The Firearm Blog

Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, has presented the Iranian president with an FN FAL which he claims was captured in 2006. The IDF don't agree. Double tapper reports.

Daniel Gallington, of the Potomac Institute, has published an article in the Cypress Times on the ownership of the controversial Korean M1 Garands and M1 Carbines that Korea is trying to sell back to US collectors. From the article ...

So, I started looking around for some historical “proof” of what I knew was probably the case with these rifles – it didn’t take me long to find an official US Army historical report that confirms how these rifles probably got to Korea in the first place, and under what circumstances. Here is the “smoking gun” – no pun intended:

"Due to increased North Korean aggression and infiltration, the supply of Army materiel for the prior and current year Korean military assistance program has been expedited, including a shipment of large numbers of individual weapons to arm the Republic of Korea Homeland Defense Reserve Forces."

Source: “Department of the Army Historical Summary, FY 1969”. Page 4 of Chapter XI., “Military Assistance and Foreign Liaison”.

So, most likely, the “large numbers” of these rifles (described as “individual weapons”) were transferred to the ROK to use for their defense during the 60’s; and, because they most likely were and still are MAP property, the rifles remain the property of the US - unless they were subsequently sold or otherwise transferred to the ROK.

What should happen? Simple, because these rifles remain US property, they should be returned to the US Army, then sent on to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) organization in Anniston, Alabama, for safety inspection, grading and carefully controlled sale to authorized collectors and American shooting clubs.

LuckyGunner has posted a very interesting interview with Carlo Fiocchi ...

Through gatherings like the annual family Christmas dinner, which they still observe to this day, Carlo Fiocchi was steeped in family legend and reared in the vocabulary of small arms ammunition from a very young age. “My first memories of life are in the ammunition business, from as early as 3-4 years old,” Mr. Fiocchi, now 54, warmly recalls through a thick Italian accent. Fiocchi Munizioni, the 100% privately held Italian parent company, has had its share of setbacks since it was founded in 1876 by Giulio Fiocchi.

The Bushmaster ACR has been recalled because it can go full-auto under some circumstances. If you own one, make sure you send it in to be fixed. Not only is it a safety hazard but a legal one. The BATFE are not fond of firearms firing more than one shot when the trigger is pulled

Frustratingly, Bushmaster only sent out this recall noticed in the form of a scanned image converted to PDF. I had to use OCR software to convert it to text. If you own an ACR I suggest reading the original recall notice.

The notice ...

Bushmaster Firearms Intentional, LLC has become aware of a possible firearms performance issue that may develop with a small number of ACR rifles and we are requesting you discontinue the use of this rifle immediately, and contact us at your earliest convenience so that we can make the necessary arrangements to have the rifle returned to us for inspection and update if necessary.

All Bushmaster produced ACR rifles are impacted by this notification.

During routine testing, Bushmaster discovered a design flaw which could result in multiple rounds firing continuously when the trigger is pulled. This unexpected firing of multiple rounds creates a potentially dangerous situation.

Since the safety and quality of our firearms is our utmost concern, Bushmaster is implementing the following corrective action plans to correct the effected firearms as quickly as possible.

Therefore, we are requesting your timely assistance with the following action:

1) Please immediately discontinue the use of your ACR rifle(s).

2) Contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-883-6229, (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM -6:00 PM EST).

Please have the serial # of your firearms(s) available when you call.

3) We will provide you with return shipping instructions and issue you a RMA # (Return Authorization Number).

This will assist us in processing, and updating of your firearm and returning to you as expeditiously as possible.

The shipping address for the return of your firearm is listed below

Please contact us prior to shipping

Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC

Attention: Dept. ACR 999 Roosevelt Trail
Windham, ME 04062
customerservice@bushmaster.com

4) This process will be accomplished at no cost to you and will be completed as expeditiously as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we will return your firearm to you as expeditiously as possible.

If you have any further questions concerning this request, please call us on the above noted toll free number between the hours of 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Thank you for in advance for your cooperation in resolving this important matter.

