TAMPA, FL, January 15, 2020 – Meopta’s groundbreaking DichroTech reticle technology, which delivers battery-free illumination, has won a 2020 Gray’s Best award. This advanced dichroic coating enables reticles in multiple color configurations to automatically adjust color tone and intensity in varying light conditions without the use of a battery. DichroTech provides maximum contrast and visibility, enhancing target acquisition while speeding and improving shot placement.
The following are excerpts from the Gray’s Sporting Journal 2020 Expeditions and Guides Annual:
“This is the first time in the 25-year history of Gray’s Best that we have given the award for a reticle technology, but when Meopta refers to their DichroTech as “game changing,” they are not exaggerating.
In recent years, the hot item has been illuminated reticles, with the illumination powered by batteries. These have steadily improved, with such modifications as variable intensity to suit ambient conditions and prevent loss of night vision, and automatic shut-offs to conserve battery power. Each has had its drawbacks, however, not least being the need for instant adjustment when seconds count (a glimpse of a moving deer at twilight) to batteries dying at the most inopportune moment, and the need to remember to carry spares.
Meopta’s new “dichroic” technology gives you a coating, for lack of a better term, which adjusts the reticle’s visibility to ambient light conditions with no action on your part. It is permanent, battery free, and never threatens your night vision.”
Terry Wieland, Shooting Editor
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from Gray’s Sporting Journal and appreciate their recognition of Meopta’s efforts to offer hunters and shooters a unique alternative to battery-powered illuminated riflescopes,” said Pavel Stastny, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Meopta. “DichroTech reticles have been well received, and we will continue to add more reticle options using this new technology.”
DichroTech reticles are currently available in the MeoStar and Optika6 riflescope lines with more offerings to come.
Meopta has been producing high-end European optics for over 85 years and is a leading manufacturer & partner to many of the world’s finest optical brands. Meopta conceives, develops and manufactures precision optical and electro/optical systems for semiconductor, medical, aerospace and military industries as well as for consumer markets.
RETAY’s entry to the premium target and upland market offers a breathtaking new design coupled with RETAY’s most innovative features for superior sporting performance!
Easton Maryland, January 10 2020 – RETAY ARMS LTD. STI. of Konya Turkey announces the release of the ALL NEW Antalya SS “Super Sport” series of semi automatic shotguns in the United States.The Antalya SS is designed to be a platform for the sport shooting enthusiast. While the line will eventually fill out to include dedicated target configurations, the 2020 launch of the Antalya line will focus on a versatile SS configuration which is well suited for a variety of pursuits. It’s a shotgun that can take the shooter from an afternoon of sporting clays to a morning pheasant hunt without missing a beat, offering flexibility and performance in one feature packed package.Like RETAY’s other offerings, the Antalya SS is powered by a stock based inertia action based on the original design by Bruno Civolani. It will feature RETAY’s patented Inertia Plus System. Inertia Plus ™ is the world’s most advanced and refined kinetic energy driven rotating shotgun bolt design. The Retay “Inertia Plus System™” effectively eliminates misfires that have plagued inertia shotgun until now. The system uses an ingenious active torsion mechanism inside the bolt carrier body to apply added rotational force to the bolt head. The system essentially forces the bolt head to rotate into lock up with the breach even when conditions are less than ideal. At the same time, the “Inertia Plus System™” prevents unintended disengagement of the bolt head from the breach. If disengagement is caused by sudden jarring of the firearm or accidentally snagging the bolt on a branch while in the field, the “Inertia Plus System™” corrects itself, automatically returning the bolt to full lock up with the battery. The firearm remains ready for action and ready to fire without any intervention on the part of the operator. The Inertia Plus System has been called “the first affordable, obvious, and substantial improvement to the Bruno Civolani action in 50 years” http://www.randywakeman.com/OntheRetayArmsInertiaPlusAction.htm
The Antalya SS features an innovative two piece receiver design that mounts a steel chamber inside of the aircraft aluminum receiver making use of an alloy shroud to visually meld the two parts into one seamless receiver. The remarkable receiver is milled from a billet of aircraft aluminum and features decorative accents including some premium incarnations with traditional scroll engraving and high grade walnut. The Antalya SS features RETAY’s patented quick release trigger group with a newly designed shape specifically crafted to make loading easy. Additionally, the Antalya SS features a proprietary design that allows for the magazine tube to be emptied without the need to rack the action of the shotgun to eject shells; RETAY calls this system “Easy Unload ™” The Antalya SS will come from the factory ready to cycle an array of hunting and target loads but will be specially tuned to effectively cycle the lighter variety of upland game and specialty target loads.
This has been an quiet lead up to SHOT. Usually this time is filled with product drops, and new announcements, and all the new year new tech insanity. This year it’s toned quite down (for now). New products are coming through the pipelines but very little is ‘New‘. We aren’t in the development swing the late 2000’s brought that gave us the SCAR, ACR, and their competition. The NGSW is still running but I think we’re very early and have been burned once to often for excitement to manifest beyond the theoretical.
Vortex Made Noise in that quiet
The Razor HD Gen III is new. It is exciting as a leap in the technology standards. A 1-10x DaylightBright Low Power Variable Optic.
Specs, so I don’t have to type them.
Finally.. This is what we’ve been waiting for…
I’m not going to dig deep into the Gen II history, but Vortex set the standard for what a 1-6x should do. Some of the most successful optics since then have emulated that. Clear, light, simple, bright, and durable. The Gen II has seen combat overseas with SOCOM and remained an industry leading standard here at home among demanding shooters.
But the Razor HD Gen III sets a new standard, one that I will be curious how companies strive to match.
