Every time the Robinson Armament XCR reenters the chat sphere, this time with Mike Jones, I have to think about what could have been had this little company been able to compete with what the Belgians can produce. That isn’t a comment on the rifle design, it is a comment on sheer production capacity and the random things that can get you disqualified from a government contract. The Blank Firing Adapter did the XCR in from the SCAR competition back in the early 00’s.
But that is what it is and the FN SCAR has been a sturdy rifle of excellent repute if high price tag. But RA didn’t go away, not in the least. They kept refining the XCR on their own and improving the design piece by piece. Keymod craze, they built them. M-LOK supremacy? They adapted and the XCR had never felt sturdier.
Author’s XCR-L, w/ EXPS2-2 and G33 Magnifier. Image by RMFA Photography, J. Sarkody
The XCR is a brilliance in motion type system. Taking some of the best aspects of the FAL, AK, and AR-15 and combining them into a modular rifle system. The barrel, gas regulation, and bolt carrier designs all feature a robust simplicity and make maintaining and modifying the rifle a breeze with any simply workbench. Far more maintenance friendly than the AR or AK when it comes time to replace parts and just as easy to do the simple maintenance upon.
In short, it was a brilliantly cool rifle built here in the US that got DQ’d for not having a BFA and should have been allowed to compete for the SCAR title. FN may have still carried it but it should’ve been able to play the game. It’s a solid little carbine.
New York, NY – October 20, 2022 – The HISTORY® Channel is set to premiere the new competition series “Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” hosted by trained welder, outdoor enthusiast and three-time “Survivor” contestant Colby Donaldson and World Champion shooter Mark Romano on Thursday, November 3 at 9:30PM ET/PT. The eight-part series tests some of the world’s top marksmen and markswomen by using centuries-old historical weapons like primitive knives, bows and firearms. Competitors will navigate several distance, precision, and obstacle challenges – each designed and based off of the history of the American frontier. It’s a showdown that will put their weapons knowledge, accuracy skills, and unique techniques to the ultimate test with competitors on a mission to earn the title of “Ultimate Marksman” and win $10,000.
Throughout history, those who wandered the wilderness of the West needed to rely on handmade weapons and survival tools to maintain life on the mountain. Surviving harsh weather and hungry predators often came down to one shot. The knowledge and expertise they displayed with these frontier weapons are still being honored today. “Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” is an extension of the network’s popular “Mountain Men” franchise with the new competition series aiming to revisit the pioneer spirit and way of life on the old frontier.
“Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” tests skilled weapons experts like never before – from using a bow and arrow to hit bullseyes while balancing in a moving river to firing historic rifles through a 12-foot wall of fire. The series incorporates fascinating facts about American history with explaining how weapons were made for successful survival for living off the land. Each weekly, one-hour episode brings together four talented competitors to a ranch in Montana as they strive to become the “Ultimate Marksman,” a title achieved only by completing three rounds of precision-based challenges. Each competitor must use a different centuries-old weapon and technique to effectively hit targets. The challenges also present a unique twist requiring competitors to move through the landscape in a way that only mountain men and women would. At the end of the third and final round, the marksman or markswoman with the highest total points earns the coveted title and walks away with a grand prize of $10,000.
“Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman” is produced for the HISTORY® Channel by Warm Springs Productions. Marc Pierce, Chris Richardson, Vince Cariati, Shawn Striegel, Troy Batzler and Ben Ford serve as executive producers for Warm Springs Productions. Colby Donaldson serves as a producer. Eli Lehrer, Mary E. Donahue and Max Micallef serves as executive producers for The HISTORY® Channel.
A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights to “Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman.”
About The HISTORY® ChannelThe HISTORY® Channel, a division of A+E Networks, is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events, to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based scripted programming, The HISTORY® Channel serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. The HISTORY® channel has been named the #1 U.S. TV network in buzz for seven consecutive years by YouGov BrandIndex, and a top favorite TV network by Beta Research Corporation. For a deeper dive, visit history.com or follow @history on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. For additional press materials visit the A+E Networks Press Center at https://press.aenetworks.com.
The judge in our lawsuit challenging California's magazine ban (which was stayed pending Duncan v. Bonta) lifted the stay today and scheduled a status conference to discuss the next steps in the case. You can read the order here: https://t.co/iiab5bWwO6
The absolute chads over at Firearms Policy Coalition have been slugging away at California’s standard capacity mag ban for years, and if it goes our way, could mean big things for states dealing with their own magazine ban. First among those are other members of the 9th Circuit; Washington and Oregon. Washington has had its own magazine ban enacted this year, and Oregon now has Ballot Measure 114 also banning mags over 10rd in capacity, that will be voted on in November.
Despite criticism about the lack of crime-prevention efficacy, the dearth of law enforcement support or enthusiasm for prosecuting mag bans and other such laws, not to mention the unenforceability of them, Anti-gun orgs rarely let go of a position they’ve settled into. Oregon’s proposed law goes beyond the magazine ban, and establishes a Massachusetts style gun ownership permit and prerequisite safety class. While some might argue those aren’t direct infringements, the idea of a “poll tax” on an enumerated right, and the obvious barrier to the exercise of same this places for the poorest residents are obvious to many, especially those in marginalized communities anti-gun orgs claim to want to help.
Worse yet, Oregon Measure 114, if passed, will become law with zero preparation for complying with it. There is no vetted class, paperwork/application for the permit, or state or even police policy on who can teach the class, where it can be held, how much it costs, or what the standards for pass/fail are. A win for 114 in November means that, until these issues are funded and worked out, nobody in the state will be able to legally purchase a gun, from a store or a private citizen. If a class is required to get a permit, and there is no class, or permit to get, what is this but a de-facto ban on all gun purchases?
It’s easy to come up with ideas, and imagine that they might affect positive change in the world. What’s difficult (and apparently not on the anti-gun agenda) is ensuring those ideas mesh with reality, and have the proper funding, manpower, and infrastructure necessary to actually functionally implement them, without harming law abiding people in the process. What’s also easy, however, is coming to the conclusion that the elimination of firearms purchases in the state of Oregon is not a bug, but a feature of Measure 114. Hopefully the FPC and their endeavors in California will bear fruit soon, and the question of the status of the standard capacity mag ban and more will all become moot.
I did another “survival hack” experiment over the weekend. Yes I know you are probably tired of hearing this kind of stuff from me. But I live alone. If badness happens, the only one who is going to save my own bacon is ME. Thus, my brain wheels are always turning and asking “What if?”. If I find an idea that works, I pass it along. So here we are.
