gandalf23

Tactical Night Vision Company has a Q5 CREE LED DROP-IN LAMP for Surefire G2, and other Surefire flashlights. Not only an LED conversion, but also seriously ups the brightness (from 90ish to 220ish lumens), throw, and side spill. Looks great, may have to get one for the G2 I have, and at $45 each the price is not unreasonable.

Also they make a TX-4 CONVERSION HEAD for Surefire’s Millennium Weapon lights, like the one I posted about the other day. Converts it to an LED, and ups the lumens from 120 to 600ish! Holy crap! Also significantly increases both throw (distance the beam goes) and spill (the width) so it’s good outdoors and indoors. It actually may be too bright, as I’d imagine the reflection off interior (whitish) walls would be intense to the user. It’s $150ish for the one that will fit the M952 light I posted about, but man, what an upgrade!

EDITED TO ADD:
Deal Extreme has a Fire Kylin 962 Xenon 400-Lumen HA-III Flashlight with Gun Mount (2*CR123A) for $102 with free shipping, which is supposedly the same flashlight and mount as the Surefire 962. Apparently they are having them made in China and just assemble them here Of course, that means you can get the same thing for $102 new, instead of $457 if that’s true.

And here is a LED drop in replacement over at DE for the G2 light, Cree R2 Drop-In 1-Mode LED Module (3.7V~18V / 26.5mm x 29mm) for $8.45! Wow.

Longmountain Outfitters has Surefire M952 weapon lights, with pressure switch and ARMS mount, for $125

It’s $125, but new they run $457!

Here’s Surefire’s page on the light:

“Specifications

* Tactical-level output with compact reflector for interior and close-range applications
* Switches—Momentary-on tape (7″ cable), momentary/constant-on pushbutton
* Mounting system— Throw-lever, fits Picatinny rails
* Construction—High-strength aerospace aluminum with Mil-Spec anodizing; impact-resistant polymer; coated tempered window
* Weatherproof—O-ring and gasket sealed”

I realize it’s more expensive than a $40 Surefire G2 and a one inch scope ring, but it’s supposed to be an excellent light designed to withstand abuse and specifically built to be mounted on a rifle or shotgun.

Jegs Win a Camaro SS (or $20,000 cash) contest

20k would pay off my car, buy a beater truck, and still have enough for some fun toys.

Hmm…but which fun toys? A wire EDM? Or a Mac-10? Decisions, decisions.

Texas turns 174 today! Happy Birthday!

So you may have noticed the ads from Zazzle over on the right of the page. I don’t get much from them, only when t-shirts or bumperstickers or whatever that I’ve designed are sold. There is some way to set it up so that if you were to click on Zazzle from my site and buy something someone else made then I get a cut but either I can’t figure it out, or no one ever does that

Anyway, I just checked my account. After 2ish years I’ve made $166.66, not getting rich off this by any means

But I did find it interesting what, of mine anyway, has sold, so here’s the breakdown:

So you can see what I’ve made, and what has sold, and what Zazzle has made. Kinda interesting to me that the Snob T-Shirt still sells. And the “Miss me yet?” bumpersticker that I made two weeks ago seems to be selling well. Hmmm..perhaps I should make a t-shirt out of it?

The [not available] one was a t-shirt I made saying that we wanted John McClane and got instead John McCain, with pictures of Bruce Willis and John McCain on it. For some reason Zazzle pulled it from sale. They also pulled from sale my t-shirt of the iconic picture of Che Guevera with a bullet hole in his forehead and some blood dripping out. Said it was copyrighted, when the photographer was Cuban, in Cuba, and Cuba is not a signatory on any copyright treaties as they don’t believe in them! Oh well.

At least Zazzle does send me the occasional check. Right when Google was set to send me a check as I’d finally reached $100 is google ad revenue, they flaked out and I have not received a dime from them. I probably should take the google ads off my site now since they don;t seem to work right anyway. Just been lazy, I guess.

