SayUncle has reviewed the Brownells’ AR-15 .22 LR Conversion Kit for Shooting Illustrated. It is well worth reading.
The bolt design, which is mostly the same across all the .22LR AR-15 kits, is ingenious. I would never have thought up that concept.
What is appealing about Brownells' kit is that the magazines are similar in size to the AR-15 magazine. The other kits I have seen use magazines which are small and skinny.
The Nitron N-32 is a semi-automatic cannon microprocessor controlled high pressure inert gas cannon. Is fires 1.250” steel ball bearings at over 1000 fps. That is about 3000 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. For comparison a 7.62x51mm NATO round has about 2600 ft/lbs of energy!
The gun runs off either compressed Nitrogen, air or Helium. Its peak performance is at 1200 psi. Depending on supply pressure it can fire at up to 60 rounds per minute which, sadly, would be to slow for full automatic fire.
The gun is fed from a tube magazine which holds 32 bullets (+ 3 bullets in the gun's magazine adapter).
The company tells me what they have designed for gun for maritime recreational use ... read into that what you will 
A video of the beast in action.
The INTIMIDATOR is a jenga-like puzzle created by artist GarE Maxton. Inside the puzzle there are a handful of objects what when combined with some of the puzzle pieces produce a .45 caliber muzzleloading pistol!
From Maxton's website ...
The sculpture includes everything required for assembly of the puzzle pistol. Integrated into the sculpture are a customized set of tools, all necessary hardware, 45 caliber bullets, a standard sight, a laser sight, a cannister containing black powder pellets, a secure storage area for 209 shotgun primers, a spent primer removal tool and a ramrod for loading the bullets.
The pieces contained inside the puzzle.
Amazing!
*[ Many thanks to all the readers who sent this in. ] *
[Hat Tip: Gizmodo ]
The long awaited FN SCAR 17S is now shipping (to dealers) in all its 7.62x51mm goodness 
The 17S comes in the USSOCOM flat dark earth finish, has a barrel length of 16.25" and weighs 8 lbs. Customers have a choice of 10 or 20 round magazines.
The gun is being produced in limited quantities and pricing has not yet been announced.
UPDATE: The MSRP is $3,273.44. although I expect they will be selling for much more in the short term. (Thanks MrMaigo)
Eric, a reader of the blog, emailed me photos of what appears to be an out of battery explosion which occurred when he was shooting his S&W M&P 15-22. Luckily Eric was not injured. Eric said ...
So I got my new S&W M&P 15-22 last week. I live in Canada (YES!! We can have those in Canada if you have Restricted weapons class on your PAL).
So I go to the shooting range last night. As I was sighting in the firearm at the 36 round I heard this kind of explosion and felt the hot gases on my hands and side of my face. I immediately looked at the breach and the round had exploded. Luckily I had my safety glasses and earmuffs. I did a quick check on myself...not a scratch!! but that hot gas felt like someone threw sand on my face and hans. I immediately took pictures with my cell phone then proceeded to extract to blown out round metal part and spring.
UPDATE: Fred at Guns & Coffee had a similar problem with his M&P 15022.
[ Many thanks to Eric for emailing me the photos and info. ]
Very clever special effects in this video ...
[ Many thanks to Rolf for emailing me the link. ]
I am away for the next few days (sadly work not pleasure). Blogging will resume on Thursday or Friday.
Justin Taylan, founder of PacificWrecks.com (a site well worth visiting), recently visited the South Carolina Military Museum and took these photos of the displays dedicated to David Marshall Williams aka. Carbine Williams. The information below was kindly provided by Chris Webb.
Korean War era M1 Carbine with Infra-red optic
You probably know “Carbine” Williams, he’s a legend! He was expelled from the Blackstone Military Academy and serving time at the Caledonia State Prison Farm in Halifax County, North Carolina during the ‘30’s for second degree murder! His sentence was cut short so the the could design firearms for the US military.
“Williams related that the superintendent, H.T. Peoples, noted his mechanical aptitude and allowed him access to the prison’s machine shop where he demonstrated a knack for fashioning replacement parts for the guards’ firearms from pieces of scrap and automobile parts. In prison, he would save paper and pencils and stay up late at night drawing plans for various firearms. His skills in the machine shop permitted him to stay ahead of his assignments and allowed him time for his own hobby.”
Williams also designed several .22 cal versions issued firearms including the Browning machine gun and Colt automatic pistol for use during training exercises.
The U.S. patents for the highly successful Benelli Shotgun (U.S. Patent 4,604,942) reference Williams' U.S. Patent 2,476,232 for a recoil operated semi-automatic shotgun with a non-recoiling barrel.
In 1952, MGM released a film loosely based on his life starring James Stewart and Jean Hagen as his wife Maggie; Williams served as a technical advisor. The film was appropriately titled “Carbine Williams”.
a wooden model of the T-machine gun chambered in .22. signed by “Carbine”
two pistol grip short barrel variations of the M1
Back in the 1800s (or maybe early 1900s) an enterprising gunsmith created this French Mod. 1873/74 revolver. The trigger has been turned into a sear which is manipulated by squeezing a steel rod. It i Very clever. Note the other details such as the de-spured hammer.
More info and photos at LittleGun.be (thier English translation is very poor).
[ Many thanks to Todd for emailing me the link. ]
I have always loved animations showing how guns work. Sterling Roth has designed a M1911 flash animation for Colt's website. To "shoot" the gun, all the safeties need to be disabled
Click here to see the animation.
[ Many thanks to Sterling for emailing me the link. ]
