Check out the cool dude in the original ad:
-- Post From The Road
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Coolest Gun in the World...
...as usual, the Auto & Burglar
Check out the cool dude in the original ad:
-- Post From The Road
Check out the cool dude in the original ad:
-- Post From The Road
Winchester '94s
Since I've been on a Winchester 94 binge lately, I thought I'd show you a few...the one on the right dates from 1894, serial number in the 12,000 range.
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Guns of Jack Aubrey...
...if, of course, there had been a Jack Aubrey! Anyway, there are English ship guns consistent with the timeframe if the Patrick O'Brian "Master and Commander" series.
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
"Tactical" Blunderbuss
...circa 1690...check out the folding stock, probably a primitive MagPul model...
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Liver Eating Johnson's Bowie Knife
...one of the Sheffield bowies made in England...
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Return of the Taurus .44 Special 5-shot!
This from Taurus this AM...I'm excited because one of my old Taurus 5-shot .44 Specials is one of the most accurate .44 Specials I own (and, yes, I own a bunch!). I still don't like .40s, but I will be buying the .,44 Special!
---------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Taurus Introduces New Large Caliber, Lightweight Revolvers
MIAMI – The new Taurus® 405 and 445 revolvers are aggressive wheel-guns that deliver superior accuracy and stopping power without the heft or bulk of most large caliber revolvers. These 5-shot revolvers are available in blue or matte stainless finish with the Taurus Ribber Grip® that reduces felt recoil.
The 445 is chambered in .44 Special and features an Ultra-Lite® frame that weighs only 22 ounces. The revolver’s barrel measures 2 inches, with an overall length of 7 inches. The 405, Taurus’ first .40 S&W revolver, features a lightweight frame that weighs just 29 ounces and includes stellar clips. The revolver’s barrel measures 2 inches, with an overall length of 7 inches. Like all Taurus firearms the 405 and 445 come standard with the unique onboard Taurus Security System® that allows users to securely lock the gun using an inconspicuous key-lock. MSRP $452 - $514.
---------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Taurus Introduces New Large Caliber, Lightweight Revolvers
MIAMI – The new Taurus® 405 and 445 revolvers are aggressive wheel-guns that deliver superior accuracy and stopping power without the heft or bulk of most large caliber revolvers. These 5-shot revolvers are available in blue or matte stainless finish with the Taurus Ribber Grip® that reduces felt recoil.
The 445 is chambered in .44 Special and features an Ultra-Lite® frame that weighs only 22 ounces. The revolver’s barrel measures 2 inches, with an overall length of 7 inches. The 405, Taurus’ first .40 S&W revolver, features a lightweight frame that weighs just 29 ounces and includes stellar clips. The revolver’s barrel measures 2 inches, with an overall length of 7 inches. Like all Taurus firearms the 405 and 445 come standard with the unique onboard Taurus Security System® that allows users to securely lock the gun using an inconspicuous key-lock. MSRP $452 - $514.
Meanwhile Back in Cowboy World
I had a nice short visit with Home, where it is apparently going to snow forever, and am back on the road for GUN STORIES. Expect another batch of those darned annoying pix posts. My Internet connection up here in Wyoming is a little shaky, so videos are unlikely.
I do love the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the wonderful Cody Firearms Museum, curated by my friend Warren Newman. Warren has the 2nd greatest job in the world (me, of course) having the first. I will of course find the time to get to Seidel's Saddlery Shop and, a little farther down the street, the Custom Cowboy Shop. Seidel's leatherwork is nothing short of breathtaking.
I ran into military uber-author Kevin Dockery over the weekend, and he invited me to Dragon Con, the humongous sconce fiction convention in Atlanta in early September, where he and his guys will be doing a massive weapons' demo for all the nerd boys and girls. If the Scheduling Gods smile kindly on me, I'll go for 3 reasons — I actually am a science fiction fanboy, weapons demos are always fun and, finally, who would pass up a chance to hang out with slutty alien chicks?
Given the Endless Snow at the Secret Hidden Bunker, I'm thinking of changing the name of the place to Winterfell (speaking of sci-fi, or at least fantasy), although Alf the Wonder Beagle would be desperately afraid of being sent north to defend The Wall.
Gotta go bend a knee to John Jeremiah "Live-eating" Johnson...you can see his gravesite from the window of my hotel room...such dreams I had!
PS: Back to my test run of carrying the LC9 in a N8 Tactical IWB...in answer to the question, my LC9 mag holds 7 rounds, but the last one is a stiffy. Also heard from Taurus that the pro to rifles are back in Brazil, but they'll let me know as soon as the next iteration is in the country and I can have an excuse to get out of the snow and swill boat drinks down in F-L-A!
I do love the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the wonderful Cody Firearms Museum, curated by my friend Warren Newman. Warren has the 2nd greatest job in the world (me, of course) having the first. I will of course find the time to get to Seidel's Saddlery Shop and, a little farther down the street, the Custom Cowboy Shop. Seidel's leatherwork is nothing short of breathtaking.
I ran into military uber-author Kevin Dockery over the weekend, and he invited me to Dragon Con, the humongous sconce fiction convention in Atlanta in early September, where he and his guys will be doing a massive weapons' demo for all the nerd boys and girls. If the Scheduling Gods smile kindly on me, I'll go for 3 reasons — I actually am a science fiction fanboy, weapons demos are always fun and, finally, who would pass up a chance to hang out with slutty alien chicks?
Given the Endless Snow at the Secret Hidden Bunker, I'm thinking of changing the name of the place to Winterfell (speaking of sci-fi, or at least fantasy), although Alf the Wonder Beagle would be desperately afraid of being sent north to defend The Wall.
Gotta go bend a knee to John Jeremiah "Live-eating" Johnson...you can see his gravesite from the window of my hotel room...such dreams I had!
PS: Back to my test run of carrying the LC9 in a N8 Tactical IWB...in answer to the question, my LC9 mag holds 7 rounds, but the last one is a stiffy. Also heard from Taurus that the pro to rifles are back in Brazil, but they'll let me know as soon as the next iteration is in the country and I can have an excuse to get out of the snow and swill boat drinks down in F-L-A!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Eat Your Heart Out!
A friend is headed to the sandbox next week...this us his going away pig roast!
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Friday, May 13, 2011
Texas Stars...
...tomorrow's cowboy match is virtually guaranteed to have at least one Star. I like Stars! I'm good on Stars! Redemption for my miserable sporting clays performance this week. See the sights. Squeeze the trigger.
Mas is right...a day shooting oddly shaped steel targets very quickly will have me back to normal in no time.
Hey, I missed the Single Stack Classic (again)! Every year I pay my entry fee, get a hotel reservation and don't show up...hope springs eternal, I guess. Okay, Robbie, you got a free pass again this year! LOL! Seriously, I hope Rob Leatham wins again, because he is cool as well as a brilliant shooter. What better reason than that? Plus, I remember the indescribable feeling as the speedometer kept creeping higher and higher over 100 MPH on Rob's Ninja so many years ago...that ride alone bought a life's time worth of good will. Good luck, brother, although TGO don't need no luck!
Mas is right...a day shooting oddly shaped steel targets very quickly will have me back to normal in no time.
Hey, I missed the Single Stack Classic (again)! Every year I pay my entry fee, get a hotel reservation and don't show up...hope springs eternal, I guess. Okay, Robbie, you got a free pass again this year! LOL! Seriously, I hope Rob Leatham wins again, because he is cool as well as a brilliant shooter. What better reason than that? Plus, I remember the indescribable feeling as the speedometer kept creeping higher and higher over 100 MPH on Rob's Ninja so many years ago...that ride alone bought a life's time worth of good will. Good luck, brother, although TGO don't need no luck!
Sorry for Lite Blogging
Put simply, I'm exhausted. It turns out that a defining "travel days" as my only full "days off" doesn't work as well as one might think. Came home from yesterday's filming day for TBD/SURVIVAL (after getting back from San Antonio at midnight the day before, and California a couple of days before that), sat down in front of the iPad and for all intents and purposes collapsed into a pathetic heap. \Was deep asleep by 9PM.
I feel vaguely human this morning, certainly good enough to be pulling the trigger tomorrow AM. Hopefully I can then face my travel schedule! LOL! Not complaining, mind you...just whining like a little baby.
Am looking forward to June, when Marshal Halloway and I are going to get together and evaluate a lot of guns for DRTV! That's always big big fun.
I knew I was resting up when I woke up this morning wondering whether I should replace the Tasco ProPoint on my RRC 10/22 with an Aimpoint or at least a dot with a green as well as red option for really flat gray days like last year's Worlds. If I'm thinking about guns, I'm not fretting about traveling (or, worse, being an actual television producer, which I've had to be a lot lately).
I feel vaguely human this morning, certainly good enough to be pulling the trigger tomorrow AM. Hopefully I can then face my travel schedule! LOL! Not complaining, mind you...just whining like a little baby.
Am looking forward to June, when Marshal Halloway and I are going to get together and evaluate a lot of guns for DRTV! That's always big big fun.
