Great Gun Stuff Blog

The above shotgun is currently being auctioned at Guns America.

This year, the Remington Arms Company stands honored to roll out the 10,000,000th Model 870 shotgun, and would like to thank the millions of shooters and hunters, and great men and women who serve our country in military and law enforcement for making this proud moment possible. For the past 51+ years, you and the industry we serve have helped make the Model 870 the most trusted shotgun ever produced.

You can register to win one of ten commemorative edition shotguns over at Remington's "10,000,000" website.

A plane transporting North Korean manufactured weapons and explosives has been captured by Thai law enforcement. The UN banned Nork weapon exports after their missile tests earlier this year. The Times Online reports ...

The weapons laden aircraft seized in Bangkok en route from North Korea at the weekend has been linked to two renowned East European arms traffickers by a respected Swedish think-tank in the latest twist in the mysterious saga.

The Ilyushin-76 aircraft, which was found to be carrying 35 tonnes of weapons including rockets and grenades, was most recently registered under a company called Beibars, linked to the Serbian arms dealer Tomislav Dmanjanovic. It had previously been registered with three companies identified by the US Department of the Treasury as firms controlled by the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

UN sanctions passed in June after Pyongyang tested a nuclear warhead ban North Korea from exporting any arms except light weapons — a big blow to the arms trade, which provides a significant source of income to the rogue state.

I first mentioned the new "Tan" M16/M4 magazine back in June.

The Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier agency has just blogged about it ...

“With the improved magazines, we’re taking weapons reliability up another notch,” said LTC Chris Lehner, Product Manager Individual Weapons. “By incorporating a heavier, more corrosion resistant spring, along with a new follower design that does not tilt inside the casing, our engineers were able to develop a magazine that presents a round to the weapon with even greater stability. Increased magazine reliability results in overall improved weapon system performance.”

...

“Soldiers can remember it like this: ‘Tan – is the plan. Green – start to lean. Black – take it back,’” said LTC Lehner. “While the improved magazines increase reliability to an even greater degree, the new magazines by no means reduce the importance of Soldiers keeping their weapons clean and lubricated appropriately for the environment. Also, Soldiers must be proficient on conducting immediate action (SPORTS) if their weapon has a stoppage.”

The Army has also developed a nifty tool to check if the feed lips are worn out. It is kind of a no-go gauge for magazines. If this does not already exist for civilians or law enforcement, I imagine it would be a popular accessory.

[ Thanks to Solomon and Daniel for the link ]

The 9mm compact Glock 19 and .40 S&W compact Glock 23 will both be offered with the Rough Textured Frame (RTF2). This frame does not replace the standard Glock frame, better known as the 3rd Gen Frame, on the G19 and G23, but will be available as an option.

From the press release:

The G19 and G23 are two of the most popular GLOCK models. The G19 9x19 compact is widely used all over the world. In addition, the G23 in .40 caliber is quite popular with both law enforcement and private individuals as a back up or concealed carry firearm. Adding the RTF2 finish to these compact models increases the options for law abiding

individuals and organizations. Along with the new RTF2 finish, each of these GLOCK pistols have the same time tested "Safe Action" system, durable exterior finish, cold hammer forged barrel, durability, reliability, and light weight that GLOCK is famous for.

The first RTF2 pistol, the G22 RTF2, was unveiled in January after much speculation. This was followed a few months later by the G17 RTF2.

I just received a press release saying that RUAG Ammotec, a Swiss firm, has just established a subsidiary in the United States.

It seems like they are more interested in law enforcement and government contract that they are in civilian sales. From the press release:

Precision Ammunition, established in 2001, holds extensive patents for their Copper-Matrix NTF® Non-Toxic Frangible bullet. Providing a healthier shooting environment, Copper-Matrix NTF is particularly well-suited for training law enforcement, military and security personnel, as well as being a perfect match for use in shooting ranges.

“RUAG Ammotec and Precision Ammunition are a perfect fit for each other and will drive forward RUAG Ammotec’s growth strategy worldwide by opening up new markets and strengthening individual product groups. The combination of innovative bullet design with large scale, high quality component production reflects the increasing demand for non-toxic frangible ammunition,” stated Cyril Kubelka, CEO of RUAG Ammotec and a member of the Executive Board of RUAG Holding AG. “Additionally, it establishes a US presence for the RUAG family of business to actively bid on US Government contracts.”

I hope they decide to sell to individuals in the future. They make some very interesting rifle and pistols round.

Just last week we discussed RUAG Ammotec on The Firearm Blog.

Regardless of your role in law enforcement, there is always a need for more knowledge. However, finding good information on the internet can often be a difficult and time consuming process.

Luckily, over the past few years, Podcasts have become a great way to get information on-demand easily. Below are my top 5 law enforcement podcasts.
 
CopCast.net is an irreverent weekly podcast “for cops, by cops” discussing the latest in news and tech in law enforcement.

The U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center produces several free podcasts with tips and techniques across the law enforcement spectrum, from proper evidence handling to interrogation techniques to officer liability.

Inside the NYPD is the official podcast of the New York City Police Department. It features updates on high-profile incidents (for instance, interviews with the first responders to the January 15, 2009 US Airways plane crash in the Hudson River), crime prevention tips for the general public and happenings and updates in the department.

