Editorial

This article is based on one of the only publicly available reports I could find on U.S. testing of the Soviet PKM. In July 1975, an Army engineering team published an attribute analysis that examined a slate of off-the-shelf 7.62mm machine guns as candidates to replace the troublesome General Electric M219 coaxial weapon. The report, titled Attribute Analysis of the Armor Machine Gun Candidates (ADA018625), was authored by James B. Beeson and Thomas N. Mazza, drew together test data to rate nine weapons across 23 attributes grouped under Technical Performance, Physical Characteristics, and RAM-D (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Durability). Though this report is about a tank coaxial machine gun, I will focus more on the aspects of the PKM in an infantry role.

Photo Of The Day and we get to see a full-sized Walther PDP Polymer with an AImpoint COA. Apart from some details that have been kept black, it’s all tricked out in white for the IWA 2026 exhibition in Germany. For all I know, this is a one-off perhaps made by Walther’s Meister Manufaktur.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, I took a look at some of the most common excuses for not 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 recap and look at my most positive interaction with a sheriff's deputy, which is honestly one of the best experiences I have ever had. It's been a few years since I’ve written about how to interact with police, so it's time to go over it again! Let's take a closer look at the best way to interact with police.

Revival Defense has launched the   Silencer Resource Center, a free, data-driven compatibility platform for suppressors, muzzle devices, and mounting adapters. The site went live on March 21, 2026, and is open to both dealers and end users at no charge.

Caracal USA has announced a new supply contract with government agencies in The Bahamas for its CMP9K platform, marking continued expansion in the Caribbean region. The CMP9K is a compact 9×19mm semi-automatic platform designed for law enforcement and defense applications. It operates on a blowback system and is intended to deliver consistent reliability with reduced recoil in a lightweight configuration.

At Enforce Tac 2026, Heckler & Koch continued to showcase its Modular Assault Rifle System,  now called the HK433 [MARS], alongside its compact counterpart, the HK433PDW. The HK433 is positioned as a modular 5.56×45 NATO platform intended for military and law enforcement users. It combines design elements from both the G36 and HK416 into a single system, with an emphasis on modularity, reliability, and cross-platform compatibility.

Today, we take some time to catch up with Jeremy Deadman of XTech Tactical. We’re diving deep into the data behind some of his recent successes and failures within the often-volatile firearms industry. We also talk a bit about SHOT Show 2026. The launch of the new LDR™2000 9mm Pistol Magazine Loaders, and of course, XTech's first acquisition: Creature Grips reborn as Thru-Flo Rail Covers. This is a great behind-the-scenes look into how one of the fastest-growing companies in the accessory market is paving its way forward. Please give a warm welcome back to Jeremy Deadman of XTech Tactical.

The modern shooter can be relegated into two primary categories: the professional and sports shooter. There is a bifurcation between the two groupings based on effectiveness in combat vs functionality for competition. The Forward Operating Grip (FOG) by Contour Tactics looks to blur the lines of both with a product that has a place in both worlds.

Today’s Photo of the Day features the B&T Hush Puppy Glock 19, a purpose-built combination of pistol and suppressor designed for specialized use cases. Based on the Glock 19 platform, the system introduces a selectable operating mode that allows the shooter to lock the slide closed, effectively turning the pistol into a single-shot configuration. This reduces mechanical noise and prevents case ejection when required. With the switch disengaged, the pistol returns to standard semi-automatic operation.

For this week’s Wheelgun Wednesday, we’re stepping well outside the realm of practical revolvers and into something closer to functional sculpture. This is also, possibly, one of the most expensive firearms ever shown here on TFB. What you’re looking at is the Korth Panther set, an exceptionally rare pair of revolvers built on the proven Korth Mongoose platform and chambered in .357 Magnum. But beyond the mechanical foundation, these guns are less about shooting and more about artistic expression taken to an extreme.

At Enforce Tac 2026, the Hungarian manufacturer Gestamen Arms showed their G9 HSP, a semi-automatic pistol built around a modular fire-control concept that allows users to switch between different operating systems within the same platform. Chambered in 9×19mm, the G9 HSP’s defining feature is its interchangeable firing mechanism. The pistol can be configured as either striker-fired or hammer-fired by swapping internal components, a process that can be completed quickly and without specialized tools.

Springfield Armory has introduced the XD Mod.4 OSP 9mm, the latest iteration of its long-running striker-fired pistol lineup, with an MSRP of $399. The Mod.4 OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) features a factory-milled slide with a plate-based mounting system designed to accommodate a range of popular red dot optics. Plates are available separately through the company’s store.

Heckler & Koch has introduced a new 50-round drum magazine designed for its 7.62×51 NATO rifle platforms, including the HK417, G27, G28, and MR308 (called MR762 in the U.S.). The system is aimed at professional users requiring extended firepower while maintaining a relatively compact footprint, offering two-and-a-half times the ammunition load in a single magazine.

The new RCBS MatchMaster Precision Trimmer is getting some new accessory options. These will allow the unit to work with a larger variety of cases and to change more quickly between them. Keep reading for all the details.

