Well-crafted propaganda has amazing longevity, outliving even government programs, which are seemingly immortal.

The creation, nurturing and old age of the “assault weapon” campaign sits high in the sky parlor of propaganda, rivaling many religions in terms of blind faith and overwhelming fear. Twelve years past the sunset of the federal assault weapons ban, the gun control industry has yet to relent that their mission was fraudulent, their goals insincere and their outcomes failed.

As the founder and chief researcher at the Gun Facts project, I am self-inflicted by gun control industry agitprop. A recent communication by one of their hordes was stunning in its composition, claiming that the common AR-15 was a “powerful weapon of war.” This is an unsubtle reminder that theirs is a long con and one that remains in play.

Josh Wasn’t Joshing

The origins of the assault on your weapons is as sinister as it was well-constructed. In the same year that Florida began the stampede toward near-universal concealed carry in the United States, a lone but well-financed propaganda master was popularizing the notion of “assault weapons.” Josh Sugarmann, the only visible working component of the Violence Policy Center (VPC), continued his crusade on private gun ownership by planting seeds of deception. Sensing that gun-owning herds could be culled, he set his sights on firearms that were simply scary to the uninitiated. At the VPC website, Sugarmann wrote:

“Assault weapons… are a new topic. The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons–anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun–can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons” (emphasis clearly mine).

Politicians in search of a cause (which is their main stock-in-trade) latched onto the “assault weapon” theme for the simple reason that some firearms look frightening, and fear is the primordial tool in politics. In 1968, every voter had watched the Vietnam war nightly during dinner. They saw M-16s carried by American soldiers, AK-47s carried by Viet Cong and had no other reference to what they were.

Hence, the phrase “powerful weapon of war” to generically describe “assault weapons” invokes the fear of war. Facts, the differences between civilian and military incarnations of certain rifles and the utter disconnect created by broad “assault weapons” classifications are unimportant to voters. Not being shot by a “powerful weapon of war” is.

It was the coining of the term “assault weapon” that was the gun control industry’s crowning achievement, because the term means nothing yet is instantly repeatable. Before Josh and his moneyed patrons began force feeding that phrase to the media, there was no such firearms classification. Whole cloth is a wonderful material for propagandists because it can be used to cloak legislative fiction.

This happened in 1989 in California, the caldron for American gun control. The Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act outlawed ownership and transfer of more than 50 brands and models of semi-automatic rifles and a hodgepodge of pistols and shotguns. It also introduced the legislative perfidy of banning weapons on irrational–and often cosmetic–design elements, such as having a thumbhole in the stock of a rifle.

Intellectually embarrassing as Roberti-Roos was, it set the stage for other states and the federal government to ban whatever they felt like banning by using the umbrella term “assault weapon.” Proof of this came in 2004 when the gun control industry was battling mightily to preserve California Senator Dianne Feinstein’s federal assault weapon ban. The Legal Community Against Violence (today rebranded as the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence) produced an oddly honest document (Banning Assault Weapons–A Legal Primer for State and Local Action) detailing the sundry “assault weapons” legislation from around the nation.

Across eight jurisdictions, they reported from 19 to 75 banned firearms, codified using six differing generic classification schemes and with several legal systems for banning more guns by bureaucratic edict. This list might well have been created with random tosses of darts at the corner bar near the newspaper offices (there is always a bar near a reporter). You would be hard pressed to find any commonality among these laws or the firearms they banned.

Instigated by Josh Sugarmann, and accelerated by California politicians, assault weapon demonization became a working meme that has lasted over 20 years later.

A Non-Problem from The Gitgo

Because California politicians were eager to run with the assault weapon ball, certain members of California’s law enforcement community were recruited to understand the scope of the problem. Paraphrasing, they collectively said “What problem?”

“I surveyed the firearms used in violent crimes … assault-type firearms were the least of our worries,” said S.C. Helsley, who was the Assistant Director DOJ Investigation and Enforcement Branch. Part of Helsley’s job included working with state crime labs, and thus he had access to the make and model of every recovered crime gun in California, except those held in city-run labs. And though his dataset was large and compelling, he could not compel the big California cities–San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.–to participate in the study by handing over their recovered weapons roster.

“I wanted the various crime labs to start consistent reporting of confiscated crime guns,” said Helsley. “But there is a divide in crime labs.

Rural areas don’t have them and rely on state-run labs. The big cities, the ones with more violent crime and more gangs, have their own labs. Yet those cities, where calls for an ‘assault weapons’ ban came from, were not cooperating in tracking or cataloging crime guns.”

That last bit is vitally important. Gang members don’t carry assault weapons. Criminals require a certain element of surprise to be good at their jobs. They are fond of concealing their often-stolen guns on their often-doped bodies since that is the one place where their weaponry will always be readily available and portable to the scene of their crimes. Since a stubby AK-47 measures in at 870 millimeters, and the average male torso is a mere 600 vertical millimeters, hiding a common assault weapon on their person is a challenge, even when wearing large and puffy parkas during the dog days of summer, which is in vogue among modern gangsters. The situation gets worse when an unfortunate hoodlum cannot find an abbreviated AK and must jam a full-length M-16 (1,006 mm) under his arm, presumably with the muzzle jutting past his cheek and lifting his sweat jacket hood a few inches into the air like a cranial pup tent.

In short, by not reporting details of gang gun use, large California cities were keeping the small number of assault weapons used in crimes artificially high in order to help pass “assault weapons” bans. This chicanery was essential given that in the rest of the state–where rifles were common and gang bangers were not–the firearms that Roberti and Roos wished to ban were used in less than 1% of all homicides. Nationally speaking, in 1994–the year the federal assault weapon ban was passed–you were 11 times more likely to be beaten to death than to be killed by an assault weapon. This was because coast-to-coast assault weapons were used in a mere 1.4% of all crimes involving firearms and 0.25% of all violent crime.

And the situation did not change over the next few decades. In 2004, when the debate to extend the federal assault weapon ban was in full swing, the National Institute of Justice issued their review of the effectiveness of that ban in a report titled, “An Updated Assessment of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Impacts on Gun Markets and Gun Violence.” In a somewhat apologetic tone they said “ … we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation’s recent drop in gun violence.”

If the Facts Do Not Conform to the Theory, the Facts Must Be Disposed Of

Statistically speaking, assault weapons were not a problem before the gun control industry ran the term downfield, nor were they any more of a problem after two decades of experimentation.

Conveniently, facts are less important than emotions to working propagandists. Take for example this lede on the poorly named SmartGunLaws.org website, maintained by shysters employed by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence:

“Assault weapons are a class of semi-automatic firearms that are designed to kill humans quickly and efficiently.”

Hyperbole is normally amusing, but not in this case. The gun control industry’s language remains designed to invoke fear. With the roaring commercial success of the AR platform and it becoming a mainstream firearm, the gun control industry has only one remaining hook on which to base public fear, namely mass public shootings by lunatics. A mere sentence later on the same web page, the LCPGV asserts “Assault weapons have been used in many high-profile shooting incidents, including the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the 2012 Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting and the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in that state.”

The insanely over-estimated high-end of assault weapons used in mass public shootings is 25%, which interestingly means that 3/4 of mass public shootings do not involve assault weapons.
Even then the rarity of mass public shootings (using the correct and blessed criminology definition of an event with four or more fatalities, not including the assailant) drops the number significantly. In a typical year in the United States, there are about 20 mass public shootings. This means five such events per year at most involve assault weapons. Compare that to 51 dead, mainly from gang violence, in January 2017 … in Chicago.

