San Francisco Is Starting To Issue More CCW Permits

By

-

February 1, 2023

For ordinary citizens who live in the state of California, getting a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permit has traditionally been no small feat because the Golden State is a may-issue state. In California, the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of a specific county or municipality has the final say and discretion to authorize such permits. Different counties have different decision making processes to screen applicants they deem worthy of having these licenses. For most citizens living in California, the reality is that often times California CCW permits are something that are only granted to the privileged few with connections and special relationships.

In light of the Bruen case heard before the United States Supreme Court last year, the San Francisco’s Sheriff’s Department has issued its first CCW permit (pending the final training class for this applicant). The City And County of San Francisco have always had a strict reputation when it came to approving license-to-carry permits. According to San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, prior to the Bruen ruling, only individuals considered to be in at-risk positions such as diamond jewelers or judges would have even been considered for a CCW permit in San Francisco. “The significant change from the Bruen decision was that they took out the ‘good cause’ requirement for someone who is applying for a CCW license,” Miyamoto added. “Which basically means as long as you clear our vetting process, our background procedures, and as long as you take a safety course and demonstrate you’re responsible, you’re given an opportunity to have a license.” Sheriff Miyamoto also elaborated on the fact that his office is currently processing 72 new CCW permit applications, and that they expect this number to more than double in the upcoming year. “This is very different from the four [applications] we processed in the past 10 or so years,” he said.

Another detail that Sheriff Miyamoto mentioned is the fact that the county of San Francisco will be the first of any Bay Area counties to require a psychological evaluation as part of their CCW permit screening process.

In spite of the Bruen ruling and the fact that the Sheriff’s Department is changing its protocols to reflect the law of the land, not everyone in San Francisco is happy with these new developments. There are several policy-makers in the Bay Area like Catherine Stefani and Hillary Rosen, both members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who are strongly opposed to the shift in CCW permit approval standards and pride themselves for the fact that the City of San Francisco is at the cutting-edge of gun-control. There are plans to draw up new city-specific ordinances concerning the carrying of handguns in certain areas and additional requirements in obtaining CCW permits in San Francisco. Besides last years’ Bruen case, these changes are coming at a time where many people in California are strongly concerned about the rising levels of crime and the ability of local law enforcement to police their communities.

From the Reloading Bench: Squibs due to Forgotten Powder

By

Anna Martinez

-

February 1, 2023

What is a Squib Round?

A squib/squib round/squib load is a malfunction in which a projectile has enough force to leave the casing that it was seated into but does not have enough force to entirely leave the barrel. Therefore the load is a squib, the casing is ejected, and the actual projectile is probably still in your barrel. Scary. A clear sign of a squib is a “pop” but no bang and hardly any recoil. A bullet missing from your case after ejecting it is also a clear sign of a squib. Hint Hint.

Now, let’s set the scene. During a one day precision rifle match in Iowa a shooter who is known to handload was shooting a stage with his bolt gun. After firing two shots and no issue, the next shot fired but with no boom. The shooter moves the bolt back, ejects the round, and chambers the next. Same thing, presses the trigger, no boom. Same thing again, ejects the round and chambers another, same issue.

Quick! What did this shooter do wrong?

Well first of all, he is lucky that his face didn’t get blown off.

The Problem

Short answer: The shooter forgot to put powder into his casings and is lucky that the primer did not detach the bullet from the case causing a squib. Which the shooter also failed to check for after ejecting his round that didn’t fire.

Long answer: During handloading people can often get complacent. Let’s face it, we are doing the same thing about 200x. Seating a primer, dropping powder, seating a bullet, marking the case. Over, and over, and over. This can cause complacency and complacenency can kill. Seriously.

What a lot of people don’t know is how important it is to check every case for powder. This is due to the simple fact that primers have enough power to fire a round without any extra powder. This means that if indeed you forget to load powder into a case and seat a bullet, that primer can cause a squib round due to having enough power to cause the bullet to leave the casing but not fully leave the barrel.

Therefore, if this a click and no boom happens to you as a shooter, you NEED TO CHECK THE ROUND THAT WAS EJECTED FOR A BULLET. If there is no bullet, it is probably still inside your barrel. If you shoot another round and that bullet impacts the lodged bullet in your barrel you will have a very bad day. I’m talking guns blowing up and faces getting injured. Including the eyes, looking at you precision shooters that don’t wear eyepro.

Primers have enough force to dislodge a bullet from the casing but often not enough to push it through your barrel. Ensure that there is powder in every case that has a bullet seated inside.

Fixing the Problem

So how do we as handloaders ensure that this never happens?

After every 50 cases are filled with powder, or 100 dependent on the size of your reloading block, take a flashlight and go row by row one by one and ensure that each is filled with powder. Take this extra 10 second step and it will save you in the future.

Also, again, if you have a click no boom, always check the round that was ejected. This goes for bolt guns, gas guns, even pistols. Squibs are no joke so when a malfunction happens, just slow down and see what is going on.

