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Breaking the Ice – More Thoughts on Garand Thumb’s Frozen Rifles

By
Keith Finch
-

The GunTube video still breaking FanBoi hearts and minds has certainly generated buzz.

But the information illustrated is actually important.

Why?

Water incidents happen in the cold. You trip and fall in a creek or river, you break through the ice walking around (or even across) a lake. These things do occur in the cold, and being that it was 20 degrees this morning walking outside, I figured I would extrapolate a little from the video.

Especially the latter test, where the rifles were thoroughly soaked, most of the guns ‘failed’ the test. They were rendered inoperable as their actions or fire control was frozen beyond working. Except the AK’s, the true AK’s that is, the Galil’s controls froze up too.

Comparing the light and heavy water intrusion tests, several things come to the forefront. Lets address them.

The AK’s “won”

The AK’s performed well for two observable reasons, both having to do with the safety selector design.

1.) The selector keeps the water intrusion into the action, which is already generously spacious, down to a point others (like the M1A) did not. The trigger mechanism did not freeze up and the springs provided enough force to get passed what icing occured.

2.) The selector has the best leverage to push past interference from ice, and the generous space inside with the lever’s design allows it to overcome buildup that will stop less spacious designs. The AK’s safety system is big. The lever is a huge piece of stamped steel you can get much greater force upon and the internal U-block that stops the fire control’s motion spans the whole receiver body. It is big, you can leverage it, and it doesn’t have any crucial points where ice build up can easily stop it.

What happened with my favorite, the SCAR?

The interesting part for the SCAR is in the first test. Where the action was running sluggishly due to the light freezing around it. The design keeps the working parts very well sealed, however ice can freeze around the closed system and that ice needed to be worked out. For the rifle to resume working. Of all the systems tested, this one would appear to be the one most easily returned to action by working the action back to smooth motion, the reciprocating charging handle shows its utility here.

On the total failure when the rifle was totally soaked, I suspect the detent safety and significant icing on the operating rails stopped it.

Detent safeties are very susceptible to moisture intrusion, and as ice freezes it expands. That expansion can lock mechanisms and the more tightly toleranced the mechanism the lower the amount of water necessary to fuse it.

Which brings me to…

The AR’s ignoble performance…

The AR’s were on the struggle bus for this test, even the light icing test had them choking up more than their counterparts.

Why?

The AR has the most small spaces of the designs on the table. The actions themselves were perfectly well sealed against the water, but that didn’t kill the guns. Small receiver pockets that could more thoroughly fill with ice. Bolt catches that froze and locked actions open. Receiver extensions where the buffers could get frozen. Safety selectors full of small crevices that can fill with water that lock as it expands to ice. Even the dust cover being unable to open because they were frozen over without enough clearance.

One of the AR’s strengths is its easy tight tolerancing. That becomes a weakness here as it takes less uninterrupted ice formation to freeze out the AR.

The Caveat

Why doesn’t this invalidate your rifle choice, even if your rifle failed?

The largest artificiality of the whole test is the assumption that you are not doing anything to mitigate the unexpected bath your gun just took. You are assumed to not be shaking the rifle off, working the safety, or working the action to keep them from freezing.

Just like if you were to take a sudden and very cold plunge, you absolutely should take mitigating steps to take care of yourself if you get wet in the cold and if your primary defensive tool gets wet in the cold. This can include periodically working the action to clear the forming ice/slush, working the safety, and dry firing/function checking the weapon. Does this take the gun ‘out of action’? Yes, but that is unavoidable. The gun frozen is even more out of action than it is unloaded but functional.

The Point

The point is you must, yes even with AKs because we know those can be stopped too, take remedial actions if your rifle takes a dive. That is your ultimate takeaway. Work the action, work the safety, make certain the moving parts stay moving.

Thoughts on the Rittenhouse Trial

By
DRGO
-
(from chicagotribune.com)

[Ed: Now some time has elapsed since the Rittenhouse verdict, there are useful lessons to be learned. This was originally published by SCOPE-NY November 29.]

The left is very critical of gun ownership, but they don’t seem to know even the simplest, most basic things about guns.  Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial filled the news the past few days, but there are some things that haven’t generally been discussed, possibly because the leftist media doesn’t know – or even suspect – and more likely wants to ignore them.

Rittenhouse’s main sin in the eyes of the left – now that he has been acquitted – was that he carried an AR15, the infamous “Assault Weapon”.  A question for all you gun owners: if you were unarmed, would you attack someone holding an AR 15?  Of course not!  You could get killed!  No one in the media has brought up that Rittenhouse’s attackers must have had a death wish.  (Actually, one of the persons killed had just been discharged from a hospital after a suicide attempt.)

But wait, one of those killed did hit Rittenhouse with a skateboard.  How smart is it to bring a skateboard to a gun fight?

The third guy shot, Gaige Grosskreutz, was armed with a handgun.  Another question: would you go up against an AR15 while you were only armed with a handgun?  I’ll bet “Lefty” Grosskreutz has some newfound insight into that question.

One guy jumped over Rittenhouse while trying to kick him.  Kyle took a shot at the jumper while stretched out over him, and missed.  Had he not missed, that wound would have been interesting.