The VSS Vintorez emerged during the late Cold War as part of a highly specialized Soviet effort to develop a quiet, compact rifle capable of delivering accurate fire without revealing the shooter’s position. Designed in the 1980s at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITochMash) in Klimovsk, the weapon was part of a program developed by a small team led by noted Soviet engineer Pyotr Serdyukov and Vladimir Krasnikov to produce a sniper rifle and an assault rifle. The sniper rifle was officially adopted by the Soviet military in 1987 and received the GRAU index 6P29. Initially issued to elite organizations such as the KGB, GRU, and specialized Spetsnaz units, it later entered broader service within the Russian military and security forces.

Today’s Photo of the Day highlights a rare, matched-number commemorative set from Smith & Wesson that pairs the Model 1854 lever-action rifle with the Model 29 revolver, both chambered in .44 Magnum. Limited to just 100 sets, this example is number 059 and stands out with engraving accented by 22-karat gold inlay, completed by Baron Engraving.

Welcome back to TFB's Small Business Spotlight! In this series, we take a look at small firearm-related businesses. Today we have a retail gun shop out of Miami, Florida: Miami Gun Room.

Cole-TAC ever-expanding line of shooting rest bags now includes a new model. The Revolution Bag is a streamlined design with a curved surface perfect for use on fence posts and other common stage props. It is also 100% made in America.

Hornady is getting in on the .400 Legend game. They have a new loading in the American Whitetail line that should be more than a match for any deer in a straight-wall state. Keep reading for all the details.

ZEISS has announced plans to spin off its Hunting & Nature business into a new independent company. The agreement will see German investment firm palero become the sole owner of the new entity. Under the deal, ZEISS will license its brand to the company, allowing the business to continue operating under the ZEISS name within the hunting, nature observation, and birding markets. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and completion of the spin-off process.

A recent post by Kalashnikov.ru shed light on the work of a young engineering student on a proposed light machine gun design. It was an interesting design recently submitted at the M. T. Kalashnikov Izhevsk State Technical University (ISTU), where the annual exchange between academic training and practical weapons development continues to produce promising concepts. The certification committee was chaired by Sergei Urzhumtsev, Chief Designer of Small Arms at Kalashnikov Concern, and included leading designers from the company. The review reflected the close cooperation between the university and the concern, a partnership that gives senior students the chance to work on real engineering tasks before graduation.

Hunting rifles have evolved drastically over the years, with modern precision machining and materials such as carbon fiber introduced into both the stock and the barrel, and an off-the-shelf rifle can now outperform custom-built actions from a decade ago. Many people with older rifles seek ways to improve their gun without losing the charm of an old school Remington.

Photo Of The Day: Where winter has arrived in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, and with it comes the annual shift toward cold-weather kits and specialized camouflage. Today’s image highlights Varusteleka’s new L4 Winter Combat garments, purpose-built for operations where the landscape is nothing but snow from horizon to horizon. Below is the Sako TRG M10, all whited-out.

This week in The Rimfire Report, we’re taking a look at another budget-friendly load from one of the world’s best .22LR ammunition manufacturers, ELEY. The last time we featured ELEY, we tested their remarkably consistent and accurate Target 40-grain round nose load. Fired through our Angstadt Vanquish-22 equipped Ruger Precision Rimfire, that round maintained reliable subsonic performance while delivering excellent accuracy. This time, I wanted to try something that would make even better use of the Vanquish-22’s ported barrel, the ELEY Subsonic 38-grain Hollow Point. So let's get right into it.

Bill Wilson has been building firearms since before most of us were born. Now he's written a book about it. Wilson Combat just released Guns, Hunting, and Shooting: What I've Learned in 60 Years, a 234-page hardcover that spans rifle, handgun, and cartridge selection along with lessons learned from a lifetime afield. The book features 350 images across 12 chapters.

Horus Vision has introduced the TREMOR7 reticle, now available in the HoVR 1-8x24mm LPVO riflescope, a configuration aimed at modern sporting rifles and dynamic shooting applications. The TREMOR7 builds on previous Horus reticle designs and is optimized for use in low-power variable optics. It is intended to support fast target engagement at close range while still offering the holdover and wind-calling capability needed for mid-range shooting.

Big Horn Armory has introduced the Model 89 CAT 5, a tactical take on its big-bore lever-action platform chambered in .500 S&W Magnum. The CAT 5 blends traditional lever-gun design with more modern features, including a 16-inch threaded barrel and a modular fore-end developed in collaboration with Ranger Point Tactical. The updated configuration incorporates a Picatinny-style scout rail, allowing users to mount optics and accessories more easily than on a traditional lever gun.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 178! 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.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new Victra 20-gauge shotgun suppressor. This week we are looking at the new silencers from Strategic Sciences. In an age of new and creative suppressor designs, this is clearly the most out-of-the-box one yet.

The Beretta 1301 is a shotgun that needs no introduction at this point, especially since there have been multiple written and video reviews done by my colleagues here at the Blog and by James on the TFBTV side of the house. About 6 months ago, I was offered the opportunity to review the 1301 with the Chisel Stock by Beretta, and naturally, I said: “Hell Yes”. With that being said, I hope to bring an alternative perspective to this review, as the only time I ever carry and shoot a shotgun is when I'm bird hunting in the fall. I have very little time and experience with any tactical shotguns outside of the M26 MASS that I used in the Army for a few years, and that weapon is unique to say the least. I will also be diving more into the Chisel Stock and how it functions and performs.