Palmetto State Armory (PSA) is running a Valentine’s Day Sale with some great deals on rifles, pistols, rifle components, and optics. Some of these deals run for the next few days, while others expire at 11:59 pm on February 14, 2020.
Here are some of the best deals we found. The S&W 15-22 is a fun little rimfire rifle. It’s great for NRL-22 Matches, plus S&W is offering a $75 Factory Rebate. The Taurus G3 Pistol is a real bargain at $229.99. And the SIG Sauer KILO 1600BDX Laser Rangefinder is an absolute steal at $199.99. Along with these 8 hot deals, there are 150+ other Valentine’s Day Sale items at PSA:
CMP Acquires Surplus Ammunition with Sales Planned for Coming Months
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has announced the recent acquisition of vast quantities of surplus ammunition: M2 Ball (.30-06 Springfield), .30 Carbine, .22 Pistol, and .22 Long Rifle. This surplus ammunition supply will soon become available to CMP customers, and will be sold at matches to CMP shooters. At this time, the recently-acquired surplus ammunition supplies are being assessed and cataloged by CMP personnel.
The CMP intends on maintaining a surplus ammo inventory large enough to support CMP Matches for the next several years and to provide discounted surplus ammo to competitors attending CMP events. All sales will include set limits to remain in compliance with guidelines specified in the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of the Army and the CMP.
“The CMP plans to make the ammunition available to our loyal constituents sometime this spring, after the surplus ammo goes through all CMP in-processing procedures”. said Mark Johnson, CMP’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Civilian Marksmanship. “Purchase limits and restrictions will be set to ensure that the mission of CMP is well served.”
NOTE: This video shows an M1 Garand shooting modern CMP M2 Ball ammo NOT older surplus. The surplus M2 Ball ammo obtained by the CMP is older, but should have similar velocities with 150gr bullets.
Further surplus sales details will be forthcoming in the near future. Commercial ammunition sales are currently available on the CMP E-Store to qualified individuals. Register for an account or browse the CMP E-Store at https://shop.thecmp.org/browse/Ammo.
One of the CMP’s most popular competitions is the M1 Carbine Match. The little carbines are easy to hold and easy to shoot, with relatively low recoil compared to an M1 Garand or M1903 shooting the full-power .30-06 cartridge. Unfortunately, genuine GI-issue M1 Carbines are now hard to find at affordable prices. The CMP has announced: “CMP’S Carbine Inventory has been exhausted and we do not expect to receive any additional shipments.” Authentic surplus U.S. Military M1 Carbines are selling for $1600 to $3500 these days on Gunbroker.com.
For Android users, there is a FREE App which shows How the M1 Carbine works. This complements the YouTube Video linked above. The App creator, Noble Empire, has 21 more illustrative Apps for other firearms, including the M16, M1911 pistol, 9mm Uzi, FN SCAR and more.
Over the years, the CMP has offered several different grades of M1 Carbines, from serviceable to excellent condition. Inventories have been shrinking in recent years, but now and then the CMP is offers M1 Carbines on its CMP Auction website. Prices start at about $1500.00 for Service Grade, with rare Unissued Models commanding $3000 or more. More information can be found on the CMP’s M1 Info Page.
Good Hickok45 Video with Genuine WWII Era M1 Carbine produced by Standard Products
There is an excellent history of the M1 Carbine (all versions) on the Pew Pew Tactical website. There are many historical photos, along with videos of two M1 Carbine variants being tested in the field.
The first M1 Carbines were delivered in mid-1942, with initial priority given to troops in the European theatre of war. According to the CMP: “The M1 Carbine was designed primarily to offer noncombat troops a better defensive weapon than a pistol or submachine gun, with greater accuracy and range, but without the recoil, cost, or weight of a full-power infantry rifle. The carbine was also easier for less experienced soldiers and smaller-framed people to fire than the .30 caliber infantry rifles of the day. The carbine was more convenient to carry for officers, NCOs, or specialists encumbered with weapons, field glasses, radios, or other gear. Tankers, drivers, artillery crews, mortar crews, and other personnel were also issued the M1 Carbine in lieu of the larger, heavier M1 Garand. Belatedly, a folding-stock version of the M1 Carbine was developed, after a request was made for a compact and light infantry arm for airborne troops.”