I just tested out the little Solo stove a few weeks ago, which worked great, but that rig can only be used outside. What if I wanted hot water indoors but for some reason my gas stove wasn’t working? Some people’s stoves are electric, making them even more vulnerable during storms that threaten the power grid. You aren’t supposed to use a propane stove indoors. So I wondered, what is a fuel source that is safe to use indoors – in case of bad weather like blizzards or something when I shouldn’t go outside? I do have chafing fuel, but I wanted to save that for heating purposes if needed. Candles? Ahh yes they are perfectly safe to burn inside and also to store indoors as well!
But all the videos and advice I’ve seen about candle cooking so far has used those dinky little tea light candles. Those only burn for a few hours and you need big clusters of them to be effective. Granted if that’s all you have in an emergency then “any port in a storm” as they say. But what I wanted was a big substantial candle that would last for weeks, and it had to be unscented, because I don’t want my tea and oatmeal to taste like “ocean breeze” or some crap.
I wanted the candle to be big/heavy enough not to be easily tipped over and not able to be batted easily by wayward cats. I needed it to have at least three wicks in order to generate enough heat, but also to have the candle burn evenly. I also didn’t want the “crisco candles” that you read about on the interwebs, because sooner or later oils go rancid in storage and start to smell bad, but candles don’t. For that, it is worth the extra money to me. Wandering down the aisles at Walmart showed me what I needed.
6”x6” 3-wick unscented candle
Next, because I am a safety freak (blame my father for that one) I wanted a flame proof container for the candle that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. There were lovely decorative ceramic pots at the garden center, but for like 20 bucks – even off season. The simple clay flower pots were too narrow at the base. Even the cheapo cook pots at Walmart were more money than I wanted to spend for an experiment and they weren’t tall enough to use a metal rack over top. Finally I found some small-size galvanized metal buckets in the paint department at Lowe’s – ta-da!
You could even use a large coffee can or something for totally free, but my coffee comes in plastic tubs (useful for other storage but not heat safe). I may need to make the next few coffee purchases in cans so I can save them. (I am not a hoarder – really!).
Seriously, does anybody else make certain purchase decisions based upon the container the item comes in? I buy shredded parmesan cheese in glass jars instead of the plastic cylinders, because I can reuse the jars to store dehydrated veggies. Now, I’m going to be buying coffee in actual cans so I can save those too. I used to buy cat litter in big jugs so I could reuse the jugs. Then I bought it in buckets so I could reuse the buckets. Now I buy it in cardboard boxes so I can shred the cardboard for the compost. Please tell me that someone else is with me on this??? Please?
Anyway, the next thing I needed was a metal rack to support a pot over the flame. I toyed in my mind with making one out of wire coat hangers, but before that came to pass I realized that with the holidays coming I needed more baking cooling racks, and so I just ordered a set from Amazon. One of the round ones turned out to be just the size I needed and in non-emergencies I can continue to use it in my kitchen. Dual-use to the rescue!
Last but not least (and certainly not essential) I saw a cute little camping teakettle at Walmart and bought that too. Because who doesn’t love a cute little teakettle? No? Well go away then, because I don’t need your kind of negativity in my life.
Supplies
To recap, these are the supplies I used for my experiment:
6”x6” 3-wick unscented candle from Walmart
Small galvanized metal bucket from the paint dept at Lowe’s
Small baking rack from Amazon
Camping mini-teakettle from Walmart
Aluminum foil for lining the bucket to help catch any melted wax and for what I’m going to tell you next.
Assembly
When I started the assembly of my “candle stove” I realized that the candle was about a half inch taller than the rim of my bucket, so the rack wouldn’t work as is. I decided to make a rolled, raised collar for the bucket out of aluminum foil to keep the rack above the candle flames. I figured as the candle burns down I can take the collar off, and further down I can even put the collar under the candle to raise it up to the rack again. Even further down I can use tin cans underneath to raise the candle further up. ( But I am not a hoarder – remember?)
The bucket with foil collar.Ready to light!
Testing
After weeks of brainstorming I was ready for the test(s). I set the whole thing up on my stove (safety freak – remember?), put 2 cups of water in my kettle, lit the three wicks, and set a timer for 30 minutes.
By thirty minutes I had water at a low simmer, and steaming enough for a cup of tea and instant oatmeal. It was perfect. I loved it! Then I put about 5 cups of water (max fill) in the kettle and set the timer for an hour. At this point the increased volume of water was quite warm, but not quite simmering. It would however, have been perfect for a small basin of dishwater or a sponge bath in the sink. For me, living by myself, this was a perfect win! I could heat soup like this, make minute rice, make couscous, rehydrate some dried veggies, or have a freeze dried meal.
Conclusions/Discussion
Obviously this wouldn’t be adequate for a family of five, but there’s no reason you couldn’t run more than one unit at a time and use a bigger pot of water. It would just take longer to heat. I’m also thinking that in an emergency, once one kettle is heated you could pour the hot water into a vacuum bottle to maintain the heat, and start another one immediately. Within a couple hours you’d have enough hot water for several freeze dried meals or washcloth ”baths” for all the kids.
No, you couldn’t cook a big meal over it nor have a soak in the bathtub, but you could certainly have hot food, hot beverages, and hot water to keep clean with in a power outage, with just this candle stove. Which is what most of our ancestors had to work with even in normal times. You wouldn’t necessarily be super comfortable, but you could get by in an emergency.
Hot tea from just a candle.
With just a 3 wick candle in a metal bucket on the stove it would (probably) be safe enough to step away and do other things, while you wait for the hot water, too. I’d still keep an eye on it and I am not advocating for unsafe use of fire, but how many of you light candles in normal life in some part of the house and then walk away? I’m too much of a safety freak for that, but I know people do it.
On the Cheap
Ways to save even more money on this project:
-Use a big coffee can instead of buying a metal bucket
-Make a rack with wire coat hangers instead of buying one
-Use smaller candles (but you may sacrifice burn life)
-Use a cheap lidded pot (or even a tin can covered with foil) instead of my cute teakettle.
It occurred to me that I may not need an actual emergency to use this set up. I tend to burn candles in the wintertime anyway – it’s a comfort thing. So if I have fire anyway, why not use it to have hot water always at the ready for whenever I want it? It reminds me a bit of the old family hunting cabin where we always had kettles of water heating on the back of the wood stove for doing dishes, washing hands/face, etc. It’s the low tech answer to having a hot water heater. And with the price of electricity and natural gas set to rise even more over the winter, why not a save a few pennies where we can?
