Gear Reviews

If you’re willing to buy a scope without the Made in the USA sticker, what are your options? What kind of features, quality, and price points can you expect from scopes made in China, South Korea, or the Philippines? To get a sense of the market, I chose three scopes to test…

Originally, I set out to build an upper solely to test the Bergara 20” AR-15 barrel so I was not looking to spend a ton of money on a new handguard.  After a failed start using a free float tube that I got on sale I was on the hunt for something that was affordable, free floating, and modular. 

1791 GunLeather makes carry belts and a wide variety of holsters, most of them built with heavy cowhide and state-of-the-art flexible carbon fiber.

Leupold doesn’t only manufacture and sell riflescopes. I recently used the Leupold Carbon Fiber Tripod Kit on a coyote hunt, and now I’m a believer.

At a time when “silencers” were mostly the playthings of nerds and collectors, AAC brought attitude. From the skulls in the logo to the idea you should not only use your can, but use the hell out of it, they were a breath of fresh air. Two and a half decades in, they still feel young at heart. So it is with great pleasure this week I get to write about new options.

One of the great stories of 2018 was the introduction of a new caliber by Federal, the 224 Valkyrie. Initially announced in October of 2017, by SHOT Show 2018, the world was abuzz. The 224 Valkyrie promised to turbocharge the small frame AR rifle, with ballistics that blew the doors off past challengers such as 6.5 Grendal and 22 Nosler. It helped that it was released and backed by Federal, a giant in the ammunition industry. But still, many people questioned the new caliber? Would it deliver? And would it catch on enough to remain available?

Considering the plethora of other gun-related accessories, it seems like there should be some kind of middle ground between cheap and premium when it comes to bipods. That’s why I was so excited to get my hands on Magpul’s new bipod. Introduced last summer, the Magpul Bipod fills a space that’s been empty in this product category for too long. I’ve been using mine for the last four months, and I have to say — I’m impressed.

One little-known company in Alabama is quietly making incredible stocks for the likes of Kimber and Proof Research. You’ll want to know about this little American gem.

Still prepared to not be impressed, off to the range we went. We set up the first 18 inch thick target, I loaded up a 9mm, and then the sky cracked open. Ladies and gentlemen, I have never seen anything like the G9 performance out of a handgun. If you watch the film, you will see me at a rare loss for words. The terminal ballistics can only be described as devastating.