through how he accessorizes his Glock 19. Jimmy shares his expert insights on the best accessories for enhancing performance and functionality. From optics to grips, lights to triggers, Jimmy details his personal setup and explains why each component is crucial for his needs. Whether you're a tactical enthusiast or a Glock owner looking for customization tips, this video is packed with valuable information.

Join us on TFBTV as we tackle a unique challenge: assembling a functional and reliable gun collection with just $500. In this video, we dive into the best firearms you can get on a tight budget, exploring options for personal protection, home defense, and versatile shooting needs. From the rugged Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun to the underrated CZ P10C handgun, discover how you can get the most bang for your buck without compromising on quality. Hear about some decent alternatives and why they might be worth considering. Don’t miss our tips, insights from industry experts like Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch, and a candid discussion on the realities of gun pricing in today’s market.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 80! We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 79! We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.

and are on the scene and unsupervised at the Magpul booth to check out some of their latest products including their new all-polymer 30-round translucent TMAG, MOE PR Carbine Stock, and some of their new rail covers and wire management products. We won’t hit everything in the booth but we’re going to cover the most interesting products we saw.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 76! We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.

With Christmas just around the corner, a couple of the TFB Staff and friends got together and brainstormed some last-minute stocking stuffers, gifts, and things to do this holiday season for your friends and loved ones. Today the guys and I share what we’d love to get for Christmas, what gifts we’ve given in the past that have worked well, and also a few things that might sound like good gifts, but don’t really work when it comes down to it. Of course, we’d like to hear what kind of gifts you guys love to give and receive during Christmas, so let us know in the comments! Of course, it goes without saying, the best gift this year is probably quality time with your family, friends, neighbors, and other loved ones as that’s something everyone could use more virtually anytime.

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves is at the 5.11 store in New Orleans, bringing you on a lil’ adventure to show you what five items James recommends for Black Friday 2023. 5.11 is holding a Veteran’s Day sale and a Black Friday sale this year, The Veteran’s Day sale, “Salute to Service” gives 25% off to all Veterans, Military & First Responders from November 9, 2023, to November 12, 2023, In-Store and Online. The Black Friday Sale is TBD but will be published at www.511tactical.com shortly.

Throughout the year, I will take friends out to shoot for the first time. I will often give them 3-4 hours of instruction at a time and will typically do this 5-6 times before I say they have enough base knowledge to continue on their own. I love introducing new people into the gun community, but whenever I do this, the first question from these new shooters is what they need to get to practice on their own.  Not everything on this list is essential by any means but there are a few things that helped me progress as a shooter and help track my progress. Starting out, using simple targets like paper plates taped to a piece of wood is good enough. Most things can be practiced with dry firing as well but let’s take a look at the top range essentials for training on your own.

Having just gotten back from my first-ever Tactical Games event, I wanted to put together a write-up on all of the gear I used down at the GTI in South Carolina. I will also be including the prices of all of the gear that I utilized as I feel like I spent a lot of money just to compete at this event. Also, please keep in mind that this was my first event, and I will be doing a follow-up article on lessons learned and how I would tackle my second go around at the GTI Tactical Games. Also, all prices will be MSRP aside from the pistol and ear pro.

This video is a continuation of a series we started at Thunder Ranch three years ago to answer the question: What is the ultimate urban rifle? We mean a rifle that is perfect for home defense, self-defense, or even competition. You need something reliable, lightweight, compact, and accurate that works when maneuvering in tight spaces. Today’s episode revolves around a whopping $5,000 budget and starts with the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 and some LPVO options. If you are looking for the ultimate urban rifle, then this video is for you.

Grey Man Tactical’s handy seatback RMP series of vehicle organization grids have just received a new color option in the form of the ever-popular Dark Tan or FDE color scheme. The first size offering in this new color option will be the large 15.25×25 Desert Tan RMP which is one of Grey Man Tactical’s most universal fitments combined with the most requested color by customers. Grey Man’s RMP Panels are now in FDE so you can match the rest of your aging GWOT-themed firearms and gear!

I’m a huge fan of shield-style eyewear for the range. That’s why I’m excited to share the news that GATORZ Eyewear has just released its first pair of shield-style lenses dubbed “Blastshield.” The GATORZ Blastshield line will feature a brand new quick-change lens system via a centrally mounted hub, along with new flexible thin temples that fill easily fit under helmets, hats, and ear protection.