CMP M1 Carbine Matches — Fun with an Easy-to-Handle Rifle
CMP M1 Carbine Matches — Growing in Popularity
The CMP M1 Carbine Match is part of the CMP Games program that already includes Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches. “As-issued” U. S. Military M1 Carbines are fired over a 45-shot course of fire at 100 yards on either the old military “A” target or the “SR” target. The course includes 5 sighters and 10 shots for record prone slow fire in 15 minutes, a 10-shot rapid fire prone series in 60 seconds, a 10-shot rapid fire sitting series in 60 seconds and 10 shots slow fire standing in 10 minutes.
CMP M1 Carbine Match at Western CMP Games
A good intro to M1 Carbine features, this video has over 6.7 million views on YouTube.
New Production M1 Carbines
Thankfully, you don’t need to source a real WWII-era M1 to enjoy CMP M1 Matches. You can now get a brand new, American-made M1 Carbine clone significantly less than the price of old CMP rifle. Sportsman’s Warehouse sells American-made KAHR Auto Ordnance .30-Caliber M1 Carbines that look, feel, and shoot just like the originals, for a lot less money. There are two versions:
Auto-Ordance is now part of the KAHR firearms group. These Auto Ordnance M1 Carbines are currently out of stock at many vendors, but we expect them to be available later this year.
Another producer of M1 Carbine replica rifles is Inland Manufacturing, a modern company which shares the name of a leading WWII M1 Carbine maker. These made-in-the-USA, newly manufactured M1 Carbines are very authentic copies of the original carbines from the World War II era. With a $1139.00 starting MSRP, they feature authentic 1944-type adjustable sights, push button safety, round bolt, “low wood” walnut stock, and a 10–round or 15-round magazine. There are three (3) versions: M1 1944 style, M1 1945 style, and M1A1 Paratrooper model.
GunsAmerica.com report compares new Inland M1 Carbines side-by-side with original vintage M1 Carbines: “We had to get in close to tell the difference. Overall, the two examples we were able to handle looked great and held up when next to the originals. The stampings are even close to correct with a few minor differences that were chosen to stop the new Inlands from being mistaken for originals. Take a look at the photos and see for yourself.” READ M1 Carbine Review.
Inland Firearms M1 Carbine Shooting Demonstration by Hickok45
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AR-platform rifles run dirty — very dirty. The gas system blows carbon and powder residues back into the action and into the bolt carrier group. That’s why you need to clean your ARs regularly, and you have to pay special attention to the nooks and crannies in the bolt and bolt carrer. The majority of AR failures we’ve witnessed have been from a combination of lube, carbon, and tiny brass shavings that collected in the ejector recess and the extractor spring recess. After that, plain carbon build-up on the bolt can be a gun-stopper too. And you need to keep the barrel extension clean too.
If you’re new to the (dirty) world of ARs, here are two helpful videos from the folks who make Froglube. That line of cleaners/lubes is pretty good stuff, though not our first choice for all AR lubrication and cleaning chores. But these videos do provide many helpful tips. They show the disassembly process and highlight the problem areas to which you must pay special attention.
How to Clean Your AR-15 Bolt Carrier Assembly
How to Clean Your AR-15 Lower Receiver Assembly
NOTE: Froglube also makes a video showing AR upper, chamber, and barrel cleaning. There are practices shown there that we do NOT recommend. Nor do we recommend Froglube products for bore cleaning. We think there are more effective cleaning products.
The Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC), SB Tactical, B&T USA, Rick Cicero, and 25 States have filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) challenging the legality of a new ATF rule that reverses a decade of ATF agency precedent. That radical ATF rule would retroactively mandate the burdensome and costly registration of millions of pistols equipped with stabilizing braces, contrary to federal statutes enacted by Congress.
