A Lithonia homeowner who shot a man who allegedly tried to burglarize his home will face charges. The shooting happened Thursday morning on Gadwall Circle in Lithonia. Police said it appeared that the suspect was outside of the house.
“It came in through here went through the garage, hit the electrical panel, went through the bathroom and lodged in the wall,” said Eric Thomas of the bullet that hit his home after a neighbor shot at an alleged intruder.
The shooting happened Thursday morning when police said the burglar entered a house located a couple of doors down from where Thomas lives.
Police said the unidentified homeowner interrupted the burglar and apparently shot him as he fled.
DeKalb County police said the homeowner who shot the suspect was charged with aggravated assault because the shots were fired outside of the home.
Investigators said the homeowner was taken to jail.
The suspect who allegedly tried to break into the home faces a charge of attempted burglary.
“We got laws that say certain things, but morally I don't think he should be charged because he was protecting his home and this subdivision,” said Thomas. Read more
Kenosha Police Department officials said that two men with partially concealed faces entered the Jewelry Exchange at 2400 52nd St. around 12:30 p.m. and confronted the 55-year-old owner.
Police said one suspect pointed a handgun at the owner, but the owner drew his own handgun from under the desk where he was sitting and shot the suspect once in the chest. The two men fled without taking anything.
Police found the wounded suspect laying on the grass next to a curb on the 2400 block of 51st Street. He was conscious and there was a .44 magnum revolver on the ground next to him. He was taken to Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center where he was in stable condition. He was expected to undergo surgery, police said.
The suspect is 29-years-old and is under police guard at the hospital. Police said he was on parole through the Illinois Department of Corrections for theft, auto theft and a drug offense. Read more
The .280 Remington is a useful big-game cartridge, though its popularity with shooters has taken a while to catch on. Here are some thoughts on reloading and shooting the .280 Rem.
In the world of hunting cartridges there are some winners and some losers, those cartridges that never quite measured up to the media hype and those that exceeded all expectations. Some of the winners were slow to catch on and some of the losers were slow to die; regardless of false starts, name changes and so forth, Remington had a winner with the .280.
I received a good bit of mail on my column dealing with the .270 Winchester (keep it coming, I love it!), some good and some downright hateful; well, for those of you out there who are die-hard .270 fans, this effort might not be a column you want to read. I’ve always said that if you have confidence in a chambering and can shoot it well in your chosen rifle then there is no argument that is what you should shoot. If your cup of tea is the .270 then by all means, take it to the limit.
What I have found is that for such a small difference in bullet diameter there is a whale of a difference in ballistic performance and performance on big game; the truth is the .280 is a better round any way you slice it.
It is a real shame that we Americans were so late in coming to the .284” bullet diameter. Of course there were many reasons for our selection of the .308” bore, too many to go into in this short column, but when we talk about simple ballistics and basic physics the .284” diameter projectile has a lot going for it.
The .280 Remington is essentially the .30/06 necked down to 7mm with some slight dimensional differences, the most important of these that the shoulder is moved slightly forward so the .280 will not chamber in the .270. The .280 is not a new design (appearing in wildcat form at the end of WWII) but did not become a factory round until 1957.
In its initial form it was somewhat underloaded (it was originally introduced in a semi-auto rifle) but today it is a stout, ballistically sound chambering suitable for nearly any big game. Where it beats the .270 is in bullet weight availability and in sectional density of like bullet weights. For this discussion I’d like to quote the best discussion of this ballistic characteristic I have read, from Wikipedia, the Internet information site.
Sectional Density conveys the ability for an object to overcome resistance. When a projectile is in flight or impacting an object, it is the sectional density of that projectile which will determine how efficiently it can overcome the resistance to air or object. The greater the sectional density is for a projectile the greater its efficiency is and therefore its ability to overcome the resistance of air and object.
The .284” bullet diameter, with like bullet weights, has higher sectional density figures than the .277” bullet diameter.
The most popular bullets in the .270 are the 130- and 150-grain slugs (this from Hornady on sales of bullets) and even though a couple of other weights are available for it, the .280 can be loaded successfully with 100, 110, 115, 120, 130, 139, 140, 145, 150, 154, 160, 165, 168 and 175 weight slugs. For the one-rifle hunter the .280 makes an excellent choice because of this latitude in bullet selection.
The Remington .280 has a superior sectional density to the .270.
For varmints the 100-grain Sierra hollow point can be driven to 3400 fps at very mild pressure with #760 making for a very flat shooting long-range rig. For game up to caribou and big black bears the 140-grain Nosler Partition and Hodgdon 4831 is simply hard to beat, knocking on the 3000 fps door. If you have a mind to shoot a moose or big bull elk with your .280 I could recommend the 160-grain Partition and Hodgdon 1000, a bone-smashing, deep penetrating combination when stoked up between 2700 and 2800 fps.
My favorite load for the .280 serves double duty on unruly groundhogs and coyotes and usually gets the call for our whitetails, Speer’s 115-grain hollow point and 58 grains of Hodgdon 4350 in Remington cases and set off with Remington’s large rifle primer. This is not a “through the shoulder” load; it is so accurate in my .280 I have no problem slipping it between the ribs on a deer or, if the opportunity arises, between the eyes on those big, fat meaty does. All of this accomplished with roughly four fifths the pressure of like-weight loads in the .270.
The .280 had a hard start, being introduced so long after the .270 hit the shelves, and it did not have a mouthpiece like Jack O’Connor trumpeting its virtues in the outdoor magazines. Coupled with this was the introduction of the 7mm Remington Magnum by the parent company in 1962 and the attempt in 1979 to rename the cartridge the “7mm Remington Express”, which thoroughly befuddled the American shooter. Now that all this has died down what serious shooters have found is a wonderful, powerful chambering that truly is an “all-around” big-game cartridge. Several factory rifles are available in the chambering and it is a very popular caliber in custom rifles. A properly scoped sporter in .280 is at home anywhere big game is found.
So, for you .270 fans, keep shooting your favorite and I wish you luck with it. But if given the choice between the two, make mine a .280.
