Monday 30 April 2012

30th April : Heckler & Koch G36

Name     :     Heckler & Koch G36


AKA       :     The Bundeswehr Rifle


Caliber     :     5.56x45mm NATO


Capacity   :     30 Rounds or 100 round Beta C Magazine  


Weight     :     7.94lbs or 3.6kg (Standard Model)


Length     :     39.3in or 998mm (Standard Model)


Action      :     Gas operated rotating bolt locking, semi, burst or Fully Automatic


Origin      :     Germany


Since the late 1960's the West German Army looked to replace the G3 from standard service for a easier to handle weapon which could maximize the accuracy potential of its troops.  Heckler and Koch through a long and extensive development period produced the G11 caseless ammunition rifle, a rifle that performed very well through testing, that 1000 prototypes were manufactured.  The Germans were however well aware that the financial implications if they decided to arm everyone with the G11, thus consideration was given to procuring a 5.56mm standard type rifle for second-line or rear echelon troops in the form of the Heckler and Koch G41 Rifle.  Unfortunately for the Germans NATO standardization and the economic situation at the time called the end of the G11 rifle, but the need to replace the G3 was ever present.


The G36 was born out of the HK-50 project of the 1990's, this project moved away from the roller locking mechanism of Heckler and Koch fame toward the popular piston based, rotating bolt gas system.  This project was met with high praise from the German Military after testing had proved the rifle very handy and modular and an order was placed for the new Rifle to placed into service as the G36 in 1997, followed later by the Spanish Armed Forces in 1999.


The Standard G36 rifle has a steel reinforced polymer receiver, and makes extensive use of polymer throughout the rest of the rifle.  As standard the German Army rifle comes fitted with with an 3x optical sight.  The magazine is of interest as it is semi transparent allowing the user to inspect at a glance how many rounds are remaining in the magazine, also the magazine has clips on the side of it that allow other magazines to be connected to it to allow fast magazine changes should it be required.  The stock is of a folding type which also has small holes in it that allow the insertion of the disassembly pins so they are somewhere safe when dismantling the rifle.


One of the appeals of the G36 is its large assortment of variants and optional accessories, without a doubt this has greatly contributed to the large procurement of the rifle from the international law enforcement community. The models are as follows :

G36A1 - Standard German Service rifle
G36A2 - Updated A1, New scope, G36C Stock, 
G36K - Carbine version of the Standard G36 the barrel is 160mm shorter than standard.
G36V - Standard G36 with NATO bayonet fitting, Export model differing sight setup
G36KV - Carbine export model with NATO bayonet fitting, 
G36C - Compact commando model
MG36 - Heavy barreled light machinegun version.

G36C, Commando variant of the standard rifle.


INTERESTING FACT : The German military is investigating concerns regarding "wandering zero's" on the G36. After the rifle has fired enough rounds to get hot, soldiers are reporting difficulties attempting to hit targets beyond 200 meters.


PRO's : Great magazines, lots of accessories, easy to clean/maintain.


CON's : Possible wandering zero, 

COOL FACTOR : 7/10








Friday 27 April 2012

27th April : Walther P99

Name     :     Walther P99


AKA       :     Walther's Tupperware Wonder
Caliber     :     9x19mm Parabellum, .40 Smith and Wesson


Capacity   :     16 Rounds (9mm) 12 (.40) 10 round magazines are common too.


Weight     :     22.5oz or 630g (9mm) 23.1oz or 655g (.40)


Length     :     7in or 180mm (9mm) 7.25in or 184mm


Action      :     Double Action Semi Automatic, Browning-Petter Locking Block


Origin      :     Germany


Horst Wesp started designing the P99 pistol for Walther in 1994, Wesp who had previously worked for the two largest firearms producers in his native land of Austria, namely Glock and Steyr, finished design and testing in 1996 when the P99 hit the market.  The P99 was primarily produced for the Law Enforcement community but has found widespread acceptance in sporting and personal protection circles, and the latter two are by far its largest consumers.  Some have speculated that the P99 came too late and at a too higher premium to compete with the likes of Glock, in spite of this some German Law Enforcement have chosen to adopt it.


As with all Walther products it is produced to a very high standard, incorporating some very desirable features into an aesthetically pleasing package.  The pistol is of double action design, where by the pistol can be de-cocked, removing spring tension on the firing pin, creating a long first shot trigger pull which cocks the firing pin, all subsequent shots are in a lighter trigger pull single action mode.  The decocker is nicely positioned on the top right hand side of the slide, all that is required is a reasonable pressure to depress the button.  The trigger pull on the P99 is 8.25 pounds in double action and 4.5 pounds in single action.  Locking on this pistol is an improved browning type where by the chamber port locks into the ejection cut out in the slide instead of lugs around the barrel.  The frame of the P99 is made from polymer which reduces weight and allow for very ergonomic designs, the grips were designed by Italian Cesare Morini who produced specialty grips for pistols used in the Olympic shooting section. These grips are very comfortable with three replaceable backstraps that come supplied with the pistol. The magazine release is of European type built into the trigger guard and is ambidextrous.   


Variants of the P99 are :


P99 Military    - Standard P99 with a green polymer frame 
P990             - Double Action Only
SW99            - As above but only the slide is made in the U.S. by Smith & Wesson
P99C             - Compact model with standard action
P99 Duder      - Standard P99, Engraved Slide, Wooden Backstrap
P99QA           - The firing is always half cocked, this would be the start point the PPQ
P99RAD         - Made by Radom in poland, as above with inner trigger safety


As with most pistols these days the P99 comes in "generations" of production evolution, of which the P99 has three.  The second generation had a revised trigger guard that became rounded at the front and removed the triangle protrusion from the bottom of the guard.  The original accessory rail in front of the trigger guard was of a type exclusive to Walther, in the second generation it was changed to be of a standard weaver type.  The third generation had minor internal changes to aid overall smoothness of the action and a squarer trigger guard, longer magazine release and revised slide serrations.


