Introduced in 1964 as the Ruger 10?/22 carbine, this remarkable 54-year-old rimfire self-loader has achieved the feat of continuing to evolve unlike any other firearm in its class. Over 6 million units have been produced, without any apparent end in sight. What makes the ?? extra special among the others? The answer is quite simple—reliability, robust overall construction and adaptability to changing times. Perhaps it is the third element that truly counts, since there are other early models in this category that can also boast reliability and a robust overall construction, primarily those designed by John Browning in the early part of the post-war era and produced by well-known U.S. and European gun makers. However, as the decades passed by, most of these vintage classics lost their luster. They simply faded away and were forgotten, while the 10?/22 stood its ground better than ever.

Needless to say, as one of the millions of 10?/22 fans, it is difficult not to be lured in by this amazing little carbine and join in with the fun of creating the epitome of a modern-day tactical 10?/22. Many dress-up kits have hit the market in the past ten years, ranging from CNC-machined aluminum chassis to polymer clamshells. Among these entries, the Nordic Components (NC) AR22 (also used by Ruger on their SR-22 model) stands out for its aesthetics and acceptance of genuine furniture and accessories made for the AR-15 rifle. Its aluminum construction is very well made and finished; it is far superior in material and styling to any other chassis. The NC chassis is therefore the ideal candidate for this project, particularly when complemented by polymer furniture from Hera Arms and Magpul for the Ruger 10?/22, hence the term “NC HAMR” came to designate the ideal formula for constructing these project guns.

To create the perfect and long-lasting tactical firearm of truly unique design, you have to build it yourself using the right components and accessories. Many 10?/22 owners probably own more than one and have tried dress up kits to make their pet gun stand out from their shooting buddies’. This is what makes personal builds more desirable and exciting: the combination of parts and accessories made by various companies to create an extraordinary firearm concept, either to broaden an owner’s gun-building expertise or simply as a pastime. Whatever the reason, there is no denying that customizing the 10?/22 is quite addicting.

Each NC HAMR project can be made unique with Hera Arms CQR AR furniture. After completing an article on the “Futuristic AR” featuring Hera Arms CQR furniture (SAR V21 N8 issue), the attention of this article now shifts to the possibility of adapting this furniture to the NC chassis, which has been perfectly tailored to accept AR furniture. Nonetheless, prior to installing the CQR stock into the NC chassis, we should ascertain whether it will actually fit. The CQR stock comes with an integral pistol grip, and the possibility that the stock, grip and grip screw will not line up properly with the chassis is a major concern. I have both the first and second (current) versions of the NC chassis. The CQR stock fits almost perfectly to the first version, with just a tiny gap between the top of the grip and the chassis. The grip screw lines up properly once the stock is fully seated. The grip screw was tightened, and no major problems were noted.

The second version of the NC chassis, however, is a different story. For some unknown reason, Nordic made changes to the dimensions of the chassis in the web area. This section appears to be wider, and the bottom of the chassis—parallel to the grip—appears to have been raised by a few thousandths of an inch, leaving a larger gap between the chassis and grip. The good news is that the grip screw still lines up properly. The drawback created by this gap is that it will force the seam at the back of the grip to open up when the grip screw is tightened. To remedy this issue, some fitting at the internal radius of the beavertail (where the web of the chassis will rest) is necessary to allow the chassis to seat properly, thus minimizing the chance of the beavertail section opening up when the screw is tightened. In addition to this fitting procedure (if you are using the current NC chassis or the Ruger SR-22), a cross screw (6-32 x 1 inch) must also be added just below the beavertail to prevent the back of the grip from opening up when the grip screw is tightened. The screw head should be flush fitted to the grip. The opening at the back of the grip is the result of the gap between the chassis and the grip. When the screw is tightened, the grip is pulled up, closing the gap between the grip and chassis, which in turn causes the reduced section of the grip (just below the beavertail) to buckle up and a seam to open below it. The installation of the cross screw in this critical area is a must to eliminate this problem.

One of the best design features of the Nordic chassis is the incorporation of a “forearm adaptor.” The adaptor allows the use of a wide range of one-piece or two-piece forearms, metal or polymer. Switching to various weapon configurations is quickly and easily achieved by acquiring spare adaptors with pre-assembled forearms. Adaptor and grip filler for the NC chassis is available from Iron Eagle Tactical. This allows preferred accessories from different brands to be combined with ease, maximizing the potential for the NC HAMR formula to create the epitome of a modern-day tactical 10?/22. There are dedicated dress up kits (mostly two-piece polymers) that can transform the 10?/22 into the P90 format. The CQR stock system, however, is more distinctive and practical; it still allows the host weapon to be operated in the same way but with much improved ergonomics. For the 10?/22, CQR furniture offers this basic advantage plus compatibility with other polymer furniture, such as that from Magpul, something not possible with other P90-style kits with one basic setup.

The CQR stock/front grip set is used in combination with the classic YHM four-rail pistol forearm to create a “Compact Carbine” format utilizing the Dlask Arms custom 9 ¼-inch heavy barrel. The CC version meets the minimum legal overall length of 26 inches when used with a fixed stock like the CQR. The CC will take virtually any high-capacity magazine made for the 10?/22. However, for the mini PDW type, the front grip was positioned closer to the magazine chute to mimic the placement of the P90 front grip. Moving the grip in this manner will require fitting its top rear section to match the contour of the forearm adaptor. In addition, the back section of the grip must also be trimmed down and the bottom loop removed until most available banana-type magazines can be inserted and removed freely. Trimming this section of the grip will expose the hollowed-out section inside and therefore require filling with J-B Weld epoxy steel resin. Once dried, the epoxy-filled section can be sanded clean and painted with the same color as the grip or, in this case, a two-tone black/OD green accent.

Naturally, not everyone fancies short-barreled guns or metal handguards. In this case, let us substitute a Magpul MOE polymer handguard. To complement the two-tone CQR stock with the addition of the Magpul ¼-inch-high cheek riser, the MOE forearm is also made two-tone (OD green and black combination), and the overall contrast is quite stunning. The riser fits snuggly to the stock; it is a perfect fit. Installation of the cheek riser to the CQR stock will require drilling and tapping of the stock all the way to the top wall of the aluminum buffer tube for a 4-40 socket head screw. The two holes for the riser screws must be drilled precisely at the center of the cross rib on each end of the riser underside, which is a beefed up section of the part. The screw holes at the top of the riser will be counterbored to allow the screw head to sit flush. The vintage M60 LMG flash hider and Fabsports full-profile MACOV with newly introduced magazine coupler is a great touch up for this ultimate rimfire tactical package. The 10?/22 is truly a phenomenal design that can readily adapt to changing times. From classic to hi-tech, it is a hands-down winner. Note: Parts or accessories mentioned or shown in the article but not listed in the sources section below can be purchased directly from Brownells.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

rugerfirearms.com
hera-usa.com
magpul.com
nordiccomp.com
wolverinesupplies.com
dlaskarms.com
fabsports.com
brownells.com
ironeagletactical.com

The AKM (Kalashnikov Improved Assault Rifle) is the second version of the AK-47. It was adopted in 1959 by the Russian Army. Built with a receiver stamped on a hydraulic press, it is lighter, more reliable and cheaper to manufacture, but a little less rigid than the AK-47 receiver.

History

The history of the AK-47 is quite well known, and it is inseparable from the birth of the at the time new multi-purpose Soviet cartridge, the 7.62x39mm M43. This caliber was imagined almost at the same time as the German 7.92x33mm ammunition, which the Russians tested after seizing the Sturmgewehr 42 on the battlefield. They also officially tried the USM1 US carbine chambered in .30 carbine (7.62x33mm).

The concept appealed to the Russians, and they set to work as early as 1942 to define their own intermediate rifle caliber adapted to an assault rifle—less power and speed but more capacity and compactness to make the weapon-ammunition package more effective in combat. It took a long time before arriving at the perfect caliber and at the concept of the assault rifle. A 7.92x41mm cartridge was designed and tested in a dozen different weapons. The results were not ideal; the weapons were too heavy so studies resumed. New tests were scheduled for the beginning of 1946 with the appearance of Mikhail Kalashnikov and the presentation of his work. He made a prototype submachine gun which was rejected by the evaluation commission. Then he designed a semi-automatic rifle, inspired by the M1 Garand rifle, called the AK-46 or AK N ° 1. The commission studied three rifles made by Bulkin, Dementiev and Kalashnikov. The latter was evolving his assault rifle, cleverly using the best solutions designed by the weapons engineers of his time. He finally won the official tests with his weapon that offered the best compromise between reliability, lightness, endurance and precision.

Production began in Izhevsk in the Urals during 1947 with press-formed receivers Type I that posed many manufacturing and quality problems. This led to mass producing machined frames Type II before being able to switch to stamped receivers from 1951 on.

The AKM Loses a Kilo

The AKM (Improved Kalashnikov Assault Rifle) was adopted in 1959 after studying numerous evolutions and having multiple tests. Despite the competition from other rifle prototypes, sometimes well designed and cheaper to produce, the Russian Army chose the AKM. The main evolution came from its press-formed receiver—lighter, cheaper to manufacture but a little less rigid. It was stamped from a 1mm-thick steel sheet and reinforced by front and rear blocks riveted to the receiver. The front block supported the barrel held in place by a transverse pin, unlike the AK-47 which had a barrel screwed into its machined frame. The cost and time required for manufacturing were also considerably reduced. Indeed, the machining of the steel blocks of the AK-47 to make receivers required more time, skilled workers and more raw materials.

