There’s no mistaking it. Everyone who’s ever driven knows the sound of a Harley alongside of you. When stopped at a light and you almost feel that distinctive, throaty “potato-potato-potato” growl, you don’t have to look to know it’s a hog. That’s seems to be the concept behind Cabot Guns’ efforts to give their ultra high end 1911s their own “auditory signature.” So when you rack the slide on a S103 Commander, it won’t sound like the slide on any other gun in the world. Press release after the jump . . .

Sarver, Pennsylvania – November 9, 2015 – Cabot Guns, the premier purveyor of state-of-the-art advancement of the 1911 platform, is proud to announce another industry first – acoustical engineering as a part of the 1911 shooting experience.

In the few short years since their founding in 2011, Cabot Guns has continually proven that they cannot shy away from innovation in any facet of the work they so passionately adore. Today, Cabot is announcing it has taken steps to secure intellectual property protection of their latest endeavor – expanding the sensory pleasure of handling the 1911 pistol.

Inspired by the “feeling” created by certain sounds, Cabot Guns introduces an auditory signature to its already unmistakable workmanship. Audiology is the study of hearing – Psychoacoustics, the study of the perception of sound. There are things in this world readily identifiable solely by their auditory presence; the vault-like heavy engagement of a Mercedes door, the tell-tale “ping” when opening a T.S. DuPont lighter, and even the “flick” when unlocking an iPhone. Each of these sounds was specifically engineered into their respective designs. Cabot Guns again breaks new ground by bringing this technology to the firearms industry with an acoustically engineered 1911.

Described as akin to the high-speed clean shutter sound of a DSLR camera, Cabot’s acoustic engineering is now a feature made manifest upon racking the slide of their S103 Commander pistol. Cabot President Rob Bianchin states “I can’t stop racking the slide,” as a smile spreads from ear to ear.

Just as photography cannot fully capture the elegantly deep shine of Cabot’s Deluxe polished finish for one’s eyes, audio recordings cannot fully replicate the psychoacoustic perceptions created by the racking of the S103 slide. While not a substitute for “the real thing,” a peek into the captured auditory bliss is available at sound.cabotgun.com. The full auditory experience of the S103 truly must be experienced first hand.

Committed to the strict control of variables, and the implementation of perfection, Cabot Guns expects to soon offer acoustical engineering options to other models of their 1911 line.

President Rob Bianchin and the Cabot Guns team take pride and obsession to levels of American can-do. From their expanding operation in the rolling hills of Sarver, Pennsylvania to their new center for excellence in the State of Indiana, Cabot takes price in the superiority of American craftsmanship to create the “ultra-premium” 1911 models for which they have become famous.

 

The post New From Cabot Guns: Acoustical Engineering for the 1911 Pistol appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

RF has known me for a couple of years now. So when he told me to come over and pick up something interesting I was thinking more along the lines of a bottle blonde with chest ink and a couple priors. What I got instead was the Grand Power X-Calibur 9mm pistol. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little let down. Still, it’s a neat looking target pistol. Robert’s invitation may have been a disappointment, the pistol wasn’t . . .

Other than the gun itself, I didn’t have much information to go on. A Google search sent me straight to the Grand Power LTD website. Fortunately I have my Texas concealed carry permit, because otherwise I guess I wouldn’t be allowed to look at the site. As soon as you open the site a disclaimer reads:

Websites you are about to enter are dedicated to experts in field of firearms and ammunition. You state that you are firearms license or permit holder by entering these sites. OK.

From that moment on, everything I read had a thick Soviet-era accent to it. The website didn’t provide much information in the way of the gun’s manufacture or the functioning of the pistol, but it was well worth a read:

Appearance of the X-CALIBUR model follows well known X-TRIM model with typical shapes on the slide. The new shaping of the slide resulted in weight reduction, the gun appears light and predaceous. The revealed barrel together with emphasized castellation of the slide offers an attractive design putting the shooting experience on the first place.

“Light and predaceous.” How Jurassic Park is that? Eagle Imports brings this gun into the USA and you can find a description of it on their website. It’s in plain old boring English.  Anyway, Grand Power is a Slovakian manufacturer. The X-Calibur is their top of the line “sport” pistol aimed at the IPSC shooter (so to speak). Like many of the guns for this market, it’s a DA/SA full-frame 5″ slide 9mm with a 15+1 capacity. It looks and feels like many of the High Power/ CZ-75 guns vying for competitors’ cash.

The Slovakian gun shipped with two 15-round magazines and multiple back straps. At first glance, gun is good! The X-Calibur’s 1mm wide fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight and long sight radius ((over 8 1/2 inches) are ideal for accuracy-minded shooters. Lefties and wounded righties rejoice! The X-Claiber’s safety, magazine release and slide lock are on both sides of the pistol.

Takedown is pretty simple, but read the manual. It’s kind of a down and back and forward thing that’s easy to do and hard to say. Once stripped to its bits, the X-Calibur appears to be a steel-frame pistol wrapped in a polymer coating with a steel slide. The older K100 pistol by Grand Power was imported by STI here in Georgetown, Texas, with STI branding on it.  STI is the maker of the familiar 2011 race guns, and the heritage of that manufacturing is present in the X-Calibur as well.