Same Size. Same Weight. New Capabilities
Vortex didn’t do variable 10x first.
They didn’t do 1-10x first.
What they gave us was the Razor LPVO, and they’re doing it again. Better.
They housed the Gen III in a 34mm tube. Not a one off size with little mount or scope ring support. Vortex is giving us the same length and same weight Razor, in an widely supported mount/ring size, that can drop into the same place as the previous LPVO. Every worthwhile mount comes in equivalent 30mm/34mm layouts.
DaylightBright.
Yes. Really. Front Focal Plane Daylight Bright. The struggle for every single optic manufacturer in the LPVO market has been designing a reticle system that will illuminate like a red dot sight.
That is the measure of ‘Daylight Bright’. It contrasts like a red dot. Not ‘you can kinda see red’ in the reticle on maximum brightness.
Most manufacturers up to this point have disappointed us repeatedly with their FFP offerings that claimed to be ‘Daylight Bright’. It’s understandable, the size of a FFP reticle in high magnification erector optics leaves almost no surface to work at illuminating. Most manufacturers had settled for contrasting illumination. The EOTech VUDU 1-6x FFP is an excellent example of contrasting illumination done well, but it isn’t ‘Daylight Bright’. EOTech’s 1-8x is, but it is Second Focal Plane.
The Razor HD Gen III has red dot contrast in the First Focal Plane. It does what the second focal plane LPVOs up to this point held dominion over, it can function in the red dot role. FFP optics have needed to rely on good reticle design, unilluminated, to carry them at 1x, which as a consequence made the reticles thick at maximum magnification.
Setting 6
RMR
Setting 11
The illumination doesn’t vanish at off angles, something otherwise bright front focal plane scopes struggled with in the past. The useable daylight settings aren’t limited to the top 1 or 2. Setting 6 of 11 is useable in daylight, just like an Aimpoint, RMR, or other quality dot. You aren’t left clicking through nearly a dozen brightness levels you will never use.
The illumination dial itself is a lockable turret with off settings in between each brightness. Just pull the knob around the battery housing (CR2032), pick your setting, push the knob to lock it. The Razor HD Gen III won’t turn off or change brightness inadvertently, another common concern on certain exposed control styles.
The battery life is rumored to be exceptional. I have no confirmation, but 200 hours is the anecdotal estimate for setting 11, with several times that life as you go down to the everyday use numbers.
10,000 hours or functionally 1 year? Maybe setting 6 or 7. But I know I would’ve killed most of my other LPVO’s batteries by now.
The Enhanced Battle Reticle is either Minute of Angle (MOA) or Milliradian (MRAD) pattern, Vortex is doing both for user needs. The EBR center dot is 1 MOA, the 4 illuminatable segments around the center dot encircle a ~4 MOA space and the outer diameter is 5.5 MOA.
At lower magnification the Razor HD Gen III operates like a 4 MOA red dot sight, not dissimilar to an M68 CCO/Comp Series Aimpoint.
The reticle features a quick range estimation scale to 600 yards at the 12 o’clock position and is cleanly marked to 32 MOA at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. Quick holdovers out to roughly ~650 yards and wind leads for up to a 20 MPH crosswind are scaled under the reticle. The BDC is calculated for 5.56/.223 in 55gr-77gr at M4-M16 muzzle velocities and is useable with 168-175gr 7.62/.308 loads. As with all BDC’s the further you vary from the muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient in the glass, the further off from the BDC the impacts will be. The reticle design will lend itself to very quick live fire corrections as the shooter or a spotter tracks impacts.
Note: The MRAD variant features a ‘Christmas Tree’ type reticle and foregoes the BDC
The Razor HD Gen III features all the etched-in functionality of an ACOG variant, the CQB flexibility of an red dot, and the full observational capabilities of a DMR variable optic. It manages to do that without cluttering the whole viewing window with hash marks. The full reticle breakdown is here.
Controls
Capped turrets
Like the Gen II, the Razor HD Gen III features large cap-protected turrets for control surfaces. The caps, like the locking illumination dial, protect a change from being inadvertently thrown into the optic by hitting a dial on gear or environmental obstacles… like VTAC barriers… but who uses those, right?
The turrets themselves have enough tension to prevent most inadvertent changes, having the top turret exposed to throw a more precise range adjustment in for a longer shot is eminently doable. That’s also, if I recall correctly, a requested feature of the LPVO military optic solicitations along with multiple reticle options.
Performance
If you’ve shot a Razor Gen II, or another excellent LPVO, you know. The experiences translate but the capabilities are increased.
So much America
With the transition to front focal plane, greater accuracy in observation and measurement metrics is both possible and simplified. The increase to 10x maximum magnification allows target identification and discrimination at greater distances and makes detailed observations at current distances easier. Going by the rough estimate that you want 1x of magnification per 50 yards to the target for detailed observation, and 1x per 100 yards for basic observation, the Razor HD Gen III can cover every tactical rifle in current calibers to great effect. Even rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor or the developmental 6.8mm are going to have incredible observation and engagement capability underneath a Gen III.
The glass clarity is top notch. ‘Edge to edge’ is thrown around a lot, but the Razor gives us an optic that has a forgiving eyebox that doesn’t give distract you with fisheye and scope shadow. The illumination doesn’t vanish if you’re outside the ideal eyebox. Lens selection, combined with the 100 yard fixed parallax, still delivers very minimal distortion at close distances on 1x. Even as close as 2 yards the center of of the optic provides a clear sight picture, with the only notable distortion as the image crosses the edges of the viewing window. Compared to the RMR at the same distance the Razor delivers less distortion, as the RMR is very slightly magnified due to lens geometry.
