Categories
Hunting Rifles

Olympic Arms Gamestalker Chambered in .300 OSSM

Olympic Arms had their new Gamestalker rifle on display at the 2010 SHOT Show. The Gamestalker is an AR-platform rifle chambered in .243 WSSM, .25 WSSM and the brand new .300 OSSM (scroll down for more information on the cartridge.)

The Gamestalker features a 22″ barrel, free floating aluminum handguard, ACE skeleton stock and an ERGO “Fat Boy” grip. The upper receiver has a flattop for easy installation of your choice in optics. The rifle weighs 7.5 pounds and has a camouflage pattern. It ships with one, seven-round magazine.

The rifle has a retail price of $1359, but expect street price around $1200-1300. Olympic Arms staff state the rifles are in production now, but supplies will be limited initially due to the amount of time needed to properly apply the camouflage pattern.

Categories
Rifles

New Mossberg Maverick Bolt Action Rifles

Mossberg was showing its new value-priced Maverick bolt-action rifles at the 2010 SHOT Show. The Maverick rifles will be available in long and short actions, starting with .270 and .30-06, and .243 and .308 respectively.

The Maverick rifles have black synthetic stocks and can be had with the adjustable length of pull system. The rifles come standard with Weaver-type mounts for easy installation of a scope.

The Mavericks will have a standard trigger, not the adjustable Lightning Bolt Action system that Mossberg is putting on many of its rifles and shotguns. While the LBA trigger is definitely a nicer trigger, there is nothing wrong with the standard trigger provided out of the box from Mossberg.

Categories
Military Rifles

US Palm AK30 Magazine

US Palm is introducing the AK30 magazine, a polymer AK-47 magazine completely manufactured in the USA. These magazines are supposed to be the toughest polymer magazines ever made for the AK-47 series of rifles. Whether that is true is not for me to decide, but I am hearing very good things about these ammo feeders.

The 30-round AK-47 magazine uses the polymers developed by Tango Down. The AK30 magazine also borrows heavily from the design features of the Tango Down AR-15 magazine, including the non-removable floor plate for increased strength, the anti-tilt follower, chromium-silicon spring, and the large waffle-pattern texture on the magazine for a sure grip.

US Palm states the life expectancy on the AK30 magazine is in excess of 100,000 cycles. This is a lot of shooting, but I expect that I don’t have to tell you that. How much Wolf can one man handle anyway?

The magazine is a single piece design and does not come apart for cleaning or replacement of parts. Even though the magazine cannot be disassembled, it is still easy to clean due to the vented follower. US Palm recommends immersing the magazine in soapy water to clean, then rinse and turn it upside down to drain.

MSRP is $29.95. These magazines tend to sell at, or very close to, the suggested retail price. This puts them as being one of the most expensive AK-47 magazines on the market. Many people are buying metal mags for about half the cost of this one. A TAPCO magazine goes for about 1/3 the price of the US Palm AK30 magazine. Granted, this mag offers some features and details not available on some of the other polymer, US made magazines on the market today.

US Palm AK30 Specifications

  • Caliber: 7.62x39mm
  • Capacity: 30 rounds
  • Material: Proprietary Polymer
  • Weight: 7.0 ounces
  • Overall Length: 9″
  • Overall Width: 1 3/16″
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Categories
Rifles

Zel Custom Manufacturing Adds .416 Barrett Uppers to Line

Zel Custom Manufacturing added uppers chambered for the .416 Barrett to its Tactilite line-up. According to the Zel Custom website, the initial production run has already sold out, but they are taking orders for the next batch. I would venture to guess that is the position many businesses would like to find themselves in.

The Tactilite uppers are designed to mount to any standard AR lower, and work as a bolt action gun. A Cerakote finish is standard, with optional patterns and stenciling.

Standard barrel lengths are 18.5″, 22″, 24″, and 29″. Custom lengths up to 36″ are available as special order items. The barrels are free floated, and are made by Mossberg or Lothar Walther, depending on the model.

Categories
Ammunition Rifles

Remington 597 Rifles and .17 HMR Ammunition Recall

Remington Arms Co. has announced a major rifle recall, and a serious warning on .17 HMR ammunition. Remington is immediately recalling all of the Model 597 rifles chambered for the .17 HMR. Remington is not offering any repairs, rather they are issuing coupons of $200-250 for a replacement Remington rifle and refunding the shipping costs of sending the rifle back.

Additionally, Remington announced that their .17 HMR ammunition is not to be used in semi-auto firearms. Stating that the use of Remington .17 HMR ammunition in a semi-auto firearm “…could result in property damage or serious personal injury.” People wanting to return the ammo will be issued $10 coupons for each box of 50 they return.