Archive for August, 2008

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Blog back online

The blog has been moved to the new server.

The server is a VPS (Virtual Private Server) which requires the entire server be setup by manually. There is a good chance I have forgot to configure something. I would appreciate an email if you find anything not working.

I do know about the problem with some characters not showing up correctly in the blog posts. I am working on that.

I was having a problem when some text was not being displayed correctly. If this is happening you to please email me when a screen shot. Below is a screenshot of the text before I fixed it.

The Firearm Blog

Different browsers / operating systems would be slightly different.

My email address is at the top of the left sidebar. Thanks for your help.

Posted by Steve on Aug 17th 2008 | Filed in misc | Comments (2)

Blog moving servers

I will be moving the blog to another server over the next few days. There will probably be some downtime.

Posted by Steve on Aug 15th 2008 | Filed in misc | Comments (0)

AR Five Seven: 5.7×28mm AR Upper

This is very interesting. A one piece 5.7×28mm modular upper that attaches to a AR-15 lower receiver and uses 50 round FN P90 magazines.

TrueWPN at AR-15.com took these photos. Click to expand.

Well this thing is interesting. Its a AR-15- PS90 cross bread. The one piece modular upper snaps onto any AR-15 lower. Allowing you to fire 5.7×28mm with the PS90 50 round mags. I added HK 416 rifle sights. I wanted to use the LaRue Tactical Aimpoint mount in the picture but I think the sight may stick out to far to mag change:( we will see. I just used a DPMS complete lower with a Magpul grip and stock. It has a right side charging handle. The upper and lower color match perfect. I am really impressed with the quality.

It still has the bolt open feature like the AR-15. It does utilize the buffer tube with the stock AR spring and a Heavy buffer that came with it. It ejects the spent cases through the mag well. I had a cheap 30 mag that was no good so I gutted it and cut the top off so it will work as a funnel for the spent cases. I purchased the Upper from www.HKSpecialist.net who shipped and I received it over night. Great guy to deal with. Unfortunately I can’t find them for sale anywhere else and I got the only one Gordon had left. The Manufacturer’s web sight is www.57center.com . I put 150 rounds down the pipe today after work with out a hitch. Really sweet accuracy at 50 yards open sights. And it was easy to engage multiple targets with no recoil throwing me off. I cant wait to put a optic on it. I am leaning towards a Aimpoint Micro T-1. Enjoy the pics…………………

 Albums C108 01Coltcolt Ar-57008
The 5.56mm AR magazine is not used.

 Albums C108 01Coltcolt Ar-57007

 Albums C108 01Coltcolt Ar-57004

These photos are from the 57 Center’s website.

Picture 13-13

Picture 8-18

Hat Tip: Defense Tech

Posted by Steve on Aug 12th 2008 | Filed in rifles | Comments (13)

Blackwater BW15 will come in 6.8mm and 7.62×39mm

Lee, a Blackwater armorer, emailed me some info on the BW15:

1.Yes we do offer the BW15 in more than just 5.56mm. As of now we are making them in 6.8mm and 7.62×39mm as well. The BW15 lower receivers are stamped Multi-cal.190Px-Blackwater Logo 2007.Svg-1

2.We are using out own receivers and each weapon is a matched upper and Lower receiver. All of the serial numbers begin BW.

3. As far the weapons shooting MOA, we use only the best barrels and the Armorer that builds the weapons also test fires it. I do believe that if we say that it will shoot MOA it will. But on the other hand what if the customer can’t shoot that well. Are we to take the weapon back? In case you did not know, everyone is an expert when to shooting.

4. Barrel lengths start at 16″. You can request a 14.5 with a pinned and permanently affixed flash hider to make total length overall 16″. We can have a custom barrel made to your specs (will take extra time POR). However if a customer wants a 18″- 26″ barrel we can accommodate.

5. All weapons have standard anodized finish. We are not doing any coatings at this time.

6. All weapons are shipped with 2 Magpul 30 round magazines and a lock.

Posted by Steve on Aug 12th 2008 | Filed in rifles | Comments (6)

Sako TRG spotted in South Ossetia

The photo below shows a couple of South Ossetia militia. The guy on the right is carrying a Sako TRG.

It is unlikely Finland would allow arms exports to South Ossetia. It was probably bought on the civilian market and then exported. I cannot imagine that South Ossetia would have many snipers so this is feasible.

Their squad sharpshooters (or whatever they call them in that part of the world) are probably using the SVD.

I cannot make out if it is a TRG-21 / 22 (.308 Win) or TRG-41 / 42 (.338 Lapua or .300 Win Magnum). I have never seen a photo of a 41/42 without a muzzle break, but I think the 21/22 can have the Sako TRG muzzle break attached, please correct me if I am wrong.

