I Want to Purchase a Firearm; How Does This Work?
How long does it take? How does the process work?
For seasoned firearm purchasers, the buying process can be an easy, familiar process but for new buyers the process might seem complicated or overwhelming. Fear not, the process is actually easy and straight forward.
Gun laws, of course, vary by state with a dozen and a half or so states requiring some form of waiting period and other states requiring special licenses or registration of firearms. However, one thing is universally true – when you buy a firearm from a licensed dealer, you must fill out some paperwork and, generally, go through a background check process (sometimes called a “Brady Check”).
One of the most frequent questions I hear from new purchasers at the gun counter, right up there with (and sometimes ahead of) cost and features, is how the process works and how long it takes.
Since most states (including ours) do not have additional waiting periods or extra licensing or registration, we will not address those things here and will, instead, focus on the standard nationwide process. Continue reading
Sol Invictus Arms Introduces TAC-9 Modular Pistol Caliber Platform
Introduced to the public for the frst time at the NRA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis last month, the TAC-9 is a purpose built modular pistol caliber platform from Sol Invictus Arms.
The TAC-9 is an affordable modernized 9MM sub-gun feeding from Glock magazines. It offers a durable and accurate weapon system in a compact yet modular platform. It features a blowback operated system ensuring reliability for the most demanding conditions. It is not another AR – The entire action is housed in the upper receiver and there is no buffer tube needed.
The Sol Invictus Arms TAC-9 was developed for motorcycle patrol officers who are often the first responders to active shootings. Armed with only their sidearm, many officers expressed a need for a compact weapon system that could be stored in their saddlebag and deployed quickly. Using the same ammunition and magazines was a key requirement during the development of the firearm.
At the heart of the TAC-9 is an all steel bolt which works with a standard AR-15 fire control group. This offers superior reliability and maintains the same manual of arms that users are accustomed to, decreasing training time on the new platform.
The TAC-9 is also equipped with a modular quick disconnect barrel system. This enables the user to switch from a pistol configuration to a carbine in minutes and without the need for special tools.
In addition, the TAC-9 also includes an adaptable rear trunnion that allows the customer to use a folding stock or standard AR-15 buffer tube. This makes pistol and carbine brace/stock configurations endless.
The TAC-9 is chambered in 9MM and comes with a 5.5” or 8.5” 4150 Chrome Moly ordnance grade barrel. The barrel, bolt, and steel receiver all feature a Nitrided finish for excellent corrosion and wear resistance.
Brownells Adds BRN-180S: Short-Barreled Version of BRN-180
Hot on the heels of one its most-exciting SHOT Show launches ever, Brownells has unveiled the BRN-180S – the new, short-barreled version of the BRN-180 complete upper assembly debuted at the 2019 SHOT Show.
Designed in conjunction with Primary Weapons Systems and FM Products, the BRN-180S retains all the desirable features of its big brother, but has a 10.5″ barrel for those wishing to build an AR-180-style pistol, or –with the required ATF paperwork and tax stamp – a short-barreled rifle (SBR).
Another new feature on the BRN-180S is a clearly-marked adjustable gas system, allowing the user to quickly tune the upper for either unsuppressed or suppressed shooting.
“The reaction to our 2019 SHOT Show announcement of the original BRN-180 was one of the largest, most-positive we’ve seen,” said Brownells Director of Product Management Paul Levy. “The most-common request from customers was for us to come out with a short-barreled version of the BRN-180. Thanks to PWS and FM Products, we were able to do that.”
Available for pre-orders now, the BRN-180S will make its first public appearance at the 2019 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits April 26-28, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Built around a short-stroke piston system, the BRN-180S drops onto any mil-spec AR-15 lower and makes it easy to attach either a folding pistol brace or folding stock.
Just like the BRN-180, the BRN-180S can be fired while folded.
Features of the BRN-180S Upper include:
- 10.5″ barrel
- .223 Wylde chamber
- 1-8″ twist rifling
- Twin internal guide rods
- Polymer ejection port cover
- Easy-to-remove M-LOK® handguard
- Original-style 3-prong flash hider
- Reciprocating side charging handle
- Adjustable gas system
Listed on the Brownells website as #078-000-537, the BRN-180S upper assembly retails for $799 and does not require an FFL to purchase.
To learn more about the BRN-180S, visit the Brownells BRN-180 page.
Range Time with Mossberg’s Centennial Gift to the Shooting: The Company’s First Pistol in 100 Years
To celebrate their 100th year in business, Mossberg is releasing a new pistol, only their second in the company’s history.
Don’t feel bad if you are unfamiliar with the shotgun powerhouse’s first foray into handguns. The Mossberg Brownie was the company’s very first firearm – a four-barreled .22 caliber pistol marketed toward hunters and trappers – was only produced from 1919 to 1932, during which it sold for a mere $5.
