Firearms Archives
Firearms Friday: Safety, Safety, Safety
By Lt Col P
A tragedy barely averted near Quantico, with my editorial comments in [brackets]:
"Woman Hurt in Bizarre Gun Accident
"DUMFRIES, Va. - A shotgun went off [no, it did not!] as a man was practicing loading it [with no regard for Rule 3] inside his home in Dumfries. The buck shot traveled through his house and into his neighbor's home [no shit! it tends to do that], injuring the woman. She is expected to live [thank God]."
The article, if correct, states that this is the THIRD time the man has discharged a firearm negligently. If those are indeed the facts-- it's hard to know for sure because the article is not well written-- then I'm sorry but some sort of action is warranted. (I'll be happy to dial it back in case the facts are otherwise.) For that guy, a retired Marine who should know better, "safety" is a little switch somewhere near the trigger and not a constant mindset.
This should be a good object lesson for all of us not to fall into the same negligent habits. Safety, safety, safety.
Firearms Friday: What, Only 21 Countries??
By Lt Col P
OK, once you look at the stats, it ain't a bad showing. I was pleased to have done my little part. :-)
Good work, fellow Americans! Keep it up.
Visit a Starbucks Today
By Lt Col P
I am a fairly regular Starbucks customer, so this is good news:
Gun fans cheer Starbucks' policy
"Dale Welch recently walked into a Starbucks in Virginia, handgun strapped to his waist, and ordered a banana Frappuccino [hideous!] with a cinnamon bun. He says the firearm drew a double-take from at least one customer, but not a peep from the baristas.
"Welch's foray into the coffeehouse was part of an effort by some gun owners to exercise and advertise their rights in states that allow people to openly carry firearms.
"Even in some "open carry" states, businesses are allowed to ban guns in their stores. And some have, creating political confrontations with gun owners. But Starbucks, the largest chain targeted, has refused to take the bait, saying in a statement this month that it follows state and local laws and has its own safety measures in its stores."
I think that is a just and wise policy. Good for them for keeping a level head about it. Stand by for the pinheads from the Brady Bunch, et al., to start shrieking. In the meantime, go grab a coffee, and tell them you appreciate the policy.
Humping
By Lt Col P
Survival Blog is a gold mine of interesting and useful information, like the recent set of articles on do-it-yourself aluminum casting-- who knew that people did such a thing?? Fascinating.
Anyway, here's another very useful article, on the deceptively simple act of tossing a pack on your back and setting off. There's some very good advice in there, and best of all is this-- try it out and work it out, before you have to throw it on and get out.
Also, recently we highlighted another Survival Blog note about Silver Bear ammo being non-corrosive, and therefore a good source for the millions of Mosins out there. I believe that its brother Brown Bear is also non-corrosive, and is even cheaper. Good news all around. (Can someone say yea or nay on this??)
Under-Resourced Americans Win Gold!
By Lt Col P
Bill Demong and Johnny Spillane from the notoriously under-resourced US Olympic Nordic effort delivered a one-two punch at Vancouver to win this country's FIRST GOLD MEDAL in the Nordic Combined.
The two Americans, whose training regimen was once so under-resourced that they had to lodge at an East German loony bin, surged to gold and silver in the large hill event. Contrast this to the over-resourced princesses in the figure skating squad, who have done not quite as well.
Good work, fellas! You make us proud.
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Weapons Wednesday: The Timeless AK, et .
By Lt Col P
1. MDL sent in this link from Time magazine.
2. I picked up my K31 today. NICE. PIECE. OF. GEAR. I think I need a cigarette. Actually what I need is ammo-- I have a sealed 480-rd Swiss battlepack, but it's so neat and well packaged that I couldn't bring myself to rip it open for anything less than TEOTWAWKI. I'll have to get a small mound of some already broken out ammo and take it to the range.
3. Speaking of the K31, it was the always-outstanding Loudoun Guns that did the transfer. They also installed an Ergo Grip and a Badger Tac-Latch on my M&P-15T, for no charge. I cannot recommend them highly enough. (BTW, that M4-gery, with the new AR-style front sight and the aforementioned add-ons, is now 100% battle-worthy.)
4. Two very interesting items in the first "bullet" point of this post at Survival Blog-- to wit, a certain set of Finnish M39s will qualify as pre-1899 antiques despite delivering entirely modern firepower, and that the Silver Bear brand of ammo offers non-corrosive cartridges for same. That is mighty good news, for the major drawback of the 7.62x54R is corrosive ammo. Take note!
Anyone else have some gun news?
And how about that Women-in-the-Sub-Fleet business??
"Bummed at Biathlon" and a New Bullet
By Lt Col P
(Sorry again for the light blogging, but I am still in the throes of some connectivity problems.)
First things first, I had a great range session yesterday morning with MDL. I busted the figurative rust off my .45 skills, and reacquainted myself with the iron sights on the S&W M4gery. I had a small epiphany: I stacked up my loaded mags on the table at the firing point, and shot til all were dry. At some point I realized that this is a bad habit to get into. So, I will now make it a point to shoot up to my last magazine, load it, then re-holster (sling up, or set it down) and re-load the empties. We ought never be caught with a completely unloaded weapon.
OK, well, it hasn't been our year for Biathlon. (Scroll down about a quarter of the way to begin the biathlon discussion. Yes, that article is a few days old but expresses a current sentiment.) The competition has been good, but it sure was a disappointment. Yet, we're building a base of experience for the future.
On the more positive side of firearms news: farther down in the same article (about half-way) , we see something that BR BullNav brought to my attention:
"The United States Marine Corps is once again breaking from the norm when it comes to their equipment. This latest break is in their 5.56 ammunition. This latest change means the Corps will be using an “open-tipped” round as opposed to the heretofore standard M855 ball round.
The New 5.56 SOST a "couple million" are already in theatre, and more is on the way.
"So what’s the advantage? The new SOST round (Special Operations Science and Technology) is a more deadly and more accurate round – especially when fired in the Corps’ shorter barreled rifles. Initially, the SOST was only cleared for use by the Special Operations Command troops (SOCOM) with their Special Operations Force Combat Assault Rifle (the SCAR).
"This new round is essentially an open-tip round, similar to sniper ammunition. It’s also supposed to be “barrier blind” – staying on target better than M855s after penetrating windshields, car doors and other objects. It’s also reported to stay on target longer when fired and deliver increased stopping power through “consistent, rapid fragmentation which shortens the time required to cause incapacitation of enemy combatants”."
(Is "open-tipped" a euphemism for "hollow-point?? Sounds like a step forward, either way.)t?? Sounds like a step forward, either way.)
Men's 12.5km Pursuit
By Lt Col P
Just watched the second half of the DVR'd biathlon from Vancouver, the Men's 12.5km Pursuit. Just like the women's race, it was a fantastic competition. The winner, Bjorn Ferry of Sweden, was able to capitalize on one opportunity, after not being near the lead for most of the race. The leader for most of the race, Jay of France, already won a gold so he's no slouch; but when Ferry saw the opening, his skiing ability in the final lap was the decisive factor.
Two good lessons there-- consistency and an eye for an opening.
Chicks Who Ski and Shoot
By Lt Col P
I just watched the DVR'ed version of the Women's 10km Pursuit in biathlon-- OUTSTANDING COMPETITION, and a brilliant win by Fraulein Neuner of Germany, who despite two misses prevailed over her very able competition. If you didn't see it, you missed a great event. A couple of items stood out for me:
- Beautiful form on skis (no pun intended); they go faster uphill than I go downhill.
- Very smooth gunhandling on the range, no fumbling with harnesses and whatnot. (Although I saw a few egregious violations of muzzle awareness.)
- Earrings were the rule rather than the exception; nice touch, girls!
- The timeless law of shooting, as articulated by one of my Gunsite instructors: "No matter what the situation-- combat, competition, self-defense or hunting-- the shooting problem remains the same." Yes, it's a highly stylized form of shooting, mostly devoid of its practical roots, yet one round missed can mean a medal missed. The entire race can turn on one shot. Fundamentals count, concentration counts, mastery of self reigns supreme.
Congrats to all!
2010 Biathlon
By Lt Col P
The Vancouver Games kick off tonight, and as usual I will be glued to the biathlon, if not live then through the miracle of the DVR. Even without Rachel Steer skiing and shooting for the USA, it'll be great to watch.
Here's the biathlon page, with schedules and more.
And here's the Team USA page. Keep an eye on Jay Hakkinen-- he demolished the field in his leg of a relay in Torino four years ago. I'd like to see him repeat that performance and ascend the podium.
Good luck to all!
UPDATE: Gunbroker is auctioning a heap of 2010 Biathlon Rifles-- I think something like 50, since they're going state by state. Now would be an excellent time to pick one up since the $$$ goes to the very good cause of the US Biathlon Team. (Yes, I have put in a bid.)
Gun-Day Sunday
By Lt Col P
A break from the horrors and vicissitudes of life-- the Booth Babes of the SHOT Show, by way of Field and Stream.
Gun-Day Monday: Good Advice to Buy Now
By Lt Col P
Courtesy of MDL, some very timely advice to buy now, while you can...
Why No One Invades Switzerland
By John
In honor of the latest addition to LtCol P's arsenal....
Gun-Day Sunday in Three Languages
By Lt Col P
Guten Tag! Bon jour! Buongiorno!
Why in three languages, you say-- and in those three languages particularly?
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Gun-Day Sunday: REGISTER! OBEY! BOW DOWN!
By Lt Col P
By way of Survival Blog, comes this post.
"There was a time in this country when an NCO [or Officer] who went about unarmed ANYWHERE, was out of uniform. Now he’s a terrorist."
Fort Benning is the last place I'd expect to see that. I would have guessed that, after eight continuous years of war, we'd have weeded out the sheep and the risk-averse. Fuck me to tears, but it looks like we've promoted them.
Good Lord.
Weapons Wednesday: WaPo Articles
By Lt Col P
Two damn fine gun-related articles in the WaPo, in two days.
First is about the resurgence of the WVU rifle team, and it shows shooters in a positive light. (I sent it to our jumper/jumpmaster/Ranger School grad Catholic Chaplain, who is a WVU grad, and he responded that that's where he learned to shoot as a cadet and first scored expert!)
