The Firearm Blog

I recently blogged about RAA's PDS pistol. This is the carbine version of the pistol.

The Piston Driven System Carbine utilizes a propriety bolt carrier that actuated by a piston. The return spring is located above the barrel, much like the Para Ordnance TTR rifle, rather than the rear buffer spring. This eliminates the need a buffer tube, allowing a folding stock. Unlike the Para TTR the PDS does not have a traditional AR-15 charging handle and instead has ambidextrous forward H&K-esque charging handles.

Gas block and charging handles

Although there is not much new to add, I was remiss in forgetting to blog about the final specs of Remington's new VERSA MAX shotgun was announced.

Remington VERSA MAX Waterfowl Camo

From the press release ...

Remington is pleased to announce the most exciting addition to its respected 100-year lineage of autoloading shotguns – the highly-anticipated VERSA MAX. This technologically-advanced, gas-piston operated 12-gauge, 3½-inch autoloader shatters convention and all previous benchmarks for reliability with an action that is unlike any that have come before it. Built to withstand the elements, function reliably with all 12-gauge shells with less recoil than some 20-gauge shotguns, and designed to be fully adjustable for length of pull, comb height and stock drop and cast; the VERSA MAX represents true versatility to the MAX!

Initial VERSA MAX offerings include a 28-inch black synthetic version with custom grey overmolded grips and 28-inch Mossy Oak Duck Blind® full camo version with black overmolded grips. In January 2011, two additional 12-gauge models will be introduced - a 26-inch black synthetic offering with grey overmolded grips and a 26-inch Realtree® AP™ fully-camouflaged version. Both the 26-inch and 28-inch black synthetic models come with five Flush Pro Bore® chokes (Full, Mod, Imp Mod, Light Mod and IC) and both camouflaged versions come with four Pro Bore Extended choke tubes (IC, Mod, Full and Extra Full). All models feature our soft-touch finish on the stocks and fore-ends.

At the heart of VERSA MAX is our patented VersaPort™ gas piston system; an extremely-reliable, semi-automatic operating system consisting of seven gas ports and two gas pistons for enhanced load versatility, while softening recoil and reducing maintenance. The VersaPort gas system self-regulates gas pressure based on the length of the shell, for flawless cycling no matter the load! Additionally with its self-cleaning gas piston system, overall maintenance time and effort is greatly reduced. With fewer parts than conventional gas systems, not only is cleaning easier but there are fewer parts to maintain. From the lightest 2 ¾-inch target loads to the heaviest 3 ½-inch magnums, the VERSA MAX cycles with ultimate consistency, softer recoil and less maintenance than ever experienced before.

Black Synthetic

All Purpose Camo

The Camo models have an MSRP of $1599.

A video about the shotgun:

The guys and girls at Shooting Illustrated magazine have been debating what should be the definition of "Average Group Size". Ed explains the rationale for their decision.

Wilson combat is now selling a titanium .223/5.56mm suppressor designed for the AR-15 (although compatible with any .223 caliber weapon with the correct threading). It weighs 15 oz and is 6 5/8" in length. The suppressor sells for $995 and the rapid attachment muzzle brake for $60.

Nancy's blog has an interesting article about the Remington Rider Parlor pistol.

The Remington-Rider Parlor is among the rarest and sought of all Remington handguns. This little single-shot percussion pistol has always been a bit of a conundrum. Little is known as to the reason for its manufacture and its demise while contemplated as possibly just unpopular for its discontinuation it can most assuredly be attributed in some part to Remington’s shift in priorities due to the start of the civil war.

I find the design of this little pistol very appealing.

Read more about it here.

The Koreans have been trying to sell back M1 Garand's that were lent to them around the time of the Korean war but the US Government has blocked the importation. For more detailed information check out SayUncle who has blogged about it.

The Korean news website The Chosun llbo has an article about the sale ...

A Korean government official said, "It's difficult to understand why the U.S. opposes the deal now, when we already shipped tens of thousands of these firearms to the U.S. in the early 1990s. We are trying to grasp the real underlying cause of this reversal through diplomatic channels." He added that because these firearms were originally made in the U.S., selling them back needs approval from Washington.

[ Many thanks to 54Bravo and for emailing me the links. ]

It appears that S&W's pistol in the BATFE sidebar competition beat out the Glock and Sig entries. The contract is worth up to $40 million. I am not sure which S&W model, almost certainly an M&P, was the winner.

UPDATE: Glock also won! Glock also gets up to $40 million. ToddG blogged about it here.

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

Tactical Life reports that Crimson Trace has launched a separate division, CTC Defense, that is dedicated to the military market.

Today, Crimson Trace will announce the creation of CTC Defense, a separate division of the Crimson Trace Corporation that will be dedicated exclusively to the military market. While Crimson Trace products have been used successfully in recent military engagements as well as by many law enforcement agencies, the newly formed company’s ability to focus exclusively on these end-users will enable them to leverage their existing technology and provide products better-tailored to the needs of the modern warfighter that will only be available to the military community.

Read more here.

Peter is an avid reader of the blog. He hopes to join the Marines after school.

( The glock jams because of a broken pin )

A very clever ad on YouTube ...