This article appeared in the September 28, 2009 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Oddballs like myself are drawn to oddball guns. Two of the most interesting revolvers I’ve ever shot have been the 40 S&W/10mm Model 610 revolver from Smith & Wesson, which had an MSRP of $661 when I bought one 10 years ago, and a Freedom Arms’ Premier-grade single-action 5-shooter in .41 Magnum, which was listed at $1,673 in 1998.
Various versions of this pair have been listed in GDTM’s pages over the past few months, but never in much volume. That’s not surprising, since both wheelguns are oddball chamberings for revolvers. But to its credit, Smith still lists the 610, though its MSRP has jumped almost 50 percent, to $980 for either the 4- or 6.5-inch-barrel model, the latter of which is like my former gun. The current version of the 6.5-inch gun is No. 150278 in S&W’s catalog.
Freedom Arms likewise still catalogs a 41 Remington Magnum, and its price hasn’t gone up much in the last decade. The Model 97 No. 905-17 comes in three barrel lengths (4.25, 5.5, and 7.5 inch), and all three sell for $1772.
If you’re an oddball, too, and you would consider buying either of these guns, here’s what you need to know.
Ammo Shortage
Though the S&W 610 is a modern single-action/double-action design and the Freedom Arms .41 mag is single-action only, both guns suffer from a lack of available commercial ammunition, despite the 610 shooting both the .40 S&W round and 10mm cartridges. Certainly, these guns would benefit from handloaded ammunition.
Velocities from the .41 Magnum rounds were impressive. The Federal Hunting 250-grain Castcore ran 1,258 fps, but it was topped (naturally) by the lighter Federal Classic 210-grain Hi-Shok jacketed hollowpoints at 1,466 fps and Winchester 175-grain Silvertip hollowpoints at 1,384 fps.
The 40s and 10mms weren’t bad. Winchester 180-grain full-metal-jacket 40 S&Ws traveled 1,035 fps, similar to the Black Hills 180-grain JHP 40 S&W at 1,032 fps. Hornady 155-grain JHP 10mms were the fastest at 1,389 fps, followed by American Eagle 180-grain 10mm lead bullets (1,072 fps), Blazer 200-grain TMJ 10mms (1,045 fps), and Eldorado Starfire 180-grain JHP 10mm, (956 fps).
S&W 610 Details
The 610 was a handsome stainless-steel six-shooter. Despite its 6.5-inch barrel with full underlug, it had a compact, solid feel. The double-action pull was too heavy for rapid-fire situations, but the Smiths are famous for responding to the gunsmith’s touch. The 610 was a moon-clip gun, that is, the ammunition is held together by a steel clip that contacts the cylinder in front of the breech face.
I thought the Hogue Mono-grip with finger grooves was excellent for double-action use. The gun’s front sight was a serrated ramp with orange insert and the rear was a white-outlined rear notch. Together, they could be confusing.
The single-action trigger was excellent. Its feel was heavy but consistent at 4.5 pounds. Fifty-yard groups for the 610 in 40 S&W averaged just below 5 inches. This same gun was, on average, 1 inch per group more accurate when shooting 10mm ammo. Best groups were obtained with the Hornady 155-grain XTP jacketed hollowpoint in the 10mm case. The 10mm and 40-caliber rounds didn’t cause as much recoil as did the 41 Magnum.
Freedom Arms Premier 41 Magnum
Recoil from the 210-grain Federal Classic 41 Magnums was painful. If I hadn’t used gloves back in the day, sharp edges at the top of the backstrap and under the trigger guard would have sliced my skin.
The Freedom 41 Magnum yielded exceptional results at 50 yards. Two out of the three rounds I fired produced groups of less than 3 inches. Federal Classic 210-grain Hi-Shok JHPs shot 5.0-inch groups, but Winchester 175-grain Silvertip HPs went 3.0 inches and Federal Hunting 250-grain Castcore rounds shot the best groups, 2.9 inches.
Elsewhere, the rosewood grips were blended exquisitely into the brushed stainless-steel frame. The cylinder was left without flutes for extra strength, which we think adds to the overall appearance. The barrel was also brushed stainless, and lettering on the side was tastefully executed. I found the sights offered a clean definition of the desired point of aim.
To load it, the shooter pulled the hammer back to a half-cock position and opened the loading gate on the right side. The cylinder rotated clockwise. Ejection was accomplished by pushing out spent shells with the spring-loaded ejector rod riding along the bottom right side of the barrel. The gate can be closed, the hammer pulled back, or dropped into a safe position all with one hand, adding to the impression of a classic firearm.
Attention to detail on this gun was flawless, and the materials were first rate.
My only complaint was that while crisp edges on the gun look good, but they might cut the shooter’s hands. On a gun with such extraordinary machining, breaking the edges on the backstrap, trigger guard, and loading gate would make the gun more comfortable to shoot.
I have just bought a Stevens Model 311 double for my collection. Other Stevens-made doubles I own have ‘plain' serial numbers, none over five digits, on the frame, barrels and fore end. This one has a capital letter C prefix ahead of a six digit number and it appears only on the left side of the frame.
Do you know the significance of this C letter prefix? Can I determine the date of manufacture from this letter? Do letter prefixes occur on other versions of the Stevens 311? I have seen Stevens 311s with no serial numbers at all. Can you make some sense out of Savage/Stevens/Fox/Springfield serial number usage that will help me to date my doubles and clue me in on important variations? Can you tell me what the letter prefixes mean? Does it give me a clue to the correct Model designation? I am confused.
The short answer is yes, but it would take more space than Gun Digest can give us for this Q&A column to give you complete answers. For now I can tell you, sticking to doubles only, that:
1. Stevens used plain numbers from their first double in 1878 until 1913.
2. Letter prefixes crept in on the serial numbers used on both hammer and hammerless doubles from 1913 to 1939. They always signified a change in mechanical design or manufacturing process which resulted in an interesting variant.
3. From 1940 to 1948 no serial numbers were used on doubles, only capital letters, usually in groups of three or four, the letter(s) sometimes enclosed in a circle, along with an inspector's symbol ( a heart , a diamond, a spade or some such ‘shape', on the bottom of the frame behind the hinge pin.
