Reviews

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. It is now 2026, and tax stamps for most items are $0! But how is the infrastructure that creates those stamps holding up? Here are some collected data points that give us some ideas.

Boom, it finally happened, the S has HTF'ed. Luckily for you, you have been stockpiling ammunition since you could go to the store by yourself. But wait, all this time have you been stocking the right ammo? Keep in mind the ammo that you have is what you'll be using for hunting, defending yourself, training, and trading. So let's hope you picked not only a good caliber, but also the proper ammo types. 

Today’s Photo of the Day features U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deondre Dennard firing a Mossberg 500 shotgun during a non-lethal weapons course at Camp Pendleton, California. The training, hosted by Marines from 1st Law Enforcement Battalion in 2020, covered proper employment of non-lethal force in both policing and combat scenarios. The shotgun, often underrated, is actually one of the most powerful firearms available to civilians. At the same time, it’s extremely versatile, as it can throw a lot of different types of ammunition out of the barrel.

If your childhood was anything like mine, you were subjected to the women of the family watching the 6-VHS-tape version of Pride & Prejudice repeatedly. And while the allure of that show always escaped me, it turns out there is an equivalent for me: Sharpe. Watching hours of Sean Bean wielding a Baker Rifle through the Napoleonic Wars is enough to make anyone want their own. Pedersoli has now made that possible!

We are in the run-up to SHOT Show 2026, and new product releases are starting to roll in. Ruger's lineup of AR-15 rifles is undergoing some changes for 2026. The new Harrier models replace the AR-556 family and include some updated features.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about fixed blades versus folding knives and whether they are a good idea to carry as a secondary weapon. 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 back and reflect on some of the most carried guns of 2025 for me personally. I tend to keep track like an absolute crazy person, and in order of days carried, let's check out my top 5 carry guns of 2025.

Listen to Behind The Gun on TFB – https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/podcast/

Over the last few years as I have developed as a shooter, and as my range trips have become more organized and scheduled I have found the need to be able to look down range and scope out targets without using a gun mounted optic. Historically for me this solution has been a spotting scope, however after making use of several sets of binoculars during a long range rifle competition last fall I have been in the market for a pair of my own. Comparing the usability of a spotting scope to binoculars it was much easier to spot shots, trace, and impacts with the latter than I had thought it would be, hence my desire for a set of my own. Knowing this, when I was given the opportunity to get my hands on and review a set from a relative newcomer in the optics game I jumped right on board. 

Every year, Krieghoff introduces a Gun Of The Year, a highly embellished version of one of their firearms. The Krieghoff 2025 Gun Of The Year is called Spirit Of The Deep. It's a K-80 over-and-under shotgun engraved with various marine creatures and scenes.

Pietta just announced the PDA 357, their take on the Colt Python. Posted it on social media 11/20 with some noir-style marketing graphics and a "not just a replica" tagline that's doing a lot of heavy lifting. Rumors about this gun started popping up as early as March 2025, so it's been in the works for a while. Now it's official.

Welcome back to another TFB review. This week, I wanted to look at the Craft Holster Panther outside the waistband (OWB) holster. For the most part, inside the waistband (IWB) style holsters are typically the most commonly used holsters, but the classic outside the waistband belt-mounted holsters are some of the best choices when the weather starts to change. I’ve had the Craft Holster Panther OWB rig for a few weeks now and have plenty to say about it. Let's take a closer look at the Craft Holsters Panther belt holster.

On Christmas Eve, Ruger announced a new generation of the Red Label shotgun. The Red Label III is a 20-gauge over/under shotgun, made by Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company. Let's take a look at all the details.

Federal is now shipping its first 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge load. This 6mm ARC load is part of the Gold Medal line of target ammo. Keep reading for all the details.

Galco has a new holster design for outdoorsmen who spend a lot of time in thick foliage. The Brush Hog has a protective flap over the top of the pistol to keep sticks, thorns, and such out of the gun. Keep reading for all the details.

Spanish riflemaker Bergara is joining the ranks of the silencer manufacturers. The new BTi30 is a 3D-printed titanium can with HUB mounting. Let’s take a look at all of the features.

