The Firearm Blog

UPI reports that after a German news report H&K have cut ties with Blackwater. The report said Blackwater and H&K have a “strategic partnership” and that Blackwater employees have used H&K firearms. Blackwater offered some H&K training courses, still seen on their website, and it is hardly surprising that some blackwater employees were using H&K firearms.

Deutsche Welle said Tuesday that the revelations stirred criticism among some German politicians who said they were aghast at Blackwater’s controversial role in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It is scandalous and unacceptable that a German arms company cooperates with such a lawless mercenary troop,” declared Green Party lawmaker Hans Christian Strobele.

Hat Tip: Danger Zone.

The POF-USA P-308 is a interesting rifle. It is a gas piston operated rifle, based on the AR-10/AR-15 design and requires no lubrication.

14.5″ version

They achieve this by plating the upper receiver with silicon nickel and chroming and heat treating the bolt and carrier.

Upper receiver

Here is a video of it in action

In spite of its name, it is chambered in 7.62X51mm, not .308 (yes, there is a difference).

More info at POF-USA and Defense Review.

Graf & Sons and Hornady are now offering high quality ammo for military surplus rifles.

Calibers they offer:

• 6.5×52 Carcano
• 6.5×50 Japanese
• 7×64 Brenneke
• 7×57R Mauser
• .303 British
• 7.5×55 Swiss
• 7.65×53 Argentine
• 7.7×58 Japanese
• 7.92×33 Kurz
• 8×56 Hungarian.

More info here.

FN has created a photo gallery of the SHOT media day shoot with over 500 photos.

I spotted at least one blogger: Murdoc of GunPundit and Murdoc Online.

Hat Tip: Danger Zone

Joe Huffman has done a lot of research into microstamping. It is very interesting and has many photos.

More here.

Hat Tip: Say Uncle

Beretta have launched an interesting new shotgun, a break barrel semi automatic. Build for competition it only holds, unless I am mistaken, two rounds in a 1+1 configuration: one in the chamber, one in the side cartridge carrier.

Both rounds can both be seen when the barrel is broken.

This gives it many advantages over traditional double barrel shotguns:

• decreased recoil of the semi auto action
• a low set barrel which helps decrease muzzle jump
• the same point of impact for both rounds as each is fired out of the same barrel.

It also maintains the safety aspect of a double barreled shotgun. When it is broken it cannot be fired and both the magazine (side cartridge carrier) and chamber can be inspected.

Specs:

Gauge: 12
Cartridge Chamber: 2 ¾ in. (70 mm)
Operation: semiautomatic, with break-open barrel, short recoil
Locking System: elevated locking block
Receiver: light alloy
Barrel: three-alloy steel, fully chromed inside, Optima-Bore® profile
Rib: ventilated, removable
Safety: button-operated, on trigger guard; reversible for left-handed shooter
Weight*: 8.1-9.0 lbs (3.5-4.1 Kg)

It is currently available as a 30″ trap model. A sporting model in various lengths will be available in the future.

More info at here.

There is ‘big bore’ and then there is the 2 bore. Schroeder & Hetzendorfer make a cartridge called the S&H 2 Bore Blackpowder Express.

These photos are amazing

.700 nitro express next to 2 bore and 3500 grain bronze solid

.500 S&W, .45-70, .700 Nitro Express, 2 bore

The caliber equivalent of 2 bore (‘bore’ is generally interchangeable with ‘gauge’ in regard to caliber) is 1.326″ or 33.68mm! The bronze solid bullet weights 3500 grain / 1/2 pound / 226.80 grams!

While technically fired from a rifle these are more like massive shotgun slugs: a heavy projectile at a low velocity. The 2500 grain bronze solid leaves the barrel at 1500 ft/s and with 17487 ft·lb of energy.

Apart from the nerve destroying recoil, heavy rifle, heavy ammo and expense these big bullets slow down dramatically after entering the game and hitting bone. A problem when hunting elephant.

They even come bigger than this. The 1 bore has a caliber of 1.67″. The A Guage/Bore, about 2″, was used for punt guns.

More info at Schroeder & Hetzendorfer.

ACE has an interesting article on the 4 bore.

UPDATE

Jay Schroeder emailed me the pricing for for the brass and bullets:

Cartridge Cases are $495.00 per 10 pack shipped.

Copper FN Solids are $295.00 per 10 pack shipped.

All components are USA made by Americans from American material.

Although it may seem expensive, you are probably not going to purchase more than one set of brass.

Sean @ Everything Hunting has reviewed the Benelli Nova 12 Gauge Shotgun

The Benelli Nova 12 gauge shoots up to 3 1/2″ shells and cycles smoothly and with little effort. The pump handle is not loud and sloppy like most other shotguns priced just below this one.

The gun is very comfortable to handle and priced in a range that even poor folk like me can afford it with a little saving. Academy Sports has the black matte 20 gauge for $329.99… I believe that I paid about $350 for my 12 gauge, in Realtree APG, at Bass Pro Shop last year.

Read the review here.

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.