To Hunt or Not-to-Hunt

I've always wanted to go hunting. I can't describe it, but maybe it's being outdoors, maybe it's exercising my rights, maybe it's the challenge and thrill, maybe it's the self-sufficiency... I don't know.

When I think about it, depending on what's being hunted, I don't have any moral qualms. I'm not so superior to think that it's inherently cruel. I did see a video of a guy talking an elephant from about 50 or so yards and it bothered me. On a different note, I don't eat octopus sushi - yeah, because I don't like the texture, but also because I really admire their intelligence and... no, you know what... now I am sounding superior. I don't like the way octopus tastes. I like elephants and lots of other creatures - alive. I don't think I want to get into the rationalization-game here. I just want to learn to hunt. Maybe I'll hunt varmints. Maybe I'll hunt game I can eat. Maybe I'll go after a trophy.

I really do want to earn my right to hunt. I dunno if that makes sense or not, but I know I wasn't raised in a hunting family and that's fine. I do want to respect other hunters and most importantly the game. So, I'll have to figure out how I can get started. That is, if my wife "let's me".

New additions to the gun locker

In the last month or so I've picked up three new additions that nicely round out my arsenal.
Mossberg 590 with a Speedfeed stock (50668)
I was literally talked into this one and if a gun purchase could ever fall into the impulse-buy catagory, this one would be it. We needed a shotgun and I've been thinking about getting one since I began buying guns. I almost immediately upgraded it with a Surefire 623FA.
I had problems installing the fore end because the light hit the bayonet lug attached to the barrel band. The place I bought it from didn't tell me that I might have problems even though the salesman said afterwards that he knew there might be problems. What the hell is that? What a prick. I probably would have bought the fore end anyhow, but it would have been nice to know about potential problems before making the purchase. Surefire didn't have anything about it on their sight either. After two sessions with the store's gunsmith, I had the bayonet lug milled off and I was back in business. I need the light more than a bayonet, I just hate to change a gun unless absolutely necessary - it was necessary. I have to say that I was pretty concerned about the recoil. My .308 Springfield Armory M1A kicked me pretty hard to the point I needed a shooting pad. I'm about 140lbs and don't have a lot of bulk. I've read that with the right recoil I should be able to handle larger caliber firearms. I found a cool article on shooting a shotgun using an alternative stance and it's worked wonders. I'm anxious to try it out with my M1A as well. I'm more bothered by the noise of a heavy OO Buckshot load than its recoil. I still need lots of practice and training.
Glock 19
I am a fan of Glocks. I like their reliability, handling, and range of accessories. I have another 9mm model, the 17. I bought that one a few years ago. The model 19 is a wonderful sized pistol, something that my wife can shoot comfortably. Ultimately, I'm planning on keeping the 17 in the car and the 19 around the house for that bump-in-the-night. I'll have to look into getting a good light for it as well, whether it be hand-held or a weapon-light.
Glock 30
I had bought a Kahr PM9 for CCW. I had barrel-peening problems and still have to have that fixed. I'm confident that Kahr will take care of me, but I ultimately decided that I want to carry a .45ACP. I think I'll need a considerable amount of training to pass the CCW qualification, but that won't have as much to do with the caliber as my trigger skills. I bought a Thunderwear holster for it since there's no way I could conceal a 30 on my hip, not with my build. I'm planning on carrying it with a 9 rd magazine with a 13 rd back up. I still plan on carrying the PM9 in a pocket holster, just in case.

Reloading Resources

NRMA
Reloader's Nest
Reloading
Reloading, Basic Rules
Reloading FAQ
Reloading Info
Chuck Hawks on Reloading
Reloading Links
Reloading Steps
Where to Start Reloading

Reloading Setup:

1. Lee "Modern Reloading 2nd Ed.", Lyman 48th Ed. Reloading Handbook
   
2. Lyman Turbo 600 Case Tumbler
3. Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
   
4. Lee Case Trimmer & Lock Stud
5. Lee 9mm Case Length Guide & Shell Holder
6. Lee Chamfer Tool
   
7. Lee Hand Press Kit
   
8. Lee Deluxe Pistol Dies
   
9. Lee Powder Funnel
   
10. Lee Improved Powder Measure Kit
11. RCBS 502 Scale
    
12. Frankfurt Arsenal 6" Calipers
    
13. Frankfurt Arsenal Bullet Holders
    

Raw materials:

• Brass
• Case Lube
  
• Primers
• Powder
• Bullets

A look at SIGarms

I took my brother-in-law to a local gun shop yesterday and began shopping around for something he can keep around the house. We actually looked at a few automatics and an 870 Tactical for first-line home defense.

