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. This week, we're looking at the return* of some classic suppressors. While they bear the names of the originals, they also differ in some modern ways.

Following the most comprehensive small-arms trial conducted by UK policing in more than 20 years, the GLOCK GR-115 rifle has been selected for UK specialist armed units through two separate procurement awards. GLOCK won an exclusive contract to supply a high-level specialist national policing network, and the GR-115 also ranked highest among carbines approved under the broader framework agreement. Evaluated against competing rifles from multiple global manufacturers, the GR-115 recorded the highest accuracy results in both suppressed and unsuppressed testing.

James Reeves recently got access to one of the most secretive facilities in American law enforcement: The FBI's Ballistic Research Facility in Huntsville, Alabama. What he learned there should settle a lot of internet arguments about caliber selection.

Many years ago, I was looking at Amazon for a new EDC gun belt to hold up my pistol. At the time $100 for an EDC belt seemed like all of the money in my checking account, so I was trying to save as much money as I could but still wanted a product that would work as a gunbelt but also looked somewhat normal. As I scrolled through the endless belts from China, I finally found one that looked half decent and was exactly what I was looking for price wise. While the name was a bit strange, the Daltec Force steel core reinforced leather gun belt promised to be what I needed.

For waterfowl hunters or anyone looking for an AR-15 that stands out from the typical black or tan tactical configurations, this limited-edition Daniel Defense offers an alternative aesthetic. The Duck Camo gives it a distinct appearance compared to standard carbines commonly seen at the range or in the field. At first, you may not see it, and take it for a simple tan-only rifle, but take a look at the images below and the pattern will show. 

These days, hunting rifles usually sport as clear and crisp optics as a hunter can afford.  The vast majority of hunting rifles now sold either don’t come with iron sights or have no provision for mounting them. For most hunters and hunting situations, a magnified optic provides more precision, a clearer, closer picture of their quarry's vitals, and aids in continued target verification (though initially finding and identifying one’s quarry is always best done with binoculars or a spotting scope).  

Bergara has added a new rifle to its Premier line of bolt guns. The new Bergara CIMA PRO is a lightweight hunting rifle designed with extensive use of carbon fiber components. The result is an overall weight of 5.5lbs in short action calibers.

Hawke Optics is rolling into 2026 with updates across its riflescope, binocular, and accessory lines. Highlights include a Mossy Oak® Bottomland Vantage 1-4x20 Turkey scope, the new Vantage HD 34 FFP series aimed at tactical and competition shooters, and refreshed Vantage HD 30 riflescopes. Hawke also expands its binocular offerings with updated Vantage HD models and new Frontier ED X compact binoculars, while rounding out the lineup with lightweight Carbon Fiber Pro Bipods for field and range use. For all the details, keep on reading.

Beretta, celebrating 500 years as the world’s longest-standing industrial firearms manufacturer, has expanded its A300 Ultima semi-automatic shotgun lineup with two new Mossy Oak camouflage options. The new finishes - Original Bottomland and Original Shadow Grass - are designed to provide waterfowl hunters with optimized concealment in a variety of hunting environments.

Suppressor development continues to accelerate heading into 2026, and BANISH Suppressors has added a new dedicated 5.56 offering to its lineup with the release of the BANISH 556. Designed specifically for modern AR‑pattern rifles, the new suppressor is intended for shooters running full‑auto, semi‑auto, carbines, and SBRs who demand durability, reduced back pressure, and consistent performance.

At the dawn of the 21st century, Russia developed a new submachine gun and personal defense weapon. Reportedly, it entered production a few years before the Heckler & Koch MP7. They are both very similar concepts, though significantly different in their chambering. The Russian approach adopted the new Russian 9x21 cartridge, whereas the Germans adopted a new micro-caliber approach.

Photo Of The Day: Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team trained alongside Japan Ground Self-Defense Force snipers during Operation Rising Thunder. Working jointly from observation posts, the American and Japanese marksmen supported live-fire exercises by providing precision fire, observing impacts, and assisting with adjustments. Above, you can see a Howa rifle in use.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about my top carry guns of 2025. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, since the new year is brand new, it's one of the best times to look at how to set yourself up for success when it comes to carrying concealed. There's an old saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, which we want to avoid at all cost so there are certainly small changes you can make in order to set yourself up for success when it comes to carrying a gun every single day this year.

Taurus has just announced the newest series of pistols in their ever-growing lineup of handguns. The TX9 series is the culmination of everything Taurus USA has learned and refined with their previous striker-fired handguns, and stuffed it into a tougher, modular package. The TX9 will initially consist of a full-size, compact, and subcompact set of variants, all with matching ergonomics and likely even some magazine compatibility. Full details below, let us know what you think in the comments!

German Precision Optics USA (GPO USA) has introduced the new PASSION™ HDi riflescope series, designed to deliver high-end optical performance while maintaining affordability for a broad range of hunters and shooters. The lineup focuses on practical features rather than unnecessary complexity, offering a streamlined experience with essential capabilities.

