SHOOTOUT LANE Begins Filming

What could possibly go wrong? I'll let you know if it works!

Strategies for Surviving on the Other Side of the Bubble

My ubiquitous travel cold seems to be receding, which is great because it gives all-new road viruses a chance to take hold! Was a glorious late summer morning here at the New Improved Secret Hidden Bunker while Newt and I were out walking. For some reason the light reminded me of late summer mornings in NYC many many years ago whenI was living in a 5th floor walk-up in Greenwich Village. I remember thinking that, man, I'd never leave the City! LOL! How things change.

I did a presentation yesterday for OC on the state of the industry, and I thought you guys might be I terested in the Cliff Notes version. Marshal and I called the top of the market in late June last year, so we're 14-15 months into the down side. I'm thinking that we're not at the bottom yet, but I suspect we'll see it before SHOT 2015. Black rifle sales are, as everybody knows, pretty much in the crapper...essentially, anyone who was even thinking about buying an AR or an AK sucked it up and bought, leaching huge amounts of "gun money" out of the system.

People are still buying black rifles, but not at the historic rates of the last couple of years. I believe we'll find a new normal pretty soon. Concealable handgun sales are holding up pretty well — concealed carry is still the primary driver for the market. Accessories are down, but not as emphatically as black rifle sales.

I'm seeing a "race to the bottom" on AR pricing. ArmaLite's $600 ARs ($900 for the 7.62s) have put a stake in the ground; the blow-out houses (Centerfire Systems, CDNN, etc.) are below that $600 stake already. I saw one deal with an AR and 5 mags for $550-ish. Keep you eye on that market niche, kids!

It could be and has been worse.

A Good Day for Congratulations!

I was all the Trijicon World Shooting Championships, presented by the NRA, at the sprawling Peacemaker facility in West Virginia, about an hour from Dulles Airport, and I think it was an absolute home run! I love the idea of testing all shooting skills to determine who is the "Undisputed World Champions" shooter for this year. Trijicon, the NRA and Peacemaker really stepped up on this one!

The winner?

Not really a huge surprise:

Daniel Horner from the Army Marksmanship Unit and arguable the top 3-Gun shooter in the world. He edged out multiple Bianchi winner Bruce Piatt and held off challenges from Jerry Miculek to claim the $50,000 purse...one of the largest in shooting sports history.

The women's title went to wait for it...wait for it...Lena Miculek — the top woman 3-Gunner, BTW — who outdistanced SHOOTING GALLERY's own Dianna Liedorf-Muller for the win.

I'm going to be talking about this on the podcast this week, but I wanted to note an interesting point. All through the match the pro shooters were telling me that victory would come down to a single stage, the Double Wobble Traps — 2 MEC wobble clay throwers on a stage that was confounding even champion trap throwers. The provided gun (this was a provided gun match to level the playing field) was a dedicated high-rib trap gun, not a piece most of the pro shooter were familiar with.

Going into the stage, Horner knew he had to deliver. And deliver he did, winning the stage. That is the definition of a champion. I believe the Trijicon World Shooting Championships will quickly become the premier shooting event in the world!

Here are the stage descriptions and the overall place finishes.

Also, a quick congrats to Mike Seeklander of THE BEST DEFENSE fame for his 3rd place overall finish (and yes, I know IDPA doesn't recognize overall place finishes!) at the IDPA Nationals in Tulsa.  Seek came in just behind Nil Jonasson in ESP, Enhanced Service Pistol, class. Of course, Bob Vogel, continuing his Terminator-like domination of IDPA, finished first overall and first in SSP, Stock Service Pistol, a staggering 23 seconds ahead of Jonasson

Here are the unofficial results!

Busy Busy Busy

Filming for SHOOTING GALLERY. Sorry to be lost in space for awhile. BTW, signed up for Winter Range, one of the largest cowboy action matches and one long considered a "shooters' match." I haven't shot Winter Range in 3 years and I'm looking forward to it early next year.

Big Moose; Little Dog; Big Gun

I know it's a crummy iPhone pix, but check out this mack daddy moose hiding out up near the old Secret Hidden Bunker...really nice rack on the old boy. Would sure look good on the wall...LOL!

BTW, Newt is as rambunctious as a 6-month old puppy is supposed to be. Here she is with part of her massive pine cone collection.

She reminds me of my chows, always testing to see who's really the pack leader. So far, I'm winning, but it's a close thing.

Finally, while I'm cleaning pictures off the phone, here's the SHBDos Afternoon Walking Around Gun, the .454 Ruger Alaskan. The rounds in the 5 Star speed loader (and in the gun) are Winchester 260-hr hollow-points. The extra ammo in the Simply Rugged holster are Corbon 335s, in ace I'm jumped by a velociraptor driving a dump truck.

Long Bike Sunday...

...then shopping at a garden store in Ft. Collins...barely thought about guns at all, not even the LC9 I was carrying. Came back to the Bunker and sorted through music for the podcast this week. Now I'm sitting at home watching "Outlander" and having a Leupold's Navy Strength Gin with a Fever Tree Tonic and a little lime, bemoaning the fact that this time last year I was headed to Africa. I'd so hoped to go for buffalo this year, or that damn gemsbok I walked away from on the long shot. I'm a much better rifleman now than I was last year at this time. Poorer, too. Hence, no Africa trip this year.

Strangely enough, I dream about Africa, something my friend Dwight Van Brunt, who used to run Kimber, warned me would happen. At least in November I'm going to Texas to work with my Ruger Guide Gun .300 Win Mag at longer ranges.This week I need to mount a scope on the Ruger American .22, stick a suppressor on it and thin the rabbits a bit. Only fair, since I removed the big snakes. Plus, we're having a really bad tularemia year here in the High Country, and I can do without all these bunnies.

Well, Heck!

I managed to get in a cowboy match yesterday and shot like complete crap for the first 2 stages. I'd made the decision to push myself on speed in this match (after all, no one is going to win a Cadillac, or even a Yugo). And push myself at did, right over the edge. I imagine my friend Caleb Giddings would tell me that's a good thing, since I now clearly know where the edge is, but it still sucks. I really thought I could hold myself together at that speed, but nyet! LOL! I actually had a fast run on the second stage, but managed to prove conclusively that you can't point shoot a rifle even if the target's only 12 yards away.

I did manage to get things put together by the end of the match, turning in a 25 seconds run on the last stage (10 pistol; 10 rifle; 4 shotgun), 3 seconds off the winning pace. was fun, as always.

Winter Is Coming

It's 47 degrees, socked in and misting rain here at the Secret Hidden Bunker. Not the greatest day for solar power, but we've got a pretty efficient system...not a day to run a lot of appliances! 

Or a day at the range, for that matter. Hopefully, the heavy weather will break late this afternoon, and I'll be able to hit a cowboy match this weekend. No 3-Gun or revolver on anybody's schedule.

 

I'm gald to see CCI "Tactical" .22LR apparently back in the world...I don't know whether CCI has done a run or if some of the hoarded ammo trickled out. I was skeptical when this stuff came out in 2011, thought it was a marketing ploy for the then screaming-hot black rifle market. However, it shot extremely well out of my 2 .22LR ARs...one hole groups for my primary gun, which we used in SHOOTING GALLERY to win my Appleseed "Rifleman" patch. Quite honestly, I'm going to pick up a case if I can. If not, I'll "stem and seed" it, to use Colorado terminology.