The .22 Long and Extra Long – Forgotten Cartridges

By

Travis Pike

-

February 1, 2023

The little .22LR might be the most popular round sound every year. I’m willing to bet more .22LR is sold than any other round on the market since most people buy them by the hundreds. The .22LR is the most popular of rounds, and even ole Short round still gets some love. Enough love that I can find it in Walmart. What about .22 Long, or the even more oft forgot Extra long?

These forgotten rimfire rounds are all in the same family of cartridges, and all came to be before the end of the 1800s. The late 1800s saw a boom in rimfire rounds. The metallic cartridge came to be during and right after the civil war, and rimfire were one of the more popular choices. As the industry moved toward centerfire cartridges, the littlest of cartridges remained rimfire mostly because there wasn’t enough room to fit a centerfire fire primer in the case.

It all starts with the parlor guns of the era and the 6mm Flobert aka the .22 BB. Eventually, this evolved into the micro-sized .22 Short. This round was used for hunting, recreation, and even self-defense in early model S&W revolvers.

As time passed, the rounds became prominent for recreation and the hunting of small game. Thus, they added heavier bullets and more powder on top of longer cases to kill bigger small game and even serve in self-defense roles. This leads us to the two calibers in today’s discussion, the .22 Long and .22 Extra Long.

The .22 Long

The .22 Long evolved directly from the .22 Short. It first came to be in 1871. The original load was a 29-grain projectile on top of 5 grains of black powder. This was a 25% increase in power from the Short. The case was lengthened to .613 inches.

The intent was for revolvers. In 1870 Rollin White’s patent for metallic cartridge revolvers expired, and everyone hopped on the train to produce metallic cartridge revolvers that loaded via the rear of the cylinder.

Colt specifically produced the Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver. At this time period, the .22 Short chambered S&W Model Ones were popular everywhere. Colt wanted something different and produced this high-quality revolver in this new .22 Long cartridge. It was more powerful than the .22 Short and allowed Colt to stand out.

It wasn’t long until the cartridge made its way into rifles that it became quite popular. For nearly 10 years, it ruled the roost for those looking to dispatch squirrels and rabbits, or to have a convenient carry piece for self-defense.

The .22 Extra Long

In 1880 the rimfire arms race continued, and the .22 Extra Long found its way into existence. It was an immediate hit. Remington, S&W, Stevens, and Winchester all produced rifles in this new, feisty rimfire round. Shooters got a case that was .75 inches with 6 grains of black powder and a 40-grain projectile. It tossed the round at 1,050 feet per second. Hunters and riflemen got a nice heavy round for hitting larger animals at greater range. You weren’t deer hunting with an Extra Long, but many a coyote and rabbit likely met their end at the end of a .22 Extra Long.

While it seemed like a good cartridge, it had some accuracy issues, and by 1887, the new Long Rifle round unseated it. Well, not at first. Admittedly once smokeless powder took over the more accurate LR round proved to be just as capable as the .22 Extra long with a shorter case and higher accuracy.

The Sweet Spot

The .22LR found the sweet spot for rimfire, .22 caliber cartridges. Its popularity has exploded to the point where another rimfire round will be unlikely to unseat it. However, its good to know where we came from, and rounds like the .22 Long and .22 Extra Long got us the Long Rifle round, and for that, they deserve a little credit.

FPC Files Lawsuit Against ATF Brace Rule.

By

Keith Finch

-

January 31, 2023

Photo of Supreme Court Building, Whose Ruling Anti-Gun Media Interprets Incorrectly — Photo Credit: NRA-ILA

It’s 1:20 PM Eastern and my inbox received the expected challenge to the ATF’s posted regulation a mere 260 minutes after the open of business here.

DALLAS, TX (January 31, 2023) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of litigation challenging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Final Rulemaking on firearms equipped with stabilizing or pistol braces. The Petition in FPC’s Mock v. Garland, along with other case documents, can be viewed at FPCLaw.org.

“This lawsuit challenges, inter alia, the Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached Stabilizing Braces, promulgated by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to regulate ‘braced pistols’ as ‘short-barreled rifles.’ In so doing, for the reasons set forth herein, the Agencies violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the United States Constitution,” the Petition states.

The Petition continues: “Even if the Final Rule does not violate the APA and is allowed to stand, the Agencies’ National Firearms Act (“NFA”), laws, regulations, policies, and enforcement practices with respect to ‘braced pistols’ that the Agencies’ have classified as “short-barreled rifles” violate the Second Amendment. Plaintiffs thus further seek declaratory and injunctive relief to secure their constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms in the absence of vacatur of the Final Rule.”

“Federal agencies do not have the power to write new laws, and yet the ATF continues to attempt to expand its authority using the federal rulemaking process,” said Cody J. Wisniewski, FPC’s Senior Attorney for Constitutional Litigation. “This ‘rule’ is, in effect, a federal law that will transform millions of peaceable people into felons overnight simply for owning a firearm that has been lawful to own for decades. We won’t stand idly by while the ATF tramples the rights of millions of peaceable individuals.”

