Lyman Products announced a new single stage loading press that is designed to offer good performance in a compact package. The press is called the Brass Smith Ideal. The new press is a C shaped press that is made with a cast iron body and stainless steel parts. While C [Read More…]
If you aren’t already subscribed to us, you’re missing great content! Click here to subscribe. The FK Brno 7.5mm Field Pistol is a high end boutique pistol based on the CZ75 and chambered in a rather intriguing proprietary cartridge. At first glance, it seems almost like 9x25mm [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Korean manufacturer PMC’s clone of M855, called X-TAC M855 LAP. This ammunition features very uniform-looking external dimensions, attractively finished brass cases and projectile jackets, and a reasonable [Read More…]
As much as the curmudgeons favor it, .45 Auto has a dirty little secret: its typically low velocity often causes it to perform poorly in heavy clothing. Some bullets do perform well, but many fail to expand when fired through heavy clothing. Calibers such as 9mm Parabellum benefit from higher muzzle [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Korean manufacturer PMC’s clone of M193 Ball, called XP193. This ammunition features very uniform-looking external dimensions, attractively finished brass cases and projectile jackets, and a reasonable [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Korean manufacturer PMC’s clone of M193 Ball, called XP193. This ammunition features very uniform-looking external dimensions, attractively finished brass cases and projectile jackets, and a reasonable price. [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Vympel’s budget 55gr FMJ load in .223 Remington, made in Amursk, Russia. This ammunition features a lacquered steel case, bimetal jacketed 55gr FMJ bullet and purple neck sealant. This is one of my favorite [Read More…]
We shoot 7.5mm FK 95 gr SCHP ammunition from a FK Brno 7.5mm with a 6″ barrel into Clearballistics ballistic gel to measure velocity, penetration, expansion/fragmentation, and retained weight. Guns in this video: FK Brno 7.5mm Penetration: 33.1″ Retained weight: 84.9gr Velocities: [Read More…]
Next up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is Vympel’s budget 55gr FMJ load in .223 Remington, made in Amursk, Russia. This ammunition features a lacquered steel case, bimetal jacketed 55gr FMJ bullet and purple neck sealant. This is one of my favorite [Read More…]
The first round up of the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is IMI’s take on the Black Hill’s classic heavy precision load, Mk. 262. Branded as “77gr Razor Core”, IMI’s version sports annealed 5.56mm NATO cases, neck and primer sealant, and [Read More…]
The .224 Valkyrie may be the most interesting AR-15 round to come out in years, but the question many have been asking in my comments section is: Cool, but where are the rifles? Approaching the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas Nevada, we are already starting to get answers, [Read More…]
The first round up for the Big Freakin’ Cartridge Test is IMI’s take on the Black Hill’s classic heavy precision load, Mk. 262. Branded as “77gr Razor Core”, IMI’s version sports annealed 5.56mm NATO cases, neck and primer sealant, [Read More…]
Through the Modern Calibers series of posts, we’ve covered 40 different rifle and pistol calibers, ranging from the diminutive .22 Winchester Magnum to full power calibers like the 7.62x51mm NATO. The series was intended to give readers a baseline picture of how [Read More…]
We shoot Hornady .357 Sig 147gr XTP ammunition from a Glock 22 with a 4.25″ .357 Sig conversion barrel into Clearballistics ballistic gel to measure velocity, penetration, expansion/fragmentation, and retained weight. Buy it at Ventura Munitions. Bare gel Penetration: 23.6″, [Read More…]
Ammo, Inc. announced the company was now selling STREAK Visual Ammunition. This is nonflammable ammunition that uses a phosphor material that is applied to the base of the bullet. When fired, this phosphor material glows as the bullet moves downrange. It is visible to [Read More…]