The prodigal pistol producer’s latest handgun, dubbed the Mossberg Carry 1 Sub-Compact (MC1sc), is more on-point for one of the hottest market segments today: the sub-compact single stack 9mm carry gun. The GunLink team went hands-on with the MC1sc at SHOT Show 2019, including getting some trigger time with the new pistol during Industry Day at the Range the day before the show officially opened.
My first thought when Mossberg announced the new handgun was that they were late to an already crowded party. A party already attended by a pretty popular in-crowd, including the Glock 43, Smith & Wesson Shield, Springfield XDs, and the newer Sig Sauer P365. Stiff competition for a company with a sparse track record in the handgun arena. Good luck, Mossberg.
My first thoughts when we met the MC1sc at SHOT Range Day were that it was remarkably well executed and Mossberg has a real shot with this pistol. Continue reading
SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range 2019
In the desert nearly an hour outside of Las Vegas, the cool air is filled with the smell of diesel exhaust and the sound of gunfire. Lots of gunfire. Like, really… a LOT of gunfire.
It isn’t some wild west shootout and, although there will be pistols at noon, they’ll be rattling off shots all day – along with rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and a whole lot more. Welcome to the 2019 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range.
As they do every year on the day before the NSSF Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades Show – the industry’s annual B2B expo – oficially opens its doors, nearly 200 vendors and exhibitors meet at shooting range in Boulder City to host invited media and industry buyers. Those in attendance braved the biting wind, easily 15mph all day long, to see industry leaders showcase the latest and greatest hardware that their companies have to offer. Not just to see new guns – but also to shoot them.
Given the political climate several years ago, it seemed as if a lot of firearms R&D had slowed down – perhaps for fear of increased regulation. The relentless attack on 2A rights has not let up in the latest election cycles and, when we saw that a couple familiar names were absent at Range Day, we worried that, instead of innovation, we might just find new lipstick on old pigs. While there was some of that – the same firearm lines with addition of new calibers or colors – we were treated to a few interesting items.
FN 509 Series of Striker-Fired Pistols Expands with New, Midsize Carry Model and Color Offerings
FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the release of the FN 509® Midsize, a new carry option in the FN 509 series of striker-fired pistols. Additionally, the FN 509 Tactical is now available in a matte black finish. These line extensions further FN’s commitment to offering a full line of options in the FN 509 series that meets all customer expectations.
“What truly sets FN products apart is the quality. When customers pick up the FN 509 in comparison to other striker-fired 9mm’s, they instantly notice the ergonomics, premium finishes and price point that is competitive,” noted Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FN America, LLC. “With the FN 509 Midsize and FN 509 Tactical in black, customers will now have four additional FN options in the 9mm striker-fired category to choose from. We believe that options are always a good thing and we’re proud to provide them to our loyal customer base.”
The new FN 509 Midsize pistol is chambered in 9mm and features a four-inch slide and barrel, frame with shortened grip and 15- or 10-round magazine capacity, backward compatibility to higher capacity FN 509 magazines with use of a grip sleeve and fixed three-dot luminescent sights. From individuals seeking a do-it-all range, home defense and carry pistol to law enforcement use as a backup duty pistol or carry model for plainclothes officers, the FN 509 Midsize is the ideal solution.
The pistol also features various upgrades including new sculpting around the magazine release for easier activation, a flatter-faced trigger for a more controlled trigger press and improved slide stop lever and texturing. FN 509 Midsize MSRP $649.
The FN 509 Tactical, the industry’s leading optics-ready 9mm striker-fired pistol, is now available in a matte black finish. The pistol features the company’s patent-pending Low-Profile Optics Mounting System™ that enables the platform to accept more than ten commercially-available miniature red dot (MRD) optics that co-witness with the suppressor-height night sights and remain adaptable to future optics releases with no requirement of direct milling of the slide.
The slide cap, for use when not shooting with an optic, has raised sight wings that protect iron sight alignment if the pistol is dropped or jostled, and provides a textured ramp for racking the slide against a belt loop, pant pocket or boot. An FN-signature 4.5-inch, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel with target crown, ½” x 28 threads that accept the bulk of 9mm suppressors available and thread cap with integrated O-ring to prevent loosening during use.
Lastly, the 24-round magazines, nearly identical in length to the pistol’s slide, maximize ammunition capacity without impacting carry convenience. FN 509 Tactical Black MSRP $1049. These two new pistol offerings are available for purchase today through FN-authorized retailers and will be on display at the company’s 2019 SHOT Show® Booth, #13662, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 22-25, 2019.
