Tech Topics

The firearms industry is always producing new items of interest. Here we’ll take a look at a few interesting developments of interest to gunsmiths. Sub-Caliber Solution By the time this is read we hope empty retail shelves and low distributor inventories will be things of the past. According to a conversation with pertinent people at The National Shooting Sports Foundation, ammunition manufacturers are adding shifts and working 24/7 to increase production. But why did it happen in the first place?

Was there some super secret, DC-type deal behind closed doors dominated by the anti-gun groupies? Apparently not. Primarily, shortages have been caused by the need to fill military contracts. Secondarily, the period from October, 2008 through 2009 accounted for history’s largest surge in firearms sales.

Combine these factors with hoarding due to un certainties or fears of anew administration and Congress and you begin to understand why prices have soared, orders remain unfilled or arrive short if they arrive at all. This has been particularly true of 9mm, .38, .380 and .223. The handgun calibers suffer because the same machinery is used in making all three and the .223 because it’s the steady diet for the US military standard issue M16/M4-series along with the M249 Light Machine Gun.

Added to this is the booming popularity of the semi-automatic civilian AR15 and various clones. We predict if it hasn’t happened already it won’t be long before there will be more add-ons, upgrades and "drop- 22LR conversion kit for the AR15 consists of instructions, a substitute bolt assembly and a 26 round rimfire magazine solidly integrated with a polymer housing that fits the existing magazine well.

When installing the bolt the spring side is positioned upwards. ins" for the AR than there are for the Model 1911A1. Well lookie here, there are more than a couple AR15 style rifles coming out from reliable and large gun makers chambered for the .22 LR. Of course, that means a whole new gun has to come out of the household budget. Instead, why not a real, honest-togoodness drop-in conversion for the .223 caliber? We mean a .22 conversion so simple one of Geico’s cavemen could install it and it would still work.

We found exactly that on Brownells site (Brownells.com) before we saw it in person at this years’ SHOT Show. The gang from Montezuma is on the web every month with intriguing new stuff, discontinued item specials and a section called "Gun Tech" that can help satisfy a gunsmith’s thirst for more know-how. The kit we received (#100-003-921) consisted of complete installation directions, a bolt assembly and a magazine to fit an AR with a 26 round .22LR mag permanently built into it (#080- 000-548).

It is simplicity personified. So is making the conversion. It happens in seconds. The rifle is completely unloaded, made safe and the.223 magazine removed. With the bolt in its forward position, push the rear take-down pin to the right and open the gun. Pull the charging handle back 3 or 4 inches. Remove the bolt assembly from the receiver. Install the conversion unit (bolt) with its cylindrical guide and spring at the top. Push the assembly forward until it stops flush with the rear of the receiver.

After that, finger pressure alone seats the conversion. Close the rifle, push the take-down pin back in, lock the upper to the lower and you have what was a gas operated rifle readied for blow-back operation. Once it has been charged, the .22LR magazine snaps into the rifle as would any standard AR15 magazine.

The conversion functions flawlessly with high velocity .22LR, with copper-clad or coated round nose bullets preferred for cleanliness. Standard and hypervelocity shells aren’t as reliable. Rimfires are prone to producing residue so the action and conversion should be scrubbed and lubricated every 300 to 500 rounds. Perhaps more often if naked or lubedup lead is the bullet material.

In conversation with Brownell techs they bragged not about this conversion transforming a reasonably accurate, out-of-the box, semi-automatic centerfire AR into a semi-automatic .22LR tackdriver. At best, it will become a real fun plinker for adults and a fine learning tool for young or new shooters. Still, look at the math. We checked in with some local dealers. A twenty round box of the cheapest domestic-made 55 grain FMJ .223 is priced at $9.95 but better quality ammo goes up to $29.95 in a hurry these days.

Two bricks (1000 rounds) of good-to-very good quality, domes tically manufactured .22LR High Velocity can be had for $19.95. On closer examination anyone can readily see the economic advantages of this conversion but what may happen to the inherent accuracy of a 223 caliber case (A) through which the rimfire slug travels before contacting the bore. This extension fills the regular.223 chamber to make firing much smaller rimfire rounds possible. well-built AR, once converted, merits further discussion.

The small, straight case cartridge is inserted in a breech totally integrated with an extension that is, in reality, a steel .223 caliber empty bottleneck case. The conversion’s spring-driven firing mechanism strikes the rim of the smaller case igniting the primer compound contained there-in. The 40 grain bullet has to travel inside the bottleneck case for about 1 7/8 inches Abefore exiting the throat of the extension to make contact with the bore. That’s all lede, folks.

During its freeflight through a .22 may bump against the inside of the extension shoulder and "ride" it up into the throat. Finally, the AR-15 bore measures .224. All .22LR bullets do not. We have miked some cheap stuff to be only .221 diameter. That makes for a lot of rattle banging on the way out of a .224 bore. Strong Medicine There are general practice physicians and those who specialize.

Looking ahead to the day you will be handed a gun bore or chamber so choked with carbon or copper fouling it’s gagging instead of hitting what it’s aimed at, call in one or both of these two specialists by Bore Tech, Inc. The C4 Carbon Remover quickly loosens and isolates powder fouling other cleaning chemicals leave behind on rifling, muzzle brakes, compensators and revolver cylinders. How quickly? From fouled to clean in 5 to 10 minutes with no scrubbing required.

Cu+2 Copper Remover attacks the worst kind of copper fouling without ammonia or any other barrel damaging chemical agent. The time required is three to five minutes from first wet patch to the final dry one.

JOFRE Cleaner Friedheim Tool Company (ftcsteam ers.com) manufactures a number of water-based, high-pressure steam cleaning systems and their Jofre Cleaner 7500 is specifically designed for large volume firearm cleaning in the shop. The Jofre blasts pressurized steam through a variety of nozzles and wands available in all calibers and sizes propelling pressurized steam and rust inhibitor through a brush that eats through fouling and gunk.

This works as well as harsh solvents but the active ingredient is distilled or filtered water. To use, fill the unit with water and power it up with a standard electrical outlet. Arma-Sol Rust Inhibitor is a recommended treatment as it leaves protection on cleaned metal surfaces but plain water will clean just as well. Attach the desired accessory cleaning nozzle or wand to the coupling on the hose.

Once water has cycled into the unit and the operating temperature is reached, as indicated by a light on the side of the unit, point the nozzle at the gunk and step on the foot switch in short blasts. Nozzles can clean inside receivers and other machined parts and caliber-specific wands with brushes scrub inside barrels. The water evaporates immediately, leaving the metal dry. While the nozzle heats up and gloves should be The control box plugs into a standard outlet and is controlled by a footswitch.

The clear hose on the back of the unit draws water in from a jug. A variety of caliber-specific accessory nozzles are available. worn while handling gun parts, the blast of steam is safely cooled inches away. When finished, relubricate the moving parts and you’re done. If you run a shop handling a sizable number of firearms this unit is a great addition.

While it is out of the price range for most hobbyists it is well worth the speed and con This pistol barrel wand has a bore brush on top and two nozzles for blasting gunk. venience for a professional. Nozzles and wands can be swapped in a few seconds and the foot switch allows both hands to work. This unit eliminates the need for most cleaners and degreasers, saving money in the long run and eliminates health and environmental concerns by replacing chemicals with water. AG