#SHOTShow2024

Like last week’s episode, this week’s episode jumps right back into the hot topic of suppressors and this time we’re talking about more than just wishful thinking about getting rid of the NFA, and keeping wait times at a reasonable interval. This week we’ve brought back a favorite guest of ours, CEO Brandon Maddox of Silencer Central, to talk about all things NFA. While Brandon has the same wish as us about getting rid of the NFA, he does have some pretty poignant thoughts about what would happen should the NFA disappear and what that might look like for firearm owners and hunters on a state level. He also goes into depth with Pete about the recent surge of interest in suppressors and how that might be adversely affecting the average quality of suppressors being put out onto the market today.

Suppressors are one of Pete’s favorite subjects and that’s why it’s an honor to finally present one of the best episodes recorded at SHOT Show 2024 featuring Chris with Yankee Hill Machine. Many of you know that ATF Form 4 times has taken a drastic dip in the time it takes them to be processed. A lot of speculation has been posed throughout the last couple of weeks on whether or not this pace can keep up, or if this is just a temporary boost spurred on by the government and or the pressure from the growing civilian suppressor market. Looking back at this episode recorded during the 2024 SHOT Show, it’s interesting to hear what Pete and Chris have to say about the current state of the suppressor market, and where they think it’s going this year.

At SHOT Show 2024, Ohio Ordnance Works unveiled the REAPR lightweight medium machine gun. The REAPR or Recoil Enhanced Automatic Rifle is chambered in .338 Norma Magnum and can also be calibre converted to 7.62x51mm.

In September 2023, Beretta unveiled their next generation combat rifle, the project is collectively termed the ‘New Assault Rifle Platform’ or NARP. Beretta were kind enough to speak to TFB and give us a detailed rundown of the rifle, the project and its aims.

New for 2024, Meprolight has a new successor to their M21 dual illuminated reflex sight. The new M22 reflex is much smaller and lighter than the previous model, and has a streamlined single quick-detach lever. The M22 is illuminated by a combination of fiber optic pipes and tritium, like the M21; however the reticle color has been changed to red.

Agency Arms is entering the AR market in 2024 and alongside their sister companies Riflespeed and Cloud Defensive, they’ve designed a custom rifle for Tu Lam of Ronin Tactics. This AR has a newly designed version of the Cloud Defensive COR rail that has step down section at the front to lower a laser aiming module out of the view of the optic. It also has a cutout window to allow access to a special version of the Riflespeed adjustable gas block. Some of these features will also be on the standard Agency Arms rifle, but not all of them! As you can imagine, Hop is devastated.

At SHOT Show 2024, Hop visited the Kriss USA booth to see the new 3rd generation Vector. The new gun is still available as a carbine, pistol, or SBR, and has a few changes to make it more appealing to buyers in 2024. The rear of the gun now has a short length of Picatinny rail so it no longer requires the use of the proprietary Kriss stock. The carbine length Vector CRB now has accessory rail slots on the removable barrel shroud, and the muzzle is threaded. The 3rd generation guns also have an improved trigger, swappable grip, and a more slimmed-down look.

At SHOT Show 2024 Range Day, Hoplopfheil shot the new Sako 90 bolt action rifle. The 90 series rifles have a few improvements over the 85 series, including an adjustable trigger and two types of receiver for modern or classic optic mounting. As usual for Sako, the 90 will be available in multiple calibers, multiple action lengths, finishes, and furniture styles.

and are on the scene and unsupervised at the Magpul booth to check out some of their latest products including their new all-polymer 30-round translucent TMAG, MOE PR Carbine Stock, and some of their new rail covers and wire management products. We won’t hit everything in the booth but we’re going to cover the most interesting products we saw.

The ultra low bore axis Archon Type B pistol recently got a few upgrades and is now being brought to the US with help from PTR. @Hoplopfheil stopped by the PTR booth to check out the new features of the Gen II Archon Type B. The updated Type B has a modular frame system with three different grip and magazine sizes, and the serialized chassis can also be dropped readily into the classic Gen I frame, or new heavier metal frames to add weight for competition. The slides are now offered with three different optics cuts, and Archon is also offering a threaded barrel.

SHOT Show 2024 has been the year of the lever action, and Midwest Industries arrived at the show with new accessories for all of them. Hop stopped by to check out the new stock accessories, and play catch up on the lever action handguards and optics rails Midwest has been making for a while. Midwest Industries lever action products include stocks, handguards, and optic rail mounts for several brands and patterns of lever action rifles, all of which can be installed without permanently altering the rifle.

Just before the SHOT Show, Ruger announced the Generation II version of the American series bolt action rifles, and Hop dropped by to check them out. Like the previous generation, Ruger American Gen II will be available in the standard size as well as the smaller, lighter “Ranch” models. The new features include factory Cerakote, spiral fluted barrels, threaded barrels with an included muzzle brake, a new three-position safety design, and a greatly improved stock with an included cheek riser.

Holosun brought a pile of night vision accessories to SHOT Show 2024, and TFB’s resident night vision nerd Hop checked them out. The night vision and thermal optics that were revealed last year are finally coming to market, alongside new weapon lights, red dot sights, and an IR laser aiming module. And brand new to the show this year was a miniaturized thermal fusion sight that can be mounted to a pistol. Suffice to say if even half of these new products come out on time and on budget, it will dominate the night vision market for the next year.

In this episode of TFBT Showtime, Hop checks out the refreshed version of S&W’s venerable budget handgun, the SD9. The history of the SD9 series goes all the way back to the early 90s with the S&W Sigma, but a lot has changed internally and externally since then. The biggest change to the SD9 2.0 is an improved flat face trigger with a lighter and crisper pull than the outgoing SD9VE model, which was in turn improved over the original Sigma. In most other respects, this is a very no-frills design and is among the most affordable products S&W produces.

New for 2024, Desert Tech is replacing the MDRX Bullpup! The new rifle is called the WLVRN, and is based on the existing MDR and MDRX models but with substantially redesigned internals. The new bullpup will still be available in multiple calibers and barrel lengths, but Desert Tech dropped the forward ejection option and improved the receiver design. The result is a much lighter rifle that is also capable of better accuracy than the MDRX. Desert Tech will still continue to support the MDR and MDRX, but going forward the WLVRN will replace it in the catalog entirely.