There were over 1,500 WWII reenactors at the event, along with 80 WWII aircraft, over 200 military vehicles, and two big bands. The entire show encompassed more than 20 acres. To say it was gigantic is an understatement.

Total Immersion

Upon entering the event, which is held on the grounds of the Reading, PA Airport, guests are fully engulfed and immersed in the 1940s. Big band music is being played everywhere. Thousands of people walk around in period clothing, even people who are not officially reenactors; many attendees dress up as well. This, in addition to a couple thousand reenactors, really is a sight to see.

In fact, at the flea market, which is gigantic, there are vendors who sell period clothing. Whether you’re looking to add a piece or two to your 1940s ensemble or acquire an entire outfit, there will be something there for you. Vendors also sell uniforms and all manner of militaria, including weapons and other gear in the flea market. And it’s not just WWII items; it’s from every time period imaginable.

Reenactors walk among the crowds throughout the entire show and are more than happy to pose for photos with attendees. If you’ve ever wondered about details of their uniforms or gear, just ask them. They will gladly launch into a tutorial on whatever you’d like to know. I’ve found them to be gracious when dealing with all types of questions and have a thirst for educating people.

It’s completely normal to see the crowd part, and a jeep with a Browning .50 cal., loaded with soldiers, drives through. Or a German motorcycle with a sidecar, complete with MG-34 mounted on the sidecar, will drive past. Static displays are very cool, but guests will get to see vehicles driving around with regularity, which is fantastic.

Most of the time, they’ll even let people handle the weapons or sit in the vehicles, with one caveat: Ask before you touch! Don’t just grab something and pick it up; that ticks people off. As long as you ask, it will be granted to you about 99.9% of the time. You’ll get to handle belt-fed machine guns, submachine guns such as the .45 ACP Thompson or 9mm German MP-40, rifles, grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, and pretty much anything else that was in WWII. They even have artillery pieces sitting around.

The Civilian Side Of Things

As if the military aspect of the WWII Weekend wasn’t enough, a sizeable area is set aside to portray the Home Front and what it was like to be a civilian during the war.

One building is set up to resemble a house, with divided rooms such as the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and dining room. The carpets, furniture, and appliances are all 1940s period. Even the cupboards are stuffed with boxes and cans from the time period. The attention to detail (not only here but throughout the entire show) is impeccably obsessive; these folks have an intense drive to get the fine details correct. You’ll marvel at the wringer clothes washing machine and the ice box in the kitchen. The more you look around, the more small details that you’ll notice.

Nearby is a small “store” where you can buy old-time candy and other trinkets.

A service station is also set up, complete with a gas pump out front and period vehicles all around. All the accoutrements are accurate, including the cans of oil and other service station items.

One very interesting stop was at the Victory Gardens stand, where a very sweet lady explained to us how fat, grease, and oil were collected and used around the house during the war years. After the fat outlived its usefulness at home, it was dropped off at the local butcher shop, where it was then collected for use in munitions plants. First, they boiled it to make soap, during which process the glycerin was extracted. The glycerin was then turned into nitroglycerin, used in making gun powder and explosives for the war effort. The time it took from when the fats left a kitchen until it was made into nitroglycerin was about three weeks, which is surprisingly fast.

The kind lady also explained how seemingly insignificant things, such as cloth for clothing, were rationed. Skirts were limited in the circumference that they could be, and some pockets had to be omitted from civilian clothing to save cloth to make uniforms. As well, baggy styles of clothing were banned to stop the waste of excess fabric.

There’s also a movie theater nearby. Next to that is a stage where entertainers put on simulated radio shows, with singing and comedy dialogue. There are seats so an audience can take a break from the weather. Speaking of weather, Pennsylvania has two types of weather for this weekend, and this rarely varies: Sweltering hot with high humidity or rainy with temperatures in the 60s. There seems to be no happy medium with Mother Nature for the first weekend in June. She’ll either leave you flame-broiled or shivering and soaking wet. This year we were blessed with rare, perfect weather in the mid to upper 70’s, with a little cloud cover to give us an occasional reprieve from the sun. Better weather could not have been expected.

Maybe it’s just me getting old, but I now find this Home Front/Civilian section of the show to be just about as entertaining as the military aspect of it.

Special Guests

In past years, we met many very special guests at the WWII Weekend. One year, General Paul Tibbetts was there. And for a number of years, “Dutch” Van Kirk, the navigator for the Enola Gay, would attend. Several of the actual Easy Company vets from the Band of Brothers series were also there, including Bill Guarnere, Don Malarkey, Buck Compton, Forrest Guth, Babe Heffron, and Shifty Powers. Dick Winters even stopped by once, and we missed meeting him by about ten minutes, much to our chagrin.

Col. Robert Morgan, the pilot of the Memphis Belle, attended the show regularly for years, and I had the pleasure of corresponding with him and becoming friends. Opportunities to become friends with heroes such as these do not present themselves very often. I had also become friends with Forrest Guth from Easy Company and found him to be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. We corresponded often until his passing. In fact, they all were wonderful men who were very friendly and engaging.

