Reviews

The equipment design and procurement failures that produce poor fit for female officers, why body armor, duty belts, and holsters built around a male body type create real safety and performance gaps, and what agencies and officers can do about it.

Happy Independence Day! This July 4th, we’re back with even more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like 5.11 Tactical, 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 while you’re ringing in the 4th with the sound of freedom.

Not every range has a roof or a traditional backstop. Aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), a sailor assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group runs live-fire drills with an M4 carbine on the ship's flight deck while underway in the Caribbean Sea, February, 2026. The open-air range is as operational as it gets.

Welcome to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at some of the tough realities when it comes to carrying concealed. 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 deeper dive into what is actually necessary versus what is useful. So many people say the magwell or two-tone coloring on their handgun is an absolute must and then proceed to explain why it's completely necessary when, in reality, most times it's just what they wanted or it can be slightly useful. I decided to take a look at the three top items to see if they're really must-change items to carry safer or if it's just something you want. Let's take a closer look at useful vs necessary concealment items.

Headstamp Publishing has launched pre-orders their latest book "The Real Schmeissers: From the M.P. 18.I to the M.P. 41," a 678-page book covering the complete history of Hugo Schmeisser's submachine gun designs from World War I through World War II.

Luke C. speaks to Ian at GunCon 2026 to check out the o"ST"-14 Groza kit from the boys over at Stuff & Things Inc (STINC), a drop-in bullpup conversion that turns a PSA Krink (AK-74U pattern pistol) into a reasonably obtainable version of the Russian OTs-14 Groza. STINC says their conversion kit has compatibility with the 300 BLK, 7.62x39, and 5.56 Krink variants, with some fitting work potentially needed on other AK platforms.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) sits down with Mark from @dsainc at GunCon 2026 to talk about the FAL and why the company is putting all its focus there. DSArms is stepping back from its AR-10 offerings to dedicate itself fully to the platform it's built its reputation on for decades. Mark gets into what's driving the change and why DSArms sees its future tied to the FAL rather than spreading resources across multiple rifle platforms. The conversation moves into what makes the FAL such an enduring design, from its battle-proven 7.62x51mm chambering to its adjustable gas system and decades of combat history earning it the nickname "the right arm of the free world." Luke and Mark talk through how DSArms is keeping that legacy alive in the 21st century, with modern furniture, optic compatibility, and continued manufacturing of the SA58 line right here in the US.

We’ve been following the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program here at TFB from the very beginning and we recently reported that the US Army had received the first batch of the new and improved version of the NGSW-Rifle - the XM8. The XM8 Carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M7 rifle and it looks set to supplant the longer weapon.

In this episode of the TFB Behind the Gun podcast, Scott Ergas of Petersen's Hunting joins the conversation to relive their recent weekend at the NRL Hunter Leupold Relentless Rifleman match. Today, Scott and I speak to the practical realities of North American hunting in the modern age, from a lifetime of field skills and heavily tested gear to the mindset that defines success at a match or on a hunt. Scott shares his thoughts on how precision rifle competitions like NRL Hunter sharpen hunters while building a bridge to the next generation and also shares some personal stories of hunting with his daughter and fond memories from his own childhood. Please give Scott a warm welcome to the show!

I first heard about Brownell’s Action Hero Experience the same way most attendees did: through their YouTube channel. I decided to check it out since it was only a few hours away, and I’ve never been to a 2 Gun shooting competition before. The event coordinators were gracious enough to offer me a spot on one of the squads when I arrived, but I decided I wanted to observe from an outside perspective. (Also, I’ve never competed before, and I didn’t want to embarrass TFB.)

The La Paz Sand Dunes on the northern coast of Luzon made for an unusual battlefield on May 4, 2026, but the mission was unmistakable. In the first image, Pfc. Griffin Clemen of 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Mobile Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, works the M240B during the Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise North (CLLFX-N) as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026. In the second, his battalion mate Pfc. Brian Shultz takes cover behind an M250 in the dunes alongside Philippine forces during the same drill.

