The topic of the S2 has once again appeared on Gunnutz. It was very quickly mentioned that the price was high. It certainly is. The S2 is designed for the masses just like the Porche is; not at all.
It is not for someone who wants to waste the day shooting at cans on grandpa’s farm, it is a tactical trainer designed for precision, weight, function and feel. It is for a professional who is tired of light, flimsy crap made out of structurally weak polymers in third world nations. It is for someone who has pride in Canada and wants a Canadian made product.
Everyone seems to want cheap. This is why our industry is dying. Walmarts selling poisoned baby milk from China have spread like a cancer across North America and people enable it! On CGN a few months ago someone was wanting to get VZ58s built in China because the $800 price tag was too high. They wanted to see the price at $400. I had a few choice words for this individual. He did not want a quality rifle, he wanted tacti-cheap.
A North American manufacturing business can only successfully respond to the “cheap” with the opposite point on the buying spectrum; “Quality”. Sadly this response is a failing defense that appeals to less and less people. Some North American manufacturers have tried “cheap” with dismal results. It is sad, we have M1 Garands from WW2 that shoot as well as the day they were made but we have ISSC Mk22 that fail out of the box or the GSG-5 coming apart on the range. Yet suckers keep buying them… after all they don’t want quality, they want cheap.
Finally, I am a one man show; I am a machinist and a gun smith; not a web site designer, not an advertiser. So I get upset when people complain that the website sucks. Yes it is simple but at least it works. I am going to lay it out simply: do you want to buy guns from someone like me or someone web savy? A person is lacking life experience if they allow themselves to be taken by a slick conman with all style and no substance. A flashy website with sounds, animations, bells and whistles can never fill the gap of real competence where it matters: The Service and the product.
Showing posts with label GSG-5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GSG-5. Show all posts
Friday, 9 August 2013
Sunday, 2 June 2013
What is Going on With the Firearms Lab?
Recently I just finished a criminal intelligence course. The material was not new to me but it put intelligence analysis back into the forefront of my mind. I started to think analytically about the recent strange behavior coming out of the RCMP firearms lab.
The RCMP approved an AKM (AK47) look alike called the Canadian Sporting rifle. It looks exactly like an AKM and even takes AK47 magazines in the standard AK47 caliber of 7.62x39 Soviet. The internals are reported to be different. This flies in the face of previous RCMP rulings most noteable the .22LR Armi Jager. It looks like an AK47 but it had different internals, different materials and fired a different caliber all while using a different magazine. It was classed as prohibited based on looks alone. This was not an isolated thing; the crappy GSG-5 was also deemed prohibited because it looked exactly like a MP5. Different materials, different internals, different caliber but its appearance made it prohibited. The Colt-Umarex .22LR: restricted because of looks. This sudden departure from what has been the RCMP norm for well over the 8 years I have been involved in the industry suggests something has changed.
- Management. Last I heard, Bill Etter was still in charge of that gong show so this is unlikely. Perhaps the techs are cool guys who like guns?
- Money changed hands. Lets face it, there have been RCMP members caught killing people in jail cells and having sex with underage girls in cars, is it that far fetched to think some bribery took place?
- One of the techs snuck this in because he personally wants an AK. I know several people who are part of the gun control bureaucracy only because they want to act as agents of positive change; agents that are secretly on our side.
- Politicians put boots to ass and forced a change. That is how I forced the RCMP lab to give the S2 the ok. But the S2 I sent to the lab had no telltale features that looked like any other firearms.
I have had dealing with the lab so I know they are a slow, inefficient and stubborn bureaucracy. This fact forces me to conclude that this gun went to the RCMP lab anywhere from a year to 6 months ago.
So speaking analytically we have 3 hypothesis. Now lets looks at some disturbing data.
Recently the RCMP firearms lab has determined that the Sig Special “Sig 550” that the receiver is the same as its select fire counterparts. This moves the rifle from the category of non-restricted rifle into the prohibited category of “Converted Auto” – a made up Canadian term developed to ban more guns. Despite having no capability to fire full auto with no full auto fire control parts, it may be deemed an illegal gun. The RCMP did this with a small batch of VZ58 that mistakenly were sent with a converted auto receiver. So using deductive reasoning we can eliminate our first hypothesis from the list.