Despite the comparatively trivial degree of assault weapon mass public shooting carnage, the gun control industry desperately ties the two together for the simple reason that such violence is random. We all know where the bad neighborhoods are and avoid them (unless you are unfortunate enough to live there). We sense when people we know might become at risk and intervene or divorce ourselves from them. In short, most gun violence is avoidable. Mass public shootings are random and thus outside of our control. Hitching assault weapons to these rare and random events connects the fear of the events to the firearms.

To raise the artificial fear level some more, the gun control industry tries to attach assault weapons to endangerment of police officers. The LCAGV page asserts that “A study analyzing FBI data shows that 20% of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty from 1998 to 2001 were killed with assault weapons.” This study was provided by none other than the Violence Policy Center, Josh Sugarmann’s organization who popularized the entire assault weapons canard. The FBI disagrees with Josh in two ways. First, they do not classify the weapons used with any “assault weapons” designation (which makes LCAGV’s summary completely false), and the numbers just don’t add up. When you review the FBI’s data and triangulate using the types and calibers of weapons commonly in “assault weapons” categories, the number of police killed with anything remotely resembling an assault weapon ranged between 1%-8% of all police shooting deaths.

For perspective sake, 20 times as many officers were accidentally killed on the job than were shot to death (regardless of the type of firearm), and most of those were automotive accidents.

Agitprop and Reality

Reality can only be ignored when ancient instinctive reactions are used to override logic, perspective and facts. This is why the gun control industry continues to fight the non-existent scourge of “powerful weapons of war.” Laying it on thick is all they have left.

About the Author

Guy Smith is the founder and chief researcher at the Gun Facts project (motto: We are neither pro-gun nor anti-gun. We are pro-math and anti B.S.). The Gun Facts project has been deconstructing bad gun control policy information for over 16 years. Smith has a background in quantitative management and research, as well as extracurricular excursions into constitutional law and criminology. Smith is also the author of Shooting The Bull (http://amzn.to/1KotyQ4), a guide to spotting propaganda in real-time.

The Presidency of Donald Trump is a little over a month old at the time of the writing of this article. Thus far, President Trump has signed a dozen executive orders. And while the Second Amendment community holds high hopes for progress on rolling back restrictions on firearms ownership, none of Trump’s ink-signed edicts addresses gun control. What do we have now?

If sales at the recent SHOT Show are any indicator (and they usually are), it would appear that the pressure is off and that the fear associated with the prospect of another Clinton presidency has vanished. Dealers have stopped laying in supplies of at-risk firearms, and customers have stopped their anticipatory binge buying. The prices of AR-style weapons are in free fall. The “business” of the firearms world is ironically lamenting the exit of the salesman of the decade, President Obama. On the NFA side, things are unsettled. Suppressor exhibitors at SHOT reported huge crowds and low orders. Many pointed to a general reaction by the customer community to the reintroduction of the Hearing Protection Act (HPA). It would seem that customers are convinced that President Trump will be signing the HPA in a matter of moments and that there is no reason to buy a suppressor now, when they will soon be able to do it without the inconvenience of NFA paperwork or tax. It would seem as though those customers have forgotten the lessons learned in grade school civics.

The HPA is a sorely needed beginning to a conversation that the legislators of this country need to start. But right now, it is just a start. Our friends at the American Suppressor Association have embarked upon a Herculean journey, and we applaud them and support them for their needed efforts. But make no mistake: this isn’t a done deal. The HPA is in committee right now, and it has to get out of committee to get voted upon in the House. If it does get out of committee in the House, prospects are good that there are enough votes to get it approved. Then it is on to the Senate where things get trickier. Assuming it gets out of committee there and makes it to the Senate floor for debate, 60 votes are needed to invoke cloture, a fancy term for ending debate. The Senate cannot vote until debate is ended. There are 52 Republican Senators. Assuming that all of them vote to invoke cloture (not certain), are there another half dozen+ Democrats that would go along with it? And if that happens, any differences in the House and Senate bills would have to be ironed out and reapproved before it gets to Trump’s desk. That’s a long road that is not likely to be traversed in the next few weeks. So, go out and buy a suppressor today.

In other news, there is a “We the People” petition demanding the repeal of the 1934 National Firearms Act. Although it started very slowly, the petition received around 140,000 signatures by its cut off of February 19th. That is enough to require a White House response. We need to keep in mind that those signatures represent about a 20th of one percent of the voting population. More importantly, the White House cannot wave away legislation created by Congress and signed into law by a President. Repeal happens through legislative process or judicial invalidation. A similar petition to repeal the Hughes amendment has not generated enough signatures to even warrant a response. The demands for repeal on that effort represent just over a one hundredth of a percent of the voting public. Is that constituency enough to warrant the attention of Congress?

Change is going to come slowly, and it is not going to come from online petitions and Facebook rallies. It is going to come from disciplined interaction with the political and legislative systems. The players who actually have the wherewithal and gravitas to achieve these victories know that this is most certainly a long-form engagement with no quick victories. And even though we hear the cries from purists … “What part of ‘Shall not be infringed’ do you not understand?” We know that political and legislative change almost always requires compromise. There will always be those who balk at those compromises.

The NFATCA was instrumental in eliminating the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) approval signature requirement for NFA making and transfer. We fought hard to prevent the previous White House from turning our original petition on its ear (our thanks to attorneys Stephen Halbrook and John Frazer and the many others who helped redirect the DOJ), and the final result of the rule making process looks substantially similar to what we originally proposed. Yes, some NFA applicants are faced with a slight increase in inconvenience in that every responsible person (those who may have lawful possession) must abide by the same identification and background check process. The net result is that the surge of applications that sought to get in under the old rules and the recent, smaller surge of applicants who could not get a CLEO signature and did not want to mess with acquisition through a legal entity is mostly over. Form submission rates are returning to similar levels to what was experienced before the announcement of the new rule. The NFA world wasn’t “killed,” and there are an additional 1,000,000 NFA items on the registry as a result. Many manufacturers prospered as a result of these surges (and many failed to plan for the inevitable regression to the mean). But one thing is absolutely certain: The NFATCA goal of more NFA weapons available for more people, more often, owned in whatever way the people want is accomplished. Yet there is still more to do. We will continue to work with those people and organizations that will continue to help us increase those opportunities. We thank you for your continued support.

An intriguing new rifle was unveiled at SHOT 2107. The X11 rifle, from Scottsdale AZ based SKELI, LLC was on display at the Next section on the third floor of the Sands Convention Center. The Next area is a row of very small “booths”, (4×4 foot tables, actually) that gives new vendors a chance to show off their product without having to rent larger floor space on the main or lower floors at SHOT. It has become a very popular feature at recent SHOT shows.

The Skeli X11 rifle is a new design, not a variant of any current design. It features a side-folding (to the left side) stock and a quick-change barrel. Caliber choices include 5.56×45, as well as conversion kits for 300 Blackout, 6.5mm Grendel, and 6.8 SPC II. The cost for another barrel is reasonably priced, $285 for the 300 BLK and $395 for the 6.5 and 6.8 choices. A barrel swap can be done in less than 60 seconds. This can be done without tools, via a ratcheted knurled barrel nut. The company website claims the quick-change barrel system maintains its zero after a barrel removal and reinstallation. The stated weight is 6.8 lbs, and the display model certainly felt very light during my brief study of it. Of course, this was without any ammo.

