Han Solo Blaster from Star Wars Total Realized at Auction $1,057,500
Category: Gun Schtuff
FBI: No end to soaring gun sales
President Joe Biden’s anti-gun crusade, echoed in major cities where liberal majors are blaming guns for the rise in young gangbanger killings, is having no impact on the uninterrupted three-year surge in firearm sales.
The FBI reported this week that sales have been over 1 million for 37 straight months, historic numbers.
Gun background checks for August were the third-highest on record for the month, 2,518,137. When adjusted for sales versus security and other checks, sales were likely 1,286,816, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry trade group.
“August’s figures show there is a clear and steady desire by the American public for lawful firearm ownership,” said the group.
“Consistently throughout the year, background check figures for firearm sales at retail have put 2022 on pace to be the third strongest year, behind only the outsized years witnessed in 2020 and 2021. August’s figures of 1,286,816 background checks was slightly ahead of July’s that came in at 1,233,115. This also marks 37 months straight of background checks exceeding 1 million. Americans are choosing their gun rights by the millions each month while gun control politicians talk only of efforts to deprive them of their Constitutional rights. They are voting with their wallets. Politicians would be wise to heed to the will of Americans lawfully exercising their Constitutional rights and instead focus their efforts on locking up criminals that misuse firearms,” the NSSF said.
ATF Requests Funding for Pistol Brace Amnesty Registration Program
Washington, DC – -(AmmoLand.com)- AmmoLand News has uncovered information showing that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is planning to force gun owners to register firearms with pistol braces as a National Firearms Act (NFA) ATF Form 1 item.
The document (embedded below) was uncovered in a budget justification from the ATF to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This form confirms the leaked information AmmoLand News has heard for months from our inside sources at the ATF.
The document reads: Due to the upcoming Amnesty Registration of Pistol Brace weapons, photos of the weapon being registered will be required to prove the weapon does utilize a pistol brace in its configuration and would qualify for an amnesty registration.
Pistol Brace Amnesty/Registration
Our ATF inside sources have told AmmoLand News that the ATF was planning for an amnesty period where gun owners would be able to register their braced pistols as short-barreled rifles (SBR) and that it is expected they will receive a free tax stamp. The ATF charges $200 per SBR. Currently, there are at least four million braced pistols in the United States.
The ATF posted the proposed pistol brace rules to the Federal Register late last year for public comment. Over 250,000 comments were submitted, with most comments being against any new regulations. The gun community let their voices be heard, and the ATF ignored them.
According to this document, owners of braced pistols would have to submit photos of their firearms to the ATF to prove that they qualify for “amnesty registration.”
The ATF has issued multiple letters stating that pistol stabilizing braces are legal to put on pistols, but this action would change agency’s course.
The White House ordered the ATF to redefine the definition of a firearm and change rules surrounding pistol stabilizing devices. The proposed rule covering frames and receivers was unveiled 30 days later, and the proposed rule for braced pistols was revealed 60 days later. The frames and receiver rule went into effect on August 24th after a 120-day grace period.
The final pistol stabilizing device rule has not been finalized. Based on this budget request and information from our sources, it seems to include a registry. The ATF recently implemented the eForms systems for some Form 1 NFA items. The new system automates a lot of the tedious work that ATF employees and the National Firearms Act (NFA) division used to do manually. It remains to be seen if the system can withstand millions of additional form submissions.
This influx of millions of new applications will also backlog any other forms submitted for processing. The ATF promised that the average time to process a Form 1 tax stamp application would be 90 days. The ATF is nowhere close to that number, with only 30% being processed in the promised time period. With millions of additional applications, the 90-day period seems to be a pipe dream.
The new rule is expected to be announced by December of this year.
Smith & Wesson Rolls Out the New Aluminum-Framed M&P9 M2.0
The performance that began with our polymer construction is now forging forward. The lightweight and rigid metal frame of the Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal provides an extraordinary foundation for higher performance. Built on the M&P platform, it is compatible with all M2.0 magazines, slides holsters and palmswells.
- Optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim
- Four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts for optimal hand fit and trigger reach – S, M, ML, L
- Textured polymer front strap
- Wide slide stop
- Reversible magazine release
- Slide cut for optics
- M2.0 flat face trigger for consistent finger placement that allows for more accurate and repeatable shooting
- Picatinny-style rail
- Forward slide serrations
- Low barrel bore axis makes the M&P pistol comfortable to shoot, reducing muzzle rise and allowing for faster aim recovery
- Enhanced sear for lighter, crisper trigger let-off
- Accurate 1 in 10 ̋ twist barrel
- M&P’s patented take-down lever and sear deactivation systems allow for disassembly without pulling the trigger
- Accepts any 17 round M2.0™ magazine
- Comes with two 17-round magazines
- Fits standard M&P9 holster
Specs
13194
M&P®9 M2.0™ METAL
9mm Luger
17+1
Yes
Two-Tone
No Thumb Safety
7.4
Steel White Dot
Steel White 2-Dot
Striker Fire
Interchangeable Palmswell Inserts (4)
Stainless Steel with Armornite® Finish
Stainless Steel
T6 Aluminum
Tungsten Gray Cerakote®
Tungsten Gray Cerakote®
1:10˝ RH
4.25″ (10.8 cm)
30.0 oz.