I’m going to continue to try some more cooking experiments with this set-up and see how far I can push it besides just heating water. Can I use a foil pie plate to fry an egg over this candle stove? Can I use a covered pot and “slow cook” a larger meal? I honestly have no idea if there’s enough heat for that. But I won’t know unless I try. I’ll keep you posted.
The Smith and Wesson Model 64 is a stainless steel classic medium sized (K-frame) revolver that is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. In other words, it is a stainless steel Model 10 revolver. Like the Smith and Wesson Model 10, the Model 64 is a no-frills handgun with fixed sights whose sight channel is carved into the top strap directly.
Given the popularity and longevity of the Model 10 revolver, aka the “Military and Police” which now spans over one century, the Model 64 is in essence part of the most popular and quintessential double action revolver family. In their heyday, these 6-shot .38 Special revolvers were basically the historical equivalent of the modern 9mm Luger polymer striker fired handgun.
Due to its stainless steel construction, the Model 64 easily became a favorite police departments and individual officers who worked in high humidity or high salt-air environments as the stainless steel construction held up better than blued carbon steel, especially back in the day before the times of modern hyper tough firearms finishes.
These days, “leftover” surplus Model 64 revolvers can be bought for cheap through places that sell used police and security guard handguns. The example I currently own, a 64-6 cost me only $299 plus tax at a local gun store. Revolver enthusiasts love acquiring these old, cheap round butt K-frames in order to modify them into tricked and slick 3-inch carry guns. Typically, they will have a gunsmith cut the barrel down to three inches and recrown it. In addition, the smith will change the profile the sides of the barrel, replace the front sight and make the rear sight channel wider. A good conversion package will include the revolver’s action being slicked out and all of the internal springs replaced with newer and better parts in order to get a very smooth double action trigger pull. As a rule, hammers are bobbed down in order to make them less prone to snagging and because carry revolvers are usually only ever fired in double action only mode.
A cut down Model 64 done by Finks Custom Gunsmithing that belongs to a friend. Note the bobbed hammer, the reprofiled barrel, the aftermarket front sight, the refinish, and the G10 stocks. While difficult to see from this angle, the rear sight channel has also been opened up. And the action is slicker than snot. Honestly with this gun, you don’t even need single action mode.
In the holster of the right shooter and under the correct circumstances with the correct ammunition selection, revolvers like these Model 64s still have plenty to offer when it comes to personal protection. As an added bonus, .38 caliber K-frames pack surprisingly flat when carried in the appendix position.
There’s been a resurgence in pistol compensators this year as a few manufacturers have come out with options for various handgun models.
Faxon Firearms tells us in their latest press release,
“Anything improving pistol accuracy is worth checking out.”
That said, they’d like you take a look at one of the newest pistol comps to hit the market: the Faxon Firearms EXOS.
BLUF: You can get one online here: https://faxonfirearms.com/handgun-parts/compensators/
From the Faxon release.
Faxon EXOS | Is It The Best Pistol Compensator?
Constructed of black anodized 6061 Aluminum, the Faxon EXOS features an angled front port single chamber design, enabling the compensator to improve shot-to-shot accuracy by reducing muzzle climb and recoil.
The Faxon Firearms EXOS comp.
This specially designed port design allows gas to deflect upwards as opposed to only deflecting to the sides, reducing the up-and-down muzzle movement and allowing your sights to reset on target much faster.
The Faxon EXOS Pistol Compensator is designed to fit flush with the slide and has been optimized for Faxon match-grade pistol barrels. For all other threaded pistol barrels, the barrel should protrude .600″ or less for a flush fit.
Compatible Hosts For The Faxon EXOS Pistol Comp
All Glock Gen 5 Pistols
Glock 19/17/34 Gen 4
Glock 19/17/34 Gen 3
Glock 43/43x
Glock 48
SIG P365/P365XL
SIG P320
M&P Shield/Shield Plus
M&P Full Size Pistols
Faxon FX19 Pistols
Each EXOS pistol compensator comes complete with thread locker, two 6-32 set screws, and a 1/16 Allen wrench.
Best Pistol Compensator For Concealed Carry
If you want to add a compensator to your concealed carry pistol, the Faxon EXOS Comp is a great choice.
Concealed carry holsters are often not too forgiving when it comes to pistol compensators. The EXOS Comp addresses these issues with its low-profile design that mimics the profile of the pistol’s slide.
The EXOS will work with any open-ended holster designed for your pistol. Even IWB holsters can work comfortably with this compensator.
Conclusion
The Faxon Firearms EXOS is one of the best pistol compensators to hit the market.
Granted it’s not the only player in town, but its unique port design, ease of installation, and performance have put the competition on its heels.
The Phlster Enigma has been taking the inside the waistband carry crowd by storm over the last year. Within that year many upgrades have been released to make the enigma more comfortable and practical with any type of clothing. The upgrades include things like the Sport Belt, the Papoose, and the Modular Wedge Kit.
One issue that has still come up is the leg leash showing while wearing shorts. Now before some say, “well just remove the leg leash”. Removing the leg leash is not an option. The leg leash acts as a way to keep the holster retained while ripping the gun out. Some hacks to the leg leash showing have come out such as re routing the leg leash up through the waistband. This gets it off of the lower part of your thigh. With this though, sometimes the adjustments to the leash can be a hassle dependent on the type of clothing you’re wearing.
Levo Designs is known for making the Papoose which creates a comfortable cover for the waistbelt to avoid friction. They have now come out with the Bumster, an alternative leg leash that is compatible with the enigma belt.
How Does it Work?
The Bumster is simple. It is a thicker but still comfortable leg leash that does not push into the skin or create a “muffin top” affect. The leash connects to the back of the holster by wrapping around the waistband and connects to the front of the holster by part of the faceplate. This means that no permament modifications are necessary and it can be removed at any time.
Can I just Modify the Current Leg Leash and Not Buy the Bumster?
In short yes, however it may not be the best option. While the leg leash does work for some, some also have issues with it as with anything and different consumers. So we will show the cons that some have stated.
leg leash shows in shorts or a dress
after re routing the leash through the back it is too tight on the backside showing an almost “panty line” appearance
leash chafes the thigh
you wear a prosthetic so cant wear leg leash
Due to the Bumster creating a straight line from the face plate to under the thigh it doesn;t create any tension lines on the body and still gets off the thigh so it doesn;t show under short clothing.
From the Website..The Bumster comes sized in 3″ increments to keep extra strap length minimal. To determine which size you need, while wearing your Enigma please measure from the faceplate slot down between your legs, and up to the top of the belt where you plan on attaching the Bumster (we recommend placing it on the meaty part of the hip behind the bone, but some people choose to wear it straight up the back, thong-style), leaving about 2″ of slack. Placing the belt attachment about 1″ behind the hip bone tends to best prevent the strap from working its way out of the crease at the top of the leg with normal movement throughout the day.