Even though they act like they are above the law, the RCMP must answer to parliament and the Minister of Public Safety. So what do you get when you force a bureaucrat to do something he does not want to do? A pissed off petty man who lashes out at those he thinks are beneath him. The Sig rifle may be a backlash to punish the citizens of Canada for forcing them through the democratic process to allow an AKM variant to hit the market.
Politics should be considered as well. So I will add it as a fourth Hypothesis. The RCMP actually lost the GSG-5 case before it went to the appeal court and was overturned. If the Canadian Sporting Rifle was deemed illegal (as the past pattern suggests) it could be another legal battle. You see the RCMP are playing a high stakes game, if they deemed it prohibited and lost a court case on the CSR it would force them to re-evaluate and re-classify many of their other prohibited firearms back to non-restricted status. Their credibility would be forever lost in the courts in regards to firearms and more importantly they would lose positive control over many more guns. This hypothesis fits the story of the CSR but not that of the Sig Rifle. Interesting.
Our new list of theories:
1 The firearms lab is taking bribes.
2 A Firearms Lab tech wants his own “AK47”
3 Politicians or put pressure on the RCMP labs with the “Canadian Sporting Rifle.” The RCMP labs responded to this insult by jumping on the “Ban”-Wagon.
4 The RCMP fear a court case that could shatter them.
This new data does not support theory 1 or 2 but it does not disprove it. Through inductive reasoning theory 3 is looking more likely. The introduction of the Sig Rifle data lowers the probability of Theory 4 as this could be a feared court challenge. But these events may not actually be linked meaning that it could be more then one of these factors after all it is a mistake to assume that decisions and actions are the result of a grand, organized hierarchy. Sometimes what happens is the result of misunderstood orders, political maneuverings or even insubordination.
News has also surfaced about the RCMP looking long and hard at the Norinco CQ rifle. This is a copy of the M4. Unlike most other AR15’s that enter Canada, this one is shipped with a full auto bolt. There are no other full-auto fire control parts. Apparently a gunsmith/manufacturer complained about it. The result of the Norinco investigation will suggest the driving influence behind the RCMP’s actions.
a. If the Norinco M4 comes back as restricted (what it is now) I would guess the lab’s goal is control. The rifle is part of the gun registry so it is still under the positive control of the RCMP. They have no interest other then to prevent the loss of more gun registry data. If the Norinco M4 stays restricted, I predict that the RCMP will work to reclassify as many non-restricted rifles as possible to keep accurate tabs on firearms and their owners. This action would also be another indicator that Hypothesis 3 is correct and Hypothesis 4 is not.
b. If the Norinco M4 comes back as prohibited, I would guess the lab’s goal is confiscation and starting a spearhead to eventually take other AR15s. The AR15 is only restricted because of name. A simple change in the Order in Council would force the AR15 (except for ones with silly short barrels) off the registry and into the land of non-restricted rifles. With a legitimate reason for an all out ban it would serve the RCMP’s interest to re-classify. This time they would have a real legal leg to stand on. This would mean that Hypothesis 4 is most likely correct.
I must conclude that, at this time, I can not definitively say what is going on. But I rate my hypothesis’ like this:
Hypothesis 1 (The firearms lab is taking bribes.): Unlikely
Despite some serious ego issues and some limited criminal actions, the RCMP is a large organization that for the most part is moral and just. To bribe the entire lab would be uneconomical considering how small our gun ownership actually is.
Hypothesis 2 (A Firearms Lab tech wants his own “AK47”): Possible
We know that our people are secretly embedded in the gun control structure. It is highly likely that such a person would love an AK47 but the size of the organization suggests this would be a tough one to sneak past the other lab people. It would depend on his ingenuity and understanding of the bureaucratic function. I would rate this as only “Possible.”
