FORMERLY

GUN SALES, REVIEWS, & INFORMATION VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 19 | 2016

PAGE 2 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 3

Field Dress For Success

The hunt for the perfect outdoorsman knife is over. There’s only one
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PAGE 10 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 11

HEAT
SEEKER
SEEKINS PRECISION’S SP-10
REDEFINES THE AR’S CAPABILITIES
By David Hunter Jones, Editor

I
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PAGE 12 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

The controls of the Seekins SP-10 are fully bilateral (ambidextrous); note the bolt release
lever below the ejection port and the mag release button below the left-hand side bolt release.

on the AR-10 from a story about the Knight’s SR-15 eran, Stoner was arguably our nation’s most prolific and
action rifle adopted by the U.S. Air Force as the MA-1
penned by Peter Kokalis is fit for reprint here: imaginative modern military small arms designer.
survival rifle, and the blowback-operated AR-7 Explorer
In the late 1980s, C. Reed Knight, Jr., principally While associated with Armalite as chief engineer, Ston-
rimfire takedown rifle. Stoner’s prototype projects during
known during that time frame for the sophisticated sound er was responsible for designing the AR-15/M16 system,
that timeframe included a bolt-action sniping rifle (AR-
suppressors he still supplies to the U.S. armed forces, be- the caliber 7.62x51mm NATO AR-10 battle rifle (small
1), a semiautomatic caliber 7.62x51mm NATO rifle (AR-
came close friends with the late Eugene Morrison Stoner, quantities of which were sold to Nicaragua, Sudan,
3) and a 12-gauge shotgun with an aluminum bore and
who resided in the Vero Beach, Fla., area. A USMC vet- Burma and Portugal), the AR-5 caliber .22 Hornet bolt-
receiver (AR-9).
After leaving Armalite, Stoner developed what was at
that time a revolutionary concept for a weapon system,
built around certain basic components, that could be
transformed into a rifle, carbine or various machine-gun
configurations by fitting different barrels, feed mecha-
nisms, trigger systems and other components to the basic
assembly. After changing the caliber from 7.62x51mm
NATO to 5.56x45mm NATO, it was to become the fa-
mous Stoner 63(A) family of small arms. During the
1980s, Stoner marched forward to design the Ares caliber
5.56x45mm NATO Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).
The so-called Stoner 86 SAW’s modular design empha-
sized simplicity and reliability.
As C. Reed Knight’s discussions with Eugene Stoner
progressed, they mutually concurred that Stoner’s AR-
10 design had, due to its direct gas impingement oper-
ating system, an inherent and quite substantial accuracy
potential that could be utilized in the development of a
military sniper weapon. By the time that the new rifle was
fully developed and series production had commenced,
Bill Clinton was elected President and the U.S. defense
budget took a serious hit. In an attempt to recoup the
substantial development costs, Knight turned to the com-
mercial market where the SR-25 [Stoner Rifle, AR-15
plus AR-10] became popular as a semiautomatic, match-
grade rifle.
In March of 2005, five XM-110 systems were shipped
to the US Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) for
the Army’s 7.62mm Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle System
(SASS) competition. In September of 2005, Knight’s Ar-
mament Company won the SASS competition and the
first 15 systems were shipped, with ten going to APG and
five to various other Army commands. In April of 2006,
15 M110 SASS units were shipped to Fort Drum, N.Y.,
and the first operational unit was so equipped. At this
time, deliveries began for this contract to units through-
out the U.S. Army. On 12 April 2006, 180 Mk 11 Mod 1
Leupold’s VX-6 2-12x42mm variable power scope is ideal for a long-range rifle such as the SP-10. This scope systems were ordered by the USMC on an URGENT ba-
is riding in a Midwest Industries mount. sis, but without the standard Leupold scope. The USMC

HEAT SEEKER
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 13

The Seekins Gunsmith Fit ATC brake is highly effec-

tive in controlling muzzle rise and recoil.
The rail is Seekins’ 15-inchc SP3R that
features KeyMod slots, six QD attachment
points and a Picatinny rail along the top.
It’s a one-piece free-floated model. rier rearward, which unlocks the bolt from the recesses
in the barrel extension, freeing the whole shebang to rip
the brass from the chamber, kick it out the ejection port,
then ultimately slide forward again via pressure from
the recoil spring, stripping a fresh cartridge from the
provided KAC with Schmidt & Bender scopes for both With that bit of background on .308-caliber ARs in top of the magazine, chambering it. In an AR-10, this
mounting and zeroing at the factory. On 27 July 2006, the mind, let’s delve into one of the most accurate AR-10 is accomplished with beefier parts, given the 7.62 NATO
second 5-year Navy/USSOCOM contract was issued to rifles manufactured to date, the Seekins SP-10. chambering. As an example, a standard 5.56 bolt carrier
KAC for “Mk 11”-type Sniper Rifle systems. These were group weighs roughly .72 lbs., while the Seekins SP-10
identical to the U.S. Army’s M110 rifles, except for the SP-10 bolt carrier group weighs 1.16 lbs. Everything is upsized
receiver markings and a slightly different accessory kit. Like most AR-type firearms, the SP-10 operates via to take the recoil and size of the 7.62 cartridge. Because
They were designated as the Mk 11 Mod 2. In June of direct gas impingement. In brief, when a bullet passes I’ve brought it up, we’ll take a close look at the SP-10
2010, 803 of the M110 SASS were ordered by the USMC, the gas port in the barrel, gas is bled off into the gas beginning with the bolt carrier group.
but with the Marine Corps Scout-Sniper Day Scope block where it races down the gas tube and into the gas The bolt is marked “MP,” which denotes that it’s been
(SSDS) instead of the standard Leupold scope. key in the bolt carrier group, shoving the bolt and car- subjected to magnetic particle inspection. This is a pro-

Inside the lower is the CMC trigger.

It’s a drop-in cassette unit that
offers an exceptionally smooth 4½-
pound break and is very reliable.

Magpul’s STR stock is ideal for a

precision .308 such as the SP-10. The
extended cheekrests offer an excellent
cheekweld and a high degree of comfort.

HEAT SEEKER
PAGE 14 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

The SP-10s bolt carrier group (top)

is considerably larger and heavier
than a standard AR-15 BCG.

The bolt carrier group from the

SP-10 (right) next to a standard
AR-15 bolt carrier and bolt.

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easy grasp on the handle even with a scope’s ocular lens above it. yourflgoodiflflflflndflflflflyflyouflgo.

HEAT SEEKER
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 15

Out of the box the Seekins SP-10 is capable of near 1/2-inch

accuracy at 100 yards. It’s spec’d out with everything you
could want in a precision long-range AR-10 style rifle.

The SP-10 is freaky accurate

with ammo it likes. This
.180" group was the result of
a cold barrel and Hornady’s
178-grain American Hunter
ammo that features the new
ELD-X bullet. This is from
108 yards.

The gun is supplied with one 20-round Magpul PMAG, and the new 178-grain Precision Hunter with the ELD-X
a two-compartment soft-sided carrying case, lock and bullet. If you’re not familiar with the ELD-X, in a nutshell
manual. it’s designed to give shooters the best BC across all distanc-
es. Hornady’s engineers were wondering why BCs would
Leupold VX-6 drop dramatically after a certain point in various tipped
Because this rifle is chambered for .308/7.62, I opted bullets and discovered that the polymer tip (meplat) was
to fit it with a variable power scope rather than a reflex melting as the bullet streaked through the air. They for-
or CQB sight. I chose the new VX-6 from Leupold be- mulated a new polymer that’s tougher and resists melting
cause an end-user would likely be shooting this gun from better, which in turn helps keep the bullet pointy and more
a treestand or off a rest, and making longer-than-average aerodynamic. Hornady’s engineers clearly did their home-
shots. The 2-12x42mm VX-6 with its 6:1 zoom ratio is work with the powder and projectiles because these shot a set at $2,489, and that’s spendy, but AR-10s are more
just the ticket. smallest group I’ve ever shot with a semiatuo rifle; .180". expensive than AR-15s to begin with, and building one
The VX-6 is Leupold’s flagship line, and offers your Call BS all you want, but it happened. I searched all over as accurate and kitted out as this would cost you roughly
every advantage a 100-year-old scopemaker like Leupold the backerboard for a flier, but it just wasn’t there. Look at $2,000 anyway, so why not just buy once and cry once?
can offer. It’s waterproof, shockproof and has a host of the picture; you can see that there are indeed three distinct After you’re done weeping, however, your first range trip
lens coating to bring you excellent color rendition and burn marks on the paper in the ragged hole. The other load should dry those eyes. This is one rifle that won’t let you
light transmission along with one of the most durable lens I shot, Hornady’s TAP FPD, is ideal for law enforcement down, whether a match or the buck of a lifetime is on
coatings on the market, the company’s DiamondCoat-2, and home defense because of its devastating terminal per- the line.
which exceeds the U.S. military’s scratch-resistance tests. formance and eye toward the tactical crowd. The Ameri-
My test model has an illuminated reticle that appears as can Gunner is Hornady’s budget-friendly line that’s sold in
a tiny dot in the middle of the duplex reticle. It’s a highly boxes of 50 rounds. However, in this case budget doesn’t MANUFACTURERS
useful and doesn’t cover any of the target. Power is sup- mean low quality; the American Gunner shot a .55" three-
Seekins Precision—
plied via a 2032 battery in the left-hand side turret. shot group at 108 yards with the 155-grainers. As an aside,
159 American Way, Lewiston, ID 83501,
I mounted the scope in a Midwest Industries 30mm this gun much prefers a cold barrel. The miniscule .180"
208-743-3400, www.seekinsprecision.com
QD mount that performed flawlessly. The mount is ma- was the first group of the day.
chined from 6061 aluminum and the clamping force is After doing all my accuracy and velocity testing, I Hornady Manufacturing—
adjustable via two locking, multi-faceted screws opposite loaded up the PMAG to capacity and turned the Le- 3625 West Potash Ave., Grand Island, NE 68803,
the quick-detach levers to offer differing amounts of ten- upold to a steel silhouette 213 yards away. I rang it every 800-338-3220, www.hornady.com
sion on the rail. single time without even trying. Midwest Industries—
At this point, you might be wondering how much it w292s4498 Hillside Rd., Waukesha, WI 53189,
Range Time costs to own a precision rifle like this. Seekins has retail 262-896-6780, www.midwestindustries.com
On the range, I was nothing short of impressed with the
SP-10. It’s accurate, hard-hitting and isn’t too hard on the
shooter, thanks to the rifle’s heft and the muzzle brake. ACCURACY AND VELOCITY
With the scope and no mag, the gun weighs 10.6 pounds.
Load Weight (grains) Average Velocity SD Accuracy Best Group
Add an empty mag and you’re looking at 11.04 pounds.
Seekins lists the gun at 9 pounds empty. That’s not bad Hornady American Gunner 155 2,563 51 .63" .548"
considering the size and shootability of this rifle. I brought Hornady TAP FPD 168 2,444 12.2 1.21" .670"
three kinds of Hornady ammo to the range with me;
155-grain BTHP America Gunner, 168-grain TAP FPD Hornady Precision Hunter 178 2,453 6.1 .432" .180"

HEAT SEEKER
PAGE 16 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

Colt’s TALO Wiley

Clapp Stainless
Commander is
a handsome pistol.
Note the distinctive
checkering pattern
on the grips, solid
trigger and traditional
“Commander-style”
rowel hammer.

