Be it a near-standstill on gun imports from Russia, or the fact that the VSS — translated from Russian as “Special Sniper Rifle” — is an NFA nightmare with a short barrel/fixed stock, built-in suppressor, and select-fire capabilities, this particular firearm just hasn’t been much of a priority when it comes to porting it over to fulfill the wish lists of ComBloc enthusiasts

Slagga, a Connecticut-based startup, now aims to be the first in the country to quench that thirst by producing the VSS entirely in America, built to a virtually the same spec, albeit with a few standard modifications to make it compliant with current firearms regulations.

The VSS was originally designed in the 1980s as a variation of the AS Val Special Automatic Rifle, an integrally-suppressed select-fire rifle created solely for the use of Russia’s secretive “special purpose” (or Spetsnaz) troops. While the control layout is similar to those found on AK series rifles, the VSS’s internals are fairly different, and makes use of a 6-lug rotating bolt.

Above that, the rifle comes with a 7.9-inch suppressed barrel. While the VSS is officially designated a sniper rifle (an automatic weapon with a cyclic rate of 700 rounds per minute at that), it’s only effective up to around 330 yards or 300 meters, making it more of a designated marksman rifle.

Slagga’s take on the VSS, dubbed the Viska, will essentially be the same gun though in semi-automatic form. Like the VSS, the Viska can be taken down quickly for transport or storage thanks to a quick-detach stock and suppressor. According to the company, the suppressor will use a mono-core baffle, enhancing its noise-reduction capabilities.

Buyer beware, that will require two tax stamps to comply with NFA regulations — one to cover the suppressor and one to cover the fact that the Viska is technically a short-barreled rifle.

Slagga is also in the process of developing a pair of non-NFA versions of the Viska, including one with a pistol brace and a threaded muzzle, and the second a rifle version with a fixed stock and a 16-inch barrel shrouded by a faux suppressor.

For now, the Viska will use a side rail to mount SVD and AKM-style scopes, and will feed from 10 or 20-round polymer magazines. Purists breathe ease, the Viska will be chambered in 9×39 mm like the VSS, though the company also plans on developing versions in 300 Blackout and 7.62×39 mm.

The company plans on taking pre-orders for the rifle for $3000 apiece, but an opening date for the orders or the release of the gun hasn’t yet been set.

Instead of fielding multiple rifle platforms of varying calibers to fulfill a wide range of missions, both branches have selected Barrett’s multi-caliber MRAD to serve as a centralized platform from which they can either up- or down-gauge their cartridge calibers as needed.

[Read More: Special ops snipers will soon shoot the MRAD which that can fire 3 different calibers]

[Read More: The Marine Corps has already started fielding the Mk13 sniper rifle]

The MRAD was initially developed by Barrett to fulfill requirements set out by SOCOM for a new precision sniper rifle. Based on the company’s earlier — and wildly popular 98B bolt-action rifle — the MRAD’s most important feature and biggest selling point is that it can be easily refitted to fire different cartridges at the end-user level using just a single tool.

This offers sniper teams the ability to swap calibers to better conform to the mission requirements or changes while in the field, without the need for any intervention at the armorer level. It also zaps maintenance and parts costs by reducing the number of unique platforms fielded by sniper teams to just one that relies on interchangeable parts.

While the MRAD can utilize 6 different cartridges, Jane’s reports that both branches will buy the rifle with the intention of using the longstanding 7.62x51mm NATO round, in addition to .300 and .338 Norma Magnum plus the conversion kits required for the last two rounds.

MRADs are already in use with SOCOM snipers, having been picked up as part of a $50 million dollar 5-year contract cemented just last year with Barrett.

Dubbed the Advanced Sniper Rifle, or the Mk22 in official parlance, the Marine Corps’ 2021 budget estimation sheet states that the “ASR will replace all current bolt-action sniper rifles in the Marine Corps.”

