The Firearm Blog

AR-15 aficionados will be pleased to learn that the Knights Armament's SR-15 E3 rifle's uppers and lowers are now avalible for purchase separately.

Lower

The lower features a 4.5 lbs two stage match trigger and ambidextrous fire selector, bolt release and magazine release. Knesek Guns have it listed for $700.

Upper

The upper features ...

• Flat Top Upper Receiver with M4 Feed Ramp Cuts
• 16" Cold Hammer Forged Chrome Lined Barrel
• URX Free Floating Rail with Integrated Front Sight
• KAC Mid Length Gas system
• KAC 2-600m Flip-Up Rear Sight P/N/ 98474
• KAC E3 Rounded Lug Bolt

Knesek Guns have it listed for $1310.

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

Kahr are now selling their sub-compact PM9 and the PM40 pistols with a Crimson Trace Laserguard (model LG-437) installed at the factory.

Crimson Trace Laserguard LG-437 installed on Kahr pistol.

Both the PM9093L and PM4043L have a retail price of $991.

[Hat Tip: Shooting Illustrated]

HERA ARMS, makers of the Glock Carbine Kit, have turned their sights on the M1911 pistol. The Colt Pistol Extension (CPE) turns any mil-sepc 1911 into a .45 carbine.

Installation is simple. All that is involved is removing the grip panels and attaching the CPE in their place.

A stock adapter is available which allows AR-15 stocks to be attached.

In the United States this kit could be legally installed on any 1911 without violating BAFTE rules, as long as no stock or foregrip is attached. As soon as a stock or a foregrip is added, the gun must be registered with the BATFE.

The kit is featured in the current issue of DWJ magazine.

I do not know of any US distributors, but I am sure this will be picked up by US importers soon.

UPDATE: Video of it being used. Thanks to Gutao for the link.

UPDATE: Sven just told me that the 1911 used with the kit needs to be mil-spec. The DWJ magazine reported problems with non-mil-spec sights interfering with the kit.

[ Many thanks to Sven (Defense and Freedom) for emailing me the the info. ]

The "El Juez"

The "El Juez" (thats "The Judge" in Spanish) is a limited edition of the Taurus Judge revolver. This model features a stainless finish with a gold plated hammer, trigger and cylinder release.

Just 1000 will be manufactured, so talk to your dealer soon if you want one. It will be distributed through Davidsons.

Springfield has introduced a compact version of the XD(m) pistol called the 3.8. Its name refers to the barrel length which is 3.8" long, 0.7" shorter than the standard XD(m). The name is sure to confuse many who will think it refers to the .380 cartridge.

The 3.8 model features non-slip slide serrations which have a kink in them, unlike the standard model which has straight serrations.

XD(m) 4.5 serrations.

UPDATE: Tyler Kris is the first to get his hands on one.

Generally I dislike camo on pistols, but this arctic-style digital pattern looks really sexy. The polar bears will not see you coming!

Other than the frame and slide finish, the specs of this new model are the same as the standard Mosquito

The Sig P250 2SUM¹ is a package made up of a full-sized and a subcompact 9mm Sig P250 pistol. The idea is that the full-sized model will be used for home defense and/or sport, while the compact will be used for concealed carry.

Only one fire control unit is provided and it must be switched between the pistols.

Top Gun Supply is listing it for $759.95.

American Tactical Imports are now selling the MKEK Yavuz 16 branded as the ATI AT 92.

American Tactical AT 92. Full size model.

If you are thinking that this pistol looks familiar, you are right. The Yavuz 16 is a copy of the Beretta 92FS (M9 pistol). It is made by the Turkish state-owned arms manufacturing giant MKEK. I was told that the story behind the pistol is that one of the MKEK factories did manufacturing work for Beretta. Once their relationship ended, which I presumed did not end well, they cloned it and started manufacturing it for local law enforcement.

Some years ago Beretta switched the guide rod and trigger from steel to polymer. The AT92 is all steel, which should please some customers.

AT 92 Compact Nickel Finish

It is available in a black or nickel finish and in a full size and compact model. Because of BATFE restrictions on the size of imported pistols, the compact is not much smaller than the full size model.

Many thanks to Chris for supplying information.

UPDATE: Dutch Ton pointed out in the comments that these guns are manufactured by a company named Yavuz 16, which is part of MKEK.

Hat Tip: Gun Reports

Two months ago I blogged that Zel Custom would soon be selling an upgraded 3rd Gen version of their Tactilite AR-15 upper. The Gen-3 receiver is now the standard receiver across the Tactilite product line and available in .338 Laupa as well as .50 BMG and .416 Barrett.

I also noticed on their website that they will be unveiling a new "Tactilite T3" at SHOT in January. I am looking forward to seeing it.

