Reviews

Firearms are tools, the hero Shane points out in the 1953 Western drama of the same name. And sometimes, it’s handy to have a specialty tool—a shotgun that’s made to be dragged through thick brush in pursuit of partridge. A pistol that’s made to stop a charging bear dead in its tracks. Or, in the case of the MRX Bison Scout carbine from Black Creek Labs, a rifle that’s compact and easy to transport, with many of the useful features of an AR-pattern firearm, but in a bolt-action format that leaves you less likely to be hassled by The Man.

Magnifiers are a simple and easy way to stretch the usefulness of your standard red dot sight like the Meprolight TruVision to their maximum potential on the range. Developed specifically for the Israeli military, Meprolight has been providing the IDF with home-grown optics for nearly 25 years, and they’re constantly trying to update their catalog of powered and passively illuminated optics to meet the ever-increasing demands of both military outfits and regular consumers. In the broad scheme of things, magnifiers are actually a pretty underserved sector of the optics market and that’s why I’m glad that Meprolight not only keeps their newish MMX3 magnifier in production but that it’s also one of the more affordable options in this very limited market. Today we’ll go over why I think it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a more budget-oriented magnifier instead of higher-end magnifiers.

A few weeks back I took my concealed carry pistol to the range for some much-needed practice. When I drew and acquired a sight picture, the only thing that went through my mind was “what the hell is that thing.” I had been shooting red dot sight-equipped pistols exclusively for months on end. In the time leading up to this practice trip, I had shot a few steel challenge matches, USPSA matches and took a course – all with red dot equipped pistols. The thing in my sight picture happened to be a steel sight post. Whether I liked it or not, the caveman tool sitting on the top deck of the slide turned out to be jarring.

This is a review of the Delta Optical Stryker HD 1-10x28 SDOG-1 (MRAD) riflescope. This is a compact Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) with a reticle in the First Focal Plane (FFP), parallax adjustment and exposed lockable turrets. The brand Delta Optical is from Poland, but this sight is Made In Japan. When asking around, the brand is typically described as offering optics with a blend of wide magnification, illuminated reticles, good twilight performance, sharp optics, and affordability. There is always a strong demand for high-quality optics at reasonable prices, and there are many reasons to include Delta when you’re on the market for new glass.

It's no secret that the firearms community can be filled with pockets of people who you want to spend time with at the range and people you might wish were holding up your targets downrange. It's a very divisive but passionate place. I know I am not treading new ground here by any means but it's important to remember that going to the range doesn't have to be all about Bill Drills and split times with a ported Glock 19 running the newest optic you saw SOCOM adopt. It doesn't have to be that serious if you don’t want it to be. With 2024 being the unofficial year of the lever gun, I thought this would be a perfect time to bring everyone a review on a lever gun from the past, well kinda.

The Desert Eagle is one of the most widely used firearms in movies; while watching Deadpool & Wolverine, I pointed out to my wife that Deadpool was using Desert Eagles, and this wasn’t the first time I’d done this during a movie. Having never fired one until recently, I wondered why they were so popular in movies but not so much in the home or self-defense realm. I had my suspicions. It’s a giant, intimidating handgun, perfect for use in cinema. However, that doesn’t translate well into concealed carrying or home defense, so I had to test it out.

Weapon-mounted lights are a great addition to any solid general-purpose or home-defense rifle. While there are a few who disagree, most of us know that having a light on your rifle is a very good idea, almost a necessity. When it comes to my guns for self or home defense - all of them have lights. While most of us civilians might never find ourselves clearing multi-story buildings, or trying to ID a bad guy way off in the distance in the dark, defensive scenarios are a very different story. If someone breaks into your home or you hear odd noises on your property at night, it’s crucial to be able to properly identify what you’re hearing, especially in low-light conditions, before taking any direct action.

Last year when I was ramping up to compete in the Tactical Games, I only owned an Eotech and thought that would be enough for the competition. I asked around to a few of our fellow writers who had already competed in the games and they quickly told me that only having an optic with no magnification was going to make things much more difficult for me at the competition.

