The Firearm Blog

Backyard Safari has published photos of the beautiful Weihrauch HW 98-Luftgewehr break barrel air rifle.

More photos here.

Too cute not to blog. Seen at Hell in a Handbasket.

Publicly listed Australian firm Metal Storm has run out of operating cash and credit after much needed investment funds have failed to materialize. The Australian reports

The Brisbane-based weapons maker said this morning it has again given the first tranche of Assure Fast Holdings' $US35m funding due 7pm Brisbane time last night (8pm AEDT) another 24 hours and that it was now “testing the issue of solvency each day".

"The company has reduced its day to day expenditure to remain solvent for as long as possible to allow as much time as possible for this funding to be received," Metal Storm said in a statement.

Metal Storm share price (ASX:MST)

It would be sad if this company is forced to close and sell off their technology when it is just starting to show real promise.

MetalStorm 3GL Grenade Launcher (bullpup configuration)

Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for the tip.

Next year Winchester Ammunition will introduce a line of self defense shotshell ammunition called Supreme Elite PDX1.

.410 Gauge Bonded PDX1

The PDX1 2.5" .410 gauge round is optimized for use with the Taurus Judge revolver. The reduced recoil round is loaded with three 000 Buckshot sized discs backed by 12 BB sized pellets.

A buckshot / slug combo is utilized in the 2.75" PDX1 12 gauge round. A 1 oz. Targeting Ranger Slug is pushed at 1200 fps and is backed by three 00 buckshot pellets. It too uses a reduced recoil load.

The .410 and 12 gauge rounds will be available in February and March respectively.

It is good to see more self defense specific shotgun ammunition being developed. I wonder if the ammunition being developed in response to more Americans choosing shotguns for defense, or is being developed in the hope that people will see the ammunition and buy a shotgun to use it ... a chicken and egg problem.

The AFG (Angled ForeGrip) is a new forgrip from Magpul that will go on sale later this month. They claim it allows a more natural hold than a vertical foregrip.

Drake, a Magpul employee, says ...

The AFG falls into the category of “Theory Based" products. Simply put, these products are designed to enhance weapon performance and user interface beyond what is currently available. Because these products do not simply replace an existing weapon component, there is an understanding with Theory Based Products that simple plug and play doesn’t apply. They require education by way of instructions, training, and familiarization with the product to become proficient, and only then will the benefits be realized. In addition to the AFG, other products in this category are the B.A.D. Lever, MS2, and ASAP.

The primary difference between the AFG and standard vertical foregrips is weapon controllability. This is a direct result of hand position, grip style and body mechanics. Below is a detailed description of the Theory behind the AFG.

Click on each slide to expand it.

Drake also says that it works well on AKs because the low profile does not hinder magazine change.

The AFG will be available in colors Black, Flat Dark Earth, OD Green and Foliage Green. The retail price will be $34.95.

Many thanks to KaiserPanda for sending me the link.

American Tactical Imports are now selling the MKEK Yavuz 16 branded as the ATI AT 92.

American Tactical AT 92. Full size model.

If you are thinking that this pistol looks familiar, you are right. The Yavuz 16 is a copy of the Beretta 92FS (M9 pistol). It is made by the Turkish state-owned arms manufacturing giant MKEK. I was told that the story behind the pistol is that one of the MKEK factories did manufacturing work for Beretta. Once their relationship ended, which I presumed did not end well, they cloned it and started manufacturing it for local law enforcement.

Some years ago Beretta switched the guide rod and trigger from steel to polymer. The AT92 is all steel, which should please some customers.

AT 92 Compact Nickel Finish

It is available in a black or nickel finish and in a full size and compact model. Because of BATFE restrictions on the size of imported pistols, the compact is not much smaller than the full size model.

Many thanks to Chris for supplying information.

UPDATE: Dutch Ton pointed out in the comments that these guns are manufactured by a company named Yavuz 16, which is part of MKEK.

Hat Tip: Gun Reports

Two months ago I blogged that Zel Custom would soon be selling an upgraded 3rd Gen version of their Tactilite AR-15 upper. The Gen-3 receiver is now the standard receiver across the Tactilite product line and available in .338 Laupa as well as .50 BMG and .416 Barrett.

I also noticed on their website that they will be unveiling a new "Tactilite T3" at SHOT in January. I am looking forward to seeing it.

DefenseNews has published an interesting article about a small family owned business in New Zealand that manufactures and exports military ammunition using modified vintage machinery from the 1920s. From DefenseNews ...

How can a small, family-owned firm, with a core staff of 12 (which swells to about 20 when necessary) compete in such a vast industry?

"It is very much quality, and the niche that we work in," Quigley said. "We know what we are doing with training ammunition. We are reliable, on time and on budget."

...

Cole particularly admires the design of one of ODL's older pieces of equipment. "It's a .50-cal loading machine from the 1920s," he said. "It is absolutely brilliant."

Legal Heat is an iPhone / iPod Touch electronic version of the CCW guide Legal Heat: 50 State Guide to Firearm Laws and Regulations. At $1.99 is it a lot cheaper than the $15 paperback edition.

I purchased to application to try it out. It is quite straightforward. It gives each state a rating on how friendly they are towards concealed carry, lists where CCW is prohibited in each state and any other pertinent information relating to the state laws on CCW.

My only major criticism is that the Firearm Laws section only lists CCW law, not all state gun laws. It does not, for example, tell me what types of rifles are prohibited in California. Either the Firearm Law tab should be renamed "CCW Law" or they should add general firearm info. Preferably the latter.

I do not regret buying it and I have found it an interesting read.

[ iTunes App Store Link. ]

Hat Tip: Dustin's Gun Blog

Forbes reports ...

Ambassador Vladmir Zaemskiy told a news conference that Russian engineers and Venezuelan construction firms were building the rifle and cartridge plants which, when operational, would employ more than 1,500 workers.

He gave no completion date for the plants under construction in the central state of Aragua.

Details about Moscow's military shipments and projects have been scarce since socialist President Hugo Chavez's government began signing military agreements with Russia back in 2001.

I do wonder why the construction of a massive industrial complex, employing 1,500 people, can be justified to supply a country with a population just 25% greater than that of the NYC metro area. So the question on my mind is who do they plan on exporting to? ... and how long before these rifles turn up on the Mexican/US border?

Many thanks to Todd for sending me the link.