The second is a very nice column about Hunters Feeding the Hungry in Maryland. The columnist presents both sides (there ought not be two sides, but that's not his fault), but he delivers a stealth beat-down to the PETA freaks in the last sentence. (And check out the guy's score for the year!) Well put, sir, well put indeed.
Like we've said before, we often hammer the WaPo for nutty writing and loony op-eds, but when they get it right we also like to highlight that. If you agree, send those two writers a note and tell them so.
Firearms Friday: Tests & Competitions
By Lt Col P
I'm still gleefully sifting through Cooper's Commentaries, choosing at random. Although I'm sure I've read all of them at least twice before, I'm always amazed at what I see after a fresh look. Never a dull moment...
Anyway, one of the themes he frequently sounds has to do with firearms competitions, in particular keeping them relevant. (See Feb 2002, among others.) I'm not an IPSC or IDPA shooter, and I do admire the marksmanship skill on display there, but I can't help but think that Cooper was onto something. (Imagine that!)
So here's one idea I've been thinking about for a rifle competition, somewhat akin to the Donga at Gunsite but a little different--
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Stepping Out Smartly
By Lt Col P
A very good article in the WaPo on the French units operating near Kabul. (Excellent photos as well; and note please that it's Marines and Legionnaires!)
TAGAB VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN -- Hundreds of French and Afghan troops on Sunday pushed into a hostile valley in eastern Afghanistan where militants launch quick attacks and then disappear into hillside villages. The mission: Secure the area for a planned bypass road around the Afghan capital to move supplies from neighboring Pakistan.About 700 French troops, joined by 100 Afghan soldiers, moved into the Tagab valley before dawn with more than 100 armored vehicles. U.S. and French attack helicopters roared overhead as insurgent snipers fired from the roofs of houses onto the advancing column of vehicles, according to a reporter for the Associated Press who was traveling with the French troops.
I have not accompanied any French units into combat, but I can say with perfect candor that I have found every French officer here to be absolutely professional, capable, and dedicated to the cause. Bon chasse!
And on a related note, let's make it a Gallic Gun-Day Monday with a nod toward the French FAMAS. I'm going to try to fire one before I leave.
Gun-Day Sunday: The Robinson XCR
By Lt Col P
Just took the plunge on a gun that I've had my eye on for a couple of years-- the Robinson XCR, in 7.62x39mm no less! Yes, I've heard good things and bad things, but my assessment is that the gun has had the kinks wrung out. And then, I saw one on Gunbroker.com (where else??) and it sang out to me-- slightly used and broken in, with sights affixed, several magazines, and some extras. And the price was right. After a couple of emails with the seller-- turns out he bought it while *he* was in Iraq-- and with the ever-ready Loudoun Guns, I realized that the transaction was do-able. So all I have to do is wait til I get back, complete the paperwork and it's mine. N I C E.
I had originally been looking at an XCR in 6.8mm, but when I saw this one, I realized that in 7.62x39 it fit the bill better, because I already have assloads of ammo for it, and we *know* that the round will do the deed. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Manual of Arms
By Lt Col P
By way of Tony-Sahib, a great online source for firearms manuals. Free too, by the looks of it.
Tell Us Something We Don't Know
By Lt Col P
A little Gun-Day Monday action for you.
Shh! The word's getting out-- the 5.56mm round ain't all it's cracked up to be!
The study, co-written by Nicholas Drummond, a strategy consultant and ex-Welsh Guards officer, described British soldiers' rifles as "not much more useful than a peashooter".Taliban marksmen use powerful 7.62mm ammo for their AK47 machine guns, according to a report of the study in The Sun.
Aside from obvious errors in that last sentence-- AKs ain't machine guns and they really should qualify "7.62mm ammo" as being not exactly the same as the 7.62mm NATO cartridges-- there is much to be said, but little that hasn't already been said.
We've known this for a while. The accuracy is not in question. The power of the round is.
Gun-Day Sunday: The Straight-Pull Ross
By Lt Col P
Courtesy of resident gun-sleuth Tony-Sahib, we bring you a particular variant of the straight-pull bolt action Canadian Ross rifle.
Originally chambered in a proprietary caliber for the Canadian Army, the rifle had a checkered history. It was by all accounts a very accurate rifle, and it did well on the range. (There was a good article on it in American Rifleman sometime earlier this year.) However, it was not well-suited to the demands of trench warfare, and was quickly superceded by the .303 Enfield, unofficially at first by acquisitive (and smart) Canadian soldiers.
Now, the one shown below was captured or seized here in the recent past, and was handed down by various occupants of our office. Tony-Sahib did a little checking and found that a whole lot of them was made for the British Army in 1915, chambered in .303. This is one of them. Overall it's in good condition, but somehow the bolt was put together improperly, so that you can't pull it back all the way, thereby rendering it ineffective. A good illustration of why it wasn't a successful fighting rifle. How exactly it got here, none can say, but I bet it could tell some tales.
Here, you can see the straight-pull bolt:
Here, the whole thing, borne by a true rifleman.
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Do We Need a New Weapon
By Townie 76
Interesting piece which I found on the Fox Website. Do we need a new rifle for the Armed Forces? If so what should the specifications be? Do we retain the 5.56mm round, or do we go for a larger round such as the 6.5mm or the 7.62X51mm? If we decide to get a new weapons, who should be in charge of managing the acquisition program; the Army or the USMC? What I found interesting was it was not just the M4 which failed but also the M249 (SAW). The SAW has been troubled weapon since it was introduced back in the 1980's. Your thoughts--please.
Brother, Can You Spare a Firing Pin?
By Lt Col P
Good little post over at SurvivalBlog today about stocking spare parts for your guns. (Permalink isn't working, just go to today's entry and scroll down to "Letter Re: Firearms Spare Parts Recommendations.")
For AR bearers, allow me to add this-- carry a firing pin and a complete bolt with you, perferably in something like an Ergo Grip. If your extractor shits the bed, it's better to swap out the bolt and worry about a repair later.
Does the II Amendment Apply to the States
By Townie 76
In the 2007 Term of the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 5 to 4 in DC v Heller that the II Amendment means what is says and that the DC gun control laws were an infringement on the rights of individuals to "keep and bear arms." In the next term of the court, which commences on Monday, the court will hear arguments "is “[w]hether the Second Amendment is incorporated into the Due Process Clause or the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment so as to be applicable to the States, thereby invalidating ordinances prohibiting possession of handguns in the home.'" Here is a link to the Washington Independent which provides good background on the case.
Incorporation is a doctrine in which the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution is applicable to the states through the XIV Amendment. The late Justice Hugo Black attempted to get the Court to rule that this was case, however he was never able to get the five votes necessary for full incorporation although the Court has selectively incorporated various rights found in the Bill of Rights.
Stay tuned as this is a very important case. Even though we have a new Justice, the calculus of the court has not changed.
Magazine Bleg
By Lt Col P
Anyone have any experience with Bushmaster 5-round AR magazines, especially in use with GI M4s? Do they fit flush with the mouth of the mag well?
Yes, I realize it's a little irregular, but there's a reason behind it.
Good Deal: US Biathlon Rifle up for Auction at Gunbroker
By Lt Col P
You gotta act fast, but there is a United States Biathlon “Team 2010” Limited Edition Rifle up for auction on Gunbroker.com.
You are bidding on the documented prototype rifle for a 2010 United States Biathlon “Team 2010” Limited Edition Rifle for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The rifle is a Savage Mark II .22 long rifle BTVS with custom red, while and blue laminate stock. Laser engraving of the official U.S. Biathlon logo and the official 2010 Vancouver logo is by Baron Engraving. Use of the Olympic logo is sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee. The Mark II BTVS features overall length of 40”, barrel length of 21”, 5-round detachable box magazine, scope bases, Savage Accu-Trigger and heavy-duty target barrel. The Mark II BTVS was selected as an “Editor’s Choice” and a “Best Buy” by Outdoor Life Gun Tests ’08 and is the first rifle to achieve both designations. Your BTVS will be shipped in the original factory box with documentation from the United States Biathlon Association and Baron Engraving that this is the original prototype “Team 2010” rifle. All proceeds will benefit the United Sates Biathlon Team as they prepare to represent our country in the 2010 Olympics.
Current bid is $560. WE CAN DO WAY BETTER THAN THAT. The US Biathlon squad is the hard-working, least appreciated team in the Olympic line-up. In 2008 they came within an ace of winning a bronze medal. They need every cent they can get, because they don't have the sponsors and exposure that the downhill skiers or the skaters do.
And I know this is a legit auction because when I saw it I emailed the Biathlon Team. Max Cobb, the director, wrote back immediately to say yes, it's all good and he's hoping that this and other fundraisers bring in some cash.
Quick Update... current bid is at $705, because I tried for it it but couldn't reach the high bid. That's good news! It also means that this outstanding piece of gear is still going for a decent price...
Weapons Wednesday
By Lt Col P
Been a while since we talked GUNS. And since I'm carrying day-in/day-out, inside and outside the wire, I'm paying very close attention to the care and maintenance of said weaponry, even more so than at home. I do a quick once-over daily, but every week I do a detailed strip-down, wipe down, and re-lube. (And then I clean my guns! Ha ha ha, but seriously...)
Being always on the prowl for improved TTPs, I found some good info on weapons lubrication. The first, from Vickers Tactical, is an excellent discussion of the overall subject:
"The golden rule in weapons lubricant is you can run a gun dirty and wet, but not dirty and dry."
The second I found while rooting through some documents at Pat Rogers's site pertaining to the M16 and M4:
"You need to be able to apply the lube properly. Generally, place oil on the inside of the bolt carrier, the bolt cam pin slot, on the underside of the bolt carrier and on the bolt itself, especially around the gasrings."
Excellent advice-- you don't need lube all over the damn thing, just on the right parts.
Both of those gents know that of which they speak; read and heed.
Great Moments in Self-Defense
By John
"I'd shoot again if I had to."
