Tripped 100,000 Visitors! Cool!

I just noticed that the Visitor Counter is reading over 100,000. That's not too bad, over the course of a year plus a couple weeks, considering that I didn't actively promote the site.

Palmetto State Armory Sale

10% off all in-stock magazines, accessories, and parts at the Palmetto State Armory website. Plus, you can use coupon code "stocking" to get a "huge discount" on Magpul PMags.

I'd like to put in an order, but I've already bought a lot of stuff in the last few weeks. I'll be posting review shortly. Photos are uploading as I type this.

Cleaning Mags That Don't Disassemble

A question just came up on forum, asking how to clean magazines that can't be disassembled. This would apply to many of the "high-capacity" Ruger 10/22 magazines, and some others.

What you can do is clean them in the sink with dishsoap. The dishsoap won't hurt the polymers, or any glue that might be holding the magazine together.

Swish the magazine around in the soapy water, and squirt the water into the magazine with a large syringe if you have one. Brush the follower and whatever you can get at to remove powder fouling. When you're finished, pour in some rubbing alcohol and shake it around to displace the water so that nothing rusts up on you.

It doesn't sound like much, but it actually helps quite a bit.

Promag/Archangel 10/22 Target Stock

I only have a little bit of information on this one from Guns Magazine. I can't find any information on it elsewhere, and it's not available for sale yet. The butt is adjustable for length of pull in eight steps, and is made of polymer. It's cool looking, and I expect the price to be quite reasonable, which is typical of ProMag products.

UPDATE, 1/17/11:  Available from Sportsman's Depot for $96.66

Thureon Defense 9mm Carbine

Thureon Defense is marketing an AR-15 type carbine in 9mm. Although it might be a bit ugly, the retail price for the carbine is less than what I paid for a RRA 9mm upper, 9mm buffer and magazine block.

It's nice to see a company release a product with a reasonable price. I've come across some interesting products, but haven't posted on them due to ridiculous prices.

Updates 11/22/09

The Magpul UBR stock I ordered from Streichers sale on August 15th should be coming in tomorrow.

I got a Millet DMS 1-4x scope from Midway, but it was dented, and I had to send it back. Hopefully they'll have more American Defense Recon-X scope mounts in stock by the time the scope gets back to them.

The M&P 9 Pro is still pelting me with brass about 80% of the time, no matter what I do to it. I don't know what more to do with it besides send it back to S&W and hope for the best. It seems to be an extractor related problem, and the extractor is neither a user-servicable item, nor a readily available spare part.

Oh, and the pocket knife ban saga continues, apparently. There was a short article about it in Guns Magazine or American Handgunner this month, so I guess we're not out of the woods yet.

I did a small update to the Ares 22RCU posting. Estimated price, and a better picture.

Springfield Armory Store - 30% Off Sale

It looks like the guys at Springfield have lost their minds. Everything in the online store is 30% off with owner's manuals and military training manuals available for free. This would be a good time to stock up on XD, 1911, and M1A mags, and pick up those specialized M1A/M14 tools.

New U.S. Cavalry Coupon Code

Coupon Code: MNCOOL15
Save 15% when you spend $99

Again, I don't see an expiration date.

The coupon codes from the last catalog may still work for a little while longer.

Updates 11/14/09

I updated the AR-15 Magazines article with information on 9mm AR mags.

Lengthening the ejector for the M&P 9 Pro didn't change much. I was able to stretch it out 0.025", through heat and hammering. Chopping down the ejector, and working the extractor some seemed to have done the trick, but I wasn't able to test it too much. It got dark on me too quick today, and I didn't get a chance to do any more live-fire testing.

A while back, I reported that the Border Patrol wanted assisted-opening pocket knives to be classified as automatic knives (a.k.a. switchblades), and regulated as such (Article - Sigh. Pocket Knife Ban In The Works?). This legislation could have affected many one-hand-opening knives. This ban attempt has failed, either through common sense or the efforts of "Knife Guys" to get this killed.

I've noted in the Civilian ACR/Masada Coming Soon? thread that the Wikipedia ACR Article states that the suggested retail price for the semi-automatic ACR is anticipated to start around $1200. I wonder how long it will take for street prices to come down to the retail price. I would expect the first few thousand to sell for over $2000 easily judging by Gunbroker auction bids on the SCAR rifles when they first came out.

Oh, and I finally updated the Articles and Reviews list pages.

American Handgunner and Guns Free Online

I just want to post a quick note that American Handgunner and Guns Magazine have made digital copies of their magazines free on the internet. I'm not exactly sure why they're doing it, but it's there for you to take advantage of.

I'll continue my subscriptions because I don't want to take a laptop into my, er, reading room. You know. The room with the plumbing. ;)

Free Shipping From G&R Tactical

Just a quick note that G&R Tactical is currently offering free shipping on orders over $100.

ARES 22RCU - Ruger Mk.II/Mk.II Carbine Conversion

I was browsing the American Rifleman website, when I discovered this article on the ARES 22RCU.

Ares Defense Systems has created a carbine conversion kit for Ruger Mk.I, Mk.II, Mk.II, and 22/45 pistols, which they call the 22RCU. It is full-on politically incorrect with a vented railed handguard and collapsible wire stock. The conversion kit isn't available yet, but Ares says that it is "coming soon."

You may be familiar with Ares if you've heard about their Shrike Belt-fed upper for the AR-15/M-16 or their AR-15 piston conversion kit.

EDIT: GunPundit found it at SHOT Show '09. You can find his blog post about it, with a better picture here. The retail price he was told would be $299.

Updates, 11/1/09

Added some AR-15 and .223/5.56mm ammo links to the Links Page.

Picture of Magpul PMag added to AR-15 Magazine Article.

I'll have updated the Pet Loads Article, and Hogdon TiteGroup Powder Review, by the time you read this.

The 1911 has been getting some range time, and is doing well. I'll post more details later.

The M&P 9 Pro has a new ejector coming soon from Brownells. Will have it out at the range next weekend, and hopefully will not get beaned with brass the whole time. It's been sitting in the GunVault (another review I'll have to write someday) for months now. Every time I went to put in an order from Midway, they were backordered on the ejectors.

Stuff for reloading .223 ammo inbound from Midway, though they sold out of the shellplates before I could place the order, so I still won't be able to do much. Planning on upgrading the Hornady press with the EZ-Ject parts, so maybe I'll order the shellplate direct from Hornady then.

I need to get around to updating the Articles and Reviews pages. It's been a few months. Oops!