At higher magnifications the eyebox behind the Gen III tightens, as all variable optics do, but it accomplishes this without shifting the eye relief. Even at 10x the scope will snap up and present an easy to acquire sight picture, aided by the illuminated center.
Conclusion
The Razor HD Gen III is, like its predecessor, setting a new capability standard for what a general purpose rifle optic can be expected to do. It combines what previously required 3 different optics, ostensibly on 3 different rifles, and has merged that capability into one optic. A Gen III allows whatever rifle its riding on to operate as a 1x CQB RDS platform, a moderate zoom 2-4x where the ACOGs comfortably sat, and as a DMR optic more capable than what any previous scopes could offer.
This flexibility in role will allow users, especially those in a team environment, to fill the role needed on demand and not shuffle to the team member who’s carrying the special gun. The individual user can ask their rifle to perform within its full effective range of capability and distance.
I suspect this, or a close variant of, to be submitted into all three military optic trials.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, accompanied by his wife Pamela Northam announces he will not resign during a news conference Richmond, Virginia, U.S. February 2, 2019. REUTERS/ Jay Paul. This was during the 'Black Face' yearbook scandal.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has begun legislative process of gutting their Second Amendment rights. They banned firearms in the State Capitol in advance of this process already, curtailing Second Amendment advocates from being armed during their protesting of the very reasons they should be armed.
* SB22 and SB69 were combined and will now be sent forward for consideration by the full Senate. This will suffice to reinstate a law limiting Virginia residents to the purchase of one handgun per month. * SB12 and SB70 were combined and sent forward. This will amount to a requirement for universal background checks. * SB615, SB450, and SB505 were combined and sent forward as SB35, which will do away with state preemption and allow each locality to make its own gun control ordinances. * SB240 was sent forward. This will legalize the removal of firearms from someone’s house without due process — a.k.a. red flag laws. * SB16, known as the “assault weapons ban,” has been killed and will not move forward. However, there’s been a recent rash of support for HB961, which is in effect the new “assault weapons ban” that the governor is supporting. It is probably worse overall, and includes a clause by which “assault weapons” may be “grandfathered” in exchange for registration.
Zenith’s Facebook page has a succinct recap of the efforts so far. Since Michael Bloomberg bought and paid for the state to the tune of a few million bucks the newly empowered anti-gun democrats are going all in to pass assault weapon bans, carry restrictions, magazine restrictions, red flags, and anything else they can in the name of ‘gun safety’.
Via VCDL
It might be a little awkward to explain to all those green localities how you just did the things they all told you not to do.
If you’re in Virginia, keep writing and being vocal about the opposition. It couldn’t be clearer this is a bought and paid for attempt to curtail the Second Amendment in a location previously strong on that right. This is a testbed, a chance to see if they buy the legislature and stack it what will happen?
Also beware, the anti-gun forces stacking this heaping pile of gun control onto the Virginias would like nothing more than a pro-gun ‘extremist‘, or someone who looks close enough, to pop off and do something stupid. Get in a fight… punch a congressional rep or aid…. or draw a gun.
Be careful. Keep your heads on and stay civil. Don’t be the one.
Regent's BR9 went from just another pistol to a fully customized pistol for shooting action pistol.
The news that Browning was ceasing production of the Hi Power was to say the least depressing. I know the younger crowd prefers the latest polymer wonder nine that holds enough bullets for a movie gunfight scene. However there are still a diehard crowd of traditionalists. We like steel pistols, quality leather holsters, steak medium/medium rare and can get by with a flip phone. I knew this would not be the end of this iconic pistol.
To my delight my buddy Karl the chief pistol plumber at KGB Custom told me he had heard of this new “Hi Power” that was going to be imported. This helped raise my spirits news and the arrival KGB’s full custom Hi Power we previously reviewed here at GAT Daily made me feel better. I went in search of this new pistol and found that Regent was the importer. Further research showed that every shooters friend for “gun stuff”; Brownells was a distributor.
An email to sent to Brownells verify they had Regent SR9 ins stock and to ensure they had my FFL and other required information. Brownells has both the stainless and dark blue versions. Dark blue would be good for the project I had in mind.
A few days later the BR9 arrived. Fit and finish were typical of Turkish imports, flawless. When I put the BR9 next to any of my various Hi Powers it looked like a factory twin. All the lines were perfect, it even had that damnedable trigger disconnect safety and the blood drawing large ring hammer; yep a perfect P35 clone.
With the summer weather cooperating and the temperature not reading par boil, I took the BR9 out to the range. I wanted to see how it ran and how well regulated the three dot factory sights were. I was pleasantly surprised to see the sights were dead on at 25 yards. Even with the magazine disconnect the pistol fired a decent 5”, 10 shot group. I fired over 100 rounds without a hiccup. The one thing I did notice was the hammer bite. I suspected the large ring hammer was going to be painful. The BR9 was going to need some help to make it a shooter.
The OEM large ring hammer would leave a painful mark. You can see Regent’s version of a lo-mount sight too.
After this range session, I gave the pistol a more detailed inspection, I found it was not a perfect clone. An email to the importer verified my hunch; two areas were not to Browning Mk lll specifications; the safety/hammer strut and dovetails of the sights. I asked why they did this and were they going to correct these areas. The answers were brief if not blunt; because we did and no we do not plan to; alrighty then. As a Hi Power aficionado I want this pistol to succeed and politely informed the importer not using Browning sight dovetails and safety stud size, they could see sales fall flat. Browning dovetail sights would allow the table top gunsmith to install sights for the cost of the sights. Having non-traditional dovetails adds an extra $200 plus to the job.
This view shows just how wide the C&S Wide Trigger is.