Which is one of my favorite 80s songs

“I’ve got your picture of me and you
You wrote “I love you” I wrote “me too”
I sit there staring and there’s nothing else to do
Oh it’s in color Your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel And soft as clouds
I often kiss you when there’s no one else around

Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
(think so think so think so)
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so“

Looks like there is also a conversion for the 10/22 to make it look like a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.

Tactical Image Guys are the ones building them. It appears that they are cutting out an airsoft m249 to fit the 10/22 rifle. And it looks like the airsoft m249s are about half the cost of the kit. hmmmm….

A&K M249 MKII Airsoft SAW Machine Gun $259.95

Spring M249 MKII Full Scale SAW Machine Gun Flashlight, Bipod, Full Stock Airsoft Gun X-M249 $39.95 On Sale! (although this one is bound to be cheap plastic and not look as good or be as readily modifiable as the other one)

M1 Carbine Ruger 10/22 Tribute Kit

“The M1 Carbine 10/22 Tribute Project…

Order/Info 133-1022 M1 Replica 10/22 Stock $129
Order/Info 130-48S M1 Carbine Sling with Oiler $19
Order/Info 138-100 TechSights 100 for Ruger 10/22 $54
Order/Info 138-200 TechSights 200 for Ruger 10/22 $69”

Neat!

also Comic book teaches you art of “locksport” (competitive and recreational lock picking)

Neat!

Leftover Valentine’s Chocolate? Use It to Measure the Speed of Light:

“f you’re a long-time reader, you may remember the great leftover Easter Peeps microwave experiment. Well, today we’re going to be nuking leftover Valentine’s Day chocolate to demonstrate one of the constants of physics, the speed of light. Chocolate makes a very appropriate medium, because the heating property of microwaves was first discovered by a scientist whose candy bar melted in his pocket when he got too close to a microwave device being tested for use in radar.

Kathy Ceceri also blogs at Home Physics.“

Finished reading:
Dirty White Boys, Master Sniper, and Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter
The Weapon and Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson
A Desert Called Peace, Caliphate, Carnifex, and The Lotus Eaters by Tom Kratman
Aliens Omnibus vol 1 graphic novel
Aliens vs Predator Omnibus vol 2 graphic novel
Men who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson
Von Neumann’s War by John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor
One Day on Mars by Travis S. Taylor
Live Free or Die by John Ringo

And I’m currently reading Ripples of Battle by Victor David Hansen

And next up:
The Dead @17 graphic novels
maybe reread Stranger in Paradise by Terry Moore
couple of books on machining

still need to read Fast & Fancy revolver shooting, and finish Practical Speed Shooting

Looks good, may have to pick it up.Looks like it is just available at Brownells.

And at the stroke of a pen, 13,000 people are instantly made felons.

from ATI’s post on ar15.com:

“How much more is the replacement going to weigh? Is the finish any better on the new one. Mine chips the paint if you look at it wrong. Will it look the same when installed on the rifle?
The original SD fake suppressor weight .45 LBS (7.2 ounces). The new fake suppressor weight .5 LBS (8 ounces) so there’s not really too much difference in the overall weight. Looking at the new one next to the old one, the finish looks the same. The modification is completely internal, there is no change in the guns appearence with the new fake suppressor.

As it stands right now it is only the SD can that is being effected by the mind changing at ATF.

Another damn delay on getting an SD conversion kit!
Tell me about it

And I am to be responsible to ship it back? I would like you to pick it up
At this time, we would like you to return it to the dealer where you bought it from. That way we can get them in bulk from the dealer and ship replacements to one location. How it gets to your dealer is up to you.

interesting, brings up a couple of questions, wasnt it passed before importation? and what reason do they give?
Yes it was. I even have a letter I’m not allowed to share where they revoked our permits for being approved in error. The brunt of this entire situation is on ATI here, please don’t look for an official letter to be issued to the public by the ATF because I get the feeling they will not.

just curious, what will the replacement shroud look like? will it be the smaller version, or something completely different?
Nope, dead ringers. In fact, the modification can be done at the factory on the original version, which is why we’re not destroying them. Cost saving.

