Ruger Precision Rifle

Accurate, dependable, affordable.....

Ruger's Newest Bolt-Action Repeater

MSRP: $1,399

Featuring the combination of bolt-action accuracy and the customizable AR-15 platform, with the versatility of accepting multiple magazine-types, we have an affordable tack-driving winner of a rifle.

Medium Contour Barrel (.75 at the muzzle)

Enter the world of long range shooting. Upper receiver and one-piece bolt body are CNC machined from pre-hardened chrome/molybdenum alloy steel. The lower receiver is machined in two pieces, right and left, from 7075-T6 hard-coat anodized aluminum. Available calibers are .308 with a 20 inch barrel, 6.5 mm Creedmor with a 24 inch barrel and .243 Winchester with a 26 inch barrel.

Not the lightest rifle, at 9.7 lbs without a scope, expect this beauty to tip the scales at around 15 lbs with the addition of a scope, bipod and stock-mounted monopod. In the accuracy department the Ruger easily exceeds 5-shot groups of under 1 inch at 100 yards. According to Ruger, 5-shot groups averaged .83" after testing multiple rifles.

This excellent accuracy is achieved through the design implementation of a linear recoil path, directing recoil forces straight back into the buttstock of the rifle upon firing.

Replaceable Barrel

Barrel specs: 4140 chrome/moly steel with 5R rifling, which translated means that there is a land placed opposite each of the barrel's grooves, which results in less bullet distortion as it engages the grooves, aiding accuracy. Rounder-edged lands result in less powder fouling and bullet jacket failure. Barrels are free floated in the fore-end. Barrel twist rates are tailored to longer bullets of the type used for long-range shooting.

Barrels are threaded at the muzzle with thread protector. A Picatinny rail is affixed to the top of the receiver. Marksman trigger with lever-in-blade design, adjustable between 2lbs., 4 ounces to 5 lbs.

American action with 70 degree bolt-throw and three lug bolt design.

"Multiple Magazine Interface" feature means high compatibility with a variety of magazines, such as DPMS, M110, SR25, PMAG and AICS. 

The buttstock is easily adjustable in the field for up to 3-1/2 inches adjustment to the length of pull and 3/4" of comb height. Not quite as easily adjusted, the cant of the buttpad can be be adjusted up to 9 degrees in either direction. The buttstock has a left-folding hinge and can be locked in the folding position.

Highly customizable with AR-style components. Affordable, relative to the field, combining the best of AR rifles and bolt-action accuracy, this one looks like a winner.

Recent gun review articles: G&A Single Stack 9mm  Comparison Test

NRA Convention 2015

First, I'd like to apologize for my two year "hiatus" from my gun blog. Talk about distractions! I just can't help myself. Eventually, I always get back into researching the latest advances in portable weaponry and writing about it here.

Checked out this year's NRA Convention in Nashville's massive Music City Center in my own back yard and it did not disappoint. For a list of exhibitors and descriptions, download the NRA Annual Meeting mobile app on your Apple or Android device. Here are some shots and thoughts from the weekend....

Colt

Israel Military Industries

Snow Camo

Kurt himself, with wish list item.....

Browning shotgun

Some Browning offerings...

Barrett sniper

Magnum Lite rimfire rifles

HK UMP45

E.R. Shaw, Inc. custom barrels

Interarms AK with custom Herrett stocks

Mr. Herrett himself, custom stock maker, with Yours Truly

High Standard-Interarms underfolder AK-47

Now that's a safe!

NRA Harley giveaway

My favorite 1911 at the show...

Sig MPX

Sig 556 - takes AK Mags

IMI Jericho

Packed!

Gatling Gun 1873

Ted Cruz made an appearance

Colt Ford and Hank Williams Jr.

Colt Ford

Bocephus 

R. Lee Ermey

Live at The Stage

High Standard looked to be doing some exciting things, reviving their renowned .22 target pistol selection from the 60's and 70's, as well as showcasing the offerings from their partners, Herrett Custom Stocks , Interarms and AMT of Automag fame, bringing back AMT's legendary stainless .22 magnum auto pistol, as well as introducing some impressive looking AK-47 and AR-15 type rifle models, courtesy of Interarms. It was unclear to me, whether AMT has improved on the frame alloy of the original .22 Mag pistol, which had galling problems with their original offering.