Unarmed, would you bravely take on someone holding and AR15 to save others?  Perhaps.  But that rationale “doesn’t hold much water” in this case.  How much protection did the crowd need from someone running away from them?  If the crowd was really worried about their own safety, they could have just stopped chasing the guy armed with an AR15.

The media accuses Rittenhouse of being a vigilante.  Do vigilantes run away from the people they want to kill?

Then there is the prosecuting D.A. who pointed the AR15 at the jury with his finger on the trigger.  Picture yourself sitting in the jury box when he pointed the gun at you:  what would you have done?  What would you have had to say to the D.A.?  Obviously, he was a graduate of the Alec Baldwin school of gun safety.

The media questions why Rittenhouse had to travel 19 miles to get from his house to Kenosha but doesn’t ask why Grosskreutz traveled 42 miles to get to Kenosha.

When all else fails, the Left charges racism and that Kyle is a white supremacist.  You might reasonably respond, “But Rittenhouse and the three people he shot were all white”?  Not to be outflanked, the Left says it is the judicial system that is racist.  (Democrat Representative Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist claimed, with no evidence, that the judge, jury and defendant were all white supremacists.)

But Bush and that same Left ignores the virtually simultaneous trial of Andrew Coffey IV, a black man who was acquitted of murder and attempted murder by reason of self-defense.  Coffey shot at sheriffs during a drug raid on Coffey’s house during which Coffey’s girlfriend was killed.  (The raid was based on “drug complaints and sales” and police found crack cocaine and marijuana, so there is no issue of a mistaken raid.)  Coffey is a four (4) time convicted felon and it was illegal for him to possess the .45 caliber handgun he used.  He was convicted on the charge of a felon possessing a firearm.  (Wow, that was a tough decision!)

A black, convicted felon, claims self-defense for using an illegal firearm to shoot at a sheriff’s deputy, who was serving a legal warrant, and the “racist” judicial system finds him innocent.  Cori Bush and the media find nothing worth commenting on there.  But according to Bush and the media, a white shooting three other whites is racism and white supremacy.

Rittenhouse’s verdict says that we have the right to protect ourselves from mob violence.  Coffey’s verdict says that we have the right to protect ourselves from government violence.

How did the media describe the three people shot by Rittenhouse?

Anthony Huber was “a happy and laid-back guy…a really sweet person…always had a smile on his face.”  The leftist media usually omitted any reference to his also having convictions for strangulation and suffocation and false imprisonment in a domestic abuse case.

Gaige Grosskreutz was variously described as a part of a social justice group, a volunteer medic at Black Lives Matter protests and a senior at Northland College.  Not mentioned is that he has a record of criminal arrests going back to 2010, a juvenile record that is sealed and other charges currently pending. There was never a mention of Grosskreutz carrying a concealed firearm without a valid concealed carry permit, to which he testified had expired.

At the time of the incident, Joseph Rosenbaum was pending charges in Wisconsin for domestic abuse and jumping bail. He was convicted in Arizona in 2002 for child molestation charges, for which he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.  Mercifully, the media couldn’t find anything nice to say about him but, in many cases, they couldn’t find anything bad worth telling the public about, either.

None of them were accused by the media (and Joe Biden) of being racists and white supremacists even though there was as much evidence proving they were racists and white supremacists as there was proving Kyle Rittenhouse was a racist and white supremacist.

.

.

–Tom Reynolds is the president of SCOPE-NY. 

All DRGO articles by Tom

The Frozen Chosen – Rifles on Ice

By
Keith Finch
-

Happy New Year!

Mike broke the internet with this one.

Does your favorite rifle work frozen? (Spoiler alert; probably not, but you should see anyway)

But it does depend upon the type of frozen. Watch the full test, having water intrusion into the rifle and the rifle freeze up is a problem. A big problem, one that given a frosty environment you might need to fix before a rifle can be relied upon. Having the rifle get extremely cold and normal operating lubricants start to gel can be problem too, but nothing will kill a gun like all the operating groups being totally iced.

There is also a notable difference from the gun being cold, and the gun being frozen (ice in operating groups because of water intrusion) and the locations of various failure points vary from gun to gun based on where each gun is open or sealed.

It is simple physics folks. Steel, aluminum, and polymer all react to extreme cold to differing degrees. Metals will contract, if there is moisture it will expand into those gaps, polymers will be most neutral to temperature overall but they don’t generally control the operating bits.

Have a look. Also, if you aren’t subscribed to Mike’s channel by now… why?

Gunday Brunch 33: New Year’s Special

By
David R
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Happy 2022, gang! The boys are sharing their shooting related resolutions with you, along with a reminder for everyone to be cool. 2022 is not your year, so just be cool

9-Hole Presents – Trial & Error in Development

By
Keith Finch
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The firearm in question is the FG42, a reproduction FG42, actually a reproduction prototype FG42.. made without blueprints.

Neat.

Josh and Henry haven’t published this video to bash these FG42 reproductions as bad, they are in many ways doing what Brandon is with his AK-50. Showing that Weapons development, even in the age of 3D printing for prototyping, still involves a lot of trial and error and fixing it until it works well enough. Sometimes that well enough wasn’t all that good by today’s standards, just better than anything else available.

