American Gunsmith

Looking for ideas for our target audience of gunsmiths.

We currently offer all new subscribers a premium by sending them a copy of our Learn Gunsmithing: The Troubleshooting Method book. See AmericanGunsmith.info/subscribe for details. We’ve been offering Learn Gunsmithing for some time now and are considering a different (or additional) premium. One idea considered was “American Gunsmith’s MOST WANTED” which was “10 Projects, Fixes, and Upgrades Every Gunsmith Should Know”.
What gunsmithing topics would be of more interest to you and add value to your subscription? For any readers that would like to weigh in, please send your response to the Editor.

Index Update

This was long overdue. I’ve updated our Article Archive Index on the website. The text index of American Gunsmith articles there covers all issues from April 2006 to January 2010. Starting with the February 2010 issue and on, all articles published are added to the website as individual posts along with an abstract, sorted by category and archived by issue date. This site’s search feature as well as the “Find” feature of your web browser helps locate everything we’ve published since April 2006.

Shooting Events and Freedom Cabinet Giveaway

As reported previously, we’re giving away a Metal Art Biometric Fingerprint Freedom Cabinet Slider. Because the deadline is the end of December, you still have a chance to enter when this issue goes to print.

https://americangunsmith.info/metal-art-giveaway-2019/

To enter this giveaway, host a small, local shooting event. An easy, quick, scored course of fire held during a local hunter sight-in is ideal but anywhere and any type of shooting event you choose works. Submit a picture of your event along with a short description to the Editor about your shoot and we’ll put you in for the drawing. Winner will be announced in the next issue.

Read more in the December 2019 issue.

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Boyds expanded their stock offerings by adding new bottom metal for AI-style magazine Ruger American Rifles. Ruger released the AI-Style magazines for Ruger Precision Rifle and Gunsite models in 2017 and these precision-style magazines quickly made its way into a few of the popular American Rifles, including the Predator and Go Wild models chambered in .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and other popular short-action calibers. These components are black anodized, CNC-machined aluminum (bottom metal and trigger guard) with the magazine catch polished, CNC-machined aluminum to allow for a tight grasp on the magazine. Designed to to fit Boyds stocks without any fitting or alterations, the bottom metal kit also allows other Ruger American rifles to be converted to use Ruger’s AI-Style magazines.

Boyds also added stocks for the T/CR22 is Thompson/Center’s semi-automatic .22 rimfire rifle. The T/CR22 has an integrated Picatinny rail section and fiber optic front sight that adds modern features to a recognizable design. Boyds offers nine different stock shapes for the T/CR22, from the modular At-One stock with push-button adjustability to a more traditional Monte Carlo-style Rimfire Hunter stock. These stock models can be customized from 14 different colors and several styles of laser engraving. There are also stock options for T/CR22 rifles with 0.920 bull barrels.

Gunstock Configurator
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Walther Arms and Panteao Productions collaborated on a Walther PPQ Armorer’s Bench video. This full-length presentation gives a detailed look and thorough review of the Walther PPQ series of pistols. Larry Vickers from Vickers Tactical and Bret Vorhees, Vice President of Strategic Development at Walther, review the variants of the PPQ pistol, naming of the pistol, the modular backstrap system, field disassembly, cleaning and lubrication, reassembly and safety function check, cycle of operation, maintenance and troubleshooting, magazine maintenance, complete detailed disassembly, and accessories. Larry Vickers demonstrates field use of the PPQ series including proper grip, drawing from a holster, shooting skills, clearing malfunctions, and a range drill to hone skills.
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Choate Machine and Tool, a manufacturer and OEM supplier of rifle stocks, shotgun magazine extensions, and firearms accessories, is offering their Choate Modular Stock (C. Mod) chassis system. As a modular design, the C. Mod allows the user to change the forend or buttstock without removing the rifle action from the main chassis section after installation and/or bedding. This modularity provides adaptability for different shooting preferences without disturbing action-to-stock fit or needing to reconfirm zero after reconfiguring the set up.
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The WeaponLogic system from Secubit is an ecosystem of preventive maintenance and inventory management for large scale firearms management. Using an artificial intelligence-based system aimed at eliminating malfunctions in crucial situations, WeaponLogic is designed to improve mission success and personnel survivability.

