TRI-TECH Tactical is on the verge of releasing it’s AR compatible grip that houses a Glock magazine. This will prove invaluable for owners of either the TNW ASR/ASP, the Quarter Circle 10, the Matrix Arms, the Just Right Carbines or any other AR platform PCC’s that utilize Glock mags. It’s these small innovative companies that keep the market fresh with constant improvements to the weapons we already own or make new weapon purchases even more attractive. It can be extremely challenging for small companies to break-in to an already saturated market so when you find a product you like that functions as described, make an effort to write a brief review and give it a star rating that’ll encourage their success. Positive and encouraging support by gun owners is critical considering the constant attacks we suffer from anti-gunners, so let us lead the way with a big thumbs up for TRI-TECH for introducing this accessory. Thanks guys! ED.

Ever feel the most fun you’ve ever had plinking was showing your kid how to shoot a 22 rifle? Instructing them on safety and cleaning, helping them set up the sights and make their first shots? Did you marvel at their uncanny knack of hitting the target right off the bat? Kids seem to possess a clarity of focus unhindered by the woes of adulthood - and an in-tact confidence yet to be battered by the trials and tribulations of life - that instills in them zen-like abilities. No doubt the constant praise and attention we bestow on our spawn helps nurture these traits, but still their skills are impressive. Then one day we find they’ve outgrown their Rascal or Crickett and we go get them a grownup’s rifle. Sadly those mighty little starter rifles have little resale value so inevitably end up retiring to the safe, but what if instead of buying a new rifle we could simply size it up to match our kids’ new stature? Or better yet, what if WE as the parent could inherit it? To this day no one makes aftermarket stocks to give a Crickett or Rascal new purpose and an adult length of pull. Both have great little actions and good accuracy so with the right stock i.e. a folding one, these little shooters could enjoy an afterlife as a backpacking or survival rifle. Nothing is more utilitarian than a single shot bolt action 22 rifle, nor does any other survival tool allow for such efficient harvesting of food except perhaps a fishing kit. Having misspent my youth as the hunter-gatherer for an impoverished family of 5 I can attest to the remarkable effectiveness of the humble 22LR bullet, especially when bullets are scarce and shot placement is given priority. I can also confirm that the little Rascal is quite the Savage with a simple scope attached, or a small aperture peep from Skinner sights (they’re not listed on his website but he’s assured me he can supply them for those who ask). So, this is a call for someone in the plastic stock business to bring us a lightweight drop-in folding stock - ideally with an adjustable length of pull and integral sling slots/attachments - to give our little Rascals and Cricketts new purpose and/or help our kids grow up with their rifles instead of growing out of them. 

Feel free to use this (or any) idea we outline, exactly as described and without fear of copyright infringement - in exchange for 1)free finished-product samples, 2)running ads on the AFD and 3) throwing us a bone when you hit your first million. Thereby that’ll keep us brainstorming, up and running, lights on, coffee in the pot and beers on Friday! ED ​

If I was Thor, to hell with hammers. For reloading speed in a locked breech rifle, nothing beats the pump action. Shotguns and 22’s have been privy to this secret since 1897 but try telling this to the centerfire community. Currently there are only three notable offerings in centerfire pump rifles - the Remington 7600, the Troy Pump Action AR and the Colt Lightning (currently made by Uberti in Italy). All are great rifles but they each adhere to a genre: the Remington is in classic hunting configuration, the Troy is a spitting image of an AR and the Lightning is a retro repro for luddites and CASS practitioners. But where is the modern iteration? Where is the 16” barreled 45ACP or 9MM pump carbine that weighs 4.5lbs? Or a pistol counterpart that can be SBR’d? 

People like the semi-auto because it’s fast on follow-up shots, but I argue that if those shots are to be well-placed then the split second of sight alignment you lose during battery can also be used to operate the slide and chamber your next round. In the shotgun world where killing a bird or dusting a clay EVERY time is the objective, I’d dare to bet any pump action shotgunner can equal the speed-accuracy of any semi-auto shotgunner…or should I forego modesty and claim to know that from experience. Closed-bolts are simply more consistently accurate than blow-back ones, this any sniper or hunter can attest to. In layman’s terms, combustion efficiency and a solid backstop give a bullet a better launch, so when you’re using precision rounds and the placement of each bullet is mission critical then the bolt action is the current ruler. In long range precision critical moments the bolt action rifle is usually supported by a bipod or the suchlike and follow up shots are either ill-advised or well-considered so the comparatively slow speed of removing your trigger hand from the grip to chamber the next round isn’t an issue. But when a weapon is for home defense, LEO or combat purposes then reloading needs to be rapid and accuracy is preferable. Furthermore, financially speaking I’d rather visit the range and make 100 well placed goodly distance shots than fire off 500 rounds just kicking up dirt - it looks great in movies or on youtube but personally I can’t afford that kind of fun. 

