TFB Behind the Gun Podcast

Born from a drive to build upon the success and fun of the original NRL Series, the NRL Hunter is a national series focused on real hunting skills, time management, and gear familiarity that is not only fun but also actively helps you become a better hunter and marksman. Today, Travis shares the story behind NRL Hunter, important gear and information to have before your first match, explains the various participation divisions, and what's next for the rapidly growing sport in the coming years. Find NRL Hunter Matches Near You: https://www.nrlhunter.org/matches/hunter NRL Hunter official site: https://www.nrlhunter.org/ NRL Hunter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nrlhunter/ NRL Hunter Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nrlhuntercommunitygroup The NRL Hunter Podcast NRL Hunter YouTube Channel

Emmanuel Barron of American Steppe, Kyle (@molasses_marmot), and Kalen of Rotating Bolt Industries (Colorado FFL and boutique AK builder) sit down for an enthusiastic, no-holds-barred conversation on the AK platform—its global variations, real-world performance, and how the Kalash compares to everything else out there. From classic ComBloc guns to modern custom builds and all of the AK offshooots, the trio dives into reliability stories, design insights, gunsmithing perspectives, and why this rifle continues to earn such dedicated fans. American Steppe Gear: https://americansteppegear.com/ Kyle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molasses_marmot/ Rotating Bolt Industries: https://rotatingbolt.com/

Jarrod "Box" Grove from Caldwell Shooting Supplies joins us after Plinka Palooza at Range Ready Studios, where he put on a clinic with the new Claycopter Surface-to-Air Launcher. We talk about Box's serious shotgun skills and where he got them, the engineering and inspiration behind the claycopter design, and how Caldwell grew from humble shooting rests and bags into a more innovative player in the rapidly growing shotgun subculture within the greater firearms industry. Please give Box a warm welcome to the show! Caldwell Shooting official site: https://www.caldwellshooting.com/ Follow Caldwell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caldwellshooting/ GunTalk Media / Range Ready Studios: https://www.guntalk.com/

We're excited to bring back Dave K. from Hi-Point Firearms for some genuine shop talk on their innovative DMLS 3D-printed suppressors, plus whatever else is on the table. Just four months after introducing the Hush-Point suppressor lineup, Hi-Point has launched their first direct metal laser sintered (DMLS) models in titanium and Inconel, raising the bar for lightweight, rugged sound suppression. Dave breaks it down today, from how Hi-Point entered the suppressor market well before the 2026 hype, to the advanced tech driving these new, fairly affordable 3D-printed units. We also share thoughts on our current firearm passions and touch on Moons Out 2026, and our future competition plans. Be sure to check out Dave's Live Fire Media Podcast, where he covers guns, gaming, and more. Great option if you're looking for fresh listening material. Hi-Point Website Hi-Point on Instagram Dave on Instagram Dave's Podcast - Live Fire Media The NEW Hush-Point Family of Suppressors from Hi-Point

Vortex Edge instructor/RSO Chris Urrutia, a Marine vet, ex-SWAT sniper, SPECtrain founder, unpacks razor-sharp training at Vortex Optics HQ with us today in reflection of a recent trip we had out to the Vortex HQ and Edge facility in Wisconsin. Today, Chris and I will discuss pistol fundamentals, training discipline, how he measures progress, and, of course, what some of his current favorite pieces of gear are in 2026. Vortex Edge Vortex Optics Vortex Optics Facebook Vortex Optics Instagram Vortex Edge YouTube

On today's episode of TFB's Behind the Gun Podcast, we get to pick the brains of the guys behind the latest and greatest that comes out of the doors of the Vortex Optics New Product Development group. The literal "Skunkworks" of their company, the New Products Development team gets to imagine, test out, and develop everything from the very affordable budget-oriented red dots and scopes you know and love, to the extremely secretive and currently still classified XM157 Fire Control optic that has been a part of the U.S. Army's NGSW Program. Today, we'll have the opportunity to speak with Ben and Connor, both engineers who work within the NPD division, and they will share with us some of the what and why behind their newest products of 2026 so far. We're of course talking about the brand new Civilian variant of the Vortex AMG 1-10x24 LPVO, the Vortex Triumph 1-10x42 Relay equipped rangefinding binoculars, and the brand new Vortex Ace portable weather station. These new products further flesh out the Vortex Relay system, giving the end user a simple yet extremely capable ranging and weather data suite that allows them to take more informed and accurate shots, regardless of the number of components used.

For TFB Behind the Gun #200, Emmanuel and I dive deep into what it means to "recover from blackout" — but in the sense that being so busy, sometimes you just don't have time to keep up with the industry you work in. We talk about the philosophy behind American Steppe: why Emmanuel insists on U.S. manufacturing, how he designs gear that's both kid‑friendly and mission‑capable, and the importance of teaching kids real skills with real gear instead of just handing them toys. From soft goods to some light politics, this is a high‑energy, wide‑ranging conversation about gear, parenting, preparedness, and what it really means to build resilience from the ground up. If you've ever wondered how to equip the next generation without compromising on quality or capability, this is the episode to listen to for Emmanuel's unique personality and his great backpacks and gear, which you should 100% check out at the links below. American Steppe Website American Steppe on Instagram American Steppe on YouTube ​

Merry Christmas from all of us here at TFB's Behind the Gun Podcast! In our fifth year, we're grateful to have you both as an audience and as our direct supporters. Today, I've brought on TFB Editor in Chief Josh Centers and long-time TFB writer Rusty S. for a fun but pointed discussion on a few important topics to close out 2025. First and foremost is TFB's ongoing Christmas movie debate — which film will come out on top as the quintessential "Gun Guy Christmas Movie"? We also take some time to talk about the new Gun Rights Office being added to the Department of Justice and what that means. Of course, we share what we'd like to see happen in our own pursuits and across the wider gun industry for our Christmas wishes, then close out the year by previewing what we're looking forward to bringing you from SHOT Show 2026, just around the corner. Thanks as always for listening, and Merry Christmas from all of us here at The Firearm Blog!