Threaded Glock factory barrels for sale (posting for a friend)

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Oleg Volk

I like silenced pistols. Since Glock doesn’t sell threaded barrels anymore, I had to find another source of sufficient quality for mounting suppressors on Glock 17. A friend started eleven with 5-inch G34 barrels and threaded them 1/2×28, standard for US sound suppressors and flash hiders. They cost $230 shipped, $12 more with a thread protector. If interested, email Hermes at motionforwardtechnology@gmail.com

If you are still waiting for a sound suppressor, extended barrel gives about 50fps extra (or as much as going from regular to +P ammo would). It will still fit any open-end holster. If you live in a no-suppressor state, you can still gain a little velocity and a lot less flash with a flash hider from 9mm AR. Functioning wasn’t affected, other than a slight decrease in the muzzle rise.

Posted in pistol, sound suppressor, weapon | Tagged , | 3 Comments

CMR30 in use

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

And between uses

(with Vortex Spitfire 3x prismatic scope)

Looks like fun, doesn’t it?

Posted in rifle | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Like training wheels for pistols

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Handguns designed to powerful AND lightweight tend to be less fun to shoot. At the same time, they are generally compact enough for teaching kids and other new shooters. So combining lightweight frames like Keltec PF9 or Ruger LC9 or 9S with equally lightweight rimfire uppers from Twisted Industries works pretty well. Not much recoil, and the ammunition is still less expensive than 9mm.

As you can see from the photo, even a lightweight .22 with minimal kick is a handful for the new young marksman. A heavier pistol or in a stronger caliber would have interfered with learning the marksmanship basics more.

This approach, on the other hand, allows to work up confidence and to have fun while learning. As an adult, I shoot more with an Iver Johnson conversion kit mounted on M1911 than I do with 45ACP just because subcaliber practice is more fun.

 

 

 

 

Posted in pistol, training, weapon | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Another useful feature of bullpups

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

The forend comes very close to the muzzle. Besides making stable firing hold easier, it also prevents partial occlusion of the weapon light by the barrel.

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Keltec production numbers

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Looking at the ATF documents for 2013, I see Keltec production totaling 81,714 handguns. 22,875 of them were either PLR22 or PMR30 (more common). They also made 17,103 rifles of various models and 19,045 KSG shotguns. Not a huge number but far from “just enough for Oleg to equip his models”. 117,862 guns to be exact.

_MG_6997

Since 2014 isn’t over, we don’t know the exact total, but it will be close to 150,000 with only about ten more employees than last year. On average, 2.5 guns per employee per work day. And this year, the share of more labor and material intensive long guns has been a lot higher.  Keltec is a family-owned company that managed to avoid over-expansion/bust traps that plagued quite a few of their competitors. They also haven’t grown to outpace their service and customer support capability. And people who say they can’t find a Keltec gun usually mean “can’t find it at MSRP”. At the same time, upping MSRP to bring availability and together has been unpopular. And, at the end of the day, remember that they only sell to distributors, so the prices aren’t even set by the manufacturer. In the meantime, for new and popular products, the prices are higher for delivery tomorrow and lower for delivery in a year. It’s the same with most consumer products, be they guns, cameras or cars. And Keltec has an incentive to build more of the hot new sellers before some other company makes a near copy. So the limited availability may have objective reasons for it, not just some gun makers’ intent to tease potential customers with unobtanium.

Posted in pistol, rifle, weapon | Tagged | 2 Comments

A Sub-five-pound AR-15, for When Weight Matters: new on AllOutdoor

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk


Sometimes a couple of pounds make all the difference

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Unprovoked French aggression of 1812?

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Living in the USSR, I was brought up to view the Great Patriotic War of 1812 as a clear-cut case of French perfidy. Evil Imperial French and their dozen allies invaded Russia…ok, invaded the part of Poland previously occupied by Russia, and proceeded to loot, burn and pillage. Then they were defeated by the Russian army and poor logistics.

