This week flew by. For me it was all about work, trying to get projects wrapped up and meeting deadlines. Probably the most important thing is the kids have introduced me to the latest and greatest cultural sensation to grace our screens in the last month. I will spare you the agony of the details of what, where and who. However, it is worth mentioning that my kids and I use the same YouTube account on the TV, and when the kids watch things on YouTube, the algorithm picks up on their patterns. As a result, my YouTube feed on my phone has been cluttered with K-Pop videos, and it’s largely drowned out my usual firearm- focused channels.
Learn from my misery, and if you have grandkids over, have them use a dedicated account, otherwise you’re going to sort through hours of junk.
Website Updates
I have been working on cleaning up some of the older articles on the website. Many articles are 5+ years old, and they were written when I was still figuring things out. They are replete with typos, grammatical mistakes and formatting inconsistencies. Also, things have changed in the gun world, and I’d like to update the information.
We have also updated the SAAMI Pistol Catalog. The additions are the 5.7x28mm and the 30 Super Carry.
Time at the Bench
Fix-it Sticks
I spent more time gunsmithing this week than I did reloading. Mainly I was working on a few double stack 1911s. I found a “new-to-me” favorite tool; the ratcheting T-Handle. The specific brand is “Fix-it Sticks”, and I have seen them around for several years but have never really had an opportunity to mess with one.
It’s one of those tools you don’t think is going to be that big of a deal until you try it and it surprises you. I really liked the ergonomics of using it over a traditional L shaped wrench as it allows you to put a bit more pressure on the screw to make sure the bit is fully seated in the socket. It might save you from stripping a screw head. It’s got a few more features that I haven’t really used yet. Honestly just having the T-Handle ratchet really won me over. Sometimes it’s the little things.
Fix-it Sticks come in all sorts of preassembled kits that would work great in a “Go Bag”. Personally, I just picked up a couple of the handles, I have all the bits I need.
AGS Brass Annealer
If you haven’t gone down the rabbit hole that is brass annealing, now it is about as good as it gets. Especially if you do a lot of rifle reloading. When I first got into reloading in 2009, annealing was around, but I don’t remember seeing as many purpose-built tools as we have today. People talked about it, but it always seems to involve some variation of a pan, some water and a torch.
I use the AMP Annealing machine, and it’s been fine. Honestly, I was impressed when a buddy of mine showed me a video of him running the AGS Brass Case Annealer 3.0, that he picked up from Amazon for about $300
Obviously, this is made for all sorts of countries. His unit came with three different plugs and no torch head. Which, based on his experience, get the machine before you get the torch head to make sure it all goes together right. However, once he had it all set up, it ran very well. It’s faster than the AMP machine, and I’m sure those case necks are every bit as soft as ones that were induction annealed. If you’re in the market for an annealing machine, this seems to be a pretty solid option.
Industry and Legislative News
HPA and SHORT Act
Lawsuits filed to challenge the legitimacy of the registration requirement for Suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs continued to be filed over the last week. What started as a deluge is now tapering off to a trickle. Expect things to move at a snail’s pace as it works its way through the courts.
Pistol Braces off the Chopping Block
Anyone who has been following the trend of pistol braces knows that the ATF has waffled back and forth on their legality. This has been going on for the better part of a decade. In 2021 they proposed a new set of criteria on evaluating whether a pistol brace was indeed a brace, or if it was a short barreled rifle. After legal challenges resulted in two court rulings (Mock v. Garland, Britto v. ATF) against the ATF, we have been waiting to see if the ATF would file an appeal.
The news broke last week that ATF has abandoned the case and will not file for an appeal leaving in place the previous court rulings.
USPS and Handguns
The Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation are challenging the law prohibiting the shipping of pistols via the US Postal Service. Currently it is a felony for private individuals to ship pistols using the USPS, though FFLs may do so under specific rules. Personally, I am not all that trustful of the US Postal Service when it comes to delivering mail period, let alone shipping a firearm. I find it more inconvenient that it is a felony to carry a firearm into a USPS facility.
“Ghost” Guns Liability
The last piece of news that caught my eye is a lawsuit from the five victims’ families of the 2023 Kingsessing Mass Shooting against Polymer80 and its parent company JSD Supply. This is an attempt to hold the manufacturer liable for selling an “80% Lower” to an otherwise prohibited person. No doubt this will get into the minutia of what constitutes a “Firearm” and to what extent a company is protected by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).
These so called “Ghost” guns are privately manufactured firearms. Where the controversy has been is where companies have pushed the line to reduce the amount of work and skill needed to make a homemade firearm. It used to be you needed at least the patience of a monk and a file to manufacture something that might not blow up. Now you can make what is essentially a functional AR-15 receiver with a Dremel and a little luck. Capitalism at its finest.
This will be an interesting case as it will likely test the limits of the PLCAA, and if the courts rule in favor of the Plaintiffs we could see the “80% Market” take another serious blow.
New Guns and Gear
Tisas PX-9 Duty Comp
Tisas announced on July 16, 2025, the release of their new competition variant of the PX-9 striker pistol. It features a large “scoop” style comp that is integral to the slide. This style of compensator has really become popular. Almost like the Mag-na-porting of the previous century. It also comes optics ready, and they claim an upgraded trigger.
Folks not familiar with the Tisas brand can be forgiven, they are a more recent brand to make their way State side. Based in Turkey, they make a decent pistol for the price. Their 1911’s are everything you might expect a 1911 to be, and their double-stack 1911s are solid for the price. Right now, the firearms market is awash with Turkish firearms. Most are solid; some are not, so do your homework.
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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