The rifle features a 3-position (high, low, and suppressed) gas system acting on a short-stroke piston. The proprietary bolt carrier holds a rotating bolt. The bolt carrier rides on dual guide rods, similar to the AR-18 or SA-80 rifles. The bolt itself is basic AR-15 dimension, as is the barrel extension. This simplifies things if you were to build your own barrel or calibre conversion later. Besides the barrel extension, the Fire Control Group and pistol grip are also standard AR-15 spec.

By swapping the bolt for a left handed one, the gun can easily be set up for left side ejection. A spare bolt is priced at $120 MSRP.

An ambidextrous non-reciprocating changing handle is located towards front of the rifle, sort of FN-FAL style. The charging handle can be swapped from one side to the other, as preferred. Also ambidextrous is the safety lever, conveniently located directly above the pistol grip.

Overall length is 34 inches, with a standard 16” barrel. A 16” Picatinny rail is machined into the extruded aluminum upper receiver. The length of pull is 12 ¾”. The barrels are made from 45V50 Chrome-Moly-Vanadium steel, then Nitrided for additional wear resistance. The 5.56 barrels are listed as having a 1:7” twist. The other chamberings are not listed as to twist rate. Current color options are Urban Grey and Dark Earth. The molded polymer lower and the anodized aluminum upper do not match in color, but do present a nice two-tone effect.

Proper Measurement of Short-Barrel Rifles, Short-Barreled Shotguns and Other Firearms that Fire Shotgun Ammunition

All firearms are regulated by the Gun Control Act (GCA), and some firearms are also regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA). The NFA regulates firearms that have features outside of the standards specified in the GCA, such as Short-Barreled Rifles (SBR) and Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBS). There is also a category of “pistol-grip firearms” that applies to “firearms designed to fire shotgun ammunition” that were never a shotgun. These firearms appear to be regulated by the NFA but are not. In this article, these firearms and the method to measure them will be explained.
Findings

Most firearms have a definition in the GCA. Under the GCA, “rifles” are defined as follows: designed to be fired from the shoulder, having a rifled bore and a barrel at least 16 inches in length. “Shotguns” are defined as: having a smooth bore and designed to be fired from the shoulder. Though it is not called out in the GCA, there is also the category of “Other firearms designed to fire shotgun ammunition.” This is a complex definition not in the firearms regulations guide and will be explained on its own.

The GCA statutes do not specify the mandatory minimum length of a rifle in its definition of a rifle. This can be found in the 27 CFR 478.11 in the definition of an SBR and a weapon made from a rifle. The same goes for the definition of an SBS and a weapon made from a shotgun. If a person possesses a rifle and reduces the length to less than 16 inches, it becomes an NFA firearm as it now has a barrel length less than allowed in the GCA. Likewise for a shotgun, if the barrel is cut below 18 inches it becomes a “Short-Barreled” shotgun. The overall minimum length for both firearms is 26 inches.

What these modified firearms have in common is that they are originally made as complete rifles and complete shotguns. A person or entity modified them by reducing the length of the barrel. A receiver of a rifle on its own could not be an SBR if it were never a rifle, so goes for the SBS; if it were never a shotgun, it could not be an SBS.

Measuring a shotgun or rifle barrel length is complicated because the chamber is an integral part of all, if not most, shotgun and rifle barrels. Additionally, shotgun barrels generally have an extension that is used to align or lock the barrel in place. Not everyone who modifies a barrel length wants to make an SBR or an SBS. Someone may want to cut their barrel to a more manageable length. Because 1/8th of an inch below the legal length could put you in a position of possible criminal prosecution or abandonment of your property to ATF, it is critical that the barrel be measured properly.

When making an NFA item, SBR or SBS, it must be registered with the proper barrel length. The measurement of an SBS or SBR barrel is not as critical for a registered NFA firearm as it is for a GCA firearm, since you are intentionally cutting the length of it below the GCA legal limit. This firearm is then registered as an NFA firearm with a barrel length intentionally below the GCA legal length. However, if someone is not careful when cutting the barrel of a shotgun or rifle from a factory firearm and reduces the length below the legal limit in the GCA without registration as an NFA firearm, he could potentially be prosecuted for possessing an unregistered NFA firearm.

Proper Measuring Method

The proper method of measuring a barrel and overall length of a firearm is provided as follows (verified with ATF). Safety first! Before you ever handle any firearm, think safety and ensure you follow all safety rules. Point the weapon in a safe direction, remove the ammunition, check the chamber (multiple times) and then begin taking your measurements.

The following is clear instruction on how ATF measures a firearm barrel length and overall length of a firearm:

BARREL LENGTH MEASUREMENTS

(see captions 1 and 2):

a. Examine and ensure that the weapon is unloaded.
b. Close the breech, breech lock or bolt.
c. Cock the weapon to withdraw the firing pin.
d. Insert a straight rod down the muzzle end of the barrel until contact is made with the face of the bolt, breech or breech lock.
e. Mark the rod at the muzzle end to denote the true barrel length. Removable barrel extensions, poly chokes, flash hiders, etc., are not a part of the measured barrel length; however, permanently (ATF approved permanently attached) affixed chokes are considered part of the barrel.
f. Withdraw the rod and measure the length of the rod to your mark.

MEASUREMENT OF THE OVERALL LENGTH OF A FIREARM

(see captions 3 and 4):

The following method of measuring the overall length of rifles and shotguns is the method approved by the ATF:

a. Examine and ensure that the firearm is unloaded.
b. Close the action, if the firearm is of the “break open” type.
c. Lay the firearm to be measured on its side on a table or desk, with the butt of the stock on line with an edge. Keeping the butt against one edge, bring the barrel(s) of the weapon in line and next to the right angle edge.
d. Mark the length of the true muzzle(s) of the barrel(s).
e. The overall length of the firearm can now be measured from the muzzle mark to the right angle corner nearest the butt of the stock.
f. If the rifle or shotgun has a folding or collapsible stock, extend or unfold the stock; the full-length stock is part of the overall measurement.

Pistol Grip Firearms Designed to Fire Shotgun Ammunition

In recent years, there has been a weapon designed or made on a shotgun receiver that was never made into a shotgun. These firearms have the following characteristics:

• Utilizes a shotgun-type receiver that has never had a shoulder stock attached
• Fitted with a pistol grip in lieu of a shoulder stock
• Pump-action or semiautomatic
• Smooth-bore barrel less than 18 inches
• Overall length of more than 26 inches.

Since these weapons, as described above, were never a rifle or a shotgun and not made by modifying existing rifles or shotguns, are classified as a “firearm” only subject to GCA provisions. There is not a definition of these firearms in the GCA or NFA, and they have been termed as “pistol-grip firearms designed to fire shotgun ammunition” (see caption 4).

2017 Chinn Award goes to E. Daniel Shea

On December 7th, 2016, just outside of Washington DC, members of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Armaments Division Small Arms Steering Committee voted unanimously to convey the prestigious honor of the 2017 LtCol George M. Chinn Award to SADJ’s very own Dan Shea for nearly four decades of professional accomplishments in the field of small arms. Most SADJ and SAR readers know Dan as the Technical Editor and Editor-in-Chief of those well respected periodicals. However, few know the full extent and variety of the contributions Dan Shea has made to the military and law enforcement community and the end user; advancing the state of small arms technology, initiating foreign ordnance technology discovery, providing unmatched threat weapons training to uniformed service members, technical analysts, combat developers and trainers and for many readers, the cataloging and preservation of valuable small arms historical and technical materials and collections from countless notable small arms experts and organizations.

