Historical – Scattered Shots

Totally Tubular! – The GEA “Cyclone” and the PMC Ultramag

We have another pair of projectiles today: one AP and another looking for a purpose. The story starts with US Army ordnance engineer Abraham Flatau. One of his earliest experiments with tubular projectiles came about when he was trying to develop an improved grenade launcher projectile. The issue 40x46mm grenades had a high trajectory andContinue reading “Totally Tubular! – The GEA “Cyclone” and the PMC Ultramag”

A Brief History of FBI Semiauto Pistols

After the Miami/Dade Shootout of April 11, 1986, the FBI was not completely satisfied with the commercially available pistols in 9x19mm and .45 Auto.

Vintage Super Vel Ammunition Ads

In lieu of another data dump, here is a photo gallery of vintage Super Vel ads from 1967 to 1984

ASP “SWT” Ruger Revolver Conversion

For Forty-Four Friday, I thought that I’d mention the rare Armament Systems & Procedures (ASP) .44 Special conversions of Ruger Service Six and Speed Six revolvers. Given that they lost one round in cylinder capacity after the conversion, one wag dubbed them the “Fast Five.” Supposedly, only 96 of these conversions were completed, with theContinue reading “ASP “SWT” Ruger Revolver Conversion”

Garand and the SPIW Concept #1

Mythbusting time: This is NOT the Garand T31!

The USAF “Super Bullet”

Today’s ammunition data dump has a tangential relationship with the Second Chance Combat Shoot, as one of the designers was a frequent competitor. John C. “Jack” Robbins worked at the US Air Force’s Armament Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. His then 13-year old son, John, even won the 1977 match! Mas AyoobContinue reading “The USAF “Super Bullet””

Sound & Fury – The 9x25mm Dillon

Since I covered the .356 TSW and the 9x23mm, it seems appropriate that I should mention the brief reign of terror of the 9x25mm Dillon. Randy Shelley on the creation of the 9x25mm Dillon: “I have never shot competition, in my life. Yes, I shoot a lot, but not competition. I bought a Bo ClerkeContinue reading “Sound & Fury – The 9x25mm Dillon”