The Firearm Blog

Each month my benevolent employer, GunsForSale.com, runs a giveaway. This month, KRISS USA has donated a a tricked-out KRISS Vector CRB carbine for the giveaway, a gun that normally retails at $2,779. You can enter the giveaway here.

KRISS Vector CRB TacPac includes a single point sling, EOTech sight, Surefire light, bipod/foregrip and, of course, a KRISS Super V Vector CRB/SO .45 ACP.

NOTE: To get up-to-date pricing & to purchase this rifle, please click this link to visit Guns For Sale: Century C-93 Rifle For Sale

Century Arms is a company that has done a great job in preserving some excellent military type rifles and making them available to shooters in the US. How they’ve accomplished this is straightforward: they use a combination of original and American made parts to comply with federal laws regarding importation of foreign arms. Otherwise, we would only be able to buy those rifles imported before these laws went into effect.

If you’ve priced an honest to goodness used H&K 93 you’ll find they are upwards of $3500.00 at least! The Century C-93, which is an H&K 93 for all intents and purposes, can be purchased for less than $600!

I purchased an H&K 93 in 1984 new in the box for $400. Yep, why didn’t I keep it? Hindsight is 20/20 and of course we all know about that when it comes to trading guns.

When Century sent this example of the C-93 I looked it over closely and the only difference in this model and the 1984 H&K 93 is the trigger group. The Century version uses what is called a Navy trigger group. These are plastic over a steel box frame rather than a stamped steel outer body. Other than that it’s an H&K 93 top to bottom.

The parts I inspected were assembled from decommissioned German rifles. All of these surplus parts were in excellent condition with most appearing brand new. The buttstock had very minor blemishes on it otherwise the rifle appeared to be brand new with excellent fit and finish.

The C-93 comes with a bayonet and two 40 round steel H&K magazines. A carry handle is mounted at the center of gravity on all Century C-93’s.

The C-93 operates using the delayed roller lock system. I won’t go into a lot of detail but this system has it’s roots in the MG42 of WWII. Following the war the system was used in the Cetme and later refined by H&K. The same action is still used in almost all H&K rifles.

Rather than a rotating bolt the C-93 uses two rollers in the bolt head. When fired the rollers recede into the bolt head to release the action and allow recoil into the bolt head carrier. This action causes the bolt carrier to complete recoil under gas/ spring pressure chambering another round as it moves forward into battery. When the entire assembly goes into battery the rollers move out and lock the action for firing.

It’s a unique and very reliable system. It’s also a very expensive design to build requiring very precise manufacturing. This is one factor that makes these very expensive when buying an original.

As seemingly complex as this system is it will run forever without cleaning. Over the years I’ve owned many original H&K’s and they are as reliable as any military rifle I’ve ever owned. This also applies to the C-93. During this review I fired over 700 rounds of Wolf steel cased ammo without cleaning. I’ve had zero malfunctions of any type. Believe me it’s very dirty in there. I intend to keep going until I hit the 1000 round mark. I have no doubt it will complete the test without any problems.

Construction of the C-93 receiver is a simple process compared to the bolt mechanism. The rifle is made of stamped heavy grade sheet steel. The barrel is hammer forged of course. The buttstock and foregrip are made of a durable plastic type material.

Disassembly is simplicity itself. At the lower front of the buttstock just above the pistol grip is a large pin which the user simply taps partially out. The pin is then removed by hand and placed in one of the two holes conveniently machined into the stock for safekeeping. The user then pulls the buttstock to the rear and off the receiver. The firing mechanism is then removed by pulling down on the pistol grip removing it and setting it aside. One then simply grasps the recoil spring and pull it out along with the attached bolt mechanism. That’s all there is to it. Clean as usual.

The sights on the C-93 are also unusual in comparison to other military rifles. I certainly do like them though. They are easy to adjust and maintain zero even under pretty rough handling. The front sight is a covered post while the rear sight is a diopter type. The turret on the rear sight rotates from a “V” shape to progressively larger peep sizes up to 500 meters.