If you don’t have a soft tape measure available, use the stock leash, a belt, or about 3 ft of string. Hold the places where your marks land, then straighten it out next to a ruler. If you’re between sizes, select the next size up.
Add 3″ to your measurement if you plan to use the Sport Belt in the future.
Men vs Women Wearing Position
Anatomy between men and women are different. I know, crazy. The Bumster is worn in a very intimate place and different sexes have found that wearing it different has helped.
For Women: “Women may find it most comfortable keeping the belt attachment on the same side as the faceplate attachment, or straight up the back side, similar to how thong underwear is worn.”- Levo Designs
For Men: “Men may find it most comfortable wearing it cross-body (if your Enigma is set up for right handed use and the leg leash is attached to the right slot on the faceplate, keeping this attachment place for The Bumster, attach the belt end to the left hip). FAQ: Does the Bumster pinch male anatomy? No, it sits perfectly right behind it.” -Levo Designs
Reviews; Found on The Phlster Concealment Fbook Page
From a man: “…However, the OG leg leash was way too long for me to be worn full Bumster, causing the clip to then land pretty much center-center under me (between both ischial tuberosities and between the coccyx and pubic symphysis). This resulted in very limited access for quick removal during seated bathroom breaks where time is of the essence #KeyinLockSyndrome, as it needed to be completely unthreaded out from under me towards the back. I now love my Bumster set up with the snap on the faceplate side, as pictured on Levo Designs’ website, for much easier removal during seated bathroom breaks. I found this snap-on-faceplate setup also has the welcome side effect that it provides me with a loop around the Enigma belt to tuck the extra Enigma tail, effectively removing the need for my makeshift hair tie belt loop. The Bumster loop additionally lies flat over the belt and doesn’t compress the belt into a roll anymore, further increasing comfort that I had not known I was missing..”-Phlster Fbook Group Member
From a Woman: The leg leash chafes me. This is a mod created by John Tucker of levo designs) suggested for exactly that issue (and others). For now I can use the leg leash with a thin pair of shorts underneath (I use Thigh Society, somewhere between panty hose and bike shorts thickness).
From a Woman: Purchased the Bumster (soooo comfortable and have less worry of the leg leash showing when wearing shorter dresses/ shorts. Plus it’s super, super easy to adjust while wearing). Love, love love it!
It’s the spooky season, and as fall swoops in and the world embraces pumpkin spice and enough Halloween candy to trigger type 2 diabetes, it’s time to talk about the guns of horror. Guns in horror movies aren’t a popular pair. Why?
Well, if you pull a failure drill on a psycho killer, that ends the movie pretty dang quickly. That doesn’t mean that horror movies and guns don’t go hand in hand occasionally. I’ve selected seven of my favorite examples of the guns of horror.
Silver Bullet – S&W Model 629
Werewolf movies are the exception to the guns of horror rarity. Guns often solve werewolf problems, and in Silver Bullet, they are front and center. In fact, most of the town reacts to a local killer by grabbing guns. In the end, our Werewolf problem is solved by the combination of a single silver bullet, paired with Gary Busey, a paraplegic 11-year-old, and an S&W Model 629.
If you had to hunt a werewolf, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better revolver for the task. Six shots of .44 Magnum will put down a bear, so it should work for a werewolf. Plus, while it’s a magnum round, the 629 eats recoil and makes follow-up shots a possibility.
Bone Tomahawk – Smith and Wesson Scholfield
You put Kurt Russell in a western, and I’m watching it. You take that same movie and make it a horror film, and I’m buying it. Bone Tomahawk has Russell playing Sheriff Franklin Hunt. He’s a no-nonsense type that has a preference for Scholfield revolvers. The S&W Scholfield was an innovative design with its top break action.
For the time, it was quick to reload, and it was the first standard-issue, cartridge-firing revolver in US Army service. Russell blasts away at cannibalistic troglodytes and ultimately kills a fair number of them before the movie ends. It’s a great horror movie with some seriously creepy elements, but it’s nothing a Scholfield can’t solve.
Evil Dead – Double Barreled Shotgun
The Evil Dead series all include the presence of Ash’s boomstick. This double-barrel shotgun changes between movies and can be tough to positively identify. Ash uses it to great effect when it comes time to turn ghouls, zombies, demons, ghosts, and whatever else into bloody red paste.
The double-barreled shotgun is one of the easier guns to activate and use with one hand, which is a concern for Ash. Although reloading rarely seems to be an issue, he fires it several times before he ever cracks open the barrels. As far as guns of horror go, the boomstick might be the most famous.
Dawn of the Dead – Savage Model 99
The original Dawn of the Dead still holds up rather well. It’s another genre of horror movie where guns work well. The story is simple. A trio of dudes and a lady hold up in a mall. This was the glory days of the American mall, and that means the mall had a gun store. One of the main characters, peter, grabs a Savage Model 99 and uses it for most of the movie.
The Savage Model 99 is an interesting lever-action rifle. It used a rotary magazine that held six rounds and could chamber spitzer-style rifle rounds. In Dawn of the Dead, Peter’s gun wears a rifle scope, and he uses it split the wig of both zombies and invading bikers throughout the movie.
Halloween – S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece
Halloween created the modern slasher and also is a perfect example of how it ends when the gun shows up. In the original 1978 film, Michael Meyers is an escaped mental patient. He’s huge, demented, silent, and terrifying in his mask and coveralls wielding his kitchen knife of chocie. He cuts his way through a little town on Halloween night until a Doctor with a gun stops him.
That gun is a Smith and Wesson Model 15 Combat Masterpiece. It’s one of the best .38 Special duty guns ever created and only recently left service with the United States Air Force. Dr. Loomis specifically brought to kill Michael Meyers, and at the end, he empties all six rounds into his chest, stopping the attack…at least for Halloween 1978.
Jaws – M1 Garand
Jaws isn’t your typical horror movie. It’s a thriller that takes place at the beach. No haunted houses or spooky woods. At the same time, it’s likely a film that inspired more real fear than any other ever made. Jaws is a shark; it’s not evil or out to hurt people for fun. The shark is just a cold-blooded, emotionless killer. It’s up to a shark hunter Quint, and Police Chief Martin Brody to kill the beast terrorizing their town.
Quint keeps an M1 Garand on the boat he hunts from. While it doesn’t save Quint, it does allow Brody to stop the monstrous shark finally. The M1 Garand is a legendary service rifle firing the all-American .30-06. The semi-auto action allows for rapid follow-up shots, and the .30-06 hits hard and flies fast. There are certainly worse weapons for shark hunting.
