Gun Brands

When I recently wrote an article about the demise of three classic hunting cartridges (the .257 Roberts, the .22 Hornet and the .300 Savage), one commenter said:

Smith & Wesson has announced a new partnership with Lena Miculek, who joins the company as a brand ambassador. Miculek is widely known in the competitive shooting world, having earned her first world title in 2012 at the age of 17. Since then, she has accumulated ten world titles along with numerous additional podium finishes across multiple disciplines, including rifle, shotgun, pistol caliber carbine, and multi-gun competitions.

Springfield Armory has announced a new line of pistols factory-equipped with the Aimpoint COA, starting with select variants of the Echelon 9mm platform. The new models are cut for Aimpoint’s A-CUT interface, which integrates the optic directly into the slide.

The Canadian Armed Forces are set to adopt variants of Colt Canada’s MRR as the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR). The announcement stated that more than 65,000 rifles will be procured over the next 5 years to replace the Colt Canada C7 rifles and C8 carbines currently in Canadian service.

The policy looked fine in the meeting. It stopped working by Thursday night.

The captive-piston (integrally silenced) ammunition concept is often assumed to be a Soviet invention; in fact, it dates back to 1902 in the United States (US Patent No. 692,819). Fast-forward to the Cold War, when the KGB carried out extensive clandestine espionage and counter-espionage worldwide. The GRU, the Intelligence Department of the General Staff, shared its needs for truly quiet, concealable weapons.

Steen Defense introduced its long‑requested MCRC (Multicaliber Combat Rifle Compact), a compact 5.56×45mm NATO carbine developed as a reinforcement weapon for users who do not primarily serve in front‑line combat roles. Intended for police and military personnel who need more capability than a service pistol or submachine gun can provide, the MCRC is said to fill a niche few manufacturers address in this caliber and size category - at least within Europe.

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about how much ammo you should carry on you when carrying a concealed handgun. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to break down some of the most common misconceptions about why people can't carry a concealed handgun. Some people get their concealed carry permits and then only carry 15-20% of the time when they could easily carry every day with a consistent plan. I wanted to break down the most common phrases I’ve heard people say over and over again throughout my time talking with people about carrying a gun. Let's take a closer look at some of the most common excuses not to carry.

The XM8 ships with a 25-round magazine. Twenty-round mags from the M7 remain compatible. That directly addresses one of the louder complaints in Army Capt. Braden Trent's May 2025 assessment of the M7, which called the 20-round capacity a liability. As TFB covered when the Army type-classified the M7 and M250, both the Army and SIG disputed Trent's findings. Regardless of how you scored that debate, the XM8 has answered at least that piece of the critique.

Primary Weapons Systems has added the BDE762K-TI suppressor to its lineup, a 3D-printed Grade 5 titanium can chambered for .308/7.62 NATO and rated up to .300 Winchester Magnum.

If you want to go after turkeys this spring season, but you want to use a sub-gauge shotgun, good news: Apex Ammunition has a new 28-gauge load on the market, just in time for the 2026 season. The new Apex Ammunition 28-Gauge SmallTown Hunting TSS Turkey Blend promises to give bird-busting performance at long range thanks to a blended load of high-density shot and a wad that will help your pattern hold together.

In this episode, we sit down with the CEO of Atrius Development Group, Ryan Spadafore, to talk about all of the cool new fire controls they’ve been able to bring to the market. However, today, instead of talking about the drama that this specific niche of the firearms world has currently found itself in, Ryan and I focus on how their selector systems interact with various semi-auto platforms, what builders should know about timing, gas setup, and buffer systems, and how to avoid common reliability issues when chasing higher cyclic speeds. If you’ve been trepidatious about picking up one of these awesome devices, today I think Ryan can help assuage some of your fears and convince you that it's probably past due time to pick one up for yourself.

At Q, the core philosophy boils down to this: "Nobody really minds what you're up to, as long as you're enjoying yourself," explained Nick Schaefer, an engineer who's played a key role in developing many of Q's products. This mindset influences every aspect of the team's work, from brainstorming designs to assembling custom orders. It's a blend of cheeky humor, serious technical expertise, and lots of good vibes - just what you'd anticipate from the group responsible for iconic creations like the Honey Badger and the Fix.

Talk about perfect timing! Marines of the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Barracks Washington, took to the parade field at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to perform during a fly-over by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ “Fat Albert” C-130J Super Hercules. The 24-Marine platoon is a demonstration unit known for its precision, discipline, and ceremonial excellence, representing the traditions of the Marine Corps as well as the service and sacrifice of Marines past and present.

Last year, you might have noticed that Smith & Wesson brought back the Model 940 to be sold exclusively through the distributor Davidson’s. They’ve recently announced a slightly different version of this wheelgun, the Model 940-3, and it appears to be available through Smith & Wesson’s standard catalog instead of being sold as a distributor exclusive.

TAG Precision has expanded its FiberLok™ product family with the introduction of the all-new FiberLok™ SG Pro Shotgun Sight, a purpose-built front sight designed to deliver faster target acquisition, long-term durability, and consistent performance under recoil. Designed and manufactured entirely in the United States, the SG Pro reflects TAG Precision’s continued focus on shooter-driven innovation across defensive, competitive, and field shotgun applications.

