 Break open revolvers have been a design challenge for firearm manufacturers since the the late 18th Century, posing safety and rigidity issues, but North American Arms seems to have cracked it with the new 22MC-BTII. Several years in development, the gen one was released circa 2011 and proved too costly to manufacture and still remain commercially viable. Then in 2015 NAA decided - by popular demand - to revisit the design, simplify the mechanism and finally bring it back to market this past year for a very reasonable MSRP of $479(22Mag) - $575 (22Mag/22LR Convertible). That may sound pricey compared to your average polymer pocket pistol, but these little gems have no rival on the market and are a must for revolver aficionados and fans of the historic Schofield of yore. The star ejector makes these infinitely more practical than the standard MAA mini and probably a tad quicker to reload than the Sidewinder. Now it'd be great if they offered a few barrel lengths as their inherent accuracy would allow for tackle box and trail carry. These are among the jewels of the firearm industry. Ed.
 The almighty Hoppes Bore Snake Viper: a premium cleaning tool You may be a new gun owner, excited about exercising your right to defend yourself. Maybe you’re a longtime firearms enthusiast who never took a basic class on gun maintenance. Either way, it’s well worth your time to review some basic tips on firearm upkeep and holster care. By taking a few minutes every month to maintain your firearm, you’ll be making sure that you and your weapon will be ready for any threat that presents itself.
Gun Cleaning All firearms should be cleaned and lubricated right after use if possible. If you’re using your firearm regularly, you may be able to get away with cleaning it less often, but don’t make a habit of it. When cleaning a pistol or other firearm, make sure to work in a safe, well-lit, and well-ventilated place. You can learn more about the specifics of cleaning and lubricating your gun here. Gun Storage Your key goals when storing firearms is to choose a method of storage that keeps thieves from stealing, maintains a level of protection for the firearm, and ensures that the weapon will not be fired accidentally. Of course, always make sure the weapon is unloaded to ensure proper storage. Basic Holster Care Tips There are many materials used to make holsters these days, including leather, nylon, and kydex. Whatever material your holster is made out of, it’s no secret that a badly worn holster can damage or scratch a gun. You’ll want to take extra time to make holster care and maintenance a basic part of your firearm maintenance routine. Leather Holster Care Leather holsters, while a time-honored way to carry firearms, are arguably the hardest holsters to maintain. These holsters are notorious for trapping moisture and every gun owner knows that excessive moisture is a natural enemy for a well-functioning firearm. The key to the maintenance of a leather holster is proper conditioning. The good news is that the same leather conditioner used on belts, shoes, and other clothing can be used on holsters. Whichever conditioner you choose, make sure it cleans but does not soften the leather. Once you’ve chosen your materials, the process is simple. Just use a rag and a small amount of the conditioner on both sides of the holster about once monthly. Then, remove with a small amount of warm water and allow the belt to dry in the open air. Any excessive heat or cold could warp the leather. Another key to owning a leather holster is stretching it to fit the leather. There are many methods for breaking in a leather holster to fit your firearm including the wax paper method. Nylon Holster Care Nylon holsters and other synthetic holsters are a bit easier to maintain than leather. Like leather, a soft cloth with mild soap can be used for a general cleaning. Also, make sure not to submerge the holster completely in any liquids or chemicals. Air dry thoroughly, not exposing the holster to any excessive heat or cold. All that should be pretty familiar to those who have owned and treated a leather holster before. Unlike leather, you don’t need to use any fancy conditioners to make sure the holster breathes and doesn’t trap moisture. Kydex Holster Care Not everyone is aware of this holster option, but Kydex holsters are a synthetic material like nylon. It’s a material that has been exploding in popularity recently, and for good reason. The advantage of Kydex is that it can