The initial handgun line up was a G21SF, an XD45ACP, and a SA 1911 Operator. He immediately chose the heft of the 1911. I didn't think to show him a SIG until we were just about to leave. He really liked the SIG and I did too. I never held one before and really liked it, even more so than the 1911.

I've chosen Glock for its dependability and cost-effectiveness. My XD45ACP holds more than a P220, but the SIG merits a closer look. There's so much I still don't know about firearms, but that's the fun.

I just hope we can get to the range soon to rent one out and run it through the paces. I'm still going to pick up a G21SF for myself, but I'll be looking closely into the SIG for sure.

Buying a gun in a different state...

I'm just starting to research whether or not I can buy a handgun in a different state from the one my driver's license was issued.

I'm moving and I was hoping I could buy a new handgun before I went and got a new driver's license.

Any clues any one?

Great advice for taking out a beginning shooter

This was a response on a forum I frequent and I thought it was excellent advice. I wish I knew better the first time I took some friends out to shoot. I look back on pictures from the day and realize that not everyone was always wearing eye protection!

For beginners, I always try to have a classroom session to introduce new shooters to the 4 basic safety rules, and to show them how to align the sights with the target, stance, grip, and trigger press, and the basics of how the handgun functions mechanically (easier than trying to show someone how to load magazines or operate a safety lever or open the cylinder while other people are shooting and making noise around you). The classroom session can be in your home or at a range's classroom (some ranges will let you use the room for free if you are a regular customer and tell the manager that you are introducing a newbie to shooting) if it is not already reserved for a class. Call before you go.

Be sure that the ear plugs or muffs fit properly and actually block the sound before entering the firing line. Lots of beginners don't know how much sound is supposed to be blocked, so they may initially accept incomplete fitting, then get annoyed or scared by the muzzle blast. I tell beginners that the plug or muff should block 90% of the sound, and then snap my fingers next to their ears, before and after fitting the ear protection, so they can experience the difference before going to the firing line. Glasses can cause poor seal of ear muffs, unless the glasses are worn over the muffs.

Naturally, eye protection is a requirement.

The neckline of the shirt/blouse should be fairly high and closely fitted, to prevent hot brass from getting inside. As you may guess, this can be a bigger problem for women, since they are more likely to wear loose or low-necklines than men.

I find that .22 LR is the way to start most people, although people who are seriously hypersensitive can benefit from starting with an air pistol (I have a Daisy Powerline 717 that is inexpensive, has a decent trigger pull and sights, and is far more accurate than even the average experienced shooter), since it has essentially no recoil or noise. It's drawback is that it is a single shot handgun and must be pumped once for each shot.

As for the type of .22, I differ from most people who prefer to start with a revolver. I find that a nice full-size .22 semi-auto is quite suitable for beginners as long as you show them how it works, start them out with only 1 round in the mag, and watch them carefully while they shoot (which you should do anyway, with any beginner). After they have tried a couple of cycles of "one round in the mag", I let them load 2 or 3. If they do fine with that, 5 or 10 is ok. Watch for slide lock to determine empty gun.

It is not "cheating" for a beginner to use a rest at first.

I emphasize that if anything (ANYTHING) does not go according to instructions, the student should keep holding the handgun with finger off trigger, pointing it downrange, and ask for help. I will be right there watching them, so it isn't hard to get my attention. Naturally, I am also watching constantly, so I may see any problem immediately and they may not even have to ask for help. I am always at their shoulder and prepared to block or grab the handgun if they inadvertently turn around.

Other calibers:

.25--not a good choice for beginners, since it is usually only available in tiny handguns that are too small, too fiddly, and have more recoil than the student is expecting.

.32 ACP--again, often available in small handguns with more recoil than expected (i.e. Seecamp .32 or Beretta Tomcat). If you have a nice medium size handgun in this caliber, it can be quite pleasant (Walther PP or Beretta 70S).

.32 Long or .32 H&R Magnum--pretty easy-going caliber in the usual medium size revolver, or target semi-auto.

.380 ACP--Can generate an unpleasant level of recoil for beginners, especially when fired in blowback semi-autos (which is to say, most guns available in this caliber). Fired in a locked-breech gun, the recoil is very mild (Colt .380 Govt. or Mustang, and very old versions of the Llama .380 Government)

.38 Special--Easy- going caliber with the right loads in full-size revolvers (i.e., S&W Model 10 with 4 or 6 inch barrel). Target wadcutters are loaded lighter than the duty rounds, so start with target wadcutters. Duty or self-defense rounds are loaded hotter, and +P loads are quite hot. Short barrels make everything worse (noise, muzzle backblast, recoil).

