With today’s Saturday video showcase we feature eight videos from the Popular Backfire YouTube Channel. The host of the BackFire channel, Jim Harmer, also has a good website, Backfire.tv with written reviews. If you’re shopping for a hunting rifle we recommend you read the recent (12/1/2025) Best Hunting Rifles article. Without further ado, here are eight noteworthy videos from the BackFire Channel.

Five Powder Dispenser Comparison Test (All Units Purchased)

If you are in the market for a sub-$500 electronic powder dispenser, definitely watch this review. This Backfire comparison test is notable because the tester spent his own money to purchase all five powder dispensers being reviewed. That means Backfire could tell the full truth, both good and bad, about the machines. In fact, Backfire bought TWO ChargeMaster Lites because one failed (See 14:12 time-mark). The reviewer liked the RCBS ChargeMaster Supreme, but his top choice overall was the Hornady Auto Charge Pro. He favored the overall design, and really liked the way the dispensing speeds could be easily set faster or slower. Here are highlights from the video review:

Best Rifle Scope Under $500 (2.2 Million Views)

This is a very comprehensive test of ten scopes under $500 MSRP. Unlike many reviews, the tester actually purchased all the tested scopes with his own money to provide a fair, unbiased review. The ten scopes all have approximately 4-14X magnification, common for a hunting/general purpose field scope. The reviewer ranked the $349 Vortex Diamondback Tactical FFP as the Best Overall scope. The reviewer’s first choice for a Target/Competition scope was the $299 Arken 4-16×50 model. The $175 Burris Fullfield E1 Hunting model was named the best “Lightweight, Capped Scope”.

Ten Under-$500 Scopes Compared

Comparison of Eight Laser Rangefinders

The Backfire team purchased eight rangefinders and tested them in the field. Most of the products are under $500. This is a good review if you are looking for a compact LRF at a moderate price. Looking at performance for the price, for the hunting market, the reviewers favored the Leupold RX-1600 and the waterproof Vortex Ranger 1800. COMMENTARY: If you can afford it, we recommend that serious hunters consider top-end laser rangefinder-equipped binoculars such as the ZEISS Victory RF and Leica Geovid.

Affordable Hunting Rifles under $750.00 (1.3 million views)

Here’s another good Backfire Channel video for hunters looking for a new rig. With hunting season starting soon, this video can save you time and help you get the most bang for your buck. The Backfire team review eight affordable under-$750 rifles: Bergara B-14, Howa 1500 Hogue, Kimber Hunter, Remington 700, Ruger American, Savage 110 Switchback, Tikka T3X Superlite, and Weatherby Vanguard. The Backfire reviewers tested all 8 rifles for function and accuracy (4-shot groups). These 8 rifles were chose for review based on input from Backfire channel viewers.

Accuracy Secrets of a Champion — Interview with Erik Cortina

Our friend Erik Cortina is one of America’s top F-Class marksmen, and he has also achieved notable results in some long-range tactical matches. In this video Erik explains some of the factors that help in load development, wind reading, and achieving long range accuracy. If you shoot F-Class or even just compete in local matches, this video is worth watching. Erik’s Cortina Precision company produces high-quality tuners, tuner brakes, dies and other high quality products.

How to Set Up a Rifle for 1000 Yards

Here’s good video for novice ELR and Long range shooters. The video covers initial zeroing and then working with ballistics at 600-1000 yards. The tester explains the importance of a very stable platform and optics with adequate vertical adjustment and proper parallax control. The featured rifle is a 6.5 Creedmoor Bergara Premier Competition in a dark, gray PMA chassis (this is not the tan rifle in cover shot). Note: Bergara also offers a barreled action that you can put into a different chassis of your choice. The scope is an Athlon Helos BTR Gen2 4-20x50mm. A Garmin Xero C1 radar chrono was used to confirm velocity.

Low-Cost vs. High-Cost Rifles — How They Compare (2 Videos)

Here are two interesting videos that compare the features and performance of rifles at various cost points. The first video compares two rifles with a 10X (1000%) price difference — $350 vs. $3500. Some quite inexpensive rifles can perform very well, if you get lucky with the factory barrel. At the high end of the spectrum you can (hopefully) expect a smoother action, better trigger, more sophisticated stock, and (hopefully) more shot-to-shot consistency. Still a big investment doesn’t always guarantee vastly improved performance. For a deer hunter, a $500 rifle with a modestly-priced scope can probably do the job. If you want to hit prairie dogs at 500 yards and beyond, you’ll need an accurate cartridge and a very good (preferably custom) barrel for consistent hits.

