2019 Firearms News Father's Day Gift Guide

May 07, 2019 By Firearms News Digital Staff

GLOCK Slimlines

Glock has added two new pistols to its Slimline series with the G43X (shown) and the G48. These pistols, which both feature silver slides and forward cocking serrations, combine a full-size grip length and a profile of about an inch. The G43X features a 6.1-inch slide while the G48’s slide is 6.9 inches. Both guns have a shorter trigger distance, built-in beavertail, reversible magazine catch and Glock Marksman Barrel. Sight options include standard, Glock night and Ameriglo Bold.

{$580, US.GLOCK.COM}

5.11 Tactical LV18 29L Sling Pack

If you like to mix things up, the LV18 is your pack. Featuring 5.11’s signature CenterLine design, it’s huge on tactical versatility and everyday ease, with a steady, low-vis 30L profile. The main compartment holds a 15” laptop in its padded sleeve, a designated compartment secures your CCW and a channel holds your flex cuffs. And for the control freak in you, the front compartment has a laser cut loop panel and a layered, slip-and-zip pockets approach to organization. Even the external compression straps feed your need to have everything in place by keeping the LV18 compact, and everything inside, in control.

{$140, 511tactical.com}

Crimson Trace Laserguard

Crimson Trace continues to expand the tactical, mounted, and remotely activated laser sight options available to the country’s firearms owners by offering more than 400 laser sights. Two of the latest offerings include the LG-422 (red) and LG-422G (green) Laserguards for SIG SAUER P365 pistols and the LG-459 (red) and LG-459G (green) Laserguards for S&W Shield EZ pistols. These easy-to-install laser sights secure onto the pistols’ trigger guards and are activated with Crimson Trace’s Instinctive Activation engagement system. They are powered by a 1/3N lithium battery.

{$229 (red), $309 (green), crimsontrace.com}

Federal/Barnes TSX

Federal is bringing back a ton of loads featuring the excellent Barnes Triple-Shock X bullet, an all-copper projectile delivering lots of expansion and penetration—and nearly 100 percent weight retention. It tends to be accurate in lots of rifles thanks to its grooved shank, which also cuts down on copper fouling. Available in .223 (55 grains), .243 (85), .25-06 (115), 6.5 Creedmoor (130), .270 Win. and WSM (130), 7mm-08 (140), .308 (150, 165), .30-30 (150), .30-06 (165, 180), 7mm Rem. Mag. (160), and .300 WSM and Win. Mag. (165, 180).

{$34-$49, FederalPremium.com}

The XPR is Winchester’s budget-rifle line, and it was initally offered with black synthetic and camo stocks. Now fans of traditional wood stocks have their own XPR, the Sporter. Featuring Grade 1 walnut, it boasts a checkered pistol grip and fore-end, and the latter has a flat profile for a solid rest on bags or field rests. The metal is Perma-Cote black matte, and the bolt body is treated to a nickel Teflon coating. It comes with the M.O.A. trigger system. Available in a dozen calibers; barrel lengths are 22 inches for short-action rounds, 24 inches for short magnums and standard long-action cartridges and 26 inches for magnums.

{$600, WinchesterGuns.com}

Hornady Alpha Elite

I’ve been using a standard Hornady lock box in my vehicle to prevent smash-and-grabs when I have to leave my carry gun behind, and now the company has improved on that box with the Alpha Elite. It still has the 16-gauge housing and steel security cable, but the Alpha Elite has a dualcrossbar latch and pry-resistant security band for even better protection. It’s approved by TSA and meets California DOJ safety standards.

{$42, hornady.com}

Aimpoint ACRO P-1

Aimpoint’s new compact 1X ACRO P-1 pistol sight was built to endure environmental and temperature extremes and has been tested to withstand the firing of more than 20,000 rounds of .40 S&W ammunition. Designed with an enclosed optical channel that completely protects the signal between the emitter and the lens along with sealed electronic components, the sight is submersible to 25 meters. Rain, dust, mud, and sand cannot disrupt the sight. The 1.9x1.2x1.2-inch sight mounts directly to the optics-ready slide cut on modern pistols, utilizing a one-piece adapter plate. The ACRO P-1 features a 3.5-MOA red-dot reticle, digital intensity adjustment switches, and an aluminum housing. Power is provided by a single CR1225 3V lithium battery. Weight is 2.1 ounces. While the ACRO P-1 was developed for use on handguns, it also can be used on rifles, carbines, and shotguns.

{aimpoint.com}

S&W Performance Center M&P380 Shield EZ

The reality of protection is that you never know when you’ll need it. S&W took the power and features of their full-sized M&P pistols and put them into a slim, lightweight pistol the size of your hand. The M&P SHIELD is an easy to conceal pistol that offers professional grade features with simple operation and reliable performance day or night. The Performance Center SHIELD features including a factory ported barrel and slide, HI-VIZ Litewave H3 Tritium/Litepipe sights, and two 8-round magazines.

{$502, smith-wesson.com}