The thugs entered a world of hurt when they barged into Augusto's Harlem restaurant-supply shop, Kaplan Bros. Blue Flame Corp., Thursday afternoon, pulling out a 9mm pistol and pistol-whipping an employee as they demanded cash."I told them there wasn't any money. 'Take your gun, put it in your pocket, and go home.' They had a chance to leave," Augusto said.
But they didn't listen.
So Augusto, 72 -- known to most as "Gus" -- channeled his inner Dirty Harry and pulled out the Remington shotgun he had hidden under his desk for 20 years. He opened fire three times, peppering all four men with buckshot.
"I did what I had to do," he said. "It wasn't my choice; it was their choice."
And the veritable icing on the cake...
Augusto and his employees tried to get back to business as usual yesterday, although it wasn't easy. When a woman came to place a candle outside the shop, J.B. angrily kicked it across the pavement."Who's this for?" he demanded of the startled woman. "For the guy who died? F- - - him!"
Hotel Tango: Ace
Gun-Day Monday: Bullets and Bullet Placement
By Lt Col P
OK, great article at The Survival Blog about terminal ballistics. In a sentence, it's the right bullet, of appropriate caliber, delivered accurately, that wins the day. For the soldier or Marine, the choice is simple-- we get FMJ ball ammo, period. However, I suggest you read and pay close attention.
The great Jeff Cooper made many of this article's points throught his writings. The performance of the Barnes X-Bullet is extolled repeatedly by Farnam as a fight-stopper and game-killer. And if you've read the classic book about Operation Gunnerside, you will remember that one of the Norwegians was repeatedly vexed by the performance of military rounds on reindeer.
Yes, this has to do primarily with game, but as one of my old Gunsite instructors was fond of pointing out, "No matter what you're doing [hunting, combat, whatever], the shooting problem is the same." The well-organized citizen's armory has a variety of ammo, with good hunting rounds stocked in quantity. One never knows what one will have to do, and a wider understanding of small arms is always a good thing.
Tactical Arms: New Season
By Lt Col P
Yet more good news on the guns-on-TV front. Tactical Arms, the successor to Tactical Impact, is airing now on the Sportsman Channel.
Looks to be even better than its predecessor. The first episode (see clip here) was outstanding.
The Best Defense: Survival
By Lt Col P
Fans of Outdoor Channel's outstanding Best Defense series, listen up: The new season is up and running, focusing on survival, or "prepping" if you prefer.
I'm watching Episode 1 right now. Good stuff.
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Gun-Day Sunday: "And Pass The Ammunition!"
By Lt Col P
Gun-Day Sunday to the Nth degree. Here's the an excerpt from the article published a couple weeks ago, but I saw the good pastor interviewed this a.m. on Fox & Friends:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky pastor is inviting people to bring their guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church on June 27, a Saturday.
An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety. ...
So, instead of bingo in the parish hall, that'd be BANG-o??
I'm all for it. Violence in, at, around churches is if not an everyday occurrence, also not unknown. (See a most timely Stratfor guest article at Rawles's place for a related topic.) The government of colonial Virginia not once but several times passed laws requiring all able-bodied citizens to go armed to church. And of course the Knights of St John always went armed to chapel, but they were in a class by themselves.
While the shepherd is tending the flock, sheepdogs still have to stand guard.
Gun-Day Sunday: Trigger Control, and the K31
By Lt Col P
Had a great range session this morning with good friend, fellow Marine and frequent commenter MDL. He brought his DS Arms FAL and his straight-pull Swiss K31, of which more anon. I brought the M1 Carbine and the 1911 .45-- of course, since I carry it-- and some odd boxes and clips of ammo, basically to blow the existing low stocks for each. Since I had a limited round count, I decided to focus on trigger control and rapid follow-up shots.
If I came late in life to the True Path of practical shooting, i.e. the teachings of LtCol Jeff Cooper, et al., then I came later still to trigger control, more accurately trigger reset. I don't know why, but I didn't "get" trigger reset until I did John Murphy's two-day handgun course. It was indeed a most glorious revelation, and it has greatly improved my abilities. Taming and harnessing trigger reset is the key to rapid, accurate follow-up shots, as in the "controlled pair" and the "failure drill," and all of their manifestations. (If you don't understand what I'm talking about, see below the fold.)
Bottom line is that while you should always strive to know your trigger and master its reset, a low round-count or limited range-time is a great way to evaluate and improve your ability in this critical skill. It is also, I hasten to point out, a fine dry-fire drill as well. And is dry-fire not the foundation for good shooting?
The M1 Carbine performed well. Not flawlessly, but well. I love the way it handles, mounts and points, but the feeding and ejecting needs some attention. I'm using quality ammo, so I don't know if it's magazines or the gun in need of a tune-up. Probably the latter. Anyway, I like that gun, and I'll do what I need to do to get it into fighting trim. MDL shot a full magazine from it, and expressed approval in terms that denoted his desire to acquire one. I have seen that before, and it usually means a visit to g u n b r o k e r . c o m ... For my part, I put 20 rounds through his FAL, and felt some lustful urges of my own. Nice piece of gear that, and the .308 "strikes with authority," as John Farnam says.
Speaking of gun-lust, MDL also brought the K31. A beautifully made article, and like he said, with "laser-like accuracy." I can't describe the feeling adequately here, but it was the smoothest bolt-action military rifle I've ever fired. And the six-round group at 50 yards offhand, minus two fliers, was something I'd expect from myself from a supported position with a familiar rifle. That's a rifle that should not be underestimated-- I'd rather face a hundred peasants with AKs than ten trained marksmen with K31s.
Go forth and shoot. And mind your trigger reset; the effort will repay a hundred-fold.
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A Lovely Sight
By Lt Col P
This is what I wish my gun safe looked like.
That's a lot of P-Mags!
(Thanks to MDL for the pic.)
Gun-Day Sunday... Ammo and Whatnot
By Lt Col P
Ammo, in case you haven't noticed, continues to be an issue. Prices and scarcities beset us on all fronts. Getting anything at the local gun shop is a hit or miss affair. Why, just yesterday I rode into Leesburg to see if Loudoun Guns had any .45 ACP FMJ (my top priority), and if so at what price. They had three 50-rd boxes of Magtech for about $32 each! I did get a brick of Remington .22 LR hollow points, but no .45. I'm not knocking LG, mind you, and it's good that their business is up. I'll just order from Georgia Arms and wait for delivery, or score a bid on Gunbroker. I was so flummoxed by the whole experience that I was forced to go to Vintage 50 and have a beer.
Anyway, I strongly recommend Ammo Engine and Gunbroker. AE will at least give you an idea of the going price per round even if no one has what you're looking for, and then you can go to GB and bid with authority. Oh, and for those of us in the Old Dominion, check out VA Guntrader.
On a more positive note, did you see what Countertop scored??? Pretty nice!
Also, did you see what Michael Bane unearthed at Stoeger? That has promise. I've often thought that the one improvement a coach gun could really use would be a way to attach a light. Now, if they'd only make it with exposed hammers, as the great Jeff Cooper specified...
Gun-Day Sunday: PTP Lead-Slinging
By Lt Col P
I'm a little time-late here, but Brother Rat Doc H has THIS and THIS on his pre-deployment weapons training.
It harks back to the good old days, when he and I spent hour upon hour, hellishly good fun, at this place. He usually bested me on the trap range, with the Remington 870s we both bought for something 200 bucks at the Havelock Wal-Mart. A big fat breakfast at the Bear Creek Cafe (not there anymore, I don't think), hours and hours at Flatwoods; yes, that was an era unto itself.
On a separate but related note, Michael Bane tells us that Ruger is now in the AR market. From the spec sheet it looks like it's ready to go right out of the box, which is a good thing. I look forward to hearing how it holds up.
Oh, one more thing...
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Gun-Day Monday: Training and the .22
By Lt Col P
Check out Michael Bane's very timely post on the simple, honest .22 and its value as a training device, and the always-critical importance of dry-fire.
With .22 ammo still priced reasonably, there is much to be said for it. (Plus, it's a versatile hunting round.)
As for dry-fire, he no speak with forked tongue. We so often tend to overlook this critical (and cost-effective) piece of the training regime. Many of the fundamentals can be learned in careful concentration down in the basement or out in the garage, such as the draw-stroke, reloading, trigger control and more importantly, trigger reset.
Curiousier and Curiousier
By Townie 76
From the folks who brought you many of the most weird and wacky court decision, the United States Court of Appeal for the 9th Circuit, comes a decision that has Liberals suffering fits of hysteria, the Brady Bunch (e.g. Anti-Gun Brady Bunch) gasping for air, and Conservatives scratching their heads, comes a decision which incorporates the 2nd Amendment through the 14th Amendment and applies the principals laid down by Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller 554 US 290, 128 S. Ct. 2783 (2008). Here is what the folks at SCOTUS Blog said.
Delicious AK-47 Takes Dangers of Fatty Foods to New Level
By John
Ok..... gross or awesome?
Please, no "scrambled egg PGM" quips in the comments.
Dude!
By John
Detailed AAR: Minuteman Rifle Course, 4-5 April 09
By Lt Col P
Allright, grab your note-taking material, hold all questions til the end.
To recap the basic facts about FPF Training's Minuteman Rifle Course, 4-5 Apr 09:
Class size: 12, usual gamut of civs and mil.
Gear: unadulterated WASR-10 w/ a Specter sling, six magazines; Beretta 92-G in an old mil-issue holster.
Round count: about 400 7.62x39 (all Golden Tiger), about 30 9mm.
Ranges: 5 yds to 100 yds, majority were at 25.
The course started with paperwork and then about three hours of classroom work. Safety is a big topic, for obvious reasons. Murph uses the basic four safety rules, handed down from Gunsite, so nothing outlandish, unheard-of, new, complex or misleading. Muzzle awareness is also a major point, and the subject of considerable discussion and demonstration. He also went over the range rules (as distinct from the basic safety rules), which concerned the dos and don'ts for our specific range.
