Taser have just launched their new much-hyped X3 model. The X3 corrects a major flaw in the Taser system, something gun slingers realized at least 250 years ago, to wit, when dealing with people at close range a single shot is never enough. The X3 addresses this problem but giving the operator three shots.
Taser X3
This gives the X3 fifty percent greater ammunition capacity than a Derringer pistol, and just 82% less capacity than your plastic fantastic! Joking aside, the new multi shot capability is a technological breakthrough that significantly increases the utility of the device. It allow law enforcement officers to quickly follow up a missed shot or engage up to three targets simultaneously. This video demonstrates the multi target functionality:
Not only can it load three “Smart Cartridges”, but long range and short range cartridges can be mixed. The duel laser sight will automatically adjust the point of impact for the currently “chambered” cartridge, which I think is pretty nifty.
“Scary Arc Mode”
Another new feature is what I call the “Scary Arc Mode”. A button can be pushed which will cycle electrical arcs across the front of the device. While a superficial feature, it may persuade many a drunk to cooperate.
Other new features include safety, reliability and user interface improvements.
X3 Holstered
I think the X3 is one of those devices, like the iPhone, which can justify money being spent on an upgrade.
Last month in the Russian town of Tarusa, IDPA shooters held a public demonstration of their sport and allowed the local to give it a go. I must admit I was shocked to see that the demonstration was done out in the open, from an elevated position, with people, vehicles and boats behind the targets!
If you look closely, there appear to be people on the other side of the river.
The guns appear to be real, not airsoft or air guns.
Google Translate is a crude tool at the best of times, but I think they are saying that it was safe because the boat pictured above was 200-400 meters away from the firing line! I looked up the probable location on Google Earth / Maps and I think at best the boat was 200 meters, probably less.
According to Hatchers Notebook, the classic text on ballistics, a .45 ACP and .38 Special round can reach as far as 1200 yards ( 1097 meters ) if fired at the right elevation!
Am I missing anything that would make this safe? Can any Russian speakers please read the forum thread and let us know in the comments if they were doing anything that made it safe.
UPDATE: trigger288 says in the comments that the pistols are loaded with low powered rubber bullets, which are only dangerous up to 50m.
Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) have developed a new ultra high-end suppressor called the Ti-RANT. It weights about 1 oz less than their Evolution 9mm suppressor while offering greater sound reduction. This is achieved by using titanium and titanium alloys, hence the name Ti-RANT.
The specs are:
Weight: 8.6 OZ (244gm)
Length: 7.9” (201mm)
Diameter: 1.38” (35mm)
Finish: GunKote, T3 HARD COAT& SCARMOR
Sound Reduction: 35-38dB
The business end of the Ti-RANT
Of course the high-end construction and technology comes at a price. AAC will be selling it for $1195 shipped. That is about $300 more than the Evo 9.
A reader, who shall remain anonymous, emailed me this account of what happened to him.
Your message about the 9 mm Nato versus 9 mm Luger (9×19 mm, 9 mm Para) is correct and should be a warning to all users of 9 mm pistols. I found out the the higher pressure of the Nato round can be punishing. The same day as I received my first and brand new police service pistol, the Walther P5, I took it to my shooting club to show it to the lads and to shoot it.
Because I ran out of ammo, I borrowed a box from a military friend, who used 9 mm Nato rounds. After two shots my new pistol jammed, because the extractor broke off. I had some explanation to do the next day in order to get my service gun back in working order and got the message: Never use military ammo in non-military firearms. So, any surplus army ammo: use it in the Browning High-Power or the Glock, but not in “civilian” pistols.
$15,000 ballistics experiment Ballistics By The Inch has added an additional team member and expended another 1500 rounds of ammunition in their quest for ballistics knowledge.
Three more cartridges have been tested: the .327 Magnum, 10mm Auto and .41 magnum. The team have also tested a wide variety of “real world” handguns and carbines to see how they compare with each other and with the test results.
Testing the ammunition.
I was given early access to the updated information and it has been a fascinating read.
Congrats to Jim, Jim, Steve and Keith for the completion of phase two and also a big thank you from me for all your effort.