The Horror
We love horror movies because we like feeling things. We are creatures uniquely affected by art, and horror gives us anxiety and fear but makes it fun at the same time. It takes a talented and creative individual to make guns effective in horror without ending the movie in 15 minutes. The above are a few examples of how guns can work in horror.
The September 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association contains a dozen or so articles discussing deaths associated with firearm use. Anti-Second Amendment bias is clearly present. The cover pictures a semi-automatic pistol and some bullets; they missed an opportunity to show a Minuteman fighting for his country.
A piece by Rita Rubin, MA is titled, “Examining The Impact of Firearm Safety Laws on Suicides.” In the first sentence, the author talks about “firearm deaths” and the astute reader immediately suspects that somehow agency is being attributed to these pieces of metal. A few sentences later, the reader is told about “firearm suicides” and could be forgiven for assuming that the author is talking about guns that kill themselves. After touching on “gun violence” (you know, the tendency of guns to behave in a violent fashion) she notes that often, and not surprisingly, people who seek to kill themselves using guns often achieve this result.
She quotes a researcher who found that patients recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital have a suicide rate 100 times higher than the rate in the general population. Following the popular ‘gun = violence’ theory, one might guess either that admission to psychiatric hospitals causes suicide, or that such patients should never be discharged so as to avoid it. But the obvious conclusion is that some people are released too soon from psychiatric inpatient treatment, and the emphasis should be for these hospitals and their professional staffs to improve their performance. Strangely enough, this researcher adds, “There should not be a forced choice between suicide prevention policies that increase the public’s access to mental health treatment interventions and those that decrease at-risk individuals access to firearms”, even though no one seems to be demanding such a choice.
Meanwhile, those supporting Second Amendment rights have been very consistent in also supporting mental health treatment that can reduce violence. An advantage of this approach is that it addresses violence overall, not just violent behavior associated with firearm use. One statistic provided by Ms. Rubin supports this position – comparing states, those that provide more mental health resources have fewer suicides, and this finding is valid across a number of years.
Rubin cites another study comparing states with large versus small numbers of “gun laws.” The researchers reported that states with many gun laws had relatively fewer people who commit suicide using a gun. As always, showing association does not show causation, but presenting data in this way makes it hard for us to avoid the feeling that we’ve seen proof of some sort even though we know that is not based on fact.
In a similar vein, she cites a study published in January 2018 (earlier critiqued here) which reported an association between strictness of a state’s laws regarding firearms and suicides by gunshot. As noted above, such reports can dupe the reader into feeling that one causes the other. The 2018 study is flawed in many ways, including labeling the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence as organizations that “advocate against gun violence”. This is a bit like saying that Hitler was an advocate for youth fitness or Stalin an advocate for full employment. What these two organizations advocate for is restricting Second Amendment rights.
In fact, the number of suicides (including those by gunshot) per capita in the United States is constantly decreasing, showing the value of education regarding the risks inherent in mental illness and weapons, which the gun community increasingly emphasizes. And that 2018 study itself documented a lower rate of suicide attempts by firearm in its final year (2011) compared to its starting year (1998).
Ms. Rubin then turns to Red-Flag Laws which, she states, “allow family members and law enforcement and, in some cases, teachers, coworkers, and physicians, to petition a state court to temporarily remove firearms from the environment of someone deemed at risk of harming themselves or others.” Of course, the specifics of these laws vary from state to state, so generalizations are difficult. Her account of several homicides is crafted to suggest that such laws would have prevented deaths. Her assumption seems to be that it would have been impossible for the perpetrators to kill by other means. However, data suggest that as many lives as are saved by such interventions are also lost during attempts to seize weapons and because people avoid treatment for fear of being made the object of a Red Flag process.
As is typical, the discussion of red flag laws here ignores the existence of laws long in place that allow the involuntary hospitalization of those with a mental illness who are a threat to self or others. Surely many individuals facing a red flag process have mental illnesses, and for a red flag process to move forward the individual must be deemed a threat, likely meeting criteria for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization (if not criminal arrest). This is quite consistent with the statistic noted above as to the high number of recently discharged mental health patients who kill themselves.
It is also odd that red flag laws enacted to date seem significantly disconnected from orders of protection. One might think that at the time a person is deprived of firearms due to constituting a threat to others, the court should take steps to protect the potential victim from other forms of violence. That this is not usually the case suggests a myopic and counterproductive focus on guns that follows from ill-founded political beliefs.
Ms. Rubin cites a study indicating that a significant number of doctors are reluctant to participate in red flag proceedings because this would undermine the doctor-patient relationship. This is particularly important in view of the efforts by many to reduce violence through better mental health treatment. Patients will be less likely to seek care if they believe that professionals they would see are apt to break confidentiality.
To end this review, let’s touch on something mentioned by the author but once – the right to keep and bear arms. In a press release, the Oklahoma State Senate described passing legislation to “protect citizens’ Second Amendment rights” by forbidding any unit of state government from “enacting any red flag laws”. This should be welcome news to those who favor constitutional government.
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—Thomas E. Gift, MD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in Rochester, New York, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical School, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
It’s not an Evanescence song, I promise. The Lithium from Ultradyne is a compensator and muzzle brake combination device designed specifically for 9mm PCCs. Ultradyne is a company that is well known for its advanced iron sights and has recently jumped feetfirst into the muzzle device market. The Lithium is no teeny tiny muzzle device. It’s big, mean, and not afraid to be bold. Ernest Hemingway would definitely own one.
The Lithium combines a total of six ports to redirect gas to your benefit. Your standard 9mm PCC isn’t a weapon that beats and batters, but a relatively soft shooting, soft recoiling weapon. That doesn’t mean it can’t be better. If your aim is to keep your sights steady and unmoving, it’s worth taking the help.
With the Lithium, we have two side ports that create a braking effect that reduces felt recoil. On the top, we have four ports to redirect gas downwards to eradicate muzzle rise. That’s the idea anyway? Does it work? Well, we can find out.
Installing the Lithium
One thing Ultradyne has down is its installation methods. It’s not just twist, add crush washer, twist, rinse and repeat until the thing looks right. Ultradyne utilizes a shrouded timing nut. You attach the timing nut to the gun, then a washer in between, followed by the Lithium muzzle device.
The timing nut allows you to position the device perfectly and get it tuned properly and evenly. This can be done very quickly and efficiently, making it easy to attach and quick to install. I really like this system, and I need to grab a handful of these timing nuts separately for any other muzzle devices I plan to use in the future.