Some think rotating the turret adjust elevation but this is not the case. To adjust for elevation a special tool is inserted in the top and rotated lowering and raising the turret. Windage elevation is adjusted with a small Phillips head screwdriver. The screw for adjustment is on the right side of the sight. Turning this screw clockwise moves the sight to the right, counter clockwise to the left. This type of sight is very easy to zero.

The thumb safety is one an AR15 shooter would be right at home with since it operates in the same fashion. One difference is the lever is a good deal larger which makes operation with gloves much easier. The magazine release is also positioned in the same place as an AR. Magazines fall free without having to pull them out.

Trigger pull is typical of most military rifles being a bit on the heavy side. Break is fairly clean however. There are gunsmiths that specialize in H&K/C-93 trigger and action work.

With all the optics mounted on rifles these days several companies make several mounts to fit the C-93. A standard picatinny rail mounts in the same location as the claw mount H&K makes but much less expensive.

Range Time

Shooting the C-93 is a real joy. With the delayed roller lock system recoil is very light allowing the shooter to get back on target quickly. Most of my range sessions have been at 100 yards although I have practiced movement drills much closer. I found the C-93 to be quick handling. It really feels lighter than the listed eight pounds.

As rifles of this type go the C-93 is very accurate. In fact more so than any other stock military rifle I’ve shot. The target below was fired from 100 yards with iron sights from a sandbag rest. The group size is three rounds into ½ inch! I was honestly shocked at such a small group using Wolf ammo in a military rifle at that distance.

The next picture down is my second and third group from 100 yards. I aimed slightly higher than the first group and placed two rounds into slightly less than ½ inch. I fired in the same manner for the third group firing two more rounds again the group was under ½ inch. Now I’m no Carlos Hathcock by any stretch of the imagination but on this particular day with no wind these are the groups! This is one accurate rifle.

Conclusion

When I received this rifle I honestly expected it to be pretty standard. My expectations were groups of three or so inches at 100 yards with fit and finish to have some rough spots since some parts are surplus. This wasn’t the case either.

For a rifle that sells for less than $600 most places this is a very good buy! The rifle showed accuracy I hadn’t expected and 100% reliable. I would recommend this rifle to any shooter without reservation.

Okki, a reader of TFB, discovered a primitive blackpowder shotgun in use by locals at the Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca, Peru.

Okki said ...

I was on vacation in Peru this month and while visiting the Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca I noticed one of the local's firearm. I could see from a distance that it was old, but I couldn't put my finger on what it actually was. upon permission of the owner I handled the weapon and noticed it was a percussion cap muzzle loader. It was thoroughly rusted and i was surprised the action would actually cycle. The barrel had been cur right in front of the chamber and a new "barrel" had been welded on. The new barrel, I was told, was a piece of pipe that was salvaged of a truck. A small welding bead was used for the front sight. I'm not sure if the stock is original.

As mentioned, the owner still actively uses the weapon to hunt birds. He makes his own bullets and apparently is able to successfully hunt with it. Based on the condition, I would not fire it personally and risk life/limbs, but it is a testament to the resourcefulness of the native people in the high arid desert or Peru.

Can anyone identify the gun? I suspect the action is of local manufacture and very old.

C.J. Chivers, the NY Times War Correspondent and author of The Gun, has published a fascinating account of the limited supply and sky rocketing prices of small arms in Lybia.

Photo by C.J. Chivers/The New York Times

Chivers writes ...

This spring in eastern Libya, the prices for Kalashnikovs and FN FAL rifles crested at top-dollar war prices – as much as $2,500 for a rifle in good condition. Even heavily used specimens fetched more than $1,500 each, said Alaadin Alsharkasy, one of the organizers of rebel weapon purchases in Benghazi, the rebel capital.

...

What does all of this mean? At market prices, the rebels are paying as much as nearly $70,000 to equip perhaps 30 men with weapons for battle. And given that much of this money has been paid to fellow Libyans who are not exposed to the fighting but profit from it, these prices have been a source of anger among those who are actually taking the physical risks in this war.

