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Palmetto State Armory, the South Carolina-based purveyor of firearm parts and accessories, has expanded its offerings by showing off its AKS-74U style pistols at SHOT Show 2023. These Krinkov style pistols are chambered in 5.45x39mm and 5.56x45mm in addition to .300BLK and 7.62x39mm in the future.

The Palmetto State Armory, or PSA, version of the AKS-74U will be made entirely in-house and will be available by summer 2023. The PSA Krinkovs have a bolt carrier group and trunnions machined from forgings. Additionally, the PSA AKS-74U will have polymer furniture but is said to accept most of the aftermarket Krinkov furniture.

PSA offers the Krinkovs with an 8.3” barrel in three very different versions: a button rifled and nitride option, PSA cold hammer forged with chrome lining, and an FN cold hammer forged and chrome lined. Each barrel is threaded at the muzzle in a metric 24×1.5, which is said to be identical to the original AKS-74U. Additionally, the pistols will come from PSA with a Krinkov-styled flash hider or booster installed.

The PSA Krinkovs also have a 4.5mm side folding trunnion and are said to come with braces. But, given the state of ATF rulings, if the pistol stabilizing braces are to be considered stocks, PSA will ship the AKS-74Us with a rear Picatinny rail adapter instead. Rounding out the features for the AKS-74U from PSA is a hinged top cover that has a rear iron sight installed, an index finger shelf on the safety lever, and a side scope rail.

No official word on pricing just yet, but the Palmetto State Armory AKS-74U style pistols can be seen at SHOT Show booth 15249.

With SHOT Show 2023 winding down, one company has been getting some serious buzz with a few of its firearms. Stevens by Savage line of firearms got plenty of expansion, specifically the 334 rifles and the 560 shotguns. The Stevens by Savage line is built in Turkey under Savage’s steering, giving a wallet-friendly price point.

Stevens by Savage 334 Rifles

The Savage Stevens Model 334 is a centerfire bolt-action hunting rifle available in two different models and three calibers. Available in some of the more popular hunting calibers, the model 334 has a two-stage adjustable trigger along with a three-position safety and three-round drop-box magazine.

The Model 334 features a free-floating and button-rifled nonthreaded carbon steel barrel with an 11-degree target crown. The rifle also features a 60-degree bolt throw for faster cycling and better scope clearance. The matte black carbon steel receiver is drilled and tapped with the standard Savage 110 spacing with a steel Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rail, leaving lots of options for aftermarket optics.

The Stevens Model 334 also has sling studs and a black rubber recoil pad that come standard. The Model 334 is available chambered in .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win. Depending on which variant of the model is chosen, the barrel is either 20 or 22 inches long. With the caliber options, consumers can choose between a black synthetic stock or a Turkish walnut stock.

The Stevens Model 334 rifle starts at $389 for the synthetic stock and $489 for the walnut.

Stevens Model 560 Shotgun

Joining the other Stevens shotguns in the bargain market is the Model 560 Field shotgun. This 12-gauge shotgun is a semi-auto that is also made in Turkey under Savage’s guidance.

The Model 560 is chambered in 3-inch and is gas-driven with a reported capability of handling both 2.75 and 3-inch shells. These shotguns feature a Turkish walnut stock and forend with a lightweight aluminum alloy receiver.

The Model 560 shotgun is available in two different variants, one with a 28” barrel while the other has a 26” barrel, with both hard chrome lined and a matte black finish. Both shotgun options have a 5+1 capacity load and standard trigger-guard safety. Outside the barrel is a ventilated rib that has a fiber optic front sight and a mid-bead rear sight to match.

The Model 560 shotguns come from the factory with three chokes (IC, IM, and F) and oversized controls. Either variant has the same price tag of $499.

Check out Savage and Stevens by Savage firearms at their SHOT Show 2023 booth #12821.

Well-made, properly designed weapon-mounted lights are a must for handgunners, and one company leading the pack in their production is Nightstick. Now there are even more options available from Nightstick thanks to the launch of several new models including the TCM-365, TCM-5B, and TWM-30GL. The newest lights run the gamut for use from micros to full-size pistols and even include a new design for law enforcement.

Nightstick manufactures weapon-mounted lights designed for tactical applications. They understand the need for a focused beam and residual halo which are vital for target identification. Nightstick’s lights don’t rely on lumens alone but on candela, beam distance, and run time. These are purpose-driven weapon lights designed for real-world performance.

