Editorial

James Reeves of TFBTV sits down with retired U.S. Army Green Beret Jimmy Cannon and Austrian Special Forces veteran "Benny" to break down the five best gun accessories when you’re heading into the unknown. From optics and lights to slings and suppressors, they debate what really matters — including budget picks, European vs. American gear, and why a Glock 17 might still be king. This is the latest episode of the Special Forces Bros series, filmed during Austria Arms Action Days. Beer was consumed.

Welcome everyone to the TFB Armorer's Bench! I recently spotted a Sten Mk2 kit for a decent price and couldn't resist picking it up. These kits used to be available for a couple hundred bucks, but lately they've shot up in price as they've become less and less common. People buy these because they're simple to bring back to life in semi-auto form with some new parts and a little know-how. It seemed like a fun project. Mine arrived soaked in thick cosmoline in a plastic bag, which turned out to be the perfect test case for the RCBS Ultrasonic Cleaner 2.

Luke C ( ⁨@BallisticAviation⁩) is at GunCon 2025 to speak with David from Matador Arms about their new line of roller-delayed modular 9mm pistol caliber carbines. The MAT-9 series has historically been a blowback-only affair, but today, David is excited to share that they have dropped the blowback series in favor of the new roller-delayed MAT-9 series. Despite the change in operating system, the MAT-9 will still maintain its modularity with lowers available for virtually all of the popular 9mm pistol caliber carbines on the market, and with only a marginal price increase.

Kinetic Development Group, a designer and manufacturer of aftermarket firearms accessories, was initially established to address shortcomings in rifles like the FN SCAR. KDG has since then expanded to offer accessories for various firearm platforms, including AR-15 and HK rifles, and various 9mm PDW-style firearms. Today, Stephen walks BallisticAviation⁩ through their revamped Optics Hub spotting scope rig, as well as their new Xero Mount meant to work seamlessly with M-LOK and the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.

Luke C​ ( BallisticAviation) is at GunCon 2025, speaking with Ian from STinc USA about the latest firearm conversions they're offering in 2025. First up is the P90 magazine-based conversion for the KelTec P50. This conversion takes the P50 upper/serialized firearm and combines it with STinc's own lower, which allows the user to more intuitively load and unload the firearm. Alongside the ST-50 is the recently released Gepard 9mm conversion, sure to win the hearts of all the Combloc subgun lovers out there. GunCon is, of course, hosted by TheGunCollective, whom you should go check out for more show coverage and news.

Luke C ( BallisticAviation) is at GunCon 2025 hosted by TheGunCollective, and in this video, he's speaking with the legendary Dave K from Hi-Point Firearms. Hi-Point made waves at SHOT 2025 by announcing their all-new AR-15 lineup with the announcement of the HP-15, which is set to be fully released in mid-July. In addition, sister company Inland Manufacturing has just unveiled their latest suppressor - the 5.7x28mm rated AM-22.

Luke C ( BallisticAviation) is at TheGunCollective GunCon 2025 with XTech Tactical's ⁩ Jeremy to talk about their origin story as a company, as well as the type of products that they offer and what you can expect from those products. XTech is almost entirely focused on the production of reliable and unique aftermarket magazines for both rifles (AR-15/AK) as well as popular handguns like the Glock 17/19, SIG P365, and Smith & Wesson Shield. Based in Tempe, AZ, XTech's products are American-made, and aim to exceed factory specifications, and cater to competitive shooters, law enforcement, home defense, and concealed carry enthusiasts. XTech Tactical emphasizes affordability, patented designs, and user-focused innovation, with a mission to create products durable enough to be passed down for generations.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the YHM R45 Multi-Host Suppressor. As you've almost certainly heard by now, the Big Beautiful Bill recently passed Congress. It contains the most substantial changes to the National Firearms Act since it was passed in 1934. We're going to examine the final language and do a little prognosticating about what it means for silencers and NFA firearms more generally.