I strongly recommend you visit Bearing Arms and read Bob Owens' report on the GUNSITE 250 class. As you know, I have unconditionally recommended the 250 class to everyone who carries a gun. It is the baseline against which all other training is measured. If you take no other class, take this one.

I also note that, sadly, Tam has pulled the plug on her blog, A View from the Porch, because of long-term cyber-stalking. She left the site up for the archives. I know Tam personally, and she has struck me as a person of both great knowledge on guns and strong personal honor. We have not always agreed, but hey, that's normal. She deserves better than being run off the Internet by some A-hole in his mommy's basement.

Whew!

Every so often I hit a week where I'm in 2 places at once (which, as the Firesign theater once noted, means you're really nowhere at all). Listen to the podcast this week for my wrap-up on whe Boise NSSF Rimfire Challenge event, one of the largest Rimfire Challenges. It was amazingly fun, which is EXACTLY what we designed the Rimfire Challenge to be! 

I know it's driving you guys crazy, but I remain fascinated with manually operated rifles like the Browning BLR and the Ruger American. We'll be filming fornSG later this year at FTW Ranch in Texas on long-range shooting. I'm going to use the Ruger Guide Gun in .300 Win Mag that I used on out HUGELY successful Africa special last year. I've added a Burris XTR 4-20X, the baby brother of the scope I used at FTW in March.

Working on THE BEST DEFENSE scenarios now...a child abduction, as I mentioned, and a violent stalker.

Sorry!

Traveling, and pretending to be a television producer.

Will have gun reviews up next week...have to abduct a child tomorrow...even writing it sounds icky...

I Woke Up & It Was Wednesday!

This week is slipping away from me. I had to run about 6 hours of errands, so it seems like I have driven back and forth from Seattle. The puppy peed on the couch. We can't have Tequila Thursday because we've got to take said puppy to Puppy Obedience Class, which she is clearly flunking. I can't find any of the many scope rails I have for 10/22s. Woe is me!

Well, maybe not woe woe...

Gonna spend tomorrow AM on the range with the Ruger American Rimfire I plan to shoot in the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. I wanted to use a Burris 2-7x scope that mimics the scope on my hunting rifle, the Ruger Guide Gun in .300 Win Mag, but sans Weaver scope mounts, I'm SOL. The America has good fixed sights, including a green fiber optic front, so I'll be A-Okay-ish.

Having been having a blast with the Apex Tactical S&W 617! Great little gun to shoot.

More tomorrow...

A Weekend of Catching Up

I'm "bachelor-ing" this weekend while my Sweetie is off at an Appleseed. I've got hammer-and-nails stuff and gun stuff to do, including the final dialing in of the Mini Race-Gun .22. Call me crazy, but I think I'll do the gun stuff first...after I finish watching "King Arthur" for about the umpteenth time. Of course, I'm only watching it because there are no Godzilla movies on.

I'm going to shoot the Mini Race-Gun revolver and, heaven help us all, a bolt-action rifle at the NSSF Rimfire Challenge match we're filming for SHOOTING GALLERY. The reason I decided to do and film the Rimfire Challenge this way (especially given that NSSF is eliminating the "Mechanically Operated" category for the matches this year) is that I want people to consider using competition in different, more personal ways as opposed to an end in itself.

As I've mentioned (repeatedly), I have 2 goals for the next 12 months — working on improving my rifle skills, especially with bolt guns n anticipation of another African trip after I win the lottery or something, and getting a grip on my abilities with a DA revolver. Might as well take every opportunity I can get to move toward those goals.

While we're on the subject of competitions, there's an interesting article over on the Sensible Self-Defense blog on training to get off the "X:"

One of the challenges many long-time IDPA shooters face is the tendency to start the draw and then move. When I first began practicing the skills I learned in Close Range Gunfighting, I genuinely believed that I was moving and then drawing my pistol; however, the video proved I was not. This is a common training scar associated with those who regularly shoot IDPA and one that takes some effort to overcome. Based upon our experiment, the time I was taking in subconscious IDPA-mode to begin my draw before I started moving would have likely resulted in me taking a bullet. 

"Training scars" are interesting beasties, and they're the logical consequences of all competition (and all training, for that matter). The training "doctrine" we've tried to evolve on THE BEST DEFENSE is one that constantly challenges its presuppositions. It's hard, and occasionally anger-inducing, but it's important.

Back to the Big Iron

I've spent most of the summer bopping around the Secret Hidden Ranch with my SR-22 for plinking. I like plinking. However, as we're creeping toward autumn the neighbors are all riled up by a big mountain lion that's moved into the neighborhood. One of the neighbors has already run him off with a couple of warning shots, but Front Range lions haven't been hunted in decades and they have absolutely no fear of people or occupied dwellings. Plus, it's grumpy black bear season as they start fattening up for the Big Winter Sleep.

Accordingly, I've sucked it up and gone back to the Big Iron for hiking. For quick bathroom jaunts out with Newt,  I'm carrying the Taurus Public Defender with Federal 4-pellet #000 buckshot, which has impressed me with it's penetration and grouping, backed up with .45 Colt Silver-Tips. Not a bear load by any means, but should be a medicine gun for lions/coyotes up close.

For longer hikes, right now I'm carrying my old Ruger Alaskan in .454 with Winchester Platinum Tip 280-grainers, which are slightly less bone-rattling than the Corbon 335-grain tyrannosaurus killers. After I get a few more round though it, I'll probably go to this little guy...

...the TALO Kodiak, a.44 Magnum Redhawk with a round butt and a 2.75 inch barrel. Here's my pal Jeff Quinn's report. Yeah, it recoils, but not like the .454!

Mini Race-Gun Revolver!

From my good friends Randy Lee and Scott Folk at Apex Tactical Specialties, a .22 LR "race-gun" on an S&W 617...isn't it just cute as a button?

Getting On the Range with the LC9s

Started working with the Ruger LC9s (here's Ed Head's review on DRTV), the little striker-fired 9mm, yesterday, and I am impressed (and, yes, Ruger is a long-time show sponsor). If you recall, several years back I did an evaluation of all the mini-9s on the markets...since then I've tried to keep up with what's been added to the market.

I did come to several painfully obvious conclusions:

• All mini-9s bark, some harder than others.
• The delimiting factor in shooting the little 9mms is how you handle that bark.

For me, the best-shooting of the little guns was hands-down the Sig P938, which I sort of expected since the 938 is a shrunken single action 1911. I have more rounds through 1911s than any other gun, short or long. I also liked the handling of the striker-fired single action Kimber Solo for the same reasons, but the Solo, with the ammunition it preferred...ne, demanded...was the biggest handful of the bunch.

However, when it came to holes in the target, the winners were the long DA triggers of the original LC9 and the Old Skol Kahr PM-9 (and, later, the Glock-ish trigger on the striker-fired Beretta Nano, which was crazy accurate). The Taurus Slim — I believe the first of the new generation of min-9s, allowing for the Kahrs, which has been around for a long time — fell pretty much in the middle, and the S&W Shield had yet to come out...since then, I've shot a couple of Shields, and I'd put it with the Nano on trigger pull. If I was going to carry a Shield, I would hie thee hence to Apex Tactical for a trigger job quick like bunny.