COLT’S
WILEY CLAPP
STAINLESS STEEL COMMANDER
“EVERYTHING YOU NEED, NOTHING YOU DON’T.”
By Paul Scarlata Photos by Paul Budde & Becky Scarlata

A
ccording to Webster a commander is “…the com- Powers during WWII, and Belgium’s Fabrique Nationale cealed or uniformed carry. In 1970, Colt introduced the
missioned officer in command of a military unit; while Smith & Wesson entered what would become five steel frame Combat Commander and the original pistol
or, in U.S. Naval parlance, an officer ranking below years later, their Model 39. Colt entered a modified ver- was re-baptized the Lightweight Commander.1
a captain and above a lieutenant commander.” And while sion of their M1911 pistol that was chambered in 9mm, During its 65-year production life, Colt has offered
that sounds very concise and descriptive, it has nothing had an aluminum alloy frame, a shorter 4.25-inch barrel, several variations of their Commander, the most recent
whatsoever to do with this article! weighed 27 ounces and utilized a nine-round magazine. being the TALO Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander.
To members of the handgunning fraternity, a Com- None of them met the military’s requirements which re- For those wondering about the pistol’s name TALO
mander is a slightly shorter, lighter version of Colt’s sulted in the M1911 remaining standard issue for another is a wholesale buying cooperative that was started in
legendary Model 1911 pistol. three plus decades. 1965 by fishing and hunting wholesalers in Texas, Ar-
In 1949, the U.S. Army began trials to find a lighter In 1950, Colt moved their candidate into regular pro- kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma. It commissions limited
handgun for issue to officers or those needing a handier duction as the Colt Commander. It was the first alumi- editions of firearms from various manufacturers and
sidearm. The pistol had to be chambered for 9mm Para- num-framed, large-frame pistol in major production and distributes them to stocking sporting goods dealers
bellum and could not exceed 7 inches in length or weigh the first Colt pistol to be chambered in 9mm and was also across the U.S. Some of the most recent are Colt’s line
more than 25 ounces. offered in .38 Super and .45 ACP. of Wiley Clapp 1911s: the Wiley Clapp CCO, Light-
Candidates included Browning Hi-Power variants from The Commander was an instant hit with those 1911 weight Commander, Stainless Commander and Gov-
the John Inglis firm of Canada, that had produced Hi- aficionados who wanted a smaller, lighter pistol for con- ernment Model.
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 17

This right-hand view

shows the lowered and
flared ejection port and
beavertail grip safety
with palm swell.

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The main-
spring housing ...as does the
features 25 lpi front strop.
checkering... These provide a
firm, non-slip
purchase
for enhanced
recoil control.

The front sight

blade has a brass
bead insert. I
would have
preferred a red
fiber optic.

COLT’S WILEY CLAPP COMMANDER

PAGE 18 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

The Wiley
Clapp Stainless
Commander
comes standard
with a National
Match barrel.

The magazine
well has been
aggressively
beveled to insure
smooth, fumble
free reloads.

It features a plain black Novak low mount rear sight the way John Moses Browning designed it. I mean, why style” rowel hammer. Why aren’t these devices extended/
while the Novak front sight blade features a brass bead. screw around with something that has worked just fine elongated as they are on the majority of 1911s today?
This is exactly the type of set up I prefer on handguns for 100+ years? Well as Wiley put it bluntly, they’re not necessary and
as it allows you to line up the sights quickly and acquire Other than the aforementioned grip safety, the pistol may hang up when the pistol is drawn from concealment.
the target without trying to line up those three white dots lacks the extended controls that are considered de rigueur The one other “radical” difference between this Com-
which most pistols now come equipped. by many 1911 shooters today. The thumb safety is the mander and most production Colt 1911s is that it uses the
The Wiley Clapp Commander has a 4.25-inch stain- short “GI” style as are the magazine release and slide original Series 70 firing system rather than the Series 80
less, National Match barrel and the recoil system is just stop while it is fitted with the traditional “Commander firing system with the internal firing pin block safety. It

The Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander

is available with a bright stainless or
polished black oxide finish.

A Comp-Tac belt holster proved a very practical, and

comfortable, way in which to tote the Colt. Running the Colt through the infamous El Presidente drill proved a lot of fun.

COLT’S WILEY CLAPP COMMANDER

VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 19

Sample targets fired from a rest at 25 yards.

bead on the front sight became blackened with residue
and had to be repeatedly wiped off. For that reason I
transitioning between targets, performing combat would like to see Colt offer this pistol with the option of
reloads and reengaging targets. a red fiber optic front sight.
I began with my back to three IPSC targets and Other than that it was a real winner. Or as Becky would
hands raised above my shoulders. Upon a sig- no doubt say to Wiley “You done good son!”
nal, I turned, drew the pistol and double tapped —
Thanks to its excellent grips, checkered frame and
(fired two shots) on each target. I then performed 1 The Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander is available from the following
TALO wholesalers: WL Baumler, LM Burney, Camfour, Davidsons, VF Grace,
weight, the Commander proved a soft recoiling .45 a combat reload and reengaged the trio of target Gunarama, Bill Hicks, Hill Country Wholesale, Lew Horton, Rileys, Valor,
allowing me to make fast, accurate follow up shots. with another pair of shots each. I repeated this drill five G.Zanders, and Lipseys.
times and when Becky and I examined the targets I was
very pleased to discover that every round I sent in their
is claimed by some that this provides a smoother, lighter direction except one impacted inside their A zones. Or as SPECIFICATIONS
trigger pull. But Wiley wanted the Series 70 and that’s Becky put it with a sly grin on her face “You done good
what he got. Being the trigger on the pistol I received son!” TALO WILEY CLAPP
broke crisply at exactly 3.5 pounds who am I to disagree Afterwards, Becky ran the Colt through the same drill STAINLESS STEEL COMMANDER
with Mr. Clapp! three time and kept the majority of her rounds inside the
Caliber: .45 ACP
I test fired the Commander for accuracy from an A zones also. Which I feel is darn good shooting as she
MTM K-Zone rest at twenty-five yards and was pleased has not fired a 1911 in some time and this was the first .45 Overall Length: 7.75 in.
to see that it shot to point of aim with three different fac- pistol she has ever fired (like me, she is a fan of the 9mm). Barrel Length: 4.25 in.
tory loads and one of my favorite handloads, producing We were both impressed with how the checkered front
groups ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches in size. strap and mainspring housing provided a firm purchase Weight: 36 oz.
I have grown bored with running standard offhand and aided in recoil control. Sights: Front: Novak brass bead
drills on combat targets and so decided the put the Colt I believe that the modifications Wiley suggested made Rear: Novak Low Mount
through a more interesting exercise—the El Presidente. this one of the best handling Commander-sized 1911s I Magazine: 8 rds.
Developed by Col. Jeff Copper, this drill requires draw- have ever had the pleasure to shoot. There is only one
ing the pistol and firing multiple shots on each target, complaint I had about it. After extensive firing the brass Materials: Slide & Frame: Stainless steel
Finish: Stainless
Grips: Tactical oval grips
with fingerprint checkering
Price: $1,459
Extra Features: Series 70 firing system, GI style
The El Presidente drill thumb safety, long trigger, upswept
produced a trio of very
beavertail grip safety, flared mag-
properly perforated
targets with only well, undercut trigger guard, 25lpi
one round outside checkered front strap, checkered
the A zones. mainspring housing, carrying case,
lock & owner’s manual.

TEST FIRING RESULTS

Ammunition Best Group Avg. Group Velocity
FACTORY:
SIG-Sauer 185 gr. V-Crown 1.5 2.5 956
Hornady 220 gr.+P FlexLock 1.7 2.5 939
HPR 230 gr. JHP 2.0 2.7 809
HANDLOAD:
Berry’s 185 gr. Plated
2.0 2.5 882
+5.2 gr. IMR 700-X
Note: group size is the average of three, five shot groups fired from an MTM
K-Zone rest at 25 yards. Velocity is the average of five rounds chronographed 10
feet from the muzzle.