I knew I was resting up when I woke up this morning wondering whether I should replace the Tasco ProPoint on my RRC 10/22 with an Aimpoint or at least a dot with a green as well as red option for really flat gray days like last year's Worlds. If I'm thinking about guns, I'm not fretting about traveling (or, worse, being an actual television producer, which I've had to be a lot lately).
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
MIKE SEEKLANDER - WELCOME ABOARD!
THE BEST DEFENSE Producer Tim Cremin and I are pleased to announce that ace trainer Mike Seeklander will be joining TBD as our primary firearms instructor! Mike joins veteran host Michael Janich, giving us a new All-Mike format.
Of course you've seen Mike Seeklander not only on the first season of TBD, but on SHOOTING GALLERY this season as well. Mike has been Director of Training for U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, is the founder of Shooting Performance website (www.shooting-performance.com) and recently completed his first book, "Your Competition Handgun Training Program."
His background is impressive. Check out this bio:
You can see the World Class skillset that Mike brings to TBD. Most importantly, all of us have been impressed with Mike's aility to tailor his training not just for elite shooting athletes, but for the new shooter focused on self-defense. It's a rare talent.
You'll start seeing TBD episodes with Mike in January 2012. In the meanwhile, our current ace instructor Rob Pincus will be handling the heavy-lifting chores on TBD/SURVIVAL, continuing our absolute goal of providing you with the information you need.
Welcome aboard, Mike!
Of course you've seen Mike Seeklander not only on the first season of TBD, but on SHOOTING GALLERY this season as well. Mike has been Director of Training for U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, is the founder of Shooting Performance website (www.shooting-performance.com) and recently completed his first book, "Your Competition Handgun Training Program."
His background is impressive. Check out this bio:
I am currently employed as the Director of Training at the United States Shooting Academy. Previously, I was a Senior Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston, S.C. Prior to that I served as the Branch Chief and Lead Instructor for the Federal Air Marshal firearms division, as well as instructing in the Tactics and Physical Training divisions at the Federal Air Marshal Training Center in Atlantic City, N.J. I was responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of all firearms and tactical shoot-house instruction for the Federal Air Marshal Service basic training. In addition, I was credentialed as a Federal Air Marshal, providing counter-terrorism security to commercial American air carriers nationwide.
I am A combat veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, with five years of active duty and four years of reserve duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, as an intelligence specialist and primary marksmanship instructor. Prior to receiving my honorable discharge in 2000, I was attached to a Federal multi-agency task force investigating large-scale international drug trafficking.
From 1995-98, I was employed by the Knox County (TN) Sheriff’s Department’s Corrections division and was a member of its highly trained Special Operations Response Team. From 1998-2001, I worked as a police officer for the Knoxville (TN) Police Department where I was assigned as a patrol officer and also as an investigator for the Organized Crime section, investigating narcotics and vice-related crimes at the local, state and federal levels.
I am the recipient of numerous awards and honors in the law enforcement community, and as a semi-professional shooter. While training part time, I have placed highly in every major practical type championship on the circuit and have more than a dozen titles at major matches including state and area matches in IPSC and IDPA style matches including a second place finish at the 2007 European Handgun Championships, and top 5 finishes at the U.S. Nationals, the World Speed Shooting championships and NRA Action Pistol championships. I am currently ranked as a Grandmaster (the highest rank obtainable) by the United States Practical Shooting Association. Shooting has not been my only passion, and I have more than 15 years of experience in various martial arts, holding multiple ranks including a Black Belt in Okinawan Freestyle Karate.
You can see the World Class skillset that Mike brings to TBD. Most importantly, all of us have been impressed with Mike's aility to tailor his training not just for elite shooting athletes, but for the new shooter focused on self-defense. It's a rare talent.
You'll start seeing TBD episodes with Mike in January 2012. In the meanwhile, our current ace instructor Rob Pincus will be handling the heavy-lifting chores on TBD/SURVIVAL, continuing our absolute goal of providing you with the information you need.
Welcome aboard, Mike!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
HK416
I note Military Times is now quoting sources that OBL was whacked with the 416...remember, you heard it here first! MT notes the spooky guys like 77-gr bullets, consistent with what I've heard.
Am sitting in a plane inexplicably stuck at the gate in Denver. Am ostensibly on the way to San Antonio to prove conclusively I am one of the 3 worst sporting clays shooters on earth at a benefit shoot there. Small children will probably throw rotten eggs at me.
Will be shooting the cowboy match in Boulder, if any of you are around.
-- Post From The Road
Am sitting in a plane inexplicably stuck at the gate in Denver. Am ostensibly on the way to San Antonio to prove conclusively I am one of the 3 worst sporting clays shooters on earth at a benefit shoot there. Small children will probably throw rotten eggs at me.
Will be shooting the cowboy match in Boulder, if any of you are around.
-- Post From The Road
Monday, May 09, 2011
Well Anyway
I had great plans for today, but ended up working like a dog until the afternoon, when my Sweetie and I sprinted to the range for an intense afternoon with a Texas Star (actually an MGM Whirlybird-Gig). After we burned through a couple of hundred rounds in the cowboy guns, we shifted to my Ruger Rimfire guns -- the Ruger Target 10/22 with the Vorquartsen trigger groups and parts, my Tactical Solutions 22/45 blood red Ruger and the TS 1911 conversion unit on the Kimber Target that my Sweetie has claimed for her own.
She was amazed at how well the TS/Kimber shot -- hey, it's a dedicated target gun and it shoots like a house afire. We were using CCI Mini Mags, not the pinnacle of target ammo, but they were still little bitty groups.
It seems that another club wants to run the Colorado state RRC championships in early September, which we're cool with. I may go to irons for the rifle, and I 'm planning on using the TS 22/45 (same I used in last year's World Championships) unless I can get one if the threaded barrel 22/45s with the replaceable 1911 grips...on a competition gun, I want ALUMAGRIPS...yeah, I'm boring. I just keep doing the same thing over and over again. I'd go with TS muzzle break if I can put the gun together in time. I'd probably need trigger work, so I'd better start groveling to Jimmy Clark or Scott Vorquartsen...sounds like a lot of work, whereas my 22/45 is in the safe...
I do have a Falcon Machining S&W 41 we built up more than a decade ago when I was writing for HANDGUNS Magazine ("The Next Skeeter Skelton! LOL!). It's a serious (if finicky) tack-driver, but the TS 22/45,will shot alongside it and use Federal Gold Medal Match instead of the real exotic (and expensive) stuff the 41 likes...
She was amazed at how well the TS/Kimber shot -- hey, it's a dedicated target gun and it shoots like a house afire. We were using CCI Mini Mags, not the pinnacle of target ammo, but they were still little bitty groups.
It seems that another club wants to run the Colorado state RRC championships in early September, which we're cool with. I may go to irons for the rifle, and I 'm planning on using the TS 22/45 (same I used in last year's World Championships) unless I can get one if the threaded barrel 22/45s with the replaceable 1911 grips...on a competition gun, I want ALUMAGRIPS...yeah, I'm boring. I just keep doing the same thing over and over again. I'd go with TS muzzle break if I can put the gun together in time. I'd probably need trigger work, so I'd better start groveling to Jimmy Clark or Scott Vorquartsen...sounds like a lot of work, whereas my 22/45 is in the safe...
I do have a Falcon Machining S&W 41 we built up more than a decade ago when I was writing for HANDGUNS Magazine ("The Next Skeeter Skelton! LOL!). It's a serious (if finicky) tack-driver, but the TS 22/45,will shot alongside it and use Federal Gold Medal Match instead of the real exotic (and expensive) stuff the 41 likes...
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Safely Back in the Secret Hidden Bunker...
...where we're having a brief flirtation with spring...I may be able to wear shorts today!
Both producer/director Tim Cremin and I feel this was a hugely successful trip. Joe Manegna is amazing to work with , and he will bring GUN STORIES to a different level. I'm very proud of the fact that each of my shows have been game changers...hope to keep that roll going!
There are still some issues to resolve with the hour-long SHOOTING GALLERY, but I'm pretty sure we're on track for Q1 2012. I'll also be making some announcements tomorrow on the blog and DRTV about changes in THE BEST DEFENSE for Season 4, which we'll start filming early this summer. Raise the bar; raise the bar!
It's fun to Play Hollywood, and you can feel the pure seduction of money seeping in under the doors, but when I get home I always think back on the words of Del Gue in Jeremiah Johnson:
Think I'll go shoot some guns today...
Both producer/director Tim Cremin and I feel this was a hugely successful trip. Joe Manegna is amazing to work with , and he will bring GUN STORIES to a different level. I'm very proud of the fact that each of my shows have been game changers...hope to keep that roll going!
There are still some issues to resolve with the hour-long SHOOTING GALLERY, but I'm pretty sure we're on track for Q1 2012. I'll also be making some announcements tomorrow on the blog and DRTV about changes in THE BEST DEFENSE for Season 4, which we'll start filming early this summer. Raise the bar; raise the bar!
