We have just been made aware of an exciting new product announcement from our friends at CTK Precision. They are now taking pre-orders for their new AR BMG Carrying Handle for Armalite AR50 rifles. The AR BMG 50 Carrying Handle will allow singe handed carrying of the Armalite AR50.
For more information, visit CTK Precision.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Weatherby Introduces New SA-08 Line of Semi-Auto Shotguns
January 2008
Weatherby has combined its reputation for performance and dependability with unmatched load versatility and affordability with the introduction of three new full-featured models of semi-automatic shotguns.
The new Weatherby SA-08 Semi-Auto line of shotguns features a proven dual valve system that allows shooters to quickly adapt the shotguns to accommodate the for widest load ranges. The interchangeable valves are easily accessed and changed.
The shotgun is available in three models, Upland, Youth and Synthetic. Both Upland and Youth feature oil-finished, walnut stocks. The Youth model has a scaled down stock for a proper fit with smaller shooters. The SA-08 Synthetic is similar in appearance and dimensions but features a black composite stock for added durability and affordability.
The Upland and Synthetic are available in either 12 or 20 gauge, and the Youth model is available in 20 gauge.
“With the addition of the dual-valve system, the SA-08 Semi-Auto offers the widest range of load versatility,” said Brad Ruddell, Weatherby’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Within seconds, hunters can transition from the lightest 7/8 ounce loads to the heaviest turkey and waterfowl loads. The key benefit of the dual valve system is guaranteed functioning through maximizing gas dispersal while minimizing felt recoil. The valve system efficiently uses only the gas necessary to cycle the action and bleeds off the balance.”
The SA-08‘s alloy receiver reduces overall weight and improves the balance of the shotgun. The chrome plated bolt extends bolt and receiver life by reducing friction and eases operation. The receivers also feature a unique drop-out trigger system. The trigger system can be removed and reassembled quickly for easy cleaning.
The Weatherby SA-08s have chrome-lined barrels to withstand years of high-volume shooting and reduce the effort necessary to keep the barrel clean. The shotguns‘ barrels also feature lengthened forcing cones for improved patterns and less shooter fatigue. Additionally the shotguns have three (Improved Cylinder, Modified and Full) screw-in Integral Multi-Choke System that are compatible with the Briley® thread pattern and allows shooters to tailor their shot patterns for specific hunting applications.
Upland and Youth models have an MSRP of $669. Synthetic has an MSRP of $619. For more information contact a local Weatherby dealer or Weatherby, Inc., 1605 Commerce Way, Paso Robles, Calif. 93446; (805) 227-2600. Or, visit http://www.weatherby.com/.
Founded in 1945, Weatherby, Inc.’s 2008 line features the popular Vanguard® and legendary Mark V® rifles, over/under and side-by-side shotguns in the classic Athena® and Orion® lines, semiauto and pump shotguns, premium ammunition and security/shooting accessories. The company is based in Paso Robles and invites all hunters and shooters to visit and join its new online community at http://www.weatherbynation.com/.
**
For more shotgun information, visit Shotgun Vault.
- Greg
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
SHOT Show & ArmsVault Supporters
If you have the slightest interest in the firearm industry, you are probably aware that the SHOT Show is February 2-5 in Las Vegas. Below are some of the ArmsVault supporters that will be set up at the show. Please be sure to stop by and see what they have to offer.
Concept Development Corp - 23090
Covert Carrier - 24050
JBP Holsters / Holsterama - 23024
Midwest Industries - 21072
Superior Concepts - 25011
- ArmsVault
AR-15 Book Review
Book Review:
Living with the AR-15
(The Complete Guide to the World’s Most Versatile Rifle for Civilians)
I must say, I thoroughly enjoy reading the Boatman books on firearms-related subjects. The father-son team of Robert and Morgan Boatman are both experienced firearms enthusiasts and accomplished writers who produce very informative works on their favorite subject matter. As an added bonus, their writing style is both direct and, quite often, humorously entertaining. While recently reviewing Robert’s book on the versatility and indispensability of the AR-15, I found him to be in top form. The book entitled: Living with the AR-15 (The Complete Guide to the World’s Most Versatile Rifle for Civilians) is a concise advocacy piece on why all free citizens of the Republic ought to have an AR, or two, or three… in their battery.
