Los Angeles passes law banning large-capacity gun magazines
AR-15 type rifle magazines, (top to
bottom) 10-round, 20-round and 30-round, displayed at Chris' Indoor
Shooting Range in Guilford, Connecticut April 2, 2013.
Reuters/Michelle McLoughlin
The Los Angeles City Council voted
unanimously to ban the possession of large-capacity gun magazines on
Tuesday, following San Francisco to become the second major city in
California to take that step. The ordinance prohibits Los Angeles residents from possessing a handgun or rifle magazine that fits more than 10 rounds.
Residents
would have 60 days after the law takes effect to remove, sell or
transfer such magazines from city limits in compliance with state law,
or surrender them to the LAPD.
The
law would take effect 30 days after Mayor Eric Garcetti signs it, a move
that he was "eager" to make, he said in a statement.
The
legislation comes on the heels of recent mass shootings in the United
States, including a movie theater shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, last
week in which two women were killed by a lone gunman who took his own
life.
Similar ordinances
in San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California, have so far withstood legal
challenges and last year, a federal judge upheld a Colorado law banning
magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
"The
step we're taking today is not a wild step," said council member Paul
Krekorian, who sponsored this ordinance, at a rally before the vote.
"People who want to defend homes don't need a 100-round drum magazine to
do so."
Around 50 people who have
lost loved ones to gun violence attended the rally and vote, many
wearing orange t-shirts and ribbons.
Those who were
opposed to this ordinance were represented by Chad Cheung, director of
the Calguns Shooting Sports Association. "I think it's more of a people
problem rather than a gun problem," said Cheung, who uses large-capacity
gun magazines in various shooting contests.
"Nobody
knows more about firearm safety than I do," he added, underscoring the
notion that with the proper training, people could possess such
magazines safely.
Calguns is one
group that has pending lawsuits against the San Francisco and Sunnyvale
ordinances. Cheung said that the organization would discuss during their
next board meeting whether to file a similar lawsuit in Los Angeles.
The
Los Angeles city council next week will take up a proposed ordinance
requiring gun owners to lock their firearms at home and consider an
amendment to the gun magazine ordinance that would exempt retired police
officers.
STI
International is a Texas-based firearm manufacturer that generally
conjures a myriad of images involving numerous evolutionary phases of
John Browning’s 1911.
That is, until the company sparked a good deal of surprise within the
firearms industry by adding the non-1911 GP6 to its handgun line.
This year STI has proved, yet again, it’s not afraid of attempting
something new. It has released not one, but two AR-15 offerings as part
of the company’s new Sporting Rifle line. Given STI’s passion for
building quality firearms, it piqued my interest. Needless to say, when
the rifles arrived for testing, my curiosity was primed. At first
glance, both possessed the attention to detail and quality consumers
have come to expect from STI. Unfortunately, I could only evaluate one
and the Tactical Sporting Rifle won the mental ring toss.
A thorough examination of the rifle revealed a product just as
contradictory as its name. Unlike the plethora of other “tactical” ARs
on the market, a telescoping stock is absent. That’s not necessarily a
bad thing. As the office AR addict, I’ve worked with quite a few
M4-style stocks, and none are without flaws. The most noteworthy is a
sloppy fit between the buffer tube and buttstock, making a
loose-fitting, wobbly and less-than-ideal platform for precision
shooting. While the A2-style stock may score low for some on the
“high-speed, low-drag” scale of coolness, the truth is it offers a
rock-solid base from which to shoot.
The rifle features a Nordic Components Tactical Compensator for faster shot recovery due to reduced muzzle flip.
The rifle’s upper receiver, A3-style with an integral Picatinny rail,
adds to its versatility by providing virtually limitless potential for
mounting a wide array of optics and accessories. Should primary optics
fail, a second strip of Picatinny rail is also found of the top of the
Tactical’s gas block as a means of outfitting the rifle with iron
sights. The rifle also features a mid-length gas system to help keep
fouling to a minimum. One of the biggest clues this rifle is intended
for tactical use pertains to its custom STI Valkyrie, free-float
fore-arm. The tube contains several pre-drilled and tapped holes, 1 inch
apart, at both the top and bottom to accept additional JP Enterprises
Picatinny rail sections. I consider this a welcome change from the
rail-clad fore-arms presently flooding the black-rifle market. The
fore-arm also contains a number of slots, which I first considered a
decorative attempt at dissipating heat. It turns out I was only half
right. Their design and 1⁄2-inch centers enable owners to mount
additional rails at virtually any angle on the fore-arm.
