By Firearms News Digital Staff
Streamlight TLR-7 A - Weapon Mounted Light with Two Switch Position Options The TLR-7 A is an extremely lightweight rail-mounted tactical light, delivering 500 lumens and running on a single CR123A lithium battery. It includes customized ambidextrous rear switches with either a low or high position to match your shooting style. It features a rail clamp that is designed to rapidly attach/detach from side of compact and full frame weapons. The TLR-7 A also includes a “safe off” feature to prevent accidental activation.
The TLR-8 A with a red aiming laser and the TLR-8 A G with a green aiming laser is also available.
Hornady SnapSafe Lock BoxHornady’s SnapSafe lock boxes are on our radar. A sneak peek at Guns & Ammo’s editor Eric Poole’s review describes them best: “Hornady has continued that business model and expanded who may be a potential customer. Store valuable belongings out of sight while maintaining easy access.” These nifty safes can be taken anywhere and store more than just your gun. They’re large storage capacity is great for tools, firearms, equipment, documents, passports and more. They also offer theft protection for an SUV, car trunk, under a back seat of a truck, and for the intrepid traveler in your life, in the pocket of your luggage — yes, they do meet the TSA airline guidelines for firearms, but it’s always good to double check. The SnapSafe has a heavy-duty 16-gauge steel exterior with a rugged 7-gauge steel door, internal hinges and premium gas shocks that give it its smooth, safe (and quiet) operation.
If you were a big fan of your high school locker combination lock, then you’re in luck. SnapSafe offers three ways to lock up and open up these nifty lock boxes: Key lock, combination lock and 2-pack keyed alike. And they’re all under $45 dollars. That’s a reasonable enough for Santa to bring one for you too!
$27-$44, snapsafe.com
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Cedar Mill Fine Firearms Discreet Concealment Guitar Case Photo courtesy of Dustin Ellerman What do you get someone that already has everything they need? The Cedar Mill Fine Firearms Discreet Concealment Guitar Case! Transport your gun in style this year. Not only is the design sleek and discreet, but the double layer closed-cell pick & pluck foam is easy to configure while helping to mitigate any moisture that could otherwise damage your firearm. Only weighing 13 pounds, it's a light load. We can't all be rockstars but now you can carry your gear like one.
$189.99, cedarmillfirearms.com
Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA This handheld will use either one CR123A lithium battery or one AA alkaline battery—both of which are provided. You’ll get more power on high (350 lumens) with the lithium than with the alkaline (150), but the flexibility to run either power source makes this a handy and versatile light. Comes from the factory set in high/strobe/low mode, but thanks to the company’s TenTap programming, it’s simple to change it to either high-only or low/high modes. Available in black or coyote tan.
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$71, streamlight.com
Umarex Ruger 10/22 .177 Air Rifle A welcome addition to this year’s SHOT Show, Umarex has given life to the next best replica air rifle: the Ruger 10/22 .177 . A twin to the Ruger 10/22 rifle, it’s like it in many ways except for where it gets its power, and that’s in its two 12-gram CO2 cartridges. But this is more than enough power to push plinking to the brinks of the real deal with its proven accuracy and good muzzle velocity. When shooting has finished, the magazine drops free to give the authentic Ruger rifle feel, and the bolt cocks the rifle when actuated, giving the shooter the option of a single-action, 3-lb. pull, or double-action.
This CO2 powered beauty is quiet when shot from its 10-shot rotary magazine at an average of 650 feet per second (FPS) with lead pellets, and the receiver is tapped so your lucky gift recipient can add an aftermarket rail. The fixed front-sight tops top it off as the Ruger 10/22’s rifle-world doppelganger. 40 to 60 shots is about how many it takes before the CO2 needs changing.
For a very reasonable $130 price tag, this 10/22 .177 air rifle is one few could argue is great value. So, wrap it up and put it under the tree. But make it a don’t make it a forgot-to-buy-the-toy-batteries moment Christmas morning — CO2 and magazines are sold separately.
$139, umarexusa.com
Crimson Trace Laser Crimson Trace lasers leads the pack as the best in firearm red and green laser sites. AS Guns & Ammo’s contributing writer Alfredo Rico put it, “Affordability, quick sighting, custom molded construction and ease of installation attract shooters to using Crimson Trace lasers.” Instinctive Activation allows the user to activate the unit simply by obtaining a firm, natural, firing-hand grip. They are some of the most comfortable, dampening felt recoil, which makes this a great laser option for the ladies on your Christmas list.
