Irons

News, reviews and updates for military gun lovers, tactical enthusiasts and operators in the government and law enforcement.

Marine Corps call word renaming honors legendary ‘Redfield’ sniper

It might be an obscure reference for young Marines early in their marksmanship training, but it holds a special place in the sniper community, especially for those steeped in the legend and lore of the sniper’s role in Vietnam.

10 months ago

A new sniper rifle for the Army, Marines and SOCOM

The new rifle can be converted to three different calibers.

12 months ago

Irons

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.

North Korea’s homemade handgun — the Type 70

North Korea’s first truly indigenous handgun design, the Type 70 is nevertheless an interesting conglomeration of features from other countries’ guns, combined in a simple, effective firearm.

23 months 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.

23 months 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.

23 months ago

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.

23 months ago

Czechoslovakia delivered a sting with its Skorpion VZ 61 subgun (or machine pistol?)

Miroslav Rybář originally had security forces in mind when he conceived the Skorpion VZ 61 in 1959, but it was readily accepted by the Czechoslovakian army for use by low-ranking staff, vehicle crewmen and special forces.

23 months ago

CZ USA to release the new Shadow 2 SA competition-ready pistol

The new Shadow 2 SA further refines the shooting experience with the addition of a single-action only trigger and other noteworthy features.

23 months ago

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.

23 months ago

B&T announces new MP5 stock and USW PDW chassis

The combination of the new USW and a stock for my favorite submachine gun is a pistol caliber carbine-lover’s dream.

23 months ago

New Zealand made a full-auto version of the Lee Enfield — and it actually worked really well

At the start of WW2, New Zealand had a limited amount of modern weaponry for its regular troops and, in the event that Britain would not be able to supply it, it needed a means of arming its Home Guard.

23 months ago

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.

23 months ago

Could the new LAR-15M CAR A4 in .350 Legend from Rock River eclipse the 300 Blackout for hunting?

So the fact that RRA, a historically budget-friendly company is beginning production of firearms in .350 Legend is testament to the cartridge’s staying power.

23 months ago

How the North Vietnamese army modified a WW2 submachine gun for its war against the US

While the North Vietnamese did not have a full-fledged weapons industry, they did have the engineering capacity to create a submachine gun for the fight to come by combining elements of the Type 50 with those of the French MAT-49, large stocks of which they had also acquired in the course of their just-concluded conflict.

23 months ago

Henry announces, ‘Which one should we make?’ contest for new rifle

Henry announces new contest and voting polls to determine which firearm the company produces next. Shooters have three options to choose from, that range from classic to very modern, but all are 100% made in America like all Henry firearms.

23 months ago

This 1970s military rifle actually came with a built-in bottle opener (seriously!)

While it never achieved its original goal as the mainstay longarm of the IDF, the Galil and the many variants derived from it found their way into 25 other armies and numerous police forces throughout the world. A good many are still in use and still popular with its users.

24 months ago

When you really want to reach far out with a .22 — Ruger American Rimfire Long-Range Target

Long range, and rimfire aren’t exactly synonymous. The ultra-affordable .22lr round is great for practice and hunting small game, but is woefully under powered when compared to any centerfire rifle round. Which makes Ruger’s newest carbine a very peculiar firearm.

24 months ago

EAA has a new high-speed 1911 designed by Army officer and top competitor Noel Zarza

The Girsan MC1911 Noel is a semi-auto 1911 chambered in either 9mm, or .45 ACP.

24 months ago

Only 1 in 4 soldiers likely to see Army’s newest rifle in coming years

The Next Generation Squad Weapon is expected to begin fielding within two years.

24 months ago

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.

24 months ago

Colt is back (sort of) — This time with an updated version of the US military M4 rifle

Under everybody’s radar at this year’s Shooting, Hunting Outdoor trade show in Las Vegas, Colt quietly announced a revamp of its battle-tested M4 military rifle, introducing the new “CM5” rifle to the shooting public.

24 months ago

Glock 44 .22 LR

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.

24 months ago

How the the FN FAL took on the AK-47

Variations on the FN appeared all over the world and were heavily engage in brushfire wars of the late 20th century from the Malayan Emergency to the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya to the Rhodesian war to India vs. Pakistan conflicts and numerous Middle Eastern conflicts, where sand proved to be a major Achilles’ heel for the FN until measures were taken to protect its mechanism from jamming.

24 months ago

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.

24 months ago

TBT: The Owen submachine gun — inventiveness from Oz

Arguably the weirdest looking SMG of World War II, the Owen SMG started as a cylinder-fed .22 rifle that was thrown in the trash.

24 months ago

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.

24 months ago

Heckler & Koch’s civilian-legal SP5 totally stole the show at SHOT 2020’s range day

H&K is now making yet another play for the MP5 niche with their own true-to-form semiautomatic version of one of the most legendary firearms ever produced.

24 months ago