Grand Power heavily serrated the slide with deep decorative cuts. The resulting weight loss makes the gun feels light and maneuverable. Robert was right about one thing: the X-Claiber’s distinctive barrel alone makes this gun interesting. No, it’s not that it’s grooved, though it is and deeply. What really makes this barrel different: it doesn’t tilt. It rotates 90 degrees to accept a new round and then locks into battery upon rotating back.

Very few pistols use this type of action. The Berretta Storm uses a similar system – and that’s all I can find. (No doubt TTAG Armed Intelligentsia will offer a full history, a list of guns so constructed and the rotating barrel’s pros and cons. Gratefully received.) After working dry fire drills with the X-Calibur and meditating on the internals, I figured the rotating barrel gives the gun a slightly lower bore axis in a common pistol length gun. At this point, the X-Claiber had my full attention.

To the range!

Loading the magazines to full capacity is pretty tight. (Despite sacrificing my epidermis for the cause, I could only load 14 rounds of Wolf ammo.) I loaded my first 30 rounds of Winchester White Box 9X19, locked the X-Calibur’s action back, flipped the safety up, and inserted the magazine. The gun immediately went into battery. I tried that again, with the exact same results. I didn’t disengage the slide lock. I didn’t pull the slide back and release it. I inserted a magazine and the gun went into battery, chambering the first round.

I tried the same drill with an empty magazine with the same results. If I was gentler with the magazine insertion, the slide would remain open until I either pulled it back and let go or released the slide lock, but that’s not the kind of daintiness I’d be using if I were running the gun in a match.

That didn’t fill me with confidence; the gun should have never left the factory. That said, chambering a round fast on a full magazine is not the worst thing in the world; some people might see it as a plus, or even as a feature.  A few people have told me their HK pistols do this, as well as some other ,manufacturer’s guns.  I’ve had pistols that had this same “feature”, and I don’t have any of them anymore.  If it happens every single time, it could be considered a feature.  But if it only happens some of the time, it’s a flaw.

Other than the slide and barrel decoration and the rotating bolt, the X-Claiber’s other “distinctive” feature: the truly massive ambidextrous plastic thumb safety. I’m a guy who likes to shoot 1911s with my thumb resting on the safety, so a continental plate-sized thumb rest hanging on the back of the gun may seem like a good idea. It isn’t.

First, the “on” position of the safety is too high, a bit of a reach. Also, the safety’s Jumbo size makes it too easy to disengage. For range use, this feature is acceptable. Otherwise . . . even a light catch on my shirt from the draw would disengage the X-Calibur’s safety. The switch is also uncomfortable after long strings. The material is too thin and acts like a blade into the middle of your thumb. Shoot 50 rounds or so and it isn’t a problem. Shoot 500 and it’s an issue.

The X-Calibur appears to be the only model with this kind of safety. I would highly recommend the other, lower, but still wide, profile safety on Grand Power’s other sport pistol lines instead.

Once I dropped that massive safety and squeezed the trigger, I was genuinely surprised. In double action, the trigger is too heavy, but it’s smooth enough and not too long. In single action, the trigger is good to great. Nice and smooth with minimal creep. The reset is solid, crisp and very short.

That cut slide, and low bare axis combined with that bright front sight made for fast shots on small targets. Traversing targets was particularly rewarding. It’s a fast gun. I would have liked a little more weight on the front end, but man, that gun would move, and then stop on targets most riki tik.

With some practice, I could shoot the 5 1/2″ plate on the dueling tree at 15 yards. Better yet I’d be ready to shoot it again by the time the paddle swung around to the other side. Now that was fun. I spent a goodly amount of time, and ammunition, running a mockup of an IDPA classifier stage.

Which brings me to the gun’s reliability. Other than the immediate chambering of a round highlighted above, I shot 520 rounds with zero failures. This was over three days, one of them which was raining pretty heavily, with no cleaning of the gun of any kind. I did Rem-Oil it prior to the first shot.

In addition to the Winchester and Wolf FMJ rounds, I also shot Winchester PDX 124gr +P and 124gr Federal Hydra Shock round without any problems. By the time I finished shooting, the gun was dirty from carbon, and had plain old dirt and mud in it from repeatedly dropping the mags onto the muddy ground, reloading it, and reinserting them into the gun. It just kept running. But does the gun sacrifice accuracy for reliability?

It does not. Nothing I shot was more than a 2-inch group at 25 yards. The PDX round shot 1 1/4 inch groups at 25 yards off a bag, and the Winchester FMJ round shot a solid 1″ group over and over again. At the seven yard line it’s impossible to tell if I shot three or 15 rounds through the target. It’s just one hole. That’s exceptional.

The rotating barrel X-Calibur is not your usual handgun. In this case, unusual means unusually good. Remember: this a “race” gun, not an everyday carry piece. As such, I’d love to see it in the hands of a pro-shooter like the lovely, articulate and plain speaking Jessie Duff. I don’t think she’d be disappointed. And neither will you – once you sort that going-into-battery thing and wing masquerading as a safety.

