Thursday, July 17, 2014

In re: The latest round of sanctions on the Russkies

Not being into 922(r) workaround AK conversions or jammomatic shotguns, I'm mostly worried about the potential for ammo makers being added to the list.

I don't really use 7.62x39 for anything and I've got enough 7.62x54R to last a couple zombie apocalypses, but I'd hate to not be able to run to Wally World and grab a few boxes of TulAmmo if I realize I underplanned my needs on day two of a three-day class in Anytown, USA. That's a convenience I've taken for granted for longer than I realized.

Also, Sebastian got the Quote of the Day on the topic:
But the other side of the coin is that this move screws two enemies with the stroke of a single pen. Putin is the one enemy, and we’re the other. It’s awfully convenient, don’t you think?
Whether the domestic collateral damage on bitter clingers was inadvertent or not, it was indeed awfully convenient.

Still, like arms and ammo from China, I've long considered the availability of the Russian stuff as volatile. It wasn't a matter of if we were going to get jammed up over something with the Russians, but when.
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16 comments:

Stranger said...

Hmm: Some 500 years ago a former ambassador for the Florentine Republic wrote a small book. In it, the worldly wise Ser Niccolo advised Princes whose people hated them to start a foreign war. A process often referred to as "wagging the dog."

Which is all right, so long as your military has sufficient horsepower to dispose of the enemy without excess casualties. But in this case the Prince is also gutting the military.

I am reasonably certain that Ser Niccolo Machiavelli would be appalled.

Stranger

Anonymous said...

I have always looked at Eastern Bloc ammo sources as a temporary fix to ammo hoarding in America. it helped with the surge in supply while the new guys stocked up, but the American suppliers are still more than capable of satisfying consumer demands once we are over that hump.

I also thought it would be a perverse universe that would create the circumstances where America fought it's next revolution using weapons that were used in Russia's revolution, as well as other guns and ammo produced by our former enemies.

Robert Fowler said...

"If a U.S. person has an inventory of Kalashnikov Concern products in which Kalashnikov Concern has an interest (for example, the products are not fully paid for or are being sold on consignment), we advise that U.S. person to contact OFAC for further guidance on handling of the inventory. [7-16-2014]"

There are probably going to be some dealers and distributors well and truly screwed.

RevGreg said...

This really sucks. My friend Tom got hired by RWC about a year ago to help improve the reliability and consistency of their products, hence the photo I posted the other day of the prototype shotguns he is working on that he had us beat the hell out of. I was actually really impressed with the one model are working on for 3-gun shooters, we put better than 600 rounds through it with only some issues we tracked to one of the magazines we were using. I guess he'll have the extra time to work on the AK refurb he was going to give me some assistance with now...

Tam said...

"There are probably going to be some dealers and distributors well and truly screwed."

Dealers and distributors? No, but there might be some guns stuck in importers' warehouses.

Scott said...

I have thought about buying some of that Russkie Military 9x18mm, but then again, who am I helping? I cannot even reload the empty cases. I will just keep buying brass 9x18mm. I love the smell of American or EU ammo much better than Russian ammo.

Lewis said...

We'uns has always been at feud with Eastasia.

Mister_V said...

A day later, Vepr 12's are sold out at $1400 apiece. If Molot's cut off, mosin prices may be about to go up too.

DaddyBear said...


I'm surprised it took this long. I seriously expected it to happen during the post-Newtown panic. He even did his normal press conference / photo-op to announce a slew of executive orders.

The Raving Prophet said...

And to think, a couple or three years ago we were all worked up about sporting purposes where the Saiga shotguns were concerned. Well, the ATF decided they were sporting and now the State Department is the one who actually managed to clamp down on the importation of the things.

I had a Saiga 12... I managed to trade it off for a Sig P938 and some cash when the post-Sandy Hook panic was in full swing. I don't miss it in the slightest.

But this might make me start thinking about stocking up on some more food for my SKS.

JohninMd.(HELP?!??) said...

J&G Sales has Brown Bear 9mm, 1000 RDS for $220.00 . Git it while it lasts.....

Kristophr said...

Aaaaaand an airliner gets shot down over the Ukraine.

Lusitania tickets, anyone?

Kristophr said...

This may be way out in conspiracy land, but two Malaysian Air crashes in a few months makes me suspicious.

Jihaddi pilot trying to start WWIII?

Kristophr said...

I'm going to retract the jihaddi theory. The video I watched looks like a missile strike.

Kristophr said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKIlueJg4cA

Will said...

Kristophr:

comments to that video say it was shown weeks earlier, of an Antonov that was hit by a SAM.

Apparently, the rebels had posted a video showing they had a truck mounted SAM system a while ago, but took it down after this Malaysian airliner was hit, and are now claiming they didn't have it.