AR-15 upper receivers are available in an expansive and often bewildering array, but Rosco Manufacturing’s 11.5” K9 Wedge Lock URG stands out among the rest. Rosco rolled out URDs at the start of 2024 and I am sure it has been a boom for them. Pretty natural, I mean why not toss all your product into one package (or multiple)? Everything about this URG has been crafted with purpose, from its continuous taper K9 barrel profile to its Wedge Lock handguard system. As we delve deeper into the specs and features of the 11.5" K9 Wedge Lock URG, you can decide for yourselves if this setup is worth the hype at all. Let’s dive right into the review!

The Kriss Vector is a contentious firearm for many however throughout its many iterations the platform has continued to garner a following for a few major reasons, the first being its unique looks which have always invoked a sci-fi vibe akin to Stargate or Cyberpunk 2077. The second is its Super V system that imparts its signature recoil impulse and makes the Vector a blast to shoot. Unfortunately, due to how the Vector has to be built around the Super V, there have always been ergonomic problems with the shorter pistol and SBR variants. Kriss has sold their own solutions and rails for quite a while but now Strike Industries has thrown their hat into the ring.

Pistol red dots are a fairly common thing these days. We’ve come a long way since the early days of mounting gigantic optics like the early Aimpoint and Tasco red dots to the frames of 1911s. We can now mount some excellent optics, directly on our pistol slides, and the options at this point are virtually endless - it just depends on what you want to do with it. Vortex has been putting in a lot of work lately to expand its pistol and rifle optics line to be as comprehensive as possible. Standard RMR-type designs were some of their first ventures into the pistol-mounted optics category, but Vortex quickly upped the game by putting in their bid to the “large window” pistol red dot category. Primarily intended for competition shooters who value a large viewing window, the Vortex Defender XL is the company’s equivalent of Trijicon’s RMR HD, Holosuns 507COMP, or Shield’s RMSX. Today we’re going to check out what it offers, how it’s priced for its specific sector of the pistol optics market, and some of my thoughts on my experiences with it over the last 9 months.

When it comes to optic durability, Leupold has always had a strong reputation, especially among professionals and law enforcement. The Leupold Mark 4HD 1-4.5X25 M5C3 SFP Scope is no exception. It's designed to serve those who require precision and durability in the field, and after spending some quality time with this scope, I can confidently say it lived up to my durability expectations.

The history of the battlefield is littered with tales of shooters, and their rifles accomplishing monumental feats of marksmanship with their trusty standard service weapons. While a lot of these feats are often played up for morale or even entirely fabricated, some guys and their rifles truly did have a knack for being pinpoint shooters on the battlefield. Fast forward to 2002 and that concept became an entire dedicated weapons system and its own class of dedicated battlefield marksmen. I’m of course talking about the SPR concept. While the idea of being accurate at long range with a standard service rifle has been in the works for centuries, the Special Purpose Rifle or SPR is a specific type of rifle, typically chambered in 5.56, meant to fill the role of a DMR (designated marksman rifle) without the need for an entirely different cartridge just for that rifle. Today we’ll be reviewing the Munitionworks MOD J SPR - a rifle that is intended to perform at the level as the original Mk 12 SPR, but with a few modernizations that make it a better fit for 2024’s shooters.

In our pursuit as shooters for the flattest, most stable, lowest recoiling, most accurate, and best handgun possible, we try anything and everything to achieve our goal. This can present itself through different metal alloy firearms, extendo magazines, weapon-mounted lights, red dots, and all manner of tweaks so we can get on a podium or simply kick our range buddy’s butt. One of my favorite pistols to shoot in the last couple years as I’ve joined the 2011 cult has been the Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy. The Prodigy (a 1911 double-stack) affords you a lot of good features like all 2011-style handguns. They are beefy (fill your grip completely), heavy (the weight mitigates recoil), and are modern enough for all of your favorite add-ons (red dot, flashlight, extendos, etc). Moreover, being an all metal frame and slide, you can craft these pistols to tighter tolerances than their polymer counterparts for a smoother operation. In sum, there is a reason why someone “spiked the punch” at the gun range with a dash of 2011, and everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid now.