My daughter expressed sadness that these great heroes are mostly gone, but she also mentioned that they made the show more exciting and enjoyable. I’m so happy that I had the chance to introduce her to these legends because I can now see how they shaped her love of history. It’s one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children.

As with all others, this year’s show features several World War II veterans, of whom I’ll mention a few here.

• Sgt. Andrew Valero was at the Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes Forest, Hurtgen Forest, Remagen, and security at the Dachau Concentration Camp (post-war).
• Lt. Commander (US Navy) Leo Dorman flew 37 different aircraft throughout WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
• Coxswain Edward Conrad was a Seabea on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, shooting down Kamikaze planes.
• PFC Walter LaSota received two purple hearts and was on Okinawa.
• TSgt. Quentin Stambaugh was a B25 Radioman and Tail Gunner, surviving 38 combat missions and 27 non-combat missions in the Pacific Theater.
• 1st Lt. Ray Firmani was a B-17 pilot who flew 25 missions over Europe.
• Coxswain Edward Czechowski received a silver star for shooting down a Kamikaze with a 20mm canon before it could hit his destroyer.
• Dorothy Trate, “Rosie The Riveter”, manufactured parts for aircraft and other weapons on the home front.

These are just a few special guests; several more were in attendance. It’s always a treat to talk with people who were really there.

Aircraft

Attendees can book rides in various aircraft, including a P51 Mustang, a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, a B-25 named “Panchito,” a B-29 named “FiFi,” and a few others.

Or, if you don’t want to go up in the air, you can simply peruse the rows of dozens upon dozens of aircraft and watch many of them flying above the airfield as part of the show. There were several fighter aircraft, as well as several bombers present.

The fighters include a Corsair, a KingCobra, a couple of Mustangs, a Zero replica, and a Warhawk. Various fighter planes were doing high speed passes just above the ground, which was exciting to watch.

Some displays were set up to allow visitors a hands-on aspect to aircraft. Specifically, the nose portion of a B-25 was present and anyone could walk up and check it out.

The top turret from a B-17 bomber was on hand, and it was powered up so visitors could actually get in and spin it around, raising and lowering the guns. These treats were welcomed by both children and adults.

Vehicles

The volume of vehicles present is staggering. There are jeeps and similarly sized vehicles of every description. One year I even saw a German “Goliath”, which is a small, remote controlled tracked vehicle used to deliver explosives. It was small, almost two feet tall, and about five feet long, and seeing it operating was a real treat.

There are German and American tanks, including Shermans, a Stuart, Panzer III and IV, as well as many others. It’s not unusual to see a Bren Gun Carrier and other armored vehicles. Motorcycles with sidecars, armored cars, and half-tracks (both American and German) are plentiful.

I climbed into an M3 Stuart light tank and discovered that the quarters were rather cramped.

If you love armor, you’re going to be very happy here.

Encampments

A French village is set up there, and American and German forces occasionally engage in firefights to battle over the village. Watching machine gunners rip through some belts of blanks, supported by riflemen, is an enjoyable afternoon.

Aside from that, there are encampments portraying American, French, Japanese, and other WWII combatants all around the show. They camp there for the entire weekend. All around these camps, there is gear and weapons set up that visitors can check out and learn about.

Demonstrations

Reenactors performed many demonstrations throughout the WWII Weekend in Reading, PA. One such demonstration really caught my eye: the flamethrower demonstration hosted by the Marine contingent at the show. The Marines performed a simulated assault on a Japanese position in the Pacific on Iwo Jima, complete with flag raising at the end.

This year, the Marines were using four flamethrowers for the assault! It promised to be a spectacular show, and it did not disappoint!

Before the demonstration, I caught up to the detachment’s OIC (Officer In Charge) and asked him a few questions about flamethrowers. I’d seen them in action before, and despite being well over 50 yards away, I could still feel considerable heat coming from them. I asked him how it felt being the gunner of the weapon and how the gunner managed to weather such heat.

He explained that a suction effect is created when the weapon is fired, and that suction brings in cooler, fresh air from behind the gunner, which takes away a lot of the heat. He also mentioned that it’s important to not fire the weapon into the wind but rather with the wind. Further, he noted that anyone standing to the sides of the gunner is in for a significant blast of heat. I believe him!

During this exhibition, all four flamethrowers were in use at once, and the spectacle was nearly indescribable. Flames and black smoke poured forth, much to the crowd’s delight. It’s extremely rare to see anything this special these days, and we felt privileged to be there watching.

Final Thoughts

All in all, 2024 was a sparkling year for Reading PA’s World War II Weekend. The special guests, veterans, aircraft, vehicles, demonstrations, and perfect weather all combined to make it a memorable experience. My daughter and I can’t wait for next year, as we won’t miss it for the world!

The dedication of the organizers and support staff, as well as the enthusiasm of the reenactors, cannot be overstated. They go the extra mile to make the show spectacular. The reenactors are friendly and eager to share their vast knowledge with guests, which makes everyone feel welcome.

