The LA Times reports that 16 year old Zac Sunderland, who is currently attempting to sail around the world alone, came across a suspicious ship while on his way to the Cocos Islands. What did he do? After calling his parents on the sat phone he pulled out a gun.
Why security firms are not being contracted to protect shipping in Somalia with arms, I will never know. The Somali government is in talks with a French private security contractor after negotiations failed with a shady US firm but if I were insuring these ships I would demand armed personal onboard or an armed escort.
Thanks to Charlie for the link.
Gun Pundit has some good shots of the German Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan sporting the G36 rifle.
Lots of photos here.
These photos are of a new Saiga 12 build. They were too pretty not to post.
Click to expand.
I really have got to get myself a Saiga 12.
More here.
Kent has started up a business selling cowboy style furniture. His first product for sale is a gun rack made with real spurs and real shot which he is selling for $85. He emailed me this photo:
Click to expand.
More info here.
(I am not way affiliated with his business and am not financially or otherwise compensated in anyway for posting this)
Sebastian, Snowflakes in Hell, breaks down MSBC’s attempt at a gun article.
But the semi-automatic ammunition used in one of the weapons
Sigh, while I get a laugh occasionally most of the time I get frustrated. In this age I find it hard to believe they cannot check their “knowledge” on google to ensure it is correct.
These run the end of the year.
Smith & Wesson
Through December 31, 2008, consumers will have the opportunity to take part in two promotions from Smith & Wesson – the Hunting Fall Spectacular and the Holiday Handgun Promo. During the designated months, consumers will be able to receive rebates or free magazines with the purchase of select firearms.
Hunting Fall Spectacular:
· Purchase a new Smith & Wesson Elite Gold or Silver shotgun and receive a free shotgun case
· Purchase a new Model 500 or 460XVR revolver and receive a $75 rebate
· Purchase a new i-Bolt™ rifle and receive a $50 rebate
· Purchase a new 1000 Series shotgun and receive a $50 rebate
Holiday Handgun Promotion:
· Purchase select J-frame revolvers and receive a $30 rebate
· Purchase select revolvers over $500 and receive a $50 rebate
· Purchase a new M&P pistol and receive a $50 rebate or two free magazines
· Purchase a new Sigma pistol and receive a $50 rebate or two free magazines
Thompson/Center Arms
Thompson/Center will offer new incentives this year as part of the Get in the Hunt Promo, which began October 1 and continues through December 31, 2008.
Get in the Hunt:
· Purchase any new Encore barrel and receive a $25 rebate
· Purchase any new Omega Z5 muzzleloader and receive a $50 rebate
· Purchase a select Encore Pro Hunter or Endeavor and receive a $50 rebate
· Purchase a new ICON™ rifle and receive a $50 rebate
Walther
Walther will begin its PPK & PPK/S Promotion starting October 7, 2008 running through January 7, 2009. During the three month long promotion, consumers will receive a $50 rebate or two free magazines with the purchase of a new Walther PPK or PPK/S pistol.
The latest Popular Mechanics (October 2008, Volume 185 no. 10) list 100 Skills Every Man Should Know. I was pleased to see no. 69 was “Shoot Straight”. Of course it is damn near impossible not to shoot straight, what they meant was shoot
accurately 
Other skills included teaching a kid to fish, destroying a hard drive with a drill and changing diapers.
UPDATE: Oops, Ride Fast & Shoot Straight points out that it is number 54 on the list online … I am pretty sure it was 69 in the magazine.
The BBC reports that the North Korean weapon purchases are up from $13 million, during the previous South Korea administration, to $65 million. Weapons are being supplied by China, Russia, Germany, the Slovak Republic and others.
While the supreme leader buys weapons and develops bombs the people are starving and the country relies of food aid.
“The report shows the North has developed its military capacity despite severe food shortages,” Mr Kwon told reporters.
He said more caution should be practised when providing aid to the reclusive, impoverished, communist state.
Ideally the South would like to keep the North fed and intact, to prevent a flood of 20+ million impoverished refugees, and also does not want aid turned into weapons. This is just not possible.
