CCTV (China Central Television, the english version) has reported on the Korean robotic turret system that can detect and engage targets with or without a human operator.
The media has made a big deal about this system but American and European turret systems could easily run software to automatically detect and engage targets. They don't because it isn't a very good idea.
[ Many thanks to SeanG for emailing me the link. ]
[ Andrew is a former US Navy Hospital Corpsman who was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq with the 5th Marine Regiment. Today, when not at the range or a Larry Vickers tactical training course, he blogs at the excellent Vuurwapen Blog ]
There are many reasons why people collect and shoot firearms, most of which can be divided into two categories – work and play. “Work” might mean being a member of law enforcement or the military, buying a weapon for personal defense, or similar endeavors, and firearms suitable for these tasks are generally limited to a few types. “Play,” on the other hand, encompasses an exceptionally wide variety of firearms, and is probably the fuel for the majority of firearms purchases worldwide. Essentially, shooting is fun, as the readers of this blog are no doubt aware.
Enter the J&G Sales 7.62x25mm conversion barrel for 1911s. This product sits solidly in the “play” category. While 1911s are still “work” guns in many cases, one shooting cheap surplus ammo that might be close to 60 years old shouldn’t be relied upon for such tasks. Where it really excels is fun – allowing the user to shoot loud, flashy ammunition for a fraction of the cost of even the cheapest centerfire handgun ammunition.
As pistol calibers go, 7.62x25mm Tokarev is pretty interesting, and its history with the 1911 is even more interesting. The cartridge can be considered to be the stepchild of .30 Mauser, which dates back to the late 1800s. While some Tokarev ammunition has been loaded to higher pressures, the cartridges are dimensionally identical…with the caveat that both have been used by a wide variety of third world countries, and some minor variations in production are to be expected.
Some of the countries using both cartridges include China, North Korea, and Vietnam, and as US-manufactured .45 caliber 1911 handguns were “acquired” by the governments of those countries – sometimes in large quantity – they were converted to calibers which could be more easily acquired or produced, including .30 Mauser and 7.62×25 Tokarev. The quality of these conversions depended upon the country and the situation in which they were undertaken. In the United States, however, 7.62×25 has never had a massive supply base nor a large following, so converting a 1911 to this caliber was generally a custom affair.
Now, however, anyone with a 9mm or 38 Super 1911 can order the $189 J&G conversion barrel, which also includes replacement recoil and main springs – lighter and heavier, respectively. While the 7.62mm projectiles do not require a heavy recoil spring, the surplus ammunition has hard primers which won’t reliably fire with standard weight 1911 mainsprings.
Just how cheap is this ammunition? Well, depending on vintage, roughly $100 for 1000 rounds. That’s about half of what you’d pay for cheap 9mm in the United States, which can significantly extend an afternoon of fun at the range.
There are a few drawbacks, though. Because 7.62×25 is even longer than .38 Super, you can’t load the magazines to full capacity without seating the projectiles deeper in the case, which J&G’s gunsmith has done safely. However, I’m pretty happy with being able to load 6 standard-length 7.62×25 cartridges in $10 Metalform .38 Super magazines with a stated capacity of 9 rounds.
Also, much of the surplus ammunition has deteriorated over time, and a certain number of “dead” primers are to be expected. I don’t see this as a huge detriment, but some people might.
This barrel is intended for use with non-ramped 1911 frames, though the Kimber Stainless II 9mm I am currently using has a ramped frame, and I have had only one failure to feed in over 300 rounds fired. Your mileage, of course, may vary, and I do not believe that everyone else would have the same luck.
Shooting the 7.62×25 1911 is much like shooting a 9mm 1911 in terms of recoil, although the Tokarev seems a little noisier, with more concussive force, and it often results in sizable fireballs at the muzzle. It’s exceptionally flat shooting, and I had no trouble hitting small targets at 50 yards with it. If you’re like me and find such things to be fun and a great stress reliever, the J&G Tokarev conversion deserves some attention.
Gunsumer Reports has reviewed the EOTech XPS2-2 Review ...
From everything I have seen, I believe the EOTech XPS2-2 is a quality product that anyone would be pleased with owning. At first I really struggled with the cost of this sight considering you only get a 1x power sight. Maybe the crutch of having high power scopes for hunting over the years had weakened the confidence in my shooting skill, but I can clearly see that with a little more practice, I could be very effective hunting with the EOTech XPS2 sight out to 200 yards. Couple that with the great field of view you get in close quarters fast action shooting and you get a sight that has a potential to take the place of many traditional hunting scopes today.
Spc. Jeremy Burton, armored crewman, assigned to 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company C., 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, lays in the prone position on cliff overlooking the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, Jan. 31, to provide security for his squad as they climb up the cliff from the valley below.
The very high resolution version of the photo is here.
[ Many thanks to Lance for emailing me the link. ]
Federal are recalling certain lots of .45 ACP Federal and American Eagle ammunition. They may contain incorrect propellent which could cause a lot of damage to you and your firearm.
Certain lots of recently manufactured 45 Auto ammunition may contain an incorrect propellant charge. Use of product from these lots may result in firearm damage and possible serious injury.
DO NOT USE PRODUCT FROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS:
38X628 through 38X765
38T401 through 38T414If you have in your possession any 45 Auto with the following brand names and part numbers, check to see if your ammunition package contains the above lots: American Eagle® (AE45A, AE45N1, or AE45A250), ChampionTM (WM5233), GoldMedal® (GM45B), Hi-Shok® (45C, 45D) and Federal® Personal Defense® (C45C, C45D). Example below:
If you possess ammunition from any of these lots, or have questions concerning this warning, please contact us at 1-800-831-0850 or 1-800-322-2342 and ask for Product Service. Federal will provide replacement product and will cover the cost of returning the affected product.
Tam educates the internet and dispels some myths about the 1911 ...
Manufacturing the M1911A1 is not rocket surgery; the gun is a stone axe, designed to be maintained in the field by draftee armorers using drop-in parts.
I had the opportunity to handle the Polish manufactured Radom PM-06 sub machine gun at SHOT Show. This 9mm Parabellum chambered sub machine gun has a blow back action and fires at 640 rpm out of a 7.2" barrel. It weighs 5.5 lbs. Not having fired it, my only criticism is that they only make a 15 round and 25 round magazine. 25 rounds seems a little small in 2011.
The latest model has a top picatinny rail for optics, side rails for accessories and a rail at 6 o'clock for a forgrip.
When at Gunsite, Dudley Storey had the chance to visit the home of Jeff Cooper, where his wife still lives.
I am very jealous. I would love to visit his home.
More info and photos at Dudley's blog.
LaRue Tactical is now selling a kit to convert a Ruger 10/22 into an arrow firing rifle. It replaces the barrel with a heavy profile barrel that can only chamber .22 blanks. An arrow is inserted into the barrel and a .22 Blank will propel it at 435 ft/sec.
The basic kit (barrel + arrows) costs $442. The Deluxe kit which includes many accessories costs $599.
I could really use one of these kits to sort out a pest problem I have, but for that price I would rather buy a high-end .22 air gun and fit it with one of my .22 rimfire suppressors.
[Hat Tip: RomeoTangoBravo via SayUncle]