RATINGS (out of five stars):

Style * * * *
I like the slide cuts and the fluted barrel, but I usually do.

Accuracy * * * * *
This is an $800 gun shooting one-inch groups with cheap ammo. Exceptional.

Reliability * * * * * and ZERO
That slide returning to battery upon magazine insertion is a deal killer for me.  It might not be for you.  Otherwise, this gun runs perfectly.

Customize This * * * *
The gun comes with a rail, four back straps and great sights that you can take off if you want. Considering the purpose of this gun, you’re already where you need to be right out of the box. Mounting an optic would require significant gunsmithing and it’s not threaded.

The post Gun Review: Grand Power X-Calibur 9mm appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

I pocket carry a Kahr MK9. I love that gun! It’s not for everyone. It’s heavy – which I like – and really expensive: around $700. People who need to pinch their pennies are well advised to take Jarhead6’s advice and buy the TTAG 4.5 star Kahr CW9. Oh wait, he recommends the .45 caliber CW45. As .45 cartridges cost significantly more than 9mm’s, buying the CW45 makes you penny wise and pound foolish (as the Brits are wont to say). Besides, the CW45 MSRP’s at $449. That’s still a lot of money. If you’re really stretched, I’d recommend a used gun. How about a Smith & Wesson 642 for shade under three bills? Or a CZ82s? What’s the cheapest acceptable carry gun you’d recommend? HiPoint?

The post Question of the Day: Best Inexpensive Carry Gun: Kahr CW45? [VIDEO] appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

On the cusp of the Texas Firearms Festival, SIG SAUER (one of the main exhibitors) is announcing that they have sliced off the nose of their P229 handgun. Originally designed as a more concealed carry friendly version of the iconic P226 the gun was still a little big for some buyers, but the new version is about as small as you can get before you start falling into the “mouse gun” category. Press release after the jump . . .

NEWINGTON, N.H. (November 12, 2015) — SIG SAUER, Inc., is now offering the P229® Carry chambered in .40 and .357SIG. These reduced-length pistols maintain the standard grip length and magazine capacity as the standard P229, but with a shortened slide and barrel length.

Available in Nitron® and SAS models, the P229 Carry features a non-railed alloy frame and durable Nitron finished slide. SIGLITE® Night Sights come standard. Black G-10 grips offer a stout grip, even when wet.

The 3.5˝ barrel makes the P229 Carry easy to draw from concealment or a duty rig. Ideal for inside the waistband (IWB) carry, the P229 Carry uses standard length, full capacity P229 magazines, making it a great back-up choice.

“As we’ve worked with armed professionals over the years, we kept hearing comments about shorter slides and barrels, but with full-size magazines and grips,” said John Brasseur, Director of Product Management for SIG SAUER, Inc. “This combination offers advantages in certain low visibility applications. One benefit of our New Hampshire-based facility is that we can adapt new designs very efficiently to meet the needs of our users in the field.”

The Nitron model features a DA/SA trigger and the full set of internal safeties found in all Classic SIG SAUER® pistols. The SAS model features the Short Reset Trigger system (SRT™) and has had the SIG Anti-Snag® treatment applied, where all sharp corners and hard edges have been rounded, making for a more comfortable gun to conceal.

Both the Nitron and SAS P229 Carry models are shipping now in .40 and .357SIG. A caliber X-Change™ kit will also be available to convert .40 and .357SIG variants to 9mm.

MSRP is $1,142 for the new gun. I wonder if they will have it at the Texas Firearms Festival…

The post SIG SAUER Announces New Shorter Carry Edition P229 appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

“In May 2014, NRA staffers secretly tested the Armatix iP1, the so-called “smart gun” that at the time was causing a furor among both media and gun owners nationwide,” the NRA’s americas1stfreedom.org website reveals. “What we found was disappointing at best, and alarming at worst.” Wait. What? The NRA’s been sitting on their “smart gun” review for a year and a half? Obviously, the recent 60 Minutes piece on smart guns inspired Fairfax to dust-off their post and present it to the public. While the late-to-the-party review shows just how dire the technology is, Armatix may have sorted some of the issues in the meantime. That said . . .

maybe this is all the NRA could do, then and now. [NOTE: TTAG has repeatedly attempted to purchase an Armatix iP1 since it first reared its digital head – to no avail.] Anyway, the NRA reports that they found a number of “very serious problems” with the gun’s design and function.

Does the Armatix operate perfectly? Well, no; we found it to be troubling at best. NRA’s tests, conducted with staffers trained by Armatix, found a number of very serious problems:

• The Armatix pistol initially required a full 20 minutes to pair with the watch, even with the aid of an IT pro trained in its use. Without pairing, the Armatix functions like any other handgun, capable of being fired by anyone.

• Once paired, a “cold start” still requires a minimum of seven push-button commands and a duration of 12 seconds before the gun can be fired.

• While the gun holds a maximum of 11 rounds (10+1), the best our experts could manage was nine consecutive rounds without a failure to fire (and that only once). Three or four misfires per magazine were common, despite using various brands of ammunition.