Nightstick TCM-5B and TCM-365

The Nightstick TCM-5B and TCM-365 have similar specifications but are designed with different mounting systems. The TCM-5B is made to fit a variety of compact pistols such as the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Subcompact and Glock 43X. As for the TCM-365, it is, as the name suggests, made for the Sig Sauer P365. The two models have a variety of features, including:

• Two-hour run time.
• 650 peak lumens.
• 4612 max candela.
• Beam distance of 136 meters.
• Runs on one CR123 battery.
• Mounts to the accessory rail in front of the trigger guard.
• Includes safe and strobe modes.

Nightstick TWM-30-GL

The TWM-30-GL was designed at the request of law enforcement. It’s meant for full-sized handguns and has both a light and a green laser. Green is easier to see during daylight hours and also more readily draws the eye than red, according to many studies. This light/laser combo is made to fit standard-duty holsters. The TWM-30-GL has the following features:

• Designed for full-sized handguns with forward accessory rails.
• Beam distance of 200 meters.
• 1100 peak lumens.
• 10,000 max candela.
• 1.75 hours run time.
• Powered by two CR123 batteries.

MSRP for these new weapon-mounted lights is not known at this time.

Stoeger industries, a manufacturer of performance-grade shotguns and personal defense handguns, has upgraded the STR Series of rifles to include the personal defense handgun, the STR-9MC. This micro-compact pistol is ideal for small-framed shooters or those looking for a handgun that works well for different carry positions.

The Stoeger STR-9MC is a 9mm micro-compact striker-fired pistol in a value price bracket.  It has all the features found in a full-sized STR-9 but in a package that can be concealed easier.

The STR-9MC Micro Compact has a 3.29-inch barrel and is 6.1-inch overall length. It weighs 18.5 ounces and can be easily carried in an OWB or IWB holster, in a purse, and in other areas. It features a loaded chamber indicator on the top of the receiver that automatically raises when a round is in the chamber, removing the need for any press checks.

The STR-9MC reportedly has an outstanding trigger and multiple sight options, in addition to the snag-free design of the three-dot sight system. In certain models, tritium night sights are available along with different mounting plates for other optics.

The pistol has a black synthetic, nitride-treated slide with an integrated rail for mounting accessories if wanted. The grip features loads of stippling for better purchase in the hand to go along with the slide serrations for easier handling.

The STR-9MC Micro Compact is available in four different variants. The first set of variants comes with two magazines (one extended and one flush fit), and low-profile adjustable sights. The second set of variants has three magazines (one flush, one pinky, and one extended), tritium night sights, and an optic-ready slide. 

The basic STR-9MC variants start with an MSRP of $399 while the three-magazine, optics-ready models have an MSRP of $479. The Stoeger STR-9MC pistols, and other STR pistols, can be seen at SHOT Show booth 13238.

American Defense Manufacturing came out to play this Shot Show with many new products. The company is known for its firearms as well as its simple but high-quality scope rings. ADM gives precision shooters what they need and this year is no different. From their titanium scope mount levers to their Delta Series which includes a rotatable red dot mount on top of the scope, ADM is showing that innovation is a big part of the company.

Updated Scope Mount Levers

Titanium

Lightweight is the name of the game these days in both hunting and precision rifle matches. American Defense Manufacturing took note of that and made a titanium scope mount lever. These levers can easily be switched out from your standard levers, therefore only the levers need to be purchased, not the whole scope mount.

The titanium lever assembly is currently retailing for $59.00 on admmfg.com.

Extra Grip

Another added option to their lever lines is the beefed-up version of their scope mount levers. Both the paddle and the unlocking button are larger and thicker. The paddle also has added ridges for grip. This will aid in unlocking the levers when removing the scope as many will lock their scopes down tight to the Picatinny rail, making it hard to release them.

Red Dot Mounts

Direct Mount

ADM has tapped into the direct mounting of red dots to their scope rings with the Delta Series. Mounting red dots on top of scopes are a lot of shooters’ preference with both a low and high-powered scope. On a low-powered scope, having a red dot can mean that the shooter can easily switch to using the dot for close engagements, and back to the scope for further. The dot on a scope ring on a high power scope can aid in finding the target and lining it up with the dot, and then going back down to the scope with the scope already on target.