To combat the potential inaccuracy of semi-autos, firepower has taken big precedence in the last few years and high-cap mags and drums are all the rage meaning the shooter just fires a whole lot of rounds increasing the chance of a hit. Unfortunately this hasn’t made anyone a better shot, AND it’s led to ammo shortages, AND it’s brought down a whole lot of flack from the anti-gunners, some of which has made law (hence Troy’s offering). And it’s not just a domestic issue, during the height of the war in Irag/Afghanistan there were an average of 250,000 rounds fired per insurgent killed whereas for snipers that round-to-kill ration was 1.6 (or thereabouts). I’m all for excess but it’s nice to have alternatives when shooting dollars are tight.

Back to the pistol cartridge. I had a Marlin Camp Carbine that was as reliable as stone but couldn’t be trusted over 20 yards and at 50 yards I’d be lucky to hit a 14” plate after allowing for a 12” drop - now that may have been my particular rifle but I suspect not. All I’m saying is it’s time for an American manufacturer to come up with a new pump carbine in configurations for hunters, LEO and home defenders that utilize all our advancements in armament technology to revive the venerable Browning design for pistol calibers. I venture to say the market would be considerable.
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With the 2017 Shot Show in full swing, t’is the season for new guncepts and designs in the firearm and accessory world. Some years are exciting, others not…we’ll be able to see this coming weekend who released what to inspire the mass opening of wallets. In the spirit of innovation, over morning coffee, we batted around an idea we call the ZJ-722. In a nutshell it’s a 7-shot 22LR/L/S revolver or 5-shot 32ACP that resembles a semi-auto (i.e. no exposed cylinder, streamlined profile for easy pocketing etc) but with the reliability of a revolver. 22LR semi-autos can be finicky but revolvers in that caliber are almost always 100%. 22LR is back to normal 5c per round cost and therefore offers cheap plinking and practice…anyway, we don’t need to sell the efficacy of the World's most loved bullet. We feel by threading the inner sleeve that houses the cylinder, this would allow for the attachment of a proprietary silencer aligning with the top (indexed) cylinder/barrel so when the HPA passes that accessory would be a no-brainer. Anyway, as usual feel free to use this (or any) idea we knock out, exactly as described and without fear of copyright infringement - in exchange for 1)free finished-product samples, 2)running ads on the AFD and 3) throwing us a bone when you hit your first million. Thereby that’ll keep us brainstorming, up and running, lights on, coffee in the pot and beers on Friday! ED ​

Description 
The ZJ-722 is a seven shot 22 S/L/LR revolving barrel subcompact pistol similar in dimensions to the Ruger LCP. The Zero Jam 22 shoots short, long and long rifle bullets from a 7-shot rotating barrel (or 5 in 32ACP). Each chamber is rifled. The trigger pull or manual cocking indexes the barrel in a similar manner as a revolver but without the potential timing issue of having to align with a forcing cone, which affords a cheaper production cost. The pistol breaks open with a push button and allows for fast reloading via quick replacement of a fully loaded spare cylinder. Manual safety allows for cocked-and-locked carry, DA/SA hammer allows for more accurate shooting. A 32ACP version has a 5-shot cylinder and the same external dimensions.
Estimated specs
Length: 5.25"
Height: 3.45"
Weight: 14oz
Width: 1.15"
Color: Black
Caliber: 22 S/L/LR and 32ACP
Trigger: DA/SA
Safety: manual
Sights: Novak style
MSRP: $350

Art Isaacson and his sons Brad, Nick and Tommy in Hillsboro, MO are a family of Browningphiles and aficionados who have made a family vocation out of the restoration of Browning rifles. With a deep understanding of what Browning firearms looked like in stock factory-new condition, http://www.artsgunshop.com will take your granpappy’s heirloom rifle and make it look spanking new. Alternatively, if you want to buy a Browning that’s no longer available on the new-guns market then check out their GunsInternational storefront - http://www.gunsinternational.com/advanced-search-results.cfm - for weapons they’ve resurrected to original condition. These guys are masters at thorough and complete reconditioning that’ll leave you cherishing your particular model of this beautifully crafted and highly revered marque. They get a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ user rating!