Is there an issue with the carbine models?
Not yet. Doesn’t mean that they won’t change their ruling on that either at this time though.

isnt the carbine and the SD the same thing besides “girth”? i cant see why they would have changed the design without letting ATI know about it…..even thought they already changed the finish
This is the real kick in the groin here is that there has never been an alternate ‘version’ of the fake suppressor. The carbine version was a hollow shroud when it went in for testing, all the guns have hollow cans. Same for the SD. I think what’s bothering me the most is that field agents have told dealers (I have several different accounts of this) that the can was originally solid and that it was altered at some point in time. Sorry fellas but EVERY SINGLE GSG-5 AND GSG-5SD HAS A HOLLOW CAN. It’s the only way they were ever made. Also to pre-empt some questions too, THERE ARE NO APPROVED CANS ON ANY SD THAT IS IN THE COUNTRY. All the new GSG-522 guns, when they come out will have the new style can.

Does the fake can actually reduce the dB ?
Mikey threaded one onto the 5P and shot a bunch of rounds. Nope, there is no noticable change in dB. I don’t think ATF even tested it before revoking our licenses.

I know that “we must comply or else” but seriously, what is the reason behind this? Is it based on potential? Should we stop selling 2 liter colas and baby bottle nipples?
When we met with the ATF about this in january one of their field agents showed us how to make a suppressor out of a bottle of water that was on the table. Granted, we have seen fake cans come in on gun repairs that have definitely been altered and maybe they seized a gun with an altered one, i really don’t know. They contacted us about it way back in November and it’s all been slowly building up, but other than letting us know that we imported over 13 thousand guns that they have now decided are NFA firearms, telling us to formulate a plan for a recall/swap out and sending agents here to monitor our movements on this, they’re not really telling us a whole lot.

Isn’t the end of the barrel even with the muzzle end of the “can”?
Yes, doesn’t matter apparently.

What reason did they give for the can falling under NFA?
Actually, I do have this, kind of, although the wording of the law and their reasons only kind of match up if you squint and tilt your head to the side a bit. Here is what the referenced in their letter regarding the re-testing of the shroud;
“As you are aware, the GCA, 18 USC $ 921 (a) (24), defines ‘firearm silencer’ as follows:
“….any device for silencing, muffling or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.”
General characteristics of known firearm silencers include:

so to me at least, the jury is still out on the issue of whether or not the standard carbine is effected by this as ATI has yet to state that it absolutely is not.
This is accurate. Right now we have to wait to see what ATF tells us to do.

what a bunch of shi+. Doesn’t the ATF have anything better to do than come after firearms owners who own guns that THE ATF APPROVED IN THE FIRST PLACE??
Right on brother.

and HOW long am i gonna be without a can? well, i guess we have to ask when the replacement will be available first…..
Well, that is hard to say. My first shipment of replacment cans is going into US Customs tomorrow. Got about 1500. The manufacturer over seas can pump out a few thousand a month and of course they all have to be paid for. As previously mentioned, unfortunately, all the fine details are not 100% solidified on how we’re doing all of this and what the ATF tells us we can and cannot do. Case in point, the ATF is issuing an amnesty period for consumers but hasn’t decided what that is yet, but we had to go live with the news because of what their field agents are telling store owners. Decisions are coming from the higher up ATF brass but on site execution is being handled by field agents from Buffalo on the local level. Needless to say, lets hope one hand knows what the other is doing.