Kalashnikov’s stock and grip were redrawn and lightened. Stock and handguards were made of birch plywood, which were lightweight and inexpensive. A compensator was added on the thread to reduce muzzle rise in automatic fire. The thread also allowed you to install a suppressor. The rear sight measured 800 to 1000 meters maximum, which was very optimistic. It was adjustable in height while the front sight was adjustable in height with the tool provided in the cleaning kit, but also in drift by a gunsmith with a hammer.

The main improvement concerned the weight, which was reduced by 1kg, being lowered from 4.3kg to 3.3kg by the lighter receiver being manufactured from sheet metal, by the slightly less heavy bolt, and by the modified wood. The AKM was black matte parkerized while the AK-47 was blued. Improvements were also made to the barrel and to the gas ports to increase reliability.

A new bayonet was designed to be attached to its rigid sheath, forming a cutting tool for barbed wire. The AKM could be equipped with many accessories; for example, the PBS silencer and the NSPU night-time scope. The 6G15, an adaptable grenade launcher under the barrel, was also developed for the AKM which launched front-loading 40mm VOG-25 grenades.

Auto-Sear also for Semi-Automatic Fire

The operation of the AKM is well known and often copied, with its bolt that locks in the steel block in front of the receiver, called the trunnion, by two lugs. This steel reinforcement is riveted into the housing and supports the barrel. Some manufacturers prefer the screwed in barrel. The front sight and the gas block are also each fixed on the barrel by two transverse pins.

When the bolt carrier approaches the chamber, the bolt rotates about 30 degrees to the right to lock into the receiver, with its two lateral lugs. The front of the bolt is thus in contact with the end of the barrel, and the cartridge is chambered. When you press the trigger, expanding propellant gases activate the piston / bolt carrier. The carrier moves back a little, which causes the unlocking of the bolt (by the action of the milled rail in the carrier that rotates the bolt to the left) and then the rearward motion of the bolt-carrier assembly ensures case ejection.

The trigger mechanism is equipped with an auto sear. This auto sear locks the hammer in the armed position when the bolt moves back, in addition to the hammer lock by the trigger. When the bolt advances, it hooks the auto sear, which unlocks the hammer. This allows hammer activation of the firing pin once the bolt is in the front most position, against the chamber. This operation is valid for semi-automatic shooting and for automatic shooting. Hence the importance of the presence of this trigger on all Kalashnikovs. This type of system also exists on the military M16 or M4, but in the full-auto mode only.

An Izhmash AKM Dated 1962

The AKM has a three-position selector that has the particularity, like the other rifles derived from the AK, to place the automatic fire position in the middle of its movement, just after the safety position. The safety selector closes the receiver and does not allow dirt to enter. It blocks the carrier from retracting, and the hammer and all the trigger mechanism from operating, cartridge chambered or not. When the magazine is empty, the bolt remains closed; it has no last round locking stop to keep it open. The trigger is well designed with its hook on the top of the hammer, far from its axis, which allows it to obtain a nice and functional release weight, around 2.0kg to 2.2kg, while the military rifles generally have heavier detents.

Disassembling the AKM is very easy for routine maintenance but also for the replacement of the barrel, a stock or a handguard. Pin punches and a gunsmith’s hammer are sufficient to disassemble most of the parts including the trigger, plus a screwdriver for the bakelite grip screw.

We had the opportunity to test a Russian military version of the AKM from l962, in its original configuration with all its parts and old wood. It bears its manufacture date next to its serial number, the EY42xx, and next to the triangle with arrow inside logo of the manufacturer Izhmash. Its sling also has its period markings; it is therefore the sling put into service in the Russian Army with the AKM. A weapon 56 years old still in excellent mechanical form. Its condition was not perfect at the time of purchase so its owner has made the choice to give it a facelift by polishing the wood (stock, handguards), which has removed the protective varnish but has given back the wood their original coloring.

Installation of Anti-Rise Muzzle Brake

After severe use over the years, the metal parts looked like new after a good cleaning, polishing and two coats of black paint (housing, guide rod gas borrowing, top housing cover). Successive cleaning and retouching had made the receiver look very worn; it was necessary to remove the painted fittings to obtain a uniform surface and color.

This AKM is chambered in the original caliber, the 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov, and it has the famous muzzle brake bevel cut intended to thwart the rise during automatic fire. A Russian pouch for AK or AKM for three magazines, a cleaning kit in the stock, plus the maintenance rod in place under the barrel, completed the set. A proper bayonet remains to be found.

We made our tests at 100 and 200 meters, using the metal sights, followed by the Aimpoint M4 sight and then the Aimpoint T2 sight, mounted lower. These two Aimpoints are made with 2 MOA red dot diameters. All our tests took place without any negative shooting incidents, 100% reliable chambering and ejections. We used a Millett brand firing support to stabilize our AKM. For our tests, we fired factory ammunition but also reloaded ammunition in order to be able to use powerful and quality cartridges with powder and non-corrosive primers— a bit aggressive for the barrel and the bolt. We had the opportunity to fire ammunition with brass cases from PPU Serbian FMJ ball 123 grain, then Wolf steel cases, green cartridges of former East Germany and Russian military cartridges also with steel cases.

.311 and .308 Bullets on Lapua Cases

To continue our tests, we proceeded with reloads on this cartridge with the use of Lapua cases using boxer primers, known for their quality. The die sets come with two calibration rods. It is necessary to install the rod for .30 caliber bullets beforehand to remove primers and full sizing. We chose to reload ammunitions so that we could test several types of bullets—123 grains in .311 caliber and 125 grains, 150, 168 and 200 grains in .308 caliber. For the .311, we used Sellier & Bellot bullets n ° 2907 standard Kalashnikov, then the Hornady .308 in 125 grains, IMI .308 in 150 grains FMJ, Lapua Scenar .308 in 167 grains and Sierra HPBT. 308 in 200 grains. All our reloads were made with Vihtavuori N120 powder; the manufacturer gave several loads depending on the bullet weight. As soon as it was decided to increase the bullet weight, it is imperative to lower the powder load to remain in admissible pressures. The capacity of cases does not allow exceeding certain limits for reasons of volume, the bullets above 125 grains coming easily in contact with the powder.

The results were correct with the factory ammunition as with the reloaded ammunition. Even if the AKM was not at the level of that of the M16, they were very accurate with match ammo. We obtained scores on targets with five cartridges at 100 meters from 85 to 97mm (3.34 to 3.81 inches), then from 113 to 158mm (4.44 to 6.22 inches) at a distance of 200 meters. These scores are honest with respect to some with surplus ammunition or with poorly prepared rifles, but they are not really at the level required for NATO assault rifles.

In automatic fire, the rifle is very lively and moves a lot, so it must be properly controlled. The bolt requires a powerful movement backwards to overcome the hammer resistance to put it in a cocked position.

Present-Day Kalashnikov Group

The latest versions of Kalashnikov rifles can be seen on the Kalashnikov Group website, with an interesting 9mm Parabellum model built on an AK receiver, or a Saïga rifle chambered for a new caliber, the 366 TKM, consisting of a 37mm (on the basis of the 7.62×39 M43 case) and a 9.55mm bullet of 168, 201 or 231 grains. This ammunition was introduced by a Russian manufacturer named Techkrim (a company specializing in sports ammunition and non-lethal ammunition). The other models are still produced, such as the AK-74, still in service in the Russian Army, as well as the Saiga civil versions, now very widespread.

All these AKs are produced on the historic site of Izhevsk, capital of Udmurtia, located in the Urals, which is a major industrial, commercial and scientific center. The history of the city dates back to the spring of 1760, when a dam on the Ij River was built simultaneously with the adjacent metallurgical plant. The development of Izhevsk was due to the installation of the armaments factory which began its activity in 1807. The city had developed its specialization in the field of defense, metallurgy, war weapons and hunting rifles. The first production for war was destined for the Napoleonic Wars of 1812. Izhevsk was a major strategic problem at all times, especially during the Russian Revolution. At the time of the First Five-Year Plan, the city grew rapidly thanks to new industries, such as motorcycles, machine tools and chemistry. In December 1934, Izhevsk was proclaimed capital of the Udmurt Republic.

Important Production Capacities

During the Second World War, the importance of the city as a weapons production center was considerable. The Izhevsk factories could equip an aviation division and an artillery division in one day. The post-war period is characterized by the development of the industrial base with a significant production of arms, motorcycles, automobiles and machine tools, renowned worldwide. Mikhail Kalashnikov is one of the architects of these successes, alongside other engineers. Izhevsk has always been a city of mechanical industries, famous for the arms factory established in 1807. It is, of course, in this factory that the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle was developed and manufactured as its later versions. The Izhmash group also produced cars, IJ brand, as well as motorcycles. The concentration of defense factories in Izhevsk made it a very closed city during Soviet times, and foreigners were not allowed to enter it.