COLT’S WILEY CLAPP COMMANDER

PAGE 20 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

Stamped submachine guns

found their calling in WWII
as they provided ample
firepower, portability and
ease of production.
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 21

STAMPED STEEL
SUBGUN SHOWDOWN
PART 2
The MP40, Sten, PPS-43, M3 Grease Gun,
and the Desperate Nations That Birthed Them
Will Dabbs MD
Photos by Sarah Dabbs

L
ast issue we explored the genesis, history, and de- often the case with those young heroes fighting far from fact that it involved submachine guns and has been sub-
sign theory behind the four most utilitarian subma- home, Wray was not destined to survive the war. 1LT jected to tremendous historical scrutiny makes it ger-
chine guns of the Second World War. When faced Waverly Wray was killed soon thereafter in Holland dur- mane. Mussolini ruled Italy as Prime Minister from 1922
with the dirty realities of total war, the Germans, British, ing Operation Market Garden. to 1943 and was the father of fascism. Mussolini was de-
Soviets and Americans all produced stamped steel sub- posed and arrested on June 25, 1943, and subsequently
machine guns designed for rapid mass production. The The Executioner’s Sten rescued by a group of German SS paratroopers led by the
end results, while sporting a common design philosophy, While a great deal of controversy yet still orbits around flamboyant commando Otto Skorzeny from the moun-
were remarkably disparate. However, all four guns saw the death of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the taintop resort hotel at Gran Sasso.
their share of combat. Here are a few war stories of these
seminal weapons in action.
The German MP40 pioneered the
An American Hero and the MP40 folding steel stock, although Wehrmacht
1LT Waverly Wray was raised in a small Mississippi training manuals demanded that the stock
town not thirty miles from where I sit typing these words. be deployed for all combat operations.
On June 7th, 1944, 1LT Wray set out alone to recon
nearby German positions. On this day after D-Day, Wray
carried an M1 rifle and packed a Colt 1911 on his belt, a
.38 revolver in his boot, and half a dozen hand grenades.
While these days we tend to refer to the M1 rifle as a Ga-
rand, grunts of Wray’s era simply called it an M1. The
M1 Carbine was a Carbine and the M1A1 submachine
gun was a Thompson.
1LT Wray was a member of the 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment and had jumped into Normandy,
France, in the early hours of June 6th. Surprising a
group of eight German officers in the midst of a plan-
ning meeting during his solo June 7th recon, Wray im-
mediately demanded their surrender. Seven of the Ger-
mans raised their hands but the eighth reached for his
sidearm. Wray subsequently killed all eight men with a
single round each, emptying his M1 in the process. An-
other pair of Nazi soldiers opened up on Wray from a
nearby trench with MP40’s and shot away a portion of
Wray’s ear. Wray reloaded his M1 under fire and dis-
patched them as well, each with a single round. Ob-
servers commented later that there was a perfect 9mm
cutout punched through 1LT Wray’s earlobe. As was so

STAMPED STEEL SUBGUN SHOWDOWN, PART 2

PAGE 22 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

The U.S. M3A1 Grease Gun represented the pinnacle Grease Guns on the Assault
of industrial efficiency unencumbered by around-the- On January 16, 1945, Private Bob Shine and two of
clock bombing. Designed for ease of mass-production
yet produced with great attention to consistency and
his infantryman comrades drew the duty to assault uphill
detail, around 700,000 Grease Guns rolled against a German foxhole occupied by three young Ger-
off the lines before the end of the war. man Volkssturm troopers near Salmchateau, Belgium. Re-
alizing that their M1 rifles were not the ideal weapons with
which to prosecute a chaotic and dynamic uphill assault at
close range, all three troopers traded their M1s on the spot
for M3 Grease Guns. None of the three held the Grease
Gun in terribly high regard but it fired easily from the hip
and produced a prodigious volume of .45-caliber fire.
Advancing against fire from German automatic weap-
ons, Private Shine and his two buddies fired their
Grease Guns in short bursts on the run and severely
wounded all three of the German defenders in their
mad rush up the hill. Once astride the foxhole, the
three Americans finished off the three Germans
with bursts of fire from their Grease Guns while
the rest of their unit caught up. The Grease Gun
was disparaged for its ungainly appearance and
simple design but it was reliable even under
hard use and easy to use in tight spaces.
Most soldiers who used the gun for its
intended purpose developed a reluctant
respect for the weapon.

Practical Impressions
The MP40 was designed from the outset
for mass production but, like most German
small arms birthed early on before the heavy
bombers took their toll, cut few corners. The front
sight is fully hooded, the rear sight is flip adjustable
for range, and the barrel incorporates a resting bar
In late April 1945 with the Axis clearly defeated, Mus- Tokarev M1930 round from a Combloc submachine gun that helps keep the muzzle outside the halftrack when the
solini and his mistress Clara Petacci attempted to escape through the hand during a firefight with Communist gun is fired over an armor shield. The charging handle
Italy to the north. They were captured and subsequently Chinese troops. This small but fast bullet offered superb incorporates a spring-loaded detent that allows it to be
executed under clouded circumstances by Italian parti- penetration and decent terminal performance for a pis- locked in the forward position and there is a safety notch
sans. The story goes that a communist partisan named tol round of its era. The bullet passed through the meaty that locks the bolt to the rear. Early guns did not have
Walter Audisio attempted to dispatch Mussolini and Pet- portion of this young man’s hand without striking bone the locking handle and most guns were retrofitted with
acci with his Sten gun only to have the weapon jam on and cost him a relatively brief period off the line. The the improved design before the end of the war. In classic
the first round in the magazine. He subsequently grabbed wound subsequently healed well and causes him minimal German fashion, everything including the firing pin is se-
a French MAS38 from a fellow partisan and successfully inconvenience today. rial numbered to the gun.
completed the deed.

Straight From the Factory to the

Battlefield—the PPS-43
Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, was a crit-
ical Russian manufacturing center and one of three stra-
tegic objectives of Operation Barbarossa, the German
invasion of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the
war, Leningrad accounted for a full 11% of total Soviet
factory production. Hitler was so certain that his Army
Group North would seize Leningrad successfully that he
had invitations printed to a planned ceremony celebrat-
ing the city’s imminent fall. There were rumors that he
planned to rename the city Adolfsburg.
Lacking the resources required to support the civil-
ian population of Leningrad in captivity, the Germans
made a conscious decision to lay siege to the city with
the intent of starving its inhabitants into extinction.
The resulting siege lasted 872 days and was the bloodi-
est in human history, with around 1.5 million Russians
killed. During the more than two years that Leningrad
was besieged there were 2,105 citizens arrested for can-
nibalism.
The PPS was developed at Sestroryetsk Arsenal near
Leningrad and early types were taken straight from the
tool rooms to the nearby front lines for combat evalua-
tion. Resulting tweaks to the design produced the defin-
itive PPS-43 model. No other mass-produced military
weapon in history was developed under comparable
circumstances. The German MP40 was the world’s first truly successful mass-produced submachine gun. Designed before
A friend who served as an Infantry officer in Korea the war when such luxuries as hooded sights and blued finishes were practical, the MP40 is remarkably
during that peninsula’s bloody war caught a .30-caliber smooth and effective within its envelope.

STAMPED STEEL SUBGUN SHOWDOWN, PART 2

VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 23

The wire sliding stock of the M3 Grease Gun was uncomfortable yet serviceable.
The release catch must be pressed in from the left for activation and the stock I have big hands and the pistol grip on the Grease Gun is still a bit large for
incorporated an ingenious and effective magazine loader into its buttplate. my tastes.

The British Sten was a desperate gun for

desperate times. Designed while the bombs
were falling during the Battle of Britain, the
Sten was produced via subassemblies that
could be manufactured in small, dispersed
workshops around the beleaguered country.

The folding stocks on the MP40 wobble badly and to keep bursts on target at close range simply by firing ly lightweight as to remain portable while still packing
this observation was made regarding captured versions over the sights. The Sten runs very comfortably from enough energy to effect proper penetration.
as early as 1942. The gun runs at around 500 rounds per the hip as well. The pistol grip on the M3 Grease Gun is designed
minute and is both controllable and accurate at reason- The PPS-43 is also front heavy but the compact and for giants and the wire stock eats into the wrist merci-
able ranges. The front-heavy nature of the design makes it powerful 7.62x25mm low-recoil cartridge makes for a lessly when collapsed. When extended, the stock is stable
a bit tedious to keep the gun at the ready for long periods remarkably controllable subgun. The drum-fed PPSh-41 enough but uncomfortable. The sole safety on the gun is
but the nested recoil system makes it one of the smooth- runs at around 900 rounds per minute but the PPS-43 cy- comprised of a steel tab on the dust cover that snaps in
est firing submachine guns ever made. cles closer to 600. Magazines for the PPS-43 are, like most place and locks the bolt either forward or back. It is awk-
The Sten gun, with its side-mounted magazine, takes Russian gun accouterments, heavy, over-engineered, and ward to use quickly but yet remains serviceable enough.
some getting used to and the T-stock is crude to the about indestructible. Unlike those of the other three In action, the Grease Gun’s heavy .45 ACP rounds are
point of discomfort. The steel bit that passes for a pis- weapons profiled here, magazines for the PPS are double undeniable close range stoppers and the 450 rpm rate of
tol grip is hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and stack and subsequently easy to load without a dedicated fire makes your magazines last a while, a particular ben-
uncomfortable no matter what. The magazine release is loading tool. efit should you find yourself dropped behind enemy lines
stiff and unforgiving and the sights are simple welded- The charging handle on the PPS-43 is rigidly affixed in Normandy with a full-auto-only gun and no ready
on affairs. If the particular welder who mounted the to the bolt and can be manhandled or even kicked should source of resupply. The Grease Gun is the easiest of these
sights was having a bad day then the gun will never the need arise. The gun is full-auto only and the design four weapons to carry though the sling only mounts on
shoot to point of aim. The published rate of fire for the incorporates a long bolt travel that slows the cyclic rate to the left, left-handed people apparently not having been
Sten was around 500 rpm and it is subsequently easy a degree. The .30-caliber Tokarev cartridge is sufficient- invented until the 1970’s.

STAMPED STEEL SUBGUN SHOWDOWN, PART 2

PAGE 24 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

Here we see captured examples of both the Rus-

sian PPS43 and the German MP40 seized in combat
against communist forces during the Vietnam War.