CMP Round 3 for 1911 Pistols.
Remember; the last 1911A1 came off the line in 1945, 77 years ago.
ROUND 3 1911 ANNOUNCEMENT
THE PROCEDURES FOR PURCHASING 1911 TYPE PISTOLS FROM CMP 1911
The Deep Concealment Gun: Possibly Your Most Important Personal Weapon
We preach carrying as much gun as possible, but for people who live in the real world in which professional and social obligations do not lend well to dressing around a full-size gun, a deep concealment pistol is needed. When out and about in casual clothing, I carry a double-stack 9mm pistol, but when I need to dress formally for certain social obligations, I usually carry a small revolver. However, this is not the only circumstances in which I use the small gun; when exercising in gym shorts, when working outside in the yard, and when simply lounging around the home, the small gun is either in the waistband or in a pocket. I suspect that many concealed carriers out there are similar in this regard; the small gun gets carried often.
With this in mind, I would submit that for many concealed carriers, the deep concealment option, which is often considered secondary, is likely the most important defensive weapon due to the amount of time it is actually used. Many concealed carriers may feel that they wear their “full-size” gun most of the time, but in fact, they don’t. If one is honest in their self-assessment, they will likely realize that the small gun is getting carried for the occasions that require something small, but likely, far more often than just that.
Is there anything wrong with carrying a small gun more often? The argument to carry “as much gun as you can” is well-intentioned and well-reasoned. With the increase in criminal activity involving multiple aggressors and with the increase in mass killer events, carrying a capable fighting pistol makes good sense. A larger handgun with more ammunition capacity is typically more shootable, and more capacity is a good thing. However, most would agree that a small pocket pistol or small-frame revolver that gets carried all the time is far more valuable than a more capable gun that is carried only part-time. It is human nature to go with the easier solution, so small guns get carried a lot. Thus, for most, it is the most important gun.
Staying Consistent with Deep Concealment
Know the Limitations
Unfortunately, the majority of concealed carriers that use a small gun rarely practice with it. Even if the small gun gets carried ninety percent of the time, the big gun that only gets carried occasionally tends to get all the training time. Again, human nature, big guns are easier to shoot. However, if you are carrying your deep concealment gun most of the time, then it warrants significant training effort.
The first benefit gained through training with your small gun is understanding the limitations. How much do you give up in performance compared to your full-size carry gun? Three constructive elements will emerge from knowing this: first, you will understand the limits of your range, accuracy, and speed with the small gun. Second, you will better determine how often you should be carrying the small gun compared to the more capable pistol. Third, you may well realize that much of the limitation can be overcome through more practice with the limited platform.
Determine the Role of the Small Gun
If you utilize a small revolver or a pocket pistol chambered in 380ACP or the like, then you should acknowledge that you are, indeed, giving up significant capability compared to carrying a full-size or compact autoloader. The new breed of micro guns that are chambered in 9mm, yet have a substantial capacity of ten plus rounds may be a solution that can be carried anywhere, and these guns, indeed, greatly close the gap between service pistols and pocket-sized guns. If one of these tiny but higher-capacity guns works for carrying all of the time, in all circumstances, I would propose not losing sleep over it. Simply maximize your training with it.
But, If you must use something that is even smaller for deep concealment like the aforementioned small revolver or tiny pocket auto, then having an honest assessment of when you can carry more is warranted. Again, if you only carry such a diminutive option, but you carry it all the time, you are ahead of the curve compared to the general public. However, there is probably a great deal of time when you can carry more. While carrying any gun is far better than carrying no gun, I am always inclined to suggest carrying “as much gun as you can” in light of the current state of the world.
When out in public during times that you can be dressed casually, which is probably quite often, there is no reason not to carry a larger, more capable gun. With modern holster options, most people can conceal compact, or even full-size, pistols under an untucked or open-front shirt. Consider the escalation in active killer events, the prevalence of multiple assailants in armed robbery, or the increase in gang activity; an auto loader with duty capacity is in order.
Still, we return to the reality that determines the course of most concealed carriers’ choices, and even for those committed to carrying enough gun, there are many circumstances that limit this choice. The small, deep concealment pistol is likely the one that will get carried most often when combining the need to accommodate non-permissive environment carry, gym or jogging carry, and home carry. Therefore, do not neglect training with your deep concealment gun, which might be your most important defensive tool.