Other lecture topics include a very interesting session on detailed disassembly of the AR-- I've been doing that for 20 years and I still learned something-- with the obligatory showing of the video of the little girl field-stripping her gun. He gave a great comparison of the various M4-geries, showing which ones were built standard with certain key features, and which were not. (Very eye-opening.) He also gave what I thought was the best, bare-facts-only discussion of why a 50-meter zero is better for an M4 than a 25-meter zero. There was also a good leavening of John Murphy SOP humor, off-color cracks and one-liners. Altogether, good stuff, although three hours is about the max and we were all ready to head out start slinging lead.
Rapid chow-stuffery ensued, and then we convoyed to the range, on private land a few miles outside Culpeper. The facility is evolving, but there was plenty of room for twelve shooters on a 25-yd line, and about half as many for 50; clever use of terrain also yielded a single lane for 100 but we didn't use that til Day Two. I thought it was a good range, well-bermed, and with the improvements underway it'll soon be a very versatile place to shoot. I'd shoot there on a daily basis, if I could.
Day One shooting began with zeroing at 25, then again to 50 to illustrate the difference. Because I was shooting a stock WASR-10 with its open notch and blade sights, I chose to get as good a zero as I could at 25, and just note the holdover for 50. Good choice for the course, but I might change it later to 50. (Note: bring a front sight tool, no matter what kind of gun you have. It makes life much easier, and with the AK it's a must.)
Then we went back to the 25 to begin the beguine, as the Greaseman would say. The rest of the day was spent in presentation drills with single shots, moving to controlled pairs and hammers, all basic stuff but then again this course is about mastering the basics. The distribution of shot holes began to migrate slowly towards a central point, and everyone started to feel pretty good about the way things were going, and that's the way we ended the day.
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Quick AAR: Minuteman Rifle Course, 4-5 April 09
By Lt Col P
A much more detailed report will follow, but let me give you the highlights of the rifle course I took this weekend.
Class size: 12, usual gamut of civs and mil.
Gear: unadulterated WASR-10 w/ a Specter sling, six magazines; Beretta 92-G in an old mil-issue holster.
Round count: about 400 7.62x39 (all Golden Tiger), about 30 9mm.
Ranges: 5 yds to 100 yds, majority were at 25.
General comments: I used this as a foreign weapons prep for deployment (everyone else shot ARs), and it was a complete success. (I'll explain the Beretta later.) I now have a much better appreciation for the AK, and what it can and cannot do. John Murphy puts on a great show-- it's Gunsite quality instruction at a bargain price.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
Brass Balls
By Lt Col P
This is all over the 'net: DoD surplus will no longer offer fired brass for sale in reloadable condition. Confederate Yankee and Michael Bane have more.
Who does that hurt? Well, it cuts the price that purchasers would pay for the brass, thereby limiting revenue for the government. Also, it hurts those businesses who would take the reloadable casings and turn them (at reduced cost) back into loaded cartridges for the civilian and law enforcement markets, which are of course experiencing high demand and limited supply. Then again, it'll hurt the workers in the businesses that reload, in the companies that ship, and the retail outlets that sell. And it further constricts the supply lines that ultimately feed the military and law enforcement and civilian buyers. Loss, loss, loss, loss, all the way down the line.
A wanton petty act of policy malfeasance, short-sighted, unnecessary, and because of its easily predictable effects, all the more wicked for it. WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND WE'LL SAY IT AGAIN-- IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A GOOD PILE OF AMMO YET, DON'T DELAY.
UPDATE: Reader Diogenes (see comments) no speak with forked tongue! I'll let Michael Bane bring the good news.
Oh, and by the way, there's THIS too. God help us.
Gun-day Monday: Rifle Course in April
By Lt Col P
For those of you in the DC area, the most excellent John Murphy of FPF Training will be running his Minuteman Rifle Course on 4-5 April.
Equipment Requirements: A military style rifle and a center fire handgun. 600 rounds of rifle ammunition, 25 rounds of handgun ammunition. wrap-around eye protection, ear protection, a baseball style hat, 3 spare magazines, a rifle magazine pouch and a QUALITY strong side holster. Knee pads are HIGHLY recommended.Curriculum: Nomenclature, assembly and disassembly. Rifle ballistics and realities. Care and maintenance. Fundamentals of marksmanship. Zeroing. Presentation drills. Manipulation drills. Malfunction drills. Transition Drills. Field firing techniques. Scenario based drills and exercises.
I'll be there, using my AK, a.k.a. Vlad The Impaler.
John runs a good show, and I'm looking forward to it. If you have the time, the $$$ and the gun, you might see if there are slots left.
Friday Free-Play
By Lt Col P
Got all sorts of stuff on my mind today.
If you ain't got yours, you ought to get it now. And a related note too.
What if the enemy decides to keep fighting after the deadline?
The big bad Bear gets slapped on the nose by a Maple Leaf! Nice.
Talk to you monday. I'm headed to the Star City of the South.
Update... Operation Gunnerside, 66 years ago today-- the op that saved the world. A fascinating story that only gets better the more you read about it. (I recommend this and this, and to a lesser extent this.)
Gun-day Monday: Mini-14 NRA
By Bull Nav
My idea of a "truck gun."
I bought it in December, but just got the stock mag holder and Galco BATTL Sling for my birthday last week. No range time with it yet, but I have begun stockpiling ammo.
Still need to get a scope. The Leupold Mark 4 MR/T, would be nice, but it is a little more than I want to spend...
Gun-Day Monday: Carbines Gone Wild
By Lt Col P
Had a stupendous range session today at the new Silver Eagle Group in Ashburn, VA (near Old Dominion Brewery, a visit to which would have made for a great end to the outing, but for the fact that they closed the brewpub, curses on them). Also, it's conveniently right off the Washington & Old Dominion trail, but I'm not sure the locals would appreciate me riding down the trail with the M&P15T slung over my shoulder. Anyway...
Having found the sight adjustment tool for the goofy HK-style sight on the M&P15T (and finally figured out what it was for, duhhh!), I proceeded to get a decent zero at 50m from an improvised rest. Not bad, but not up to my standards. I'll need to come back with a better rest and a more visible target. And of course, I need to get the AR-style front sight.
But the star of the show was the Plainfield M1 carbine-- what a delightful little gun, everything I thought it would be and more. Although ultimately I will zero it at 40m (based on advice from John Farnam), I did a temporary zero at 25 and got some very agreeable groups, needing only to make a two-click windage adjustment. Then I switched over for some single snapshots from the low ready, for a total of about 30 rounds. All but one were in the head, and I called the flyer. I like that gun, and it'll need only a little tweaking to make it the daily truck gun it should be. In honor of LTC John B. George, author of Shots Fired In Anger, who extolled the carbine's virtues during the Marauders' campaign in Burma, I will name it "George The Marauder."
The Silver Eagle facility is the best indoor shooting range I have ever seen, even better than the NRA HQ range, which is exceptional. When it opened recently, the marketing campaign made it look like it was for members only, and the memberships are waaaaay out of my league. However, they do offer daily passes, and that's more in line with my needs. At $25 an hour, it's a little steep, but I save on the time and driving to another place. And they have a well stocked shop, complete with a Steyr Scout for sale. My kind of place, strongly recommended.
Gun-Day Sunday: Corrosive Ammo Bleg
By Lt Col P
I'm about to take possession of a Finnish M39 Mosin-Nagant, a long awaited acquisition (photo below fold).
Questions for alcon: Any and all TTPs you have to share are welcome, but I really want to know about the ammo. The bulk military ball ammo looks to be wonderfully cheap but corrosively primed. I have never dealt with this sort of ammo before, so I want to hear the voices of experience. Are there particular cleaning solvents either to avoid or use? Any other pitfalls?
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The Never Ending Small Arms Caliber Debate
By Lt Col P
Reader Tom left this comment on a recent post:
"So you've posted on the M1 carbine and talked about the AK, FAL and M4. What are your thoughts considering current conflicts and battle vs assualt rifles? Any feedback from the SOF community? Seems like they are trying to migrate to a heavier round...maybe. I could consistently get target hits at 350m on the M16 range, but am not convinced by the whole "tumble" thing. Lacking any of the visual confirmation in spite of a healthy dose of IZ street time, I'd love to hear from those who have had and will soon face "close battle" time."
Excellent question, and it goes to the heart of a long debate. Such a good question it was that I promised him I'd put it to a real SF guy-- Uncle Jimbo at Blackfive-- and then add my own opinions.
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Gun-Day Monday: At The NRA HQ Range
By Lt Col P
Spent a productive and memorable hour at the outstanding NRA HQ range. I brought the AK, the M&P-15T, the 1911 (of course); my friend and close associate MDL brought two of his many SIGs, his K-31, and his DSA FAL.
Since this range is a 50-yarder, I was able to see where the AK and the M&P-15T hit at that distance. Both a little high and to the right. I have a lot more work to do to zero both, but I'm waiting on a new AR front sight for the M&P-15T, because I just cannot see that little HK-style post and I don't like how the housing wants to co-witness with the rear aperture. Still, any range time is good time. Also, I was interested to see how much the point of impact changed-- significantly to the left-- when I started one-round engagements from the low ready, with the sling on.
I put about 30 rounds of good South African ammo through MDL's FAL-- "SADF Surplus: A Case of Evil in Every Round"-- and came away impressed. That's a solid rifle, a true man-gun. Being much more accustomed to the lighter AK and M4, it took me a little effort to get used to this bigger, heavier gun when I took it off the bench and started one-round snap shots. However, I was able to put the shots pretty much where I wanted them. I also like the left-side chargng handle. I'm not sure I'd want to hump that thing across East Falkland, or jump it into a hot DZ in Rhodesia, but it definitely strikes with authority, to borrow Farnam's phrase.
Gun-Day Sunday, Part 2: M1 Carbine Bleg
By Lt Col P
I took possession of my M1 carbine (photos and range report to follow at a later date) and am most pleased with it. I figured out how to take it down and I look forward to putting it through some paces, strapping a Vickers sling to it, and then stoking it with CorBon DPX rounds for use as the standard truck gun.
Prior to this, of course, I need to zero it.
Who out there can give me a virtual tutorial on zeroing this gun? I see how the rear sight works, but without either a manual or recourse to a live expert, I'd be experimenting.
Put it in comments, please, or shoot me an email. Many thanks.