It's fun to Play Hollywood, and you can feel the pure seduction of money seeping in under the doors, but when I get home I always think back on the words of Del Gue in Jeremiah Johnson:
By God the Rocky Mountains are the marrow of the world
....
I ain't never seen them
But my common sense tells me
The Andes is but foothills...
And the Alps for children to climb
These here are
God's finest sculpturings
And there ain't no laws
for the brave one
And there ain't no asylum
for the crazy ones...
Saturday, May 07, 2011
LAX
Rather than spend a fortune juggling flights, my Sweetie and I opted for lunch at Duke's in Malibu (not the same, to be sure, but I remember the old beach bar)...fish is still very good.
LAX, sadly, is always the same...
LAX, sadly, is always the same...
Friday, May 06, 2011
Thanks!
First, thank you all so much for the birthday emails and comments! If you'd all been here, heck, I would have made the cake!
Yesterday was truly an exceptional day. We did some V/O work but mostly worked on writing scripts we hadn't completed. As I've said before, writing for print tends to be a solitary world, whereas writing for television is by its nature collaborative. It's pretty cool to work with a bunch of people (producer Tim Cremin, Joe Mantegna and his business partner, Dan Ramm, himself a scriptwriter) who are very good at what they do. Makes you work that much harder.
Today we're back at ISS filming in the heavy machine-gun room (be still my beating heart!). And yes, NJ Larry, well said...our goal is to work through the periodic table of guns! eventually I want to end up with four iron tubes on the end of a pike and a slow match!
They have some nice cannons at ISS, which gives me pause...cannons would be fun!
BTW, going to try and round up Gunwalker stuff for next week's video podcast. Be sure to check out our "interview," more or less...perhaps less than more, with Brother Nugent on DRTV!
And again, my thanks...
Yesterday was truly an exceptional day. We did some V/O work but mostly worked on writing scripts we hadn't completed. As I've said before, writing for print tends to be a solitary world, whereas writing for television is by its nature collaborative. It's pretty cool to work with a bunch of people (producer Tim Cremin, Joe Mantegna and his business partner, Dan Ramm, himself a scriptwriter) who are very good at what they do. Makes you work that much harder.
Today we're back at ISS filming in the heavy machine-gun room (be still my beating heart!). And yes, NJ Larry, well said...our goal is to work through the periodic table of guns! eventually I want to end up with four iron tubes on the end of a pike and a slow match!
They have some nice cannons at ISS, which gives me pause...cannons would be fun!
BTW, going to try and round up Gunwalker stuff for next week's video podcast. Be sure to check out our "interview," more or less...perhaps less than more, with Brother Nugent on DRTV!
And again, my thanks...
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Which is, of course, my birthday, too. Last year we had a birthday party at GUNSITE; this year I'm spending the day working on scripts with producer Tim C. and Joe M. I probably couldn't make this stuff up...life is infinitely strange.
I talked to I.S.S. about doing a major episode of SHOOTING GALLERY on how they work with television and movie productions, and they would love to do it (luckily, there are a bunch of SG fans there!). They are Class 3 manufacturers in addition to being dealers, and the local rules (not to mention BATFE) are draconian.
Neat to see "famous" guns piled hither and yon..."The Pacific" over here, "Avatar" over there. Saw one magnificent '28 Thompson they sourced for a major Hollywood star whose name I have sworn not to utter. We'll be back at I.S.S. tomorrow, working in the machine gun room.
I think GUN STORIES s going to be a cool cool show...Tim and I have another show, MACHINE GUN, rattling around in our heads...but that'll be for next year after I get the hour-long SHOOTING GALLERY sorted out!
Glad to see that Colorado ranked low in the annual Brady Bunch poll of state gun laws...the lower your score, the better a place your state is to live. States with the highest scores should be auctioned off on eBay to raise money to reduce the deficit.
I talked to I.S.S. about doing a major episode of SHOOTING GALLERY on how they work with television and movie productions, and they would love to do it (luckily, there are a bunch of SG fans there!). They are Class 3 manufacturers in addition to being dealers, and the local rules (not to mention BATFE) are draconian.
Neat to see "famous" guns piled hither and yon..."The Pacific" over here, "Avatar" over there. Saw one magnificent '28 Thompson they sourced for a major Hollywood star whose name I have sworn not to utter. We'll be back at I.S.S. tomorrow, working in the machine gun room.
I think GUN STORIES s going to be a cool cool show...Tim and I have another show, MACHINE GUN, rattling around in our heads...but that'll be for next year after I get the hour-long SHOOTING GALLERY sorted out!
Glad to see that Colorado ranked low in the annual Brady Bunch poll of state gun laws...the lower your score, the better a place your state is to live. States with the highest scores should be auctioned off on eBay to raise money to reduce the deficit.
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Going Great!
Working with Joe is just fantastic! Definitely a gun guy, and yes, he's of the 1911 variety...that's why he picked a 1911 for Criminal Minds...
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
I'm at...
...Independent Studio Services, the top prop house in LA...here's the machine gun vault...weep, ye mortals!
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Cherub & Seraphim say...
....don't be surprised if an HK416 turns out to be the gun de jure in the sandbox...
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Filming Today at I.S.S.
...the largest and coolest supplier of movie guns. Watch the Twitter feed throughout the day!
- Posted using BlogPress, a Truly Crappy App
- Posted using BlogPress, a Truly Crappy App
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
I Don't Know Why In LA...
True, a great and widely underrated Billy Friedkin film, and here I am gearing up to play a little Hollywood for the next couple of days. We WILL be posting pixs here on the blog, because we're making our announcement on our host for GUN STORIES tomorrow on the podcast.
BTW, there was a piece on local TV here about how THE "SEAL" pistol, the Sig Sauer 226 9mm,, are blowing out the doors of gun shops. Interesting...there are a lot of issue 226s out there, but it's probably fair to say that the guys on that line can pretty much pick and choose whatever they want. Some of the guys I know personally default to 1911s in .45.
-- Post From The Road
Monday, May 02, 2011
Who Says Double Taps Are Old School?
From the National Journal's Marc Ambinder:
After bursts of fire over 40 minutes, 22 people were killed or captured. One of the dead was Osama bin Laden, done in by a double tap -- boom, boom -- to the left side of his face.A different update:
U.S. officials have said a small U.S. strike team, dropped by helicopter to bin Laden's hide-out near the Pakistani capital of Islamabad under cover of night, shot the al Qaeda leader dead with bullets to the chest and head. He did not return fire.
Two in the belly
One in the head
I'm alive
And you're dead!
Dead!
Not dead enough, given the damage to our beloved country he caused. For now, all honor to our warriors and to the SEAL team that sealed the deal! Thank you, guys. You are the best of America.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Squibby Gets Her Gun
Lisa Farrell with the Apex Tactical drop-in 2 lb trigger for .22 conversions...
-- Post From The Road
-- Post From The Road
Interesting Data Point...
Had dinner last night with Ken Jorgensen from Ruger and trainer Dave Spaulding. Dave and I did a presentation earlier in the day on the Ruger/GUNSITE Scout Rifle that was just mobbed. Dave said that later in the day he did a SR556 presentation...people stopped by, but generally moved on. Not an AR crowd, Dave said.
BTW, if you're still in Pittsburg, Dave and I will be giving the Scout Rifle presentation again this AM at 11 at the Ruger booth.
I did finally get over to Andy's Leather -- great stuff, as my regular readers know -- and also got to talk to my friend Doug Turnbull and his beautiful Ruger #1s in his proprietary .475 Turnbull cartridge and the equally beautiful Winchester 1886 45/70 clones. Heirloom guns.
The Rossi Ranch Hand, the little pistol version of the Winchester '92 rifle, is a bonafide hit...Rossi's working to get more of them into the pipeline, bt numerous people told me they were on waiting lists. SG got big thank yous from Rossi, who were quick to attribute our "Zombie" episode and the subsequent podcasts with driving sales.
Hornady's expanding the Lever Evolution line of ammo, which is good news for us lever gun fans (and especially after our running ballistic gelatin tests on the 30-30 Lever Evolution stuff). Dwight Van Brunt from Kimber showed me a Kimber Custom Shop version of the Solo 9mm, which has proven to be a huge hit for Kimber..2 tone, rounded and smoothed (even more than it already is) and the new CT LaserGrips...man, it is a nice pocket pistol! I told Dwight I'd shot the little gun and was surprised at how shootable it was.
Going over to Apex Tactical to look at their drop-in J Frame kit, plus N8 Tactical to look at some prototype holster designs!
Anyway, to take the temperature of the place, I'd say sunny with a 100% chance of rain...most people are pretty pleased with our success over the last few years, but nervous about the months leading up to the election and flat scared abut the prospect of another 4 years of Bho. There's an (justified, I think) anger at the Gunwalker Scandal and BATFE's and Justice's continued stonewalling. Lots of open carry as well as CCW...Brother Nugent bumped my pocket to make sure we weren't in a "gun free zone." I'll be talking more about this on Wednesday's podcast.
