The Firearm Blog

[ Y-Man, our resident Nigerian shotgunner, continues his series of guest articles about his quest to build the perfect shotgun. Being one of the lucky few in Africa to legally own a gun, he has to fabricate many parts and ammunition himself because supplies of gun parts are so limited. You can read Part 5 here. ]

Range Report 30May 2010: Testing 4 Types Of Home-Made Slugs

I finally did a structured test of different types of slugs I have been progressively working on over the last 2 to 3 months. I have had to work with very basic tools, and without the kinds of facilities and equipment some have.

While circumstances might not be perfect, this gives me a guide for more testing going forward... I really wish I could get some proper range time. For now, I have to use a wasteland former army range, I think I might have spotted foot tracks across one end, and might have to stop using the place soon.

Target: round plastic item of exactly 1 foot diameter.

Range: 25.1 yards (23 metres) MEASURED.

Sights: "Iron-sights".

Shooting position: Offhand (free standing).

Shots fired:

1. Fired 1 Older patched slug. MISS.

2. Fired 1 RSS. CLOSE MISS.

3. Fired 1 RSS. HIT.

4. Fired 1 RSS. MISS.

5. Fired 1 NHP. MISS.

6. Fired 1 NHP. HIT (BULL).

7. SLUG WITHOUT CAVITY. WITH SQUARE BOTTOM. (Big hole: keyhole effect?/ tumbling?) Ejected itself. (Pressure signs? Expected! Slug was almost 2oz!) HIT.

8. SLUG WITH CAVITY: SQUARE BOTTOM. MISS .

9. SLUG WITH CAVITY: ROUND BOTTOM. ejected itself. (Pressure signs? Expected! Slug was almost 2oz!) HIT.

10. NEW SLUGS (SLUG 28MAY) LYMAN-TYPE, 3”. HIT.

11. NEW SLUGS (SLUG 28MAY) LYMAN-TYPE, 2.75”. MISS. (There was a gap between the bottom of the slug and the wad. This could have affected things. Note that all misses were within 1.5 feet of target bull. Some misses were due to wavering sights. (Next time: will use a shooting stick!)

SHOT 1: Slug patched with Masking tape, covered in glue. No over-shot plastic cover.

SHOTS 2/3/4: RSS Slugs patched, covered with over-shot plastic cover.

More photos on Flickr.

SHOTS 5/6: NHP Slugs fabricated using 16mm socket wrench.

More photos on Flickr.

SHOTS 7: Square bottom slug NO CAVITY. Fabricated using 16mm socket wrench cut in half longitudinally.

SHOT 8: Square bottom slug, with cavity. Fabricated using 16mm socket wrench cut in half longitudinally.

SHOT 9: Slug with round bottom. Fabricated using 16mm socket wrench cut in half. Two halves (Upper and lower, similar.) welded together, and then cut longitudinally.

For more photos of slugs 7, 8 & 9 see Flickr.

SHOTS 10/11: New slugs, Lyman type.

More photos on Flickr.

Results: 5 main hits.

Conclusion: Good progress!

This is one bizarre video. I have no idea what they are advocating, but watching a mom dual wield AKs in slow motion is always fun to watch.

[Hat Tip: Animal]

[ Many thanks to Mike for emailing me the link. ]

Cracked.com has a list of the top five Hollywood gun myths. The list seems to be written by someone who knows guns.

Myth #3 is "Bulletproof Vests Are Magical Force Fields". While myth annoys me, the "A Bulletproof Vest Being Hit Will Knock You Back Six Feet" annoys me even more.

The effect of a .45 ACP on a person wearing a bulletproof vest ... according to The Phantom

This is what really happens.

Over at View From The Porch, Tam discusses Counter Strike inspired gun myths.

[ Many thanks to Caleb for emailing me the link. ]

The new Blaser R8 Professional features a dark green polymer stock instead of the fancy wood found on the regular model.

The Blaser R8 is by far the nicest hunting rifle I have ever used.

It turns out an FMJ 5.56mm round travels four feet underwater before running out of steam.

How long before someone creates a underbarrel speargun?

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

[ Video from MyGunExchange ]

If any of the sample magazines fail the full auto test, the entire batch must be destroyed!

[ Many thanks to Drew for emailing me the link. ]

I am back blogging (obviously). I will need some time to get through the 100 emails I received in my absence ...

An article at Guns America explains the difference between Thermal imaging, Image Intensification and Fusion imaging systems.

Thermal Scope (price around $15,000)

The inventor of the LoadMaster System emailed me photos of his invention. It is quite a nifty system that allowed for storage of an extra eight rounds. The price ranges from $89 to $199.

MIT students were recently honored by the Suffolk County District Attorney for their help in providing expert witness testimony in cases involving illegal gun possession. They were testifying that a discarded handgun would retain body heat for a period of time and that photographing the gun with a thermal camera could prove that the gun had been recently held.

From the Suffolk County District Attorney press release ...

when the device is trained on a recently-discarded handgun, the body heat retained by the gun’s metal frame shows up as brighter than the area surrounding it. This can be used to corroborate a police officer’s observations that a suspect was carrying and tossed a firearm, and can dispel a claim that a recovered gun had been in place and untouched for an extended period of time.

...

Late last year, the very first jury trial to use thermal imaging as evidence in a gun possession trial ended in a conviction for Jose E. Rodrigues. In that case, Boston Police observed the suspect clutching his waistband as he walked along Whittemore Street on the evening of Jan. 12, 2009. When they inquired of him, he ran away. Officers gave chase, losing sight of him briefly before spotting him with an arm outstretched as if having thrown something; they finally took him into custody in the side yard of a Glendale Street residence. Along his path of flight, they recovered a 9mm semiautomatic Smith & Wesson handgun.

Interesting!

[ Many thanks to Betty for emailing me the link. ]