C.J's article reminded me of a masters thesis¹ I came across some time ago. In his thesis, entitled 'Weaponomics: The Economics of Small Arms', Philip Killicoat attempted to create a model to predict the prices of assault rifles in African conflicts. His regression model used the following variables ...

This attempt at modeling weapons prices was valiant, but Philip did not understand, or ignored, that a new AK-74 is going to be worth a lot more than a rusted beat up and stock-less AK, such as the one pictured above. This combined with his low sample of AK-47 prices, just 335 AK-47 rifle prices were observed, meant proving his hypothesis was not going to be possible. One thing that Killicoat said stuck in my mind ...

Assault rifles may therefore be considered a proxy for the cost of specific capital required to mount a rebel movement.

In the case of Libya, the cost is going to be high as fitting out a 30 man platoon with rifles is costing $70,000.

The subcompact SIG P250 is now available with an integral M1913 accessory rail.

Featuring the medium grip contoured to fit most hand sizes, the new P250 Subcompact allows users to mount lights and lasers on the smallest P250 frame. SIGLITE® Night Sights are standard on the Nitron®–coated, one-piece stainless steel slide.

The modular fire control system of the P250 allows users to choose the caliber, barrel length and frame size to fit their needs. Available in 9mm, .40S&W and .357SIG, the P250 Subcompact offers a consistent 6.5 double-action-only trigger pull.

An ambidextrous slide catch lever and reversible magazine catch makes the P250 user-friendly for both right- and left-handed shooters. With 12 rounds of 9mm or 10 rounds of .40S&W or .357SIG, the P250 Subcompact offers substantial firepower for a concealed carry pistol.

Winchester is recalling twelve lots of its RANGER .223 Rem 64 Grain Power-Point ammunition. The press release is below ...

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling twelve (12) lots of its RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® (PP) centerfire rifle ammunition (Symbol Number RA223R2).

Lot Numbers (last four characters): DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11, and DM21

Lot Numbers (last four characters): DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51

Through extensive evaluation Winchester has determined the above lots of RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition may contain incorrect propellant. Incorrect propellant in this ammunition may cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury when fired.

DO NOT USE RANGER® 223 REMINGTON 64 GRAIN POWER-POINT THAT HAS A LOT NUMBER ENDING IN DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 or DM21. The ammunition Lot Number is ink stamped inside the right tuck flap of the 20-round carton, as indicated here:

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Lot Number. If the last four characters of the Lot Number are DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 or DM21 immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 866-423-5224 to arrange for replacement ammunition and free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition.

This notice applies only to RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® centerfire rifle ammunition with lot numbers ending in DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 and DM21. Other Symbol Numbers or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition recall please call toll-free 866-423-5224, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: RA223R2 Recall), or visit our website at www.winchester.com.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

The scope that can be adjusted from 3 miles all the way through to 7 miles is nifty.

[Hat Tip: Gear Scout]

The days of blowing through a case of .223 ammo ended for a lot of us some time around the last presidential campaign. Until that point, the ammunition had been relatively affordable.

Even though prices have backed off the historic highs of the ’09 buying frenzy, .223 rounds are not as cheap as they once were. Also, double-digit inflation in ammo pricing is now a reality thanks to the increases in the metals markets.

Thank goodness for the .22LR, eh?

Several companies offer .22LR conversion kits for the AR15 platform. One of the most affordable kits is offered by CMMG.

The Kit

The CMMG kit I tested came with an entire bolt assembly replacement and one magazine. I also picked up a second magazine (also known as pure evil…more on that later.)

The kit comes with easy-to-follow directions, which you probably won’t need anyway. To install the kit, you simply remove the old bolt carrier and install the CMMG carrier. It takes all of 10 seconds to accomplish.

A few notes about the kit. First, the CMMG conversion kit is designed for 5.56 chambered guns, not .223 chambered. Most of the AR15 rifles I have ever seen are chambered for the 5.56, but make sure yours is before running off to buy one of these kits.