• Although the Armatix has a decent single-action trigger, it has the worst double-action trigger we’ve ever tested, requiring more force than any other pistol we’ve fired.

• The pistol must be within 10 inches of the watch during “start up.” This slows and complicates the use of the pistol if one hand is injured or otherwise unavailable.

• The design of the Armatix’s hammer prevents it from being safely thumbed forward.

• All this malfunction comes at a high price: At $1,798 ($1,399 for the base pistol and another $399 for the enabling watch), the Armatix is a more than five times the cost of other common .22s, like Walther’s excellent P22 ($319) or Browning’s tried-and-true Buckmark ($349), and four and a half times that of Smith & Wesson’s M&P22 polymer semi-auto ($379) or Ruger’s SR22 ($379). It’s also more than three times the cost of pistols like Glocks and Smith & Wesson M&Ps made in true self-defense calibers

So, the Armatix iP1 isn’t the greatest gun in the world, ergonomically, functionally, strategically or financially.

Bottom line: as tested, the Armatix iP1 is a dog. Surprised?

The post The NRA Reviews the Aromatic iP1 and Pronounces It A Complete Dog appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Press release [via ammoland.com]

Paris, France – Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) – a leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for law enforcement agencies as well as governments and armies around the world – will reveal its pistol configuration for the revolutionary eLog comprehensive small arms management and control solution. The system allows Law Enforcement and Special Forces full control of their weapons arsenal, assuring that pistols will be ready for use when needed. According to Uri Amit, President and CEO . . .

The responses which began immediately following the launch of our unique solution – about six months ago – have been exceptional, as are the non-stop customer inquiries. It seems there is a general understanding that this control over weapons arsenals, whether law enforcement or military, can critically affect the readiness of the forces in real time, drastically reducing battlefield mishaps – and ultimately can enable significant savings in logistics and maintenance.

The solution is currently undergoing an evaluation process by a number of police forces and armies – and was recently acquired by a prestigious Special Forces unit. Following the need that we have identified and inquiries from customers, we have expanded the solution, which now is available for all types of pistols.

The solution will be demonstrated at the exhibition on JERICHO and Glock pistols. In addition, the company will present its entire portfolio, including the newcomers – the DAN .338 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle and the NEGEV NG7 LMG.

About eLog

eLog – a comprehensive small arms management & control solution – digitizes the performance of every weapon system – providing precise, previously unavailable information, and allowing superior small arms and spare parts inventory and maintenance management at all levels, including theft alerts. The eLog system consists of three main components: weapon-embedded sensor modules, terminals that collect available data, and armorer management software.

The Concealed Sensor Module records the firearm’s real-time operation and performance, including the number of shots fired, the weapon’s serial number, and the last shooting record. Operated by a replaceable coin battery with an average cycle of at least 3 years, the sensor communicates with the terminal reader via RF technology, transmitting within a range of up to 40m.

The Mobile Terminal Reader, a rugged PDA that collects the recorded data, can simultaneously read data from a specific group of weapons.

The computer-based Armorer Management Software provides a detailed view of each weapon’s status and performance, and generates recommendations or modifications for maintenance and repair. Locations of stored weapons are continuously verified, with alerts sent regarding unauthorized removals.

About Israel Weapon Industries (IWI)

Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), located in the center of Israel, has been a world leader in small arms for over 80 years. IWI is a member of the SK Group, which is composed of companies that develop and manufacture a wide array of military products for governmental entities, armies, and law enforcement agencies around the world. IWI’s best-known products include the TAVOR, X95 (Micro TAVOR), and GALIL ACE Assault Rifles, the GALIL Sniper Rifle, the DAN .338 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle, the NEGEV Light Machine Gun 5.56 & 7.62 mm, the legendary UZI SMG in its latest evolution – UZI PRO, and the JERICHO pistols – which have all been considered weapons of choice by military units and top law enforcement agencies around the world. The company’s firearms are developed in close collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): IWI and the IDF join forces in developing these weapons, whose final configurations are the product of ongoing interaction, field tests, and modifications, resulting from combat requirements and experience. All IWI weapon systems are in compliance with the most stringent military standards (MIL-STD) and ISO 9000 standards.

For more information on IWI, please visit: http://www.iwi.net

The post IWI’s “Smart Gun” – It’s A Hit! appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

If you’re a fan of SIG’s modular P250, you’re gonna love their latest. The New Hampshire gun maker has just announced the P250-22. So if you buy one and want to go up caliber to a centerfire cartridge, you’ll be able to buy one of their X-Change conversion kit to do that without buying a new gun (i.e., no background check). Cool? Here’s their press release . . .

NEWINGTON, N.H. (November 16, 2015) — SIG SAUER, Inc., changed the way the world looked at handguns with the introduction of the modular P250^® series. Now, with the introduction of the P250-22, that same versatility is available in a rimfire option.

Built on the same platform as the centerfire P250 variants, the P250-22 offers an affordable option for plinkers, instructors, and newer shooters. Chambered in the venerable .22LR cartridge, the P250-22 is a reliable, fun-to-shoot handgun for all levels of shooter.