BTW BTW, I remain AMAZED at the depth of penetration of the DOWN RANGE Radio podcsst! Several new listeners have shown me their iPods with dozens (even one guy with a hundred) episodes they're working their way through. Thank you all!
And while I'm passing out thank yous, I had a wonderful autograph signing at the OC booth yesterday! The signing started at 3PM and I didn't leave the booth until 5:45 (the floor closed at 6)...we had hundreds of people come by, including lots of DRTV Forum regulars, which was super. I also got to spend a little time with John Richardson from the "No Lawyers Only Guns & Money" blog, which does a great job of keeping up with legislation. I ended up too overextended to make it to Breda from "The Breda Fallacy" blog gathering...need a clone.
Will be at Tactical Solutions this afternoon for you stragglers!!!
BTW, if you're still in Pittsburg, Dave and I will be giving the Scout Rifle presentation again this AM at 11 at the Ruger booth.
I did finally get over to Andy's Leather -- great stuff, as my regular readers know -- and also got to talk to my friend Doug Turnbull and his beautiful Ruger #1s in his proprietary .475 Turnbull cartridge and the equally beautiful Winchester 1886 45/70 clones. Heirloom guns.
The Rossi Ranch Hand, the little pistol version of the Winchester '92 rifle, is a bonafide hit...Rossi's working to get more of them into the pipeline, bt numerous people told me they were on waiting lists. SG got big thank yous from Rossi, who were quick to attribute our "Zombie" episode and the subsequent podcasts with driving sales.
Hornady's expanding the Lever Evolution line of ammo, which is good news for us lever gun fans (and especially after our running ballistic gelatin tests on the 30-30 Lever Evolution stuff). Dwight Van Brunt from Kimber showed me a Kimber Custom Shop version of the Solo 9mm, which has proven to be a huge hit for Kimber..2 tone, rounded and smoothed (even more than it already is) and the new CT LaserGrips...man, it is a nice pocket pistol! I told Dwight I'd shot the little gun and was surprised at how shootable it was.
Going over to Apex Tactical to look at their drop-in J Frame kit, plus N8 Tactical to look at some prototype holster designs!
Anyway, to take the temperature of the place, I'd say sunny with a 100% chance of rain...most people are pretty pleased with our success over the last few years, but nervous about the months leading up to the election and flat scared abut the prospect of another 4 years of Bho. There's an (justified, I think) anger at the Gunwalker Scandal and BATFE's and Justice's continued stonewalling. Lots of open carry as well as CCW...Brother Nugent bumped my pocket to make sure we weren't in a "gun free zone." I'll be talking more about this on Wednesday's podcast.
BTW BTW, I remain AMAZED at the depth of penetration of the DOWN RANGE Radio podcsst! Several new listeners have shown me their iPods with dozens (even one guy with a hundred) episodes they're working their way through. Thank you all!
And while I'm passing out thank yous, I had a wonderful autograph signing at the OC booth yesterday! The signing started at 3PM and I didn't leave the booth until 5:45 (the floor closed at 6)...we had hundreds of people come by, including lots of DRTV Forum regulars, which was super. I also got to spend a little time with John Richardson from the "No Lawyers Only Guns & Money" blog, which does a great job of keeping up with legislation. I ended up too overextended to make it to Breda from "The Breda Fallacy" blog gathering...need a clone.
Will be at Tactical Solutions this afternoon for you stragglers!!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sorry...still No Pixs!
Today was more of a grind than I expected,, but I did get to meet a lot of great people (and even got several excellent ideas to steal!). I hope to get out on the floor a little bit more tomorrow. couple of things that did catch my eye..the (full-sized) Rossi lever gun, the Rio Grande, a Marlin clone, is not available in .410 and in...wait for it...45/70. The 45/70 is just a spectacular lever gun cartridge, and with Marlins in short supply (and expensive) and 45/70 Winchesters darned expensive, I think a lower-priced alternative ($540-ish MSRP) will be very welcome.
Although it has been overshadowed by Ruger's bigger introductions (including a "budget-priced version of the successful piston gun, the SR556, at $1369 MSRP), the new Ruger-branded 25 rund 10/22 magazines will be very welcomed by the hordes of .22 shooters out there. I stopped by CMMG and was amazed at the number of .22 conversions units for the AR that have blown out the doors...it's a huge number, and CMMG is aggressively pushing their new dedicated .22 ARs at a $500 price point. I may have to add one of the CMMG guns to my AR "library."
I briefly stopped by Para to look at their .45 higher capacity 1911 package aimed at competitors. The package comes with 5 magazines, fiber optic front and a railed frame in the $1500 region. They've also added a lightweight Commander-sized .45 to their line once again.
I'm going to get some pictures tomorrow from Black Rain, who make 'way cool ARs...nothing says rock and roll like skull anodizing! Seriously, it's the next step...ARs as fashion statements! Interestingly enough, I think Rail Fever has run its course...Stag kicked it off at SHOT, and now CMMG, Ruger and numerous other makers are offering forearms without quad rails...rather, a fixed rail at 12 o'clock and screwholes to allow the user to attach rails as need...now doesn't that make hugh amounts of sense? Of course, I'll ALWAYS opt to attach my coffeemaker and aquarium bubbler...that's tactical!
I'm about to contradict myself on the expensive Winchester question, but today was the first time I had a chance to handle the new Winchester 94 30-30s. They are sweet...sweeter than I expected. almost as sweet as my pre-'64 30-30 you'll be seeing in GUN STORIES. Pretty impressive job from Winchester...as smooth an action as I've felt on a 94.
I'll be signing photos at the OC booth at 3PM tomorrow, plus I'm doing a presentation with Dave Spaulding on the Ruger/Gunsite Scout Rifle at 10:30AM at the Ruger booth.
I promise...PIXS tomorrow!
BTW, I did a smokin' interview with Brother Ted Nugent this afternoon for DRTV...you guys are going to LOVE this one...Ted unleased! Machine guns, helicopters, hogs...it's got it all. Have a big interview with Wayne LaPierre Sunday...I want to ask him about his asking Eric Holder, the least distinguished man to ever hold the position of Attorney General, to step down.
PIXS, definitely!
Although it has been overshadowed by Ruger's bigger introductions (including a "budget-priced version of the successful piston gun, the SR556, at $1369 MSRP), the new Ruger-branded 25 rund 10/22 magazines will be very welcomed by the hordes of .22 shooters out there. I stopped by CMMG and was amazed at the number of .22 conversions units for the AR that have blown out the doors...it's a huge number, and CMMG is aggressively pushing their new dedicated .22 ARs at a $500 price point. I may have to add one of the CMMG guns to my AR "library."
I briefly stopped by Para to look at their .45 higher capacity 1911 package aimed at competitors. The package comes with 5 magazines, fiber optic front and a railed frame in the $1500 region. They've also added a lightweight Commander-sized .45 to their line once again.
I'm going to get some pictures tomorrow from Black Rain, who make 'way cool ARs...nothing says rock and roll like skull anodizing! Seriously, it's the next step...ARs as fashion statements! Interestingly enough, I think Rail Fever has run its course...Stag kicked it off at SHOT, and now CMMG, Ruger and numerous other makers are offering forearms without quad rails...rather, a fixed rail at 12 o'clock and screwholes to allow the user to attach rails as need...now doesn't that make hugh amounts of sense? Of course, I'll ALWAYS opt to attach my coffeemaker and aquarium bubbler...that's tactical!
I'm about to contradict myself on the expensive Winchester question, but today was the first time I had a chance to handle the new Winchester 94 30-30s. They are sweet...sweeter than I expected. almost as sweet as my pre-'64 30-30 you'll be seeing in GUN STORIES. Pretty impressive job from Winchester...as smooth an action as I've felt on a 94.
I'll be signing photos at the OC booth at 3PM tomorrow, plus I'm doing a presentation with Dave Spaulding on the Ruger/Gunsite Scout Rifle at 10:30AM at the Ruger booth.
I promise...PIXS tomorrow!
BTW, I did a smokin' interview with Brother Ted Nugent this afternoon for DRTV...you guys are going to LOVE this one...Ted unleased! Machine guns, helicopters, hogs...it's got it all. Have a big interview with Wayne LaPierre Sunday...I want to ask him about his asking Eric Holder, the least distinguished man to ever hold the position of Attorney General, to step down.
PIXS, definitely!
NRA SHOW!
Once more, into the storm! Looking forward to seeing everyone over the next few days..please, if you're at the NRA Show, stop me and say HI!
Just look for a black cowboy shirt with skulls...something tasteful!
Just look for a black cowboy shirt with skulls...something tasteful!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Gun Stories First Promo
We published this video yesterday on Facebook, YouTube and Down Range TV. It gives you an idea of what's comin'.
Getting Ready for NRA
Trying to get about 10 things done before Pittsburgh (today is script-writing day for next week's Hollywood adventure), so blogging has been at a minimum.