The annual NDIA Chinn Award is named after US Marine Corps LtCol George M. Chinn and is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the academic study and research or publishing related to military or infantry small arms. Since the award was first created in 1988, NDIA Chinn Award recipients include small arms industry stalwarts like Dr. Edward C. Ezell, L. James Sullivan, Ronnie Barrett, George E. Kontis, C. Reed Knight, Jr., Phil “Doc” Dater and Richard “Dick” Swan, to name a few.

Dan fits in very well indeed as one of 28 recipients for all that he has accomplished since he started his first machine gun business in the mid-1970s after ETS from the US Army. Dan is also unique in the history of the Chinn Award in that he personally knew most of the previous award recipients, as well as Colonel Chinn. Dan has in fact conducted and published interviews on many of these personalities for SAR/SADJ, or in the case of Dr. Ezell helped rescue his entire reference collection with the UK Defense Academy in Shrivenham England, digitized it and made it available to all on www.smallarmsreview.com.

As a Chinn nominee, Dan Shea is unique. Known not only for his unmatched depth of knowledge of small arms and related ordnance, Dan is also one of the most connected subject matter experts in the small arms community. Dan travels to 20 or more foreign countries each year attending trade shows and visiting factories, hotspots and armories in search of new technologies, rare collectibles and relics, forgotten reference works and training aids and materials. Dan is well connected to senior government officials and industry leaders worldwide and through those relationships has access few others enjoy. As a result, Dan Shea can provide invaluable assistance to his customers be they military or civilian. Well known for his “RKI” (Reasonably Knowledgeable Individual) definition that applies to most “experts” in the small arms world, Dan is a true subject matter expert with few peers in any regard. While some “know guns” Dan knows far more and is able and always willing to convey that hard-earned expertise to those engaged in the fight against the adversaries of freedom. Dan and his companies have and still provide invaluable threat weapons training to our uniformed service members who face those weapons down range and has been since 1984 when he conducted the first foreign weapons class to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Devens

Massachusetts. Knowing the real capabilities versus the reported myths and understanding methods to identify and/or counter those threats saves lives on the battlefield. Dan and his wife and long-time successful business partner Debbie, have shipped free of charge some 160,000 copies of SAR and SADJ to troops stationed overseas to help them pass the time on long deployments.

Like the namesake for the award, Dan Shea is one who enjoys sharing his expertise and the vast array of knowledge he has collected over the decades. Where some might hoard and protect what they know, Dan shares it unselfishly and in many ways. He has penned more than 1100 articles since the 1980s and has served as Technical Editor for various magazines, technical books and briefings and the invaluable “NFA Handbook.” He created the “Machine Gun Dealers Bible” and today is working on the 5th edition. He is well known as one of the top authorities on NFA, State Department and Customs import/export and ITAR rules and regulations and provides that advice and expertise to those in need. Dan has consulted with countless government agencies, foreign governments and many industry companies on everything from small caliber ammunition to tracked radar-guided anti-aircraft systems. The elite agencies that provided endorsement letters in support of Dan’s Chinn Award nomination referenced Dan’s important technical and logistical support as being key in their mission success.

The author has witnessed the level of Dan’s expertise and willingness to share it freely in the US and abroad on many occasions, each one memorable. At the UK Defense Academy in 2010, I marveled when Dan schooled numerous retired British Army veterans on the use of a Lee-Enfield rifle as the third leg of a BREN gun anti-aircraft mount. They had never seen that before. He then went on to inform the curator there that his prized 12.7mm Russian Yak-B’s were incomplete without the blank firing cassettes employed to clear misfires. There are cassettes, and they didn’t have them. While collecting information for an article on the ATF Reference Collection for SAR, Dan named each and every loose magazine in an endless box of pistol, sub gun and rifle magazines that had been separated from the firearms to which they belonged. Dan named every one, to include the one-of-a-kind prototypes and rare examples, much to the amazement of those in attendance. Accounts such as these are endless and a credit to Dan’s passion for the topic and willingness to share his experience and endless “brain box catalog” with most anyone.

For those lucky enough to have visited Dan’s collection of weapons and rarities, the very fact that he opens his doors to most anyone illustrates his willingness to educate others on the fruits of his passion. Dan has been and remains today an inventor, author, researcher and historian, demonstrator, collector, privateer and arms dealer, international traveler and teacher. He is revered today in the community and will be remembered for a very long time, like those who have come before him on the Chinn Award trophy. E. Daniel Shea will be honored for his lifelong contributions to the field of small arms at the 2017 NDIA Armament’s Forum in Fredericksburg Virginia during the first week in May. Join the industry in this celebration by registering at http://www.ndia.org/events/2017/5/1/2017-armament-systems-forum.

2017 Hathcock Award goes to Todd Hodnett

I met Todd Hodnett in 2007 after hearing that I needed to meet “this Guy” that was revolutionizing the Sniper community with new training and techniques. Todd was teaching Long Range Sniper Training at locations in Texas and Utah and impressed the sniper community. As a Former Marine Corps Scout Sniper and completing both the Scout Sniper Basic and Advanced Courses, I felt confident that what Todd was teaching would augment what I already knew about this craft and would ultimately be another opportunity to hone critical skills. What I quickly learned though was that Todd Hodnett had thrown out a lot of what I was instructed in and had developed new techniques and equipment to enable the snipers of today with capabilities that my generation could only dream about.

Raised in the Heart of Texas, Todd spent a lifetime preparing for his current role. He first started shooting scoped rifles when he was 6 years old. The need to hunt effectively within West Texas requires keen ability and some luck. Todd’s skills with firearms were not limited rifles, he worked aggressively to compete and become the National Champion in Cowboy Action Shooting. While competing, Todd was asked to train some military personnel on Advanced Pistol skills which lead to training in precision long-range shooting. Collaborations with Industry lead to advancement of many aspects of a sniper’s capability. Case in point was one of Todd’s promotions of a gridded “holding” reticle. While this type of reticle was reserved for match shooters, Todd was able to modernize these reticles, and today they are the standard. Before long, Todd was training instructors from the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School and US Army Sniper School. In addition, he was quite an influence teaching instructors from all elements of Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command. This quickly led to Federal Law Enforcement with FBI Hostage Rescue Team, Secret Service Counter Sniper and entities within the Intelligence Community signing up for this coveted opportunity. Today, Todd teaches every sniper instructor group in the US Military. His teachings have established new doctrine within many of these organizations and sniper schools. Todd has developed formulas, such as his Wind Formula, that provide quick reference and enable fast sniper engagement.

While working for an Electro Optics Company that produced high-end laser range finders, I worked with Todd to better utilize range finders and incorporate them within his training school. Todd crafted requirements for a smaller, lighter, less expensive range finder that ultimately became the Vectronix PLRF-05, (Terrapin). I tried to get it called the TH-05 (Todd Hodnett), but that did not fit into the marketing mystery bag of tricks. This is just one of a long line of technologies that Todd has designed or developed for the precision shooter. Todd has designed a scope level to maintain rifle position, a slew of reticles to aid in rapid engagement to include the Tremor 3 which is currently in every USSOCOM ECOS-O scope. Todd has produced training videos for those shooters not able to attend his classes, and he has developed tools such as the Wiz Wheel that will allow a sniper in the field to rapidly determine a shooting solution without the use of a computer.