WeaponLogic is a set of tools that gathers and analyses comprehensive weapon usage data. Data driven maintenance and smart weapon inventory management based on actual usage is gathered by constantly reviewing each weapon. The system provides optimization to 99% shot accuracy. This data provides immediate indications regarding weapon state and ammunition consumption. The system’s Smart Counter learns each specific weapon’s characteristics and provides analysis. The system’s Reader and Dashboard applications diagnose the data retrieved from each Smart Counter to create preemptive maintenance and ease inventory management. The system alerts the armorer which weapons require service and current supply status. The collected data is sorted and displayed in an easy to use interface with customization features.

WeaponLogic Smart Counter is a light-weight, simple to operate device, with an information storage capacity of up to one million shots, rapid data presentation, and a battery life with up to ten operation years. This information is transferred via RFID to the Reader and provides data on the weapon’s status within seconds. The Dashboard application provides data analysis and representation of each weapon’s condition and inventory management. It is compatible with Windows 7 and higher. Both the Reader and Dashboard applications provide usage data and analytics reflecting the weapon’s operational status for preventative and precise maintenance, along with inventory management features.

“WeaponLogic was developed to meet the needs of the forces in Latin America and the weapons in use in the region,” says Ruby Shasha, Secubit VP Marketing and Sales. “Secubit is looking forward to expand its cooperation in Latin America countries by providing a preemptive weapon maintenance system for enhanced cost-effective use of small arms.”

For more information about Secubit and WeaponLogic, visit Secubit-LTD.com or call 972-9-899-8125

Read more in the July 2019 issue.

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MasterPiece Arms was named the of the Official Chassis of the 2019 Precision Rifle Series season, marking the third consecutive year the company earned the distinction. MPA Chassis are machined from 6061 aluminum, have a V-bedding system, adjustable cheek piece and length of pull, a recoil pad adjustable for height and cant, Picatinny rails for optics and accessories, multiple QD sling swivel attachments, and built-in bubble level. MPA Chassis can be had for an ever-increasing list of barreled action, including Remington 700 Short and Long, Savage and Howa Short or Long Actions, Badger M2013, Mauser/Springfield, Surgeon, Stillers, and others. All are available in a variety of Cerakote finish and color options.

To give back to the shooters, MPA sponsors multiple PRS matches throughout the year, including the 2019 PRS Finale scheduled November 15-17, 2019. The Precision Rifle Series is a series of nearly 40 competitions throughout the United States with the largest being the GAP Grind having hosted over 400 competitors at the 2018 event. The Series tracks over 5,000 competitors competing in numerous Regional Series events consisting of local, one-day matches. PRS competition can be described as a blend of conventional and practical/action shooting. Rather than firing at static targets with concentric score rings from rulebook-prescribed positions, PRS shooting is done on steel targets of varying sizes and distances from varying positions and places of support, or lack thereof. The precision elements common to conventional competition are there as the targets usually subtend only a few minutes of angle and must be hit based on current environmental conditions. The action elements include ever-changing shoot scenarios and positions with elapsed times commonly used to break ties among competitors with an equal number of hits. Skilled shooters have described it as an ideal way to practice field marksmanship for designated marksmen and snipers.

“At MPA, we’ve made a commitment to the long-range shooting community and we are truly honored to once again be named the Official Sponsor of the PRS season. When you purchase one of our chassis, we never want you to regret that decision, and that is why all our chassis are backward compatible,” said Phil Cashin, owner of MPA. “We are out on the range, in the field, and at the matches with our customers, listening to their feedback and continue using it to produce a better product for them. We are committed to producing an innovative, quality-built chassis that every shooter can rely on.”

MSRP for the MPA Chassis ranges from $999-$1,150 depending on options. MasterPiece Arms uses high accuracy CNC machining, turning, laser cutting, and bending in its manufacturing process controlled by their ISO9002/TS16949 Registered Quality System. The company can be reached online at MasterPieceArms.com or 866/803-0000.

Read more in the June 2019 issue.

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