The Steyr Scout Mk II is a unique rifle. It's not the first gun to wear the name “Steyr Scout,” but it keeps the features that made the original memorable while improving it in concrete ways. It's a one-of-a-kind blend of hunting rifle, precision rifle, and defensive carbine. Over the last several months I have used this rifle extensively, and it's time to share my findings.

The world of tactical rifles is a sea of new products both in the AR15 market and the AR alternatives group. One of the major products to come onto the market in recent years is the MCX line of rifles from SIG. The latest generation is a lighter and updated system. I was browsing the interwebs and decided to snag one of the new 11.5” Spear LTs and after some time with this new variant, I can give you my fair shakedown of the updated MCX. Let’s take a closer look at the new SIG MCX Spear LT.

For those who shoot in high power service rifle matches, the dedicated Nightforce scope for that game needs no introduction. It is a common sight on the rifles of people who can afford the best equipment. When Nightforce hit me up with the opportunity to try it out I enthusiastically said yes.

It's hard to come out with something that interests me in the 1911 market these days. The market has been saturated with pistols in almost every price range with a large variety of features. So how does Springfield Armory's Garrison hold up? Springfield has been making 9mm and .45 caliber 1911s for years now, with everything from top-of-the-line railed models like the TRP, Operator, and Emissary lines to more traditional pistols like the Mil Spec. The Garrison sits right in the middle of the pack with much appreciated modern features like the 3 dot Novak sights, skeletonized hammer and the extended beavertail. It does all this while keeping the lines and feel of a mil-spec 1911 versus something like the Emissary. Let's dive into the review.

Once upon a time, the “low power variable optic” (LPVO) was a 1-4x scope. Then along came the 1-6x, then the 1-8x, and now the 1-10x. A top-end with 10x magnification is hardly “low power,” particularly when that was the standard magnification for USMC sniper rifles for many years. The Trijicon Credo 1-10x28 First Focal Plane (FFP) scope combines a 1x low end with a 10x top end and FFP reticle

Everyone loves a good large windowed enclosed optic with quick brightness adjustments and a crisp reticle. C&H has entered the game with their ERD-1 which was announced at SHOT2024. I had a chance to talk with the very kind folks there and they gave me the low down. I feel embarrassed to say I do not remember much of what was said but it was because I was so interested in the ERD-1. It had my attention and I knew I had to review it down the road. They were nice enough to send a T&E sample my way when production got rolling so here we are. How does it stand up in today’s market? Let’s dive right into my review of the C&H Precision ERD-1 Red Dot Sight!

In the world of guns and gear, we often talk about the latest and greatest when it comes to the newest gun products but we talk little about protecting our guns when there are some very clever ways of adding layers of security to your firearms when you’re not around. For the last 6 months or so I have been trying out and testing the Simtek StealthALERT motion detector in my gun safe and after some time with the sensor, I can confidently say I have enough info to bring you guys my thoughts. Let’s take a closer look at the Simtek StealthALERT System.

Welcome back to another TFB review. A few weeks ago I looked at FN’s updated and modernized take on the legendary High Power. If you happened to miss that review, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, we are taking a look at the more classic Hi-Power style pistol we all know from the pages of history. Springfield Armory came out with the SA-35 back in 2021 and this is one of the most faithful reproductions of the Browning Hi-Powers on the market today. After spending a couple of months with the SA-35, I can confidently give you some points on the pistol. Let’s take a closer look at the new Springfield Armory SA-35.