“The ATF has placed millions of law-abiding firearm owners in legal jeopardy”, notes Jeff Creamer, president and CEO of SB Tactical. “It’s a gross overreach of the Bureau’s authority and, if allowed to stand, will result in the largest gun registration scheme in U.S. history.”
The new ATF rule lacks a clear definition of what is actually being regulated. The language gives ATF the power to decide on a case-by-case basis which firearms are and are not regulated. READ NRA-ILA Analysis.
“The ATF’s new definition for stabilizing braces is arbitrary. The Bureau is declaring that they will effectively decide on a case-by-case basis whether a firearm is subject to the NFA. Every American gun owner is in danger of potentially facing felony charges at the whim of these bureaucrats and without any new statute in place. The NRA believes this rule will fail for the same reasons the bump stock rule failed — ATF can only apply federal statutes; it can’t rewrite them”, said Jason Ouimet, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.
“This rule demonstrates a clear abuse of power by the ATF”, Ouimet said. “They’re clearly carrying out the Biden Administration’s anti-gun agenda and it’s got to stop. The NRA is putting its full weight behind fighting this unlawful rule”.
About Stabilizing Braces
Stabilizing braces were designed to enable gun owners to operate certain firearms with one hand with more stability. The ATF’s new rule says, essentially, that using a stabilizing brace with a pistol turns the firearm into a short-barreled rifle and must now be regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA) — which means they’d be subject to registration, additional taxation, and long wait times for approval due to ATF’s lengthy NFA processing times. Because of this rule, the millions of Americans who own a pistol and a stabilizing brace, regardless of style or caliber or type of brace, must either dispose of, alter, or register their firearms. If they don’t comply, they will become felons and face 10 years in prison and large fines.
According to the Congressional Research Service, there are currently between 10 and 40 million stabilizing braces in the United States.
FRAC is Lead Plaintiff with Coalition of 25 States
The lawsuit challenging the ATF policy is Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Inc (FRAC)., v. Merrick Garland and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.
Along with FRAC, other plaintiffs are: SB Tactical, B&T USA, Wounded Warrior Richard Cicero, and a coalition of 25 states led by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, also including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
There are some interesting topics covered today, Sunday 1/29/2023, on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk® Radio, the original nationally-syndicated radio talk show about guns and the shooting sports. The episode covers the acquisition of Barrett Firearms by the Australian NIOA group. In addition, there is coverage of a new gun-related novel and gear from Vertx.
NOTE: If you miss the live broadcast on 1/29/2023 at 2-5 PM, just visit the Gun Talk Podcast archive.
Barrett Firearms recently changed hands. Rob Nioa, CEO of the NIOA group which acquired Barrett Firearms, joins Tom to discuss the recent purchase. The transaction promises to increase the production and visibility of Barrett Firearms while introducing new and innovative product. Rob Nioa assured Tom that Barrett production would remain at Barrett’s Tennessee factory: “We are going to make sure nothing changes in the quality of the product. Nothing changes in where the products are manufactured.”
This Sunday, Tom talks with Pulitzer-prize winning author Steven Hunter about his new book The Bullet Garden. This just-published novel features legendary Marine and father of literary icon Bob Lee. The book visits battlefields of World War II as Earl Swagger embarks on a top secret and deadly mission. CLICK HERE to read FREE 49-page preview of The Bullet Garden. Or listen to FREE Audio Sample on Amazon.
In hour three, Tom talks with Dan Groce of Vertx about concealed carry equipment. Vertx sells backpacks, duffles, cases, and cloth pouches designed to carry guns, ammo, and accessories.
In its 26th year of syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio show airs live on Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern and runs on more than 270 stations weekly. Listen to a Radio Station near you or listen via internet Live Streaming. All Gun Talk shows can be later accessed and downloaded for free as Podcasts online. Below is last week’s Gun Talk Radio Podcast which covered recent ATF rulings about AR pistol braces:
Australian defense contractor NIOA has announced the 100% acquisition of the industry-leading rifle design and manufacturing company, Barrett Firearms. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The American Barrett factory will continue to operate in the USA at its Murfreesboro, Tennessee location and all workers will be retained. Ronnie Barrett and Chris Barrett will serve as executive advisers to NIOA.
NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said the two family-owned companies came together out of a shared commitment to quality, innovation, loyalty, and mission: “NIOA’s association with Barrett dates back to 2008. We have been inspired by the story of Barrett and admire what Ronnie, Chris and the family have built over more than four decades. Together we share the same mission – combining our expertise and family business values will ensure Barrett carries on building the finest products in the world.”
Mr. Nioa confirmed the company would continue to operate under the Barrett brand as a separate division within the NIOA Group alongside NIOA Australia, NIOA New Zealand, the Australian Missile Corporation and the group’s investment in joint venture company Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions.
Outdoor Wire Editor Jim Shephard interviewed Robert Nioa recently. Jim noted that Barrett’s production will remain in the USA: “There’s absolutely no intention to move Barrett anywhere. In fact, Nioa told me in no uncertain terms that he isn’t looking to move Barrett, he’s looking forward to growing it beyond what it is today. And, he says, ‘I love Murfreesboro. We’re not going anywhere’.”
All management and staff at the Murfreesboro manufacturing facility in Tennessee have been retained and production will continue as normal. Over time it is expected that manufacturing activities in Murfreesboro will be expanded. As part of the NIOA acquisition, Barrett President Sam Shallenberger has been promoted to the role of Chief Executive Officer while long-serving Barrett Chief Operating Officer Bryan James becomes President. Ronnie Barrett and Chris Barrett will provide ongoing support as executive advisers to Barrett and the NIOA Group.
Barrett founder Ronnie Barrett said “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Barrett story. Rob and the NIOA team have great respect for the legacy Barrett has created as the leader in long range precision rifles. It’s reassuring to know Barrett will be in good hands with a family-owned company that is focused on manufacturing and delivering world-class firearms and munitions to a global network.”
About NIOA
NIOA is the largest Australian-owned supplier of firearms, weapons and ammunition to the Australian and New Zealand defense forces, law enforcement agencies, and commercial markets. It has long-standing trusted relationships with American companies such as Vista Outdoors, Leupold, General Dynamics, Northrup Grumman, and the Winchester-operated Lake City ammunition plant.
NIOA is a major tenant at the Australian government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) munitions facility at Benalla in Victoria. There NIOA currently manufactures 120mm munitions for the Abrams tank along with 30mm and 35mm cannon ammunition.
The company is contracted to deliver major weapons programs for the Australian and New Zealand militaries and has recently established an artillery shell forging factory in Maryborough, Queensland in a joint venture with Rheinmetall of Germany.
About Barrett Firearms
Barrett has been a family-owned and operated company and the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing.
Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military and more than 75 U.S. DOS-approved countries around the world.
The Barrett Quality Management System (QMS) has earned the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification for the design and manufacture of firearms, ammunition, and accessories, and for sniper systems training.
Here’s a radical new product from Accu-Tac — the first-ever Hydraulic Bipod. It works via a hydraulic piston in the top center of the bipod. The upper part of the piston attaches to a rifle’s fore-arm. The piston is connected via a hydraulic hose line to a remote cylinder with a red crank handle (dial) on top. When the shooter rotates the 4-pronged red dial this raises the rifle up/down slightly by moving the piston.
There is a full write-up GunsAmerica Digest (GAD) with more photos. GAD Reviewer Levi Sim explains:
“The big deal about this bipod is that red column under the rifle mount. It’s a piston that moves up and down with a dial that sits on the table.
This dial uses hydraulic pressure with oil in the hose to raise the rifle mount. Each 180° turn of the dial raises the piston 19mm. This precise adjustment should allow a shooter to make minute adjustments to the rifle’s elevation without shrugging their bodies around and should lead to greater precision.”
