The Firearm Blog

Here is an interesting test. I really do not condone putting anyone’s life at risk to test if a car is bullet proof. I am curious how they thought it was bullet proof. Did they just obtain the car on the word of the previous owner? And what would convince them to test it let alone put someone inside? They could have put balloons, watermelon or any other substitute target inside the car.

They tested the car with a 9mm. I would have tested it against other calibers to truly test its bulletproofness. Also, no one would be inside when I test it.

An interesting product. It is simple and provides a lot of options for organizing gear. I can see it being useful for organizing bug out bags or range bags. You can mount molle pouches or screwed on gear like teklocks.

Molleganizer by Bladetricks

Over the years I’ve had some decent slings that did the job but never one I really was impressed with and did everything well. I imagine most of you have purchased slings based on looks, brand and such only to be disappointed by the performance.

My biggest pet peeve on any sling is the advertised ability to grab a tab and make the sling shorter or longer and do so quickly. They work if you yank them hard enough. With the Tri-Glide Brian uses it’s very easy to adjust the sling and do so with little effort.

I received an email from Silencerco about how to purchase a silencer or if the term fits suppressor. The video is done very well. It’s both informative and humorous.

Fans of Longmire rejoice, this week’s submission includes the much loved and reviled…  Branch Connally (I mean how dare he run against the Sheriff!?!?).

Smirk-arising matrix below:

On-target or no-impact, no-idea?

Thanks, Renegade!

TriStar announced the company is expanding its line of handguns to include the P-120 pistol in 9mm.  The guns are hammer-fired, and use a traditional double-/single-action trigger pull.  Both the frame and slide are made from stainless steel.

The pistols will ship with two magazines and a cleaning kit.  These guns, like all of TriStar pistols since mid-2013, come with a Cerakote finish.

• caliber:  9mm
• barrel length:  4.7″
• magazine capacity:  17 rounds
• sights:  fixed front, drift adjustable rear
• weight:  1.87 pounds
• finish:  black Cerakote or chrome Cerakote
• MSRP:  $489 for black, $509 for chrome

The dream job for many TFB readers …

(Wilsonville, OR) – Crimson Trace, the recognized leader in laser sights and tactical lights, announces a search to fill the company’s Director of Engineering position. This key employee provides strategic vision and leadership to the engineering and product development functions in support of the company’s revenue goals and drives the focus for new and sustaining products. This position is responsible for staying abreast of new technology and product platforms to meet consumer and OEM customer needs while establishing deadline-driven objectives, initiatives and processes for industry leading products. The Director of Engineering serves as a member of the Crimson Trace Executive Team to support overall company objectives and organizational needs.

The individual selected to fill this opening will work closely with Manufacturing, Sourcing, Sales and the Marketing departments and should have a high technical aptitude and broad experience in new product development and manufacturing / assembly environments. This position must be driven to exce

Think you know all there is about the Magpul MBUS? Did you know the MBUS was originally designed for the KRISS Vector?

The early prototype KRISS Vector, like the one seen on Future Weapons, were kitted out with HK MP7 style iron sights. The MP7 sights are a dual sighting system. They flip up for rifle sights. When folded, there are pistol iron sights so you can aim and shoot the MP7 as a pistol.

KRISS wanted something like that. And in the early production KRISS Vector models circa 2008, they came with the Magpul MBUS 2.5. Why are they called MBUS 2.5? Cause that is what it says on the bottom of them.

The MBUS 2.5 were machined aluminum BUIS. They have pistol sights built in when they are folded down.

Hickok45 takes a look at two .308 battle rifles. The Springfield Socom 16 and the SCAR 17.
When he compares the recoil, I concur. My SCAR17 recoil is so soft, it is like a smidgen higher than my AR-15 in .556.

A few weeks back I posted a small review of a cleaning kit I found at my local Cabela’s store.  That story can be found here.

This morning I received a press release for Tactical Gear Distributors new TAC SHIELD cleaning kits being released. it looks like we are going to be seeing more of these kits, branded in different ways.  I have nothing against the kits, they are well made, convenient and a nice small package to throw into a range bag.

While the TAC SHIELD kits are a slightly different layout there is no doubt they are being produced by the same company.  It looks as if we are going to be seeing these kits branded across different distributors in the future.

MSRP on the kits is:

$24.99 – Field M16/AR15 Cased 17 Piece Cleaning Kit

$12.99 – .57/38spl/9mm 14 Piece Pistol Cleaning Kit

$12.99 – 45 Cal 14 Piece Pistol Clea

In September last year the São Paulo State Military Police (PMSP) recalled 96,000 Taurus 24/7 DS pistols because a number of them were able to be be discharged without pulling the trigger. We published a short clip showing a faulty police pistol being discharged but yesterday a reader emailed us a link to the full clip showing an unidentified person firing the 24/7 simply by flicking his wrist. Its scary stuff.

