The Firearm Blog

There has always been a part of me that is attracted to historic firearm.  There is a history to each scratch, nick and dent in them and they tell a story.  So when I say that the oldest surviving Henry rifle was going on the auction block, I was interested in at least the photos of the historic rifle.  Henry rifle number 345 in .44 Rimfire is set to be auctioned off on June 8th at the Heritage Auctions Dallas, TX headquarters.  Although I am not in the running for even bidding on this historical rifle, I would hope to see it go to a deserving collector that can appreciate the rifle for what it is.

Here are the photos of the rifle for those, like me, interested in seeing the rifle.

Its not every day that we see a new concept for weapon sights. The See All Open Sight from See All Open Sights (original company name, eh?) is a new concept and product that combines elements of fiber-optic, iron, and dot sighting systems.

STG 44 / MP43/44 rifles have been showing up all over the world in the last couple of years. An eagle-eyed reader spotted one at Ukraine’s newest and most popular tourist attraction, the private palace of their former President. The above image is a still from a VICE video (See 2:10. Embedded below) of the Presidents sprawling complex. Also take a look at his ammunition collection at 3:29.

Ukraine was invaded by Germany during WWII. Kiev was occupied from September 1941 until November 1943. It is possible this gun originated from the German occupation.

Thanks to Pablo for the tip.

This photo shows Russian troops arresting Ukrainian naval officers in the Crimea. Surprisingly the solider is holding an AR-10 rifle. It has a long range scope, a gas block bipod and a suppressor. The Kremlin wants plausible deniability that they are actually occupying the region. Like the rest of the troops occupying the Crimea, he has no insignia on his uniform. The use of Western-style rather than Russian weapons may be to give the Kremlin further deniability.

Thanks to Jim for the photo.

The Ruger 10/22 is probably the most customized and accessorized rimfire rifle on the market today.  It seems that new gear for these rifles is popping up all the time.  Advanced Technology International (ATI) announced they are now shipping the AR-22, a stock system for the 10/22 rifles.

The AR-22 system uses an aluminum chassis with a polymer shell to give the Ruger rimfire the appearance of an AR-15.  The AR-22 will accept the company’s Strikeforce AR-15 stock, buffer tube assembly, pistol grip and foreends.  The unit has a Picatinny rail along the top for mounting optics.

A “mock charging handle and forward assist” are included as part of the package.

Very neat target system. It can create a variety of presentations. It can be controlled up to 1000m. It has 8 programs modes and even a USB port if you want to customize the robot and have a unique target presentation. MSRP is $2,995.

Check out their website for more info.

Great review of the PMR-30 and the philosophy on using it

Check out what Herschel Smith thinks about his PMR-30

Ay Carumba… Just when I think we have caught up on SHOT introductions, another one crops up. This time, a compelling offering from Israel, the e-Lander 1911 steel magazines. 

Exclusively distributed by The Mako Group, the e-Lander 1911 magazines are steel magazines with e-Lander’s KTL coating. The coating is extremely slick and salt-resistant. e-Lander’s 1911 magazines are 8-round with staggered round viewing holes. Interestingly, they have polymer floor-plates with a small bevel for your pinky finger or easy removal from your pistol.

Mako claims that unlike typical 1911 magazines which are welded on the back and then ground smooth weakening the magazine, their laser-welding processes (which leave a visible seam) makes their magazines stronger. See the video for details:

In this video the guys at SinistralRifleman subject an AR-15 with a GWACS Armory CAV-15 polymer lower to a number of abuse tests, including breaking 2×1 lumber, driving a truck over it and even shooting it (as in shooting a bullet into the lower). The lower continued to function despite the abuse.

One Source Tactical is now selling a fantastic set of AUG accessories that are absolutely a must-have for any AUG shooter out there. For years, the Achilles’ heel of the AUG was that you were stuck with the fixed Zeiss optic, or an oddly raised (and short) rail on models dubbed “special receivers”. The AUG A3 that is currently in production has lowered the picatinny rail a bit and ditched the fixed optic option entirely, but shooters are still stuck with a short rail.