4. From 1948 to 1968 the letter symbols under the frame were changed to a ‘Capital letter with a one or two digit number' in a 1/4″ circle. This was a date code which you will find illustrated in the Savage-Stevens-Fox pages of your Standard Catalog of Firearms.
5. From October 1968 to March 1988 Savage/Stevens/Fox B doubles are serial numbered in a completely new serial number range beginning at A000001. The six digit (always) numbers, stamped only on the left side of the frame, not on the barrels or fore end or on the wood, are preceded by capital letters from A to E. The letters do not correlate to production years. The letter prefix accompanied the Savage/Stevens/FoxB/Springfield serial number on every gun they made from 1968 on. Beginning about 1978 numbers 1 to 20 were also stamped on the three major components, frame,barrels and fore end iron, to enable the factory to keep 20 guns of like model together in a group for packing in the standard 20 gun shipping carton.
Yours is one of these. Since I am interested only in double guns I stopped looking for numbers on Savage'Stevens doubles after 1988 because that's the year they shipped their last ‘Stevens Model 311′.
The highest number I have seen was on 20 gauge Stevens Model 311 Series H serial number E957971. The Savage branded imported doubles, over and unders or side by sides, are numbered differently. Each model is numbered in the range created by its manufacturer. As you probably have heard, Savage/Stevens' production records on their older models were destroyed in a sprinkler accident about 35 years ago, according to officers of the company.
To calculate an approximate number of ‘Stevens Model 311s' that were made from 1968 to 1988 you could do this math exercise. Since Savage used 5 letters (A to E), each on 999,999 guns, they must have made about 5 million guns. Perhaps 40% were doubles in the various Savage Brands and Private Brands. That makes 2 million doubles of which I estimate 80% were Stevens 311's. And that's not counting production before 1968. No wonder the “311” in its various variations is the all time favorite American made double.
And think how many Stevens 311s ( and Stevens made doubles that looked like Stevens 311s but carried private brands) had already been produced in the years between 1940 (first year of the ‘true' Stevens Model 311) and 1968, during which time they weren't serial numbered at all! There must be at least 4 million Stevens Model 311s, in one form or another, out there!
A: They are likely most widely used weapons system the world has seen, affecting almost every warring nation during the past 125 years.
Q: What makes the Mauser bolt-action rifle the quintessential soldier’s weapon?
A: Its design features have not been improved from the time it was developed in its most refined form as the G98 rifle and K98k carbine. The rifle and carbine have features that simplify the job of a soldier — mainly to kill the enemy swiftly and efficiently. The magazine is within the stock of the weapon, providing balance and trim lines. The bolt cocks upon opening, making it easier for a soldier to cycle the action.
Because of the undercut extractor, gas-escape ports, shrouded bolt head, gas shield on the bolt sleeve, enlarged-diameter receiver ring, and dual opposing locking lugs and safety lug, this is the safest bolt-action weapon system for the battlefield.
Q: What are the ergonomic advantages of the bolt-action concept?
A: For the aforementioned reasons, people could easily use the Mauser bolt-action system. During the Boer war, Boer farmers used the 1893, 1895 and 1896 rifles, short rifles and carbines with devastating effect on British troops. The Boers were natural shooters, using their skills daily during peace and handily in wartime.
Q: What’s the basic operation of the rifle?
A: Held at the balance by the left hand, grasp the bolt knob with your right hand, lifting the bolt and withdrawing it to the rear until it comes to a full stop. You then insert a clip of cartridges into the charger guides at the receiver bridge (the rear of the action area) and press down on the five cartridges in the clip, seating them in the magazine well. The clip can be withdrawn by hand or dislodged by pushing the bolt handle forward while seating a cartridge in the chamber.
Then, the weapon is ready to fire. If you don’t shoot it immediately, the leaf safety at the rear of the bolt can be pushed from left to right, locking the firing pin and preventing the weapon from firing. When you’re ready to fire, you can move the safety from right to left. After firing, operate the bolt to eject the empty cartridge case and allow the next cartridge to be fed into the chamber. Follow this sequence until all five cartridges have been fired.
Q: How many Mauser Model 98 system rifles were made?
A: Estimates exceed 102 million. During World War I and World War II, records were destroyed, so we don’t have accurate figures.
Q: How many countries used the Mauser rifle? How many firms manufactured them?
A: Almost every armed country has included Mauser rifle systems in their armories, including the United States, most European nations, and countries in Africa, the far East and South and Central America.
Rifles were manufactured by various German state arsenals, the Mauser Arms Co. (Waffenfabrik Mauser), the Austrian Arms Co., Steyr, Ludwig Loewe and Co. of Berlin, Fabrique National d’Armes de Guerrre (FN), Herstal of Belgium, and Deutsches Waffen-und-Munitionsfabriken A.G. (German Arms and Ammunition Co. Inc.), which was formed by the merger of Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik A.G. (German Metallic Cartridge Co. Inc.), Ludwig Loewe & Co. Inc. of Berlin, Rheinisch-Westfaelischen Powder Co. of Cologne, Rottweil-Hamburg Powder Co. of Rottweil and Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka (CZ).
Q: Why has this design never been improved?
A: Paul Mauser was the research and development genius, and his brother, Wilhelm, was the salesman extraordinaire. Paul Mauser foresaw design problems the brothers would have to overcome, and slowly, trial by trial, they conquered all obstacles, producing a system that fulfilled all requests from governments regarding safety, utility, manufacture and ease of operation. More than 100 years later, aside from cosmetic touches, the basic design cannot be improved.
Q: What about the Mauser sporting rifles?
A: Well known and well liked by sportsmen and hunters throughout the world, the Model 98 action design has proven itself time and again. The popularity of the Mauser Sporter can be attributed to its beautiful appearance, light weight, excellent balance and excellent accuracy. It was made in many calibers to provide the best performance in hunting light, medium and heavy game.
Although patterned after the military action design, the Sporter rifles reveal much more care, and nicer fitting and finishing of components. All the fine details — such as headspacing, smooth operation, trigger pull and firing pin adjustment — are treated in loving fashion.
Q: Why did Germany choose the Mauser as its principal rifle in both world wars?
