Ian D'Costa

GearScout Correspondent

Ian D’Costa is a correspondent with Gear Scout whose work has been featured with We Are The Mighty, The Aviationist, and Business Insider. An avid outdoorsman, Ian is also a guns and gear enthusiast.

All Stories By Ian

This company is working on an all-American version of Russia’s VSS spec ops rifle

Slagga, a Connecticut-based startup, now aims to be the first in the country to quench that thirst by producing the VSS entirely in America, built to a virtually the same spec, albeit with a few standard modifications to make it compliant with current firearms regulations.

2 years ago

Barrett’s MRAD will be the Army and Marine Corps’ new standard sniper rifle

Based on the company’s wildly popular 98B bolt-action rifle, the MRAD’s most important feature and biggest selling point is that it can be easily refitted to fire different cartridges at the end-user level using just a single tool.

2 years ago

Russia’s legendary Dragunov SVD just got another update

Chambered for 7.62x54R and still manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern, the SVD’s latest update supposedly offers shooters more accuracy, better ergonomics, and the ability to mount a wider range of accessories.

Heckler & Koch just pulled in a $33.5 million contract modification for the US Army’s newest rifles

The initial planned order for the new M110A1s was 3,643 rifles, though with the new modification, that number could likely increase.

Europe’s largest outdoors and gun show was just postponed over coronavirus fears

The IWA’s website was just updated with a message that the show, which was originally supposed to be held March 6-9, will now be moved to a later date sometime this year, though specifics have yet to be determined.

Kalashnikov’s latest DMR now has a civilian version

The 4.5-kilogram MR1 will retail in 7.62x54R and .308 Winchester with a standard 20.9-inch chrome-lined barrel or an optional 16.1-inch barrel for the .308 version.

This is Gear Scout’s official ultra-tacticool last-minute Valentine’s Day 2020 guide

This year, make your Valentine’s Day tacticool, GearScout-style, with these awesome products that we’ve curated to save your butts (and probably ours too).

SOCOM is on the lookout for optics for its crew-served weapons

SOCOM is asking for what appears to be a one-size-fits-all solution that can work with a wide variety of mounted weapons, instead of an optic that works well with just one or two platforms.

Civilians can now own a pistol version of the Air Force’s new survival gun (thanks to Midwest Industries)

Like the ASDW, Midwest’s clone pistol uses a Cry Havoc QRB Quick Release Barrel system, designed to allow the user to either speedily put together the two-piece rifle kit to generate a combat-ready weapon or to break it down for storage and carriage.

Glock (im)Perfection? — the G44 seems to be running into serious issues

Long known for smooth product roll-outs, the company’s latest .22 caliber Glock 44 faces growing concerns on social media that the gun might be riddled with technical deficiencies and safety issues.

Walther brought its new compact steel frame pistol to SHOT Show 2020

With a number of North American law enforcement agencies opting to pick up Walther firearms as their standard issue service weapons over the years, it wouldn’t be surprising if they replace their older P99s or PPQs with the Q4SFs.

Palmetto State Armory just unveiled its first-ever 9 mm pistol — here’s what it looks like

Marking their first foray into the pistol market with an in-house developed product, the Dagger is designed to meet the bracket of buyers looking for a compact carry or duty gun, or a very user-friendly recreational peashooter, not unlike the Glock 19 or a considerable number of Smith & Wesson M&P variants.

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