In an era where the bolt action was the retiring champion standard, any auto-loader that could fairly accurately out ROF (rate of fire) the comparable bolt guns was an asset. Deployed in sufficient numbers into the order of battle, the M1 gave troops an edge when other force multipliers were close. Things like indirect fire support and air cover being those force multipliers. Things like squad makeup, training, and general loadout can change the dynamic significantly if one factor, like the service rifle or premier support weapon, is vastly superior to the competing enemy item.

But judging older weapons by modern machining quality standards just because they were the best of their eras? Not always an accurate portrayal. Watch the video.

Review: Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 .45 ACP

By
V. Caldwell
-

Smith & Wesson’s polymer frame Military and Police pistol has become a top choice among many shooters. It is difficult to mention polymer without a few words on the Glock. The Glock is a baseline for service use. It is reliable – it always works, in as much as anything always works. If you pay less then quite probably corners have been cut. If you pay more than the Glock costs then be certain you are getting something extra.

The Military & Police handfit, feel, and balance appeal to me. I prefer the trigger action. While I own two Military & Police 9mm pistols, I am a fan of the .45 ACP. I have a ton of brass and bullets – more or less- and enjoy firing the big cartridge. I have a great deal of faith in the .45, at least as much as any reliable handgun caliber. The Glock 21 and high capacity 1911 handguns are too large for my hand. The S&W M&P 2.0 .45 is ideal. This M&P .45 holds ten rounds in the magazine and an extended magazine holds fourteen. I don’t mind giving up a few cartridges for greatly increased handfit and firing comfort. 

The M&P .45 is a polymer frame striker fired double action only pistol. The striker is prepped but not the completely cocked when the slide is racked. Trigger action pulls the striker back the rest of the way and fires the pistol. Just like that ‘other’ pistol. The trigger has a clean break at 6.0 pounds according to the RCBS registering trigger pull gauge. The pistol features a steel chassis imbedded in the polymer frame. The slide is stainless steel coated in Melonite. This adds up to great corrosion resistance and low wear. The cocking serrations are well designed, offering plenty of leverage. The sights are top notch combat style sights. The complete package is attractive. The pistol has the usual frame inserts to adjust hand fit. The pistol is supplied with two ten round  magazines. In common with most polymer frame handguns the M&P .45 features a rail for mounting combat light. 

The question is; how well does the pistol handle and perform?

This question has several layers. I have carried the 1911 for many years, so am I giving anything up?

Not much at all – and gaining some important attributes. If you compare the 9mm S&W to the Glock 9mm, there is plenty of room for choice in either direction. But with handfit considered, the S&W .45 wins hands down in my opinion.

Just an option and I am glad we have many to choose from. I have fired the pistol extensively and consider it one of my most important personal defense firearms. At night I snap the Inforce combat light in place and the S&W M&P 2.0 .45 becomes my home defense firearm. Sure I have a long gun handy but nothing is quite as fast into action as a handgun at home ready just beside the mattress.  

Firing the Smith & Wesson Military & Police .45 is a revelation. It handles quickly and the grip design helps get on target fast with a good natural point. The term natural point and polymer frame are seldom found in the same report. This handgun is an exception. Get on target, press the trigger, and you have a hit. Recoil is subjective. The pistol kicks less than a 1911 in the M&P’s weight class. It isn’t quite as docile as a Government Model with a 40 ounce frame. It is comfortable to fire and shot to shot recovery is good. I don’t stress any of my .45s with +P loads, there is no point. The Hornady 200 grain XTP is the preferred carry load. This is an accurate loading with an excellent balance of expansion and penetration. The pistol is easily as accurate as any polymer frame striker fired pistol and more so than most. It is also more accurate than the run of the mill 1911. This means it will be more accurate than my Kimber Pro Carry but not as accurate the Wilson Combat CQB. That is good territory to occupy. 

I usually carry the big Smith in a DeSantis Speed Scabbard. This holster features a thumbreak. After years of institutional service I am familiar with fast operation of the thumbreak. It may slow me down a tenth of a second. But then the Speed Scabbard has enough retention to simply leave the snap un done during mundane travel.

I obtained this holster when doing a project on higher retention versus open top holsters and tested quite a few. The DeSantis is among the few thumb break holsters I kept! Since I carry this pistol when hiking and just spelunking this is a good option in the likely event I trip or encounter heavy brush. The .45 ACP is fine for feral dogs, the big cats and the bears in my humble neck of the woods. Bears are unlikely, so are the others, and the statistics favor a quiet walk while the possibilities are endless. The Smith & Wesson Military & Police .45 has taken the place of two lightweight 1911 pistols, a Government Model 1911, and some revolvers. That is quite an accomplishment in the safe of someone many would consider old school. But old school works. This big Smith is reliable, accurate, and hits hard. It may be carried daily without dragging the hip down. 

This pistol should be on the short list of anyone wishing to own a .45 caliber handgun. 

Smith & Wesson’s New ‘Leaked’ SAO – CSX

By
Keith Finch
-

This little guy started making its way through feeds last night.

It’s a Smith & Wesson.

It has M&P Stylings.

It’s got the 1911 control scheme.

And it’s reportedly a 12+1 9mm.

I suspect it will have a provision for mounting a micro dot too, like the 507k, RMSc, or RMRcc.

In short, it’s the M&P Shield Plus, G43X/G48, and Sig P365XL/P365X in a single action. It’s like a Sig P938 Plus, or something along those lines. To be honest, with the popularity of the P938 I am surprised Sig didn’t do that. They may still, and it will likely sell too as single action alloy frame guns tend to be popular shooters.