OK, so this doesn’t make a lot of sense. If we remove the NFA regulated device and ship it, aren’t we in further violation? If this device has suddenly become an NFA regulated item, isn’t it more adviseable to destroy the device vs. shipping it? If I ship an “illegal” device via the USPS, haven’t I just committed a whole entire series of additional felonies? Where is the actual ATF ruling?Do we have any kind of drop-dead date for compliance? I can’t just take a silencer and ship it anywhere I’d like, if this device is now considered by legal definition a silencer––what your asking us to do is illegal. We need a whole lot more information on this issue.
I should think you would ask customers to remove and destroy the device, then supply a new one vs. returning and trying to ship an illegal device
I think your first sentence says it all my friend. ATF says that we are to export all fake silencers back to Germany. Each one we receive will have to be connected to the firearms serial number and manually accounted for by the ATF. We lucked out that the interior sleeve can be added to the old design so once we start shipping quantities back to Germany they can be retro-fitted to the new design so hopefully we’ll have some good turn around on getting larger quantities of cans. Receiving back the cans at our facility for inventory and packing is the ATFs call, so I can’t imagine they would hold you for shipping the can when it’s what they have instructed.

Where is the actual ATF ruling?
We at ATI only have an official ruling on the can its self as being now classified as a real silencer. ATF has not issued any official documents regarding this publicly or to ATI, other than having their lawyers approve the statement that starts this thread for consumers. I wish I had a ‘here’s the official word!’ doc from ATF to give you, but it appears at this time I will not be getting one, or be allowed to show you what I already have.

^^HOLY SHIT. u r right.
now, we are screwed sideways!!!
I will wait till I get a certified letter from the ATF that can accompany the “NFA Item” back to ATI.
Be prepared to not receive that letter, although I understand why you would want it. I want it too. The fact of the matter is that from April 2009 thru November 2009 we had a total of 5 approved permits to import the GSG-5SD, Cans individually for repair and the SD Conversion kit and those are now all revoked because of the changed decision. Rulings change and we as the importer, distributors, dealers and you as the consumer have to comply to their revision no matter if ’someone’ is willing to admit fault or not. Once we physically mail letters to the dealers who have received GSG-5SDs from our distributors then it will be on the consumer to get the original can back, which really sucks a lot. But, if you keep your original fake can and in like, idk, two years get busted by an ATF guy for still having it, you’ll be in some trouble.

The ATF should issue expedited approved form 1’s
A nice wish, but don’t count on it.

If the shop the weapon was purchased from is also a dealer that can legally sell silencers and other NFA items that would be a step in the right direction. In Iowa, I am not allowed to own a silencer unless I’m an approved LE or Mil user with the appropriate paperwork from the agency I work for. This still doesn’t get around the fact that I don’t have the appropriate ATF paperwork and am now magically in possession of a device that is banned in my state and there are maybe 1 or 2 FFLs in the whole state that deal with NFA devices.
This is where things are really hairy right now, especially because the ATF has told us they will offer an amnesty period but they have not said how long it will be. With everything having to be pushed up on getting this info out (thanks field agents) ATI is still dealing with setting up the distributors on this. Then we need to work with the dealers. Then we’ll really be ready to deal with consumers. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world. We’re just trying to figure out which instructions given on which day from which division of ATF are the ones we need to follow with nothing but a silencer ruling on paper.

I still have yet to see the actual ATF ruling or when this is to be completed.
I recommend that you contact NFA branch of ATF at (304) 616-4500 and ask them for this. I have no response from the ATF that they are going to issue this at all to us or the general populace. They did make us remove quite a bit of dialogue regarding the ATF from our letter before their lawyers would let us make a statement.

exact reason the ATF disliked the fat SD can is known
One big hollow expansion chamber, end caps. That’s it. I get irked by the wording in the ruling I put up in this thread a few lines up. It says expansion chambers-plural, we have expansion chamber-singular. Doesn’t matter, they changed their minds, revoked my import licenses on original models and here we are.