A: Well, that’s no mystery. Germany authorities realized they had the best bolt-action rifle available, and although the G8 had problems in trench warfare, the action was perfect and let them build another generation of rifles, which were shorter and more easily managed afield.
Q: The United States licensed Mauser ideas for use in the Model 1903 Springfield. Why?
A: In 1892, Germany had submitted rifles to the United States weapons trials, where they performed well but were rejected in favor of the Krag Jorgensen rifle system. By the time the G98 Mauser system was developed, the U.S. Weapons Evaluation Board realized the Mauser was far superior to other designs. Paying a relatively modest licensing and manufacturing fee, the United States acquired the rights to use the Mauser system in new weapons, and the Model 1903 Springfield Rifle was the result. Q: How did the World War I and World War II Mauser rifles differ?
A: The G98 was 49.20 inches long, with a Lange Vizier, or roller coaster-type rear sight. With addition of the issue bayonet, it might stretch nearly another 18 inches. It also had an awkward straight bolt handle, which was often difficult to work during battlefield conditions.
After World War I, the Germans revised the rear sight, making it a tangent, or flat rear sight graduated — like the G98 — out to 2,000 meters, making it easier for soldiers to use. The Reichswehr Weapons Evaluation Boards decided that instead of having one rifle for the infantry and a shorter version (the Model 98AZ (98a) Carbine) for specialized troops, one standard-sized short rifle would be produced to arm the entire army, navy and fledgling air force. That culminated in the Kar 98k, which followed in the steps of the Model 98b, Standard Mauser Banner Model 1933 Short Rifle and Mauser Banner Model 1933 Carbine. Bob Ball is a U.S. Army veteran and long-time collector of military weapons, specializing in Mauser military rifles. He is also a lifelong student of military history. His book Mauser Military Rifles of the World, currently in its fourth edition, is the leading reference on Mauser rifles and their values. He is one of the nation's leading experts on historic military firearms and their use throughout the world.
The Golani Sporter rifle, reliable while using a .223 cartridge.
Century International Arms, widely recognized as the largest importer of surplus firearms and ammunition, has come out with a semi-auto only version of the famous Israeli Galil rifle in .223 Rem./5.56x45mm – the Golani Sporter.
Named after Israel’s Golani Brigade which first tested this rifle, the design of the original military Galil rifle (and thus the Golani Sporter) was a cross largely between the AK-47, the M16 and the FN-FAL. Essentially the rifle’s designer, Israel Galil, attempted to incorporate the legendary reliability of the AK-47 while using the .223 cartridge. The result was the adoption of Galil’s design by the Israeli military in 1972.
Produced by Israel Military Industries (IMI), the original Galil rifle was made in several variations, including: a version with folding bipod and carrying handle; Galil assault rifle without bipod or carry handle, a short five-inch barrel variation, a Micro-Galil and a heavy-barreled sniper model. Most were chambered for 5.56mm NATO but some were also made in 7.62x51mm (.308 Winchester).
The Israelis’, however, while pleased with the performance of the Galil rifle, soon phased it out of use in favor of the M16 and CAR-15 rifles supplied by the United States at cut-rate prices through foreign aid programs.
Design Elements
At first glance, it is noted that the Golani Sporter, as distributed by Century International Arms, incorporates some of the best and handiest features of the original Galil. It has a sturdy tubular steel folding stock for example, as well as a strong, long-life milled receiver. The fixed operating handle is mounted vertically, allowing it to be ergonomically operated by either the right- or left-hand.
The ambidextrous side safety is located for convenient thumb access on the left side of the receiver above the pistol grip. It is connected to the traditional sheet metal AK safety selector on the right side of the receiver, so the safety can be operated from either side of the rifle.
The rear sight, containing a protective housing, is mounted on top of the receiver cover and is fitted with an “L” shaped, flip-type aperture offering both a 300m and 500m zero. The windage and elevation adjustable AK-style front post sight is adjustable up or down with an AK sight tool. Windage adjustment is performed by loosening and tightening two opposing screws that move the front sight assembly within its dovetail notch. The front sight housing also is provided with a post flip-up night sight, although due to age, the tritium lamps are no longer functional. There is also a scope rail machined into the left side of the receiver to allow optics mounting.
Since the Golani Sporter's handguard is mounted so that it does not touch the rifle’s American-made 16.25-inch chrome moly barrel, it allows for greater air circulation around the barrel, resulting in a cooler barrel, even during sustained firing – not to mention greater accuracy. Additionally, the interior of the handguard is lined with an aluminum heat shield to keep it comfortable to hold during prolonged firing. While some shooters prefer a chrome-lined barrel, Century Arms conservatively estimates that the Golani’s chrome molly barrel can easily yield a useful life of 12,000-rounds before requiring replacement. With its twist rate of 1-9”, the Golani can readily handle all varieties of .223/5.56 ball ammo. The barrel is also fitted with a birdcage-type flash suppressor and a bayonet lug.
At the gun’s other end, the Golani’s heavy, tubular folding stock provides a solid rest against the shoulder and securely folds out of the way when needed, allowing the rifle to be more easily transported, packed, or carried. The combination of the nearly 8-1/4 pound weight of the rifle and its barrel mounted muzzle brake work with the low –impulse .223/5.56mm cartridge to render felt recoil negligible, if at all.
Another thoughtful feature of the Golani is that it is fitted with side-mounted sling swivels, positioned on the opposite side of that of the operating handle. This allows the rifle to lie flat and comfortably out of the way when slung across the back. Finally, the Golani leaves nothing to be desired in the firepower arena, as it comes with two 35-round magazines. The heavy steel construction of these mags make them nearly indestructible.
Built from a combination of new and surplus parts along with a durable matte parkerized finish, the Golani Sporter’s overall construction is extremely robust, solid as a tank, and made to last.
The Golani is actually easier to disassemble and reassemble than an AK.
How the Golani Rifle Functions
When the rifle is fired, gases from the burning propellant powder enter the gas tube and push the gas piston and bolt carrier rearward. This backward movement causes the bolt to rotate and move rearward allowing the empty cartridge case to be pulled backward out of the chamber by the extractor. As it moves, the cartridge case is pushed out of the ejection port by the ejector. At the same time, the hammer is automatically re-cocked and re-engaged with the trigger sear.
