Reviews

The security check at the Mogadishu airport is no joke. The capital of Somalia has been a war zone for years, and the airport is often considered the safest place in the entire city, so naturally, the airport's security has a reputation to uphold.

For today’s Photo Of The Day, we have pictures of Blaser Custom Shop’s latest creation, the R8 300,000 "The Wild Planet” rifle. The metal surfaces of this rifle are almost completely covered in miniature Blaser Argali head logos; however, the rifle has multiple hinged parts that include the receiver sides, grip cap, and cheek rest, which, when opened, reveal elaborate wildlife engravings executed by master engraver Daniel Karagiannis.

Wolf Precision, a company from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has developed a really interesting rifle barrel technology called the ACE System, where the chamber and the rifled bore are separate parts screwed into one another. The primary advantage of this interchangeable chamber and bore system is that it allows machining the chamber and the throat with higher precision. This company has been in business for many years and the ACE System is in its fourth generation, but somehow it slipped under our radar.

Got AR? Not if you live in Canada, you don’t. Or you won’t for long, because the federal government is requiring citizens to hand their registered ARs in, a move that’s been in the works since the gun bans of early 2020. But since Canadians still like firearms even if their government doesn’t, they’ve looked at other options, including the made-in-Turkey AKDAS Alcor rifle—and now Kodiak Defence is working on parts to make it better-suited for tactical work.

This week, I’d like everyone to welcome Ryan Van Aken from Frytech, the innovative mind behind the Brujeria Buffer Tube and rifle that we’ve covered here on TFB in the past. Today, we’ll get to hear directly from Ryan as he fills us in on the story beyond the Brujeria rifle, and of course, how that led him to focus more of his efforts on his magnetic buffer system, which is now available for sale through Pamax Tactical as his first exclusive distributor.

The procurement of individual gear to support military, police, or civil defense has a long, convoluted, but necessary history. Choosing what gear best suits your needs becomes a balance of practicality and assumption. Whether you are riding a tractor, enforcing a warrant, or running the back hills of Helmand Province, choosing the right equipment to support your needs is often a game of perception vs pragmatism.

Great Lakes Firearms and Ammunition is a family-owned company in Sparta, Michigan, best known for producing AR-pattern rifles chambered in long-action cartridges (.270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag). I stopped by their SHOT Show 2026 booth to take a look at these long-action ARs and when I asked the company reps if they had anything new, I was shown a rather interesting product prototype: a Remington 700 footprint receiver made of carbon fiber with metal reinforcement elements.

What’s old is new again, with Charter Arms, and that’s no mistake and no diversion from their regularly scheduled programming. If Charter Arms is good at anything, they’re good at remixing an old formula to bring wheelguns back into practical use as carry pieces. That’s the idea behind the just-released Charter Arms Boomer.

There are very few guns that are universally liked by everyone. The Swiss SIG 550 series is probably one of the best examples of such a weapon. Just like Swiss watches, to me, Swiss rifles were always a symbol of quality and refinement. But I never had a chance to shoot one and only saw this rifle in books and movies.

XTech Tactical, an Arizona company that specializes in injection-molded aftermarket magazine accessories and other related parts, has made its first major acquisition by bringing Creature Grips’ heat-venting rail covers into the fold as the rebranded Thru-Flo™ M-LOK Rail Covers. At just 2 grams per cover with tool-free installation, these M-LOK compatible panels address a common AR builder pain point: balancing grip, heat management, and minimal weight. I’ve been testing out a set of these on the new HP-15 that I’ll be using at Moons Out 2026, so we’ll get to put them to the test real soon!

The Glock Gen 6 series has unsurprisingly quickly captured attention across the shooting community. Now, FALCO Holsters, known for blending traditional leather craftsmanship founded in falconry, with modern materials like Kydex and carbon fiber, has announced full compatibility for all Gen 6 Glock models, including the Glock 17, 19, 45, and  49.

Steiner Optics has introduced the MPS Rotary Switch, a compact enclosed red dot sight purpose-built for shotgun competition and dynamic sporting use. Based on the proven MPS platform, this new version adds a mechanical rotary switch with clearly defined tactile positions and three brightness settings (0–3). The simplified control layout is designed for fast adjustments on the clock, particularly in changing light conditions common to practical shotgun stages.

The stock is a critical part of any shoulder-fired firearm. The need to stabilize the weapon and create a marriage of user and system is a personal experience; those assessing innovation seek to strengthen that relationship. Chisel Machining is one such company that has united out-of-the-box perception with practical use. Chisel has taken a cool product and made it cooler by recreating the stock, improved and tougher.

At first glance, this looks like a watch collector’s flat-lay, but I’m sure TFB readers noticed the magazine first. Lancer Systems’ translucent AR‑15 magazines take center stage here, surrounded by a lineup of high-end timepieces from names like Richard Mille, Tudor, and Rolex. It’s an unexpected pairing, but one that makes sense the longer you look at it. Except, possibly, financially.