the day. The MP40 is elegant and controllable but heavy,

awkward, and bulky in action. The Sten is functional
enough but has uncomfortable stuff sticking out all over
the place. The side-mounted magazine makes for a much
more effective platform when fired from the prone but the
overtly crude nature of the design could not have inspired
a great deal of confidence.
The PPS-43 is a reliable weapon but was clearly de-
signed more for ease of mass production than ergonom-
ics. By contrast, the Grease Gun remains utilitarian but
surprisingly effective. It is the most compact of our four
options and the most comfortable to tote long distances.
The gun shoots every time you pull the trigger with mini-
mal maintenance and hits like a freight train downrange.
If I had to use one for real, the Grease Gun would be my
choice.
An infantry soldier’s individual weapon is his security
blanket, his badge of authority, and the implement with
which he performs his most critical mission. Small arms
are reflections of the ingenuity, wealth, and mindset of the
nation that fields them and imbedded within these four
designs we can see a great deal of pathos. The MP40 was
refined, the Sten was desperate, the PPS-43 was proletar-
Victorious Russian forces celebrate their successful assault into the German heartland in the closing days ian, and the Grease Gun was thoroughly industrial. All
of the Second World War. The two swarthy studs humping belt-fed machineguns are carrying M1910 Maxims four were designed for mass production and optimized for
while the trooper on the right is armed with a PPS43. the taking of human life. Like the nations that produced
them, these four stamped steel subguns reflected the awful
necessities of total war from four distinct vantages. That
Musings M1 Carbines per day. Methinks there might be a message they performed the same mission under such disparate
Refined to the bitter end, the German MP40 retained there someplace. circumstances can be thought provoking indeed.
such niceties as its telescoping recoil system and adjust- After spending an afternoon with these four guns and Special thanks to www.worldwarsupply.com for the
able sights despite around-the-clock bombing and critical a bucket of ammunition, I think the Grease Gun carries period gear used in our article.
shortages of just about everything. The Sten reached its
low point with the Mark III but then gradually improved
until the Mk V variant included such luxuries as fenced TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
sights, a bayonet attachment, and a forward pistol grip.
Gun MP40 Sten PPS-43 M3 Grease Gun
The PPS-43 never quite earned the revered status of the
PPSh-41 in Russian propaganda iconography but it sol- Nation of Origin Germany UK USSR USA
diered on for years after the war in proxy fights around Caliber 9x19 mm 9x19 mm 7.62x25 mm .45 ACP
the globe. The Grease Gun was almost universally de-
rided when introduced yet went on to arm American Weight 8.75 lbs 7.1 lbs 6.7 lbs 8.15 lbs
armored vehicle crews well into the 1990s. I saw Grease Length (Extended/Collapsed) 32.8 in/24.8 in 30 in/NA 32.3 in/24.2 in 29.8 in/22.8 in
Guns regularly among armor crewmen back when I Barrel Length 9.9 in 7.7 in 9.6 in 8 in
served in the combat arms myself. While the Germans
were busy stamping serial numbers onto the firing pins Rate of Fire (per min) 500 rds 500 rds 600 rds 450 rds
of their MP40’s, we Americans were churning out 65,000 Magazine Capacity 32 rds 32 rds 35 rds 30 rds

STAMPED STEEL SUBGUN SHOWDOWN, PART 2

VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 25
PAGE 26 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: OPTICS NEWS & REVIEWS

Meopta’s Meostar R2 1-6x24mm RD and MeoPro
6.5-20x50mm HTR are excellent quality scopes from
a highly respected Czech optics manufacturer.

NEAR OR FAR?
MEOPTA HAS YOU COVERED
WITH ITS 1-6x24 AND 6.5-20x50MM
By David M. Fortier

A
scope with a magnification range of 1-6x provides I also believe a 1-6x offers advantages over heavier and One model that looks promising is Meopta’s Meostar
a useful blend of optical properties making it well more expensive 1-8x scopes. If a 1-4x is good and a 1-6x R2 1-6x24mm RD. The R2 is a big brother to Meopta’s
suited for a variety of tasks. You can snap shoot is better it reasons that a 1-8x should be best, right? Not popular 1-4x22mm K-Dot and was originally designed
close or moving targets when it’s set on 1x almost as fast necessarily. The problem with eight-fold magnification for dangerous game hunting. The 1-4x22mm K-Dot has
as you can when using a reflex sight. When dialed up to increase scopes is their complexity, size, weight and cost. proven capable of performing a wide array of tasks be-
4x, you have enough magnification for a look “over there” There’s a lot going on inside a scope tube in order to go yond what its designers envisioned. Shortly after its re-
while still providing a wide field of view and fat exit pupil. from 1x all the way up to 8x. Image quality, at the low lease, the K-Dot became popular with 3 Gun competitors
With the magnification increased to 6x you have the abil- end, high end or across the range can suffer. A larger/ and owners of modern sporting rifles. The new 1-6x R2
ity to engage past 600 yards on the range or in the field. longer lens system typically leads to a larger and heavier appears to be an even better option. When I first saw this
While it wouldn’t seem like it, 6x is enough of an increase optic as well. Due to their complexity, quality 1-8x scopes model at SHOT Show I immediately thought of its po-
from 4x to offer a real advantage. Due to this I feel the re- also tend to be very expensive. While technology will im- tential on an AR.
cent crop of 1-6x scopes offer a potential advantage over prove and prices will eventually come down, at this time a While the Meopta name is not as well known as some
the hugely popular 1-4x magnification range. good 1-6x remains hard to beat. others, the company is not new to building rifle scopes.
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 27

The Meostar R2
can be used on 1x
like a reflex sight
or zoomed up to 6x
for shots at longer
distances.

While Meopta’s Meostar R2

1-6x24mm RD was designed
for use on magnum-caliber bolt
guns it was right at home on
this LaRue Tactical AR.

Located in the town of Prerov in the Czech Republic, Me- tion of scopes for sniper rifles such as the Zielfernrohr company again refocused and today manufactures pho-
opta is an established European company that is highly 41 (telescopic sight 41, a long-eye-relief scout type sniper tographic products, optics for use in the medical field as
respected in the Old World. It was founded more than 80 scope for the Karabiner 98k) and the Zielfernrohr 4-fach well as sports optics.
years ago and has been producing precision optics since (telescopic sight 4 power as used on the Selbstladegewehr Meopta’s Meostar R2 1-6x24mm RD illustrates the
1933. At that time, production plant “Optikotechna” was 43 sniper variant). company’s technical expertise when it comes to design-
founded by Dipl. Ing. Benes. The first Czechoslovakian Interestingly, Optikotechna also produced a scope for a ing and manufacturing sports optics. It features a straight
lens system was designed by Dr. Antonin Mazurek who Waffen SS sniping variant of the 98k known as the dou- 30mm tube with a 24mm objective lens. Designed to be a
was working with Optikotechna. From that first system, ble-claw mount 98k. Optikotechna developed and pro- “do it all” optic, it features magnification running from
the company grew and expanded, becoming part of duced a surprisingly modern 4x sniper scope specifically 1x to 6x. It provides a wide FOV running from 121.7 feet
Zbrojovka Brno in 1935. During this prewar period they for this rifle. Features included a BDC calibrated to 800 to 20.3 feet at 100 meters. The engineers at Meopta were
supplied optics to the Czechoslovakian Army. or 1,200 meters, large objective lens, a focusable ocular able to make the FOV on 1x wider than the FOV of their
As a manufacturer of precision optics, Optikotechna lens, and for the time period, superb light transmission previous 1-4x K-Dot. Overall length is 11.6 inches, but
was seen as an important prize by Hitler’s Wehrmacht. and resolving power. This was arguably one of the finest keep in mind 1.4 inches of that acts as a built in sunshade.
When Czechoslovakia was occupied on March 15th, sniper scopes of World War II. The tube is actually longer than it needs to be because it’s
1939, their optico-mechanical production was taken over Optikotechna survived the war, diversified and even- designed to be used on magnum-length big-game rifles.
for the German war effort. This led to Optikotechna ex- tually became well known among photographers. They The objective lens sits well behind the end of the tube.
panding and refining production to meet ever growing produced cameras, lenses, projectors, enlargers and mov- This was specifically done to allow trouble-free mounting
needs. The company manufactured a wide variety of ie cameras in huge numbers. Unfortunately, in 1968 the on rifles with very long actions. In practical use, it acts as
military optics during World Soviet boot placed Czechoslovakia firmly behind the Iron a sun/rain shade and protects the objective lens from dirt,
War II. Of interest to our Curtain. Once again the company produced an array of debris and damage. It weighs 17.6 ounces.
4C discussion was their produc- military optics, this time for the Warsaw Pact. During The stand-out feature of this optic is its RedZone 8
the Cold War, the company grew into a veritable giant illumination system. As its name implies, the RedZone
with sprawling facilities and thousands of workers. In 8 system features eight intensity settings for use in low
Meopta offers the 1-6x
time it grew to be one of the largest producers of optics light conditions all the way up to bright daylight. A
with a choice of two
reticles; my review model in the world. When the company was nationalized it be- rheostat on the left side of the mechanism block con-
came with the 4C that came known as Meopta (Mechanická optická výroba— trols the intensity and there are off positions between
features an illuminated mechanical optical manufacturing). After the Cold War each intensity level. Power is supplied from a CR2354
center dot. came to an end and the military orders disappeared, the 3-volt button battery. While the CR2354 is similar in

The Meostar R2 features low profile

finger adjustable capped turrets
with .5 MOA adjustments.

The Meostar R2 features a

daylight-illuminated reticle
controlled by a rheostat on the
left side of the mechanism block
and is built on a 30mm tube.

NEAR OR FAR?
PAGE 28 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

OPTICS IN A NUTSHELL
1. Color Rendition: How accurately color is
transmitted.
2. Resolution: The ability to see minute detail.
3. Curvature of Field: The image is blurred at the
edges and cannot be refocused.
4. Spherical Aberration: The image is blurred at
the edges but can be refocused.
5. Astigmatism: Inability to focus horizontal,
vertical, and diagonal lines on the same plane.
6. Barrel Distortion: Straight lines near the edges
of the image bow out away from the center of the
image.

The MeoPro
7. Pin Cushion Distortion: Straight lines near the
6.5-20x50mm HTR is edges of the image bow in towards the center of
built on a 1-inch tube the image.
that keeps the weight 8. Internal Flare: Loss of contrast and sharp-
down making it well
suited for hunting rifles,
ness caused by stray non-image-forming light
such as this LaRue in reflected from inner lens surfaces.
.260 Rem.

