DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Diamondback Tactical is marketing the Rugged Terrain Vehicle (RTV) as "the premier light tactical vehicle to meet today’s and tomorrows threat." The Rugged Terrain Vehicle (RTV) appears to be a modified "Prowler". More accurately, it appears to be a modified/upgraded Prowler Weapons/Reconaissance Platform that’s now been private-labeled by Diamondback Tactical. The Diamondback Tactical Rugged Terrain Vehicle …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Safety Harbor Firearms is currently manufacturing and marketing a side-mounted magazine-fed bolt-action .50 BMG rifle, called the Ultra Mag 50, that DefenseReview would like to learn more about. Developed by Dennis Cheney and Dave Finnie, the Ultra Mag 50 .50 Cal. rifle utilizes an AR-15-based lower receiver and lightweight upper. The Ultra Mag 50 .50BMG rifle …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Not content to just sit around on their laurels, the folks at Springfield Armory have been busy little bees, churning out some new 1911 pistols (single stack). The first new pistols we’ll mention are the new TGO 1 Service Model 5" Bi-tone and TGO II Service Model 5" Bi-tone 1911 pistols. Both pistols have been designed …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com If you like the idea of a .45ACP caliber carry gun, but prefer revolvers over 1911 semi-auto pistols, Smith & Wesson has THE carry gun for you. It’s a member of S&W’s AirLite series, and it’s called the Model 325PD. I’m actually a big fan of Smith & Wesson’s AirLite Scandium alloy carry revolvers. They’re the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Armed Forces Journal (AFJ) recently held their annual Shoot-Out at Blackwater USA. The AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater has become a real big deal annual event among small arms experts and military defense/tactical industry people. At this year’s Shoot-Out (2004), Armed Forces Journal editor John Roos and his merry band of shooters/evaluators put a plethora of tactical …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The Crye Precision website is now active. The industrial design firm, Crye Associates, launched the Crye Precision website to promote their new MultiCam multi-environment camouflage pattern. MultiCam, according to the Crye Precision website, "is a Multi-Environment Camouflage™ system, which was developed by Crye Precision in co-operation with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Center {a.k.a. U.S. …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Miguel Caballero has been labeled by "Business Week" magazine as "the Armani of Bulletproof Apparel". This is because his company, Miguel Caballero LTD (located in lovely Bogota, Columbia), specializes in "high security fashion", including bullet-resistant (men’s) business and casual attire. You know, I can’t help thinking how appropriate Bogota, Columbia is as a location for Mr. …

by David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com July 22, 2004 Yesterday, I hand a very informative phone conversation with Mark Larue of Larue Tactical. Larue Tactical, long famous for their industry standard Larue Sniper Targets, is now manufacturing tactical mounts and their own FF Rail System (Larue Tactical Handguards) for the AR-15/M16 and M4/M4A1 Carbine. The Larue Tactical Mounting …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Combat Elite, Inc. is making a rather interesting edged weapon. It’s called the Carbon Fiber Dagger CFS-Stealth. The Combat Elite Carbon Fiber Dagger CFS-Stealth features a 5" inch double-edged bi-directional carbon fiber blade and parachute cord-wrapped handle. The cord is removable. Overall weight is 1.3 ounces. The Carbon Fiber Dagger CFS-Stealth comes with a… kydex neck …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com" While we’re on the subject of 5.56x45mm carbines, DefRev’s also going to try to get some high-res JPEG’s of the Rock River Arms (RRA) DEA Carbine/FBI Tactical Carbine (5.56x45mm). Rock River Arms (RRA) has really attacked the AR-15 market with a vengeance in the last several years. The DEA and FBI are only two of the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com" DSA Inc. has teamed up with Lewis Machine and Tool Co. to produce the DSA LE MRP (Monolithic Rail Platform) ZM4 5.56 Carbine. It’s an interesting package and a continuation of DSA’s aggressive move into the AR-15 market. The DSA LE MRP ZM4 rifle/carbine, of course, incorporates the… Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) Quick-Change Barrel System …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefenseReview should also mention that the $16 million M2HB 12.7mm/.50 BMG machine gun contract follows a previously-awarded $16 million for the GDATP MK47 MOD 0 ‘Striker40’ Weapon System/Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher (ALGL), a.k.a. MK47 MOD 0 Striker 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG). You may, or may not, remember DefRev’s short piece on the MK47 Striker 40mm …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) has just been awarded a $16 million contract for M2HB 12.7mm/.50BMG (.50 Cal.) machine guns. The following press release comes directly from the General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) website: "General Dynamics Receives $16 Million in Orders for M2HB Machine Guns: 07.22.04 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – General Dynamics Armament …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Let me just say right off the bat that I REALLY like Surefire combat/tactical flashlights. When it comes to combat/tactical lights, Surefire knows what it’s doing. So, it was no surprise to me that they would come up with the very cool E2D Defender combat/tactical flashlight. I’ve personally carried a Surefire E2E Executive Elite combat/tactical flashlight …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Back in April (2004), DefenseReview published a short article about the Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP) and QuickChange Barrel System (QCBS) for AR-15/M16-based rifles (including the SOPMOD M4A1Carbine/CQB Subcarbine), made by Lewis Machine & Tool Co. (LMT). Gary Paul Johnston has just written an excellent piece on the LMT MRP/QCBS for the September 2004 issue of "Soldier …