Archive for May, 2009
Tampa PD to Trade Glocks for the M&P?
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Though it has not yet been announced, it appears Tampa Police Department may be the latest law enforcement agency to move to the Smith and Wesson M&P pistol. An insider to the deal said the contract is for “about 1,000 pistols.”
The police handgun market is, and probably always will be, a hot battleground for firearms manufacturers. Sales of dozens or hundreds of firearms to an agency is always good for the bottom line. Perhaps even more important to the manufacturer, citizens will frequently purchase the firearms they see their police officers carrying. Read More→
Caldwell E-MAX Electronic Hearing Protection
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For years, I have always assumed that quality electronic hearing protection was beyond what most people were willing to spend. Most electronic ear muffs seemed to start around $150 and go up from there. After buying the Caldwell E-MAX electronic hearing protection, I know that there is a high-quality, reasonably priced alternative. Read More→
DeWalt 1AAT Flashlight Review
Posted by: | CommentsThe DeWalt 1AAT is a compact LED flashlight that throws a bright light for a reasonable price. I recently had the chance to test one, and I was impressed.
I carried the 1AAT for two weeks as part of my normal attire. I found the light to be very handy, and it concealed easily. Using the included carry clip, the flashlight tended to ride up and off of my belt when sitting in a vehicle. However, when I carried it in a front or back pocket in a manner similar to carrying a folding clip knife, I was happy to discover the 1AAT stayed in place and gave me no problems. Read More→
Smith and Wesson Model 629 – Alaska 50th Anniversary
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Smith and Wesson has introduced a commemorative model 629 revolver to celebrate Alaska’s 50th anniversary as a state.
The S&W 629 Alaska is chambered in .44 Magnum (of course!). The 629 is a stainless steel revolver with 4″ barrel and a set of smooth wood grips. On the sideplate is the laser engraved Alaska logo. Read More→
New Remington 597 VTR: More Info and Photos
Posted by: | CommentsAs I posted earlier, Remington has announced the new 597 VTR rifle. The 597 VTR is an AR-style rimfire rifle chambered for .22 LR.
The Remington 597 VTR features: Read More→
Remington 597 VTR: New AR Platform Gun in .22LR
Posted by: | CommentsThe Firearms Blog is reporting a new AR platform gun from Remington designed around the .22LR cartridge: the Remington 597 VTR.
The new gun is another in the series of Remington’s popular 597 rimfire rifles. The 597 VTR is a black rifle using the A2-style stock, pistol grip, and other typical AR type configurations. With the A2 stock MSRP is $445-479.
Additional options are available.
Ruger SR-556: More Information and Interview
Posted by: | CommentsEric Shelton at the Handgun Podcast (Shelton….) has a great interview with Todd Wilkinson, the Chief Engineer for Rifles at Ruger. The interview covers the new Ruger SR-556 that was introduced last week at the NRA Meeting in Arizona.
For those just hearing about it, the Ruger SR-556 is Ruger’s new AR-style rifle that uses a two-stage piston rather than direct impingement, which promises greater reliability. In the interview, Wilkinson states that they have been running one of the SR-556′s without cleaning or lube for 15,000 trouble-free rounds. Read More→
LaserLyte PL-1 Laser Sight for Ruger LCP
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LaserLyte has introduced a new red laser sighting system for the popular Ruger LCP. The LaserLyte PL-1 is a frame mounted laser sight that attaches to the front of the LCP trigger guard.
The Ruger LCP is very popular for backup and concealed carry, but it has very minimalist sights. A laser sight like the LaserLyte PL-1 may increase your ability to hit the target, especially under low-light and stressful conditions. Read More→
Charter Arms Rimless Revolver – Reality or Vaporware?
Posted by: | CommentsThe Charter Arms Rimless Revolver was announced in November of 2008, but since that time, it has not been shown in public. No samples were on the floor at the 2009 SHOT Show because of “patent issues” company reps said.
Later, when Charter Arms missed their release deadline of April 2009, one of their reps told me that “late July” was the new target date to ship these revolvers. This time the delay was blamed on customer demand on their existing product line. Read More→
Smith and Wesson Sponsors NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting
Posted by: | CommentsSmith & Wesson Corp. announced that the company has pledged $75,000 to the National Rifle Association (NRA) in support of the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook. The donation will provide a three-year sponsorship of the handbook that reaches approximately 500,000 firearms students each year and is in addition to the company’s existing contributions to the NRA. Smith & Wesson presented the donation during the 2009 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits held over the weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. Read More→
Rear Sight Laser for Glock Pistols Introduced by LaserLyte
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LaserLyte has introduced a new red laser sighting system for pistols called the Rear Sight Laser. The LaserLyte Rear Sight Laser, or RSL, mounts in the position of the rear sight on a handgun, rather than as a grip or guiderod solution marketed by other companies such as Crimson Trace and LaserMax.
LaserLyte claims that by having the laser mounted to the rear sight, the holster can be used in all of the gun’s normal Level I and Level II holsters. While I do not have the laser on hand to test this claim with my own holsters, I can see how it should work with most holsters. However, there are no standards on what a Level I or II holster is, so the claim is a bit nebulous. Read More→
Ruger SR-556: Ruger’s New Piston Driven AR-15
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The new Ruger SR-556 rifle.
Ruger announced a new piston driven AR-15 rifle: the Ruger SR-556. Announced at the NRA convention, the SR-556 is a completely new line for Ruger, and part of an obvious effort to redefine the company.
The SR-556 has a host of quality features, the most significant of which is the two-stage piston system. But, in a market that seems to have an overwhelming number of AR-15 makers, will the SR-556 be interesting enough to survive? Read More→