be molded to fit any shape, so rather than having a one-size-fits-all holster, the holster can be custom fit to your weapon, making it instantly more accessible for quick draws and, ultimately, safer. Kydex holster care is more or less similar to nylon holster care. Just use a mild soap and cloth to clean without submerging in liquids or exposing the holster to excessive heat. Firearm Maintenance | An Important Part of Responsible Ownership The last thing you want is to be confronted with an immediate threat and have your weapon fail on you. It’s important for all gun owners to be educated on proper maintenance of weapons and their accessories, because it’s an integral part of having a reliable weapon. Make no mistake — if you take care of your firearm and its accessories, it will most certainly take care of you. About the Author: Brian Claywell is a freelance writer and blogger based in Austin, Texas. With a love for hunting, hiking, and the great outdoors in general, he spends much of his time writing outside. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at his local shooting range.  Getting into Python territory, the new Taurus 692 multi-caliber revolver is a fearsome looking beast that'd be right at home in the wilds of Alaska or anywhere else that ammo is available on a grab-it-when-you-see-it basis. Handsome, hefty and helpful in a face off with a badass bruin, this is what I'd be wanting to carry if heading into the wild! This from their website: The 7-shot Taurus 692 Multi-Caliber revolver is designed for reliable everyday carry with its 3-inch barrel, and also offers a range-friendly option in the 6-1/2-inch model. Both size variations offer the ability to change the caliber from 38 Special +P/357 Magnum, to 9mm Luger with a simple swap of the cylinder. This DA/SA revolver features a seven round capacity, making it an ideal companion for personal and home defense as well as simply shooting more rounds at the range. The 692 revolver has adjustable rear sights, spurred hammer and Taurus’ Ribber Grip® that aids in accuracy. The ported barrel manages recoil for quicker target re-acquisition. Stellar clips are provided with each revolver.
Model: 2-692069 Finish: Matte Stainless Steel Status: Available Caliber: 9mm/38/357 Grips: Ribber Grip UPC: 7-25327-61599-6 Capacity: 7 Weight: 45.85 oz Barrel Length: 6-1/2" Height: 5.66" Width: 1.53" Action: DA/SA Front Sight: Fixed Length: 11.64" Safety: Transfer Bar Order #: 2-692069 MSRP: $659.00 Rear Sight: Adjustable  In keeping with a longstanding European proclivity for (and comprehension of the advantages of) low bore axis, Archon Firearms (formerly Arsenal Firearms USA) out of Las Vegas is poised to release their Archon Type-B (top left in the array above). "Developed in Italy, manufactured in the European Union, and designed specifically to fulfill the preferences and highest expectations of the U.S. market, the Type B represents a new class of compact, polymer grip, striker-fired handgun, and features an extremely low bore axis and unique recoil-reducing mechanical design boasting improved accuracy over conventional pistols. A number of features preferred by American shooters–which would typically require expensive customization–have been integrated into the Type B’s design." It's against our rules to release news of an item prior to being available to the consumer, but we ARE excited about this one and from the photos it looks like it comes with the holy grail....4 mags! Tell me I'm not wrong. By the way the Kalashnikov is sadly not available for purchase in the US (um...perhaps something to do with US/Russian relations), the Pardini is a premium priced Italian target pistol that can shoot the spots of a ladybird and is about as rare as hen's teeth, and the Steyr is an outstanding Austrian pistol available in large, medium and compact sizes from Steyr Mannlicher and designed by Friedrich Aigner and Wilhelm Bubits in 1999 -- it IS available in the US though you have to hunt around a bit to find one. As the other three are highly rated we can dare to expect the Archon Type-B will qualify as the 4th horse. It certainly looks cool. Ed.
CCI recently released this interesting addition to their 22LR stable of rimfire ammunition, see the screenshot from their website below, Ed. 
Apparently they don't work in all auto's and pumps (you'll need to try yours to see if it does or not) but they work great in break-open shotguns for busting clays with less report and recoil. Cool idea. Ed.
