The Firearm Blog

The ENDO Tactical Stock Adapter Glock Edition (TSA-G) is an adapter that allows any AR-15 / M16 compatible stock to be attached to a Glock pistol.

Glock with Magpul UBR stock, 33 round magazine and sling.

The adapter can be easily attached and removed in about 30 seconds. The benefits of such a system are numerous. Even with the stock attached it is small enough to be carried concealed under a jacket – unlike a rifle or carbine. The stock improves accuracy by steadying the pistol against the shoulder. This also helps soak up recoil allowing faster followup shots.

The downside of such a system, for civilians, is that any pistol it is used with must first be registered as a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) with the BATFE. I am no expert, so don’t quote me, but my understanding is that carrying an SBR concealed, even without the stock, would not be allowed with a CCW permit in many, or all, states.

Another downside is the total cost of the weapon system. If we assume a new Glock 17 costs $500, then add $200 for the ATF stamp, $154.99 for the ENDO stock adapter and $60 for a Magpul MOE Carbine Stock, we get a total cost of 914.99! This is a lot more than a 9mm carbine such as the $400 Kel-Tec SUB-2000.

Cost aside, I really like the system. I don’t think there will be a shortage of enthusiasts who will be willing to pay. I expect ENDO will be marketing this heavily to Law Enforcement Organizations who carry Glock pistols.

The system is compatible with the G17, G22, G24, G31, G34, G35 and G18 (including the L, C and RTF versions).

On a side note, I am surprised by the attachment mechanism. A steel detent pin must be manually pushed through the pistol backstrap. Compared to the system used by the FAB Defense (Israel) stock which clips in, it takes longer to install and is more of a fiddle. I wonder if the clip system is patented.

The FAB Defense stock

The ENDO stock

A big thanks to Kevin for links and information.

THOR Global Defense Group have teamed up with EDM Arms to develop the THOR XM-Series, a take-down rifle chambered in the .408 Chey-Tac cartridge and based on the EDM Windrunner action. The .408 Cheyenne Tactical is a long range sniping cartridge that in terms of performance cuts the difference between the .338 Lapua Magnum and .50 BMG.

THOR XM-Series broken down


THOR XM-Series Assembled

Specs:

Weight: 26 lbs
Barrel: 30 inches
Twist rate: 1:13 twist
Magazine: 5 round capacity

MSRP is $7600. A .50 BMG conversion kit will be made available for the XM.
The THOR Nemesis MKV-NV is a very sleek looking Swiss made rifle that will be available chambered in .50BMG, .416 Barrett and .460 Steyr rifle.

.50 BMG THOR Nemesis MKV-NV

The Nemesis features a very long top rail and is designed to be able to handle any combination of optics that an operator may wish to use. Two smaller rails are up front in the 3 and 9 o clock positions (handguard are installed on them in the above photo) and long rail is at the 6 o clock position.

Presumably to aid in transportation, it will be available in a 15″ barrel! Ever heard of a .50 BMG Short Barreled Rifle? Me neither!
Specs:

Weight: 22 – 33 lbs
Barrel: 15″ (!!!) – 33″
Magazine: 5 round capacity

Currently THOR predict that the MSRP will be around $11,000-$12,000.

Steyr Arms is now importing the original AUG A3 scope. The scope has a magnification of 1.5x and an objective aperture of 14mm.

On their website Steyr state that it has a “Crosshair/crosshair” reticle. I think this is a typo. I doubt they would have changed it from the military circle / crosshair configuration. The circle is sized so that a man sized object fits inside it at at 300 meters. UPDATE: Steyr have confirmed that it is indeed a circle/crosshair reticle.

AUG A3 with scope mounted (rifle is the Austrian-made military version)

It is not cheap at $799, but is probably as tough as nails.

UPDATE: Steyr have told me that Swarovski Optik no longer make their scopes.

This animated GIF gave me a really good laugh. Sven says it is from a 1990′s 1980′s South African comedy.

Suburban has info on Anvil Arms AR-15 Lower Sale.

