Picking the best concealed carry pistol for yourself can be like finding the right house or vehicle. There are endless choices and features to consider when looking at all the models and manufacturers available today. Choosing to take your personal protection into your own hands is a significant choice. This article aims to find some of the best-rated concealed carry pistols on the market in terms of features, reliability, price, and other factors to consider when purchasing your first firearm.

In  Part 1 of this article, I wrote about the beginning of the Kalashnikov machinegun story, Part 2 was dedicated to the bureaucratic hoops he initially had to jump through. In this chapter, I will talk about the technical triаls and competition between Kalashnikov and his rivals, Nikitin and Sokolov.

Multi-caliber sniper rifles are now a thing, but they didn’t use to be. Whoever made the first one I can’t tell, and neither could Google. I do however know that the Sako TRG M10 is one of the more popular choices, and I came very close to buying one a few years ago. In this Photo Of The Day, we’ll take a look at some freshly produced images.

We’re back again with another roundup of fresh firearms-focused podcasts in TFB Podcast Roundup 149. 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.

Luke C (  @BallisticAviation  ) is back at TriggrCon 2024 hosted by Rainer Firearms to talk with Global Ordnance about their brand-new Monolith rifle. Featuring a unique one-piece barrel machined from a single piece of 41v50 ordnance grade steel using a proprietary process, the monolith attempts to take the guesswork out of assembling an upper by providing superior accuracy, reliability, and suppressor concentricity for the user. This "monolith barrel" combines the bore, barrel extension, gas block, and Dead Air KeyMo muzzle brake into a single, seamless part that, when paired with a new heavy-duty bolt design, represents some innovation in a 70-year-old design.

Luke C (  @BallisticAviation  ) is back at TriggrCon 2024 to talk with CJ from Shadow Suppressors about their new Sexto V modular multi-caliber suppressor. Using traditional machining methods and lightweight materials, Shadow Silencers heavily emphasizes creating silencers that work with multiple types of firearms. Their new Sexto V suppressor makes use of two different baffle designs that are configurable by the end user and allow for a wider variety of efficacy across multiple calibers - on top of that, the unique baffle design allows Shadow Silencers to run up to 35% cooler than other suppressors for the same rate of fire leading to a much safer experience on the range.

Patriot Ordnance Factory USA (POF-USA) has a new rifle at an affordable price point. The new P-15 BASE rifle has an MSRP of $999. It has a 16-inch barrel with a mid-length gas system and weighs in at just over six pounds.

Luke C (  @BallisticAviation  ) is back with MASP at TriggrCon 2024 to talk about their up-and-coming radial delayed 9mm PCC that feeds from MP5 magazines. According to MASP, using MP5 magazines in tandem with the PCC design allows for much more reliable feeding and operation when it comes to various types of ammunition, especially defensive or competition-oriented hollow points. The AR5 will come in a few different select barrel lengths, all of which will incorporate both a CMMG-derived radial delayed blowback system, in addition to a spring-assisted system that keeps the AR5's recoil to a minimum while maintaining a high cyclic rate for quick splits.

Renowned German firearms manufacturer Heckler & Koch has announced the launch of HK USA, which may have many scratching their heads wondering, “Isn’t that already a thing?” Well, yes and no. Until now HK USA has imported and assembled Heckler & Koch firearms from their headquarters in Columbus, Georgia while design and manufacturing have remained largely in Germany. This dynamic has sparked deep-seated misconceptions about the company’s commitment to the American commercial market. Unanswered demand for models and features has frustrated the community, inspiring claims that Heckler & Koch hates its customers and reserves its focus for military contracts.

Luke C (  @BallisticAviation  ) is back at TriggrCon 2024 speaking with Infinity Targets about their updated line of reusable, long-lasting, self-healing training targets. Their self-healing rubber design means you can shoot them over and over—sometimes up to 7,000 rounds—without having to replace them meaning you can use the same target over and over again and save a little money in the process. These targets are great for training because they don’t ricochet like steel and hold up in any weather, making them perfect for permanent outdoor use. Plus, they’re made from 100% recycled materials, which is a nice bonus for the environment.

The Springfield Armory Echelon has been a very well received introduction to a loaded handgun market because of its infusion of everything modern shooters are looking for. Springfield’s proprietary VIS (Variable Interface System) mounting system lets you plug ‘n play with all of your favorite red dots via a “post system” and no adapter plates are required. Couple that with extendos, a good trigger, nice stipple job, and other accouterments and it is all-around a wonderful pistol.

Knock, knock, and open the door for another Photo Of The Day! If you like the LWRCI REPR Mk II in OD Green you’re going to like these photos. This one is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and has the 22” Proof Research barrel in carbon fiber. This version was called “Elite”, a version that is no longer available as an option for unknown reasons. I got one of the last ones ever made.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at the best cover garments. If you happened to miss that article be sure to click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to talk about the benefits of having a red dot sight on your carry gun. I was recently in a local hardware store that also sells firearms. The store employee was talking the guy out of a Trijicon RMRcc and told him to just keep the iron sights. It was an interesting argument but if you start carrying with an optic, it will start to show just how fast it is to find your sight with a red dot optic. Let’s take a closer look at some of the good as well as bad aspects of carrying with a red dot in our red dot rundown.

Israel Weapon Industries - IWI US is opening a manufacturing facility in Anderson County, TN, an expansion demonstrating the company’s firm commitment to the American commercial and law enforcement firearms market. The Pennsylvania-based firearms manufacturer began US operations in 2013 with the support of its Israeli-based parent company Israel Military Industries (IMI), founded in 1933.

A NEW Sig MCX LT limited edition is here, as well as a new Custom Works program from Sig. The Sig Shorts program is an exciting new initiative by Sig Sauer, offering limited runs of highly customized firearms available only through the Sig Experience Center in New Hampshire. Each release will feature exclusive designs and unique, high-end accessories. The first gun in the Sig Shorts collection is a standout Sig MCX LT, chambered in .300 Blackout with a compact 6-inch barrel. This model features a custom Miami Tigerstripe finish from Blown Deadline, giving it a bold, Miami Vice-inspired aesthetic.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) is back at TriggrCon 2024 to talk with Rich Angstadt of Angstadt Arms about some of their newest suppressors. In previous years we've checked out their 9mm integrally suppressed PCCs and Rich and his team have now expanded that same concept to include the Vanquish for the 10/22 platform, and now the Prophet which does just about everything you can think of. In addition to bringing along a ported full-length barrel, the new Prophet suppressor is a HUB-compatible silencer capable of handling virtually any common caliber on the market found in the AR platform. Today Rich tells us all about his new suppressors and what he thinks makes them stand out among the litany of suppressors already on the market.

Today on TFB’s Behind the Gun Podcast we have the rare opportunity to talk to someone behind the scenes of the event - Mr. Dave Timm. Dave has been working with Rainer/TriggrCon for years and has spearheaded their own blog and YouTube channel Guns and Tactics. In addition to his years in the gun industry, Dave has also spent a lot of time in law enforcement, especially on the training side. With his background, David has decided to strike it out on his own and start offering his services again as a firearms trainer, both in person and on his revived YouTube channel Learning Firearms.