With over 60 knife manufacturers in the US it’s easy for companies to get overlooked in the rush for recognition or when a particular fad favors certain brands over others. The tactical knife has garnered such attention these past few years that sometimes we forget there are outstanding companies making serious utilitarian knives that sell for very affordable prices. One such company is Colonial Knife out of Rhode Island, which has been around for almost a century. When the Paolantonio brothers founded Colonial Knife and created its first pocket knife in 1926, the three probably knew it was destined to become an industry standard. Today, Colonial produces high quality precision cutlery in premium steels and offers a lifetime warranty on all its products - simply return it with store receipt and your knife will be repaired or replaced FREE of charge. Today, Colonial continues to push the envelope using innovative technologies and breakthrough metal research to produce better and better knives for the practical survivor or serviceman. 

Colonial Knife manufactures military knives, Bushcraft knives, fire/rescue and marine/sailors knives, farrier tools, Electrician knives, hunting and rock/ice climbing knives. Their professional’s tools include their switch blade, their navy deck knife, their paratrooper knife, their marlin spike knives and the Roper Knives plus assisted opening Quick Flick Knives, their Tuckerman Ravine Knives and their J Hook Rescue Tool. 

Our favorite is the famed M-724 (or upgraded MC-1) Survival Pocket Knife currently issued for use in all military aircraft ejection seat survival kits. The primary purpose of this excellent auto knife is to help the downed pilot or aircrew get out of any dangerous situation that they may encounter behind enemy lines including cutting chute lines should they end up landing in a tree or other elevated structure. A situation that involves survival and evasion for the person isolated behind enemy lines or on the battlefield requires a utilitarian no frills knife/tool, the type that can easily be maintained while surviving extreme use in all conditions. This knife can be had for around $40 from various online knife stores and offers the kind of functionality every prepper needs in their bugout bag. These are hand forged 1095 carbon steel knives and they have some pleasing imperfections that bestow a “use me” vibe as opposed to appealing to be kept in a safe or glass showcase — which is why we love them around the AFD office! They get used for absolutely everything and go on and on functioning without ever seeming to lose their edge or switchblade speed. 

If you’re not familiar with Colonial Knives, check them out and take full advantage of discounted outlet prices, you WILL NOT be disappointed. ED

Lighters were invented for a reason and helped accelerate us into modern living in the same way the cartridge rifle was a rapid vehicle of our evolution after the musket. If you could time-jump back to 1822 and ask a lone trapper in the Rockies if he’d prefer a ferro rod and a muzzle loading rifle, or a Winchester 92 with 1,000 rounds of ammo and 5 Bics, would there be a second’s hesitation? I doubt it. I have full confidence in the efficacy of ferrous rods and all their variants, but having spent much time in the backwoods on minimalist survival stints I can honestly say nothing beats a Bic lighter. Correction, nothing beats a 5-pack of Bic lighters. Weight for weight, there’s not much in it between that and a ferrous rod kit, so why not have actual flame versus a hot spark that’s unlikely to ignite on first strike anyway. A Bic lighter will generate roughly 3,000 short flames: take into account you’ll probably need a slightly longer flame duration, so with ignitable tinder used every time you’ll get 1,000 fires up and running with a single Bic. That’s 3 years living in the outback. Judging by the hit History Channel show “Alone”, I’d venture to guess few folks would last that long before going completely looney tunes in which case fire would have long been foregone in lieu of eating their own feces or wearing twigs for clothing. I’m certain there’s a more scientific argument for Bics than this here brief post, but in the spirit of “keeping it simple, stupid”,  for $6 or $7 you can buy a pack of 5 Bics for your bugout bag and call it a happy day. Wrap each one separately in a zip lock sandwich bag so if your pocket Bic get’s soaked you can always fish out a dry one from your pack and get a fire going. It may lack the romance and purism of generating a fire from sparks and cussing, but when you’re actually up against authentic survival, a Bic will feel like it’s heaven sent. ED

We count 23 notable semi-auto pistol caliber carbines already on the market: the Kel-Tec Sub-2000, the Angstadt Arms UDP-9 SBR, the Beretta Cx4 Storm, the JP Enterprises GMR-13, the Just Right Carbines, the Thureon Defense GA Carbine, the TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle, the IWI Tavor X95 Bullpup 9mm, the Colt AR 6951 9mm, the Kriss Vector, the CZ Scorpion EVO, the Sig MPX 9mm Carbine, the Olympic Arms 9mm, the Hi-Point Carbines, the MPA Defender Carbine, the CMMG MK9 PDW, the AKX-9PT, the Taurus CTG29, the MGI Hydra, the Stag Arms 9T, the Citadel M-1 9mm, Vector Arms UZI rifle and the CIA Centurion UC-9 (and hopefully one day we’ll see the L.W.R.C. SMG-45).