Galloway Precision Ruger LC9 with first generation "Red" trigger

 and Crimson Trace LaserGuard, plus a selection of holsters

I was intrigued enough by the LC9's skinny profile and excellent ergonomics to make a run at "perfecting" the little 9mm. Someone had mentioned that Eric Galloway of Galloway Precision was becoming the gunsmith of choice for the new breed of polymer-framed mini-psitols, so I sent him the LC9 for his first generation "red" trigger. The gun came back looking profoundly weird, but with a great trigger pull (a really super smooth 6 pounds on my Lyman gauge) and sans magazine "safety." The new generation "Red" short-stroke triggers aren't nearly as strange looking, BTW, and for $99 a screaming good deal).

Current generation Galloway Precision "Red" trigger kit for LC9

I've never been as hysterical about the magazine safety as some other gunny fools. I'd prefer not to have it, but it's just not that big a deal for me. I would also like to point out here that I am a FAN of the redundant manual safety, as I occasionally off-body carry my guns, say in a SafePacker or some other sort of bag. In fact, when I bicycle, the SafePacker is mounted on the left side of my handlebars, making for a convenient draw stroke. I feel pretty strongly about having and using that redundant safety  for such situation.

My original Galloway LC9 is equipped, as you can see, with a Crimson Trace red laser, and I've got a number of IWB and OWB holsters for it that I use interchangeably. I tried an appendix holster, and yes it was fast, but at least for me it wasn't significantly faster than a "underneath sweater/sweatshirt" crossdraw holster in the 11 o'clock position and canted in such a way that when you reholster, you don't point the gun at Mr. Femoral Artery. I know the Michaels, Seeklander and Janich, don't agree with me on this, but you pays your money and you takes your chances. You can check out the discussion in the Comments to the last post.

If you're going to A-IWB, I would agree that DA only would be the way to go. And dry practice a whole bunch!

Upper LC9 is original; bottom is the new LC9s striker-fired gun.

The LC9s trigger pull clocks in at 6 pounds as well, but because it is shorter than the Galloway LC9 it feels lighter. In fact — I said this after handling Marshall Halloway's early LC9s — it may be the best striker-fired trigger I've ever felt. In fact, it's approaching Apex Tactical territory, and that's right out of the box. I started shooting it yesterday with a box of 9mm ARMSCOR ball, what I consider a break-in process before putting the gun into duty. I'll get a hundred or so rounds of ball, mostly on steel plates, through it before I got to the dedicated carry ammo, Corbon DPX or, alternately, Hornady Critical Duty.

Note the loaded chamber indicator, required for California, on the top of the original LC9. The new LC9s does not have one, as it will not be sold in Cali...

Interestingly enough, when firing the guns against each other, I'm more comfortable with the Galloway LC9, but I'm assuming that's because I have a lot of rounds in the Galloway gun.

I think overall the mini-9mm market is absolutely fascinating. Most people date the current generation of mini-9s from the mid 2000s, when the Kel-Tec PF-9/P-11, the Walther PPS and a couple of years later, the Taurus Slim appeared on the market. Arguably one of the best single stack mini-9s ever made, the S&W Chief's Special with its aluminum, rather than polymer, frame came out in the later 1990s. None of those guns made a particular dent in the market.

It took the .380 "explosion" as the flood of new shooters from the concealed carry movement entered the market, to change that dynamic. Quite literally, new concealed carry permit holders bought the little .380s by the hundreds of thousands, and within a couple of years a substantial portion of those shooters wanted a more powerful carry gun. The industry responded.

UPDATE: It's be a while since I put a lot of rounds through the mini-9s...they really are little monsters to shoot!

The Kimber Solo is a sweet little gun, but it is hard to hold onto and VERY finicky about ammo choice...it's full power or go home. It is easily the best finished of the little guns, and with the CT LaserGrips it is just about perfect. Be prepared to put a lot of work into it on the range, though!

Sorry I forgot the itty-bitty 9mm Springfield XD-S...nice little gun, although I've only shot one. SHOOTING GALLERY awarded Springfield top handgun of the year honors for their little single stack XDs.

Back From Oregon!

Got back from Crimson Trace M3G yesterday, and -- as always -- had a super time! I didn't shoot the whole match...instead, I parachuted into the cool stages with the exotic hardware. It's always big fun, and if you get a chance to go, it should definitely be on your list!

I put a bunch of rounds through the new S&W M&P .22 Compact. Liked it a bunch. Details on Wednesday's podcast. Ditto on the S&W 929 8-shot Performance Center revolver and the Kimber .380 (Sweet, BTW! Expensive, too).

I've got several guns in house I'll be shooting next week, too, including the super cool Ruger Redhawk KODIAK .44 Magnum 2.75-inch, another TALO exclusive. You guys know I have a thing for, and collect, big bore snubs, and the round-butt Redhawk to me is just about perfect. I love my .454 Alaskan, but I've sorta kicked myself in the butt for not getting the .44 Magnum version. 

I've always liked the Redhawk...if you have a long enough memory, Kem Jorgensen and I took a revolver class with 4-inch .44 Redhawks running .44 Specials, which we featured on SG. People laughed at the big hoglegs at first, but less so when we ran the heavy .44 Specials faster than the .357s.

I've also got one of the first TALO Ruger SP-101 Wiley Clapp versions, with Novaks...too cool! And the JP 9mm GMR-13 carbine.

I'll be a busy boy!

Also, if I can pat myself on the back just a little, last weekend I finished 2nd overall in the local cowboy match. Today I dragged my butt out of bed at zero-dark-thirty to shoot another cowboy match...the scores just came out and I was lucky enough to grab another 2nd overall. It was fun, too...

Crimson Trace Midnight 3-Gun

Cool and rainy here in Bend, OR. Not shooting this year, but focusing on filming some of the unique aspects of CT's iconic event...

Scout Project Progressing!

Man, this thing looks great! Chris E., eat your heart out! Here's where I am now:

• Browning BLR (not a sponsor) Take-Down in .223. 5-shot magazines (think I might have said 4 on the podcast...)
• MPI Stocks (not a sponsor) fiberglass stock
• Burris 2-7X Scout (sponsor!) mounted on Browning Scout Rail. Vortex low scope mounts (not a sponsor)...yes, you can still work the variable power ring! I'm still pondering the higher magnification...my Ruger GUNSITE Scout has one of the fixed 2.75s on it...I've shot the Leupold 1.5-4X Scout and liked it at the 4X magnification. I'm going to have to figure it out on the range, I think
• Andy's Leather (not a sponsor but a very good friend!) Rhodesian sling with Uncle Mike's sling swivels (not a sponsor). The "Rhodesian" part of the sling is fitted to me now, but I've got to adjust the overall length.
• Pachmayr (not a sponsor) Decelerator recoil pad
• Ricochet Roy (not a sponsor) leather wrap for lever

Here it is taken down:

Waiting for BUIS from Skinner Sights (not a sponsor), and I'll probably have to add a newer, higher front signs (from Brownell's or MidwayUSA (Midway is a sponsor, but I don't get a special discount), no doubt). I found 2 sanely priced magazines at Midway. I ordered 2 more from another outlet and got magazines for the 22-250...sigh.