I did want to connect you up with some cool links...the first is io9's list of the top 10 science fiction handguns, proving, as my Sweetie said, that too many geeks have too much time on their hands. Number 10 is Mal Reynold's "revolver" from the Firefly/Serenity series:
I did want to connect you up with some cool links...the first is io9's list of the top 10 science fiction handguns, proving, as my Sweetie said, that too many geeks have too much time on their hands. Number 10 is Mal Reynold's "revolver" from the Firefly/Serenity series:
I have to admit that I occasionally look at that gun and mumble, "Hamilton Bowen..." After all, how many thousands of dollars could it cost? Hint...more than I presently have! LOL!
PoliceOne.com has a long article from Ron Avery with his thoughts of how the police need to deal with an armed citizenry...it's pretty much right on target. We covered a lot of this material from the other side — how an armed citizenry needs to deal with the police — in TBD Season 3, which is running in repeat as we speak:
Here are some thoughts to share with your personnel when they have to contact citizens who may be carrying concealed.
• People who have gone through the process of getting a concealed carry permit are, in general, law abiding citizens, not felons.
• Do not expect them to know the letter of the law or the interpretations of the law in various districts—they will have a general idea what the law states
• IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE to treat someone who may be carrying a concealed weapon as an armed criminal, by all means do so — however, when you make a contact with a CCW, proning them out wouldn’t be my first option without digging a little deeper...Definitely read the whole thing, and if you carry concealed or open, spend some time thinking about how you need to interface with the local LEOs.
Monday, April 25, 2011
BTW...
I took a lot of heat after SHOT for saying that the Taurus Raging Judge 28-gauge revolver and absolutely wonderful Rossi .410 mare's leg style pistol would not go into production. It's NRA Show time, and neither the Taurus nor the Rossi are going to go into production.
Just thought I'd mention it...
- Posted using BlogPress, a Truly Crappy App
Just thought I'd mention it...
- Posted using BlogPress, a Truly Crappy App
My Royal Wedding Report!
Who gives a crap? There...I got it over with. I'm pretty much with the Sex Pistols on this one...
Anyhow, I will be in Pittsburgh (not Pittsburg) for the NRA Show this weekend, and I would LOVE to meet as many of you as I can. I will be doing a signing at OUTDOOR CHANNEL'S booth at 3PM on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll be at the TACTICAL SOLUTIONS booth on Sunday and Andy Langlois' ANDY'S LEATHER booth on Friday. When we have times, we'll oust them here on the blog and on DRTV.
I'll also be walking the Show floor, so I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of you guys!
I think I'm definitely going to shoot the RRC World Championships in New Mexico in August...I have to say the wine is better in Morro Bay, but I shot that one last year. Hopefully I'm going to be able to shoot a couple of rimfire Steel Challenge matches as well (and, no, I will not shoot as well as Mr. Completely). I've got a call in to my friend Ken Jorgensen and Ruger to talk about what pistol he's using for RRC. I shot my Ruger/TacSol 22/45 last year and it shot very well. Still, it's a little light IMHO...on a light gun I don;t tend to "settled" as quickly, and with an ultralight gun I tend to overrun targets...39/40 ounces seems to work well for me. I think the 22/44 with the Pac-Lite top end is in the 30 ounce range, maybe a little less.
BTW, check out the podcast this week...I kinda like it.
Anyhow, I will be in Pittsburgh (not Pittsburg) for the NRA Show this weekend, and I would LOVE to meet as many of you as I can. I will be doing a signing at OUTDOOR CHANNEL'S booth at 3PM on Saturday. Hopefully, I'll be at the TACTICAL SOLUTIONS booth on Sunday and Andy Langlois' ANDY'S LEATHER booth on Friday. When we have times, we'll oust them here on the blog and on DRTV.
I'll also be walking the Show floor, so I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of you guys!
I think I'm definitely going to shoot the RRC World Championships in New Mexico in August...I have to say the wine is better in Morro Bay, but I shot that one last year. Hopefully I'm going to be able to shoot a couple of rimfire Steel Challenge matches as well (and, no, I will not shoot as well as Mr. Completely). I've got a call in to my friend Ken Jorgensen and Ruger to talk about what pistol he's using for RRC. I shot my Ruger/TacSol 22/45 last year and it shot very well. Still, it's a little light IMHO...on a light gun I don;t tend to "settled" as quickly, and with an ultralight gun I tend to overrun targets...39/40 ounces seems to work well for me. I think the 22/44 with the Pac-Lite top end is in the 30 ounce range, maybe a little less.
BTW, check out the podcast this week...I kinda like it.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Winter Hangs On...
...with Her teeth. Been snowing hard up here at the Secret Hidden Bunker all day, so the planned range trip with the Solo and the mountain bike ride went by the wayside. Instead I spent the afternoon overhauling my Ruger Rimfire Challenge rifle, a Target 10/22 with the hammer-forged barrel. I replied the trigger group with the wonderful Volquartsen TG2000 trigger group, a 2-pin solution to a perfect trigger. The group also includes an extended magazine release -- critical if you want to race a 10/22 -- and a bolt release that doesn't require 2 friends and a monkey to drop the bolt.
I also added a Volquartsen polymer bolt stop (so the bolt's not stopping against a piece of steel, an extended bolt handle and recoil rod, and a stainless V-block (that holds the barrel in place).
I really like the rifle, but I did want to clean up a few of its shortcomings. I shot it last year in the RRC World Championships (in New Mexico in 2011) fitted with my ancient Tasco Pro-Point red dot (hey, it's sighted in, even if the scope mounts are pretty much stripped). An Aimpoint Micro my be in my 10/22 Target's future, to be sure.
I'm thinking about the RRC because...wait for it...wait for it...we might be running a state championship here in Colorado. I've been asked to serve as Match Director for an RRC, which if this comes off will be filmed for the new SHOOTING GALLERY...whoops! New SG? Did I say that out loud? Maybe an announcement next week!
RRC-wise, we're looking at a September 10 match date at the Colorado Rifle Club, if it can be arranged with all the appropriate clubs. That's a Saturday, and on Friday we'll also be hosting an RRC workshop open to everyone. More as it develops, but we might be giving away a trip to this match on DRTV...stay tuned.
Of course my poor Sweetie is being drafted as an assistant match director...since she's never run a match, she doesn't know how much pain is headed her way! She also hinted that a 10/22 made to her specs might be the payment for her work...paging Tactical Solutions! She already ransacked the gun safe and claimed the Tactical Solutions 1911 .22 conversion as her own.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
SHTF Stuff...
...from Egypt. GREAT piece!
http://pierrelegrand.net/2011/03/01/stuff-to-consider-when-planning-for-shtf-scenarios.htm
http://pierrelegrand.net/2011/03/01/stuff-to-consider-when-planning-for-shtf-scenarios.htm
A Day That Wasn't Supposed to be Busy But is Anyway!
Jeeeez...
Some days I so need a clone! Anyhow, I wanted to link up to an excellent article on the defensive use of lever action rifles from Uri Gebhard, who teaches for Gabe Suarez. We've been hammering on the lever gun as a viable defensive alternative for some time...as you know my regular defensive rifle is a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum...powerful, accurate and easy to shoot.
Here's a funny one from no less than Al Jazeera, reporting on the school shooting in Brazil — a country with draconian gun laws. The ace Al Jazeera reporter, noting that the NRA had been active in Brazil's recent progun vote, called the NRA offices to, "see if they had any thoughts about gun control in Brazil in light of the shooting in Rio."
I thought that was kinda cute...maybe we should all call Al Jazeera's offices and ask if they have any thoughts about terrorism after the slaughter of 5 members of an Israeli family, including 3 children, last month? Or the acquittals of the men charged with an "honor" gang rape in Pakistan this week? Call me crazy, but people in tin houses, as they say, shouldn't be throwing can openers...
Some days I so need a clone! Anyhow, I wanted to link up to an excellent article on the defensive use of lever action rifles from Uri Gebhard, who teaches for Gabe Suarez. We've been hammering on the lever gun as a viable defensive alternative for some time...as you know my regular defensive rifle is a Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum...powerful, accurate and easy to shoot.
Here's a funny one from no less than Al Jazeera, reporting on the school shooting in Brazil — a country with draconian gun laws. The ace Al Jazeera reporter, noting that the NRA had been active in Brazil's recent progun vote, called the NRA offices to, "see if they had any thoughts about gun control in Brazil in light of the shooting in Rio."
I thought that was kinda cute...maybe we should all call Al Jazeera's offices and ask if they have any thoughts about terrorism after the slaughter of 5 members of an Israeli family, including 3 children, last month? Or the acquittals of the men charged with an "honor" gang rape in Pakistan this week? Call me crazy, but people in tin houses, as they say, shouldn't be throwing can openers...
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It's a huge secret rumor and you didn't hear it from me, okay? Is a major handgun company on the block, and is an even bigger conglomerate in hot and heavy negotiations to buy it? Only the cherubs and seraphim (welcome back, guys!) know for sure.