The MeoPro features very good optical diameter to a common CR2032, it is thicker, providing
performance, a side focus knob and an etched more capacity and a longer run time. Two etched glass
glass reticle located in the rear focal plane. reticles options are offered: the K-Dot 2 and 4C. My
review scope was fitted with the 4C which is a modified
European Number 4 Plex with an illuminated dot in the
center. When the reticle’s illumination is turned off a
standard black dot is in the FOV.
Optical performance is impressive and the lenses fea-
ture Meopta’s newest MeoLux ion-assisted multi-coat-
ing. They claim this delivers 99.8% light transmission per
lens surface. Meopta also coats the objective and ocular
lenses with their MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coating sys-
tem. This is designed to repel water, grease and oils. As an
example, water forms droplets when it comes in contact
with the coating and rolls off the lens surface. The exter-
nal lens surfaces also feature MeoShield, a military-grade
ion-assisted coating to resist scratches and abrasions. The
R2 is well suited to life in the field as well as on the range.
The R2 is fitted with low profile capped turrets. These
are finger adjustable and feature audible and tactile
clicks. Each click of adjustment provides .5 MOA of
movement with 36 MOA of adjustment per full turret
revolution. My review scope had approximately 3.5 full
turret revolutions of adjustment. Meopta’s MeoTrak II
turrets also allow easy resetting to zero without the use
of tools. To zero the turret you just push down, turn to
zero and release.
Magnification runs from The MeoPro is fitted with finger Optically the Meostar R2 1-6x24mm RD performed
6.5x all the way up to 20x. adjustable turrets with .25 MOA very well. Color rendition is ever so slightly on the warm
adjustments. side. Resolution is extremely good, crisp and sharp. View-
ing on 1x and 6x I noted no internal flare, astigmatism,
spherical aberration or curvature of field. There was some
minor barrel distortion in the vertical plane on 1x but this
went away as the magnification was increased. The R2
features a common 30mm tube so it was easily mounted
using a LaRue QD mount. The finger adjustable turrets
made short work of zeroing and were easily reset to zero.
Boxing the scope revealed the adjustments to be both ac-
curate and consistent vertically and horizontally.
The 4C reticle features a dot 2 MOA in diameter when
the scope is set at 6x. This works well for its intended func-
tion, but is a bit big for precision work. Howwever, this
scope wasn’t designed for shooting bug-sized groups off a
bench. It’s intended to be fast, and it is just that. There’s
no clutter on the 4C; the simple reticle is designed to point
your attention to the illuminated center dot, and it does
that. I found the dot to be quick to pick up, easy to discern
and fast on target even in bright daylight. It provides speed
when you need speed and precision when needed.

NEAR OR FAR?
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 29

The MeoPro
can be had
with a number
of different
reticles, my
review scope
came fitted
with their BDC
model which
worked well.

and offer a design with holdover reference marks. Such a

reticle would make the design more both more flexible and
more appealing to a wider group of shooters. Suggested
retail on this model is $1,724.99, but it’s a lot of scope.
The MeoPro was designed with
the American hunter and shooter MeoPro 6.5-20x50mm HTR
in mind, note the 50mm objective. Just as I was finishing up testing on the 1-6x, I received
Meopta’s new MeoPro 6.5-20x50mm HTR Target scope
with their BDC reticle. Unlike the Meostar 1-6x, which is
made in the Czech Republic, the MeoPro 6.5-20x50mm is
Between the bottom of the dot and the top of the verti- in this manner allows rapid target engagement, depend- assembled here in the USA. Meopta designed this model
cal stadia is a small gap. This allows the top of the verti- ing upon your caliber/load, out to about 350 yards. specifically for the American long range shooter, trying
cal stadia to be used as a holdover point. In my case, I The R2 was designed to be tough as it was developed to to keep our quirks in mind. For instance, the scope itself
would put a 200 yard zero on the rifle using the top of take the abuse of extremely hard-recoiling magnum car- is based upon a rugged 1-inch anodized aluminum tube.
the 2 MOA dot. I would then use the top of the vertical tridges. That’s a virtue in my book. All in all it’s an attrac- While I prefer 30mm tubes, 1 inch remains the American
stadia as a holdover reference point at longer distances. tive, very well made variable power scope. My only com- standard and it does provide for a lighter package.
Much beyond 350 yards, and you will need to start dial- plaint is the lack of reticles. While the 4C and K-Dot 2 are Magnification runs from 6.5x up to 20x. For superior
ing in elevation if you want to be precise. Using the reticle fine hunting reticles, I wish Meopta would up their game light transmission, the MeoPro features a large 50mm

Both of the Meopta scopes performed well

during testing with no issues encountered.

NEAR OR FAR?
PAGE 30 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

objective lens. This lens diameter, mated to fully multi- testing, I detected no curvature of field or spherical aberra- tively light weight. Long range shooters though should
coated lenses using Meopta’s proprietary MeoBright and tion. Contrast was very good and no astigmatism was noted. for something with a bit more elevation adjustment.
MeoShield coatings, provides a bright, sharp image. In the Low light performance was also very good and I was able to MSRP of this model is $1,149.99.
center of the tube, the mechanism block sports well de- detect and successfully engage targets that were invisible to the
signed and compact target turrets. These are readily adjust- naked eye.
ed and feature coarse, audible clicks, and are clearly marked The MeoPro 6.5-20x50mm HTR would work well for SOURCE
for easy reading. Adjustments are in .25 MOA clicks, with hunting, shooting out to medium distances in the field or
Meopta USA, Inc.
18 MOA per full turret revolution and a total of 45 MOA shooting from the bench. Hunters will appreciate its rela-
800-828-8928, www.meoptasportsoptics.com
available. On the left side of the mechanism block is a knob
for adjusting parallax from 50 yards to infinity. To the rear
of the ocular is a European fast focus eye piece.
The etched reticle is located in the second or rear focal MEOPTA MEOSTAR R2 1-6X24MM RD MEOPTA MEOPRO 6.5-20X50MM HTR
plane like a traditional American scope. Four different SPECIFICATIONS SPECIFICATIONS
reticle designs are available, and my test scope featured a Magnification: 1x to 6x Magnification: 6.5x to 20x
BDC model. This reticle design is intended to be zeroed at
100 yards and provides holdover points, when set on 20x Objective Lens 24mm Objective Lens 50mm
for 200, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 yards. Meopta reports Diameter: Diameter:
the reticle will work with standard calibers, such as .30-’06 Main Tube Size: 30mm Main Tube Size: 1 inch
but isn’t more specific. You will need to verify where your
Exit Pupil 11 to 4mm Exit Pupil 7.7 to 2.5mm
particular caliber/load impacts in relation to their holdover
Diameter: Diameter:
points. This optic is fairly long at 15.6 inches in length but
it only weighs 21.8 ounces. It’s guaranteed to be water and Field of View, 21 to 3.56 Field of View, 3.4 to 1.1
dust-proof and comes with a lifetime transferable warranty. Degrees: Degrees:
I am actually quite familiar with this particular design and Eye Relief: 3.5 inches Eye Relief: 3.5 inches
previously had the opportunity to test it quite extensively.
This included torture testing on an Ed Brown .50 Peacekeeper Adjustments: .5 MOA with 126 MOA total Adjustments: .25 MOA with 45 MOA total
bolt gun. The .50 Peacekeeper is a .460 Weatherby Magnum Focal Plane Rear Focal Plane Rear
necked up to take .50 BMG projectiles. Imagine a 13 pound Position: Position:
rifle hurling 639 grain .50 caliber API slugs at 2,400 fps. It was Parallax No Parallax 50 to infinity
also frozen in a block of ice (a Meopticle?) and then given a Correction: Correction:
steam bath. It shrugged off the abuse without issue.
Optical performance was also quite good. The MeoPro’s Dioptric 3 to -3 Dioptric 2 to -3
image is bright and color rendition appears accurate. View- Compensation: Compensation:
ing a Zeiss Test Pattern chart I noted resolution was very Weight: 21.8 ounces Weight: 17.6 ounces
good from the center of the image out to the edges with only
Overall Length: 17.6 inches Overall Length: 11.6 inches
a slight degradation noticed past 16x. During this portion of

NEAR OR FAR?
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 31
PAGE 32 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

British troops fire their L1A1 rifles in the

Falklands. (Paul Scarlatta collection)

BUILDING THE
FN/FAL RIFLE
FROM A PARTS KIT
PUTTING ON THE FINISHING TOUCHES
By Gus Norcross
PART 2

28
May, 1982. Goose Green, Falkland Islands. carefully from many volunteers for their toughness and produced copies of the Belgian FN/FAL. In an odd twist
Corporal Jones crouched in a ditch avoid- will to win. The Argentine forces, for the most part, were of fate both armies employed the same infantry rifle in
ing heavy small arms fire from the Argentine one-year conscripts thrown into battle before their train- this conflict.
positions to his front. On paper, the situation appeared ing cycle was complete. Training and discipline would In Part 1 of this article, we discussed the legal issues
desperate. Jones and his fellow paratroopers of the sec- ultimately overcome numerical superiority as it had for involving assembly of a FAL rifle from a parts kit and
ond battalion, Parachute Regiment were outnumbered 2 thousands of years of military history. Cradled in the installed the barrel on our new Coonan receiver. The next
to 1. Artillery support was inadequate. Air support was young Corporal’s arms was his rifle. The 7.62 NATO step in the building process is headspacing the original
non-existent. They were assaulting a dug in enemy force British L1A1 was a true full-bore battle rifle well suited Imbel bolt to the barrel. This headspacing procedure is
over open ground in broad daylight with no armor and to this type of fighting. In fact, some of Jones’s mates unlike any other you will encounter as a gunsmith. You
few heavy weapons. But, all things considered, Jones was who found their issue 9mm submachineguns less than ad- will probably not need a chamber reamer but you will
certain he and his fellow paratroopers would prevail. The equate had picked up Argentine rifles during the advance. need headspace gages, a few gage pins and a micrometer
men of the Parachute Regiment were elite troops selected The Argentine and British rifles were both domestically or caliper.
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 33

