As ammunition development progresses, various approaches are being explored. Some manufacturers focus on creating stronger cartridge cases to achieve the necessary pressure for lobbing projectiles at adversaries. Others prioritize making ammunition lighter, making it easier for soldiers, simplifying logistics, and reducing costs. This weight reduction benefits military operations and presents significant economic advantages for taxpayers, fostering optimism about the new designs and their potential to revolutionize the defense industry.

Under the caption: “Perfection doesn’t need a sales pitch” FN America posted this image on X, previously Twitter. It’s a great image of the FN SCAR 20S NRCH, and great images deserve to make it TFB’s Photo Of The Day. This image makes me want to be there, at the range, and see what kind of groups I can accomplish.

We’re back again with another roundup of fresh firearms-focused podcasts in TFB Podcast Roundup 164. Each week we’re bringing you a new set of podcasts from across the web that cover a wide variety of topics including gunsmithing, hunting, precision shooting, war stories, competition shooting, gun industry news, and much more. In addition, we’re also featuring the most recent episode of TFB’s own Behind The Gun Podcast which airs every week on Thursday mornings. If you’d like to check out the full episode list for TFB’s Behind The Gun Podcast, you can find it here on the TFB website or on your favorite podcast app. Sit back, relax, and enjoy listening to this week’s selection of gun podcasts.

Recently, one of the biggest Turkish firearms manufacturers, the company called Derya Arms, announced its plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Derya Arms is mostly famous for their shotguns, and TFB managed to get an exclusive look at their next flagship product, a semi-automatic shotgun called Derya MAX that will be officially presented in a few days at the SHOT Show.

The Glock 19 is the most popular pistol in the United States. It’s small enough to conceal, but large enough to defend your home. It’s chambered in 9mm Luger, which is powerful enough to stop most foes but cheap enough to practice with. It’s trusted by both the FBI and the Navy SEALs, so it should be plenty good enough for the rest of us. So whenever someone asks what their first pistol should be, my first response has often been the Glock 19.

Smith & Wesson has expanded its Model 1854 series with the addition of a .357 Magnum chambering. Originally offered in .44 Remington Magnum and later in .45 Colt, this lever-action rifle now comes in a classic caliber favored for versatility and manageable recoil.

The Tanfoglio Tactical Pro, imported by the Italian Firearms Group, is a full-size 9x19mm pistol built for serious shooters who prioritize durability, adaptability, and precision. Apart from the silly logotype on the left grip, I really love the looks and color of this Italian beauty. It’s great to see a Tangoglio with a threaded barrel as well.

This is a review of the Nocpix ACE H50R Thermal Riflescope, with a 640×512 thermal sensor. The ACE 50R is a high-end product, although Nocpix actually has an even higher-end model with a 1280x1024 sensor called S60R. The Nocpix ACE 50R has some exciting features like 3x optical zoom, a claimed 15mK NETD, 60 Hz, recoil-activated recording and a gallery function so that you can replay your videos and photos in the ocular. For those who missed TFB’s introduction, Nocpix is a brand by InfiRay Technologies.

Photo Of The Day and we have some winterish images of the Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN), one of the world's most elite tactical units, specializing in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and high-risk operations. Their motto, “S'engager pour la vie” (“To commit for life”), reflects their unwavering dedication to saving lives under the most dangerous circumstances. Operating in extreme conditions, including harsh winters, we see one operator above with a suppressed SIG Sauer MCX.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at micro-carry guns and some of the best options when it comes to very small-carry guns. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to cover a topic that I get a fair amount of questions on but we don’t get to talk about often. Carry ammo for self-defense isn’t something you should be ignoring or overlooking because it's one of the most important aspects of your carry gun load out. Let’s take a closer look at what are some factors when looking at this self-defense ammo roundup.

It’s been almost a year since the NGSW program's result was officially put into the field. The Army’s new XM7 (SIG MCX-SPEAR 6.8x51) has been the subject of a lot of discussion, derision, and intrigue, and I’ve not been immune to that curiosity. I’ve had the rare opportunity to run one of these rifles for the last couple of months, and since then, I’ve come a long way from my original assumptions about the rifle and its hybrid ammunition. Based on the last couple of months with the SIG Spear in its civilian configuration, I’d like to run you guys through a bit of the rifle’s history, as well as how it actually feels to shoot and run at the range.

Tanfoglio’s new Stock Master Xtreme, imported by the Italian Firearms Group (IFG), steps into the competitive shooting world as a purpose-built pistol for IPSC Production Division shooters. This model blends precision engineering with practical performance enhancements for shooters who demand speed, accuracy, and control.

Staccato has introduced the Staccato HD, a new line of 2011 pistols designed with input from elite law enforcement and government users. This next-generation pistol family focuses on improved technology, modularity, and adaptability for modern shooters. And yes, the Staccato HD series takes Glock-pattern magazines!

Over the last 5 years of working here at TFB, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of you who are avid readers, watchers, and listeners of what we put out here. Through meeting a lot of you, I’ve also learned a great deal about firearms subjects that I would normally never be able to approach on my own - such as the intricacies of owning a firearm in the state of Illinois. As you’ll hear today, I’m not the only one who is often confused with how Americans get a hold of firearms legally in the state. Today David is going to walk us through what it is like being either a current or new resident of Illinois and what steps you have to take in order to exercise your Second Amendment rights and avoid running into legal trouble with the state.

The Russian OTs-69 weapon system was publicly unveiled in 2012. It is developed by the TsKIB SOO subsidiary of the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. Information about the weapon is limited, primarily consisting of a few photographs and minimal published details. Its status is particularly intriguing, as it remains to be seen whether the development has been halted, is awaiting a customer, or if customer requirements have changed. This uncertainty adds an element of intrigue regarding the weapon's potential applications and future developments.

While I have shot less than a magazine of the 6mm ARC, I have a lot of respect for the new caliber and wouldn’t mind turning some of my AR15s into that caliber. Here you can see the Noveske N4 14.5” DDF taken apart, which is a good reminder of how things work in an AR system.