“At its most basic level, this rulemaking represents a massive and unlawful bait-and-switch on peaceable gun owners,” said FPC Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. “For nearly a decade the ATF’s position on pistol braces has been relied on by millions of gun owners. Now, with the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen, those same people are told they are felons unless and until they submit themselves to invasive regulation, registration, dispossession of their property, or worse.”

Individuals who would like to Join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs.

FPC Law (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s first and largest public interest legal team focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the leader in the Second Amendment litigation and research space.

Especially considering this language in the rule summary,

Notwithstanding the 120-day compliance period, discussed above, the rule is immediately effective in that the Department may seek to enforce the NFA’s requirements with respect to any new making or new transfer of a weapon with an attached “stabilizing brace” that constitutes a short-barreled rifle under the NFA. The Department believes that delaying enforcement of the relevant NFA provisions is not necessary to allow an equitable opportunity for compliance because all persons, through publication of this rule, have received notice that the NFA may in fact apply to their conduct. Further delaying enforcement also would be inconsistent with public safety. Therefore, ATF may enforce the NFA against any person or entity that—any time after the publication date of this rule—newly makes or transfers a weapon with an attached “stabilizing brace” that constitutes a short-barreled rifle under the NFA. For purposes of the Congressional Review Act, however, the Department will wait to actually initiate such enforcement actions for at least 60 days from publication of the rule in the Federal Register . See 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3).

The brace rule is enforceable immediately but the department is waiting 60 days for congressional review for compliance with the CRA. This has been flagged to apply to new builds and transfers, no action is listed to be taken against possessors who lawfully purchased their or built their firearm in the current braced configuration and those possessors have until May 31st to file their tax exempt Form 1.

This sounds like they made a law, looks like they made a law, feels like they made a law, and smells like they… well, nevermind on that. But the brace rule has been hit with the expected immediate challenge. We will see how the courts take to the challenge and what measures, such as a pause on enforcement, implementation, the timetable for amnesty, etc. that will result as it makes its way through the legal system.

I fully expect this to fail after review, the questions are whose and when.

Brace Rule in Effect

By

Keith Finch

-

January 31, 2023

Brandon’s video does a good job navigating the bullshit, and there is no other way to describe the 293 page behemoth that seeks to end the ‘brace menace’ once and for.. yeah, it’s not going to do that. The ATF’s attempt to turn pistols into SBRs because *wink* ‘the shoulder things that go up’ is a mess from a bunch of angles.

One of the most common things I’ve been asked is, “Should I register?”

The Legal Answer

By a strict interpretation of the law, yes. You should, because it is now the law. Despite this not being debated and passed through the House, the Senate, or signed by the President, it is the ‘Law’ now. Is the law made up and the points matter less than the final score of Whose Line is it Anyway? Also, yes.

Compliance Date: Any weapons with “stabilizing braces” or similar attachments that constitute rifles under the NFA must be registered no later than May 31, 2023.

Your actual answer…

Is ultimately up to you. Plenty of folks have declared their intent to not register anything and ride out the legal battle, and in their defense the likelihood this gets the great judicial ban hammer the way the bump stock ban did is high. Ultimately this is day 1 of 120, you don’t have to decide anything today. You can see if the rule gets stayed by the courts or congress in the interim.

If you decide to free stamp a gun or two, go for it. If you want to ride it out and decide in May what to do and see what happens in the meantime, cool. As long as the initiation date on your Form 1 is May31st, 2023 or earlier I’d love to see the ATF try and prosecute that case. A first year public defender could wipe the floor with that case and add a win against the ATF to their resume early.

My opinion…

Is only an opinion, I am not an attorney. I know a few though.

I, personally, already own NFA items, have an FFL/SOT, and had a few guns I wanted to stamp when I got around to it. So I got around to those on the EForms site, it’s pretty easy. But if you don’t want NFA items, you have at least until May 31st before anything else will be or can be done about it. That assumes that none of the lawsuits I expect to see immediately filed don’t get the rule boxed up and/or stayed in the 120 days, or thrown out completely because its entirely overstepping the authority of the ATF even if the Administration told them to do it.

Remember, this is rule ATF2021R-08, it took them two years just to get it into a state that could be published as a final rule to even attempt to survive the gauntlet of legal challenges heading its way.

Sit back and enjoy the shitshow, ladies and gentlemen.

Reloading: Hodgdon Gives a Powder Update

By

Anna Martinez

-

January 31, 2023

Reloading is tough these days. Powder shortages and insane price hikes make this already pricey hobby even more stressful. Hodgdon Powder one of the most popular powder manufactures out there and thankfully, didn’t leave us without an update in this new year. See the update below. If you have specific questions about your type of powder go ahead and click here and peruse through the comments, a lot of commenters are asking about specifics.

Hodgdon Powder

January 12, 2023

“POWDER UPDATE 2023

QUICK SUMMARY: In 2023, we anticipate powder availability to return to Pre-COVID conditions. Our powders will be readily available on dealer shelves and for purchase on our website. While demand has remained at a record high for now nearly 3 years, we look forward to closing the gap between demand and supply and thank you for your patience.

WILL ALL YOUR POWDERS BE READILY AVAILABLE?

