Defense

The M14 rifle holds a significant place in the history of American military firearms, serving as a bridge between the battle rifles of World War II and the US’ military’s modern assault rifles. Developed in the post-World War II era, the M14 was the standard-issue rifle for the U.S. military during the early stages of the Vietnam War. Despite its relatively short service life (though it has soldiered on in niche roles), the M14 is like that crazy ex-girlfriend that somehow keeps coming back when you least expect it. This year marks the M14’s 72nd birthday and the 52nd anniversary of its civilian variant, the M1A produced by Springfield Armory. And with the recent new that the CMP would be making surplus M14s available, I thought this would be a good time to look back at the history and development of one of my favorite battle rifles of all time.

Photo Of The Day: Dual-wielding isn't just for action movies anymore. Savior Equipment's new SUP28 case insert manages to accomplish what seemed geometrically impossible: fitting two complete Genesis Arms Gen-12 systems into a single Pelican 1650, creating the kind of redundant firepower that would make any tactical team smile.

“In the beginning, there was the Winchester Model 12, and it was very good.” Not quite—Winchester’s Model 12 was not the first pump-action shotgun ever made; they had their own series of pump guns before the Model 12, including the popular Model 1897, and the competition had ‘em too. But when T.C. Johnson devised the Model 12 (based on John Browning’s previous work with the Model 1893 and Model 1897), this quickly became the most-respected pump-action shotgun in the world. The Model 12 held this position for fifty years.

Springfield Armory's Kuna is a 9mm roller-delayed PDW design, now paired with an integrated Tri-Lug suppressor-mounting system, allowing compatible suppressors to be installed and removed without tools, using a push-and-twist connection. I don’t have a Kuna, but I have the tri-lug system on a few similar guns and it works great.

Staccato has expanded its lifetime warranty program, shifting coverage from the original owner to the pistol itself. Now every Staccato-built 2011 platform handgun carries warranty protection for its operational life, regardless of how many owners it has had or where it was purchased.

Savage Arms has revamped its Ultralite series with four new models engineered around carbon fiber barrel technology, the updated AccuFit V2 adjustment system, and modular components tailored for specific hunting applications. All four rifles incorporate Savage's lightweight construction philosophy while maintaining the platform's 110 action fundamentals.

Welcome back to Front Line Friday. This week is a gear week, and the topic is building a cold weather patrol layer system that keeps you functional across a twelve-hour shift instead of just warm for the first hour. Front Line Friday is brought to you by Dead Air Silencers, whose support keeps this column going every week.

When I was a kid, I kept asking my father the same stupid question: ‘Daddy, what is the best gun ever?’ He kept patiently explaining that it depends on the mission and circumstances. I understood that, but deep down, the question always remained with me.

Soldiers with the 554th Military Police Company conduct range training and qualification on the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System at Panzer Range Complex in Böblingen. The M26 MASS, a 12-gauge manually operated shotgun, mounts directly under the M4 carbine or fires as a standalone weapon.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the keys to successfully carrying a concealed handgun. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at why certain individuals, especially people who are just starting to get into guns, always seem to think larger calibers, while a smaller-framed smaller caliber pistols with higher capacity can be superior carry guns. It's the argument of capacity versus firepower, but I have seen some incredibly interesting choices lately rather than the more common 9mm carry guns. Let's take a closer look at why bigger isn't always better.

Beretta's APX A1 family just got faster. The company has introduced the APX A1 Ported, a variant built around a precision ported barrel and slide system designed to manage recoil impulse and get the gun back on target quicker for follow-up shots. It's a straightforward addition to an already-proven platform, and it arrives configured for shooters who want the optics-ready slide without sacrificing the tactile feedback of an iron-sight setup.

Vortex Optics has added a green dot variant to its Venom Enclosed Micro platform, recognizing that shooter preference for reticle color varies across lighting conditions and individual visual acuity. The new Venom Enclosed Micro Green Dot maintains the core specifications and design of the existing Venom line while offering a different reticle color option at the same entry price point.

