NEW REVIEW: OCTOBER 2004

by Chris Choat

USC/UMP .45 MUZZLE FLANGE AND BARREL CONVERSION

Now you can get a factory looking H&K USC/UMP barrel for a fraction of the cost. Don’t replace your factory German H&K USC .45 ACP barrel with a second-rate UMP knock-off of unknown origin. Forget services that simply shorten and turn your barrel down to unknown dimensions for the so-called “factory look”. Now you can get the real deal! Convert your H&K USC barrel to 100% UMP specifications and retain all the quality and accuracy that the factory original polygonal rifling offers. Shockwave Weapons has now introduced their USC/UMP .45 Muzzle Flange and their USC/UMP .45 Barrel Conversion. They will sell the Muzzle Flange only for the do-it-yourselfers out there or you can have them shorten your barrel and install the Muzzle Flange for a turnkey job. This barrel conversion includes reparkerizing to original color. First, the barrel is shortened and turned down. Then the Muzzle Flange is installed and silver soldered in place. Silver soldering has a tensile strength of 65,000 psi while the SAAMI maximum average pressure for the .45 Auto cartridge is only 21,000 psi so there is plenty of safety margin. The new Muzzle Flange is correct in all dimensions and is complete with the keyway for suppressor indexing. Suppressors that fit factory UMP barrels will also fit a Shockwave Weapons converted barrel. All NFA rules apply here so be sure you have the proper paperwork (approved ATF Form 1). One note here, the UMP Muzzle Flange is not considered threads by ATF, so it’s legal to have on a “post ban” gun. For more information, please contact Shockwave Weapons, Dept. SAR, 2491 E 2860 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. Phone: 1-801-792-2080. Their website is www.shockwaveweapons.com.

NEW AR-15/M16/M4 QUICK-CHANGE BARREL (QCB) SYSTEM FROM MGI

MGI has recently introduced a new quick-change barrel system for the AR-15 and /M16/M4 series of rifles. This new system promises to revolutionize how these rifles are used. The new barrel change system features a new upper receiver that is completely compatible with your existing AR-15 or M16 (small front pin) lower receiver and allows the user to change barrels in seconds. This allows the rifle to be extremely compact as well as giving the operator the option of having multiple barrels for multiple functions. The best part of the new QCB upper receiver is that it uses standard AR-15/-16 barrels! That’s right, a standard barrel with the Delta ring, barrel nut, sling swivel and front handguard keeper removed. To install a barrel in their QCB upper receiver, all you do is push down on the spring-loaded barrel release lever retainer, swing out the release levers, insert the barrel and close the barrel release levers until they snap into place. It’s that simple. Each MGI QCB Upper Receiver comes standard in a flat-top configuration with MIL-STD-1913 rail interface. The rail is marked for easy removal and return of optics or accessories. The special handguard is also equipped with a 6-inch rail interface on each side and a 2-inch rail interface on the bottom. The entire unit is only 15 inches in length. Suggested retail of the new unit, less barrel, is $550.00. For more information, please contact MGI, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 61, Levant, Maine 04456. Phone: 1-207-884-8226. Fax: 207-884-7697. They can be reached on the web at www.mgimilitary.com.

NEW MARK III .22 PISTOL FROM RUGER

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., the nation’s largest firearms manufacturer, is proud to announce the introduction of a new family of autoloading rimfire pistols-the Ruger Mark III .22 caliber pistols. The new Ruger Mark III pistol retains the familiar grip and overall shape of the Mark II pistol but feature many new engineering refinements. A newly designed, convenient-to-use magazine release button is located on the left side of the frame, behind the trigger guard. The new Ruger Mark III pistol also features the very first visible loaded chamber indicator for a .22 rimfire pistol (patent pending). These new features, combined with an unobtrusive internal lock, magazine disconnect and re-contoured sights and ejection port, result in the most innovative .22 pistol ever offered. While the Ruger Mark III is truly an innovative design, it retains the key features that are the heart of the original Ruger Mark II and Ruger Standard pistols. Rather than using a separate moving slide, the bolt moves inside a rigid barrel-receiver assembly upon which the sights are mounted. This unique design ensures that the sights are unaffected by the blow-back action for consistent accuracy. The first Ruger Mark III model is the MKIII512, which will have a 5 1/2-inch bull barrel, micro-adjustable rear sight and a blued steel receiver. The receiver is drilled to accept the new Weaver-style scope base adapter, included with each pistol. For more information on these new pistols, please contact Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., Dept. SAR, 200 Ruger Road, Prescott, AZ 86301. Phone: 1-928-541-8820. Fax: 1-928-541-8850. Their website is www.ruger.com.

NEW “CVT” AR-15 STOCK FROM BELL AND CARLSON

Bell and Carlson has now introduced their new “CVT” adjustable cheekpiece for AR-15 rifles that fits A2 style stocks. The “CVT” is fully adjustable and will help improve accuracy by providing a platform for correct head position and eye to scope alignment. It is made from CNC machined aircraft-grade aluminum and durable Kydex. It installs in minutes with no special tools or permanent modifications to the stock. It is also easily adjustable and can be collapsed in seconds if the optic should malfunction and there is a need to use iron sights. The back-plate is also pre-drilled to accept a recoil pad or to increase length of pull. For more information on this as well as their full line of innovative gunstocks, contact them at Bell and Carlson, Dept. SAR, 7-101 Allen Road, Dodge City, KS, 67801. Phone: 1-620-225-6688. Fax: 1-620-225-9095. They can be located on the web at www.bellandcarlson.com.

CCI INTRODUCES 17-CALIBER GAMEPOINT AMMUNITION

CCI is now providing small game hunters with a speedy 20-grain, dimple-tip bullet that won’t ruin meat by rounding out its line of 17 HMR offerings. Available by the time you read this, the 17-caliber GamePoint is a dimple-tip bullet that mushrooms like a big game bullet. This impressive characteristic allows ideal performance on squirrels, rabbits and other small game. CCI is listing this new product at a muzzle velocity of 2,375 feet per second with 250 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. These ballistics and sub-MOA accuracy provide the pinpoint precision needed for small game hunting. With an increase in popularity of predator hunting and rising price in the pelt trade, this configuration also provides hide-hunters with an exceptional way to preserve their bounty. The 17 HMR GamePoint is sold in a convenient, reusable 50-count plastic box that protects the cartridges and dispenses them with ease. For more information, please contact ATK Ammunition, Dept. SAR, 900 Ehlen Drive, Anoka, MI 55303. Phone: 1-763-323-2300. Fax: 1-763-323-2506. On the web at www.cci-ammunition.com.