Ruger Launches LC Carbine in 5.7
IDEAL FOR THE RANGE, BACKPACKING, SMALL GAME, OR ANYWHERE A VERSATILE AND RELIABLE CARBINE IS APPRECIATED.
- Weighing under 6 lbs., the lightweight and compact Ruger® LC Carbine™ utilizes the same steel magazines and familiar ergonomic controls as the Ruger-5.7™ pistol.
- Unique bolt-over-barrel design with the magazine in the grip allows for excellent balance and pointability.
- Folding stock and collapsible sights are ideal for compact storage (on models so equipped).
- The reversible folding stock, with adjustable length of pull, is compatible with both AR-pattern and Picatinny rail-mounted aftermarket accessory stocks (on models so equipped).
- Features a 16.25″ fluted, nitride-treated steel barrel for strength, accuracy, and longevity.
- 1/2″-28 TPI threaded barrel with thread protector allows for the attachment of popular muzzle accessories including muzzle brakes, flash hiders and caliber-appropriate suppressors (on models so equipped).
- Impressive ergonomics with ambidextrous manual safety, reversible charging handle, ergonomic bolt release and extended magazine release latch.
- Utilizes Ruger’s safe, reliable and proven Secure Action™ fire-control system that combines a protected internal hammer with a bladed-safety trigger. The trigger has a short, smooth pull, clean break and positive reset.
- CNC-milled handguard that is Type III hard-coat anodized aluminum for maximum durability, with M-LOK® accessory attachment slots. Multiple QD sling sockets allow for maximum versatility.
- Ruger® Rapid Deploy folding sights are adjustable for windage and elevation and the full length Picatinny rail allows for optic mounting.
- Safety features include: 1911-style ambidextrous manual safety; an integrated trigger safety; lightweight firing pin; neutrally balanced sear with significant engagement and strong spring tension; and hammer catch to help prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled.
- Also includes: one Ruger-5.7™ steel pistol magazine, ambidextrous magazine button, M-LOK® QD sling socket and hex wrenches for disassembly.
Features listed above are available on all standard models, but may not appear on Distributor Exclusive models. See individual spec sheets for model specific features.
I’d rather have Sheriff Jim, and/or Clint Smith along for the ride, and us all armed with Colt’s Single Action Army revolvers (and I’ve seen how well both can use one) than the entire Uvalde police department armed with whatever.
Is Mindset or Gear More Important?
Keeping your head in the game is better for your safety than buying the latest gear.
As a group, defensive shooters seem to be extremely gear-oriented. Listening to gun shop talk and reading posts on the internet, one gets the impression that a lot of folks fear they won’t survive unless they have just the right gun, the proper ammo and the latest in accessories. Well, here are a few things that I think are more important than your choice of guns and gear when it comes to personal defense.
Awareness is a critical personal defense skill. We can educate ourselves by studying news reports of criminal activity in our area and obtain a better understanding of what and who the local crooks are targeting. Also, don’t forget the Armed Citizen page in your NRA magazine for case studies of actual criminal encounters.
In addition, we continually strive to be more alert to what is going on around us. The earlier that we alert to possible criminal activity, the more options we have for dealing with it. By honing our awareness, we minimize the chances that we will be surprised by a criminal attack.
Another important defensive skill is perfecting our ability to function under stress. Stress is compounded when we are surprised or faced with a threat that is totally unexpected. The more that we can understand what could happen, the more we can reduce the pressure that stress puts on our bodies and our ability to function. Once we understand what could happen, then we also need to develop plans to deal with the criminal attack. Prior understanding and prior planning will reduce stress and allow us to function more effectively.
Finally, we need to understand and set a goal to master the basic skills of marksmanship. Sight picture, proper grip, trigger press, and other functions are critical parts of marksmanship regardless of whether we are shooting at paper or shooting to live. And, truly mastering those skills allow us to do well with just about whatever defensive firearm may be available to us. How many of us have been in classes where a student is just not shooting well and, of course, blames it on the particular firearm that he is using? Then, along comes the range master, who takes the student’s gun and shoots a perfect score.
So I suppose we’ll all continue to drool over the latest guns and gear as they become available because that’s just what gun enthusiasts do. But you should just realize and remember that the most important defensive tool available to us is the one between our ears.
Mississippi gears up for Second Amendment Tax Holiday
Tax-free holidays aren’t just for things like school supplies.
This weekend marks Mississippi’s annual Second Amendment Tax Holiday.
As FOX13 found out, it just about makes the state stand alone.
“In the past, we have had ten percent sales, and that doesn’t do good,” Danny Metcalf said.