Without question the book is a rip roaring read covering everything from the origins of the AR-15 platform, its subsequent maturation into a robust and reliable weapon, and on to its unique modular design - all written with a decidedly Conservative bent. Sprinkled liberally (small “l”, not capital “L”) throughout the text are interesting asides where the author discusses many of the historical, military, social, and political issues which have impacted the AR platform over the years. He addresses these in rather direct, un-PC fashion, and this makes for a most interesting read of what would otherwise be dry, technical type information. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being critical of Boatman’s position on things political or social. As a staunch, freedom loving Conservative myself, with more than a passing knowledge of history, I share most of his positions.
To begin Boatman traces the origins of the revolutionary AR design back to late WWII, and work by the Germans and the Russians to field lightweight “assault rifles” chambered for relatively lighter, intermediate powered cartridges. This as opposed to fielding larger, heavier battle rifles with their correspondingly larger, more powerful cartridges. From that point onward, the arms designers’ Holy Grail was to give the infantry soldier a rifle embodying the optimum balance between firepower, lethality, and portability, for use in shorter range engagements hypothesized as being the norm in future combat. A bit later on in the post-war period Eugene Stoner, here in the U.S., began work on his AR design which would attempt to satisfy these basic criteria.
To read the full "Living with the AR-15" review, click the following link:
http://www.armsvault.com/gunreviews_0010_boatman_livingwithar15.html
This review can also be found on AR-15 Rifle Vault: http://www.ar-15rifles.net/
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Second Amendment Page Launched
ArmsVault has had great success in becoming a premier resource for the firearm enthusiast. However, we have come to realize that we have not been taking full advantage of our site's popularity with regard to promoting the Second Amendment.
As most of you are aware, the current political environment has, at times, become very hostile towards those of us who support our Second Amendment freedoms. So, we firmly believe that we need to do our part to support our right to bear arms.
In keeping with the basic structure of ArmsVault, we have added a Second Amendment page that will act as a gateway to Second Amendment related sites. This page can be found at: http://www.armsvault.com/secondamendment.asp
This page was JUST launched, so we certainly have much more content to add. In fact, we would love to hear any suggestions you may have for building this section. So, if you have any thoughts, don't hesitate to get in touch.
ArmsVault
As most of you are aware, the current political environment has, at times, become very hostile towards those of us who support our Second Amendment freedoms. So, we firmly believe that we need to do our part to support our right to bear arms.
In keeping with the basic structure of ArmsVault, we have added a Second Amendment page that will act as a gateway to Second Amendment related sites. This page can be found at: http://www.armsvault.com/secondamendment.asp
This page was JUST launched, so we certainly have much more content to add. In fact, we would love to hear any suggestions you may have for building this section. So, if you have any thoughts, don't hesitate to get in touch.
ArmsVault
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Georgia Right To Carry Passes In Senate
Today the Georgia Senate passed HB 89. This is great news for those of us who support our Second Amendment! It now goes to the House for a vote as early as tomorrow. Be sure to contact your Representative to let them know they need to support HB 89!
The Trigger Control Fallacy
Below is an article written by Michael T. Rayburn, a 29-year veteran of Law Enforcement and an adjunct instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy. He discusses the impact that recoil anticipation can have on handgun accuracy. As I read this article, I could definitely see how this issue plays a role in my accuracy. Thank you to Mike for allowing ArmsVault to post this article!
The Trigger Control Fallacy
Thousands of articles and reams of paper have been wasted on the fallacy of trigger control and how allegedly important it is to shooting skills. Numerous “shooting gurus” have gone on record as stating that trigger control is the number one problem when it comes to shooting a handgun.
That’s a bunch of hogwash! Trigger control may be important to target shooting skills, but not to the type of shooting we do as law enforcement officers. As police officers we are combat shooters, or at least we better be. If your department is still one, of unfortunately many, that still practices target shooting skills for combat on the street, then maybe trigger control is a concern of yours. But even then, it’s not the number one problem when it comes to shooting a handgun.
