Rifles

Remington Arms Company, Inc. announced that it has recently been awarded a $12 million contract from the US Army-TACOM (Tank-Automotive and Armament Command), for the purchase of M24 Sniper Weapon Systems (SWS) for use by the US and its allies.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary that the M24 SWS and its variants has been the 'standard' issue sniper rifle for the US Army and US Air Force.

Based on the Model 700 bolt action platform, like the USMC M40, the M24 SWS is considered the 'standard' by which other sniper weapon systems are judged.

It provides extreme accuracy out to 800 meters and can engage targets well beyond that distance, as well as low maintenance starting at approximately 10,000 rds. at the operator level.

Many shooters want a lightweight, handy 223 carbine for self-defense-and that means reasonable accuracy, a good trigger, shooter friendliness, and ease of handling. In self-defense use, reliability is paramount, but the gun has to have enough accuracy to hit what its aimed at.There are several potential solutions to this firearms problem, one of which is the Ruger KMini-14/5 Ranch Rifle ($894), and we cant ignore the hoary AR-15-type rifle, which in this test will be a parts gun assembled by Century Arms-the $795 C15 Sporter.More interesting to us initially was the AK-based Arsenal SLR 106FR, $925. Mikhail T. Kalashnikovs famous assault rifle is the basis for the Arsenal gun. Likely more than 75 million AKs have been produced by more than a dozen countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, China, East Germany, Egypt, Finland, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and the former Yugoslavia.Chambered originally for the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was adopted by the Red Army in 1949. In this country, the rap against AKs has been their sheet-metal receivers and bad triggers, but Arsenals rifles seek to cure those problems. The Arsenal rifle is built on a Mil-Spec hardened 1mm-thick stamped receiver. The rifle has a 90-degree gas chamber, a chrome-lined chamber, and 800-meter rear sight, and a rear sight block calibrated for the 5.56mm cartridge.The SLR-106FR incorporates a Warsaw Pact scope rail that will accept all scope mounts designed for this type of rail. The compact folding stock allows the SLR-106FR to be used in close quarters. This requires a cutout in the left side of the folding buttstock, which pivots to the left. The similar SLR-106F lacks the side-rail scope mount.The fire control group of the SLR-106FR features Arsenals new two-stage trigger, hammer, and disconnector. The company claims these units eliminate trigger slap, which our tests supported. Arsenal also claims the initial trigger-pull weight is 3 pounds, with an 8-pound let-off. Our gun didnt meet those specs.Of course, the Ruger and the Arsenal actions have long histories of being chambered for other rounds, while the AR-15 was, in some sense, built for the 223 Rem./5.56mm NATO round, though it, too, has bigger chamberings in its current design. But for self defense, the 223 is plenty nasty out to hundreds of yards.Here, we worked in closer, shooting our guns at 50 yards with the attached open sights, along with extensive handling and rapid-fire work. Our test ammos were Wolf (Russian) 55-grain full metal jacket rounds, Remington 55-grain Metal Case rounds, which have a full copper jacket for reliable function, and Hornadys 60-grain TAP law-enforcement rounds, which feature a red polymer tip on top of a hollowpoint bullet.The Century gun came with a 10-round magazine, while the Arsenal and Ruger came with 5-rounders. To make our shooting more fun, we purchased extra magazines for each gun. We bought two clear-plastic 30-round Arsenal magazines for $36 apiece, and two Ram-Line 30-round combo magazines that functioned in both the Century and Ruger guns. They were $30 apiece. For the AR, we also bought some 30-round PMAGs by Magpul for $15 apiece.All in we fired more than 300 rounds per gun in accuracy shooting, chronographing, and handling, so we got to know them warts and all. Heres what we found:

Many shooters want a lightweight, handy 223 carbine for self-defense-and that means reasonable accuracy, a good trigger, shooter friendliness, and ease of handling. In self-defense use, reliability is paramount, but the gun has to have enough accuracy to hit what its aimed at.There are several potential solutions to this firearms problem, one of which is the Ruger KMini-14/5 Ranch Rifle ($894), and we cant ignore the hoary AR-15-type rifle, which in this test will be a parts gun assembled by Century Arms-the $795 C15 Sporter.More interesting to us initially was the AK-based Arsenal SLR 106FR, $925. Mikhail T. Kalashnikovs famous assault rifle is the basis for the Arsenal gun. Likely more than 75 million AKs have been produced by more than a dozen countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, China, East Germany, Egypt, Finland, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and the former Yugoslavia.Chambered originally for the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was adopted by the Red Army in 1949. In this country, the rap against AKs has been their sheet-metal receivers and bad triggers, but Arsenals rifles seek to cure those problems. The Arsenal rifle is built on a Mil-Spec hardened 1mm-thick stamped receiver. The rifle has a 90-degree gas chamber, a chrome-lined chamber, and 800-meter rear sight, and a rear sight block calibrated for the 5.56mm cartridge.The SLR-106FR incorporates a Warsaw Pact scope rail that will accept all scope mounts designed for this type of rail. The compact folding stock allows the SLR-106FR to be used in close quarters. This requires a cutout in the left side of the folding buttstock, which pivots to the left. The similar SLR-106F lacks the side-rail scope mount.The fire control group of the SLR-106FR features Arsenals new two-stage trigger, hammer, and disconnector. The company claims these units eliminate trigger slap, which our tests supported. Arsenal also claims the initial trigger-pull weight is 3 pounds, with an 8-pound let-off. Our gun didnt meet those specs.Of course, the Ruger and the Arsenal actions have long histories of being chambered for other rounds, while the AR-15 was, in some sense, built for the 223 Rem./5.56mm NATO round, though it, too, has bigger chamberings in its current design. But for self defense, the 223 is plenty nasty out to hundreds of yards.Here, we worked in closer, shooting our guns at 50 yards with the attached open sights, along with extensive handling and rapid-fire work. Our test ammos were Wolf (Russian) 55-grain full metal jacket rounds, Remington 55-grain Metal Case rounds, which have a full copper jacket for reliable function, and Hornadys 60-grain TAP law-enforcement rounds, which feature a red polymer tip on top of a hollowpoint bullet.The Century gun came with a 10-round magazine, while the Arsenal and Ruger came with 5-rounders. To make our shooting more fun, we purchased extra magazines for each gun. We bought two clear-plastic 30-round Arsenal magazines for $36 apiece, and two Ram-Line 30-round combo magazines that functioned in both the Century and Ruger guns. They were $30 apiece. For the AR, we also bought some 30-round PMAGs by Magpul for $15 apiece.All in we fired more than 300 rounds per gun in accuracy shooting, chronographing, and handling, so we got to know them warts and all. Heres what we found:

The R-55 rimfire has been a retail home run for Thompson Center since its introduction at the turn of the current century. The Benchmark Classic is the Cadillac version of the R-55 platform with an 18-inch stainless steel bull barrel, with a wide-mouthed target crown, threaded to the steel receiver.

The Benchmark Classic has the looks and features of a target gun, but the sling swivel studs and 'all weather' marketing label are apparent gestures to the hunting market.

Smith & Wesson Corp. has introduced the M&P15R, an addition to the company’s M&P tactical rifle series. The new AR-15 style rifle is capable of firing 5.45 x 39mm ammunition and is available as a high-quality semi-automatic rifle or as a complete upper-receiver assembly kit.

The 2008 USA Shooting National Championships for Rifle/Pistol came to a close today with Matt Emmons earning his third national title of the competition, taking first place in the Men's 3 Position Rifle event. Emmons, from Browns Mills, N.J., a 2004 Olympian and 2008 Olympic team member, finished on top with final of 101.1 and a total score of 2455.1. Earlier in the competition, Emmons also claimed the Men's Air Rifle and Men's 3 Position Rifle…

Disney World claims that it's exempt from a new state law that allows workers to bring handguns to work. Disney says by banning the guns, it's looking out for the safety of its workers and guests.

A special edition Mini-14 rifle will be produced in 2008 to raise money for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Ruger, in conjunction with Hornady Manufacturing Co., has introduced two new Compact Magnum cartridges. Based on the beltless 375 Ruger, the 300 and 338 RCMs are engineered to offer 300 and 338 Win. Magnum performance in a more compact package. With their short actions and 20-inch barrels, the M77 Ruger Compact Magnums are today’s “mountain rifles and brush guns.”

Remington has introduced the Model R-25, a modular repeating rifle designed for big game hunters. The Model R-25 is available in 243 Win., 7mm-08 Remington and 308 Win.

Weatherby has introduced two new custom Vanguards engineered for specific environments―the Sage Country for sparse, open prairie and the Back Country for high altitude hunting.

While a Savage Model 12 will surely help you make your groups smaller and smaller, the vast array of options within this lineup seems to just get bigger and bigger. Savage continues to dominate this market segment populated with the most discerning, performance-oriented shooters on the planet.