Franchi introduced the MULE (Momentum Utility Lite Elite) at SHOT Show 2026, and it's a modern take on the scout rifle concept built around their Momentum platform. The company isn't explicitly calling it a "scout rifle" in their marketing, but it checks all the boxes Jeff Coo...
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about how to stay sharp in the freezing cold winter months. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at the idea of having a carry gun that&...
Coming out of Vortex's bag of surprises for 2026 is the new Vortex Strike Eagle 1-10x24 FFP riflescope. This new addition to Vortex's extremely popular budget line of LPVOs boasts a lot of the same features you’ll find on more expensive optics, but won’t come with the typica...
Black Rain Ordnance brought their Freedom Fighter AK to SHOT Show 2026, marking the company's first production AK after shelving a prototype back in 2013. Built entirely in Neosho, Missouri, this isn't your typical import or parts-kit build. Black Rain went all-in on American manu...
Today, we sit down with Russell Phagan , a name well known to fans of the Brutality match series , to discuss his new independent firearms competition venture: Fast-Matches.org . This new two-gun competition format is designed to bring fast-paced, physically engaging challenges to shooters across...
Caldwell used SHOT Show 2026 to roll out updates across their range gear lineup, and the Rock 2 rear rest series is the anchor of it. The Rock 2 is a redesign of one of the most popular benchtop rear rests in the shooting sports category, and it's coming in three flavors this year to cover e...
A topic that consistently attracts significant interest is self-defense, and the two most common subtopics are home defense and concealed carry. Based on my personal experience and conversations with folks, concealed carry seems to be of the most interest. Why? You don’t go out in public with y...
Stoeger rolled out two new STR-series pistols at SHOT Show 2026, and both are refinements of existing platforms rather than ground-up redesigns. The STR9 Thinline+ takes the slim concealment pistol and pushes capacity up to 19+1 with a ported barrel, while the STR-45 Combat brings .45 ACP authori...
At first, it might not be clear, but the FS-PRO is a modern semi-automatic tactical shotgun. It’s described as being built around versatility, compact handling, and thoughtful ergonomics. Its defining feature is a folding design that dramatically shortens overall length for transport and st...
Welcome back to TFB's Small Business Spotlight ! In this weekly column, we take a look at small firearm-related businesses. Today, we're featuring REPACKBOX, LLC, an Alaska-based manufacturer that's been solving one of reloading's most annoying little problems for over ...