This week we have seen some unusual weather. We had days that reached the nineties followed by days that were mid-seventies. The kids seem like they are immune to it, they will go outside and run and play just as hard on a hot day as they seem to on cooler days. I try to remember my own youth, and frankly, the weather is not something I recall. I can remember the activity and the outcome, but whether it happened on a scorching or unseasonably cool day escapes me.
Something about getting older seems to trigger a change where the weather becomes an important attribute. Anyway, we are nearing the end of July, it won’t be long before we can enjoy cooler weather on a daily basis. I am looking forward to it.
Website Updates
The update of the 5.7×28 vs 4.6x30mm has gone better than I expected, and I have turned my attention to working through some of the other articles on the website. I have also restructured the menu items on the website to make it a bit easier to navigate.
This is the page that is dedicated to the deep dives that we do sometimes. Right now, I have sorted the deep dive into the 8.6 Blackout, and the 5.7×28 vs 4.6×30 into that category. However, I have more articles planned that fall into that category. Expect these to be technical pieces where we dig up and share data and allow that data to drive the summary of the piece.
This is a page dedicated to providing basic information to the curious, or to the new handloader. Articles posted here are meant to share the basic info, terminology, and practices that everyone should know when getting started in the hobby. Right now there is just one article I have linked to on this page, but we have plans for more.
Time at the Bench
Unfortunately, most of my time at the bench has been taking pictures for articles. Some of which I am sharing on this post.
Last week a buddy of mine introduced me to the AGS Brass Case Annealer 3.0. He continues to send me photos and videos of that thing running. I stand by what I said last week, for $300 that’s a hard to beat machine.
Industry and Legislative News
HPA and SHORT Act
There has been some news on this, but it’s not positive and it reinforces what many have been warning about. Senator Chris Murphy, a democrat from Connecticut, has proposed raising the tax from zero to $4,709 for SBR’s, Suppressors, and SBS’s, while only raising the tax stamp on AOW to $55. The move is largely seen as pandering to his base and stands little chance of making it through the Republican majority in congress. However it highlights the fact most everyone knew all along, the legislative process is a double edge sword, it can just as easily be used against us as it is used for us.
The astute among us might ask, “Why $4,709?” In the senator’s own words, it was intended ❝to symbolically charge gun buyers the average ‘cost to society’ per injury, rather than just a flat tax.❞ The figure comes from a 2022 study published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open and is frequently cited by gun control groups. The study calculated the average direct cost of a gunshot wound using hospital billing data. It’s yet another example of how gun control is increasingly being framed as a public health crisis.
Sig P320 Woes
It is being reported that an airman was killed on Warren Airforce Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The exact details are not known; however, we do know that it involved the M18, otherwise known as a Sig 320. Anyone who has been following the industry for the last seven years knows Sig Sauer has constantly been under fire for unintentional discharges.
Sig has consistently denied that any issue exists. This comes despite a voluntary recall to update some of the trigger components. The exact details of what exactly happened have been elusive so most of what’s being said on social media remains pure speculation. That being said, the Air Force has joined a host of law enforcement agencies that have banned or otherwise limited its use.
I see Sig Sauer being stuck between a rock and a hard place. They have taken a hardline stance saying that there is not an issue, and under no circumstances will the gun fire without a trigger pull. However, the weight of the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. Both stances can’t be simultaneously true, we will likely figure out what is true via the courts.
Good Guy with a Gun
There is nothing that is good about the stabbing spree that happened over the weekend at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan. All indications suggest that it could have been much worse, had it not been for a group of shoppers which included at least one shopper with a concealed handgun. This is not getting the attention that it should, as it goes against the media narrative of “All people with guns are bad”. It should be noted, that the good guy did not fire a shot.
Stabbing sprees are not common in the United States but do happen with some regularity across other countries. We do not know a lot about the suspect, and have no motive yet, so anything currently being reported or discussed on social media is pure speculation.
New Guns and Gear
Forced Reset Trigger for MP5
If you have been online at all you have probably seen the buzz that the line of Forced Reset Triggers (FRT) is being extended to both the MP5 and the AK47. Obviously, this was the natural progression of these products. If you’d like to see one in action, Garand Thumb has one of the best videos showcasing the MP5 FRT. If you’re not familiar with these triggers, it operates a little differently from a full-auto, in the sense it does not “hold and then release” the hammer via the sear, rather it forces the trigger to reset.
This reset happens despite you applying force to the trigger. If you continue to apply force the trigger will break, and the hammer will fall. If you let off the force, the trigger just resets and is ready for the next trigger pull. The difference between FRT and a full auto trigger pull is nuanced. Which is why it was involved in court battles with the ATF and was deemed to be illegal by the ATF, who in turn was sued.
In May 2025, Rare Breed Triggers reached a limited settlement with the ATF that resolved specific lawsuits and allowed them to resume sales of certain forced reset triggers, though the long-term legal challenges and regulatory uncertainty remain. It would not at all surprise me to see the ATF get back on their high horse and go after FRTs under a different administration, or if it is used in a mass shooting.
They are not a cheap trigger, but I am sorely tempted to get one. I’d toss it in a lower and use it for either a Pistol Caliber Carbine, or just a .300 Blackout build. Not sure my wallet can stomach the ammo bill that comes with owning one.
That’s all we have this week,
Jay & Marc
The Ballistic Assistant is a website dedicated to the art of handloading and shooting. We aim to share tips on reloading and shooting, inform others on what’s going on in the firearms community, and provide our opinion and thoughts on firearm related news and events. If you like what you read, we only ask that you subscribe and share with a friend or two.
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Jay – jay@theballisticassistant.com
Marc – Marc@theballisticassistant.com
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