The Firearm Blog

The new THOR XM408 ASA model features a CheyTac Intervention M200-style fore-end and carry handle.

[ Many thanks to Max for emailing me the photos. ]

From the press release ...

September 20, 2010 - Federal Premium® adds the Swift® A-Frame® to its Vital-Shok™ handgun hunting ammunition line. The proven A-Frame gives hunters another bullet option sure to hold up in a variety of big game hunting situations. On sale now.

Tough construction Handgun hunters know the Swift A-Frame for its toughness. Its bonding process ensures the jacket and core will hold together to get great penetration and ideal weight retention. This translates to great stopping power on big game.

“The A-Frame is a great addition to our handgun hunting lineup,” said Brand Director Rick Stoeckel. “It has a reputation, and a proven track record, as a first-class bullet. It will give hunters another great option for their favorite handgun.”

The A-Frame gets controlled expansion on impact. And this bonded-lead hollow point will be available in popular handgun hunting calibers from .357 Mag to .500 S&W. On store shelves now.

The Marine Corps Times reports that the USMC will not be upgrading their M4 to the newer version that the Army is busy developing ...

As the Army moves to field more than 10,000 conversion kits designed to make the 5.56mm M4 deadlier and more reliable, the Marine Corps says it has no plans to update its inventory.

...

Nearly all infantry soldiers use M4s, but in the Corps they are fielded primarily to vehicle operators and other Marines whose jobs render the primary service rifle, the M16A4, too cumbersome. The Corps has no plans to upgrade either rifle, Lt. Gen. George Flynn, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, told Marine Corps Times on Aug. 23.

This does not surprise me. The USMC command is very resistant to the idea that rifles are getting shorter and shorter. Tomorrow's rifle is yesterday's carbine.

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

Both S&W and GLOCK won a contract from the BATFE to supply pistols, it appears that GLOCK has been named the "Chosen Duty Weapon" of the agency. My understanding is that agents are able to chosen between the S&W M&P and GLOCK for their personal duty weapon.

From the GLOCK press release ...

I am pleased to announce to you today, that along with the awarding of the contract with the ATF, GLOCK has been officially named the Chosen Duty Weapon for the agency!

This choice comes after rigorous testing and evaluation including a 20,000 round endurance shoot and brutal environmental testing. The ATF selected the GLOCK 22 Gen4 and 27 .40 caliber semi automatic pistols as their choice of duty weapon; demonstrating that GLOCK earned their trust and confidence!

K_Var is selling Arsenal Inc’s SGL12-03 Saiga 12 Shotgun with a nifty quad rail fore-end.

You can watch a video of it in action here.

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

The FBI is purchasing an additional 2,963 GLOCK 23 pistols, accessories and training at a cost of just under $1 million.

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

Solider System's has the skinny.

If anyone knows anything about this rifle. Please let me know.

Guernsey's is auctioning off the first rifle used by John Wayne in his first feature film The Big Trail (1930).

This is an original Model 1863 percussion rifled musket made by the U.S. federal armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Union Soldiers to use during the Civil War of 1861-65. It is fitted with a Springfield Armory Model 1861 hammer and is 58 caliber with a 40” long round barrel. Its walnut stock was later profusely carved in Northwest Coast Indian motifs. In the 1920s it became part of the Fox Film Studio arsenal and was selected for 22 year-old John Wayne to use in his first starring role, the 1930 epic Western, The Big Trail. Wayne uses it throughout the entire film and later carried it on the nationwide promotional tour heralding the film’s premiere. The underside of the stock is stamped, “FOX”, for the Fox Studios. Following the merger with Twentieth Century Films in 1935, this rifle remained in the 20th Century-Fox Studio arsenal until the Studio disbanded its Gun Room. It was then later sold as Item #112, at Little John’s Auction Service on Sunday, January 16th, 2000, which featured over 200 other firearms that were rented to the Hollywood film studios. It was subsequently displayed in the Real Guns for Reel Heroes Exhibition at the National Firearms Museum, Fairfax, VA, in 2002 and the John Wayne Exhibition, produced in conjunction with Wayne’s Batjac Company and family at the University of Southern California in 2008.

Here is an original 19th century American rifle associated with the historic U.S. Civil War, the historic West, the American Indian and the Hollywood cinematic West, where it became the first gun used by John Wayne in his first starring role and his first Western.

Estimate: $75,000 - $100,000

[ Many thanks to the reader who emailed me the link. ]

Blain at ARFCOM reports ...

I felt the stiff recoil from the explosion at the same time as hearing the blast, and feeling the hot hair blow in my face, and through my hair. I knew what had happened. Something, I had heard of happening with bad rounds (Indian, mystery handloads), something I hoped to never personally experience.

A round blew up in my chamber.

The problem appears to be a case head failure. The operator was not injured and the rifle survived. All modern rifles are designed to handle this kind of failure gracefully.

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

C.J. Chivers has published photos on the NY Times and his personal blog of weapons captured in Afghanistan. It is a good to see that either the Taliban do not have the resources to purchase new firearms or they do not have the ability to supply new firearms to frontline insurgents.

Copyright C.J. Chivers

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