The Kalashnikov Armament Group took its name in 2013 in tribute to its engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov, who died that year. The first private investors arrived in the group suffered heavy losses. Kalashnikov was able to rectify its accounts by proposing new models, but especially by diversifying in particular sectors like clothing and knives. The group is developing its equipment and presents many new products: electric motorcycles, observation drones, non-lethal weapons and robotic destructive tanks. This initiative was taken by CEO, Alexeï Krivorouchko, who arrived during this first wave of privatization. In January 2017, Kalashnikov Group announced that it wanted to increase its workforce by 30%, with the creation of 1,700 additional jobs.

British George V sterling silver interwar Lewis Gun shooting trophy in the form of a goblet. The front of the goblet is engraved, “44th (H.C.) Divnl. R.A.S.C. (T.A.) Rifle Meeting 1936 Winners Inter-Unit Lewis Gun Competition.” (44th (Home Counties) Divisional Royal Army Service Corps (Territorial Army)). The obverse is engraved with the names of the winning team: Sgt. M.J.A. Campbell, L/Cpl S.E.J. Needham, OR (Other Ranks): W.A.K. Sinden and OR: A.G. Downs. Goblet made by Phillips of Aldershot and is sterling silver hallmarked London 1936 by H. Phillips. Goblet stands 4½ inches high with a cup diameter of 2¼ inches.

World War I era Japanese woodblock print fan. Image is hand colored in vibrant colors of a machine gun unit circa 1915. Measuring approximately 13 inches when opened, it features a Hotchkiss machine gun team firing their weapon. Included in the imagery is a biplane, armored car, national flag and horse-mounted officer. Kanji (Japanese lettering) on the right says, “Kore wa rikugun kikanju tai desu. Isamashiki kikanju.” Approximate translation is: This is our wonderful machine gun unit.

Australian World War I veteran’s pin-back lapel badge of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. Crossed Vickers machine guns to the top with central image of the formation patch of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion of a yellow circle within a black circle with “4.M.G.B.” below. Maker marked on back, “A W Patrick Rae St Nth Fitzroy V.” 31mm diameter.

Brass shoulder title for a machine gun company of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps. (“MG” over “HKVDC”). The HKVDC fought courageously against the Japanese in the weeks prior to the fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941. They had a total fighting strength of 2,200. All ranks in 7 infantry companies, 5 artillery batteries, 5 machine gun companies equipped with Vickers machine guns and an armored car platoon. Two mounting lugs to the rear.

Interwar German veteran’s commemorative 10 /20 liter glass stein. Center image of a machine gunner with Maxim MG 08 on sled mount. On the left side in raised lettering is “4. (M.G.) Komp.” over “19. (Bayr) Inf. Rgt.” (4th Machine Gun Company, 19th Bavarian Infantry Regiment.) To the right in raised lettering is “Weihnachten” over “1933” (Christmas 1933). Pewter lid.

Canadian homefront World War II souvenir silk pillow cover. Image of brown lion holding maple leaf standing atop a Vickers machine gun over “1940” against an all-white satin background. The circle around the lion reads “Machine Gun Training Centre M.D. 4” (Militia District 4–Montreal). Edges in gold and purple thread fringe.

Italian high relief bronze medal of a machine gunner shooting a St. Etienne M1907 machine gun commemorating “Tregnago 1.2.18 1.2.19” (Tregnago is a municipality in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto where this unit originated from). The reverse shows a flying eagle and is marked “Battaglione 907 F. Del 1° Reparto Mitraglieri” (1st Company of the 907th Machine Gun Battalion).

The first things that typically come to mind when someone mentions the country of Sweden are IKEA and Volvo. What most people do not know is Sweden, a neutral country for both World Wars, has a long history of arms manufacturing dating back all the way to the mid-1300s. Bofors was a world renowned manufacturer of artillery and cannons dating back more than 350 years and was so famous there was even a British movie made in 1968 called “The Bofors Gun.” Saab is most known for its cars, but Saab Group—its aerospace and defence division—has a proven track record of producing military jets such as the famous Draken and Viggen and the current Gripen at their plant in Linköping. The Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle was first in use in 1948 and is still used by many countries today including United States and Canada. Saab’s Gotland-class, diesel-electric submarines were able to penetrate the US Navy Carrier Battle Group during wargame exercises and are recognized as one of the quietest submarines in use today. There’s no question that Sweden produces high quality, well-engineered goods for their own military as well as for militaries around the world.

This article, however, focuses on another Swedish invention—the modern red dot sight. I had the honor to be invited to visit Aimpoint in Malmö, Sweden for a factory tour. Upon my arrival to the facility, I noticed they hung not one, but two Canadian flags outside the building flying next to the Swedish flag as a warm welcome. That was certainly a nice surprise! At the building lobby, I was greeted by their President, Lennart Ljungfelt. Mr. Ljungfelt joined Aimpoint in 2003, and he previously spent 6 years working at Bofors, now part of Saab AB. He first came in contact with Aimpoint products when he was in the Swedish Army in the 80s.

The idea of a red dot sight was first conceived in 1974 by Helsingborg engineer John Arne Ingemund Ekstrand, who was an IPSC shooter who wanted to increase his shooting speed and accuracy. The story goes, while he was shaving one morning, he gazed into the concave shaving mirror and noticed that the reflection of a light on the wall behind him remained stationary when he moved his head. That is when the “light bulb” moment occurred. Ekstrand built a prototype sight using an empty cardboard paper roll, and he approached a few companies with the idea. One of these companies was run by a visionary entrepreneur named Gunnar Sandberg, and the Aimpoint company grew from this beginning.

At the time, except for some low production sights using the “Occluded eye concept,” red dot sights powered by an LED (light-emitting diode) did not exist. This was a new and innovative concept. In fact, red dot sights were actually not seen through so shooters were forced to shoot with both eyes open. The disadvantage of this design was having to fool your brain into superimposing images of both eyes into one, which caused headaches after prolonged use for certain people.

This brings us to the “Aimpoint aiming philosophy.” As per their research, most shooting engagements tend to occur between 0-650 yards and under low-light conditions. It’s only natural to use both eyes to aim, since, as humans, we do a majority of regular daily tasks with both eyes open.

Aimpoint claims their optics offer close to full-light transmission due to superior lens material and coating processes. The Micro T2 has 45 layers of coating on the lens elements, partly in order to offer night vision compatibility versus the Micro H2 which only has 4 layers. The color spectrum of their red dot is in 650 nano meter wavelength, providing deep red color that can be seen in all lighting conditions in various environments.

Sandberg Development Group

While Aimpoint was ahead of its time with its introduction of the Aimpoint Electronic sight in 1975, shooters did not fully trust this innovative product with its yet-to-mature technology. We have to keep it under context that in the 1970s, electronics in general were not reliable, and battery technology was not dependable. From 1975 to 1996 the company was not in good financial shape. Thankfully, it now operates under an umbrella called Sandberg Development Group. The group owns Camurus, a pharmaceutical company that specializes in lipid-based drug delivery, and Granuldisk, manufacturer of industrial pot washing machines. These companies provide support for one another to maintain long-term profitability. It’s unusual to have this type of diversity in a company portfolio; however, it does make one feel better that when buying an Aimpoint sight, you could possibly support medical research.

In 1996, the US Army awarded Aimpoint with the world’s first military contract for 100,000 units of their CompM red dot sights. The sights were tested for 3 years prior to the decision, and it was based on the ruggedized version of the Comp model. From then on, they continued to supply their optics to the Swedish, Italian, Danish, and Finnish Army as well as the US Air Force and US SOCOM.

Under request of the Swedish Army, Aimpoint produced 55,000 units of the special-made CS red dot sight from a 2004 military contract. It is based on the Comp model but has a rubberized housing and a Picatinny rail on top. The battery is sealed within the unit and is not removable by the user. With a 10-year, constant-on battery life, this has never proven to be a problem.

Today, Aimpoint has approximately 260 employees and has produced well over 3 million sights to date. There are over 200,000 T1 and 100,000 T2 sights currently in use. The facility is ISO 9001 certified and soon to be certified with ISO 9001:2015. They also have a smaller production facility in Gällivare, Sweden located above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden that is dedicated to producing sights for military contracts.

Production Floor

The building consists of main office and production area. The tour begins in the receiving area, where the external housing, inner tube, lenses, etc. arrive in boxes from various external suppliers that are each labeled with a unique batch number. The first step is to check for quality by randomly selecting components from each shipment. The technicians measure the dimensions with a laser probe to ensure it is within its required tolerance. Batches that meet the company strict standards will have a green label which is a pass. Components with questionable quality will have a yellow label which means the batch will go through further inspections. Boxes with a red label will be returned to the supplier. Even though Aimpoint chooses the best suppliers from the industry, it is not surprising to see the amount of boxes with yellow and red labels on them.

While on the topic of quality, Aimpoint maintains an astonishingly low return rate of 1% for all their sights produced to date, including sights that were made well over 40 years ago! The number of actual failure is even less, mainly due to customers returning their Micro red dots with loose battery caps which cause the red dot to flicker and/or turn off during use. It can easily be solved by tightening the cap and is not an actual manufacturing defect or failure. This is the most frequent warranty issue for them, even though they try to educate and inform their dealers as well as customers. All Aimpoint sights carry a 2-year warranty, but this author is certain it is a rare occurrence to return the sight due to a defect.

It was also interesting to hear their customer support receives a lot of complaint that the front lens of their sight is tilted. In reality this is not a manufacturing defect as the front lens has to be tilted at an angle in order for the LED mounted offset from the center to reflect back to the shooter’s eye. It’s simple physics that people often forget.