Caleb has reviewed the Daniel Defense’s new DDXV Carbine and finds, like Mark Twain, rumors of their demise have also been greatly exaggerated.

It’s built right, and it’s built to shoot. From the factory you get an accurate, functional rifle with excellent iron sights – you don’t need to do anything to this rifle to make it an excellent home defense carbine. It terms of “no-muss no fuss” defensive weapons, the DDXV does very well for itself, providing an accurate, lightweight platform at a reasonable cost.

Mrs Caleb also got a turn with it.

Read the whole review at Gun Nuts.

Watch the below video then vote.

It is all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

Thanks to Jeff for finding the video.

Accurate Shooter reports that hunting and shooting equipment sales are on the rise

You’d never know it, given the way the mainstream media portrays the shooting sports, but hunting/shooting is more important, from an economic standpoint, than golf, tennis, bike-riding, or just about any recreational sport you can name. Americans spent $4.6 Billion on hunting and shooting sports equipment in 2008, a 16% rise from 2007. Yep that’s “B” for Billion.

Read more at Accurate Shooter

No gun bloggers that I know were spreading rumors about Daniel Defense, and I read a lot of gun blogs, so I am annoyed that we get the blame.

UPDATE: Soon after posting this I received Jim Shepard’s newsletter with an apology for his misuse of words.

Having heard from a couple of bloggers yesterday, I am going to plead guilty to an inexact application of the word “blogosphere”. Some of the very people I’ve characterized as the future of communications feel – justifiably – that I’ve tossed them under the proverbial bus recently.

That’s not the case. What I have done is use a term of art (blogosphere) as shorthand for all the myriad of internet communications. When I received nearly 100 emails and forwards of excerpts of a single report – and dozens of associated rumors- regarding Daniel Defense, I wrote that the “blogosphere was roiling”. A more accurate depiction would have been “rumors have been flying regarding Daniel Defense across the internet”. It was an unintentional shot at a group of individuals who I really do regard as integral parts of information distribution.

Several of the bloggers have called me to account on this one – and I have to plead guilty with a stipulation. It was inexact word usage, not intentional criticism. Calling me out on this one actually makes me feel better about accuracy in new media. Now, if I could only get someone in “old media” to take offense when I accuse them of unbridled bias….

Thanks Jim! I appreciate the apology and I am sure all the other gun bloggers do as well. It takes a real man to admit to a mistake.

Until recently you did not have many options if you wanted a bolt gun chambered in 7.62x39mm. In the United States the most readily available gun was the CZ 527 Carbine and Remington Model 799, in Canada it was the Norinco (Chinese) made rifle (I forget the model name).

Then earlier this year Ruger came out with the M77 Hawkeye Compact, chambered in 7.62x39mm, and I applauded their efforts. I just learnt from Michael Bane that FNH USA have a new bolt action rifle called the TSR (Tactical Sport Rifle) and, you guessed it, will be available in 7.62x39mm!

FN TSR USA

FNH owns Winchester Arms and manufactures all the Model 70 rifle actions in its South Carolina plant, so naturally the rifle is based on the famous action. The rifles feature:

* The new Tactical Sport Trigger ( factory set at 3.75 lbs )
* Hogue rubber stock with full aluminum bedding block
* Fluted barrel
* One piece picatinny rail

There are two models, each available in a variety of chamberings. The FN TSR USA has an Ultra Short action ( 5.56x45mm, 7.62×39 ), 20″ barrel and hinged floorplate magazine. The FN TSR XP has Short Magnum action ( 308 Win., 300 WSM), 20″ or 24″ barrel and a floorplate magazine for the .300 WSM rifles and a detachable box magazine for the .308.

It is great to see another company recognize the potential of the 7.62x39mm as a sporting round in bolt rifles. It also allows the owners of SKS and AK type rifles ammunition parity with a bolt gun. It is just a pity they are not offering a detachable magazine model in 7.62x39mm. Hopefully this will be offered in the future, although for hunting this is not that much of a big deal.