Reviews

Following up on our review of the MCG Tactical Stinger red dot— the $79 "not EOTech" that surprisingly held zero for some casual plinking, we’ll be taking a similar look at another budget piece of kit from the same crew: the Dark Force Night Vision Binoculars. Clocking in well under the price of even a single Gen 1 analog tube, these digital “Binoculars,” according to the MCG product page, promise "tactical advantage" in the dark with a screen, IR illuminator, and recording. But is this chinesium gadget a PVS-14 killer or just a fun toy for the truck bed? Spoiler: it's the latter, and I think that's mostly okay, especially for the right crowd.

NEXTORCH North America has announced the release of the WL25, a rail-mounted tactical weapon light that combines a high-output white light with an integrated green laser. The unit is designed to support rapid target identification and aiming in low-light conditions. Output is rated at up to 1,200 lumens and 44,100 candela, with a beam distance of approximately 459 yards.

Machine Head has expanded its branded lineup with the release of Shotgun Blast Whiskey, a 94-proof straight bourbon aimed at fans who prefer a stronger, full-flavor spirit. The whiskey is described as combining caramel, vanilla, American oak notes, and a sharp, high-proof finish “that hits like a shotgun blast.” According to the company, the intent was to create a bourbon that matches the band’s loud, aggressive identity while remaining approachable as a standalone spirit.

Holland & Holland has announced the release of a new Mauser 98 pattern takedown bolt action rifle. The company’s proprietary takedown mechanism allows separating the barreled action from the stock and bottom metal for ease of transportation. Additionally, the rifle has quick-detach scope mounts, also proprietary to Holland & Holland. Let’s see what other features the new Holland & Holland Takedown Magazine Rifle has.

Silent Steel USA has formally unveiled its patented FLOW-IQ suppressor technology following the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,313,360. Although the system has been used in Silent Steel’s products for several years, the new patent marks the first public disclosure of the internal gas-flow architecture and confirms the design as proprietary to the company.

The U.S. Army’s selection of FN America’s MTL-30 (Multi-Purpose Tactical Launcher) as a leading entry in the Precision Grenadier System signals a significant shift, or more accurately, a reevaluation, in how infantry squads will project force at the small-unit level. The MTL-30 is a shoulder-fired, semi-automatic launcher chambered for 30mm medium-velocity flat trajectory grenades that blends rifle ergonomics with grenade-launcher, and the Army has already moved to mature the design under a Prototype Project Opportunity Notice. This is a reevaluation since the XM25, which was tested in Afghanistan in 2010, and the program was terminated in 2018.

In today’s Photo Of The Day, reconnaissance soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, are seen maintaining an observation point at Pōhakuloa Training Area in Hawaii. The images were taken during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Rotation 26-01, an exercise designed to test units in the demanding conditions of jungle and archipelagic operations.

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 Florida Gun and Gold, a family-owned gun shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Italian firearms manufacturer Sabatti is introducing a new family of rifles dubbed Next Generation. The series will have three models: a tactical rifle called Storm, a target rifle called Dynamic and a hunting rifle, the Lyra. The first two can not be found on the company’s website at the time of writing; however, the hunting Lyra rifle is already added to their catalog.

Tippmann Arms has announced the ELITE ISS Rifle and the ELITE Bug Out ISS Pistol, two new integrally suppressed .22LR firearms. The introduction comes ahead of the upcoming federal change that removes the long-standing $200 suppressor tax under the National Firearms Act, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Henry Repeating Arms has introduced the SPD Predator, a new precision shooting-oriented lever-action rifle developed by the company’s Special Products Division. According to Henry, it is the most accurate lever-action rifle the company has produced to date and the only model in its catalog to ship with a factory three-shot sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. If a highly accurate rifle is of interest, continue reading for all the details.

The Ruger RXM 9mm striker-fired pistol, the result of a collaboration between Ruger and Magpul Industries, is growing again. This time via a wave of new grip-frame colors and cosmetic variants. Rather than introducing new calibers, barrel lengths or capacities, the recent additions broaden customization for buyers who want more than the standard Stealth Gray polymer frame.

Welcome back to another edition of Blast From The Past. I recently picked up a handgun that has had a resurgence in popularity over the last couple of years. As a result, prices have begun to climb again on the third generation of Smith & Wesson handguns. I found a 5946 that I picked up from an online retailer and over the last few months, I have shot it and compared the 5946 to my 5906, so I have some good and bad to look at when it comes to these pistols. Picking up these types of handguns is always a risk, but if done correctly, they can be a great gun for the range. It's not impossible to find good deals out there, but you do have to be on the lookout harder than you had to be before. Let's take a closer look at the Smith & Wesson 5946.

In today’s Photo of the Day, an Austrian sniper is seen engaging targets during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa European Best Sniper Team Competition. We don’t see the Steyr AUG too often, but this one is pushing the Aimpoint Micro as far as it can go, embracing it with a magnifier, laser and lights. I guess that’s another drawback of a bullpup: it’s difficult to keep a bipod on the front rail.