Did anyone ask for this?

No.

But when has that ever stopped something kinda neat from selling. This falls into that kinda neat category and I may end up tossing some money at it.

As for it being ‘leaked’, leaks tend to be one of two things. Someone misfired on a pubdate, or a deliberate hype attempt. I tend to think this is probably the former more than the latter, because this would be something fun to discuss at SHOT or around the SHOT timeframe as a comfortable SAO carry option.

The T-Series L2C – An Active Holster for an Active Lifestyle

By
Travis Pike
-

Blackhawk gets a lot of deserved crap from their line of SERPA holsters. So much crap that a lot of people simply don’t consider Blackhawk when shopping for a new rig, and that can be understandable. However, that may cause you to overlook some rock-solid holster options, namely the T-Series. I’ve got the T-Series L2C for my P365 and have been putting it through its paces.

I first noticed the L2C when I was working with a plainclothes Sheriff’s Deputy on a local project involving disaster relief. We got to talking, and he mentioned how investigators now carried SIG P365XL handguns with Blackhawk L2C holster, which replaced their Glock 23s. Color me intrigued, a small, active retention holster that was duty ready and well suited for concealed carry. I knew I had to take a peak.

The T-Series L2C

The T-Series L2C represents a slim and minimalist option from most of the T-Series. It’s rugged, reliable, and relatively small, and concealable. Predictably it’s all polymer with a variety of options to attach it via a belt. This includes a Tek-Lok style attachment and a more traditional belt loop.

Defeating the active retention device doesn’t require your trigger finger but your thumb. It’s easy to deactivate the retention on a natural firing grip and doesn’t present the same issues the SERPA had. The bottom of the holster is opened, so my little compensator fits, and the top of the holster is cut decently low, so optics are also accommodated. The T-Series L2C fits both the P365XL and the standard P365.

Why Active Retention?

For a police officer, active retention makes sense, but does it for concealed carry? Well, most of the time, no, it doesn’t. It’s unlikely you’ll find yourself in a situation where your day-to-day rig won’t retain your firearm. That’s assuming you use a good holster, obviously.

Most of the time, it isn’t all of the time. With that said, I like to live a quasi adventurous life. I like to hike, hunt, fish, kayak, and even bike off-road every now and then. In those activities, my standard appendix rig just isn’t super comfy, and it might not retain the firearm in a tumble or fall. Lord forbid my firearm falls into the lake while fishing.

I’ve wanted a low-profile holster with an active retention device for these adventures. Let’s call it adventurous concealed carry. Currently, I typically pack a passive holster with the passive retention maxed out and tightened down. The T-Series L2C promises a comfy concealed option that will ensure my firearm stays put.

How It Performs

First off, the L2C holster fits the weapon well. It clicks into place, and the active retention takes over. From a safety perspective, the holster fully encases the trigger and prevents anything from interacting with it. That’s a must-have and a prime priority. The rear belt loops and attachments allow you to adjust for cant, and I gave it that slight forward ‘FBI’ cant.

The retention device sits safely behind a pair of wings that protect it from your body when worn tight to the body. It’s a smart design that ensures the retention isn’t accidentally tripped when worn. The placement of the thumb-activated retention device is smart. When you establish a firing grip on your gun, your thumb naturally falls onto the device.

When you grip the gun, the device releases the firearm and allows you to draw with ease. Even if you begin to pull before you draw, the gun will still safely release, and you can draw easily enough. The T-Series L2C allows you to quickly and safely draw the firearm.

With a little practice, I could draw without impediment. It might be a little slower than my appendix rig, but not enough to cause concern. It’s just as fast as any holster that features passive retention and is worn strongside IWB.

The same goes for reholstering. Your gun slides into place and locks via a trigger-mounted lock. The holster gives you enough berth to easily holster the weapon in a safe way.

Concealment

Admittedly as an OWB holster, it’s not the best concealing weapon. There will always be issues with concealing an OWB rig. This particular rig doesn’t cling super tight to the body. It couldn’t, especially if you want to defeat the retention device. Concealing the T-Series L2C won’t happen with a form-fitting shirt.

Tossing on a jacket, hoody, or slightly loose-fitting garment should take care of that problem. While it can be a little tough to conceal, the holster is super comfy. It doesn’t poke or prod when you carry the weapon, and you can hike, bike, sit in a boat, or do whatever in complete comfort.

For me, the T-Series L2C is a niche use holster, but in that niche, it dominates. The L2C certainly works for police officers and law enforcement, but for adventurous concealed carry, the T-Series L2C most certainly fits the bill.

Illinois looking to fix FOID in 2022

By
Keith Finch
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Retro Style Photo Of A Police Riot Barrier In Chicago, Illinois

Illinois knows they done goofed. Even with a fairly hostile view on the 2A pervading in Chicagostan, because of course it’s the pro-2A crowd and their responsible gun ownership causing the issues, the fact that a government mandated process has fallen so far behind is a problem.

It is a losing lawsuits and losing a bunch of money type of problem. It is a ‘get the FOID card declared unconstitutional’ type of problem. Of course the FOID is a violation, but the courts are much more likely to agree with that statement if the FOID cannot be acquired in a reasonable timeframe.