SHOT Show, the major gun industry trade show, runs this month in Las Vegas, Nevada at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. The event starts off with the Industry Day at the Range on Monday, January 19, 2026, and the Supplier Showcase also opens on Monday. Then the main show begins Tuesday, January 20, and runs through Friday, January 23, 2024. CLICK HERE for Interactive 2026 Floor Map Tour.

SHOT Show is a huge event, filling two major convention centers — the Venetian Expo and Caesar’s Forum. Over 2,500 companies will attend the event this year, showcasing their products in an area of 830,000 net square feet. SHOT Show attracts buyers, retailer reps, and news media from 100+ countries. In years past over 55,000 persons attended SHOT Show, and we expect even more this year.

CLICK EACH FLOOR LEVEL BELOW for More Details

If you’re attending the big event in Las Vegas, check out these floor plans. You can CLICK on each level to go to the official SHOT Show website. There you’ll be able to click on specific highlights, such as the New Product Center on Level One or the LE/Tactical Gear Section on Level Two.

LEVEL ONE FLOOR TOUR (Venetian EXPO)

LEVEL TWO FLOOR TOUR (Caesars Forum & Venetian EXPO)

LEVEL THREE FLOOR TOUR (Venetian EXPO)

LEVEL FIVE FLOOR TOUR (Venetian EXPO)

From SHOT Show 2025 — Very Interesting New Guns

If you’re curious about the SHOT Show experience, check out this video from 2025. The popular Backfire YouTube Channel spotlights many new firearms featured at last year’s SHOT Show:

Hunters normally prefer relatively lightweight rifles. When trekking into the backcountry in pursuit of deer and elk, every pound counts. Along with the rifle, the hunter will be carrying a pack with binoculars, food, emergency gear, and tools for harvesting the meat. With all this extra mass to carry, today’s hunters want to keep their rifle’s weight to a minimum without sacrificing accuracy and durability. That was the design objective for Savage’s new Model 110 Ultralite Elite hunter — to “achieve lighter weights for higher altitude hunts and longer treks for big game.” At $3299.00 MSRP, the model 110 Ultralite Elite is the highest-priced Savage rifle on the market. But it offers impressive features and performance for that price.

This video shows key features of Savage 110 Ultralite Elite — good graphics, worth watching!

The modern 110 Ultralite Elite boasts a Proof Research carbon fiber-wrapped stainless barrel and advanced MDT HNT26 folding carbon fiber stock. With these components the 110 Ultralite Elite offers very impressive performance with a remarkably light weight. With its carbon components, and the shorter barrel option, the Savage 110 Ultralite Hunter weighs around 5.5 pounds without scope and rings — a good 3 to 4 pounds lighter than a typical wood-stocked hunting rifle. Seven chamberings are currently offered: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 7mm BC, .308 Winchester, .300 WSM, and .300 Winchester Magnum. The internal magazine holds three rounds, and barrel lengths vary from 18″ to 22″. The shorter 18″ barrel is offered for 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm BC, and .308 Win.

Savage’s product page states: “Savage is taking innovation and accuracy to new heights at faster speeds with the 110 Ultralite Elite. With its exclusive Proof Research carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel barrel and MDT HNT26 folding carbon fiber stock, the 110 Ultralite Elite can achieve lighter weights for higher altitude hunts and longer treks for big game. Savage teamed up with PROOF Research to craft a barrel specific for a purpose driven firearm. At under 5.8 pounds, the 110 Ultralite is designed to combat elevation and elements while maintaining the performance of a factory blueprinted Savage 110 action.”

22 Plinkster Video with Steel Target Testing and Scope Camera

If you are potentially interested in purchasing a Savage 110 Ultralite Elite, you should definitely watch this review by popular YouTuber 22plinkster. He explains the features of the rifle, shows off the high-tech carbon components, and then bench-tests the rifle for accuracy on steel targets from 200 out to 1000 yards. The test rifle had a 20″ barrel chambered for the 6.5 PRC. The ammunition was 130gr Federal Terminal Ascent. Starting at 4:12 time-mark you can see 22Plinkster engaging the steel targets. The video provides a shooter’s POV via a TriggerCam Scope Camera.

