Buying Stuff Overseas via Internet:

New Zealand is a great country to live and work in - but as shooters we have to accept (or do you?) that we are a minority group in a small market in a remote group of islands closer to Antarctica than Australia.


Reading Gun Magazines and visiting on-line sites reveals lots of juicy desirable items freely available in USA at prices that would make a Kiwis teeth water - but usually when you enquire - you find that most US Dealers are not willing to supply or export goods to overseas markets .. too hard and not worth the trouble.


NZ Post 'YouShop' is one possible answer to this - as it is a Forward Address Service that gives you mailing address's in USA, United Kingdom, and in China that you can use as a local delivery address for hard to find goodies.




- Now don't for one moment hope that this service is going to let you by-pass import regulations and fiddle any naughty stuff through - as NZ Post run this service in full co-operation with our Border Protection Services (as it should be). I am sure that all NZ shooters are aware of the current regulations regarding importing firearms parts and the need to first obtain a Police Permit To Import.

First - Get Your 'Police Permit To Procure'.

I set up my YouShop account and I.D. on 24 September and as a starter test I ordered a pair of shoes from Amazon that they would not ship to me here in NZ - and then used my new US mailing I.D. and mailing address in Portland Oregon (The NZ Post Forwarding Warehouse).


- Two days later I got an e-mail from NZ Post informing that they had my shoes - and asking that I detail the price paid and state where I wanted them to deliver to. They then informed me that I needed to pay them NZ$36.25 for delivery to my home. Not bad. - I got another e-mail a day later to say that the package was on its way.


Currently NZ Customs are not charging the 15% Goods & Service Tax on imports valued at less than $400 - although the present very poor exchange rate with the US Dollar has increased costs by something like that much compared with last year.


Marty K

Note Added: NZ Post 'YouShop' specifically refuse to carry firearms and firearms parts. - How they may justify refusing to carry perfectly lawful and non-dangerous goods is beyond me.
Marty K.

New Gun TAX - They Got Capone:

Seattle City Council (West Coast USA) unanimously passed a new anti-gun move on Monday to impose a Tax amounting to $25 extra tax on each gun sold and 5 cents extra per round of ammunition.

This measure is claimed to "offset the financial cost of gun violence".

The new laws also make it mandatory to report any lost or stolen gun.

- Hmm - They got Capone for breaches of tax law remember.

The NRA has announced legal action against them.

Marty K

Passenger Train Attack:

This recent attack by an armed "extremist killer" was foiled by quick acting passengers.

The train from Amsterdam to Paris was travelling through Belgium when the heavily armed killer started his attack on passengers.

- It seems that first a Frenchman had a go and then when shots were heard by others - some more decided not to be victims. - Three (or four?) US Servicemen are variously reported as disarming and restraining the heavily armed terrorist - along with help from an older British businessman.

Well done to all who bravely acted to stop a major attack on innocent travelers .

I'm hoping that this signals a new attitude of self-defense and a move away from law-enforcement advice that we should all "not resist in case we make it worse - and risk assault charges!" - and that now all law-abiding folk may consider having a mind-set to uphold the law as best they can.

Marty K.

NZDF Select "Preferred Tenderer":

The NZ Ministry of Defence has announced that Lewis Machine & Tool (USA) have been chosen as "preferred Tenderer" to supply replacement individual weapons for NZDF.

LMT CQB160DGB

It is not known which exact model of the above AR type rifle will be selected - but this announcement contrasts somewhat with the Australian decision to buy AuSteyr EF88 'Bullpup' rifles.

It may be a concern that NZ forces will be deployed with very different weapons systems to that proposed by their usual joint operational running mates.

EF 88 - Australias Choice.

-  Perhaps this announced selection may be subject to "amendment" in due course?

- I do not wish to comment on NZ Armed Forces well considered decisions coming from Wellington but ...

The TFB post where I saw this announcement mentions intended use of 77 grain .556" projectiles but contains no mention of what optical sights system will be used by NZDF.

Marty K.

Gun Fatalities per 100K by Country:

Just a small attempt to put things in perspective - bearing in mind that America is often held-up as the gun-death disgrace of the world" (More people are killed in road accidents there)

Gun Fatalities per 100 Thousand head of Population:

Honduras              64.8
Venezuela             50.9
Jamaica                 39.74
South Africa         21.51
USA                     10.64
Argentina             10.5
Canada                 2.22
Norway                1.78
New Zealand       1.45
Australia               0.86
Netherlands           0.46
United Kingdom    0.26

- These figures are taken from Wikipedia who have a bigger/ better list.

I know that the minute anyone dares to quote figures - lots of objectors will say that they are out-of-date or that they don't mean what you think etc. etc. - so I'm not about to infer anything.