Sincerely,

Customer Service Division
Bushmaster Firearms Intemational, LLC

[ Freedom Group did send out a press release, but many thanks to Vak and Tobin for also emailing me about this. ]

Also new for 2011 from Hornady is a line of Superformance match ammunition. It will be available in .223 Rem, 5.56mm NATO and two loads in .308 Win. It is interesting to see a specific 5.56mm load. I presume they have optimized that for semi-automatic rifles.

It is FAST! It is ACCURATE! It is VERSATILE! Superformance™ Match Ammunition achieves muzzle velocities of 100 – 200 fps faster than ANY conventional ammunition. Amazing ammunition performance starts with outstanding bullets, and Hornady® AMAX® and Boattail Hollow Point Match™ bullets, now featuring revolutionary new AMP™ (Advanced Manufacturing Process) bullet jackets, raise the standard.

Topped with the finest bullets, Superformance™ Match ammunition marries the very best cartridge cases with extremely stable propellants that are custom blended for each individual load to provide TRUE ammunition performance enhancement. Highpower competitors, as well as law enforcement and military shooters and snipers will all benefit from the Superformance™ Match advantage – higher muzzle velocity, phenomenal accuracy, increased range and reduced wind drift. Superformance™ Match - the limits have been broken!

Hornady has expanded their Superformance line to include .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem and .243 Rem. They specifically state that the rounds work fine in semi-automatics.

Speed Kills! Varmint hunters can now reap the benefits of Hornady® Superformance™ propellant technology in their favorite varmint cartridges.Superformance™ Varmint ammunition delivers muzzle velocity increases of 100 to 200 feet per second from EVERY gun. Accuracy, increased range, flatter trajectory, less wind drift and devastating terminal results are all realized with Superformance™ Varmint ammunition. Featuring the industry leading polymer tipped Hornady® V-MAX™ bullet that delivers match accuracy and rapid fragmentation, Superformance™ Varmint ammunition from Hornady® extends current varmint cartridge efficiency and performance. Optimal results are achieved in all firearms, and Superformance™ Varmint ammunition is safe to use in all action types, including semi-autos.

It will be available in 2011.

Solider systems reports that the XM25 airburst semiautomatic grenade launcher is going to be deployed in Afghanistan ...

According to COL Tamilio, Program Manager for Soldier Weapons, last Friday the Army received an Operational Need Statement from the 101st Airborne Division currently serving in Afghanistan for a Battalion’s worth of XM25s. In November, the Army will initially field five developmental versions of the XM25 to be accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team as well as ample ammunition

Repeated verbatim from AAC Blog ...

The 300 BLK barrels for the Rem 700/Model-7 are available. They are 16″, 1:8 twist, Nitride finish, threaded 5/8-24 and come as pictured with thread protector. Retail is $400.

Medium Contour is P/N 101273

Light Contour is P/N 101815

For now, call up Mike Mers or John Hollister at 770-925-9988 to order.

Arrgghh ... if only I had a rifle to go with the barrel.

Also available: .300 AAC Blackout reloading dies.

Yes, I am posting a lot about this cartridge. I am really excited about this. I have for many years wanted a .300 Whisper, but did not want to reload. I should reload, and I eventually will, but at this point in my life I do not have enough time or energy to take up another hobby and am willing to pay the price at the gun shop checkout.

There is a good discussion about the .300 BLK on this blog post.

If you know of companies who are planning to make .300 BLK barrels, ammo, reloading gear, etc please let me know about it so I can also mention them on the blog.

This prototype holster from GripUs is interesting.

The idea behind it is that an iPhone / PDA / Blackberry sized leather case attached to a belt is common and would not attract attention. Of course a thief may think it is an expensive gadget and an expert pick pocketer may be able to remove the gun without the owner noticing.

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

This video shows a bullet spinning like a top after being shot into ice. I do not know how safe this is but the results are amazing.

UPDATE: Just to make it clear: this is dangerous. The bullets are clearly jumping all over the place. Don't do it. The makers of this video claim Mythbusters have expressed interest in replicating it. Let them do it for you.

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