During the Cold War, there were requests for many specialized weapon systems, as modern armed conflicts are fundamentally different from the cataclysmic wars of the last century. Fortunately, full-scale military operations the size of Verdun or Kursk seem not to be the course of future battle. Instead, modern conflicts are often prolonged and low-intensity, with a heavy reliance on small specialized teams. Warfighting doctrines have largely adapted to this reality and configured their weapon designs to meet soldiers' needs in these modern environments. Discretion is often key to avoiding disturbing local elements and maintaining a low profile for one’s own survival. For that, next-generation silenced weapons are necessary.

Photo Of The Day: A competitor from one of the fifteen international teams engages distant steel during the 2021 U.S. Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, back in 2021. To the best of my knowledge, the carbine is the Secret Service’s KAC SR-16 CQB MOD 2.1, and it seems multiple targets are being engaged using the secondary red dot sight.

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 Werkz LLC, a holster manufacturer from Potlatch, Idaho.

The Element Optics THEOS 2–10×42 is a mid-power variable optic (MPVO) designed to support rapid target engagement across a broad range of distances. Built around an ED optical system, the scope delivers consistent image quality throughout the magnification range while maintaining a compact overall footprint.

B&T has introduced a modernized take on a historic concept with the Hush Puppy SIG P226 Silenced Pistol Kit, combining suppressed performance with contemporary optics and accessory compatibility. Unlike traditional manual-repeater suppressed pistols, the Hush Puppy system retains the semi-automatic functionality, while giving the user the option to manually lock the slide when maximum sound reduction is required.

Century Arms has expanded its AP5 series with two “Navy” models that blend classic MP5-inspired design with modern tactical readiness. The AP5-N “Navy” and AP5P-N “Navy” offer distinct form factors aimed at shooters seeking roller-delayed blowback performance and period-correct Naval styling in a ready-to-shoot configuration.

Ed Brown Products is marking a significant milestone with the release of the Kobra Carry 25th Anniversary, celebrating a quarter century of what the company describes as its most popular and longest-running custom 1911 model. First introduced in 2000, the Kobra Carry quickly distinguished itself by combining features that would later become widely adopted across the 1911 market, while remaining closely associated with Ed Brown’s own design language.

Specs

Winter conditions and a steady wind set the stage for today’s Photo of the Day, featuring the Schmeisser Pro Hunter with its 18-inch barrel, chambered in .223 Remington and finished in FDE. Topped with the brand-new Schmidt & Bender 3–18×42 META riflescope, this setup represents a modern, precision-focused hunting and crossover rifle configuration. The META optic, equipped with the new SBX reticle in the first focal plane, was put straight to work under less-than-forgiving conditions.

About 3 months ago, I had just finished my first two-range sessions with the TriStar Arms (Kral Arms) KR-22 rifle. This 10/22 magazine-compatible Turkish plinker didn’t really impress me after my first couple of outings with it, and now, three months down the road, I’ve put another 1,000 rounds through the rifle, and I was actually able to get a little bit better performance out of it the more I shot it. Today, I’ll share my updated results with you, as we take a second look at this quite peculiar Turkish rimfire rifle that has a ton of great factory features, takes Ruger mags, and is still only about $250.

Taran Tactical Innovations has unveiled the latest evolution of its Sand & Pit Viper line: a compact 4.5" island barrel version designed for shooters who demand race-gun performance in a carry-friendly package. The shorter island barrel reduces reciprocating slide mass, allowing for faster follow-up shots, tighter control of recoil, and improved accuracy, traits long associated with TTI’s full-size Viper series.

The Pistollo 77° is officially heading to the U.S. civilian market, with Deluxe Imports (Boerne, Texas) now confirmed as the exclusive American distributor. Following the completion of the ATF import approval process, the innovative semi-automatic pistol is scheduled to make its U.S. debut in the first half of 2026, beginning with a highly limited Launch Edition created specifically for American buyers.

HTI traces its roots back to 1906, when Luigi Passoni began working at the Falk steel factory in Milan, Italy. During his time there, Passoni was involved in developing specialty steels intended for barrel manufacturing, laying an early foundation for what would eventually become a family legacy in precision firearms engineering. When Falk ceased production in 1995, the next generation carried that legacy forward as Carlo Guido Passoni founded HTI, transforming decades of metallurgical knowledge into a modern rifle manufacturer.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 168! 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 taking a look at the new TiTrex suppressor from Precision Armament. It is a 3D-printed design with an interesting design philosophy.