However, only 3 or these utilize a critical element we’d ideally like to see in the ultimate PCC - the Sub-2000, the Hi-Point and the MPA Defender. All three of these carbines use the grip to house their magazines which minimizes mass and protects the vital ammo-feed source from bumps & knocks which can temporarily disable the firearm. The Kel-Tec and Hi-Point are relatively streamlined, and the Kel-Tec is the last man standing in terms of packability. So, over Friday beers yesterday, we came up with a drawing of what we’d like to see in an ideal pistol caliber carbine, here's a list of the features: 1) Glock style grip taking Glock style mags in all Glock calibers. 2) Minimal possible dimensions without forfeiting safety, providing a slender streamlined profile shipping standard with ultra lightweight stock by Ace Ltd. 3) Rapid threaded or bayonet takedown allowing for interchangeable barrels and SBR’ing. 4) Threaded barrel as standard. 5) Full rails top and bottom. 6) A pistol version with standard buffer tube and 6” barrel. 7) Weight under 3.5lbs. With full sized 9mm pistols coming in at an average of 1.5lbs, there is no reason why a very svelt 9mm carbine couldn’t come in at just 2lbs heavier - anyone selling a 7lb PCC is selling excessive flab, in our opinion.

Now here’s the deal - feel free to use this (or any) idea we knock out, exactly as described and without fear of copyright infringement - in exchange for 1)free finished-product samples, 2)running ads on the AFD and 3) throwing us a bone when you hit your first million. Thereby that’ll keep us brainstorming, up and running, lights on, coffee in the pot and beers on Friday! ED 

​Description 
At last, a trim Pistol Caliber Carbine that's compatible with your Glock sidearm and takes any AR buttstock. Top and bottom rails allow for customizing with your preferred accessories and a no-frills straight blowback design makes functionality a cert. No manual safety to fuss with, a threaded barrel allows addition of a suppressor and once you've picked your caliber this little beauty will take any relevant Glock mag, any generation, any capacity. This baby is designed by be slim, reliable, accurate, robust and packable whatever your pastime or mission!
Estimated specs
Length: 31.00"
Barrel: 16.25" interchangeable
Height: 5.50"
Weight: 3lbs 2oz
Width: 1.20"
Color: Black polymer & brushed stainless/aluminum, or black polymer & parkerized
Caliber: 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 10MM.
Trigger: DAO
Safety: internal
Sights: none/1913 picatinny rails
MSRP: $499

This past Tuesday ​Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House stated that national concealed carry reciprocity was a priority for the next Congress. 59 GOP representatives introduced a proposal to allow the holder of a valid concealed carry permit to carry nationwide, shortly after the body convened for its first session this week. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, who is one of just six congressmen listed among the 62 co-chairs of the pro-gun Second Amendment Coalition of advisors to President-elect Trump. Hudson upholds that carry permits should be treated the same as driver’s licenses granting holders national mobility. “Our Second Amendment right doesn’t disappear when we cross state lines, and this legislation guarantees that,” he stated. “The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 is a common sense solution to a problem too many Americans face. It will provide law-abiding citizens the right to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits.” HR 38 would allow the holder of a valid photo ID and concealed handgun permit to carry in any state so long as they are not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Persons carrying as a non-resident in a state would otherwise be bound by whatever laws of the state they are visiting. This would end the confusing patchwork of reciprocity agreements that are currently in place across the country. Residents from constitutional carry states would have the ability to be armed in other constitutional carry states only. A similar proposal in the last Congress gained 121 co-sponsors but failed to advance in the face of near-certain opposition from the Obama administration. Hudson is expecting greater progress from the new bill with an avowedly pro-gun GOP president in the White House. Here's hoping! ED.