The leading problem is anticipating the recoil of the firearm, resulting in a pre-ignition push, or PIP. Just before the ignition of the powder in the bullet, you push the gun with your hand. The most common of these is to push the front of the gun downward. Your brain is saying, “OK, here it comes, get ready for that loud bang,” and you push the gun downward at the same time you pull the trigger rearward.
A number of firearms instructors have misdiagnosed this problem as poor trigger control, stating that the shooter “is not properly controlling the even, smooth pull of the trigger”. So, what usually follows is command to, “Place the middle of the first pad of your index finger on the trigger and slowly squeeze the trigger rearward until the round goes off. When it does, it should be a surprise to you.”
First off, you are sending lethal projectiles down range. Your gun should never go off as a “surprise to you.” Each and every shot should be controlled and expected.
Secondly, do you really think that during an all-out fight for your life, you’re going to be concerned with how much finger, first pad or not, is going to be on that trigger? Of course not! You’re going to stick your finger in the trigger guard and pull that trigger as fast and as hard as you can to get some lead on this bad guy who’s trying to take your life. It’s as simple as that.
Another PIP problem that is often misdiagnosed as a trigger control issue is what is commonly called “heeling the firearm.” Instead of pushing the nose of the gun downward, you push it upward. Basically, you’re pushing with the heel of your hand and the front of the handgun gets pushed up. Once again, your brain is subconsciously saying; “OK get ready for that big bang”, and you heel the gun, anticipating recoil.
The last PIP problem is to push the gun to one side or the other. Most shooters will push the gun to their off side. This is because that’s where the least amount of energy is being exerted on the gun during the gripping process. Most right-handed shooters will push the gun to their left and most left-handed shooters will push the gun to their right.
So, if it’s not trigger control, and we’re not going to give stupid commands like “slowly squeeze your trigger until the round goes off and it’s a surprise to you,” how do we correct this PIP problem?
First, you have to recognize that the PIP problem is all in your head, nowhere else. You’ve subconsciously developed this “flinch” which results in the gun being pushed off target. You have to tell yourself, and be convinced, that you’re not going to do it. If you have to, just before you pull the trigger, tell yourself repeatedly that you’re not going to anticipate the recoil of the firearm: “I’m not going to do it, I’m not going to do it.” You have to believe that as long as you’re holding the gun properly and pointing it in the right direction, you’re not going to get hurt by the recoil, no matter how big of a bang the gun makes.
Convincing yourself mentally is one thing, but having it transferred to your hand is another. To reinforce what’s going on in your brain, you should perform what’s called the “ball & dummy drill.” Take three or four magazines and stagger live rounds with plastic dummy rounds. Mix them up, placing one live, one dummy, two live, one dummy, and so forth. Now mix the magazines up so you don’t know which ones are loaded which way.
Once you’ve done this, head out to the range and place a magazine in your gun. Begin firing one round at a time. When you get to the dummy round, if you have a PIP problem, you’ll see the gun dip, or heeled up, or pushed off to one side or the other. If this occurs, practice that mental rehearsal of telling yourself that you’re not going to anticipate the recoil. Continue the ball and dummy drill until you’ve conquered your PIP problem.
Stay away from all the hype from these so-called “shooting gurus” and stick with the facts, which show that the number one problem with most shooters is anticipating the recoil of the firearm, not trigger control. Understand that during a gunfight, you’ll just stick your finger in the trigger guard and pull that trigger as fast and as hard as you can until you’ve eliminated the threat.
Stop worrying about the recoil of the firearm and you’ll be a great shooter.
About the author:
Michael T. Rayburn is a 29-year veteran of Law Enforcement and is currently an adjunct instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy. He is the author of three books, Advanced Vehicle Stop Tactics, Advanced Patrol Tactics, and Basic Gunfighting 101. His video, "Instinctive Point Shooting with Mike Rayburn" is a top seller in the law enforcement and combat shooting communities. Mike can be reached at http://www.pointshooting.org/.