In 1957, the M14 rifle and M60 machine gun were adopted. The M14 program, which aimed to develop the M15 squad automatic rifle, was canceled in 1959. Later, the M14E2 was introduced as an interim solution to provide the infantry squads with a suitable solution. The United States Army Infantry School developed the M14E2 concept as a squad automatic weapon. This variant was issued in 1963, redesignated as M14A1 in 1966, and saw limited service during the Vietnam War. From the 1950s to the 1980s, there was no suitable replacement for the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), leaving infantry squads vulnerable and inadequate. During the Vietnam War, the M60 served as a company-level machine gun assigned to a platoon weapons squad.

It’s been a while since we ran snipers in action on our Photo Of The Day, but today we have some really cool images to share. Here you can see snipers take on the rapid fire match during day three of the 54th Winston P. Wilson (WPW) and 34th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting (AFSAM) Sniper Championship at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, last December.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about some great reasons to dry fire and why it may be more helpful than most realize. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a look at some great drills to do at the range, which can incorporate the full spectrum of skills needed when it comes to carrying a concealed firearm. While there are dozens of drills out there that do a fantastic job, these three drills below are some of the easiest to start on and most can be done with a piece of paper hung up on a target backer rather than having expensive target stands and full-size targets. Let's take a closer look at some drills for carrying.

BallisticAviation sits down with Josh from extarusa to talk about their new 10mm variant of their large-format pistol. The EP series focuses mostly on being affordable, reliable and durable, with most of its components and frame being constructed entirely from various polymers. For critical components like the barrel and bolt, Extar USA makes all of their parts in-house for the EP9, EP45, and EP10, with a few parts here and there, like the trigger, contracted out to companies like Schmid triggers.

Join BallisticAviation at TheGunCollective GunCon 2025 as he interviews Kyle Lynch, the creator of Riflespeed Gas Controls. The Riflespeed gas control system is a toolless 12-position gas adjustment system that makes it easy for you to quickly and painlessly tune your rifle for a variety of conditions without the need for extra tools. With a clearly defined 12-position system, Kyle's Riflespeed Gas Controls can quickly and precisely adjust your rifle to work with almost any ammo or suppressor setup.

BallisticAviation is at the TheGunCollective GunCon 2025 to speak with KCI about their official release of the 100-round 5.56 AK drum mag. This long-awaited Beta-C inspired drum magazine will be compatible with virtually all 5.56 pattern AKs on the market. In addition to the new drum mag, KCI is also excited to announce the official launch of their new company, Combat Defense Industries, which specializes in ballistic-rated helmets.

BallisticAviation is at GunCon 2025, hosted by TheGunCollective,⁩ where he interviews Riley from Romeo Hotel Engineering about his genuinely innovative Gyro Brake and Thicc-Boi-12 Suppressor! Discover how the Gyro Brake’s unique gyroscopic stabilization method helps shooters remain on target, and get the behind-the-scenes story on the Thicc-Boi-12, a truly unique double-barrel suppressor designed solely for the Standard Manufacturing DP-12 double-barrel shotgun, delivering unmatched sound suppression in a unique and often underappreciated 12-gauge platform.

If you want to get a small stockpile of hollow-points for training or self-defense, or simply need to replenish your EDC (everyday carry) rounds, then there is no better time than the present with the rebates that Federal, Remington, and Speer are running. You can receive a 20% rebate for your purchase price with up to a maximum of $200 per person or household. All of those rebates are completely outlined below.

Join BallisticAviation at GunCon 2025, hosted by ⁨TheGunCollective⁩, as he and Alex dive into the latest innovations from TANDEMKROSS! The all-new ADX (Advantage X) ambidextrous 10/22 receiver and the cutting-edge Comet charger barrel aim to increase performance for Rimfire Steel Challenge shooters and plinkers. Don’t miss this exclusive look at TANDEMKROSS’s game-changing upgrades for all things rimfire!

In today’s episode of TFB’s Behind the Gun Podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dave Higginbotham from Safariland as we talk about their latest release, the Gravity holster. In this episode, Dave tells us what makes this OWB holster a game-changer for those who carry every day or are looking for a new sleek competition rig for IDPA or USPSA. The Gravity combines the popular Cordura fabric wraps that Safariland is known for with its adjustable detent retention and optics-ready design for a jack of all trades holster that can swing both EDC duty and regular range use. Dave shares behind-the-scenes stories about the holster’s development, Safariland’s commitment to quality, and why this holster is perfect for both range rats and daily carriers. Please give a warm welcome to returning guest, Dave Higginbotham from the Safariland Group.