Danny Metcalf owns a gunshop in Horn Lake. He said, while the tax break has brought in crowds in the past, he has never understood why. He said the bigger sales he’s held in the past haven’t even brought in the crowds he sees on the Second Amendment Tax Holiday.
“But, you have a seven percent off your sales tax, and it’s a boom,” Metcalf said of the holiday weekend.
Mississippi is one of a few states with a second amendment tax-free weekend. The only other state that holds a second amendment tax-free weekend is Louisiana. Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas have considered it.
The Mississippi Legislature passed the bill creating the holiday in 2014. Since then, it has been the last weekend in August, right before the opening of fall hunting season.
”Just getting a new rifle for hunting season, trading in the old one that I don’t use anymore,” Micah Alton of Hernando said.
”Honestly, I’m just looking because my dad used to collect guns. So, I am just interested in them.” John Jefferson of Lexington, Mississippi, said.
The tax-free items include rifles, pistols, and ammo, as well as bow hunting and archery supplies.
”It helps us out not having to pay tax on broadheads and arrows and on bows and stuff,” Dillon Williams said.
Biden spooked by ghost guns
Protecting you against the president’s war on the Second Amendment
OPINION:
Never mind gas prices doubling since former President Donald Trump left office, or inflation higher than under any elected president since record-keeping began, or the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s botched surrender in Afghanistan, in which 13 American patriots died unnecessarily and which sacrificed the gains another 2,312 Americans died for as well. No, Mr. Biden wants you to be spooked by fictional “ghost guns.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ “Ghost Gun” and Gun Registry Final Rule went into effect. The rule cracks down on guns made in American homes, something we’ve been doing since before the Republic was founded.
Mr. Biden’s White House says these “ghost guns” are “the weapon of choice for many violent criminals.” What they don’t tell you is that “many” equals about 115 homicides per year out of a total of about 16,000. In fact, violent criminals use knives, hammers and their own hands and feet more than a homemade firearm. (Don’t tell Mr. Biden, or he’ll want a regulation on your feet.)
Newsom bankrolls Crist campaign to stop Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Now, Gun Owners of America doesn’t condone any criminal misuse of a firearm, but let’s get serious for a second. The Biden administration isn’t coming for knives, hammers or your hands and feet — yet. They’re coming for your guns, and they are attacking your Second Amendment right to bear arms, whether that firearm is made by a gun manufacturer or in your own home.
GOA has been on the other side, your side, in Mr. Biden’s War on Guns. We’ve been defending your Second Amendment rights in this war, and in this latest salvo from the administration, we’ve held the line.
Specifically, GOA, with the help of a total of 60,000 of its supporters and other Americans, were able to successfully win three main victories in the battle over “ghost guns:”
First, Americans will not have to serialize (read: register) every new magazine, barrel or trigger used to upgrade their existing firearms, as Mr. Biden’s ATF originally wanted.
Second, Americans will not have to register a firearm when they simply “Cerakote,” or color their firearms to protect them, as Mr. Biden’s ATF also demanded.
Third, GOA forced ATF to walk back a requirement that gun dealers immediately register privately made firearms taken into inventory, allowing homemade firearms enthusiasts a window to avoid registration when going to a gunsmith for same-day service.
In fact, the ATF explicitly conceded that their initial draconian regulations were modified because of the “numerous comments” made by GOA members and gun owners across the country regarding the rule. That’s a win against Mr. Biden and his gun-grabbing minions, and we couldn’t be more proud. But — and this is important — even though we were able to defend you against this attack, it is still an attack on all our rights. Mr. Biden doesn’t want you to be able to defend yourself. Don’t forget that.
There is much more work to do in order to push back against Mr. Biden’s War on Guns, and the GOA, together with the Gun Owners Foundation, are in that fight, on your side, defending your rights.
In fact, GOA and GOF have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this newest rule, and we are excited that 17 state attorneys general has joined us in that lawsuit. AGs from Arizona, West Virginia, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wyoming answered the call and are defending your rights with us.
In fact, according to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, “The ATF is attempting to overshoot the authority granted to it by Congress.” In his view, this “ghost gun” rule is “unconstitutional, impractical, and would likely put a large number of parts manufacturers out of business.”
We’re going to defend you until this rule is completely gutted, and we will stand vigilant against any further attacks on your Second Amendment rights. We’re not spooked by Mr. Biden’s ghost guns — or his unceasing war on derisively defined “assault weapons.”
In the true interest of public safety, Mr. Biden should stop trying to criminalize law-abiding American gun owners who simply want to protect themselves — thereby freeing precious law-enforcement resources to go after violent, dangerous criminals.
Polymer80 didn’t disappear with new “ghost gun” rules
Polymer80 was the largest provider of so-called ghost gun parts in the United States. It was a one-stop shop to get anything and everything you needed to build your own unserialized firearm.