Gun-Day Sunday: Good Gun Shows on TV
By Lt Col P
The new year has brought a couple new gun shows on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman's Channel, as well as the return of the old favorites.
The two new ones of note and Op-For interest are The Best Defense and American Guardian. The Best Defense, in my opinion, hits the X-ring with a new take on the self-defense issue and some good production values. Highly recommended. BTW, Michael Bane's blog is fast becoming one of my top five go-to sites.
American Guardian is an NRA production, and as such is well done, but I'm not sure it's there yet. I'll keep watching. (The most recent episode had a segment on how CCW-permit holders should conduct themselves during routine traffic stops that was worth watching the whole episode.)
The old ones I DVR and watch religiously are Ted Nugent's Spirit of the Wild (not strictly a gun show but who can resist Uncle Ted?), Shooting Gallery, Personal Defense TV, and the outstanding Tactical Impact.
(Honorable Mention must go to The Crush with Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, which is pretty much the same show as Gettin' Close under a new name, and if anything is about one degree better than before. Few guns here and those mostly muzzleloaders, but the show is very well done and entertaining, and the racks are magnificent. ALL of the racks. Needless to say, my wife tolerates the others but HATES this one.)
Today's Victory
By John
Comes from Tom Ricks' Foreign Policy blog (by the way: Tom Ricks has a Foreign Policy blog!)-
Marine Cpl. Melroy Cort lost his legs fighting for his country in Iraq. He and his wife were driving to Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he was arrested on a felony possession of a firearm. He says an Ohio permit for his pistol, and had been told by his commanding officer to store the gun at the Walter Reed armory upon arrival. The public defender wanted him to plead guilty, but he refused because he was worried that a felony conviction would endanger his military benefits. So he defended himself -- and yesterday was acquitted.
Reminds of that scene in Lethal Weapon 4 -- where Chris Rock was reading a perp his rights. "...you have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford an attorney, we'll provide you with the dumbest fucking lawyer on earth."
Monday Miscellany
By Lt Col P
First off-- UJ at B5 beat me to it, but I was planning a period of instruction on artillery munitions. It seems that every other photo from Operation Cast Lead is of long tendrils of white smoke and fire emanating from airbursts. Those, dear readers, are the the M825 155mm felt-wedge projectiles. (Photo lifted from B5, source unknown.)
Second-- Meet the Harriet Miers of the incoming administration. UJ and MMM weigh in. What, there was no one more qualified for this critical post?? In the middle of an intel-intensive long war??
Third-- Gun owners, gird your loins. Get ready to write all of your elected representatives, stand by to raise hell. In the mean time, repeat after me...ammo, ammo, ammo, magazines, magazines, magazines, guns, guns, guns...
Fourth-- Condolences to the Bush family on the death of their cat, India. :-( I am a confirmed cat person, so this strikes me hard. Poor kitty.
Concealed Carry in National Parks
By Bull Nav
The Bush administration said Friday it is overturning a 25-year-old federal rule that severely restricts loaded guns in national parks.Under a rule to take effect in January, visitors will be able to carry a loaded gun into a park or wildlife refuge _ but only if the person has a permit for a concealed weapon and if the state where the park or refuge is located also allows concealed firearms.
Silly rule to have gotten rid of...
Gun-Day Sunday: Magazines and "Wifles"
By Lt Col P
First, I am pleased to report that I did my National Ammo Day duty (better late than never) with a sizable purchase of 7.62x39 off Gunbroker.com.
Second, I went to the Nation's Gunshow today with the K-31 shooting MDL (see previous post). A fine day was had by all, and I scored the thing I was looking for most, a pair of M1 Carbine 15-rd magazines, USGI/WW2, still in the waxy paper.
HANG ON-- Julie Banderas and Jenna Lee are on Fox News right now... wait just a second... OK, that was good. Where was I? Oh yeah, guns and whatnot.
The big topic today is the "wifle"-- a rifle you should get specifically for the wife.
New shooters, and females in particular, can be recoil shy, but there's no reason why we gentlemen can't outfit the ladies with the right long guns. We'll not be talking .22s here, although they're certainly must-haves for every well equipped home; no, we're talking rifles that the ladies can take to the field or the range, or use at home if need be. Here are my wifle choices:
The .223, in its magazine-fed manifestation, like the AR, the Robinson XCR, the Mini-14 or other such quality gun. Recoil is negligible. Or, since this is for the ladies, can we say recoil is negligee-ible?
The classic Winchester 94 in 30-30. The big advantage of the lever action is that it can be used with equal ease by lefties and righties. Also it can be kept stoked with ammo but with an empty chamber, and brought into battery as it's brought up into the shoulder. And we know it works.
The Marlin 336, also in 30-30. For advantages, see above. Additionally, these two icons lack the features that seem to draw unwanted attention.
Honorable mention should go also to the Remington 870 pump shotgun in 20 gauge. (If a rifle for the wife is a "wifle," is a shotgun for the ladies a "twotgun?") Some folks find the 12-ga model's recoil and report off-putting. The 20-ga, with the right loads, will perform at home or in the field.
Any other nominations?
Military Rifles
By Lt Col P
Firearms are much on my mind these days; here is the first of at least two posts on the subject for this weekend. "The great object," as one of the Founding Fathers wrote, "is that every man be armed."
In the recent, unseemly, but sadly necessary scramble for eeeevil black rifles, many good folks who failed to get theirs while the getting was good are now finding themselves out in the cold. When they got there the cupboard was bare, etc, etc. I see and hear much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
People, please calm yourselves. All is not lost. Here is a list of proven, powerful, surplus military rifles that are readily available at bargain prices (and same-same with their ammo). By bargain prices I mean around four hundred bucks, and some of these will go for much less. The great advantage of these rifles is that they lack the outward features which seem to excite the attention and avarice of the regulatory crowd; and with the right ammo these will do well on the hunt, too. The key to these is to get a shooter in good condition, not a collector's dream.
GO FORTH AND ARM YOURSELVES, CITIZENS. (Legally and appropriately, of course.)
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Range Report
By Bull Nav
(Photo by bullnav; yeah, I know: I really need to disable the date function on the camera.)
So, a friend of mine from work and I went up to The Firing Line this evening. He is looking to buy a handgun and I happen to own a few. He recently bought a used Remington 870, but now needs a handgun.
I, of course, was more than happy to oblige.
I brought with me (from left to right):
- Glock 19 9mm
- Ruger GP100 3" bbl, .357 Magnum
- Sig Sauer P220 .45 ACP
- Kimber Ultra SIS .45 ACP
- Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum w/Leupold 2x scope
We started with the Super Blackhawk. I wanted to verify the zero so in the event I get to take it out in the woods this weekend, it will be ready. It is, using 280-gr Corbon JSP loads.
Staying with the revolvers, we next shot the GP100. The 158-gr American Eagle loads grouped nicely, although they surprised my fellow shooter.
On to the Glock, this was the first time I shot the Federal 124-gr HST ammunition and it functioned flawlessly. It produced nice tight groups and seemed to shoot better than the 124-gr Speer JHP I used to carry.
Finally, the .45s. First the P220 with Hornady 230-gr TAP, and then the Kimber with 230-gr FMJ (and a few Hydra-Shoks, just for fun).
All in all, a great time at the range, but as always far too short.
One obvious missing caliber: I think I need to buy a P226 .40 S&W...
National Ammo Day
By Bull Nav
There's still time. Get out and buy.
I did my part and bought 250 rounds of UMC 115gr 9mm FMJ.
LtCol P Update -- Looks like there's a problem in the comments. Feel free to email us your ammo contributions. As for me, I'll be fulfilling my responsibilities this weekend at the gun show.
Gun-Day Sunday: Range Time with Vlad
By Lt Col P
Just came back from a most enjoyable, was-it-good-for-you-too, I'm-ready-for-a-cigarette range session, my first in months. I had limited time and limited ammo, so I went forth to do some specific things:
First, to verify the zero on the Steyr Scout... CHECK, ZERO MILS. Other than two (2) self-induced flyers, I was keyholing that shit, from an improvised seated position using a Hawkins rest.
Second, to throw some .45 ACP downrange. WOW, I'M OUT OF PRACTICE.
Third, to put the very first rounds through the WASR-10, a.k.a. Vlad The Impaler. OUT-F*CKING-STANDING. Straight out of the box, no lube, I put 40 rounds of Golden Tiger (!) through it as a fam-fire. I usually hate fam-fires, but in this case one was in order, and while 40 rounds is by no means a real test, I'm very pleased with the results. There were no issues whatsoever with the gun, the magazines or the ammo. Once I got used to the notch-and-blade sight, which I generally dislike, I found I was able to keep the rounds in a fairly decent group from offhand. Two thumbs up for the Romanian rattletrap.
Finally, as I was leaving, I saw a couple unpacking to begin their session. They had an M1 carbine. I asked if I could handle and dry-fire. They said, Why not shoot some rounds? I said, Why not indeed! VERY NICE. It was everything I thought it would be, and more. Can't wait to take possession of mine.
Gun-Day Monday (?)
By Lt Col P
OK, it's not a Monday but it feels like one. Let's talk GUNS.
First, an FFL bleg. Any FFL holders in Northern VA? If so, drop me a line, I have a specific question for you.
Second, anyone tried to buy bulk ammo lately? WTF, OVER?? Thought I'd found a good deal at Cabelas on Wolf 7.62x39 122gr FMJ, until I went to check out. "OUT OF STOCK." Same-same on various generic .30-Carbine and .45 ACP. I don't even want to look at the 5.56/.223. AimSurplus is apologizing profusely for not being able to fill orders. GunBroker.com seems to have good selection and prices, though.
Third, National Ammo Day is 19 Nov. BUY WHAT YOU CAN, WHERE YOU CAN.
Fourth, anyone bought an eeeeevil black rifle lately? All sources say that sales are through the roof. Glad I got mine, but I'm sweating the load on ammo and magazines. Even the humble USGI 15-round M1 Carbine magazine is hard to come by.
Finally, looks like the gun show is coming back to the Dulles Expo Center here in NoVa on 21-23 Nov. Ammo and magazines, baby. Ammo and magazines. Hey, I'm just trying to stay well-regulated...