Fortunately, Cylinder & Slide has a no bite, Drop-in Trigger Job offered with a safety/hammer strut to fit the BR9 and a Hi Power Wide Trigger were ordered. This helps reduce the felt trigger pull weight. Knowing the way C&S pays attention to details, I was not surprised when all the parts fit perfectly. The trigger pull was reduced to 5 pounds. I chose to keep the OEM mainspring instead of the C&S reduced weight spring that would have reduced the pull weight to 4ish pounds. Keeping the OEM mainspring would help reduce frame to slide impact if shot some hot loads.
Cylinder & Slide’s “No Bite Hammer” gives plenty of clearance and does not draw blood.
The most important part in the DTJ is the no-bite hammer. While the reduced trigger pull is great, the OEM large ring hammer draws blood when shooting. I have had a non-custom Hi Power cut me deeply enough I had to shoot a Glock to finish a class. This incident led me to learn how to modify a ring or tang hammer or just install C&S’s no bite hammer. Even though the BR9/C&S pistol did not bite at the range, I can see the BR9 going to KGB Custom for a beavertail. If I grip too high shooting an action pistol, l know blood will be drawn.
Heinie’s front fiber optic can be red or green; both give you a crisp front sight.
With the trigger pull addressed, it was time to fix the sights. Over the years, I have been a fan of Heinie Sights. They give a sharp clear picture. The Ledge allows you to rack your pistol off your belt or a prop is need be and they are tough as nails. A couple of emails later, the slide was off to Heinie to have sights installed. Normally this is a quick out and back job, but the non-standard dovetails, required Mr. Heinie’s evaluation of the slide. He sent me an email back and told me the slide was not as hard as a Browning or FN slide so the dovetails might not be “Heinie perfect”. I do not know how much better the cuts could have been, they looked outstanding to me. Mr. Heinie we mere mortals appreciate your being so up front about this issue. The Ledge rear and fiber optic front were dead on Point of Aim/Point of Impact at 25 yards. Having Heinie’s Ledge and fiber optic sights installed was around $250, check with Heinie.com for cost and turnaround time.
Mr. Heinie may feel the installation is not up to his standards, but this Ledge rear looks perfect to me.
The last addition to the BR9 was a
set of grips from VZ Grips and some anti-skid tape on the back and front
straps. This combination gives a rock solid grip surface and it looks good too.
I also topped the entire BR9 off with a Woodland Camouflage job using DuraCoat.
Finished pistol in hand it was off to the range. I took test ammunition from Black Hills, Federal, Hornady, Sig Sauer and Super Vel. Bullet weights ranged from 100 to 150 grains. Bullet types were full metal jacket, various hollow points and Black Hills HoneyBadger a solid copper controlled expansion bullet. Even the unique bullet design of the HoneyBadger did not affect feeding. Over 200 rounds were fired and there were no reliability issues.
The completed custom Regent BR9 in Woodland Duracoat with its the test ammunition. Bikers Bullets were a special run by Super Vel for Sturgis.
When it came to accuracy, there was
no one stand out. The average size of the 5 shot groups fired at 25 yards was
just over 3”. Since many of these groups had a few rounds touching, it is a
safe bet this pistol could should 3” groups. At nearly 60, I am more than happy
with these groups.
I am hoping our friends at Brownells
will be able to get Regent’s importer to change the dovetails and safety strut to
a standard Hi Power dimensions. With those two changes the BR9 could become a
perfect pistol for the home gunsmith. If you are looking for a quality clone of
a Hi Power, get Brownells to deliver the Regent BR9 to your local dealer. With
the BR9 you too can get the Hi Power bug. The steel frame and ergonomic design
allows you shoot fast, accurately and have fun doing too.
Are you ready for what could meet you on the trail?
This
past summer I took a trip out to Colorado and Wyoming to shoot a couple of
pistol matches. It was also an opportunity to hike and climb in the Rockies
around Colorado Springs and the flatlands around Gillette, Wyoming. Just prior
to taking the trip I had read an article online by one of the hiking, outdoor
magazines that you should not carry a handgun hiking.
In my world that is not going to happen because there are rabid animals, carnivores that have been known to attack humans and of course there are the bad two legged type of critters. I will not tell others what to do, however I choose to be prepared. If you choose to carry when in the back woods carry a handgun that functions well in all conditions. When you are out in the Badlands, Rockies or the High Plains, or strolls roll through your favorite local haunt; your sidearm to be able to standup to the element. A pistol such as an H&K VP9 is a good bet and was my choice.
The VP9 like many of its
contemporaries is virtually impervious to foul weather and sweat. This is
achieved by coating a stainless steel slide and all of the pins and springs
with H&K’s proprietary corrosion resistant finish. My VP9 has been out in
monsoons, dust storms and has had sweat running off of it. It has never failed
to function through all of this.
A service style pistol like this H&K VP9 is ideal for field carry. It is nearly impervious to weather, its accurate and holds 15 rounds of 9mm.
Others will say their Glocks, Smith
M&Ps and other striker fired polymer pistols have endured the same or
worse. They too are right. All of the pistols we consider “duty weapons” are
built to survive harsh use.
If I were out in the woods in the spring or fall, I would opt for a stainless steel revolver because pistols generally do not operate with “snake shot”. “Snake Shot” is a load of small pellets meant to dispense, snakes. It is not uncommon on cool mornings or late afternoons for snakes are out sunning themselves and you may need to dispense with one and still have cartridges for dangers that walk.
A stainless steel revolver like this Ruger GP100 is ideal for the field.
When you are off the beaten trail, it is important to carry extra ammunition. It is easy to carry extra ammunition for a pistol, just carry an extra magazine or two. It’s not that hard to carry extra loads for your revolver; a couple speed loaders, a 2X2X2 pouch and a speed strip with extra snake shot and you should be ready to go.