Illinois would have a very strong basis for the FOID being very minimally impactful on firearm ownership if most of the FOID processes were same day or at the most a week, maybe two. But a backlog of months, no structure to handle renewals when low contact procedures are in place, making people wait… and wait… and wait. Now the FOID, following the law and being ‘good’ gun owners, is an enormous burden (which is the point) and the state isn’t holding up their end.

So, Illinois is doing the following to get back further from the edge of getting the FOID smashed in court.

As Firearm Owners Identification cards are replaced in 2022, new cards will be printed without expiration dates. When a new FOID card is issued, if the cardholder has a concealed carry license, they will be issued a combined FOID card and CCL.

In addition, when FOID cards are suspended, if the cardholder has a concealed carry license, the CCL will be suspended until the FOID card is reinstated. When the FOID card is reinstated, the CCL also will be reinstated.

When a CCL is suspended or revoked, but a person is still eligible to keep their FOID card, they will be able to retain their combined FOID/CCL, but the state’s Law Enforcement Automated Data System will show the CCL has been suspended or revoked.

When a FOID card expires while a CCL is still valid, the FOID card will be automatically renewed without having to pay a renewal fee, and the license holder will be sent a new combined FOID card and CCL without an expiration date printed on the card. –CBS2

Note that FOID’s still expire, they just won’t have an expiration date. Keeping your CCL current auto renewing the FOID seems like a prudent step, as the CCL has a higher set of requirements.

All in all, this feels like a, ‘sorry, we got caught not doing our jobs and putting you at risk of criminal prosecution *shrug*’ but there are some positive developments, not the least of which is increased automation for faster processing times.

The Glock 43

By
Keith Finch
-

This isn’t a review, it’s a How it Works from the talented 45Snipers YouTube channel. Creatively rendering the internal workings of firearms in a concise manner with a look at each part in the cycle and the job that part does.

These things are probably my favorite types of educational videos, as they show the whole cycle of operations at a speed you can absorb. Firearms are a series of very simple machines carefully built around each other to work in a specific order. Ramps and springs combined with material to safely handle the various pressures and stresses involved.

In that regard, they are very simple. The complexity is in getting all of those machines to work in the proper time. That’s the magic. Each spring doing the job at the right speed and strength, each lever pushing in the correct sequence, and all of it in such a tiny space when it comes to a handgun.

Straight Talk–Our Second Amendment Rights & Freedoms

By
DRGO
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(from freedomwire.com)

[Ed: Richard Rossi first published this in the SCOPE-NY Update November 16. We’re reposting it because it is such a good list of good news for our rights.]

Some facts that will never see daylight in our National News Media or Social Network sites:

United States Court of Appeals – Fourth Circuit district.
Ruled that 18-to-20-year old’s have the same Second Amendment rights to purchase handguns as older Americans do. Judge Julie Richardson wrote; “when do Constitutional rights vest? Our nation’s most cherished constitutional rights vest no later than 18. And the 2nd Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms is no different”

Federal Court Overturns Draconian Under 21 Handgun Ban – Personal Defense World

Study: High Gun Sales Didn’t Cause Rise in Violence.|
Despite the anti-gun advocates claim that violence will rise with gun sales. The study by the Journal of Injury Epidemiology, could not find a link existed. “Results suggest much of the rise in firearm violence during our study period was attributed to other factors, indicating a need for additional research.”

Anti-Gun Researchers Find Rising Violence NOT Linked to High Gun Sales – Personal Defense World

Record Year for Constitutional Carry.
This year America has added five additional (Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Utah) states to the list of states that have Constitutional Carry laws.  Actual 5 new states in one year is quite a remarkable feat. What caused the number of “permitless” carry states to jump by nearly ‘one-third in a single year? It is and was the Democratic majority in Congress and Joe Biden in the White House pushing their agenda and anti-gun schemes to strip Americans of their Second Amendment Rights.

Constitutional Carry Bills Moving Forward in Numerous States – Personal Defense World

Meteoric Rise of NEW Gun Owners Continues.
Our country has added 8.3 million new gun owners even in this plague ridden 2020. According to the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation), another 3.2 million decided to exercise their 2nd Amendment right for the first time in 2021.  This data was derived from a nationwide survey of firearms retailers conducted by the NSSF.  Responses indicated 33.2% of customers, or 3,247,351, purchased a firearm for the very first time in that six-month period.

Gun Sales Figures Continue to Outpace Pre-Covid Numbers – Personal Defense World

Anti-Gunners Keep Spreading Lies
Even though many studies have proven that “Gun Buybacks” don’t reduce violent crime or suicides, Santa Barbara District Attorney Joyce Dudley recently decided to make up some facts of her own when promoting a local “buyback“.  She stated: “In fact, data suggests that buybacks have led to a drop in firearm suicide rates of almost 80 percent.”   Of course, Dudley’s claim is false.   In a recent National Bureau of Economics study, it concluded, “We find no evidence that Gun Buyback Programs reduce suicides or homicides where a firearm was involved.”  Anti-gunners are willing to make up facts when it could help their cause and no one holds them responsible in our News Media.