I'll fit the Negrini case (not a sponsor, but Steve Lamboy is another old friend) over the weekend...DARN, these are nice case! The absolute very best gun cases I've ever used. This stuff will spoil you.

Finally ready to take it to the range...suspect an action job will follow, but I want to shoot it a little bit before. BTW, can anybody explain to me what on EARTH Browning was thinking when they left the sharp edges on this gun? Every single edge on this gun will cut you! It's crazy, and there's no point to it. Yeah, I get that Miroku is one heck of an arms' manufacturing plant and can hold incredible tolerances, but for guns you actually plan to shoot rounded, smooth, not razor sharp is A GOOD THING!

.22 Ammo; $49 per Brick

At Centerfire Systems this week. It's ARMSCOR, which is pretty good stuff!

A Little Range Time...

...today. My Sweetie worked with the .22 Spike's/JP AR, getting ready for her Appleseed later this month. I changed out the springs in the 6-inch C&S GP-100, going up a couple of pounds on the mainspring. I tried it out today on rounds with rock-hard Wolf and CCI primers without incident...shot pretty sweet, as a matter of fact. Gonna maybe run 100 rounds through it tomorrow and see how it goes.

I've also got one of Carbon Arms' ultralite .22 ARs, which I'll ratchet onto a lower, put a sight on it and try it out.

This week on GS WITH JOE, we're doing Broomhandle Mausers, which are always fun...next week is arguably the best piece of television I've ever been a part of...TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S SAFARI RIFLES on GS. Tim Cremin did an AMAZING job of collecting vintage footage and editing the show. Joe's closing is nothing short of spectacular.

I'll remind you again next week!

Three-Gun Fun!

I dragged myself in Friday from a week of filming THE BEST DEFENSE scenarios in Tulsa -- BTW, THE BEST SEASON EVER! -- then got up zero-dark-thirty Saturday to go shoot 3-Gun. It was a practice match run by my friend Mark Passamaneck, featuring the par time rifle and pistol standards stages from the Noveske 3-Gun USPSA match, which Mark will run later this year.

I learned I need to shoot a lot more pistol. LOL! Yeah, You'd think I should'a figured that out after the World Revolver Championships' disaster! Core skills are solid, but what falls off are either sport-specific or the less -practiced fringe. For example, in the case of the pistol standards, speed-reloading the SR-9 I shoot in 3-G, or at the ICORE Worlds, precision long-range shooting with a revolver. BTW, Yes, I have a 9mm Rock Island I had built for 3-Gun, but it's just not there yet. 

Because I've repeated practiced/demonstrated those fringe skills in the past, I assume those skills are readily accessible. Ha-ha. Back when I spent a lot of time windsurfing, even instructing a little (trust me...the best skills to have are those that can be taught on the beach), people I hung with used to say, "Don't let your mind make bets your body can't cover."

I felt pretty good on the AR skills...of course, that's what I've been practicing. Back to cowboy this week, and a bunch of .22 training.

My favorite scenario from last week was a rockin' "knock-out game" sim...it looked perfect! Might post a piece of the iPhone video later this week!

Newt Gnawing

Dave Thomas, R.I.P.

I note the passing of my very good friend Dave Thomas, who for 17 years was the Executive Director of USPSA, after a long battle with cancer.

Let me say flat out that Dave was my brother, a fine and honorable man with a great sense of humor and a heart the size of the sun. Dave shepherded USPSA from the early days of flying by the seats of our pants into a national sporting organization. He was one hell of a shot, too. He was one of the original instructors who signed on with us for the NSSF Media Education Program, and he never hesitated to do whatever was necessary in the fight for our rights.

Dave Thomas helped shape the sport we love, and he did so by caring so very much not for the shooting sports in the abstract, but for the people who come out every Saturday or every Sunday, who set the stages up, who run the times, who bring their friends out the next week. Dave loved practical shooting, but he loved practical shooters more. And all of us benefited from that love.

I am reminded of a piece of verse from Edna St.Vincent Millay:


The world stands out on either side
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky,
No higher than the soul is high.
The heart can push the sea and land
Farther away on either hand;
The soul can split the sky in two,
And let the face of God shine through.

Thank you for the great times, Dave, and for your commitment. Rest in peace.

Remington Steps Up on R-51

From Gear Scout:

Remington Arms Company put out a statement today that addresses issues with theRemington R51 pistol. The company acknowledges performance issues and explains that the problems customers may have experienced resulted from the process of transitioning the pistol from prototype into mass production. 

“These problems have been identified and solutions are being implemented,” reads the press release, “with an expected production restart in October.” 

Remington says anyone who purchased an R51 may return it and receive a new R51 pistol, along with two additional magazines and a custom Pelican case, by calling Remington at (800) 243-9700.

Liars, Damn Liars and Fools

Of course I'm speaking of Colorado legislators. This from AP:

DENVER (AP) — A law expanding background check requirements on Colorado gun sales has been in effect for about a year, and an Associated Press analysis of state data compiled during that span shows the projected impact was vastly overstated in a key budget report. 

The discovery has prompted a prominent Democratic lawmaker to question whether the Legislature misallocated millions of taxpayer dollars based on the flawed estimate, which has provided an opportunity for Republicans to resume attacks over regulation that already has come at great political cost to Colorado liberals.

Read the whole thing. It turns out the "40% of gun sales are 'unregulated'" meme was just another flat-out lie from the Bloomberg shills so beloved by Governor John Hickenlooper. Wow! Color me surprised! Here's more, from ABC News:

Catherine Mortensen, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said that using the 40 percent figure as a basis for Colorado's projection "calls into question lawmakers' access to accurate information on not only this, but all firearms-related legislation."
In total, there were about 311,000 background checks done during the first year of the expansion in Colorado, meaning the 13,600 checks between private sellers made up about 4 percent of the state total. 

Further, the private review figure includes the number of checks done at gun shows, which have been required for years in Colorado. The law also requires checks for online sales, which is new for transactions within Colorado. But such vetting was already required on interstate sales. 

Still, interstate activity is tallied in the private background check total.
Taken together, this indicates that the number of newly mandated background checks that have been performed is even lower than 13,600.

What happens when you listen to a nasty little fascist.

It was all a lie!

The numbers hand-delivered by Bloomberg...the hugely slanted Denver Post poll that Democrats waved like a bloody shirt...the testimony from Bloomberg's fake witnesses...it was all a lie!

November is coming...

Make the bastards pay.

First Impressions Gemini Custom GP-100...

...in a word, WOWIE ZOWIE!