HuntStand Quick Review of Savage 110 Ultralite Elite

Here is the HuntStand Channel video review from last year when the 110 Ultralite Elite was first released. The HuntStand’s Josh Dahlke was impressed with the rifle’s build quality and light weight. This has a five-minute dialog with a Savage representative. The video has some useful close-ups and it shows how the folding stock works. However, there is no field testing on targets.

TFB-TV Showtime Video Review of Savage 110 Ultralite Elite

This video was produced by The Firearm Blog (TFB-TV) last spring. TFB-TV states: “Savage Arms is typically associated with high quality but economically priced hunting rifles but at IWA 2024, they are unveiling a high end collaborative ultra-lightweight rifle with participation from Proof Research and MDT. The rifle will use an MDT chassis with carbon fiber elements and a folding stock, a Proof Research carbon fiber-wrapped barrel, and Savage’s excellent trigger. It’s hard to believe that Savage is getting on board with high end players like MDT and Proof, but it’s a welcome surprise, to be sure.”

Backfire Multi-Rifle Review Highlighting Savage 110 Ultralite Elite

In this video, the Backfire Channel host reviews a number of rifles. Starting at the 12:20 time-mark he spotlights the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite, calling it his “Dream Rifle”. He highlights the noteworthy features of the Ultralite Elite, and then shows how it can be mounted on a tripod using the integral ARCA rail.

Want to get more info on the Savage 110 Ultralite Elite? Here are three more web resources:

All4Shooters Savage 110 Review |Guns.com Savage 110 Review | GunsWeek Savage 110 Review

SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas concludes today, January 24, 2025. This was an impressive show with thousands of vendors displaying products on 830,000 net square feet of floor space at Caesars Forum and The Venetian EXPO. There were many innovative new products, including new optics, chassis systems, barrels, “smart” guns and much more. For this Friday Day 4 of SHOT Show we offer a showcase of interesting product report videos.

Hodgdon Report — Availability of H4198, H4895 and ENDURON

At SHOT Show 2025, Chris Hodgdon took the time to talk about the availability of some Hodgdon powders for the months ahead. Regarding H4895 he said they hoped to have both powder in stores “Sometime this spring [2025]” so check the Hodgdon.com website for availability.

Regarding Enduron, Chris posted: “Big question here at SHOT show… where is the ENDURON? ENDURON has not been discontinued. We are working diligently with our supplier to get it back in stock. It may be a while before our supplier can produce it.”

Seekins Precision PH3 with Many New Features

In this video True Pearce, Editor of GunsAmerica Digest, reviews the new lightweight hunting rifle from Seekins Precision, the impressive model PH3. This boasts a modern composite chassis with adjustable comb and many notable new features.

Backfire Channel SHOT Show 2025 Highlights

The Backfire channel is one of our favorite gun-centric YouTube services. The host is smart and articulate and he does considerable real-world testing in the field. He has produced 294 videos and now has 961,000 subscribers — that’s impressive. This Backfire SHOT Show 2025 video runs 45 minutes and has already garnered 155,000+ views. It covers a host of products. Here are some highlights:

2:50 New Tikka T3X Ace
5:35 Aarken Outlier Precision Chassis
8:04 Shooters Global Smart Shooting Glasses
9:35 Seekins Precision H3 Rifle
11:24 Interview with Erik Cortina and F-Class John
17:12 MDT Chassis Systems and Bipods
20:18 Palmetto SA — New Hunting and AR-type Rifles
21:48 Interiew with Gavin Gear, Ultimate Reloader
25:45 Horizon Firearms Light Hunting Rifles
27:15 KRG Chassis for Ruger, Savage, Howa, Tikka etc.
31:30 Smith & Wesson — New Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles
33:08 Watchtower Rifle with Lattice Titanium barrel
33:40 RCBS Booth — New Reloading Equipment
35:10 Howa — New Pump-Action AR-style Rifle
36:05 Aero Precision — Tactical Lever-Action Rifle

New Chassis Options for Rem, Savage, Tikka, Ruger and more

The above video features an impressive new lightweight chassis from MDT. This will soon available for a variety of popular actions including Ruger, Remington, Savage and Tikka. This chassis is also featured in the vertical-format video on the right below.