While it’s true railed fore-arms have their place, I find the
majority of civilian AR owners collect cool widgets on every rail
section like Boy Scouts do badges. Newly acquired whatnots add to a
rifle’s wow-factor, but they also add weight. I consider STI’s
alternative to the traditional quad-rail fore-arm a much-needed cure for
the dreaded AR affliction, accessoritis. To the untrained eye, STI’s
Tactical Sporting Rifle may seem rather sparse in its bare-bones
configuration, but at just less than 7 pounds neat, I determined this AR
possesses a tremendous amount of hidden potential—proving looks can be
more than just a little deceiving.
I decided to pull the rifle’s take-down pin to see what other goodies
were concealed inside STI’s latest offering. The inclination soon
proved worth the price of admission as seen by the presence of a JP
Enterprises Trigger Group, which includes a set of the company’s custom
springs along with a truncated mil-spec hammer.
The heart of the Tactical Sporting Rifle’s versatility is the company’s Weaver gas block and Valkyrie free-float fore-arm.
Available in either 5.56 NATO or .223 Rem., the Tactical’s 16-inch,
410 stainless steel barrel contains a 1:8-inch rate of twist lending
itself—yet again—to versatility through a wide range of bullet weights
and uses. The barrel sports a Nordic Components Tactical Compensator
attached via standard 1⁄2×28 threads. My only complaint regarding the
barrel pertains to its finish. When it comes to tactical firearms, use
of stainless steel is generally avoided to reduce glare.
When it comes to shooting ARs, I consider it the ballistic equivalent
of “quality time.” Something about Eugene Stoner’s creation resonates
with me. My time with STI’s Tactical Sporting Rifle proved equally
enjoyable—and surprising.
For optics I selected a Swarovski Z6 1-6×24 mm scope for two reasons:
Its low-magnification range, which should prove more than adequate for
precision shooting at either CQB or intermediate distances, and because
it was my first opportunity to sample the company’s products afield.
The Tactical performed quite well, but unfortunately not without
incident. Numerous failure-to-feed-type stoppages occurred with
Winchester 50-grain Ballistic Silvertip, requiring me to manually cycle
the action for every shot.
Seeing no obvious flaws on the gun’s factory-supplied 30-round
magazine, I suspected the malfunctions were a result of STI’s fondness
for building firearms to tight tolerances, thinking the behavior would
subside once the rifle wore-in.
The author attributes part of the sub-MOA accuracy to the superb JP Enterprises trigger group.
Unfortunately, the stoppages persisted. Despite the rifle ejecting
fired cases, the bolt consistently failed to send Hornady’s 55-grain
load into battery. Despite the problems, with the aid of the rifle’s
divine, 3-pound sear release, the best Hornady group printed at .75
inch.
In the end, the day belonged to the Black Hills 69-grain hollow
point, which not only cured the afternoon’s jam session, but the heavier
bullets also produced noticeable changes in group consistency.
I talked to STI’s Darrel Bishop, who is responsible for creating the
company’s AR line, and he said they use mil-spec buffer components to
function with a wide range of bullet weights. He overnighted an
identical rifle—to confirm the first rifle would have been one of the
few to have ever been returned for work—and I returned to the range to
function test. I sent a wall of lead screaming downrange and, as
expected, the STI ran flawlessly with the lightweight bullets.
