The real story: When General John Thompson completed his iconic submachine gun design in 1919, the world’s governments were weary of war and strapped for cash. With millions of rifles and pistols in their inventories and surplus, there was little room for an unproven, expensive, and distinctly short-range weapon like the ‘Tommy’. British impressions in June 1921 were favourable, but aside from economic considerations, existing doctrine prevented the issue of automatic personal weapons (ironic considering the existence of an 1894 British patent for an automatic rifle). Instead, one of their enemies stepped in to fill the gap, and the order [...]
Gun-Day Sunday: Availability and Days Gone By
Went in to Loudoun Guns yesterday. The gun racks, both new and used, were full. There were plenty of customers too; no sales staff were idle. There were boxes of GI-issue AR magazines, plus new PMags (marked “$39.95 $29.95″) and some Ruger factory magazines that appeared to be PMag clones. VERY LITTLE AMMO, at least that I could see. MDL just returned from a road trip to his ancestral home in the Rockies, to retrieve certain items that are longer “welcome” in that once-proud state, and which he had collected over the past few years. He texted me yesterday, “Just [...]
Weapons Wednesday: “457 Million Cartridges”
457,000,000– that’s the number of cartridges imported into the U.S. just in January and February of this year. Data also shows that cartridge imports nearly doubled from 2011 to 2012, from 1.6 billion to 2.1 billion. Again, shotgun shell imports increased dramatically during this time as well, from 82.9 million to 116.2 million. Foreign ammo maker Armscor International wants to double its production capabilities to accommodate the growing popularity of its ammunition and firearms. The company recently announced plans to increase its presence in the U.S. by building new production facilities in Nevada. Hell yes. Buy it and stack it, [...]
“You Can’t Stop the Signal”
(Firefly fans will know the quote.) Homemade guns aren’t new, but this one has broken some ground. Think not only of whole guns, but parts too. Magazines. And in the future perhaps, polymer cartridge cases. Liberty always moves faster than tyranny. The free market always out-maneuvers the restrictions put in its path.
Gun-Day Monday: At the Range
We hit the range this afternoon, MDL, Ronaldus Secundus, Wang and I. MDL brought his Springfield 1903-A3, circa 1943, Wang his brand-new Smith & Wesson M&P 15, and I had the M&P45 and the AK to check zero. RonSec had too many to count, I think, in some giant bag he could barely lift. Two learning points: 1. I was wearing my IWB holster in an old pair of 511 trou, held up by your garden variety USMC-issue tan MCMAP belt. I didn’t have a whole lot of ammo, so I concentrated on placing single shots in the upper thoracic [...]
Gun-Day Sunday: Lahti
By way of SurvivalBlog, remembrance of the John Moses Browning of Finland, Aimo Lahti.
Firearms Friday: The M1 Carbine in 9mm
Ronaldus Secundus sent this in. Interesting. Not sure that we need an M1 carbine not in 30-CAR, but what the hell do I know? If it keeps the platform viable, why not? And how about one in .357? Hmmm… What say you?
Local Ammo Update (and UPDATED)
UPDATE: Loudoun Guns has a wide selection of firearms, including ARs and AKs, and at least one FAL, as well as the usual run of bolt-actions and shotguns. I was amazed. They said that sales are very brisk but their distributor has been good to them. Indeed! They also have cases of 45 ACP, running about 50 cents a round. Not great but not bad either, considering. I didn’t see any shotgun or rifle ammo but I didn’t look for it. I did see some 45 and 40 hollow-points, but not much. Oh, and a large box of new Gen3 [...]
Gun-Day Sunday: Training Opportunities in 2013
Last weekend’s experience with John Murphy at FPF Training got me thinking about other opportunities in 2013. As a public service for the greater Op-For community, especially those in Northern Virginia, here is a selection of schedules from first-rate instructors that run the gamut from very military-oriented to civilian-oriented: FPF Training, all in Northern Virginia and just across the line in WV; note that John is starting to offering some different things, and is able to offer an ammo discount for certain courses. As you know, he always has my unequivocal recommendation. Pat Rogers’ EAG Tactical; I have not been [...]
Farnam’s SpotRep on Ammo
Just got this is by email; Mr Farnam reports from Texas during a spot check on ammo availability. I don’t think his experience is out of the ordinary. Seek out local alternatives as best you can. Read and heed! 8 Mar 13 Update I stopped at a big Cabela’s south of Austin, TX this afternoon. Here is what I found: No 223, 308, 9mm, 40S&W, 38Spl, 357Mg, 22LR ammunition anywhere in the store. No high-performance, nor hardball. Some 30-06, some 30-Carbine Gold-Dot, some 7.62x54R (Soviet equivalent of the 308), Some 45ACP Gold-Dot, three 20-round boxes of 7.62×39 Lots of 410 [...]