I was interested to see that NZs figure was much higher than Australia, & Netherlands & UK.

-I am wondering why - but I do know - from years of being concerned with "Health & Safety" in the workplace - many of my workmates had a very careless attitude and complained about "P.C. Freaks" (meaning me!).

Marty K.

Glock 40 MOS 10mm:

Well, I'm posting this picture of the new 'long-slide' because (1) it's a great look .. and (2) I really rate the 10mm cartridge.

GLOCK 40  10MM Gen 4

Hey Santa, can I have two please - one with and one without?

10 mm Auto   Caution - May be Hot

- I asked Greg Ellefritz of Active Response Training some time ago if he had any shooting statistics for the 10mm from his law enforcement research. He answered negative - but that he had a mate who swore that the Glock 10mm was the best thing handy for stopping Afghan terrorists in vehicles at a road block!

- You probably do need biggish hands or long fingers to be comfortable with the grips (15+1 capacity).

Glock 20 & Glock 29 in 10 mm with Heavy Hard Cast Bullets

Marty K.

P.S. I've just noted in passing - that two new outfits are advertising AR15 platforms that accept Glock magazines.

'Quarter Circle' show this lower receiver:

and

Angstradt Arms; Manufacturing complete systems in various calibers

.45", 9mm, .40" etc., 10mm too?

- If I find anything more about them I'll post about it .. Hmm, now if you could get the 9mm "Glock lower" and mate it to a NZ approved 'A-Cat' pump-action 9mm upper with a red-dot sight - that could work OK for Three Gun matches ...

M.K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870

N.Z. Shopkeeper wants to Dye Thieves:

The town of Huntly - a coal town some 90k south of Auckland  - is moving forward in its fight against crime and perpetrators.

- Church Minister and food shop owner Julie Jones wants shopkeepers to arm themselves with water-guns filled with paint or dye to identify the thieves,- and an air-horn to sound the alarm before dialing 111 for the emergency services.

She says "It's more an action of love." 

- I'd guess that she has been seeking a well meaning and 'christian' action.

A spokes-person for the neighborhood police was understanding and sympathetic - but did ask ".. What if he was six foot tall with a tattoo on his neck?"

Personally, I feel that the colored water could well really annoy a large-built robber - especially if it was kept handy (and cold) in one of her shop refrigerators.

Note: When the UK tightened its gun laws in 1997 - effectively banning private handguns - homicide rates doubled over the next eight years.

Marty K.

Gun Drawing used in Polish Bank Raid:

Oh my giddy aunt - you've gotta have a laugh eh.

The Telegraph newspaper of 16 Aug. reports that a 33 year old British man walked into a Warsaw Poland bank with a drawing of a gun and tried to rob it.

He approached the female cashier Agnieszla Wlodarski  - and because he couldn't speak Polish - showed her a drawing of a gun and then another card with his written demand "This is a robbery I have a gun  Give me all the money."

This must be a fine example of how well the UKs gun restrictions are working eh ! (except it wasn't in Britain - but he thought that was what a gun looked like) - Naah, he just couldn't speak Polish ..

 The Cashier did well and told him to "get back in the queue and wait your turn" - which our brave but stupid Hero did - sitting down in line - while she telephoned the police who arrested the unarmed trier at the Jerozilinskie Avenue Bank and have charged him.

Marty K.

Troy Defense Pump AR-15 in NZ:

- Just a quick update on the Troy pump-action AR 15 - the 'Sporting Rifle' is on the NZ Police Approved Import List and is being handled here in NZ by www.usaguns.nz  you can e-mail them at info@usaguns.co.nz

These are the restriction free 'A-Cat' version with a non-folding stock in .223", .300 AAC, & .308"

Well done Guys at USA Guns NZ

Marty K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745

AR-15 Pump&Lever-Action -Try Muzzle-Loading:

I've only just heard that a pump-action version of the AR-15 is being built in US by Troy Defense.

This "PAR" is being built in both .223" and .300 BLK currently,( and they are also building a different gun in .308")

This is very interesting to Kiwis as well as US residents of the anti-gun states - because no-way is this firearm covered by the "military style semi-auto" restrictions here. It is manually operated by the pump-action - but still accepts standard AR-15 magazines and other 'clip-ons'.

The folding stock would prove to be problematic but should be readily fixed to comply with NZ Firearms Regulations .. I hear some have already been imported that are non-folding.

While researching this story I came across brief mention of UK legal versions of the 'AR-15'  - one that locks open after each shot and has to be manually released each time to fire a further shot .. and I even spotted a story line that told of a 'lever-action' version !!

Supposed To Be a British Lever-action AR-15 in .30" Carbine Caliber?

- I know nothing!

