TFB Behind the Gun #179: Cloning Germans w/ Bo from S5 Tactical
Release Date: 08/14/2025
TFB Behind the Gun #183: Alex & Luke of TANDEMKROSS
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
On today’s episode of TFB’s Behind the Gun podcast, I’m joined by Alex Whiteside and Luke Diamond of TANDEMKROSS. Known for their huge lineup of over 250 aftermarket parts for competitive and recreational shooters, TANDEMKROSS is stepping up their game with the new ADX receiver. This receiver is a game-changer, letting DIY builders put together a complete 10/22-style rifle using only TANDEMKROSS parts. It’s ambidextrous with a patent-pending left-hand charging handle that locks in place, making reloads faster and easier, plus it’s built tough with a steel insert and a durable...
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TFB Behind the Gun #182: Firearms Accuracy in Media
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
Today’s episode of TFB’s behind the podcast features Kevin and Bryce from The Carry Handle Podcast, as well as a new guest, Scout Trooper. Today we’ll be talking about something that is right up Scout Trooper’s alley - movie, TV, and video game guns. Many of our generation who grew up watching 80s action movies, playing early shooter video games, and soaking up all of the great cop TV shows that the 90s had to offer love guns because of these things. Today we’ll be discussing our favorite media representations of guns, our least favorite, and, of course, everything in between when it...
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TFB Behind the Gun #181: Silence By The Numbers w/ Mike Slack - Engaged Ind.
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
Today on TFB’s Behind the Gun Podcast, we’ve brought back on Mr. Mike Slack from Engaged Industries to talk about some new developments, testing, and news he’s got from his virtually brand new suppressor company. Mike’s flagship suppressors, and Recon 7.62, use the unique , which uses vacuum expansion design to help reduce the amount of gas coming back to the shooter. In addition, Mike’s suppressors can also use his unique StealthLOK QD system, which eliminates carbon lock, is much quieter than other locking mechanisms, and also requires barely a ½ twist to be locked in tight....
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TFB Behind the Gun #180: The S&W Story w/ Firearms Historian Mike Helms
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
On today's episode of the TFB Behind the Gun Podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with Firearms Historian Mr. Mike Helms. Mike specializes not just in firearms history, but has also been an expert witness in several court cases, and he's also appeared in a couple of episodes of the TV Show Swamp People, of course, for his firearms expertise. Today, Mike is going to share a slightly longer and more detailed version of a presentation he's given before on the history of Smith & Wesson. Today, we'll dive into the history of one of America's oldest and longest-running firearms companies,...
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TFB Behind the Gun #179: Cloning Germans w/ Bo from S5 Tactical
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
Suppose you've ever wanted to get your hands on a G36, or at least something that almost perfectly clones a G36. In that case, you'll be interested to hear that Bo and his team over at S5 Tactical are carrying the torch for fans of one of H&K's most popular unobtainium rifles. S5 Tactical is a firearms manufacturer that produces G36-style receivers under the product name SG-36. While this isn't really anything new, the receivers previously sold by another company, DEF, are now being made with the years of injection molding expertise that Bo and his team have to offer. Today, Bo and I will...
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TFB Behind the Gun #178: Phillip w/ GAIM Virtual Shooting
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
On today's episode of TFB's Behind the Gun Podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with Phillip Jones from GAIM Virtual Shooting. Like ACE VR, GAIM is a peripheral-enhanced virtual reality shooting simulator that has a heavy emphasis on training. However, unlike ACE, which is almost entirely focused on practical handgun shooting, GAIM is instead focused on the broader aspect of firearms training and familiarization. Interestingly enough, GAIM was originally developed by Aimpoint as a red dot training simulator for rifles and pistols. Today, combined with the Meta Quest VR system, GAIM makes...
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TFB Behind the Gun #177: Behind The Glass w Nic of Leupold Optics
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
On this week's episode of TFB's Behind the Gun Podcast, we have an opportunity to talk to one of the product developers from Leupold Optics. Based here in my home state of Oregon, Leupold Optics helped pioneer both weatherproof hunting scopes, as well as tactical military scopes and red dots. Our Guest today, Nic, shares some of that rich Leupold history with us, as well as helps me walk through some of Leupolds current and past products, with the aim of cluing us in on what's coming out next from Leupold - an entirely new generation of red dot optics. So if you've ever been curious about what...
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TFB Behind the Gun #176: Much Ado About Shotguns w/ Kirk
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
Today, long-time friend of the blog and podcast and current TFB contributor, Kirk, joins us to talk about one of his favorite subjects - Shotguns. Shotguns are an often underloved sector of the firearms industry these days, and today we’re going to take some time to talk about what’s new in the world of shotguns. I’ll be discussing some recent experience I’ve had with some semi and pump-action shotguns at Thunder Ranch, and Kirk brings his decades of expertise with shotguns to shed some light on what some of the best (and worst) examples of shotguns are in the modern firearms era....
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TFB Behind the Gun #175: Harrison w/ Double Tap Coalition
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
Today’s episode of TFB’s Behind the Gun Podcast features Harrison Benson of Double Tap Coalition. Double Tap is a full-service firearms training and advocacy organization aimed at bringing essential and foundational training to those living in the greater Atlanta area. Today, Harrison shares his origin story with us, from ammunition selling to now owning and operating an entire company that not only trains people how to use firearms but also equips them with the best firearms and accessories available to them. Harrison and I also talk a bit about some of his favorite guns to have at the...
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TFB Behind the Gun #174: Craking The Amazon Code with XTech Tactical
TFB Behind the Gun Podcast
On today's episode of TFB's Behind the Gun Podcast, I have the unique opportunity to talk with someone who is not only a businessman and entrepreneur in the firearms industry but has also brought plenty of successful products to market in other industries as well. Jeremy Deadman is the CEO and founder of XTech Tactical, a company focused on bringing "legacy" products for pistols and rifles into the industry at a reasonable price to the consumer. Today, Jeremy and I will discuss his past business history, what XTech offers today, and how XTech is trying to pioneer a marketplace in which...
info_outlineSuppose you've ever wanted to get your hands on a G36, or at least something that almost perfectly clones a G36. In that case, you'll be interested to hear that Bo and his team over at S5 Tactical are carrying the torch for fans of one of H&K's most popular unobtainium rifles. S5 Tactical is a firearms manufacturer that produces G36-style receivers under the product name SG-36. While this isn't really anything new, the receivers previously sold by another company, DEF, are now being made with the years of injection molding expertise that Bo and his team have to offer. Today, Bo and I will talk about anything and everything G36, as well as his thoughts on what the future of more H&K clones like the currently offered SG-36, and "SMP Rifle" (UMP Rifle Clone) might look like.