Gun Buybacks: Anti-Gun Policy That Continues to Misfire – Personal Defense World

Guns For My Bodyguards, But None For You!
Whose life is worth saving, anyway?  Some politicians just don’t get it, and gun-ban-loving U.S. Representative Cori Bush, D-Missouri, is at the top of the list. Not only is she anti-Second Amendment but she is also for ‘DEFUNDING POLICE”.  However, she has no problem what-so-ever in having an armed detail of bodyguards following her around.  She ranted on CNN “You would rather me die?” when she was called-out for her stance. How ironic that her life is worth more than your or your family members.  The average Law-abiding citizen does not have the luxury of hiring a bodyguard detail to keep them safe. She can’t fathom our need to protect ourselves as provided by our Second Amendment.

The Ugly Truth About Gun Control: Why Your Life Isn’t Worth Saving – Personal Defense World

The Savage Impulse – Straight Pull Awesomeness in 308

By
Travis Pike
-

Bolt action rifles have never held my fancy, and it’s not because I’m the AR or nothing type. I love lever-action rifles, pump-action rifles, falling block rifles, and etc. Bolt actions just never delivered the thrill I was seeking from my rifles. That is until I got my hands on the Savage Impulse. When I first saw the announcement for the Savage Impulse, I knew I had to have one!

Why? Well, it’s a straight-pull bolt action. When I think bolt action, I think of the four-movement style we all know and some of us love. However, that’s a ridiculous assumption since I do love the K-31. My love of the K-31 is why I wanted the Savage Impulse. Like the K-31, the Savage Impulse works off of a straight-pull bolt.

Unlike a traditional bolt action, a straight-pull bolt action only needs to be pulled rearward and then shoved forwards. It’s two motions instead of four. These are somewhat common overseas, with Blaser and Browning ruling the straight pull market. Why would one want a straight pull over a standard bolt action?

Why A Straight Pull?

Speed! Well, kind of. In Europe, semi-autos are tough to get your hands on in most countries. A straight-pull bolt is much faster than a standard bolt action and allows shooters to use traditional spitzer bullets. You might ask, what about lever guns? I asked the same, and then I shot the Savage Impulse. The back and forth action of the bolt is faster than a lever gun, can be done in low shooting positions, and doesn’t disrupt your sight picture nearly as much as a lever gun.

To answer the greater question, as an American in a free state, why would I choose a straight-pull bolt gun over a semi-auto? Well, mostly for sporting purposes. There is inherently more challenge using a straight-pull bolt gun to make fast follow-up shots on herd animals. Hunting hogs offers the chance for multiple shots on multiple animals. Easy with a semi-auto, but the straight pull provides more of a challenge.

Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if some states prohibit semi-auto rifles in the future, especially for game. As such, the straight-pull bolt offers fast follow-up shots in those situations as well.

Into the Savage Impulse

The Savage Impulse brings American shooters a straight-pull bolt gun in various models and calibers. My specific model is the Predator, and it’s in .308 Winchester. Savage also produces the Hog Hunter and the Big Game models. Calibers range from .243 and 22-250 to 300 Win Mag lots of options for lots of different shooters.

Models vary by finish, barrel length, caliber, and included magazine capacity. My Predator variant utilizes a 10 round AICS model, and obviously, you can find several different capacity AICS mags. The Predator comes with a 20-inch barrel that’s threaded and ready for a suppressor.

Across the top of the receiver sits a machined scope rail that’s quite handy. I’ve tossed on my Primary Arms GLx 2.5-10X scope. The gun utilizes Savage’s Accu-trigger, which brings a light and accuracy-friendly trigger. We also get a sling-ready design, which I greatly appreciate.

Besides those basic features, I also want to mention the stock. It uses the Accu-bedding, and it is composite with a Mossy Oak camo finish. The stock also comes with a series of spacers to allow the shooter to adjust the length of pull and to adjust the comb height. Bravo Savage, that’s two fantastic features we need to see on more rifles.

Impulse Ergonomics

The Savage Impulse is not a lightweight rifle. My 308 variant weighs over 8.5 pounds unloaded and without an optic. Once loaded with my choice of optic installed, the rifle weighs over 11 pounds. Keep that in mind if you are a stalker or hunting in mountain country.

The Savage Impulse comes with an ambidextrous magazine release positioned right in front of the trigger guard. It’s easy to engage with and remove. While speed reloads aren’t near as necessary for hunting, being able to remove the magazine to fix a malfunction should be quick and easy. The safety and bolt release are also both ambidextrous and placed behind the bolt.

The safety is a tang style that would make Mossberg proud. Past that, the bolt release allows you to run the bolt without decoking the gun. After you fire the weapon, the bolt automatically unlocks for quick and easy cycling.

At the Range

Oh, boy, was this thing fun to shoot. I love running that bolt rearward and reloading the gun. It’s so much fun and delivers a different degree of tactile fun. I love running it back and forth and running quasi tactical speed drills. Ever run a modified El Pres with a bolt gun? I did, and I eliminated the reload from the drill.

Even with a bolt gun, I landed six shots on three targets in under ten seconds. The targets were 33% IPSC targets, and the shots were all dead center. While the gun is heavy, it’s stable and very easy to control between shots. The recoil isn’t even stiff, and it’s surprisingly soft and quaint, if you will.

The bolt throw is short enough that it won’t slam into your face regardless of how fast and hard you pull it rearward. You can manipulate the bolt while maintaining a perfect sight picture and transitioning from target to target.

