A “go bag” is typically a pack or bag that is loaded with the essentials someone might need to survive if they have to leave where they are in a hurry. I differentiate the go bag from the bug out bag, considering the bug out bag to have more supplies to better sustain me for several days, while the go bag is to get me out of the immediate situation.
The Gerber Go Bag is a recent introduction to the market and combines a Maxpedition bag with various equipment.
Over at Gun Nuts Media, Caleb talks about quality control at various companies: specifically Kel-Tec and Smith & Wesson.
It seems that a shooter over at Reddit had a bit of a problem with a PF-9. In this case the barrel lug sheared off after about 300 rounds of factory ammo. Â Well, that’s not good…
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.
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.
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.)
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?
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.