Speeloaders, 2X2X2 pouches and speed strips are all good ways to carry extra ammunition for your revolver.Safariland’s GLS holster is fast and secure thanks to the trigger guard lock that is released by the catch as you acquire a grip on your pistol.
Whatever your choice of handgun, you need a holster for it. Since hiking and climbing take you across uneven terrain where you can take a fall, your holster needs to have active retention. This means athumb break or other mechanical retention device. If you take a fall with a simple friction fit holster odds are high that your sidearm will become dislodged. In the worst case scenario, you will lose it. This is not something you want to deal with. I prefer Safariland’s GLS or ALS holsters for pistols and a thumb break or retention strap for a revolver. If you are not used to a retention holster, make sure you practice with it. Your life may depend on it.
Thumb break holsters like this pancake style holster from Galco are ideal to keep revolvers handy.
The other item I carry when going in the field is a large fixed blade knife. Having read all of the articles on proper everyday carry, I know you all carry a quality clip-it knife. That is all well and good around town, but off the beaten path you need something that can hack down a tree branch be it for firewood or to make a split. While we all say we will never need to do that, humor me; Murphy’s Laws tend to come true at the worst time.
When sheathed the Province will lay close to your body so is it at hand when needed
One of the best examples of a knife
that would fill this ticket is Spyderco’s Province. This Bowie style knife was
designed by Jim Ankerson and the leather sheath by Darrin Sanders to ensure you
keep the Province handy.
Ankerson’s sheath will keep the 12.33″ Province handy for many years.
The Province is ideally suited for use in the outdoors because of the CMP4V steel. The steel is enhanced with Vanadium and Molybdenum. These additives make the steel durable, corrosion resistant, holds an edge and it holds an edge. The full tang 6.79″ blade with its contoured G10 grips fills your hand and gives you above average purchase in all conditions.
With its clip blade design, the knife balances forward of the Handguard. This puts the weight of the blade behind each strike, to make short work of branches and other items you are hacking through. The flat grind helps give the 0.154″ wide blade of the Province strength, reducing the odds of breaking the knife.
Spyderco’s Province is a serious “Bowie knife” that is ideal for serious adventures.
Remember you and you alone are
responsible for your safety. This is even more true when you are off the beaten
trail. Being able to defend yourself from predators of all types and having the
means to get kindling for a fire may save your life.
I got my confirmation last night and IWI is jumping into a crowded AR field. With a plan it sounds like. More on that when I have a conversation on that front.
Now onto the AR, let’s take a look…
Zion -15
M-LOK freefloat. Button rifled CMV barrel. Midlength gas on a 16″. B5 Furniture. It honestly reminds me of the Tac II Carbine from FN. No frills, just works.
$899. No bullshit. Game on.
The rumor however is domestic production is in the works. So all those rifles, shotguns, and handguns we want, that have to make it through importation currently, will instead be domestic products.
Who else has done that? *Looks at SIG* *Shifts gave to FN*
For anyone looking for a solid base AR from a known name in quality rifles, it fits the bill to a T.
XM2010 which became the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (January 10, 2020) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the selection of SIG SAUER Ammunition by the U.S. Army Contracting Command for a $10 million firm-fixed priced contract to manufacture the MK 248 MOD 1 and MOD 0 .300 Win Mag ammunition for use in U.S. Military sniper platforms.
Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. began, “This award by the U.S. Army is validation of our state-of-the-art manufacturing that has resulted in the highest quality, and most precise, ammunition delivering on target accuracy for snipers in the field.” The U.S. Military sniper.300 Win Mag ammunition will be manufactured at the state-of-the-art SIG SAUER ammunition manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas. “This is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and for the rapidly growing SIG SAUER ammunition division, and we are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Army,” concluded Cohen.
About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 150 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has almost 2,000 employees across eight locations. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
No confirmation on whether or not the Marines will be feeding the Mk 13 Mod 7’s with Sig Ammo but the M2010 will be.
This position is located in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Section of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in New York. New York is classified as a hardship “H” duty station and family duty station. The incumbent reports to and is under the overall supervision of the DDR Section Chief. [Ed: Interesting that “DDR” used to stand for Deutsche Demokratische Republik, i.e., East Germany.]
“Acts as a Focal Point for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) components for two to three missions, responsible for planning, support to implementation and evaluation”
It reads like the UN Secretariat is hiring cannon fodder. A “career” in disarmament that consists of two to three missions? Does that come with burial insurance?
Sounds like UN management doesn’t have very high expectations for their disarmament officers.
The UN actually describes the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration mission as follows, from the UN DDR webpage:
“Disarmament is the collection, documentation, control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and light and heavy weapons of combatants and often also of the civilian population. Disarmament also includes the development of responsible arms management programmes.
“Demobilization is the formal and controlled discharge of active combatants from armed forces or other armed groups. The first stage of demobilization may extend from the processing of individual combatants in temporary centres to the massing of troops in camps designated for this purpose (cantonment sites, encampments, assembly areas or barracks). The second stage of demobilization encompasses the support package provided to the demobilized, which is called reinsertion.
“Reinsertion* is the assistance offered to ex-combatants during demobilization but prior to the longer-term process of reintegration. Reinsertion is a form of transitional assistance to help cover the basic needs of ex-combatants and their families and can include transitional safety allowances, food, clothes, shelter, medical services, short-term education, training, employment and tools. While reintegration is a long-term, continuous social and economic process of development, reinsertion is short-term material and/or financial assistance to meet immediate needs, and can last up to one year.