When you think of true deep concealment handguns, a few companies go a bit deeper than anyone else. North American Arms is one of the stealthiest of those companies, making hideout guns that can be stowed away in a spot that you wouldn’t normally think of—and this limited-edition revolver, made to celebrate America’s birthday bash this weekend, is the perfect example. Although considering the blinged-out look of the belt-buckle holster and the handgun inside, maybe the point isn’t to hide it at all, but to show it off?

XS Sight Systems has released a new line of fiber optic sights designed specifically for Smith & Wesson revolvers. The Fort Worth, Texas-based manufacturer now offers sight options for J, K, and L frame models, with both fixed and adjustable rear sight configurations.

B.E. Meyers & Co. continues its longstanding support of US military night fighting capabilities with a significant new contract award. The Redmond, Washington-based company has been selected to deliver thousands of its advanced DAGIR-V1 laser systems to the US Army’s PM Soldier Lethality. This order underscores the growing emphasis on enhanced small arms fire control and lethality during low-light operations. Built around advanced VCSEL technology, the DAGIR series delivers compact, rugged performance that integrates aiming and illumination functions for modern weapon platforms.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) catches up with Dave from @samsonmfg at GunCon 2026 to check out their new modernized Mini-14 chassis. Built almost entirely from aluminum, this is a significant step up from Samson's existing wood and steel folding stock options, bringing a more modern, tactical platform to the Mini-14 and a more precise lockup. The chassis features a fully adjustable folding stock and is compatible with Samson's Hannibal rail for those wanting to add a modern top rail for optics. It's currently drop-in compatible with Mini-14 rifles from 2008 and newer. Dave walks Luke through the design choices behind the chassis and what Mini-14 owners can expect when it comes to fit, adjustability, and overall handling compared to the factory stock. And of course, the price.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) sits down with Jim from Extar Firearms (also of ⁨@jetskijim007⁩  where he reviews jet skis) at GunCon 2026 to check out the EP9 MDB and EP45 MDB (Modern Delayed Blowback), the latest versions of Extar's budget-friendly large-format pistols. These guns have earned a reputation as some of the most affordable PDW options on the market, and now Jim walks Luke through the biggest change yet: a switch to roller-delayed blowback. The EP9 MDB comes in at 3.75 lbs and is chambered in 9x19, while the EP45 MDB weighs 4.35 lbs and runs .45 ACP. Both keep the Glock magazine compatibility, AR-style controls, M-LOK handguards, and threaded barrels that made the originals popular, all while staying true to Extar's direct-to-consumer pricing.

Luke C (@BallisticAviation) catches up with Brett from Nightwood Guns at GunCon 2026 to talk through the special edition Bul Armory EDC Pro Compact, a collaboration between the two companies. Brett breaks down what went into the build and why this version stands apart from the standard EDC Pro Compact lineup, and the conversation gets a surprise boost when Ben Rendel, President of Bul Armory, stops by the booth to join in on the conversation.

I think we've all been there, or maybe the rest of you just have better taste than I do. Budget Optics. How cheap is too cheap? We've already taken a swing at MCG's $79 "not-EOTech" and their Dark Force night vision binos, and MCG was kind enough to keep the gravy train rolling by sending over their Kodiak Combat Scope, a red dot that's very obviously sketching off the silhouette of an Aimpoint PRO/CompM2, just without the Swedish optics heritage, the NSN, or, as far as I can tell, any "Made in" markings whatsoever. So let's open up this can of mystery meat and see what you get for just a hair under $80 or less.

Some rifle builds come together as a sum of parts. Others arrive as a statement. This one leans toward the latter. The foundation is a Tikka TAC A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor, a platform that has quietly earned a serious reputation among precision shooters who want chassis-rifle capability without the chassis-rifle price tag. It sits in a category where the round does a lot of the work, and 6.5 Creedmoor continues to prove itself the sensible choice for anyone shooting at distance who hasn't already committed to something more exotic. Everything else just works.

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 RX Arms, a manufacturer of tactical shotgun parts and accessories.

The intention behind the original Cutts Compensator was to reduce your gun’s muzzle climb as well as its recoil. The idea was that the ports cut into the compensator’s body would redirect gasses in such a way that your gun was more controllable, focusing on vertical muzzle movement during repeat firing.