“The real benefit to the P250-22 lies in its ability to be converted to fire centerfire rounds, such as 9mm, .40 or .357SIG,” said John Brasseur, Director of Product Development for SIG SAUER, Inc. “This allows newer shooters to work up to the more powerful cartridges, and is a great tool for introducing youth to the shooting sports.”

The P250-22 features the same serialized fire control group as on centerfire models. This unit is the actual “firearm” and can be installed in a variety of grip modules. This versatility allows the P250-22 to be fit to any hand, and with the addition of an X-Change kit, can be converted to centerfire.

Full-size, compact, and subcompact X-Change kits mean the P250-22 can be set up as a centerfire duty pistol, concealed carry gun or backup piece in seconds. The smooth double-action only trigger offers a consistent, clean trigger press, which stays the same regardless of the caliber or configuration.

“The P250-22 is truly a ‘one-gun’ solution,” Brasseur said. “Thanks to the wide variety of caliber and grip module options, the P250-22 can meet any need and fit any hand.”

Offered in the Compact configuration, the P250-22 is now shipping to SIG SAUER^® dealers across the nation. For more information, please visit us at www.sigsauer.com.

Follow SIG SAUER on social media, including Facebook at www.facebook.com/sigsauerinc, Instagram at www.instagram.com/sigsauerinc, and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/sigsauerinc.

About SIG SAUER, Inc.

SIG SAUER, Inc. is a New Hampshire-based weapons systems provider leading the industry in American innovation, ingenuity, and manufacturing. SIG SAUER^® brings a dedication to superior quality, ultimate reliability, and unmatched performance that has made it the brand of choice among responsible citizens, and many of the world’s most elite military, government, and law enforcement units. As a complete systems provider, SIG SAUER offers a full array of products to meet any mission parameter, from handguns and rifles to silencers, optics, ammunition, accessories, and airguns. The largest member of a worldwide business group of firearms manufacturers that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany and Swiss Arms AG in Switzerland, SIG SAUER is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company with approximately 1,000 employees. For more information on SIG SAUER, any of its products, or the SIG SAUER Academy^SM, log on to www.sigsauer.com.

The post New From SIG SAUER: P250-22 .22LR Pistol appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Back in the day, I was dead set against carrying a handgun with an external safety. I considered it One More Thing to Worry About – in a situation where fine motor skills go out the window, tunnel vision kicks in, trained responses go out and there’s LOTS to worry about. As for an external safety preventing a negligent discharge or a gun grab shooting, I felt confident I could keep my booger hook off the bang switch, and balanced potential gun loss against rapid, seamless presentation. And now I carry . . .

a Wilson Combat X-Tac Commander 1911.

I didn’t choose to carry a 1911 for the reassurance of the external safeties’ safety. I opted for John Moses Browning’s meisterwerk so I can take advantage of the handgun’s glass-rod-breaking single-action trigger pull. Sure, I might forget to disengage the external safety in a defensive gun use. But I don’t think so. I’ve trained myself to instinctively switch off the safety.

That said, as I’m typing, I’m pocket-carrying a Kahr MK-9. The lack of an external safety bothers me not one whit. And when I find a suitable retention holster to open carry my P226 SIG SAUER Legion Series hammer-fired handgun, I’ll carry that without qualms, too. In short, I’m not bothered about external safeties. You?

The post Question of the Day: External Safety on Your Everyday Carry – Yes or No? appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

We keep trying to get TTAG commentator Dyspeptic Gunsmith to write for us. He insists he doesn’t have the time…and then posts articulate, insightful material in the comments section. Go figure. So here’s DP’s take on the genius of John Moses Browning . . .

What most people fail to appreciate about JMB’s design output is this: not every gun was a “clean sheet.” John Moses Browning (insert Mormon Tabernacle Choir giving a rousing chorus of Handel’s Messiah here) was a consummately smart man – meaning, he “stole” features from his previous guns that solved problems in firearms design and used those ideas in later guns.

Take apart the lever-operated rifles. Lay them out, side-by-side. You see the evolution happening there.

Take apart the 1903, 1908 and then the 1911. You can see the evolution happening in there.

Take apart the 1911. Look at the sear/trigger spring. Take apart a 1918 BAR. Look at the sear/trigger spring. Very similar.

Take apart the A5. Look at the way it recoils to throw the breech block back and get hooked, then released. Now see how the M2’s barrel recoils and throws the breech block back… same sort of idea.

Browning was one of the few gun designers to realize that ALL firearms need to solve four problems:

1. Firing the cartridge.
2. Extract the spent case, dump it overboard.
3. Re-set the lockwork to enable the trigger/firing pin to set off the next cartridge.
4. Grab a new cartridge, load it into the chamber, locking the chamber shut.

That’s it. That’s what all guns have to do when operating, regardless of whether they’re falling block, bolt action, short recoil, long recoil, blowback, gas operated, etc. All guns have to do the same things.

Now, the difference between various actions is “how much human intervention happens between steps 1, 2, 3 and 4.” For example, on the Browning Superposed, the cartridges are fired, then the gun has to be broken open and the hinging action of opening the action actuates the ejectors, kicking out the spent shells. The lockwork is reset when the action is hinged open. Now a human has to stuff new cartridges into the chambers and re-close the action.