Yet, as of today, the rules changed and they can’t do that.
One might imagine that it would spell the end for Polymer80. Especially after Nevada passed a law earlier this year that was pretty much meant to shut them, in particular, down. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Advocates viewed the Nevada law as a potentially more effective tactic than the patchwork of efforts brought to bear so far.
And it almost worked.
The Legislature passed Assembly Bill 286 on a party-line vote in May 2021. In seven months, when the new law took effect, Polymer80 would be out of the ghost gun kit-making business. At least in Nevada.
But thanks to a strategically chosen court venue in rural Nevada and with the help of the New York law firm Greenspoon Marder, Polymer80 won a decision vacating the section of law that would have halted its ghost gun business. While it is now illegal to assemble or possess a ghost gun in Nevada, it remains legal to possess and transport the components of a ghost gun.
As a result, the parts that some use to evade gun-control laws and others use to pursue their hobby of homemade gunmaking continue to flow from Polymer80 to the rest of the country.
Anti-gun violence advocates say their court defeat in Nevada underlines the weakness of a state-by-state approach to closing the ghost gun loophole. They also noted that the bipartisan federal gun bill signed into law in June in response to a spate of mass shootings does nothing to address the problem of ghost guns.
Of course, the federal rules would, in theory, do more than Nevada’s law ever would. Except it just means Polymer80 is serializing their incomplete receivers and complying with the law.
What the piece above completely fails to note, though is just how rarely these guns are actually used. While they’re being found more often, they’re still only a fraction of a percentage of the firearms used in violent crime.
With the new rules in place, Polymer80 is basically no different than a company building firearms, which means their guns will still turn up at crime scenes–just like Glock, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and every other firearm manufacturer out there. Criminals aren’t brand loyal, after all. They get what they can get and they don’t get worked up about it.
Polymer80 has been painted like the bad guys for a while now, but as we saw earlier this year, unserialized firearms accounted for a whopping 325 homicides since 2016. That’s total for that entire stretch of time. Even if all of them were from Polymer80–which there’s no reason to believe they were–it’s still clear that the problem of so-called gun violence isn’t really about them or their company.
Not that the media will ever let them off the hook.
Still, they’re going to keep on keeping on, which is a good thing. I hate to see anyone be forced to go the way of Slide Fire.
BLUF
Looking past the “frame or receiver” questions, 2A groups argue the quietest part of the new rule – requiring FFLs to store 4473 forms forever and then turn them in to the ATF once they close, after which they will be likely be digitized and made searchable – in effect, a backdoor gun registry, something forbidden by long-standing federal law, is the scariest.
NEW ATF FRAME OR RECEIVER RULE TAKES EFFECT
A controversial new rule that addressed “ghost gun” scaremongering went into effect on Wednesday even though federal regulators made last-minute tweaks to the rule two days prior.
Initially debuted with much fanfare by the Biden administration in May 2021, almost 300,000 public comments were logged by August 2021 on the published rulemaking in the Federal Register for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to change the definition of “Frame or Receiver.”
Attorneys general from some 41 states and the District of Columbia took an official side on the issue, roughly split with red states in opposition and blue states in favor of the change. Likewise, pro-Second Amendment groups slammed the rule as an unconstitutional overreach while anti-gun groups argued for its adoption, saying it was the only way to get “ghost guns” off the streets.
After eight months of digesting the feedback, ATF published the 98-page amended rule covering changes under federal law to the definition of not only a “Frame or Receiver,” but also to the definitions for a “Firearm Muffler or Silencer Frame or Receiver,” a “‘Split or Modular Frame or Receiver,” a “Partially Complete, Disassembled, or Inoperable Frame or Receiver,” a “Destroyed Frame or Receiver,” as well as adding a definition for the term “Readily” as in ‘”may readily be converted to expel a projectile” and other steps. It also changed how federally licensed dealers store their records – now stressing they had to be maintained forever rather than be destroyed after 20 years.
Published in the Federal Register in April 2022, the rule took effect on Aug. 24, 2022, even though ATF quietly added two pages of corrections and changes to the rule on Aug. 22. At least two lawsuits challenging the rule in court – one by Gun Owners of America and attorneys general from 17 states and another by the Firearms Policy Coalition – unsuccessfully sought injunctions to bar the rule from taking effect and are still pending.
As the rule is confusing, even for attorneys well versed in firearms law, it is hard to speak to exactly what changed, but here are some takeaways – and keep in mind that this is not legal advice.