Hypothesis 3 (Politicians put pressure on the RCMP labs with the “Canadian Sporting Rifle.”): Likely
The RCMP must obey Parliament but dislike doing so. They managed to dance around my MP for a solid 3 months resisting my attempts to make a lawful living. When the Long Gun Registry was scrapped the RCMP’s CFOs attempted to punish the people through slow transfer times, a backdoor registry and ridiculous ATT restrictions. If their petty past is an indicator of the future they are trying to punish the public for demands placed on them through our democratic process.
Hypothesis 4 (Credibility called into question): Highly Likely
The RCMP were on the brink of losing the GSG-5 battle. A lower court held that the function of a firearm made it a variant. The appeals court ruled that identical guns are a variant noting the guns in question were advertised as a .22LR version of their prohibited counterparts. As no literature and/or advertisements make the “AK47” claim for the Canadian Sporting Rifle, the RCMP may feel that the element that got them to win last time, is missing.
In conclusion, we don’t know exactly what is going on, but I suspect things will get very clear in the next year.
The RCMP approved an AKM (AK47) look alike called the Canadian Sporting rifle. It looks exactly like an AKM and even takes AK47 magazines in the standard AK47 caliber of 7.62x39 Soviet. The internals are reported to be different. This flies in the face of previous RCMP rulings most noteable the .22LR Armi Jager. It looks like an AK47 but it had different internals, different materials and fired a different caliber all while using a different magazine. It was classed as prohibited based on looks alone. This was not an isolated thing; the crappy GSG-5 was also deemed prohibited because it looked exactly like a MP5. Different materials, different internals, different caliber but its appearance made it prohibited. The Colt-Umarex .22LR: restricted because of looks. This sudden departure from what has been the RCMP norm for well over the 8 years I have been involved in the industry suggests something has changed.
- Management. Last I heard, Bill Etter was still in charge of that gong show so this is unlikely. Perhaps the techs are cool guys who like guns?
- Money changed hands. Lets face it, there have been RCMP members caught killing people in jail cells and having sex with underage girls in cars, is it that far fetched to think some bribery took place?
- One of the techs snuck this in because he personally wants an AK. I know several people who are part of the gun control bureaucracy only because they want to act as agents of positive change; agents that are secretly on our side.
- Politicians put boots to ass and forced a change. That is how I forced the RCMP lab to give the S2 the ok. But the S2 I sent to the lab had no telltale features that looked like any other firearms.
I have had dealing with the lab so I know they are a slow, inefficient and stubborn bureaucracy. This fact forces me to conclude that this gun went to the RCMP lab anywhere from a year to 6 months ago.
So speaking analytically we have 3 hypothesis. Now lets looks at some disturbing data.
Recently the RCMP firearms lab has determined that the Sig Special “Sig 550” that the receiver is the same as its select fire counterparts. This moves the rifle from the category of non-restricted rifle into the prohibited category of “Converted Auto” – a made up Canadian term developed to ban more guns. Despite having no capability to fire full auto with no full auto fire control parts, it may be deemed an illegal gun. The RCMP did this with a small batch of VZ58 that mistakenly were sent with a converted auto receiver. So using deductive reasoning we can eliminate our first hypothesis from the list.
Even though they act like they are above the law, the RCMP must answer to parliament and the Minister of Public Safety. So what do you get when you force a bureaucrat to do something he does not want to do? A pissed off petty man who lashes out at those he thinks are beneath him. The Sig rifle may be a backlash to punish the citizens of Canada for forcing them through the democratic process to allow an AKM variant to hit the market.
Politics should be considered as well. So I will add it as a fourth Hypothesis. The RCMP actually lost the GSG-5 case before it went to the appeal court and was overturned. If the Canadian Sporting Rifle was deemed illegal (as the past pattern suggests) it could be another legal battle. You see the RCMP are playing a high stakes game, if they deemed it prohibited and lost a court case on the CSR it would force them to re-evaluate and re-classify many of their other prohibited firearms back to non-restricted status. Their credibility would be forever lost in the courts in regards to firearms and more importantly they would lose positive control over many more guns. This hypothesis fits the story of the CSR but not that of the Sig Rifle. Interesting.