Another agency podcast, Inside the FBI is the official podcast of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each week, the podcast covers tips and techniques for both law enforcement and the general public, items of historic interest and happenings within the Bureau.

One of the few law enforcement podcasts available in both audio and video formats, CrimeTime is a discussion-style podcast featuring a panel of guests from across the law enforcement spectrum. Topics range from how the latest news effects law enforcement to proper techniques and tactics.

So, which podcasts do you listen to?

How will you know for sure if your cut resistant gloves will protect you?

You can reduce the risk of cuts using innovative technologies, advanced materials and scientifically enhanced products,  but there are no guarantees when it comes to protective products.

Luckily you can measure cut resistance. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has  developed a standard (CE EN 388) for all protective gloves used in law enforcement and military. This standard puts the gloves through torturous tests. These tests include abrasion, blade cuts, punctures, tear, impact and dexterity.

From these tests, the gloves are given a rating ranging from Level 1 (the least protection) to Level 5 (the toughest protection). I really can’t stress just how important it is to check this rating. Don’t be fooled by companies who self-certify their own gloves, skip the rating or only display the CEN-certified logo rather than the rating. Self-certification only ensures there are no harmful chemicals in the gloves.

The best protection you have is to check the rating and ensure it meets the standards for your circumstances.

There has been some concern within the Law Enforcement Community recently about drug traffickers cutting raw heroin with a variety of peroxide-based substances. While this sounds fairly innocuous, a basic understanding of the chemistry used in most LE drug test kits will tell you that mixing the acid-based chemical test reagents with peroxide-based compounds results in the release of sulfuric acid which is highly corrosive and can cause burns. We issued a Safety Alert to the community on November 14th advising officers to be cautious about field testing heroin from unknown sources due to the possibility of test pouches rupturing during the chemical reaction, potentially injuring the officer.

One of the most interesting aspects of this trend was the riddle surrounding the composition of the cutting agents. I personally called and spoke with an officer who had a test pouch rupture during the testing process. His lab confirmed that the cutting agent was brick dust, a peroxide-based compound used in cosmetics and other benign applications. There have also been a number of unconfirmed reports that TATP, an explosive and peroxide-based compound, has been used to cut heroin. Now, I’m no scientist or drug addict, but I wonder about the logic of cutting narcotics with an explosive compound. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Mr. Jake Bohi, of the Homeland Defense Bureau (Bomb Squad) recently published an article using research from the Phoenix PD where they conducted tests of manufactured TATP coming into contact with acids utilizing a variety of NIK and ODV narcotics test kits provided by Forensics Source. I won’t delve into the details of the testing protocols (the details have been published in the January/February edition of The Detonator, Volume 36, Number 1), but the results published by the Phoenix PD can be quickly summarized as follows:

1. Some kits were more sensitive than others, but if you follow the instructions and use the amount of material recommended by the manufacturer, you will be fine.

2. Kits that contained only weak acid solutions or water based solutions did not react with the organic peroxide at all.

3. Results emphasized that only small amounts of product are needed to field test drugs and using larger amounts than the manufacturers recommend may be dangerous.

4. Training law enforcement officers how to use drug test kits is crucial.

We still don’t know if anyone is really crazy enough to cut heroin with explosive TATP, but at least if they do, we have more confidence than ever that following proper training and protocols will keep officers safe. 

In years past, the words, "boat" and "armor" were rarely used in the same sentence. Since 9/11 this has changed dramatically. With the threat of waterborne terrorist attacks ever so existent, ballistic protection is rapidly becoming a part of every day security requirements.

From vehicle (marine craft) -borne IED’s to small arms weaponry, military, law enforcement and security personnel are becoming more frequently engaged in hostile environments here in the homeland as well as abroad.

Also growing is the constant growing threat of piracy. In 2008 alone, pirates attacked over 100 ships, hijacking some 49 of them, resulting in paid ransoms in the tens of millions of dollars, as well as human casualties.

When considering protection for small marine craft or large vessels it is important to weigh in on the broad spectrum of ballistic and blast threats existent in today’s marine environment; and to ensure safe passage in a dangerous world.

The Magpul® Folding Machine Gun (FMG9™) is a rapidly-deployable, ultra-concealable personal defense weapon currently in development for military, law-enforcement and private security operators. It is designed to offer maximum firepower and control in a compact and discreet package.

The non-firing prototype was unveiled during the 2008 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV and features a streamlined polymer casing, ready-to-fire push-button deployment, Glock® 17 slide assembly, capability to accept up to 31-round Glock® 18 magazines (in the folded position), top Picatinny (MIL-STD-1913A) rail and a detachable carrying handle with light shield. An Insight Technologies tactical light was mounted on the prototype. Additional space allows for an auto-sear to be installed for qualified users.

The FMG9™ is currently a conceptual prototype. No determination of production of the system has been finalized. If the weapon were to be produced it would be regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934. The semi-automatic version would most likely be classified as a Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR) or Any-Other Weapon (AOW) depending on an evaluation from the ATF Firearms Technology Branch. This would require a registered transfer only to qualified individuals. Fully-automatic versions would be classified as a post ’86 Machine-Gun (MG) and would not be available to individuals other than Class 3 dealers, military and law enforcement personnel.

Videos of the non-firing prototype can be viewed on YouTube.

More information about the FMG9, including features and specs can be found on Magpul's website(PDF).

To purchase other Magpul products, please visit GunAccessories.com