Author: Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson is an American author, editor and entrepreneur.

A former police officer and trainer, he left public service and founded Tac6 Media, LLC.

Richard is a prolific writer with hundreds of articles related to firearms and law enforcement published by Harris Publications, Athlon Outdoors, NRA, Police & Security News, The Firearm Blog, Human Events and more.

He currently consults with clients who need online publication management, editorial services, content production and organic traffic acquisition through search engine optimization.

Categories
Rifles

MPAR 556: New Piston Rifle from MasterPiece Arms

MPAR 556

Update: I just watched this video (click here) of the MPAR-556 Gen II being run in a competition shoot by the guys at Full30. I was not impressed by its performance.

MasterPiece Arms is releasing more information on the new MPAR 556, the company’s new piston driven AR rifle.

The new rifle sounds like it will offer a variety of features while maintaining a sub-$1000 price tag. Considering this AR-style gun uses a short stroke piston, that price is extremely competitive.

As the name suggests, the MPAR 556 is chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge. Standard AR magazines will work with this rifle.

MPAR 556 handguard

The handguard is a two-piece, floating system made from machined aluminum. The handguard allows the user to place Picatinny accessory rails in the most advantageous places. This allows for weight reduction, since the user can simply remove (or not install) rails in areas they are not needed.

The buttstock is made from machined aluminum and adjusts for length of pull. Additionally, the buttstock folds to the left for compact carry and storage.

MPAR 556 muzzle brake

MasterPiece Arms has not stated the barrel length, but I would expect a 16″ barrel. The end will most likely be threaded, and will ship with a muzzle brake attached. Since MasterPiece Arms now makes sound suppressors, it would make sense that all of the company’s new guns would ship with threaded barrels.

MPAR 556 parts will be either anodized or black phosphate coated (depending on the part material.)

Continue reading “MPAR 556: New Piston Rifle from MasterPiece Arms”
Categories
news

Smith & Wesson Gross Profit Up 35.5%

Smith Wesson Logo

Smith & Wesson released the company’s financial results for the quarter ending October 31, 2012. For the second quarter (fiscal 2013), Smith & Wesson posted a gross profit of more than $48 million, representing an increase of 35.5% over the second quarter of the previous year.

Net sales for the quarter were up $136.6 million, representing an incredible increase of 48% over the quarter from the prior year. Keep in mind that the quarter ended before President Obama was re-elected in November.

S&W noted in their results that they have increased their production capacity and improved their supply chain efficiency. Even with these improvements, the company continued to receive more orders than they could produce. In fact, the order backlog increased 122% compared to the second quarter of 2012. The total value of the backlog orders is $332.7 million. I wonder how much that jumped after the election?

Continue reading “Smith & Wesson Gross Profit Up 35.5%”
Categories
news

Gun Company Troubles

If the media is to be believed, gun companies are all making money hand over fist: Black Friday gun sales set all time records and the re-election of President Obama has sparked impulse buying. However, there are a few companies that are experiencing some difficulties right now.

A fire in mid-November shut down the Dan Wesson Firearms plant, halting all production of their guns. The good news is only one employee was injured, and he or she did not need hospitalization. The bad news is the company does not expect to re-open for business in 2012.

Superstorm Sandy wiped out the Henry Repeating Arms manufacturing facility in Bayonne, NJ in late October. An estimated three feet of seawater flooded the facility, damaging at least 100 of the company’s manufacturing machines. Additionally, parts of the facility’s roof was destroyed and some inventory was soaked with sea- and rainwater.

Continue reading “Gun Company Troubles”
Categories
Holsters

New DeSantis Gear for 2013

DeSantis Pocket Shot holster
The new DeSantis Pocket Shot holster for the Ruger LCP with attached Crimson Trace Laserguard.

In the final weeks of the year, DeSantis announced several new products: a pink Clip Grip, a new line of inexpensive leather gun belts and a Pocket Shot holster for the Ruger LCP with a Crimson Trace LG-431 attached.

Pink Clip Grip

The Clip Grip is a polymer revolver grip with a portion that sticks out to hook onto your belt or waistband. This allows the shooter to carry the gun without using a holster. This new model is in pink and will fit Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers with a round butt.

While I don’t care much for pink gun parts, I have to admit that pink stocks are less likely to get you “made” should your shirt ride up and expose them briefly.

DeSantis states the grips are for right handed carry only, and is not recommended for “fast-paced physical activity.”

DeSantis Economy Belts

DeSantis Economy Belt

For less than $30, you can get a black leather belt that is reinforced for concealed carry duty. DeSantis originally designed this belt as garrison belt for NYPD, but discovered it worked extremely well as a CCW belt also.  [Ed. note: A garrison belt is used by police officers as a normal belt, that the heavier duty belt then attaches to. The garrison belt runs through the pant loops and is not visible when a duty belt is worn.]

The Economy Belts use a powder coated (black) buckle an will be available in sizes 28 – 54. A version of the belt with a Velcro-like closure, instead of a buckle, is $23.99 and is available in sizes S-XL.

Pocket Shot for LCP with Laser

DeSantis Pocket Shot holster
The new DeSantis Pocket Shot holster for the Ruger LCP with attached Crimson Trace Laserguard.

The DeSantis Pocket Shot is a leather pocket holster that allows the user to shoot the gun without removing it from the scabbard. The new model fits a Ruger LCP with a Crimson Trace LG-431 Laserguard attached. The Laserguard mounts on the exterior of the LCP, and requires specially fit holsters.

This Pocket Shot carries a MSRP of $41.99.

I expect we will see these new products at the DeSantis booth in January when we travel to the 2013 SHOT Show.

Categories
Handguns

Heizer Defense Pistol Images

Heizer Defense pistol

At the 2012 NASGW Expo, Heizer Defense was spreading the word that they would be introducing a small pistol in the near future. Jim Bruchas, the director of sales for Heizer Defense, suggested the new gun would be very similar to the DoubleTap pistol they had been contracted to produce for DoubleTap Defense before that relationship soured.

Here are the photos of the new Heizer Defense pistol.

As you can see, the new Heizer handgun bears a striking resemblance to the DoubleTap pistol. Frankly, other than a few minor cosmetic blemishes, I cannot see much of a difference.

At the NASGW Expo, Bruchas told me that the DoubleTap pistol was uncomfortable to shoot, and that an ergonomic change would be made to improve the handling and reduce felt recoil. Presumably, a change in the backstrap area of the gun might accomplish this. From the images, it is hard to tell if any significant modification was made.

Continue reading “Heizer Defense Pistol Images”