After inspection, the components then go into rapid, vertical automated storage called the Tornado. All the technician has to do is key in the part number and quantity into the computer, and the parts will automatically be retrieved from the shelf to the technician’s hands. This saves time from searching for the correct part; additionally it keeps the parts inventory to 99.99% accuracy.

Once the components are picked from the warehouse, they get put through an air lock in batches of 20 pieces at a time. The production area is air sealed with positive air pressure designed to push out any dust and small particles in the air. Anyone who enters must gown up and wear hair nets. In addition, technicians must wear anti-static wrist bands as even a minor static charge can damage the diode during assembly. Thankfully, the production area can be seen from the outside as it is visible behind glass.

Before the components get assembled, they all have to go through an ultrasonic cleaning process. Each lens then gets checked against a black background to ensure there is no dust on the element. Once the lens is glued to the inner tube, the tube is then put into the UV oven to cure. UV glue is used due to it being able to withstand a wide range of temperatures. Once the circuit boards are installed and cables soldered in place, the diode will get calibrated to the center of the lens, ensuring that it is parallax-free.

Production operates on two shifts, one in the early morning and one in the afternoon.

All sights get tested to meet their water-resistant rating. Similar to testing dive watches, they use a pressure chamber filled with air instead of water to do this test. Each sight has a “birth certificate” containing all steps of manufacturing, and each step is check-marked once completed to ensure perfect tracking.

The floors are painted pure white, and it’s basically spotless. I felt like entering a medical lab rather than a normal production facility. It’s also notable that every step of the assembly process is done manually. There is no automation, and technicians must go through 6 months of training before they are fully qualified to do their jobs.

I had lunch at their large cafeteria which was well lit with natural light coming from the high ceiling windows with a view of the front lawn. You can tell the company cares for its employees as they also have a large exercise room and an in-house chiropractor due to the increased likelihood of technicians getting sore backs from sitting in their chairs for prolonged periods. Every well-run company understands the better the employees feel coming to work the less errors they make on their jobs.

In the shipping area, there were dozens of skids with shipping labels on them destined to the United States. They are for the US Army contract of 30,000 M68 Close Combat Optics awarded in March 2017.

New CompM5

Aimpoint’s latest product, the CompM5 was officially announced earlier this year at the DSEI defense trade show in London, UK. It uses a single alkaline AAA battery that provides up to 50,000 hours or over 5 years of battery life. With a 2 MOA dot, it has the durability of the bigger CompM4 in a size and weight closer to the Micro T2 with an improved waterproof rating of 150 feet. It is also the first Aimpoint sight made of machined 7075-T6 aluminum. These sights were made under request for a US federal agency to use in countries it operates in, where AAA batteries are more commonly found. They have been in production for over a year, and photos of this sight were first leaked online from an official US Department of State photo, much to the company’s surprise. I was assured this is the best sight the company makes, superseding the Micro T2.

Future Products and Development

When it comes to the topic of future products and product development in general, Mr. Ljungfelt was reluctant to share information on any upcoming products. He assured me that the company continuously researches new technologies and seeks improvements on their current line of sights. This is understandable as the company is facing intense competition now more than ever from manufacturers in Western and Eastern countries. For instance, American company Trijicon released the MRO (Miniature Rifle Optic) back in 2015 to match, both in size and features, the Aimpoint Micro line of sights. Holosun from China has also made a name in the industry for producing quality sights at a fraction of the cost, which is catered to those who simply do not wish to spend on an optic that costs as much as the rifle itself and who only intend to use the rifle at the local shooting range. Aimpoint is also vigilant on counterfeits from overseas, with the most recent court case won in July 2017 against the owner of several airsoft stores in Spain. He was jailed for 6 months and paid thousands of dollars in fines.

With user request for a smaller red dot for mounting on pistols, Aimpoint currently produces the Nano red dot that is included with the B&T USW machine pistol. Unfortunately, Mr. Ljungfelt said the company has no plan to offer it as a separate product at this point in time.

Virtual Reality

I was taken to a room which has infrared sensors on two corners with a small table that had a laptop computer. First showcased at the NRA Annual Meeting in April 2017 with great positive feedback, Aimpoint has created a tailor-made virtual reality shooting simulator designed for training hunters, competition shooters, law enforcement and military personnel. The shooter wears a virtual reality headset and holds a rifle stock that has a sensor in the middle. He or she is able to immerse himself or herself in any environment such as wild boar hunting, duck hunting, an IPSC stage or military/law enforcement training scenarios. The program was originally conceived from an idea that they need to design a product demo for their website. I was a bit skeptical at first, but the program has proven to be very effective in demonstrating the use of red dot sights in point and shoot scenarios, where aiming speed and fast tracking on moving objects are critical. In addition to giving you a score, the program also analyzes your response time and other metrics that are arguably more effective than real-life training.

Conclusion

There is little doubt that Aimpoint is the only choice for those who want to buy the best of the best. They are simply the most rugged sights made for the police, military, hunters and sport shooters. With over 40 years of experience, one has to assume Aimpoint has tested every single new “bells and whistles” feature found in competitors’ sights, such as auto-brightness level and solar-powered solutions. These features simply do not withstand the rugged testing the company sets for law enforcement and military applications. When and if they are ready to be implemented, we will certainly see them on upcoming Aimpoint products.

The Israeli Micro Assault Rifle (MAR) arrived on the assault rifle market at the end of the 90s. Halfway between a submachine gun and a rifle, its compactness and powerful ammunition make it a very effective weapon of defense and a very special combat gun for tank crews, pilots or special forces.

The MAR or Micro Galil is the ultimate evolution of the Galil range. Compact with its 460mm (18 inches) long folded stock, powerful with its 5.56mm NATO ammunition, it belongs to the category of short assault weapons in the same way as the Swiss SIG 553 rifle (5.56mm or 7.62×39), the Russian AKSU in 5.45×39, the Zastava M92 in 7.62×39 or the American M4 in “Commando” version equipped with a 270mm barrel (10.5 inches). Not to mention the newest B&T APC556 PDW or the H & K G36K or G36C. These weapons are designed for easy and discreet carry, but their ammunition is intended for war or defense operations. They are still very dangerous at 200 and 300 meters, with excellent precision for the best of them, like the Swiss SIG or the MAR from Israel Military Industries (IMI) Ltd., now known as Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).

Fascinating for the military as well as for sport shooters or collectors, the Galils are mainly used by specialized groups such as the C.O.S. soldiers in France, the RAID, the GIGN or the marine commandos. They effectively equip pilots of airplanes and helicopters, tank and other machine operators, mountaineers, special services and special service officers.

Throughout its history, Israel has been able to develop the weapons necessary for its survival; first by copying and improving the armament available from its allies, then by designing and manufacturing in its own factories original weapons that meet its specific needs. Strength, reliability and resistance to external elements such as sand and seawater are part of the weapons specifications machined in Israel.

Receiver Machining

Starting from the base design of the AK-47 and its Finnish descendant the RK62, Israeli engineer Yisrael Galili worked on the westernization of the Russian rifle, so reliable and so effective in the hands of Israel’s enemies.

As Jani Kotnik explained in his article on the Magal Micro Galil in .30 Carbine, an extrapolation of the MAR 5.56mm as a police version, Galili visualized a hybrid Kalashnikov rifle equipped with a barrel, a bolt head and a Stoner 63 magazine in 5.56mm. He also worked on the basis of the Valmet RK62, the Finnish rifle in 7.62×39, built with a receiver milled from a steel block for his design on the Galil. In 1959, the AKM had changed to a sheet metal (Steel) receiver formed and reinforced by steel blocks at the front for mounting the barrel, at the back for attaching the stock. IMI kept this machining technique for all of its Galils.

Thus were born the Galil rifles, modeled on the Kalashnikov, but chambered for western ammunition, as standardization requires. The Galil family of assault rifles began serving in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) in 1973 in an attempt to replace the FN FAL which had proved unreliable in the desert sands during the Six-Day War. (Editor’s note: This was due to lack of maintenance by the conscript Israeli soldiers, and Israeli leadership noted that the same lack of maintenance on AK variants by the conscript soldiers they faced did not affect reliability very much.) The Galat, a sniper version of the Galil came out in 1983, and it is still produced.

The 7.62×39 ammunition will continue to be used by some Israeli forces for its destructive power with its .30 caliber bullets, despite energy similar to that of the 5.56mm caliber, about 3500 Joules. The useful range of the MAR is about 300 meters; it is still very accurate to 200 meters despite the size of the barrel which measures only 195mm (216mm on the ACE). The best scores are from 60 to 80mm to 200 meters, which is very honorable, in open sight or with optics—the same performance as the 552 and 553 GIS.

The Same Qualities as the AK-47

At 100 meters, using fixed sights we fired a grouping of 24x15mm and at 200 meters with a 3x32mm optic, a score of 72mm. The firing is nice, easily controllable, very enjoyable; in fact, very similar to the impressions felt with the AK-47. The rifle is precise, and always very reliable; it feeds all ammunition, steel cases as well as brass cases. It’s not like the Famas F1 that prefers only steel or the M4 which prefers brass. It has all the qualities of the Kalashnikov without using the same caliber, at least in this version.