“Reintegration is the process by which ex-combatants acquire civilian status and gain sustainable employment and income. Reintegration is essentially a social and economic process with an open time-frame, primarily taking place in communities at the local level. It is part of the general development of a country and a national responsibility, and often necessitates long-term external assistance.”
That should make America’s law-abiding gun owners feel all warm and fuzzy, no?
“Participates in DPO and Integrated Task Force planning meetings for the establishment of a new peacekeeping mission with a potential DDR component;
Provides technical assistance to peace negotiations;
Participates in technical assessment missions;
Advises, develops and reviews (as appropriate) initial DDR functional strategy and concept of operations for further development into a full programme by the DDR component and the National DDR Commission;
Drafts and reviews DDR inputs to SG report, code cables, and talking points;
Develops initial result-based framework and budget for new DDR components in new mission;
Liaises with UNDP and donor community to raise voluntary contributions for DDR programmes”
Fundraising!
“Presents and/or defends new and subsequent DDR budgetary requirements in the ACABQ and the 5th Committee of the General Assembly;
Develops staffing structure and terms of reference for a DDR component, including terms of integration with other UN agencies, funds and programmes;
Provides technical clearance for applicants to DDR units in new and ongoing missions;
Provides Headquarters support in planning the civilian and military logistics support for DDR;
Continually reviews DDR programme strategy and implementation through relevant documents, reports and code cables;
Conducts field missions to assess implementation of established DDR programmes;
Identifies potential problems and issues to be addressed and suggests remedies to DDR units in the field;
Liaises with Member States, UN actors and other DDR interested partners to represent the mission’s DDR component at the Headquarters level;
Establishes and maintains an outreach network with CSOs and IGOs active in the area of DDR.
Supports the doctrine development work in the area of DDR in the department, with the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on DDR and other relevant national and international actors working on DDR issues;
Contributes to Department-level or Policy Committee-level policy development work on DDR and related issues;
Maintains and further develops the Integrated DDR Standards – a set of inter-agency policies, guidelines and procedures on DDR;
On behalf of the Chief of the DDR Section, co-chairs the IAWG on DDR, contributes to bringing coherence to the interaction of the UN system and its partners on DDR;
Supervises the Associate Expert (Junior Professional Officer) in the development and maintenance of the web-based United Nations DDR Resource Centre;
Liaises with others (UN, regional organisations and Member States) providing DDR.
Other duties as required.”
(from UN.org)
The one-world government types at the UN “strongly” encourage women to apply. Is this because women have unique skill sets that facilitate taking guns away from recalcitrant bitter clingers around the globe?
No. It has more to do with arbitrary “commitment”:
“The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.”
Applicants might be non-smoking . . . unless and until they decide to take on the mission of ‘disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating’ the deplorables in America’s rural areas. Then the smoke may rise.
As people of the gun, we probably know plenty of law-abiding American gun owners who would go ‘weapons free’ at the sight of blue UN helmets attempting to them. If, that is, one of those Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration officers ever decided to adopt the US as one of their missions.
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—Robert A. Margulies, MD, MPH, FACEP, FACPM is an emergency medicine specialist, retired Navy Medical Corps captain, sworn peace officer, and firearm trainer with multiple certifications from the NRA and the Massad Ayoob Group.
That Bloomberg headline is an interesting one. It’s fascinating really. That headline is phrased in a way that seems to imply that missiles, surface-to-air missiles, missiles designed for the sole purpose of targeting and destroying aircraft, are just floating around over Iranian airspace like a flock of geese. And that the plane, and its 176 on board, just happened to turn at the wrong time. Or the missile, you know the ones that just float about out there in the air not a care in the world, inconveniently got in the way.
International intelligence suggests surface-to-air missile caused Ukrainian plane to go down near Tehran, killing 176
See, that headline I just rolled off is of the same exact event. But, taking account of phrasing and tone, which one gives you a better picture of the fact that an Iranian precision anti-air weapon was fired, even accidentally (probably a panic shot), at the airliner during the hours surrounding the Iranian missiles striking Iraq near U.S. forces.
Iran denied it, Canada confirmed it, Ukraine is in possession of that intelligence. Maybe Canada and Ukraine blow up a few more evil asshole generals, who knows.
That isn’t the focus
The focus is language and the message being conferred. Most people don’t read past the headline. We know that, writers of every stripe must convey something through the headline to those who are skimming. But the Bloomberg really makes it sound like an accident, like a car crash type accident.
This is a tracking guided munition there BloomBoi. They didn’t just slip on some icy air and get in each other’s way.
Now we get to the linked piece above from CNN and its implication that only now, in this generation, was there a fear of murder.
In the long term, violent crime in the United States has been in decline since colonial times. The homicide rate has been estimated to be over 30 per 100,000 people in 1700, dropping to under 20 by 1800, and to under 10 by 1900.[6]
Now granted the older stats from beyond 1900 are far more estimate than the harder data we have today but give the rate was 30:100k or 20:100k and “today” (2017’s rate) is 5.3:100k I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest Mark Herring, the Virginia Attorney General, is mistaken.
That isn’t to say that public perception and media coverage haven’t shifted the fear and concern of a shooting, especially a ‘mass shooting’, to the public consciousness forefront. But you may also note that everything mass media publishers can possibly term as ‘a mass shooting’ is done so, with some blinders thrown up on overtly obvious organized crime. It’s the side effect of consumption media.
Virginia is heating up again, the middle east is simmering. Watch headlines. And take them with a grain of salt.
I love historical pieces. I love technology. So this video is just right on the type of rabbit hole I like to leap down. A History of the rise of U.S. Naval Might.