The new Accu-Tac Bipod has an adjustable leg spread which can extend to 27″. At the end of the legs are F-TR type skids that allow the rifle to slide back during recoil. These skids are bolted in place so it appears they do not rotate. This new bipod should be available for sale later in 2023 with an anticipated price around $800.00. SEE Other Accu-Tac Bipods.
Believe it or not, here is a cartridge that makes a .338 Lapua Magnum look like a toy. The 14.5x114mm cartridge was designed as a MG and rifle-fired anti-materiel round. To translate from the metric system to caliber and inches, the round is a mammoth .57 caliber which measures 4.49 inches to the case mouth, and 6.13 inches overall. That jumbo-sized case holds a whopping 655 grains of powder. Commonly-loaded projectiles weigh 920-1030 grains. The 993gr armor-piercing projectile has a muzzle velocity of approximately 1006 meters per second (3300 fps) and can penetrate 30-32 millimeters of RHA steel at a range of 500 meters.
The top photo comes from Elardus De Lang, a Forum member who works at the Truvelo Manufacturers Armoury in South Africa. Elardus also provided an impressive video showing the massive 14.5x114mm being shot from prone with a Truvelo-built bolt-action rifle. Elardus tells us: “Here is a video, with a slow-motion ending, of our 14.5x114mm anti-materiel rifle being fired in our indoor testing facility. This caliber is a true beast! It propels a 993gr Armor-Piercing Incendiary bullet to 3300 fps, burning 480 grains of powder in the process. [This shows] that rifles of that power level can actually be shootable. The concussion indoors is something to experience……every shot feels like you are being punched in the face, and the heat from the muzzle flash actually hits you like a wave!”
14.5x114mm Cartridge Design and Dimensions
The 14.5×114mm has 42.53 ml (655 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions. Cartridges typically use lacquered steel cases, but some countries also use brass cases for the 14.5x115mm.
All dimensions are in millimeters (mm). Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2, or 22.5 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 455 mm (1:17.91″) with eight lands/grooves. According to official guidelines, the 14.5×114mm can handle up to 360 MPa (52,213 psi) piezo pressure.
14.5x114mm Cartridge History
The 14.5×114mm (.57 Cal) is a heavy machine gun and anti-materiel rifle cartridge used by the Soviet Union, the former Warsaw Pact, modern Russia, and other countries. It was originally developed for the PTRS and PTRD anti-tank rifles, but was later used as the basis for the KPV heavy machine gun that formed the basis of the ZPU series anti-aircraft guns that is also the main armament of the BTR series of armoured personnel carriers from the BTR-60 to the BTR-80 and for heavy anti-material sniper rifles. The cartridge was designed in 1939 and first issued in 1941.
A while back, the Precision Rifle Blog conducted a fascinating study of Muzzle Brakes. PRB figured out a way to show the actual “blast pattern” of gasses ejecting from the ports of muzzle brakes. The result was a fascinating (and eye-catching) series of images revealing the distinctive gas outflows of 20+ different types of muzzle brakes. If you are considering buying and installing a muzzle brake on your rifle, you should definitely review this important PRB Muzzle Brake Test.
For a prone shooter, particularly on dusty, dirty or sandy ground, muzzle blast is a major bummer. Muzzle blast can be very disturbing — not just for the trigger-puller but for persons on either side of the gun as well. Some muzzle brakes send a huge shockwave back towards the shooter, and others send blast towards the ground, kicking dirt and debris into the prone shooter’s face. If there was a way to illustrate those factors — shockwave and debris — that might help shooters select one brake design over another.
Cal Zant at PrecisionRifleBlog.com applied a unique blend of creativity and resourcefulness to try to answer that question for 20+ muzzle brakes. Using high-speed photography and household products, he captured the blast pattern of 20+ different brake designs for easy side-by-side comparison. Can you figure out how Cal managed to show muzzle brake blasts so clearly? His “hi-viz” solution, revealed in the article, is very clever. See the eye-opening results for 20+ brakes, with illustrative photos, by visiting the Precision Rifle Blog Muzzle Brake Ground Signature Test Page.