After compression by the bolt carrier and bolt, the return spring expands and forces the bolt carrier and bolt forward. During its travel, the bolt strips a cartridge from the magazine and feeds it into the barrel’s chamber as the extractor catches the cartridge’s case rim. At the end of the parts’ movement, the bolt is locked (by spring pressure) against the breech.
Disassembly & Reassembly
Pretty much standard Kalashnikov disassembly and reassembly procedures apply to the Golani. No tools are needed to field strip. The Golani is actually easier to disassemble and reassemble than an AK as the receiver cover simply fits into a recess at the rear of the AK-style gas tube.
After removing the magazine and making absolutely certain that the rifle is unloaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction while moving the safety selector lever to the “F” or “fire position.” Press in on the cover catch at the rear of the receiver to release it. Then, tilt the cover assembly to the right while lifting it and then pull it backward to remove the cover assembly from the rifle.
While steadying the rifle with one hand, press inward on the cover catch again and remove the recoil spring assembly. Pull the bolt and carrier assembly out of the rifle. Grasp the gas cylinder assembly with one hand and with the other, pull upward and outward on the gas cylinder to remove it. No further disassembly is required for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Reassembly is in reverse order of disassembly. Fit the rear end of the gas cylinder in its guide between the handguard and the chamber. Insert the gas cylinder’s front end into the opening below the front sight and push it into place.
Install the bolt inside the carrier and while pushing it forward turn it until it locks into position. Use the thumb to keep the bolt locked into position while installing the bolt carrier assembly into the rifle’s receiver. Point the piston toward the gas cylinder and the rear of the assembly toward the groove in the receiver when installing.
Then, insert the front end of the return spring assembly into the opening at the rear of the bolt carrier. Push the spring’s rear end inside the groove in the receiver, making sure the rear end is resting against the receiver. Install the receiver cover above the bolt carrier assembly. Push the cover’s back against the cover catch while inserting the front end of the cover into the arched slot at the base of the gas cylinder.
Now, push the edge of the cover into the slot at the receiver’s rear until the cover catch engages the cover and protrudes through its opening. Check function by cycling the bolt to ensure the rifle has been correctly reassembled.
One trick that some use to ease reassembly of AK-style rifles is to place the recoil spring guide rod slightly below its notch in the receiver onto the interior rear receiver wall. Then place the receiver cover in place. Retract the operating handle smartly to the rear and the guide rod should pop into its notch while the disassembly tab (also called a “cover catch”) will pop into and lock in place through the square-cut hole on the rear of the receiver cover.
Specifications:
Caliber: .223 Rem./5.56x45mm; Type of Firearm: semi-automatic rifle; Barrel Length: 16.25”; Rate of Twist: 1 turn in 9”; Overall Length: 29” (with stock folded), 38” (with stock extended); Weight: 8.13 lbs.; Magazine Capacity: 35-rounds; Sights: Rear, twin aperture flip-type peep with protective wings, Front, dual post with protective ring; front sight adjustable for elevation with an accessory sight tool, windage adjustments are made with the screws at the front sight’s base; Sling attachment points at left sides of gas tube and receiver; Folding Stock locks into extended position via a spring-loaded mechanism.
Golani Recall
Century International Arms has issued a recall notice for certain Galil and/or Golani Semi-Auto Sporter rifles that have serial numbers between GAL00001 and GAL02393. The owners of such rifles carrying those serial numbers are asked to return their firearm to Century Arms to have a modified bolt, new firing pin and firing pin spring installed to ensure that the Golani offers the utmost safety and reliability.
All Galil and/or Golani rifles that have the letter “F” or “X” on the bottom of the receiver front cut off have already been upgraded and these rifles do not need to be sent in. Dealers are requested to provide Century Arms with the names, addresses and contact information of the purchasers of affected Galil/Golani rifles. Century will contact them directly. To obtain a return authorization, call Century Arms at 1-800-270-2767.
This article appeared in the August 31, 2009 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Today’s optics have come a long way from the earlier versions, letting shooters identify targets and put the sight on smaller aiming points.
The barrel, action and stock all play an important part in building a precision rifle. But once everything is said and done, you'll need something that will get you on target. Whether you shoot sights or optics, these tips will keep you on target.
I was at a 1000-yard shoot a few weeks ago and the guys with open sights were keeping up with the optics shooters. The BPCR (Black Powder Cartridge Rifle) shooters guide their pill with incredible accuracy using tang type sights. The two things they have in common are plenty of practice and quality equipment. The same rule applies for optical equipment.
Just putting optics on a rifle doesn’t automatically make us better shooters. For me it just lets me see the thing I am going to miss much better. Optics started coming into play earlier than one might think and they were long and cumbersome and lacked the clarity that we enjoy today in optics. I guess their eyes started going bad, too. The optics made things closer and the shooter was able to identify targets and put the sight on more precise spots, or smaller aiming points, on the target or critter. This provides more consistency in aiming points and allows an accurate rifle to do its job.
The shooter must do his job also. This is where the practice thing comes in. The rifle must be shouldered so the scope has the proper eye relief and gives a full clear picture. The vertical crosshair must be perpendicular to the rifle and held consistently in that position shot to shot. Higher magnification exaggerates jitters, also making it harder to keep the cross on the mark the instant the gun discharges. These and a host of other things must be mastered to get the most out of accurate rifles and the precision optics we are blessed with these days.
The highest quality optic will be wasted if it is mounted improperly. The scope works best when it is perfectly centered on the rifle. Most of my rifles have the twist lock type mounts from either Leupold or Millet because they are rock solid mounts and the windage can be adjusted in the base with screws without touching the windage turret. The elevation can be corrected with shims in the bottom half of the rings or at the base. By centering and bore sighting this way, the elevation and windage turrets can be used extensively for shooting corrections without taking up valuable clicks just to sight it at 100 yards. I will also do as many mechanical adjustments that I can at the range for fine tuning only using the turret for minor adjustments.
The Shepherd scope, with its dual reticle system, is metered out to represent known sizes for estimating range. The lines correspong to 18 inches, the width of a man’s shoulders and the width of the chest cavity in hoofed mammals.