This includes the ages-old M40 platform, which has faithfully served as the Corps’ go-to sniper rifle since 1966, during the height of the Vietnam War. While the M40, currently on its 6th iteration as of 2014, was actually slated to be replaced by the Mk13 Mod 7 — an Accuracy International chassis mated to a long action Remington 700 receiver — it would appear that the Mk13 might also be on its way out, thanks to the MRAD.

US Army snipers will see the replacement of their M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifles as well as the .50 caliber M107 rifle with the MRAD (or Precision Sniper Rifle per the Army’s replacement program name). According to Task & Purpose, the Army indicated a considerable upgrade in terms of hit percentage over greater ranges with the PSR than with their current ESR.

The Army plans on buying 536 rifles for $10.14 million, while the Marines plan to buy 250 rifles for $4 million next year, though those numbers will more than likely rise over time while armories gradually phase out their older rifles.

In addition to the the Mk22 ASR/PSR, the US Army also has its sights set on buying Heckler & Koch’s CSASS to replace the Knights Armament M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, ostensibly as part of a major overhaul of the branch’s sniper hardware.

According to Army Recognition, the Russian military has already begun receiving the latest SVD, dubbed the SVDM (the M standing for Modernizirovannaya, or “upgraded”).

Currently the mainstay ranged infantry weapon of the Russian military, the SVD has faithfully served since 1963 with few (if any) updates or changes to the overall design and build of the gun.

[Read More: Take an inside look at the Chukavin, Russia’s new sniper rifle]

[Read More: This new rifle might could retire the Dragunov SVD for good]

Designed by Yevgeny Dragunov in the late 1950s, the gas-operated short-stroke piston rifle — which still bears his name —was heavily tested in a wide variety of environments and scenarios before the Soviet Army began inducting it into front line service.

By the 1970s, the rifle had proven itself in combat and made several appearances in the arsenals of foreign countries across the world, from the Middle East to South America, not including Warsaw Pact nations.

Chambered for 7.62x54R and still manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern, the SVD’s latest update supposedly offers shooters more accuracy, better ergonomics, and the ability to mount a wider range of accessories.

While the maximum effective range of the rifle hasn’t actually changed (800 meters or 875 yards), the SVDM comes with a heavier chrome-lined barrel, as well as a newer muzzle device that boosts the weapon’s accuracy by noticeable margin, and enhances the gun’s overall firing balance.

The SVDM’s new handguard as well as its pistol grip are now polymer-based, offering end-users a reduction in weight, and a much more comfortable grip than before. The stock can be folded and comes with an integrated adjustable cheek rest.

Arguably the biggest difference between the SVDM and the original SVD is the addition of 12 o’clock Picatinny rail, pinned to the receiver’s top cover, and a new front sight. The addition of a top rail allows end-users to drop on a variety of optics, including night vision setups, instead of being forced to stick to the limited range of scopes the SVD was designed to use.

What makes the SVDM especially interesting is that this latest update comes on the heels of last year’s announcement that Kalashnikov’s newest DMR, the SVCh Chukavin, will go into production sometime this year.

Crafted by Kalashnikov as a replacement for the SVD, the Chukavin represents a massive leap forward in terms of the Russian military fielding a modern and considerably more westernized weapon.

It’s possible that the SVDM could very well be an interim solution for Russian shooters, or a continuation of the SVD line with the Chukavin serving as a more specialized and limited solution for some of Russia’s more elite fighting units.

According to the Pentagon, the German arms giant will be expected to complete the contract by March 16, 2022. The rifles at the center of this modification are the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System, or CSASS, and Squad Designated Marksman Rifles, or SDMR.

[Read More: Army wants new compact semi-auto sniper system]

[Read More: These units are going airborne with the Army’s new CSASS]

As early as 2011, the Army started its search for a replacement or a deep reconfiguration for their M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Systems, citing reliability issues among other problems while in-theater during the Global War on Terror.

By 2014, the Army began looking in earnest for an outright replacement for the SASS.

A decision was later made to also find a suitable replacement for the service’s Squad Designated Marksman Rifles (SDM-Rs), which were primarily modified M16s with more powerful optics than the standard Trijicon ACOG.

