If someone were to ask you which products Colt has sold over the years, would you say a .22 semiautomatic rifle? I didn’t think you would. Colt made three versions of .22 rifles, the Courier, Colteer and Stagecoach, as well as others under several private-label names for Sears, Wards and other companies. This alloy rifle shot well, but did not hold up well. Unless it was kept oiled and clean, the alloy parts wore very rapidly. In spite of this, the little Colt rifles were good enough lightweight shooters that most owners will pay to get them fixed rather than discard theirs.

Introduced in 1963, the Remington Model 1100 shotgun has been around for over 40 years now. Variations include a sporter for field shooting, a Magnum version for ducks and geese, as well as a skeet and trap model for those who enjoy breaking clay targets. In all, there have been well over 3,500,000 Model 1100s produced over this period of time so you are bound to see one (or more) come across your bench. In this article, I’ll cover some of the common problems that result in ejection failures along with a few of the possible glitches that aren’t seen very often. And, of course, I’ll examine the cures that will help you get this shotgun back in service as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Check out several videos this week: Close quarter defense requires different tactics than defense from a distance. Pillar bedding is the process of installing aluminum columns in a rifle stock to ensure there is perfect metal-to-metal contact between the action and bottom metal. Gunsite Range Master Il Ling New demonstrates the how to properly load and unload your firearm.

What's ahead for the midterms? Jeff Knox at The Firearms Coalition says, 'There might be a few Democrats who haven't been able to bring themselves to declare support for the Second Amendment, but the official party line is broad support for the constitutional right, while interpreting it in the narrowest terms, and doing all they can to undermine and dismantle it.' As for the other party, 'Republicans, on the other hand, are generally supportive of the right to arms, but few of them have any more understanding of the issue than do the Democrats. They definitely lack the resolve and the backbone to vigorously oppose the Democrats' attacks on the Constitution and the President's appointments of radical extremists to the courts and high level government positions.'

Gun Reports - News

Courtesy, NSSF

Firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid $109.8 million in excise taxes in the first quarter of 2009, up 43 percent over the same period last year. Released by the U.S. Department of Treasury, excise tax figures are one of the industry's best indicators of performance. Manufacturers pay the tax -- a major source of wildlife conservation funding -- on all firearms and ammunition sold (11 percent on long guns and ammunition and 10 percent on handguns). Between Jan. 1 and March 31, $33 million was collected for pistols and revolvers, $38.9 million for long guns and $37.8 million for ammunition. Compared to the same quarter in 2008, collections were up 65.5 percent for handguns, 42.9 percent for ammunition and 28.3 percent for long guns.

Quarterly Firearm and Ammunition Excise Taxes up 43%

This dramatic increase follows a 31.3 percent increase in excise taxes from the previous quarter (4Q, 2008) and eight straight months of increased FBI background checks – another strong indicator of firearm sales.

A third reliable source, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), reported that in 2008, “Hunting and Firearms” equipment was the only category to grow double digits and only one of seven categories that exhibited growth. NSGA’s forecast for 2009 shows “Hunting and Firearms” as one of only two categories to exhibit growth.

Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax -- a major source of wildlife conservation funding -- on all firearms and ammunition manufactured (11% on long guns and ammunition and 10% on handguns).

This latest excise tax report, which covers the time period of January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009, shows that the following amounts were collected in taxes for various firearms market segments:

$33.0 million for pistols and revolvers, up 65.5% from 2008;

$38.9 million for long guns; up 28.3% from 2008;

$37.8 million for ammunition, up 42.9% from 2008;

Translation to sales:

Using the latest collections as an indicator of sales, a projection of $1.03 billion was generated in the first quarter (calendar year) of 2009, broken down by segment:

Pistols and revolvers: $330.4 million

Long guns: $354.3 million

Ammunition: $344.0 million

Reader Comments

How much of these increases are attributable to the "run" on firearms and ammunition that's taken place since the Obama Administration has assumed power? Hasn't the industry paid more taxes because they realized more revenue in the first quarter?

Comment by: lee b | August 6, 2009

I wander why they went up LOL

Comment by: bear1 | August 6, 2009