There comes a time in most people’s lives when they start looking for exactly what they want instead of just what is available. With the benefit of experience and some additional disposable income, many experienced shooters start seeking out custom solutions that match their needs precisely. This is true in the world of holsters, too. FALCO Holsters offers custom holsters configured for a specific pistol or revolver, including combinations with more than 160 weapon lights and lasers. Depending on the selected model, customers can choose options such as sweat guard height, adjustable retention, cant, handedness, belt width, leather color, stitching, edge color, decorative underlays, and more. That is an extensive level of customization, but are these options necessary? Let’s look at why you should (or should not) consider a custom holster.

When world leaders converged, France's most elite intervention unit wasn't far behind. In fact, they were probably there ages before. The Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale was engaged at full strength in Evian-les-Bains, where France hosted the G7 Summit from June 15 to 17, 2026, marking the second time the lakeside resort city served as the backdrop for a gathering of that magnitude.

CrossBreed's newly announced fitments for the Staccato HD C4X tell a familiar story in the holster market: a compact carry gun draws ecosystem attention once it proves itself in the field. The C4X, the compact aluminum-frame version of Staccato's compensated platform, landed well enough in its first iteration that it's now attracting the depth of support usually reserved for flagships. Which makes sense, because a hard-use carry gun like the C4X demands holster solutions that match its versatility.

Leupold's Mark 250 Limited Edition package launches during America's 250th anniversary year, and it's built around one of the company's most capable modern combat optics paired with a secondary red dot in a complete box, something that actually matters for working rifles. The package is exclusive to Scheels and capped at exactly 250 units, each sequentially numbered and engraved with the Betsy Ross flag.

There's a pattern in American military history that's so intrinsically tied to a specific thing that mentioning it feels like you're setting up a punchline, and yet, FirstSpear just dropped it unironically across an entire collection. The five-color disruptive pattern that the Marines called Frogskin, which made its operational debut during WWII with the Raiders in the Pacific, is officially back, and no, the marketers didn't overthink the frog thing. It's just what people called it, and after 80-some years, FirstSpear figured enough time had passed to resurrect this piece of genuine American military history without anyone cringing.

The 250th anniversary of American independence arrives with a fitting tribute from SOG Knives, a company that's built its reputation on delivering uncompromising steel to professionals who demand reliability when it matters most. The new SEAL FX 250th Anniversary Limited Edition fixed blade marks the occasion with a commemorative run limited to just 250 individually numbered examples, each carrying the weight of that numerical restriction as a collectible marker.

In the world of double stack 1911s, there are a number of choices at a plethora of price points. Wilson Combat has always been a leader in high-end 1911s, but has recently been moving more into the double-stack 9mm model variants. One of the most recent releases is the Experior Elite Commander and I’ve had the chance to test it out for the last few months. Let's take a closer look at the Wilson Combat Experior Elite.

Two hundred and fifty years is worth more than a flag decal, and Microtech Knives agrees. The North Carolina OTF maker dropped a limited-edition Hera II to commemorate the Semiquincentennial, dressed in patriotic Cerakote and paired with a double-edge Apocalyptic finish blade that carries the kind of character you'd expect from a milestone piece.

I'll admit up front that I've become one of those guys who can't stop doing math on the amount of money I haven’t spent recently on tax stamps, which is a strange sentence to type, but here we are. For the last two weeks, I've had a Franklin Armory F22-V SBR on the bench and at the range for a while now, and today I want to share my experiences and thoughts with you, sor far, on this unique platform that just a year ago would have been an extra 400 bones just for the permission to enjoy the 10/22 in what I think is one of its most enjoyable forms - a two stamp SBR.

America's 250th anniversary has inspired countless tributes, most of them unfortunately destined for dusty shelves. POF-USA's Rogue 250 is different, a limited-edition pistol that actually exists to be used, not just admired. Built on the company's battle-tested direct-impingement Rogue platform and finished in an exclusive FS Sabre Sand and Blue Titanium Cerakote by CGC Cerakote, the Rogue 250 manages the rare feat of combining collector appeal with genuine capability. That's harder to pull off than it sounds.