Our new list of theories:
1 The firearms lab is taking bribes.
2 A Firearms Lab tech wants his own “AK47”
3 Politicians or put pressure on the RCMP labs with the “Canadian Sporting Rifle.” The RCMP labs responded to this insult by jumping on the “Ban”-Wagon.
4 The RCMP fear a court case that could shatter them.
This new data does not support theory 1 or 2 but it does not disprove it. Through inductive reasoning theory 3 is looking more likely. The introduction of the Sig Rifle data lowers the probability of Theory 4 as this could be a feared court challenge. But these events may not actually be linked meaning that it could be more then one of these factors after all it is a mistake to assume that decisions and actions are the result of a grand, organized hierarchy. Sometimes what happens is the result of misunderstood orders, political maneuverings or even insubordination.
News has also surfaced about the RCMP looking long and hard at the Norinco CQ rifle. This is a copy of the M4. Unlike most other AR15’s that enter Canada, this one is shipped with a full auto bolt. There are no other full-auto fire control parts. Apparently a gunsmith/manufacturer complained about it. The result of the Norinco investigation will suggest the driving influence behind the RCMP’s actions.
a. If the Norinco M4 comes back as restricted (what it is now) I would guess the lab’s goal is control. The rifle is part of the gun registry so it is still under the positive control of the RCMP. They have no interest other then to prevent the loss of more gun registry data. If the Norinco M4 stays restricted, I predict that the RCMP will work to reclassify as many non-restricted rifles as possible to keep accurate tabs on firearms and their owners. This action would also be another indicator that Hypothesis 3 is correct and Hypothesis 4 is not.
b. If the Norinco M4 comes back as prohibited, I would guess the lab’s goal is confiscation and starting a spearhead to eventually take other AR15s. The AR15 is only restricted because of name. A simple change in the Order in Council would force the AR15 (except for ones with silly short barrels) off the registry and into the land of non-restricted rifles. With a legitimate reason for an all out ban it would serve the RCMP’s interest to re-classify. This time they would have a real legal leg to stand on. This would mean that Hypothesis 4 is most likely correct.
I must conclude that, at this time, I can not definitively say what is going on. But I rate my hypothesis’ like this:
Hypothesis 1 (The firearms lab is taking bribes.): Unlikely
Despite some serious ego issues and some limited criminal actions, the RCMP is a large organization that for the most part is moral and just. To bribe the entire lab would be uneconomical considering how small our gun ownership actually is.
Hypothesis 2 (A Firearms Lab tech wants his own “AK47”): Possible
We know that our people are secretly embedded in the gun control structure. It is highly likely that such a person would love an AK47 but the size of the organization suggests this would be a tough one to sneak past the other lab people. It would depend on his ingenuity and understanding of the bureaucratic function. I would rate this as only “Possible.”
Hypothesis 3 (Politicians put pressure on the RCMP labs with the “Canadian Sporting Rifle.”): Likely
The RCMP must obey Parliament but dislike doing so. They managed to dance around my MP for a solid 3 months resisting my attempts to make a lawful living. When the Long Gun Registry was scrapped the RCMP’s CFOs attempted to punish the people through slow transfer times, a backdoor registry and ridiculous ATT restrictions. If their petty past is an indicator of the future they are trying to punish the public for demands placed on them through our democratic process.
Hypothesis 4 (Credibility called into question): Highly Likely
The RCMP were on the brink of losing the GSG-5 battle. A lower court held that the function of a firearm made it a variant. The appeals court ruled that identical guns are a variant noting the guns in question were advertised as a .22LR version of their prohibited counterparts. As no literature and/or advertisements make the “AK47” claim for the Canadian Sporting Rifle, the RCMP may feel that the element that got them to win last time, is missing.
In conclusion, we don’t know exactly what is going on, but I suspect things will get very clear in the next year.
Sunday, 29 July 2012
GSG-5
GSG-5s are considered a MP5 variant in Canada. As a result they are prohibited. I have been reluctant to do reviews of some of the other “Tactical 22s” that are available in Canada because I don’t want to be accused of bias. Well the GSG-5 can not be obtained in Canada and it will never compete with the S2 (as I do not export) so I have taken the time to research this rifle and once again it seems that the hype over a under-priced, airsoft grade 22 was just that… hype.
