Reviews

The Cheapest “Match” 2011? That’s the hook. I took the Girsan 2311 S Match, a sub-$1,000, competition-style double-stack 1911, out for a proper range day to see what you actually get at this price. On paper, it checks a lot of boxes for the money. Five-inch bull barrel. About 41 ounces on the scale. Polymer grip module with an extended beavertail. Ambi safety. A railed full-length dust cover. An adjustable rear sight that doubles as the cover plate for a direct-mount RMSc footprint, so micro dots like the Holosun 407K can sit low without an adapter. It ships with Check-Mate magazines, one flush 17 and one extended 20, which matters if you are thinking about spares and match lengths.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM R45 Multi-Host Suppressor. This week we are testing backpressure effects on rate of fire. And thanks to the unique design of the BOE Mod 1 silencer we can compare performance with and without forward gas venting on the same can.

As an experienced IPSC competitor, trying to specialize in the rifle and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) divisions, I've put countless optics through the test over the years, both for reviews and my own training. I've competed in numerous national and international events, including the first IPSC PCC 2025 World Shoot in the Czech Republic, where precision, speed, and reliability are non-negotiable. About three years ago, I purchased the Holosun HS510C from an authorized dealer at full list price (close to $550 at the time), mounting it on my competition PCC. A friend had the same optical setup, and I copied it. He has since moved forward to several other solutions and brands, but I kept my PCC the same.

The Sako TRG M10, fielded by Swedish Amphibious Forces as the Prickskyttegevär 23 (PSG 23), rests on a bipod during a live-fire sniper demonstration. Regular readers should know the basics of this rifle well, except here it’s Cerakoted in HIR-601. This color is sometimes described as Swedish Flat Dark Earth, and HIR stands for High Infrared Reflectivity/Reduced IR, a line of coatings focused on both visible and near-infrared signature (how things look in night vision or IR scopes.

I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine about a month ago. Been shooting it, been thinking about it, and I keep coming back to the same question - why do rifle cartridges in revolvers keep showing up? This is a thing that's been happening for over 150 years, and I can't figure out if there's still a good reason for it or if we're all just buying these guns because they're weird and fun.

What we can do is assemble the clearest picture available: the OTs-142 appears to be a compact, squad-level belt-fed support weapon in the same family of experiments that produced the OTs-124 and OTs-128 (the Alatau-family projects which I covered earlier), where designers at TsKIB SOO and related Tula bureaus have been rethinking how to deliver automatic fire with modern ergonomics and unusual feed arrangements.

The infinite search for the perfect bipod continues, and there’s now a new option on the market. Warne has introduced the new Vapor Bipod, a U.S.-made, all-aluminum support system designed for precision and stability. Built with steel hardware for added durability, the Vapor Bipod is said to offer a solid shooting platform at an accessible price point.

I previously covered the postwar use of the  StG 44 in post-war Yugoslavia and the importance of its development during World War II, which prompted every nation to investigate the concept of the assault rifle. Some nations reached different conclusions: the Americans with the full-power M14, and the Soviets with the intermediate cartridge AK, which were both still under development at this time. But the StG 44 itself did not disappear in 1945. Instead, it embarked on a strange afterlife across the globe, one that carried it from the battlefields of Europe to the jungles of Indochina, and later, Vietnam.

The limited edition Cabot Guns pistols are usually embellished with elaborate engravings and textures, however, the one we have for today’s Photo Of The Day was created with a drastically different approach. Inspired by mirror architecture, the Cabot Cloak 1911 pistol is polished to a mirror finish, which, by reflecting the surrounding objects, makes the gun virtually disappear in the environment as if covered by a cloak of invisibility.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about the social side of carrying a concealed handgun. We find ourselves in tough situations and I went over a number of common issues. 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 of the stereotypical personalities in the carry community that I have run into throughout my time. This is a break from the more serious articles, a way to enjoy the different groups of individuals out there. Let's take a closer look at the top stereotypes of carrying. 

Recently, TFB reported that FN Herstal is discontinuing all commercial models of FN SCAR. The news hit me like a ton of bricks. Why? Because back in the day, I had a unique chance to see SCAR-H in one of the most demanding weapon trials of the last few decades.

I like to keep at least one “back to basics” rifle in my collection, and this might be another perfect fit. Arsenal, Inc. has expanded the SAM7K family with a short-barrel rifle variant, the SAM7K-28, pairing the proven 7.62×39mm SAM7K action with a purpose-built precision-machined aluminum buttstock. The new stock attaches via a 1913 Picatinny interface and was engineered and manufactured in-house to deliver the rigidity, fit and ergonomics required of a compact Short Barreled Rifle (SBR).

If you love hog hunting and you love lever-action rifles, then Custom & Collectible Firearms has a new custom job on the market that might tickle your fancy … although it appears to be far, far too nice to actually drag around the woods hog hunting. Their new, reworked Marlin 1894 SBL Wild Boar .44 Magnum does look like it would be an effective weapon against porcine prey, but the price tag and the fancy-pants aesthetic might mean you want to keep it on your wall display case.

The Kyle family name is well known to those who keep close tabs on military literature and stories. Chris Kyle, known as the American Sniper, has become somewhat of a household name not simply due to Chris’s service and untimely death, but through the legacy that he’s left behind with his wife and two children. Today, we’ll be speaking with Chris’s son, Colton Kyle, about the American Sniper brand and what he, as an eager, dedicated, and mature young adult, is doing to further his father’s work, as well as carve a path for himself alongside his family and their legacy. Today, we’ll hear all about the American Sniper brand, as well as some of Colton and Chris Kyle’s favorite firearms, and of course, a bit about him as a person, and what life was like in the Kyle family growing up. Please give Mr. Colton Kyle a warm welcome to the show, and be sure to wish him and his fiancée well on their upcoming wedding!