The APOC PRO features a factory-threaded barrel, allowing compatibility with suppressors and other muzzle devices. An RMS-pattern optics cut is machined into the slide to support direct mounting of micro red-dot sights, helping speed up target acquisition and improve consistency. To broaden optic compatibility, TriStar includes an RMR adapter plate, giving users additional mounting flexibility without the need for aftermarket machining.

BPI Outdoors / Bergara Rifles has announced the launch of the Bergara BTi30, a U.S.-designed and manufactured titanium suppressor aimed squarely at precision shooters and hunters who prioritize consistency and repeatability. Rather than focusing solely on sound reduction, the BTi30 was developed to address point-of-impact shift, pressure management, and platform adaptability.

If you've ever looked into custom-molded earplugs, you know the drill: Find an audiologist, make an appointment, get impressions taken with that weird goop, wait 4-6 weeks, and drop $300-400 by the time you're done.   Fen X, a Michigan outfit, thinks they've got a better way: Scan your ears with your iPhone, order online, and get custom earplugs in 48 hours.

There are some firearms out there that, even if you don’t necessarily like the firearm itself, are worth collecting because of their rarity. That’s exactly what’s going on with today’s rare Glock example acquired by long-time TFB reader and supporter Sebastian Unger. An Austrian man himself, Sebastian is, ironically enough, not a huge fan of Glock pistols but is instead a hardcore cheerleader for the very American 1911 platform. The Glock 19 we’re looking at today, with serial number ABG000, is a rare intersection of Gaston Glock's personal oversight and early factory craftsmanship. Now owned by Sebastian Unger, this second-generation pistol underwent in-house hand-engraving at the Glock factory on Gaston's direct instruction and is one of the very few times factory “specials” have left Glock's doors and entered the hands of a select few. Let’s take a closer look at the one that Sebastian has shared with us today.

The collapsed KH9 Covert Pistol reminds me of one of the AT-AT walkers in Star Wars. Firearms like this B&T are a dream. This is a limited-production 9×19mm pistol designed with a folding magazine well and a folding grip. Both components rotate 90 degrees, reducing the overall profile for storage in confined spaces.

Welcome back to another edition of Wheelgun Wednesday. This week, I wanted to take a look at my experience at Rock Island Auction and purchasing a gun from this company. If you are a true gun guy, going to the RIA auctions and purchasing a gun should certainly be on your bucket list. While I love going to a high-end gun shop just like everyone else, this experience was taken to an entirely new level with some of the rarest guns being auctioned off to the point where it can honestly be overwhelming.

After some teasing, Weatherby has officially launched the 25 Weatherby RPM (25 WBY RPM) as the latest addition to its high-performance magnum cartridge family. Designed with the company’s signature innovation and precision, the 25 RPM delivers a flat trajectory and enhanced velocity in a compact, rebated-rim magnum case. There will be several factory loads available, but the caliber is described as a reloader's dream.

Remington Ammunition has announced several new rifle and handgun offerings for 2026, including multiple additions to its popular 7mm Backcountry cartridge and expansions to Core-Lokt and Core-Lokt PSP lines. The new products are designed to meet the demands of hunters and precision shooters seeking high performance across a range of calibers and applications.

VKTR Industries, known for manufacturing AR-15 rifles and accessories, has launched the Vanguard series of double-stack 1911 handguns. The initial model is the VKP Pro, a 9mm pistol fully manufactured and assembled in the United States using US-sourced components.

Franklin Armory will introduce at SHOT Show 2026 what it describes as the world’s first Total Round Control™ (TRC) bolt action, as the foundation of its new Prevail™ line of long-range precision and hunting rifles. The patent-pending TRC action is designed to maintain control of the cartridge throughout the entire cycle of operation: feeding, chambering, firing, extraction, and ejection.

What happens when you take a few engineers from Q, a 60-year-old bolt gun design, a few cases of beer, and lock them in a room? You might get something like the Q Fix Rifle. By the way, I'm told this is 100 percent how the Fix was developed. A few months ago, I was able to build my own Fix rifle at Q in New Hampshire and had a blast interacting with all the guys that work there. Today, I bring you my initial impressions on the rifle after 100 rounds through it. I'll also layout how I have the rifle currently set up.

This Photo of the Day centers on a modern precision-oriented hunting setup built around a Schmeisser Pro Hunter finished in FDE, shown working through both daylight and thermal conditions. This is a setup a lot of people are looking for, to be able to work day and night, and to be able to swiftly change from one advanced setting to another without losing optical quality.

Welcome back to TFB’s Small Business Spotlight! In this weekly column, we take a look at small firearm-related businesses. Today, the spotlight's on Mystery Operations, a company from Marfa, Texas that hosts Run & Gun matches.

Kimber Manufacturing has expanded its 2K11 lineup with the introduction of the new 2K11 Comp series, answering one of the most common requests since the platform’s debut in late 2024. Just over a year after the original 2K11 launch, the addition of compensated variants marks the next evolutionary step for Kimber’s high-capacity, 1911-style handgun family.