by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
The once rather limited suppressor industry has been more active an aggressive in the last few years, gaining more consumer converts, winning legalization in several states for hunting and target shooting, and now facing the opportunity in Congress for possible reform of the National Firearms Act of 1934, under the proposed Hearing Protection bills in the House and Senate. (See the federal legislative report elsewhere in this issue for details, bill numbers and sponsors, as well as the supporting statement from Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, also in this issue.)
As previously reported in TGM, there is an unofficial Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) white paper that supports the removal of suppressors from federal restrictions and taxation.
Because of the boomlet in the suppressor market more firearms manufacturers have been offering products with barrels already drilled at the factory to accept standardized suppressors, also called silencers. And some others have begun making and adding their own suppressors to their product lines.
The companies that have been making suppressors under the NFA ’34 restrictions have also become more inventive in product development and competitive in pricing, and one of them that TGM knows about, Silencerco, has been marketing a suppressor for shotguns, in addition to its rifle and handgun product.
Now, Inland Firearms, makers of the very popular Inland series of M1 carbines, is now producing a classic-looking sound suppressor for .22 rimfire firearms that will be marketed exclusively through MKS Supply and will be on display at the NRA Convention booth 4632. This suppressor, with an MSRP of $189.95, is priced below the $200 cost of the federal tax stamp alone.
The all-new Inland PM-22 suppressor is constructed of 6000 series aluminum and weighs a feathery 3.5 ounces, making it one of the lightest such units on the market. The black anodized, one-inch-diameter tube is 5.5 inches long. For durability, the ½ x 28 threaded base adaptor is stainless steel with a tough black oxide finish.
The PM-22 uses a unique monolithic, X-design polymer baffle system core that can be used either “wet” or dry. Full disassembly can be completed without tools, and cleaning is simple using hot water and Inland’s dB Suppressor Foam.
Inland’s patent pending polymer baffle system has been tested to 10,000 rounds (so far) without needing replacement. If baffle replacement does become necessary, the PM-22 has a lifetime warranty (NFA replacement and shipping rules apply).
According to the company’s press release, the Inland suppressor keeps the decibel level in the low to mid-80s using subsonic ammunition and when shot dry. When combined with Inland’s patent pending sound suppressing dB Foam, the sound is reduced another 3-5 decibels (a 4-ounce can of dB Foam is included with each suppressor). To say it another way, with subsonic ammunition, only the functioning of the pistol’s action is audible from more than a few yards away.
The Inland PM-22 comes with a lifetime warranty. Fore information, contact MKS Supply, LLC in Dayton, OH. Phone: 937-454-0363; online: mkssupply.com.
Ruger Lower Receiver
Ruger has announced the release of the AR-Lower Elite, a fully assembled, full-featured premium platform for shooters who are building a custom modern sporting rifle.
The lower features the Ruger® Elite 452™ AR-Trigger, Magpul® MOE® SL stock and Magpul® MOE® grip. The AR-Lower Elite is built from the same hard-coat anodized, CNC-machined, 7075-T6 forged lower receiver as the Ruger® AR-556®. It ships with an upgraded trigger and furniture, and is fully assembled to include the pivot and takedown pins, bolt catch, magazine release, trigger guard, mil-spec buffer tube, buffer and spring.
The addition of a complete, mil-spec upper receiver assembly of the consumer’s choice is all that is needed to complete a fine custom modern sporting rifle.
On February 22, 2017, the Company previously announced the repurchase of 633,600 shares of common stock from January 1, 2017 through February 17, 2017. These shares are included in the total repurchases for the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, $5.5 million remained authorized and available for share repurchases and 17.7 million shares of common stock remained outstanding.
Army picks Aimpoint
Aimpoint, the worldwide leader in reflex sight technology, announced on March 22 that it has been awarded a contract for supply of 30,000 M68 Close Combat Optics (M68CCO) to the US Army. The Aimpoint CompM4s sight is type-classified as the M68CCO when used by the Army and Air Force. These sights will be supplied with a killFlash® anti-reflection device, rubber lens covers, and adapters which allow the sights to be deployed on all versions of the M16 rifle, M4 Carbine, and light machineguns such as the M240 and M249.
“Aimpoint has been a trusted supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces since 1997. With the troops counting on us to build the best sights in the world, it’s a job we all take very seriously,” said Brian Lisankie, president of Aimpoint Inc. “The CompM4s is the standard by which all other reflex sights are measured. These optics are designed to function with complete reliability and accuracy under the harshest conditions, and do so with near-legendary levels of ruggedness and dependability.”
Earlier, at the SHOT Show in January, Aimpoint announced the release of the new Aimpoint® Micro S-1 sight designed specifically for use on shotguns with a ventilated rib. The Micro S-1 greatly enhances hit percentage for waterfowl and upland bird hunters, and higher scores on the sporting clays course. It provides a compact, low-profile optic for turkey and deer shotgun hunters.
The innovative carbon fiber reinforced mounting system positions the Aimpoint® Micro S-1 on the lowest possible optical axis without adding unnecessary weight. The optic may be attached directly at any point along the ventilated rib, and currently includes interchangeable adapter plates to fit most Browning, Beretta, and Benelli shotguns.
Winchester award
Sporting Classics Magazine has selected Winchester Repeating Arms as their Company of the Year for their 2017 “Awards of Excellence.” Rafe Nielsen with Winchester Repeating Arms accepted the award from Sporting Classics during the recent Safari Club International Convention.
Here is what Sporting Classics’ Ron Spomer had to say about the award:
“Winchester isn’t just a brand; it’s an American icon, a touchstone to our heritage. Winchester’s innovations in rifles, shotguns, and cartridges over just the past 16 years easily earn Sporting Classics’ Company of the Year. Winchester Repeating Arms has been a firearms production stalwart, dependably serving its customers for decades. The innovation started with the 1866 lever-action Yellow Boy, the first Winchester-branded rifle and the first commercially successful repeating rifle ever. The Yellow Boy is still being made today. Next came the stronger, iron-framed Model 1873 lever action and the famous .44-40 centerfire cartridge. You know the rest: The Model 1886, Model 94 .30-30, the Model 97 pump, Model 12, Model 21 side-by-side, SX3 auto, Model 70, and, of course, the incredible .270 Winchester, .243 Winchester, .458 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, and many more. The 21st century has already brought us the Winchester Short Magnums. We here at Sporting Classics have a hunch Winchester isn’t about to start resting on its laurels.”
“We are honored at Winchester Repeating Arms to have been presented this award,” said Rafe Nielsen, communications manager. “Winchester is a brand with a rich history of providing innovative and quality products to shooters and hunters. We would like to thank Sporting Classics magazine for selecting Winchester Repeating Arms to receive their 2017 award.”