INTERESTING FACT :  Walther pistols are synonymous with Ian Flemmings character James Bond, in the 007 Movie "Tommorow Never Dies" James bond trades his Walther PPK for a P99 and continues to use it even with the change of the man playing Bond.  To celebrate this change to the P99 Walther produced a limited edition "M.I.6." version of this pistol with the Coat of Arms engraved on the slide.  However as of "Quantum of Solace" James Bond has gone back to his PPK. 


PRO's   :   Accuracy, Reliability, Quality Manufacturer, High Capacity, Best Grips
CON's   :   Some magazines were dubious, 


COOL FACTOR : 9/10





Thursday 26 April 2012

April 26th : Remington 870

Name     :     Remington 870

AKA       :     Old Betsy
Caliber   :     12 Gauge, 16 Gauge, 20 Gauge, 28 Gauge, .410

Capacity :     3 to 8 Rounds

Weight   :     Varies, 8oz or 3.6kg approx standard model

Length    :     Varies, 41in or 1060mm standard model

Action    :     Pump Action, repeater

Origin     :    U.S.A

Introduced in 1950, though stock didn't reach stores till 1951, the Remington 870 would undoubtedly be the biggest selling pump action shotgun in the world, with production exceeding 10 million so far.  The model M870 Mk1 was offically adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966, it was chosen over and above popular semi automatic shotguns at the time for it's reliability with all types of ammunition.  Semi automatics of the time could not reliably cycle with low powered riot ammunition and other specialty rounds, due to the fact the recoil is fundamental for pushing the weapons bolt to cycle, lower powered rounds like riot ammunition do not have a significant enough recoil factor to allow the action to reliably feed,  whereas a manually operated shotgun on the other hand has only the user to cycle action.  Pump action shotguns of reasonable quality like the 870 were able to be manipulated quickly and are only marginally slower to fire successive shots.  

The 870 is made to a high standard utilizing an orthodox method of operation.  When the pump handle is pushed rearward, two steel action bars push the tilting action block to the rear and a round is stripped from the ammunition tube beneath the barrel and is collected by the bolt face and pushed into the chamber with the return of the pump handle to the forward position.  Modern 870's also have a balanced sear and inertia firing pin to prevent the firearm from discharging until the round is completely in battery.  

The 870 gains a lot of its popularity through customization and varied models to suit all applications.  A wide array of stocks from manufacturers such as magpul are available on the market.  Remington itself produces a folding stock for the shotgun.  Barrel lengths can vary from 14 to 30 inches, not to mention the endless supplies of colors and accessories.  Remington as of 2012 lists 28 variations on its website for almost every need the shooter might have.

Currently 70 to 80% of all U.S. Law Enforcement agencies have the 870 in some form in their arsenals.  17 Nations officially use this popular shotgun, China even produces their own unlicensed copy of the 870, produced by "copy-cat" arms company Norinco.  

INTERESTING FACT : During the Vietnam war experiments were carried out to see if an 870 could be easily converted to accept a 10 or 20 round box magazine.

PRO's   :   Good amount of models, reliable, feeds anything, easy to manipulate

CON's  :   Some early models had a non adjustable choke.

COOL FACTOR : 8/10 

Monday 23 April 2012

23rd April : Smith and Wesson Model 10

Name :     Smith and Wesson Model 10


AKA   :     Military & Police, M&P, The No Frills Revolver, Victory Model




Caliber     :     .38 Smith and Wesson Special


Capacity   :     6 Rounds


Weight     :     36oz or 1020g (4in Model)


Length     :     8.875in or 225mm

Action      :     Double Action Repeater


Origin       :     U.S.A.


One of Smith and Wesson's best selling revolvers of all time, since 1899 Smith and Wesson have offered the Model 10 'Military and Police' in a wide range of configurations from the snubnose 2 inch barrel round butt model through to the Target 6 inch square butt model.  The appeal of the model 10 stems from its simplicity, quality construction and universal acceptance of the .38 Special cartridge, add to this the variety of configurations, all for a fair price and it is not surprising that more than 6 million have been made.


During the Philippine War of Independence, the U.S. Army had grave concerns about the effectiveness of the .38 Long Colt cartridge of there Model 1889 revolver, relayed field reports back to the United States indicated a change was immediately necessary, the answer in the form of the new cartridge .38 Smith and Wesson Special a heavier bullet in a longer case and the new Model 1899 to fire it. This revolver known as Military and Police would go on to have several changes to eventually become the Model 10 in 1942.


The Model 10's 'K frame' Smith and Wesson's medium frame is very strong, in many ways stronger than it needs to be, this advantage means that the model 10 can consume a steady diet of +P ammunition.  The fixed sights on this revolver are of snag free design and are very unlikely to knocked or bumped out of alignment unlike Smith and Wesson's adjustable sights.  A good double and single action pull that are crisp and break at predictable points making the revolver inherently easy to shoot, especially with the mild recoil of the .38 special cartridge.  


This no-nonsense, reliable arm will never be a match for today's "Polymer Wonder Guns" in the military world, but still serves a purpose for home defense and sports shooting.  For use as a personal protection arm the .38 special is at the lower end of the spectrum as a manstopper but, with regular practice, shooting quality defensive loads you are by no means 'unarmed'. 


INTERESTING FACT : The model 10 was used by over 20 countries world wide as a defensive arm for either military, police or both.


PRO's   :   Reliable, Easy to shoot, quality construction, utilitarian 


CON's   :   Low in the energy range, but still very acceptable. 