are designed for reliability under extreme combat condi-

tions and must function when filthy, so a bit of excess
headspace allows the cartridge to fully chamber when
cleaning isn’t possible. Commercial firearms are built
with liability in mind and tend to have tighter chambers.
The Imbel FN/FAL we are building was designed for
the 7.62 NATO cartridge which is essentially .308 Win-
chester with larger allowable headspace. NATO car-
tridges also feature tougher brass and crimped primers
to tolerate this excess chamber slop. I have personally
gaged U.S. issued National Match M14 rifles with an av-
erage headspace of 1.636" to 1.638". Compare this to the
commercial “GO” dimension of 1.630" and “NO GO”
of 1.634".
After barreling many semi-auto military rifles ( M1As,
.308 Garands and FALs) I have settled on 1.632" as a
good average headspace for a wide variety of ammuni-
tion so that dimension will be considered “GO” for this
build.
We will begin preparation for headspacing by removing
Described as “The Free the extractor from the bolt. The extractor plunger must
World’s Right Arm”, the be drawn to the rear to release the extractor so it may
classic FN/FAL battle be lifted out. D.S. Arms sells an extractor tool through
rifle stood guard against Brownell’s (274-100-646) that is well worth the $35 retail
the enemies of the West
price making extractor removal and re-assembly a snap.
for decades.
It may also be possible to clamp the bolt in a vise and
draw the plunger back with a punch. Take care not to
fire the extractor plunger and spring across the room and
lose them.
Ensure the chamber is clean and free of debris. A piece
of dried grease in the wrong spot could result in a false
headspace reading. A headspace gage is placed in the
A D.S. Arms extractor clean chamber. If you only have a “GO” gage (1.630")
tool provides the
leverage to retract the
a piece of .002" shim stock can be stuck to the rear of it
extractor plunger so with a bit of grease. Professional armorers or gunsmiths
the extractor can who deal with .308 and/or 7.62 NATO firearms on a reg-
be removed. ular basis would be best served with a complete set of
gages in .001" increments (Brownell’s 079-308-000) or at
least the 1.632" gage (319-308-632) I used for this project.
The FN/FAL bolt rides in a bolt carrier similar in con- of the cartridge case manufactured in different lengths. Assemble the bolt and bolt carrier and slide them into
cept to the AR-15 bolt carrier except the FAL bolt does The headspace gage length (for rimless rifle cartridges) is the receiver. Insert a gage pin into the locking shoulder
not have conventional locking lugs and it does not rotate. a measurement taken from a point on the shoulder to the hole and close the bolt. If the gage pin is too small the
As the FAL bolt moves forward chambering a round it rear surface of the gage. As this relates to .308 Winchester bolt will close with no resistance. If the gage pin is too
drops down against a locking shoulder that is pressed a “zero” or minimum tolerance headspace gage is 1.630". big the bolt will not drop down into locked position.
into the receiver. These locking shoulders were manufac- Zero headspace (or very close to it) will probably work Locking shoulders are typically in the .261" to .264"
tured in various sizes. The thickness of the locking shoul- fine in a bolt action rifle where each round is manually range but we’re dealing with commercial receivers and
der determines the headspace. chambered but semi-auto rifles tend to function better sometimes commercial barrels so you never know. When
Let’s pause here for a moment and talk about head- with a bit more “slop” so the bolt will close completely the bolt closes with a bit of resistance you have found
space as it relates to any firearm. Headspace is the dis- under its own inertia without being slowed by a tight- the correct size. The bolt on our project rifle locked on
tance from the bolt face to the rear of the cartridge or fitting cartridge. a .263" pin with the preferred 1.632" headspace gage in-
case head when the cartridge is fully seated in the cham- If headspace is too short the bolt won’t lock on the stalled. The shoulder supplied in our kit is .264". If this
ber and the bolt is locked. If we could access the bolt face “GO” gage. If headspace is too long the brass cartridge original locking shoulder was the only one I possessed I
of a rifle when a cartridge is chambered, this tolerance case will stretch when fired to fill the gap and in very ex- could easily stone the face of it down .001" to .263" for
could be measured by sliding a feeler gage in behind the treme examples could rupture. Rifles tend to be over-en- a good fit but I had a couple .263" shoulders in my spare
case head but usually this isn’t possible so we have head- gineered where safety is concerned and most will tolerate parts bin and no .264s so I used one of the spares and
space gages which are precision machined mirror images quite a bit of headspace before they fail. Military rifles saved the larger part.

A gage pin acts

as a temporary
locking shoulder
and a headspace
gage is chambered
by the stripped bolt
to measure locking
shoulder size.

Gage pins and

headspace gages
are the best method
for accurately
determining locking
shoulder size.

BUILDING THE FN/FAL RIFLE — PART 2

PAGE 34 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

Locking shoulder
size is gaged with a
micrometer. They are
not marked.

A 3/16" roll pin punch

fits the hole in the
locking shoulder
nicely and drives it into
position in the receiver.

Install the locking shoulder you have selected. Start it

into the receiver with the tab aligned with the recess un-
der it. Note that the locking shoulder has a hole in it. The
nose of a 3/16" roll pin punch (Brownell’s 230-100-006)
will drop into this hole and keep your punch from walk-
ing off center while driving the locking shoulder into po-
sition. When the shoulder is close to being seated check
the alignment of the tab with the receiver recess. It is pos-
sible to misalign this tab and crack it or break it off. To
adjust alignment, grab the tab in the jaws of an adjustable
wrench and tweak it the appropriate direction so the tab
will seat into the recess. Drive the locking shoulder home.
Be advised that the locking shoulder may not be quite
flush with the receiver surface. This is fine. Alignment of the locking shoulder may be adjusted
Check the headspace again with the locking shoulder before it is driven all the way into the receiver with The threads for the gas cylinder support may be
installed. It is possible that headspace may open up .001" an adjustable wrench. chased with a 9/16-24 tap if necessary.
as the locking shoulder seats into the receiver during test
firing so we’ll need to verify headspace again after firing
the gun. tor can be started on to the gas block threads. Screw it all this build is a beautiful U.S.-made product from Falcon
Now we will proceed to finish the upper receiver as- the way on to the gas block (you might need the spanner Arms (www.falconarms.com). Now you’ll ask “why buy a
sembly. First up are the carry handle, gas cylinder sup- wrench) and then back it off a few clicks. We will adjust new gas piston when a perfectly good one was included in
port, gas cylinder and gas regulator. These parts must the regulator for proper function during test firing. You the kit?” Well, as we discussed in part 1 of this article, the
be assembled together. Test fit the gas cylinder support may run across FALs with short gas cylinders that are George H. W. Bush import ban decrees that to legally as-
in the threaded hole in the receiver. The part from our brazed permanently to the gas block. This is just another semble this kit it must contain 7 U.S. parts from the ATF
kit threaded into the Coonan receiver hard and stopped variation that simplifies takedown and assembly. Func- list of approved parts. In this case we will achieve a legal
short of going all the way in to the shoulder. I tried tion is not affected. parts count with a U.S. receiver, U.S. hammer, trigger and
cleaning up the receiver threads by chasing them with a Finishing up the gas system, we insert the gas piston sear, and U.S. gas piston, handguards and pistol grip. The
9/16"-24 tap. I also chased the threads of the gas cylinder and its return spring through the front of the gas block new Falcon gas piston measures .431" compared to the
support with a die. This made things a bit easier but the and cap it off with the gas plug. The piston we will use for .430" diameter of the Imbel piston. Considering this rifle
original part would still not thread completely into the
receiver. Not willing to spend more time screwing with
it, I found another support in my spare parts bin that fit
perfectly and moved on. Never underestimate the value THE ARGENTINE AND BRITISH RIFLES WERE BOTH
of having spares on hand.
Now I moved to the gas block and test fitted the gas DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED COPIES OF THE BELGIAN FN/FAL.
regulator to the threaded portion after I pried off the re-
tainer spring. The regulator should thread smoothly on
to the gas block all the way to the stop. No problem. The
spring was re-installed and we prepared to install the gas
system.
Take a look at the forward end of the gas cylinder.
Note the notches and the flat spot at each notch. Slide
the gas cylinder support on the rear of the gas cylinder
and the gas regulator over the front end (with the stop
notch forward), position the assembly over the barrel and
start threading the gas cylinder support into the receiver.
Before you go too far insert the loop of the carry handle
into the slot where it lives and then screw the gas cylin-
der support all the way into the receiver. Tighten with a
spanner (Brownell’s 274-100-641). Slide the gas cylinder
forward and thread it into the gas block until it stops.
Back it off slightly if necessary to align the notches
with the gas port. Now install the pin through the hole
in the gas block to keep the gas cylinder from rotating.
The cylinder may still be a loose fit in the gas block but The FAL gas system: Piston, piston spring, gas
it shouldn’t rotate enough to close off the gas port. Pry cylinder, gas cylinder support and gas regulator.
the gas regulator retainer spring down so the gas regula-

BUILDING THE FN/FAL RIFLE — PART 2

VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 35

Metric FN/FAL fire control components. Inch

pattern components are slightly different.

The D.S. Arms semi-auto selector cannot be rotated

inadvertently to the full auto position.

to function normally although it still felt rough. I taped

a strip of sandpaper to a small piece of drill rod and pol-
ished the inside of the bolt stop tunnel. The mag catch
appears to have some miles on it a slightly bigger piston was .269–.270 in diameter and had been polished. New screw was test fitted into its hole in the receiver. This
should enhance function. Note that when you install the parts measured .271–.272. I chose a 7mm drill bit and ran screw consists of a threaded portion directly below the
gas plug the large tactile notch with the letter “A” next to it through the hole. This worked, allowing the bolt stop screw head and a smooth section that acts as the retaining
it should be at 12 o’clock. Turning it 180 degrees to the
“G” setting will shut off gas to the gas system for launch-
ing grenades.
A set of new U.S. made D.S. Arms handguards were The buttstock tool guides and compresses the return
spring while tightening the return spring tube nut.
installed. These are an excellent product and fit tight. In
fact, I had to fuss with them a bit but the resulting instal-
lation is rock solid.
My goal was to re-use the original muzzle device. A
variety of these were employed on FN/FAL rifles over the
years. Our Brazilian kit came with the standard Belgian
combination device attached to the muzzle and despite
my best efforts I could not remove it intact. I had to resort
to splitting it lengthwise with a cutting wheel to break it
loose. Luckily, I had a new one at hand purchased from
D.S. Arms that was either an original unit or an exact
copy. It was not marked as being made in the USA so
it won’t qualify as a U.S. part to satisfy the Bush decree
but we already have that situation covered. A thin 18mm
wrench fit the flats of the DSA part and it screwed right
on perfectly. It did not index with the bayonet notch at 6
o’clock but my bayonet use will be limited so this is not
a concern.
Someone is going to question why I would remove the Applying pressure to the re-
original muzzle attachment if it will be used on the com- turn spring while starting the
pleted rifle. This rifle will be refinished in mil spec manga- nut. This task would be diffi-
nese phosphate after test firing and it must be completely cult without the proper tool.
disassembled and degreased to avoid any contamination
of the chemical bath during this operation. If grease or
oil leeched out from under the muzzle device ruining my
refinisher’s Parkerizing job, he will be very angry and he
is bigger and younger than I am so this is a consideration.
The Belgian “combination device” was so called be-
cause this one part serves as a flash suppressor, bayonet
mount and grenade launcher. It is also threaded internal-
ly to accept a blank firing adapter. The muzzle threads are
left hand (9/16-24 LH) on metric rifles like our Imbel, so
keep that in mind when trying to remove a muzzle device.
Inch pattern rifles such as the Brit L1A1 have right hand
muzzle threads.
Last but not least, the bolt hold open device and maga-
zine catch are installed. The bolt hold open device is es-
sentially a tube with a spring loaded plunger inside that
fits into a tunnel in the receiver. When test fitting it in our
Coonan receiver I noted it was binding. Free movement
is essential for this part to function correctly. Test fitting
other bolt hold open devices I had on hand revealed that
the hole in the receiver was roughly machined and pos-
sibly slightly undersized. The body of the Imbel bolt stop

BUILDING THE FN/FAL RIFLE — PART 2

PAGE 36 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

The D.S. Arms handguards and pistol grip are U.S. duplicates of the original Brazilian parts.