SIG SAUER 9MM, 115gr, Elite Ball, FMJ Product Warning and Recall Notice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SIG SAUER 9MM, 115gr, Elite Ball, FMJ Product Warning and Recall Notice
NEWINGTON, N.H., (August 22, 2022) – Sig Sauer has determined that portions of Lot No. JDAR0815 of SIG SAUER 9MM, 115gr, Elite Ball, FMJ (SKU E9MMB1-50), may have powder charge variations that could result in a bullet remaining in the barrel (i.e., a bullet-in-bore obstruction). Firing a subsequent bullet into a bore obstruction could cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable and subjecting the shooter and bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury.
Ammunition from this lot should be removed from use immediately and segregated from other ammunition until it can be returned to SIG SAUER.
DO NOT USE LOT NUMBER: JDAR0815
The lot number can be found on the inside flap of the individual boxes of ammunition. Examples:
THIS WARNING APPLIES ONLY TO THE LOT (JDAR0815) LISTED ABOVE.
If you possess ammunition from this lot number or have questions concerning this warning, please register for the recall process at sigsauer.com/ammorecall-submission and instructions for returning your product will be provided or call Sig Sauer Customer Service at 603-610-3000 (Option 1).
Sig Sauer will provide replacement product and will cover the cost of returning the affected product.
For additional information please refer to the FAQs.
SSK Firearms: A Pioneer In Cartridge & Arms Design
SSK Industries was founded by J.D. Jones—recognized as one of the industry’s foremost when it comes to creating innovative wildcat cartridges and cutting-edge firearm designs—in 1977. He brought a wealth of knowledge to the business, having learned to cast bullets and reload from a local gunsmith, later working with Lee Jurras in the early 1960s in the development of Super Vel Ammunition, the industry’s earliest entry into the high-performance handgun cartridges market.
His business, at first, centered around handgun hunting. Jones was passionate about the pursuit since he was 13, and by 1969, he was already improving the performance and accuracy of the T/C Contenders he preferred to take afield. It didn’t take long before the company had an enviable reputation for creating highly accurate barrels for the rifle-cartridge-chambered handguns, and those created for his wildcat cartridges were the most popular.
A few of the cartridges he’s pioneered include the 6.5 mm JDJ, 6.5 JDJ #2, .309 JDJ and .375 JDJ, among others. None, however, were as much of a Goliath as his .950 JDJ that fired a 3,600-grain bullet. Muzzle velocity was 2,200 f.p.s., which translates to a shoulder-thumping 36,683 ft.-lbs. of energy as it left an 85-lb. rifle.
The endeavor was more of an experiment rather than an effort to produce dozens of the guns. Despite that fact, he still had to be granted a “sporting use” exception from ATF to build them. Only three were made, and the company stopped producing ammunition for the intrepid trio of owners in 2014.
Arguably, the company’s most important development began in the 1990s, when Jones launched research that led to his .300 Whisper. It runs in properly chambered AR-15s, uses standard 5.56 NATO magazines and, when using a suppressor with subsonic loads, lives up to its name.
“Since its inception, the .300 Whisper has been effectively used for hunting, target and silhouette shooting, animal damage control and law enforcement, as well as more clandestine operations most of us will never hear about,” Aaron Carter wrote for American Rifleman. “Knowing military and law enforcement professionals’ affinity for .30-cal. bullets and that ballistically superior projectiles better maintain velocity for increased downrange energy, flatter trajectory and less wind deflection, Jones designed the new cartridge around Sierra’s then-available 250-grain MatchKing, the most advanced long-range bullet of the time.” A nearly identical version of the cartridge was later accepted by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute for standardization under the .300 Blackout name.
Lehigh Defense acquired SSK industries in 2019 and, with the help and guidance of Jones, rebranded it SSK Firearms. The company’s accessories and barrels are manufactured in Wintersville, Ohio, while gunsmithing work takes place in Quakertown, Penn.—where corporate headquarters is also located.
In early 2022, Bill Wilson, of Wilson Combat fame, announced he had acquired the bullet and ammunition manufacturing arm—and name—of Lehigh Defense. SSK Firearms is once again fully focused on the guns that helped J.D. Jones build the company’s reputation for products that perform at the firing line and in the hunting fields.
New For 2022: Smith & Wesson Model 350 Revolver
Smith & Wesson has introduced a new addition to its lineup of wheelguns for 2022, with the new Model 350 double-action revolver chambered for the .350 Legend cartridge. With a frame, cylinder and barrel made of stainless steel and treated with a satin finish, it weighs in at 71.5 ozs., unloaded. Its 7.5″ barrel has five-groove rifling, with a 1:18.75″ right-hand twist rate, and the revolver’s overall length measures in at 13.5″. A large port is included at the top of the barrel near the muzzle to help tame muzzle rise.