The Trigger Control Fallacy
Thousands of articles and reams of paper have been wasted on the fallacy of trigger control and how allegedly important it is to shooting skills. Numerous “shooting gurus” have gone on record as stating that trigger control is the number one problem when it comes to shooting a handgun.
That’s a bunch of hogwash! Trigger control may be important to target shooting skills, but not to the type of shooting we do as law enforcement officers. As police officers we are combat shooters, or at least we better be. If your department is still one, of unfortunately many, that still practices target shooting skills for combat on the street, then maybe trigger control is a concern of yours. But even then, it’s not the number one problem when it comes to shooting a handgun.
The leading problem is anticipating the recoil of the firearm, resulting in a pre-ignition push, or PIP. Just before the ignition of the powder in the bullet, you push the gun with your hand. The most common of these is to push the front of the gun downward. Your brain is saying, “OK, here it comes, get ready for that loud bang,” and you push the gun downward at the same time you pull the trigger rearward.
A number of firearms instructors have misdiagnosed this problem as poor trigger control, stating that the shooter “is not properly controlling the even, smooth pull of the trigger”. So, what usually follows is command to, “Place the middle of the first pad of your index finger on the trigger and slowly squeeze the trigger rearward until the round goes off. When it does, it should be a surprise to you.”
First off, you are sending lethal projectiles down range. Your gun should never go off as a “surprise to you.” Each and every shot should be controlled and expected.
Secondly, do you really think that during an all-out fight for your life, you’re going to be concerned with how much finger, first pad or not, is going to be on that trigger? Of course not! You’re going to stick your finger in the trigger guard and pull that trigger as fast and as hard as you can to get some lead on this bad guy who’s trying to take your life. It’s as simple as that.
Another PIP problem that is often misdiagnosed as a trigger control issue is what is commonly called “heeling the firearm.” Instead of pushing the nose of the gun downward, you push it upward. Basically, you’re pushing with the heel of your hand and the front of the handgun gets pushed up. Once again, your brain is subconsciously saying; “OK get ready for that big bang”, and you heel the gun, anticipating recoil.
The last PIP problem is to push the gun to one side or the other. Most shooters will push the gun to their off side. This is because that’s where the least amount of energy is being exerted on the gun during the gripping process. Most right-handed shooters will push the gun to their left and most left-handed shooters will push the gun to their right.
So, if it’s not trigger control, and we’re not going to give stupid commands like “slowly squeeze your trigger until the round goes off and it’s a surprise to you,” how do we correct this PIP problem?
First, you have to recognize that the PIP problem is all in your head, nowhere else. You’ve subconsciously developed this “flinch” which results in the gun being pushed off target. You have to tell yourself, and be convinced, that you’re not going to do it. If you have to, just before you pull the trigger, tell yourself repeatedly that you’re not going to anticipate the recoil of the firearm: “I’m not going to do it, I’m not going to do it.” You have to believe that as long as you’re holding the gun properly and pointing it in the right direction, you’re not going to get hurt by the recoil, no matter how big of a bang the gun makes.
Convincing yourself mentally is one thing, but having it transferred to your hand is another. To reinforce what’s going on in your brain, you should perform what’s called the “ball & dummy drill.” Take three or four magazines and stagger live rounds with plastic dummy rounds. Mix them up, placing one live, one dummy, two live, one dummy, and so forth. Now mix the magazines up so you don’t know which ones are loaded which way.
Once you’ve done this, head out to the range and place a magazine in your gun. Begin firing one round at a time. When you get to the dummy round, if you have a PIP problem, you’ll see the gun dip, or heeled up, or pushed off to one side or the other. If this occurs, practice that mental rehearsal of telling yourself that you’re not going to anticipate the recoil. Continue the ball and dummy drill until you’ve conquered your PIP problem.
Stay away from all the hype from these so-called “shooting gurus” and stick with the facts, which show that the number one problem with most shooters is anticipating the recoil of the firearm, not trigger control. Understand that during a gunfight, you’ll just stick your finger in the trigger guard and pull that trigger as fast and as hard as you can until you’ve eliminated the threat.
Stop worrying about the recoil of the firearm and you’ll be a great shooter.