Quick Update by way of Chairman Kim: Gun Sales Up 10 Billion Percent.
On firearms and dead tangos...
By John
Straight Shooter: Great Advice in the WaPo
By Lt Col P
Stephen Hunter, ace film critic of the WaPo and noted firearms enthusiast, has written the best-- THE BEST-- gun article yet in that paper, surpassing his own paean to the Winchester 30-30.
You want the gun to be second nature, its mechanics a confidence-building given. If you're worried about the gun, you will not dominate the upcoming transaction... You must master sound marksmanship fundamentals. Sight, picture, hold, press. Maximize recoil control, follow through (as in any sport) and most important, from your practice, believe in yourself and your entitlement to life and property. Know how to manipulate, change hands, reload, deal with jams. Learn the gun.
Good Lord, how did he get that past the editors?
Read the whole thing, read it again, pass it around to friends and family, especially those on the other side of the argument. Save it, print it out, frame it.
(And yes, the hand in the picture has finger on trigger. Someone in the comments nailed it.)
What Don't They Understand??
By Lt Col P
The DC Council just doesn't get it. What don't they understand about the Heller decision?
Vision tests, written tests, ballistics tests, trigger locks, purchase limits. You know what they sound like to me? Literacy tests; grandfather clauses; poll taxes-- The artful dodgings of petty tyrants who can't bear the thought of citizens enjoying life and liberty, seeing no need to beg the state for protection and sell their rights for empty promises. Remember-- this is the city government that set up Baghdad-like checkpoints to examine anyone entering a certain neighborhood.
I say this: If you can vote and serve on a jury, you can own a gun. End of story. The limits on gun ownership should be these: age of majority, justly determined mental incompetence, and evidence of a criminal record.
Keep your powder dry, DC residents. Don't take this shit lying down. Right and justice are on your side.
More on Heller vs. DC
By John
From the VMI eagle himself, Colonel Foresman, comes the constitutionalist angle.
Col H -
Yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court in the Heller case was not surprising. Though I find it odd that I am in agreement with Antonio Scalia—whose whole jurisprudence is based on a concept of original intent. But this was not an ordinary case as it was about not only guns but what are the essential elements of the Bill of Rights.
There was time when I ascribed to the prevailing liberal view that the fundamental freedoms encased in the Bill of Rights were sacrosanct but that the 2nd Amendment was a collective right. Fortunately for me, being historian and great admirer of James Madison, I undertook some study of Madison’s authorship of the Bill of Rights. First, Madison was greatly influenced by the work of George Mason, another Virginian, who authored Virginia’s Bill of Rights. He was also greatly influenced by the thinking of and the written works of the Anti-Federalists. My study left me with the conclusion, which I share with Lawrence Tribe, liberal Law Professor at Harvard, that fundamental rights include the right to bear arms, and that to be effective the Bill of Rights must receive strict scrutiny in their abridgement.
Among the great surprises of my research was the realization that if Madison’s words has been adopted and ratified by the States, many of the questions which bedeviled the Supreme Court over the years would have less contentious. The second realization was that given an opportunity Congress, even in its first session, would meddle with plain English and make what we know as the Bill of Rights hard to comprehend.
For the sake of education, I am providing Madison’s original submissions; you will note that Madison’s submissions are broken into eight categories with some of the proposed amendments being additions to the preamble, some restrictions upon the actions of Congress, some being restrictions upon the Federal Courts, and the addition of an additional article to the Constitution
Here is a link: to the information. I have highlighted some portions in bold that supports my conclusion Madison had it right and as usual Congress screwed it up.
Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison June 8, 1789First. That there be prefixed to the Constitution a declaration, that all power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people.
That Government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their Government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.
Secondly. That in article 1st, section 2, clause 3, these words be struck out, to wit: "The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative, and until such enumeration shall be made;" and that in place thereof be inserted these words, to wit: "After the first actual enumeration, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number amounts to ——, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that the number shall never be less than ——, nor more than ——, but each State shall, after the first enumeration, have at least two Representatives; and prior thereto."
Thirdly. That in article 1st, section 6, clause 1, there be added to the end of the first sentence, these words, to wit: "But no law varying the compensation last ascertained shall operate before the next ensuing election of Representatives."
Fourthly. That in article 1st, section 9, between clauses 3 and 4, be inserted these clauses, to wit: The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.
The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the Legislature by petitions, or remonstrances, for redress of their grievances.
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.
No soldiers shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor at any time, but in a manner warranted by law.
No person shall be subject, except in cases of impeachment, to more than one punishment or one trial for the same offence; nor shall be compelled to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor be obliged to relinquish his property, where it may be necessary for public use, without a just compensation.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The rights of the people to be secured in their persons, their houses, their papers, and their other property, from all unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated by warrants issued without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, or not particularly describing the places to be searched, or the persons or things to be seized.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the cause and nature of the accusation, to be confronted with his accusers, and the witnesses against him; to have a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.
The exceptions here or elsewhere in the Constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not be so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people, or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the Constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.
Fifthly. That in article 1st, section 10, between clauses 1 and 2, be inserted this clause, to wit:
No State shall violate the equal rights of conscience, or the freedom of the press, or the trial by jury in criminal cases.
Sixthly. That, in article 3d, section 2, be annexed to the end of clause 2d, these words, to wit:
But no appeal to such court shall be allowed where the value in controversy shall not amount to —— dollars: nor shall any fact triable by jury, according to the course of common law, be otherwise re-examinable than may consist with the principles of common law.
Seventhly. That in article 3d, section 2, the third clause be struck out, and in its place be inserted the clauses following, to wit:
The trial of all crimes (except in cases of impeachments, and cases arising in the land or naval forces, or the militia when on actual service, in time of war or public danger) shall be by an impartial jury of freeholders of the vicinage, with the requisite of unanimity for conviction, of the right of challenge, and other accustomed requisites; and in all crimes punishable with loss of life or member, presentment or indictment by a grand jury shall be an essential preliminary, provided that in cases of crimes committed within any county which may be in possession of an enemy, or in which a general insurrection may prevail, the trial may by law be authorized in some other county of the same State, as near as may be to the seat of the offence.
In cases of crimes committed not within any county, the trial may by law be in such county as the laws shall have prescribed. In suits at common law, between man and man, the trial by jury, as one of the best securities to the rights of the people, ought to remain inviolate.
Eighthly. That immediately after article 6th, be inserted, as article 7th, the clauses following, to wit:
The powers delegated by this Constitution are appropriated to the departments to which they are respectively distributed: so that the Legislative Department shall never exercise the powers vested in the Executive or Judicial, nor the Executive exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Judicial, nor the Judicial exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Executive Departments.
The powers not delegated by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively.
Ninthly. That article 7th be numbered as article 8th.
What find interesting about Madison’s draft of what became the 2nd Amendment is that he clearly lays the right out up front, explains why it is important, and lastly recognizes there are those who are opposed based on religious grounds from bearing arms. The consistent theme of Madison’s draft is that the rights of individuals, who actions, beliefs, and causes, are outside the bounds of the norms of society, should not be abridged.
Madison, more than any of the other founders, was the champion of the common man from the unconstrained power of government. It is for this reason he is not only my favorite of the founders, but the founder who most contributed to giving us the democracy, good or bad, we enjoy today.
An Historic Day for the Second Amendment
By Bull Nav
The right expressed by the Second Amendment, the one I always knew was an individual right, was upheld and clearly explained today by the Supreme Court in their ruling on Heller vs. DC.
Answering a 127-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession. Although times have changed since 1791, Justice Antonin Scalia said for the majority, “it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.”
The whole 157 page opinion is available here.
My opinion is thus: how could they rule otherwise? Every other amendment in the Bill of Rights has been affirmed as an individual right, so to this non-lawyer it follows the the Second Amendment is also an individual right.
This will mean changes in DC and Chicago, which also prohibits handgun ownership. I don't expect the anti-gun crowd to lay down and quit, they will just get more creative in their attacks on the Second Amendment. I also don't think this decision will have any bearing on any congressional attempt to prohibit certain type of firearms as they did with the "Assault Weapons Ban" in 1994.
It will be decidedly interesting to see if either of the Presidental candidates have any comments on this ruling...
Wednesday Gun Lust
By Lt Col P
BR BullNav and I were talking about this the other day-- our standing lists of gun wants. We both have them. Mine is actually written down, along with other stuff, on my "Never-Ending Gear List." And over the last year I've been able to knock two of them off. In no particular order, the rest are:
Service-grade Mauser K98 (a little blood and iron never hurt anyone)
Finnish Mosin-Nagant (I don't want a Russian one, and I like the Suomi)
Ruger .22/45 Mk III and a Ruger Single Six (the only thing better than one .22 pistol is two)
DS Arms SA58 Para Tactical (if LV says it's good, it's good)
Charter Arms Undercover (who doesn't need a B.U.G.?)
Glock 21 (gotta see what all the fuss is about)
Wilson Combat Border Patrol Model (the fighting 870)
Winchester 94 30-30 (it's a piece of America, dammit)
M1 Carbine (I can't get it out of my head)
Spartan / Remington 12-ga Coach Gun w/ exposed hammers (the ultimate home defense gun, quoth LtCol Cooper)
Robinson XCR in 6.8mm (I admire the concept, but I've heard both good and bad about it)
And yours would be??
Gun-Day Sunday: AK On Deck
By Lt Col P
Check out the new gun, a Romanian WASR-10 from Century Arms:
I got it off the always outstanding GunBroker.com, a scratch auction that popped up for what seemed to be just a couple of hours. Came with two (2) magazines and a bayonet. (Plus two rough and ready slings, and some assorted odd pouches and frogs, and one wacky cleaning kit that stows in what looks like a muzzle brake that got separated from its muzzle.)
My, but it's a rough piece. Not that I didn't expect it to be, but still. Not a problem, I intend to give it a workout and test its legendary reliability. I've already broken it down and put it back together several times, and started to get used to the COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ergos-- selector switch, charging handle, and magazine release. When I first mounted it, my right thumb immediately flipped up to seek out the selector switch, which of course wasn't there.