What impresses me is that regardless of which military or federal law enforcement sniper you talk to, they typically have attended one, if not several, Todd Hodnett Classes and use his techniques when shooting a precision rifle. This, as some say, is the highest form of flattery, but it is also a demonstration to me that his techniques are relevant and enhance the shooter with critical technique that allows him to be successful. I cannot find a Military Sniper who does not know who Todd Hodnett is, just like that of Carlos Hathcock. In addition to his teaching, Todd continues to invest time and energy with military personnel that have suffered traumatic injury on the battlefield. Todd regularly takes these wounded warriors on unique, one-on-one, big game hunts and assumes all of the expense.

Todd could not accomplish this alone; he has a beautiful family led by his wife Shannon, two adult sons, Colby and Will, and longtime friends Mark Larue and Eddie Abraham. Todd has classes booked out for years typically and to be able to get out to West Texas and experience this is a blessing.

I consider myself fortunate to know Todd and consider him a close friend. I rest well at night knowing there are men out in harm’s way who are armed with skills honed by Todd Hodnett. There is no one in my opinion more deserving of this most prestigious award.

Title: Making Ammo; A Beginner’s Guide to Handloading

Author: Kyle Lynch
Publisher: 2nd Amendment Media, Whitman Publishing LLC
Copyright:© 2015
Cover: Hardcover, 8.75” x 11.25”, 416
Pages:218, Soft cover. full color, 8”x11”
USD: $23.95

I wish Making Ammo: A Beginner’s Guide to Handloading existed 30 years ago, when I first started reloading. It would have shortened the learning curve by a huge margin. Clearly written, full of detailed explanations of equipment and techniques and illustrated with large full color photos, this book does a fine job of instructing beginners how to get into reloading metallic rifle and pistol cartridges. (It does not deal with shotgun shells at all.)

This book is not a recipe cookbook of loads. Instead, it is a great source of information for someone wanting to get started with reloading. Chapters include Safety, Components, Tools, Inspection, Data Management, Procedures and Range (during and afterwards). The section on Data Management seems overly complex, but the author stresses that very thorough records are the key to success in this game.

The opening chapter, Why Reload, touches on the subtle difference between “saving money” and “reducing costs.” The author correctly notes that you will not spend less, but you will shoot more.

Chapter 4, Components and Nomenclature, gives a very good overview of the various powders available. The difference between single-base (Nitrocellulose) and double-base (Nitrocellulose plus Nitro-glycerine) is covered, along with the shapes of the grains (extruded, flake and spherical). Several pages are dedicated to brief descriptions of 146 of the most popular powders, arranged by burn rate. On the subject of burn rate, the M1 Garand service rifle needs a relatively fast burn rate to avoid damaging parts, and this is noted as well.

Even though this reviewer has been reloading for over 30 years, I still learned a few new tricks from this book. One hint in particular caught my attention. The dust that rises from the walnut tumbler media in vibratory cleaners likely contains minute lead particles (from the lead styphnate priming chemical) that get everywhere if you tumble indoors. Point taken!

The author has a relaxed, chatty way of writing that seems to suit. I did find the several references to Zombies, Loch Ness monsters and TEOTWAWKI scenarios a bit goofy, though. Aside from that, there are few very minor issues with the content. Several times, technical terms were mentioned but not properly explained. To be fair, these terms (comparator, headspace, run-out) were explained fully in later chapters, but the book does leave the reader hanging for a while. Keep in mind that this book is intended for beginners. As well, there were several photos with incorrect captions. Certainly not a dealbreaker, but noted.

I did appreciate that the author gives various techniques different levels of importance, depending on the reader’s level of experience and expected use. While flash hole deburring and neck turning are established techniques for the advanced reloader and long-range competitive shooter, they may not be necessary for blasting tin cans for fun.

I found this title to be a very good introduction to reloading. Available from https://whitman.com/store/Inventory/Browse/2nd-Amendment-Media.

Moriarty’s Secret Weapon

Professor James Moriarty is one of the greatest villains in all of fiction. That is one undeniable truth about Sherlock Holmes’ stories. Though he only appears in two of the original books, he is still well liked by fans of the series and considered the equal of fiction’s greatest detective. He is described by Holmes as the Napoleon of Crime and is cunning, brilliant and horribly ruthless, especially to any who get in his way.

Over the years, like Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty has been played by countless actors in equally countless movies and TV shows. Strangely, in the 2009 movie, the director refused to say who played the Professor. In the film, Sherlock’s love interest leaves his home after a long conversation, and he follows her disguised as a homeless man. He follows her to a carriage where she is meeting with Moriarty. He begs for some money until Moriarty threatens him with a concealed C. Sharps Model A1 Pepperbox, chasing Holmes away.

The device used to hide the Pepperbox is almost Steampunk in its design. It is attached to a leather wristband and is activated by a simple push on the gun, which, thanks to an interesting spring system, shoots the gun forward into the owner’s hand. To put it back, all the owner has to do is push it back, and it will click into place.

The Model 1A was patented by Christian Sharps, the inventor of the Sharps Rifle. It is actually one of several models that were produced. It fired .22 short caliber rounds and was very successful, being in production for a long time. To load it, there was a rail underneath the barrels that allowed the owner to take them off the front and load or unload ammo easily. To shoot, you only have to pull the cocking handle back and pull the trigger. When you pull back again, the firing pin rotates to the next round.

Pepperboxes first appeared in the late 1700s. They were popular with civilians and military officers alike because most of them were small and easy to hide. The early models at first were turned by hand, but later models had mechanisms put in that allowed the barrels to rotate when the cocking handle is pulled back. There were two flaws with them; the first being that they were heavy in the front, making it hard to aim. This was not a large problem though, since civilians mostly had to use them at close range. However, the other flaw was that on some models, the powder on each barrel would sometimes go off at the same time, resulting in the barrels shooting in either a chain of bursts or all at the same time.

The 2009 “Sherlock Holmes” movie is a real treat for people who like a good mystery. Robert Downey, Jr. plays a great Sherlock, and Jude Law makes a good Watson. The villain, played by Mark Strong, is actually terrifying, sending shivers down the spines of anyone watching him. The plot is well done, with twists and turns that have any viewer watching on the edge of his or her seat.

Short-Barrel Rifles and Short-Barrel Shotguns: Understanding Federal Regulations

I. BACKGROUND

Short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns have been regulated under the National Firearms Act since 1934 and under the Gun Control Act since 1968. This article outlines the history of regulation of these weapons under federal law, the types of weapons subject to regulation under the statutory definitions and how to remove them from the scope of the National Firearms Act.

A. Statutory Background and History

During Prohibition, the rise of organized interstate crime led Americans for the first time to view crime as a national rather than a local problem. The Administration of then President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a series of crime bills. One in particular would have regulated the sale and ownership of machineguns and concealable weapons, including handguns. The Roosevelt Administration included handguns in the proposed registration scheme under the logic that they are used in crime far more than other weapons. The bills encountered opposition from sportsmen and others who felt the federal government should not intrude into matters best left to the states. But a series of sensational kidnappings and machinegun battles between federal agents and public enemies in 1933 and 1934 increased public demand for federal action. Examples of the crimes in the news at this time include the Kansas City Massacre orchestrated by Pretty Boy Floyd; the kidnapping of St. Paul brewer William Hamm, Jr. by the Barker-Karpis gang; and the kidnapping of Oklahoma City oilman Charles Urschel by Machine Gun Kelly. However, the Administration’s firearms bill stalled in Congress until April 1934, when John Dillinger broke out of jail, robbed several banks and fought several machinegun battles with federal agents. Dillinger’s crimes caused a national furor, and Congress quickly passed the firearms bill known as the National Firearms Act (NFA), but only after handguns were dropped from the bill.