Another aspect that puts this show above all others is the sheer volume of World War II equipment present. Nowhere else can you see tanks, planes, artillery, small arms, and reenactors from so many various countries represented. Literally, every country that was in WWII was represented at the show, which is unparalleled.

If you’re a WWII buff, you really owe it to yourself to attend the World  War II Weekend in Reading, Pennsylvania. You’ll thank me later.

The post WWII Weekend in Reading, PA 2024: An Overview appeared first on The Mag Life.

The Best of NRAAM

My NRAAM picks are a mix of firearms and gear. The show was brimming with both, and this year was particularly exciting with a slew of unexpected releases. Some of these were on par with what you’d expect at the SHOT Show, while others were surprises.

Heritage Roscoe

Heritage Manufacturing has grown by leaps and bounds. The company was first known for creating the Rough Rider revolvers, cheap, fun-to-shoot rimfire revolvers in an Old West style. That’s all they were known for, in fact. In the last couple of years, the brand has added revolving rifles, lever-action rifles, double-barrel shotguns, and now a double-action revolver.

The Roscoe, a collaboration between Heritage and Taurus, is a retro reissue of the classic Model 85. It’s not your typical carry revolver but a throwback to the type of revolver you’d see a Private Detective in a noir book or movie carry. With its blued finish and five-shot capacity, the Roscoe is a stylish and functional addition to any collection.

The Roscoe has either a two- or three-inch barrel. The grips are skinny, and the stocks are wood. The ejection rod isn’t shrouded, and the sight is a front-ramping design. It’s a classic double-action revolver that we don’t see much these days. With an MSRP of $299, the Roscoe provides a fun, affordable, and perfectly suitable carry gun.

Taurus 692 Executive Grade

Taurus hits us again with a new addition to the Executive Grade. One I’m particularly excited about is the Taurus 692, an underrated revolver that I’m hoping will get some attention now. The revolver’s claim to fame is the ability to swap cylinders to shoot either .357 Magnum/.38 Special or 9mm. This makes ammo for the gun cheap and affordable, but you don’t lose out on Magnum capabilities.

The Executive Grade model comes with a ported barrel, smooth cylinder, wood grips, and nice sights. The rear sight is adjustable, and the front sight is a high-visibility model. The gun has a three-inch barrel but a fairly large frame. It’s an easy shooter that lets you play revolver fan on the cheap when using 9mm Luger.

This is one of the best choices for new revolver shooters. The sights, slick double action trigger, and low recoiling 9mm will make it pleasant to shoot. With a little practice, you can easily move to .357 Magnums and learn the way of the Magnum.

Taylor and Company TC73 Rifle

Speaking of 9mm in guns, it doesn’t belong in Taylor and Company delivers the TC73, a 9mm model of the Winchester 1873 rifle. Taylor & CO. produced a Single Action Army clone in 9mm a few years back. It was a ton of fun to shoot, and this seems like a smart continuation of that series. Revolvers and lever guns tend to be expensive to shoot.

Every major revolver and lever gun cartridge outside of .22LR is expensive. The classic 9mm cartridge is cheap, widely available, and fun to shoot. It’s a great choice for someone who enjoys plinking with a lever-action rifle but wants something with a little more oomph than a rimfire cartridge.

The TC73 won’t be a cheap rifle, but it does seem to be a niche option. The gun holds ten rounds of 9mm and has an 18-inch barrel. Hopefully, it will outperform the other 9mm lever guns on the market.

Colt Bear Guns

In the early 1990s, Colt released a very short run of revolvers called the Kodiak and the Grizzly. These guns are ultra rare, with less than a thousand of them. They are highly desirable revolvers. Following Colt’s reentry into the wheel gun world, we see Python and Anaconda, but Colt decides to give the modern shooter a shot at the Bear guns.

The Colt Grizzly is a .357 Magnum double-action revolver built on the Python frame. It features a beefy frame design, a vent rib, a full lug, and a smooth, unfluted cylinder. These guns are gorgeous and ready for a hike into the great outdoors. The MSRP is $1,599, which isn’t cheap but less than I expected.

The Colt Kodiak is built on the Anaconda frame and fires the mighty .44 Magnum. The Kodiak gets the same vent rib and full lug treatment as well as the unfluted and smith cylinder. The big difference is the porting up front to keep things easy to control. The MSRP for the Kodiak matches the Grizzly at $1,599.

Shadow Systems CR920X

Shadow Systems has moved into the micro-compact realm with the release of the CR920X series pistol. Shadow Systems makes what are essentially high-end Glock clones, and the CR920X series is more or less molded after the Glock 43X. The gun follows the pattern of a long hand-filling grip with a short barrel and slide.

Unlike the G43X series, the CR920X series utilizes 15-round or 18-round magazines. They are true microcompacts when it comes to magazine capacity. These guns will be available in the premium Elite and base-level Foundation series.

The CR920X series is ready and comes with a short front rail. This represents a premium grade option in the micro-compact world. The slides are fancy and good-looking, the grips are extremely textured, and the little features take the gun to a different level.