From all of us here at The Firearm Blog, Happy Independence Day! The 4th of July has to be my absolute favorite holiday to celebrate with friends and family, as I’m sure it is for a lot of you out there. Typically, the 4th brings not only good food and fellowship, but a lot of firearms as well. As is our custom here at TFB, today we’ll be bringing you the best deals we’ve found from around the web from some of our favorite online retailers.

This is a review of the Shooters Global SG Timer 2, which I have been using for around four to five months. I use shot timers both for my own development, but also (and mainly) as a shooting instructor or range officer for others in training or competition. For people like me, a reliable shot timer is one of the most important tools in our kit. Nobody likes a reshoot due to a poor timer.

Royal Marines from 42 Commando drop onto the flight deck of HMS Richmond during fast rope training, working alongside 820 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons as part of Operation Highmast. The training is aboard HMS Prince of Wales, the UK’s flagship, leading the Royal Navy’s key 2025 deployment.

Welcome back to Wheelgun Wednesday, TFB’s weekly article series where we discuss everything revolving around gats with cylinders. Today’s episode is a report about the release of a new limited edition Korth revolver dubbed The Adrenaline. The revolvers made by this German company are brought to the stateside by Nighthawk Custom and this particular model is made exclusively for the US market. Let’s take a closer look.

Konus has added a new low-power variable optic (LPVO) to its lineup: the Sultan 1-10x24mm riflescope. Built around a 30mm tube, the Sultan offers a true 1x for close-quarters work and extends up to 10x for longer-range engagements. Could this be a new budget-friendly contender for general-purpose rifles?

Having just returned from the IPSC PCC World Shoot in the Czech Republic, it’s no surprise I have a soft heart for high-performance PCCs. Enter Daniel Defense’s Limited Series Slate Spectre, built on the DDPCC platform, the Slate Spectre is described as taking things to the next level. Note the distinctive Midnight Chocolate Chip Cerakote finish.

SIG Sauer has pulled the wraps off its latest suppressor offering, the ENDURE. According to SIG, it’s been purpose-built for today’s hunter and precision bolt-action platforms. The design is compact, rugged, and lightweight, with a topographic pattern to distinguish it from SIG’s other new releases.

Nocpix has launched the Bolt L35R, a thermal riflescope designed with new night hunters in mind. The scope combines user-friendly controls with advanced thermal imaging, aiming to provide reliable target detection and clarity without overwhelming first-time thermal users.

As soon as the Kalashnikov rifle was adopted, various efforts were made to improve or replace it. In most tests, it did not meet the standard requirements in all categories. The first such effort occurred in 1955 when the Soviet Union's Ministry of Defense initiated a unified weapons project that included a lightweight assault rifle and a lightweight light machine gun. The goal was to simplify and standardize production, with the majority of components for both the rifle and light machine gun being interchangeable. Additionally, these weapons were intended to be manufactured using the same machinery and tools.

In this shot from Liepaja, Latvia, a Portuguese Navy service member and U.S. Marines from Apache Company, 2D Light Armored Reconnaissance, move together during an integrated patrolling exercise. The training is part of BALTOPS 25, NATO’s premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Sea region. The Portuguese Navy uses the Heckler & Koch G3, with full Spuhr upgrades. A great way to make an old (but gold) firearm like new again. The sight is from Aimpoint, and the sidearm is from Austria - a Glock.

Welcome back to TFB’s Small Business Spotlight, where you, the reader, can volunteer your own small firearms business for coverage. This week, we will shine the spotlight on a company called THRIL, Inc.

Anderson Manufacturing, the little pony from Kentucky, has been making serviceable and affordable AR-15s and related components for close to 70 years. Now, that chapter is coming to a close. Ruger has announced that they have purchased the company and will not be continuing the name.