Reviews

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. Last week, I participated in a practical rifle match and was shocked at the percentage of guns with suppressors. At least 90% of the competitors had a silencer on their rifle. But what are the pros and cons of that equipment choice?

Taurus is getting into the subgun game with the new RPC. This gun features roller-delayed operation, complete with interchangeable locking pieces. Keep reading for all the details.

In the world of 1911s, there are a number of companies offering quality products for almost every budget. In the world of reasonably priced 1911s, Springfield Armory is one of the top companies making quality factory production handguns and occasionally, they do something a bit different from their standard models. This latest pistol, the 10-8 Master Class 1911 is one of those special variantsand it’s a Lipsey’s exclusive. These guns have a number of unique features compared to other production models, which makes these exclusive models a bit more special, but how does it perform? Let's take a closer look at the Springfield Armory 10-8 Master Class 1911.

Less familiar than legacy platforms, machine guns from Gestamen Arms take the lead during a recent live-fire training in Hungary. The G224 LMG and G762 MG are both made by Gestamen in Hungary. I’m not entirely sure exactly which model is used here, as they look very similar, but they are all using Magpul drum magazines.

When I was a kid growing up around marshes in the northeast, I used to pick up empty shotgun shells whenever I found them in the weeds, left there in duck season. 12 gauge was the norm, with the occasional 10 gauge hull spotted. I never found 20 gauge shells back then, but I did find my fair share of 16 gauge empties—but if I searched those same marshes today, I doubt I’d find any. What happened to the 16 gauge, and will it ever come back to popularity?

Springfield Armory's 1911 Garrison lineup has a new addition. The company has released the 1911 Garrison Target in both 9mm and .45 ACP, a pair of full-size, Government-profile 1911s built on the Garrison's hot salt blued forged steel foundation but fitted with an adjustable rear sight for shooters who want a more precise zero. Both variants carry an MSRP of $999.

FN America are introducing the new PUREVIEW Holographic Micro Red Dot Sight in the US. As we reported yesterday, FN Herstal will be offering the PUREVIEW in Europe. The PUREVIEW is a fully enclosed holographic red dot, powered by a CR2032 for 800 hours (continuous) use, it weighs in at 1.5 oz, will be available in black and FDE and has an MSRP of $749.

While it’s not bronzed in the literal sense of the word, Beretta continues expanding the modernized 80X Cheetah platform with the introduction of the newest Tactical Special Edition. The “80X Cheetah Tactical” is a dual-tone variant that layers additional “tactical” features onto the compact SA/DA .380 ACP design. This special edition features a blacked-out slide, barrel, and grips paired with a bronze anodized aluminum frame, black G10 grip panels, a fiber optic front sight, and a Picatinny rail with two slots. The barrel comes threaded in 1/2x28 with a single-port compensator already mounted from the factory.

Springfield Armory has added a bolt-action pistol variant to its Model 2020 Heatseeker lineup. The new Model 2020 Heatseeker .308 Pistol pairs the proven Model 2020 action with a shortened Sharps Bros chassis configuration, producing a compact, modular platform chambered in .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO). MSRP is set at $1,999.

Today on TFBTV, @Hoplopfheil and @BallisticAviation pit the brand new budget-oriented SIG Sauer M400 Forge against the premium M400-SDI X. The Forge is Achambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 16-inch cold hammer-forged (CHF) barrel (1:7 twist), mid-length gas system, and includes a factory-mounted ROMEO-MSR Gen II red dot optic, 15-inch M-LOK handguard, ambidextrous safety and mag release, fixed Magpul MOE SL stock, and a casette-style single-stage trigger. Weighing about 7 lbs, it offers SIG fans a reliable and capable platform, while still coming in at a price that's about $500 less than the more premium SDI X.

For decades, Henry Repeating Arms has sold the same formula for rimfire rifles: A lever-action .22 LR (or .22 Magnum) that comes with iron sights and traditional styling. You might live in the 21st century, but you can feel and look like someone from a Louis L’Amour novel as you blast away at tin cans. The new Henry H1 Bandit breaks that formula. It’s a lever gun, like most Henry rifles, but it’s made for optics, not irons, and it looks like it’s intended to be the next step up for a learning shooter.

Springfield Armory has announced the addition of a new entry to its SAINT Victor lineup: the SAINT Victor 5.5" 9mm PDW, designed to deliver rugged performance in an extremely compact package. For those of us who consider short 9mm PDWs the pinnacle of firearms, and the author counts himself firmly in that camp, this one is worth a close look. After all, most shooting ranges - or your home - don’t require a long barrel, and hushed 9mms are the best.

The radio works. The harder problem is everything else.

Blk Lbl is a small company out of Canada, born from professionals and avid hunters. The idea was simple: create a high-quality handguard and offer the ability for an integrated premium bipod that stores inside the handguard without creating bulk or adding excessive weight. This may seem near impossible, but upon burning the midnight oil and countless cases of Molson Canadian, the team at Blk Lbl accomplished the seemingly impossible. The Blk Lbl handguard with an integrated bipod was born.