I bought a Wiley Clapp 3-inch GP-100 (a TALO exclusive, I believe) off either Gunbroker or GunsAmerica...here's the Gary James review from AMERICAN RIFLEMAN back in 2012 when the revolver was introduced:

Shooting the Wiley Clapp Ruger GP100 is a delight. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a nice piece to begin with, but I have to admit I really liked the grip. It fit my small-to-medium-size hands wonderfully and gave superior control and recoil absorption. The wide notch of the Novak rear sight allows for a bit of daylight on either side of the front sight, providing for quick and easy target acquisition—even in low light. While the action did not appear to have been tuned much, if at all, the revolver performed extremely well both in single-action and double-action operation, the trigger pull being crisp on the former and smooth and unglitchy on the latter. Bottom line: It was simply a lot of fun to shoot, and I did about as well with it as I can with any short-barreled .357.

I've wanted one for a while because:  

1. Wiley is a really good friend of mine, even though he once almost got me killed sliding off an icy road on the way to GUNSITE, and...
2. The ones I handled seemed to be really nice revolvers.

I saw one for a good price and snapped it up. To be honest, Wiley did indeed "write the book," in this case, books, including CONCEALED CARRY — THE SHOOTERS GUIDE TO SELECTING HANDGUNS and numerous articles on concealed carry and snubby revolvers (here's an example, and a list). Although I have learned an incredible amount about guns and shooting from Wiley, to the best of my knowledge he doesn't own a pair of 5.11 tactical pants. I mean, he was a Marine in Vietnam and spent a career in law enforcement, but I don't know whether you can call him a "tactical guy" or not.

Wiley's done a couple of designs for Colt, including the TALO Lightweight Commander and a really nifty Peacemaker in .44 Special, before the GP-100. I liked the Novak sights, I like the Roper-inspired wood grip panels (that mirror his grip design on the 1911 and the S.A.A.).

 

The gun out-of-the-box was okay, but I had heard great things about Marc and Karen Morganti at Gemini Custom, and the custom Rugers pictured on their site were to die for.

Here's what I asked Mark and Karen to do on Wiley Clapp gun, essentially a "Basic" package.

• Complete action tuning
• Crown barrel/chamfer cylinder throats
• Recontour and polish trigger
• "BOB" hammer
• Dehorn for carry
• Eliminate cylinder endshake
• Replace all springs
• Polish all plungers, springs, whatever
• Re-bead blast if necessary

I passed on the porting, because I blow hot and cold on ported pistols. After talking with Marc, the hammer's been polished and trimmed, but not removed (as it has been on my competition GP-100).

I got the gun back yesterday, and today between storms and visitors I put maybe 60 rounds through it before the storm caught me, mostly .38 Specials including ARMSCOR FMGs and Winchester +P 158-gr. Double action trigger pull is amazing...didn't even shoot it in the single action mode. I'll actually mkeasure it in the next day or two (remember, visitors!), but speaking as somewhat of a connoisseur of Ruger trigger pulls, this is one of the best I have. The gun is beautiful; the gun is smooth; the gun shoots like an extension of your hand.

This may be the best defensive revolver I've ever shot.

Against All Odds...

...I got the podcast done! I feel like I've been running through mud all day...I think it's one too many sheets of drywall. I'm stymied in a bunch of projects by small parts, so I sat down today and tried to order all the little pieces to actually finish something. I talked to my friend Andy Langlois at Andy's Leather about the sling and magazine pouches for the Browning BLR project...Andy is the creator and moderator of the Scout Rifle Forum, which I have relentlessly raided for info, and he's going to be doing a piece for us on DRTV. He's doing a Rhodesian sling for the BLR, BTW.

Am pretty interested in the SilencerCo Salvo 12 gauge silencer...shades of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN! Shotgun silencers are, to me, problematic...questionable noise suppression in exchange for a big measure of unwieldy. So the SilencerCo can be a breakthrough. Be interesting to test it.

Sunday & Drywall

...yep, what can I say? Big fun!

Actually got out and shot a Pawnee Station cowboy match yesterday at Great Guns in Nunnery, CO. It went very well (4th out if 36; my Sweetie was 8th)...I can think of a couple of points where I gave up seconds, but not too many. Interestingly enough, I gave up a couple of seconds on the last stage, which was a straight up stand and shoot...usually I smoke through those because I'm good on transitions from gun to gun. Unfortunately, as I stepped to the line I thought wow, I'm having a really good match! So that evil little voice whispered, "Back it down a degree and preserve your place finish!" LOL! About the 3rd rifle shot I thought, That's really stupid...nobody's winning a Cadillac here!" and sped back up, but by the I'd lost the seconds.

There were LOTS of new shooters at the match...great for the sport...harder on me and the other couple of range officers who take the new shooters through the stages. Not really a problem, but, MAN, a huge number of gun malfunctions! Yes, even old gun designs are prone to failure...usually (or maybe I should say as usual) it's ammunition. In Cowboy, if the shooter declares a "broken gun" it's handed on and taken off-line. That's because most cowboy jams tend to be cataclysmic...try running and uncrimped round through a lever action rifle...or any round through a new Marlin. Also, I especially don't want new competitors "futzing" with a jammed gun on the line...it's not like it's "tap-rack-bang" with a semiauto...it's too easy to point the gun where it shouldn't be pointed, like at me!

Another Stunning Scandal Uncovered!

As the world continues to fall apart, New Jersey residents huddle in their homes as anacondas run wild...from Fox:

New Jersey reptile expert reportedly told to 'keep mouth shut' about anaconda on loose 

A reptile expert said Friday that he wants to go "on the record" and confirm that New Jersey authorities are searching for an anaconda, not a boa constrictor in the state's largest lake. 

"I was sworn to keep my mouth shut by local officials to avoid causing a panic," Gerald Andrejcak, the specialist,told NJ.com. "Now that there's a panic, I'm going on the record."

Personally, I'm terrified! I mean, it's been raining a lot at the Secret Hidden Bunker, and anacondas are notoriously sneaky. An anaconda ate Jon Voight -- and don't tell me that was just a movie! Btw! Am I the only one who thinks that was Jennifer Lopez' greatest role? And I'm just spitballing here, but do you think an anaconda could swallow Chris Christie?

Enabler!

A surprisingly large number of people, including a good friend, are taken with the Browning BLR lever action rifle project. This makes me think that you may see the final project on SHOOTING GALLERY as well as DRTV. Got the Negrini gun case for the project this week.

My Wiley Clappy Ruger GP-100 is coming back from Gemini Custom next week. I've decided to focus my non-cowboy training on the GP-100 for next year's ICORE championships. I sucked so hard this year -- and, yes, you get to see it on SG! -- that I want to strive for some kind of redemption. I'm going to make a few changes to my competition GP-100 to get it to 100%...I also plan to use the revolver in IDPA...I'll probably shoot the Worlds in Puerto Rico, so Tom Yost will have someone to make fun of.

Magnum Research is offering a .22 LR version of their superb .22Magnums:

Pomona, NY – USA based, Magnum Research, Inc. (MRI) has once again expanded their Magnum Lite® rimfire rifle product line with the introduction of the MLR Ultra 22LR with a high-tech modular tensioned-type barrel. 

The modular barrel means that it has been constructed utilizing a superior quality of steel for the barrelwhich is attached to stainless steel breech and muzzle caps inside a thin-walled aluminum construction. The Ultra barrel took over a year to develop internally at Magnum Research and was extensively tested utilizing a variety of ammunition. When tested for accuracy against similarly constructed barrels, the Ultra barrel outshoots them significantly. Part of the reason for this is the patented heat sink located strategically inside the Ultra barrel itself.

