Have a very merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!
A big thanks to all those who have helped me with the blog, my readers especially those who have posted comments on the blog and to all my fellow gun bloggers.
I hope blogging next year will be as fun as it has been this year.
A vaguely seasonal image.
I will probably take a break from blogging until 2 January 2009.
See you all next year.
B.B. has written a very interesting post about a working replica of an outside lock air rife. This type of air rifle was made between 1600 and the mid 1700s. It is called an outside lock because the firing mechanism is literally on the outside of the action.
Instead of knocking open a value with a hammer and instantly releasing gas when the trigger is pulled, a cam is used to time the release of the gas. It creates a very effective system, although to take advantage of the slow release of gas a 32 3/4″ barrel is needed.
I highly recommend this article.
The problem with blogs is that shortly after something interesting is posted it is moved to the dusty archives in the recesses of the blog and only ever uncovered by the occasional google visitor. I came across, courtesy of google, a series of articles at SaysUncle on building an AK all the way from a flat receiver which was written before I started reading gun blogs.
The start of the project. From Part 1.
If you missed this series back in 2005 I highly recommend having a read of it.
Jennersen has just started down the homemade AK path and is blogging his progress. Expect some interesting posts from him in the future.
Zack @ The Next Chapter has reviewed his 1967 .380 ACP Walther PPK :
Suppose that I did not own this PPK; some might ask if I would I run out to purchase a Walther PPK over all other handguns available for home defense or concealed carry. No, I probably would not, but I certainly would not fault anyone who did choose one; the PPK is a fine little pistol.
More here.
Dennis @ Mister Mills is without doubt a man who loves his revolvers:
This is a tip of the hat to a couple of the best guns you can find.One is a work of art and the other is a working horse of a gun.
He has info and lots of photos of the S&W “Combat Masterpiece” and the Ruger GP-100 here.
S&W Model 15. Beautiful grips
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Murdoc @ GunPundit reports:
Since there has been a rash of weapons related incidents recently, the Provost Marshals Office has made it a priortity to emphasize safety among the Marines, Sailors and civilians aboard the Tri-Command area.
According to Randy Walz, the services officer with PMO, numerous weapons to include a Russian AK-47, rifles, shotguns, assorted ammunition and large knives were confiscated during the past weekend.
Photos of the confiscated guns at GunPundit.
Gordon @ The Shootist has reviewed the Crimson Trace Ruger LCP trigger guard laser sight.
And now, Crimson Trace has assured the LCP of iconic status by designing an innovative laser sight that clips on the front of the trigger guard, altering the outline of the gun only slightly, and adding practically nothing to its weight.
Using the laser sight and a slow measured fire, I was able to drop three 8-inch plates in six shots with the LCP at 20 feet. With an 8-pound, safety-conscious trigger pull, I was plenty proud of the accomplishment.
Read the full review at The Shootist
The FN IAR is based on the SCAR. It has a rate of fire of 650 RPM and weights in at 10.4 lbs.
FN IAR. Click to expand.
One very interesting features is that it switches automatically from closed bolt to open bolt depending on the chamber temperature. From FNH-USA:
Today FN offers the new Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR), a unique, highly-adaptable, modular selective fire weapon system that fills the roles of both individual battle rifle and squad automatic weapon in one light, compact package. The magazine-fed FN IAR is capable of firing from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and fully-automatic modes, yet automatically transitions into open-bolt operation in semi-automatic or fully-automatic before reaching cook-off temperature for a chambered cartridge.
I do not think the temperature switch would be electronic. Most likely there is a piece of metal that expands when heated and causes a switch from closed to open bolt.
Again, a bit thanks to Daniel Watters for pointing this out to me.
It looks like the Marines have narrowed down the search for the Infantry Automatic Rifle to four designs from three manufactures:
Colt was awarded two contracts worth up to $14 million apiece: M67854-09-D-1035 and M67854-09-D-1036.
FN was awarded one contract worth up to $27.9 million: M67854-09-D-1037.
HK was awarded one contract worth up to $23.6 million: M67854-09-D-1038.
I have covered on of the Colt IARs and the FN IAR. The HK IAR is apparently a heavy barreled HK416 with bipod and standard closed bolt operation.
The contracts represent the maximum potential amount the manufacture will receive if all 6500 IAR rifles are ordered from them.
According to HK_PDX each company will now supply 10 sample rifles for the final trial.
Once again it looks like the small guys have missed out.
A big thanks to Daniel E. Watters for the research he did for this post. He knows all the ins and outs of military contracts, something I am ignorant of.
Continue Reading »
You were warned … This is the Frankenstein’s monster of early 20th Century American arms:
An M103 Springfield in an SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) configuration presumably converted to .45 ACP with a 1911 pistol grip being used as the magazine well.
It is hideous. Something only its mother could love!
Hat Tip: Хроники безумного Макса