Somehow, no connection was made with the equally unproductive Russian foray into Italy and Switzerland in 1799, where Suvorov’s troops fought the French. Or the 1807 battles fought in Germany. Or the scuffle over the control of  Poland which precipitated the first Great Patriotic War the same was the 1941 event was made easier by the re-absorption of the Russian Imperial possession by the USSR in 1939, producing an extended common border with Germany.

Orwell’s 1984 had plenty of grounds for Eastasia/Eurasia switching roles as enemy and ally. Russia fought a war involving England in 1807, yet the two were allied against France by 1815. England condemned the German invasion of Denmark, but the same 1807 war saw an unprovoked bombardment of Copenhagen a hundred thirty years before Guernica. It’s only an atrocity when “they” do it, right?

France, for all of its numerous insane domestic policies, at least had dispensed with serfdom. So casting it as the purely evil empire while presenting Russia as the divinely directed innocent bystander, was at the very least ignoring certain nuances. With that in mind, I am curious how American culture treats its own history…are we overlooking unflattering details as well?

Posted in advice requested | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Shotgun for the wife

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Our brilliant vice president argued that a double-barrel shotgun is the best home defense weapon for a woman. While 19th century technology is not the worst possible choice, much better options exist. Biden’s advice on its use — “go out on the back deck and fire off two blast in the air” — was advocating an outright illegal action.

Posted in rkba, self-defense, shotgun, weapon | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Reasons to like Keltec CMR30

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Oleg Volk

In my experience, it’s been reliable, accurate and fun to use. The optic shown is 3x Vortex Spitefire, quite reasonable with this cartridge for ranges up to 250 yards. 22mag ammo ranges in bullet weight from 30 to 50 grains. The most common 40 grain bullets have the same velocity at 100 yards as 22LR has at the muzzle, and stay supersonic out to 175 yards.

CMR30 carbine partially complete barreled receivers awaiting final assembly

CMR30 carbine partially complete barreled receivers awaiting final assembly

About 60 CMR30s have gone out for field testing. Kel-Tec plans on shipping 500 to 1000 to consumers before the end of 2014.

 

Posted in rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Have you shared your knowledge lately?

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Modern armies have 30 or so support staff for every fighter at the tip of the spear. The ratio of support to active fighters in the war to secure individual liberty is even more skewed. For every Alan Gura, thousands of people spread the ethical and technical components of the culture which includes weapons as a facet of the most valuable diamond — self-determination. Ironically, the people who value individual freedom most are communistic in the original meaning of that word. They cooperate closely with each other to keep the goals in sight, inching towards those goals against the encroachments by would-be post-feudal lords. In a sufficiently advanced feudal society, the masses including you and me are but sheep for the shearing and eventual slaughter. Keeping our hooves and horns, along with the mindset governing their effective use, is a matter of survival for us as individuals and for us as a liberty-oriented culture.

Posted in civil rights, interesting people, pistol, rifle, rkba, self-defense, sound suppressor, training, weapon | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

No substitute for intelligence?

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Oleg Volk

deer_1282

In reading various research about the role of intelligence for setting and achieving life goals, I see numerous arguments for its preeminence. At first, it seems that no substitutes exist, but I see one quality which appears to compensate at least partially for insufficient IQ: playing well with others. A peaceful, cooperative person will do far better even with minimal cognitive ability than a slightly smarter but anti-social, unfriendly individual. Considering that, parents would do well to teach the value of cooperative behavior to the kids — not in the sense of unfailingly following cultural protocol but in trying to figure out how to make every interaction profitable to all parties. Comparative advantage is a social as well as an economic concept, and a peaceable person attaching himself to smarter friends would do better than a brigand trying to prey on his intellectual superiors.

Posted in interesting people | 7 Comments

Understanding statistics

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Oleg Volk

I need a recommendation on a good introduction to the math side of statistical analysis. I got as far as pre-calculus in math and only remember some of it for daily use…yet would like to get at least a general understanding of how to interpret data. Recommendations for books or on-line resources would be appreciated. I looked at Wikipedia but too many of the terms are foreign to me at this point.