COOL FACTOR : 7/10

Friday 20 April 2012

20th April : Colt Commander

Name     :     Colt Combat Commander


AKA       :     The Lightweight Commander, Combat Commander
Caliber     :   .45 ACP, 9x19mm Para, 7.65x21mm Para, .38 Super


Capacity   :   7 & 8 Rounds (.45 ACP) and 9 rounds (9mm,.38 Super)


Weight     :   32.5 oz or 961g (steel frame) 27oz or 765g (lightweight)


Length     :   7.75in or 197mm (1991A1 Commander)


Action      :   Browning Swing Link Type, Single Action, Semi Automatic


Origin      :   U.S.A.


The story of the M1911 is a long and interesting one spanning more than 100 years, and through its evolution it has borne a mass of variants by almost every major pistol manufacturer in just about as many calibers and as of 2012 it shows NO intention of slowing down even with the popularity of polymer wonderguns, of which through the INFINITY series of pistols it has even become a part of.  Today however is not the day that I spent more than six hours trying to explain just a tiny portion of the 1911's history, no today we look at a great size variant, the wonderful Colt Commander series.


As early as 1949 the U.S. Army was looking to replace the M1911A1, a pistol that had given great service, but concerns were raised about the size and weight of this full sized service pistol, thus a requirement was sent out for a pistol chambered in .45 ACP with a weight of 25 ounces or less, and an overall length of 7 inches. Colt entered this race with the what was then called the Commander made from a lightweight aluminium called ColtAlloy, though it nor any of the other contestants won a contract.  Colt decided to put the Commander in the civilian market in several calibers including the 7.65x21mm para (.30 Luger) for export to countries that forbid civilians to possess pistols in a military caliber.  In 1970 the Commander was re-named to become the lightweight Commander and a new full steel version was released with the name Combat Commander.


The name Commander has now become a size designation, with each certain Colt models coming out in sizes Government (full size 5 inch barrel), Commander (Shorter than Government 4+/- inch barrel) and Officers ACP (Compact with a 3.5 inch barrel).  As of 2012 Colt models 1991A1 and XSE have Commander sized pistols that are very popular as "Carry" pistols and are also seen on the sports shooting scene.


The modern XSE Commander is a well made and accurate firearm with a 4.25 inch barrel, series 80 locking, 3 hole aluminium trigger, Drop safety and weighs about 33.5oz.  The sights are NOVAK Carry Sights, these sights have white dots for easy target acquisition and are well liked for their snag free design.  The pistol is chambered in .45 ACP and has many other desirable features.
COLT XSE Commander in .45ACP
The .45 ACP round is a subsonic round with well documented stopping power, but it is also used as a sporting caliber.  The .45 ACP in traditional form is a 230gr full metal jacket round known as "ball" ammunition, this type of round was the standard U.S. Military pistol caliber for over 70 years.  For personal protection however jacketed hollow point rounds should be used, with great expansion and reasonable penetration the .45 will continue to be on the carry circuit for some time with all the major ammunition manufacturers making a variety of types for all applications.  


INTERESTING FACT : Frank White a Drug Enforcement Agency Officer carried a Colt Combat Commander, Frank was part of the inspiration for T.V. show Miami Vice, he was given a set of Ivory grips by the Vice President for his Colt Combat Commander for his exceptional service.


PRO's   :   Good Size 1911, Top Quality, Very Customisable, .45 ACP


CON's   :   Requires lots of practice to master


COOL FACTOR : 9/10


Thursday 19 April 2012

April 19th : Beretta 3032 Tomcat

Name     :     Beretta Model 3032


AKA       :     Tomcat, The Flip Top


Caliber     :   .32ACP (7.65x17mm Browning)


Capacity   :   7 Rounds


Weight     :   14.5oz or 410g


Length     :    4.9in or 125mm


Action      :    Blowback operated, Double Action, Semi Automatic


Origin      :    Italy 


The Beretta 3032 finds it origins in the Model 950 "Jetfire" first created in 1952, a single action pistol that originally had no safety lever.  The success of the little Jetfire which was available in .22LR and .25ACP (6.35mm) spanned until 2003 when production ceased.  With the need for a more powerful chambering and/or incorporation of improvements the 3032 "Tomcat" was born.  The main changes from the model 950 lay in the caliber of .32ACP and the implementation of a double action mechanism.


The little Tomcat features a tilting barrel, not fixed like most blowback pistols,  the barrel is released by pressing forward on a lever located above the rear of the trigger guard on the left hand side of the frame.  This allows the user to inspect that the pistol has no round chambered.  Though some people "top off" the pistol in this fashion by inserting a full magazine of seven rounds, releasing the barrel to tip up and manually loading a round into the barrel to give the pistol one extra round.  The Tomcat has a rather long double action pull, then every subsequent shot is double action. The double action mechanism in this pistol can be seen as an advantage over double action only (DAO) pistols when it comes to getting some reach, with the lighter single action pull available for those longer range shots can improve accuracy.  The lack of a decocker is unusual however, implying that the double action feature of this pistol could be just a double strike capability if the round fails to fire after the first pull of the trigger.  Releasing the magazine is an interesting process for those who have never handled a Tomcat or jetfire, the release button is found on the left hand grip just above the bottom grip screw, though it does need a positive push to release the magazine, preventing an unwanted magazine departure.
A Model 3032 with the barrel tilted
.32ACP is at the low end in terms of a self defense caliber, though interestingly that is what it was designed for, European police and even some military's around the world used this caliber for some time up until the 1980's.  Invented in 1899 the round has been around for a long time and in full metal jacket form is unsuitable for someone wanting to carry this pistol for personal protection, but with good jacketed hollowpoint rounds such as Winchester Silvertips it can have potential with good shot placement (shot placement is important with any caliber).  The Tomcat is capable of consuming large amounts of ammunition due to it's quality construction though it must be noted that it is not rated or recommended for +P rounds.


Available in stainless type finish Beretta calls INOX and a two tone finish, the Beretta Tomcat is a fun little shooter, and when it comes to self protection : A tomcat in hand is better than a .45 left at home.