The United States Marine Corps has finally officially announced its adoption of the 5.56mm M855A1 EPR round, developed in the late 2000s by the US Army, marking an important step towards ammunition commonality between the two services. Until now, the USMC has officially [Read More…]
Those eagerly awaiting the market for the new .224 Valkyrie round have something to celebrate. Gunmaker JP Enterprises recently announced that they are now offering three different barrels for the new cartridge, in 20″ light, 20″ medium, and 22″ medium [Read More…]
We shoot Hornady .44spl 165gr FTX ammunition from a S&W Model 69 with a 4.25″ barrel into Clearballistics ballistic gel to measure velocity, penetration, expansion/fragmentation, and retained weight. Buy it at Ventura Munitions Bare gel: Penetration: 11.3″, 11.7″ Retained [Read More…]
Hornady Manufacturing recently announced an expansion to its Critical Duty line with a new 9mm load. The new load uses a 124 gr FlexLock bullet that is lighter than the previous 135 grain offerings in this line. The 124 grain Critical Duty load is loaded to [Read More…]
Is the US Army pushing for a new high-powered 6.Xmm caliber with their new NGSAR program? Recently, the listing for the NGSAR industry day in December was updated with a document describing in part the agenda of the second conference. Scheduled for 9:45 in the morning [Read More…]
The first holster to be issued with the US Army’s new Modular Handgun System, including both the M17 and M18 pistols, will be a variant of the Safariland 7TS holster, featuring both ALS and SLS locking systems. The holster is the first of at least three holsters [Read More…]
The US Army has announced a decision to field the M17 MHS as a sidearm to more soldiers than were previously issued M9 handguns. Where previously only senior leadership were authorized to carry handguns, with the new M17 and M18 Modular Handgun System squad and team [Read More…]
Bare gel: Penetration: 13.2″, 13.8″ Retained weight: 177.0gr, 175.2gr Max expansion: 0.741″, 0.721″ Min expansion: 0.540″, 0.504″ Buy it at Ventura Munitions. We shoot Fiocchi .357mag 125gr XTP ammunition from a S&W Model 13L with a 4″ barrel and a Rossi [Read More…]
Hornady Manufacturing Company rolled out a number of new loads in recent months. Several of those belong to the Match and Superformance Match lines. Match Hornady added three new loads to the Match line. The first load is a 300 Norma Magnum cartridge that uses a 225 [Read More…]
If you are a waterfowl hunter, the new ammunition line from HEVI-Shot may be of interest. The company recently announced a new series of shotgun loads that were specifically designed for snow geese and other waterfowl called HEVI-Snow. HEVI-Snow loads use steel shot and [Read More…]
We shoot Browning .40 S&W BXP 180 gr X-Point ammunition from a Glock 22 with a 4.5″ barrel into Clearballistics ballistic gel to measure velocity, penetration, expansion/fragmentation, and retained weight. Bare gel: Penetration: 13.2″, 13.8″ Retained weight: 177.0gr, 175.2gr [Read More…]
In the comments section of my recent Brief Thoughts article regarding caseless ammunition, there was a discussion about whether the cookoff issues of caseless would also be problem for LSAT-style polymer cased telescoped ammunition. Based on conversations I have had [Read More…]
We shoot Fiocchi .38 spl 125gr XTP ammunition from a Rossi M92 lever action carbine with a 16″ barrel into Clearballistics ballistic gel to measure velocity, penetration, expansion/fragmentation, and retained weight. Buy it at Ventura Munitions. Guns in this video: Rossi M92 Thanks to our [Read More…]
Caseless: The ammunition designer’s holy grail, and the engineer’s worst nightmare. It would obsolete the cartridge case overnight, resulting in cheaper, lighter, and more compact ammunition. Weapons would be able to carry 50, 60, or more rounds in slim, [Read More…]
IMR recently announced an addition to its Enduron line of powders. The new powder is the IMR 8133. The 8133 is the fifth powder offering in the Enduron line. IMR considers the Enduron line to be one of its “improved powders” that offers increased temperature [Read More…]