Other notable products that made an impression in my few hours touring the massive Music City Center included the following:

My Case Builder at www.mycasebuilder.com. This company offers custom foam gun cases designed to perfectly fit your weapon.

Secret Compartment Furniture. Featuring Amish-made custom wood furniture with secret compartments to hide guns and other valuables for quick access. www.secretcompartmentfurniture.com.

For those of you that prefer air guns, or have no legal access to gunpowder-powered weapons, Pyramid Air had some quality rifles and pistols on display. Check out their catalog at www.pyramidair.com.

Meggar Gun Magazines had a few salesmen and an entire booth-display of their awesome magazines present, and did claim that they could get me magazines for out of production pistols, including a magazine for my old MKII Ruger .22 if I went online and ordered. Check out their offerings at  www.mec-gar.com.

Rock Island Armory was there, with their famously affordable quality classic reproduction firearms selection, including the 1911 in several iterations, as well as their .22 magnum XT 1911,the M200 .38 special revolver, their MAPP 9mm automatic pistol and their usual impressive rifle, shotgun and ammo products (see Armscor). www.rockislandarmory.com

Cabot Precision 1911s

"Mr. Jones is the Rolls Royce of 1911's ... I had always considered Korth from Germany the reigning champion for producing the world’s finest revolvers and pistols, so it was nice for me leaving Denver knowing that a U.S. company had dethroned the Germans fair and square"

— S.P. Fjestad,
Author, Editor & Publisher,
Blue Book of Gun Values.

"National Standard Deluxe" $5 to $10k

Cabot Guns

22/45 Lite

New Guns:

Ruger 22/45 Lite:

22/45 Lite

Summary: At 22.8 ounces is 19.2 oz. lighter than standard bull-barrel Mk III. Other changes are primarily cosmetic.-K.A.

Bonnie n' Clyde

Welcome to the Gun Letter!

Stoeger 8000











Barrett's Model 98 Bravo










Da' Judge .45 Colt







FNP .45 ACP










CZ 97B .45 ACP


Kimber Talkeetna .375









Greetings firearms enthusiasts!

I decided to start this gunletter because of my lifelong interest in guns since the age of 12, after seeing the movie Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood, along with his S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum.

Being an insatiable reader of the latest gun magazines and reviews, I saw no need for all that information to be wasted. The age of the internet now allows me to share this vast treasure trove of gun information with the world.

This information on this site will be by no means exhaustive, and will consist primarily of brief summaries of gun articles from the major publications, along with a link to the original source, so that you may follow up with more in-depth study if so desired.

This week's rundown:

Currently on my wish-list:

Stoeger Cougar 8000-While I don't carry a gun, except for maybe going into the worst areas of the city at night, which is not a regular occurrence-trust me-I do like to keep a gun in the car-don't ask me why, maybe from watching "Road Warrior" too many times. With all the insane people out there, it's just good to know that I have something in the car I can use for a worst-case scenario. Anyways, this is my pick for car-carry.

• .40 or 9mm Caliber
• DA/SA Trigger "Breaks at 6 lbs" (SA)
  
• Capacity 15+1 (9mm), 11+1 (.40)
• Aluminum Frame
• Ambidextrous Safety/Decocker
• "Excellent Sites", three white dots, adjustable for windage
• Drop-Free magazines (2)
• Able to Fire w/o magazine
• Rotating, Locking Barrel enhances accuracy
• Simple, Quick Field Stripping
• "Excellent Build Quality and Design"
• S.R.P. $390 to $449
  

Other Reviews:

Kimber Talkeetna - .375 H&H Mag. 7 lbs., 9 oz. un-scoped, super-accurate lightweight big game rifle is ideal for all-day carry on the African continent, or ideal for Alaskan Bear country.