Practical Accuracy

Accuracy is absolutely outstanding. I can easily drop round after round into a small bull’s eye. In fact, the reason I ran the El Pres was that I got bored of constantly hitting a bull’s eye at 100 yards. One hundred yards is nothing, so I went to a friend with more land, and we spent an afternoon after work at 300 yards.

We dinged a ten-inch gong over and over and over with boring regularity. We began running the bolt as fast as possible and took quick follow-up shots. I’m proud to say I stopped the gong the mid-swing a time or two with a fast follow-up shot.

The gun’s perfectly accurate, and I can’t outshoot it, that’s for damn sure. The trigger is very smooth with a light pull and short travel. It’s a sweet shooter that’s primed for fast follow-up shots and smooth operation.

Getting Savage and Impulsive

The Savage Impulse delivers an awesome experience. It defies the normal bolt gun experience and delivers you a very capable and accurate rifle. Price-wise it’s up there compared to other bolt guns but cheaper than what our European brethren are stuck with. MSRP for my model is $1,379.00. It’s a ton of fun to shoot and doesn’t require me to source 7.5x55mm Swiss ammo either.

Is ‘Free’ Permitting the Future of CCW?

By
Keith Finch
-

Tim Anderson of the Virginia General Assembly believes so.

From WVTF.org,

Getting a concealed carry permit should be free, and lawmakers should take action to eliminate the current fee, according to Delegate-elect Tim Anderson of Virginia Beach. Also, people who are caught carrying a gun without a concealed carry permit should be guilty of a civil penalty rather than a misdemeanor.

“The idea is to make it easier for people to get a concealed handgun permit,” Anderson says. “Once you have it, you can have the gun anywhere you want. You can have it in your pants. You can have it in your car. But make it easier on people.”

I support these aims and goals wholeheartedly. I believe that better concealed carry education can be offered without state mandate and that a motivated citizenry will still seek it out. We’ve seen this in states that have removed their permitting requirements while maintaining the ability to get a permit for reciprocity. Training and safety are desirable commodities without a state mandate.

Will everyone avail themselves of those opportunities? No, not in a vacuum. The culture around ownership continuing to grow was one of education will certainly contribute positively however, much more than education mandates.

Of course, that isn’t the only perspective and the ‘Wild West’ and ‘Streets will run with blood’ types chimed in too.

“I don’t want my taxpayer dollars paying for his permit,” says Lori Haas at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

Haas also says more training should be required. “Think about what we require of a law-enforcement officer to carry a firearm in public. It’s hundreds of hours of training. But we’re saying that you are I can take a 45 minute in-person class where the guy looks at you and says, ‘This is the gun, this is the trigger, this is the holster. Now you’re equipped to go out and carry in public.’ I think it makes zero sense.”

Using Law Enforcement’s ‘rigorous’ standards is a false bar to begin with, we require them to take hundreds of hours of training to become a Police Officer, not to carry a gun in public. There are 1,001 other duties to being a police officer than safely strapping a gun to your hip, and plenty of cops fail to take that as seriously as they should too without being removed from the job because those other duties outweigh.

Also, the standard in VA is 3 hours, not 45 minutes. Do I agree that is too little for comprehensive knowledge? Sure. Do I agree it is too little for rudimentary competence on one platform? Absolutely. Do I believe it is the state’s job to mandate education with no publicly funded constant access to that education? Nope. I am a firm believer in that the state can mandate only what it can reasonably provide.

So, Lori Haas, what does make sense? Especially under the auspices of the limited authority of the state?

Considering the citizenry has the right to be armed in their own defense, what should be the standard to protect that right?

Fee structured permitting has always been a tax. It has always been most useful for one thing above all, keeping those with less money away from something. It is most egregious in this regard for carry permits because, unlike a vehicle tax that can be directly attributable to road maintenance, there is no extra benefit provided from the CCW permitting tax. Policing and keeping good order is already a duty of the state, and paid for by state general funds. So the CCW permit tax is a rights tax/sin tax that simply penalizes those who want to protect themselves legally, while also preventing the most impoverished and vulnerable from doing so. Paying for the permit and taking the time to do so is a much greater investment of their total resource than somebody with a higher base income, $100.00 means different things to different people and it shouldn’t mean the difference between protecting yourself legally or not.

You can parrot the line that permitting fees go into ‘preventing gun violence’ all you want, all that means is police funding. That is it. Police funding and perhaps a social program here or there (with dubious results) that, again, is already a duty of the state to be paid for by the state out of general funds.

In Michigan, I have one of the highest CCW permit fees around the nation. That absolutely excludes people from exercising their right. It also does nearly nothing to fund, or even oversee, the education requirement for permitting. Anyone teaching a course that is associated with a national or state level organization (NRA, MCOLES, USCCA, MCRGO) can just make an 8 hour course that meets the bare minimum standards and it is now a ‘State’ CCW course.

The state does not use its funding to help further education beyond the pamphlet level, nor to provide better training opportunities at subsidized rates to more people, nor even to discourage bad habits or practices again beyond the pamphlet level. There aren’t a bunch of highly accessible state ranges with state funded instructors at them covering down on things like safe storage, holsters, safe handling, marksmanship, and so forth. All of that is handled entirely by the private sector. The best information and the most modern practices are coming from the private sector. The funding to the state from licensure does nothing but pad the general coffer to the tune of a rolling $80,000,000.00 right now (for Michigan over a 5 year license period).

