The Firearm Blog

Yesterday, on his 90th Birthday, Mikhail Kalashnikov was named "Hero of the Russian Federation". This award is the highest that can be bestowed on an individual by the Russian president. Kalashnikov has previously twice been awarded Hero of Socialist Labor that, which along with Hero of the Soviet Union, was replaced by Hero of the Russian Federation in 1992.

The Associated Press reports:

"Age is not significant. I have plenty of life left in me. But still, this is a special date and it needs to be celebrated," the white-haired inventor said in remarks broadcast on Russian television.

Kalashnikov, whose tie was decorated with a metal pin shaped like an AK-47, smiled and read patriotic poetry to journalists in Izhevsk, his hometown located 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) east of Moscow.

A fine award for a great man.

Many thanks to Morten for the link.

[ I am pleased to present this guest post was written by Bill Lester.]

I've been a revolver guy for most of my twenty-eight years as a shooter but have had a love/hate relationship with small frame .38, .357 and .44 wheelguns for longer than some of you may have been alive. They're great from a concealment and reliability standpoint but are somewhat lacking in ammo capacity and shootability. In the wake of the terrible Omaha Nebraska mall shooting a couple years ago, I began to think about getting a CCW with increased capacity compared to the snubbies I usually carry. What if I needed to lay down a few rounds of suppressive fire to allow my family to escape danger? A five shooter doesn't leave much capacity for that. But I still needed something small enough that I had no good excuse not to carry in with me at all times. The homework began and I settled on the subject of this post, Kel Tec's P-11 in 9x19mm.

Overall dimensions of the P-11 are essentially the same as a S&W J-frame with 2-in. barrel and neoprene boot grips. Loaded weight is about 21 ounces. Depending on which magazines you have, capacity is 10 or 12 rounds plus one in the chamber. That's quite an improvement over a small frame .38! The P-11 will also accept even higher capacity magazines intended for the service-size S&W 5900-series pistols, although concealment suffers because the mags stick out from below the grip frame. You could carry a flush fitting Kel Tec mag in the gun with reloads using larger S&W mags to maximize both concealment and firepower. The P-11 disappears in a pocket holster and cargo shorts. Carried in a belt slide, the pistol's minor dimensions make it easy to forget you're armed.

The P-11 is true double action only (DAO) and will give you a second strike on stubborn primers. I personally believe this is an overlooked advantage compared to many other autoloaders. Over the years I've experienced a few light primer hits and in every instance they ignited with a second strike of the firing pin. If it would occur again during a defensive shooting, which do you think will be faster - pulling a P-11's trigger again or racking the slide on other designs without second strike capability? Something to think about.

How does the P-11 shoot? In my opinion, very well for such a small handgun. The target shown above consisted of the last seven rounds I had on my first range session with the pistol. Ammo was WWB 147-grain JHP. I fired using an Isosceles hold with the target 20 feet away. The flyers at one and eight o' clock are a common phenomena with this pistol. Regardless of the specific load used, a couple of shots out of every magazine usually end up straying from the rest. Nevertheless, group size is still smaller than my hand at a distance greater than many rooms measure in length. That's plenty accurate enough for my needs. There are 700-750 rounds through my P-11, consisting of WWB 115-gr. FMJ's, 115- and 147-gr. JHP's, Federal 115-gr. JHP's, Remington-UMC 124-gr. FMJ's and Black Hills 115-gr. +P JHP's. Some people have complained that their Kel Tec pistols are less than fully reliable out of the box and recommend a so-called "fluff n' buff" to improve function. I've experienced no malfunctions of any kind and have done nothing to my pistol except clean and lubricate it.

Felt recoil and muzzle lift are quite comparable to what you'd experience with a steel 5-shot .38 using +P loads. The P-11 isn't the kind of handgun you'd want to shoot all day but it isn't going to draw blood either. The only real discomfort I've experienced was after installing a factory magazine extension. There is a small gap between the bottom of the mag body and the extension. Under recoil, I experience an unpleasant pinch after firing 8-9 consecutive rounds. Overall control is improved somewhat using the mag extension, so there is some gain for the pain. A definite plus for guys like me with meaty hands, the P-11's recoiling slide doesn't bite the web between thumb and forefinger. That's more than I can say for the majority of small autos I've fired.

Overall I think the Kel Tec P-11 is a real winner in the small CCW category. It's easy to conceal, provides a substantial number of ready rounds, and has proven to be both reliable and accurate. With suggested retails starting less than $350 for a blued slide example like mine, how can you go wrong?