The NFA was enacted as part of the Internal Revenue Code, primarily because it would be a few more years before Congress discovered its authority to enact legislation under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. Congress was quite comfortable with its constitutional authority to impose taxes, and this is the approach the Roosevelt administration adopted. Challenges to the NFA in federal court were upheld as a valid exercise of the taxing power.

The approach taken in the NFA was novel but effective, as the NFA required any person in possession of “gangster-type weapons,” including machineguns, short-barrel shotguns, short-barrel rifles or other regulated firearms, to fill out an IRS form and pay a $200 registration tax. In 1934 $200 was equal to six months’ wages for an average working man, and many persons surrendered their NFA firearms to law enforcement to avoid payment of the $200 tax and, more significantly, the risk of arrest. This dramatically reduced the numbers of NFA firearms in circulation, with a corresponding drop in violent crime using such weapons.

As readers are aware, the NFA requires registration of all “firearms” listed in the statute (see below), approval of firearm transfers in advance and payment of a $200 transfer tax for each firearm transferred. The NFA also requires that persons who engage in the business of manufacturing the firearms regulated under the statute register with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and pay a special (occupational) tax.

The firearms captured by the NFA have changed over time. As enacted in 1934, the NFA included within the definition of “firearm” a shotgun or rifle having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length. In 1936 language was added to the definition to exclude .22 caliber rifles if the barrel was 16 inches or more in length. The definition was again amended in 1960 to include all rifles within the definition of “firearm” if they have a barrel or barrels less than 16 inches in length. Significantly, the 1960 amendment made by Public Law 86-478 (74 Stat. 149, 150) also included the language currently in the NFA including a “weapon made from a rifle” and a “weapon made from a shotgun” within the definition of “firearm.” As in current law, the term requires that the altered rifles and shotguns have an overall length of less than 26 inches. Language was added in 1968 to cover altered rifles and shotguns that are either less than 26 inches in length OR have a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length for a shotgun, or less than 16 inches in length for a rifle. More on the significance of this language will appear later in this article.

1. Rifles Regulated as Short Barrel Rifles

The statutory definition makes it clear there are four criteria for a weapon to be classified as a short-barrel rifle:

1. The weapon must be designed to be fired from the shoulder, in other words, it must have a buttstock;

2. The weapon must have a rifled bore;

3. The weapon must use the energy of an explosive in a fixed cartridge to fire a single projectile for a single pull of the trigger; and

4. The weapon must have a barrel or barrels measuring less than 16 inches in length.

2. Stocked Handguns are Short-barrel Rifles

ATF and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which administered the federal firearms laws until 1972, have long taken the position that the term “short-barrel rifle” includes a stocked handgun. Rulings issued by the IRS in the 1960s make it clear that pistols with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length with an attachable shoulder stock, whether attached to the pistol or not, are regulated as short-barrel rifles. As long as the pistol and shoulder stock are under the custody and control of the same person, the combination is regulated as a short-barrel rifle. Federal court decisions support this position.

One significant exception to the stocked handgun analysis above must be noted. Many readers will be familiar with kits that include a frame/receiver, pistol grip, pistol barrel, fore-end, buttstock and rifle barrel of 16 inches or more in length. Even though these kits allow the purchaser to assemble the parts into a short-barrel rifle configuration, the Supreme Court held in the 1992 case, U.S. v. Thompson/Center Arms Co., that such kits are not regulated as short-barrel rifles unless and until the possessor “aggregates” the parts for the short-barrel rifle in a manner indicating his or her intention to assemble them into a short-barrel rifle. The court did not find that the parts for the short-barrel rifle must be fully assembled before a short-barrel rifle has been made. Rather, the Court held that placing the parts for the short-barrel rifle in some degree of proximity is sufficient. Thus, persons who purchase Thompson/Center Contender-type kits may use the kits to assemble non-NFA pistols and non-NFA rifles to their heart’s content and need not register them with ATF to lawfully possess the parts. However, before assembling the parts into short-barrel rifle configuration (specifically, the frame, pistol barrel and buttstock), purchasers must file a Form 1 application to make a short-barrel rifle with ATF. Moreover, as stated previously, merely aggregating the parts for a short-barrel rifle could trigger the Form 1 requirement. Unfortunately, neither ATF nor the Supreme Court have defined the degree of proximity necessary to trigger the Form 1 requirement.

3. Shotguns Regulated as Short-barrel Shotguns

Statutory criteria for classification of a short-barrel shotgun are as follows:

1. The weapon must be designed to be fired from the shoulder (it must have a buttstock);

2. The weapon must have a smooth bore;

3. The weapon must use the energy of an explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire either a number of projectiles (ball shot) or a single projectile (rifled slugs) for each pull of the trigger; and

4. The weapon must have a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length.

A short-barrel shotgun would result from the combination of a smooth bore pistol-like firearm and a buttstock if the barrel of the firearm is less than 18 inches in length. As with short-barrel rifles, the combination of parts would not have to be assembled to be regulated under the NFA.

4. Weapon Made from a Rifle/Weapon Made from a Shotgun

As noted above, Congress amended the NFA in 1960 to include within the definition of “firearm” a weapon made from a rifle and a weapon made from a shotgun if the overall length of the modified weapon is less than 26 inches. Further language was added in 1968 to cover rifles and shotguns that have been altered to have no buttstock if they have a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length (shotgun) or 16 inches in length (rifle). Congress pursued these amendments to ensure that concealable firearms did not evade regulation merely because rifles and shotguns had their buttstocks cut off and were no longer designed to be fired from the shoulder.

The key in determining whether a particular weapon fits within this category is whether it came off the assembly line as a rifle or shotgun. If so, and the altered weapon fits the criteria for a weapon made from a rifle or a weapon made from a shotgun, it is a “firearm” as defined in the NFA.

Significantly, these altered weapons may have a configuration similar to that of certain firearms regulated under the “any other weapon” category. For example, a weapon made from a rifle may have the same configuration as H&R Handyguns, a smooth bore shot pistol specifically regulated as an “any other weapon.” Again, the classification depends on the configuration of the weapon when it was originally manufactured. Persons who are unsure how a particular firearm is regulated should contact ATF’s Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division for assistance.

5. Importation

NFA firearms are subject to stringent import controls and may be imported only for the following purposes:

(1) For the official use of a federal, state or local government agency;

(2) For scientific or research purposes; or

(3) For testing or use as a model by a registered manufacturer or for use as a sample by a registered importer or registered dealer.

Notably absent from the import criteria is importation for unrestricted commercial sale. Congress intended strict control of the firearms they considered to be particularly dangerous, and this is reflected in the import controls.

Regulations implementing the import provisions of the NFA require the importer to provide documentation establishing eligibility of the imported firearms for one of the purposes outlined above. In the case of importation for a government agency, ATF requires submission of a purchase order from the purchasing agency along with the Form 6 import application. Short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns sought for importation for scientific or research purposes must be supported by a statement from the importer setting forth the specific type of research to be conducted. The research must be scientific laboratory-type research. ATF may limit the number of firearms that may be imported for scientific or research purposes. Importers seeking to bring in firearms for testing must also provide specific information concerning the type of testing to be conducted. Firearms brought in as sales samples may be limited in number to those ATF believes are reasonably necessary for demonstration.

