Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
The New Guns And Gear:
Garmin C1 Pro Chronograph
Is it time to jettison your bulky chronographs and Doppler radars? If Garmin has anything to say about it, then … yes. Perhaps a game-changing addition to the company’s catalog, the C1 Pro Chronograph puts the power of radar into a package small enough to fit into a jacket pocket. Shooters who clock their rounds on the regular understand what a big deal this is. Even better, the C1 Pro is completely wireless and works in conjunction with Garmin’s ShotView smartphone app to deliver precise data and catalog it, so you have a dead-nuts ballistic profile at your fingertips. In addition to velocity, the radar offers up a host of other vital information—from power factor to kinetic energy—to give you an unparalleled picture of your ammo’s performance. The unit reads velocities from 100 to 5,000 fps, making it just as handy for archery and airguns as it is your long-range tack driver.
MSRP: $600
Brownells BRN-601
A bit out of the ordinary, retro AR builds have proven all the rage in recent years. Who doesn’t want a little something harkening back to the early days of Stoner’s creation? If you count yourself among these ranks, it might be time to check out Brownells. Long on throwback build components, the company has reintroduced one of its classic complete upper configurations—the BRN-601. A detail-accurate replica of the upper receiver on the first AR-15-type rifle adopted in the early 1960s, it features the correct “slickside” receiver, fine-quality matte gray anodized finish, a 20-inch 5.56x45mm NATO barrel with a 1:12-inch twist and chrome-lined bore. Additionally, a chromed slickside M16 bolt-carrier group with a robust 9310 steel alloy bolt comes as part of the package, as does the distinctive original three-prong “duckbill” flash hider.
MSRP: $900
Mesa Tactical-KynSHOT Shotgun Recoil Reducer
If a shotgun is your preferred method of defense, one of the concerns in wielding it properly is recoil management. Mesa Tactical and Kyntec Technologies take a load off of dealing with kick in an intriguing partnership: Mesa is now the exclusive dealer of KynSHOT Recoil Reducers, which work seamlessly in conjunction with the company’s buffer mounts. Available in adjustable and non-adjustable models, the hydraulic buffer eats up nearly 60 to 90 percent of a scattergun’s recoil (depending on model), making the firearm much more manageable and faster, shot-to-shot. These hydraulic recoil buffers are exclusive to Mesa Tactical and are available as standalone components or as part of Mesa’s AR stock adapter.
MSRP: Starting at $186
Real Avid Master Gun Workstation
Honestly, if you’re going to do any DIY firearms work, you’re going to need the right tools for the job. Real Avid gives you the foundation for this with its new Master Gun Workstation. At the heart of the Master Gun Workstation is a convenient quick-adjustable clamp feature that allows for fast and secure gun placement with one-handed tightening, ensuring a perfectly positioned firearm with minimal effort and frustration. The yoke is also one-hand adjustable for both width and height, and with an impressive 18.3 inches of travel, it’s easily accommodating the longest rifles and shotguns. Plus, it boasts a unique integrated leveling knob to aid optics mounting, with up to +/- 3 degrees of adjustment.
MSRP: $200
MDT Field Stock
Few DIY rifle projects offer better results than a stock upgrade. This component, after all, is the foundation of an accurate iron. MDT has become one of the industry’s leaders in providing just this advantage, and the company now offers a hybrid system ideal for nearly any precision endeavor. Christened the “Field Stock,” the traditionally shaped polymer stock provides a rock-solid shooting base with its aluminum core, complete with V-block bedding—for air-tight matting with the action. It offers a one-size-fits-all system, with a fully adjustable stock boasting both length-of-pull adjustment and comb rise. The stock is configurable for any shooting discipline with sling swivel studs and its M-Lok forend enables you to customize your rifle for hunting, competition or casual long-range shooting. Presently, the Field Stock is compatible with Remington 700 SA actions.
MSRP: $300
Luth-AR Titanium Nitride Coated Bolt Carrier
Getting the most out of your AR isn’t simply a matter of upgrading it to hit the mark every time—it’s also ensuring the rifle runs like a top every time you pull the trigger. Luth-AR goes a long way in delivering this peace of mind with the release of its Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coated Complete AR-15 Bolt Carrier. Known for its wear resistance, reducing friction and improving overall reliability, the TiN-coated BCG offers nearly failsafe improvement to your carbine’s internal components. If that doesn’t sell you, the fact the coating also reduced carbon buildup should—because who doesn’t want to cut down on cleaning duties?
MSRP: $150
Hornady Lab Scale
Of all firearms DIYers, reloaders might be the most obsessive. If you count yourself among these ranks, Hornady has produced just the tool for you: Shake hands with the Lab Scale. Engineered to be a best-in-class device, the precise scale delivers unparalleled measurements so you can tune your loads with the smallest margin of error. How tight are the tolerances? Down to the hundredth of a grain, which is borderline ridiculous. But this is likely music to the ears of extreme-range shooters. The lab scale has a 3,000-grain upper limit and allows loaders some interesting functions, such as count, load compare and percentages. Heck, it even comes with a hood to minimize environmental factors when weighing.
MSRP: $566
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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