While I have no direct experience, those tensioned barrels have a reputation of being wicked accurate. When I talked to MR a while back, I told them I'd love to see a .22 LR version. Hope to have a T&E soon!

Also for general cool .22 stuff, this from Jerking The Trigger, AGP Arms has a bunch of totally cool 10/22 stuff, including a take-down conversion. I kinda like the orange!

The Phone Booth at the End of the Universe

I stood in it and thought, c'mon...c'mon...let's travel in space and time, get me a couple of Companions and rock and roll...but, sigh, it was just the last dead phone both in Montana.

Anyway, after many requests, here's the work-in-process version of my Browning BLR "legal in ever jurisdiction" traveling rifle. It's in .223, comes with a 4-shot dreadfully expensive magazine, is just a hair under 7 pounds as it comes from the factory.

The custom fiberglass stock from MPI takes about a pound-and-a half off the laminate stock version. You'll note I had the ridiculously long LOP shortened, a recoil pad installed (not so much for the recoil as it "sticking" on the shoulder) and sling swivels installed. I have a Browning scout scope rail I will probably install, along with a 2.75 Burris scout scope, the same as the one on my Ruger GUNSITE Scout Rifle. If I go woth the scope, I'm going to try a set of Skinner sights as the BUIS. Sling will of course be a Rhodesian sling from Andy.

I hope to get this thing finished before SHOT, where I have a sinking suspicion I will see a production version! LOL!

Here's one for the books:

Thomaston Man Arrested After Stabbing Watermelon 

A 49-year-old Connecticut man has been charged with threatening after his wife told police he stabbed and carved a watermelon in a passive-aggressive manner.

So this guy has been arrested, will probably lose his firearms rights and have his life turned upside down because he stabbed a watermelon in a "passive-aggressive manner." I'm personally not sure how to stab a watermelon in a passively aggressive manner. I once cut a watermelon in half with an old Mauser '98 bayonet, and heaven help me, I've shot numerous cantaloupes. I once carved a jack-o-latern, too...

This vid has been all over the Internet...would be really cool to "print" an ersatz 10/22 receiver.

Wednesday? Really? When Did That Happen?

Marshal Halloway and I filmed Monday and Tuesday for DRTV. Monday, we filmed with our friends from Burris, going through the product line (you can hear all about it on today's podcast, along with a really cool song from Batmobile, the greatest Dutch psychobilly group in history). This is after 2 days of building our parrots' outdoor flight cage, which they absolutely love. Two days working with fencing, gloves or not, means my hands look like I stuffed them into a disposal unit.

Tuesday we covered a bunch of stuff for DRTV, included my work-in-process Browning BLR .223 takedown and...pause for effect...our first giveaway gun in a long time on DRTV! We had to work out the details of giveaways withOC's new management, but now we're good to go. I don't know when I can announce the rifle we're giving away, but, if you'd like a hint, you can spell it R*U*G*E*R & J*P*R*I*F*L*E*S & B*U*R*R*I*S & W*I*L*D*E*R*N*E*S*S*T*A*C*T*I*C*A*L...you didn't hear it here! But remember, DRTV Forum members get entered twice!

Got a bunch of new guns to pick up next week...you guys will be excited.

I was going to be sneaky and use a J.P. 9mm carbine at Crimson Trace next month...unfortunately, CT issued a rules clarification that specifically prohibited pistol caliber carbines...sigh. I'm going to use the Daniel Defense carbine I used last year with a Burris MTAC 1-4X illuminated. Same Versa Max and Ruger SR9, which I am considering cleaning before the match.

I've been working with my Sweetie and her brother to get them ready for their Project Appleseed event in a month or so. She'd going to use my .22 Spike's/JP AR that I used to get my Rifleman patch (unless, of course, her very own .22 AR materializes...quiet! Tell no one!). It's been fun! Marshal and I have been putting together the details of filming an Internet documentary on Project Appleseed for both DRTV and another major Internet site you'd recognize in a heartbeat. We want to roll the cameras before the end of the summer.

Chimpanzees At Apple

Apple security expert at work

If you're trying to email me, you can't, because the howling pack of monkeys at Apple shut off my email because of a "security reason." They also shut off my Apple ID. When I was finally able to reach Apple support this morning — and my guy John was indeed very nice — he couldn't tell me what the security reason was that led my accounts being shut off. I mean, was it an NSA attack or one of their Third World programmers in inadvertently hitting a random key on his or her computer while playing video games on his or her phone (probably an Android, since it would, by definition, be working).

So after a ridiculous session of verifying my identity, John said he could, within 24 hours, send me an email with instructions for reactivating my accounts. I pointed out to him that, in fact, his clown show security department, had shut off my email account.

Cue the Benny Hill music.

My accounts couldn't just be turned back on because the security monkeys have a wonderful fun game to play...we send a friend of yours a message, and within 3 hours on a holiday weekend you have to respond and maybe, just maybe, they can turn the accounts back on...exactly what you'd expect from a bunch of slacker morons with more time than sense,

Hopefully, I have this sorted out by the first of the week...

Count me a HAPPY APPLE CUSTOMER!!!

Impending Independence Day!

Asta and Newt duking it out...it appears Asta is winning...cats is mean...

Hope that you have great plans for Independence Day! I'm going for low key here. I've been at a dead run since I got back from Italy...there have been some hard production decisions to be made, and that is never easy...we will have some  pretty exciting announcements to make in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully, I'll do a little shooting over the weekend, which seems appropriate for this particular holiday.

I'll be at Burris next week filming for both their website and DRTV.  BTW, we're going to be running my concealed carry tips from the last few seasons of THE BEST DEFENSE on DRTV. I'm also thinking that I'm going to move the new season's concealed carry tips to DRTV and promo them on the broadcast TBD. We'll start running the cameras on TBD end of this month...we're going to model the Las Vegas "Bonnie & Clyde" police shooting this season.

This is interesting...from Fox News:

The U.S. Army is moving forward to replace the Cold War-era M9 9mm pistol with a more powerful handgun that also meets the needs of the other services. 

As the lead agent for small arms, the Army will hold an industry day July 29 to talk to gun makers about the joint, Modular Handgun System or MHS. 

The MHS would replace the Army's inventory of more than 200,000 outdated M9 pistols and several thousand M11 9mm pistols with one that has greater accuracy, lethality, reliability and durability, according to Daryl Easlick, a project officer with the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia. 

"It's a total system replacement -- new gun, new ammo, new holster, everything," Easlick said.

In other words, here we go again. I would say that the deciding factor will be whether the White House turns over from Dem/Socialist to Republican in 2016. For all their whining about how they support the troops, the Dems are violently anti-military and at their core despise soldiers. The likelihood of a Democratic administration shelling out for 200,000 new pistols is, in effect, plus-or-minus zero.

If they go to trials, it will have a net positive effect on the civilian market. The previous long-anticipated never culminated SOCOM trials lead to a spurt of development on .45 ACP pistols (as did the military selection of the Beretta M9, which validated the larger-capacity 9mm concept). Consider that this time around a slew of companies, including Beretta, Glock, FNH, Sig Sauer, S&W, Ruger, Springfield and, heck, even Colt have viable platforms in place rather than designing from scratch.