The six handgun loads currently cataloged include four 9mm choices: 115- and 124-grain round-nose FMJ, plus 115- and 147-grain flat-nose FMJ. A 180-grain .40 S&W flat-nose load and 230-grain .45 ACP round-nose load round out the live listings. All come in 50-round boxes. Winchester says it uses high-sensitivity primers for tuned competition pistols.

Russell Phagan has never met a shooting sport rule he didn't want to push. From building out the   Brutality match series with InRangeTV, to founding   FAST (Firearms Action Shooting Trials) as its own standalone series, to his day job as VP at KE Arms, he's spent two decades finding the edge of what a "practical" gun match can look like — and now he's found a new one. FAST's newest division is Auto-Rifle: full-auto and forced-reset-trigger rifles, competing on the same stages as everyone else, for the first time in a mainstream two-gun series. The division debuts at FAST-ID in Parma, Idaho, this October, presented by X-Tech Tactical, with Red Right Hand sponsoring a dedicated Auto-Rifle stage where every competitor — regardless of division — gets to run a belt-fed gun. Russell returns to break down why FAST is willing to build rules around FRTs when most series won't. I’ll be there, so hope to see some of you out there at the match!

After a hiatus of many years, Colt is making optics again. They have already won some Canadian military contracts and shortly thereafter brought out a range of scopes for the consumer market. The VMR 3-18x44 is the intermediate member of that family, and over the last few months I've been trying it out. Let's see how it fared.

TFB did some testing of Swedish precision at the heart of Stockholm's newest premier shooting center. Scandinavia Sport Shooting Center sits centrally in Stockholm, with dynamic rifle and pistol ranges, along with shooting cinemas equipped with interactive HD video scenarios, making it a pretty ideal and exciting venue for evaluating four distinct configurations of the Steen Defense platform.

Most weeks that I show up on Wheelgun Wednesday, I am hauling something actually old off the shelf and telling you about it. Today is a little different. The revolver on my bench got built recently; it is just wearing 1875's clothes. Uberti sent me their "Frank" out of the Outlaws and Lawmen line, which is their version of the Remington Model 1875 that Frank James handed over when he surrendered in 1882. Let's dive right into it!

EAA Corp. and Girsan Firearms have released the Witness2311 XXX Series, a pair of compact double-stack 1911s designed for everyday carry. According to the company, the design reduces the footprint of the double-stack 1911 platform without sacrificing capacity or performance. Both models are chambered in 9mm with 16+1 capacity, with magazines developed in collaboration with Check-Mate, a 3.4-inch barrel, and a reduced grip module that EAA states is approximately 25 percent smaller than previous versions.

Vortex is expanding reticle choices for its Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56 FFP riflescope, adding a VMR-5 option alongside the existing EBR-7D. The move targets precision rifle shooters, particularly those running PRS stages where seeing impact and executing fast follow-up corrections directly affects match outcomes. When a shot timer is running and a range officer is watching, visibility of impact becomes as critical as the shot itself.

WOOX has introduced the Vigilante Beavertail Grip, a handcrafted AR-platform grip combining premium walnut with an integrated polymer beavertail. The grip is handcrafted in Italy from American Claro walnut and features laser-engraved grip texture. The beavertail extension is engineered from high-strength technopolymer and provides an integrated reinforced design for control, stability, and comfort. The grip maintains an ambidextrous, symmetrical design compatible with AR-15, AR-10, M4, and M16 platforms.

German Precision Optics has released the GPO Setback 3" Cantilever Extension Mount, a one-piece aluminum base designed to move riflescopes rearward up to 3 inches to address eye relief constraints on compact tactical optics. The mount is precision-machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and features four hardened steel Allen-head cross-bolts for attachment to Picatinny rails.