Staccato is making a smart move with the new HD P4X, and it's a response to market demand that's been building since the compact C4X started gaining traction in the concealed carry space. While the C4X uses an aluminum frame to keep weight down, the HD P4X swaps that for a full-size steel frame and grip, making it explicitly a professional and duty-oriented gun. The 4-inch compensated barrel stays the same, but everything else scales up for shooters who aren't worried about printing on a belt line.

Benelli didn't slap a commemorative finish on existing inventory and call it a day. For the Super Black Eagle 3 250th Anniversary Edition, the company invested genuine craftsmanship into what amounts to a once-in-a-century milestone, delivering a limited run that bridges proven field performance with heirloom-grade presentation.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 194, brought to you by Strike Industries, manufacturer of innovative, high-performance firearm accessories. We’re back with more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like Strike Industries, as well as 5.11 Tactical, Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars.

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new Victra 20-gauge shotgun suppressor. This week, we are checking in on some interesting lawsuit updates. And I am taking some editorial liberty to talk about the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The equipment design and procurement failures that produce poor fit for female officers, why body armor, duty belts, and holsters built around a male body type create real safety and performance gaps, and what agencies and officers can do about it.

Happy Independence Day! This July 4th, we’re back with even more deals on guns, gear, ammunition, and accessories from some of our most frequented online retailers like 5.11 Tactical, Primary Arms, Natchez Shooters Supply, Palmetto State Armory, Brownells, and more. Whether you’re looking for deals on new or used guns, ammo to add to your reserves, or specific accessories like flashlights, range bags, optics, bipods, and magazines, each week we’ll have new sets of deals that might fulfill one of those needs and save you a few dollars while you’re ringing in the 4th with the sound of freedom.

Not every range has a roof or a traditional backstop. Aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), a sailor assigned to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group runs live-fire drills with an M4 carbine on the ship's flight deck while underway in the Caribbean Sea, February, 2026. The open-air range is as operational as it gets.

Welcome to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at some of the tough realities when it comes to carrying concealed. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a deeper dive into what is actually necessary versus what is useful. So many people say the magwell or two-tone coloring on their handgun is an absolute must and then proceed to explain why it's completely necessary when, in reality, most times it's just what they wanted or it can be slightly useful. I decided to take a look at the three top items to see if they're really must-change items to carry safer or if it's just something you want. Let's take a closer look at useful vs necessary concealment items.

Headstamp Publishing has launched pre-orders their latest book "The Real Schmeissers: From the M.P. 18.I to the M.P. 41," a 678-page book covering the complete history of Hugo Schmeisser's submachine gun designs from World War I through World War II.

Luke C. speaks to Ian at GunCon 2026 to check out the o"ST"-14 Groza kit from the boys over at Stuff & Things Inc (STINC), a drop-in bullpup conversion that turns a PSA Krink (AK-74U pattern pistol) into a reasonably obtainable version of the Russian OTs-14 Groza. STINC says their conversion kit has compatibility with the 300 BLK, 7.62x39, and 5.56 Krink variants, with some fitting work potentially needed on other AK platforms.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) sits down with Mark from @dsainc at GunCon 2026 to talk about the FAL and why the company is putting all its focus there. DSArms is stepping back from its AR-10 offerings to dedicate itself fully to the platform it's built its reputation on for decades. Mark gets into what's driving the change and why DSArms sees its future tied to the FAL rather than spreading resources across multiple rifle platforms. The conversation moves into what makes the FAL such an enduring design, from its battle-proven 7.62x51mm chambering to its adjustable gas system and decades of combat history earning it the nickname "the right arm of the free world." Luke and Mark talk through how DSArms is keeping that legacy alive in the 21st century, with modern furniture, optic compatibility, and continued manufacturing of the SA58 line right here in the US.

We’ve been following the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program here at TFB from the very beginning and we recently reported that the US Army had received the first batch of the new and improved version of the NGSW-Rifle - the XM8. The XM8 Carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M7 rifle and it looks set to supplant the longer weapon.