[ I am pleased to present this guest post was written by Adam. ]

Few people would claim to find the sound of automatic weapon fire comforting. To me, it signals the beginning of the bi-annual Knob Creek Machinegun Shoot in West Point, KY. This festival of gun enthusiasts brings out some of the most varied and exotic hardware you will ever see, and, if you’re lucky, get to handle. For the newcomer, it can be a bit overwhelming, so I’ve compiled a short list of tips to get you through the weekend.

Taken by Oleg Volk at a Knob shoot earlier this year.

Tip #1: Bring your walking shoes (or boots if it’s been raining)

In addition to the shoot there is also a large vendor section. After three trips through at an hour plus a piece, I could still stumble across something new. When an MP5 starts to look mundane, turn a corner and you’ll find an FN SCAR, or a Kriss sub-machinegun. Of course, don’t forget to make a trip down to the lower range for the jungle walk and machine gun rentals, which leads me to my second tip.

Tip #2: Bring a bag full of money

The phrase “ammo shortage” seemed like a distant memory when you took a look around the vendor area. Reloading supplies, cases of ammo, and all the black rifles, which were oh-so-scarce a few months ago, littered the tables. If it weren’t for some semblance of self control on my part I could have emptied my checking account in minutes walking away with enough rifles and ammo to last me for months.

Assuming you don’t spend all of your money with the vendors, there is no quicker way to turn Benjamins into fire and noise than the machine gun rentals on the low range. Where else would yours truly get his hands on an H&K UMP to let off some steam with? The smart money is on the jungle walk though. Thirty-five dollars buys you an Uzi, two 20 round magazines, and a forest full of evil communist steel plates that need dispatching. I did it in 3:23 and 15/18 targets, not bad for a newbie.

Tip #3: Bring earplugs . . . and ear muffs

Guns are loud, so it stands to reason nearly one hundred people in a line discharging automatic weapons, at barrels full of TNT and diesel is extremely loud. Some might criticize you for your choice in ear protection; but trust me, you can enjoy the shoot just by the concussion you feel in your chest and the fireballs that accompany the aforementioned explosions. Plus you’ll want to watch it again, and it’s not as fun with a headache.

The idea of a Mecca for your hobby can be overused, but this is unequivocally a necessary lifetime experience for the gun-nut in all of us. Whether it’s your first time, or your tenth time, pack up your bags, and head on down for some good ole Kentucky hospitality. At the end of the day when your walking back to your car and you hear the echo of machinegun’s off in the valley, you’ll understand that comforting feeling, that at least for one weekend and in one place, people are still exercising their God given right to blow the hell out of stuff.

[ I am pleased to present this guest post was written by Bill Rushmore. Bill blogs over at The Quarterdeck Log. Bill also wrote the guest blog post The Beretta Folding Shotgun]

Earlier this year I decided I wanted get involved with shooting the shotgun sports. My sportsman's club had a monthly informal trap shoot which got me hooked. On my last guest post I blogged about the only shotgun I owned at the time. My sportsman's club shot doubles so a single shot was going to cut it. I really needed something that could at least fire two shots. The problem was I didn't have the money to spend on a sporting shotgun or really know what kind of shotgun I wanted anyway. As a stop gap I dug out from my Dad's basement my late grandfather's double barrel.

That shotgun of my grandfather's was a Stevens 311A in 16 gauge built in 1951. A true classic American side by side and quite popular, since back then a side by side was the shotgun for the common man. The 311A was just one example of a family of double barrels that Stevens made from 1877 to 1988. It's what is consider a “utility grade” shotgun. So it is very simple with no checker or engraving and a trigger for each barrel.

This particular shotgun sat for decades right next to my grandparents back door to protect the garden, the chicken coop, or the home from two or four legged thieves. It saw little (if any to be honest) maintenance. So when I rescued it from my dad's basement I was a little concerned if it would actually work. The finish on the stock was completely shot but the there was only some minor rust on the barrels with only some very minor pitting in one small spot. Some Hoppe's No. 9 and it was back in business and in good working order. It was quite a surprise really, a testament to Stevens quality from the 1950's.

To be honest I wasn't really all that excited about the double barrel at first. It wasn't because it wasn't a true trap gun. The trap shots at my sportsman's club are pretty informal and about 90% of the participants use Remington 11-87's. But come on, a double is Elmer Fudd's gun or what farmers shot rock salt at trespassers with right? Plus I was concerned about fumbling with two triggers or dealing with lopsided recoil. But my fears were unfounded. That old shotgun shots real nice. Although selective triggers would be better the double triggers are quite natural when it comes to follow up shots. I am still just a beginner so I doubt it matters if would use a dedicated sporting shotgun or this until I get the hang of shooting clays. I am also now a fan of the 16 gauge. At one point it looked like this guage was on the endanger species list but I think it is here to stay for the time being. I found the recoil not bad yet it still gives a decent punch in a light weight gun.