A 1911, 1903, 1908 have similar ideas of how to do this, and the 1919, 1918 BAR and M2 have different ideas of how to do this, all with much more automation.

Browning was a guy who realized this demarcation of operations inside a gun and, once having solved one of these steps in a previous design, he’d sometimes lift ideas and solutions to the issues of any one of these steps into a new design.

Most other firearms designers come up with a whole new design for everything in their gun, and then fail to think of how they can adapt what they’ve already done in one gun into a new gun. Eugene Stoner was a modern exception to this rule.

The post Dyspeptic Gunsmith: John Moses Browning’s Designs Both Innovated And Evolved appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Same as the standard SR22, only one inch longer. Because more sight radius is (almost) always better. Specs after the jump . . .

… Read More

The post New From Ruger: SR22 With 4.5″ Barrel appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a program through which the U.S. Government has been selling off their stock of aging firearms to the American public in an effort to promote the shooting sports and marksmanship training. They are best known as the prime source for M1 Garand rifles and M1 Carbines, but thanks to a bill signed today by President Obama the CMP may shortly begin to sell off the U.S. Government’s huge stock of 1911 handguns. These firearms saw duty from WWI through Desert Storm, and you can bet your butt I’ll be waiting in line to snap one up.

From the NRA press release:

Rounding out the list of pro-gun provisions is section 1087, which restores authorization to the Secretary of Defense to transfer to the Civilian Marksmanship Program surplus M1911 and M1911A1 .45 ACP pistols for sale to the public. The component of the CMP that dispenses the pistols would be required to obtain a federal firearms license and abide by all requirements of the Gun Control Act pertaining to licensed sales and transfers. Currently, the military has some 100,000 such pistols that it no longer needs and that are being stored as taxpayer expense. These historically-significant firearms can now be transferred to law-abiding owners at a net gain to the government’s heavily-indebted balance sheet.

This is a great thing … like an early Christmas present from Barack Obama himself, the greatest firearms salesman of all time.

The post BREAKING: Obama Signs Law Allowing Public Sale of Surplus U.S. Army 1911s appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

The LA times has an article about a homeless man who was found in possession of two submachine guns, two magazines, two pistols and an improvised suppressor. From the picture above it appears the two submachine guns are a reactivated/remanufactured Sten in 9mm and a reactivated/remanufactured vz.26 (normally chambered in 7.62×25 caliber), the common East block pistol and submachine gun round that is nearly identical to the 7.65×25 Mauser cartridge . . .

This ad shows the deactivated vz.26 for sale in the European Union for 95 Euros. Parts kits have been available in the United States, but do not included an intact receiver, only stubs from the receiver tube, for $62. Here is a link to a person who hoped to rebuild one of the parts kits into a legal semi-auto pistol. He expected to spend about $600 on it in 2013.

The vz.26 has a large oil filter attached to the muzzle. These are reported to make effective improvised suppressors. The first round fired creates a hole for the rounds to follow. It is questionable how effective it would be on the 7.62×25 round, which has a supersonic velocity of nearly 1500 feet per second.

The LA Sheriff’s Department, which took the picture, reported that the Sten and the vz.26 were fully functional. You can see two loaded magazines for the vz.26 loaded with the 7.62×25 bottleneck rounds in the magazines. I can only see three handguns, a Ruger MK1 that has an AR-15 flash suppressor attached to the barrel, an Rohm RG-10 .22 revolver or close facsimile, and Cobray model DD .410/.45 Colt Derringer.  The Cobray was offered in kit form about 20 years ago.

The department reported that there were two improvised suppressors; perhaps they included the AR-15 flash suppressor as an improvised sound suppressor. I do not see a fourth mentioned handgun; it may well be outside the picture frame.

These reactivated/re-manufactured subguns should really count as homemade guns. They almost certainly have no serial numbers. Very likely the Cobray derringer has no serial number either.  Because the firearms were found in the possession of a convicted felon, a prohibited possessor, the firearms were likely created specifically for the black market.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Gun Watch

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“Arizona’s Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is about to become the first law enforcement agency in the nation to deploy a new weapon with the hopes of preventing police involved shooting deaths,” wilx.com reports. “In addition to traditional handguns and Tasers, the sheriff’s office is adding a third weapon to its deputies’ duty belts, a ‘less-lethal’ handgun that can be used as an alternative to real bullets.” Wait, that means . . .

The deputies facing a violent threat will have to choose between a gun, a TASER, the new rubber bullet gun, pepper spray and (maybe) a baton. In seconds. Where will the new less-lethal gun be positioned on their belt? How much training will they have before they deploy with three guns of varying lethality? Why isn’t anyone in the media asking the cops about the potential dangers of his new system? Instead we get the usual cheerleading . . .

The new weapon looks like a flare gun, but fires much like a regular pistol. Laser sighted, it fires rubber impact cartridges at nearly 400 feet per second.

The rubber impact round isn’t sharp, so it’s designed not to pierce the skin. But it would feel like getting hit by an 88 mph fast ball.