We like to envision the United States as this titan of world power who, once we kicked Great Britain out back in 1776 (and took a few years after to actually fight the war) just did as we pleased upon the world stage. But that is simplistic view largely influenced by or post WWII military industry.
We tend to have this warped view that during the revolution we took the HMS Enterprise, made her the U.S.S Enterprise, and then Captain James Tiberius Kirk led us to sweet victory from then on.
Our Navy actually was a bunch of puddle jumpers that built up and drew down depending on who we were fighting. We were behind the naval dominance power curve of the Royal Navy until right before we had to take on Imperial Japan. It’s fascinating to see where our priorities shifted throughout our history and see how and when we chased technology.
The undisputed might of our navy was quite disputed until we won WWII. It was after that we finally decided not mass drawdown our forces like we had in the past and maintain a substantial military. Our force numbers change but we maintain a globally ready fleet now.
FORT SMITH, AR (January 9th, 2020) – Umarex USA, innovator and marketer of a wide range of products for the outdoor sportsman just released the Umarex AirSaber—a new way to hunt with no strings attached. It’s among the fastest, big game lethal archery hunting devices available! Generating more speed and power than most crossbows while being safer and easier to operate, the Umarex AirSaber continues the evolution of archery equipment.
Hunters who enjoy the adventures that come with rifles, bows and crossbows will instantly gravitate to the Umarex AirSaber for its sleek design, ease of use, ethical hunting power, and great value. Filled to a maximum of 3,625 PSI and firing full sized arrows, this high-pressure air archery rifle delivers an arrow at over 450 FPS generating in excess of 165 foot pounds of energy. Plus, its volume of air provides up to 20 shots with the impact necessary for any ethical big game hunt right up to the coveted cape buffalo.
The carbon fiber arrows made specifically for the Umarex AirSaber have straight flight fletching and stabilize quickly, giving shooters an increased range for any game animal. The 23-inch arrows are equipped with a 100-grain field tip and threaded for the acceptance of aftermarket broadheads. Shooters should be wary of “robin-hooding” arrows at distances under 30 yards and can expect groups of sub two-inches at 70 yards.
“The ethical hunting power the AirSaber generates, combined with its sleek, bolt-action rifle platform and exceptional retail price expands the opportunity for more hunters and shooters to enter the Air Archery category,” says Richard Turner, President of Umarex USA, Inc. “It’s exciting to see rifles like the AirSaber and the work of the Airgun Sporting Association, who is helping to open new airgun and air archery hunting opportunities across the U.S. The AirSaber gives a renewed passion to those who may have previously given up archery due to their physical limitations.”
The convenience of its bolt action firing mechanism, and comfortable rifle platform means anyone, regardless of size or strength, can shoot the AirSaber. It’s lack of strings and cords and its smooth operating cocking bolt that can be easily de-cocked make it convenient for concealed hunting blinds and treestand use.
The Umarex AirSaber features an olive drab green synthetic stock with a Picatinny rail system for mounting the included Axeon Optics Scope and aftermarket accessories like a bi-pod and a quiver. Each AirSaber from Umarex USA includes: three 376 grain carbon fiber arrows composed of field tips and an Axeon 4×32 mm optic with custom Air Archery reticle that offers aim points from 20 to 70 yards.
The Umarex AirSaber is available from Umarex USA and some of your favorite retailers starting at $369.99. Additional AirSaber arrows will be available in a 6-pack for $39.99 MSRP. Go to AirArchery.com to out more.
UMAREX sporting airguns, optics, airsoft guns, high performance lights, and accessories are available at local and online sporting goods dealers and retail locations around the world.
About Umarex USA Umarex USA, Incorporated is one of North America’s fastest growing family-owned outdoor sport and recreation companies. Umarex USA innovates, develops and markets products under brands owned or licensed by its parent company, UMAREX GmbH & Co. KG. Such brands include Axeon® Optics, Beretta®, Browning®, Colt®, Elite Force® Airsoft, Exude™ Lights, GLOCK®, Heckler & Koch®, Hornady®, IWI®, REKT®, Ruger®, RWS®, Smith & Wesson®, T4E™, UMAREX®, Walther® and others. For additional information regarding Umarex USA visit UmarexUSA.com.
Real Avid's Master Cleaning Station, will have you ready to get the lead out.
The holidays are over and winter is now firmly upon us; ugh. Hopefully you found a new firearm or accessory under your tree that made you want to get you out to the range. It looked like the weather was fairly decent across the nation so that could not be your excuse for not testing out new gear. If you did get out to the range you will need to clean your firearms.
You could purchase numerous kits or brushes for each firearm or you can buy those pull-through cleaners that are fast and easy bit they do not get all the nooks and crannies. What if you could find one cleaning kit that covers nearly all types of firearms and calibers? Think it would be something you could use? Our friends at Real Avid have a perfect solution, The Master Cleaning Station that retails for $39.99.
What sets this cleaning kit apart
from virtually every other firearms cleaning kit on the market is the
self-contained cleaning mat and tool storage. First all of the tools and
cleaning pads are securely stored in the container portion of the kit. Next there
is the attached mat that rolls out to give you a cleaning area that keeps parts
and cleaning solutions from soaking whatever you are working on. When you are all done the tools and mat are
stored in a container to keep everything out of the way until next time you
need it.
You can see there is a slot for every tool to keep them in order and secure.
So other than a storage container
and mat, what is in the Master Cleaning Station? First there are swabs or jags
and brushes for calibers from .22-.45 and 20/12 Gauge shotguns. To get the
nooks and crannies there is an angled pick, a straight pick, a nylon brush and
an angled phosphor bronze brush. There are rods and a cushioned handle as well
as a large and small cleaning patch holder that all fit the three sections of
rods. If those tools do not get the job done, there are non-scratching carbon
scraping tools.