Burris XTR PS Scope with Internal Ballistics Display

The new Burris XTS PS scope combines traditional glass lenses with an internal electronic display that shows hold-over and ballistic data to the shooter. Customizable “data zones” display dial-to-distance, wind hold, wind speed/direction, density altitude, angle compensation, and scope level. The scope features a unique new clickless turret with a digital position sensor for ultra-fast 1/30 MIL elevation adjustments.

MDT SEND-iT Electronic Level — Gen 2

Here’s a cool product that can benefit marksmen in many competitive rifle disciplines. The Generation 2 MDT LRA SEND iT – MV3 Electronic Level provides an instant “green light” visual signal showing that your rifle is level so your shot should land on target. Instead of waiting for a spirit (bubble) level to move, the SEND-iT LEDs are 3-5 seconds faster and are much easier to see.

Handgun Highlights — Walther, SIG, Canik, and HK Pistols

Parting Shot — Massive Swarovski BTX Binocular Spotting Scope

Swarovski offers an impressive BTX Binocular Spotting Scope System. This is available with four different objective lens modules: 65mm, 85mm, 95mm, and 115mm. The image below shows the BTX with the 115mm objective. BTX price, as fitted with this huge 115mm objective, is a whopping $6648.00 MSRP!

Hunting season is underway around the country. If you need a good hunting rifle, consider a Tikka. The Tikka T3 and newer T3x rifles are very popular with hunters around the globe — for good reason. These rifles offer smooth-running actions, easy sub-MOA accuracy with good ammo, crisp triggers, and ultra-reliable detachable box magazines. The Tupperware stocks aren’t super-rigid, but they are comfortable and easy to handle. If you are looking for a hunting rifle, the Tikka T3 and T3X models are smart choices, offering good performance for the price (starting at $749.00 for the T3X Lite version). The T3 series is offered in a wide selection of chamberings, from .204 Ruger up to the large magnums.

Here are three good Tikka T3/T3x video reviews. The first, from the popular Backfire YouTube channel covers the features of the Tikka T3 series. The second video, from an experienced hunter in New Zealand, explains cover the T3’s controls and how to use the rifle most effectively during a hunt. Last but not least is a Hickok45 video examining the T3x’s controls and ergonomics. This video also demonstrates the T3x’s accuracy on steel targets.

VIDEO One — Why the Tikka T3x Is Great for Hunting

With 800,000+ subscribers, the Backfire Channel is one of the most popular gun channels on YouTube. You can trust what the Backfire reviewers say because they pay their own money for the products they review. This video reviews Tikka’s current generation T3s rifle. Backfire had high praise for Tikka T3x rifles: “The Tikka T3x SL is an incredibly lightweight mountain rifle that should be in every hunter’s safe. We like it for its lightweight build, stainless steel barrel, superb trigger, and surprisingly accurate shooting. Overall, this is the hunting rifle we recommend more frequently than any other.”

VIDEO Two — Tikka T3 Controls and Function

In this video, New Zealander Mitch of BushBrothersNZ reviews a T3 with polymer stock and stainless barrel chambered for the .270 Win. Mitch focuses on the T3’s controls and functions, with particular attention to the operation of trigger, safety, and bolt.

VIDEO Three — Hickok45 Tests Tikka T3X in 6.5 Creedmoor

Popular YouTube gun reviewer Hickok45 reviews the Tikka T3x Tactical Compact Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. There are good explanations of the operation of the action and magazine. In addition Hickok45 shoots the rifle offhand (05:10 and 13:44 time-marks), evaluating the ergonomics of the stock and the trigger feel. Hickok45 now has 7.38 million subscribers to his YouTube Channel.