While there are some exceptions such as our Enduron and Trail Boss powders, the majority of our powders will be easily located via various retailers.

WHY CAN’T HODGDON MAKE MORE POWDER?

We wish it were that simple – what we have experienced since 2020 is a demand issue and not a supply issue. The reality is we are doing everything possible to maximize shipments to our customers, including running overtime in production, packaging and shipping areas and working with our shipping partners to add new inbound and outbound shipping options. During the past 3 years, we broke record after record for powder shipments. We learned what worked best in terms of distribution and will continue to maximize all efforts to maintain this high level of shipping.

WILL HODGDON BUILD ANOTHER PLANT TO KEEP UP WITH FUTURE SPIKES IN DEMAND?

A new powder production facility would require an investment far beyond our finances and no financial institution would finance this type of building project. While the past 3 years of demand appears to be different from demand spikes in the last 20 years, the “normal” powder demand for the U.S. would not support an additional manufacturing plant.

WHY IS HODGDON SELLING POWDER TO AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS?

Our focus is the handloading enthusiast. Yes, we sell some powder to strategic, mostly smaller ammunition manufacturers, but that is a small part of our business. The heart of our business is smokeless powder for the handloading enthusiast. Every day, we receive calls from potential OEM customers who are looking for powder to load in ammunition. Every day, we politely decline this new business so we can focus on our long-term customers and sales channels and most importantly, our costumers who have supported us for decades.”

There you have it. Hodgdon is passionate about the normal everyday handloader, they aren’t building a new facility, and well, they’re still trying to get back to where things were as far as readily available powder and are forecasting that this will be done in 2023.

Remember though, prices will NEVER be back to normal due to natural supply and demand and other tax hikes. The price of powder isn’t due to Hodgdon, or IMR, or Alliant, it is due to well..everything just kind of sucking due to COVID and other changes that may have happened in the year 2021..cough.

You Never Know Who’s Watching.

By

The Suited Shootist

-

January 31, 2023

Photo by Jürgen Jester: https://www.pexels.com/photo/surveillance-cameras-on-a-metal-post-4497236/

In one of the few Facebook gun groups I still frequent, someone shared a photo of something that caught their attention.

They saw this person with a hip-bag walking around the mall, and it struck them as odd.

Now these hip bags are popular among motorcyclists, but the person didn’t quite fit that look. They were just wearing a hoodie and jeans.

Given that it was a concealed carry group, most of the discussion obviously revolved around the concept that it was a holster bag.

The interesting point worth highlighting is this:

The subject of the photo is pretty innocuous, and the thread established several benign/non-gun justifications for the bag.

BUT

The subject of the photos strayed far enough outside social norms that OP went “huh, that’s unusual, I wonder what/ why that is?”

This is EXACTLY how it goes with exposed belt clips, mis-sized clothing, etc.

People are good at pattern recognition, so it’s best practice to exist within the pattern.

What’s funny, in kind of an unfortunate kind of way, is that it’s not uncommon for there to be regular debates (arguments) in this group about whether or not “printing matters”, yet many failed to recognize that this was the exact same set of circumstances.

The reality is that concealment is, at its core, a magic trick. It’s misdirection and subterfuge.

The most effective concealment isn’t just covering the gun. At its most effective, it’s a combination of showing people what they expect to see, and misdirection.

This can be as simple as proper garment fit to avoid printing or foregoing tactical brands, or it can delve deeper into concepts like social camouflage.

Social Camouflage breaks into two basic categories:

The first is the “grey man concept”, where you’re dressed in an unassuming way that draws no attention.

The other element is dressing in a manner that would make people go “there’s no WAY that person is carrying a gun”

The PHLster Enigma facilitates this by making carry easier in pants that previously wouldn’t support a gun (sweats, gi pants, joggers, board shorts, etc.)

Going back to my original point though, you never know who is paying attention or what they notice, so it’s best to dress for your environment.

This means not just climatically (no bulky cover garments in hot weather and such), but also the social fluency to know what “dressing appropriately” means where you’re going to be.

This hip back is certainly a fairly obvious example of the concept, but it highlights a critical point that more people should consider.

Don’t deviate from the norms and understand the cultural expectations where you are, because you never know who’s watching.

Ruger’s Best Magnum

By

V. Caldwell

-

January 30, 2023

As a rule I don’t haunt the shops looking for some blast from the past. Modern revolvers offer good accuracy superior sights and more choices in configuration. However- there are a few vintage revolvers that offer certain utility that isn’t present in modern offerings. I admit that nostalgia sometimes is a factor and that’s fine as long as function and reliability is present. Among the best revolvers of the previous century is the Ruger Speed Six. Built on the old Security Six frame but with fixed sights rather than adjustable sights this six shot .357 Magnum revolver is among the best balanced and useful of all Ruger handguns. Built on a medium frame the Ruger Security Six features a rugged lock work. It is plenty accurate. The Speed Six is modified with a round butt and fixed sights to facilitate concealment. The improved GP100 has proven stronger and more durable than most revolvers while the faster handling Speed Six has much merit. The modern fixed sight versions of the GP 100 are too large and heavy for good concealment.