Short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns imported under the NFA are registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record when the importer files an ATF Form 2 with the National Firearms Act Branch. Registration records reflect the purpose of importation, and the registration is limited to authorize possession of the firearms only for the purposes identified in the import application. This restriction on the registration prevents imported NFA firearms from being diverted into the commercial market.

6. Removal of a Short-Barrel Weapon from the NFA

Federal firearms licensees and other registrants often ask whether it is possible to remove firearms from the NFA through modification of a firearm or destruction. Short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns are the easiest weapons to remove from the statute, as the barrel is one of the features that makes the weapon subject to the NFA. Removal and discarding the barrel are the easiest ways to remove short-barrel weapons from the statute. It is not sufficient merely to remove the barrel. If the barrel and rest of the parts remain under the custody and control of the same person, that person will be in possession of a firearm subject to the requirements of the NFA. The barrel should either be destroyed or transferred to another person. A barrel of 16 inches or more may then be attached to the rifle, or in the case of a shotgun, a barrel of 18 inches or more may be attached. This will result in both types of firearms being subject only to the Gun Control Act and not the NFA.

Short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns may also be removed from the NFA by permanently attaching a barrel extension. The extension may be a muzzle brake, choke or an additional piece of barrel. ATF requires the barrel extension be permanently affixed by gas or electric steel-seam welding or by using high temperature silver solder having a flow point of 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. If the barrel of a rifle is permanently extended in this manner to 16 inches or more or the barrel of a shotgun permanently extended to 18 inches or more, the modified firearms are no longer subject to the NFA.

It is important that registrants create a record of modification to protect themselves from charges of transferring a registered NFA firearm without ATF approval. The record could consist of photographs of the firearm taken prior to destruction that include a close-up of the markings. Additional photographs could be taken during the destruction process and after destruction. The photos should be printed, and the person who took the photos should mark on the back the date they were taken and the location. The photographer should sign the back of the photos. It may also be useful to create a certificate of destruction specifying the date of destruction and the method used. The certificate should be signed and dated by a person with first-hand knowledge of the destruction.

Following destruction a letter should be sent to ATF’s National Firearms Act Branch notifying the agency that the firearm has been removed from the controls of the statute. The letter should describe the steps taken to remove the firearm from the NFA and the date of modification.

Conclusion

Interest in short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns continues to grow among firearms collectors and enthusiasts. There are many legitimate sporting uses for these firearms, and it is difficult to characterize them as the “gangster-type” weapons Congress was concerned about in 1934. Nonetheless, short-barrel rifles and short-barrel shotguns are “firearms” subject to all provisions of the NFA. Firearm distributors and consumers need to understand the statutory and regulatory controls over these firearms to avoid unintentional violations of the law.

The information contained in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as legal advice or as legal opinion. You should not rely or act on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney. Receipt of this article does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

About the authors

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP in Washington, DC (www.reevesdola.com). For more than 10 years she has dedicated her practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2011, Johanna also has served as Executive Director for the FireArms Import/Export Roundtable (F.A.I.R.) Trade Group (http://fairtradegroup.org). In 2016, Johanna was appointed by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs to serve on the 2016-18 Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG).

Teresa Ficaretta is an expert on ATF regulations under the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, the Arms Export Control Act and Federal explosives laws. Before joining Reeves & Dola in 2013, Teresa served as legal counsel to the ATF for 26 years, followed by two years as Deputy Assistant Director in Enforcement Programs and Services. Teresa was elected partner to Reeves & Dola in January 2016.

Both Johanna and Teresa can be reached at 202-683-4200, or at info@reevesdola.com.

I.Bronze Danish qualification shooting badge. 

Features the King’s crown with prancing lion with axe on shield to the top of a wreath with a crossed rifle and Madsen M1914 machine gun to the center. Pin back.

II. Rare qualification sleeve badge for the 156th Battalion, Gurkha Parachute Machine Gun Company. 

During World War II this company was part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division that served in Burma. Worn on the right sleeve by the airborne machine gunners. Rear still has the maker’s tag marked, “Supplied by Yousuf & Co., Military and Police Tailors, Ludhiana. (Punjab).”

III. Canadian Guard Forces infantry machine gunner sleeve trade badges 1985 pattern. 

(Left) Level II with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun over wreath on black felt background. (Center) Level III with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun under the Queen’s crown on black felt backing. (Right) Level IV with gold stitching .50 caliber machine gun to the center under the Queen’s crown and over a wreath on black felt backing.

IV. Blackened bronze shoulder title for the Machine Gun Section, Gold Coast Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force (MG/GCR/RWAFF). 

Worn 1928-1945. Two lugs to the rear. Due to fears of French colonial expansion in territories bordering northern Nigeria, the British Colonial Office in 1900 formed the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. In 1928, it received a royal warrant, becoming the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).

V. Russian aviator’s badge circa late 1930s.

Blue enameled diamond with white metal insignia of propeller, crossed swords and spread wings behind a red enameled Soviet star at the top of the diamond. To the center is a crossed machine gun and bomb. Screw back.

VI. Cap badge for the Egyptian Motorized Machine Gun Corps.

During the interwar period of King Faud I (1922-1936), officers in the Egyptian military were British. The cap badge shows crossed Vickers machine guns set against a wheel to the center with the King’s crown to the top of a wreath with an Egyptian banner at the bottom. Two lugs to the rear.

Tacomhq

This year Tacomhq is introducing the tarac an optical accessory that adds 1.0 Moa to 120+ mils to any optic for additional range (with additional “zeroes”) and automatically compensates for bullet drop for you.

“Todd-Hodnett-approved,” the Tarac is military purchased and tested and is available in the alpha, bravo and charlie tarac. The alpha tarac is a 500 yd 1.25” Lens pop-up for ars to immediately switch from cqb (close quarter battles) to 500 yds in secs. The Bravo Tarac is 2.25” Lens pop-up designed for ars and scopes. Set your bravo tarac as 500-yd pop-up for ars, or set your bravo to boost your scope’s total operating range by adding up to 30.0 Moa (adaptable for either application in secs). The charlie tarac is long range 10 to 120+ mils scope boosting accessory that can add 10’s of mils of additional range instantly with an accessory that can fit in your pocket. With the charlie there is no distortion, light loss or chromatic aberration. There’s no need for special scope mounts, adjustable height rings, slanted picatinny rails or change in cheek position.

Lasermax releases activation technology

Now in its 26th year, Lasermax is a leading innovator and designer of premium laser aiming systems with a growing portfolio of significant patents. Specializing in the design and manufacture of rugged and innovative firearm sighting solutions for military, law enforcement and commercial markets worldwide, the company also delivers premium laser products and optical systems for the semiconductor, aerospace, biomedical and telecommunications industries. Lasermax is an ISO 9001:2008 certified and WOSB 8(m) certified women-owned small business and has been recognized by Inc. 500|5000 As one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.

The company announced on January 5, 2016, that Lasermax is set to release revolutionary activation technology for its line of Centerfire light and laser products. This new activation technology is coined Gripsense. “This revolutionary new technology combines the best of both instant activation and controlled activation into the same product” said Chris Tinkle, chief sales officer for Lasermax. “Our Gripsense technology allows consumers to choose how they want to activate their light and laser. Your gun, your choice.”

The patent pending Gripsense technology from Lasermax debuted to the industry at the 2017 SHOTShow on January 17, with a few sneak peeks prior at sales channel partners expositions. Industry professionals stop by any Lasermax exposition, to become a part of the Gripsense nation.