The FAL gas system compensates for fouling and substandard ammunition with
a gas regulator nut.

THE CLASSIC FN/FAL BATTLE RIFLE

STOOD GUARD AGAINST THE ENEMIES
OF THE WEST FOR DECADES. When installing the gas plug, the big notch should be up for semi-auto operation.

pin for the bolt stop and magazine catch. The screw did The Coonan receiver is equipped with a semi-auto ejector It may be necessary to adjust the locking surface of the
not thread completely into the receiver so I cleaned up block that is not machined to accept the full auto sear catch or replace it. The Imbel lower fit the Coonan upper
the receiver threads with a 10-32 tap and that seemed to so rotating a selector to the full auto position means the without a problem.
solve the problem. hammer will simply follow the bolt and fail to fire. You Now, off to the range. Test ammo consisted of Win-
The installed mag catch and bolt stop were tested with can use the original selector if you wish and there is noth- chester Q3130 147-grain FMJ. The rifle functioned well
a new D.S. Arms magazine, but it would not lock into ing unsafe or illegal in doing so. on a gas setting of “3”. Closing it to “4” resulted in it fail-
place. An Israeli military mag fit perfectly. I dressed the Once the new fire control parts are installed, we turn ing to lock open. The new U.S.-made D.S. Arms maga-
contact surface of the mag catch with a fine stone and our attention to the return springs in the buttstock. zine fed and functioned perfectly. A U.S.-made magazine
broke the leading edge slightly. The D.S. Arms mag fit Remove the big screw in the center of the buttpad and qualifies as 3 compliance parts to satisfy ATF rules (fol-
now along with some others but other Israeli mags still pull off the pad. At this point you will need a buttstock lower, body, floorplate) but most of us would like the flex-
did not lock in place. I’m confident the mag catch can be wrench (Brownell’s 274-100-632) to control the strong re- ibility of using whatever mags we have at hand so I didn’t
adjusted to fit all of them as time permits. turn springs during removal and replacement. The tool count the magazine toward this build. Another military
The lower receiver was already assembled when I got it. also provides an integral screwdriver to remove/install the magazine of unknown origin also functioned well. The
We will disassemble it to clean it up and replace the ham- return spring tube nut. Constant pressure must be applied Israeli mag locked in the rifle but tended to misfeed.
mer, trigger, sear and pistol grip with U.S.-made parts to to the nut as you loosen it to control the springs when Closer inspection revealed I had marked the floorplate
achieve our Bush-approved parts count. To remove the they are released. The spring set consists of two springs, with an “X” at some point indicating it was a problematic
fire control parts, pry up on the hammer spring shroud one inside the other. We cleaned the crud off the springs, mag in another rifle. Magazines should be considered ex-
where it contacts the lower receiver and pop out the lubricated them, checked the spring tube for damage and pendable items. Problematic mags should be binned and
spring assembly. Rotate the selector lever upward so it’s re-assembled everything. replaced. FN/FAL mags are readily available.
almost vertical and pull it out of the lower receiver. Now The last part to be replaced on the lower receiver is Dusting off my FAL tools and building a kit again was
rotate the locking plate counterclockwise off the hammer the pistol grip. The D.S. Arms grip is an exact duplicate fun. A sunny afternoon, an empty range, a classic battle
pin and remove it. The hammer and sear pins may now of the standard metric-pattern plastic part. If you have rifle and a pile of 7.62 NATO ball sure put a smile on this
be removed. Re-assembly will be easier if a slave pin is the buttstock tool mentioned above, the rod can be un- old Cold Warrior’s face.
used to retain the sear in the trigger while re-installing screwed and the screwdriver will loosen the pistol grip Resources: If you intend to build a FAL kit I strongly
the trigger/sear pin. We installed a D.S. Arms hammer, nut. The new grip is a direct replacement and only neces- recommend you order the The Gunplumber’s Guide to Gun-
trigger and sear set (www.dsarms.com) along with one of sary to achieve our ATF-approved U.S. parts count. smithing the FAL and L1A1 dvd and workbook from Ari-
their “semi-auto” selectors. The SA selector has a slightly The upper and lower receivers can now be assembled. zona Response Systems (www.arizonaresponsesystems.
extended nose to prevent it from being inadvertently ro- It is possible that the locking catch in the lower receiver com). This package is the best reference available to the
tated past the semi-auto position on the lower receiver. and the hook on the upper receiver may not lock solidly. gunsmith. The workbook alone is a great reference.

BUILDING THE FN/FAL RIFLE — PART 2

VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 37

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PAGE 38 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

By Reid Coffield

Ask the
Gunsmith
SHOTGUN KNUCKLES

Q
When British shotgunners refer to a “knuckle,” what do
they mean?

Knuckle is a term our British cousins use to refer to the

A action hinge area of a break-open shotgun.

What we refer to as the hinge pin is called the knuckle pin

in British nomenclature. Each part of the shotgun frame
has its own name, many of them archaic and colorful.

FOREARM WRENCHES

Q
The wood forearm on my Remington 870 pump shotgun is
loose. How can I tighten it?

The forearm on the 870 is secured by a round thread-

A ed nut inside the muzzle end of the forearm. The best

method of tightening this slotted nut is to use a wrench
that fits over the magazine tube. This eliminates the need to
remove the forearm assembly from the gun to tighten the nut.
Just slide the wrench over the magazine tube after removing
the mag cap and barrel and engage the dual projecting blades
or teeth of the wrench in the two slots in the nut. To tight-
en the forearm, turn the wrench in a clockwise direction. To
loosen or remove the nut you just turn the forearm wrench
counterclockwise.
Recently I obtained a set of forearm nut wrenches produced
by Advanced Technology International USA, LLC, 2733 West
Carmen Ave., Dept. FAN, Milwaukee, WI 53209, telephone
800-925-2522. This set of shotgun forearm wrenches covers
the Remington 870 in both 12 and 20 gauges, the Mossberg
500 series guns, and the Winchester 1200 and 1300 shotgun.
The wrench set is made of anodized 6061 T6 aluminum and is
beautifully machined. In fact, it’s the best looking set of fore-
arm wrenches I’ve ever seen. They have a nice knurled surface
for a firm grip when tightening the forearm nut. If you need
some extra torque, and you often do when loosening a stuck
nut, there is a 19/64" diameter hole in the end of the wrench
for a cheater bar or rod. The set sells for a suggested MSRP of
$49.99 and is one heck of a bargain. Some folks charge a lot
more for just a single wrench. If you’re doin’ shotgun work on
the 870 or 500 series guns, this is definitely the wrench set to
have. I could not be more pleased with my set. [Cont. to page 39]
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 39

CASH FOR
[Cont. from page 38]

BARREL RIB REPAIR

Q
I have an Ithaca 20-gauge side-by-side that was made be-
fore World War II. The top rib between the barrels has
come loose at the muzzle for a distance of about 2 inches.
I took it to two different gunsmiths to have it evaluated for re-
pair. One gunsmith said he could resolder the rib without taking
it all the way off. The other gunsmith, who wanted to charge a

MACHINE GUNS
lot more, insisted that the only way properly to make the repair
was to remove the top rib completely and then resolder it. Who
is right?

Theoretically, the repair could be made either way with

A perfect results. It will all depend on the skill of the

craftsman doing the repair. Ideally, I believe the top rib
should be completely removed and then reattached. That is a
tough job and requires a lot of experience and a special touch
to do properly. I am not at all surprised the gunsmith who
wanted to remove the rib completely would charge consider-
ably more. Overnight Funding
RESTAMP SERIAL?
DON’T TAKE OTHER OFFERS
Q
I am working on an old ’98 Mauser that was given to me
to make it into a sporter. It was in pretty rough shape but
I have done a lot of work including installing a new pre-
threaded barrel and it looks really good. I am at the point where
UNTIL YOU GET OUR PRICE.
I want to refinish the metal. I will have to do a lot of file work to
remove all the pits on the receiver and that is what concerns me.
I have a lot of pits in and around the serial number. Can I just
file away the serial number to remove the pits and then restamp
WE CAN USUALLY BEAT YOUR BEST
the original number?
OFFER FROM OTHER BUYERS.
Nope, not legally. I know your motives are fine but the

A BATF folks take a dim view of any—I repeat, any—

alteration or work on a serial number. Unless you can
get a letter from the BATF giving you permission to remove CALL Toll Free • 7 days a week
the serial number and then restamp it, I would absolutely not

1-866-NFA-1934
touch the serial number. If you want to follow up on this, start
by contacting your local BATF office and explain in detail
what you want to do. If they allow you to remove the num-
ber as part of the refurbishing process be sure to get a letter
from them giving you permission to do so and hang on to
that letter! Get the letter before you do anything to that serial
number. They should also provide instructions or directions
on restamping the serial number.
John Thedford • www.NFAsales.com
Here are some average buy prices. Condition, manufacturer,
configuration, and accessories will have an effect on prices.
STEVENS VISIBLE LOADER
We are currently paying these average prices:
WE BUY EVERYTHING—many
Q
I have a Stevens Visible Loader .22 pump that is in, admit-
AK’s: Up to $25,000
tedly, very rough shape and will not function properly. I
have contacted several gunsmiths and they will not work are not listed here. Auto sears, AC556: Up to $12,000
M16: Up to $26,000
on it! I offered to pay them for at least two hours of work but C&R machine guns, and MP5: Up to $32,000
they still refused. Do you have any idea why they would do this?
more. We buy them all. MAC 10: Up to $5,700
The Stevens Visible Loader .22 rifle was produced from Uzi: Up to $16,000