Apart from commercial images, this is the first Aimpoint COA R I’ve seen mounted on a rifle/carbine, and out in the wild. The mount is a Spuhr RD-21153 Aimpoint COA with a height of 39mm/1.53", for absolute co-witness.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we discussed the first part of our holster rundown series with what materials to carry and what to expect to spend. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to talk about some of the most popular carry positions and why they could be beneficial to you. In the gun world, there are preferred favorites, but each style has its own benefits in various situations.

The Bear's Leg is offered in four chamberings: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .30-30 Winchester, and .45-70 Government. Every model ships with a factory-threaded barrel (5/8x24), a polymer handguard with M-LOK slots and a Picatinny rail section, fiber optic sights, a large loop lever, and a side loading gate. MSRP is $1,129 across the lineup.

FN Herstal has introduced the FN PUREVIEW, a holographic micro red dot sight built for military, law enforcement, and special operations use. The optic is making its U.S. debut this week at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, running April 16-19, before heading to EUROSATORY in Paris in June.

Vortex Optics have announced the Veil 400, their first thermal monocular ever. The Veil 400 is positioned at close- to mid-range nighttime hunting applications, primarily predator and hog hunting, with secondary uses including game recovery, property monitoring, and low-light navigation. The MSRP is $2,299.99, and the fine details are inside this article.

Jordan Vinroe is the founder and CEO of Gideon Optics, a rapidly growing optics company focused on bringing durable, high-performing red dot sights to the everyday shooter’s budget. In this episode, you’ll get to hear first-hand Jordan’s journey from running gun shows in PA and well-known parts companies to building a dedicated optics brand that has rapidly grown in popularity in a relatively short amount of time. We’ll also get a couple of nods to what Gideon is trying to do to bridge the gap between “duty-ready” performance and realistic, working‑class budgets here in 2026. Please welcome Jordan to the show!

Welcome back to another TFB review. This week, I wanted to take a look at a grail gun that I have always wanted since I was a young man watching action films. There are some firearms that are just the definition of cool factor and even though you won't be able to buy them, they still can be idolized in your head. Late last year, I decided I was going to go for it and pursue my childhood dream of owning a SAW, even if it's the 249S version. I have had this rifle for a few months now and have had some time to get behind it. Let's take a closer look at the FN M249 SAW.

Kicking off the day with some serious old-school vibes courtesy of Ataka Industries. That worn leather jacket thrown into the mix, the throwback sunglasses, a handful of mystery bills and a brick phone all come together to set the perfect mood for today's photo. And what’s in that attaché case? Top secret documents?

Welcome back to Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series that covers everything about revolvers. This week's edition is a product news piece as Smith & Wesson has announced the Bodyguard 38 2.0, an updated version of its compact carry revolver chambered in .38 S&W Special +P. The new model is available in two configurations, standard and with an integrated Crimson Trace red laser pre-installed, priced at $449 and $549, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new!

If you buy firearms in California, there’s a secret tax you don’t know about, but it almost certainly affects you. Ever since 2024, California has levied an excise tax on firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers, not consumers—but studies indicate (and common sense dictates) that consumers eventually bear the weight of this government burden. Now, the Firearms Policy Coalition is gearing up to fight California’s Assembly Bill 28 (AB 28) in court.

Federal Ammunition is shipping two new ammunition options these days. There’s a new entry in its Punch series of self-defense cartridges and also a new shotgun load for busting clays.

Olight has just announced some new lights set to be released just ahead of the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits (where they hold a booth annually). The company has made some great strides in overall popularity in the US Firearms market, with the Osight being one of the most successful releases from the company in recent memory, and the adoption of their weapon lights becoming a more common sight. For 2026, Olight is announcing an extension to two of their already popular handled flashlight lines, with a new stylish variant of the ArkPro Ultra ultra-slim flashlight/laser combo, as well as an upgraded and cooler-running variant of the highly popular Baton series in the form of the new Baton 4 Pro and Baton Ultra. Full details on both are below.

Chiappa Firearms has announced the 92 Core, a new addition to its Wildlands lever-action series for 2026. Chambered in .44 Magnum with an 8+1 capacity, the 92 Core is built around a 16.5-inch hammer-forged barrel and is positioned as a practical field rifle rather than a collector or range piece.

The tactical nylon market is overrun with chest rigs and chest-mounted kits. Too often, it’s a game of rinse and repeat with little to no innovation. While all chest rigs can trace their roots to the original ChiCom chest rig, it is FullTang Tactical that has turned the page and written a new chapter that will set the direction of modern chest rigs to come. Let’s analyze this change of the guard by going full steam on FullTang.

Today’s Photo of the Day features a customized SIG Sauer M17, shown here with a range of upgrades associated with SOCOM AAL-style configurations. Built on the P320-based M17 platform, this setup focuses on improved handling, control, and adaptability. The pistol is fitted with a Brouwer M1811 Grip Module, paired with a matching magwell to enhance reloads and overall ergonomics. A GoGun Gas Pedal is mounted to provide additional leverage for recoil control, while a flat-faced trigger replaces the standard curved unit.

Welcome back to TFB’s   Small Business Spotlight! In this weekly column, we take a look at small firearm-related businesses. Today’s company is Mountain Man Defense, a manufacturer of AR-15 pattern rifles from Billings, Montana.