It didn’t start smooth, but in the end STI’s Tactical Sporting Rifle
proved to be extremely versatile, and its potential for accuracy is
eerily similar to what shooters have come to expect from the company’s
1911 line. Manufacturer: STI International; (512) 819-0656 Type: Gas-operated, semi-automatic Caliber: 5.56 mm or .223 Rem. Capacity: 30 rounds Receiver: Machined, 7075 aluminum upper and lower receiver Barrel: 16 inches; 410 stainless steel; complete with Nordic Components Tactical Compensator Rifling: 6 grooves, 1:8-inch RH twist Stock: Fixed; A2-style Sights: None; A3-style integral Picatinny rail for use with optics Trigger Pull Weight: 3 pounds, 6 ounces Length: 36 inches Width: 1 1⁄2 inches Weight: 6 pounds, 7.8 ounces MSRP: $1,328
Marine brass endorses infantry plan to ditch M16 for M4
Marine
leaders have made the momentous recommendation to ditch the iconic M16
in favor of the M4 carbine as the new universal weapon for infantrymen.
The
recommendation to swap the venerated rifle that has served as the
grunt's primary implement of war since Vietnam now sits on the
commandant's desk, pending his final review and a decision. But, the
swap appears imminent and if approved will relegate the M16 to a support
role. It follows a similar shift already underway in the Army.
With
the endorsement of several major commands already supporting the switch
— including Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Combat Development
and Integration; Plans, Policies and Operations; Marine Corps Systems
Command; and Installations and Logistics — final word is possible in
weeks or months.
"The proposal to replace the M16A4 with the M4
within infantry battalions is currently under consideration at
Headquarters Marine Corps," according to a jointly written response from
the commands provided by Maj. Anton Semelroth, a Marine spokesman in
Quantico, Virginia.
The change would be welcomed by infantrymen
who say the M16A4 was too long and unwieldy for close-quarters battle in
Iraq or vehicle-borne operations in Afghanistan. They tout the M4 for
its weight savings, improved mobility and collapsible butt stock,
allowing the rifle to be tailored for smaller Marines or those wearing
body armor.
"I would have to say my gut reaction is it's the right
choice and will do a lot of good for the guys in the infantry," said
Sgt. Nathan West, an explosive ordnance technician with 8th Engineer
Support Battalion, who carried an M4 on dismounted patrols and
vehicle-borne operations during two deployments to Afghanistan as an
anti-tank missileman.
"The M4 is a great weapons system that has done everything I have ever asked of it," he added.
The
proposed switch also gets the thumbs up from senior marksmen such as
the 1st Marine Division gunner, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Vince Kyzer.
"The carbine is a great weapon system for its time," he said. "...It will increase the war fighter's lethality and mobility."
Ultimately,
if the move to the M4 is approved by Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford,
the M16 would be used exclusively by support personnel in communities
like logistics or admin. Once approved, the swap could happen as fast as
unit armories can issue weapons because the 17,000 M4s needed to outfit
infantrymen who don't already use one are in the current inventory,
said Barb Hamby, a Systems Command spokeswoman. Thus, officials
described the move as an "improved capability for the infantry at no
additional cost."
Wider adoption of the M4 is part of an overall
small-arms modernization strategy that will look at incremental
improvements, based on existing technologies as funding becomes
available, according to a Marine official who said more details will
likely be revealed in the months ahead.
For now, here is what Marines need to know about the infantry's next likely weapon of choice — the M4 carbine. The call for a compact weapon
The
M4 makes maneuvering in tight urban spaces easier with a 14.5-inch
barrel and an overall length that is about 10 inches shorter than the
M16A4, in a package that is a pound lighter at just over six.
No
fight illustrated the need for a smaller primary weapon during ferocious
close-quarters combat better than Operation Phantom Fury in November
2004, when Marines fought to wrest control of Fallujah from Iraqi
insurgents, sometimes going hand-to-hand.
Rounding corners and
getting on target in small rooms was difficult, leading to use of a
tactic called "short-stocking," when a Marine places his rifle stock
over his shoulder – instead of securely against the chest and cants his
weapon45-degrees so he can still use his optics. It helps in
maneuvering, but compromises recoil management and follow-up shots.
"We
were taught to short stock around tight corners when we got to our
platoon for deployment — it was something unofficial," said Ryan Innis, a
former scout sniper with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, who left the
service as a sergeant in 2013 after serving on the 22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit's anti-piracy raid force near East Africa.
Innis
trained for shipboard operations — the closest of close-quarters combat
— and said he was fortunate to be issued the M4 because the weapon's
shorter length proved better for tight spaces.
