The Firearm Blog

JP Enterprises has announced the introduction of four 22LR complete rifles along with the option to build custom uppers. Taking an obvious shot at Smith & Wesson in their press release, JP touts their all-metal construction:

No “me too” .22, the JP-22R series is designed to meet standards that flimsy plastic or cheaply assembled conversions simply can’t. By incorporating the exact same components and build quality of a centerfire JP, shooters can now have a .22 upper assembly or complete rifle that matches the quality of their primary rifles.

Like their full-power cousins, JP Enterprise rifles command a premium. The base model starts at $1,695. Blended compensators models are at $1,845.00. For those looking for a custom model, JP Rifle’s configuration tool is online for those who register on their website. Dedicated uppers are also available.

The IMBEL IA2, the new service rifle of the Brazilian Army, is the answer to the question “What would a modern 5.56mm FN FAL look like”. It has a scaled down and lighter receiver to suit the 5.56mm cartridge and AR-15 magazine. An AR-15-style (Stoner) rotating bolt replaces the old fashioned tilting bolt/breech block of the original FN FAL. The above photo of the rifle disassembled was posted on the DefesaBrasil forum.

The new Cordova pistol from Indumil (Military Industry) is said to be the first pistol to be 100% designed and manufactured in Columbia. The 9mm semi-automatic pistol will be be available in three models (a full size, a compact size and a ‘tactical’ size). They will be fully ambidextrous and chambered in 9mm. Other than that, I don’t know much about this gun. I do like the design. The slide has a sleek look with a rounded profile. See the pistol in operation in the below video …

Indumil will be marketing the Córdova in Columbia, Chile, Paraguay, Ecuador and Peru.

TFB previously covered pre-orders for SlideFire’s bump stock for the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22, but here I check out my first impressions of the conversion kit.

It was super easy to convert my Ruger 10/22 and install the SlideFire SSAR-22 kit. It came with all the necessary hardware, including a fantastic Volquartsen match grade trigger group that lightens the trigger to a 3lb pull. A lighter trigger pull weight is required to make bump firing possible. The one thing to note is that they do not include a screw for the “interface block” which is a piece behind the trigger group. Seems like SlideFire took the instructions from their AR-15 version and assumed you’d have that screw after removing the pistol grip, but a Ruger 10/22 doesn’t have a pistol grip or the screw. It resulted in the SlideFire being a little more wobbly than designed, but it still fire

An impressive shot by Jerry Miculek. I managed a 200 yd shot with my KRISS Vector carbine at a carbine class once, and that was tough.

Let’s make this clear, zoning is a real pain in the arse. Before I delve into the details, my BIG thanks to all the readers who sent in tips & tricks. I would especially like to call out Jesse, Jess, Ashley, Justin of Echelon Arms, & Bryan. Thank you and keep them advice coming!

For this installment, I will focus on overcoming two hurdles: my landlord and my city. Further, I will discuss how their covenants will choose my FFL type.

Example apartments from my complex.

The Lease:

Considering that I would be opening a business for guns (not your typical mail-order business

At the 2014 SHOT Show, Windham Weaponry introduced the VEX (Varmint Exterminator) Wood Stock line of rifles.  These rifles are designed for long distance accuracy and come with laminated wood furniture.

The Pepper is the first in the series.  It uses the same 20″ stainless steel barrel and matched bolts that are found in the existing VEX series of rifles.  The Pepper swaps out the modern looking furniture for a light and dark gray set of wood furniture for a more traditional hunting look.

The guns are gas impingement guns and run the same as pretty much the same as any AR-15.  The guns ship with a five round magazine, but will accept any standard mags.

• caliber:  .223 Rem (with

Sig Sauer recently announced on their Facebook page that they’ve started to ship their new SIG516 and SIGM400 Carbon Fiber rifles to their dealers. Both the SIG516 and SIGM400 rifles use free-floated carbon fiber handguards and come with a carbon fiber A2-length fixed buttstock. Both rifles also come with a 2-stage match trigger and 30 round Lancer L5 magazine. The SIGM400 is a direct gas impingement AR while the SIG516 makes use of a short-stroke gas piston system with a with 4-position gas valve. The SIG516 rifle (pictured above) weights in at 7.1 lbs without a mag and retails at $2,504. The SIGM400 rifle (pictured below) also weights in at 7.1 lbs without a mag and retails at $2,132.

