The Firearm Blog

[ I recently posted a request for advice on behalf of Y-Man. He listened to the advice and made the following modifications to his shotgun. You can read the previous article in The Saga of the Nigerian Shotgun series here. This is a guest post was written by Y-Man. ]

If you have been reading the blog over the past year you will have seen the incredible ingenuity he has demonstrated in Nigeria, where there exist severe restrictions on guns and ammunition. His previous exploits include Turning Birdshot into Slugs for Self-Defense and Fabricating a Shotgun Stock. ]

I ended up just going back to the basics: and worked on the Pistol-grip. I did not know it was made of a thick plastic that could be drilled, sawed, filed and even melted in some parts to fit.

1. I simplified everything: I just drilled a through hole in the pistol-grip, and filed the edges.

1. Through-hole was about 5mm in diameter.

2. I then got a strong “Y” Bracket made: out of strong but springy steel. I had nuts welded to hold the stock.

1. See the fitting of the bracket to the pistol grip: aligned with the through hole.

1. I put a bolt through to hold bracket, and used spring- washers to hold it. Then fastened grip to Shotgun.

1. Screw Stock to nut onto Y bracket. Note the lower bolt is on nut welded to the regular bolt that comes with the shotgun: the one that fixes the pistol grip (Or stock) to the receiver. I put a bolt there so that the Y-Bracket rests on top, and using a Zip tie: stops the Y-bracket (And Stock) from swinging or flexing upwards.

2. “Perfect” fit. Stock fits. Will later need a reduction in LOP: it’s about 15” right now.

1. Y-man’s “Top folder” below (Just kidding: I definitely would NEVER fire it like this: I would get a mouthful of felt!)

Thanks, ALL of you who guided me there: I will update you when I do some firing this weekend.

"H&K 4 LIFE" sent me photos of his uncles' tricked out Uzi machine gun (Class III). It looks like a lot of fun to shoot

Many thanks to "H&K 4 LIFE" and his uncle for the pics.

Dominique snapped these pics of Lone Starfield Products tactical shooting rests which were on display at the Tactical Evolution Expo and Conference‏. I know I do not need on, but I really want one.

Many thanks to Dominique for the photos.

This photo, which is purported to be real, shows a Ranger using the 7.62x51mm FN SCAR-H ( MK 17 Mod 0 ).

The photo is said to have been taken by Spc. Walter Reeves.

The semi-automatic civilian model is called the FN SCAR 17S and will be on sale early next year.

SCAR-H on display at Tactical Evolution Expo and Conference '09. Photo by Dominique

Thanks to jdun1911 and SaysUncle for the link.

Hat Tip: AR-15.com

PEO Soldier, the Army acquisition agency, have published a timeline showing the 62 ECP (Engineering Change Proposals) that have been applied to the M4 Carbine over the past 18 years¹. The original specifications called for 600 Mean Rounds Between Stoppage. The current reliability of the Carbine is over 3600 MRBS. COL Douglas Tamilio writes [PDF Link] ...

The Army is committed to continuous improvement in all of our weapon systems. For example, the reliability requirement for the M4 is 600 Mean Rounds Between Stoppage (MRBS). The demonstrated current reliability is over 3600 MRBS as a result of our continuous improvement program. To date there have been 62 improvements to the M4, which include improvements to the trigger assembly, extractor spring, recoil buffer, barrel chamber, magazine and bolt. The M249 SAW, the Army’s Squad Automatic Weapon, has a reliability requirement of 1200 MRBS and yet today demonstrates a reliability of over 23,400 MRBS.

M4 Evolution Timeline. Click to here to expand.

Yesterday I wrote about the next set of changes to the M4 that the Army proposes to make, which include adding ambi control, a piston and heavy profile barrel. Clearly the Army does not believe the M4 has reached the end of its useful lifespan.

It appears that the M4 replacement testing is over before it began and that any testing that does take place will be to pacify the congressmen and women who are calling for the M4 to be replaced.

Guy Sagi, Editor of the NRA's Shooting Illustrated, reported on his blog that the FBI have arrested five men who attempted to purchase 10,000 M4 Carbines as well as Stringer missiles. Terrorists, like children who play computer games, must also think it is "cool" to pack an M4. From the Justice Department press release ...

The complaint also alleges that Dani Nemr Tarraf conspired to acquire anti-aircraft missiles and conspired to possess machine guns. According to the complaint, in or about mid-June 2009, Tarraf asked whether the UC could supply guided missiles and told the UC that he (Tarraf) wanted the UC to export approximately 10,000 "commando" machine guns [Colt M4 Carbines with short barrels] from the United States. On or about July 28, 2009, in Philadelphia, Tarraf paid the UC a deposit of approximately $20,000 toward the cost of purchasing FIM-92 Stinger missiles and approximately 10,000 Colt M4 Carbines and shipping these items outside the United States.

I wonder where these men thought they would be able to source spare parts, magazines and ammunition once they had purchased the weapons.

Shotgun News magazine has published an AR-15 magazine torture test. The author, David M. Fortier, summarized the article on AR15.com ...

85 8.5 foot drop test. The Tango Down, PMAG and TAPCO all split down the spine.

Many more tests than these were performed. For the full write-up check out the Shotgun News article.

My thoughts:

PMAGs are very good, but not as indestructible as some think.

Aluminum mags are not as bad as some think.

You should consider checking out Lancer's mag.....they surprised me.

If MSARs mag dropped free they would be an interesting option.

Dropping mags onto cement is A LOT tougher on them then running them over with a SUV....

but all those videos from the various mag companies sure did work wonders for advertising didn't they.....

Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link.

UPDATE: The drop test was 8.5 feet, not 85 feet.

Michael Bane reports that Spike's Tactical will soon be selling machined billet AR-15 upper receivers.

The new receiver (pre-anodized). Photo from AR-15.com

Last weekend in Paris at the Milipol '09 defense expo Remington MDP (Military Products Division) were saying that the Remington ACR will go on sale in "the next month or so".

ACR on display at Milipol '09. Serial number: ACR00067.

The Bushmaster website still says it will go on sale in the first half of 2010.

It has been promised so many times before that I will only believe that it is on sale when it is on sale and not a moment before!

Many thanks to Aurélien for the tip.

I first wrote about the Remington MSR back in June. This photo, taken at Milipol 2009 expo in Paris, is the first "in the wild" photo I have seen of it.

Many thanks to Aurélien for emailing me the photo.