(Original photos by Eric B.)

Multi-projectile cartridges for anti-drone warfare are arguably the most rapidly developing type of small arms ammunition, with new options being introduced throughout the world at a frequency unseen before. Last week, we took a look at the latest multi-projectile cartridges developed in Russia, Switzerland and Lithuania. Well, the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) has been working on this type of ammo too and has just recently announced its new Drone Killer Cartridge (DKC) ammunition technology.

Steiner Optics has introduced the new M10Xi 1-10x24, a premium low-power variable optic aimed at special forces and public safety units. With a true 1x low end and a full 10x top magnification, the M10Xi is designed to bridge close-quarters work and extended-range engagements in a single optic.

Wilson Combat is expanding its WC-15 line of AR-15 pattern rifles with the addition of the new Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). This rifle is advertised as a purpose-built platform engineered for shooters who demand accuracy, reliability, and refinement in every shot. Let’s take a look at the specs and features of the new Wilson Combat Designated Marksman Rifle.

At Enforce Tac 2026 in Nuremberg next week, Silent Steel is debuting its new patent-pending Boltlok Quick-Attach mounting system, designed to deliver a secure, repeatable suppressor lock-up without added bulk. Boltlok addresses a common suppressor issue: mounting reliability under sustained fire.

In the world of AR15s, the sky truly is the limit with almost endless options for every budget. As of the time of this writing, there are complete rifles available online starting at $349.99. With such a wide variety of pricing, looking at some of the most expensive options can seem wild. I never understood why the HK line of rifles was drastically more expensive than other options on the market. I decided to take the plunge and purchase one so we can find out what the buzz is all about with this German tank of a rifle. Let's take a closer look at the Heckler & Koch MR556 A4 rifle.

Images like this are too good not to ask if we can share on TFB’s Photo Of The Day, and our wish was approved. I think the Steyr DMR 762 is a really cool rifle, and I’d love to try one out for DMR competition and see how it goes and behaves.

Every once in a while, amongst the litany of new rimfire firearms I get to see, something truly interesting comes to the range. Today, we'll be taking a look at one such rifle that I've recently been able to take a very close look at, courtesy of Tyler of TANDEMKROSS. On a recent trip out to their facility in New Hampshire, I not only got to check out a lot of what TK had to offer, but their employees were also more than happy to bring out their personally-owned, unique firearms to our small range day, which included Tyler's Marlin Model 29. This budget-oriented early 1910s slide-action .22 was made for just three short years from 1913 to 1916. It was cheaper than Marlin's better-finished Model 20, produced in relatively low numbers from what we can tell, and then quietly aged into obscurity, with good-condition examples being extremely rare today. So join me as we look at a few interesting facts I’ve discovered about the rifle in my research and share my thoughts on how it performs at the range over 100 years down the road.

Maven takes the solid RS.4 5-30x56mm scope and upgrades it to the RS4.2 with a new 3-revolution locking elevation turret, capped windage, auto-off illuminated reticle, and toolless mechanical zero stop, all alongside a first focal plane 5-30x56 with side parallax adjustment and four reticle options (SHR-W, MOA-2, SHR-MIL, CFR-MIL). This new optic is intended for competitive shooters who often dial to a known distance over using holds contained within the reticle first. This new option is a more budget-oriented scope that is trying to compete with some of the most legendary names in the high magnification optics game that often cost twice as much, if not more.

The spring turkey hunting season is just around the corner and Weatherby has a new offering for those who prepare to chase gobblers. The Weatherby SORIX Turkey is a new addition to their line of inertia-operated semi-auto shotguns tailored for thunder chicken hunters with features like magnum chambers, Mossy Oak Original Bottomland camo, an extended turkey choke included with the gun and a flip-up rear sight for more accurate payload delivery.

The original Cabot Guns Apocalypse pistol was introduced back in 2020. Fast forward six years and the company has released the updated version of this handgun, the Apocalypse 2.0. This 1911-pattern pistol features a stainless Damascus steel slide with hand-applied deep etching that further highlights the contrast of the patterns. The use of Damascus steel makes every Apocalypse 2.0 pistol unique, as the patterns are never exactly the same.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 174! 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 20-gauge shotgun suppressor. I was browsing through public patent filings as I sometimes do, and saw several new ideas in the silencer world that are interesting. Let’s take a look at some new things that might be coming.

What’s going on in the Canadian gun world these days? Same as always—more legal wrangling back-and-forth between shooters and the government. But there have been some relatively major recent developments with the federal government’s so-called buyback. The feds are steaming full speed ahead, or trying to, while an increasingly large number of partners are telling the government, “We’re not helping.”

Fifty years of continuous production is rare in the firearms world, and even rarer when the original design remains relevant. The CZ 75 has done exactly that, and this seven-pistol anniversary set captures the lineage in metal, wood, and markings that reflect decades of refinement. An excellent opportunity for TFB’s Photo Of The Day to show off some CZ steel.