In short bursts, it is easy to fire bursts of three shots, which are well-controlled. The barrel rises a little but not enough to really deflect the trajectory. In full auto, the rate is fairly high, the noise is also, with a rate of almost 900 rounds / minute, depending on the ammunition used. The trigger is supple and clean, with a weight of about 2.2kg. The model tested has a number beginning with 99xxxxxx, followed by six digits. Its year of manufacturing was apparently 1999.

The MAR or Micro Galil is a very compact assault rifle. It measures 460mm with the stock folded and 710mm open stock. It is light for an assault rifle since it weighs only 2.980kg. The largest Galil, the ARM with bipod and 460mm barrel, weighs 4.350kg. The model without bipod, the AR, weighs 3.950kg. And the old, short model (still in the catalog) 332mm SAR gun still weighs 3.750kg. To get the weight under three kilos is a decisive advantage. It is easy to handle, put in or remove a magazine and to open and close the stock; there is no heaviness as with a longer weapon. It is as manageable as a submachine gun. It can be worn in a thigh holster or on a chest sling/rig.

Two Different but Solidary Selectors

IMI has installed specific sighting devices: an ambidextrous selector, a light buttstock, a handguard and a grip made of composite material and an optional Galil standard optical mounting quick release (left side of the receiver). The Galil has no adjustable rear sight but a tilting sight in “L” configuration that we switch for shooting at 300 meters or 500 meters. It has adjustable drift. The front sight is adjustable in height.

The barrel of the MAR is chrome hardened. The operation system is from the Kalashnikov with a rotating bolt, blocked by locking the two lugs of the bolt head into the receiver, machined from a block of steel. Unlocking is activated by a gas piston mechanism operated by a short piston secured to the carrier. The very wide extractor is placed in the front of the bolt face, as on the Kalashnikov.

The selector is ambidextrous with a lever on the right at the AK standard, three positions (S-Safe, A- Automatic, R-Repetition- semi-automatic) and a thumb selector on the left side above the grip. The position S blocks the carrier and the trigger, cartridge chambered or not, hammer cocked or not. It does not have an open bolt hold-open. The handguard is designed with care because it is short, needing a good grip for the shooter’s protection so close to the muzzle of the barrel. On the latest models, it can accept accessories such as a high-power light or a laser designator.

Galil magazines also fit in the Micro Galil. They are well designed. They look a lot like Kalashnikov magazines but are for 5.56 NATO cartridges so the curve is different. Capacity varies from 5 to 50 rounds, though the most common version is 35 rounds. A special IMI adapter allows the use of M16 magazines, with the aim of making weapons used by the same army as compatible as possible between them. 30-round composite magazines are now available from Tapco USA.

High Modularity, Quick and Easy Disassembly

The charging handle is designed to be operated by either right-handed or left-handed shooters with a button that rises above the bolt cover for easy grip. The right-handed shooter can arm his bolt with his left hand without releasing the grip.

The MAR disassembly is very simple, just like with other Galils. After removing the magazine, checking that the chamber is empty, the top cover is removed from the receiver pushing a button at the rear of the weapon. Then remove the action spring and its guide rod. The bolt carrier assembly is retracted, then lifted upwards from the receiver. The rotating bolt itself disassembles from the carrier by pulling it forward in a rotating motion (after the gas piston cylinder slides backwards).

The installation of an optic is possible once the IMI military mount is placed on the left side of the receiver. With this standard mount, Israeli standard optics are mounted to the left, which is very difficult for left-handed shooters. The Picatinny rails installed on recent versions are preferable—one on the top cover, the other on the gas tube. These rails can be used, among other things, to place an Israeli-made red dot sight without battery, called a Mepor 21. Our version is not equipped with rails, but the European distributor could install these on request by welding in place.

All Galils can be delivered with Black-T finish. It is a unique, special coating that protects guns against rust and external aggressions such as seawater, humidity and heat. This coating is made from several polymers but is applied in thin layers on the weapon, which does not alter its operation. Friction between moving parts is reduced which makes lubrication redundant. It protects shock and temperatures up to 163 °C, which does not spoil anything. This Black-T finish gives weapons a solid and aesthetic finish. It can be had in black or green NATO. Mini-Uzis treated like this are used by some French combat swimmers.

2008: Presentation of the New Galil or ACE

Everything has been designed so that the Micro Galil is practical and effective from the moment of purchase: the weapon itself by its design plus its small size, its contained weight, its light-weight stock with simplified opening and its high capacity magazines. The manufacturing qualities, the marksmanship results, the flawless operation (no problems in our test), the ease of disassembly, the reliability, and the weather resistance make IMI products professional weapons. Valuable feedback from end users has led to the development of this comprehensive, reliable and proven weapon system renowned around the world.

The Galil is in service in many countries, such as Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Peru, Paraguay, Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico City, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, Burma, Philippines, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago. They are also manufactured under license by the following brands: Famae in Chile, Indumil in Colombia, RPC Fort in Ukraine, Z111 Factory in Vietnam and Vektor in South Africa with the R4, R5 and R6.

The Galil and Micro Galil are now offered (since 2008) by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) under the name Galil ACE, in 5.56 NATO, 7.62×39 and 7.62 NATO, to meet multiple armies’ needs. The weight of the ACE has been reduced compared to the first Galil, but for the MAR, the weight remains the same with 3.0kg. They are based on the Galil design, but they are more modern and have accessories designed to make shooting more instinctive and more precise. They retain their reliability in combat conditions, with their strength and ease of maintenance. They now have a bolt stop at the end of the magazine.

ACEs have a six-position M4 buttstock, so they can receive all accessories made for this stock type. They accept a rail on the rear cover, as well as a rail on the front gas piston tube, which was lacking in the Micro Galil. The Belgian distributor for Europe, Samson Europe, had prepared gas tubes with a welded Picatinny rail for the assembly of Aimpoint or other scopes.

Surprisingly, the MAR has not been very successful among Israeli Special Forces. The compactness of the Galil has resulted in it being used as a personal defense weapon (PDW) by armored units or by artillery, because its small size facilitates its handling. Israel receives a lot of American equipment and has adapted well by manufacturing multiple accessories and spare parts for the M16 and M4.

SMITH&WESSON
M&P Shield M2.0 Pistol Available with Green Laser

Smith&Wesson announced the addition of a new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with integrated Crimson Trace green laser to its popular line of M&P Shield polymer pistols. An ideal choice for concealed carry, the new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with green laser provides confidence and reliable performance, day or night, in a slim, lightweight and easy-to-carry profile.

Available in 9mm and .40 S&W, the M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with integrated green laser retains familiar M&P pistol operating features, including a slim profile and 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim. The M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with integrated green laser features two laser modes, ambidextrous laser activation and the enhanced M2.0 feature set, including a light, crisp trigger and the M2.0 aggressive grip texture for enhanced control. smith-wesson.com

TANGODOWN INC.
iO Optic Covers

TangoDown Inc. is pleased to provide protective iO optic covers for the following optics: Aimpoint T-1/H-1; Aimpoint T-2/H-2; and the Trijicon MRO. All of the iO covers feature solid caps to protect the lenses from scratching. The caps conveniently nest together to stay out of the way while the optic is in use. The covers offer a snug fit to keep the elements outside without adding weight to the weapon system. All of the covers are made of durable thermoplastic polyurethane material. The iO covers are available in black and flat dark earth. tangodown.com

MAXPEDITION
Entity Series Covert Concealed Carry Bags

The purpose-built packs of the Entity series goes beyond stripping MOLLE off of existing styles. Maxpedition designed them from the ground up, allowing function and purpose to dictate their forms and taking bold steps away from the typical “tactical gear” look, which immediately draws undue attention to the wearer. The new designs allows the wearer to blend into any setting while concealing lifesaving gear all in a sleek, subdued package. The Entity series packs are meticulously hand-built and also thoroughly lab and field tested. As such, they are as durable and dependable as all other Maxpedition products. The Spring 2018 launch of the Entity series consists of 10 new products: 3 backpacks, 1 sling pack, 4 pouches and 2 hook and loop accessories. maxpedition.com

STREAMLIGHT
POLYTAC X Flashlight

Streamlight Inc., announced a new enhanced, dual-fuel version tactical flashlight. The new PolyTac X features 600 lumens and offers the versatility of a rechargeable battery option.

The light can be powered by either two 3-volt CR123 lithium batteries or one Streamlight rechargeable 18650 lithium ion battery that can recharge either one or two batteries simultaneously and permits charging through either AC/DC or USB power sources. This multi-battery option allows for use of primary disposable batteries if the rechargeable cell is out of power.

The PolyTac X uses a power LED to provide three lighting modes: high, medium, low and strobe. Regardless of battery source, the light delivers 600 lumens on high, 11,485 candela and a 205-meter beam distance, which is enough to provide critical lighting for a range of tactical uses.  The light’s TEN-TAP programmable push-button switch allows users to select from three programs: high/strobe/low (factory default); high only or low/medium/high.

The lightweight PolyTac X is exceptionally durable, featuring a case made of high impact super tough nylon polymer that also provides a sure grip. The new light features an IPX7-rated design, providing waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes and is impact-resistant tested to 3 meters. The light measures 5.46 inches and is available in black, yellow, or coyote. streamlight.com?