I bought the gun primarily because the AK is a system I don't know at all, and I figured I should know it. I look forward to it, especially since 7.62x39 is so damn cheap.
OK, I'm going to open up the comments field for suggestions from the AK-literate amongst the faithful Op-Forians. One thing-- I'm not interested in turning it into a match gun. I want to leave it pretty much as is. What do I need to do or know before I take it to the range?
Lastly... With the bayonet attached, and in honor of its Romanian heritage, I believe I shall call it "Vlad The Impaler."
The Reason Why Good People Should Carry
By Lt Col P
TURLOCK, Calif. — Police killed a 27-year-old man as he kicked, punched and stomped a toddler to death despite other people's attempts to stop him on a dark, country road, authorities said.
Even though it was an untraveled rural road, there were witnesses. Some tried to intervene, and at least one called the police. But they couldn't do anything to stop it. They could only stand by and watch.
The suspect had a child's car seat in the back of his four-door pickup truck. The truck caught the attention of an elderly couple at 10:13 p.m. Saturday because it was stopped in the two-lane road facing the wrong direction, Singh said.As they got closer, the couple saw the man brutally beating the toddler behind his truck and throwing the child on the ground, according to Singh. Two or three other cars stopped, an unusual number to be passing through the remote area surrounded by a dairy, a cow pasture, a cornfield and a farmhouse, he said.
"What we got from witnesses is he was punching, slapping, kicking, stomping, shaking," Singh said. "They tried to intervene and get involved, but their efforts really didn't have an effect. The suspect was engaged in what he was doing. He just pushed them off and went back to it."
Just pushed them off and went back to it. Awful. Do you know what would have been an effective intervention? A full magazine of .45 ACP in the upper thorax. Immediately, without hesitation.
According to the article, six minutes elapsed between the 911 call and the arrival of a police officer, who promptly shot and killed the attacker. SIX. MINUTES. Long enough for him to beat the poor child to death.
Folks, this is why good citizens carry guns. Or, rather, should carry. The police, no matter how dedicated and skilled, will almost never arrive in time to do much but clean up after the fact.
Remember this well, when you hear candidates, politicians and journalists (like this little Princess) tell you what rights you may and may not exercise.
Dude, Where's My Pistol?
By Lt Col P
About a year ago, the Marine Corps decided to switch the T/O weapon of most officers and staff NCOs from the M9 pistol to the M4 carbine. (See MarAdmin 378/07.) Accordingly, pistols are beginning to disppear from armories as M4s flow in. Interestingly, I didn't really notice this policy change at the time it came out. (Who knows what other item in my warped priority list was commanding my attention at the time... )
At the risk of telling CMC how to do his job, I'm not sure this is a good idea. I'm not alone-- John Farnam weighs not once (scroll down) but twice on the subject, and I generally agree with him, if not completely with his correspondent in the second post.
Here's my opinion-- It's not that I favor the M4 over the 9mm, or vice versa, it's that I want both. The M4, 'though short, is really a long gun; the pistol is the back-up. It's a damn good thing to have when your carbine shits the bed, or runs out of ammo, or you're grappling with your opponent and can't bring the rifle to bear. I want them both. I'd prefer something heavier than the 9mm, but I won't turn it down.
I do realize that the officer's primary weapon is his radio, and his ability to direct his forces, but sometimes the boss needs a rifle. One battalion FAC I interviewed in Iraq about the first battle of Fallujah related how the inital contact in the city was so intense that he couldn't talk on his radios because he was too busy defending himself with his rifle. Nice thing to have when you need it.
Somewhere, somehow there has to be a funding angle to it. I wish HQMC would resolve it and give us back our sidearms. When you need a pistol, you really need it.
Guns 'n You
By John
John Stossel's mustache wants you to know: Guns are good!
Range Report
By Bull Nav
After work today, a friend and I headed over to the Washtenaw Sportsmans Club, where he is a member, to shoot.
I took my new Kimber SIS Ultra to begin Kimber's recommended break-in process. This consists of shooting 400-500 rounds of factory-loaded .45ACP 230 FMJ, and cleaning the weapon every 100-150 rounds.
I shot a total of 323 rounds of Winchester White Box (Made in USA), with a cleaning at 134 rounds. I have 3 7-round KimPro Tac-Mags (one came with the gun when I bought it; the other two I ordered from Kimber) which I numbered for tracking.
I had 10 FTF during the first 134 rounds. During this period, magazine 1 had at least 1 FTF every time it was shot while magazine 3 had no FTF. There were only 6 FTF on the last 189 rounds, with none during the last 63 rounds. I experienced no FTE, FTRB, or stovepipes. No ejected shell casing hit me, and it threw the brass quite well (better than was my experience with GI 1911s back in the '90s).
I used one target at 15 yards. The gun was very accurate, a lot more than I am, and the 4 pound trigger pull was very smooth. You pick up the front sight quite nicely and the gun is very controllable--the steel frame soaks up the recoil very effectively. It was about 80F out today and the 3" barrel was very hot to the touch after 6 magazines.
The grips did loosen up, but I will fix that.
Overall, I am very impressed with the way this gun feels and shoots. Next time out, I will put another 150 rounds of 230gr. FMJ through it and then start on the 230gr. Hydra-Shoks...
Gunday Saturday
By Bull Nav
After much research, I am finally a 1911 owner.
Based on my requirements (which was for a .45 that was smaller than my SIG P220 I usually carry) I finally decided upon the Kimber SIS Ultra. A 3" barrel, night sights, ambi thumb safety...nice gun.
Once I get to the range, a full report will follow.
Gun-Day Monday: Springfield Armory
By Lt Col P
Did you remember the celebrate the M1911 .45's birthday on saturday? If not by some time at the range, then at least by some dry-fire or maintenance? I hope so.
The fact that I carry a Springfield Armory M1911-A1 brings me to today's gun post. I've spoken of it before, I think, and it's a great piece of gear. For value and reliability, that gun is the sore dick of the pistol world-- YOU CAN'T BEAT IT. But I digress.
It's not Springfield Armory, the commercial gunmaker of today, that I'd like to highlight. It's the original Springfield Armory, a government arms manufacturer from 1794 to 1968. Now an historical site run by the National Park Service, it preserves a key piece of American history. (SA picked up the name and crest and the traditions a few years after the Federal operations ceased.) This is where not only substantial production of American military small arms took place, but significant innovation as well. The great John C. Garand developed the mighty M1 there.
The NPS site doesn't appear to have a simple historical overview, but you can find some basic facts here.
It is on my list of places to see. If you've been there, feel free to leave a comment on your visit.
New Gun for SOCOM
By Lt Col P
By way of our favorite beefy Afrikaner, we learn that SOCOM has chosen a new rifle, the FN SCAR. He kindly supplied an image, which I have lifted shamelessly:
CNN-- gasp!-- has more info.
And I found this on YouTube:
OK, things are looking good so far, I like the port-side charging handle... Manly caliber? Check. Iron sights? Check. Bayonet lug? HEY!! What the--
Gun-Day Sunday: MagPul's Latest
By Lt Col P
OK, I'll admit it's pretty nifty:
But, as LtCol Jeff Cooper used to ask, What's it for?
That was perhaps a little gratuitous, but still... OK, I understand the concept, but its "tactical niche," to borrow another Cooper-ism, is at present unclear. However, all in all, good on them for tossing things out. You never know what will come of an idea.
PS... Is it really necessary to cover your torso with the muzzle while folding it back up, or is that merely an operator issue? If it's a design issue, I'm not sure I want one.
Gun-Day Monday: The M1014
By Lt Col P
A commenter asked a question on the weapon brandished by the Marine in the video clip I posted below. I replied to him by email, but I thought it would be a good thing to educate the masses. Hold all questions til the end.
Meet the M1014, the Joint Services Combat Shotgun.
It's a Benelli 12-ga autoloader, with a telescoping buttstock-- huh huh, heh heh, I said "butt"-- a 1913 rail and good sturdy ghost ring sight. It replaced the Mossbergs and Remingtons previously in service. I saw several in service in Iraq back in 2004, and although like all shotguns a niche weapon, it is a useful piece of gear and a good thing to have around. The one drawback I heard about was that since it's an autoloader, it's not as omnivorous as a pump gun.
Write in and let us know what you think if you've carried one, or carry one now.
One more Monday gun fact below the fold...
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Front Sight, Press!
By Lt Col P
A clearer picture of the facts of the Colorado Springs church shooting has emerged over the last day or so, and even though it appears that the gunman died by his own hand, I think this doesn't change the essence of the armed guard's response one single bit.
The church staff understood the danger of this sort of attack (however remote the possibility), had a multi-facted plan in place to address an emergency, and executed that plan. Part of the plan was an immediate response by a small group of volunteers who assumed the duties of armed watch. When the shots were fired, one of them ran to the sound of gunfire and took the only appropriate action.
By all of the various press accounts I've read, this lady seems to fit the profile of the sheepdog--alert, capable, dedicated. The phrase that comes to mind is, "dialed in." Whether or not she consciously used the color code, I'd say she definitely started the day in Yellow, and switched to Orange and then Red in rapid succession. That her shots were not ultimately the fatal ones matters less than the fact that her shots took the gunman off his plan of action and stopped him in his tracks. She had the skill to hit what she was firing at-- I'd like to hear accurate reports on the range involved-- but more importantly she had the will.
Those of us who carry regularly and class ourselves as protectors should review this case again and again, and rededicate ourselves to the principles of self-defense. Urge your church and school system to adopt more realistic and effective policies against attacks, and be watchful against creeping complacency. The flag will go up when we least expect it, and we ought to be ready for it. The traits we need are skill, will, and attitude. Skill we must have, but will is foremost, attitude is supreme. Cultivate them all.
God bless the poor family who lost loved ones there, but thank God a real citizen was there to do what needed to be done.
Gunday Sunday: The Steyr Scout Rifle And The City By The Bay
By Lt Col P
I just put up a post long in the works, on the mighty Steyr Scout rifle. This is my go-to long gun, a real joy to carry and to shoot. I welcome your comments and questions.