Many of the rings with direct mount red dot options will fit 30-34mm tubes. There will also be two different height mounts for red dots to ensure that the shooter can see the dot over taller turrets. The coolest thing though? They made rotatable scope rings for the red dot. Meaning, if you don’t like a 45-degree mount, or a 90, or a 130-degree, that doesn’t matter because now you can rotate the dot to any degree of your choosing due to the mount rotating on the tube.

This is still a newer product so stay tuned on ship dates and pricing.

A direct mount scope ring allows the red dot to sit low and close to the scope. If extra height is needed for larger turret scopes, ADM has a taller ring mount as well.

Iron Sights

A red dot mount that is sky-high has its advantages. One, the ability to now machine a hole to see through the mount to the front iron sight. ADM did that. With their new red dot mount, ADM played with three different hole sizes to see which one is the most efficient when bringing your eye from the dot down to the iron sight. With this hole being placed directly under the dot, the user has the ability to use the iron sights in case their red dot fails during engagements.

The height of the machined hole is in line with Magpul Pro Back Up Iron Sights.

This is also a new product so stay tuned for further details.

They did it, boys and girls. CZ USA has finally released the highly anticipated Custom A01-SD OR pistol, the next iteration of the hammer-fired Shadow Series. Built around a hammer-forged, CNC-machined frame, this performance-enhanced, optics-ready semi-auto handgun is geared toward competitive shooters and collectors. Equipped with a fixed rear sight mounted on a removable cover plate, the A01-SD OR ships with DPP and RMR adapter plates, allowing users to mount a variety of common optics to the pistol right out of the box. Not to mention, the factory-installed fiber optic front sight allows for intuitive cowitnessing with most mounted optics and offers amazing clarity in darn near any lighting condition.

CZ officially unveiled the pistol at SHOT Show 2023, and as expected, it’s being received with excitement, curiosity, and tons of fanfare from CZ fans and sport shooters nationwide. The design team shifted the pistol’s balance point closer to the shooter’s hand for improved control and reliable accuracy, while the high-strength forged steel frame and 4.9″ bull barrel enhance accuracy and really do a nice job of mitigating all felt recoil for incredible control and lightning-fast follow-up shots. The custom shop A01-SD OR pistol includes a conveniently located manual thumb safety as well for dependable field service and safe handling. Further ergonomic enhancements include a deep beavertail and undercut trigger guard for a natural grip and superior pointability, while raised 25 LPI checkering and durable G10 grips provide a snug, non-slip grip with sweaty or gloved hands. The Custom A01-SD OR also features a drop-safe CZC 85 Combat double-action/single-action trigger with about a crisp 8.5lb. and 3.5-lb. pull, respectively.

Coming with a hefty $2,699 price tag, the A01-SD OR pistol isn’t your everyday pistol or beginner’s CZ. It’s truly a handgun made for professionals looking to ring targets and carry home the gold. 

Trailblazer Firearms, a firearms manufacturing company that is best known for the LifeCard folding .22lr pistol, has upgraded its product line to include an ultracompact Folding Rifle, the Pivot. The Pivot Ultracompact Folding Rifle is said to be the finest firearm in the compact, foldable rifle category capable of reaching 150 yards and beyond.

The Pivot folding rifle is chambered in 9mm and folds down, using patented technologies, to just under 21” long, allowing the rifle to be stowed easily in a bag or storage compartment. The Pivot rifle features a full-length 16” threaded barrel plus an extended stock for a fully extended length of just under 30”. With the updated ATF rulings regarding pistol braces, the Pivot offers a discrete and compact rifle that sits outside of those rules.

The patented folding technology employed by Trailblazer Firearms allows the upper receiver to be rotated and locked into the smaller package. While in the folded position, the Pivot will not fire, adding safety to the package. The Pivot is machined from an aluminum upper and lower receiver set and a Picatinny rail for optics. The upper also features an M-LOK slot system for mounting whatever accessories the shooter needs or wants.

To round out the features of the Trailblazer Firearms Pivot 9mm rifle, it has a three-position adjustable stock, extra magazine storage in the stock, and utilizes Glock 15-round magazines. With the aluminum, polymer, and steel construction, the Pivot weighs in at five pounds unloaded so it would be an easy stowage weapon, without the legal concerns of an SBR or pistol brace.

The Trailblazer Firearms Pivot 9mm Ultracompact Folding Rifle is in production now and sports an MSPR of $1,795. The Pivot can be seen in person at SHOT Show 2023 in Trailblazer’s booth 41838 or at the Aimpoint booth 13007.