This is not truly my evaluation; I have only handled the GSG-5 once and only for a few minutes. I created this paper using several online reviews of the GSG-5 done by our American cousins and by evaluating technical data.
The GSG-5 is a dedicated rimfire .22LR rifle. The rifle is built to reflect nearly every detail of the MP5 Navy model. After a Trade Dress Infringement lawsuit against GSG, all new production GSG-5s have AR style “rabbit ear” sights which detracts from one of the major selling features of this gun.
The Commifornia legal version has a long barrel covered by a fake suppressor. The fake suppressor is removable and reveals a long slender barrel.
To save on design time and money, the rifle was engineered to use airsoft accessories; accessories that are much cheaper then their real counterparts. A user in the US reports getting a new GSG-5 and upon opening the box and attempting to place the stock on the rifle, the stock sheared in half immediately. Perhaps GSG felt rimfire ammo is cheap so the rifle should be too? The same user reports that the stock issue can easily be remedied by using an epoxy meant for plastics. In my opinion, having to repair a brand new gun before it is ever used is a disgusting show of poor quality and disdain for the end user and his hard earned money.
Multiple GSG-5 users report that the gun is accurate. One user reports that he was able to get 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards using optics. The same user assesses that the rifle is a 4.3 MOA rifle at 25-50 yards with any brand of ammo. The user is unclear as to what shooting position he used but I am assuming it was from the standing position. The users that wrote reviews were also not clear on how large their accuracy test fire samples were. I am curious what prolonged firing and heat does to the accuracy as the barrel is reported to be light and “slender”.
The "HK" slap can be used to operate the gun but it will leave a slight dent in the slot where the cocking handle hooks into. The rifle has a magazine disconnect meaning you have to place an empty magazine in the gun just to decock it. As a side note, owners of the GSG-5 should take care not to loose the red chamber tab the rifle ships with. Dry fring the weapon may harm the firing pin. The 10/22 bolt is superior as it can be dry fired.
Multiple users had issues with durability. Factory screws were reported as terrible; it used screws that can only be adjusted with the provided tool and made out of a soft aluminum that strips easily. One user corrected this problem by purchasing an after-market screw set with Allen bolts and also put in some HK pushpins for easier field stripping. Other users report that after 700 rounds many of the screws would start to work their way lose. The solution was to apply Loctite.
The last round fired will activate a bolt catch device. These don't have a bolt catch button like ARs or MP5/.40s do. You have to manually re-cock to close the bolt. I don’t consider this to be a big issue but some GSG-5 users complained bitterly about it.
Another issue with the GSGs and their reliability, seems to be the ejector. The ejector is housed in the big breech block assembly, it's a piece of stamped steel that was originally peened poorly to the wall of the bolt carrier. On older GSGs, these would loosen and quickly make the gun incapable of ejecting spent shells.
Fortunately, the newest GSGs are coming with the ejector riveted straight from the factory in Germany.
After viewing multiple videos of the GSG-5 firing, I can only conclude that during firing the bolt moves backwards a fair distance before engaging the extra spring tension of the hammer. What that means is the chamber opens prematurely and a lot of gas is lost diminishing the potential velocity and performance of the round. In the 10/22, the action needs to overcome the inertia of the bolt return spring and the hammer spring right away, slowing the opening time and trapping more gas in the barrel to push the round faster. Both methods work but one is better then the other.
I also managed to get a hold of the GSG catalog from the 2011 Shot Show in Las Vegas. I looked at the components and options that they sell. In my time doing foreign sourcing I have learned what factories in China build what items. What upsets me is they tout this as a German made gun. Perhaps it is assembled in Germany but the components are from China. I can prove this.
Why not buy American or Canadian? Keep gun manufacturing and jobs here? Why export your money to China?
Luckily this rifle will never appear in Canada. I read the laments of those who hate the RCMP for the prohibited classification (on CGN) but they have done us all a favor. If you want a toy, go buy an airsoft gun. If you want a real gun for real practice that will not break the bank, look elsewhere; the GSG-5 is not for you.