Will be interesting...

Tim Dillon, late of a brief stint at STI after serving at Brownell's has surfaced as new president and CEO of Noveske Rifleworks:

Dillon brings to the company over 25 years of experience, dedication and support of the American firearms industry. Noveske Rifleworks LLC proudly announces the hiring of Tim Dillon as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of their Oregon based company. Tim will be responsible for the daily operations and continuing the legacy of late Johnny Noveske's vision of producing the finest AR based rifles, parts and accessories to a demanding customer base.

Dillon is a master in manufacturing and process, and he'll be a good match for Noveske.

Really Good Food!

Yep...previous pix was Urbino...I was there to spend some quality time with Benelli...Dianna's M2 rocks.

Afterwards, Dianna and new hubby Ryan Mueller needed a ride to Venice to begin their honeymoon...they graciously invited me to lunch along the Grand Canal.

I recommend the cold octopus in pesto with paper thin potatoes slices for  the opening salad (tastes like fine tuna rather that the rubber balls you get in the U.S.), followed by black cuddlefish prepared Venetian style over grilled polenta. I went with a light local white, but hey, you're there for the view!

More on this on this week's pod...

Not In Kansas Anymore...

Yes...a Red Benelli!

Yes, it's Di Liedorff's new gun. No, you can't have it. Neither can I.

Newt in the Tall Grass

Frightening, isn't she???

Sorry For Light Blogging!!!

And a warning that it will continue for at least another week. Last season SHOOTING GALLERY production was a nightmare because of the OUTDOOR CHANNEL acquisition...everything ran late, late, late, so my SG production dates ran smack into THE BEST DEFENSE and continued on until March. It was just brutal on everyone (me included) and we made the decision to push our production schedule early for the 2015 seasons, since we know there's always extra stuff at the end of both TBD and SG.

So I've been in the field Big Time at a time when I'm normally at home.

BTW, I've been thinking of doing a .22 action event for SG as a companion to the NSSF Rimfire Challenge episode. What I was thinking of was a sort of .22 3-Gun..."Tac optics" only, that is scope/ed dot dot rifle, iron sights on the pistol. Courses would be run on steel (maybe the Action Targets rimfire series); shotgun would be limited to pump or double barrel, with shotgun strings limited to 5 shots plus 1 reload on the clock. The idea would be to introduce 3-Gun to a little wider audience, plus provide us with a cool feature.

What do you guys think?

Am I Speaking Tomorrow????

Yikes! I have a date saved on my calendar for a talk to a law enforcement group in Denver 18 JUNE...what I do NOT have is a confirmation, a place and a time!!!!! Help!

Some Thoughts on Compromises...

"Logic is a way of saying that anything which didn't happen yesterday won't happen tomorrow."

— Robert Heinlein

"Glory Road"

...since I've been writing about house stuff. Yes, some of the previous posters are correct...EVERYTHING is a compromise. We opted for the propane compromise, largely because I can back up the propane systems over time. First step is a wind turbine (probably a Bergey Excel 1 to help the solar along in the winter). Second is a diesel gennie to back up the propane gennie. Third is a solar hot water pre-heat system. Ideally, I'd like to add an outside wood-fired broiler for the primary heat, but that's a big hit. You take it a step at a time.

Our focus right now is on figuring out what the baselines are for summer water, electricity and propane usage and make sure the systems are buttoned down for the winter, which as we know from Game of Thrones, is always coming.

UPDATE: Here is a great article from science fiction author Sarah Hoyt, titled, appropriately, "Assume the Crash Position:"

For instance, have you guys figured out yet that OWS’s was supposed to be an attempt at a “proletarian revolution”? No? If you look at it, it becomes clear. Raised on stories of proletarian revolution, they thought if they squeezed us just enough, and then provided a spark – OWS screaming about the 1% — the country would spontaneously rise up in a communist revolution. 

This was obvious to me, because I KNOW communist myth. 

Then there was gun control, which has failed, even despite Fast and Furious. And Fast and Furious is something that only crazy, delusional and dumb people would dream up. 

But there are things he can still do – crash the economy (the continuous money printing can’t go on) disarm (while China arms) and effectively switch sides in the war on terror.
These might be enough. I can see a very difficult winter ahead. I am still/again afraid that we’ll lose at least a city, and possibly more to enemy action. And I’m very afraid both my sons will end up in uniform and possibly dying to pay for this massive mistake. 

So… It’s time to assume crash position.

Ouch. Let me change hats here, and as you know I'm a big fan of hats. The hat I have in mind, however, is that of Producer of the late, lamented THE BEST DEFENSE/SURVIVAL. One of the key things that I, Michael Janich, Rob Pincus and co-Producer Tim Cremin tried very hard to do was help our viewers understand the concept of "social dislocations." We weren't necessarily talking about TEOTWAWKI, but rather the dislocations that happen when the technological chain is broken through natural events, terrorist, financial instability, etc. We used the example of Argentina's financial collapse, for instance.

At TBD/SURVIVAL we didn't go out and talk to the various and sundry list of outrageous people featured on some of the other channels. Rather, we went to experts/first responders in the field of disasters, civilian and military "wargamers" who do nothing but study bad and worst case disasters, training facilities where really, really dark scenarios were taken apart and studied.

When I began with a blank page for the New Improved Secret Hidden Bunker, my initial thinking was simple — within the budget we could afford, what could we do to insulate ourselves from the most likely set of social dislocations (and, quite honestly, have fun doing it...this is an adventure, however occasionally painful...)? I am painfully aware of the "Potiphar Breen Conundrum," loosely translated as, "Just because an event is most likely to happen doesn't mean that it will," and the corollary, "Just because an event is unlikely doesn't mean it won't." Or, in its most brutal form, "You can't beat the House."

So you start with the compromises and work forward from there.

Been in Idaho!

For the MGM Ironman, following Usual Suspects Di Liedorff, her new hubby Ryan Mueller and OUTDOOR LIFE's John Snow. What a great match, and — at least for right now — totally over my head! Can't wait for you to see this on SHOOTING GALLERY 2015. And congrats to Dan Horner, who won Open and Tac Optics. And thanks to my friend Travis Gibson who made our filming possible.

Some issues on the NSSF Rimfire Challenge...we were looking at the National Championships in Tulsa at USSA the first weekend of August, but now it looks like there's going to be a change of venue and date. Will have details tomorrow AM. BTW, after the disaster at the International Revolver Championships, I'm halfway thinking of shooting this year's Rimfire Challenge with a revolver as penance.

Here's a really, really depressing article you all should read, from Pajamas Media's David Solway:

The normalcy bias disposes us to disregard or extenuate such policy initiatives. But history has repeatedly instructed us that the normalcy bias may be lethal. “It can’t happen here” is often the prelude to it happening here with a vengeance. For no matter how we may wish to parse or interpret reality, facts are facts. “They’re little pictures,” says Selwyn Duke in American Thinker, “and as with a jigsaw puzzle, if you have enough of them, assembled properly, you can see the big picture. This is otherwise known as being in touch with reality.”

Read the whole thing.