9mm Luger/Parabellum- -Standard loads have noticeable noise and recoil. +P loads can be fairly sharp.

.40 S&W, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP--all of these can be intimidating to beginners. .40 S&W normal load is practically a +P, the .357 Magnum is very high intensity, and the .45 has long been over-rated in terms of recoil. Choose wisely. Under no circumstances should a beginner shoot a snub .357!

However, some students are quite recoil and noise tolerant, so they may easily adapt to anything you throw at them. Might as well have one or two larger calibers with you, just in case your student is adventurous and wants to try the "big bores" like .357 Mag or .45. Or the student may want you to shoot it just to demonstrate what larger calibers do. No sense making them bored!

.44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, .500 Magnum, etc.--Just don't! These are only for shooters with some experience.

If you wish to start with a .22 or .38 revolver, I'd suggest shooting in the single-action mode for beginners. The trigger pull is lighter and smoother, and the student is more likely to be able to hit the target. Double action can be frustrating and discouraging. Self-defense revolver training should almost always be double-action, but that can come later.

I commend you on your efforts to teach new shooters and I hope you and your student have fun!

Randall N. Herrst
The Center For The Study Of Crime
"Join now! Learn how to become a more effective activist!"
www.StudyCrime. org
310 213-4709

Only Black or White?

I subscribe to a couple of forums. One of them is the Warriors for the 2nd Amendment. There are a number of interesting posts there and everyone seems well behaved for a forum. I recently read a post from the 4th.

This fellow presents an interesting argument...

Remember.... Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another:
reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a
choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your
bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one
of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's
it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact
through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social
interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is
the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use
reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your
threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon
that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger,
a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger,
and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys
with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical
strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a
defender.

The problem I see is that he has limited his argument to a binary paradigm. I'm sure he would agree (reason) that there are many more responses than just "reason and force". (Please feel free to add your own as well...) What about... ?

• walking away
• humor
• non-compliance
• friendship (I know it sounds silly, but it is an option)
  

Those are just a couple of general responses. There are probably many others depending upon the circumstances.

I'm not saying that using a firearm to defend yourself is not an option. Just the opposite. I believe that everyone should have that option as a means of self-defense when all other options are exhausted. I understand that those options can quickly run out within seconds depending on the situation, but to think that we walk around everyday with only to possible actions is only inviting serious reprocussions. You're practically flipping a coin with almost any request.

Latin Quotes?

What is up with all of the Latin quotes on gun forums?

"Mao periculosam libertatem quam quietam servitutem"
("Rather a dangerous liberty than a peaceful servitude")
Thomas Jefferson
"Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem"
(The one hope of the doomed is not to hope for safety)
Virgil

Does using quotes from a different language make people feel like they are smarter than they actually are? Does Latin remind them of their childhoods in ancient Rome? Wow, you must be not only a learned scholar, but a Spartan warfighter too. I'm so happy for all you.

All I see is a bunch of armchair internet commandos posing as intellectual warriors... Latin quote = I'm SMART, I'm SMART!
Whatever.

Man with guns arrested at HACC

I found this link on one of the forums I frequent and was equally appalled by the lack of due process.

Posted by Tom Bowman/The Patriot-News June 20, 2007 12:57PM

A man armed with a 9 mm pistol who police said talked about Virginia Tech was arrested yesterday inside Cooper Student Center at Harrisburg Area Community College.

The man approached a student and said he had guns in his car, Harrisburg Police Chief Charles Kellar said.

"It would be worse than Virginia Tech if someone broke into my car. I have guns in the car," Dauphin County First Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo quoted the man.

John Sakkas of Lemoyne said he heard about a man with a gun at Cooper Student Center during his 8 a.m. speech class today.

The student told an armed HACC security guard that the man had a pistol, and the guards called Harrisburg police, then watched him until police arrived, said HACC spokeswoman Tracy Mendoza.

City police searched the man, found the 9 mm loaded handgun in his backpack, then took him to the police station, Mendoza said.

Kellar said the man had a concealed weapons permit and was legally allowed to carry a pistol. Police searched his car and found a second pistol there and another firearm in his home.

Police talked with Chardo about charging the man. Chardo said what the man said would not qualify as a terroristic threat because there has to be an intent to terrorize another person.

"Because of the statement I was greatly concerned about this fellow," Chardo said. "I contacted the sheriff and had his license to carry a firearm revoked. And I asked police to commit him under Section 302 of the mental health procedures act and that was done. He is now ineligible to possess firearms because he was committed involuntarily."