On top of the barrel and frame, the Model 350 comes with a red ramp front sight and an adjustable rear. Its fluted cylinder accepts seven round of .350 Legend, with moon clips included with each revolver to allow for faster reloads. Like most other Smith & Wesson revolvers, the cylinder rotates outward to the left side to open, activated by a latch also located on the left side of the frame. At the bottom of the frame, the Model 350 comes with a full-sized synthetic black grip, which includes texturing and finger grooves to assist in retention.
All of these features make for a revolver that is well-suited for medium game hunting, as explained by John Myles, Smith & Wesson’s senior manager of new products. “The 350 Legend is one of the flattest shooting straight-walled cartridges on the market today. It is great for medium-sized game and especially whitetail hunting. If you’re looking for a hunting revolver, the Model 350 is it.” The Smith & Wesson Model 350 has suggested retail price is $1,599. To learn more, visit smith-wesson.com.
A free firearm market drives innovation and saves lives
The Clinton Gun Ban stymied small arms development.
When I first became interested in modern sporting rifles there were two AR-15s on the market, Colt and Bushmaster.
Due to the Clinton ‘assault weapons” ban (AWB), some features that we now take for granted weren’t available, and we had to use old magazines because only government employees could purchase newly manufactured mags.
Somehow, despite the ban, I was able to buy my very own Bushmaster complete with A2 front sight post and carry handle. It was an unwieldy and largely unreliable thing that’s primary appeal was its appearance.
AWB ends
As much as I enjoyed the restoration of my 2nd amendment rights, the U.S. military was the primary beneficiary of a fully functional and competitive commercial marketplace.
At the beginning of the global war on terror the U.S. military issued M4s that were very similar to the boring Bushmaster I owned.
The Department of Defense scrambled to cobble together equipment for troops engaged in combat ranging from urban areas to mountain terrain at a time when the robust weapons and accessories marketplace we have today wasn’t conceivable.
Things that we take for granted today like Magpul Pmags and near bulletproof red-dot sights didn’t exist until the market was set free to create them, fueled by civilian consumers who funded the creation of new and advanced equipment.
Development surges
Today, the domestic small arms industry is stronger than ever. Sig Sauer’s new MCX Spear was adopted by the US army as its next generation squad weapon – a weapon that perfectly sums up the free market’s growth since the end of the ill-conceived 1994 AWB.
Without a thriving commercial market, it’s very unlikely that Sig would have been in a position to develop what promises to be an important upgrade in the Army’s overall capabilities. The strength of the arms manufacturing sector, ammunition development, optics and advanced suppressor technology came together to produce a weapon system that wouldn’t have been possible under the arbitrary restrictions of an assault weapon ban.
Anti-gun forces
The military depends on civilian companies to develop and manufacture everything they use. That takes huge sums of money that consumers provide.
Defending the domestic firearms industry is a matter of national security.
The Best Gun Cleaning Solvents for 2022
| BEST OVERALL |  |
Hoppe’s No. 9 | CHECK PRICE |
SUMMARY
A versatile and potent gun bore cleaner. |
| BEST CLP |  |
Break Free CLP | CHECK PRICE |
SUMMARY
Loosens even the most gummed-up actions. |
| BEST SOLVENT AND LUBE |  |
FrogLube Extreme | CHECK PRICE |
SUMMARY
Great for guns that see tons of action and regular maintenance. |
Written By Adam Moore
Published Aug 13, 2022 9:00 AM
Unfortunately, gun cleaning solvents can rank low in the hierarchy of hunting and shooting gear, but that doesn’t make them any less important. After all, buying a bottle of bore cleaner isn’t as sexy as slapping a new bipod on your gun or upgrading your riflescope. Trust me, I know: I spent over five years working at a local gun shop throughout my extended college years, and except for the serious hunters and precision shooters, I saw the same trends year after year. Every season just before the gun opener, hunters would bring in their rifles to mount a new scope or make sure their old ones were bore-sighted. Then, they’d ask us to run a bore snake through it for good measure. And that was the extent of their gun cleaning.
Coincidentally, many of these return customers would also complain about missing deer because their gun malfunctioned, their ammo was garbage, their scope broke—you name it. I’d be willing to bet my pampered Savage 99 that many of these mishaps could have been avoided if they’d just taken care of their gear. And that includes cleaning their guns.
When you consider the time, effort, and money that goes into your hunting and shooting, not taking the time to clean your gun because you wanted to save a buck might just cost you a big one. If you’re already investing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your hunting and shooting, spending less than $20 on some of the best gun cleaning solvents can ensure that you’re not fouling up your hunt before you even get started.
Challenge to Biden’s new “ghost gun” rules heard in federal court
Two weeks from now the Biden administration’s new regulations on 80% completed frames and receivers are set to take effect, but one Texas company that produces the unfinished products argued in federal court this week that the new rules should be blocked from being enforced while the legality of the rules are being litigated.