INTERESTING FACT : NO EXTRACTOR, this pistol has no extractor to remove rounds, racking the slide will not remove chambered rounds, so use that tilt lever.


PRO's : Compact, Reliable, fun, quality, surprisingly accurate, windage on sights 


CON's : No extractor, unusual magazine release, no decocker, 


COOL FACTOR : 7 / 10
  





Wednesday 18 April 2012

April 18th : Smith and Wesson Model 469

Name     :     Smith and Wesson Model 469


AKA       :     Chopped 459


Caliber     :   9x19mm Parabellum


Capacity   :   12 Rounds


Weight     :   27oz or 765g


Length     :    6.88in or 175mm


Action      :    Browning Type cam Locking, Semi Automatic, Double Action


Origin       :    U.S.A.


The Smith and Wesson model 469's origins lay in the model 39 created in 1970, this pistol was a key stepping stone for U.S. law enforcement for moving out of the revolver era into the new world of semi automatics.  The model 39 did however have some short comings namely the capacity of eight rounds, Smith and Wesson responded with the 14 round revision known as the model 59 in 1971.  Production of the 39 and 59 was stopped in 1981, and newer revised versions were launched as the 439, 459, 539 and 559, the 4 prefix indicated an alloy frame and the 5 a steel frame.  The other main revisions between the old and new were the a new extractor, addition of an automatic firing pin safety and improved feed ramps.  


The 459 was very popular with the public as well as law enforcement but there was a trend amoungst some to have gunsmiths cut down a full sized 459 into a compact pistol, in 1983 Smith and Wesson joined this trend and bought into the market the model 469 a 12 shot compact 9mm with bobbed hammer, lightweight alloy frame and slimline grips to remove bulk found in grip of the 459.


The 469 was designed for concealment, featuring a bobbed hammer that has no facility to manually retract it as it slips into the slide cut out relatively flush.  The pistol's decocking lever is located on the left side of the slide at the rear, rotating a steel disc in front of firing pin when engaged also lowering the hammer. The trigger system is essentially the same as earlier Smith & Wesson pistols, it would be expected that it would be carried with a round in the chamber with the hammer lowered, and the first shot would be in double action mode and every subsequent shot would be fired in single action.  Due to the size of the grip the standard magazine features a spur to aid the shooters grip, though in reality one should put a flush magazine plate on instead and learn to shoot well without the spur as the spur may lead to snagging at the most inconvenient moment.


The model 469 is a very well made pistol, and many have been tested on bench rests and pistol vices and have proven the great accuracy potential of this little gun.   


In 1988 with the introduction of the third generation of the Smith and Wesson pistol range the 469 was superseded by the model 6904 (pictured below).
Smith and Wesson Model 6904, note the new sights, grips and revised trigger guard.

INTERESTING FACT : The 469 will accept its parent the 459's 14 round magazines.


PRO's   :   Very accurate, quality construction, good capacity


CON's   :   Magazine spur, magazine disconnect safety, 


COOL FACTOR : 6/10

Tuesday 17 April 2012

April 17th : G33/40 (t) Alpine Carbine

Name     :     G33/40 (t)


AKA       :     VZ.33 Modified, VZ.16/33, Alpine Carbine




Caliber   :     7.92x57mm Mauser (sometimes called 8mm Mauser)


Capacity :     5 Rounds


Weight   :     7.4lbs or 3.35kg


Length   :     39in or 1000mm


Action    :     Bolt Action repeater of Mauser type


Origin    :     Czechoslovakia 


As the Austro-Hungarian Empire was crumbling the independent nation of Czechoslovakia came to be and with it a new national army had to be created.  Of course consideration had to be given to what to arm the troops with, the  Steyr Mannlicher M1895 was starting to show its age, one only had to look across the border to Germany to see what the future would hold.  A new factory was set up in BRNO to make Mauser type rifles for this new army, the result was a high quality rifle, not a specific Mauser model but a new variant known as the VZ.24.  A need for a shorter handier rifle emerged and the result was the vz.16/33 more commonly known as the VZ.33.  Export versions were also produced carrying the coat of arms of the purchaser.  Orders were made by Guatemala, with Iran ordering from BRNO and eventually making the rifle in their own imperial arsenal.


In 1939 Nazi Germany occupied Czechoslovakia and thus the Czech's great industries were folded into the Reich.  Priority number one became arming the Wehrmacht, at some point inspections were done at BRNO, and a decision was made to add the VZ.33 with a few modifications and the VZ.24 into the fray of official Wehrmacht rifles as the G33/40 (t) and G24(t) respectively.  The rifle was produced at BRNO (BRUNN as it was called during occupation) all rifles made at this factory received the production code of 945 on early models then it was changed to DOT followed by the year of production.  The rifles were eventually issued to the German Gebirgsjager (Mountain Troops) and to the Fallschirmjager (Paratroopers). 


The G33/40 differs from the standard Mauser K98K from which it is based upon.  The bolts are of the same length but are not interchangeable, the standard K98K Bayonet wont fit.  The cleaning rods are different due to the difference in barrel length and further down the stock you will see there is a metal shield on the left hand side of the stock . The G33/40 also differs for the fact that it is lighter, this was the key advantage to the G33/40 for Mountain troops, this is due to certain areas of the receiver being slimmed down.