"I would definitely agree the M4 is the way to go," he said.
The
longer M16 was also challenging when hopping in and out of vehicles in
full battle rattle, said West, who made his second deployment to
Afghanistan in 2012 with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, as part of a
vehicle-borne combined anti-armor team.
"Anytime you operate out
of a vehicle, something compact makes life easier, especially when you
need to get out quickly and engage [the] enemy," he said.
Even
when he conducted dismounted patrols on his first Afghanistan deployment
in 2011 with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, the M4 he was issued helped in
clearing compounds, jumping walls and crossing deep ditches, he said.
West never wanted to go back to the M16 because of the weight savings alone.
He
said he started his first deployment carrying an M16A4; a Thor
radio-controlled bomb jammer, a metal detector, and ammo for an M240
machine gun.
"There was even a time carrying an M32 grenade
launcher, so you can see the amount of weight we were carrying at that
time," he said. "Anything that takes weight off and keeps guys from
getting tired so they are more aware of things around them is good. It
is just a little less weight and just as effective of a weapon."
That
is what the Marine Corps found when it began testing the ballistics of
its infantry rifles and carbines using their improved M318 Mod 0
Special Operations Science and Technology round.
"The Marine Corps
conducted an evaluation of its individual weapons (M4, M27 and M16A4),
with specific focus on comparing accuracy, shift of impact and
trajectory with improved ammunition, and determined the M4's overall
performance compares favorably with that of the M27 IAR, the most
accurate weapon in the squad," according to the written responses
provided by Semelroth. Negligible drawbacks
There
are a few minor drawbacks to adopting the M4, but infantrymen seem to
agree those are insignificant compared to the advantages.
Both
Innis and West said trading in the M16's 20-inch barrel for the M4's
14.5-inch barrel does sacrifice some muzzle velocity, which translates
into a slightly shorter effective range — although Colt markets both
with an effective range of about 650 yards. But that isn't a significant
concern given the closer ranges at which Marines and soldiers commonly
engage enemy in modern warfare.
To
strike the enemy beyond the range of the M4 or even the M16, each
Marine fire team already has an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, which in
semi-auto with its free-floating barrel and precision trigger also now
doubles as the designated marksman's rifle. It's a role that will no
longer be filled by the Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle, a match-grade M16
with a scope.
When the M27 can't get the job done, combined arms
doctrine means indirect fire and air assets are just a radio call away,
West said.
"As far as accuracy, there is not an effect," he added, saying a longer rifle only really matters when using iron sights.
Greater
distance between a weapon's front and rear sights, known as sight
radius, makes a weapon easier to aim. But that doesn't apply with the
Rifle Combat Optic that the Marine Corps began using in 2005. The RCO is
a type of reflex sight with which a Marine only needs to ensure the
reticle is on target without regard for sight alignment.
When asked if the Marine Corps is making the right move, preeminent firearms expert Larry Vickers gave a resounding yes.
"I'm
the first one to subscribe to this," Vickers said of the M4's
increasing popularity as the preferred option for modern combat.
The
M4's profile got a boost when the Army, which adopted the M4 in 1994
for special operations, began issuing it more broadly to deploying
infantry.
Vickers, a retired master sergeant who served 15 years
in the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta,
commonly known as Delta Force, dismissed arguments against the carbine
based on its shorter effective range, saying nearly all real-world
infantry engagements happen inside 200 yards.
"Some argue beyond
that the M4 carbine lacks effectiveness versus the M16, but the M16 is
like driving a sports car with a six-cylinder engine," he said, because
it is limited by the same small 5.56mm cartridge as the M4. "You can
shoot 400 to 500 yards away, but you are still shooting a 5.56."
A
longer barrel would make sense with a heavier hitting round like the
.308, but unless Marines are given a larger caliber Vickers said the M4
is "bringing so much more to the table."
"It is the world's gold standard," he said.
Not
all that long ago, buying thermal or night vision optics for high-tech
predator or varmint hunting usually meant settling for first-generation
junk that couldn’t distinguish a sheep from a coyote at 50 yards.