“We pull out this device and shoot him with this impact weapon, right then and there, we get instant compliance and then no one has to take a life,” said PCSO Chief Deputy Steve Henry.

Or not.

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As we noted earlier, the market for used 1911s is about to get an infusion of 200,000 new (used) guns. The bill that authorized that will also let military base commanders to allow service members to carry firearms. Here’s the NRA’s press release:

Fairfax, Va. – President Barack Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It includes several NRA-backed provisions — expanding gun rights on stateside military bases; prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from banning traditional ammunition; and saving taxpayer dollars by allowing gun collectors to buy vintage military surplus pistols . . .

The NDAA includes an NRA-backed provision requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish a process for commanders at military bases, reserve centers, and recruiting centers to allow service members assigned to that base or facility to carry a firearm.  After the July murder of four Marines and a police officer at two Tennessee recruiting centers, the NRA called for a policy change to allow military personnel to carry weapons while on station. This NDAA provision is a good first step in the effort to fully restore the Second Amendment rights of military personnel.

“The brave men and women in our Armed Forces should not be left defenseless against terrorists on American soil. Local commanders now have the authority to allow service men and women to be armed while on base. Members of the military should have the same ability to defend themselves as every other law-abiding citizen,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.

Another NRA-backed provision in the NDAA prohibits the EPA from banning traditional ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This provision is necessary because extreme anti-hunting groups have filed multiple petitions with the EPA to ban the use of lead ammunition. Those petitions have been rejected, but those groups use the administrative rejections as an excuse to sue the agency in pursuit of the same restrictions.

“Prohibiting the EPA from banning traditional ammunition is a huge victory for hunters, recreational sportsmen and our military,” said Cox. “This ensures that our military, hunters and sportsmen will have access to traditional ammunition at a reasonable cost.”

The NDAA also includes a cost-saving provision that allows the U.S. Army to transfer its surplus vintage firearms to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) for public sale. Currently, the Army stores excess M1911A1 pistols in a warehouse costing taxpayers approximately $200,000 a year. Transferring these vintage pistols to the CMP will allow them to inspect, grade, and ultimately sell these pistols through federally licensed firearms dealers.

“The NDAA puts an end to the wasteful government practice of warehousing firearms.  It’s a common sense measure that saves taxpayers money and allows gun collectors to add a sought after vintage sidearm to their collection,” added Cox.

“The enactment of these common sense, NRA-backed provisions into law is a result  of the American people electing a pro-Second Amendment majority to the United States Congress. On behalf of our  members, I want to thank all those lawmakers who stood firmly on the side of freedom, ” concluded Cox.

-NRA-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ NationalRifleAssociation and on Twitter @NRA.

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A few days ago President Obama signed legislation enabling thousands of 1911 handguns to be transferred from the U.S. Government stores into the CMP’s possession for sale to the general public. Naturally this caused something of a stir within American firearms collector community, and people have been loading up their wheelbarrows of cash ever since. There’s just one problem: the phrases “enable” and “may” are not exactly immediate directives, and not even the CMP knows when the blessed event will happen. In fact, they have sent out a pretty curt email to that effect . . .

From the CMP:

The NDAA 2016 has passed. We have no further information concerning the status of the 1911s. We will update our customers as we know more. Please do not email or call with questions regarding the 1911s. Our systems are overloaded. 

If you would like to sign up for our Sales Email Updates, please visit our website and SIGN UP!

For eligibility requirements for ordering through the CMP, please visit our website. 

To sum up, “We don’t know anything, so stop asking us.”

We’re in a holding pattern until the wheels behind the scenes start turning. Stay tuned and we’ll give you more information as it becomes available. And for Pete’s sake give the guys at the CMP a break.

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Why would anyone name a handgun after Trenton, New Jersey? Camden. Atlantic City, Wildwood and Asbury Park are more dangerous, but that’s not saying much. (A Trentonian’s odds of becoming a victim of a crime is one in 21.) A quick trip to Carolina Arms Group‘s website reveals that the gunmaker was inspired by The Battle of Trenton, where George Washington scored his first military victory. Yes but – why not name a new 1911 after a World War II battle where 1911’s were actually used? Anyway, all marketing starts with a great product, and CAG’s new 1911’s look like the business. And costs a bomb. Make the jump for the press release . . .

 

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After Instapunidt Glenn Reynolds gave his talk on the Second Amendment yesterday I asked the Blogfather what he carries. Professor Reynolds told me that he carries a GLOCK 26 in an ankle holster and a Ruger LCP in his pocket. He chose the GLOCK for the same reason millions of Americans carry Gaston’s gat: it goes bang when you pull the trigger. He chose the LCP because of its diminutive size and ready accessibility. As you might guess from his choices . . .

Glenn values concealment above anything else. At his request, that’s all I’m going to say about that. Except this: Reynolds had a stalker and values his Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms as much as he values every other Constitutionally protected right – only more so. Reynolds walks the walk. What else needs to be said?