The unique tools of the Master Cleaning Station are the picks and scrapers. While you can find small flat point screwdrivers or knives to scrape fouling, they could also scrape your breech face, . gas port, etc. which could ruin the part. real Avid supplies polymer picks, small brushes and scrapers in the Master Cleaning Station. Unless you are cleaning firearms parts made of lead, these tools will not damage your firearm. They will make cleaning firearms faster and easier.
These picks and scrapers will get into the tight corners and grooves to clean your firearms. They will not mar your parts or finish.
I found all of the tools and tips
easy to access, while being kept securely in each tools respective slot. The
cleaning brushes and swabs are stored in marked slots. Overall this is one of
the most carefully thought out cleaning kits I have seen or used. I am certain
the shooter on your list will think of you every time they use Real Avid’s
Master Cleaning Station.
Ed: This letter is going out from DRGO to physicians all across Virginia.Many of us are fed up and angry with the way our profession has lined up behind the irrational, unconstitutional bleating of hoplophobic authoritarians. Virginia is now the flash point. We, like pro-2A organizations across the country, are working closely with the Virginia Citizens’ Defense League, which is spearheading the opposition. See also the superb December 26 communication from the Gun Owner’s Association to Virginia’s government and people.]
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Advocacy and watchdog group confronting anti-gun bias in medicine
Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership
12500 NE 10th Place Bellevue, WA 98005-2532
www.DRGO.us
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Dear Doctor,
Our profession is being hijacked in the service of gun confiscation. In September, Virginia gun ban activists held a so-called “gun violence” symposium medical education event. It was sponsored by St. Mary’s Hospital, the City of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University and, ostensibly, the Virginia Department of Health, but featured branded slides and speakers from the gun ban group the Coalition Stop Gun Violence, which proudly claims to “combat the NRA.”
Instead of focusing on mental health (⅔ of gun-related deaths are suicides), and inner-city gang- and drug-related gun deaths (nearly ⅓ of gun-related deaths), the Bloomberg-financed and “Blackface” Northam-sponsored so-called “gun safety legislation” is nothing more than a pile of “citizen endangerment laws”. Possession of guns and magazines in lawful common use will become felonious, and the removal of “pre-emption” will allow each locality to capriciously decide where you can carry. None of this has anything to do with safety. This was driven home by the call to use the National Guard to force compliance, and Northam’s admission that none of this would have done anything to prevent the atrocities at Virginia Beach and Virginia Tech.
All of us are saddened by any death, but it is essential that public policy be based on facts, not feelings. For example, guns are used defensively vastly more often than they are used criminally. Additionally, as Venezuela and other nations demonstrate, civilian gun ownership deters government tyranny. No doubt Venezuelans didn’t foresee their current predicament when they disarmed about seven a few years ago, and Venezuela health care providers wouldn’t have imagined being dragged off hospital grounds for peacefully protesting the lack of the most basic supplies.
These laws are just the beginning. Regardless of the Constitution, your personal ethics or your specialty, don’t be surprised if in the near future you are legally required, as proposed in Massachusetts, to interrogate your gun-owning patients and then “counsel” them against gun ownership. Or, as in other states, be expected to initiate a “red flag” gun confiscation without due process against your patients, executed at gun-point. Legally-imposed ethical and boundary violations are likely to follow, with potential malpractice exposure for acting outside the bounds of professional competence and experience.
As grim as the present situation is, there is hope. We recommend visiting Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO) at DRGO.us. Our three-part History of Public Health Gun Control will bring you up to speed on the hard facts about the disgraceful ongoing “public health” war on gun owners.
While you’re at DRGO.us, please click on (opens in a new tab)”><JOIN NOW> in the top right corner of the page. Since 1994 DRGO has worked to expose fraudulent public health “research” that is in reality thinly disguised anti-gun propaganda.
We urge you to attend the Virginia Citizens Defense League’s annual Lobby Day on Monday, January 20, when thousands will gather in Richmond to politely but firmly stand up for their constitutional rights. See VCDL.org for details.
Remember the stature you have as a medical doctor who supports ALL of our civil rights, including the Second Amendment. Imagine how powerful our message will be when droves of white coats show up on the January 20th Lobby Day. We look forward to seeing you!
–Dennis Petrocelli, MD is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for nearly 20 years in Virginia. He took up shooting in 2019 for mind-body training and self-defense, and is in the fight for Virginians’ gun rights.
—Arthur Z Przebinda, MD is an imaging specialist in Southern California. He advocates for the Second Amendment in his state and nationally and since 2017 serves as DRGO’s Project Director.
Ian over at Forgotten Weapons comes back to us again from H&K.
Yes, they still hate Ze Poors. Confirmed. But they still make, and have made, really cool guns.
The SMG (incredibly original) and SMG II were the stepping stone between the MP5 of the 60’s and the more modernized UMP of the 90’s. And it was all kicked off by the US Navy who, in classic United States Department of Defense fashion… didn’t buy any.
I can hear it crying next to the XM8 while the HK416 and M27/38 look on smuggly.
But the later half of the 20th Century firearm development, especially submachine guns and rifles, is always fascinating. It’s interesting that straight blowback was forever after the go to for new 9mm subguns from H&K and yet the roller delays continue to be the user favorites from smooth function and recoil control. I can tell you my EVO3 delivers far more energy to the shoulder than my Zenith, but both are very good at their roles.
It makes me wonder if H&K found the technology, while effective and end user friendly, to expensive to produce? But then looking at the prices on UMPs and other weapons… can’t be that bad.
(from UN.org)
