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Firearms Industry Booms In Montana
NPR ^ | 16 Jan 2012 | Katrin Frye

Posted on 01/17/2012 7:20:07 PM PST by smokingfrog

Firearms manufacturers looking for a favorable, pro-gun political climate are moving to Montana. The Flathead Valley in the northwest corner of the state has had a steady gun manufacturing industry for decades, and it's now looking to expand. Despite 10 percent unemployment in the area, gun industry jobs have increased during the economic downturn. Manufacturers now say they can't find enough trained machinists for all the jobs they have to offer.

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

The firearms industry is booming in Montana. Throughout the economic downturn, the state's gun manufacturers have added jobs. Part of the reason is a pro-gun political climate.

As Montana Public Radio's Katrin Frye reports, gun makers say they'd be hiring even more if they could find the right workers.

KATRIN FRYE, BYLINE: Montana Rifleman produces 1,000 rifle barrels per day in its Flathead Valley shop in northwest Montana. It sells the barrels to gun manufacturers like Remington and Winchester. President Brian Sipe founded the company more than two decades ago.

BRIAN SIPE: I started with $200. My father-in-law had a dairy farm up on Whitefish Stage. And I cleaned out the milk house and started gun-smithing and making barrels in that milk house.

FRYE: In the late 1990s, he expanded his business and created another company selling custom rifles to consumers. The two companies combined employ about 100 people. With the unemployment rate here stubbornly hovering around 10 percent, Sipe says there are plenty of workers, but he still struggles to fill certain jobs.

(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Montana
KEYWORDS: banglist; machinist
Audio and transcript at link.
1 posted on 01/17/2012 7:20:14 PM PST by smokingfrog
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They have .300 Blackout barrels for your AR-15.


2 posted on 01/17/2012 7:21:38 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> - - -)
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To: smokingfrog

“Guns Boom In Montana” (patting self on back for cleverness)


3 posted on 01/17/2012 7:30:48 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: smokingfrog

Trucks, tractors, guns and chainsaws. And a cheap energy supply.

What else could a country boy need?

3 cheers for Montana!


4 posted on 01/17/2012 7:35:39 PM PST by One Name
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To: smokingfrog

To prove they were “fair and balanced” NPR followed the report with a five hour special promoting gun control.


5 posted on 01/17/2012 7:50:05 PM PST by immadashell
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To: smokingfrog

Ya know, there’s a couple guys coming out with 300 saum & 300 wsm on AR platforms.


6 posted on 01/17/2012 8:17:52 PM PST by Eska
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To: smokingfrog

As I’ve remarked in other threads on FR, there’s tons of jobs available in the dirty trades. Machining here, but also welding, pipefitting, electrical work, mine/gasfield/oilfield support, drilling, you name it.

Somehow, some way, people are going to realize that there are jobs in the US economy. They’re just not going to be in posh addresses in NYC, and the highly over-rated BA in liberal arts ain’t going to mean jack for these jobs.


7 posted on 01/17/2012 8:22:29 PM PST by NVDave
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To: One Name

Beer?


8 posted on 01/17/2012 8:39:24 PM PST by Steve Newton (And the Wolves will learn what we have shown before-We love our sheep we dogs of war. Vaughn)
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To: Eska

.300 AAC Blackout looks like the bee’s knees to me. Just a barrel change-out and you’re shooting a .30 cal.

Plus, it’s got the Advanced Armament Corp. name behind it.
Daniel Defense, Spikes Tactical, Noveske and others have also jumped on the band wagon.


9 posted on 01/17/2012 9:24:49 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> - - -)
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To: smokingfrog

I keep seeing it mentioned, but never checked one out. We have a bunch or Ar’s; hunt caribou with them off snowmachines; 2 point team slings make it nice; why I now hunt with ar’s. I have a 6.8 & 338 fed and several 556’s. After seeing the 300 saum & wsm; I’m lookin. What’s the 300 AAC Blackout leaving the barrel at? My 30-378 with 168 grain & 107 grains RL-22 is around 3700.


10 posted on 01/17/2012 10:51:22 PM PST by Eska
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To: Eska
300 Blackout comes in subsonic and high power ammo. Great for hogs and deer, but probably not what you'd want to use on caribou. Works great for short barrel and suppressed guns.

.300 AAC Blackout FAQs

Barrel Cartridge Velocity Energy
9 in (230 mm) barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 115 gr UMC 2,120 ft/s (650 m/s) 1,136 ft·lbf (1,540 J)
16 in (410 mm) barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 115 gr UMC 2,295 ft/s (700 m/s) 1,344 ft·lbf (1,822 J)
9 in (230 mm) barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 125 gr OTM 2,030 ft/s (620 m/s) 1,143 ft·lbf (1,550 J)
16 in (410 mm) barrel 300 AAC Blackout, 125 gr OTM 2,215 ft/s (675 m/s) 1,360 ft·lbf (1,840 J)

The 220 gr. subsonic round has a velocity of around 1,100 fps or less.


11 posted on 01/17/2012 11:44:34 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> - - -)
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To: smokingfrog

What really had me scratching my head was a while back [a year and a half, maybe 2 years?] Henry Repeating Arms moved out of their Brooklyn NY digs.
.
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Across the river into
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[wait for it]
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.
New Jersey!

Ummm...OK, that makes sense. Not.


12 posted on 01/18/2012 8:27:16 AM PST by Peet (Cogito ergo dubito.)
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To: Steve Newton

Some things are so obvious as to be overlooked! I’ll drink a cold one to ya, FRiend.


13 posted on 01/18/2012 5:42:11 PM PST by One Name
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