Please note, this blog post refers to Taurus (Brazil) not Taurus USA.

Thanks to Bryan for the tip.

One of the interesting products presented at the Big 3 East was the PDQ (pretty damn quick) ambi bolt release. Now we all know about the other after market bolt release products on the market such as the BAD lever. The PDQ is a more permanent solution.

The PDQ really is one of those gadgets we see and go why didn’t I think of that! It’s simple and very sturdy. I imagine it will last as long as the rifle. All of the other bolt release products attach pretty much the same way. The part attaches to the factory release on the left side then extends down in an “L” shape going through the trigger guard. No matter the brand at some point the paddle, where it attaches, is going to fall off. You could make a living selling Loctite to keep these things on.

A new mag release with a hint of color. Made in the USA by Odin Works, the XMR Extended Mag Release is machined from 6061 billet aluminum and anodized to the chosen color. Odin Works touts their mag release:

The XMR is ergonomically designed and contoured for superior grip enabling you to more rapidly and instinctively change mags without disrupting your grip, position, or focus.

The XMR is available in FDE, Black, Red, Silver, & Green

XMR releases retail for $19.95 and are available from

Here’s something a bit different from the sea of operator gear out there. From Tactical Assault Gear is their MOLLE Shingle Pistol Enhanced Mag Pouch. So what’s the big deal? Well check out the video below. The pouch features a set of magnets in front of each pistol mag pouch to secure the pistol mags in place. In the front of the pistol pouches the magnets can also be used to hold additional mags, a multi-tool, your car keys, Russian ammo (if you can get any) even a full-size 1911! It’s available in a single, double or triple mag carry configurations in ACU, Black, Ranger Green and Coyote Tan. They’re made in the USA and are backed by a lifetime warranty from Tactical Assault Gear. They retail from $27.99 to $49.99 depending on configuration. Check them out at TacticalAssaultGearstore.com.

The recent raid on Ares Armor, a manufacturer of polymer 80% receivers, suggests the legal status of these products may soon be changing. The CEO of Polymer80, Loran Kelley, has just published a notice on Facebook explaining that they have proactively and voluntarily stopped selling 80% polymer lowers until the legal status of these products has been clarified. An extract from the notice:

Valued Customers and supporters of Polymer80,

Some of you may have taken notice that we are no longer offering the G150 80% lower for sale on our site. We want to be clear that:

A. We were NOT shutdown in anyway by the ATF
B. We were NOT raided by the ATF
C. We have NOT even been contacted or directed by the ATF in any way, shape or form
D. We have done this VOLUNTARILY and PROACTIVELY

We currently do NOT have an active customer list nor do we have any inventory. We are going to proactively work directly with the Science and Techno

SIG SAUER has a program to create commemorative firearms for military units and law enforcement agencies.  The commemorative guns can be engraved as standard, silver plated, gold plated or in a platinum edition with gold plating and floral pattern scroll work.  The gold and platinum versions are available on pistols only, while the standard and silver are available in rifle and pistols.

SIG normally requires a minimum run of 25 pistols or 15 rifles.  However, for a limited time (no specific expiration given) the company has dropped the minimum number to 15 pistols or 10 rifles.

With all of the due diligence on zoning and local regulations now addressed, I was finally able to turn my attention to completing the actual FFL application. To be open, my application was sent in about two weeks ago, but I have now only had enough time to get this all on written up.

Before I get started on the application, I would like to start on something that I believe you should not do.

LegalZoom Registered Agent Service

LegalZoom was an excellent and easy resource to create my LLC but they did have one big “gotcha” that I would hazard to label malicious. Buried in their LLC creating process is the Registered Agent Service. (See Wikipedia for a definition and role of a Registered Agent). Their service is $159/year, which is high compared to like services. LegalZoom’s service is automatically billed yearly, upfront.

My suggestion would be to use another service or be your own. It may mean a bit more junk mail, but for $

I heard about the 3gun Remington Versamax last fall from a Remington Rep. It was just a picture in his book of things to come. But I got a chance to see it at SHOT 2014.

Check out a small review and more information here

Last year Strike Industries launched their first red dot polymer cover, made for the Trijicon RMR. They have just launched their second cover, this time for the Eotech MRDS. The cover protects the sight while still allowing access for windage and elevation adjustment and it does not interfere with the ambient light meter. The Strike MRDS Cover costs just $7.95.

Made from hard, yet flexible, Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), the Strike MRDS cover increases the impact resistance of the MRDS. In addition to covering the main body, the cover creates an offset from the MRDS lens. This will help prevent damage to the lens when it is being

Last year I got to fondle a display RMR-30 at SHOT. At this year’s SHOT my contact at Kel-Tec told me that the RMR-30 will go into production. Fingers crossed. I love my PMR-30 and a small compact carbine version would be sweet.

Here is a video I took while fondling the RMR-30 at SHOT 2013