The example illustrated was no beauty queen when new. But then ability makes a firearm attractive! The Ruger has been refinished in a durable non reflective phosphate finish. The round butt revolver feels good in the hand and allows cupping the grip for fast work. The design, like the square butt Security Six in standard figuration, is the reason Ruger went to rubber grips on the GP100. Recoil stings and becomes uncomfortable with Magnum loads. Most of my revolvers wear Hogue Mono Grips. Hogue grips change the handling qualities of the revolver. The Ruger Speed Six is now comfortable to fire and use with Magnum loads. The revolver is fired more often with fully interchangeable .38 Special loads. Magnum loads feature a cartridge case about 1/8 inch longer to prevent chambering in the .38 Special cylinder.

The DeSantis Wild Hog is an ideal all around holster for packing in the wild.

The Speed Six had fired thousands of handloads. Most have been hard casts bullets from 140 to 160 grains. For most practice a modest charge of Titegroup provides 800 fps of velocity. This a good small game load as well. I occasionally fire a stout load using Matt’s Bullets 160 grain SWC at 1,060 fps. This +P loads makes for good practice for Magnum loads without Magnum recoil and is very accurate. As for accuracy this isn’t a match grade revolver or something for hunting, but for defense use. I have tested several of Buffalo Bore’s hard hitting .38 Special loads. With a 125 grain JHP or all copper Barnes bullet at over 1,000 fps, some as fast as 1,100 fps, these are excellent defense loads with comparatively mild recoil and superb accuracy and control. For most defense shooters this is a fine home defense choice. For outdoors use the Outdoorsman load uses a 158 grain SWC at over 1100 fps. This isn’t a poor copy of Elmer Keith’s semi wadcutter but the real thing with a flat meplat and sharp cutting shoulder. For animal defense this loading will give the shooter confidence in the heavy .38.

If you are willing to practice to master the .357 Magnum the philosophy is to get one hit that stops the attack. A string of shots with a hard kicking Magnum is feasible. At least with a revolver the size and weight of the Ruger Speed Six. Get on target, press the trigger is a smooth rolling arc, and get a hit. The 125 grain .357 Magnum is a tremendous asset in personal defense. This load breaks about 1400 fps in the Ruger. The 140 grain loading is an excellent compromise with greater penetration at 1330 fps. For a combination personal defense load that is also useful against feral dogs and the big cats the .357 Magnum is a good choice. I don’t fire the Ruger Speed Six often perhaps a box or two a year. But the piece remains on the front line as one of the most trusted handguns in my battery.

Rare P7M13 goes up on GunBroker

By

Keith Finch

-

January 30, 2023

An extremely limited P7M13-SD has come up for auction on GunBroker and closing on February 12th.

A little history on the gun below from my friend James, but the the short version is 50 of these were made, 34 made it into the United States, the one on auction is NIB/Never Fired condition.

They are hen’s teeth, only secondary market and only from VIPs and H&K employees to those who can pass it onto another deserving owner.

This is one of those grail guns for some, cool and collectable rather than practical. Do you need it? Maybe, you know better than I.

Good bidding folks, ends on the 12th.

Fred Bear and His Ten Hunting Commandments (They Still Apply)

By

Travis Pike

-

January 30, 2023

I have a love/hate relationship with hunting season. I love it because I enjoy hunting but, I hate it because I live in an area where lots of weekend warriors come to hunt. Every year I see hunters that always remind me of Fred Bear’s 10 Commandants of Hunting. Fred Bear was certainly experienced enough to write them.

I nearly have them memorized as a local gas station with odd hours had them posted on aged yellow paper to the side of the deli portion that served fried chicken way too early in the morning. I wish everyone grew up reading these commandants, and maybe I’d be less jaded by visiting hunters.

Fred Bear was a legendary bow hunter and a pioneer of the sport. Believe it or not, in the 1940s and fifties, bow hunting wasn’t common. In fact, most states didn’t have a set bow hunting season, and some didn’t even permit bow hunting. Efforts by Fred Bear spread bow hunting across the United States. He had a storied career, to say the least, and in his wake, he left us 10 Hunting Commandments.

Fred Bear’s Ten Hunting Commandments

While it’s easy to apply these rules to just bow hunting, I think they are applicable to most of all hunting. (Except for dog hunting, but that’s not real hunting anyway.) I’m sure my dad saw that yellowed piece of paper every day we went hunting, but I don’t know if he ever paid that much attention to them. Yet, at the same time, these are nearly the same rules or commandments Papa Pike imprinted on me while hunting. Maybe that’s why I remember them so fondly.

1. Don’t step on anything you can step over.

It’s pretty simple. Don’t make unnecessary noise, and disturb an area as little as possible. Let as little scent, noise, and destruction in your wake as possible.

2. Don’t look for deer, look for movement (and remember it’s what they’re looking for, too.)

Animals tend to be naturally camouflaged in their environment. Seeing a brown deer in the fall can be tough, so don’t just rely on seeing the deer, pig, or squirrel. Watch for their movement, and they’ll reveal themselves.