The easiest way to accomplish this is to buy mounts that have adjustments for windage and elevation that can be easily adjusted at the range. Shims can also be used to adjust elevation without using the turret. One such mount is Holland’s Perfect Picatinny Rail Mount. It is machined from a near perfect Remington receiver with 20 minute of angle (MOA) forward slope. It has mechanical windage adjustment and should be machined perfectly for elevation. If not, it can be fitted to individual receivers with a little machining. It comes with complete instructions but does require drilling and tapping a hole for a lock-down screw. It is rock solid and perfectly centered when complete.
When I mount the scope, I check the elevation with a bore-sighting device. Windage can usually only be adjusted with some sort of screw base or the shooter will have to use the turret. If the holes on the receiver are off by much, it cannot be shimmed and the adjustable base will have to be used. If it is way off up or down I will bring it in with shims. Brass is a good shim material and Brownells sells a variety of sizes. A .014-inch shim will change the MOA quite a bit, about 10 MOA.
I have several rifles that have scopes mounted with Weaver based mounts and they are good ¾ minute shooters. The only problem I have with them is not being able to adjust the windage mechanically from the base screw. If the mount holes are not perfect on the rifle, they will be tougher to mount perfectly. They are solid mounts, though, and I have never had one loosen that was mounted correctly. Also, I prefer mounts and rings made from steel for precision rifles.
Planning and mounting the proper scope on the rifle is also important. Thought must be put into what the rifle’s primary intended use will be to match it with the most useful optical device. A predator or varmint rifle might require higher power optics as would a precision or tactical rifle. Weight might be a factor if it is going to be packed far on a sheep hunt. Also thought must be put into the necessary magnification for longer shots.
The length and diameter of the tube will cause mounting problems as will the larger 50-mm objective that will have to be addressed so it will not contact the barrel even slightly when mounted. Some of the new power adjustment rings are larger than others and may contact the bolt area and require higher rings. 30-mm tubes require larger rings but allow more light to pass through.
Leupold offers a scope for just about any mission. The quality and huge price range will offer the best scope you can afford. Their scopes come with a wide range of reticles also, and it seems that with ranges being longer these days drop compensation is a welcome feature. For a hunting scope, I can get by with covered turrets because once the scope is adjusted I will most likely not touch them again, making any compensation for wind and elevation by corrective aiming. This is why I like the compensation reticles. They give me more precise aiming points right in the scope so I can quickly pick a corrected aiming point as the game is nervously getting ready to bolt.
The Varminter reticle from Leupold was a perfect choice for my light hunting rifle. The 3.5-14 power variable VX3 scope gives plenty of magnification for distant or small targets and the 3.5 makes it quick for closer shots. The Varminter reticle has lines for elevation out to 500 yards and windage compensation to 20 mph direct value. These scopes will compensate for a wide variety of cartridges and with a little fieldwork they are extremely precise for the hunting rifle.
Shepherd scopes are another good choice for both hunting and tactical as their reticles also are designed for compensation of drop. The lines and circles are metered out to represent known sizes for estimating range and picking the correct hold for those distances. Lines in between the aiming circles represent 18 inches at that range and that is the approximate width of a man’s shoulders. The circle diameter represents a certain size, depending on the model, which could be matched with a chest cavity of an ungulate of the edible variety. It is a quick point and shoot system that works well in the field.
On my tactical rifle I prefer a MilDot reticle with target type turrets that are well marked for elevation and windage. Usually it is a long range gun, 1000 yards, and I prefer to set the elevation and windage according to conditions and hold the cross hair right on target. For military purposes or long-range target shooting, which is what I use it for, it is a great system when there is time to make adjustments. I believe there is more versatility and precision once you get to know your load and rifle. I have had a Leupold Vari-X III (4.5-14x50mm) on this rifle for many years now and it has performed well for me. I also like the side focus knobs over the objective parallax because it is easier for me to adjust while observing through the scope. The scope also has covers to keep settings protected during movement to a better hide.
I have always liked to have turrets that are exposed but would be protected from being knocked off, saving time not having to remove the screw-on covers. In a critical situation it seems like there is about 100 more threads than needed to remove the caps and then there is the possibility of losing them. BSA’s line of tactical scopes (STS Stealth Tactical Scopes) has solved this problem. The numbers are exposed on the turret, but cannot be changed unless the turret is lifted slightly. Once the adjustment is made it is pushed back down to lock it. It is readily available and readable and cannot be bumped off.
If improperly zeroed, even the best optics will just let you see what you are about to miss. Well marked turrets, like those on this Leupold Gold Ring scope, make small corrections easy and precise.
These scopes also feature side parallax focusing with a detachable enlarged wheel for easier access to adjustment. The 50-mm objective allows maximum light in but will require a higher mount to clear the barrel. I am really impressed with BSA’s optics. The glass is clear and sharp and comes with the multi-purpose twist cap technology. They offer four-inch eye relief and the variable 4-16 power should give a wide range of uses. They come with illuminated and non-illuminated reticles. They are a well thought out system.
There is a vast variety of optics available to the rifleman and at the price that most anyone can afford. With a little thought on utility, mounting, and price range the aspiring rifleman can select the right scope for their intended use. Once a quality optic is correctly mounted on the accurate rifle, the only thing left to do is shoot.
Casting Bullets from wheel weights is one way to keep shooting during the Obama induced bullet and ammo drought.
When money's tight – or even when it's not – don't overlook bullet casting as an affordable way to churn out some fine projectiles.
Back in the Carter Economy I had a choice, give up shooting or give up my apartment. No way was I going to stop shooting, but I didn’t want to be homeless either. So I found a third way. Today I am having trouble finding bullets, and so I find myself returning to that third way.
In those days I was into shooting Handgun Metallic Silhouette as well as PPC and I needed to cut costs, so I started making my own bullets. I suppose I have cast bullets to thank for not winding up homeless. Here is a little bit of what I have learned and a few suggestions on how to make your own bullets to get you through this economic mess.
I keep things pretty simple. Wheel weights can be found anyplace that sells tires and are perhaps the most available and inexpensive material for bullet casting. They rank 9-13 on the Brinell scale and about six on the Saeco hardness tester. That’s hard enough to work for most cast pistol bullets and for low-velocity rifle bullets.