Suarez International set out to provide AUG folks with a longer rail (that really shines with iron sights by providing a longer sight plane) on which to mount iron sights, an optic, or both. A shell deflector is also optional that will allow shooters to transition from shoulder to shoulder without a face full of brass. Also available is a

AR-15 pistols seem to be getting more popular these days with most major AR makers jumping in on the bandwagon. Accessory maker Damage Industries just released a pretty neat AR-15 pistol part. Their new AR-15 pistol buffer tube includes an attachment point for a QD sling swivel. It’s made out of 7075 billet aluminum with a 1.250″ outside diameter and is hard-coat anodized to Mil-A-8625 type III. The main feature is the limited-rotation QD Sling Swivel Socket at the end of the tube. It can be used with standard length carbine buffers and springs. It retails for $28.45 at Damage Industries, the QD Sling Swivels are sold separtely however.

When writers and companies get together at an event like the Big 3 there’s at least one day devoted to shooting. We took it a bit further at two days.

The highlight of our shooting day was a special shooting event we were all curious about and left us really looking forward to the afternoon. To preface the main event let me give you all an idea of the weapons we used during the Big 3 East in Daytona Beach.

Ruger 10-22 full auto integral suppressor. I sure enjoyed this little SBR.

There were a good number of gun companies present such as IWI who brought twenty assorted configuration Tavors. Most of you know how much I love my Tavor! Geissele brought a Tavor with the new trigger. Marc

New from BISON Armory is the Fore(arm) Skin for AR-15 rifles. These nylon and neoprene “skins” solve two problems. First, they act as shooting gloves protecting your hands from cold aluminum rails during a cold winter’s morning, and from scorching hot aluminium during a hot day or after sending a lot of ammunition downrange (with current ammo prices the former is more likely …). The second problem they solve is preventing the rail from snagging on vegetation when hunting (It would also prevent the finish being scratched … but this is a gun, if the finish is not being scratched its not being used enough.)

Randy E. Luth, the founder of D.P.M.S./Panther Arms, founded a company called LUTH-AR.  LUTH-AR will be making accessories and other products for AR-style firearms.  The first two products from LUTH-AR are a pair of buttstocks:  the MBA-1 and MBA-2.

The MBA-1 is a fixed, not telescoping, buttstock with adjustments for cheek rise and length of pull.  The LOP can be adjusted for an additional 1 1/16″ with the use of an extended length buttplate.  The cheek rest has a 1″ height adjustment and can be used on the right or left side of the gun.

According to LUTH-AR, the stock is interchangeable with standard A1- and A2-type buttstocks, but not with “carbine rifles with telescoping assemblies.”  MSRP is $139.95.

Last Saturday, ATF agents raided Ares Armor in Oceanside, CA.. The ATF wanted information about the customers that purchased 80% AR-15 lower receivers. Even though Ares Armor had a restraining order against the ATF’s search and seizure, the ATF proceeded anyway.

Check it out here

Colion Noir gives us a love letter about the FN FAL by DSARMS.

Case Cruzer offers the “Prepper” handgun case for two handguns and assorted accessories. The case includes space for two full-size handguns up to 9.25″ in total length (the G17 is 8″ long for reference) and additional compartments for magazines, etc. While the PR and case were released last year, I got a chance to see one at the local multi-gun match earlier today and was impressed.

Designed to be low-profile and discreet, the case can be fully secured with an outside padlock and includes spaces for trigger locks on the stored handguns. The case fully seals to the environment. Similar packs are available for 4, 5 and more handguns.

The Preppe

RifleShooter.com ran an article where they tested the effect barrel length had on velocity in a rifle chambered for the .300 Win Mag.  The author started with a 24.25″ barrel and cut off 1″ at a time.  At each length, groups were shot for testing both accuracy and velocity.

Velocity changes varied at each length, but a little more than 300 fps was lost going from the starting length down to 16.25″.  As one might expect, muzzle blast substantially increased as the barrel was cut down.

Check out the full article here.

Thanks to Bill for the tip.

In multigun matches loading the shotgun is the one aspect that can really take up a lot of time. There are some really skilled people out there with some great shell manipulation, but the fastest method by far is the speed loader.

This plain and simple looking device, when properly used, can reload a shotgun in the blink of an eye.

Watch Jerry Miculek at last year’s FNH 3Gun stage 3 clean up with this speedloader. It is used at the end of the video. If you blink you will miss it.

I am a fan of the KRISS Vector. So I stumbled across this and was shocked at the sticker price for a resin cast KRISS Vector. It is purportedly to have been used in the recent Total Recall movie remake. It was kitted with optics, flashlight and a vertical grip but those have been removed. The barrel is even missing. So you are getting a broken paper weight all for the bargain of $595.  I could get the KWA KRISS Vector airsoft replica for less than that and at least it does something and is complete.

Check out the sale here.