A Crimean coincidence or 5.45x39mm is rumored to have been banned by the ATF

It all started with a Facebook post from the infamous James Yeager.......

And by this afternoon, the panic had set in.  Military surplus 5.45x39mm has been flying off of the shelves (though I have a bit, I bought some more myself).  The formidable hivemind at Ar15.com researched the hell out of this.  One guy even called the BATFE and confirmed what folks were saying; that apparently once some, anyone builds a "pistol" (AR or AK pistol in this case) that can shoot imported steel core ammunition or "Armor Piercing", that steel core ammunition will be banned.  You see, that's part of the "for sporting purposes only" language in the Second Amendment, folks.  The BATFE is operating on some sort of reality distortion field where steel core ammo made in the US is fine but imported steel core ammo is evil......

  Copes confirmed the sad reality of this as did AIMSurplus (both posting on AR15.com).

  Reports abounded like the below:

AIM sold 440 cans within 1/2 hr. 

USAC, who claims to be the retail arm of a major importer, had well over 1500 tins listed this morning and now show out of stock.

  

Folks, this is bad.  The non-logic of this hurts the head.  I can name at least one good dude (a friend) who was planning to build a small business around 5.45x39mm AR15s.  Ask yourself "what is the point of this?  Is it not just a back door towards disallowing more firearms and ammunition to the American people?"

I know it sounds paranoid but I don't think this happening on the wake of the Crimean crisis is a coincidence......  However, following the letter of the law as seen below, the BATFE is technically right except, did anyone tell them that 5.45x39 is .21 caliber?

(B) The term “armor piercing ammunition” means—

(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or (ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.

The prohibition that this definition applies to is:

It shall be unlawful:

(7) for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, unless--(A) the manufacture of such ammunition is for the use of the United States, any department or agency of the United States, any State, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of a State;(B) the manufacture of such ammunition is for the purpose of exportation; or(C) the manufacture or importation of such ammunition is for the purpose of testing or experimentation and has been authorized by the Attorney General;(8) for any manufacturer or importer to sell or deliver armor piercing ammunition, unless such sale or delivery--(A) is for the use of the United States, any department or agency of the United States, any State, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of a State;(B) is for the purpose of exportation; or(C) is for the purpose of testing or experimentation and has been authorized by the Attorney General;

Right now, AR15.com is on a witch hunt to see which genius manufacturer "manufactured" a 5.45x39mm pistol and have zeroed in on JBI Armory, who sure enough advertises 5.45x39mm and 7.62x39mm "pistols."  

AR-10 or maybe an AR-15 in hands of "Crimean militiaman" or Russian soldier in Crimea

Photo from Yahoo News.  Looks like a Magpul CTR stock,  maybe (just maybe) an Atlas bipod, and a Hogue grip along with a suppressor, and presumably, a good scope with a sexy sunshade because chicks dig sunshades.  Note the Magpul baseplate on the PMAG.

Net:net; dude either knows his kit, his chain of command does, or.....we know him on the gun forums!

LWRC acquired by Colt

Told ya so in November.

Interesting and kinda sad twist:  This development that has been in the works since last fall is now being attributed by F&D Defense as an effort by LWRC's owner and shareholders to avoid F&D's lawsuit.  A direct quote from F&D's front page of their web site.

LWRCI has moved to sale ownership of its company on the heels of revelations that F&D is the actual inventor of its flagship Intellectual Property which is incorporated into its M6-IC, M6-IC-SPR, M6A2, M6A2 SPR, M6-SL, PSD, M6.8-A2, M6.8-SPR, M6.8-UCIW, and REPR rifles, enabling its piston system to function properly.

F&D had a contentious relationship with the rest of the precision rifle world long before this little announcement.  Their staff would get on SnipersHide forums and honestly make the rest of the world run away from their products and company through their immature tone and willingness to not take the high road but rather to squabble in an adolescent fashion, usually after one of their rifles did not shoot that well as reported by an independent tester.  Most of their worst tiffs have been disappeared, no doubt related to the current lawsuit in which it's reported that the owner of F&D is representing himself.  

What could possibly go wrong?

More on the Colt buying LWRC rumor

Discussion at ARF

Texas State Troopers switching to S&W M&P 9mm

  Source.  They're switching over from a .357 SIG Sig-Sauer.  I cannot tell you if this was influenced by our discussion at Pistol-Forum regarding law enforcement agencies switching back to 9mm for ammunition costs and longer pistol service life :)

  One can only wonder what data might emerge regarding whether or not the 9mm M&P's well documented accuracy problems past 15 yards has been fixed by S&W.

Terminal Lance hits the big screen

  So, there's this online humor and cartoon web site about the Marine Corps called Terminal Lance.  The author was a "Terminal Lance" or Lance Corporal (E3) that never picked up Corporal (E4).

  Anyway, especially for we grunts; Terminal Lance is funny but sometimes hits pretty close to home on all of the utter bullshit Marines put up with.  Dependapotamuses, haircuts (Marines have to have the sides of their heads shaved every week), and just silly, asinine games played by the leadership are what author of the cartoon hits upon.

  Anyway, young Marines new to the Corps sometimes get a little silly with the Marine Corps oriented tattoos and Terminal Lance decided to have a little fun with that.

  And....fast forward to the new Schwarzenegger flick called Sabotage.  In it, there's a dude sporting the tatt.  You can't make shit like this up.

  Anyway, if you dug this story and Terminal Lance's work, buy his book, and help put a combat vet through college!

Long slide Glock 41 .45ACP

  Just about here.....  Finally, a "Practical/Tactical Glock .45 ACP ala the Glock 34 and 35.  The Model 42 will be in .380, quite possible single stack.  A longslide 10mm would probably sell but no rumors on that.

Remember the rumor on Colt buying LWRC?

  Rumor has it that Colt is doing it for the manufacturing space......

  That might explain why Colt has abandoned plans for a factory in Florida.

Another unsubstantiated rumor

  Beretta might be moving to Florida.

Colt is buying LWRCI

That's the rumor, folks.   We will know for sure in about a month.

One gunshop commando

One Gunshop Commando to rule them all, One Gunshop Commando to find them,  One Gunshop Commando to bring them all and in the darkness bind them 


In the Land of Fauquier County where the gun shop invaders lie.

I should not make fun of a good local gunshop but.....sometimes folks do this to themselves.

In the gun shop in Vint Hill Virginia, the One Gunshop Commando works.

Here is his apparent EDC gear as witnessed multiple times by myself and friends:

•  AIWB (Appendix, Inside Waist Band) Bowie knife of some sort.  Carried without a cover garment.
• Cuffs.
• Baton
• Glock (in a SERPA, of course).  OWB (Outside Waist Band) no cover garment.
• Two extra Glock mags
• Badge, displayed openly.  For a local security company (he calls it a "contractor" but they don't contract overseas.  Not actual law enforcement.
• Extra pocket knife clipped inside pocket
• And.....the piece de resistance:  a wind meter worn hanging around his neck.  You know; for those long distance shots with his Glock when he has to dial some windage.  Duh.

In a manifestation of my Marine-ness, I asked him "why do you wear all of that shit?"  He blustered back with "ever seen a gun store invasion?"  Yeah.....  Words kind of failed me at that point.

I considered taking a picture and actually naming the store outright but I'm not that mean.  Hopefully the guy will get over wearing his entire ensemble and just do his job sans 20 pounds of crap he doesn't need.  If you want to see the spectacle, it's not hard to figure out where this place is.  Try not to point and laugh openly.