Click to expand.
These rifles were captured from the Georgians by the Russians and destroyed. I don’t know about the rifles in the photo but I know Bushmaster was supplying Georgia.
H/T: MP.net
Blaser have developed one of those customize-a-rifle flash tools. Very useful to work out how many of your offspring need to be sold to purchase a premium European rifle!
The interface could be improved, especially when you select incompatible options but it is still fun to use. Currently the R93 bolt-action rifle is supported with K95 single-shot rifle and the F3 over-and-under shotgun coming soon.
The legendary Mr. SMGLee has the scoop:
EOLAD2 on SCAR
EOTech with Laser Device laser build into one unit. IR and visible laser share the same battery as the EOTech 552 in order to minimize the package and also to cut down on weight.
The visible Laser is a 5mW unit with range for visible in low out to 450m in low light and about 30m in day light
The IR laser is a -25mW to -100mW unit with reach out to 2000m in high out put and 600m in low setting.
Added a recoil lug to the cross bar screw for better security on the rail.
Control are in the rear with individual windage and elev adjustments. power source are contolled via the remote switch leading from the bottom of the unit ot the side button build into the unit. a double click on either the remote switch or the side button will set the beam on continous mode.
…
The integrated unit was designed at the request of SOCOM, thus one of the EOLAD has the SOCOM designation. EOLAD-2 SOCOM, this is the highest priced unit within the line up.
The integrated unit has some good features, it takes only one battery source, it feeds off the two lithium AA in the 552. it is also more compact than say mounting a PEQ15 or the even bigger PEQ2. especially on a gun like the MK18 or the MP5s an d any gun with short rail real estate. it might be more effective by demo the sight on top of a gun like the HK MP7…
the control knobs are prety difficult to adjust, you would need a coin and the turns has very positive click, it would not be too easy bump out of adjustment.
The high-res photos are currently offline.
Remington will be upgrading the 3000 M24 rifles during 2009 at a cost of $3 million. I was quite surprised to hear this after all the noise about bolt action rifles not being good enough and that semi-automatic was the only way to go. The M24 Sniper Weapons System (SWS) is based on the Remington 700 rifle and chambers the 7.62×51mm NATO.
M-24 Sniper Weapons systems have been fielded to the U.S. armed services since 1987. Remington has been maintaining these weapons in Ilion, New York, and will be responsible for M-24 upgrades in the future. Remington’s proposal to upgrade the M-24 sniper rifle would save the federal government nearly $6 million dollars.
No word if the systems 10×42 Leupold Ultra M3A scope will be upgraded to something fancier and more expensive.
Hat Tip: Tactical Wire
Barrett has announced their new bolt action Model 98 Bravo .338 Lapua mag rifle. Barrett has a dedicated website for the rifle but is very light on details.
Tactical Weapons reports that is weighs in at 16 pounds (including scope and empty magazine) and will deliver 0.5 MOA at 800 yards. Not too shabby.
Defensive Review reports that it will feature an adjustable straight rearward pull trigger, 10+1 capacity and a 27″ 1:10 match grade barrel.
Those of you with a good memory will remember a previous .338 Lapua rifle from Barrett called the Model 98. This rifle is not based on that rifle, which was a semi-automatic.
The rifle will be available in 2009.
It will be very interesting to see how it stacks up against the incumbents: Sako TRG-42 and Accuracy International Arctic Warfare family of rifles.
Last year the Marines were testing the .338 Lapua TRG-42. I wonder if Barrett has their eye on the Marines.
UPDATE: Barrett have finally published info on the rifle:
MSRP: $4495
Weight: 13.5 pounds (6.12Kg)
Overall Length: 49.75” (126.36cm)
Barrel Length: 27” (68.58cm)
Twist rate: 1 in 10 Right Hand Twist
Scope Rail: 18.125” integral 1913 rail
Safety: Manual Reversible, thumb lever
Broken down
Some more photos (click to expand):
UPDATE: Photos taken by SMGLee taken at AUSA:
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