Luke C (@BallisticAviation) is at GunCon 2026 with Jonathan from AR Takedown Tools, and this booth visit is centered on something genuinely new: an LSD Arms rifle built to ship from the factory with a forced reset trigger already installed. Jonathan walks through how AR Takedown Tools teamed up with The Triggered Company and LSD Arms to integrate the Disruptor FRT directly into the build, rather than treating it as an aftermarket drop-in.

Historically, the firearms manufacturer Remington has been tied to the town of Ilion and the surrounding area since its founding by Eliphalet Remington and his family in 1816. At one point, the plant actually claimed it was the oldest factory in the U.S. that still made the products it was originally built to produce.

Colt Electro Optics LLC announced its first family of red dot optics on June 29, 2026, according to a press release. The Michigan-based company introduced three products: the MRS-1 pistol red dot, the CSQ-1 rifle red dot, and the C3X-1 3x magnifier. All three optics are designed, engineered, and assembled in Michigan.

The newest trend in handgun optics is enclosed emitters over the last several years. As the industry leans into incremental changes and improvements to make optics, handguns, and our shooting experience better, many optic manufacturers believe enclosed emitters are the way. Vortex Optics has announced a couple new enclosed emitters for 2026. One being the Defender-CCW Enclosed Solar Micro Red Dot, which we already reviewed on our sister-site of AllOutdoor.com. So, today we are going to take a look at its more affordable counterpart in the Venom Enclosed 6 MOA Micro Red Dot to see how it performs. Let’s dive in!

Henry's Lever Action Supreme Rifle was already a strong argument that the lever gun still has a place in modern shooting. This version, offered through CNC Firearms as a limited edition build, takes that argument a step further with an integrally suppressed 19-inch barrel that transforms the H23 into one of the quietest .300 Blackout platforms on the market.

There are media event trips, and then there are the kind of trips that remind you why you fell in love with this industry in the first place, and continue to sacrifice much to keep working in it. My recent visit to Lewiston, Idaho, to participate in CCI Ammunition's celebration of its 75th anniversary was very much the latter. I honestly can't remember a time when CCI wasn't part of my life as a shooter. CCI Standard Velocity, in particular, has been a constant presence for about as long as I can recall picking up a .22. The brick on the shelf, the box in the range bag, the stuff you grab without even thinking about it because you already know it's going to run. Most of you know that CCI Standard is a staple here on The Rimfire Report, and for almost 7 years now, CCI has been along with me for the ride as I dig myself deeper and deeper within the rabbit hole that is rimfire firearms and ammunition.

Jarrod "Box" Grove from Caldwell Shooting joins Luke C. at GunCon 2026 to break down the full ClayCopter lineup, including the brand new Surface-to-Air launcher. ClayCopter targets are biodegradable, spinning prop-style discs that fly with a unique rotating flight pattern, nothing like a standard clay.

Luke C is at GunCon checking out one of the more talked-about booths on the floor this year: Biofire and their 9mm Smart Gun. This isn't your average striker-fired pistol. It's a biometric handgun, secured by both fingerprint and facial recognition, and the first product of its kind to actually reach market. While the smart gun has been tried before, the BioFire Smart Gun fires 9mm Luger through an electronic "Fire by Wire" trigger, with a fingerprint sensor in the grip and a 3D infrared facial recognition sensor at the rear of the slide. Whichever system verifies the user first unlocks the gun, and it locks itself the instant it leaves an unauthorized hand. It runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, has an integrated laser sight, and ships with 10 and 15-round magazines.

Luke C. speaks with Elliot from Chestnut Mountain Machine at GunCon 2026 to check out their growing line of apparel — and if the name sounds familiar, it's because these are the same group of veterans behind the newly imported OKP-7 optics covered earlier in this series. The lineup includes the Essential Button Down, a clean range-to-street option built for everyday carry, and the Campfire Hoodie, made from lightweight Peruvian cotton for warmth without overheating after a day on the range or working outside. Elliot walks through the design philosophy behind veteran-designed, dual-use apparel meant to hold up whether you're at the range, in the field, or just running errands.