Special Purpose

The R-55 rimfire has been a retail home run for Thompson Center since its introduction at the turn of the current century. The Benchmark Classic is the Cadillac version of the R-55 platform with an 18-inch stainless steel bull barrel, with a wide-mouthed target crown, threaded to the steel receiver.

The Benchmark Classic has the looks and features of a target gun, but the sling swivel studs and 'all weather' marketing label are apparent gestures to the hunting market.

Sabre Defence Industries, LLC, a government contractor for the manufacture of machine gun parts and accessories and commercial XR15 rifles, has been awarded an IDIQ contract for a minimum of 4,952 M16A3 and 702 M16A4 rifles to support the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and foreign military customers.

Mossberg’s 930 Home Security model autoloading shotgun has a new cousin: the SPX, distinguished by its 18.5 inch cylinder-bore barrel, 7-round capacity extended magazine tube (plus one in the chamber) and LPA ghost ring rear sight and winged fiber optic sight.

The Model 457 is one of the oldest remaining products in the Smith & Wesson catalog. Also available with a matte stainless finish (model number 457S), this design is closely related to the "Second Generation" pistols that were popular with law enforcement when semi-automatics first replaced the revolver. What we liked best about the 457 was the way it lined up in our hands.

The distance between the face of the trigger and the rear of the grip was just right, even when the trigger was in its rearward position for single-action fire. The plastic grip looked and felt like it was part of the aluminum frame. The seven round magazines included a basepad with a pinky rest, so even those shooters with the largest hands were satisfied.

The only synthetic model in our four-gun selection, the black polymer stock and forearm of the Benelli earned favorable marks from our team. This shotgun is made for rugged, dependable use in harsh conditions. We could find no fault in that design and functioning ability.Some of the smaller members of our team were slightly uncomfortable with the bulk of the forearm and found the Benelli to be a little muzzle heavy.

Brian Marvin, former president of Heckler & Koch USA Defense, has accepted the newly-created position of senior vice president — US and international military and law wnforcement enforcement markets at Remington Arms Co.

Senate Bill 184, Ohio’s “Castle Doctrine” legislation, recently passed out of the State Senate by a vote of 25 to 7. This legislation now heads to the governor for his signature.

…The course, International Air Pistol, is offered through the same department as physical education courses, such as boxing and fencing, and teaches students of all majors the fundamentals of safe handgun use following both National Rifle Association and Ohio laws. Students are introduced to the sport through classroom training and shooting-range application.

…If it receives final approval at the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 's, any breech-loading, single-fire rifle of a caliber exceeding .35 caliber and having an exposed hammer will be legal during what used to be a season restricted to muzzle-loading firearms and archery equipment.

…A step was taken this week toward securing a $5.4 million funding authorization for Remington Arms, which the company would reportedly use to upgrade the Army's cache of 3,000 M-24 sniper rifles. Remington Arms already builds the majority of M-24 rifles the Army uses, and provides the replacement parts, Remington Vice President of Firearms Manufacturing Joe Gross said.

Columnist Walter Williams, professor of economics at George Mason University, recently wrote on Republican American online: Every time there's a highly publicized shooting, out go the cries for stricter gun-control laws, and it was no different with the recent slaying of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, in a letter to the state congressional delegation demanding re-enactment of the federal assault-weapon ban, said, 'Passing this legislation will go a…

Maj. Mike Anti of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Beki Snyder (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Libby Callahan (Columbia, S.C.), Jason Turner (Rochester, N.Y.) and Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski of the USAMU all qualified for spots on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team today at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Shooting (Smallbore). …