BTW, DRTV clocked the biggest days in our history Monday & Tuesday! Thanks, all!
Next week, an in-depth look at the Kimber Solo if I don't get snowed out at the range.
BTW, DRTV clocked the biggest days in our history Monday & Tuesday! Thanks, all!
Next week, an in-depth look at the Kimber Solo if I don't get snowed out at the range.
Rocky Road Ahead!
Sebastian over at Snowflakes in Hell notes that with Obama's hand-picked choice Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz taking over as head of the Democratic National Committee, we're likely in for a rocky ride. Schultz is an antigun zealot heading up a now totally leftist Democratic Party, and I agree with Sebastian. The Blue Dog Dems are history, washed away in last November's elections.
Schultz' pet project is eliminating all private sales of firearms...forget the so-called "gun show loophole'" no private sales at all. Some reports are saying that bills to eliminate private sales will be introduced in both the Senate and the House quickly by the usual shills.
I have a gut feeling this a a major offinsive on the part of the Dems and BHo, the first real legislative assault on RKBA in a while, and we need to be prepared to go to war over it. The Dems got no traction on their various magazine bans and they're likely to abandon them to focus on private sales.
As Sebastian noted, traditional Republicans don't particularly like their crazy uncles in the closet (that would be us) and certainly have no strong feelings about the Second Amendment and RKBA issues...they support us because in many elections we are the necessary swing votes. The GOP has been more attentive than usual because in the 2008 elections the Dems somewhat wisely recruited conservative candidates from conservative areas, which meant that the gun vote was not only split but that some of the Blue Dogs actually did believe in the Second Amendment (we certainly saw that in some areas of Colorado).
Of course, these hellish years of the BHo Presidency proved categorically that even the most "conservative" of the Blue Dogs would morph into Whipped Dogs in a flash, roll over and whimper on command of their masters. So most of them got a free ride out of D.C. last November
Luckily, the Tea Party is pretty much 100% on RKBA, and I think they've shown they're unlikely to cave in the name BS "bipartisanship." Bipartisanship always reminds me of the old joke about a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of dog crap...mix them together and you have not a yummy acceptable compromise, but in fact 2 bowls of dog crap.
BTW, I meant to get to this earlier, but it is important that you all read this great story over on the Red State Blog from last week, "Banning Guns By Changing Definitions:"
Schultz' pet project is eliminating all private sales of firearms...forget the so-called "gun show loophole'" no private sales at all. Some reports are saying that bills to eliminate private sales will be introduced in both the Senate and the House quickly by the usual shills.
I have a gut feeling this a a major offinsive on the part of the Dems and BHo, the first real legislative assault on RKBA in a while, and we need to be prepared to go to war over it. The Dems got no traction on their various magazine bans and they're likely to abandon them to focus on private sales.
As Sebastian noted, traditional Republicans don't particularly like their crazy uncles in the closet (that would be us) and certainly have no strong feelings about the Second Amendment and RKBA issues...they support us because in many elections we are the necessary swing votes. The GOP has been more attentive than usual because in the 2008 elections the Dems somewhat wisely recruited conservative candidates from conservative areas, which meant that the gun vote was not only split but that some of the Blue Dogs actually did believe in the Second Amendment (we certainly saw that in some areas of Colorado).
Of course, these hellish years of the BHo Presidency proved categorically that even the most "conservative" of the Blue Dogs would morph into Whipped Dogs in a flash, roll over and whimper on command of their masters. So most of them got a free ride out of D.C. last November
Luckily, the Tea Party is pretty much 100% on RKBA, and I think they've shown they're unlikely to cave in the name BS "bipartisanship." Bipartisanship always reminds me of the old joke about a bowl of ice cream and a bowl of dog crap...mix them together and you have not a yummy acceptable compromise, but in fact 2 bowls of dog crap.
BTW, I meant to get to this earlier, but it is important that you all read this great story over on the Red State Blog from last week, "Banning Guns By Changing Definitions:"
Practical shooting sports are a problem for the ATF’s narrow definition of sporting purpose. They have national organizations with tens of thousands of members, formal rules, and separate competitors by skill level so that there is competition within the brackets. One way that the ATF study gets around this is to ignore the fact that the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) is not the only bastion of practical shooting, but is just the US regional division of IPSC, the International Practical Shooting Association. After all, if one looks at the IPSC one has to admit that the practical shooting sports are an international phenomenon headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with divisions in over 80 countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe...The article talks about something we've been watching very closely, ATF's tinkering with the nonsensical "sporting purposes" clause. I suspect this may be back-burnered by the now-flailing scandal-ridden ATF hierarchy (hey, it takes a lot of effort to decide who to throw under a bus!), but you can expect it to come roaring back as soon as the scapegoats have been executed.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Pause For a Moment...
...for the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The poster above is a death penalty for all Jews caught outside the Warsaw Ghetto and for any Poles caught helping the Jews. As many as 13,000 Jews died in the uprising, but most of the remaining 50,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto went to the gas chambers of Treblinka.
We mourn the deaths, but celebrate the undeniable fact that for one magnificent month a poorly organized, largely unarmed band of freedom fighters defied the massive Nazi war machine and, above all, remember.
Monday, April 18, 2011
SMART...Really Smart...
I've got about 700 rounds through pre-production models and a few magazines through one of the production versions. I believe it may be one of the smartest 1911 launches in recent year...here are the bullet points:
• Series 70...no Series 80 clutter or (shudder!) Swartz grip safety system
• Ruger-made small parts, solving a lot of the typical 1911 issues right off the bat
• EDM'ed breech face, about as precise as you can get
• Barrel and bushing cut from the same piece of bar stock
• Novak sights (and yes, I could do without the 3 dots!)
• Plunger tube part of the frame (the frame is a casting finished on their CNC machines...as you probably know, Ruger is the great master of casting...they've been casting Caspian's highly regarded frames for years)
• Titanium firing pin and heavy firing pin spring (something I've routinely done on my smaller 1911s as an extra safety edge)
• Single side safety (typically I'll take the ambi safety off a non-competition gun)
Check out the details over at DRTV....the Wednesday podcast will focus on the 1911...
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Match Day at Home
Shot in Ft. Collins this AM (yes, as soon as I get home from the range, I go to the range...LOL!). I had a really good match, even though I could have laid down and gone to sleep on any of the stages. I finished 16th out of 106 shooters, my third high club finish in a row. I was out a bit on the ragged edge today, with 3 misses...my first misses in a while...but I needed to find that edge.
BTW, my Sweetie was only 3 places behind me, coming in high woman. We'll be instructing a newbie cowboy class tomorrow, which will be fun.
Later this week I'll be working more with the Kimber Solo, the Taurus Slim and more with the Ruger LC9.
Be sure to watch DRTV Monday afternoon for..whatever...
BTW, my Sweetie was only 3 places behind me, coming in high woman. We'll be instructing a newbie cowboy class tomorrow, which will be fun.
Later this week I'll be working more with the Kimber Solo, the Taurus Slim and more with the Ruger LC9.
Be sure to watch DRTV Monday afternoon for..whatever...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Not a Parrot...
I suspect my parrots would be jealous of anything perching on my shoulder...even a camera. We were filming our special rifle class for TBD/SURVIVAL, working through one of the long field courses with targets from 100-200 yards or so. We built the class around the Ruger/Gunsite Scout Rifle,, which I absolutely love. We worked a lot on snap shooting, shooting on moving targets, position shooting from 7 yards to 300 yards, quick reloads, etc.
We were shooting Hornady 165-gr SuperPerformance ammo, which basically yields 2600 fps out of the Scout's 16 1/2-inch barrel. I've said this before -- I love this rifle. It is everything I have wanted in a light, easy handling package with a powerful cartridge. I was shooting a Burris 2.75 scout scope, although I did really like Gary Paul Johnson's 1.5-4 Leupold scout scope. I didn't have any trouble making the 300 yard shots against pepper poppers with the Burris, but I think I might have been a little quicker on the trigger with a 4X.
Anyway, you'll be seeing this starting the first week of July.
REGARDING THE KIMBER SOLO -- damn, that little thing shoots good! My biggest worry for the little 9mm -- recoil -- turned out to be a non-issue. I mean, it pops you more than a .380, but it's no trouble to run the gun. We'll have a video report on DRTV, and I'll have my comprehensive review on Downn Range Radio next week. Couple of small issues -- the mag release button requires a *decisive* push to pop out the little magazines (which pretty much insisted on 5, rather than 6, rounds) and I would have liked a pinky hook on the mag base.
This week I've been carrying a Ruger LC9 9mm in a Wilderness Tactical SafePacker...I just out the SafePacker on my belt and used it as my carry holster. No problemo...like not carrying a gun at all.
BTW, I got to put some more rounds out of that gun that hasn't been announced...nice gun. Should such a gun ever materialize, we will have a massive video report on DRTV.
-- Post From The Road
Back on the Range...