BATTLE RIFLE COMPANY
BR10 Rifle Platform

The BR10 platform is Battle Rifle Company’s second generation of precision 7.62×51/.308 caliber rifle, designed with the serious shooter in mind. This is a combat grade rifle, worthy of consideration for the most demanding applications. The BR10’s unique platform features the following:

• Custom 7075 T6 matched upper and lower receivers
• Proven polygonal rifled 416 stainless steel barrel with sub MOA performance in18-inch
• Cryogenically treated barrel adds to both performance and accuracy
• Odinworks T6 rail standard with Keymod design with 5-slot accessory rail
• Performance Bolt Carrier Group with lower weight
• Geissele SSA 2-stage trigger, standard
• AXTS Raptor charging handle
• Ambidextrous Selector switch
• Upgraded spring and buffer for maximum performance
• Matched to perform with the low-mass system
• Compact muzzle break with 5/8×24 thread
• QD single point sling back-plate
• Magpul ACS Stock

The BR10 platform has an 18-inch 416SS barrel with Nitrite finish, a 1-inch 9.73 twist rate, a weight of 8 pounds, 11 ounces and overall length of 39.75 inches. Each BR10 purchase comes with one metal magazine and a tactical bag. battleriflecompany.com

DRD TACTICAL
FERRO 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol

DRD Tactical announces the release of FERRO 9mm. The FERRO is manufactured with stainless steel frame, slide and barrel. The pistol comes with an Apex tactical trigger, extended slide lock, magazine release and night sights. Available with non-threaded 4.48-inch barrel or threaded 4.88-inch barrel. Comes with three Magpul Pmag 17rd GL9 magazines. Available finishes are Black Nitride or NiB Battleworn. FERRO will be shipping to dealers in late Q1?/?2018.

DRD Tactical specializes in design and manufacturing of patented Multi-Caliber Semi-Automatic Rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, 7.62 Nato, 6.5 Creedmoor, 5.56 Nato and .300BLK, along now with pistols in their modern CNC manufacturing facility. drdtactical.com

NIGHTFORCE OPTICS
NX8 Family of Riflescopes

Nightforce Optics introduced a completely new category of optics to their line of finely crafted and durable riflescopes. The state-of-the-art NX8 series is built upon the legendary NXS family of riflescopes, well-known for their robustness and battle-proven design. The first riflescope unveiled in the NX8 family is the new NX8 1-8×24 F1 optic. Specifically designed for short- to medium-range shooting, the compact NX8 1-8×24 F1 riflescope delivers trusted Nightforce performance to virtually any rifle platform and boasts true 1x magnification capability.

As targets increase in distance, the intelligent FC-MIL or FC-MOA first focal plane reticle options provide precise hold points. For those preferring to dial for long shots, the turrets feature Nightforce ZeroStop elevation-adjustable technology with windage limiter, allowing for a rapid return to absolute zero regardless of any previous elevation adjustments. Adjustments are a true .2 Mil-Radian or .50 MOA. And, to aid in fast magnification adjustments, the Power Throw Lever (PTL) is included. nightforceoptics.com

JP ENTERPRISES
JPFC-M AR Trigger

Beyond combining the quality of a JP trigger with unmatched ease of installation, the new JPFC-M incorporates an interchangeable shoe feature for user customization. The core module can be easily reconfigured with one of three different shoe designs: curved, flat and roller. Shooters of any discipline or application will find an option to suit their purpose and preference.

Preassembled and hand-tuned in a stainless steel housing, the JPFC-M features wire-cut components for a super-precise relationship requiring no user adjustment. Installation of the module is nothing more than inserting the trigger pins and tightening down two screws to secure the module in place.

The JPFC-M comes packaged with the user’s choice of shoe style and color for the curved or flat shoes, each available in black, silver, red or blue. Also included are JP’s signature Anti-Walk Pins and an ambidextrous safety selector with levers color-matched to the trigger. Two alternate rate hammer springs allow for user customization of trigger pull. jprifles.com

The Gun Meant to End Wars

When the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it changed warfare forever. Before the bombs were dropped, the Americans and the Russians could have attacked each on the battlefield over any of the countless diplomatic incidents during the Cold War. Yet, the fear of nuclear assured destruction kept the two great superpowers from clashing in Cuba, Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan and other conflicts across the world.

Almost 80 years before the development of the atomic bomb, a man named Dr. Richard J. Gatling attempted to create a weapon that would make men hesitate before going to war; much like the Atomic bomb did for much of the 20th century. The result was the Gatling gun. How it worked was simple. You simply cranked the handle on the side and turned the barrels, loading from a magazine on top and ejecting the spent cartridges below.

The Gatling gun was one of the great guns that helped the European powers become colonial empires. They were first used in the American Civil War, though they did not see much action. After the American Civil War, it mostly saw action in the Native American Wars. It is even commonly said that if George Armstrong Custer had brought the Gatling guns that he had to the Little Big Horn, there would not have been a Custer’s Last Stand.

One of the most famous battles involving the Gatling gun was the battle of San Juan Hill. Despite being outdated by the M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun (AKA the Potato Digger), it was still brought to Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At San Juan Hill, the Gatling guns were brought forward and poured over 18,000 rounds into the Spanish defenses. Also used at San Juan was the Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, a five-barrel artillery piece that resembles the Gatling gun. Outside of the United States, the Gatling gun saw service in the British Empire, the French Empire, the Russian Empire and a few others. The British used it against the Zulus, Bedouin tribes, Mahdists and Afghan tribes, and the Russians employed them in central Asian against nomads.

In the movie “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” Sherlock Holmes, his assistant Watson and their allies are escaping from a weapons factory when the local guards bring up a Gatling gun and open fire upon them. They manage to escape but are then attacked by mortars and a canon. They eventually make it to a train, allowing them to later confront Holmes’ mortal enemy, Professor Moriarty.

In 2000, “Shanghai Noon” arrived on the silver screen. The story is that of a Chinese Imperial Guard (played by Jackie Chan) traveling to the Old West and rescuing a princess. Along the way, the Guard is joined by a down-on-his-luck Cowboy played by Owen Wilson. “Shanghai Noon” is a good movie, and it did well enough to get a sequel, “Shanghai Knights.” In the sequel, Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson’s characters head over to England to find the Imperial Seal of China which has been stolen by a distant member of the British Royal Family. At one point, an assassin is planning to kill off the royal family of the United Kingdom using what is called a machine gun. The machine gun in the movie is actually just the front of a Gatling gun with a motor that spun the barrels around. They were then placed on a Browning M1919 receiver with what looks like either a Vickers or Maxim duel hand grip on the back.

I have talked about “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” before, and I recommended it. “Shanghai Knights,” on the other hand, is not as good as its predecessor. I thought it was just okay, but the time period jokes didn’t work too well because they mention people from time periods who would not have been there. The villains are forgettable, and a lot of the humor falls flat. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are still good together, and there is talk of a sequel now and then. Still, I recommend the first movie, “Shanghai Noon.” It has some good chemistry between Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, and Lucy Liu is good in her role. The Kung Fu is great, and the comedy hits well. Grab some popcorn and enjoy.

What Happens After Your FFL is Revoked?
Options for Staying in the Firearms Business

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has the authority to revoke a federal firearms license if the holder has willfully violated any provision of the Gun Control Act (GCA) or any regulation issued under the GCA. Fortunately for federal firearms licensees (FFL or FFLs) ATF generally revokes fewer than 100 licenses per year. ATF recognizes that license revocation is the death penalty for a business and imposes this sanction sparingly; limiting it to those FFLs agency officials believe are unlikely to operate their businesses in compliance with the law.

What if you are one of the FFLs who goes through an administrative revocation hearing and then loses your license? Alternatively, you may choose to surrender your FFL in lieu of going through a stressful and expensive revocation proceeding. In either instance are you forever barred from participating in the firearms industry in any way? This article addresses the options for persons who previously held FFLs to continue working in the firearms industry.

Background

The GCA requires all persons engaging in the business of manufacturing, importing or dealing in firearms to obtain a license issued by ATF. FFLs are required to create and retain records of acquisition and disposition; manufacturers and importers are required to mark the firearms they manufacture and import; transfers of firearms to unlicensed purchasers must comply with the interstate controls of the GCA and be recorded on ATF Form 4473; and FFLs must comply with all other requirements of the law and regulations.

ATF has the right to conduct warrantless inspections of FFLs (1) in connection with a criminal investigation of a person other than the FFL; (2) for purposes of firearms tracing; and (3) for purposes of conducting an annual inspection to ensure compliance with the record keeping provisions of the GCA. Inspections that do not fit within one of these three criteria must be conducted with the consent of the FFL or with a warrant issued by a federal judge. The vast majority of violations ATF cites against FFLs occur during annual compliance inspections.

The GCA provides that ATF may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, revoke any GCA license if the holder of the license has willfully violated any provision of the GCA or any rule or regulation prescribed under the statute. The majority of federal courts have interpreted the term “willfully” to mean a violation of the statute or regulations that is deliberate, knowing or reckless. To prove a willful violation the government must provide evidence that the licensee knew of the legal obligation and purposefully disregarded or was plainly indifferent to the requirement. In most reported cases, ATF establishes willfulness through previous Reports of Violation issued during annual compliance inspections. ATF may also rely upon the fact that field divisions previously issued warning letters or held a warning conference with the licensee for the same or similar violation for which the license is proposed for revocation.