My series on building the New Improved Secret Hidden Bunker will start running ina  week or so on the Cheaper Than Dirt newsletter. I'll get up links as soon as I have them.

Finally! Good News on New Secret Hidden Bunker...

...we closed the loan yesterday, ending a year-long forced march ulcer-inducing process to build an off-grid house. The most amazing thing to me is that the New Improved Secret Hidden Bunker actually works. The solar system is easily generating enough electricity to keep things moving along pretty well. The key point is that my Sweetie and I began paring down our lifestyle a couple of years ago, which, because we are a childless couple, wasn't that large to begin with.

As I made clear to subcontractors again and again, our intent was never to move back to the 19th Century, and I figure Mother Gaia can't get along pretty well without our help. Instead, we wanted to maintain a pared down modern lifestyle...that means television (my profession, as it happens), a coffeemaker, computers, the Internet and, yes, even a phone! And a shooting range.

As I've outlined before, electricity is from PV panels and a bank of sealed batteries, backed up with a Generac propane generator designed specifically for off-grid operation. The generator is designed to kick on when the battery level reaches a certain point. All household appliances were chosen specifically for off-grid. We went with a conventional, extremely energy efficient refrigerator — no ice-maker, no water dispenser, with the freezer on top to allow the cold to "trickle down." It's about half the size of our previous 2-door stainless steel model.

The stove is a Unique, propane-driven and with no connection to the grid. The stove "fires" thanks to a 9-volt battery. No clock; no timer. Washer and dryer are conventional super-high efficiency front loaders. The dryer is propane. There's a dishwasher, again, chosen for its frugal use of electricity.

Computers are Apple and all on power strips to eliminate "phantom" use. All of the light in the house have been converted to LED bulbs (expensive little buggers!) augmented with Solartube-type skylights in the darker area. Water is from an 800-foot well feeding 2 1275-gallon cisterns build into the crawlspace under the house. Heat/hot water is from a dual-tier propane system I designed. The systems are totally separate to avoid a "cascading" failure. System 1 is a propane tank feeding the home heating system  — underfloor radiant heat — and a conventional propane hot water heater for the kitchen and guest bathroom. That system also provides prom=pane for the generator. The second system provides propane for a 3-sided fireplace/heater and the super-efficient on-demand hot water heater for the master bath.

The new Bunker is south-facing with tile floors for thermal mass in the winter and cool in the summer. House is built with appropriate overhangs to shield the south-facing windows in the summer. There are high ceilings with clerestory windows for air circulation. For summer cooling, in addition to the design of the house, we have ceiling fans. In the bedroom, we popped for a Big Ass Fan, the most energy efficient fan on earth. There are energy star fans in the great room and my office.

My Sweetie designed the house specifically for the property...there is only one window on the side facing the prevailing winter winds, and that is a small, high window in the laundry room. The bedroom/master bath is position the farthest from the prevailing winds. Internet is through line-of-sight to a towner about 5 miles away. We have pretty good cell service, but I'm putting in a booster/repeater next week.

Yet to be done (read, we ran out of money) are a wind turbine, which will hopefully be in place before winter; solar hot water heating on both water systems, which I'm hoping we can hammer into place next summer, and gray water capture for the presently non-existant landscaping.

I'd love to show you guys pictures, but...OPSEC. I was appalled a couple of years ago when I found an Internet site with "directions to Michael Bane's Secret Hidden Bunker." Cute. There is no public access to the new Bunker, and I have overview of the only road from my new office.

BTW, I will be writing a series of articles on the off-grid experiment/experience for the Cheaper Than Dirt newsletter...I'll post the links when I have them!

First Day International Revolver Championships...

...absolutely fun day! Unfortunately shot like crap.You'd think I never did this before! LOL! Getting light primer strikes...total surprise, since I'm shooting same lot .38spl FMJ ARMSCOR I practiced with. Tomorrow 1 Steel Challenge type stage, 4 run & gun field course, then dread 50-yard standards. Press on regardless...

On Open Carry Texas

This morning on the podcast I was critical of Open Carry Texas and their strategies designed to bring attention to Texas' lack of open carry for handguns. You're all familiar with these guys by now.

I have taken a lot of heat today, but I want to make it clear that I stand by my podcast.

The central core of my argument is that OCT tactics DON'T WORK. As a longtime Second Amendment activist myself, my guiding light has been simple, "Does the tactic I've selected bring us closer to victory?" This guiding light has led me (and my oftentimes cohort Paul Erhardt) to adopt unconventional, asymmetric tactics, tactics that many times put us at odds with the Powers-That-Be. But in every case the tactics we used brought us closer to victory.

The tactics being used by OCT are failing on every count. Read this piece by Sebastian on the FACT that OC in Texas is slipping away because of the antics of OCT. I don't want to get in a pissing match here, nor do I want to launch ad hominem attacks. We are, in fact, fighting the same war. But we do need to find the line between tactics and ego...believe me, I've been there myself.

The Time! The Time!

I totally thought I had today under control...get the podcast hammered out (late...sorry Marshal!)...finish the other television producer stuff I had to do...go to the range an put a couple of hundred rounds downrange. That was before, of course, I had to deal with the Turkish travel visa...or the budget for a potential SHOOTING GALLERY trip that materialized this AM...or the Honda Element-full of crap that had to go to the landfill today...or this...or that...or this...

And it's almost 9 PM and I have no idea what happened to the day, except to say that it's gone baby gone. You all know the drill.

I'm going into the IRCs pretty much cold, not at all what I planned. I love shooting revolvers and I thought I had a good shot to finish well this year. Of course, that's what I thought about the He Man Wold Championships, where I was totally dialed in on the rifle and handgun and...get this...I didn't even show up for the match! The Real World is beating my ass into the ground.

But that's normal isn't it? We al do the best that we can do, given the fact that we have to keep our Real Lives perking along. My bosses expect me to at least pretend to be a television producer, with a half-dozen projects up in the air. The house...the puppy...the kitten...I swear, I'm running as fast as I can...

A Good Sunday!

Spent most of the day assembling bookcases for my office, since I can't do anything until I can get stuff out of boxes and off the floor. Big hi-zoot television executive that i am, I of course bought the bookcases at IKEA. I was even able to assemble them, thanks to the miracle of hammer.

We knocked off at midday to do about an hour on the road bikes...my ancient Trek OCLV hadn't ben out of the garage in months. A good spin helps distribute all the gunk in my knees to the approrpate nooks and crannies. When we got back from the ride, I did a quick 50-round drill with the GP-100 — 3 cylinders of just smoothly running the trigger (8-inch plate at 12 yards); One cylinder of smoothly running the trigger, plate at 15 yards. A bunch of one-shotdraws at 12 yards, followed by a cylinder full for 2-shots from the draw. I finished up the remaining rounds with "skip drills," maybe the best anti-flinching drill for revolver shooters ever created.

My good friend George Harris sent me a not to remind me to practice the "wall drill," dry-firing with the  muzzle an inch from a light colored wall. Any deviation in a perfect trigger pull is painfully obvious.

Yes, I'll get the BLR pixs tomorrow, right after I hammer together the last bookcase together!
I've never had a range on my property before. It's pretty cool!