12 GAUGE MINISHELL / 7-1/2, 8, 9 THERE’S NOTHING MINI ABOUT ITS PERFORMANCE. The perfect option for anyone new to competition clay shooting, our mini-shotshell offers less recoil and a quiet report. We are proud to be the only producer of a shotshell this size. Available in 7 ½ shot. 12 GAUGE MINISHELL / BUCKSHOT MINISHELL MEETS MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE. Our 1 ¾” Minishell nearly doubles the capacity of shotguns. We are the only manufacturer offering the Minishell buckshot for hunting or defense purposes. The pellets of this 4B(7p) 1B (4p) buckshot travel at 1,200 ft/sec. 12 GAUGE MINISHELL / SLUG ENGINEERED GREATNESS. Our 1 ¾” Minishell nearly doubles the capacity of shotguns. The 25-gram slug travels at 1,250 ft/sec and delivers less recoil for faster target acquisition.  New for 2018, Smith & Wesson have added threaded barrel 9MM and 45ACP versions to their 2.0 line. MSRP is $599 with online prices ranging from $470-$540. We look forward to some video reviews on functionality and usability. Ed. From the S&W website:
To further build out the capabilities of the M&P platform, the M&P9 and M&P45 M2.0 pistols are now available with a threaded barrel for use with suppressors. In addition to the threaded barrel, these pistols also include suppressor-height white dot sights, a barrel thread protector, and the popular M&P M2.0 feature set. Features • Low barrel bore axis makes the M&P pistol comfortable to shoot reducing muzzle rise and allowing for faster aim recovery. • Proven optimal 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim. • Four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts for optimal hand fit and trigger reach - S, M, ML, L. • Aggressive grip texture for enhanced control. • New M&P M2.0 crisp trigger with lighter trigger pull. • Tactile and audible trigger reset. • Accurate 1 in 10” twist M&P M2.0 barrel. • Extended rigid embedded stainless steel chassis to reduce flex and torque when firing. • Armornite® durable corrosion resistant finish.  From their website:
The CERBERUS is not just a flashlight, but so much more! It is a true visual-disruption device that integrates with your handgun. Nearly ten years of working directly with the Army, Navy, and Marines lead to the specifications and parameters that CERBERUS offers you. It inflicts your target with overwhelming visual interruption, giving you the precious time needed to react and prepare for the situation at hand. CERBERUS also simultaneously provides you a clear "go / no-go" for the potential need to escalate force. As an extra bonus, CERBERUS does indeed provide the operator extreme operational illumination (far better than most handgun flashlights) . There are many pistol flashlights available, most even strobe, but NONE of those meet the US Military requirements for effective power-density (mW/cm2), nor the proper wavelength and hertz to accomplish what the DoD has specified and required to achieve "credible glare" - the military's term for visual disruption. The measure of "lumens" is often misleading to buyers, and is completely irrelevant to the ability to provide military grade credible-glare. Lumens is only a measure of emitted light in all directions. A flashlight with much higher lumens can be half (or less) effective than the CERBERUS for true visual-disruption. Power-density per surface-area (the way you measure a laser) is the only true way to determine sufficient photo-energy to overload the human retina, and wash-out the target's vision. CERBERUS is the only product in existence available to the public that combines all the military requirements for a visual-disruption non-lethal escalation of force determination tool. CERBERUS is protected by US and International Patents. You may have noticed that CERBERUS has primarily green energy emitters. The reason for this is tied directly to the military specifications. The specific wavelength output of CERBERUS matches the DoD requirement for maximum inter-ocular sensitivity. However, depth-perception and color-recognition are diminished in a fully monochromatic environment, so the white emitter blends the perfect additional peripheral wavelengths for the operator to see colors and maintain depth-perception. This is what allows CERBERUS to also be one of the most effective pistol flashlights as well as the best non-lethal visual-disruption device. http://www.civilianwarfighter.com |
the afd blog
Previews and reviews on newly available items are written-up by our team as quickly as we can find them. Please let us know if we've missed something debuting on the market. As a firearm enthusiast or an AFD listed company you are welcome to submit a blog entry about a new product. You may also submit a firearm related commentary, idea or nostalgic musing: we like things celebratory of American ingenuity and manufacturing. All entries are subject to editing and/or fact-checking. Archives
April 2023
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