Pressing for a preliminary injunction, Division 80’s attorney, Cory Liu of the Ashcroft Law Firm in Austin, said in a hearing Tuesday that the company’s owner, Brandon Padilla, has no other job and his livelihood depends on its current business model.
“Why doesn’t he just get the [federal firearm] license?” U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown asked.
“There’s a thriving market of people who want to make their own guns and don’t want to go through licensed dealers,” Liu explained. “Padilla’s entire product line would be wiped out; consumer demand wouldn’t be there.”
“It’s not just about a license,” the attorney added. “It’s about the ability to build a firearm, a right that’s existed since the nation’s founding.”
But Liu’s arguments were undercut by a disclaimer from Justice Department attorney Daniel Riess, after Liu showed Brown a receiver Division 80 sells for an AR-15 style rifle, the most popular firearm in America.
Riess gave the judge a paper with illustrations taken from the ATF’s final rule, outlining what it does and does not consider to be a receiver.
To qualify as a regulated receiver, Riess explained, the part must come with a “jig” or template – typically a piece of plastic that snaps into place to guide the purchaser on where and how deep to drill holes – drill bits and instructions, making the receiver “readily convertible” within minutes to a fully functional firearm.
Liu was flabbergasted. “That’s news to me,” he said. “For months, we’ve been asking what role do instructions and tools play in this. You can sell a receiver blank without tools and jigs. That’s news to me. Had this handout been posted on ATF’s website that would have cleared up a lot of questions.”
Brown asked if that doomed Division 80’s injunction request: “What if the product can still be sold? Is that fatal to a preliminary injunction? Or are you still saying you want an injunction?”
But Liu said the revelation just proves Division 80’s contention the rule is unconstitutionally vague. He said it is so open-ended the public can’t understand it.
“They want the rule to be as ambiguous as possible. And they’ll just give handouts on a case-by-case basis to meet their need,” he griped.
Liu’s right about the vagueness of the ATF’s new interpretation (and I would argue, unconstitutional expansion) of the Gun Control Act’s definition of “firearm”, which now seems to be something along the lines of “a frame or receiver, even one that is not completed, though an incomplete frame or receiver may not be a firearm if it’s not able to be readily converted into a firearm… we’re not really sure.”
Rather than a sharp, clear line that’s easy for companies like Division 80 to follow, the agency is trying to give itself unchecked authority to determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not unfinished frames or receivers should be considered firearms under federal law; requiring them to both be serialized and sold at retail only after a background check is performed on the buyer.
Division 80’s attorneys contend that regardless of what DOJ attorneys said in court on Tuesday the ATF simply doesn’t have the authority to issue their new rules, and that Congress is the appropriate body to make these substantive changes to the GCA. Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court by Donald Trump in 2019, told both sides that he does expect to issue a decision on the request for an injunction before August 24th, so it shouldn’t be long before we know whether or not the new rules will actually be enforced in a couple of weeks.
BLUF
Wilkins sees eye to eye with the three-judge 5th Circuit panel that upheld the bump stock ban last December. Like the D.C. Circuit panel, it said “bump stocks qualify as machine guns under the best interpretation of the statute.” But the 5th Circuit vacated that panel decision in June, and it is now reconsidering the case. If the full court goes a different way, the circuit split could prompt the Supreme Court to weigh in.
D.C. Circuit Upholds the Bump Stock Ban, Saying It Is Consistent With the ‘Best Interpretation’ of the Law
It is hard to see how, given the contortions required to deliver the unilateral prohibition that Donald Trump demanded.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit yesterday upheld the federal bump stock ban that took effect in 2019, approving the legal contortions required to justify it. In blessing the Trump administration’s redefinition of machine guns to include bump stocks and firearms equipped with them, the appeals court did not merely defer to regulators’ interpretation of an ambiguous statute. It concluded that the new reading of the law—which contradicts the position that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) consistently took before then-President Donald Trump demanded that the agency ban bump stocks by administrative fiat—is “the best interpretation of the statute.”
That is hard to believe. The ATF’s justification for the ban is so implausible that it seems clear the agency rewrote the law to accommodate the president’s policy preferences, criminalizing previously legal conduct without bothering to seek new legislation from Congress.
Bump stocks, which became suddenly notorious after they were used in the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, facilitate a rapid-firing technique in which recoil energy pushes the weapon backward, resetting the trigger, while the shooter maintains forward pressure on the gun, causing the trigger to bump against his stationary finger. Crucially, the gun still fires just one round each time the trigger is activated, and it continues to fire only as long as the shooter deliberately and repeatedly engages the trigger by pushing the weapon forward.
Those points are crucial because federal law defines a machine gun as a weapon that “automatically” fires more than one round “by a single function of the trigger.” The definition also includes “any part” or “combination of parts” that is “designed and intended” to convert a firearm into a machine gun.