Breakdown of the Lithium
If you want something small and sleek, look elsewhere. The Lithium is 1.75 inches long and 1.125 inches in diameter. It weighs 3.2 ounces by itself. It’s big, but it’s effective. Devices like this are aimed at maximizing performance. It’s not uncommon to see these devices used in high-level PCC competitions.
The Lithium is made from 416R stainless steel, and it uses a salt bath nitride finish to offer the utmost protection. That is pretty important when the device contains small explosions with every shot. The Lithium is rugged and well-made, perfectly suited for harsh and hard-core use.
To the Range, We Go
I attached the Lithium to my Banshee Mk17 and loaded up a few of SIG’s new 30-round mags, and hit the floor running with a wide variety of ammo types. This includes some standard 115-grain FMJs, some 124-grain NATO rounds, and some +P 147-grain JHPs. A variety of ammo allows me to see how well the device works across a spectrum of power and ammo types.
At first shot, I noticed a considerable difference in recoil and muzzle rise. In fact, my brain is o used to a certain level of recoil and muzzle rise. It fried for half a second, and I paused between shots. After a few more rounds, I became more accustomed to the new recoil and muzzle rise impulse. My red dot barely moved off target, and this allowed me to fire rapidly with a crazy degree of control.
When combined with the already soft recoil of the Mk17 and its radial delayed design, I got a weapon that’s crazy controllable. Even with the heavier +P rounds and the NATO standard 9mm, the gun remained soft shooting and easy to control. The Lithium caused zero issues in the reliability department, which is a concern with blowback-operated firearms, even with a radial delay.
Another big advantage I noticed was that the vents vent gas out the sides and out of the line of sight of the shooter. There might be some additional muzzle flash, but it’s not noticeable while aiming down the sights. The Lithium promotes great control, less recoil, and considerably less muzzle rise.
One for All
It’s almost humorous how much extra control the Lithium adds to your PCC platform. It takes some serious sting out of the gun and makes it a real kitten. It’s almost like a very loud and mean .22 Magnum. There is a little thump, but not much, and your sights barely move. Isn’t the goal to keep the sights from moving? If so, then the Lithium is a worthwhile addition to your pistol caliber carbine.
The world of magnum calibers and revolvers typically offers you a degree of versatility. Your .357 Magnum can fire the less powerful and often cheaper .38 Special. Your .44 Magnum can fire a .44 Special. When you follow that logic, it seems perfectly safe to toss a .22LR in a .22 Magnum revolver, derringer, or whatever. However, you’d be wrong, and you’d be doing something a fair bit unsafe. Here is the bottom line up front, don’t put a .22LR into a .22 WMR.
Why Not? It Fits
Yeah, it does. The .22LR will drop right in and seems to fit nicely. It certainly won’t argue with your .22 Magnum cylinder, so why can’t I fire .22LR from a .22 Magnum? Price-wise, .22LR is much cheaper than .22 Magnum and much easier to find. It seems like it would be a perfect training round.
The problem comes from how both the projectiles and cases are designed. When Winchester created the .22 WMR, they didn’t just stretch the .22LR round. The .22 WMR uses a case that encloses the full diameter of the bullet.
A .22LR round attaches to a foot connected to the projectile, and this foot is smaller than the overall diameter of the bullet. The case of the .22LR is a bit thinner and smaller than the .22 Magnum.
The case diameter of a .22LR is .2252 inches, and the .22 Magnum is .2421. The rim is thicker, and it’s just bigger in nearly every way. The .22 Mag is a great cartridge, but you can’t drop the .22LR in the same cylinder or chamber and hope it works.
What Will Happen if Your Drop .22LR in a .22 Magnum?
Since the .22 Magnum is larger, the chamber is also larger. Because the .22LR is smaller, it does drop into the .22 WMR cylinder easily enough. However, it fits sloppily inside the cylinder. This leaves extra room and allows the case to rupture and explode inside the cylinder.
When this occurs, debris and gases can be shot backward or out the sides and hurt the shooter. It could also damage your gun beyond repair, and shooting the wrong caliber out of the gun will violate your warranty, so don’t expect a company to fix your mistake. Plus, you might be picking metal out of your face.
How to Shoot .22LR in a .22 Magnum
There is only one safe way to shoot a .22LR out of your .22 Mag. It has to be a revolver, and you have to swap cylinders. Plenty of revolvers allow you to swap cylinders and can be fairly affordable. The Heritage Manufacturing series of revolvers offer quick and easy change cylinders for a fairly low price. Numerous revolvers do the same, and that’s the only safe way you are going to fire .22LR and .22 Magnum from the same gun.
If it’s an automatic derringer, lever action, or any other weapon, it’s simply not safe to drop a .22LR into a .22 WMR weapon. It is simple, but it doesn’t seem to be well understood even to this day. I’ve seen people saying it’s safe, and it’s downright silly to still suggest that a .22LR in a .22 Mag is a safe bet.
4 years ago, Washington State Ballot initiative 1639, like all gun control measures, was set to finally solve the problem of human beings killing each other. What was the cost of this important, life-saving measure you might ask? Surely whatever it is would be worth it. Well among other things for the low, low price of “An annual mandatory background check of every current gun owner in order to ensure they haven’t become violent felons in the meantime” an end to gun violence can be yours.
All that stood in the way was those awful gun owners, simple-minded puppets of the NRA who consistently voted to line the pockets of gun manufacturers, against their own interests. Beating all odds though, 4 years ago it actually passed, and nobody has died to gun violence since! Right?
Well, not exactly. Not only has it not made an impact on homicide rates, it hasn’t even been implemented. Washington state has (thankfully) made zero plans, let alone efforts, to actually implement the will of the voters and actually conduct annual background checks of existing gun owners. How exactly they would know who was a current gun owner, and thus subject to the law was never answered. Would the suspected gun owner would be required to go to a gun store and pay for the NICS check themselves? Would the government simply run their data through the system automatically on their birthday? The world may (hopefully) never know, but one thing is sure: after 4 years the WA state government certainly doesn’t. In fact the Department of Licensing, who was tasked with managing this debacle, determined that there was no feasible way to implement the scheme approved by voters.
4 years after the passage of this bill, WA state legislators, citizens, and even the citizen-sponsor of I-1639 are, often entirely unaware that their initiative languishes in limbo long after ballots were counted. The Office of the Governor admitted that it was effectively dead in the water with no legal avenue to implement it, but did so quietly enough that nobody seems to have noticed, even as they push for more gun control that, one assumes, must also have a chance of winding up drifting in space with no route forward in perpetuity.