The Herald Tribune gun blog reports that GLOCK 42 pistols have been experiencing barrel problems. “Barrel problems” caused by the weak .380 ACP cartridge are unusual. The shooter swears they were factory rounds (but don’t they all …).

What’s sparked my curiosity lately are reports of barrel problems.

One reader’s G42 shut down because of barrel damage. His dealer sent the barrel back to Glock.

The firm said the barrel was “damaged” by his ammunition, and that it would cost $125 for a replacement barrel – a fee the dealer paid.

Replacement barrels are 6 to 8 weeks away from arriving stateside …

“I spoke with a customer service person at Glock in Smyrna, Georgia and was informed that the barre

TFB’s staff scoured SHOTShow 2014 for all the latest, but the show is so big, something is bound to slip through the cracks. One such gem is the pictured Chiappa X-Caliber, the 12-Gauge version of Chiappa’s M6-22, a 20-Gauge replica of the Springfield M6, a .410/.22 over/under survival rifle for US Military air personnel.

The X-Caliber in 12-Gauge. Note the double triggers and picatinny rails.

The X-Caliber adds some noted improvements over the M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon, namely separate triggers for the shotgun and .22, enhanced trigger gua

Lew Horton Distributing Co, Inc. is now selling two special editions of the Kahr CW9 pistol.  The first features a blue slide and other metal parts.  The finish is PVD – physical vapor deposition.  PVD is a vacuum coating process that is provides additional wear and corrosion resistance in addition to the distinctive color.

The second Lew Horton Kahr is a commemorative handgun with ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ engraved on the slide.  Also engraved on the slide is a Spartan helmet and shield.  The slide is blackened and the engravings are plated with 24k gold.

Specifications:

• model # KACCW9093CSBL (blue metal), KACCW9093CSML (MOLON LABE)
• caliber: 9mm
• barrel:  3.6″
• overall length:  5.9″
• weight:  17.7 ounces
• magazine capacity:  seven rounds

After explaining that it would mean some extra income and getting me out of the house, I finally got approval from my wife to pursue an FFL. As I go through the process, I thought it would be beneficial to our readers to document my experiences and show that it will (hopefully) be a relatively easy process. The intent is getting a FFL (01) with a SOT (02) Stamp for Class III items.

Future TFB Class III reviews, anyone?

First and most important, a FFL is not to be solely for personal use. You must ”intend on engag(ing) in a firearms business” (i.e., buying, selling, and doing transfers). If the BATFE finds that the licence was used contrary to this requirement, the FFL is immediately forfeited and you can be subject to fines or worse. It is even on the FFL application:

The 10mm fans may be happy to hear they have another pistol option in their favorite caliber.  STI International is now selling the Nitro 10, a 1911-style pistol chambered for the 10mm.

According to STI, the company received many requests from customers to make a 5″ barrel version of the Perfect 10.  The Perfect 10 is a 1911-type pistol with a 6″ barrel and carries up to 17+1 rounds of 10mm.  In addition to the shorter barrel, the Nitro 10 also differs from the Perfect 10 in capacity:  only 8+1 rounds.

• caliber: 10mm
• magazine capacity:  eight rounds
• barrel length:  5.01″
• overall length:  8.77″
• weight:  38.9 ounces (unloaded)
• MSRP:  $1,514.00

MSRP on the Nitro 10 is $1,514.  The gun ships with Cocobola grips, STI fixed sights, a curved trigger and a high-ride beavertail grip safety.  Th

Looking to build the lightest AR-15 possible? Well this might be right up your alley. Aero Precision posted  a picture of their skeletonized AR-15 lower on their Facebook page to see how much interest there was in such a lower. It’s machined from 7075-T6 forged aluminum and will work with all standard AR magazines and components. How light is it? According to Aero Precision their skeletonized lower is just .357lbs vs .526lbs for their standard lower, a 32% reduction in weight. According to this Aero Precision product page they may retail for $150 if they actually make them. Aero Precision even posted a video of their prototype lower showing it functioning after being covered in gravel. Thoughts?