“PooFire” was using his car as a barrier to practice shooting over (NOT a good idea) with his AR-15 but forgot his revolver was placed on the car roof. His S&W Model 442 Airweight took a 5.56mm bullet to the chamber.
Click to expand the images.
He knows what he did was idiotic, and as someone at AR15.com said, he has balls of steel posting it on the internet. So don’t mock him for it!
Crazy Einar aka Michael Z. Williamson once described the Colt Python as jewelry for real men. This 1977 engraved piece by Colt’s custom shop is stunning. A suitable fashion accessory for men and woman.
Unfortunately the opening bid at gun broker is $2500! How many AR-15 lowers can you get for that?
I wish I had though of this. Gungrips.net (website currently offline) offer personalized gun grips that can be ordered online. They can turn any sketch into a laser engraved design.
The pistol features a unique design in which the magazine sits beneath the chamber instead of behind it. This allows a longer barrel, thereby generating more muzzle energy than a shorter barreled pistol of a similar size chambering in the same cartridge. I wrote a blog post about the pistol last year.
DoubleStar has issued a press release announcing their “first-ever handgun”. From the press release (emphasis mine):
Accuracy, reliability and American pride. They are qualities DoubleStar builds into each of its many AR-15 offerings. Now, the Kentucky-based manufacturer is bringing those same attributes down to size by building them into its first-ever handgun.
The new DoubleStar 1911
All very well and good except this is not the first DoubleStar handgun. The pistol below is on listed at BudsGunShop.com as a “Doublestar 1911 5″ Govt 45acp made in Winchester Ky.”. THe DoubleStar logo is clearly visible on the slide. Searching Google for “doublestar 1911″ comes up with many forum postings mentioning the DoubleStar 1911 Government model pistol since at least 2006.
Innocent break down in communication between management and PR? Rewriting history? Outright deception? I don’t know.
It features 1913 rail, National Match stainless barrel, Greider trigger, Ed Brown’s Memory Grip Safety and choice of a square or round trigger guard. It will retail for under $1200.
The new Charter Arms “On Duty” revolver is a double action .38 Special snub-nosed revolver designed for concealed carry. It has a low profile, partly concealed, hammer that allows it to be used in single action but is also less likely to be snagged on clothing.
It features:
* Lifetime warrantee
* Exclusive eight-groove gas sealing barrel,
* Exclusive three-point cylinder lock up, no screw side plates,
* Hammer block safety system
* Charter’s fastest factory revolver-lock time.
Specs:
Cartridge: .38 Special + P Barrel length: 2″ stainless steel Frame: 7075 aluminum alloy Capacity: 5 round Weight: 12 ounces
The PSDR 3 is a fully suppressed .45 ACP Smith & Wesson Model 625 revolver developed in 1993 by Joe Peters, under contract from Northrhine-Westphalia, for Germany’s SEK (SWAT) teams.
This photo is from Visier Special 6, 1997 (special edition of one of the three big German gun journals):
Click to expand.
Revolvers cannot be effectively suppressed because gas escapes from between the cylinder and the barrel creating noise (there are some exceptions). The big shell that encloses the cylinder of the PSDR 3 prevents the gas from escaping. This combined with a big suppressor and a subsonic .45 ACP round causes a noise reduction from 136 dB to 90 dB which is comparable to a CO2 air gun. Decibels are a logarithmic unit of measurement, so a 46 dB reduction is significant. In theory this gun should make a lot less noise than a suppressed semi-automatic pistol because there no slide slamming open and closed.
I had no idea such a gun existed until Sven emailed me. I really like the idea – German engineering at its best!
Many thanks to Sven, who blog at Defense and Freedom, for the scanned page and translation.
Hi, welcome to The Firearm Blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearm related. If you are into AR-15 and AK carbines, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting rifles then there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.
I want this blog to appeal to a worldwide audience and so I will focus on firearms and shooting rather than country specific politics. There are already many great blogs defending your rights!
Hi, welcome to The Firearm Blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearm related. If you are into AR-15 and AK carbines, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting rifles then there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.