A around 1908 until about 1934 or so. It was a very popu-

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them were manufactured. As with many inexpensive .22 rifles
Call or email to find
out what your gun is worth.
Reising: Up to $8,000
Thompsons: Up to $35,000
Smith & Wesson 76: Up to $8,000
Swedish K: Up to $22,000
of that era, they tended to be used by younger shooters and
are, more often than not, extensively used and abused. Trying
1-800-632-1934 British Sten: Up to $18,000
to get one of these rifles to function, especially when no new [email protected] British Sterling: Up to $18,000
parts are available, can be an exercise in total frustration. I Beltfed Machine Guns: Up to $28,000
could easily see how a gunsmith could spend many hours on DIAS: Up to $32,000
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not worth the potential hassle and negative feedback for the
gunsmith. The Visible Loader is a great project for a hobbyist
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what it’s worth, I wouldn’t want to work on it either!
We will give you an honest estimate of value.
PAGE 40 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

ALL MOHAMMED’S
CHILDREN LOVE A
GUN-FREE ZONE
By Vin Suprynowicz M1 Carbine & Garand Parts
Winchester, Underwood, Inland, Saginaw, QHMC, NPM, IBM, Rockola

Q
uick: Among all America’s 20,000 overlapping “gun control” Coded oilers, type one bands, flip sights and other parts—Please call with needs.
laws, which had an impact on the number of deaths when Check out our 10 pages of parts on our website.
Islamic terrorist Omar Mateen—the wife-beating, ISIS-sup-
porting, bi-sexual son of politically active Afghan immigrants—
went on a rampage with a couple of semi-automatic weapons in a
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The “background checks” required by the 1993 “Brady Bill”?
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semi-automatic, one-shot-per-trigger-pull firearms he used to mur-
der 49 innocent Americans and wound 50 more.
Mateen had been investigated twice by the FBI—first in 2013 af-
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ter he made “inflammatory comments to co-workers alleging pos- George Liakos • PO Box 85 • Riverbank, CA 95367
sible ties to terrorists,” and again in 2014, when agents examined
possible ties connecting Mateen to Moner Mohammad Abusalha,
the first American to carry out a suicide attack in Syria. “We deter-
mined that contact was minimal and did not constitute a substan-
tive relationship or a threat at that time,” and they closed the files,
says the head of the local FBI.
Which is fine. My point is not that anyone should be barred from
exercising their gun rights just because the FBI investigated them. Semi-Retired But Still Shipping Stocks and Targets
The FBI investigates lots of people, and clears most. Instead, my
point is that the background check system costs billions, inconve-
niences millions of law-abiding Americans, and is mostly for show.
Convicted felons know to shop elsewhere, and mass murderers—
Fred’s M14 Rifle Stocks
like Mateen—rarely turn out to be convicted felons. fredsm14stocks.com
Mateen had legally purchased the two guns (apparently a .223 SIG
Sauer MCX rifle and a 9mm Glock 17—he wasn’t buying off the bar-
gain shelf) within “the last few days,” said Trevor Velinor of the ATF.
Needless to say, Former Secretary of State Clinton the next day Yessir, we have US GI M14 Americans are driving the
urged even more gun control, saying the massacre reminds “us rifle stocks, all shapes, colors, ship under.
once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.”
Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders called for new gun bans. “We and types: Birch (20% stron- Logic tells you we can save
should not be selling automatic weapons which are designed to kill
people,” the presidential candidate said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
ger than walnut), walnut (the the ship. The founders placed
Sen. Charles Schumer agreed. “We have to get tougher on guns. … traditional choice), and synthet- liberty in the hands of “the
In this country it is so easy for so many people to get these kinds of as-
sault weapons whose only purpose is to shoot a whole lot of people.” ic (the modern choice for the American people” and said that
The correction of such misstatements (there, I used the nice word, field). These stocks are living so long as they were educated
see?) grows tedious. The Constitution does not guarantee us the right
to bear arms so as to be able to resist any future tyrant “except for history… and alert, liberty would be safe.
weapons of war … the kind designed to shoot a whole lot of people.” We have stocks which ap- Logic says we can do it—
When the Clintons sent the initial BATF attackers (who testified un-
der oath that they shot at such clear targets as “a moving curtain”) and pear to have been bring-backs even a few thousand of us, if
then the replacement FBI snipers to pick off the women and children from the ‘Nam days; as well dedicated enough.
at Waco, did they tell them to leave behind everything but the muzzle-
loaders, because repeating arms “have no place on our streets”? as stocks nearly 60 years old Experience says we won’t.
“Assault weapons” and “weapons of war” like the M16 and the AK-
47 have a selector switch allowing full-auto fire. In violation of the Sec-
but which appear to have been That too many people are igno-
ond Amendment, the 1934 National Firearms Act and the follow-up made yesterday—not only rant, even wanna stay ignorant,
1968 Gun Control Act have cut off the supply of true automatic Class
III NFA weapons, driving prices sky-high and making it virtually im-
pieces of history but real col- so that they can remain mired
possible for most Americans to afford such historical artifacts. lectibles. US GI M14 Hand- in apathy while nurturing their
Yes, someone with gunsmithing skills might (illegally) convert a
semi-auto to full-auto fire. But the BATF reported no such modifi-
guards, solid and slotted, laziness.
cation to Mateen’s rifle. Non-shooters are notoriously bad witness- black and brown; US GI M14 You are one of the American
es as to whether they’ve been under automatic or semi-auto fire.
Recall that even professional German soldiers, when they first en- Cleaning Kits (V-N abused or people. Logic says if you want-
countered the semi-auto M1 Garand in Normandy in 1944, would near factory “unissued”) ed to save this sinking ship,
often insist three G.I.s behind a hedgerow with their Garands must
be armed with a machine gun. And the Garand loads an 8-round But life is more than M14 you’d be on the phone, right
clip, not a 30-round magazine. stocks. Always bear in mind: now, asking me “Fred, how do
What about the Florida law that bars citizens licensed to carry
concealed weapons from taking those self-defense handguns into a The ship we’re on is we save the ship?”
liquor-serving nightclub, including Pulse in Orlando? Could that
have impacted the death toll?
sinking… But experience says you
Bingo! We have a winner! That law worked just fine—in setting But it’s worse than that: won’t be. Too much trouble.
up the killer’s hundred defenseless victims like ducks in a shooting
gallery. [Cont. to page 41] Too many of our fellow And so the ship will sink…
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 41
[Cont. from page 40]

RUBEN MENDIOLA
All Mohammed’s Children Love A Gun-Free Zone
Because Mateen’s victims were law-abiding where he was not, that
law guaranteed none of the hundred people he shot (heck, none of
the 300 souls in the club) were able to shoot back, even during his
multiple magazine changes. And no, you can’t defend Florida’s law
on the grounds that “people who are drinking shouldn’t carry guns.”
Groups going out for a night on the town are encouraged to appoint a
sober designated driver, aren’t they? Why not let them also designate a
DEALERNFA, INC.
soda-pop-only designated bodyguard to carry concealed all night, just
as the armed bodyguards who defend our professional politicians do?
Yet the gun control advocates who helped kill those 53 people
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more defenseless! Buying and Selling Quality
The shooting raises other questions, of course. Suffolk County, Machine Guns
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Since 1985!
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Barack Obama, of course, went on TV and got all weepy as usu-
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in resolve to defend our people.”
Really? Against whom?
John Podhoretz took Obama to task so well for his stunning re-
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fusal to acknowledge who it is who’s killing Americans left and
right (look up San Bernardino; look up “Fort Hood”) that I can
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This country’s national attitude has undergone a sea change in the

past 20 years, by the way, in case the president hasn’t noticed. Help support severely injured Heroes and Veterans!!
“An Islamist terrorist waging war against the United States killed
and injured 103 people on our soil. We Americans do not bear col- Send your donations to:
lective responsibility for this attack. Quite the opposite. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation
“The attack on the Pulse nightclub was an attack on us all, no 2930 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314
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Meantime, defying gutless Republican strategists who prefer
to see their candidates lose quietly by keeping silent, presumptive PO Box 566300, Miami, FL 33256-6300, 305-271-3436
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump also let Obama have it:
“In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused
Toll Free: 866-NFA-WANT (632-9268), Fax: 866-415-7066,
to even say the words ‘radical Islam,’” the presumptive presiden- Email: [email protected]
tial GOP nominee said in a statement. “For that reason alone, he
should step down. If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot
say the two words ‘radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for
the Presidency. [Cont. to page 42] www.dealernfa.com
PAGE 42 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

[Cont. from page 41] “If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we Cele
are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are
weak, I said this was going to happen—and it is only going to get
worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack.
We can’t afford to be politically correct anymore,” he continued.
RUBEN MENDIOLA27 YEARS brat
In B
usin
ess
ing

!
Stung by Trump’s criticism, Mrs. Clinton relented and used the
phrase “radical Islamism” on CNN the next day, asserting it means
the same things as other terms she had used. In America’s prisons,
they have a term for the kind of obedient puppy Mrs. Clinton thus
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became for Mr. Trump. A turning point in their race? Toll Free: 866-NFA-WANT (632-9268), Fax: 866-415-7066, Email: [email protected]
Trump said all Americans need to be protected from “radical
Islamic Terrorism—which has no place in an open and tolerant
society…Radical Islam advocates hate for women, gays, Jews,
Christians and all Americans.”
The Islamic State has repeatedly executed gay people and re-
leased videos showing their gruesome executions. On the Monday
!WANTED!
following the shooting, the Islamic State’s radio outlet called Omar
Mateen “one of the soldiers of the caliphate in America.”
I still have questions about Donald Trump’s commitment to lib-
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more beautiful than the call to prayer from a Muslim minaret.
Several Florida politicians, including State Rep. Dennis Baxley,
R-Belleview, immediately faulted gun-free zones in the shooting in
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gunman could have been stopped much sooner.
And yes, there’s an organization that encourages gay Ameri- ELECTED TO
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VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 71
VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 77

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7.62x39mm with AK .300 Blackout & 7.62x39mm be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original t or coupon or prior le. Original
be used with other discoun Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferab er per day.
purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. 1/6/17. Limit one coupon per custom
Type Magazines with AR Type Magazines coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/6/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/6/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be present
ed. Valid through

Windham Weaponry, Inc. • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • 650+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com At Harbor Freight Tools, the "comp at" price means
that the same item or a similar functioning item was
advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by
999 Roosevelt Trail • Windham, Maine 04062 • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • Lifetime Warranty • 800-423-2567 another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days.
Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No
other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more
• No Hassle Return Policy information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
ÒThe quality goes in before the rifle goes out.Ó
PAGE 78 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19

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VOLUME 70 - ISSUE 19 FIREARMS NEWS - firearmsnews.com PAGE 79