The Beretta BRX1 is a modern rifle with some unique properties. It is a fast-cycling “straight-pull” rifle with the ability to quickly change the bolt position from right side to left side. It uses a rotating multi-lug bolt, similar to what you’ll find on AR-platform rifles. The closing system employs an 8-lug bolt (or 16-lug for magnums). Currently, three chamberings are offered in the USA: .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, and .30-06 Springfield. And there are also some previous production models in 6.5 Creedmoor. Multiple barrel lengths are offered: 20.1″, 22.4″, 24.4″ (51, 57, 62 cm). Barrel and chamber are cold-hammer forged together from a single steel piece. The trigger can be adjusted to three pull weights from 2.1 pounds (950 grams) to 3.3 pounds (1500 grams). CLICK HERE for factory specifications and more information.

CLICK HERE to Download Beretta BRX1 Manual PDF »

Accuracy has been good by hunting rifle standards. Beretta offers a 3-shot, sub-MOA Guarantee for the BRX1, stating that “the accuracy certificate for each firearm is available online”. Testers have confirmed that this rifle should be capable of putting three shots in about 1″ at 100 yards.

You’ll find a good review of the Beretta BRX1 on the All4Shooters Website. In 100m outdoor range testing, they were able to get a 1.18″ five-shot group, and the testers confirmed the rifle was fast to cycle and operate: “The straight-pull repeater comes with a linear reloading system. In concrete terms, this means that no rotation or lever movement is required. This promises particularly fast reloading due to an especially smooth bolt action. Without any problems, it was possible to cycle the rifle with one finger.” The testers confirmed the rifle can change from right-hand to left-hand very quickly: “The bolt handle can be removed in a few seconds, and the shooter can change the ejection side. In combination with the central safety, you have a fully-fledged left- or right-handed gun within a short time.”

Overall the testers were impressed: “The new Beretta BRX1 has everything you need on board: a muzzle thread, a one-piece Picatinny rail, a high-quality red-orange magazine (5+1 rounds), ambidexterity, barrel change option, and a great, very smooth straight-pull action.”

January 2024 Field Test of BRX1 Latest Model

This is a good, recent review (1/19/2024) by the BackFire channel. The tester liked the straight-pull action, stating that cycling the BRX1’s bolt does not “jostle the rifle” as with a conventional bolt action. This allows smoother and faster follow-up shots.

We were concerned that the BRX 1 doesn’t have a conventional action frame. As you can see in the above photo, when the bolt carrier assembly is retracted there is nothing above the bolt except the scope rail. However, this rifle has been thoroughly tested by the Beretta team, including one rifle that saw 10,000 rounds of .300 Win Magnum (see Backfire video at 10:40). Beretta notes that the “BRX1 has successfully passed the same NATO tests carried by Beretta on military weapons. Thanks to the experience in the military and law enforcement world, BRX1 mounts a locking system featuring a rotating bolt head with 8 locking lugs — or 16 for magnum calibers.”

There was a safety recall on Beretta BRX1 rifles early on, shortly after the original release in 2021. The issue arose from users incorrectly installing the bolt handle: “a user has reversed the charging handle on the bolt without positioning it correctly in its seat.” A part was modified to eliminate the issue.

SHORT VIDEOS Showing BRX1 Features

Here are some helpful “short” videos. The first (top left) shows how to cycle the action rapidly. The second video (from Beretta Gallery Dallas) shows how to attach the bolt assembly, and notes that one must ensure the hammer is cocked/retracted before sliding the bolt assembly on to the action. The third video illustrates how to move the bolt handle from one side to the other.

Tactical Version with Extended Magazine TFB-TV Review

For 2024, Beretta has introduced a new, camo-finish version of BRX1. This has been dubbed the BRX1 Tactical. Like other BRX1 rifles, this camo BRX1 features a left/right swappable straight-pull action that is very fast to cycle.

In this video, released just last week (1/17/24), the TFB-TV team tests the new Beretta BRX1 Tactical: “This tactical edition, a standout with its multicam finish, is a specialized variant of the Beretta BRX-1, which has gained popularity in Europe for its precision and reliability. The BRX-1 Tactical is enhanced for practical functionality with a 3D printed magazine adapter, allowing it to accept Magpul P-Mags, adding to its versatility.” This video covers the BRX1’s notable features including smooth action, adaptability, and stock ergonomics. The video also compares the new BRX1 Tactical to the original European BRX-1 model, highlighting the main changes — principally the stock configuration and the new bigger magazine.