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The following changes to Dyess Air Force Base’s personal firearms policy doen’t enable concealed carry on base. The policy doesn’t include base contractors in its provisions . But it’s a step in the right direction that protects airmen and women as they travel to and from base. Press release:

by Airman 1st Class Katherine Miller
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/3/2015 – DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Changes to the Dyess Force Protection Plan, signed and approved by Col. David Benson, 7th Bomb Wing commander, now permits authorized personnel that possess a current and valid Texas Concealed Handgun License or a reciprocating state concealed carry license to transport and secure privately-owned handguns in privately-owned vehicles within legal boundaries of Dyess Air Force Base . . .

“While this policy change does not allow concealed carry on base, it does allow those who carry concealed weapons to transport them onto and off the base in their vehicles,” said Col. David Benson, 7th Bomb Wing commander [above]. “This provides a safe and secure way to bring their weapons on base.”

Individuals wishing to transport a handgun must also have a valid Department of Defense identification card or Common Access Card and also hold one of the following statues: active duty personnel, retired military personnel, dependents of active duty personnel or Department of Defense civilians. However, private contractors, visitors or holders of special/one-time passes are not allowed to bring their handguns into the legal boundary of Dyess AFB at any time.

Individuals are required to keep their Texas CHL or reciprocating state CCL on their person at all times when in the legal boundaries of Dyess AFB and must surrender it as well as their valid DoD identification card when approached by Security Forces, Office of Special Investigations or local law enforcement. Upon being stopped by SF, OSI or local law enforcement, individuals must immediately identify the presence and exact location of their handgun.

“It is imperative that you tell law enforcement that you have a weapon in your vehicle, that you have a concealed carry license and where the weapon is located within the vehicle,” said Maj. Mark Breed, 7th Security Forces Squadron commander. “Failure to do so could result in apprehension and a charge of failure to obey an order or regulation for military personnel or detention and administrative measures for civilian personnel.”

All individuals will secure handguns in their appropriate weapons case or vehicle compartment as well as maintain control of vehicle and/or compartment keys at all times. While this change now allows handguns in POVs, it does not allow the concealed carry of firearms on your person or within facilities on Dyess AFB.

Individuals will not remove handguns from POV at any time within the legal boundary of Dyess AFB. Also, handguns will not be stored or secured in an unattended POV for more than 24 hours while within legal boundaries of Dyess AFB. For Airmen living in the dorms, the weapons must still be checked into and out of the armory for storage.

Individuals residing in on-base dormitories, lodging or temporary living facilities are not permitted to store their handgun or weapon of any kind in their room at any time. The 7th SFS armory will remain as the mandated storage repository for these weapons. The 7th SFS maintains a list of weapons removed from the armory and will notify an Airman’s commander if the weapon is checked out for more the 72 hours and a leave form was not submitted.

The requirement for base residents, dorm residents and those in base housing, to register at the Visitor Control Center to maintain a weapon on base remains in place.

“This change does not waive the processes and procedures we have in place for the registration of weapons on base,” said Breed. “If anything, this change makes it even more important for those who own and maintain weapons to follow the procedures from when they first acquire a weapon for those residing on base.”

For more information about the Concealed Handgun Licensing Program, please visit: http://txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/chl/index.htm. [h/t AT]

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IMHO, the Smith & Wesson 686 is the classic revolver. It’s a heavy old thing, built like a brick sh*thouse. Loaded with six .38-caliber cartridges, it’s a soft-shooting pussycat – that’ll leave a big mark on any bad guy. With .357s on board, the 686 is something of a handful – accurate follow-up shots take a cool head and a little extra time. But the terminal ballistics are fearsome. The Smith revolver . . .

also looks more like a gun than any other gun I can name. When licensed open cary comes to Texas, when I want to make a gun rights statement, the 686 will enjoy pride of place on my hip. In short, the 686 is a firearm you can purchase without any possibility of buyer’s remorse. What other handguns answer to that description?

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Every gun rights advocate should own one stout .22 caliber revolver. Because guns? Because new shooters! A revolver is the best gun for introducing newbies to shooting. Open this, stick the cartridges in the holes (the pointy bits face forwards), close the cylinder, make sure it’s locked, get into a good stance, get a good grip, check out the sight picture, breathe, squeeze the trigger. When they do so, the .22 revolver’s mild recoil keeps things totally chill. I have a Ruger SP101 with a full Hogue grip for the task. Ruger’s new GP100 looks like a very suitable alternative . . .

It’s a ten-round wheel gun with an adjustable rear sight, fiber optic front sight and a 5.5″ half-lug barrel for “improved handing and lighter weight.” Which are the same thing, really. Interestingly, the .22LR model also offers “an improved fire control system that uses a lighter main spring than previous Ruger double-action .22 LR revolvers.” Not that there’s anything wrong with my SP101’s trigger.

I’d like to give the new GP100 a go – but only if Bill’s Boyz send us one for T&E. The new revolver MSRP’s at $829, making it the most expensive GP100 money can buy – other than their Match Champion models (go figure). Still, the “takedown of integrated subassemblies requires no special tools and allows for easy maintenance and assembly.” How great is that? Much greater if it were blued methinks. Sadly unavailable in this model.

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