Wheel weights do require a little extra attention. Any time a lead alloy is melted the metals will separate and must be fluxed and stirred to remix the alloy. When wheel weights are melted, all kinds of junk will float to the top, including the metal clips and lots of dirt and sand. Before skimming this off you must flux the melt to mix all the alloy metals back together. Otherwise you will skim off the tin and antimony that may be floating on top of the molten lead. The best product I have used for that is Marvelux from Brownells. It works great and produces much less smoke and smell than bullet lube or other “traditional” flux materials.
Casting bullets is fun, and a lot cheaper than “store-bought” bullets.
Flux the melted wheel weights two or three times and stir the pot well each time, making sure to scrape the sides to loosen any clinging dirt or debris. It goes without saying that you should be wearing heavy gloves, safety goggles and a long sleeve shirt. (I carry scars on my arms to this day as proof of that advice.) After you have fluxed several times, skim the dirt, dross and metal clips out of the pot. I put mine in an old coffee can to cool, and then throw them away. If the pot is still not full enough, put in some more wheel weights and repeat the process. Once you have a full pot of molten alloy, flux again, stir well and skim off any remaining dirt and dross. Plenty of fluxing and stirring will help to make sure that no dirt or sand remains suspended in the melted alloy.
They say all wheel weights are not the same and the alloy mix can vary, brand to brand, weight to weight, so it’s probably best now to pour the melt into ingot moulds. That way, when they are remelted you can mix the batches and add one more generation to the mix. The idea is that the more individual wheel weights used, the more diluted the differences in alloy. But, to be honest, once I have a full lead pot, I usually start casting bullets. Later, I’ll check the bullets to make sure they are the expected weight and hardness (using the Saeco tester) and if they are I assume the alloy mix from my wheel weights was fine.
These days I use a bottom-pour RCBS electric lead pot which is faster and easier than a pot and ladle. Either way, it’s important to keep the mould level as it’s filled. When the sprue puddle is hardened, use a hardwood mallet or rod to sharply hit the sprue plate tab. This will cleanly cut the sprue and swing the sprue plate off the top of the mould. Something that is round or oval works better than a mallet or hammer shape. I have used a broken hatchet handle for years. One end is so worn and tapered that I have had to switch ends. They sell commercial tools for this, but any piece of hardwood that’s close to round and heavy enough will work. The bullets may drop out after the mould is opened, but usually they require that you tap on the hinge of the mould handles gently to coax them out. Never hit the mould.
The bullets are still very hot and soft, so they must fall on something soft and heat resistant. I use a thick piece of foam covered with an old towel. The foam cushions the bullets while the towel keeps the hot bullets from melting into the foam. Be careful that the new bullets fall into a clear area and do not hit bullets already lying on the pad. When you start running out of clear area, raise one side of the towel to gently roll the cooling bullets so they pile up on the edge of the pad.
It’s a good idea to visually inspect the bullets after they have cooled. If you are really fussy, weigh them to sort out any that may be off the average. Then they should be run through a sizer/lubricator. This makes sure they are the correct diameter and injects lubricant into the grooves on the bullet. If a gas check is to be used it’s installed at this time.
Wipe the lube off the base of the bullets and load them. Casting bullets is fun, a lot cheaper than “store-bought” bullets and it might help keep a roof over your head in spite of Obama’s best efforts.
This article appeared in the August 31, 2009 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
“It's legal in Green Bay to carry a holstered gun in the open, as long as you're not in a school zone or other public building or in a place where alcohol is bought or consumed,” the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported. “The issue came to the forefront after a gathering of armed people held a picnic in celebration of the right to bear arms last month at Ted Fritsch Park.” That picnic led to complaints to the city council, by some people who were uncomfortable with open carry and felt their safety was compromised.
Jeff Stordock, of Allouez, argued against the proposal as an attempt to take away Second Amendment rights.
“Little by little, piece by piece, we're losing these rights under the guise of public safety,” Stordock told the council prior to its vote. “This is a blatant attack on our rights.”
After the vote was taken, Stordock added, “It's about time people show up and speak their minds, because if nobody stands up, pretty soon we're going to lose everything.” Read More.
Officers were called to the Wild Oaks complex at Highway 152 and Flintlock Road shortly before 3 a.m.Police said a man was trying to break into an apartment when the woman inside grabbed her gun and fired at the intruder through the door.
The man pulled out his own gun and fired back.The intruder was hit twice and was taken to a hospital. He is expected to recover.The woman was not injured. Read more
The man told deputies he came home just before 11:00pm Monday night and found another man in his home on Faculty Drive.
He says the man hit him in the head with a pipe and stabbed him. The homeowner then got his gun and shot the man. Both were taken to the hospital, but their conditions have not been released. Deputies tell Eyewitness News the two men knew each other. Read more
These are the facts of the case. Unfortunately, there is a story behind the story, which involves biased and misleading reporting.
For the children!
All four home invaders were teenagers. While it is a tragedy when young people to lose their lives, even as the result of their own actions, Old Media addresses this angle in a curious manner.
The report from KXAN started with title: “No charges expected in home break-in.” This may or may not be disappointment on the part of their author, though the text appears to indicate the affirmative: The article mentions “teens” 7 times in the article, and mentions that “grief counselors will be on hand at the school” where “at least two [attackers] attended.”
The Austin American-Statesman mentions “teen” once in title and 7 times in article. The Statesman also spent four paragraphs discussing the impact the shooting was having on students at the robbers’ high school:
At least two of the four suspects were students in the Luling school district, officials said.
Superintendent David Davis said one of the teens who was fatally shot, as well as the one who was seriously injured, were students in his district…
Davis said that because the students were minors, he would not disclose their names or where they attended school. He said grief counselors were at the school they attended.
“We're helping our kids that are struggling with this,” Davis said.
There are no reports about grief counseling being provided for the residents who had their peace and safety shattered by four armed robbers, nor for the armed defender who experts say may experience remorse or post-traumatic stress disorder for having to shoot three people in defense of his life and those of his housemates.
