They may be familiar to some, but not every gunsmith knows the ins and outs of drill bits. Here are the basics.

The graceful, light, and distinctive L.C. Smith Hammerless Double sidelock is a favorite of American shotgunners. Here’s how to fix its most common problems. If you own a Smith and want to make it suitable to shoot again, or if you are presented a Smith to repair, here’s what you need to know about the shotgun.

In June 2010, Kahr Arms purchased Minnesota-based firearms manufacturer, Magnum Research, Inc., maker of the Desert Eagle Pistol and BFR Revolvers in .44 Magnum, .45 LC/.410 or .45/70. Kahr Arms offers a selection of other niche-type firearms, such as the “Tommy Gun” and Auto-Ordnance line of M1 .30 caliber carbines. In this video, Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine shows off two of the company’s big-hole BFR wheelguns.

Beretta USA introduced the BU-9 Nano as its entry into the pocket 9mm pistol category last September. Initial shipments of the American-made pistol left the Accokeek, Maryland factory beginning in November 2011, with a suggested retail price of $475. In this video, Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine gets a detailed explanation of how easy the Nano is to break down for maintenance. The Nano's modularity provides for simple disassembly and easy cleaning. Safely disassemble the pistol by first engaging the striker deactivator, a patent pending safety mechanism that eliminates the need to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.

Gun Reports - News

ATF Claims Toy Guns Are Convertible to Full Auto Firearms

(GunReports.com)—David Codrea writing on the Gun Rights Examiner blog covers a story about ATF confiscating Airsoft paintguns because the agency claims they can be converted to full-auto firearms.

Codrea writes, "'Why is ATF seizing 'toy guns'?' I asked in my Feb. 28 Gun Rights Examiner column. We were discussing the bureau's seizure of a shipment of 30 Airsoft-type guns—the kind that shoot plastic pellets—and an agent's claim that 'with minimal work it could be converted to a machine gun.'"

KOIN television of Portland covered the story this way:

Codrea continues, "Reporter Alexis del Cid does a fair job summarizing the issues. One thing I do wish she'd given us, though, is the name of the "ATF spokesperson." Holding "public servants" personally accountable for statements and actions on their part that affect the public liberty is one way of making sure they consider such actions with care.

"The thing that's immediately noticeable is ATF has gone into full weasel-word mode.

"These people, amidst great media fanfare, have seized thousands of dollars worth of private property from a family-owned business under the guise of law enforcement. And now they're avoiding direct questions.

"Why?

"The anonymous spokesperson refused to answer the "point blank" question "Does the ATF believe these toys can be converted into deadly weapons...?"

To read the entire post, click here.

Reader Comments

Tell me this isn't a real story...........

Comment by: WADE M | March 11, 2010

Is this for real? It would seem that anyone with a functioning cerebrum could see that the strength of the materials in an air-soft piece cannot withstand the forces involved in firing and operating "real guns". This smacks of the same liberal logic we saw applied to the Glock pistols when they first made their debut. Remember?.....We were told that because the Glocks had plastic frames, they could pass through metal detection devices without being detected. And so here's just another attempt at panic motivation to support anti-Second Amendment programs, policies, and laws.

Comment by: canovack | March 11, 2010

Buy one now before it's too late! Abolish the BATF!

Comment by: tankjas556 | March 11, 2010

I don't know if Airsoft guns can be converted to full-auto firearms or not, but it isn't a question that needs an answer. Automobiles, truck, airplanes, bicycles, motor-scooters, etc., can be converted to bombs, but because they might be used that way does not make them conficatable. Many firearms can be converted to automatics, but they are not confiscated. ATF should be converted to a bad memory. They do not obey the law and they do not protect America. ATF represents the anti-personal weapon gang, and ATF's "regulations" do no good, while adding great bureaucratic complication to our right to self-defense. They lie, they cheat, and they have been known to conduct patently illegal operations. Get rid of them.

Comment by: WILLIAM R | March 11, 2010

Unbelievable.

Comment by: P V B | March 11, 2010

This is the "change" and "hope" governmentin action. This is the government a majority decided they wanted. Those voters now have the government they deserve.

Comment by: Bomberflieger | March 11, 2010

For some reason I do not think the ATF would have done this during the Bush administration.

Comment by: Robert J | March 12, 2010

OOoooo. Full Auto plastic pellet guns? What heinous damage! I gotta get me a couple. You never can tell when the plastic-fascistics are going to try to beat down the door! (Um, that would be the BATFE folks, btw.)

Comment by: david b | March 12, 2010

OOoooo. Full Auto plastic pellet guns? What heinous damage! I gotta get me a couple. You never can tell when the plastic-fascistics are going to try to beat down the door! (Um, that would be the BATFE folks, btw.)

Comment by: david b | March 12, 2010

Is it possible that this is part of some other, maybe even legitimate, investigation into copyright infringement, or lowers that are actually capable of conversion? I don't know enough about airsofts, but I know they are realistic as hell, and it isn't hard to imagine that some less-than-scrupulous foreigners simply copied the lower receiver of an MP-5 without regard to our laws. There really isn't much info in the article or video, though it was nice to see a gun related story portrayed in fairly positive light. Didn't ATI have to stop making the GSG because of copyrights?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge ATF fan, and this all looks really silly, even scary, especially when you consider the GSG barrel shrouds and the guy convicted of owning a "machinegun" because of a malfunctioning lower. Add to the mix what we all believe to be an extremely anti-gun administration, in spite of their apparent inaction on the legislative front. Coincidence?

Comment by: P V B | March 12, 2010

What I would like to see is a BATF spokesperson firing live ammo from one of these "easily converted" airsofts. They do, indeed, look realistic. And maybe BATF isn't spreading manure this time. By the way, I've got this bridge in Brooklyn I'm trying to sell....

Comment by: Visigoth52 | March 13, 2010

Is the bridge fairly new, or really old? ;)

Comment by: P V B | March 13, 2010

PVB, my bridge is not old--it is mature and experienced.

Comment by: Visigoth52 | March 13, 2010