INTERESTING FACT :  A prototype folding stock version of the G33/44(t) was made for paratroopers but it never ended up in full scale production


PRO's     :  Quality construction, Accurate, Collectable


CON's     :  Not compatible with other Mauser type rifles


COOL FACTOR : 6/10





    

Monday 16 April 2012

April 16th : Steyr SSG-69

Name     :     Steyr SSG-69


AKA       :     The Green Gun, Scharfschutzen gewehr



Caliber   :     7.62x51mm NATO / .308 Winchester


Capacity :     5 or 10 Rounds


Weight   :     10.14lbs or 4.6Kg


Length   :     44.9in or 1140mm (25.6in barrel model)


Action    :     Rear Locking Bolt Action 


Origin     :     Austria


Adopted as the standard sniper rifle for the Austrian army in 1969 the Steyr SSG-69 has gone on to serve with fifteen armies and many more law enforcement agencies around the world.  The name SSG stands for ScharfSchutzen Gewehr  or sharpshooters rifle.  Unusual in a sniper rifle the SSG-69 uses rear locking lugs on its bolt instead of frontal locking made so popular by Mauser.  Inspiration for this rifle may have been drawn from the Steyr Model 1903 that was produced for the Greek army, that rifle had six rear locking lugs and a rotary magazine.


The spiral shaped barrel of this rifle screws into the receiver a considerable distance of 2.24in or 57mm making for a very sturdy action.  The teflon coating on the bolt and the quality construction of the rotary magazine makes for a very smooth cycling of the action.  A smooth action is quite often attributed to rear locking rifles, a similar complement is quite bestowed upon the Lee-Enfield series of rifles, those rifles in particular were able to achieve significantly higher rates of fire because of this feature.  Rear Locking bolts were considered unsafe because the locking was not taking place at the 'business end' of the action but in spite of this no major catastrophe has been reported on the Lee-Enfield series or the SSG-69, this can probably be attributed to the strength of the materials used in both of these rifles, as it as often said : There's no substitute for quality.


Accuracy, the make or break for any would be sniper rifle, this is were the SSG-69 stands out.  Minute of Arc, or Minute of Angle, a unit of measurement for the accuracy of a rifle, for ease of understanding one minute of arc is equivalent of a group of three to five rounds landing within an one inch spread at 100 yards.  It is reported that a competent shooter with match grade ammunition in good conditions should be able to land five rounds in a 0.6 spread group or slightly better at 100 yards with this rifle, an excellent feat for any sniper rifle.  To aid accuracy modern sniper rifles have free-floated barrels meaning that the barrel does not touch the stock in any way and the SSG-69 is no exception.


Different versions of the SSG-69 are available :
PI,    .308 Win, 508mm barrel,
PII,   .22-250, .243 Rem, .308 Win, 650mm barrel,
PIV,  .308 Win, 409mm barrel


Also Steyr has the option for double set triggers and 10 round magazines.


INTERESTING FACT :  The magazine on the SSG-69 has a transparent section at the back so you can verify how many rounds you have loaded into the magazine.


PRO's     :  SUB MOA Accuracy, Smooth Action, Many Variants, 10 mags available


CON's     :  Swapping out the barrel is just about a factory only job


COOL FACTOR   : 8/10







Sunday 15 April 2012

15th April : Sig Sauer P238

Name     :     SIG Sauer P238


AKA       :      SIG's Mini 1911
Caliber   :     .380 ACP (9x18mm Short)


Capacity :     6 Rounds


Weight   :     15.2oz or 430g


Length   :      5.5in or 139.7mm


Action    :      Single Action, Semi Automatic


Locking   :     Browning sliding lock, (not swinging link)


Origin     :     U.S.A. / Switzerland


As concealed carry permits are on the rise in the United States the need for concealable, easy to handle and shoot well pistols has increased.  SIG Sauer who has a considerable marketplace presence has heeded this call with it's new "Mini 1911" called the P238.  With no less than 17 variations SIG is looking to find something for everyone.  As an example you may purchase the P238 with a matt black, bi-tone, rainbow, Equinox, natural stainless, or even red finish.  


Introduced in 2009, this compact .380 has some resemblance to the Colt Mustang, which itself was designed to appear like a mini 1911.  Unlike a standard 1911 however the P238 does not have a swing link below the barrel or a barrel bushing.  Surprisingly for a .380 caliber pistol the P238 has a locked breech which has advantages such as a lighter recoil spring so that anyone can easily manipulate the slide and the barrel can be easily replaced. The only real disadvantage with this system of locking a breech on a caliber that doesn't require it, is that you no longer have a fixed barrel like the Walther PP, which does contribute to accuracy.  After much consideration I feel that for the ranges that this pistol is designed to be used in and seeing some shooting results, this disadvantage would be negligible.  


The safety switch on this pistol is interesting when compared to the 1911.  On inspection of the slide you will see there is no cut out for the safety lever to move up into when the weapon is made safe, thus when it is engaged the slide may still be manipulated.  Sights, much is said about pistols and the visibility of their sights, SIG for as long as I can remember has always put quality sights on their pistols and the P238 is no exception.  SIGLITE Night Sights are fitted as standard, these sights have white circles with tritium inserts which glow during low light conditions.  SIGLITE Night Sights are said to have a 10-15 year life span before they should be replaced.


The trigger on the P238 has received some criticism for it's heavy pull weight of 7.5-8.5 pounds.  For a single action pistol it is a little on the heavy side though it does have a clean break without or little stacking when the trigger is pulled, certainly better than lighter mushy trigger. 


