Hands-on firearms, gear, and outdoor reviews
Brian 
When my AXIL XCOR hearing protection arrived, I was pretty excited to try them out. They were not the first AXIL products I’ve tried, but certainly the most advanced. Completely wireless (no cord connecting them to each other) with Bluetooth and touch control. They offer very advanced hearing protection, with the benefit of Bluetooth audio … Read more
Although Savage rimfire rifles have an excellent reputation for accuracy and affordability, their polymer stocks leave a lot to be desired both aesthetically, and ergonomically. While it was easy enough to upgrade the right-hand actions, quality stock options for the left-hand actions were slim, even from the factory. Back at the end of September, Boyds … Read more
When it comes to weapon-mounted lights, the Viridian CTL+ with SAFECharge checks a lot of boxes. It’s got multiple output settings, including strobe. There’s a rechargeable battery with innovative, in-safe charging. Run time is more than sufficient for most users. Ambidextrous controls make it easy to activate from either side. And when paired with the … Read more
Dropping a Velocity Classic AR Trigger into my rifle made a noticeable difference, and was probably long overdue. Since it was built mostly from spare parts, it had a budget mil-spec trigger. With a pull weight of around six pounds, it was also much heavier than I preferred for this “longer-range plinker”. This is one … Read more
The new Manticore X Lower for Ruger 10/22 pattern firearms is the latest innovation from TandemKross. This time, they’ve taken “Thinking outside the box” to a whole new level. Since 1964, there have been untold factory variations as well as aftermarket modifications and customizations to the platform. But nothing like this. Wood stocks gave way … Read more