Manufacturing Jobs We Can Use
By Mitch Berg
At least one company is expanding manufacturing in America:
Firearms maker Heckler & Koch announced today that it will manufacture two new rifle designs in a newly opened US factory in 2009. The new rifles, the MR556 and MR762, are inspired and influenced by the HK416 and HK417, two highly acclaimed models designed and produced by Heckler & Koch’s Oberndorf, Germany plant.The rifles will be produced at a new HK manufacturing facility in Newington, New Hampshire. The facility is co-located within an existing 70,000 square foot facility. HK began manufacturing pistols in the U.S. facility in late 2008.
“We’ve reached a major milestone in our objective to establish a production presence in the US,” said Wayne Weber, executive vice president of the US business unit of Heckler & Koch. “The new HK45 pistol is the first HK product officially ‘Made in the USA’. It is our goal to strategically transfer production of select HK products to the U.S., with the HK45 Compact being the next product to come off the U.S. production line and shortly thereafter, the MR series rifles.
I wonder if the Obama Administration is as proud of this expansion of manufacturing jobs as it should be?
Because he’s largely responsible for the demand. He was, in fact, the “stimulus“.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
Well, Obama has been good for the firearms industry. Now, if only he can persuade the H&K folks to bring back the P7…
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Black man elected president; gun sales rise in the south.
Very, very, surprising news, Mitch!
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am
AC: gun sales are going up everywhere. Former head of gungrabber organization become POTUS probably more significant than melanin content of said gungrabber’s skin.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am
Then again, it could be the zombies. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between zombies and gun grabbers; both want to eat our brains.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:02 am
Gun sales are up in NYC, Clown.
Can’t all be goombahs from Bensonhurst, can it?
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Wait – don’t you live in Bensonhurst? I always mix up Bensonhurst and Perth Amboy.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am
Obama isn’t black. He is decended from slave owners. Oh wait, he “plays hoops”, he must be an African-American.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
“Gun sales are up in NYC, Clown.”
Really? I’d be very interested to read about that! I’m sure you have a link to some data.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Actually, I do, and I’m mistaken. They’re flat in NYC proper, but up everywhere else.
You’d think with the accession of the Obamessiah, New Yorkers would beat their swords into latte mugs.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
Probably the most interesting thing about NYC gun sales is that there’s no indication that illegal sales are going up there; criminals know that whatever “gun control” regime Obama manages to put in won’t affect their ability to be armed.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
Gun sales are flat in NYC because all the pro athletes buy their guns in other places and bring them in.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Does this mean that prices will come down to the reach of us “working families” that have struggled to put a ’91 on the table for years?
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
OK, since this is a gun topic, kinda, and there are a couple of experts on the panel – any recommendations for a .357 revolver for personnal protection and a 45ACP for home? I narrowed my choices down to those two calibers. Getting a permit to buy sometime this week. Thanks!
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
JPA, there’s no substitute for trying them at a range. Every pistol will fit your hands differently, and each will recoil slightly differently. Personally, while I like the Colt M1911A I’ve known friends who complain it twists too much in recoil.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Nerdbert, I like a colt 45 gold cup for precision, but it does pack a heckuva kick.
I think the assumption that all liberals are gun grabbers is mistaken. Their are gun enthusiasts liberals as well as conservatives.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
DG,
As Joel Rosenberg and I have pointed out many times, the Minnesota Personal Protection Act could not have passed without the help of a lot of outstate and suburban DFLers, some of them liberals.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
.357: if you’re weight sensitive, S&W Model 340. Or just accept that, since you’re weight sensitive, you’ll do fine with .38 special, and get a 642.
If not, Ruger SP101. Just about perfect in a concealable small revolver for folks who don’t mind a bit of weight.
45 for home? S&W 625 — revolver goodness — or Springfield XD, combining good grip safety system with no “safety” switch to be in the wrong position.
Alternately, if you want to get out reasonably inexpensively, you should be able to find a small Taurus .44 Special revolver (the 445; the earlier 431 is larger) that combines quite modest size (good for carry) with Great Big Bullets. You’ll have to shop a bit carefully to find decent stuff in .44 Special that isn’t underpowered, but it can be done.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
My favorite; S&W Model 19-3 .357 Magnum is an excellent wheel gun for both personal and home protection – go to a range and try one out.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
struggled to put a ‘91 on the table for years?