...again today, with the special rifle class we designed for TBD/SURVIVAL....shouldn't be a late day, so I've have a long blog post tonight. Will post some pictures from both the class and our special DRTV report on the Kimber Solo 9mm, which we'll be shooting video on this afternoon as well...
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
A Flock of Red Herrings
Or something of the sort...I note I'm already being accused of whoring for a gun that hasn't yet been released and about which I've said nothing. Well, there you are!
I thought, however, it might be a good time to re-mention Michael's Universal Law of 1911s, to wit, when evaluating 1911s there tends to be an equivalency of quality across price levels. A $1000 1911 is pretty much the same across the various brands. Brand A might throw in a little benny here or there, but they have to take away something else to make the gun come in at a specific MSRP.
That said, in general the quality of 1911s right now tends to be across-the-board excellent, especially on the low end. I've written about the Remington R1, the Taurus PT1911, the Para GI Expert, the lowest of the low-priced Rock Island Armory, the STI Spartan and am passingly familiar with the Springfield Mil-Spec (I've had them before; the only one I have now is the base gun of a Heinie Custom). All of these guns are on the lower end of the price scale for 1911s, and I would have killed for any one of these guns back in 1978, when we were doing build-it-yourself kits with non-functional Colts.
There are indeed things I don't like about each one of those guns, but consider the price. I just got the Taurus back from Cylinder & Slide, where Bill Laughridge wanted to do a comprehensive hardness testing of the various parts (all good except for the MIM parts). Bill did some work on the Taurus to my spec, essentially fitting a new drop-in barrel and bushing, replacing the fire control system, and replacing the MIm safety and a couple of other MIM parts. The Taurus is now an excellent, not-hugely-expensive gun, semicustom gun (which is not a bad way to go with 1911s...start on an inexpensive commodity gun and build to your spec without going completely Brownell's catalog crazy).
I don't have huge feelings about which is best for frames and slides, forged, cast or CNC-machined from bar stock. If done correctly, all produce quality guns. I don't even have it in for MIM (metal injection molding) parts...I just don't think MIM is the appropriate technology for certain applications such as the thumb safety. I have seen lots of MIM'ed thumb safeties break. You want to MIM the mag release or even the hammer, cool.
On the higher dollar Colt Rail Gun I bought recently and left with Cory Trapp at the Gunsite Gunsmithy, all I said was clean up the trigger, fit Novak sights, ditch the ambi safety and the full-length guide rod and knock the sharp edges off it...not very much, and nothing that I couldn't absolutely live without.
I do think major companies have something of an advantage over smaller houses because with modern equipment they can make most,if not all, of their own small parts, which gives them direct control over the quality of those parts. When you sources parts, it is sometimes a crap shoot (I have seen this over and over again in the Real World).
The biggest issue I have on 1911s are people who insist on comparing apples to Chevy Volts...you've all read it, "I don't care what you say! My $4500 Nighthawk is better than a $389 Rock Island Armory!" Well, duh!
I thought, however, it might be a good time to re-mention Michael's Universal Law of 1911s, to wit, when evaluating 1911s there tends to be an equivalency of quality across price levels. A $1000 1911 is pretty much the same across the various brands. Brand A might throw in a little benny here or there, but they have to take away something else to make the gun come in at a specific MSRP.
That said, in general the quality of 1911s right now tends to be across-the-board excellent, especially on the low end. I've written about the Remington R1, the Taurus PT1911, the Para GI Expert, the lowest of the low-priced Rock Island Armory, the STI Spartan and am passingly familiar with the Springfield Mil-Spec (I've had them before; the only one I have now is the base gun of a Heinie Custom). All of these guns are on the lower end of the price scale for 1911s, and I would have killed for any one of these guns back in 1978, when we were doing build-it-yourself kits with non-functional Colts.
There are indeed things I don't like about each one of those guns, but consider the price. I just got the Taurus back from Cylinder & Slide, where Bill Laughridge wanted to do a comprehensive hardness testing of the various parts (all good except for the MIM parts). Bill did some work on the Taurus to my spec, essentially fitting a new drop-in barrel and bushing, replacing the fire control system, and replacing the MIm safety and a couple of other MIM parts. The Taurus is now an excellent, not-hugely-expensive gun, semicustom gun (which is not a bad way to go with 1911s...start on an inexpensive commodity gun and build to your spec without going completely Brownell's catalog crazy).
I don't have huge feelings about which is best for frames and slides, forged, cast or CNC-machined from bar stock. If done correctly, all produce quality guns. I don't even have it in for MIM (metal injection molding) parts...I just don't think MIM is the appropriate technology for certain applications such as the thumb safety. I have seen lots of MIM'ed thumb safeties break. You want to MIM the mag release or even the hammer, cool.
On the higher dollar Colt Rail Gun I bought recently and left with Cory Trapp at the Gunsite Gunsmithy, all I said was clean up the trigger, fit Novak sights, ditch the ambi safety and the full-length guide rod and knock the sharp edges off it...not very much, and nothing that I couldn't absolutely live without.
I do think major companies have something of an advantage over smaller houses because with modern equipment they can make most,if not all, of their own small parts, which gives them direct control over the quality of those parts. When you sources parts, it is sometimes a crap shoot (I have seen this over and over again in the Real World).
The biggest issue I have on 1911s are people who insist on comparing apples to Chevy Volts...you've all read it, "I don't care what you say! My $4500 Nighthawk is better than a $389 Rock Island Armory!" Well, duh!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Monday Morning...
My deep thought for the day: In the future, when some group wants to burn some politically or religiously objectionable book, will physical books be so rare that they'll have to get the books specially printed just to burn them?
— FuturePundit Blog
...and am already at a dead run. I did some tinkering with my spam filter this morning in the hopes of eliminating a lot of that crappy fashion spam in the comments I've been fighting...I guess we'll see how the new parameters work (or whether they work).
In gun stuff, how a bout a real steampunk revolver, an automatic ejecting Ruger single action .357?
Here's the YouTube link and the comments from the creator of this eclectic masterpiece, Jim March, over at The Firing Line forums (the pix is courtesy The Firing Line/Jim March). All Jim needs now is to hook up with some of those new nerdboy/nerdgirl makers with their home C-N-C machines and a bunch of bright shiny brass, and no zeppelin in America will be safe.
There is buzz all over the Internet about the inadvertently leaked Shooting Times Ruger 1911 cover (this from The Firearm Blog, who leaked it first)...wait...what Ruger 1911? Won't hear a word from me! OTOH, you might want to be checking in with DRTV next week. But you do that anyway, right?
I strongly urge you to visit the Sipsey Street Irregulars blog and bring yourself up to speed on the ATF "Gunwalker" scandal, which is rapidly heading into the stratosphere and is about to explode. ATF is apparently in full panic mode after Phoenix Assistant Agent-In-Charge George Gillett — apparently the day-to-day guy for operation "Fast and Furious," the Jolly Pirate Club name for the ATF gunrunning business — rolled last week and agreed through his attorney to come clean to Congress on the scandal. This after Gillett failed to be invited to a giant ATF conclave of Agents-In-Charge last weekend to discuss the burgeoning disaster, apparently leading Gillett to believe he was first in line to be tossed under the bus.
There are more revelations coming, to be sure. One thing to watch for is the White House using the current ATF scandal to create the next ATF scandal by shoving Chicago thug Andrew Traver down Congress' throat as the new head of ATF. Traver's career is rife with conflict of interests — working with International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Joyce Foundation promoting antigun causes — and overtly lying to the media on the difference between a "semiauto" and a "machinegun." Here's a comprehensive piece on Traver from No Lawyers Only Guns & Money. We have to be prepared for an all-out political effort to block Traver if the Obama administration tries to get him through as a "reformer."
Friday, April 08, 2011
Passing Though Home...
...I think I'm going to get up tomorrow AM and go shoot a cowboy match down in Boulder...heck, I've been on the range all week, so why not go to the range? Gonna take my '66 .44 Russian out and see how it runs.
I did get a chance to spend a little time with my friend Sandy Froman, former NRA President, Class III dealer and the only person I know with a cannon in her front yard. She had a smoking' hot short-barreled Saiga 12-gauge that, sadly, I did not get to shoot. We're going to try and spend some time at the NRA convention later this month...I need to do a sit-down with the NRA brass in Pittsburg and do a major download.
I did get to reacquaint myself with a 7.62 Krinkov...nasty little beast that it is...courtesy of Cory Trapp, resident gunsmith at the GUNSITE Gunsmithy and full-auto instructor. I much prefer the 5.45 Krink, but the 7.62 flavor is controllable...just. BTW, I left that Colt Rail Gun I bought a while back with Cory to dink a bit — trigger work, Novak sights, excise the ambi safety and full-length guide rod, this and that.
My Sweetie is making me a pizza for dinner! I tested one of her peppers and I think my left cheek exploded....
I did get a chance to spend a little time with my friend Sandy Froman, former NRA President, Class III dealer and the only person I know with a cannon in her front yard. She had a smoking' hot short-barreled Saiga 12-gauge that, sadly, I did not get to shoot. We're going to try and spend some time at the NRA convention later this month...I need to do a sit-down with the NRA brass in Pittsburg and do a major download.