Just curious, if this is such a big deal and all why no mention of this on the ATI webpage? Why is it that the only way you can find out about what is potentially a big problem is to stumble upon the notification here and here only? If you do a web search with the words GSG-5 SD and ATF you get nothing at all about this. I am curious as to how something like this is ever going to get out to the owners of these? Looks like we will have several folks in violation of the ATF’s ruling and have no idea that they are.
Unfortunately, Brent who updates the website is out sick, so hopefully he will be back tomorrow and we will have our home page updated. Again, we were pressed into kicking off this information sooner than we were really ready to because of field agents auditing dealers and telling them some not so correct or definite information. ATI is in the process of tracking down every SD starting with our distributors. We then have to track from our distributors to the dealers, then from dealers to consumer. ATF is making us follow the course of, run it by ATF and wait for the ATF to approve the methods of action with their legal department. This is not a fast turn around unfortunately. As we know more I will be updating you on here and we will be updating our site once Brent is back.
If I didn’t answer your questions let me know, but I hope that you have read all of this because as you can see, ATI doesn’t really have a lot of answers right now either. We’re taking it a day at a time and moving forward as we are directed to by the ATF.”

My favorite parts are where the ATF tells them that these fake suppressors are now un-taxed/registered suppressors, and thus everyone who has one is committing a felony, but they are not sure when the amnesty will run. Great. So now you have legally informed me that I am in possession of an illegal device, but you can’t tell me how to legally get rid of it, other than, basically, to trust them. Trust the same folks who said it was ok to import, then decided a year+ later that gee, these really are suppressors (which is crap, as they are not), but these are the people to trust? Yeah!

Ughh!

I also like the part where the ATF tells the importer what they are allowed to tell us, the public. you know, the tax payers who actually fund your damn agency, and who are your bosses? Remember us? Yeah. Fuck you, ATF!

If it was then why are the “security guards” TRAINED not to interveine?

Four charged in transit tunnel beating Girl, 15, beaten as guards stood by:

“Four youths have been charged with robbery as Metro Transit Police continue to investigate the beating of a 15-year-old girl in the transit tunnel at Westlake Center.

The juvenile defendant remains in detention pending arraignment Thursday in juvenile court. The three adult defendants are being held in the King County Jail on $100,000 bail and will be arraigned on Feb. 24.”

Also, a Belorussian Big Bang Theory:

Looks like the producers of TBBT are aware of the Belorussian one, but have very little legal recourse:

“CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #277

Belarus is a small, land-locked country next door to Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. According to Wikipedia, one of its major exports is cattle by-products. Which begs the question, what horrible shape are the cattle in, if all they’re good for is felt hats and wallpaper paste? But Belarus does have a bustling TV production industry. One of their most recent hits is a sitcom about four nerdy scientists who live next door to a beautiful blonde waitress. The characters are named Sheldon, Leo, Hovard, Raj and Natasha, and the show is entitled, The Theorists. Each episode begins with a rapid-fire montage of images which takes us from the dawn of time to the present moment. Keeping with that theme, the montage is scored with what is probably the worst piece of recorded pop music since the dawn of time. And finally, each episode appears to be a Russian translation of a Big Bang Theory episode. When we brought this to the attention of the Warner Brothers legal department, we were told that it’s next to impossible to sue for copyright infringement in Belarus because the TV production company that is ripping us off is owned and operated by the government of Belarus. Having no other recourse, I’m hoping that this vanity card will be read by the fine folks making The Theorists, and, wracked with guilt, they break down and send us some felt hats. The Kyrgyzstan version of Dharma & Greg already sent me some wallpaper paste. ”

I took and uploaded six pictures of the Forehand Arms pistol I have. You can see the first one here:

(click for a larger view, and to see the other five pics)

Just heard that Disney bought Marvel Comics last August or September. Wow. Can’t believe I had not heard this before. I guess I am out of touch on all things comic lately. In fact, I just realized that I have not even been ina comic store since…hmmm…maybe last summer? Damn!

Very cool what this guy has been able to do. He fabricated a stock and sight for his shotgun, and figured out how to manufacture slugs, too. Very ingenious.

Not sure who wrote it, but I like it:

“A Rifleman’s Prayer

And if in this I should fall, let me be found atop a pile of brass, behind the wall I made of their corpses.”

Edited to add:
This prayer was written by Geek with a .45