____________

 - While we are looking at strange versions of the AR-15 - here's another eh:

Slide Stock AR-15 in 'Slow-Mo'

- Ammo must be cheaper over there in US of A.

.. and another "AR" styled lever-action piece:

Mossberg 464 SPX Rifle chambered For .30-30 Win?

- Don't ask me - but if you really want a SHTF version - consider the CMMG .50" caliber Muzzle-Loading Upper.

Muzzle Loader?

- Yup, drop in the powder charge (two powder pellets) - ram down the .50" caliber bullet and prime it by inserting a .223" brass shell case that's "capped" with a 209 shotgun primer !

They are saying you can have one for US$785. - But I've not found any video of it being fired - so maybe it is just a joke ..

Hmmmm - what were they on?.

Marty K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745

AuSteyr EF88 "on test":

Australian Defence Forces of # 1 Royal Australian Regiment based in Townsville  (part of the 3rd Brigade) in Northern Australia are reported to be testing the new version of the Steyr AUG known as the AuSteyr EF88.

AuSteyr EF88 - Interesting Camouflage Pattern eh.

- Even more interesting to me is the double optical sighting system mounted on top

 - I recall that our NZDF were complaining that their old current model AUGs were limited for usable range by the 1:1 optical sights as issued.

______________

This week-end, New Zealand is remembering the tragic sacrifice made by our armed forces in the attack to take Chunuk Bair on the Gallipoli Peninsula during the World War 1 'Dardenelles'  Campaign'.

August 1915

Marty K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745

NZ License Courses Disrupted:

Here in New Zealand new shooters are required to study the 'NZ Firearms Code' then take and pass a Firearms Safety Course before they are granted a basic Firearms Licence.

These courses are run by volunteer instructors from The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council  - Unfortunately this Council has just made changes ( cost saving?) that involve abolishing two administrative positions in training and safety .. and have also disbanded an advisory committee on firearms safety .

The NZ MSC is quoted as stating that it "will be appointing new partnership advisers and setting-up new issue specific advisory groups as needed".

- National shooting organisations are aghast at these proposals and say that the prospect of 'safety instructors' no longer being required to actually hold a Firearms Licence may be disastrous.

The eventual outcome of these changes is unknown - but currently whole teams of MSC volunteers have announced their resignation from that organisation.

- Currently the only alternative that I am aware of for new applicants for a Firearms Licence is to take a course titled 'Firearms Legislation and Safety Course' that is run by the Open Polytechnic. - I did this course way back in time and when I last looked it had become very expensive at $392.00. (this cost is of course extra to the Firearms Licence Application Fee)

I'm only guessing - but I'm expecting these changes to result in increased difficulty in obtaining a licence and much increased expense for prospective shooters.

Marty K.
P.S. - We had all better hope that the "new partnership advisers to be appointed" will exclude 'forensic adviser adjunct associate professor Philip Alpers' and his anti-gun 'Gun Policy.org' .

Pietta Pepperbox : 'Trail Boss' Powder:

 Gun Digest 2016  (- next years) has a small piece on page 271 of an interesting fun gun .. the Pietta Navy Yank Pepperbox .36"

.. Looks like a Navy Colt that's had a nasty accident eh

I like the idea of pepper box pistols and here's one muzzle-loader that's current - but it does look odd .. but there is plenty of room in that long cylinder and chambers for double ball loads - maybe even triplex?

____________

Even more interesting is page 194 - "Americas Enduring Big Bore" - telling a tale about the 45-70 Govt. a cartridge that dates from 1873.

This writer likes the veteran round - provided he's got a soft rubber butt pad !

Two of the guys (Cutters & JBTFL) at the pistol club have recently bought guns in this big old thumper caliber and I'm tempted to buy one too. That big lump of lead impresses the hell out of my grundies and you can soften its bark/bite by using sub-sonic loads - loading lighter chunks of lead in front of 'Trail Boss' powder.

I hadn't heard of Trail Boss until 'Cutters' explained his light-weight ( only 340 grains of lead!) plinking load in 45-70 to me a couple of months back .. -  a 340 grain hard cast lead pill doing around 1125ft per sec. driven by a 14 grain scoop of 'Trail Boss".

I M R Trail Boss is a bulky and distinctive fast pistol powder

 - ideal for reduced power cartridge loads.

 - I''m wondering if I was to buy something in this caliber - might I be able to load some brass with the same .457" (142 grain) balls that I'm chugging down-range from the ROA six-gun? ( Probably a .45" acp bullet would be more practical eh)

- It might be fun finding out - there are even handguns produced in this thumper cartridge too .. now there's a thought!

Marty K.

P.S. You can get your 2016 Gun Digest from The Book Depository - free delivery .
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870