Licensing provisions of the GCA require ATF to issue a license to any person who meets the criteria outlined in the statute (18 U.S.C. §923(d)(1)). One of the criteria is that “the applicant has not willfully violated any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations issued thereunder.” Thus, if ATF believes a particular applicant has committed willful violations of the GCA or regulations, ATF is not required to issue the license. ATF may also deny a license application on the basis of a false statement on the license application, a violation of 18 U.S.C. §924(a)(1)(A).

New License Application

As stated above, the licensing criteria of the GCA give ATF the authority to deny a license application submitted by a person who previously committed willful violations of the GCA or regulations. It should not surprise anyone that ATF uses this authority to deny an application submitted by the same individual, corporation or partnership whose license was, at some point in the past, revoked or surrendered due to willful violations. In such situations ATF has concluded the FFL committed willful violations of the law or regulations and is unlikely to operate the firearms business in compliance with the law. Under these circumstances, the agency will probably not look favorably on issuance of a new license that would allow the applicant to continue manufacturing, importing or dealing in firearms. Approving the application would invalidate all of the agency’s efforts in revoking the license.

However, a more difficult question is presented if the applicant is an individual who was a corporate officer of the revoked or surrendered FFL. The “applicant” would not be the same entity as the corporate FFL that had its license revoked, and ATF would, theoretically, have the authority to issue the license. The same issue is presented if the applicant is a newly created corporation and the corporation’s officers include individuals who were “responsible persons” for the former revoked FFL (a “responsible person” is defined on the license application, ATF Form 7, as a sole proprietor and, in the case of a corporation, partnership or association, any individual possessing, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management, policies and practices of the corporation, partnership or association, insofar as they pertain to firearms. ATF generally takes the position that all corporate officers, corporate directors and majority shareholders are responsible persons who must be disclosed on the license application. ATF may also require that managers be listed as “responsible persons” if their duties give them sufficient authority over the firearms business). Again, the corporate entity would be different from the corporation whose license was revoked, and the statute would give ATF the authority to approve such an application.

Unfortunately, ATF generally views such applications as presenting “hidden ownership” because of the involvement of the former FFL or responsible persons of the former FFL. ATF’s practice in such situations is to disapprove the new application based on failure to disclose the involvement of the former FFL or responsible persons in the new business. Alternatively, ATF may deny the new application on the basis that the applicant is the successor of the former FFL and impute the former FFL’s willful violations to the applicant. Both theories fall under the “hidden ownership” theory which is discussed below.

“Hidden Ownership”

In a line of cases issued from 1972 to 2014, federal courts have upheld ATF denial of license applications submitted by corporations and individuals on the basis of what ATF officials refer to as “hidden ownership.” Reported cases involve new corporations created following the revocation of an FFL or situations where responsible persons from a revoked or surrendered FFL go to work for another licensee. In these cases ATF takes the position that the applicant’s failure to disclose the involvement of certain responsible persons on the license application is a willful false statement that warrants denial under the GCA. Even if the alleged responsible person is purported to be a mere employee without the authority to direct the operations of the firearms business, ATF may not agree. It may be difficult to persuade ATF that the involvement of an official from a revoked FFL in the new business is other than as a responsible person. Accordingly, responsible persons of former FFLs whose licenses were revoked or surrendered due to willful violations of the law and regulations may find it difficult to play any role in a new FFL.

If the new business is operating at the same premises as the revoked/surrendered FFL, was formed shortly after revocation of the previous FFL and acquires the inventory of the former FFL, ATF may conclude the new business is a successor of the former business. In these situations, even if the responsible persons are different, ATF may conclude the new applicant is the successor of the former FFL and impute the willful violations of the revoked FFL to the new applicant. Alternatively or in addition to this theory, ATF may conclude that one of the primary purposes in forming the new corporation was to circumvent the prohibitions of the statute. ATF may conclude that the new corporation was formed, in whole or in part, so that the old business can continue to operate under a new name and under a different corporate entity. In these situations it is not necessary for ATF to find a willful false statement on the license application. The license application will be denied on the basis that the new company is a sham created to get around the previous company’s license revocation, and the application will be denied on the basis of the predecessor’s willful violations of the GCA and regulations.

ATF’s position on hidden ownership and the federal courts’ support thereof will make it difficult for a revoked FFL to play a significant role in a different firearms business. This will be particularly true for a sole proprietor, but it may also apply to an individual who was an officer or other responsible person for an FFL whose license was revoked or surrendered due to willful violations. There should be no problem with such individuals working for other members of the firearms industry as mere employees who are not responsible persons. Nonetheless, such individuals should be prepared to provide evidence to ATF that their role in the firearms business is limited to avoid endangering the license of the business on the basis of hidden ownership. The author discusses this option below.

Options for Individuals Associated with Revoked or Surrendered FFLs

Individuals whose FFLs are revoked/surrendered or who are responsible persons for such FFLs may continue to work in the firearms industry in several ways.

Firearms Parts Business

Individuals associated with revoked or surrendered FFLs may continue to manufacture, import, export and deal in parts that are not regulated as “firearms” under the Gun Control Act or National Firearms Act. Manufacturers and exporters of firearms parts and components must register with the Department of State. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations in 22 C.F.R. Part 122 and information on State’s website (www.pmddtc.state.gov) provide guidance on the registration process. With the exception of firearm frames or receivers (which fall within the GCA definition of “firearm”) no GCA license is required to manufacture, import, export or deal in firearm parts and components.

Importers of parts and components for firearms must register with ATF under the Arms Export Control Act. The fact that an individual or company has previously violated the Gun Control Act or implementing regulations is not a legal basis for ATF to deny a registration application. The easiest way to register as an importer is to submit the registration application, ATF Form 4587, through the www.pay.gov website. The registration fee is $250 per year. Importation of parts and components for firearms requires an approved ATF Form 6 import permit from the ATF.

Persons who choose to engage in a firearms parts business must be extremely vigilant about so-called “80-percent receivers.” This issue was addressed in detail in the article published in Small Arms Review, Vol. 21, No. 3 (April 2017). If you choose to manufacture, import, export or deal in unfinished items that you believe have not reached a stage of manufacture where they are classified as “firearms,” you should take steps to ensure that ATF agrees with the classification. The consequences for you and your business if the agency concludes otherwise are significant, and not in a good way.

Employment with Other FFLs

There is no legal bar to any person working for a federal firearms licensee, even if the employee was previously involved with a revoked or surrendered FFL. The author notes, however, that if employment requires possession of firearms or ammunition, the individual may not be a felon, unlawful drug user or other category of prohibited person listed in 18 U.S.C. §922(g). I also note that if the individual previously held an FFL that was revoked or surrendered due to willful violations, or if the individual was a responsible person with such an FFL, ATF may have problems if such an individual is a responsible person with another FFL. As explained above, ATF may conclude the involvement of a responsible person from a previously revoked or surrendered FFL indicates hidden ownership by the predecessor FFL whose license was revoked. ATF could impute the violations of the revoked FFL to the new employer and attempt to revoke the successor’s license on the basis of those violations.

If the successor FFL fails to report the new employee as a responsible person on their license application (whether a new application or a renewal application), ATF could take the position the omission is a willful false statement that warrants denial of application.

If employment with another FFL is a possibility, advance consultation with the appropriate ATF field division is an option for avoiding problems. Explaining the role of the individual in the FFL and providing a written job description may avoid misunderstandings about whether the individual is a responsible person. Approaching ATF in advance may also avoid any charges for a false statement if the individual is not listed as a responsible person on the original or renewal application.

Submission of New License Application

As stated above, the GCA allows the ATF to deny a license application from an applicant who has willfully violated the statute or regulations. ATF may also deny a license application if any of the responsible persons were previously associated with an FFL that was revoked or surrendered because of willful violations. However, there is nothing in the statute that requires ATF to deny a license to a previous willful violator. ATF has the discretion to issue a license even if the applicant had its license revoked or the applicant surrendered its license in lieu of revocation.

The author is aware of situations where the agency has used its discretion to issue licenses to companies or individuals who previously violated the GCA. I caution that such license issuance is rare, as ATF reserves license revocation for companies it believes are not likely to operate in compliance with the law. Allowing the same company to re-enter the firearms industry is an unusual step and one that most ATF field divisions would view with skepticism. Convincing ATF that a former FFL is deserving of a second chance will be an uphill battle. Situations where ATF has approved such applications in the past involved companies that (1) have stayed out of the firearms business for a significant time period, e.g., at least 3 years; (2) demonstrate the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance through adoption of a comprehensive compliance program; (3) no longer employ personnel directly responsible for the company’s previous willful violations; and (4) are able to satisfy ATF officials that the company will operate the firearms business in compliance with the law.

The author cautions that any applicant who pursues this option will face significant challenges in getting the FFL issued. Consultation with qualified counsel is essential before considering this route.

Conclusion

License revocation is a sanction ATF imposes on those few FFLs the agency believes have committed serious, willful violations of the GCA or regulations and are unlikely to comply with the law in the future. Circumventing the revocation or surrender of a license is difficult, as ATF is unlikely to approve a new license for a business if there is evidence the applicant is a successor in interest of the predecessor FFL or if ATF believes there are false statements on the application relating to responsible persons. The good news is there are options for individuals associated with a revoked or surrendered FFL to continue working in the firearms industry. Establishing a firearms parts business or being employed by another FFL are viable options to consider.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teresa Ficaretta is an expert on provisions of the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, import provisions of the Arms Export Control Act, firearms and ammunition excise tax, and the federal explosives laws. Teresa served for over 28 years at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and held positions including Deputy Assistant Director, Deputy Chief Counsel, and Associate Chief Counsel (Firearms and Explosives). Teresa is the owner of Ficaretta Legal Services, www.ficarettalegal.com, and can be reached at teresa@ficarettalegal.com or (301)358-3553.

