Rifles

The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of an unprecedented treaty regulating the global arms trade. Only the U.S. and Zimbabwe voted against it. U.S.-based gun groups point out that an Obama administration would likely not oppose such a treaty for the first time.

Sturm, Ruger & Company has announced an “Inaugural Special” for Mini-14 20-round magazines that runs through Inauguration Day.

WASHINGTON — A story on USA Today's website by Ken Dilanian leads with an anecdote that might surprise many gun-rights proponents:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Para USA has announced plans to consolidate its manufacturing, assembly and warehousing in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

The first thing we noticed was this was a very light rifle. Without scope it weighed under 5 pounds. The second thing we noted was the recoil pad was excellent, a model for the rest of the industry. The straight Kevlar/carbon fiber stock was dark gray in color and had enough of a pebble-like surface that checkering wasn’t needed, even when wet. There were no visible parting lines on the stock, and the barrel, though free floated, was so close to the stock it was not easy to see the separation.The action was like a small pre-’64 Model 70 Winchester compete with cone-shaped breech, controlled feed, and positive ejection.

Semi-automatic carbines have become enormously popular. Applications range from law enforcement and home defense to competitive target shooting and hunting. The most popular platform is the AR15-based weapon chambered for 223 Remington. But if you visit your local shooting range, you will find AR-style carbines, circa the 1960s, shooting alongside historical battle-rifle actions made popular in the 1940s. For this evaluation we acquired three different solutions to the self-defense rifle equation, mixing midrange and top-of-category power choices with 6.8s and 308s. In the AR15 platform, we started with a 308 Winchester-chambered Armalite AR10 A4C carbine, $1502. Against that bigger, but still familiar, design, we pitted a similarly-familiar M1A variant in the form of Springfield Armorys $2090 Socom II AA9627 with black fiberglass stock. To this mix we added a midrange-power 6.8mm Remington SPC Ruger KMini-6.8/5P, $894.

Semi-automatic carbines have become enormously popular. Applications range from law enforcement and home defense to competitive target shooting and hunting. The most popular platform is the AR15-based weapon chambered for 223 Remington. But if you visit your local shooting range, you will find AR-style carbines, circa the 1960s, shooting alongside historical battle-rifle actions made popular in the 1940s. For this evaluation we acquired three different solutions to the self-defense rifle equation, mixing midrange and top-of-category power choices with 6.8s and 308s. In the AR15 platform, we started with a 308 Winchester-chambered Armalite AR10 A4C carbine, $1502. Against that bigger, but still familiar, design, we pitted a similarly-familiar M1A variant in the form of Springfield Armorys $2090 Socom II AA9627 with black fiberglass stock. To this mix we added a midrange-power 6.8mm Remington SPC Ruger KMini-6.8/5P, $894.

This month, Gun Tests continues its ongoing series of AR-15 accessories, looking at one of the first items gun owners look to replace after purchase: the OEM version pistol grip. The handle supplied as standard equipment by most gun manufacturers is an undersized, hollow piece of hard plastic that affords little in handling, comfort, or utility. We looked at four contenders who offered their versions to improve on this design. All of them succeeded in besting that lower standard, but we set our sights much higher in identifying the best of the bunch.The AR-15 is an extremely versatile shooting platform, varying from short-barreled close quarter defense models, to long-barreled target and varmint rifles. These configurations radically change the weight, balance, and ergonomics required for each application. This is becoming even more complex as new technology is employed in its use.We now have red dot, holographic, laser, illuminated reticle, and night vision sights. Lights with Xenon and LED technology, some now featuring strobe capabilities, are all being mounted on the AR, and thats just in the civilian market. All of this new gadgetry has couple of things in common: A need for spare parts and power. So now we not only need proper ergonomics to balance and handle our guns, but to also to act as storage areas for all our batteries and other spares. Oh, and it should look really cool too.With these parameters in mind we began to evaluate our four contenders for grip supremacy. We took two pistol grips that were of the one-piece variety from Ergo Grip and Tapco, and compared them to modular designs from Command Arms and Magpul. We found some strengths and weaknesses in all them, and the way in which you utilize your weapon could directly affect your buying decision.Our test products included the Command Arms UPG16, $40, a modular unit that came with three front and three rear grip panels. Next was the Ergo Grip AR15/M16 Grip Kit Suregrip 4005SBK, $24, which comes with an overmolded rubber hide. Next up was the Magpul MIAD Basic Grip, $36, or Full Grip, $46, with Accessory Grip Cores, $15. The MIAD is an acronym for "Mission Adaptable" and features accessories for specific uses. Last was the Tapco SAW-Style Grip No. STK09201, $20, part of Tapcos Fusion Series of AR15 furniture.

The FBI presented these data in the 2007 edition of Crime in the United States, a statistical compilation of offense and arrest data as reported by law enforcement agencies throughout the nation.

Earlier this year, the courts slapped down San Francisco's voter-approved initiative to ban the sale and possession of firearms, calling the proposition unlawful. Gun-owning residents, the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups, cheered.

The coolest and costliest gun in our test provided the best overall accuracy, although it just missed the claimed “1/2 inch MOA or better” guarantee. Each gun is built to order, so you can pick and choose the options you prefer to lower the price, but southpaws should request something other than the right-handed pistol grip normally provided.

Brownells has released its new AR-15 Catalog #3 with 76 pages of accessories, parts, tools and supplies dedicated to the popular semi-auto rifle. The book includes 595 new products which brings the total number of available AR-15 accessories to more than 2,000, plus almost 400 factory parts.