People who are wholly ignorant of guns, drafting and passing legislation to restrict guns, with no understanding of the existing regulations on guns, or what the legal avenues to do so are, managed to write a regulation so unhinged from reality that it cannot be made to work? Who could have seen this coming? I suppose we’ll have to pass another law and wait 4 more years.
After #SCOTUS's extreme Bruen ruling, New York state legislators and @GovKathyHochul took steps to keep New Yorkers safe. Now, some sheriffs are choosing not to enforce these laws because they dislike them—endangering public safety and their colleagues. https://t.co/MNn9yHwsGG
Everytown and other gun controllers, who have been crowing loudly about how the discretion of your local Sheriff is vital to keeping your community safe, apparently only want that discretion applied to things they like, like May-Issue concealed carry schemes. Yet again, those responsible for enforcing the ridiculous laws handed to them by anti-gun legislatures like the one in New York (who is actively attempting to flout the SCOTUS ruling in Bruen) have recognized the futility, and lack of constitutionality inherent in them, and are refusing to comply.
Tasking manpower and finances to uphold blatantly unconstitutional violations of the 2nd Amendment, as well as common sense, are not a high priority for these men. They are making it known that their discretion will come heavily into play when deciding on enforcement measures for this, and any similar laws. Niagara County Sheriff Mike Filicett described the situation like this: “We will take the complaint, but it will go to the bottom of my stack… There will be no arrests made without my authorization and it’s a very, very low priority for me.” Sheriff Filicett isn’t alone, either. The New York State Sheriff’s Association called the law a “thoughtless, reactionary action” that achieves nothing but to “restrain and punish law-abiding citizens.” Apparently police voices are only wanted when they’re in lockstep with gun-grabbers.
So an anti-gun organization who touts their acceptance of police discretion on one aspect of the right to keep and bear arms, while shouting to the heavens that they support and listen to law enforcement, only to decry the same when it doesn’t lean in their favor on another aspect? Sounds like just another Monday to us. This certainly isn’t the first time local Sheriffs have been the primary barrier between anti-rights legislation and the people, and unfortunately we suspect it won’t be the last.
A few months ago Bul Armory introduced a new pistol. Bul is famous for clones of 1911 handguns and close copies of CZ 75 pistols as well. Bul offers good quality handguns at a fair price. The newest pistol is a clone of the Glock 17. I have not examined or tested a compact version modeled after the Glock 19. These compact 9mm handguns are also available. With close to eighty percent of police forces and a similar number of concealed carry handgunners deploying a polymer frame striker fired handgun the market is huge. Some pistols such as the Shadow Systems 9mm cost more than the Glock but offer good features. Walther pistols have a great appeal. Then there are pistols that are less expensive than the Glock. If the pistol costs more than the Glock be certain it offers an advantage. If the pistol cost less almost certainly corners have been cut. It is true Glock did the R & D and T & E and other companies may ride their coattails. A pistol with good features and a bit of bling selling for about the price of the Glock may be attractive. The pistol has been available at $669.71 from Cheaperthandirt.com. Every gun store of any size at all has 9mm ammunition and Glock magazines. Everyone who makes holsters offers models for the Glock.
The Bul Axe 9mm is offered in several versions including the Axe Cleaver. The pistol resembles the Glock 17. It is dimensionally the same. The Glock barrel fits the Axe slide while the internals are very similar. No reason to mess with success. Most clones seem reliable if not as well refined as the Glock. The pistol operates exactly the same as the Glock. The Axe uses Glock magazines- it would not make any sense not to. The supplied magazines are very well made and at least comparable to Glock magazines. The base pad seems robust. The slide is very well done. The stainless steel slide features nicely designed and executed forward and rear cocking serrations. A very interesting scalloped muzzle is part of the appeal of the Axe 9mm. The sights are all steel and similar to upgraded sights from Novak and a few others. These are excellent all around target and combat sights. The frame doesn’t feature grip inserts. The frame is considerably upgraded from the usual run of polymer frame guns. The geometric design results in an excellent balance of adhesion and abrasion. My hands are average size. A number of associates with smaller and larger hands found the Bul Axe well suited to their hands. There is a dished out portion of the frame behind the trigger guard. This lowers the center line of the bore making for less leverage for the muzzle to flip during recoil.
Trigger compression is sharp and clean. Various stock Glock pistols in the safe feature a trigger compression of 5.6 to 6.5 pounds. The Bul Axe breaks cleanly at 4.5 pounds. This is a clean break with rapid re set. The pistol is comparable to the Glock in every detail as far as field stripping, maintenance, and handling. The magazine release is slightly oversized. The slide lock appears to be a slightly enlarged late model Glock 17 magazine release. While considerably different in many details from the Glock this pistol will respond well to anyone who uses the Glock well. While a cheaper gun will achieve its low price by decrements the Bul Axe has additions to the Glock. As of this writing the retail prices runs a little less than the average Glock retail price for a Glock 17. I found that I was able to run the Bul Axe seamlessly. The pistol is not so different from the Glock I could not run between the two types easily without major adjustment. The changes in the grip and trigger are natural. The trigger feels better than the Glock but you still must be an accomplished shooter to get the best results.
There were no surprises firing the Bul Axe. The pistol comes on target quickly handling well. Line the sights up press the trigger and you have a hit. The handgun was fired primarily with Remington 115 grain UMC Ball ammunition. Results were good. Firing at close range out to 25 yards the pistol exhibited good results. I also fired a quantity of Remington 147 grain Golden Saber and the Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P. The pistol never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. Absolute accuracy firing from a benchrest using the MTM K Zone rest I fired several five shot groups at 25 yards. This isn’t combat relative I supposed but tells us something about the pistols fitting and quality. The sights were an advantage. The 115 grain UMC load went into 3.0 inches, the Golden Saber 2.0 inches and the Gold Dot, 2.8 inches. I find this excellent performance. After confirming reliability I added the pistol to my personal defense battery. I added TruGlo Pro Tritium sights. Night sights are good to have and I like the TruGlo set very much. The Bul Axe is fully compatible with Glock sights, however, the front sight was tight, pretty tight, going in.