Quality
optics, assuming they were available for legal resale, carried such
high prices that selling your truck and taking out a second mortgage was
about the only way the average Joe could make a purchase.
Times are changing — rapidly.
Today’s
hunter who wants to plug pesky porkers or marauding coyotes while
“owning the night” can find decent optics at prices about half or even
less than they were just a few years ago. Match a thermal scope with a
favorite rifle, add electronic callers and a comfortable means of
setting up, and you’re ready to rock the night away.
Commercial
feral hog hunting operations are increasingly popular throughout the
South and Southwest. Price points are dropping on gear, and prospective
shooters can watch hours of online videos showing just how successful
you can be hunting these largely nocturnal critters when they feel most
secure.
If you’re a hunter who might want to do this more than a
couple times a year, investing in your own gear may make sense. This
decision likely depends on expendable cash and access to places where
predators and varmints prowl the night.
Cool little camera turns smartphone into thermal sensor
Some
hunting operations for deer and turkey also sport feral hog
populations, and you just might be able to work in some nighttime
shooting. That’s what we did down at Great Southern Outdoors near Union
Springs, Alabama, and at a number of coyote-plagued locations in
Virginia.
Two newer thermal scopes were used. At the lower end of the price spectrum, we matched a FLIR ThermoSight R-Series scope (RS32, 1.25-5x, 60Hz) with a Mossberg MVP Varmint rifle chambered in .223 Remington/5.56 NATO.
At the other end, we paired an ATN Corp. ThOR-640 scope (1.5-12x, 30Hz) with a Remington R-15 VTR Predator, an AR-styled rifle also in .223 Remington.
Our
Remington R-15 VTR (about $1,100) sported full Mossy Oak Brush camo, a
two-stage trigger, and a fixed Magpul stock and grip. The Mossberg MVP
Varmint (about $600) has a benchrest, pillar-bedded laminate stock,
24-inch medium bull barrel and user-adjustable trigger. The MVP rifle
lineup accepts AR-style magazines.
Thermal optics are like today’s
digital cameras in that the higher the resolution, the better the
picture. The FLIR scope, with a suggested retail price of $3,999, had a
focal array sensor of 336-by-256 VOx. It offered fine clarity out to
about 80 yards. At 100 yards and beyond, the heat signature of a target
such as a hog or coyote was readily apparent, but image sharpness tailed
off. You could still smack down a varmint at longer distances, but
precise bullet placement could be challenging the further out you get.
FLIR
has an excellent page on its website that shows the performance of the
various R-Series scopes at distances of 50 to 300 yards.
The
ATN scope ($6,695) employed a 640-by-512 pixel sensor. As expected, its
higher resolution enabled shooters to discern objects more clearly at
greater distances. But, the ThOR scope was priced appreciably higher.
Now,
before you think, “Whoa, these are still high prices,” consider that
variable-power rifle scopes easily can run upwards of $2,000, and any
decent thermal scope available just a few years ago was double the price
of the current 640-by-512 sensor products.
Similar to today’s
televisions, thermal scopes have “refresh” rates usually set at 30 or 60
hertz (cycles per second). That means a 60Hz thermal device refreshes
the image 60 times per second versus 30 times per second for a 30Hz
model. Unless your targets are moving frequently and at fairly high
speed, this may or may not be that critical for night hunting. The FLIR
unit had a 60Hz refresh rate compared to 30Hz in the ThOR.
Magnification
is nice, but each time you hit the magnifier button, you are degrading
the resolution of the image. On units with lower resolution, anything
above 2x magnification gets dicey in terms of target identification,
especially at longer distances. Mounting the optics
The
ThOR easily and quickly attached to the R-15 VTR’s Picatinny rail. The
FLIR units come with a LaRue Tactical mount. We had to swap out the
Mossberg MVP Predator’s Weaver-style rail for a Picatinny. This was easy
to do, and some Mossberg MVP models do come equipped with the
Picatinny.
One thing to watch for when mounting optics to
bolt-action rifles is the bolt jamming into the optic base when lifted.
To enable full clearance and operability, we mounted the scope slightly
farther back on the Mossberg’s rail. Eye relief was still fine.