Second, make sure you remove the green rubber end cap from the end of the conversion kit before installing. This should be obvious, but I don’t want anyone trying to jam the thing into your upper.

Last, this kit works for direct gas impingement guns only – no piston guns.

There are a few other suggestions for accessories not to use for best performance at the CMMG page. You should check those out before buying.

Range Time

The .22LR is a light shooting cartridge. Just how light struck me when I started firing them out of my AR.
I had been shooting 55 grain Remington FMJ in a DelTon AR15 for a good part of the afternoon, when I broke out the CMMG conversion kit. When I pressed the trigger for the first time, I just started laughing.

No one can describe the recoil from a .223/5.56 as “harsh” or “punishing.” But when running .22LR from the same gun, the absolute lack of recoil is amazing. If you have someone that is very recoil sensitive, and even the .223 is a bit much for them, get them started with a .22LR conversion kit.

I ran both Winchester and Federal rimfire ammo through the rifle, and both gave average results at 50 yards. The AR15 I was shooting was sighted at 50 yards, and with .223 ammunition, produced tight groups.

Both .22LR loads shot low by several inches, which was not surprising. Groups were not tight, with rounds striking in roughly a 9”-10” circle. The Winchester loads were the most scattered, while the Federal rounds were slightly more consistent.

Neither load would have been suitable for taking a rabbit or squirrel with any degree of confidence. If I was planning to try to use the gun and conversion kit for pest control and varmint sized game, I would definitely have to try several different premium loads to find one that was much more accurate.

Reliability

The CMMG conversion kit was reliable with one magazine, but completely unreliable with the second.

The magazine that shipped with the kit was very loose when seated in the gun. It would wobble in the magazine well, but seemed secure. Though I had my doubts, this magazine proved very reliable. I experienced only one malfunction with this magazine: a double feed after the first three rounds fired. After that, it was 100%.

The second magazine, however, was the exact opposite. This magazine was very tight in the magazine well, and had to be forcibly stripped during just normal mag changes.

I experienced nothing but problems with the second, tighter magazine. With this mag in place, double feeds were the rule, not the exception. Of the 26 rounds held in the magazine, I experienced at least 10 double feeds per load.

After two magazine loads of pure fail, I just stopped using that mag and enjoyed the shooting.

Value

At about the same price as 500 rounds of US made .223/5.56 ammo, you can pick up the CMMG conversion kit and 500+ rounds of .22LR to feed it. At that point on, you’re saving about $140+ on every 500 rounds fired. So, from a pure nickels and dimes perspective, the conversion kit makes a lot of sense.

For me, the drawbacks to the kit center on reliability and accuracy. With the right magazine, the kit worked fine. However, with the wrong magazine, the kit was unusable. I suspect that I could have made the tight fitting magazine more reliable with a hand file or Dremmel tool, but I shouldn’t have to. If I buy your product, I expect it to work.

Accuracy is more of an open question for me. Some of the finest rifles in the world will give crappy groups with excellent ammunition from one manufacturer, and beautiful groups with ammo from another manufacturer. It is one of the great mysteries of life.

I suspect that the AR with conversion kit will produce tight groups if I experiment and find the right load(s). It would certainly be a fun process seeking out the best loads for the kit.

At the end of the day, I think the kit is a worthwhile investment as long as you know the potential downsides.

[ Richard Johnson is a gun writer, police trainer and really bad joke teller. Richard also writes for Guns, Holsters & Gear, Human Events and BlueSheepdog. ]

AAC brought along a FN Mk46 (lightweight version of the M249) chambered in .300 Blackout to their Silencer Shoot and to NDIA. It cycles fine with subsonic loads.

Beretta Px4 Storm Inox, chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W, will soon be on sale in the United States. The stainless steel slides of the Inox range are bead blasted to a smooth satin finish, the standard Px4 pistols have a black finish. Both 9mm and .40 S&W have a MSRP of $640.