After a few trap secessions I grew attached to my grandfather's old double so I figured I would try to bring it back to life. I am certainly no expert gunsmith but I figured it would be hard to make it worse that it was so. So I picked up a blueing and stock finishing from Birchwood Casey at the local sporting good store. The kits come with detailed instructions. Anyone who passed wood and metal shop in school has the prerequisite skills (i.e. its pretty easy.) Since this the first time I did anything like this there are a few details that aren't perfect but at arms length it looks like a new shotgun. My intent wasn't to restore it back to its original condition so it could be hung up on the wall as a decoration but it bring it back to life for use in the field. What better way to honor my grandfather's memory than to enjoy his old shotgun hunting with my dad and my sons like generations have been before us.

[ I am pleased to present the first post in the series of guest posts that will run for the next couple of weeks. This post was written by Aaron Spuler. Aaron also wrote the Kel-Tec PF-9 Review guest post. ]

This was an old IBM T41 (15" screen) that my brother had. It started having blue screen errors and then whenever it connected to the internet, it immediately shut down (sort of like if it didn't have a battery and the power cord was yanked out of the wall). So a friend and I decided to 'fix' it on Saturday. We used a combination of 22LR, 380ACP, 9mm, and 45ACP pistols. The range to the target was 45 feet. Yeehaw.

I put three rounds of 380ACP through the screen at 45 feet...

If you look closely at the top left and top right corners, you can still see the Windows desktop...

We then took out the battery and really started to pound on it...

Then we laid it on its back and took some shots at the bottom...

A view of the back of the screen...

We threw some 22LR into the mix...

At the end of the two hour shooting session...

No wonder it would shut off when connecting to the internet -- it had a faulty network card...

The mouse touchpad doesn't seem like it will be working again anytime soon...

Good luck typing anything on this keyboard...

A close-up of the bottom...

And one of the top...

Ken Nelson, who wrote the recent guest blog post about Atlantic Arms, has a son who has just completed the Army Marksmanship Unit Junior Shooter Camp. He has blogged about the experience ...

Here is an idea…. take 50 junior practical shooters, put them with six of the best practical shooters in the world, mix in the man who has dominated practical pistol shooting for the last 30 years, give their parents something interesting to do, and and then teach them. What do you get? Something awesome called the “MGM Targets / Army Marksmanship Unit Junior Shooters Camp”.

It is well worth a read.

The 9mm compact Glock 19 and .40 S&W compact Glock 23 will both be offered with the Rough Textured Frame (RTF2). This frame does not replace the standard Glock frame, better known as the 3rd Gen Frame, on the G19 and G23, but will be available as an option.

From the press release:

The G19 and G23 are two of the most popular GLOCK models. The G19 9x19 compact is widely used all over the world. In addition, the G23 in .40 caliber is quite popular with both law enforcement and private individuals as a back up or concealed carry firearm. Adding the RTF2 finish to these compact models increases the options for law abiding

individuals and organizations. Along with the new RTF2 finish, each of these GLOCK pistols have the same time tested "Safe Action" system, durable exterior finish, cold hammer forged barrel, durability, reliability, and light weight that GLOCK is famous for.

Glock G22 .40 S&W with RTF2 frame. © Ken Lunde. Used with permission.

The first RTF2 pistol, the G22 RTF2, was unveiled in January after much speculation. This was followed a few months later by the G17 RTF2.

[ I am pleased to present this guest post written by Ken Nelson, who blogs at his self-title blog Ken Nelson ]

My 12 year old son and I are in Georgia this week to attend the Army Marksmanship Unit Junior Shooter Camp.

Today, he and I visited Atlanta Arms & Ammo in Social Circle, GA. I needed .40 ammo for a training class I’m having on Friday, and they graciously agreed to show Brian & I around their plant.

If you reload then you know how frustrating and fussy reloading machines can be. Just imagine a shop filled with these:

Note that these are inline not rotary. Also everything is automatic. The only thing the operator needs to do is keep the primer rod full. They have a machine which fills the rod, the operator has to switch in a new one over every few hundred rounds.

Each of these machines makes about 60 rounds a minute, there were about 15 stations. So you do the math

Each machine, which they generally buy used, costs $10,000 to $12,000. They then add customized switches and electronics to test that the machines are operating correctly. For instance the case sizer has an air line to it, if air slips out there is no seal and a switch goes off and drops out the bad round. Pretty slick!

