SHOT Show 2014
Boge Quinn at Gunblast - As usual, Gunblast visited this year's SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Just videos this year, no photos, but three Media Day videos and one for each of the three days of the show.
Windham Weaponry: An Inspiring Tale
David Fortier at Shotgun News - a photo special on Windham Weaponry, née Bushmaster. Remington bought Bushmaster and moved manufacturing to their Ilion, NY plant. Richard Dyke waited the five years in his non-compete clause, then, at the age of 77, gathered together the laid-off former Bushmaster employees, and started making ARs again in Windham, Maine. Consider them next time you're in the market for an AR platform.
Pictured below is the Varmint Exterminator (PDF), MSRP: $1,295.00.
Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Pump-Action 12 Gauge Shotgun UPDATE!
Jeff Quinn at Gunblast - a video update on Kel-Tec's new bullpup shotgun. Still working well after thousands of rounds, many of them old rounds.
Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Pump-Action 12 Gauge Fighting Shotgun
Jeff Quinn at Gunblast - Kel-Tec is now shipping their bullpup shotgun. They list its MSRP at $880. Gunbroker has bids from $880 to $1950.
Kel-Tec introduced their revolutionary KSG bullpup twin-magazine pump shotgun at the 2011 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. It has been a long wait, but production KSG shotguns are now shipping from the factory. I have had the opportunity to handle a couple of pre-production units earlier, but now finally have had a production gun here for a few days. From the introduction almost thirteen months ago, I have been eager to get to run some ammo through a KSG, and after spending a few days with the new shotgun, feeding it a variety of ammo, taking it apart and studying the design, it has exceeded my expectations.
SHOT Show 2012
Boge Quinn at Gunblast - this coming week is the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Gunshot will be there, with updates Monday through Thursday nights.
American-Made Hellhound Tactical and Sporter 7.62x39mm AK Rifles from I.O., Inc.
Jeff Quinn at Gunblast - I.O. Inc. has some new, American made AK-47 style rifles in 7.62x39. Jeff got sub-one-inch groups at 100 yards with a scope and good ammo. Gun Broker lists the top-of-the-line Hellhound Tactical model (pictured below) at $730 to $790 and the Sporter at $600.
These AK rifles from I.O., Inc. have changed the way that I think about AK rifles. My experience up to now had been that the Kalashnikov design was reliable and rugged, but inaccurate when compared to other rifles, such as an AR. After firing these American-made I.O. rifles, I now know that AKs can also be very accurate, as well.
There's a YouTube video (embedded below).
1877 Bulldog Gatling Gun
Colt's Manufacturing - A classic remake. Museum Quality, Fully Operational, Built To Original Size, 45-70 Government Caliber, Fires Up To 800 Rounds Per Minute, Five Fully Brass Encased Direct Drive Barrels, Beautiful Brass and Iron Tripod, Walnut Stained Hard Wood Tripod Legs, V-Notch Rear Sight, Graduated To 1,000 Yards, Includes Deluxe Transit Chests, Tools and Accessories, Limited One Year Warranty On All Parts and Labor, Made In The U.S.A. No price in sight. Photo below from this MGE Wholesale page.
The New Ruger American Rifle
Jeff Quinn at Gunblast - The Ruger American is a new bolt-action rifle. Looks to me like Ruger's response to Savage. It has a removable 4-round box magazine, an adjustable trigger with integrated Glock-and-Accutrigger-like safety lever, short-throw big-ball bolt, and good out-of-the-box accuracy. MSRP: $450. Available mid-January, according to Ruger's page. Available in .243, .270, 30-06, and .308.
Backup Knives
When I lost my CRKT Steve Ryan Model Seven folding knife back in 2009, I couldn't find a replacement, so I got a Cold Steel Medium Espada. Much fancier knife, and better locking mechanism, but no better as a practical tool. Well, I lost that the other day, ouch, so I went to Knife Center to look for a replacement. Wonder of wonders, they had the Ryan Model Seven again, on sale for only $18. I bought two. The CRKT Crawford Kasper folding knife looked interesting too, and was also only $18, so I got it.
Shortly before the new knives arrived, I moved back in my desk chair and heard a loud clump on the floor. There was the Espada! Cool. So now I have three backups for my primary everyday carry knife. Notice my penchant for an index finger notch.
Keltec Firearms Gallery
Oleg Volk has a gallery of photos of Kel-Tec firearms, including a number of the new KSG (Kel-tec ShotGun). That product page says they expect to ship by the end of 2011 for an estimated MSRP of $880.
The KSG (Kel-Tec Shotgun) is Kel-Tec CNC’s first entry into the shotgun market. The size, shape, and design is similar to the currently available Kel-Tec RFB rifle, but the KSG ejects downward, instead of forward. The KSG weighs 6.9 lbs. and is as compact as legally possible with a 26.1” overall length and an 18.5” cylinder bore barrel. Even with this compact size, the internal dual tube magazines hold an impressive 12 rounds of 12 gauge 3” rounds in total (6 per tube). It can also reliably shoot shells as short as 1 3/4" up to the 3".