Noveske recently debuted their new TTI PMAG Base Pads for the Magpul PMAGs. Made by Taran Tactical Innovations, the new base pads are easy to attach with no special tools needed for installation. It features a one-piece design and is CNC machined from billet aluminum and has a hard anodized finish. The new base pads add a good amount of weight to the bottom of the mag making it easier for the mags to drop free for quicker reloads, the actual base pad weight isn’t specified however. The new base pads hold 35+1 rounds on the PMAG30 and 46+1 rounds on the PMAG40. They’re available in matte black, red and grey. Retail on them is $43 over at Shopnoveske.com, or $39.99 over at Tarantacticalinnovations.com.

A well placed source just told us that Colt* is buying LWRC for $60 million. The deal is supposed to close on 1 March. The Maryland company may relocate to Florida or Texas and the LWRC M6 Individual Carbine (M6IC) rifle will become a Colt branded product.

Richard Bernstein purchased LWRC in 2008 for $5 million. Bernstein, who is an owner and investor in a number of private businesses, has been involved in the defense industry for a while now. In 2004 he sold BAI Aerosystems to L-3 Communications (the manufacturer of EOTech Holographic sights). One of his companies was a supplier to LWRC before he purchased it.

Our friends at All Outdoors broke the news yesterday that LWRC was up for sale.

* I am not yet sure which Colt, Colt’s Manufacturing Company or Colt Defense LLC, is purchasing the company. I will endeavor to find out and update this post accordingly. 

Jon Stokes breaks the news at All Outdoor that LWRC is up for sale …

This past December there were rumors on AR15.com about a possible sale of LWRC to Colt. Apparently, any questions about a possible LWRC sale that were posted on the LWRC board were deleted by the mods within minutes, and in general there’s a sense that something’s up.

Now we can add more fuel to the fire with some new revelations. Recent inquiries from AllOutoor to LWRC regarding possible advertising and T&E rifles were met with some pretty bizarre responses, which stated that the company is currently prohibited from entering into any “contracts, obligations, or expenditures.”

Having sold a company myself before, I know exactly what the above means: it means that LWRC is almost certainly in the final stages of talks with a buyer.

My own enquires confirm what Jon has reported. The company is indeed up for sale (or has already been sold).

You might well think that the catastrophic destruction of firearms caused by shooters leaving their cleaning rods inside their guns was a rare occurrence, but you would be wrong. It happens far to often. These photos show what happens when a cleaning rod is left in a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle. A member of the SnipersHide forum reported that this KABOOM happened two benches down from him at the range. The shooter only sustained minor injuries. Two holes were punched in roof and pieces of the rifle were scattered around the range.

Crimson Trace has announced their latest line of “Clean Green” laser grips for 1911s and select modern handguns. The new grips feature power from 4 button batteries, bringing the system up to a full 12V for added brightness and longer battery life.

LG-637G, the standard Glock laser for all Gen 3 full-size models.

The 515nm laser is a prominently base green emitter, allowing Crimson Trace to avoid native “blueish” hues produced by other lasers that require filters to adjust back to green. These filters can reduce the intens

A reader writes …

The photo of the Nichols Guns & Pharmacy store that TFB posted on
Facebook reminded me of a crazy gun store that I came across a couple
of years ago!

In the Spring of 2011, a friend (a fellow TFB reader) and I were
driving south through Texas heading to a bachelor party weekend on the
coast. While passing through Schulenburg, TX, a sign for DOUBLE SHOT:
Liquor and Guns DRIVE THRU caught my attention, and we just had to
pull in and check it out!

Unfortunately, this creative business concept apparently hadn’t worked
out, and the business was already closed. I took the opportunity to
snap several cell-phone pics of the place, and had all but forgotten
about them until I saw the Guns & Drugs sign on Facebook today. A
couple of the better pictures are attached.

I figured the guys at TFB would get a kick out of this business too,