The Firearm Blog

Xavier has written about a guy to got his thumb blown off by a .460 revolver.

It is important, when firing a revolver, to keep all parts of your hand(s) away from the front of the cylinder. Explosive ignition gases exit the cylinder gap as well as the muzzle of the firearm when the cartridge is fired. This safety issue is sometimes illustrated by instructors who place a revolver inside a paper bag with the muzzle sticking out a hole in the bottom.

Xavier has also posted the photo of the thumb itself. It is not pretty.

More here.

Murdoc @ GunPundit found a photo of 3rd Infantry Division troops examining a pile of H&K MP5K briefcase guns presumably in Iraq.

I have always thought this type of gun would appeal to tin pot dictators like Saddam. Why not just conceal the MP5K under a coat and then have the advantage of sights, trigger control, quick magazine change etc.

More here.

There is in interesting discussion going on at the Castle Argghhh blog about the appeal of shooting. It is worth a read.

Mossberg have released a new lever action rifle, the 464. It comes in a rimfire (.22LR) and a centerfire (.30-30) model.

* Quality queues – Features a button-rifled barrel, recessed muzzle crown, top-tang safety, recoil softening rubber buttpad and a smooth, robust lever-action.
* Special Features – Precision machined receiver provides the 464 Lever-Action with positive lockup for consistent accuracy and long-lived reliability; ejection port developed and positioned specially to ensure proper scope clearance of spent cartridges.
* Drilled & Tapped – Centefire model includes factory drilled and tapped receiver for quick, easy optics installation.
* Capacity – Tubular magazine offers 6+1 capacity (centerfire) and 13+1 capacity (rimfire).
* Every 464 rifle includes a free gun lock and 2- year limited warranty.

The price for the centerfire will be around $473, no price available for the rimfire model.

Check out this auction. It has thousands of beautiful photos. I think all, or nearly all, come from one collection.

Daniel Fraser Miniature Double Rifle .22 Hornet


Franchi Model 1962 Semi-Auto Carbine 9mm


Smith & Wesson Mark I Light Rifle 9mm

Custom Martz Luger Carbine

Colt Model 1900 .38 ACP

This is what I want for Christmas

F636HT Heavy Duty Long Gun & Handgun System

This combination of features gives you an extremely active tank that has no dead or hot spots resulting in maximum cleaning capability for heavy duty use. This technology allows the user to clean and lubricate the field-stripped only firearms rapdily without using hazardous solvents or oils. Night sights, rubber grips and plastic frames are not affected by the process.

Gun capacity: [referring to the F636HT Heavy Duty Long Gun & Handgun System pictured above] Long gun system will fit up to 10 handguns or 4 long gun parts up to 35.5″ long. Great system for the gunshop gunsmiths or shooting ranges, law enforcement agencies and U.S. Armed Forces. Will clean/lube everything from derringers to belt fed MG’s.

Features: Enough adjustable heat for parkerizing & some bluing, extended rear flange for rack or lube pan, adjustable power and is ported for optional filtration system! Has two weapon racks and lube pan rack drip holder. Optional rolling stand and multi tank set ups available. Optional half-sized accessories allow simultaneous cleaning and lubrication for smaller parts.

And the cost …. $7100. For that price they should be able to handle wood as well!

More info here.

Hat Tip: gonzaleznj @ MP.net

The Box O’ Truth improved the accuracy of a Mosin Nagant by putting some cork between the barrel and stock.

But we decided we would try a trick we’ve had some success with in the past.

We decided to place a small piece of cork between the stock and the front of the barrel to put some upwards pressure on the barrel.

Sometimes this helps the barrel “settle down” and shoot better.

Read it here.

thepittsburghchannel.com has published an article on the increase in woman buying guns.

While there aren’t statistics kept on the number of women who buy handguns every year, if you ask just about any arms dealer, licensed instructor or law enforcement official, they’ll tell you handguns aren’t just for men anymore.

Instead of shopping or having lunch, some women take a shooting class at Anthony Arms in West Mifflin.

“There are so many acts of violence against women,” said Maureen LaBella, who is a nurse. “I think it’s not a bad idea to own a gun and know how to use it.”

More here.

ATI has some products to make your single shot Rossi or H&R rifle look more like an AR-15 patterned rifle.

