Website Updates 12-21-2020

Good Monday Evening! We have had a busy week for the website. I have spent a lot of time behind the computer working on a few different things. When I took a break, I usually took a break to work on something website related. So first thing is first, we are rolling out a new resource The Ballistic Library .

This is my library of books that I have sitting on the shelf. I have collected them over the years and have read through them. Sometimes they are quite good and sometimes they are not as good as I would have liked. Either way, there they sit. This library will hopefully help people looking to build their own libraries. I am working on writing reviews for each entry, so you will know what you are getting. The first three reviews I’ve linked below.

Thoughts On: .50 Caliber Construction Manuel

Thoughts On: British 303 Do Everything Manuel

Thoughts On: Backyard Ballistics

The library is also a means to help support the site. Clicking on the links will take you to Amazon, where if you make a purchase, we will get a percentage at no extra cost to yourself. In the future we would like to build affiliate programs with Brownell’s, Natchez and Midway USA, so we can all keep the money within the firearms community, however we are still too small of a site to qualify. All in good time.

The second feature I’ve added is a commentary or opinion page. There is a lot that happens in the firearms world. New guns, new ammo, and an ever changing political landscape. Sometimes something bugs me, and I just need to get my opinion out there or want to highlight something I think is of particular importance. Often times these “Commentaries” are not related specifically to a project, or fit neatly into a category. So for this I have created Jay’s Commentary.

The first entry into Jay’s Commentary is a piece I wrote called What’s the Deal With Pistol Braces? Personally I do not agree with the stance that is being taken by many in the industry. I do not think it helps us at all to make this issue the hill we die on, as some seem to be willing to do. Not when we have a possible assault weapons ban on the horizon, and especially not when we are the ones who more or less abused what was suppose to be an aid to our wounded vets. Let’s focus on solving the real problem, the NFA, not quibble over poorly devised work arounds that pistol braces have come to represent.

I know that’s going to be a stick in some people’s craw that I am not jumping on board with both feet, but my position has not changed from when the issue was with bump stocks. People openly flaunted the law, openly discussed purchasing pistol braces as a means to get around the NFA. What did they expect to happen? As I said real victims here are the vets who benefitted from the legitimate use of these braces.

The new making the rounds that I really wanted to highlight was a new firearm rumored release coming from Kel-Tec. It appears they may have been planning a SHOT Show 2021 release of a new pistol referred to as the P50. The only teaser image I have seen is shown below.

Besides this image which has been reported on by many sites, there is little be found in the way of information. What surely must be a very front heavy pistol it will be interesting to see how practical this thing is. Kel-Tec has always made some interesting firearms, and I have not heard much bad about them, except to say they seem to have supply issues, meaning they cannot build them fast enough. As a company that’s not always a bad problem to have.

Given this is probably the third or forth US Firearm to be commercially manufactured to fire the 5.7x28mm it will be interesting to see if there is a company that will submit it to for standardization. It remains a CIP cartridge, and CIP standards are likely being followed by those who manufacture for it. Since a special lacquer is applied to the outside of the case in order to aid in feeding, it would be interesting to see how SAAMI incorporates this in the standard. CIP makes no mention of the coating, SAAMI may follow suit…we will see.

By the way here are some cartridges that have recently submitted to SAAMI which are of note (The full list can be found here);

• SIG 277 Fury – SAAMI MAP of 80,000psi – 135gr@3000fps from 16in Barrel
  • Special notes on the drawing advise that cartridge case and firearm must be of special design to handle the high pressure.
• 12 Gauge 1 3/4 Shot Shells – SAAMI MAP of 11,500psi – 1oz slug @1200fps from 30in barrel
  • Introduces a new chamber, which may mean we’ll see some “short” action shotguns?
• 6.8 Western – SAAMI MAP of 65,000psi – 175gr @2840fps from 24in Barrel
  • Looks to be a new short action cartridge.
• 6.5 Weatherby Rebated Precision Magnum – 140gr@3,075fps from 24in barrel
  • Curious as to why Weatherby went with a rebated rim?

That is all I have for this week. As always if you are looking to get in touch, best way is to send me an email jay@theballisticassistant.com. You may check us out on Parler, Facebook, Instagram, MeWe, and Reddit If you’d like to submit a load to our load database the instructions are here.

Stay Safe Out There!

The Ballistic Assistant