The Scout rifle was of course the brainchild of the late, great LtCol Jeff Cooper of Gunsite. One of Cooper's frequent targets (in the figurative sense) was the lunacy of San Francisco's politics. I note with dismay but no surprise that the march of idiocy continues in San Francisco, with another ridiculous city gun buy. "The idea is to make the streets seem a little safer when the city's murder rate has risen in recent years — San Francisco has had at least 89 homicides so far this year." Except that the kind of people who'll turn their guns in for paltry cash aren't the ones out causing the crime problem.
At least San Franciscan doesn't have his head up his ass, however.
But not everyone participating in the gun program Saturday believed it was helpful.Peter Buxtun, a 70-year-old gun advocate, turned in two pistols Saturday that he said were worthless. He collected $300 in gift cards.
"You can buy junk guns for $10 and then use the gift cards to buy new guns," he said. "I saw a half-dozen uniformed SF police officers taken off the street to sit for hours in a City Hall photo-op, instead of patrolling certain drug-ridden and gang-infested neighborhoods."
68 Years
By Bull Nav
That's the amount of time since the Supreme Court has heard a 2nd Amendment case.
After a hiatus of 68 years, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to rule on the meaning of the Second Amendment — the hotly contested part of the Constitution that guarantees “a right to keep and bear arms.”
This one is based on Washington DC's appeal of the court case against their prohibition against gun ownership.
Either way it goes, it could have far-reaching implications.
Should make for an interesting Spring...
Gunday Sunday: A Gratifying Spectacle
By Lt Col P
I spent the afternoon at The Nation's Gunshow. Didn't get any guns, but I did do some lookin', and I came away with some quality ammo and a few other things. It had been a few years since my last gunshow visit; I beheld the spectacle and pronounced it good. That's America for you, I thought; like Ted Nugent says, you can't do this in France.
Want ammo? You got it. By the case, the box, the single round, whatever. Look for the banner marked, "AMMO," and you've got a good place to start. The gamut ran from the high quality brand names to the unknown remanufactures to the peculiar but not necessarily bad. Try some half-sized 12-ga birdshot training rounds, fifty cents a piece. Not a bad idea if you have a pump gun or a double. Sealed battle packs of .308, 5.56, and 7.62x39, of Lithuanian and Yugoslavian manufacture. I snagged a hundred rounds of 5.56 Winchester white box, thereby fulfilling my duties under Natl Ammo Day. ($46, by the way.)
Also grabbed a handful of M1 Garand clips (you can never have enough), and one (1) new Magpul PMAG. I have read in more than one place that some Smith & Wesson M&P15s will take them, and some won't. I wanted to see for myself, since I have one of those rifles and I have read some good things about that magazine. It was only $15, and I figured that if the rumors were true I could unload it-- no pun intended-- pretty easily. OK, well, I'll be unloading tomorrow because it won't seat in my M&P15T. That's fine, because all of my USGI mags work well. Just wish I could run the PMAGs.
We saw and handled some guns that I had wanted to take a closer look at for a while. I found the SIG 556 to be a nice piece after an admittedly cursory handling, but none of the ones I saw had sights. (What kind of rifle comes without sights? On a serious gun you should be able to take out of the box, load it and fire it.) Same-same with the AK-47 WASR-10, but of course that has sights, and with the WWII German K98 from Mitchell's Mausers. Both are well worth the very modest price. I'll have one or both of them in short order, I predict.
National Ammunition Day: Do Your Part
By Lt Col P
19 November is National Ammunition Day. (Or Week, 17-25 Nov, for those who can't hit the gunstore on the actual day.) The goal is for law abiding citizens to clean the shelves of their local supplier.
If a big retail store is your only option, then go for it. But I prefer to swing my business to the mom-and-pop gunstores, who are always looking for business and are the first victims of anti-gun legislation and lawsuits.
One hundred rounds a man (or 'man). Buy what you can, but buy some.
And Another Thing!
By Lt Col P
Since I'm in a particularly bellicose mood today, allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the family... 6.85 pounds, 32 inches long, solid black...
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A Modest Proposal on Base Defense
By John
That last post got my brain churning.
Remember those loser Al-Qa'ida wannabes, the Fort Dix Six?
Right after they were busted by a one-hour photo clerk, our base sprung into action. Instead of a partial gate ID check (driver only), they took the drastic action of a 100% gate ID check!
This struck me as particularly stupid. The Fort Dix Six all had IDs as pizza delivery drivers, so I didn't really understand how making the Colonel's wife show her creds with the Colonel in the vehicle enhanced security.
It reminded me of a story relayed to me by one of our OSI agents. A couple of years back, the federales busted a local Dominoes driver for passing information to "a foreign intelligence agency." Everyone knew the guy, he'd deliver his pizzas and chat up the customers. Turns out he wasn't just being friendly, he was fishing for information about the base and base ops.
The point here is that bad guys can get on the base if they want to, period.
So anyway, while security forces aggressively check old ladies' and little kids' IDs, they also forbid licensed concealed carriers from carrying their firearms on base. An entire base full of trained Airman, not one of them allowed their constitutional right to carry a weapon (unless they serve as base cops).
What I'm asking here is simple. What would be a more effective way of defending your installation? Treating your Airman like men and allowing concealed carry, or upping the mandatory ID check?
The former seems a bit more proactive, I think.
A Post About Nothing
By Lt Col P
Well, not quite. I've been silent lately because I haven't had much to write about, save for a minor rant over at the other blog.
What else is there to say? Congress remains "oily," as I think one of the boys at B5 once put it, legislating defeat instead of pressing for victory.
The forces overseas continue the fight undaunted, though, and are pressing hard for victory. This, while hardly surprising, is ever heartening. I only wish the oleagenous legislators were paying more attention.
On another positive note, the weather in DC is uncommonly fine. Low-to-mid 80s yesterday and today, and dry. (Thanks, Canada!) Beer is still widely available, good cigars remain for now untaxed, and the 2nd Amendment scene looks promising. Oh, and speaking of which, I might be on the verge of an important purchase. Stay tuned.
That is all. Return to what you were doing.
DC Gun Ban Appeal: Good or Bad?
By Bull Nav
Well, it looks like Mayor Fenty of Washington DC has decided to appeal the decision overturning the 31-year old handgun ban in DC.
The District will ask the Supreme Court to uphold its strict 30-year handgun ban, setting up what legal experts said could be a test of the Second Amendment with broad ramifications.
On the one hand you have the gun control folks concerned.
Some gun control advocates have cautioned that a defeat in the Supreme Court could lead to tough gun laws being overturned in major cities, including New York, Chicago and Detroit.
(Please note: Detroit has no such law banning handguns, either to carry or to own. The Michigan Concealed Pistol Law covers it.)
I hope common sense on the part of the Supreme Court will prevail.
Gun rights advocates welcomed the chance to take the fight to the high court. A central question the D.C. case poses is whether the Second Amendment protects an individual's rights to keep and bear arms.
Experts say gun rights advocates have never had a better chance for a major Second Amendment victory, because a significant number of justices on the Supreme Court have indicated a preference for the individual-rights interpretation.
I guess my bigger concern is if they uphold the law. That could have huge Second Amendment ramifications.
As with everything in the courts, it will take time...
Two Incidents: Condition Yellow vs Condition White
By Lt Col P
This is not my first post on guns and the armed citizen, but this is the first in our brand new Firearms category. (Thanks, BR BullNav!)
Today, we contrast the results of being in Condition Yellow and being in Condition White. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms, please see my AAR on a defensive handgun course, and then follow the link to the Gunsite Color Code.)
In the first instance, a legally armed citizen-- and retired Marine, I'm pleased to say-- aced a pair of miscreants in south Florida when they held up a Subway and then tried to hold him up. Both were subsequently transported to the hospital where one assumed room temperature and the other might not be far behind him. Our Man was unhurt and it looks like he won't be charged either. (Thank God; take a look at this case.) Teaching points-- he is a long-time concealed carry permit holder, he clearly had a plan and had the skills and psychological conditioning to execute that plan. When he decided to act, he acted ruthlessly and decisively. Note his excellent diversionary tactics, which bought him time and distracted his adversary. It takes a cool mind and hand to do that. Well done, Marine, well done. (Note also that he apparently used a 1911 .45!)
In the second instance, there is nothing at all to be happy about. A young lady conducting a geological survey in a National Forest in Colorado met her end at the hands of a predator with a long criminal record. Given only the facts reported in the article, I think we can accept that she wasn't armed, she wasn't expecting anything bad to happen that day, and she wasn't even expecting that something bad could happen to her at all. Thus, she was not prepared, she had no plan, and she had no means to defend herself. She was spotted, assessed and targeted by a fillthy piece of human excrement, and sadly he prevailed. Teaching points-- today might not be the day that something bad happens, but you ought to conduct yourself as if it is; do not let any stranger get within striking distance of you, especially if you're way out in the woods all alone. This poor girl was utterly defenseless against a determined attacker, and all she could do was cry for help. Awful. (Note also that he was a paroled murderer, and he was carrying a gun. A good advertisement for the death penalty, and we see how much he was deterred by gun control laws.)
Condition White is no way to live, and sometimes it'll get you in very serious trouble. Better to recognize reality and get your mind and spirit in gear. The police, God Bless 'Em, no matter how active and numerous and energetic, can't be everywhere at once. The primary responsibility for your security is in your hands.
Reality vs. the Gun Control Advocate
By John
“Excuse me, do you, do you know about guns?”She's talking to me.
“A bit.”
“I'm terrified of guns.”I hold out my hands as if checking for rain.
“Sounds crazy, I know, thing is—do you think the salesman is going to be much longer?”
“There's tons of paperwork if you buy a gun. Tons.”Her eyes dart about, then she just looks at me straight-on:
“Thing is, he's going to kill me.”
True story. Read the whole thing, I doubt you'll find a more devastating indictment of the anti-gun lobby.
In other news, I can't believe Lt Col P hasn't created a "Firearms" category yet....
Update: Reality vs. Gun Control, example numero dos. Hotel Tango: Mary Katharine
Bullnav says: New category. Fixed.