Rossi Rifle Before

After

The above photo has the “Collapsible, six-position SHOTFORCE Buttstock with Pistol Grip and Forend Package is patterned after the Colt AR-15/M-4 style assault rifle.” installed as well as the Muzzle Mount, laser and heat shield. The Muzzle Mount is a fake muzzle break and does not extend past the end of the barrel.

Now I have no problem with people installing a pistol grip. If you prefer it ergonomically then go for it. But a head shield on a single shot rifle?

Serbu, makers of the BFB-50 single shot .50 BMG rifle and the Super-Shorty shotgun, announced that their semi-automatic .50 BMG rifle will be available sometime after July. I think they had it on display at SHOT.

The BFG-50A is a magazine-fed, gas-operated .50 BMG rifle. It takes standard 10-round M-82 magazines. It has a 3-lug rotating bolt, dual plunger ejectors, sliding plate extractor, hydraulic recoil buffer. The bolt locks into a barrel extension which is threaded to the barrel. The bolt lug and barrel extension locking surfaces are helical. The gas system is similar to that used on a Ljungman AG-42 or MAS 49/56.

As with our BFG-50 single-shot rifle, all our barrels are chambered with our own reamer design which allows surplus ammunition to be fired but gives far greater accuracy than can be achieved with barrels using a machine gun chamber. Barrel length: 26.0″, overall length: 52.5″. Rifle weighs 25 lbs unloaded. The BFG-50A uses a highly efficient 8-port “Shark Brake” muzzle brake. Barrel/barrel extension and handguard are removable to allow different barrel and handguard lengths and configurations.

In early July we’ll be delivering a small number of rifles to a very high priority customer and will be moving to full production shortly after that. Price is still expected to be right around $5000.

An early prototype

More here.

Taser recently announced a deal to sell 3000 M26 Tasers, an older model, to an undisclosed country. After a 30 second google search I guess it is Australia.

From CourierMail (dated January 29 2008):

POLICE will not say how many Tasers will be issued across the state after Police Minister Judy Spence brokered a deal with the controversial police union to provide one to every front-line officer.

I say three thousand. I don’t know they bother hiding these details in the information age.

According to the Motley Fool Taser increased is value on the stockmarket by $43 million on this deal which is worth only 1.2 million. The market sure likes Taser.

The older M26 model

Heres the thing, if you shoot an animal which protected by the state and is illegal to hunt, such as Australian crocodiles, don’t take photos of your trophy, especially when you are possessing the firearms illegally.

The utter incompetence of some people astounding.

More here.

Recently the NY Times made their entire archive freely available online. JoeSpareBedroom @ rec.guns came across an article written in 1914 that shows just how clueless the media has always been with regards to firearms.

Many of the wholesale killings in the South may be cited as indicating that accuracy in shooting is not interfered with–is indeed, probably improved by cocaine.”

Indeed! According to Wikipedia, as I have no first hand experience:

The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

I can only image what groups I would be shooting if I was experiencing the above!

A warning: the article, which as I mentioned before was written in 1914, contains many derogatory racial remarks, if this is likely to offend you then don’t read the article.

Thompson / Center Arms known for their single shot pistols and rifles launched two new Icon bolt action rifles, the Classic and Weather Shield.

Classic Walnut and Blued, 24″ Barrel, 44 3/4″ Overall, 7 3/4 lbs


Wether Shield Composite SST, 24″ Barrel, 44″ Overall, 7 1/2 lbs

The beautiful high grade walnut, the intricate checkering and ribbon detail, the integral Weaver® style scope mounts, the stylized interchangeable bolt handle, the sleek feel and superb balance all add up to one beautiful gun, but that’s not all.

There are so many technical, mechanical and performance-enhancing features on T/C’s new Iconâ„¢ that it can’t really be compared to other bolt actions. From the revolutionary Interlok Bedding Systemâ„¢ to the innovative T-Slot Extractorâ„¢, the Iconâ„¢ is the ultimate in accuracy, precision and reliability. The Icon comes chambered in popular calibers (22-250, 243, 308, and the new 30 TC).

The Icons rifles are factory certified to achieve at least 1 MOA accuracy.

It is good for consumers that TC Arms are increasing their line up of bolt rifles. TC is owned by S&W who have a very limited offering. Only two models of the i-bolt rifle chambered in only two cartridges, the .270 and .30-06. With Remington, Marlin, H&R and Bushmaster now all owned by the same entity, Cerberus, the more competition the better.

More info here.