Hexmag offers Advanced AR-15 Pistol Grips

Hexmag, LLC (www.Hexmag.Com), maker of the most advanced and versatile AR-15/AR-10 platform magazines on the market, proudly presents two new pistol grips that are excellent for either rifle. Both grips are available in black or flat dark earth and feature upper grip extensions. New from Hexmag is the Hexmag Tactical Grip (HTG). This grip features a unique overmolded soft rubber grip surface with finger grooves and a rounded back strap swell similar to many 1911 pistols. The HTG also comes with the innovative Gapper which fills the space between the trigger guard and grip for increased comfort.

The HTG allows for a fuller and firmer grip squeeze—or purchase and is an excellent choice for most shooters. Its grip well is also hollow so backup items such as batteries, ear plugs, and a number of after-market accessories can be inserted inside for long term backup. “The versatility that each of these grips provides to our customers ensures that whether in the field or at the range, Hexmag has affordable options that get the job done,” according to Dave Smith, marketing director. MSRP: $34.99.

The Hexmag Advanced Tactical Grip (ATG) is designed for competition and shooters with special needs/requirements. This patented and easily-installed grip allows shooter to adjust the grip angle by several degrees to accommodate different preferences, hand sizes and/or shooting positions.

Installing the ATG on an AR-15/10 platform is a five-minute task that can be done without machining or special fitting. After installation, the grip angle can be easily adjusted from the standard to 17, 25 or 33 degrees takes in just a few seconds: loosen the grip well screw, move the grip to the desired position, then re-tighten the screw, and it will stay locked in position. MSRP: $27.99.

The new low-profile Hexmag pattern high-traction, non-slip rubber rail covers can be easily snapped onto the unused sections of your rifle’s accessory rail (picatinny, m-lok, wedgelok or keymod wedgelok), and you are both good to go and band-aid safe. Hexmag rail covers effectively and attractively protect your rifle’s rail mounting surface from nicks and bangs that can render a good accessory lock-in difficult or impossible. “These rail covers not only provide functionality and protection,” says Hexmag marketing director Dave Smith, “They add a distinct complementary look and design across our accessory line for that empty rail space on rifle and carbine forearms.” Hexmag rail covers come in 3- and 4-packs and are available in 7- or 18-slot versions (depending on firearm model). They can be ordered in two colors; black or flat dark earth. MSRP: from $21.79 To $33.99, Depending on firearm model, cover size and quantity. Hexmag grips, magazines and accessories are made in the USA and come with Hexmag’s lifetime warranty.

Champion’s Center Mass AR500 steel targets

Nothing beats the instant feedback and satisfying “ping!” When a well-aimed shot hits a steel target. The new Champion Center Mass AR500 steel targets are designed for years of fun at the range. The AR500 steel is hard enough to withstand multiple calibers at the appropriate distances. The targets also come in three different shapes and sizes, allowing for a customizable shooting experience. Hearing is believing with Champion Center Mass AR500 steel targets.

• Premium rolled and hardened AR500 steel construction
• Made in the U.S.
• Centerfire rifle rated (3/8” thick)
• Centerfire pistol rated (1/4” thick)
• Precise, laser-cut edges
• Square holes for 1/2” carriage bolts.

Savage Arms MSR 10 Hunter

The MSR 10 Hunter is a light, compact sporting platform that still packs the punch of 308 win. and 6.5 Creedmoor chamberings. The rifle squeezes even more performance from its upgraded barrel with a target chamber, 5R rifling, Blackhawk! AR Blaze trigger and tough melonite QPQ finish. Savage Arms MSR 10 Long Range pack all the features and upgrades you expect from a savage precision rifle into a single platform and you have the MSR 10 Long Range. Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor or 308 win., it is built on a compact frame with a non-reciprocating side-charging handle. Its Blackhawk! Two-stage, target trigger and Magpul PRS adjustable buttstock optimize the accuracy of the upgraded barrel, which features a target chamber, 5R rifling and melonite QPQ finish.

American Built Arms Co. Howa precision rifle and MOD*X M500 Tactical Shotgun System

The A*B Arms Howa Precision rifle is a lightweight, affordable and extremely accurate rifle system featuring the Howa 1500 short-action rifle, available in .308 And 6.5 Creedmoor. The Howa precision rifle features the Howa 1500 black barreled action w/h.A.C.T. Trigger and a 22” standard barrel with a 1:10 twist. The barreled-action is housed in the A*B Arms MOD*X Gen III Modular Rifle System chassis. The chassis is aluminum, hard-coat anodized to mil-spec type III with a 11.5” Free-floating modular forearm featuring three sides with keymod attachment points. It is distributed exclusively through united sporting companies. Contact your FFL dealer today to determine availability (http://www.Ellettbrothers.Com/dealerlocator.Asp).

The A*B Arms MOD*X M500 Tactical Shotgun System is a bolt-on replacement stock specifically designed for the Mossberg 500 shotgun. The “fixed-adjustable” buttstock which includes the A*B Arms enhanced buffer tube and spring loaded butt pad allows for up to 28 different locking positions. The adapter easily bolts to rear of the rifle receiver without any alterations to your rifle. The A*B Arms MOD*X M500 Tactical Shotgun System is a lightweight, ergonomic butt stock that provides a quality, flexible upgrade to the existing factory stock.

CZ-USA P-10 C

With a crisp, clean 4.5 Lb trigger pull and an incredibly short reset, The P-10 C stands as one of the best if not the best factory striker trigger on the market. Coupled with the ergonomics CZ is known for as well as their cold hammer forged barrel, it’s what every duty gun should be–accurate, reliable and easy to shoot.

Battle Arms 300© PDW–7.5” 300Blk SBR personal defense weapon and ultra compact pistol Sabertube© and Vert© buffer system combo

The 300© is built on Battle Arms Development’s monolithic PDW lower receiver and integral Vert© stock system for unparalleled strength and weight savings. It features a 7.5” 300 Blk barrel and ambidextrous controls. The ultimate PDW designed with law enforcement, executive protection and special operations in mind. At only 20.1” Overall length, the 300© is perfect for where discretion, portability and concealment is of the utmost importance.

Compatible with the ultra compact Vert© buffer system, the new ultra compact pistol Sabertube© features our Vert© buffer spring system. Measuring at only 4.75”, It is functional, clean and has an elegant dimpled design making it the most unique buffer tube on the market.

FN Herstal FN FCU Mk3

FN Herstal is introducing its third generation mk3 version of the FN FCU. The FN FCU Mk3 integrates the latest generation of electronic modules to improve its performance–and takes into account feedback from user experience with the earlier models. It retains the benefits of earlier versions (automatically adjusted point of aim, fast target acquisition night and day) while adding a host of enhancements. This includes an improved laser range finder for even better accuracy, a larger aiming window for easier target acquisition, automatic sight adjustment for lateral drift, reduced size, reduced power consumption and a quick detach base through a picatinny type interface and one hand activated lever. In addition, the new FN FCU Mk3 has several laser safety features for enhanced training capability.

When combined, all these improvements help to dramatically increase the hit probability of the 40mm grenade system in defense and security operations and embody FN Herstal’s motto of ‘enhancing capability through technology’. The FN FCU Mk3 can be fitted onto a wider range of underbarrel and stand-alone launchers and because the FN FCU/User interface remains unchanged no extra training is required for users of previous models. Firing tables supplied with earlier models, or created for them, can also be easily transferred to the new version.