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Showing posts from December, 2019

The "Assault Rifle" Concept

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Source Introduction: The assault rifle as we are familiar with it today has been a staple of warfare since the end of the Second World War. Assault rifles are typically defined as being select-fire rifles that fire an intermediate cartridge, such as 5.56 or 7.62x39mm. There are also "battle rifles" that are in slightly larger calibers such as 7.62 NATO. However, because Assault Rifle is a more well-defined term, and 7.62 NATO was designed as an 'intermediate' cartridge, I'm going to include rifles such as the FAL and SCAR-H under the moniker of "Assault Rifles". I'm going to try to give a brief overview of the history behind the assault rifle concept, and how the idea spread to be the definition of a modern service rifle. Details: In order to understand the necessity of the assault rifle, you need to go back to WWI and WWII. WWI was a war of outdated tactics combined with modern warfighting technology. For US forces, there was a heavy e...

Body Armor

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Introduction: Body armor is not the first thing that is usually thought of when someone thinks of firearms and self defense. People that are into firearms tend to be more into the shooting than the protection against being shot. However, some kind of body armor can be just as important as a firearm when it comes to saving your life. As forms of ballistic protection become cheaper and lighter, more and more people on both sides of the law are investing in body armor. Because of the wide range of companies making everything from Kevlar vests to ceramic-composite plates, there are many options on the market for someone looking for protection. Details: There are two major categories of body armor, soft armor and hard armor, each with their own benefits and limitations. Soft armor is typically Kevlar, a densely woven, fiberglass-like fabric. Soft armor is comprised of many layers of Kevlar stacked on top of one another.  The primary benefit to soft armor is its wearab...

The United States' Gun Rights Debate

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Disclaimer: I don't think that it is a secret that I am pretty pro-gun. However, I want to do my best to give the other side a fair shake. I will try to give a fair overview of the anti-gun side. I think that it is important to have healthy debate within a democratic society. Also, if your ideas do no hold up to scrutiny, maybe they aren't the best ideas and there is room for improvement. Introduction: Gun rights in the United States have been a topic for debate for decades. Since as far back as the early 20th Century, the US has grappled with the question of what its citizens should be permitted to have, what kinds of people should own guns, and generally just what limits the US should put on its citizens. The gun debate has become a partisan issue along the lines of the abortion debate. Conservatives tend to favor fewer limitations on gun rights, whereas progressives tend to favor more regulations surrounding the 2nd Amendment. I'm going to do my best to go over ...

80% Lower Receivers

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Source:  https://www.ar15part.com/product-p/80pflr-15.htm Introduction: One of the unique aspects of American culture is our gun culture. Firearms enthusiasts and hobbyists have existed in the United States since its founding. We also have a unique distrust of government. The United States was founded through revolution against autocracy and the mindset of fighting tyranny has permeated into the culture today. I believe that few things exemplify both of these things more than the 80% lower receiver. Much like what enthusiasts and makers have done with 3D printers, 80% lowers seek to render gun control obsolete.   Details: The idea of an 80% lower receiver is that a prospective firearm owner can purchase a lower receiver that is 80% completed, machine out the other 20%, and then have a lower receiver without having to go through a background check. The 80% lower, especially for an AR-15 , is incredibly popular because they are unregulated. Because they're not ...

The AR-15

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Introduction: There is probably no more recognizable firearm in the United States than the AR-15. Designed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950's, the AR-15 style of rifles remain the most adaptable, dependable rifles in use by governments and civilians alike. The design of the AR lends itself to light recoil, fantastic ergonomics, and a well-sealed system that is resistant to mud and dirt ingress. The AR-15 style of rifle has seen every caliber and barrel length under the sun, and Stoner's system continues to be a base for firearms innovation and experimentation.  Details: The AR-15 is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle with a multi-lug rotating bolt. The multi-lug bolt has clear advantages over two-lug systems such as the AK-47 or M14. First, multiple lugs allow for a more consistent lockup, since there are more engagement surfaces between bolt and trunnion. This increases overall accuracy and consistency of the rifle.  Second, the multiple lugs allow for ...