The SASS and SDM-R replacements, in particular, needed to offer soldiers and special operators a lighter precision rifle without sacrificing performance (i.e. , accuracy, range, reliability, and stopping power).

By 2016, the Army had found their new reach-out-and-touch-someone rifles in the form of H&K’s G28 platform — a variation of the company’s HK417 piston battle rifle, chambered for 7.62 NATO.

While the CSASS will be primarily oriented towards snipers who have graduated from the Army’s rigorous sniper school, the SDMR will be fielded by infantry platoons as their designated marksman solution, extending their deadly range far beyond the restrictions of their service rifles and light machine guns.

With that said, both rifles are fairly similar as they come from the same platform, and primarily differ in terms of application, the stocks they’ll be fielded with, and the scopes they’ll use.

Meeting an important Army objective, the CSASS — now officially designated the M110A1 — will be able to fire the M80A1 Enhanced Performance Round as well as the XM1158 Advanced Armor Piercing Round.

Per the original Department of Defense’s contract award in 2016, the initial planned order for M110A1s was 3,643 rifles, though with the new modification, that number could likely increase.

For over 40 years, firearms manufacturers, security and defense contractors, outdoor equipment companies, etc. have gathered in Bavaria, Germany, to make the Internationale Waffen Ausstellung (International Weapons Exhibition) Europe’s most prominent forum for showcasing the latest and greatest technology in their respective fields.

With attendees ranging from sportsmen and professional competitors to representatives of various armed forces from around the world, IWA OutdoorClassics — or just IWA for short — has essentially served as Europe’s headlining counterpart to the massive American SHOT Show, organized by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The IWA’s website was just updated with a message that the show, which was originally supposed to be held March 6-9, will now be moved to a later date sometime this year. According to Soldier Systems, the organizing body responsible for IWA has officially moved the event to September, between the 3rd and the 6th of the month.

Citing the spread of coronavirus, the organizers maintained that the show could not go on as planned because an environment facilitating “diverse establishment and expansion of business relationships” could not be created with the disease lurking around.

The related Enforce Tac and U.T.SEC conferences have also been postponed to September, taking place on the 1st and 2nd of the month. Enforce Tac focuses on command, control, and operational hardware typically fielded by security agencies, while U.T.SEC revolves around drones and other unmanned technologies.

According to the New York Times’ updated coronavirus tracking page, Germany has reported over 130 confirmed cases of COVID-19, though with no fatalities. At the moment, Italy holds the most number of cases outside of China and South Korea, with 1,694 infected and 34 deaths.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention currently advises travelers to avoid Italy until after the outbreak is contained, while the US State Department has parts of the country listed as “Do Not Travel” for fear of infection.

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Though it’s chambered for 7.62x54R cartridge, and it somewhat shares the guts of Kalashnikov’s legendary AK-series rifles, the Chukavin represents a departure from the old school simplistic style of East Block small arms design towards a more westernized take on service weapons.

Unlike the gun it aims to replace — the ages-old Dragunov DMR still in use with the Russian military today — the Chukavin looks much less like a Warsaw Pact weapon and more so a tricked-out Magpul’d rifle you might find in the hands of a NATO sniper cell.

The Chukavin comes outfitted with a full-length top rail, a reworked handguard with accessory attachment points, a polymer stock, and Kalashnikov plans to offer the gun in several additional calibers including 7.62 NATO and, potentially, .338 Lapua Magnum.

Now, Russia’s largest small arms producer has decided to drop a civilian version of its Dragunov-killer, dubbed the “MR1.”

Word surfaced on the MR1 late last year in the form of a video on Kalashnikov’s official media site, but it wasn’t until this month that the company announced the rifle as a limited edition firearm available for purchase.

According to the company, the 4.5-kilogram MR1 will retail in two main calibers, 7.62x54mmR and .308 Winchester. The 7.62x54mmR version comes with a standard 20.9-inch chrome-lined barrel, while the .308 Win version can either make use of a 20.9-inch or a shorter 16.1-inch barrel (both also chrome-lined).