Crimson Trace lasers also carry the bragging rights of being the world’s only grip-integrated laser sight. Pressure from your middle finger closes the circuit on a pressure switch that activates the laser, and you’ll have more control over the pistol because you’re applying more pressure to the grip. Relaxing your grip deactivates the unit. It’s as easy as that. Most models feature 4 hours of run time on a 1/3N lithium battery.
And they’re affordable. With a price range from a $100 and up, you can decide whether you want to make this a stocking stuffer or a big-bow gift under the tree.
crimsontrace.com
Walther PPQ Q5 Match Upper Conversion Kit “Once you know the difference between all right and exceptional, all right no longer seems good enough,” so said a modern Alexandra Stoddard, and this couldn’t me truer than in Walther’s new PPQ Q5 Match Conversion Kit. It has everything to push your giftee’s Q5 to the far limits of its potential as a Q5-style not unlike that of a custom-built handgun: A slide, 9mm 5-inch barrel and stepped chamber, recoil assembly, all internal components, LPA rear sight, LPA fiber optic sight, and a test target showing a 5-shot group at 25 meters. And we couldn’t agree more when Walther describes it as platform that gives the shooter maximum accuracy, power and speed.
So, there’s no need to spend more cash on a whole new competition or polymer 9mm sub-compact pistol because Walther has you covered. And who wouldn’t want to be the first in the family to own one? This steel-frame Q5 Match kit retails for around $599, and at the time of this writing, will ship to Christmas trees everywhere in time for the holidays.
$599, waltherarms.com
Trijicon MRO Green Dot Trijicon has added a Miniature Rifle Optic (MRO) sight with an adjustable 2-MOA green dot to its lineup. The MRO Green Dot has eight brightness settings, including two that are night-vision compatible. The optic’s 25mm objective eliminates “tunnel vision,” and the battery lasts a full year on the “3” setting. The MRO weighs 4.1 ounces and measures 2.6 inches long, 1.7 inches wide, and 2.0 inches high without mount.
MSRP: $613 to $749; trijicon.com
Daisy 80th Anniversary Red Ryder In 1940 Daisy introduced the lever-action Red Ryder air rifle. With its wood stock and forearm, saddle ring, and leather thong, it would eventually become iconic as the most famous BB gun. 2020 marks the Red Ryder’s 80th anniversary, and the company is offering a special-edition model, complete with engraving on the forearm, a commemorative medallion in the stock, and all the features that made the original the No. 1 American Christmas present.
MSRP: $39.99; daisy.com
Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ w/green laser The Shield EZ is a semiautomatic that practically anyone can use, and now it’s even easier to shoot well thanks to the addition of an integral Crimson Trace green laser. The Shield EZ is a hammer-fired .380 Auto, and the slide works very easily—and it’s made even easier by a slight flare at the rear of the slide that gives you more to grab onto. Crimson Trace’s Laserguard fits seamlessly in front of the trigger guard and wraps around the guard and down the frontstrap, where the activation button is housed. When you have the pistol in a proper firing grip, the laser turns on. The pistol also features three-dot iron sights. The barrel is 3.7 inches long, and dimensions are 6.7 inches high, five inches high and one inch wide. Weight is 19.1 ounces.
$579, smith-wesson.com
Norma .17 HMR The new load from Norma features Hornady’s V-Max bullet, which produces quick expansion on varmints and a flat trajectory. The 17-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 2,549 fps, and at 100 yards it’s still doing 1,863 fps for 131 ft.-lbs. of energy. If zeroed at 100 yards, drop at 200 is only 24 inches. $13 (50 count), $123 (500 count); norma-ammunition.com
Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 PRC Mossberg continues to build out this line of practical, accurate bolt-action rifles. While the moniker is “Predator,” the 6.5 PRC chambering is the hot new big game round—think a longer, more powerful 6.5-.284 Norma. Available with either a flat dark earth stock and Patriot Brown Cerakote finish or TrueTimber Strata stock and matte blue finish. The rifle comes with a 24-inch fluted barrel that’s threaded 5/8x24 and has a 1:8 twist. The proven two-lug action is treated to an oversize bolt handle, spiral-fluted bolt and a Picatinny rail up top. Weight is seven pounds. We’ve got one of these on the way, so watch for our review. $441 (FDE stock/blue), $524 (TrueTimber stock/brown Cerakote); Mossberg.com
