Bilson Arms BA-15FC + Blue Collar Suppressor — This Setup Slaps

We got caught in the first snow of the year filming this one, but hey, we're like the postmen — wind, rain, sleet, snow, we're out here for you. Today it's the Bilson Arms forward-charging rifle in 300 Blackout plus a can from their Blue Collar suppressor line. Why a rifle in 300 Blackout? This is going to be my hog gun. I like it a little longer, I love running the Hornady 190s as a hog round, and obviously it suppresses nicely.

The obvious thing that makes this gun stand out is the thing on the front that looks like part of the handguard — it's not. It's a forward charging handle, and there's no rearward charging handle at all. Hit the little button up front, charge it once, and it runs like any semi-auto. The point is you never come off the gun: you can grab a magazine, send it forward, do whatever you need to do without ever taking your eye off the target. With a rear charging handle you'd have to pull your head up, pull back, and get set again. The AR is already an easy platform to use — this makes it easier. And no, it's not a gimmick, and I don't see any reliability issues with it either. It rides in a machined groove and clicks in and locks, so it doesn't move when you're shooting.

The build itself is quality: billet aluminum upper and lower, standard B5 Systems stock and pistol grip — big fan of B5 — and I optioned mine with a Geissele SSA-E, one of the best triggers on the market. The magwell is super nicely flared and drops down in the back, so reloads on target are really, really easy. The 1:8 twist chrome-moly vanadium barrel was shooting freaking straight. Color's gorgeous too — a little OD, a little FDE, and it says 300 BLK right on it in case you forget what you're shooting. This thing is sexier than hell.

The Blue Collar suppressor line is named exactly right: it's for the working man who doesn't have $1,300 or $1,400 to drop on a Dead Air. This 30-cal can comes in at, I believe, sub-$600, and it ships with a direct-thread hub already installed — but it's hub compatible, so you can swap that out and run whatever mounting system you want.

Sound profile: I shot it in a snowstorm with no hearing protection because it's suppressed — it takes it down about 40 dB. With the Hornady 190-grain subsonics it sounded pretty damn good, and I've shot a ton of suppressors in my life. Then I loaded up some Ammo Inc 147-grain supers to compare, and yeah — much, much louder. No ringing ears, but noisier than you want, especially hunting. For the hog hunts it'll be subs all day: better terminal ballistics out of the 190s and you keep the sound suppression.

Gripes? I wish it had an ambidextrous mag release — the whole point of a forward-charging rifle is keeping your firing hand planted, and it'd be nice to lock the bolt back from the right side too. I might put something aftermarket on it. Breakdown is also a little different: standard AR takedown pins, but to get the bolt out you have to pull a block at the rear with two Allen keys. I'm being picky — it takes two seconds — but I'd love a quick-detach option there. And there's a gap in the top rail because of the charging handle channel; you know I love a full-length pic rail, but I won't hold that one against them. Also shout out to Ryan at Grace's Gun Shop in Clearfield, PA for muscling off the loctited A2 birdcage when I didn't have my tools.

Who's it for? Anybody who wants an AR that's easier to run — hunters especially. This exact setup with the trigger upgrade and the can is right around $2,000, call it $2,400 with the Aimpoint PRO. Geissele SSA-E, B5 furniture, forward charging handle, and a 30-cal can for that money is fantastic. This one's getting thermal on it and going hog hunting.