Buyers can get their MR1, built to a near-clone spec of the Chukavin, with either the original folding stock or a fixed stock depending on their preference. The rifle will come with an adjustable gas block and fully-ambidextrous safety selectors.

American enthusiasts will be hard-pressed to find an authentic MR1, thanks in no small part to the 2014-era ban on the import of Kalashnikov (then known as IZHMASH) products to the United States.

However, it wouldn’t be wholly unreasonable to assume that sometime in the coming years, a US-based manufacturer could potentially take on the task of building a homegrown MR1 for the American market.

According to The Firearms Blog, the MR1 in 7.62x54mmR will be expected to sell for the equivalent of around $1800, and the .308 Win version will sell for $2300.

Let’s face it, if you’re reading this, you more than likely forgot that Valentine’s Day is almost here.

With the excitement from all of this year’s SHOT Show debuts and tons of cool new military hardware just around the corner, it’s easy to forget everyone’s favorite day of romance, chocolates, and cheesy cards.

Don’t worry, GearScout has your six (you’re welcome)!

This year, make your Valentine’s Day tacticool, GearScout-style, with these awesome products that we’ve curated to save your butts (and probably ours too).

And if you’re single on the big day, just go ahead and treat yourself!

We’re not judging.

For the shooter

If you’re a recreational shooter, you compete, or you’re issued a blaster for work, chances are you’ve heard of Trijicon’s Miniature Rifle Optic, their bestselling red dot sight.

This year at SHOT Show, the company debuted an MRO on steroids — the MRO HD. Re-engineered and revamped, the MRO HD turns it up to 11 with an optic that offers shooters a 2.0 MOA center dot encompassed by a 68 MOA segmented circle reticle.

Trijicon boasts a “truly ambidextrous reticle” on this optic, as well as a brightness control that allows the user to switch between a full reticle or a simple center dot, based on their preference.

The MRO HD is set to sell for $919.

For the beach bum

It’s no secret that we’re a fan of Combat Flip Flops. Not only are their products incredibly badass and highly inspired, it’s also hard not to love a company that pledges to support a day of school for Afghan girls with each purchase.

For that special someone who also happens to be a beach bum or a hardcore aloha-type, check out CFF’s Floperator Coyote. Designed to be rugged and damage resistant, these flip flops aren’t just going to last you a while, they’re also going to make you look pretty moto with the option to customize their look using moral patches.

You can pick up a pair on CFF’s website for $39.99. Just don’t take these things into *actual* combat.

For the regular bums

Being able to recline and take some of the weight off your feet after a long day is one of the most underrated and unappreciated bonuses in life, especially if you’re on the trails or parenting it up at a soccer game.

NEMO Equipment knows this just as well as we do, and that’s why they’ve rolled out their Stargaze Camp Chair, currently retailing for $149 with free shipping on their website.

The camp chair is a more budget-friendly modification of the company’s Stargaze Recliner, though with the ability to gently swing like a rocking chair. NEMO boasts that this chair can go virtually anywhere unimpeded, working easily on most surfaces including unimproved terrain.

For the always-hungry

We’re always hungry.

Writing articles on Gear Scout to navigating traffic, 3-gun competitions, and all-day hikes can get incredibly tiring.

We also know we’re not the only ones out there craving a snack while reading this. That’s where Good-to-Go steps up to the plate with a number of meal options that are easily prepared, highly nutritious, and in sizable servings that will fix any hunger craving in a hurry.

With a wide menu available, Good-to-Go’s products are especially geared towards outdoorsy people who find themselves on the go, be it hitting the trails, conquering a mountain, or just enjoying a relaxed camping trip with loved ones.

Vegan, low-sodium, and gluten-free options are available.

For the tactical poet

We know the value of a good pen — especially one that can write anywhere, regardless of the elements and conditions outside.

For those who need to keep a writing implement on them at all times, be it to take notes, jot down a hot rhyme or poem, or fill out forms on the go, Gerber offers its Impromptu Tactical Pen.

