New Gun Releases

Nightstick is expanding its offering of compact Weapon Mounted Light (WML) options. The new iterations are the TCM-10 and the TCM-10-GL; they’ve been upgraded to push 650 lumens off a single CR123 battery, and the latter model also sports a green laser.

The new lights are 100 lumens brighter than the TCM-550XL and TCM-550-XL-GL, and their candela remains the same at 4,612, but that seems reasonable for the price point.

The new WMLs are described as having a 650-lumen high beam distance of about 450 feet, with a total runtime (on high) of about two hours. That’s plenty of illumination distance for the typical concealed carry gun owner, though more lumens (and more candela) are rarely, if ever, a bad thing. It’s science!

At 2.5 inches long, 1.1 inches wide, and 1.2 inches deep, the lights are an unobtrusive addition to an EDC weapon — and honestly, a necessary one. Every pistol should have a holster and a weapon light before any other upgrades, just as every defensive rifle should have a WML and a sling. Those two things allow for security/retention and positive target identification (PID) in low/no light.

But I digress.

Like other Nightstick offerings, the TCMs utilize a “precision-engineered total internal reflection [TIR] lens” to capitalize on every bit of light output and provide what they describe as a “crisply defined outer halo” for feedback. The aiming laser on the GL is daylight visible at a wavelength of 532 nanometers (532nm), which is one of the two most common “everyday” civilian use measurements of visible (non-IR) green lasers. The other is 520nm, which is commonly found on laser pointers.

Note: do not throw an aiming laser onto the rails of a handgun and assume it is lined up with the bore. Lasers must be zeroed, just like weapons.

Ambidextrous control switches are on the rear end of the lights. These are utilized to command a variety of user-programmed modes, including strobe and “safe” light lockout.

Red dot sights are incredibly popular for everything from use on carry guns to hunting to range use. But what if you aren’t a fan of red for some reason? What if you have astigmatism, which can cause a red halo, distorting the dot? The Viridian RFX 11 is the answer to that issue. The RFX 11 is a green dot sight that’s designed for serious use and incredible visibility. If you’re looking for a dot for your handgun, and want it to be streamlined and green, check out this optic.

Studies have shown that the human eye sees green dots more readily than red, especially in daylight. Viridian designed the RFX 11 for that reason: to create a highly visible dot sight that facilitates rapid target acquisition and accurate shots on target.

The RFX 11 is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s family of purpose-built, well-made, and impressively visible optics. This optic has a small overall size that delivers a streamlined fit on any optics-cut concealed carry pistol. It can also be used for close-range offset sight on rifles. The RFX 11 weighs in at just four ounces, making it one of the lightest reflex sights available. Thanks to its lighter weight and small size, the RFX 11 offers a reduced risk of snagging and doesn’t add unnecessary bulk to the gun.

Features include a highly visible, efficient Viridian green 3 MOA dot for rapid target acquisition. The sight also has instant-on function and an auto shut-off to preserve battery life. An ambient light sensor creates an improved user experience and over 30,000 hours of run time make the RFX 11 a reliable option for gun owners. The optic is powered by one CR2032 battery.

The RFX 11 measures 1.6 inches by 0.95 inches by 0.89 inches. Lens dimensions are 16mm by 22mm. The lenses are multicoated and the housing is High Strength Thermomolded Polymer so it can stand up to the bumps and scrapes common with serious use. Operating temperature range is listed as -4° F to 130° F. This optic has an RMSc footprint, making it compatible with countless optics-cut handguns (and, of course, you can use adapter plates).

MSRP for the Viridian RFX 11 Green Dot Sight is set at $189.00.

If you’ve never given much thought to the design of the safety selector on your AR platform rifle, it’s time you did. Upgrading the safety selector might seem like a small thing, but it can make quite a difference. The Armaspec Fulcrum Ambidextrous Safety Selector is a fantastic example of how great an upgrade it can be. The company’s Fulcrum is, as its name suggests, ambidextrous, which makes operating your rifle easier regardless of which side the gun is shouldered on.

The Armaspec Fulcrum Ambidextrous Safety Selector is designed to make running your AR even smoother. And not only is it ambidextrous, but it’s also available with a short 45-degree, full 90-degree, or 45/90-degree throw cores. This is a safety selector that gives gun owners options.

The Fulcrum Ambidextrous Safety Selector has a low-profile design for reduced risk of snagging and contact points that are textured for improved traction during use. In addition, the operating edges are rounded to help them roll across the user’s thumb for easy manipulation. The design of the safety selector provides a more tactile positional confirmation position than the wedge shapes of many safety selectors and is made to move smoothly with the arc of the finger. According to Armaspec that means effort is transferred into moving the selector instead of overcoming resistance, as many other designs do. This selector is also made to be easier to feel even when wearing gloves or under stress.

Although lever shape and size are certainly noticed by shooters, there’s more to the design of a quality selector than just those things. For example, much of what is felt when operating a safety selector comes from the drum and detent quality. Armaspec understands the importance of all those tiny components. This is why the selector drum is precision machined from stainless steel and finished with a quench-polish-quench (QPQ) process for a hard, smooth detent path. This dedication to quality, combined with the company’s precision-made detents, helps the safety selector rest definitively in position and glide smoothly during use. According to Armaspec, the end result is a confidence-boosting safety selector that delivers by resting firmly in position and transitioning fast to the next position when needed.