The Gear

Shield Arms ROC

ROC stands for Revolver Optics Conversion. Shield Arms is manufacturing the conversion, but the firearms instructors from MDFI designed the conversion. The ROC allows you to easily add a micro red dot to a J-Frame revolver, specifically the S&W 442, but the future holds many other models. This conversion requires no milling, attaches to the revolver’s frame, and allows you to use Trijicon RMR or Shield RMSc footprint optics. It’s a simple option to convert the old wheelguns out there to new technology.

Magpul ELG Furniture

Magpul has taken on the AR market, the AK Market, the MP5, and the Scorpion, and now they are entering the world of lever guns. The ELG furniture comprises a stock and handguard designed for Marlin lever action rifles. The stock takes a page out of the SGA design and uses spaces for an adjustable length of pull, plenty of sling points, and an integrated caddy for carrying extra ammo. The handguard is long, aggressive, and covered with M-LOK slots. These two present a quality but affordable option to modernize a lever gun.

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X

Big things are happening in the world of weapons light, and some of the big things are small things. The TLR-7 is Streamlight’s compact weapon light that swings in hard to deliver potent power with a compact-sized weapon light. The TLR-7 HL-X model throws 1,000 lumens of light backed by 22,000 candela. That’s crazy for such a small light and takes it into the duty world of weapon lights. This optic can only last 30 minutes on this setting, which is a downside. The system is rechargeable via USB-C and can be swapped to 500 lumens with 11,000 candela for a long lifespan.

New Year, New Guns

NRAAM is over, and we are bathing in the wake of some interesting new releases. I’m a big fan of these releases, and it’s nice to see something outside of the world of AR-15s and M1911s. This year seems like it might be one of the more interesting for gun releases. What do you think? Let us know below.

The post The Best of the NRA Annual Meeting appeared first on The Mag Life.

SHOT Show 2025

SHOT Show is returning to Las Vegas January 21-24, 2025. Operated by the NSSF, the show has regularly occurred in mid-January at the Venetian Expo and Caesar Forums in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is four days long, occurring from Tuesday through Friday with pre-events occurring the weekend before.

Industry Day and Suppliers Showcase

The Monday before the show features “Industry Day at the Range” and the “Suppliers Showcase.” Industry Day at the Range is hosted at an outdoor range in Boulder, Nevada, about 45 minutes from the Venetian. The Suppliers Showcase runs concurrently with Industry Day at the Venetian with over 500 exhibitors focusing on materials, software, tools, machinery, and logistics available.

SHOT Show: The Main Event

The main exhibition halls open at 8:30 am and remain jam-packed until 5:30 pm when the floor closes. More than 2,500 exhibitors like Smith & Wesson, Glock, and IWI with swarms of staff members and displays take up the multiple large event spaces in the Venetian and Caesar’s Forum. Each exhibitor displays new and existing products, with firearms available for dry handling and SMEs available for any questions you might have. Additionally, many of the exhibitors give away product samples and promotional items (stickers, hats, shirts, keychains, morale patches, etc.).

It’s a huge event with more miles and miles of aisles full of exhibitors and attendees alike.

There are also networking events after the show, aptly named “SHOT After Dark.” If you’re interested in attending educational events at the show, there are a multitude of classes provided throughout including SHOT University, the Law Enforcement Education Program, and Export Training.

A variety of big-name vendors also host happy hours, meet-and-greets, and special prize drawings.

Who can attend?

SHOT Show is not open to the public, but there are many ways to qualify to attend as either Buyers, Media, and/or Exhibitors. Generally, as a buyer, you must work for a business that has been identified by the NSSF as industry-relevant.

Active-duty law enforcement and military are also eligible. It also helps if the organization or individual is a member of the NSSF and has previously attended. It should be noted that if you register and are rejected, there is no refund of the registration fee, so better to make sure everything is in order before registering.

For editorial media (print, blogs, etc), NSSF requires a “Letter of Assignment from an editor or publisher of a recognized industry-related news publication.” For broadcast media (video), NSSF requires a “Letter of Assignment from a recognized industry-related news TV, radio or Web-based video/audio show.”

It is worth noting the SHOT Show does not recognize social media platforms as qualifying news outlets.

Tips For Your First Time

Hotel Choices: 

There are many choices of hotels, and the taxis and Ubers/Lyfts in Vegas are easy to find and very efficient. It generally comes down to:

1) how nice or swanky of a room do you want,

2) how close it is to the event, and

3) how much you are willing to pay?

Generally, a nice room fairly close to the event is going to run over $200/night. However, the more you are willing to walk or travel, clean functional rooms can be found for under $100/night.

After staying in various hotels at different distances and levels of quality (including the Venetian, Riviera (now demolished), Mirage (now owned by Hard Rock Hotels), Flamingo, and Mandalay Bay), I have settled with Treasure Island as my annual preferred choice. The rooms are relatively modern, there are several places to eat and a CVS is on the property. Further, Treasure Island is right across the street from the Venetian, so it’s a short walk to the Venetian Expo halls. For the past 5 years, I have renewed my reservations during the current show, as hotel reservation blocks have already been opened to returning attendees. If you are new, registration for the hotel blocks opens prior to conference registration.