About the author:
Michael T. Rayburn is a 29-year veteran of Law Enforcement and is currently an adjunct instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy. He is the author of three books, Advanced Vehicle Stop Tactics, Advanced Patrol Tactics, and Basic Gunfighting 101. His video, "Instinctive Point Shooting with Mike Rayburn" is a top seller in the law enforcement and combat shooting communities. Mike can be reached at http://www.pointshooting.org/.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Georgia Right To Carry Vote
For those of us in Georgia, we should be aware of tomorrow's vote that will have a critical impact on our Second Amendment rights. Below is an excerpt from today's NRA-ILA newsletter:
Georgia Senate To Vote On Critical Right-To-Carry Reform Legislation! Your Help Is Needed Today!
Georgia Senate To Vote On Critical Right-To-Carry Reform Legislation! Your Help Is Needed Today!
Tomorrow, January 17, the Georgia Senate will vote on critical NRA-supported legislation to protect our firearm rights. House Bill 89 has been amended to include the following pro-Second Amendment language:
- allows licensed carry permit holders to possess a firearm in any private motor vehicle, while on any publicly accessible parking lot;
- prohibits gun dealer entrapment schemes, such as those orchestrated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
- allows concealed carry permit holders to carry in State Parks; and
- creates a strict time limit for various stages of the pistol license application process. These are just a few of the positive reforms HB 89 will make to Georgia’s firearm laws. Unfortunately, gun control advocates are lining up in opposition to this bill.
So... if you are in Georgia, be sure to contact your senator today and encourage them to support HB 89!
For those of you who don't already receive it, I would highly recommend that you sight up for the
NRA-ILA newsletter. It is a great way to stay up to date on issues impacting our Second Amendment.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
New Supporter: Midwest Industries
We would like to welcome the newest supporter of the Vault Family of sites, Midwest Industries!
Midwest Industries specializes in tactical rifle accessories. Their site is full of AR accessories, Browning 1919 products, M14 products, shotgun accessories, tactical gear and more. You can find their site at: http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/
Midwest Industries specializes in tactical rifle accessories. Their site is full of AR accessories, Browning 1919 products, M14 products, shotgun accessories, tactical gear and more. You can find their site at: http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/
Monday, January 14, 2008
Front Sight Training - Free Springfield XD Handgun!
Our friends at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute have just made us aware of a great new offer. The next 5,000 people who sign up for their Four Day Defensive Handgun Training Course will receive a FREE Springfield XD handgun! Click HERE for specifics. Great Stuff!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Concealed Carry Bag Review
CrossBreed Holsters has an innovative new product for CCW permit holders wanting a versatile off-the-body method for going armed. They’ve developed an extremely functional shoulder bag which has a discreet, quick-access compartment to conceal a holstered handgun. CrossBreed calls it their Concealed Carry Shoulder Bag (CCSB) and in today’s modern, high-tech, “wired” world this shoulder bag looks very much like a typical, unthreatening laptop computer case. From a practical standpoint the CCSB blends in well with today’s typical urban landscape. For concealed carry, its design and appearance are, I think, its strongest attributes. The bag does not appear to the casual observer to be overtly “tactical” looking - which can be a decisive advantage to the CCW holder. In fact, a person wearing the CCSB slung over their shoulder appears to be any one of the countless number of people who carry a laptop computer, or book bag, back and forth to work or school each day.
The CCSB that I had the opportunity to review was made out of sturdy black canvas material and tanned leather. As is typical with CrossBreed products, both the materials and workmanship evident in the CCSB’s construction are first-rate. The use of the mixed materials, combined with quality construction and stitching, gives the bag a high-end look, and not simply like that of a utilitarian mil-spec denier nylon “assault bag”.
Click here to read the full review.
The CCSB that I had the opportunity to review was made out of sturdy black canvas material and tanned leather. As is typical with CrossBreed products, both the materials and workmanship evident in the CCSB’s construction are first-rate. The use of the mixed materials, combined with quality construction and stitching, gives the bag a high-end look, and not simply like that of a utilitarian mil-spec denier nylon “assault bag”.