I like larger handguns for carry. They are easier to shoot well, have less recoil, and generally have superior handling. You must choose your concealed carry holster well when carrying any gun but especially a full size service pistol. The DeSantis Leather Goods Infiltrator Air is a new favorite holster. It represents the latest generation in development from one of our most respected makers. The Infiltrator Air features a backing of padded breathable material. Some of us perspire more than others and many of us live in a part of the country with a humid climate. This is a true hybrid with a sturdy Kydex holster. This holster offers an excellent balance of speed and retention. The holster is worn between the trousers and the body. Only a short draping garment is needed to conceal this rig as the majority of the handgun is concealed inside the pants. Strong well designed belt clips keep the Infiltrator Air firmly anchored to the belt. Practice quickly moving the covering garment out of the way and you have a viable concealed carry rig. The holster doesn’t collapse after the pistol is drawn allowing easy re-holster.
I found the Bul Axe reliable. The pistol offers advantages over most polymer frame pistols and operates on a proven system.
The author added TruGlo Pro night sights to his personal Bul Axe 9mm pistol.DeSantis Infiltrator Air is among the best new introductions in some time.The Bul Axe, top, compared to the author’s long serving home defense Glock 17, lower.Remington’s Golden Saber offers good performance.The Remington Golden Saber design offers an excellent balance of expansion and penetration. The Tomahawk is an upgraded optics ready pistol.
In short, well made extractors and extractor spring assemblies matter because failures to extract will shut the gun down entirely.
The AR-15 world is like the Wild Wild West. If it is not Gov issued the build isn’t having to follow any sort of rules or regulations. This leaves A LOT to chance that it was made to to proper spec. That spec being the same spec that the Technical Data Package has stated since Colt pushed it out in the 60’s.
Within one of these specifications is the Extractor and Extractor Spring. A tiny portion of the gun but very important. While the extractor and extractor lip have not changed much, the extractor spring has definitely improved both coming straight from Colt and the aftermarket world.
Notice on this critical components kit that there is a black buffer with copper spring and O ring as the extractor spring assembly. DanielDefense.com
The History/Types of Extractor Springs
Before going into the importance of the spring, let’s go into a short history of them. Please know that all of this knowledge is coming from working on hundreds of issued rifles and carbines while in the Army. The sheer number of guns worked on allowed us to be ordering a lot of extractor springs due to wear or new assembly. Over time we started seeing different extractors arrive.
Note: Extractor springs will have a buffer, spring, and sometimes a rubber O Ring.
Colt gave us both the M16 and M4 builds. Within these have been different extractor springs. In the beginning The M16 had a black buffer and silver spring, then came the blue buffer and silver spring. On the M4 side we had the black buffer and silver spring, now we have the black buffer and copper coiled spring. The black buffer and copper spring can now be used in both M16 and M4 platform and has shown no issues when routinely replaced and cared for. This means that if the spring becomes bent, the buffer is missing, or it is failing due to wear, replacement is necessary and normal.
This is now the current and most updated extractor spring assembly for the M4 platform within the Military. Brownells.com
The Aftermarket World
Let’s shift to the aftermarket world because this is where things start to get weird.
As stated before, it is the Wild Wild West. You will see many different spring types due to manufacturer and gas system on the build. Here are a couple of examples. I am going to list the color, but two black springs may not be alike ie number of coils or material.
Daniel Defense MK-18: Black buffer, copper spring, O ring BCM (upgraded spring kit): BCM Black spring, black buffer, O ring (note: BCM states on their website that the O ring may not be needed due to the strength of the spring) Sprinco Upgrade Kit: Black buffer, black 5 coil spring, black O ring Colt: Black buffer, copper spring
Note: The O ring is Crane/Mil-Spec approved.
Sprinco M4 / AR-15 Extra Power 5-Coil Extractor Spring Upgrade Kit PrimaryArms.com
The Issue
The reason for this whole article is due to something seen last weekend. While at an event someone bought over their gun stating the typical thing “It’s jamming”. Okay. I am not going to say the manufacturer of this build but it was in fact an entire build from this company which actually has a pretty good reputation in following proper specs.
The rounds put down range from the owner were the very first rounds ever put through the gun. Before we shot it that day though, I did a quick strip of the gun and entire BCG. This lead me to immediately feel the weakness of the extractor spring. After opening that, the extractor shown was a black buffer, with black spring, and a O ring. Not a copper with black buffer. I then checked the lip, everything looked okay but there was some wear on the lip already after only the 3 rounds he said he fired.
First round down range, failure to extract.
Feeding was fine, chambering was fine, firing was fine, extraction was non existent.
What was happening there could be two things.
First, there is simply not enough pressure from the extractor spring to push the lip of the extractor over the rim of the case to hold on as the bcg is pulled back, thus extracting the fired case and then ejecting it out.
Two, the lip of the extractor could be out of spec and did not have enough surface area to grab the rim and hold on.
While this can be fixed by hopefully just replacing the extractor spring, you might as well just grab the entire extractor while you’re at the store just in case it is the lip of the extractor and not just a weak spring.
A failure to extract shown. GunsAmerica.com lists this as a failure to eject but in this case it is a failure to extract because the bolt did not grab the case after firing and starting to feed another round.
Removal/Installation
To remove the extractor simply press the straight pin out with a small flat punch or even a pen. DO NOT USE THE TIP OF THE FIRING PIN. Applying some pressure to the back of the extractor where the spring is can help release the pressure on the pin.
Installing an extractor and extractor spring is simple but there are some tricks.
On a bolt the extractor is held in by a small straight pin. When putting this pin in to install an extractor it should be HARD to get the extractor and hole lined up due to the pressure of the extractor spring, especially if it is new. To make this easier, push down on the part of the extractor where the spring is, while pushing the pin through. If the pin is started but not all the way in, use needle nose pliers to clamp the bolt where the pin is while pushing down on the spring. It should go through. You can also use a hard surface to push the pin through while putting pressure on the back side where the spring is seated.
Apply pressure to the extractor spring as you are installing the pin to relieve some pressure and allow the holes to line up.Use a hard surface to push the pin in completely, make sure it is flush. Pliers can be used to clamp the bolt and the pin as well but be sure to not scratch or damage the bolt.
To install the spring assembly, push the buffer down a bit through the spring. Just to get past the spring and not get in the way of the spring catching the housing. Now, hold the spring in your needle nose without bending or crushing it. There is a small lip on the extractor where the spring seats, while holding the spring push it into that housing and twist, almost like you’re coiling the spring in. As it catches it may need to be pressed down a bit to totally click into place. To verify it is in pull on it a bit, without stretching it, it shouldn’t come out.
It may take a couple of tries to fully seat the spring, that’s okay.
This is a Sons of Liberty extractor. The extractor spring will catch on the lip of the spring housing during installation. Use a needlenose to screw the coils into the housing. Give it a light tug to ensure that its seated.
Cleaning
Ensure that the lip around on the extractor is clear of carbon build up as too much build up can lead to a failure to extract as well.