Reserve Early and Check Registrations:

Especially for your first year, check the SHOT Show website often. Registration opens in October and it might take some time to register on your first go-round.  Once your registration is confirmed, double-check that everything you signed up for is represented (changes are generally unavailable once you arrive). As soon as your registration is approved, it is best to plan your hotel and flights as needed.

Though Vegas never sells out, flights and hotels may become scarce or more expensive as time goes on. Restaurants (especially those near the show) tend to get very busy during SHOT Show. I will often pick out my lunch and dinner choices a month in advance and make reservations. Vegas restaurants are usually outstanding about honoring reservations close to your exact time, so it is worth a bit of extra effort to research choices well in advance.

Navigating the Exhibitor Halls, You ‘Gotta’ Have a Plan:

With almost 14 miles of aisles, and approximately five exhibitor halls each with around 500 exhibitors each, SHOT Show can be overwhelming. Don’t try to see it all in one day and make a list of what you are specifically interested in to help guide your navigation of the exhibition halls. Broadly speaking, there are two law enforcement/military/gear halls, there is the downstairs main hall (mainly smaller companies), a main hall on the second floor where most of the larger companies are, and the overflow halls in the Caesar Forums.

I generally focus on the smaller companies on day one (Tuesday), the law enforcement/military/gear and Caesar Forums on day two (Wednesday), the main hall on day three (Thursday), and use day four for circling back to any exhibitors I need to spend more time engaging or visiting. This is not the best plan for getting the best swag (promotional items), but tends to somewhat avoid the main crowds each day making it easier to have conversations with the exhibitors.

Be Prepared for it to be Busy:

The above plan is based on just how busy SHOT Show can become. Though the event itself is huge, there are also well over 50,000 people attending and the crowds can get frustrating to even the most even-tempered of us. When you have been on your feet for hours, often carrying bags, dodging the crowds can become tiring!

Plan on this as a reality and take breaks as needed. I have learned that stepping away to have a nice lunch often reinvigorates me for the afternoon. Overall, the people are great and everyone is respectful (I have actually never seen outright poor behavior in over a decade of attending SHOT Show). However, many people, especially the media, have their own plans and agendas and everyone needs to be willing to occasionally wait to talk to an exhibitor, or be willing to walk away to come back later (note that I devote the last day to return trips for just this purpose).

Relax and Enjoy Vegas: 

You can easily become lost in SHOT Show events from the moment you wake up until the moment you lose consciousness. But, just as it pays to plan out SHOT Show and your eating options, I strongly encourage you to also enjoy Vegas.

There are so many top-notch shows you can easily attend a few a year and have things to do for many years to come. I always try to plan a minimum of one non-SHOT show activity each day and try to fly out the Saturday before the show to have a few days of vacation before SHOT Show begins. This year, I went with Potted Potter, Piff the Magic Dragon, Tournament of Kings (an annual tradition at this point), and Tape Face. I find I enjoy SHOT Show more if I also plan some time away.

Summary

Hopefully I have answered some of your questions and provided some useful tips on how I navigate SHOT Show. Some additional tips include wearing comfortable shoes (my activity tracker showed 8-9 miles of walking each day), making sure to hydrate, and ensuring you get a decent amount of sleep. It is well known that people are easily susceptible to the “Vegas crud,” if you run your body down without properly fueling and hydrating. There are millions who converge on Vegas from all corners of the world, and therefore many millions of new germs for your immune system to conquer! Don’t let your SHOT show be ruined by getting sick. If you have any questions let me hear them in the comments.

The post Preparing for SHOT Show 2025? What to Expect Your First Time appeared first on The Mag Life.

• Caliber: .223 Wylde (.223 chamber that can shoot 5.56 NATO)
• Barrel Length: 16 inches
• Overall Length: 39.5 inches
• Weight: 6.4 lbs. unloaded

The LVRB is Bond Arm’s answer to what they would add if they designed a lever action rifle. For the answer Bond Arms ditched the slow-loading tubular magazine for a detachable box magazine. In addition, they wanted to make it as customizable as their derringers, particularly with the inclusion of interchangeable barrels.

The LVRB uses standard AR-15 magazines and will come with the option of interchangeable barrels in .300 Blackout, .450 Bushmaster, and .350 Legend. For their first entry, they started with .223 Wylde.

Like an AR-15, the LVRB uses a true upper and lower receiver made of 7075 series aluminum alloy. The LVRB uses AR parts including the magazine release, bolt release, and dust cover. The rifle locks up with a rotating bolt instead of a traditional rear-lug lockup, which results in redundant safety and better accuracy compared to older designs.

The upper and lower integrates a Remington 870 Magpul buttstock with a free-floated aluminum M-LOK handguard. Without a gas or buffer tube, Bond Arms is able to set the rifle’s optical plane as close to the bore as possible to minimize offset.