I can still hear my dad say the words “sit still” in his quiet whisper. If you’re moving, you might as well be shouting.

3. Always approach downwind. In the cool of the day, move uphill; in the heat of the day, move downhill.

Noise, movement, and your scent are all dead giveaways. With all the modern tech we have, it’s superbly easy to know which way the wind will be blowing in the morning and evening. Admittedly northwest Florida isn’t very hilly, but moving up and down hills depending on the temperatures allows you to approach the animal from an advantageous angle.

4. The best camouflage pattern is called, “Sit down and be quiet!” Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat. Think about that for a second.

I don’t think Fred Bear was anti-camouflage. In fact, I know he wasn’t. This is my favorite commandment, and I think he was basically saying the highest-tech camouflage doesn’t replace discipline. (As a side note, I killed my first deer in blue jeans and a grey jacket.)

5. Take only the gear to the field that allows you to hunt longer, harder, and smarter.

This is a great fieldcraft skill for anyone. The message conveyed then is the same as it is now. Does the gear allow you to succeed in your mission? If not, it’s dead weight.

6. A rainstorm isn’t a reason to quit the hunt. It’s a reason to stay.”

Animals move differently depending on the weather, and that might be the best reason to get a little wet. I admittedly didn’t understand this commandment until recently. To me, we stayed in the woods because all the weekend warriors would leave, meaning fewer people to deal with, and vehicles moving would scare them off the dirt roads and, hopefully, to us.

7. Camouflage your appearance, your sound, and your scent.

I told you Fred Bear wasn’t anti-camouflage. Animals tend to be sensitive to their environments, skittish, and anything out of the ordinary can scare them off. You are out of the ordinary, and so is your movement, noise, and Gain laundry detergent. Be smart, think natural, and be scentless, soundless, and still. Mosquitoes are a test you just gotta pass.

8. Be sure of your shot. Nothing is more expensive than regret.

If you’ve hunted for a bit, you know that the biggest buck you’ve ever seen is going to approach you from the worst angle possible. Eventually, you’ll be forced to try and shoot, or maybe for a more advantageous position.

9. Hunt where the deer actually are, not where you’d imagine them to be

Have you ever found a nice, dry piece of dirt with great angles of fire that seems mosquito free? It’d be great if deer passed through that area. However, if you can’t find any tracks, scat, rubbing, old antlers, or any other sign, then maybe you should keep looking.

10. Next year’s hunt begins the minute this season’s hunt ends.

I certainly didn’t understand this commandment until I became an adult and planned my own hunts. Nowadays, I know that scouting and learning are a continual process. Ensuring your skills with your chosen weapon stay sharp and you have ammo to boot ensures you aren’t scrambling when fall sets in.

The Commandments

Fred Bear’s Commandments remain relevant to this day. Adhering to these commandments will make you a better hunter, and if you’re a new hunter, it’s wise to remember and understand these commandments. It gives you good footing to be successful. If you’ll excuse me, I’m headed to the stand.

Gunday Brunch 85: SHOT Show AAR and the ATF Brace Ban

By

David Reeder

-

January 29, 2023

All three of the boys are back this week discussing the aftermath of SHOT Show and then veering off into the topic that’s on everyone’s minds, the ATF’s ban on pistol braces for guns that definitely aren’t rifles but kinda are.

Don’t Be An Ice Cream Cone

By

The Suited Shootist

-

January 29, 2023

I was fortunate enough to appear on the Primary & Secondary 6th Annual Airing of Grievances, and one of the things I shared was my perception of how out of balance some people can get in regards to their various skills and abilities.

With the proliferation of shot timer aps and various dry practice tools, it’s now easier than ever to improve our technical shooting for relatively nominal investments of time and money.

This is doubly appealing because the related gear gives us immediate feedback and a very clear roadmap to improvement.

The siren’s song of measurable performance standards can unfortunately distract people from the other facets of defense craft that aren’t as quantifiable.

Mark Luell of Growing Up Guns has a great diagram called The Path that highlights the various disciplines that go into being a well rounded practitioner.

Other than Strength & Conditioning, where you’re measuring resting heartrate, squat/deadlift/bench press, BMR, various body measurements, etc., it’s hard to put a number on the performance of the other areas like combatives, medical (aside from the Lone Start Medic par time for tourniquet application), and so on.

The problem as I see it is that someone’s shooting performance is only relevant if a situation degrades into a defensive shooting, at which point virtually everything has gone wrong.

Aside from some rather hand-wavey lip service to “situational awareness”, there doesn’t appear to be nearly the focus on the proactive side of the equation (Left of Bang) vs. the reactive (after the beep, as it were).

PHLster recently aired a great interview between Jon Hauptman and Craig Douglas on this subject of what happens “Before the Beep” that I encourage everyone to go watch.

Now don’t misunderstand me. At no point am I saying that technical skill doesn’t matter. The more skill you have, the less net effect degradation will have when you’re performing under duress (another concept highlighted by John Hearne in his “Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why” lecture.