A fun aspect of owning firearms is actually getting to shoot the weapon as part of your training. After spending some time lane shooting at your local range, you’ll likely find yourself seeking ways to take your skills to the next level. A great outlet for this is competitive shooting. The sport is available to anyone and is a great opportunity to put your skills to the test while introducing some practical movement to your shooting. The best part is that you’ll improve your proficiency with your firearm and will have a great time doing it.

Basic training puts a rifle in your hands. The specialized advanced instruction teaches you what to do with it. Soldiers of the Lëtzebuerger Arméi's Instruction avancée spécialisée (IAS) recently took to the range for a Tir Opérationnel, an operational shooting exercise designed to push marksmanship, tactical movement, and team coordination beyond what the introductory phase covers.

Pulsar has released the Telos LRF XT50, positioned as the new flagship model in its upgradeable Telos series of thermal imaging monoculars. The device is designed for outdoor professionals and hunters who need to identify targets across large areas and capture thermal imagery in variable weather conditions. TFB got the opportunity to do some pre-testing, so let’s take a closer look at what 1280x1024 thermal pixels look like on screen!

Talo Distributors presents a limited-edition variant of the SR1911 platform designated the Phoenix. The edition is capped at 800 units, each carrying a PHX serial number prefix that denotes the mythical Phoenix theme threading through the release. The slide is stainless steel paired with an anodized aluminum frame. Custom Kirinite grips feature the Ruger Phoenix logo as the primary visual distinguishing element. The gun ships in .45 Auto with an 8+1 capacity and a 5-inch barrel, maintaining the standard SR1911 ergonomic footprint.

TFB has covered numerous knife and firearms manufacturer collaborations throughout 2026, and it’s now time for Daniel Defense. The Pro-Tech x Daniel Defense knife brings a full-size automatic built for users who want speed and durability in a single carry knife. The Rockeye features a 3.38-inch DLC-coated MagnaCut drop point blade paired with Pro-Tech's button automatic action, delivering fast deployment with solid lockup. At 8.38 inches overall and 4.64 ounces, the knife balances heft and presence without excess weight.

EOTech has partnered with Unity Tactical to release the HHS UNITY I, a factory-assembled hybrid holographic sight combining the EXPS3-0 holographic sight and G33 3X magnifier with Unity's FAST mounting infrastructure. The system arrives as a plug-and-play alternative to sourcing and integrating these components separately. A solution that should be quite convenient for many customers.

Welcome back to another TFB review. This week we have one of Benelli’s newest offerings: the updated modular version of their classic M2 semi-automatic shotguns. In a world of modern, highly customizable semi-auto shotguns, Benelli has always been one of the main options, with their lineup allowing the M2-G1 to be a fantastic option for consumers who want top quality without going extremely high on their budget, such as something like Benelli's flagship M4 variants that I reviewed last year. If you happened to miss my M4 EXT review, be sure to click the link here to check it out. Let's take a closer look at the brand new Benelli M2-G1.

When the mission demands precision fire beyond what standard medium-caliber platforms can reliably deliver, SWORD Defense Systems has an answer in the MK18 SA-ASR. The Semi-Automatic Advanced Sniper Rifle has been in development since 2010 and is built around a short-stroke gas piston system paired with an extremely precise barrel manufacturing process, producing a platform that sits in a performance bracket closer to heavy-category rifles while remaining mobile enough for field use.

There is a certain level of quality that I think we all expect when we see the term “Match” attached to a product. Whether that be a component, the whole gun, or the ammo, the word Match typically implies that the item in question is made with high precision, tighter tolerances, and maximum consistency in mind. On the other side of things, the brand name “Wolf” is typically a name I’ve only associated with one thing - cheap 7.62x39mm steel case. Today I simply wanted to take a closer look at Wolf 40gr Match Target, a rather peculiar ammo, and see what one of the least expensive match ammos currently available on the market gets us in terms of “match grade” performance.