Click here to read the full review.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Supporter: UniqueTek
We would like to welcome the newest supporter of the Vault Family of sites, UniqueTek!
UniqueTek offers a large selection of shooting products, including reloading supplies and products for the competitive marksman.
As always, we would like to encourage you to support the companies that help make the ArmsVault Family of sites possible.
- ArmsVault
UniqueTek offers a large selection of shooting products, including reloading supplies and products for the competitive marksman.
As always, we would like to encourage you to support the companies that help make the ArmsVault Family of sites possible.
- ArmsVault
New Supporter: Hastings Holsters
We would like to welcome the newest supporter of the Vault Family of sites, Hastings Holsters! Hastings Holsters offers a large selection of Hollywood holsters, western holsters and cowboy holsters.
As always, we would like to encourage you to support the companies that help make the ArmsVault Family of sites possible.
- ArmsVault
As always, we would like to encourage you to support the companies that help make the ArmsVault Family of sites possible.
- ArmsVault
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Kydex IWB Holster Review
Mark Craighead, of CrossBreed Holsters has generously provided an example of his firm’s proprietary Super Tuck Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) holster for review. Like most quality holsters, Super Tuck IWB holsters are manufactured for specific handgun designs. For the purposes of this review I selected the model specific to the line of Glock mid-sized frame pistols.
Upon inspection of the holster I was immediately impressed with the high quality of both the materials and workmanship evident in it’s construction. CrossBreed blends together traditional gun leather with custom molded Kydex material to produce the Super Tuck IWB. In a bit of a design departure from traditional IWB holsters, the Super Tuck uses an oversized, thin leather panel with which to affix the Kydex holster to. The leather panel, when broken in sufficiently, form fits to the wearer’s side aiding in both concealability and comfort. The latter part is especially true as it seems to spread out the weight and pressure of the holstered weapon on your torso. Being cut oversized, the leather panel serves to form the back of the holster, providing sufficient rigidity to the rig. It acts much like a scabbard of sorts and aids in smoothing up the draw stroke and allowing one handed reholstering of the weapon.
The Kydex holster chute is bolstered to the leather panel and is an open ended design which does not cover the muzzle of the handgun; however it does completely cover the trigger guard. It is custom formed to securely grip the trigger guard and ejection port area of the gun’s frame and slide. Due to the covered trigger guard Condition 1 carry is possible. If necessary a user can heat the Kydex material around the trigger guard area and either pinch it in, or expand it out to obtain just the right amount of tension. CrossBreed provides detailed instruction on how to achieve a custom fit in this regard. As tested, I did not need to adjust the tension on my holster as it secured my Glock 23 perfectly from the outset.
To read the full Kydex Holster Review click here.
- ArmsVault
Upon inspection of the holster I was immediately impressed with the high quality of both the materials and workmanship evident in it’s construction. CrossBreed blends together traditional gun leather with custom molded Kydex material to produce the Super Tuck IWB. In a bit of a design departure from traditional IWB holsters, the Super Tuck uses an oversized, thin leather panel with which to affix the Kydex holster to. The leather panel, when broken in sufficiently, form fits to the wearer’s side aiding in both concealability and comfort. The latter part is especially true as it seems to spread out the weight and pressure of the holstered weapon on your torso. Being cut oversized, the leather panel serves to form the back of the holster, providing sufficient rigidity to the rig. It acts much like a scabbard of sorts and aids in smoothing up the draw stroke and allowing one handed reholstering of the weapon.
The Kydex holster chute is bolstered to the leather panel and is an open ended design which does not cover the muzzle of the handgun; however it does completely cover the trigger guard. It is custom formed to securely grip the trigger guard and ejection port area of the gun’s frame and slide. Due to the covered trigger guard Condition 1 carry is possible. If necessary a user can heat the Kydex material around the trigger guard area and either pinch it in, or expand it out to obtain just the right amount of tension. CrossBreed provides detailed instruction on how to achieve a custom fit in this regard. As tested, I did not need to adjust the tension on my holster as it secured my Glock 23 perfectly from the outset.
To read the full Kydex Holster Review click here.
- ArmsVault
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)