When it comes to precision gas guns chambered in 5.56 that blend boutique craftsmanship with practicality and affordability, the Munitionworks Mod J SPR continues to impress me even after 2 years of faithful yet abusive service in my hands. Building on my earlier impressions and 2 years of faithful service, this Part II review focuses on real-world use throughout the years and roughly 5,000 rounds, both at my regular range sessions, as well as my favorite training facility - Thunder Ranch. In addition to that, I’ve also recently been able to take some extended range testing at Leupold’s private range in the Oregon desert, where we got a good chance to test out some new ammo and push the rifle to its limits in terms of practical accuracy.  

Over the years, I have taken over 100,000 photos of guns and shooting competitions. It’s extremely rare to catch the bullet trace. My experience is that it only happens in certain lighting conditions, with certain shutter speeds and perhaps only when it’s humid? From a photographer who documents his local multi-gun matches, we had this image submitted for our Photo Of The Day.

About a month and a half ago I saw something I didn't think I'd see for a long time. The Ruger Blackhawk in .30 Carbine showed up in distribution. I work in the firearms industry so I get to see that sort of thing, and the second I spotted it I grabbed one. Haven't seen another come through since.

Staccato has expanded its HD family with a purpose-built carry pistol: the HD C3.6. Brought to market after years of field feedback from the brand’s professional users, the C3.6 pares the HD formula down to a more concealable package without sacrificing the speed, accuracy and controllability the line is known for. The HD C3.6 is Staccato’s first HD carry model. It pairs a 3.6-inch barrel with a compact, ergonomic frame designed to tuck easier for everyday carry while preserving the HD’s signature performance traits.

FN America have shared a statement confirming the news, offering assurances that spares for the 'legacy SCAR' will be available and that the end of production in the US does not impact military contracts. The full announcement can be read below:

TriStar Arms has announced the release of the new APOC, a compact 9mm pistol designed to offer modern features, dependable performance, and exceptional value. It’s yours for just $359.

CZ adds a camo-clad member to the 457 family with the new 457 Hunter Veil, a lightweight rimfire built for small-game work and precise range sessions. The rifle blends dependable CZ mechanics with a modern Veil® Big Sky polymer stock finished in a soft-touch coating that both hides the shooter and provides a secure, weather-resistant grip designed for real field use.

Integrally suppressed firearms are an almost sub-niche within the niche that is firearm suppressors. Angstadt Arms is one of the few names in town that is actively producing not just one, but several different types of integrally suppressed firearms and standalone barrels, and today, they’re introducing the new Vanquish AR-22, which should be the perfect addition to any dedicated CMMG 22LR upper.

MK18 Mod 0 in Hanoi, Vietnam. By Lynndon Schooler. Conceived at the dawn of the 40x46 mm grenade launcher era, the Mk18 Mod 0 expanded the capability of the single-shot M79 and predated the fully automatic, belt-fed launchers that would dominate by the late Vietnam War. Among the most unusual crew-served weapons adopted by the US during that conflict, the Mk18 was developed by Honeywell’s Ordnance Division beginning in 1962 in response to an urgent US Navy request for a rapid-fire grenade launcher to provide close support for US Navy riverine crafts. It was designed to saturate targets with low-velocity 40x46 mm grenades, powered by nothing more complex than a hand-cranked mechanism.

The Ak5 (Automatkarbin 5) is the standard-issue assault rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces, a licensed variant of the FN FNC developed in the 1980s and upgraded in the 2000s for better reliability in cold climates and modern optics (Aimpoint red dot) compatibility. It’s being phased out by the Ak24, with the M4 as an interim solution in a few places.

Welcome back to TFB’s Small Business Spotlight! In this weekly article series, we talk about small firearm-related businesses. Today’s company is Contour Tactics, a manufacturer of an advanced AR-15 front grip called FOG (Forward Operating Grip).

The Springfield Armory Hellcat burst onto the scene 5+ years ago as the "world's highest capacity, micro-compact” and has retained that title ever since. Over the years we have seen numerous, new iterations come about like optics ready models (OSP), threaded barrels, magazine extendos, and a lot of tactical colors. Today, we are reviewing the newly-announced Hellcat OSP .380 ACP, which is the first offering of a Hellcat chambered in .380 ACP (.380 Auto). Let’s dive in!

The little cartridge that could is gaining even more momentum in 2025 as it has found a new home in the venerable Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP (Optical Sight Pistol). You can now get a Hellcat chambered in .380 ACP for all of the concealed carry loyalists who also love themselves a good 380 pistol.

Jacob Grey’s NOX-9 is a five-inch, steel frame, double-stack 1911 in 9mm with ports, a compensator, an RMR plate behind the ejection port, a very light single-action trigger, and all tool steel internals with no MIM.

Auto Ordnance is at it again, with a new line of firearms badged with commemorative flair that celebrates America’s military history. This time, it’s a set of 1911-pattern pistols that celebrate the 250th year of the U.S. Navy, and to go with that, another pistol set that commemorates the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. Sort of.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat is now available in .380 ACP, but why would you choose it over the original 9mm? In this review, we cover everything you need to know about the new Hellcat 380. We dive deep into the specs, comparing its size and weight directly to the 9mm version, and find that it offers almost no concealability advantage. So, what's the point?