​CZ has typically made “expert” weapons, meaning they’re aimed (no pun intended) at European individuals who carry as part of their profession and who undergo rigorous training with their sidearm to gain rapid deployment techniques that make them dominant in a firefight and safe around colleagues and civilians. Striker fired pistols were born from a need to arm first responders who typically don’t get those regular training sessions and who in the heat of the moment need to simply draw, aim and squeeze. It takes thousands of repetitions to create muscle memory, so the simple task of slipping off your sidearm’s safety on the draw gets overlooked by peace officers who typically get only a few hours of training annually. And the same applies for civilians, for whom range-time is often expensive or just unavailable. Though a grossly simplified explanation, them’s the nuts and bolts of why striker fired pistols have risen to the top of popular sales and it’s makes perfect practical sense. Which is why CZ has just announced it’s up-and-coming release of what promises to be the zenith (or one among the company of Walther, Steyr and H&K) of polymer striker fired pistols where the functions have been refined to a point of near perfection. It always makes sense to visit a gun store and line up the competitors to see which feels the best in the hand and at the trigger before shelling out good money, but if a purchase MUST be made sight-unseen, the CZ P-10 promises to be a very good bet (as are the PPQ, L9-A1 and VP9 if your looking for  refinements of the striker fired genre). Furthermore, CZ has just announced it will release a suppressor-ready model which I think is the way to go considering the possibility of the Hearing Protection Act coming into effect this year thereby allowing the ready availability and affordability of silencers for our guns. Imagine a world where trucks, cars and motorcycles were unmuffled and everyone needed to wear ear protection instead. It would make the world unlivable, every vehicle would sound like a harley with straight pipes. And considering the increased ownership of firearms and high capacity magazines, we need to avoid the resultant increase in noise pollution. For those of us who live in rural settings, it’s not uncommon to hear the hills echo with rapid and sustained gunfire. Veterans I know get antsy recalling combat, locals get upset via their fear of guns and the shooters simply get deaf. Bring on the HPA, it’s overdue. Anyways, back to the CZ. It’s been a long time in R&D and they appear to gotten every angle right. One of things that’s always bothered me about wide square slides if their impediment to instinctive aiming. To use an exaggeration of what I mean, take a brick and a piece of pipe and aim both at a small target 25 meters away…which one points naturally? Profile is extremely important when it comes to inherent pointability because during any stressful split second need, you won’t be lining up sights. You’ll be pointing. Which is why a 7” barreled single-action revolver is easier to hit with than a 2” snubby when fired instinctively. The P-10 offers a much more “tactical” slide profile (as well as it’s other excellent ergonomics) than almost anything else on the market, and when combined with it’s already revered trigger, makes for a truly useful pistol. ED

​Not only is this a good move in combatting prejudice towards our favorite industry by appealing to environmentalists and other anti-gunners, but we suspect its the beginning of a trend. As our species’ population expands well-beyond critical mass and practical sustainability, military-grade tools and force will be increasingly used to protect what’s left of our natural environments and safeguard the keystone species that are critical to every creatures survival, not least our own. 

​FLIR is leading the way by giving game wardens in Africa the night vision capability to find poachers skulking around in the dark through vast expanses of land with the malfeasant intention of killing elephants and other endangered species: typically these poachers are extremely difficult to locate, but with night vision now in play (and no doubt on a fleet of drones) there is now a flicker of hope we can stop the blood letting. And thankfully China, who’s largely fueling the multi billion dollar trade in illegal ivory and numerous other animal products used in traditional medicines and aphrodisiacs, has promised to cease and desist (at least on the ivory) by the end of 2017, but in the interim another 100,000 elephants will likely die to satisfy Asia's insatiable appetite for tusk. 

Companies like FLIR should be heralded for enabling the brave men and women who combat the poachers, and any company producing military grade equipment would do well to join this worthy cause before the black and white rhinos, pangolins, zebras, elephants, wild dogs and giraffes that excited our childhood imaginations can only be seen by OUR children on Google images! ED

​To commemorate the 38th annual Shot Show and the upcoming inauguration of President Elect Donald Trump, the American Firearm Directory is giving away 38 billboards to the first 38 firearm and/or accessory companies to submit a 1600pixel x 460pixel ad. Billboards will stay live from January 15th 2017 until February 12th 2017. We hope this will give 38 American firearm related businesses a special boost for the new year. Those 38 companies will receive exclusive headline positioning: there is only one billboard per category page and no other form of advertising is permitted on the AFD. This affords a zero-distraction experience for the user and thusly gives profiled companies the undivided attention of consumers and every ounce of promotion they can garner in our very non gun-friendly era. 

Considering the American firearm industry epitomizes all that’s great about American ingenuity and manufacturing, it seems strange the typically capitalist internet (and indeed other American industries) hasn’t cottoned on to celebrating its economical impact rather than focusing on the homicidal usage of guns (FYI for those who are unaware, firearms are responsible for less than half the number of those killed by automobiles each year in this country). 

By being federally obliged to manufacture domestically, the firearms & ammunition industry alone provides over 300,000 jobs and contributes $50B annually to our national economy. Considering how few companies collectively comprise those statistics, just imagine what this country could do with mandated domestic manufacturing across all industries. Sure, there would be a few painful transition years but that, truly, would make America great again and invigorate our stagnant jobs market. Here’s hoping this is what our President Elect is thinking about as he prepares to take office on the 20th.

Meanwhile, Happy New Year to all our listed companies and best wishes for a very lucrative 2017!