I did get to reacquaint myself with a 7.62 Krinkov...nasty little beast that it is...courtesy of Cory Trapp, resident gunsmith at the GUNSITE Gunsmithy and full-auto instructor. I much prefer the 5.45 Krink, but the 7.62 flavor is controllable...just. BTW, I left that Colt Rail Gun I bought a while back with Cory to dink a bit — trigger work, Novak sights, excise the ambi safety and full-length guide rod, this and that.
My Sweetie is making me a pizza for dinner! I tested one of her peppers and I think my left cheek exploded....
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Gelatin Testing...
...Carbon DPX 9mm...
Don't want to give a lot away before Gun Stories premieres, but I am more convinced than ever of the efficacy of this round!
Don't want to give a lot away before Gun Stories premieres, but I am more convinced than ever of the efficacy of this round!
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
On location filming Gun Stories
This week's video report is all done with the use of my iPhone. We're at Gunsite literately filming in High Speed for the new show Gun Stories:
Before Things Start Up Again
Yes, I disabled the grip safety on the 1911 (a Wilson Master Grade that started as an Accu-Comp in the 1980s and was rebuilt to a 5-inch gun in the late 1990s) with a piece of bicycle tubing. As I've said repeatedly on SHOOTING GALLERY, I have girly-man hands, especially in the web area between the thumb and forefinger. Shooting a high-thumb grip, sometimes I fail to depress the grip safety, even with "bump" style grip safeties.
I've approached this in different ways over the years...some of my 1911s have super-light grip safeties, that is, if you hold the gun muzzle down the grip safety will disengage with its own weight. Back in the 1980s I (along with many many people, especially competitors) "pinned" the grip safety to keep it permanently engaged. It depends on the gun.
The absolute best solution, IMHO, is Wayne Novak's "Answer" integrated mainspring housing/grip safety, which totally solves the problem. I have an Answer unit on my lightweight S&W Commander-length gun, which is in effect my working 1911. On some 1911s I don't have a problem at all...the Para LTC 9mm comes to mind, or a little Kimber Wayne Novak tuned. IO always thought one of the huge benefits of the Detonics Combat Master was the absence of a grip safety.
And speaking of 1911, at DRTV we'll have some very interesting news for you in a couple of weeks as part of our continuing coverage of the year of the 1911.
BTW, interesting that Freedom Group has canceled their plans for an IPO. Right now we're in a handgun market...defensive handguns are selling great guns, so to speak, but companies with the bulk of their product lines in rifles and shotguns are finding the current market challenging.
Gotta go slo-mo a Barrett...that ought to be Big Fun...
I've approached this in different ways over the years...some of my 1911s have super-light grip safeties, that is, if you hold the gun muzzle down the grip safety will disengage with its own weight. Back in the 1980s I (along with many many people, especially competitors) "pinned" the grip safety to keep it permanently engaged. It depends on the gun.
The absolute best solution, IMHO, is Wayne Novak's "Answer" integrated mainspring housing/grip safety, which totally solves the problem. I have an Answer unit on my lightweight S&W Commander-length gun, which is in effect my working 1911. On some 1911s I don't have a problem at all...the Para LTC 9mm comes to mind, or a little Kimber Wayne Novak tuned. IO always thought one of the huge benefits of the Detonics Combat Master was the absence of a grip safety.
And speaking of 1911, at DRTV we'll have some very interesting news for you in a couple of weeks as part of our continuing coverage of the year of the 1911.
BTW, interesting that Freedom Group has canceled their plans for an IPO. Right now we're in a handgun market...defensive handguns are selling great guns, so to speak, but companies with the bulk of their product lines in rifles and shotguns are finding the current market challenging.
Gotta go slo-mo a Barrett...that ought to be Big Fun...
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
The Hardest Season
April means spring down below, but up here at the Secret Hidden Bunker, it's the most brutal month of winter. The wind is relentless...last night we had gusts of 70 mph and one of our big pines went down. Luckily, it wasn't near the Bunker! I need to fish out the pickaxe and start slamming away on the Driveway Drift, which will last into June (last frost date is mid-June).
The USFA Forum has pixs of this really funky single-action .45/.410...of course it's April 1, but you never know. Of course it's April 1, so you never really know, but I say, what the heck? I like the poster who suggested the new gun be called The Judge Roy Bean...nudge nudge wink wink say no more!
On another shot pistols issue, at SHOT I reported that sources told me — apparently erroneously — that the Taurus Raging Judge 28-gauge DA revolver and the Taurus Rossi Trail Judge .410 mares leg-style lever action pistol had run afoul of the BATFE, taking a few days off from their primary job of smuggling guns into Mexico, and would not come to market. Well, despite all the buzz immediately after SHOT, there still seems to be some question as to whether those guns will see the light of day. My friend Richard over at Guns, Holsters & Gear has been keeping up with the mixed signals on the Raging Judge (which, hell, I will buy on the spot if it ever makes it to the market!). At least one blogger (Gun Nation Podcast) says the 28-gauge behemoth is dead, but Taurus Big Guy Bob Morrison (who regularly reads this blog, so please chime in, Bob!) talking to Tom Gresham says Taurus is still working with the tech guys at BATFE to get the gun to market and it will eventually arrive.
The Rossi Trail Judge .410 (another gun I'd buy on the spot, BTW) apparently is not going to be produced. Last week Marshal Halloway at DRTV talked to a highly placed Rossi rep who said the gun would not be produced because there wasn't sufficient interest in the gun at SHOT. Other Internet sources have gotten similar responses from Rossi Customer Service. Of course Rossi already makes a line of superb Winchester 1892 clones...one of my all-time favorite lever guns is a Rossi 24-inch octagonal-barreled stainless .38/.357 '92, to which I've added a Marble's Tang Peep Sight. It is crazy accurate with whatever .357 loads you can stuff into it.
Let me throw an additional big caveat here...gun companies will find a way to make what the public demands, and Taurus is a master at filling market niches. Both of these guns may eventually make it to market...or they may not.
Speaking of mare's legs, I see that Henry Repeating Arms is also producing 2 versions — a brass-framed, octagonal barreled .45 Colt and a sweeeeeeet 10-shot .22LR blued version. The .45 Colt is a pricey $950, but the .22 is clocking in at $360 MSRP. Go ahead, you know you want one! Henry is an interesting company...innovative, willing to try different things and really committed to the youth market (with guns young people can afford, too). I have a couple of their rifles, including a .22 Golden Boy that has been a training workhorse.
The USFA Forum has pixs of this really funky single-action .45/.410...of course it's April 1, but you never know. Of course it's April 1, so you never really know, but I say, what the heck? I like the poster who suggested the new gun be called The Judge Roy Bean...nudge nudge wink wink say no more!
On another shot pistols issue, at SHOT I reported that sources told me — apparently erroneously — that the Taurus Raging Judge 28-gauge DA revolver and the Taurus Rossi Trail Judge .410 mares leg-style lever action pistol had run afoul of the BATFE, taking a few days off from their primary job of smuggling guns into Mexico, and would not come to market. Well, despite all the buzz immediately after SHOT, there still seems to be some question as to whether those guns will see the light of day. My friend Richard over at Guns, Holsters & Gear has been keeping up with the mixed signals on the Raging Judge (which, hell, I will buy on the spot if it ever makes it to the market!). At least one blogger (Gun Nation Podcast) says the 28-gauge behemoth is dead, but Taurus Big Guy Bob Morrison (who regularly reads this blog, so please chime in, Bob!) talking to Tom Gresham says Taurus is still working with the tech guys at BATFE to get the gun to market and it will eventually arrive.
The Rossi Trail Judge .410 (another gun I'd buy on the spot, BTW) apparently is not going to be produced. Last week Marshal Halloway at DRTV talked to a highly placed Rossi rep who said the gun would not be produced because there wasn't sufficient interest in the gun at SHOT. Other Internet sources have gotten similar responses from Rossi Customer Service. Of course Rossi already makes a line of superb Winchester 1892 clones...one of my all-time favorite lever guns is a Rossi 24-inch octagonal-barreled stainless .38/.357 '92, to which I've added a Marble's Tang Peep Sight. It is crazy accurate with whatever .357 loads you can stuff into it.
Let me throw an additional big caveat here...gun companies will find a way to make what the public demands, and Taurus is a master at filling market niches. Both of these guns may eventually make it to market...or they may not.
Speaking of mare's legs, I see that Henry Repeating Arms is also producing 2 versions — a brass-framed, octagonal barreled .45 Colt and a sweeeeeeet 10-shot .22LR blued version. The .45 Colt is a pricey $950, but the .22 is clocking in at $360 MSRP. Go ahead, you know you want one! Henry is an interesting company...innovative, willing to try different things and really committed to the youth market (with guns young people can afford, too). I have a couple of their rifles, including a .22 Golden Boy that has been a training workhorse.
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