South Korea looks to be the first country to deploy a next-gen airburst grenade / assault rifle weapon in combat. Korea Times reports ...

South Korean troops to be deployed in Afghanistan will be armed with the latest K-11 airburst assault rifles for self-defense, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry unveiled the timeline as well as the troop numbers and equipment to be sent to the Central Asian nation, last week.

About 350 soldiers will be dispatched to Afghanistan with the main mission of protecting 120 South Korean civilian reconstruction workers, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a National Assembly session. Two dozen civilian reconstruction workers have already been sent to the war-torn country.

Daewoo K11. From Wikipedia.

Built in the style of the now defunct XM29 OICW, the Daewoo K11 features a 5.56mm assult rifle mated to a airburst grenade launcher and ballistics computer. Where is differs from the XM29 is that the grenades are 20mm, not 25mm, and the grenade launcher is bolt action, not semi-automatic.

Like the XM29, a ballistic computer programs each grenade before firing, instructing it how long after firing before detonation. This video of a prototype K11 demonstartes the functionality.

It will be very interesting to see how well this concept works in real combat. The US Army tests found that a 20mm grenade was not big enough to be effective in a airburst configuration. Unless I am mistaken, the shrapnel from an airburst grenade will go in all directions, and therefor at least 50% is going up instead of down towards the intended target.

Many thanks to Snafu Solomon for sending me the link.

I am in full agreement with David Crane, who says that the VBR-B Compact is "arguably the most intelligently-developed PDW weapon/ammo concept to date". Why? It is small, can fire 9x19mm armor piercing ammunition, uses glock magazines, includes a foregrip and is not much bigger than a Desert Eagle pistol.

I highly recommend the detailed article David wrote about is at Defense Review.

UPDATE: PersonalDefenseWeapons.com also has info about the gun.

Steinkamp SW1

Of all the guns which I have written about this year, few have been as interesting as the Steinkamp SW1. The sleek polymer bullpup stock of the SW1 looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, and yet it is a double rifle, a type of firearm that is most associated with hunting in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Many of you are now asking yourselves "Why?". I say to you "Why not?". Double barrels rifles and shotguns are still popular and very useful. It is simply a very short double barreled rifle with modern ergonomics and great balance.

Amazingly, the total length of the rifle is just 2" longer then the barrel length!

At first glance is appears that the rifle has dual triggers, but this is not the case. The lower trigger-like lever unlocks the action. The spring loaded buttplate then opens and the ejectors fling the empty cartridges out of the gun. The reloading process is quick and can be accomplished without the operator having to take their hand off the pistol grip.

Opening the action.

Buttpad opens to reveal the chambers.

The trigger guard doubles as a cocking lever. This feature allows it to be safety carried loaded but uncocked in the field, yet be quickly cocked if a shot presents itself.

The cocking action

Currently the SW1 can be purchased chambered in 8x57IRS, 8x68S, 9.3x74R, 20 gauge and 12 gauge but the company says that other calibers can be requested. The SW1 weighs 7.5 lbs.

The Launch Edition is priced at $4.998. Although it was available for order in 2008, the first rifles only started shipping last month.

I finally got hold of a photo of the tacti-awesome version of the KBP's revolver shotgun. The gun was on display at the recent Interpolitex security expo in Moscow.

© Vitaly Kuzmin. Click to expand photo.

More info about this gun can be found here.

Many thanks to Vitaly Kuzmin for his help and the use of his photo.

Zimmerman Arms have developed what looks like the best tactical Ruger 10/22-style rifle available. What sets the Rezolution (yes, it is spelt with a "z") apart from other tactical 10/22 type rifles is that they have developed their own receiver. It does not enclose a standard 10/22 receiver inside an outer shell like the Ruger SR-22 and other similar guns.

Rezolution Tactical

The CNC machined receiver features a full length monolithic top picatinny rail. A bottom rail and side rails are bolted onto the receiver. Internally it makes use of a Ruger 10/22 compatible bolt, trigger group, magazines and v-block barrel mounting system. Rimfire Technologies, a well known supplied of after market 10/22 parts, supplies many of the internal parts, including the barrel.

Precision model with bull barrel.

Rails

The familiar shaped receiver and bolt

As most of you have already guessed, the Rezolution is compatible with standard AR-15 stocks. What is slightly disappointing is that it is not compatible with AR-15 pistol grips, although this is a minor fault.

The pricing starts at $941.81 for the R-RT-21BL (Rezolution Tactical with 21" length receiver). This model features a 16" .750 diameter fluted stainless threaded barrel with AR-15 A2 flash-hider and a M4 style stock.

Production has only just begun and some models will not be available until next month. I personally think these guns are a very good deal and are going to sell very well.