Featuring a Cerakoted machined steel body (you read that right), the ITP is easily one of the most badass pens on the market today, capable of writing in driving rains and also equipped with a glass breaker to help escape rougher situations.

Gerber offers the ITP on their site for $73 — a lofty price for a pen, but then again, this is no ordinary pen.

For the tactical every(wear)

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ATTENTION! Perfect gift alert Soldier up in with this little infidel print & twin w/ your fav comrade. These cheeky babies are made from 4 way stretch breathable moisture wicking material.

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We can’t say enough about Tactical Distributors’ “Battle Briefs.”

They’re comfortable, they’re cool as sh*t and they’re super functional. No need to actually go “commando” with these bad boys against your butt!

The Battle Briefs have a ton a style, with cool graphics and accessories — even ones with built in pockets for those who like to let it all hang out around the house (or are really into Every Day (and Night) Carry).

In case you’re wondering, these skivvies are even built for the Tiger Mom in your life, with new female-friendly designs coming out all the time.

And if you’re super tactical, you can even sign up for a subscription service to receive a new pair of briefs each month. Happy Valentines Day baby!

For the outdoorsy tacti-nerd

Anyone who knows GearScout knows we’re big fans of LOWA footwear.

In fact, it turns out our pimpin’ may have paid off, with rumors that the boys from the CBS show “SEAL Team” will be sporting some LOWA kicks when the season resumes this spring!

Well, along with their tactical line of shoes and boots, LOWA has also refined their hiking and approach shoe offerings to blend the needs of the outdoor enthusiast who’s trekking through the rough stuff and the operator who’s going low profile but may have to go loud when the fur starts flying.

Presenting the Explorer GTX Lo for both men and women. A blend of the company’s high-end mountaineering boot line and its trekking shoe, the Explorer GTX features a DynaPU midsole, a cushioning heel wedge and an easier walking flex. It’s also lined with Gore-Tex and features a Vibram Rock Trac outsole with MegaGrip rubber.

I don’t know what that all means, but I know I’d want some for V-Day!

The ultimate tactical snack

What’s Valentines Day without chocolate?

And what could be better than a chocolate bar shaped like a 1911?

Nothing.

So get on it boys and girls and order up your honey a silky sweet token of John Moses Browning’s greatness with this blaster from Chocolate Weapons (no mystery what these guys are all about, huh?)…

The chocolate 1911 is almost a full pound of milk chocolate goodness and comes packed in a no joke padded gun case. And you can even order candy ammo to load into it (or your mouth bro!).

And for you tactical love bunnies who like to pork out on candy then wash up after your gluttony, there’s even a matching set of 1911s in chocolate and soap.

All we ask is that you make sure to kind of tell your tactical valentine that the gun case isn’t hiding a new sidearm. Don’t want to have to deal with that let down.

Sightline Media Group, LLC writes about products and services to help our readers navigate when shopping online. Sightline Media Group, LLC may receive a share of revenue from our affiliate partners if you purchase products or contract services through our links.

The solicitation, still currently active, was tendered by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane in mid-January for a Crew Served Weapons Optic that can be mounted on and effectively operated with SOCOM’s vast arsenal of mounted machine guns, including the M2A1 (.50 caliber heavy machine gun), the M240 (the 7.62 NATO mainstay general-purpose machine gun), and the Mk44 minigun (also chambered for 7.62 NATO).

Mounting optics to crew-served weaponry isn’t anything new or groundbreaking, with a history tracing back beyond the Vietnam War. Legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock was known to generate confirmed kills using an M2 “Ma Deuce” with scope mated to a custom-built mount. Indeed even miniguns have been occasionally spotted over the years with EOTech holographic sights.

Regardless, it’s interesting to see SOCOM pursue what appears to be a one-size-fits-all solution that can work with a wide variety of mounted weapons instead of an optic that works well with just one or two platforms in particular.