As you can imagine they use a lot of bullets. And primers, which they also buy in 5 gallon buckets. They buy new brass, but also get a lot of once fired brass that they prepare in a whole another assembly line, including a system of brass sorters they designed themselves and that are quite clever.

Here is a front on view of an ammo making station:

To the left is a bucket of bullets, at top are brass and bullet feeders. The slender metal tube in the middle is the primer feeder. The machine at far right is a primer filler tube filler. Moving that filled tube to the machine is the only manual step and is done every few hundred shells. The black box with switches is the custom QA monitor they have tied to checks they’ve built in the machine.

After the ammo is made it goes in for polishing and then into a vibrator that gets them heavy (bullet) end up:

and are then hand packaged using a series of steps that flip them in a special die until all are facing the right way:

The elite shooters of the United States use their ammunition, including the Army Marksmanship Unit.

If you are looking for excellent ammo, made by a group of top notch and friendly people then Atlanta Arms & Ammo is for you. As we left our guide stressed that today, in these high reloading component cost times, in many cases they can get ammo to competitive shooters for about the same as reloading. Similar price… and I don’t have to spend hours running a reloader? Or pull my hair out when it doesn’t work? Sign me up!

Many thanks to Danny at Atlanta Arms & Ammo for setting up our tour. And to Kim for being such an agreeable and friendly host.

[ I am pleased to present this guest post written by James A. Zachary Jr. James blogs at The Next Chapter ]

Norm Flayderman’s Guide says that Williamson Derringers have serial numbers running into the 20,000 range but speculates that the Moore Patent Firearms Company / National Arms Company produced fewer than 10,000 of these pistols from 1866 – 1870. The subject of this post has serial number 10621. Perhaps unique to this Williamson are the decorative rhinestones, the heart inlays, and an Ace of Hearts playing card engraved on the backstrap. Further, there is a treaded-plug in the butt of the grip; I have not seen this on any other Williamson Derringer. I would be interested to hear any ideas on what its purpose may be. Someone suggested that it might be for mounting the derringer as a “burglar trap” with the trigger wired to a doorknob.

David Williamson’s design adhered to the aesthetic lines of the original Henry Deringer pistols but he decided to fill a niche market created during the period of transition from ball and percussion cap pistols to those designed to fire metallic cartridges; his derringer would be able to function with both. If .41 rimfire cartridges were not readily available, a reusable metal cartridge adapter allowed the use of loose black powder with a lead ball and a percussion cap.

The pistol requires no adjustments to switch between the ball-and-cap adapter and the .41 rimfire cartridge. During rimfire cartridge ignition, as you would expect, the extended blade firing pin on the hammer strikes the rim of a chambered .41 cartridge. When using the cap-and-ball adapter, the flat of the hammer whacks the percussion cap that is on the nipple of the adapter. The cap nipple, which extends into a hole in the breach when the barrel is closed, keeps the hammer from going forward far enough to damage the extended blade firing pin which otherwise would slam against the adapter’s rim.

To load the Williamson Derringer, first pull the hammer back about one quarter of the way until it clicks into its safety position, then push up on the barrel release lever that is on the underside of the pistol (just in front of the trigger guard) and slide the barrel forward. Insert either a .41 rimfire cartridge or the cap-and-ball adapter (after first charging it with ball and powder; it is probably best not to cap the nipple until after the load is in the barrel chamber). Slide the barrel back to the closed position and you are then ready for an 1866 night out on the town.

Grant Imahara posted this photo on twitter of Mythbusters co-host Kari Byron.

Looking hot (in both meanings of the word)

I really hope this means the mythbusters are going to prove that .50 BMG rifles cannot shoot down a Boeing 747 cruising at 35,000 feet at a speed of 555 mph

Can anyone identify the bullpup, possibly single action and probably .50 BMG rifle? The first thing that popped into my mind was "Steyr" but the only similar looking gun that Steyr ever made was the Steyr AMR / IWS 2000 prototype. Maybe it is a custom stock?

UPDATE: Daniel points out that Kari's rifle seems to be a Maadi-Griffin single shot - I agree.

Hat Tip: Crunchgear

Thanks to mrsatyre for the link.

UPDATE: More pics from the show. Thanks to James for the links.

From Left: Sako TRG-48 in .338 Laupa Magnum, Maadi-Griffin .50 BMG, Barrett 99

Myth: Are phone books good for vehicle armor??!?! Seriously?

UPDATE: As HeartlessLibertarian pointed out that the rifle in the second picture is a Barrett 99, chambered in .416 Barrett.