Mixed Messages from Shows

This NFATCA Report is being written while the temperatures in Brownsville, Texas are significantly colder than the temperatures in Anchorage, Alaska—a bit unsettling for the first week of January 2018. That said, the unusual weather patterns appear to be mimicking the unusual legislative and regulatory activity going on in Washington, D.C. You never know quite what you’re going to get, and you will be hard-pressed to come up with a solid reason This NFATCA Report is being written while the temperatures in Brownsville, Texas are significantly colder than the temperatures in Anchorage, Alaska—a bit unsettling for the first week of January 2018. That said, the unusual weather patterns appear to be mimicking the unusual legislative and regulatory activity going on in Washington, D.C. You never know quite what you’re going to get, and you will be hard-pressed to come up with a solid reason for why it is happening. Or maybe it’s just that the reasons are difficult to fathom.

There was a Notice issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on December 21, 2017, just before Christmas. A list of 25 guidance documents was withdrawn after a November 17 memorandum from Attorney General Sessions prohibiting the DOJ from using guidance documents to circumvent the rulemaking process. A handful of the 25 rulings and circulars involved the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) and were dumped as being obsolete, redundant or unnecessary:

• ATF Procedure 75-4, guidance incorporated into current document
• Industry Circular 75-10, guidance incorporated into current document
• ATF Ruling 85-3, obsolete
• Industry Circular 85-3, obsolete
• ATF Ruling 2001-1, obsolete
• ATF Ruling 2004-1, obsolete

There was a considerable buzz from the community and even the media trying to divine what ATF might be up to. To quote Dr. Freud, “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” The referenced items were obsolete and redundant and needed to go. Unfortunately, getting rid of these items may also be paying heed to the President’s requirement that two regulations must be tossed for each new one brought to bear.

And then there is the three-ringed circus surrounding bump stocks and other firearms accessories. The previous administration previously determined that such accessories were not firearms and did not fall under the purview of firearms enforcement regulations of any kind. BATFE appeared to be toeing this line after the Las Vegas mass-shooting incident. However, calls to do something could not be resisted. Conflicting messages were bandied about from many pro-2A and gun-control advocates. Recently, the BATFE and the DOJ announced their intentions to change the settled landscape view on Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM): https://goo.gl/5q5jji. It is uncertain as to whether BATFE will come to the same conclusions, whether BATFE will determine that legislation is required to make any changes in enforcement or if there is something else, entirely different, at work.

The NFATCA strongly opposes any attempt by BATFE and the DOJ to “re-interpret” the legislative definition of National Firearms Act items, specifically machine guns, to include so-called “bump/slide fire” stocks and other similar, non-firearm accessories. Previous BATFE/DOJ research has found that these devices do not meet the definition of firearms or machine guns, and nothing has changed since those recent evaluations were made on numerous occasions.

The NFATCA encourages everyone to participate in the open comment period and clearly express their views when BATFE makes the ANPRM public.

It is not unusual to receive mixed messages from regulators and legislators. Indeed, it can be quite difficult to determine which way the wind is blowing (apologies for another weather connection). Even seasoned legislative professionals can come up short when trying to figure out exactly what is going on. That is why it is important to stay on top of the issues and to learn as much as you can from as many sources so that you can present a reasoned and cogent perspective. The NFATCA is certain that 2018 will present many opportunities to the NFA community. Hopefully, those challenges will include the elimination of even more unnecessary regulation and the rejection of new regulation that serves no public interest.

FAB DEFENSE
UC Magazine Coupler

The UC Magazine Coupler enables a secure, one-handed, magazine operation and rapid magazine change.

Advantages:

• Designed specifically for the Ultimag 30R
• Facilitates swift magazine change
• Enables setting the magazines in parallel or offset order, according to individual preferences
• Quick and easy installation
• Durable and light-weight fiberglass-reinforced polymer construction

Use with AR-15/M4 platforms

Caliber: 5.56
Material: Fiberglass-reinforced polymer
Capacity: Holds two 30-round magazines
Weight: 82gr
Options: Use with Ultimag 30R / Smart Load, magazines only
MSRP (in USD): $17.05
fab-defense.com

FAB DEFENSE
Ultimag 30R Smart Load

The Ultimag 30R is a 30-round 5.56×45 NATO (.223 Remington) polymer magazine for AR-15/M4 compatible weapons, with transparent windows for rapid visual identification of remaining rounds. The Ultimag 30R provides a strong, durable and reliable magazine solution using high grade materials.

Advantages:

• Multi-textured surface for enhanced grip when handling and reloading
• Unique floor plate for versatile coupling options
• Disassemble by hand, no tools needed
• Long-lasting cataphoresis-coated spring for ideal corrosion protection
• Hybrid AK-style spring design prevents tilt
• Unique internal design for smoother, more reliable feeding
• Low-friction follower for increased reliability
• Durable, lightweight, impact and crush-resistant reinforced polymer body
• Long-lasting spring design for extended duration in loaded storage
• Round-level windows and indicators on both sides indicate from 10 to 30
• Extended floorplate for improved magazine handling with gloves and gear
• Compatible with double- and triple-mag pouches
• Over-travel protection, stops on the follower for reliable spring operation

Use with AR-15/M4 platforms

Caliber: 5.56×45 NATO (.223 Remington)
Material: Polymer
Capacity: 30-round
Dimensions: 23mmx72mmx193mm
Weight: 131gr
Options: Available in black, olive drab green or flat dark earth
MSRP (in USD): $37.70
fab-defense.com

MAGPUL
PMAG D-60 AR/M4

The PMAG D-60 is a durable, lightweight, highly reliable 60-round 5.56×45 NATO/.223 Remington (optimized for use only with 5.56×45 NATO/.223 Remington cartridges) polymer drum magazine for AR-15/M4 compatible weapons. With a larger capacity than previous PMAGs, the PMAG D-60 gives the shooter 60 rounds of ammunition, effectively allowing the same round count as two standard capacity 30-round magazines without requiring a critical reload.

The unique drum configuration keeps the height of the magazine manageable as well as allowing for prone firing and easier storage. Features an easy-to-use loading lever, paint pen dot matrix for easy marking and a rear window for instant capacity indication.

Use with NATO Firearms–M4, M16, SCAR MK16 / 16S, HK416, MR556, M27 IAR, IWI Tavor and others

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacities: 60-round
Weight: 20.5oz
Material: Next-generation impact and crush-resistant polymer
MSRP (in USD): $129.95
magpul.com

C PRODUCTS DEFENSE, INC.
7.62 x 39 Stainless Steel and LCP and LCPII Compatible Magazines

Endorsed by American Outdoors, the oldest U.S. outdoor television show which tests many firearms, ammunition and mags, C Products Defense provides flawless performance with zero failures. The 7.62 x 39 Stainless Steel and LCP and LCPII Compatible Magazines are made in America with American steel by American workers.

7.62 x 39 Stainless Steel Magazine

The AR 7.62 x 39 platform has been a problem for magazines since inception; this is no longer the case. CPD re-designed the magazine from the ground up, and the results have been astounding. Due to its specific geometry combined with CPD’s proprietary Teflon coating, this stainless steel magazine continues to keep firing on all cylinders with the dirtiest of ammunition. Many manufacturers are starting to produce new AR rifles because of this magazine.

Use with Automatic Rifles

Caliber: 7.62×39
Capacities: 5-, 10-, 20-, 28- and 30-round
Material: Stainless steel in all capacities
MSRP (in USD): 7.62×39 30-rd. – $28.70
7.62×39 28-rd. – $24.00
7.62×39 20-rd. – $31.90
7.62×39 10-rd. – $17.30
7.62×39 5-rd. – $18.80

LCP and LCPII Compatible Magazine

After producing the most dependable magazines for the AR platform, CPD is now producing a variety of high quality pistol magazines for U.S. manufacturers and the aftermarket. With the popularity of the Ruger LCP line, CPD is introducing a high quality .380 magazine in 6-round capacity that fits both LCP and LCPII.

Use with Automatic Rifles

Caliber: .380 for LCP and LCPII
Capacities: 6-round
Material: Carbon steel
MSRP (in USD): $17.80
CPDMags.com

AMERICAN TACTICAL INC.
High Capacity Drum Magazine for the Ruger 10/22

Are you one of 5 million 10?/?22 owners? Why not try 110 rounds of plinking fun!

This Ruger rifle drum magazine from German Sport Guns functions reliably with many types of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. The 10?/22 drum magazine features a whopping 110-round capacity for shooters who would rather be plinking than reloading. When you must eventually reload, do it efficiently with the built-in loading lever. The magazine has a bolt hold open feature so when you finally get through 110 rounds you can easily check your chamber.

Use with Ruger 10?/?22

Caliber: .22 LR
Material : Polymer
Capacity: 100-round
MSRP (in USD): $79.95
www.americantactical.us