Whether you are looking for a reliable suppressor host or out to play a space cowboy, the new Bond Arms LVRB is worth a look. This new rifle is shipping in the spring of 2024 and has an MSRP of $1599.

The post SHOT 2024: New Bond Arms LVRB Lever Action Rifle appeared first on The Mag Life.

Bilson Arms BA-15FC

At Range Day 2024, I stumbled across the Bilson Arms booth and assumed it was some form of pump-action rifle. Pump-action rifles aren’t new by any means. They are often produced to act as a 50-state legal AR-15 design that blends an 870 shotgun with an AR-15. However, I was wrong, way wrong! The Bilson BA-15FC wasn’t a pump action rifle, but it’s a design that uses a forward-mounted pump to charge the weapon. It merely replaces the charging handle of your standard AR-15.

Bilson Arms calls it the forward charging system. The idea is to provide a reactive, easy-to-use charging design. The user doesn’t have to break their firing position or sight picture to charge the weapon. The idea is that it makes reloads faster and more intuitive and clearing malfunctions much simpler overall.

The pump can push the bolt rearward and keep it rearward without having to utilize the bolt catch. It’s really intuitive to use, and the grip is aggressively textured for a sure and easy grip.

The 5.56 variant is the BA-15FC, and there is also a 9mm variant known as the BA-9FC. The two guns come in various configurations and colors. The design is clever, and I have to give them serious points for originality. There are some downsides, such as the pump covering a lot of accessory room, and a novel device does demand a higher price. The rifles are seemingly of very high quality, with great triggers and exceedingly accurate results on range day.

Bishop Ammunitions and Firearms M16A1S

Bishop Ammunition and Firearms is a custom rifle house that hasn’t ever been deep in the AR game. They are known for producing custom lever and bolt guns in exceptionally powerful cartridges. Bishop isn’t producing tens of thousands of rifles a year, but a few very high-quality designs. This year they did dive into the world of ARs and produced the Bishop M16A1S. Bishop is veteran-owned and operated, and the owner wanted to reproduce the very rifle she qualled with.

The M16A1S is exactly what you think it is. It’s an M16A1 clone reproduced in downright outstanding detail. The gun has the teardrop forward assist, the tiniest little charging handle, and, of course, the simplified sight.

In fact, the only real detail I saw that was missed was the use of an A2 pistol grip. It was pointed out to me that this particular model is an exact replica of the rifle Bishop’s owner was issued, and it was an amalgamation of parts. Military sourcing can be odd sometimes.

The rifle is ultra-light and is one of the perfect examples of what made the M16A1 such a light and handy rifle. Its space-age design wasn’t appreciated at the time, but as we know now, the M16A1 would become the future of arm’s design. Bishop’s creation will offer a factory retro option built with an extreme degree of quality. One of my favorite details is the “NOT GOVERNMENT PROPERTY” tag on the lower receiver.

Battle Arms Development DARC6

Battle Arms Development makes a mix of rifles that are absolutely gorgeous but also functional, reliable, accurate, and so on. Guns like the Tanker 556 SBR look beautiful and are certainly built to be beautiful collectibles, but on the flip side, the Workhorse is an affordable, well-made duty-grade rifle. This year, Battle Arms Development released a weapon called the DARC6.

Battle Arms Development developed the DARC6 to provide a rifle that can get as close to a do it a design as you can get with one rifle. It’s light and short with a 12.5-inch barrel and a CQB PDW stock. This makes it an excellent close-range combat rifle, and it can clear rooms quickly and easily.

At the same time, the 6mm ARC cartridge allows for engagements up to 1,000 yards with reasonable accuracy depending on the shooter, optics, etc. Although ballistically, the energy levels get pretty low at that range, at 700 yards, it’s a bit more realistic.

The DARC6 is built with the same extreme quality that every other Battle Arms Development rifle is equipped with. The DARC6 utilizes an amazing trigger and excellent controls. Inside the gun, we have a buffer system that reduces recoil and a titanium bolt carrier group that’s light and sweet. It’s a super cool rifle, and I can’t help but finally feel a desire for a 6mm ARC rifle.

HM Defense Stealth MS Series Rifles

I went to HM Defense to see their massive .50 BMG rifle, but I stayed because of the Stealth MS5 and MS3 rifles. These rifles are integrally suppressed designs. The MS5 is a 5.56 rifle, and the MS3 is a .300 Blackout design. Integrally suppressed AR 15s have existed before, but HM Defense does it a bit differently, and it’s an insane concept.

Most of the time, an integrally suppressed rifle utilizes a suppressor that’s permanently attached to the barrel. With the HM Defense MS series, the suppressor is part of the barrel. They are both one piece of metal, and the barrels and suppressor are milled together from one block of metal. This monobloc design is a patented design by HM Defense. This design allows the gun to be more accurate and more durable overall.

