New Guns And Gear August 2021

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Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

What Are The New Guns And Gear In August 2021:

• Rock River Arms Light Predator2L Rifle
• Tac Shield Two-Point Padded Sling
• Phoenix Weaponry Billet Hand Stop
• Winchester 5.56 NATO Defender
• Daniel Defense DDM4 PDW
• EOTECH Vudu 5-25x50mm FFP Riflescope
• German Precision Optics SPECTRAdot Red Dot

Rock River Arms Light Predator2L Rifle

Pure tactical? Perish the thought. The AR-15 is more than accomplished in the field, a legitimate tool for taking everything from deer on down. With this in mind, Rock River Arms’ Fred Eichler Series Light Predator2L is a welcome addition for anyone in the market for a light rifle tuned to perfection. Named after Fred Eichler, the 16-inch fluted barrel rifle has all the accouterments to get coyotes howling. This includes the versatile .223 Wylde chamber that accepts both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO rounds, a smooth two-stage match-grade trigger and RRA’s Fred Eichler Series Muzzle Brake to control muzzle lift. Topping it all off is a lightweight carbon-fiber handguard that not only shaves weight but catches eyes with its unique coyote paw-print pattern found on all Eichler’s gear. MSRP: Starting at $1,945

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Tac Shield Two-Point Padded Sling

Light and agile, the two-point sling is just the ticket for comfortably keeping a rifle at hand and ready for deployment. Make that a bit more comfortable now with Tac Shield’s newest system. Offering a generous amount of padding on the sling’s webbing, the strap doesn’t bog its user down, even with long stints of carrying. As with all two-points, it facilitates fast engagement. Featuring sewn-in push-button QD swivels, the sling quickly attaches and configures to shooter needs and styles. To boot, it boasts an emergency release buckle to quickly disengage the rifle and sling, ensuring it doesn’t hang a shooter up. Proudly 100 percent American-made, Tac Shield’s padded sling is a simple and effective AR upgrade. MSRP: $64.99

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Phoenix Weaponry Billet Hand Stop

Handy as they are, incorporating a hand stop generally means adding more bulk and snag points to a system. Not with the micro stop Phoenix Weaponry has cooked up. Milled from billet aluminum, the inconspicuous accessory gives a solid rest for the support hand, while not making the rifle unwieldy. Plus, it makes an excellent barrier rest. Compatible with M-lok handguards, among the most popular presently, it’s easy to add to most firearms. And it features a couple of nice extras, such as rugged hard-coat anodization and a built-in QD sling attachment point. Phoenix squeezes a lot into a little package. MSRP: $29.99

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Winchester 5.56 NATO Defender

The AR is a natural as a defensive firearm. This raises the question: Are you buying defensive ammunition to feed yours? Winchester offers an excellent—and effective—option for this job with the introduction of 64-grain Defender load in 5.56 NATO. Specifically made for self-defense, the load is topped with a bonded soft-point bullet that utilizes an extruded copper jacket. Likewise, its extra-thick base adds to the round’s penetration potential, helping the bullet hold together and thus retain weight once at its terminal destination. Also, it expands like the dickens, ensuring a devastating wound channel in anything unlucky enough to get in its way. MSRP: $42.99, box of 20

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Daniel Defense DDM4 PDW

Ultra-compact and as durable as Daniel Defense’s full-sized rifles, the DDM4 PDW is the ultimate word in overwhelming CQ defense. The question is, which one do you go for—AR pistol or short-barrel rifle? In either case, the .300 Blackout proves very nimble, measuring in at a tick over 20 inches, with a 7-inch cold-hammer-forged barrel. Additionally, with a 1:7-inch twist, the gun plays nice with sub- and supersonic ammunition. Given its size, it’s a prime candidate to slap a suppressor on. If not, Daniel Defense includes a linear compensator that makes the shorty easy to keep on target shot to shot. As for the pistol variation, it comes with a Maxim Defense CQB Pistol Brace, which goes a long way stabilizing the system. MSRP: $1,940

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EOTECH Vudu 5-25x50mm FFP Riflescope

With impeccable edge-to-edge clarity in a precision optic no bigger than a minute, it’s no wonder law enforcement, military and competitors favor the Vudu. No joke: It’s the real deal in getting an AR out to its limits—accurately. In addition to detailed image delivery, the scope boasts a versatile magnification range, with a 5x setting for general medium-range work and 25x for those distant targets. With a 50mm objective lens, the EOTECH scope won’t wash out even when dialed up. Furthermore, as a first-focal-plane optic, its illuminated MD3 or Horus H59 reticles offer ranging and correctional capabilities at any magnification. The Vudu also features the company’s EZ Check Zero Stop, parallax adjustment and ample turrets. MSRP: Starting at $2,099

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German Precision Optics SPECTRAdot Red Dot

Best known for its hunting scopes, German Precision Optics (GPO) has turned its sights to a more tactical optic. Shake hands with the SPECTRAdot. A high-quality, lightweight and compact red-dot optic, the aiming-solution is ideal for any system that requires fast target acquisition—be it AR or turkey gun. GPO’s first red-dot is decked out, featuring an ample 3 MOA dot, a total of 11 brightness settings, ½ MOA windage and elevation adjustments and a mount that mates with both Weaver and Picatinny-style rails. It’s also an energy sipper. With power from one CR2032 battery, shooters can expect up to 50,000 hours of run time. In short, it’s ready to get you on target any time you need it. MSRP: $399.99

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Get More Guns And Gear

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