• Bolt Action
• Stainless
• Four Round Capacity Magazine
• 3 lb., 1 oz. Trigger Pull
• Stiff, but Bearable Recoil
  
• Synthetic Kevlar and Fiberglass Stock
• S.R.P. $2,108

Taurus Judge - The Word: Short barreled, five shot snake and self-defense revolver. Shoots .410 shotgun shells and .45 Long Colt cartridges. Best for Snakes: #7-1/2 shot, Self Defense: #4 shot at extremely close range, or .45 LC for anything past 12 feet. .410 slugs are kind of a waste of money, with the availablity of the .45 Colt cartridge for this weapon.

• Good Build Quality
• Eight Different Versions
• Blued or Stainless
• Five Rounds
• Regular or Lightweight
• 2-1/2" or 3" .410 Cylinder Choice
• Also Takes .45 Schofield Ammo (.45 S&W)
• S.R.P. $553

CZ 97B .45 Auto Pistol - The Word: Double Column .45 ACP ("double column" equals higher magazine capacity than single column magfazine pistols). All steel, double action/single action, no decocker, so decocking requires a bit of skill and confidence.

• 10 Round Magazines did not drop freely
• Awkward, left-side thumb safety
• Shot under 2" groups at 25 yards
• S.R.P. $779

FNH FNP45 .45 Auto Pistol - 15 Round, full size .45 automatic pistol. Actually comes with two 14 round magazines, and one 15 rounder with a rounded base-pad bottom. Military green polymer frame results in a weight of 29 oz. unloaded. Ambidextrous magazine release, and safeties (which double as decocking levers).

• Accessory Rail Included
• Interchangeable Backstrap for Custom Grip Size (1)
• 1.56" Max. Width
• Snag-Free Sites, Three White Dots
• Relatively Easy to Field-Strip
• Little Chance of Accidentally Decocking This Pistol Due to Grip Config.
• Slide Moves Freely with Safety On
• First Shot from Double Action Fairly Awkward Due to Length of Pull
• Cocked and Locked Carry Mode Recommended for Speed into Action
  
• Low Recoil Compared to Other .45,s
• 2.2" Groups at 25 Yards

*****FANTASY GUN PICK OF 2009*******
Here is my pick for 2009, although it's not quite April yet. If I find something better by the end of the year, I will certainly let you know.

Barrett's Model 98 Bravo-Bolt-action .338 Lapua Magnum:
An awesome weapon, capable of sub-M.O.A.,s of under 1.5" at 1,000 yards on a windy, cold day-according to one of the first reviews I read-slated for availability to law-abiding citizens and law enforcement alike, but primarily the military, for April of '09. If I ever win big bucks, or suddenly become a big earner, this will be in my safe faster than you can say "overkill". Here are the details:

About the .338 Lapua Magnum: Possessing flat trajectory, excellent accuracy at long range, and high energy, this caliber is under serious consideration by the Marine Corps to replace the .50 as their long-range caliber of choice. According to an in-depth review from a 2007 article of some early rifles by Accuracy International and Sako, the .338 Lapua at 1,200 yards is still more powerful than the .44 magnum at the muzzle. In the early 80s the U.S. Navy sought a new cartridge for long-range competition. Research Armament Industries developed a .338 caliber wildcat using a rimless .416 Rigby case. After being passed over by the U.S. armed forces for the .50, Lapua eventually strengthened the case design and created the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.

Back to the model 98: Light enough to be carried and fired offhand, built to withstand adverse conditions, the model 98 can also be fitted with a variety of optical scopes and night-vision devices, making this weapon a serious frontrunner for the rifle of choice of the military.

Specs:

• .338 Lapua Magnum
• Bolt Action
  
• Rotating Thumb Safety
• Pistol Grip
• Modular Design
• Aluminum Upper and Lower Receivers
• Integral 18.1" Picatinny Top Rail
• Sling Swivel and Bipod Attachments
• 27" Barrel, 4150 Steel, Fluted
• Rifling: six-groove, 1:10" right hand twist
• 10 rd. Polymer Magazine (2)
  
• Trigger=2 lb, 4 oz. pull, single stage, adjustable
  
• Stock: Length of Pull, 13-1/2"
• Length Overall: 49-3/4"
• Weight: 12 lbs, 12 oz.
• S.R.P. $4,495
• Average accuracy at 100 yards: .88"
  

More Soon!