The Armaspec Fulcrum Ambidextrous Safety Selector is available with levers in the following colors:

• Black anodized
• Red anodized
• Blue anodized
• OD Green Cerakote
• MagPul FDE Cerakote
• Bronze anodized

MSRP for the safety selector is set at $44.99.

Garmin has released two new members to its Foretrex family of wrist-based GPS units, the Foretrex 801 and the Foretrex 901 Ballistic Edition. Both units are reportedly geared toward outdoor and tactical purposes.

“Foretrex is an essential piece of kit for adventurers, tactical personnel, and competitive rifle enthusiasts who need robust, dedicated features that can be quickly accessed while keeping their hands free. Now with enhanced positional accuracy and dedicated features for special applications, the Foretrex 801 and 901 will be indispensable tools whether on assignment or at your next competition.” – Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales.

Foretrex Unit Features

The Foretrex 801 and 901 come with additional features like Stealth Mode and a Kill Switch. The Stealth Mode collects distances traveled without recording the actual location data, which would be especially helpful in training or during operations. The information can then be uploaded without revealing any pertinent information. The Stealth Mode would be helpful if the unit is ever lost. The Kill Mode on the Foretrex 801 and 901 quickly and efficiently return the unit to factory settings, erasing all stored data on the unit.

Both the Foretrex 801 and the 901 units support external ANT+ sensors and other Garmin units like the InReach. When used together, users can receive InReach messages on the unit and can interact with the SOS function if needed. The Foretrex 901 can also pair the device with compatible rangefinders to receive range data and provide ballistic data back to said rangefinder. This is in addition to the compatibility with the AB Synapse – Garmin app.

The units also have advanced sensors for better accuracy in the field. They use an integrated multiband signal reception technology for extra positional accuracy. Additionally, both units are equipped with multi-GNSS that allows the unit to receive signals from more than one satellite, upping performance in difficult environments.

The Foretrex 801 and 901 both have a large 2.2” monochromatic display and are easy to read in different light conditions including night vision goggles. The units run on two AA batteries that can be changed on the go. They’re built to mil-spec standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance ratings.

The Foretrex 801 has a price tag of $249.99 while the Foretrex 901 has a price tag of $599.99.

It’s finally here. We knew the 400 Legend was in the works months ago thanks to paperwork being filed for it with SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute). Now that it’s here, everyone’s excited to see just what it can do. The Winchester 400 Legend is a straight-walled cartridge created for hunting, but of course it’s versatile enough for a variety of applications. Interested in learning more? Read on.

According to Winchester, the 400 Legend is a straight-walled cartridge made to deliver superior ballistics for hunters and sport shooters alike. Its ballistics make it an optimal choice for hunters interested in using a cartridge that produces moderate recoil and excellent terminal performance, all with excellent results down-range. Winchester states this cartridge is ideal for hunting situations within 300 yards.

Because this is a straight-walled cartridge, it’s qualified for use in many states that restrict bottle-necked cartridges for hunting purposes. This is a heavy-hitting cartridge that’s great for everything from deer to hogs to black bear, and big game, too. It also offers significant ballistic advantages over many similar cartridges.

Features of the 400 Legend include:

• Energy similar to that of the 450 Bushmaster, only with 20% less recoil
• More than 20% more energy on target than the 30-30 Winchester
• 25% more energy than 350 Legend (Winchester states also greater penetration)
• 100% more energy than a 12-Gauge slug at 100 Yards
• 55% less recoil than a 12-Gauge slug

Ben Frank, senior product manager for Winchester Ammunition, said, “As the leader in cartridge development, the 400 Legend is a testament to our Winchester team that continues to prioritize innovative products and our world-renowned brand. Our recent successes in the development of the 6.8 Western and 350 Legend demonstrates our ability to offer hunters and sport shooters tremendous value. Our legacy in manufacturing high-quality products with improved ballistics is unrivaled.”

MSRP for the Winchester 400 Legend will vary by specific load and quantity.

NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, happening this weekend in Indianapolis, is sure to be full of new things for the industry. Speer Ammunition will be displaying its new products, including the new Gold Dot Carbine load.

“With the popularity of PCC and the continuing high pace of new 9mm carbine introductions in market, we thought it would be worth looking into what was possible for optimizing a defensive load,” said Speer’s Centerfire Handgun Product Line Manager, Chris Laack. “We found in evaluating a huge selection of our existing designs, as well as others available in market, certain bullet technologies and design features stood out in performance through carbines.”

The Speer Gold Dot Carbine is a 135-grain 9mm load. The company says it’s extremely effective in producing the necessary penetration and expansion, according to Speer standards. It produces the ideal velocity with carbine-length barrels and supposedly cycles flawlessly with the elastomer-filled bullet nose.

“While it is impossible to cover every carbine and magazine combination, we optimized function for as many as possible. We did a deep dive on accuracy, velocity, and terminal performance through different barrel lengths. The goal was to have a bullet that provided enhanced accuracy and terminal performance from a carbine at slightly longer distances—out to one hundred yards—but also worked well up close,” continued Laack. “Knowing that people would also likely have a 9mm handgun, and it being common for carbines to share magazines with these handguns, we also made sure performance could be relied on through full size handguns. The final product is a hybrid of different Speer Gold Dot technologies that is really going to work great for people looking to have a 9mm carbine for personal defense.”

No word on pricing as of yet, but that should be announced when NRAAM kicks off this weekend. If I were to venture a guess, it would be right on par with the rest of the G2 series of Speer Gold Dot.