As the relatively new kid on the block, Alpha Dog Silencers is not playing it safe. The Alpha 9 centerfire pistol suppressor avoids the plain-old tube design with an offset bore, styled end caps and a top or bottom positioned rail depending on which way you decide to [Read More…]
With all the recent press on retro-styled AR rifle offerings by Colt, Troy and others, I thought it would be fitting to highlight one of the original (and most technically accurate) manufacturers of “clone” receivers and parts. Beginning in 2005, NoDak Spud, [Read More…]
Typically, I don’t like to blog about other blogs. But one of my favorite technology/information/gun sites (besides TFB, of course), War Is Boring, posted a great write-up of the MAC-10 and its high-speed rise and fall as a viable submachine gun. Entitled The [Read More…]
If you research traditional night vision devices online, you typically walk away with the impression that unless you spend upwards of $2,000, you are wasting your time and money. The problem with this theory is that, for currency-challenged people like myself, [Read More…]
In a calm, cool voice, I have been trying to explain to anyone who will listen that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) upcoming rule change concerning National Firearms Act (NFA) controlled items such as silencers, is not going to be as [Read More…]
In a silencer, the blast baffle (the first baffle the bullet passes through after leaving the barrel) takes the brunt of the heat and pressure released by the deflagration of gunpowder. I use the term ‘deflagration’ because to be technically accurate, the [Read More…]
I am guessing that we have all seen a gun product and said to ourselves “Why didn’t I think of that?”. But Joe Holden, creator of the MAG/SLAB actually did think of something that will make high-end pistol owner’s very happy. The MAG/SLAB is a [Read More…]
In the third installment of the ‘Spotlight’ series we bring you Curtis Tactical – quite literally a “Mom and Pop” operation. And that is exactly how owner Joe Jones and his wife like to operate. Besides periodic crunch times when Joe needs [Read More…]
BLACKHAWK!, makers of holsters, ballistic nylon bags/cases and entry tools has quietly announced a new line of sound suppressors to their product line. The details are scant at the moment, but from the looks of it, BLACKHAWK! will be offering a full line of silencers [Read More…]
I am a geek in many ways: one of which involves camo patterns. Camo holsters, camo clothes and even camo phone cases. I make no apologies for my love of earthy patterns. So when I saw the Kryptek camo thread protector from Backup Tactical, something stirred inside me. [Read More…]
Zenith Firearms has been successfully importing and selling MKE MP5 pistols for the past several years. Notice how I didn’t use the term “clone” or “patterned” when referring to the MKE? When talking with Michael Farruggio, Public Affairs [Read More…]
Growing up watching Magnum P.I. probably had a major influence in both my career choice and my interest in firearms. Thomas Magnum was a suave private detective that drove a Ferrari, carried a 1911 and solved complex problems with calculated precision. He and his [Read More…]
I’m on the hunt for a rimfire rifle that will shoot microscopic groups at 50-100 yards. Of course, besides the gun itself, optics, mounts, ammunition and my trigger finger will also have to play a roll in this ‘precision decision’ process. And last but [Read More…]
In a world of mass-produced, injection molded guns and gear, it is refreshing to know that real craftsmanship still exists. QLine Design, a custom furniture manufacturer, combines functional artwork with a blend of technology to create hidden compartments that can store [Read More…]
In the second installment of the ‘Spotlight’ series we take a look at Thunderbeast Arms, arguably the manufacturer of the best precision silencers in the world. I am willing to bet that if you take a walk down the line at a weekend long-range match, a [Read More…]
On May 24 1945, in oppressive Philippine heat, an American soldier sat behind a Browning 1917 water-cooled machine gun – smiling . That soldier, along with the rest of the US Army’s 38th Division “Cyclones”, for the months and years prior had [Read More…]
It’s not a secret that I love suppressors of all shapes, sizes and flavors. But from time-to-time it seems that a handful of manufacturers dominate the stage. And rightly so; there are some awesome silencers and accessories hitting the market and many of them are [Read More…]
Even if you have zero interest in airguns, you could still spend an entire evening watching the Ted’s Holdover YouTube channel and not get bored. Not only that, but you might also learn a lot about range estimation, bullet drop and windage adjustment from watching [Read More…]
When I was living in an NFA-unfriendly area I found comfort in my suppressed pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) .25 caliber air rifle. While the max efficient range was about 125 yards or less, the gun was super quiet, deadly accurate and could be shot safely in areas where [Read More…]
When I started getting into suppressors, I sold off all my AK rifles and gear to fund quieter hosts. That decision to purge anything and everything AK-based might have been a bit rash. Dead Air Armament just pushed out a sneak-peak of the Wolverine PBS-1; a silencer [Read More…]
Fresh off the heels of ATF 41P/41F (Trust “loophole”), a new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE or ATF) proposal is set to hit the Federal Register tomorrow. In what is surely to be dubbed ‘ATF 29P’, the agency is [Read More…]
Born on the slopes of Western Colorado, a place my father affectionately refers to as ‘The Center of the Universe’, the kit bags from Hill People Gear are the most useful and comfortable chest packs on the market. Available in multiple sizes and attachment [Read More…]
The Glock 17 (G17) was first released in 1982, igniting what would turn out to be a revolution in firearms manufacturing and forever changing the world of modern combat handguns. Only overshadowed by it’s younger sibling the Glock 19, the number of G17s in the [Read More…]
My friends over in the suppressor forum of AR15.com came across a curious ‘new’ product within the pages of Tracking Point’s commercial website this week. The ‘Hush-S’ and ‘Hush-L’ suppressors are listed as being [Read More…]
Even though I’m not a competitive shooter, I can appreciate quality competition gear. Especially when it can be repurposed into daily carry use. The Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) magazine baseplates are a good example of how competitions like 3-Gun matches [Read More…]
From the beginning, ITS Tactical has worked hard to provide concise knowledge and information for all breeds of warrior: Military, Law Enforcement and Civilian alike. So it is no surprise that they also produce superior gear. After realizing that my ITS ETA Trauma Kit [Read More…]
In part one and part two of the beginner’s series we walked you through the process of researching, buying and finally transferring a new suppressor from a dealer. We even gave you assignments along the way, like getting barrels threaded, buying a booster or [Read More…]
So, you have always wanted a suppressor but figured that they were too expensive or the paperwork wasn’t worth your time. Or, you never considered owning a silencer until your idiot brother-in-law spun that monster brake/compensator on his AR at the range last week. [Read More…]
We are living in a Golden Age of suppressors. The market is flush with caliber ratings, high-tech materials, new mounting options and a host of accessories. If you have ever thought about owning a suppressor, or even if you haven’t, let’s walk you through your [Read More…]
Suppressing a 5.56mm AR-15 isn’t always as straight forward as mounting a silencer and enjoying reduced noise and muzzle blast. Unlike bolt action rifles, suppressing a semi automatic (our even full auto) rifle can have unwanted side effects. Extra gas pushed back [Read More…]