INTERESTING FACT :  In the short period of time this pistol has been out it has had one significant safety recall and is now in its third magazine revision, though people that like it :  "LOVE IT" 


PRO's     :    Easy to maintain and use, Good quality finish, Great brand


CON's     :    Sensitivity to some ammo, heavy trigger, Some bad mags


COOL FACTOR : 5/10



Friday 13 April 2012

13th April : Walther P.38

Name     :     Walther P.38

AKA       :     The Slide Action Luger, P1, Walther HP, 
Caliber   :     9x19mm Parabellum

Capacity :     8 Rounds

Weight   :     2.1lbs or 950g

Length   :     8.34in or 212mm

Action    :     Falling Block Locking, Double Action, Semi Automatic

Origin    :     Nazi Germany

The German military in the 20th century had always considered the role of the pistol as important, and thus companies like Deutsche Waffen und munitionsfabriken (DMW), Walther, Mauser and others spent much time, effort and money to produce new and innovative pistols for lucrative military contracts.   In 1904 DMW won a contract to supply the German Navy and later in 1908 the German Army with the P.08 pistol more commonly known as the Luger.  The Luger was a reasonably reliable weapon, despite the poorly informed claims American gun writers made about it during and after the first and second world war.  The Luger was popular especially because of its ease of use and the 9mm cartridge it fired, a round we all know today.  The Luger however did have some draw backs from the military analysts point of view.  It was expensive and took a considerably long time to produce, interchangeability of parts between different manufacturers in some cases was an issue, complicated maintenance and some concerns about the toggle action.  In short, it was becoming obsolete, especially compared with the likes of Colt 1911A1, Browning High Power and other pistols that were increasing arming nations around the world.  Walther who had already won a contract in 1929/30 to supply the Luftwaffe (German Airforce) with PP Auto pistols was seeking to gain the pistol manufacturers domestic prize.  In 1936 Walther approached the Wehrmacht and put forward their new prototype called the Armee-Pistole or AP.  This pistol had a slide instead of a toggle joint, similar look to the Luger, was chambered in the same caliber and  overall simpler pistol with an internal hammer.  For safety reasons the Wehrmacht rejected it as they wished the pistol to have an external hammer, thus another advantage over the Luger, and a few other minor changes to the design.

In 1937 Walther was at it again, now with the revised pistol called the Heeres-Pistole or HP, now sporting and external hammer as requested.  From there the P.38 was accepted by the Wehrmacht as the official replacement for the P.08 Luger.  In 1939 with the outbreak of war all European Axis forces began to implement production codes for each manufacturer to hide the origins of all weapons to make it difficult for Allied forces to know which factories were producing what arms, Walther made weapons were marked AC and the year of production.  At the same time the German military wanted to increase the manufacturing capability of the arms producers so blue prints were sent to other companies who qualified for contacts, Mauser was one of the major companies that started making the P.38 with the production code BYF marked on the slide of the pistol.  

The P.38 was never as popular with officers as the Luger, even Allied troops who loved to have captured pistols as trophies preferred the P.08 over the P.38.  That aside the P.38 gave excellent service due to its brilliant design.  The Walther pistol utilized a double action mechanism, that allowed a round to chambered and carried safely with the hammer lowered, which was done by the safety switch which moved a blocking bar in front of the firing pin and safely lowered the hammer. So when the pistol was pulled from the holster all the firer needed to do is pull the trigger, a feature that was borrowed from the Walther PP.  The 9mm cartridge used in the P.38 requires the use of a locking device so that when the pistol is fired the pressure being released from the cartridge can drop to a safe level before the chamber is opened.  Walther engineers employed what is called a falling block, a wedge that holds the barrel and slide together as they move back a short distance in the initial recoiling sequence then the wedge cams down releasing the slide so that it may move back to complete the cycle.  This method of locking is also used in the Beretta 92 series of pistols including the M9 the current U.S. Army pistol.

After the World War Two production of the Walther P.38 continued with some minor changes to become the P.1 the standard pistol of the West German Army in 1955, but they were not alone other nations including Chad, Finland, Norway, Macedonia and Portugal also purchased the P.1.  

INTERESTING FACT : Saddam Hussien owned a gold plated Walther P.38, after Saddam's fall from power, the pistol was taken from his palace and who owns it now is anyone's guess. See below


PRO's :  Easy to Maintain, Very Reliable, Double Action, Accurate

CON's :  Some pistols safety devices are prone to breaking with age.

COOL FACTOR : 7/10

Thursday 12 April 2012

12th April : Zastava CZ99 Precision 17HMR

Name     :   Zastava CZ99 Precision .17HMR
Caliber   :  .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire


Capacity :  5 Rounds


Weight   :  6.2lbs or 2.8kg


Length   :   41in or 1040mm


Action    :  Bolt Action Repeater


Origin     :  Serbia


Zastava Arms has been in business for 1853, first producing cannon barrels, then latter moving into the production of rifles predominantly for the military. During the Second World War the Zastava factory was used for making ammunition and a small number of rifles and rifle parts until 1942 when the German occupiers shut the factory down and its production equipment were moved to equip other factories.  Upon the end of World War Two Zastava was rebuilt and started producing a version of the Mauser K98k known as the M1948.  Up to today Zastava has been producing their own versions of the AKM series of rifles and their own pistols based on popular designs.  Though through this time they have produced relatively small numbers of hunting arms, which is were the CZ99 Precision comes in.


The name CZ99 Precision, is a little confusing for some as another popular manufacturer predominately uses the prefix CZ in their firearm's name, however this is not Zastava trying to capitalize on others success necessarily, since 1946 the name of the Zastava factory is Crvena Zastava, thus CZ has been roll marked on several of their rifles since.


Using a version of the Mauser action, the CZ99 Precision is a solid and utterly reliable little rifle.  Designed with the varmit and sports shooter in mind this rifle is available in .22LR, .22 WMR and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire, the latter caliber is what we will look at here. The barrel making process that Zastava uses when making the CZ99 is called Cold Forging a popular process of hammering lengths of cold steel around a rifling insert.  Furnished with a beautiful walnut stock and blued metal components the CZ99 is a nicely finished rifle on par with many other quality firearms of the type for a considerable discount.  The pricing on the Zastava is by no means "dirt cheap" but it does take a prospective purchaser who up until now has been looking at budget rifles to consider spending a little more and getting a rifle that is of superior quality over the 'entry level'.  In a simple sentence 'value for money'.


The CZ99 Precision is available in .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire cartridge a round that is steadily gaining popularity.  This round was created in 2002 and is effectively a .22 Winchester Magnum necked down to .17 (4.5mm) caliber with a 17 or 20 grain projectile.  The round boasts several advantages over its parent round such as higher muzzle velocity, flatter trajectory, longer range, with the potential for greater accuracy.  Though it is more more expensive and doesn't have as much kinetic energy due to the lighter projectile.  