This is not truly my evaluation; I have only handled the GSG-5 once and only for a few minutes. I created this paper using several online reviews of the GSG-5 done by our American cousins and by evaluating technical data.
The GSG-5 is a dedicated rimfire .22LR rifle. The rifle is built to reflect nearly every detail of the MP5 Navy model. After a Trade Dress Infringement lawsuit against GSG, all new production GSG-5s have AR style “rabbit ear” sights which detracts from one of the major selling features of this gun.
The Commifornia legal version has a long barrel covered by a fake suppressor. The fake suppressor is removable and reveals a long slender barrel.
To save on design time and money, the rifle was engineered to use airsoft accessories; accessories that are much cheaper then their real counterparts. A user in the US reports getting a new GSG-5 and upon opening the box and attempting to place the stock on the rifle, the stock sheared in half immediately. Perhaps GSG felt rimfire ammo is cheap so the rifle should be too? The same user reports that the stock issue can easily be remedied by using an epoxy meant for plastics. In my opinion, having to repair a brand new gun before it is ever used is a disgusting show of poor quality and disdain for the end user and his hard earned money.
Multiple GSG-5 users report that the gun is accurate. One user reports that he was able to get 1.5 inch groups at 25 yards using optics. The same user assesses that the rifle is a 4.3 MOA rifle at 25-50 yards with any brand of ammo. The user is unclear as to what shooting position he used but I am assuming it was from the standing position. The users that wrote reviews were also not clear on how large their accuracy test fire samples were. I am curious what prolonged firing and heat does to the accuracy as the barrel is reported to be light and “slender”.
The "HK" slap can be used to operate the gun but it will leave a slight dent in the slot where the cocking handle hooks into. The rifle has a magazine disconnect meaning you have to place an empty magazine in the gun just to decock it. As a side note, owners of the GSG-5 should take care not to loose the red chamber tab the rifle ships with. Dry fring the weapon may harm the firing pin. The 10/22 bolt is superior as it can be dry fired.
Multiple users had issues with durability. Factory screws were reported as terrible; it used screws that can only be adjusted with the provided tool and made out of a soft aluminum that strips easily. One user corrected this problem by purchasing an after-market screw set with Allen bolts and also put in some HK pushpins for easier field stripping. Other users report that after 700 rounds many of the screws would start to work their way lose. The solution was to apply Loctite.
The last round fired will activate a bolt catch device. These don't have a bolt catch button like ARs or MP5/.40s do. You have to manually re-cock to close the bolt. I don’t consider this to be a big issue but some GSG-5 users complained bitterly about it.
Another issue with the GSGs and their reliability, seems to be the ejector. The ejector is housed in the big breech block assembly, it's a piece of stamped steel that was originally peened poorly to the wall of the bolt carrier. On older GSGs, these would loosen and quickly make the gun incapable of ejecting spent shells.
Fortunately, the newest GSGs are coming with the ejector riveted straight from the factory in Germany.
After viewing multiple videos of the GSG-5 firing, I can only conclude that during firing the bolt moves backwards a fair distance before engaging the extra spring tension of the hammer. What that means is the chamber opens prematurely and a lot of gas is lost diminishing the potential velocity and performance of the round. In the 10/22, the action needs to overcome the inertia of the bolt return spring and the hammer spring right away, slowing the opening time and trapping more gas in the barrel to push the round faster. Both methods work but one is better then the other.
I also managed to get a hold of the GSG catalog from the 2011 Shot Show in Las Vegas. I looked at the components and options that they sell. In my time doing foreign sourcing I have learned what factories in China build what items. What upsets me is they tout this as a German made gun. Perhaps it is assembled in Germany but the components are from China. I can prove this.
Why not buy American or Canadian? Keep gun manufacturing and jobs here? Why export your money to China?
Luckily this rifle will never appear in Canada. I read the laments of those who hate the RCMP for the prohibited classification (on CGN) but they have done us all a favor. If you want a toy, go buy an airsoft gun. If you want a real gun for real practice that will not break the bank, look elsewhere; the GSG-5 is not for you.
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