The U.S. Army inked partnerships with Geissele Automatics and Carpenter Technology to develop next-generation small arms barrels using GNB 200 alloy and a new rifle profile. The partnerships, formalized through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) signed in 2022, aim to solve barrel wear and durability problems created by higher-pressure ammunition in modern weapon systems.

The military competition format World’s Strongest Soldier is set to expand into a full six-episode television series, with production scheduled for 2026 across locations in Finland and Germany. The concept first appeared as a standalone TV special produced in Finland in 2025. The program brought together active professional soldiers from multiple countries to compete in demanding challenges designed to test strength, endurance, tactical decision-making, and weapon handling skills.

Primary Arms Optics has expanded its SLx® lineup with the release of the new SLx Compact 4-16×44mm First Focal Plane rifle scope, a mid-power optic designed to deliver precision capability in a notably compact and lightweight package. Measuring just 10.1 inches in length and weighing 20.5 ounces, the new SLx 4-16×44 is aimed at shooters who want extended-range performance without adding unnecessary bulk to their rifle.

Right after the fall of the USSR, the collapse of the most difficult economic years in modern Russian history, the sudden scarcity of specialized ammunition reshaped Russia’s small-arms market. In the newly formed Russian Federation, demand for suppressed, subsonic performance offered by the 9x39mm weapon systems remained high among police and special units. Still, the cost of weapons and ammunition became prohibitive for many customers at the time, primarily law enforcement. Into that gap stepped the Tula-based KBP Instrument Design Bureau with a budget-driven weapon program: an inexpensive, compact assault rifle; a budget sniper rifle; and a low-cost cartridge intended to keep 9x39 capability within reach.

Photo Of The Day: Precision doesn’t always come from a bench, and Seekins Precision makes that point clear with its newest rifle, introduced in late 2025. The Seekins SIC is a purpose-built system developed specifically with U.S. Special Operations requirements in mind, emphasizing adaptability, durability, and efficiency in demanding environments. Rather than adapting a traditional chassis to accept a barreled action, the SIC was designed from the ground up as a fully modular rifle platform.

Welcome back to TFB's Small Business Spotlight! Each week, we feature small firearms-related businesses and give them a chance to introduce themselves. This week: Cascade Range Systems, a new shop out of eastern Washington, making parts for a platform the industry mostly forgot about.

The Canadian firearms buyback/seizure (what you call it depends on your perspective) has hit more setbacks this week, with more police taking a stand against the gun grab and the province of Saskatchewan coming out with an interesting new tactic to make sure its citizens’ firearms aren’t seized without payment. Maybe.

TALO Distributors has announced two new Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 exclusives, marking the distributor's first semi-automatic exclusives with S&W in several years. Both pistols are chambered in 9mm and feature factory compensators straight from Smith & Wesson's Performance Center. The two new models are the Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 Metal Gold Comp and the Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 Polymer Copper Comp. TALO expected both to reach dealer shelves by February 2026.

At IWA OutdoorClassics in Nuremberg, Pistollo introduced a new variant of its pistol platform tailored specifically for the American market, along with a highly limited edition developed in cooperation with its U.S. distributor Deluxe Arms. The Pistollo 77 Launch Edition has a price of $4,377.77, which will certainly show how important exclusivity and limited production numbers are to buyers.

The belt-fed M240B features a cold hammer-forged, hard-chromed MIL-SPEC barrel designed for extended service life and improved durability. It uses a machined steel receiver with a top-mounted MIL-STD-1913 rail for optics and accessories. The system has a maximum range of approximately 3,725 meters.

The internet can't agree on AR cleaning schedules. You've got the "after every range trip no matter what" crowd and the "never cleaned mine, runs great" guys. Both are kinda wrong. Real answer depends on how you shoot and what you're willing to tolerate. Your rifle won't grenade if you skip a cleaning session. But neglect adds up.

Today’s Photo of the Day features a limited-edition Ruger SR1911 Western Edition from Sturm, Ruger & Co., produced in a run of just 1,000 pistols. The standout feature is the laser‑engraved slide depicting a mounted rider set against an American flag backdrop, paired with custom wood grip panels featuring matching scrollwork.

Much like other rifle pairings, the Ruger 10/22 and CCI’s high velocity Mini-Mag ammunition is one that almost everyone out there has experience with. While the 10/22 can often be picky with ammo, CCI’s Mini-Mags are often offered up as a flat-out cure for almost any stubborn .22LR autoloader. While this isn’t true in a lot of specific cases, in my decades of shooting rimfire, I’ve found that Mini-Mags do indeed help get a lot of stubborn, dirty, or finicky guns up and running.

Lodestar Technology has introduced its first commercial firearm platform, the LNK9, a 9mm pistol designed to verify user authorization before the firearm can be operated. The LNK9 incorporates the company’s Safeguard User Interface system, which combines biometric authentication with PIN-pad entry. The system allows owners to manage authorized users while maintaining control over access to the firearm. There’s a left or right side configuration of the Biometric LandingPad™ depending on user preference.