My point is simply that it’s easier to work on technical shooting, and the mechanisms to do so are readily available.

I just caution people to not let their skills get so out of balance that the only arena in which they’re truly competent is a gunfight, otherwise they may miss all the opportunities up to that point to avoid one all together.

If you’ve ever used the wagon-wheel style competency chart, the ideal goal is for all the relevant skills to form as close to a circle as possible. Having a nice tight circle with one big spike that looks like an ice cream cone should highlight what areas may warrant more focus than trying to get splits down from .20 to .17 (as an arbitrary example)

DISCLAIMER: This is all predicated on the assumption that the topic of discussion is self defense and personal protection. Obviously the priorities will differ for those in an armed profession, avid competitive shooters, etc.

Mike-102: an AK-AR-HK Hybrid?

By

David Reeder

-

January 28, 2023

One of the more interesting rifle-related things unveiled at SHOT Show 2023 was also one of the most interesting Foxtrot Mike products available yet: an AK AR hybrid called the Mike-102. The Foxtrot Mike Mike-102 is a hybrid AR 15 and AK 47 rifle with some HK influences forged in. That may or may not appeal to some folks, but you can bet it will to many others.

Why? Because we can. ‘Merica.

…

Foxtrot Mike Products: the Mike-102

…

AK AR HK Hybrid?

…

The FM Mike-102 is an AR15 platform chambered in .223 Wylde that feeds from AK magazines. It utilizes the Foxtrot Mike compact DI system, features a folding stock, and sports an HK-style forward charging handle.

This is an intriguing combination that provides AR handling, the use of rock-and-lock AK mags, and the option of using the “HK slap” to drop the bolt.

Maybe we’re shallow, but we like that.

Here are some other FM Mike-102 things to know:

• Production testing was at least partially conducted during KalashBash and Red Oktober.

• It’s a bufferless system (i.e., no buffer nor no buffer tube).

• Some have a non-reciprocating side charging handle; others have the “slap mod”.

• The “slap mod variant” echoes HK charging handles.

• You can lock the bolt to the rear.

• It takes AK102 compatible magazines in 5.56×45

• Will be available in sizes ranging from a 9-inch pistol all the way up to a 16-inch rifle.

• A 13.9 pin and weld model will be inbound soon.

• So will a 7.62x39mm version.

FM Mike-102 Diagram — Via Atlantic Firearms

Foxtrot Mike describes the Mike-102 as a “…modern AK-Hybrid, designed for the modern shooter to use a wide variety of AK 5.56/223 magazines and offer the familiar Rock N Lock magwell. The 102 is lightweight, accurate, and modular, much like an AR-15, but with the added benefit of using most AK magazines. It uses a simple direct impingement operating system that is simple and reliable.”

Learn more about Foxtrot Mike’s AK AR Hybrid.

Read this article in its entirety at Rainier Arms.

SAR K12 Sport 9mm

By

V. Caldwell

-

January 28, 2023

An old joke is that the hundred dollar bill and I have a lot in common. We aren’t what we used to be. It is quite true. A thousand dollar target gun was once a superb handgun capable to the finest accuracy available. Today we have some of the finest handguns in the world that will outshoot anything available in the past. They are also proportionately quite pricey. A handgun priced below one thousand dollars that performs like much more expensive race guns is the SAR K12 Sport. This pistol will get you into the shooting sports and serve will until you have outpaced its ability and need something superior. That may be a long time.

This isn’t a concealed carry pistol by any stretch but a purpose designed target pistol. It would be a fine home defense and small game pistol based on its handling reliability and accuracy. If you are not a competitor just the same you will enjoy firing this handgun. The SAR K12 Sport features modest recoil even with the hottest loads. The SAR K12 sport is based on the CZ 75 pistol. SAR has manufactured standard CZ 75 clones in the past and it wasn’t a stretch to manufacture a target grade CZ type pistol. The CZ design has been re-designed and modified into compact handguns as well as long slide pistols and the type has proven versatile with the many versions successful in a given role.

Sarsilmaz of Turkey (SAR’s full name) is a respected maker of service grade weapons. They have well over on hundred years experience. The K12 Sport in SAR’s own words is their Crown Jewel. This is a bold statement and one that fits the pistol. This is a full size CZ 75 styled pistol. The pistol features a locked breech short recoil system. The K12 locks the barrel into the slide on the barrel hood and unlocks with angled camming surfaces. The majority of the pistol is stainless steel. The safety and slide lock as well as the sights are nicely blue finished. The handles are aluminum stocks. They offer and excellent balance of adhesion and abrasion. Both the front strap and the rear strap are nicely checkered. This pistol sets solid in the hand and doesn’t squirm at all- with the strongest 9mm loads. The pistol is modified from the original double action first shot format to a single action only trigger. The ambidextrous safety operates in a manner different from the CZ 75. The safety when activated keeps the hammer locked. The slide isn’t locked in place however. The safety may be applied with the hammer down and in this position the slide is locked in place. An advantage of the single action safety is that the pistol may be loaded and unloaded with the safety applied. The pistol is supplied with a two seventeen rond magazines. The rear sight is a sturdy fully adjustable unit. Windage and elevation adjustments were positive and precise. The front sight is a solid post.