00Gtp4A5
Click to expand the image


H/T: MP.net

Posted by Steve on Aug 10th 2008 | Filed in military, rifles | Comments (11)

Wooden gun replicas

James found a webpage showing the wooden replicas made by Robert A. Talbot. They are amazing. They are made to scale
and “work” like the real thing. The only parts not made of wood appear to be parts that would be too weak.

Here are some photos of the peacemaker replica:

Talpeacemkr3

Talpeacemkr2

1956Prime2
The Peacemaker (from wikipedia)

More here

Posted by Steve on Aug 10th 2008 | Filed in misc | Comments (1)

Blackwater’s new AR-15: BW15

Blackwater announced that they will soon be selling AR-15s. Customers will choose what features they want and the Blackwater Armory will build it.

Picture 7-11
Blackwater BW-15

The public seemed poised to receive Blackwater’s new BW15 rifle after handling two samples that featured the Blackwater logo. “We’ve had a lot of people ask how they can get one, said Alan Alligood, Blackwater armorer.” Blackwater’s highly trained and ex-perienced armorers take the basic M4 to the next level by offering custom rifles that are built exactly to the customer’s wishes.

“We have a hard time helping people understand that we are not offering a line or series of guns. We build want they want. Each one may be different,” says Armory Chief Bill Kirkland. In a business where the firearms industry is saturated with variations and types of ARs, the BW15 represents a truly unique approach. The rifles can only be ordered through the Blackwater Armory, making them very exclusive and highly desirable.

I have emailed Blackwater for more information … lets see if they respond.

Posted by Steve on Aug 8th 2008 | Filed in rifles | Comments (5)

.22LR Tracers

Brasscasing spotted .22LR tracers being sold at Cabela’s ($109.99 for 250). I had no idea these were made.

Picture 5-10

I found a video of .22 Tracers being fired at flammable gas filled balloons:

Looks like fun. If I had some where to shoot tracers and they came in smaller quantities I would buy some.

UPDATE: ZerCool found that Cheaper Than Dirt are selling them in quantities of 50.

Posted by Steve on Aug 6th 2008 | Filed in ammunition | Comments (8)

Stoeger X Series air rifles

Benelli USA is now importing the Stoeger X Series air rifles.

The rifles come in a variety of models, finishes and scope options. They are all .177 in caliber and have a break barrel action.

Picture 3-14
X5: Scoped, hardwood, 16.5″ barrel.

Detail X20W Rear Sight
The “Made in China” is prominently displayed …

They have a nice website, although a bit flash heavy, with more info.

Posted by Steve on Aug 6th 2008 | Filed in air guns, rifles | Comments (12)

NSSF Running Full-page ad in three DC papers

Jim Shepherd @ The Outdoor Wire:

When Washington, D.C. residents open three of their local papers this morning, they’ll see a statement – and an invitation – from the firearms industry.

The Full-page ad, running in the Washington Post, Washington Times and The Hill tells residents, media members and the ever-present politicians about a firearms training opportunity put together by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade organization described in the ad as representing a “responsible industry”.

Download the full-sized ad here.

Nssf08004 Secamendad Wp2.Pdf (1 Page)

Posted by Steve on Aug 6th 2008 | Filed in news | Comments (0)

Nano tagging: You thought micro-stamping was bad …

We have a bunch of UK scientists to thank for inventing a way of trapping DNA on brass.

The tiny tags – just 30 microns in diameter and invisible to the naked eye – are designed to be coated onto gun cartridges. They then attach themselves to the hands or gloves of anyone handling the cartridge and are very difficult to wash off completely.

Crucially, some of these ‘nanotags’ also remain on the cartridge even after it has been fired. This should make it possible to establish a robust forensic link between a cartridge fired during a crime and whoever handled it.

To date it has been extremely hard to establish such a link because of the difficulty in retrieving fingerprints or significant amounts of DNA from cartridge surfaces, which are shiny and smooth. The nanotags, which are quite unlike anything previously used in the fight against gun crime, could therefore lead to a significant increase in successful convictions.

I can just imagine Californian politicians getting excited over this.

Hat Tip: Gizmodo

Posted by Steve on Aug 5th 2008 | Filed in ammunition, handguns, news | Comments (6)

Korobov TKB-022 experimental assault rifle

 Assault Tkb022 1
1962 model

guns.ru just posted an article on the Korobov TKB-022, an early bullpup assault rifle designed by Russian gun designer G. A. Korobov.

All weapons were tested by Soviet army, but turned down on unpublished reasons (most probably becuse the gun was simple too advanced for contemporary military thinking, but also possibly because no-one at the time could tell for sure if plastic housing would hold its integrity in extreme weather conditions or during many years of storage or use).

More here.

Posted by Steve on Aug 1st 2008 | Filed in rifles | Comments (17)

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