The rest of the gun doesn’t stray far from the standard AR-15 carbine design. Everything is built to specification, and you can tell they put a lot of time and effort into building their rifles. The main benefit of an integrally suppressed design is that you get a one-stamp rifle that’s the same size as a suppressed SBR. That’s great for the average Joe.

The Knights Armament KS-1

This year, Knight’s Armament brought the KS-1 to SHOT Show 2024 to show us what the British Special Operations Forces will be wielding in the next few years. Don’t worry. You’ll also have your chance to own the KS-1 as Knight’s is releasing a civilian semi-auto-only model. The KS-1 is an SR-15 built to the specs demanded by Project Hunter, the British program to provide elements of British SOF and Royal Marines with a new, modern, and modular carbine system.

Knight’s Armament created its first 13.7-inch rifle with the KS-1. The rifle features a muzzle device designed to quickly attach suppressors and mitigate flash when the suppressor isn’t present. When you start looking through the rail, you’ll notice the barrel is also dimpled to reduce weight and improve cooling. Like all Knight’s rifles, the KS-1 came in with completely ambidextrous controls, a huge charging handle, and a ton of small feature adjustments that produce an extremely well-made and reliable rifle.

The Knight’s Armament KS-1 series rifles are NFA items, or at least appear to be. I’m not sure if the muzzle device could be pinned and welded to produce a 16-inch barrel. However, if you’re paying Knight’s prices, I doubt you care much about a tax stamp. The KS-1 looks to be a fantastic rifle that’s built for beyond even the roughest duty purposes.

The AR-15 Still Rules

As much as people try, it’s going to be tough to ever replace the AR-15 designs. Even the rifles that are trying to use the AR-15 as their building block. It’s still a fantastic rifle all these decades later. The modularity of the gun has allowed it to continue to advance and improve all these decades later. As SHOT Show 2024 has shown, the AR-15 is going nowhere.

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SilencerCo’s new models promise superior noise reduction and durability for a broad range of uses. Designed for 9mm and .300 Blackout, the titanium Spectre 9 is the next evolutionary step in the manufacturer’s line. It’s compatible with handguns and subguns and is, of course, full-auto rated. In addition, it’s compatible with SilencerCo Alpha accessories and mounting systems and ships with a Spectre Piston Housing Assembly as well as a necessary tool. It measures 4.76 inches in length while weighing in at 3.9 ounces, so it doesn’t add much weight to your pistol.

The SilencerCo Velos LBP 556 K is part of the company’s Low Back Pressure family. This family’s design produces significantly less blowback during live fire. This suppressor is constructed from 3D-printed Inconel 625 core welded to 17-4 stainless steel front and rear modules. The full-auto rated Velos LBP 556 K is a dedicated 223 Rem/5.56 NATO model. According to the manufacturer, this is the most durable suppressor they’ve ever made to date. It measures 4.76 inches in length and weighs 12.4 ounces.

For .30 caliber fans there’s the SilencerCo Velos LBP 762. This suppressor is also part of the Low Back Pressure line and is compatible with calibers from 5.56 NATO up to 300 Win Mag. In addition, the 3D printed Velos LBP 762 is impressively durable like its 556 K counterpart. It’s 6.4 inches long and weighs 16.5 ounces.

MSRP for new SilencerCo suppressors varies by model.

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• Model: Ranger
• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 20.5 inches
• Overall Length: 37 3/4 inches
• Weight: 5 lbs. 4 oz. unloaded

The new Winchester Ranger is the successor to the firm’s famous Winchester 1894-22. As such, it borrows much of its general styling from the Winchester logo on the receiver tang to the checkered plastic butt plate to the straight gripped oiled walnut buttstock and fore stock. The Ranger features a 20.5-inch chromoly steel barrel with an eleven-degree target crown. The length is sufficient to support the fifteen-round tubular magazine underneath.

Ergonomically, the Ranger has a 13-inch length of pull, a happy medium to accommodate both tall and short-statured shooters. The sights include an adjustable semi-buckhorn rear and a front post, but the billet aluminum receiver is machined for 3/8-inch scope rings. The action has a traditional and smooth lever throw that shooters have come to expect from Winchester for over a century. In addition, the advertised 3.5–5.5-pound trigger pull has an adjustable overtravel screw to achieve best accuracy. Like other legacy Winchester rimfires like the Model 1890 and 62a rifles, the Ranger takes down into two halves with the simple removal of one screw.

The new Winchester Ranger is up for your next outdoor adventure and is shipping now with an MSRP of $419.99.

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CZ 457

CZ’s newest additions to their 457 series are: which include the 457 Manners MTR, 457 Chassis, and 457 Stainless Synthetic. Each model features a cold hammer-forged barrel, detachable 5+1 capacity magazine, and two-position push-to-fire safety. These standardized core features ensure reliability and safety across the entire lineup. Chambered in .22 LR, the CZ 457 line is renowned for a variety of rimfire applications, while delivering unparalleled accuracy and dependable performance for rimfire competition and small-game hunting.