’91s are pretty much collectors these days; the accursed Huns are destroying the G3s that they withdraw from Bundeswehr service. However, I found some CETME Model C’s – the piece from which the G3/’91 was derived – for relatively cheap in Shotgun News…
The new plant is going to build the MR762 – same caliber (7.62x51mm), but an M4-ish lower receiver and a gas-piston system.
I also love the ’91. One of the best rifles I’ve ever shot; I would love to be overly-solvent enough to justify buying one.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
JPA – if you’re in/near the Twin Cities, Bills Gun Range in Robbinsdale (the last I checked) allows you to rent pieces to try on the range. You need (now) a Permit to Purchase or Carry Permit to rent – so you’re qualified.
It’s not cheap, but it’s a great way to test something out before taking the plunge.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
You’ll have to shop a bit carefully to find decent stuff in .44 Special that isn’t underpowered, but it can be done.
When the slug you’re throwing is .44 cal, I’d suspect “Underpowered” is a tad relative…
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Well, sure. OTOH, the stuff Tom C. loads for me sends a 200-grain lead flat point downrange at 1000 fps, and is pleasant to shoot; it’s just a touch hotter than the Corbon rounds, but with better quality control. Compare that to the Silvertips, which only do about 900 fps.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Thanks! I was looking at Ruger GP100/SP101 and Kimber. Will have to expand to 1911 model as well.
And yep, I’ve heard of Bill’s. That’ll be my last stop before pulling the trigger (pardon the pun).
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
If I can put in a (customer-centric; I’m just one of those) plugs for Gunstop and Frontiersman, I’d like to. Gunstop has better prices on used stuff than anybody else aroudn except Streichers; both places do really well for their customers.
For 1911 clones, it’s hard to beat the Kimbers.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I’ve got a 1911. Pretty & powerful. Not a model for home defense, in my opinion. Hard to tell if you’ve got one in the chamber. The slide will break your thumb if you hold it wrong when you fire. Better for the foxhole than the bedroom.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I researched a few and ended up with a Taurus 4510 revolver (aka “The Judge”) for home. It can be loaded with either .410 shotgun shells or .45 Colts. Despite the caliber, it kicks less than a .357 and the .410 option means the first shot or two doesn’t have to be the steadiest to hit something (the pattern at 10 feet with #6 is pretty darn impressive) and there’s not as much concern with the shot passing through walls. If the target is persistent, 3 or 4 Colts next up in the rotation should settle things down nicely. The wife and daughters have demonstrated comfort and competence with it as well.
These models are really hard to find, though as the dealers can’t keep them in stock.
I’m still going back and forth on a carry piece between compact revolvers and pistols, but my brother is a huge fan of the Beretta Px4 and Bersa 380.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Carry piece: I’m kind of leaning toward the Paraordnance Super Hawg, combined with wearing overcoats and tuxedos with knee-length waistcoats year-round.
No, not really. It’s a fun thought, though.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Why would you bother with a pistol for home protection? A shotgun is cheaper, is a better chance to hit and as mentioned above there’s less penetration through the walls.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:02 am
For wives who don’t want a gun safe in the bedroom? *shrug*
February 4th, 2009 at 12:03 am
(By that I mean a larger model, not one that just holds a handgun).
February 4th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Shotgun is less expensive, but it’s harder to store securely but ready-to-use — to avoid kids playing with it or arming the burglar — and much harder to answer the door with without scaring the Girl Scout who isn’t intending to kick it in, but just wants to sell some cookies. I’m very much against scaring the Girl Scout, and not just because that’d cut off my supply of Thin Mints.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
T4510 – I’ll have to look into that one.
I have a shotgun, but agree with Joel – a little too unwieldy. I also have a P22, but prefer a revolver for carry.
Thanks again for the feedback.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Shotguns are devastating, but could be an issue in close quarters. A shotgun-pistol, on the other hand…
http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=577
February 4th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Glad to see H&Ks expanding here to the US. However, I am very concerned with this administration and it’s penchant for putting anti’s in key places. ie Holder.