Though the solicitation does not include any public information on the exact specifications of the CSWO that SOCOM intends to pick up in the coming months, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume from the above that the optic would be of fixed magnification. Not a whole lot more can be inferred, however.

As with most solicitations posted by Crane to the federal contracts site, the end-user (i.e. one or more of SOCOM’s various special operations forces) of the CSWO has not been specified.

The contract’s stipulations mandate that bidders need to provide a soft case for the optic, a commercial battery, user manual, lens cloth, a lanyard, and mounting hardware — all fairly standard equipment and accessories.

The Firearms Blog reports that at the very least, SOCOM will buy 200 optics, though the order could potentially rise up to over 1,500 optics depending on the needs of the units that will field the CSWO.

With 9mm sidearms providing limited stopping power and range, the Air Force decided that it needed to go in a different direction when it came to giving aircrew downed behind enemy lines a fighting chance at fending off pursuers while waiting on a rescue mission.

The result of that initiative was the GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon, a take-down select-fire rifle that can be assembled without any tools within 60 seconds or less, boasting an effective range of 220 yards.

Able to be easily stowed on aircraft with a bailout package, pilots and aircrew who find themselves in precarious situations can take advantage of the stopping power and range of the rifle, in addition to the volume of rounds afforded to them by a standard 4-magazine loadout.

Now, Wisconsin-based Midwest Industries is offering civilian buyers a chance at owning a semiautomatic pistol clone of this unique weapon — though some buyers striving for authenticity might find eventually themselves going through the procedure of SBR’ing the gun.

Midwest, long known for their handguards and rails in addition to rifle builds, has rigged up their take on the ASDW to look and feel as close to the real thing as possible, and that includes the rapid assembly/take-down capability of the Air Force’s latest rifle.

Like the ASDW, Midwest’s clone pistol uses a Cry Havoc QRB Quick Release Barrel system, designed to allow the user to either speedily put together the two-piece rifle kit to generate a combat-ready weapon or to break it down for storage and carriage.

The clone gun, which weighs just a shade above 6 pounds, also uses a FAB Defense AGF-43S Folding Pistol Grip which can be rotated and locked into place during usage, and a full-length rail with M-LOK attachment points.

Unlike its real-life counterpart, however, Midwest’s gun uses a 5-position adjustable SB Tactical SBA3 Pistol Stabilizing Brace.

While the gun is ostensibly marketed towards cloners and enthusiasts, buyers looking for a backpack gun for outdoorsy adventures or for those SHTF-type bug-out situations might also find themselves giving Midwest’s ASDW some serious consideration.

Midwest currently offers the ASDW for $1,450, backed by a lifetime warranty.

Long known for smooth product roll-outs, the company’s latest offering for the civilian market faces growing concerns on social media that the gun might be riddled with technical deficiencies and safety issues.

After a heavily-publicized hype campaign, Glock’s first foray into the .22LR arena — the G19-sized Glock 44 featuring a 10-round capacity — was met with mixed reactions.

However, the gun seemingly began to steadily carve out a niche for itself among recreational shooters (i.e. plinkers) and enthusiasts, and generated a decent amount of interest at this year’s SHOT Show industry conference.

In recent weeks, however, issues with the G44 have surfaced on social media, stirring up concerns that the pistol might not function or be as safe as advertised.

Buyers have chimed in on various channels, especially Instagram, to document their various G44 woes.

One shooter noted a critical malfunction that resulted in the extractor failing and the slide cracking while shooting the gun with his grandson.

Military Arms Channel, who first brought the G44′s issues to light, noted that the gun fired out of battery.

Instagram user @Commbloc74 discovered upon field stripping his gun that the internals were damaged, likely while operating the gun.

It’s currently unclear what exactly has caused this spate of malfunctions and failures with the G44, be it a quality control-related problem, or something to do with the pistol’s engineering and design.

When Gear Scout reached out to Glock for comment on the G44, officials at the company said “It has been brought to our attention and we are evaluating it at this time,” with regards to the gun firing out of battery.

No fix or solution has been offered as of yet.

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