The Zastava rifle has a smooth operating bolt and has an adjustable trigger for different weights.  Overall it's tight tolerances make its bolt a pleasure to use.


INTERESTING FACT :  Just to make things more confusing Zastava also produces a pistol with the name : CZ99.


PRO's   :   Quality, Reliability, Accuracy, handy size


CON's   :   .17HMR is more pricey, ejectors hold to tightly on some ammo


COOL FACTOR : 6/10 

Wednesday 11 April 2012

11th of April : Dragunov Sniper Rifle

Name     :   Dragunov Sniper Rifle


AKA       :   SVD, Dragunov


7.62x54 Rimmed Surplus Rounds
Caliber   :   7.62x54mm Rimmed


Capacity :   10 Rounds


Weight   :   9.51lb or 4.32kg


Length    :   47.3in or 1201mm


Action     :   Semi Automatic, Gas operated  


Origin     :   U.S.S.R., Russia


Beginning it's long career in Russian service in 1963, Evgeniy Dragunov's semi automatic rifle would be one of the most numerous of sniper rifles in the world. Referred to as the SVD, an abbreviation of Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, which translates to Dragunov's sniper rifle.  Through the eyes of NATO the Dragunov was never seen as a true sniper rifle, but more of a designated marksman's rifle the reasons being :
1. It isn't capable of extreme precision accuracy
2. It is a squad level weapon rather than a dedicated sniper's team weapon
3. The short range scope fitted as standard


The outward appearance of the SVD may resemble the AK series of firearms but it is in fact very different internally.  When a shot is fired through the SVD, a small amount of gas from the round going of is tapped off through a hole in the barrel and up into a tube with a small piston that travels backward a short distance pushing on a thin steel rod that in turn pushed on the bolt carrier sending it backward which rotates and unlocks the bolt from the chamber. As it continues back it ejects the spent case, re-cocks the hammer, reaches the rear and under spring power moves forward again, stripping a fresh round from the magazine and chamber-ring the round and locks the action closed ready for the next shot.  The difference between this and the AK action relates to the piston and bolt carrier, on the AK the heavy piston rod is attached permanently to bolt carrier, causing a larger shift in weight that disturbs the point of aim.


The 120 year old 7.62x54mm Rimmed cartridge is still going strong, first used in the Mosin Nagant series of rifles it has become a main stay of the Russian military, used in machineguns and sniper rifles it continues to be used.  When used in the SVD it achieves a respectable muzzle velocity of 2,723 feet per second (830m per second) and has an effective range of 874 yards (800m).


Commonly seen on the SVD is the PSO-1 scope, with a 4x telescopic lens. This hard wearing scope can handle temperatures ranging from -50 degrees to 50 above.   Looking through the scope you will find a reticule on the left hand side that allows the firer to range estimate his intended target, Calibrated for a 5.7ft man.  You simply aim at a standing target and place him in the height field and where he fits in perfectly between the top and bottom is your range, then place the correct chevron over your target and make your windage adjustments.






INTERESTING FACT :  When a field strip is performed on the rifle for maintenance and cleaning the scope needs to be removed from the rifle to in order to inspect and get to the internal components, whilst this traditionally is a big "no-no" the Russians claim the scope mounting clamp on this rifle is so good, you can take it off and put it back on without disturbing the point of aim and point of impact between the scope and the rifle.


PRO's  :  Lightweight, Powerful, Fast follow up shots, Absolutely reliable


CON's  :  Some rifles are only capable of 2"MOA accuracy


COOL FACTOR :  7/10



Tuesday 10 April 2012

10th April : Glock 34

Name     :   Glock Model 34


AKA       :   Practical / Tactical,  The 34, The long Glock


Caliber   :   9x19mm Parabellum


Capacity :   17 Rounds


Weight   :   22.92oz or 650g


Length   :   8.15in or 207mm


Locking  :   Browning Type (non-link)


Origin    :   Austria


With the success of the Glock model 17, the sports shooter became a priority thus in 1988 Glock brought the model 17L into the market. This pistol had a longer barrel of 6.02in with a longer slide compared with the 4.49in barrel of the standard service model 17, also it was supplied with a lighter trigger pull, namely a 3.5 pound trigger connector.  The top of the slide had a rectangle section cut out of it to reduce weight, with barrel porting where it was exposed due to the slide cut out to reduce recoil.  The overall length of the 17L is 8.85in or 225mm.  To complement their range Glock also bought out a .40 Smith and Wesson caliber version called the model 24.


The model 17L was dropped from the line of pistols with a new model in 1998,  the replacement was motivated by several factors one of the most important being that the dimensions of the 17L were such that because of its long sight radius it was not able to be used in some popular shooting sport competitions.  Thus the model 34 came along, with its barrel shortened to 5.31in, small weight and overall length reduction.  The pistol was immediately popular with even the Malaysian Armed Forces purchasing some of this specific model.


Furnished much the same as all other Glock models the 34 has a tenifer surface treatment on the outer metal components to resist corrosion, a polymer frame and magazine, and Glock's famous 3 point safety system.  
The pistol comes standard with an accessory rail in front of the trigger guard and other frame color schemes.  As with all of Glock's competition guns it has a different style of trigger pull to that of a service model and an elongated slide release lever.  


Though not a common choice for the "on the beat" police officer, the model 34 is sometimes found on the list of approved pistols for carry, though it is widely known that some Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams in the U.S. have opted to use this pistol.


INTERESTING FACT :  Some of the popularity around the model 34 for both law enforcement and civilian shooter is the high muzzle velocity that can be obtained by the 34's longer barrel.