On the positive side, Brad Rollins, of the San Marcos Mercury provided the best coverage, mentioning “teen” just 4 times, while also reporting that police planned to file no charges against the defender, whom Rollins acknowledges was the “robbery victim.”Read more
Is the panic buying on ammo finally slowing down and will we see store shelves stocked again soon?
I talked with the guys behind the counter and they said that even a few weeks ago they couldn’t keep black rifles or ammo in stock, but things were slowing down. I already knew that. The president of one of the major black rifle makers told me a couple of weeks ago that the bloom was fading on the AR-15 blossom. He said that the expected cancellations were coming in and that the back order log was growing smaller.
Most buyers had placed multiple orders for the rifle they wanted with plans to take the first one that arrived. That contributed heavily to the backorder log. Once they received a rifle, they simply canceled the other orders and suddenly back orders started to abate. But, it’s like one astute guy behind the gun shop counter said, “Sooner or later Obama, or somebody in his administration, will run their mouth and it will start again.”
Panic buying is a problem that will run like the tides, with ebbs and flows, but is not about to go away. Obama is after our guns, nobody with more than ten brain cells believes otherwise. But, he is smart and patient. He is stacking the deck with anti-gun appointees and he is using the press to soften things up with suppressing fire. From the ridiculous stories about how Mexico’s troubles are all our fault to the insultingly biased 20-20 “exposé” on how arming students will not work, the press is working to soften up the opposition.
If you doubt for a minute that the mainstream press is now completely in Obama’s pocket, consider that on June 24th ABC News will broadcast from the Whitehouse while pushing for socialized medicine and they will not allow any opposing voices to be heard. The networks are now state run; all that is left is to make it official. At the rate Obama is nationalizing our banking and manufacturing sectors, I am sure that’s coming.
Obama owns the mainstream press and they are ramping up on the gun control issue. When he will strike is the only unknown. My guess is that they are just waiting for the right time. In fact, Dianne Feinstein said exactly that; “I will pick the time and place.” They need something catastrophic to happen, and one way or the other, it will. That will be the launch for going after guns. If it is serious enough they will do an end run on the Constitution and simply try to take them. Don’t think for a minute you or your guns are safe from this guy or that he is too busy to bother with guns. It’s all in the timing and he knows that.
Is the panic buying on black guns slowing down or will the threat continue?
Meanwhile, they will keep probing for weak spots. Micro-stamping on ammo, lead bans and other perceived “cracks” will be exploited in an attempt to push their nose under the tent. They are too smart to open big with something that might fail, so they are continuing to build up their armament and wait until it’s time to strike. Do not let your guard down.
I expect that ammo is going to continue to be hard to find, as well as components. The only primers in the gun store I visited yesterday were 200 shotgun primers. Nothing else was on the shelf. This is going to be a problem for a while as most primer production is being allocated to manufacturing ammo. With two wars going on and several more ramping up, the government is buying a lot of ammo.
Civilian demand continues to be high and as a result components are hard to come by, which is making it tough on competition shooting. I just completed the MGM Iron Man three-gun match in Idaho where I fired about 1,500 rounds in three days. Finding that much ammo and/or components to load them was a problem. For the first time in my life I ran out of ammo during a match and had to beg, buy and borrow enough to finish. Thank God that shooters are a generous group of people.
As I was checking in at the airport on the way home, the guy behind the counter asked me about my guns. He then went on to say that he recently bought several guns and a bunch of ammo. “I am scared to death about where our country is headed,” he told me. “I am also saving food,” he continued, “I never thought I would own guns or hoard food, but I am. I might be the only Hispanic in the country who didn’t vote for Obama and I am scared to death about where he is taking our country.”
I am no economist, but I too am scared. I am smart enough to know that by spending more money in five months than all the previous presidents combined, Obama is heading us for trouble. He can’t keep printing money, it didn’t work for Germany between the World Wars and it hasn’t worked for Zimbabwe where the percent of inflation is now measured in millions. Obama is either incredibly naive about economics or he is out to deliberately wreck our economy. My guess is it is deliberate. Particularly when you look at the timeline.
He used the “crisis” for as long as he could to spend as much money as he could in a hurry. When people started to say, “Wait a minute,” he slowed down and found other ways to spend. Now he is pushing health care way too hard and too fast, which is basically a huge spending bill. This guy is politically smart and he has an agenda. If you look at his America bashing, here and abroad, it’s not hard to conceive that he is out to “change” America into something we will not recognize. He can’t do that if we still have guns.
If you doubt that, if you think I am a right wing whacko, if you think it can’t happen in America, you have not read enough history. Bottom line, stay vigilant, this ain’t over.
Eight months after taking office, officials with the R.K. Gun Show at the Boone County Fairgrounds say fear among gun owners has tapered off, along with gun sales.
“You don't see the anxiety levels as high as they were before the election or right after the election,” said Sam Dawson, a firearm accessories dealer with CJL Enterprize. “I think the spending habits are kind of going along with that mindset.”
After November's election, firearm sales spiked. Many gun owners stocked up, afraid of the president's policies on gun control.
Since then “everybody's kind of calmed down on that,” according to Waylon Pearson, the manager of the R.K. Gun Show at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
“I think he's got…his mind on other things right now,” said Pearson. “He's got the insurance thing going on, he has the recession going on, he has a lot to deal with.”
“I mean guns are probably lower on his list now then some of those things,” he said. Read more
A new whistleblower website — https://cleanupatf.org/ — reveals just what gun owners have been saying for years: The ATF is out of control.
“Managers, Counsel, Internal Affairs and staff of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE or “ATF”) have repeatedly given false testimony, concealed substantial waste, fraud and abuse, abused their lawful authority, and waged systematic campaigns of reprisal against their own employees that dare to speak out. This website is intended by members of the ATF community to promote restoration of integrity, accountability and responsibility to ATF's leadership, and regain the trust of the American taxpayer.”
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
In the world of hunting cartridges there are some winners and some losers, those cartridges that never quite measured up to the media hype and those that exceeded all expectations. Some of the winners were slow to catch on and some of the losers were slow to die; regardless of false starts, name changes and so forth, Remington had a winner with the .280.