Posted in advice requested | Tagged | 6 Comments

Primary Arms 4-14x FFP scope

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Oleg Volk

A long time ago, I acquired a Primary Arms 4-14x scope with a front focal plane reticle. Recently, a friend in his 70s needed better glass for his .270 TC Venture deer rifle, so it moved onto his gun locker. A few days ago, he called me right from the tree stand, asking if I’d like some venison. He saw a deer at a reasonable range.

Today, I got this message: “Got a 5-pointer. You have some smoked backstrap coming soon. I really like the Primary arms scope. My eyes aren’t what they used to be. Cataracts and astigmatism makes it hard to distinguish spike bucks from does, and the 14x magnification really helps. 150 yard neck shot, deer DRT.”

The photos do not represent my 70-something year old friend. They do show another friend who knows how to run a rifle with flair.

Posted in hunting, interesting people, rifle | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

CCW Breakaways carry solution: new on Alloutdoor

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Oleg Volk


Is that a gun in your pants? Why, yes!

Posted in holster, self-defense | Tagged | 1 Comment

Short M1911s

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Oleg Volk

One of my models is on a quest for a short M1911 (with 3-inch barrel), currently considering a Kimber. Which companies make short, reliable 1911s in 45ACP?

Posted in advice requested, weapon | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Bodyguard

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Why should dirty politicians be the only people with guardian angels?

It helps if the weapon can be controlled with one hand. It also helps if it has greater range, power and accuracy that a typical handgun.

Posted in interesting people, rifle, rkba, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Count on a lifetime of luck?

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Posted in interesting people, rifle, rkba, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

LaserLyte and AR Training: new on CTD

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

For improving marksmanship and point shooting skills.

Posted in light/laser, rifle, training | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Additional photo retouchers needed

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Oleg Volk

I work with three regular retouchers. For family reasons, two of them are temporarily unavailable just as my volume of work increased. So I am looking for additional helpers. Here’s an example of the work recently done. Pay varies depending on the complexity of the changes needed and urgency of the work, usually from $3 to $15 per image. I will probably have 500+ photos to retouch before the end of the year, and one person cannot do them all.

If you’d like to work with me, please let me know here or by email. Samples of past work would be appreciated.

 

Posted in advice requested | Tagged | 3 Comments

Range time with Tavor

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Oleg Volk
Half-size silhouette from shootsteel.com took a beating yesterday.

Half-size silhouette from shootsteel.com took a beating yesterday. (Photo by DJ Petrou)

Yesterday’s range trip with Natasha and Jing was a lot of fun. Decent weather for the season, about 50*F and windless, made the shoot more comfortable than expected. We ran quite a bit of ammunition ranging including 5.45×39, 5.56×45, 6.5Grendel, 6.8SPC, 7.62×39 and .458SOCOM through a variety of guns, all using the same magazine designed by Jing.

(Photo by DJ Petrou)

One magazine that works with all short action cartridges. (Photo by DJ Petrou)

This magazine means I no longer have to remember multiple types of AR magazines when bringing both 300Blackout and 338Spectre at the range. Or .223 and 7.62×39. Production magazines (shown in the video) have a black finish.

Back to the Tavor: it works and it works well. This was my first shoot using the new Geissele trigger, the drop-in upgrade that takes shooting the rifle from being work to being fun.

I pulled the EOTech sight to use on another rifle, but the irons were zeroed from the factory and good enough to hit the small steel targets at 50 and 60 yards, and a rock of about the same size at 75 from standing, rapid fire. Unlike most rifle peep sights, Tavor uses very minimal rear which allows shooting with both eyes open, just like with a red dot. Illuminated front sight snaps into focus very well, and the defocused target remains visible in the peripheral vision.

Posted in rifle, Uncategorized, weapon | Tagged , | 1 Comment