PRO's   :   Reliability, Corrosion Resistance, Accuracy, beautiful trigger pull


CON's   :   You got me stumped on this one ?


COOL FACTOR :  8/10

Sunday 8 April 2012

8th of April : Makarov PM

Name    :   Makarov PM


AKA      :   Pistolet Makarova, 9mm Maka, 


Caliber    :   9x18mm Makarov


Weight    :   26oz or 730g


Length    :    6.34in or 161mm


Action     :    Blowback Double / Single Action Semi-Automatic


Capacity  :    8 Rounds (though 12 and 13 round version are available)


Origin     :    U.S.S.R. 


The Makarov PM was introduced in 1951 as the standard sidearm for the Russian Armed forces. This 9mm pistol's lineage can be traced back to the German Walther PP, the double action mechanism and disassembly are closely copied. At the end of World War Two after the German defeat, Russia stockpiled large quantities of captured weapons (much like every other nation at the time) for both study and for possible use should the need ever arise. Also whole German factories were taken apart and transported by train back to Russia, as both compensation and to gain knowledge amongst these was what was left of the destroyed Walther Factory, paperwork and drawings of the Walther pistols. Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov a weapons designer at the Tula state arsenal was given the opportunity to compete in a competition to replace the Tokarev TT-33 in military service with a new pistol, Nikolay's design eventually won.


Disassembly of the makarov is easy an easy proceedure, the same as the Walther PP, after safety checking the pistol, the magazine is removed by pushing rearward the magazine release located the base of the pistol grip. The Trigger guard is pulled downward, and pushed to slightly to either side so that it may rest against the outter part of the frame. Then the slide is pulled to the back and the rear of the slide is lifted upward allowing the slide to move along the barrel and pop off. The barrel is fixed to the frame allowing easy maintenance for the operating mechanism and barrel cleaning.



The double action pull of the Makarov's trigger is generally very heavy. The differences between the single and double action pull makes it very difficult to hit with the second shot when starting in double action mode, more so than western double action semi automatics. When using the standard ball rounds the Makarov has been known to produce some respectable combat acceptable groups. When pistols chambered for 9mm Makarov first started to be introduced into the United States ammunition for these pistols wasn't in good supply and many people turned to the 9x18mm Short (.380 ACP) this cartridge could be fired somewhat reliably but unfortuneatly the 9mm Short is slightly smaller in diameter to that of the Russian round therefore accuracy was significantly decreased and Makarov pistols got a bad reception.


More than 60 years after it's introduction the Makarov pistol is still in production and is in wipespread military use around the world. Like the AK-47 the Makarov pistol has a tendency to be discovered in all the worlds hot spots. Enjoyed by many around the world as a curiosity or relic of a different time, or as a recreation piece. Today the Makarov has ventured into a new market, Baikal a quality Russian firearms manufacturer has introduced the MP-654k a gas powered air pistol into the market known affectionately as the "AIR MAK". This 4.5mm (.177) air pistol is made of high quality steel construction.



INTERESTING FACT : Makarovs have been offically replaced by the MP-443 9mm Parabellum pistol in Russian service in 1991 though in 2012 examples are still seeing service.


PRO's : Quality Construction, Somewhat Compact, Simple to maintain


CON's : Low powered round, bad magazine catch location, minimal sights



COOL FACTOR : 6/10




Friday 6 April 2012

6th of April : Nambu Type 94

Name     :   Nambu Type 94


AKA       :   The most unsafe mass produced pistol


8x22mm Round


Caliber   :  8x22mm 


Weight   :  25.4oz or 720g


Length   :   7.1in or 181mm


Action    :  Locked Breech, Semi-Automatic


Capacity :  6 Rounds


Origin     :  Japan




First put into production in 1934 the Type 94 was intended to be a personal defence arm for those whom the standard Rifle or carbine was too cumbersome and it did indeed full fill that role, though serious design flaws and poor choice of cartridge may hindered the user more often than it saved him.  The original plan for the pistol was to be simple to manufacture and supplement the mediocre Nambu 8mm Type 14 pistol.  As with most Imperial Japanese pistols of the time it has been designed originally by Kijiro Nambu a man who had many previous successful firearms under his belt but in the process of turning out the design was hindered and constantly interrupted by the Japanese Army who wished the pistol to be as cost effective as possible.  Japanese officers were required to purchase their own personal sidearms, many in fact chose European pistols (Lugers and Webleys were popular), but now the Army wanted to issue future officers a standard nationally produced pistol. 


Certainly an eye catching pistol (at least in not in a good way) the Type 94 was generally furnished with plastic grips instead of wood like earlier pistols.  The front sight is very minimal as it the rear sight.  The milled 'ears' at the rear of the pistol are for gripping the slide to initially cock the pistol.  The safety resides on the left side of the frame at the rear.  To remove the 6 round magazine the release can be found on the left side of the frame behind the trigger guard.  


The 8x22mm cartridge used in the majority of Nambu's pistols just scrapes through as a self protection round.  The small rimless, bottleneck cartridge is of 8.18mm (.322 in) with a 102 grain projectile is on par with an equivalent projectile in .380 ACP (9x18mm Short) for power.  The original design of this round coming from studies around the .30 Luger.  


The pistols exposed sear being it's largest flaw making the pistol very dangerous to carry with a round chambered.  Most officers were advised to carry the pistol with no round in the chamber until they intended to shoot.  Carrying the pistol with a round chambered it was possible to discharge the pistol from simple tasks such as placing the pistol in a holster or knocking the left side of the frame.  Some officers discharged the weapon whilst trying to engage the safety.


INTERESTING FACT :  It was possible to fire the Type 94 out of battery. Meaning a round could go off even though it wasn't completely chambered.


PRO's  :  Great paperweight provided ammo is at least 1km away at all times


CON's  : Poor construction and  design, dangerous, 


COOL FACTOR : 2/10 (it gets 2 points for collect-ability)