The
FLIR scope has a simple four-button design. The menu lets you adjust
zoom in one click and all other settings in three clicks or less. The
ATN scope, although slightly more complicated, was quickly mastered.
Zeroing
our thermal scopes took a little practice. We stapled chemical hand
warmer packets to targets to provide a strong heat signature. It soon
became apparent we were not going to be shooting for sub-minute-of-angle
groups. Still, our 1.5- to 3-inch groups were easily close enough to
enable reliable kills out to 100 yards.
Rounding out the perfect predator package
Constantly
looking through the thermal scope mounted to the rifle can be very
tiring. Plus, constant operation quickly consumes battery life. A FLIR Scout IIthermal
night vision camera, which is held like a monocular, was an excellent
solution for keeping near-constant eyes on fields when the coyote calls
were playing or in spotting and stalking feeding hogs in the dark. These
units start at $1,999.
We used a couple of Johnny Stewart electronic calls. For more prolonged setups, the more elaborate Johnny Stewart Bloodhound,
which came with 50 preloaded calls and a wireless remote with a range
out to 200 yards, was ideal. The big omni-directional speaker had rabbit
squeals and coyote pup distress calls blasting across the farms. For
closer quarters or running and gunning maneuvers, the smaller Attractor Max, with 10 preloaded go-to coyote calls and a wireless remote operating up to 50 yards, was the ticket.
Carrying gear and ammo, and setting up comfortably and quietly, are critical to predator hunting. Tenzing’s new TZ PP15 Predator Pack,
weighing just 7.5 pounds, filled the bill. What makes this pack
extremely versatile and reliable are the quick deploying, adjustable,
spring-loaded legs and fold-down seat. You can set up anywhere. The pack
has an internal aluminum frame with padded backrest, a rear daypack,
detachable front pockets and removable electronics/camera case mounts.
Totaled up, nearly 2,200 cubic inches of storage is spread across 23
inside pockets and compartments.
Finally, delivering lead on target is the ultimate goal. Winchester Ammunition’s Varmint X
loads are designed for everything from prairie dogs to coyotes and
bobcats. They’re polymer-tipped, and the lead core has an alloy jacket
engineered for fragmentation. While you’re not necessarily hunting at
long range at night, having ammunition that achieves rapid expansion
helps with the task at hand — namely planting varmints where they stand.
Varmint X loads for the .223 have 40- and 55-grain bullet options. Summary
Seasoned
night warriors likely will have plenty of their own ideas about what’s
desirable for nocturnal predator and varmint hunting. One key
consideration, especially if you plan on doing a lot of hog shooting, is
looking at rifles chambered for bigger calibers. Many modern sporting
rifles are now available in .308 Winchester. As you evaluate thermal
optics, verify if they’ve been tested and rated for firearms at these
higher calibers. You want the optic’s sensitive electronics to withstand
pounding recoil.
Obviously, do some homework and check out new
products and reviews. Personally examining and comparing units is the
best option, if possible. Also, because thermal optics are expensive,
look at the provided warranties and company track records of service.
Finally,
if you’re serious about predator and varmint shooting, or you expect to
be routinely protecting farms and ranches against these unwanted
nighttime visitors, buy the highest resolution you can afford. Enhanced
clarity and functionality, and corresponding opportunities for success,
will be the reward.
Ruger’s just-introduced Precision Rifle is an all-new, in-line recoil path, bolt-action rifle that’s highly configurable. In production now, the Ruger Precision Rifle is available in .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .243 Winchester.
Jon Mather, who designed the rifle, goes over its features in the video below.
The Ruger Precision Rifle is available in three models: No. 18001 is
in .308 Win. with a 1:10 twist, 20-inch barrel weighing, 9.7 pounds.
No. 18005 is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 1:8 twist, 24-inch barrel that weighs 10.6 pounds.
The third option is No. 18010, which has a .243 Win. chamber. The
barrel has a 1:7.7 twist and is 26 inches long. It weighs 11.0 pounds.
Suggested retail for all three chamberings is $1399.