In this episode of the TFB Behind the Gun podcast, Scott Ergas of Petersen's Hunting joins the conversation to relive their recent weekend at the NRL Hunter Leupold Relentless Rifleman match. Today, Scott and I speak to the practical realities of North American hunting in the modern age, from a lifetime of field skills and heavily tested gear to the mindset that defines success at a match or on a hunt. Scott shares his thoughts on how precision rifle competitions like NRL Hunter sharpen hunters while building a bridge to the next generation and also shares some personal stories of hunting with his daughter and fond memories from his own childhood. Please give Scott a warm welcome to the show!

I first heard about Brownell’s Action Hero Experience the same way most attendees did: through their YouTube channel. I decided to check it out since it was only a few hours away, and I’ve never been to a 2 Gun shooting competition before. The event coordinators were gracious enough to offer me a spot on one of the squads when I arrived, but I decided I wanted to observe from an outside perspective. (Also, I’ve never competed before, and I didn’t want to embarrass TFB.)

The La Paz Sand Dunes on the northern coast of Luzon made for an unusual battlefield on May 4, 2026, but the mission was unmistakable. In the first image, Pfc. Griffin Clemen of 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Mobile Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, works the M240B during the Counter Landing Live Fire Exercise North (CLLFX-N) as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026. In the second, his battalion mate Pfc. Brian Shultz takes cover behind an M250 in the dunes alongside Philippine forces during the same drill.

When you think of true deep concealment handguns, a few companies go a bit deeper than anyone else. North American Arms is one of the stealthiest of those companies, making hideout guns that can be stowed away in a spot that you wouldn’t normally think of—and this limited-edition revolver, made to celebrate America’s birthday bash this weekend, is the perfect example. Although considering the blinged-out look of the belt-buckle holster and the handgun inside, maybe the point isn’t to hide it at all, but to show it off?

XS Sight Systems has released a new line of fiber optic sights designed specifically for Smith & Wesson revolvers. The Fort Worth, Texas-based manufacturer now offers sight options for J, K, and L frame models, with both fixed and adjustable rear sight configurations.

B.E. Meyers & Co. continues its longstanding support of US military night fighting capabilities with a significant new contract award. The Redmond, Washington-based company has been selected to deliver thousands of its advanced DAGIR-V1 laser systems to the US Army’s PM Soldier Lethality. This order underscores the growing emphasis on enhanced small arms fire control and lethality during low-light operations. Built around advanced VCSEL technology, the DAGIR series delivers compact, rugged performance that integrates aiming and illumination functions for modern weapon platforms.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) catches up with Dave from @samsonmfg at GunCon 2026 to check out their new modernized Mini-14 chassis. Built almost entirely from aluminum, this is a significant step up from Samson's existing wood and steel folding stock options, bringing a more modern, tactical platform to the Mini-14 and a more precise lockup. The chassis features a fully adjustable folding stock and is compatible with Samson's Hannibal rail for those wanting to add a modern top rail for optics. It's currently drop-in compatible with Mini-14 rifles from 2008 and newer. Dave walks Luke through the design choices behind the chassis and what Mini-14 owners can expect when it comes to fit, adjustability, and overall handling compared to the factory stock. And of course, the price.

Luke C ( @BallisticAviation) sits down with Jim from Extar Firearms (also of ⁨@jetskijim007⁩  where he reviews jet skis) at GunCon 2026 to check out the EP9 MDB and EP45 MDB (Modern Delayed Blowback), the latest versions of Extar's budget-friendly large-format pistols. These guns have earned a reputation as some of the most affordable PDW options on the market, and now Jim walks Luke through the biggest change yet: a switch to roller-delayed blowback. The EP9 MDB comes in at 3.75 lbs and is chambered in 9x19, while the EP45 MDB weighs 4.35 lbs and runs .45 ACP. Both keep the Glock magazine compatibility, AR-style controls, M-LOK handguards, and threaded barrels that made the originals popular, all while staying true to Extar's direct-to-consumer pricing.