CZ 457 Manners MTR

The new lineup begins with the CZ 457 Manners MTR. Carbon fiber and fiberglass layers craft the Manners MTR for exceptional stability. In addition, shooters enjoy adjustable length of pull through a spacer system and adjustable check riser. The Manners MTR weighs 7.1 pounds and also features a 16.2-inch heavy cold hammer-forged barrel that ensures optimal ballistic performance.

CZ 457 Chassis

The CZ 457 Chassis will offer unparalleled versatility and customization. Equipped with the MDT ACC Premier Chassis, the platform is highly adjustable shooter’s preferences. The flexibility further includes adjustments for length of pull, a cheek riser, and grip adjustments. The incorporation of an Arca rail attachment adds another layer of adaptability. The rifle features a 24-inch heavy cold hammer-forged barrel and weighs 9 pounds.

CZ 457 Stainless Synthetic

The CZ 457 Stainless Synthetic arrives with a durable synthetic stock that draws inspiration from the reliable 557 American Synthetic model. The Stainless Synthetic was designed for range enthusiasts and small game hunters alike with a robust construction and nitride finish. The sporter profile stainless 20-inch barrel is cold hammer forged and threaded (1/2×28) for suppressor use. Meanwhile, tight chamber tolerances and advanced design elements enhance the rifle’s reliability and performance.

CZ 600 American

CZ also announced the newest addition to their 600 rifle series with the American. The CZ 600 American honors America’s hunting heritage with refined lines and traditional features in a hardwood stock and blued metal finish. The rifle’s style is reminiscent of yesteryear’s classic hunting rifles. The 600 American is available in seven popular hunting cartridges: .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, and .300 Winchester Magnum.

The newest addition to the line promises the same unparalleled accuracy, achieved through a cold hammer-forged medium contour suppressor-ready barrel. The CZ 600 American is standard with a 24-inch barrel for enhanced ballistic performance while more compact 20-inch barrels are available in .308 Win or .243 Win. The rifle’s MOA accuracy guarantee furthers its appeal while ensuring ethical precision for hunters.

While it pays homage to classic hunting rifles, the 600 American also elevates ergonomics with a 60-degree bolt throw for improved clearance between the bolt and optic and faster cycling. The patented 2-position tang safety is virtually silent to not alert game animals.

The CZ 600 American’s detachable magazine allows for quick reloads, but can be topped off through the ejection port. The rifle’s single stage trigger has four adjustable weight settings while the receiver is tapped for scope mounts patterned for the prolific Remington 700 action.

CZ’s Transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty covers all new CZ 457 Rimfire Rifles and the CZ 600 American. Pricing and availability are TBD.

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Bear Creek Arsenal is known for producing AR-15 platform firearms and gun parts, and is proud to announce the launch of its newest product: the MAUL-AR rifle. According to the manufacturer, the MAUL-AR is a revolutionary firearm. It’s designed to deliver both the classic design and reliability of a lever-action rifle and the features and performance of an AR-15.

The manufacturer states the new rifle will be chambered in various calibers, including a popular caliber that can be used for hunting, target shooting, and self-defense. The MAUL-AR will be available with multiple barrel lengths as well, starting at the 16-inch length. The rifle features a free-floating handguard with M-LOK slots for aftermarket accessories and a Picatinny rail for optics. It’s compatible with AR magazines and utilizes the company’s patented BCG system to reduce felt recoil and improve cycling for superior reliability and solid results on target.

The MAUL-AR lever-action rifle is designed with hunters in mind but is versatile enough to be a good fit for any gun owner desiring a fast, accurate firearm. This is a semi-automatic rifle that’s made to cycle quickly and accurately, so the shooter can follow up on moving or multiple targets much faster. Further, the MAUL-AR from Bear Creek Arsenal is the ideal platform for hunting everything from deer to hogs to coyotes.

MSRP for the Bear Creek Arsenal MAUL-AR is not known at this time.

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The additions include the P365-XMACRO Backstrap + Magnum, designed in tandem to provide users with a major upgrade in ergonomics and provide a more secure grip on one of the most popular EDC firearms on the market today. The P365-XMACRO Backstrap + Magwell install via a patent-pending screwless design. A precision machined dovetail interface with a spring-loaded retention stud securely locks the two components to the host firearm.

Radian Weapons also introduced P365-XMACRO owners to their TRU-17 Magazine Base Pad. The TRU-17 serves as a direct replacement part compatible with P365-XMACRO magazines. The design allows users to easily load the full 17 rounds into the magazine, addressing what some users have experienced with stock base pads.

On the Glock side of the lineup, Radian expanded its AFTERBURNER Micro-Compensator + RAMJET Ported Pistol Barrel product series by offering models compatible with the Glock 17/47/49 as well as the Sig Sauer P365 platform. Initially available for the 3.1-inch barrel length (P365 and P365X), the combo provides unprecedented recoil reduction and match grade accuracy in a concealed carry package. Furthermore, the threadless barrel design allows for effortless installation and removal for cleaning. It is also conveniently legal for sale in all 50 states.

The full lineup of Radian Weapons products are displayed on the SHOT Show floor at Booth #20312.

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