I’ve been taught that the off‑season is where most hunts or shooting competitions are actually won. Once your tags for the season are filled or the ranges start slowing down for winter, and the big rifles are back in the safe, most hunters and competitors suddenly have more free mornings and time to get set up for the next season. But burning centerfire ammo, barrels, and components at winter prices feels like lighting money on fire, almost just for the entertainment. I’m a huge believer, however, that a properly set‑up .22 LR trainer lets you rehearse every part of your hunting (or general marksman) process without beating up your shoulder, your barrel, or your wallet. Today, we’ll go over what I think that looks like.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a dedicated Second Amendment Rights Section within its Civil Rights Division, marking the first time the federal government has created an office specifically tasked with investigating state and local infringements on gun rights.

Steiner Optics has announced that its ATLAS (Advanced Tactical Laser Aiming System) is now available to military and law enforcement customers, professional security users, and the wider commercial market. The unit is designed as a compact, multi-emitter aiming and illumination device intended to support a broad range of operational distances. I haven’t seen one in real life, but it looks really low-profile, with dimensions being 114 x 62 x 34mm (4.5 x 2.5 x 1.4 in.).

The German Army, the Deutsches Heer, has begun issuing its new service rifle - the G95A1. The Heckler & Koch HK416 A8, designated as the G95A1 and G95KA1, will replace the G36.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 165! 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-12 shotgun suppressor. This week, we are looking at Surefire's new SOCOM556 RC4 suppressor. It is the latest update to a venerable family of silencers that has seen action all over the world.

Glock does iterative improvement better than anyone. Since introducing the polymer-framed G17 in 1982, the Austrian manufacturer has refined the platform through five generations, each bringing measured improvements without abandoning the reliability that made Glock the industry standard. Today, Glock officially announced Generation 6.

Welcome back to another TFB review. The CZ line of pistols has had a number of new models released in the last few months. From the Shadow 2 Carry to the new P10C ported, CZ has been expanding their model variants in an effort to offer different options for customers. For a while now, there was a stereotype of CZ pistols being for people with edgy personalities. The type that dresses trendy, drinks nonfat lattes and wants something interesting instead of a run-of-the-mill Glock. CZ has started offering new model variants in an effort to make their duty-style handguns more mainstream. Let's take a closer look at the CZ P10C Ported.

Today’s Photo of the Day takes a closer look at a precision rifle build that blends supreme factory performance with carefully selected upgrades. The foundation is a Tikka T3x TAC A1 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, a cartridge widely used for its consistent ballistics and manageable recoil. Apart from ordering and paying for the parts, all it takes is like two screws and some bedding if you really care about precision (who doesn’t at this level?)

These days, the British government has a reputation for being very anti-gun, but the United Kingdom was once a center of firearms manufacturing. Parker Hale was there for the best years of it, founded in 1890 by Alfred Gray Parker with his nephew Arthur Hale coming aboard as a partner in 1910. In their early years, Parker Hale focused on small-bore target rifles and accessories for competition shooting. There was an emphasis on this sport in the UK after the Boer War, where South African militias had held off British troops thanks to superior marksmanship. Parker Hale sold gadgets to help target shooters, but their business really took off when World War I opened up and the British military needed to train thousands of raw recruits. Parker Hale developed a .22LR conversion kit for the Lee-Enfield service rifle, and was soon producing them as quickly as possible for trainees.

Sweden’s national police force is preparing to replace its long-serving MP5 submachine guns with the AK 24, the same 5.56×45mm service rifle recently adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces. The information comes from Polistidningen, the police union’s official publication.

The market gets bombarded with all sorts of odd products, but every now and then, there’s that product that gets it just right. I think we have a great example here. The VX7 Snus Holster is designed to keep your snus ( snuff) secure and easy to reach throughout the day, whether you’re working, training on the range, or on the move. It offers a durable, adjustable carry solution made with the same Swedish craftsmanship found across the VX7 product line. You could say this is an open carry of your snus.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been awarded an additional U.S. Army contract valued at roughly $11.6 million for more 590A1 pump-action shotguns. The 590-series has been in U.S. military service since 1987, when the original Mossberg 590 completed the full MIL-Spec 3443E endurance and environmental testing protocol. Its performance in that evaluation led to widespread adoption across multiple branches.

The Eemann Tech Frame Weight for the CZ Shadow 2 is designed to improve front-end balance and reduce felt recoil during fast strings of fire. Machined from blackened carbon steel, the unit adds approximately 172 grams (around 6 ounces) to the pistol’s frame, shifting weight forward to increase muzzle stability and help keep the sights flatter under recoil. Could a bit more front-end weight help your sights track flatter during fast transitions?

The nickname “Swedish K” is a direct translation from “Swedish submachine gun”. However, the version that found its way into covert operations during the 1960s and ’70s was not a factory-standard model. Instead, select examples were fitted with an integral suppressor based on the same basic principles as the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) silencer developed in the United States during World War II. Rather than relying on an add-on can, the integrally suppressed Swedish K used a ported or vented barrel to vent propellant gases into an enclosed expansion chamber filled with a mesh roll and stacked mesh discs. Those internals cooled and slowly bled off gases, reducing muzzle blast and making each shot significantly quieter than an unsuppressed 9mm report.

Deep in the snowy hills of Jūmonjihara Maneuver Area, members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s elite 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment are ringing steel with their brand-new sniper rifles. While the rifle is from Germany, the Heckler & Koch G28 in 7.62×51mm, it seems they went to the U.S. for optics. You may notice the gigantic Leupold rifle scope, with sun protection. Strangely enough, they have mounted EOTechs as secondary sights, which is a first time for me.