Chardo said the law says a person cannot possess a firearm if they have been adjudicated incompetent or involuntarily committed for inpatient mental health care. (continues)

What has me worried is how quickly your rights can be stripped away from you with out any checks or balances or appeals.

Of course we don't want another VATech, but we can't let one or two people have control over Constitutional rights that are usually handled by the Supreme Court. This is bullshit!

Kestrel 4500

This is low on the priority list, but it would be a great addition to the toolbox. In addition to distance shooting, it would be great for sport kite sessions, kiteboarding and mountaineering. Granted, I haven't started kiteboarding and I'm not doing much mountaineering anymore. That's why it's pretty freaking low on the list of must-have's.

SafePacker: outback CCW

One of these would be perfect for a day out or on an extended trip. Wonder if they have one for my AR-15? Or another option from Uncle Mike's.

A possible goodie for my CCW Glock?

I've seen some positive reviews about mounting a small red dot to a CCW pistol. I'm impressed with the battery life and I believe it'll still keep a G27 pretty compact.

Justify your spending

"I got interests, not hobbies... you don't have to pay for things your interested in." - George Carlin

I wish I could be content with only interests, but alas I've had a number of hobbies - all of which get to be expensive over time. My long standing hobby has been computers. Sure, at times they've been my profession or at least a significant part of it. I've even been able to write them off for tax purposes. But, I use them a lot in my spare time as well. I don't play computer games often, but I'm usually tweaking my server, etc. It's crazy how much money I've spent on computers over my life time. I've got a network at home that out numbers the family members 2:1 - four of them, looking at a soon to be five.

The reason I'm writing is because I was just looking into the Mac OS X Leopard server that's due to come out next year for around $1000. "Not bad", I think - for what it will do. I can't justify buying it, but I'd definitely consider it. Having my own server kicks ass, even if I'm not using it to commercially host websites.

But then hold on. That's a new Glock, or XD45ACP, with a few extra mags and a half dozen boxes of premium ammo. Now my server will rock for another 5, 10, perhaps even 12 years, since computers age like dog years if not faster.

10.5 dog years per human year for the first 2 years, then 4 dog years per human year for each year after. (from Online Conversions)

But my new handgun or rifle will likely out last me. Especially the way I like to anally clean my weapons. As long as the S doesn't hit the fan... they'll be around a long time. Now that's what I call a value.

At the beginning, my new wife didn't mind my arsenal. Now she's complaining about why I need so many, that's 8 right now. I think we need a couple more to cover our bases and that's just what I'm going to do.

I think I'm going to keep my hobbies as well, but they'll probably get a smaller piece of the pie. :-)

I wonder how others balance their interests?

Liko Kenny kills officer then is shot by passer-by

Bode Miller's cousin kills officer, then is killed by passer-by

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.13.2007

FRANCONIA, N.H. (AP) — A cousin of skiing star Bode Miller fatally shot and ran over a police officer, then was killed by a passer-by who grabbed the officer's gun.

Attorney General Kelly Ayotte said Liko Kenney shot Cpl. Bruce McKay four times, then ran over him with his car after a traffic stop Friday night.

Gregory Floyd, who was driving by with his son, grabbed McKay's gun, then shot the 24-year-old Kenney when he refused to put his gun down, Ayotte said.

"This once again reminds of us of the difficult and dangerous work that is done everyday by the law enforcement of this state to protect each of us," Ayotte said at a news conference in Concord. (continues)

What a stunning story. What catches my attention the most is the brave citizen who stopped Kenney from doing any more damage. Even though Kenny didn't seem like a public enemy, he was obviously unbalanced. Regardless of his history with the police, you can't justify killing a cop, another human being, for those kinds of altercations. I hope Floyd is able to get the best lawyers to protect him from the victim's family.

As terrorism plots evolve, FBI relies on Agent John Q. Public

By Josh Meyer, Times Staff Writer
May 12, 2007

WASHINGTON — The FBI has hailed the breakup of an alleged plot to kill soldiers at Ft. Dix, N.J., as a major success story. But federal authorities acknowledge that the case has underscored a troubling vulnerability in the domestic war on terrorism.

They say the FBI, despite unprecedented expansion over the last 5 1/2 years, cannot counter the growing threat posed by homegrown extremists without the help of two often unreliable allies. One is an American public that they lament is prone to averting its attention from suspicious behavior and often reluctant to get involved. The other is a small but growing army of informants, some of whom might be in it for the wrong reasons — such as money, political ax-grinding or legal problems of their own.