This is a review of the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF - HD Thermal Riflescope. The XL50 may look like its other siblings in the Thermion 2 LRF line-up, but it has all the superpowers that the others want. I've had the privilege of using various thermal rifle scopes and optics over the years. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, but for about a year, I had the opportunity to field test the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF. This review will cover my firsthand experience with a huge amount of images. This is Pulsar’s high-end thermal rifle scope, with an MSRP of $8,799.99 when it was introduced at SHOT Show. 

Retro is all the rage these days. Though flat top uppers remain the standard and are much easier to use with optics, the nostalgia factor of the classic carry handle still has a certain allure. Springfield Armory is one of the first major manufacturers to embrace that trend with the SA-16A2.

Bergara rifles have a rich history rooted in the Basque region of Spain, known for its long-standing tradition of fine craftsmanship in firearms. Established in the early 2000s, Bergara gained recognition for their precision barrels, which were initially produced for other firearm manufacturers. Their popularity soon led to the development of their complete rifle systems. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques with traditional gun-making skills, Bergara quickly earned a reputation for producing accurate and reliable rifles, catering to hunters, shooters, and tactical users worldwide. Over the years, Bergara has expanded its product line and continued to refine its offerings, becoming a prominent name in the long-range precision market.

Taurus has entered the single-action six-shooter fold with their Taurus Deputy in either .357 Magnum or 45 Colt. This blacked-out bad boy, inspired by the legendary Peacemaker, made its debut at the beginning of 2024 and made a good impression on yours truly. After handling it at SHOT2024 I had to get my hands on it and see how it performed under some old soul range time. Does it stand up to competing models? What sets it apart? Let’s dive right into my review of the Taurus Deputy!

Meprolight has added new open emitter red dot sights to their catalog, including today’s subject, the Meprolight MPO-F. The MPO-F is a Full-size and full-featured red dot sight with the RMR footprint, battery door, two-button operation and three reticle options. I recently reviewed the smaller MPO-S with the RMSc footprint, but with the larger footprint of the MPO-F, also comes a larger objective lens for viewing targets. Let’s take a look.

Spotting scopes are really handy tools for a variety of shooting disciplines. Whether you’re carrying one along for better target identification, or just trying to get a read on where your shots are going on long-distance targets, spotting scopes can help you and a friend fill in the missing important visual data for the next shot. Maven Optics makes their optics all over the world, including the United States. Their S series of optics including the Maven S.3 that we’re talking about today are assembled in San Diego, California from Japanese components and then shipped to the company’s headquarters in Lander, Wyoming for their final quality control inspection. What makes them a more budget-friendly brand is their “direct to consumer” business model which cuts out the retailer and therefore a significant portion of the added costs of sales. Today we’ll be checking out what I think is one of the more flexible options in the Maven spotting scope lineup - the Maven S.3A interchangeable lens spotting scope.

Hello and welcome back to another edition of The Rimfire Report! This ongoing series is all about the rimfire firearm world and its many different types of guns, shooting sports, ammunition, and history! Last week we covered Ruger’s first-ever firearm, the Standard .22LR pistol. While the pedigree of the Ruger Standard pistol is still cherished today, as many of you pointed out, the pistols were pretty unreliable and inaccurate back in the day - modern examples are a much better example of what Ruger was probably going for upon the initial release of the Standard. Today and over the rest of the year we will be getting back into ammunition testing - both in Clear Ballistic gelatin, and also through chronographs and one type of rifle to give you guys a general idea of the performance you can expect from every kind of ammunition. To kick off this new set of ammunition tests we’ll first be testing Federal’s Game-Shok 38-grain Copper Plated Hollow Point 22LR Ammunition. This ammunition from Federal claims to be suitable for hunting small game and should provide the user with an “accurate and consistent” load for shot-to-shot accuracy on presumably squirrel-sized targets.

Brownells, in large part, started the retro resurgence of the last few years. While they did get out of the game with complete guns, they still offer parts and uppers. The most recent batch of uppers is more modern and includes the Brownells 733, a Model 733 clone. Yes, the 733 we all know and love from the movie Heat. When Brownells offered me a review of this upper, I promptly sent them my shipping info and I started loading magazines.