I’ve come a long way in the 25 some odd years I’ve been playing around with firearms. As a child, all I wanted was the simple stuff, more ammo, some soda cans to shoot at, and time out on the range with my buddies and my dad. Although quality range time with loved ones and friends is certainly high on the priority list, my desires in regards to the firearms and equipment have drastically changed. Sometimes all it takes is a small taste of what you don’t have to get you constantly thinking of ways to rearrange your checking account in order to get that next item on your list. Well, for me, these three items may be a ways off but Christmas miracles can happen, right? Here’s hoping for a quiet silent night in my firearms future.

L3 Filmless White Phosphor DTNVG ANVIS Binocular

Night vision has been all the rage over the last year and until recently I didn’t understand why. My first taste of using night vision equipment with firearms didn’t happen until SHOT Show 2020 and after that brief experience, I was instantly hooked on the concept. In particular, I quite liked the white phosphor tubes and how they made everything at night clear as day.

The DTNVG is a lightweight dual tube night vision goggle made for the professional users and sportsman. Like all dual tube goggles, the DTNVG provides depth perception and increases situational awareness over a monocular. Weighing in under 20oz the DTNVG offers significant weight savings over competing night vision binoculars and dual bridged monoculars. Although they are light, the DTNVG are more that rugged enough for ground use.

The auto-off function independently powers down one or both sides of the binocular when rolled outboard, and automatically powers back up each pod when rolled inboard. The DTNVG is ergonomic and extremely low profile when stowed against a helmet and the use of standard PVS-14 optics makes the DTNVG compatible with many PVS-14 style optics upgrades like the Ether lightweight eyepiece.

The DTNVG is powered by a single CR123A which is loaded from the objective side of the middle bridge. The DTNVG is also offered in an ANVIS configuration.

Price: $11,995.00

They might be worth about as much as my car but hey, you gotta have goals in life.

Barret MRAD – .338 Lapua Magnum

I blame a close friend of mine for turning me onto the idea of actually owning one of these rifles. The MRAD has by far been one of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot and it’s what I would consider being the cream of the crop as far as quality and durability go. The action runs as smooth as glass and the MRAD has so many neat features built into it that make it more than just a precise rifle – it’s fun to shoot.

Designed with both precision and modularity in mind, the MRAD is equally at home on the range or on duty. Its monolithic upper receiver is machined from 7000-series aluminum, including a full-length M1913 Picatinny top rail with built-in taper for long range precision.

With mounting slots at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, its hand guard offers a rigid, highly adaptable interface for attachment of rails, electro-optics, and other accessories. Featuring a user- changeable barrel system, the MRAD can quickly and easily be converted to one of 8 different calibers or multiple barrel lengths by simply loosening two bolts using a standard Torx wrench; no gunsmith required.

Contained within the lower receiver is a fully adjustable match-grade trigger module, allowing the user to easily set their ideal pull. The MRAD stock folds on the right side, reducing overall width for a minimal footprint and ease of transport. When extended, the stock locks securely into place, providing an interface as rigid and stable as any fixed-stock rifle.

With tool-less length of pull and cheek piece height adjustment, the MRAD is easily configured to fit shooters of all shapes and sizes. The use of ambidextrous paddle-style magazine release, left/right swappable thumb safety and AR15/M16 pistol grips makes the MRAD perfect for both right and left handed shooters. From competition to combat, the Barrett MRAD does it all.

The Barrett MRAD comes in several calibers including the more recently introduced .300 PRC. However, the extent of my experience with the rifle has only been in .338 Lapua Magnum and I find the capabilities of that round would suit me just fine. While the MRAD isn’t quite as expensive as my dream of owning a 12 grand pair of night vision, the rifle would still set me back around 6 grand for just the rifle, lord knows I would want a bipod, dedicated direct thread suppressor, as well as a nice piece of glass to top it off.

Dead Air Sandman S Suppressor

I like to get a lot of use out of any items I’m buying. My first suppressor was optimized for the .450 Bushmaster round and I ended up using it on my two-stamp .458 SOCOM rifle. It didn’t take me long to acquire a few more mounts for the suppressor and I started using it on everything smaller including my Ruger Mk. IV. The Sandman S would probably end up doing the same thing but with better results as it is great at suppressing everything from 5.56 up to .300 Win Mag.

At 6.8 inches in length and a weight of 18.5 oz the Sandman-S™ is the perfect cross-over suppressor for your 5.56mm, 300BLK, and 7.62 platforms, even up to .300 Win Mag.

The QD system is design perfection. One hand removal in just seconds. No wobble, no seizing, no affected performance; just easy on, easy off, with minimal point of impact shift and no loss of precision.

Hunting? Fighting? Competing? The Stellite® baffles are welded into a solid core for added strength and durability. An innovative 7.62 design first, the front cap is detachable and features an integrated flash hider. This affords better performance, particularly in low light conditions. The detachable front cap also provides some level of insurance should the Sandman-S™ get dropped or abused. This equals trouble free replacement in the field.

The Sandman-S ships with a 5/8×24 muzzle brake.

This is probably one of my more realistic Christmas wishes as the suppressor would only set me back about $1,250 after all is said and done with the ATF and Dead Air. Shooting with suppressors is not only more fun, and more comfortable, it’s also the most courteous thing you can do for your neighbors when you’re the “gun guy” in town.

Lofty but attainable goals -Just do the work

2020 has been a wild ride for many of us and I feel personally that it has challenged me more than I would have expected. A lot of new life changes and a lot of obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments have kept me from doing many of the things I have wanted to do and broken my expectations of the future and what I thought it would be.

It is in this frame of mind that I have come to realize more and more that while the outside world can be a whirlwind of seemingly insurmountable challenges, your goals, no matter how lofty, can still be attained if you put in the work. Just always remember that no matter what happens, no matter how far back you’ve been pushed that you’re not a loser – because you started life out as a winner. Keep your goals in mind and work to get them accomplished! For me, this is going to mean making some smart sacrifices and putting that money away for one of these items. Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New year!

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