The Savage Impulse has brought the world of lightning-fast straight-pull bolt-action rifles to the U.S. market. Utilizing a ball-bearing lock-up system, the Impulse allows for quick follow-up shots, making it ideal for hunting. The Predator version comes with a 10-round detachable AICS box magazine, adjustable AccuTrigger, and Savage’s AccuStock with adjustable LOP and comb-height. It also features a one-piece 20-MOA optics rail and a medium contour, carbon steel, threaded barrel. All of these features combine for a fast-shooting, accurate platform that is well-suited for almost any hunting situation.
FN has taken their famed SCAR 17S platform and adapted it for long range shooting – the result is the SCAR 20S. A longer 20-inch chrome-lined barrel was added, along with a 2-stage Geissele match trigger, a SureFire ProComp to reduce recoil, and a stock that is fully adjustable for length-of-pull and cheek height. Still present is the standard SCAR gas-operated design, making the 20S a reliable and accurate platform for semi-automatic designated marksman work.
The CZ Micro Scorpion features a 4.12-inch barrel, which means over three inches were trimmed from the original Scorpion barrel. It comes with the CZ PDW brace that is a combination of efforts between SB Tactical and Manticore Arms. The overall weight is 5.5 pounds, and that’s with a 13.1-ounce brace. It’s nice and light, very comfortable. Attached to the barrel is the No-Octane Faux suppressor from Silencer Co. It’s square-shaped and gives an aggressive appearance to a normally short barrel. The result is an extremely compact gun that packs a ton of capacity and is easy to shoot when used with a brace.
“The DDM4ISR is a .300 BLK integrally suppressed rifle from Daniel Defense. It sports a 9 inch cold-hammer-forged barrel with an overall length of 16-inches. This gun features a Keymod handguard and handles just about as smoothly in a shoot house as it does out on the range. We had no problems whatsoever during our testing. This rifle loaded, fired, and ejected perfectly. The grip angle may feel odd to some, but overall it’s great once you get used to it.” – John C.
The Browning A5 is a riff on Browning’s original Auto-5 shotgun. It has been modernized and now features an inertia-driven operation system rather than the original’s long-recoil operation. These shotguns retain the humpback receiver for that classic look and are threaded for Invector chokes. Also present is Browning’s Speed Load Plus system that automatically loads the shell loaded into the magazine tube instead of forcing the user to load through the ejection port. The A5 is a reliable, robust shotgun while maintaining that classic styling.
“If you want a Daniel Defense bolt rifle then we recommend the Delta 5 Pro. It’s a great rifle and it looks good to boot. It produced sub-half MOA with 3-round groups and solidly under MOA with 5-shot groups. We consider that a win. While not the elitist PRS shooter, it’s a great out of the box solution.” — David Lane
The DSA SA58 Improved Battle Rifle takes the ruggedness and reliability of the original FAL design and adds modern features. This rifle uses the B.R.S. (Battle Rifle Buttstock), which is adjustable for length-of-pull and comb, and also allows the gun to fire when folded. Also present is DSA’s extreme duty Picatinny scope mount and M-LOK front handguard. This allows you to mount all the optics and accessories you need to bring one of the most proven rifle designs in the world into the 21st century.
Mossberg set out to deliver a feature-rich bolt-action rifle at a reasonable price, and they did just that. With features like detachable box magazines, a spiral fluted bolt, a recessed match barrel crown, and a patented LBA user-adjustable trigger, the Patriot offers a lot of value.
The Colt Enhanced Patrol Rifle is the next evolution of Colt’s classic LE6920 patrol carbine. Updated features include a full-length M-LOK rail with QD sling attachment points, a Bravo Systems B5 stock, and Magpul MBUS Pro backup sights. A 16-inch 1:7 twist barrel, A2 flash hider, and mil-spec controls keep everything else simple. Those looking for both the Colt name but with a few modernized features may be interested in this patrol carbine.
The iconic Steyr AUG is the oldest serving bullpup in military history, dating back to 1977. This 5.56x45mm rifle utilizes a short-stroke gas piston and a 16-inch quick-change barrel to deliver a compact, soft shooting experience. The Steyr AUG’s current incarnation is the Steyr AUG A3 M1, which is available with a short optics rail, extended optics rail, or an integrated 3x optic. Coming in at 8.8 pounds and just 28.15 inches long, the AUG is superbly balanced and is still a gold standard in the bullpup market today.
The Kel-Tec SU16B is a unique rifle in that it is a 5.56 rifle with a folding stock, making for an extremely compact overall package when stored. The SU16B model is ultra-lightweight, weighing only 4.5 lbs, further solidifying its role as a versatile utility rifle. While it may not be as accurate or reliable as an AR-15, we consider the SU16B an interesting alternative for specific use cases.
The POF Tombstone is a unique 9mm modern lever-action rifle. It uses 10 or 20-round magazines that are also found on the POF Phoenix. A crisp trigger breaks at 3.5 pounds, and the 16.5” free-floated barrel is accompanied by a 10.5″ M-LOK. XS Ghost Ring sights allow for quick target acquisition, and POF’s removable dual port muzzle break makes for fast follow-up shots. The Tombstone is a unique and fresh take on both the PCC and lever-action platforms.
