Categories
news

Tuff Quick Strips: Reload Your Revolver

The Tuff Quick Strips are injection molded from a flexible urethane material

For years, Bianchi Speed Strips have been an effective method of carrying an extra load of ammunition for your .38 or .357 revolver.  I have personally used and recommended the Speed Strips to a lot of people needing extra ammo when carrying concealed.

However, for calibers other than .38/.357, shooters were out of luck.  That has changed with the introduction of the Quick Strips from Tuff Products.

Tuff Products has brought a line of ammunition carriers to market that appear to be very similar to the old Speed Strips, but the Quick Strips are available in a wide range of calibers.  The currently available calibers are:

  • .22 rimfire (10 rounds)
  • .327 Federal Magnum (8 rounds)
  • .38 Special/.357 Magnum (6 rounds or 8 round models)
  • .410 shotshell
  • .44 Special/.44 Magnum (6 rounds)
  • .45 Colt (6 rounds)
  • .460 S&W Magnum (6 rounds)
  • .475 Linebaugh (6 rounds)
  • .480 Ruger (6 rounds)
  • .500 S&W Magnum (6 rounds)

Additionally, new calibers are scheduled for release in May: the .41 Magnum, .45 AutoRim, .500 Linebaugh, and .50 Bowen Special.

Continue reading “Tuff Quick Strips: Reload Your Revolver”
Categories
Handguns

DoubleStar 1911 Introduced

doublestar_1911DoubleStar, known for their AR-15 products, has announced a new handgun: the DoubleStar 1911.

The DoubleStar 1911 uses a forged steel frame, and has a beveled magazine well, Novak sights and a National Match stainless steel 5″ barrel.  The finish is parkerized.  Customizations are available, including a variety of grips, and a choice in trigger guards.

MSRP is listed as “less than $1,200.”

Continue reading “DoubleStar 1911 Introduced”
Categories
Ammunition

The Ongoing Ammunition Shortage

399768_5485-01In the past year, I have run ammunition price updates every few months.  I can’t do that anymore.  None of the cartridges I had followed are in stock, or expected to be in stock, in the near future.  In fact, a lot of ammo of all types is sold out at most locations.

The WalMart stores near me seemingly have people lined up at the ammo counter every morning, waiting to buy ammunition that is on the daily truck delivery.  Online vendors can’t keep ammo in stock, either.

Unable to find any .223/5.56 ammunition locally for a head-to-head test of AR-15 magazines later this month, I contacted some of the ammunition manufacturers to ask for their assistance in procuring some.  The responses I received were almost exclusively apologetic, as very few manufacturers have any .223, and those that do are shipping them to fulfill backlogged contracts.

I traded e-mails with Ed Grasso, the majority owner of Sellier & Bellot, USA.  Sellier & Bellot, USA is the exclusive importer of Sellier & Bellot (S&B) ammunition.

Continue reading “The Ongoing Ammunition Shortage”
Categories
Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition at Peak Production

Winchester Ammunition

winchester_ammunition1I have previously run articles about the increase in ammunition costs and ammunition shortages.  I have had a few people claim that the ammunition manufacturers were restricting supply to drive up prices.  Based on the contacts I have made in the industry, I knew that companies are producing as many rounds as they can, as quickly as they can.

However, it seems that the rumors persist.

Winchester Ammunition, in an effort to combat the notion that they, or anyone else, is cutting production, released this statement:

Winchester Ammunition, like other ammunition manufacturers, has seen the demand for our products increase significantly since last fall. To meet that increased demand, our operations are running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our team is literally working around the clock to make quality ammunition available for purchase. We remain absolutely committed to meeting the growing needs of our customers.

Update – Eventually the ammo shortages of 2009 eased up.  As supply increased, prices dropped.  That’s how a market economy works, don’t cha know.  I suggested (and so did a lot of other people) that shooters slowly build up supplies of ammo and reloading components for the calibers they shoot and/or load.

After several years of a soft market, the market panicked again in late 2012, and a ammo shortage hit again.  The 2012/2013 shortage seemed worse than the 2009 shortage in many ways.  Some calibers, like .22 LR and 9mm, were the hardest to find.  However, other rounds like 5.56/.223, .40 S&W and .45 ACP were also very difficult to locate.  People would stalk Walmart delivery trucks on delivery days hoping to be able to score a couple of boxes of their favorite caliber.

Demand for Winchester ammunition (and other brands) was such that 5.56 ball (and other calibers) was selling for more than $1000/case at times.  That seemed to be the top limit on the pricing, but there was a lot of push back from consumers as prices approached these prices.  Those prices were set by dealers, and not manufacturers like Winchester.

Categories
Rifles

Stark Equipment SE-1 Grip for the AR-15

Stark SE-2 AR15 Grip

The Stark Equipment SE-1 is a polymer grip that replaces the standard AR-15 grip and trigger guard with a single polymer unit.  At the 2009 SHOT Show, I had a chance to preview the Stark SE-1, and I was impressed by the look and feel of the floor samples.

Stark Equipment is now shipping the SE-1, and I was able to get one of the early production grips.  I am just as impressed by the production model as I was by the samples.

The SE-1 feels good in my hand, with just the right amount of palm swell and what appears to be a good grip angle.  The Stark grip features three texture rings around the center of the grip, providing good adhesion to the hand.  There are also grooves around the textured rings.  These grooves are designed to allow fluids, such as sweat and rain, to flow away from the hand and not disrupt the mating of the hand to the grip.

There is a removable rubber plug on the bottom of the grip that allows you to store two CR-123 or AA batteries for any light or optics accessories you may have.

Continue reading “Stark Equipment SE-1 Grip for the AR-15”