Too often, buying an over-the-counter rifle like this includes
dealing with a sucky trigger that needs to be replaced for extra cost
and trouble. The company has solved this by including a Ruger Marksman
Adjustable trigger that is externally adjustable, with a pull weight
range of 2.25 to 5.0 pounds. The hex wrench to make pull-weight
adjustment is stored in the bolt shroud, as is a bolt disassembly tool
for accessing the striker and striker channel.
The Ruger Precision Rifle incorporates an in-line recoil path
directly from the rear of the receiver to the buttstock, eliminating the
need for traditional bedding or a “chassis” system, and provides
maximum accuracy potential by simplifying the rifle’s response to
recoil.
The Ruger Precision MSR stock is adjustable for length of pull and
comb height. While easily adjusted, the length of pull and comb height
changes lock solidly in place and will not move while firing.
The stock also features multiple QD sling attachment points, a bottom
Picatinny rail for monopod attachment, and a soft rubber buttpad. The
left-folding stock hinge (which provides access to the bolt) is attached
to an AR-style buffer tube and accepts AR-style stocks.
The Ruger Precision Rifle features a Multi-Magazine Interface, a
patent-pending system that functions interchangeably with side-latching
M110/SR25/DPMS/Magpul magazines and front-latching AI-style magazines.
Two 10-round Magpul PMAG magazines are shipped with each rifle.
The free-floated barrel is cold hammer-forged from 4140 chrome-moly
steel, and features 5R rifling for minimum bullet upset. The rifle is
specified with minimum bore and groove dimensions, minimum headspace,
and a centralized chamber. The medium-contour barrel (0.75 inch
diameter at the muzzle) features a thread protector over 5/8”-24
threads, allowing easy fitting of muzzle accessories such as sound
suppressors. Barrels can be replaced using AR-style wrenches and
headspace gauges.
The Ruger Precision Rifle’s upper receiver and one-piece bolt are
CNC-machined from pre-hardened 4140 chrome-moly steel to minimize
distortion.
The three-lug bolt with 70-degree throw features dual cocking cams
and a full-diameter bolt body. An oversized bolt handle is fitted for
positive bolt manipulation and features 5/16”- 24 threads in case you
want to change it.
The lower receiver is CNC-machined from aerospace-grade 7075-T6
aluminum forging and is Type III hard-coat anodized for maximum
durability. The magazine well front is contoured for a positive grip or
for bracing against shooting supports.
Up top, the rifle sports a 20-MOA Picatinny rail secured with four #8-40 screws for increased long-range elevation capabilities.
The Ruger Precision Rifle can be configured with AR-style grips,
safety selectors, and handguards. The rifle is equipped with a Ruger
extended trigger-reach AR-style grip, a left-side, 45-degree safety
selector, and a Samson Evolution Keymod handguard.
A short section of Picatinny rail is provided that will accept a bipod, and a QD sling cup also is included. Ruger has ceased allowing any third party shipments. Unfortunately, Cheaper Than Dirt! does not carry Ruger at this time.
The
PF-9 is a semi-automatic, locked breech pistol, chambered for the 9mm
Luger cartridge. It has been developed from our highly successful P-11
and P-3AT pistols with maximum concealability in mind. The PF-9 has a
single stack magazine holding 7 rounds. It is one of the lightest and
flattest 9 mm ever made. Firing mechanism is Double-Action Only with an
automatic hammer block safety. The PF-9 is available in blued,
parkerized, and hard chrome finishes. Grips are in black, grey, and
olive drab. The
PF-9 retains the best features from our P-11 and P-3AT pistols combined
into the flattest and lightest single stack 9mm configuration ever
made. The barrel, locking system, slide stop, assembly pin, front sight,
recoil springs and guide rod are adapted from the P-11. The PF-9 is
nearly identical to the P-11 in length and height and shares the same
exterior controls. The shorter trigger system with integral hammer block
and the extraction system are adapted from the P-3AT. Just like the
P-11, the PF-9 will accept +P ammunition, however, not with continuous
use.
The rear sight is a new design and is adjustable for windage with
the supplied allen wrench as well as for elevation with the use of shims
(not included). The included 7 round rectangular magazine is supplied
with a finger extension base plate and numbered holes. The under barrel
accessory rail shares the dimensions of the MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rail
although there is only one locking notch in the forward position.