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves interviews the founder of Q, Kevin Brittingham, to find out what 6 guns the father of the Honey Badger finds to be the most important and influential to him. We look at the Heckler & Koch MP5SD, the Q Fix, the Stoner 63 LMG, the humble M16A1, and the not-so-humble Q Honey Badger. Have a watch and let us know what you think.

As we gear up for Independence Day this year, let’s stop and take a minute to be thankful for this great country we have – specifically because of arms. There is an interesting quote that floats around on the internet that I often like to think of when it comes to the very core concept of the 2nd Amendment: “God made men, Sam Colt made them equal.” This quote, even though it was part of a marketing campaign, just reaffirms the idea that, at least in this country, firearms are one of the key concepts of maintaining one’s freedom regardless of what type of life you’re born into. Finding and buying affordable arms and ammunition used to be a heavy investment, usually involving going to a local gun show or perhaps even a county gun show. Fast forward to today and we’ve got more options than you can count in terms of places you can buy arms and ammunition for relatively decent prices. So in the spirit of 1776, and the founding of this great nation, we’re going to be taking a look at a bunch of deals from around the net that are popping up in anticipation of this year’s Independence Day celebration.

The trend of modernizing and updating the lever-action gun is seriously starting to take off with all sorts of great aftermarket parts that allow the attachment of virtually any type of accessory to your favorite lever gun. Midwest Industries has just announced their latest M-LOK handguard for Rossi and Winchester lever-action firearms. This new handguard like others in the lever-gun series is made from the 6061 hard coat anodized aluminum and features plenty of M-LOK sections for mounting accessories.

Welcome to our yearly round-up of 2023 Father’s Day Deals! Father’s Day is a singularly special day not just here in the United States, but across the globe with most nations taking a single day to honor fathers and venerate the responsibility, and position of fatherhood. For a lot of you dads reading and watching here at TFB and TFBTV, firearms are probably a huge part of your life and likely one of your biggest hobbies and if your experience was anything like mine, your father, or the father figure you grew up with, likely had a massive influence on your attitude towards firearms, and the 2nd Amendment, I know mine did.

We all do stupid things sometimes. In my case, I do the same stupid things repeatedly. In recent months I managed to get two pieces of .300 Win Mag brass stuck in two separate dies. This was both embarrassing and was getting in the way of making more ammo for my Winchester 70 sniper homage. Fortunately, RCBS offers a stuck case tool for this job. Let’s see how it works, and if it works.

Happy Memorial Day everyone and welcome to TFB Memorial Day Deals 2023! Memorial Day, a day of remembrance and gratitude, holds a special place in the hearts of firearms owners across the nation. This solemn occasion, observed on the last Monday of May, pays tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces. As we honor their courage and selflessness, it is no surprise that Memorial Day holds a unique significance for firearms enthusiasts. For many, it serves as a powerful reminder of the freedoms and rights we enjoy, protected by those who valiantly defended our nation. It is a time when firearms owners not only cherish the memories of fallen heroes but also reflect on the responsibility and privilege that comes with exercising their Second Amendment rights. With TFB Memorial Day Deals 2023, this occasion becomes even more remarkable as firearms owners come together to seize the opportunity to acquire firearms, stock up on ammunition, and upgrade their gear. It is a moment when they can express their appreciation for the sacrifices made by brave servicemen and women, while also embracing their passion for firearms and shooting sports. Memorial Day, therefore, becomes a remarkable blend of commemoration, gratitude, and celebration for firearms owners across the country. Lock and Load and let er rip everyone!

Keeping firearms secured and organized is important for any prepared arsenal, and Grey Man Tactical has introduced an impressive solution to address this need for those with crowded gun safes. The newly launched #601 Safe Door Organizer – Rifle Rack + Holster RMP Package offers a comprehensive storage system designed to mount rifles, pistols, magazines, and more on the safe door. This practical rig ensures easy access to firearms while optimizing the available space within the gun safe. With its durable construction and endless options for attachments, the Grey Man Tactical Safe Door Organizer is the perfect addition to a new or well-seasoned gun safe.