That magical time of year is right around the corner, as heralded by too-early decorations and pre-Thanksgiving Christmas carols. Need a few ideas on what to get the Gun Guy (or gal) in your life?
Here’s a few items that have been the highlight of my last year in reviewing.
Drill Index Shooting Cards
Too often, range sessions devolve into an unfocused shooting session with less training value than expected. Never get caught out at a loss for training ideas with the original Drill Index.
64 drills with standards printed out on 2.75″x4.75″ heavy varnished cards, full of different ways to bump up your shooting skills. The deck runs $30, and I’d recommend the IRL Hard Pack at $10 as a way to keep your cards safe in your shooting bag.
Weapon Outfitters 2026 Calendars
Long ago I got into the world of “girls n guns” nude photography. Roy, A like minded fellow was doing the same and we were both posting our early work to Silencertalk.com. Years later, he leveraged that into a full time gun store (Weapon Outfitters), while continuing his risque’ photography with famous models, and even more famous guns.
His success led to the even more NSFW spin off Weapon Outfitters After Dark (WOAD) Patreon channel. Roy’s work represents the last of a dying breed, with Blue Press, Tactical Girls, and so many others falling by the wayside.
Roy has been kind enough to send out his annual calendars, which come in G, PG, PG-13, and R-rated varieties. There’s usually a special edition calendar offered as well, like 2023’s Hailey Lujan psyops layout.
2026’s lineup includes the PG-13, R-Rated, and the special edition Nudes With NODS calendars, each $39.95. Help your pal decorate his gun room!
AZAO Thermite Grenade
No, this isn’t a typo. AZAO has thermite. Grenades. It’s not an “explosive device” or a “destructive device” (legal terms); it’s a “powder actuated industrial device”. Burning at 4200+ degrees Fahrenheit, this is the fastest way to burn… pretty much anything.
These babies will burn for over twenty seconds, and you won’t be able to put them out once they get going.
While the Thermite Grenade goes for $49.95, that’s far from the only thing they’re selliing. While you’re buying your buddy a Thermite conversation starter (or finisher), browse for smoke grenades, CS gas, 37/40mm grenades, or maybe an RPG.
Long Range Shooting Handbook, PT 1 & 2
Fellow Airborne Ranger and sniper team leader Ryan Cleckner has certainly found success in his post-military career. From numerous appearances on Fox News, running GunUniversity.com and Rocketffl.com, and oh yeah… a job as a lawyer. He’s also knocked out writing a few books, which brings us to…
The Long Range Shooting Handbook: A Beginners Guide To Precision Shooting ($24.95). Published in 2016, this book has been an invaluable resource for new and experienced long range shooters alike. When I reviewed this book back in 2018 (photos broken in link), I noted Ryan’s ability “to take a pretty complex topic and explain it caveman simple without degrading the integrity of the material at hand”. This book could easily hit every year’s Christmas buyers guide.
I’ve read through my orange hued Beginners Guide a dozen times at least, and it’s as valuable today as the day it came out. So it’s not surprising I was pretty excited to get an email recently announcing the release of the long awaited sequel, Advanced Long Range Shooting coming out December 15, 2025. With no advanced review copies available I haven’t read it yet, but I will be buying it on day one.
Catastrophic Industries: Claymore Speaker
When I saw the Claymore bluetooth speaker advertised on Facebook, I think the same thing I think about all FB ads: “fake/crap/junk”. But… I liked it. A lot. So, I got one, and was sent the Bullet speaker as well.
As covered in my review, I took the Claymore with me to Alaska for yet another summer spent commercial fishing, this time on the F/V Rosie M. The Claymore speaker was loud enough to hear over the constant grungle of the diesel motor, the whine of hydraulics, and the bitching of new crew members. The Claymore was also tough enough for regular salt water spray exposure, heavy rain, and baking sun. The advertised 8 hour battery life was a pretty good estimate, regardless of conditions. Also, the sound quality was better than expected.
Best of all? At the click of a button you can link two speakers wirelessly. This is an excellent Christmas gift
The Catastrophic Industries Claymore speaker runs $89.99.
Mission First Tactical Custom AR-15 Mags
First shown by me back in 2020, and again in 2024, Mission First Tactical offers a pretty unique process by which an image of your choice is printed into their Extreme-Duty mags. By into, I mean the magazine itself is actually impregnated with dyes, making this a very durable way to customize your mags.
MFT has an easy tool on the web allowing you to upload and adjust your image onto the magazine, getting a good preview of how it will look before you buy.
Each custom mag runs $24.99. Add some unit insignia, a memorable moment, or a classic bit of pin-up to a personalized gift for the gun lover in your life.
Merry Christmas!
That’s it for my 2025 gun guy’s Christmas buyers guide. I hope Santa brings each of you a new Red Ryder, Barret, or M110 for Christmas. Until then, stay safe, stay strapped, and stay classy.
–Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer
@rexnanorum
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