In common with the CZ 75 the K12 features a low riding slide. The slide rides inside the frame rather than mounting over the frame in conventional designs. This results in greater contact between the slide and the frame and a lower bore axis. A trade off is that the slide is more difficult to rack due to the design but this isn’t difficult to deal with. The long dust cover helps provide balance in a heavy pistol. The barrel is 4.7 inches long. The slide lock magazine catch and safety are positive in operation. The pistol features a target grade magazine well that makes for excellent speed in reloading. Sliding a tapered magazine into this magazine well quickly doesn’t require much practice. The trigger is clean and crisp breaking at 5.9 pounds at the end of the test period. The trigger requires acclimation. I recommend considerable dry fire before you attempt the best results the same as with any target grade handgun.

The handle is comfortable for average size hands despite its size. The pistol is heavy at 44 ounces. Recoil is inconsequential. Muzzle flip is subdued. After firing the pistol for several hundred rounds over the past few months there have been no failures to feed chamber fire or eject. Like most quality handguns the K12 prefers one load to the other in terms of absolute accuracy but no loads were not accurate some were simply stand outs. The Remington 115 grain jacketed load is among the cleanest burning and accurate ‘generic’ loads. I have fired the Remington/K12 combination extensively with good results. When clocking loads and firing for accuracy I determined most loads generated 40 to 50 fps more velocity over the typical 4 inch barrel service pistol. As for absolute accuracy I have fired the pistol from the MTM Caseguard K Zone shooting rest with good results. I have averaged five shot groups of an average 2.25 inches with a variety of loads. The smallest five shot group has been 1.85 inch while the largest has been around 3.0 inch, certainly my fault. The pistol is accurate enough for most chores.

SAR K12 Sport 9mm specifications

Overall Length: 8.5 inch
Barrel Length: 4.7 inch
Action: Single Action
Caliber: 9mm
Capacity: 17
Weight: 44 ounces

Thanks to SARUSA for photo support.

There are many SAR variants each offering good performance.

Ruger 10/22 Bolt Upgrade from Faxon Firearms

By

David Reeder

-

January 27, 2023

There are many parts that make up a 10/22 rifle, and each one of them plays an important role. However, the most critical component of the Ruger is the bolt.

The trigger may be what initiates every shot, but it’s the bolt that’s responsible for the shot-to-shot operation.

A high-quality bolt affects more than just reliability. The bolt face, its consistency, and how the firing pin strikes the bullet significantly contribute to the rifle’s accuracy.

Faxon Stainless Steel Bolt Assembly for 10/22

Whether you’re building up a new gun or keeping an old favorite running, the Faxon 10/22 Bolt Assembly is the best choice.

Compatible with the OEM receiver, trigger group, charging handle, and bolt stop pin, the Faxon 10/22 bolt is fully assembled and ready to drop into your Ruger 10/22.

Specs

Material: 17-4 PH Stainless steel, H900
Hardness: HRC 40 – 47
Round Firing Pin
Sharp Extractor

Why Upgrade a 10/22 Bolt?

Upgrading the bolt improves reliability and accuracy on any 10/22 rifle.

A high-quality bolt such as the one from Faxon Firearms is properly radiused and polished to enhance the reliability of the cyclic action.

Additionally, the Faxon 10/22 bolt has the proper head spacing in order to improve the reliability of the bullets feeding from the magazine into the chamber.

Lastly, proper firing pin protrusion ensures optimal striking of the rimfire case.

For these reasons, upgrading your 10/22 bolt does have its advantages.

All these small gains add up to overall reliability, consistent performance, and improved accuracy.

Does The Ruger 10/22 Have a Bolt Hold Open?

Out of the box in the stock configuration, the Ruger 10/22 does not have a last-round bolt hold open feature.

To add the bolt hold open feature, you need a third-party upgrade such as the CST Auto Bolt Stop.

What is a 10/22 Bolt Buffer?

A bolt buffer replaces/upgrades the bolt stop pin in your 10/22 receiver. The OEM bolt stop pin is made from steel, whereas the bolt buffer is made from a polymer material.

Over time the steel bolt stop pin can cause micro-cracks in the receiver due to repeated impacts of the bolt during shooting. The bolt buffer mitigates that and several other issues by being manufactured out of a polymer material.

There are three main benefits of replacing the bolt stop pin with a bolt buffer.

It reduces the sound when the bolt slams rearward during the cycling action during shooting. This is also a benefit when shooting suppressed as it greatly reduces the noise signature even more.
The 10/22 blowback action is less shaky because of the dampening of the recoil and bolt cycling vibrations.
It can prevent cracks in the 10/22 receiver resulting from prolonged usage, high round count shooting, or the added stress of high-velocity ammo.

The Ruger 10/22 bolt by Faxon includes a bolt buffer to replace the OEM bolt stop pin. If you’re interested in learning more, check out more on the Ruger 10/22 Bolt here.