Such dependence on amateurs is "not something that we would like. It's something that we absolutely need," said Special Agent J.P. Weis, who heads the FBI's Philadelphia field office and the South Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force, which conducted the Ft. Dix investigation.

Weis and other FBI and Justice Department officials acknowledged they probably never would have known about the six men and their alleged plans had it not been for a Circuit City employee who reported a suspicious video.

And, they said, an FBI informant was instrumental in gathering evidence to file criminal charges by infiltrating the men's circle for 16 months as they allegedly bought and trained with automatic weapons, made reconnaissance runs and discussed plans.

Weis and others said the bureau had to rely on the public and on informants in domestic counter-terrorism investigations because of the changing nature of the global jihad and the threat it posed within the United States. (continues)

So, how does the public change from being reluctant to take part in our collective security while balancing the process of observing from digressing into McCarthy-ism?

Kahr PM9 Peened Barrel

After I bought my PM9 last summer, I've had feelings of dread every single time I think about it. I first noticed a problem with the pistol at the range while I was trying to field strip it. Then it would fail to return to battery after a shot. I'm not a very experienced gunner so I didn't realize that the barrel was getting peened after about 30 rounds. I ended the session at about 200 rounds and realized that I need to get this problem fixed.

I've finally done some searching and have realized that I'm not the only one with the same problem. A simple Google search "kahr pm9 peened barrel" yielded a number of valid forum posts addressing the same problem. Thankfully it sounds like Kahr is quick to fix the problems.

I love this gun and desperately want it back in the game. At least I'm not betting my life on it just yet.

One Gun Too Few

Posted on 04/22/2007 7:01:18 AM PDT by Dick Bachert

What the Washington Times of Tuesday, 17 April, aptly headlined as the “Massacre at Virginia Tech” is a tragedy that should—that must—teach this country a number of serious lessons.

First, that all so-called “gun-free zones” are exceedingly dangerous places. For all “gun-free zones” amount to “self-defense prohibition zones” for honest citizens, and therefore “free-fire zones” for psychopaths, “terrorists,” and other homicidal criminals. If common sense did not, certainly the experiences documented by researchers such as John Lott confirm that the less “gun free” an area is (in terms of firearms in the immediate possession of honest citizens ready and willing to use them), the less violent crime occurs there.

Virginia Tech has long been a “gun-free zone” for the purposes of its students’ self-defense. In the name of preventing violence, the university has prohibited every student with a Virginia license to carry a concealed firearm from doing so on campus. Surely debatable is whether such a regulation is even legal—given that such a license is a Virginia statutory right of any individual who qualifies for it (and, I should argue, a constitutional right as well) that no mere administrative body has any authority to deny. Beyond dispute is that events have written in blood just how disastrously that idea worked on Monday, 16 April 2007: Apparently everyone among the student body obeyed the edict, except the killer. The regulation perhaps disarmed students who might otherwise have legally been carrying a firearm with which they could have stopped the killer in his tracks. And the police, who were armed and on the campus, proved ineffective, because they were not on the scene. (continued)

Handgun Wounding Factors

The selection of effective handgun ammunition for law enforcement is a critical and complex issue. It is critical because of that which is at stake when an officer is required to use his handgun to protect his own life or that of another. It is complex because of the target, a human being, is amazingly endurable and capable of sustaining phenomenal punishment while persisting in a determined course of action. The issue is made even more complex by the dearth of credible research and the wealth of uninformed opinion regarding what is commonly referred to as "stopping power."

In reality, few people have conducted relevant research in this area, and fewer still have produced credible information that is useful for law enforcement agencies in making informed decisions.

This article brings together what is believed to be the most credible information regarding wound ballistics. It cuts through the haze and confusion, and provides common-sense, scientifically supportable, principles by which the effectiveness of law enforcement ammunition may be measured. It is written clearly and concisely. The content is credible and practical. The information contained in this article is not offered as the final word on wound ballistics. It is, however, an important contribution to what should be an ongoing discussion of this most important of issues.

Glock animation

The freakin' coolest animations if you're curious how your Glock really works.

New Orleans Residents Arming Themselves

I don't know if it's completely legit for me to post materials from copyrighted material like this, but I'd just hate to lose a link to a good article.

By MARY FOSTER
Sixty-four-year-old Vivian Westerman rode out Hurricane Katrina in her 19th-century house. So terrible was the experience that she wanted two things before the 2006 season arrived: a backup power source and a gun.

"I got a 6,000-watt generator and the cutest little Smith & Wesson, snub-nose .38 you ever saw," she boasted. "I've never been more confident." (continues)