So yes, if permits are to be the standard then it should be covered under the general funds of the state and not an additional fee.

DAKA: Magpuls Way of Organization and Protection

By
Anna Martinez
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What is DAKA?

In short, Polymer Coated Fabric. This fabric allows a consistent and strong material that is both flexible and water resistant.

Where did the idea stem from?

“Cloth tool bags and a need to organize in a more durable fashion”-Magpul EVP

Features

  • -Reinforced Polymer with anti-slip texture
  • -Welded construction and YKK Aquaguard Zipper
  • -550 Paracord and Heat Shrink Tubing for Enhanced Grip
  • -Chemical resistant and non-hygroscopic 
  • -Paint pen dot matrix debossed into body for identification marking
How to use the Magpul embossed dot matrix

Sizes

3 liters to 6 liters

Small to Extra Large

magpul.com

Colors

DAKA comes in many different colors and also offers some see through pouches such as the Volume Pouch.

Your options for colors are Black, Stealth Gray, Flat Dark Earth, Olive Drab, Orange, Yellow, Red.

P.S. Yellow and red color are often used to identify first aid equipment or lifesaving tools.

Types of Products

Magpul has shown that DAKA is very versatile in the fact that they offer different products.

DAKA Field Tray

In both small and large size, this tray includes a magnet on one side of the tray (not the total tray). Often this can be used for small gun parts, some throw tools in there, others use it for ammo. It also won’t take up a large amount of space when packing it from home to the shop due to the fact that it can come unbuttoned on the sides to lay flat.

Wallets

Both bifold and non folding configurations, DAKA holds up strong in wallet form. Since it is a flexible material this wallet won’t be uncomfortable in your pocket nor will it be heavy. Customers have washed the wallet before and no issues were seen, their license? Well not so much…Oops.

magpul.com

Suppressor Pouches

Yes, finally something to throw that can in if you are consistently taking on and off for operations.

Note: The suppressor pouch is not meant for use with a hot suppressor. Let it cool, as you should have to remove it anyways..

Containers

A personal favorite..the Magpul DAKA can.

From the website, Originally designed to house and protect Magpul Eyewear, the Magpul DAKA Can is a rugged, weather and dust-resistant, high strength polymer storage solution. Soft-surfaced high-density foam completely lines the interior of the DAKA Can, ensuring lenses, electronics, and other important items remain secure and out of the elements.

The top-loading DAKA Can lid closes securely with an audible snap and helps protect your valuable gear from dirt, dust and moisture. The DAKA Can makes a great crush-resistant storage solution for a wide range of personal needs, to include use as a snakebite kit, travel toolbox, loose ammunition storage, personal hygiene kit, and more.

Uses/Personal Experience

Customers have gotten very creative with their uses of this. A favorite that I have seen is an instructor and USPSA GM using these for all of his pistols. It looked professional and he could mark each pistol pouch. It took away the big bulky boxes and allowed easy to throw into packs a pouch with a pistol and another pouch with magazines. I have also seen some pretty good med kits made with the yellow and red pouches.

From range gear to electronics, I use it for everything.

I have used these for my tools. It makes it very easy to grab the tools I need for a quick job on the range and leave the others. I have also used for ammunition. Bulk 9mm and .223 is much easier to grab from a water resistance pouch rather than boxes and plastic, and if you reload, you definitely need somewhere to throw that ammo.

The everyday life use though that has made my life much easier..? The volume pouch used for my meds. All of my pill bottles fit in the DAKA Volume Pouch and allows me to see what is inside.

Currently I have a DAKA pouch sitting on my kitchen counter housing my electronics cords and keeping those organized for when I go on trips to make an easy grab and go.

Future Products

“We keep coming up with new applications and also working on new products to better suit some specifics of different applications. There will be a lot of new things coming and another part of the line that addresses the weight of the existing material for backpacking and mountain hunting type applications.”-Magpul EVP

The Budget Buckshot Shootout

By
Travis Pike
-

As a shotgun nerd, I’m always experimenting with my thunderstick. I might have settled on Federal FliteControl for home defense, but I’m always looking for suitable alternatives. Relying on a single round for all your defensive needs can leave you in a logistics nightmare. Covid, elections, and fear drove gun and ammo sales through the roof! As such, I picked up a number of budget buckshot loads and have been doing a little experimentation.

Today we are going to evaluate seven different loads of 00 buckshot from a wide variety of companies. We are shooting them through a cylinder bore Benelli M4 at a range of 10 yards at a simple piece of paper target. Let’s get a good idea of what budget buckshot can do.

Olin Military Buckshot

The Classic Olin military buckshot often retails for well under a buck a round. Sadly, as of late, the ammo has been driven up in price. This nine pellet load comes in OD green with a plain cardboard box, and it reeks of military service. Projectiles are propelled at 1,325 feet per second and uses Grex buffering.

Olin delivered the widest spread of our budget buckshot loads and measures out to 8 inches at 10 yards. That’s far from fancy. I also noticed some inconsistent patterning. With the same POA, I had spreads that were never entirely consistent. Reliable function wasn’t an issue, and the shell features a lovely high brass design. In terms of recoil, the round isn’t unique or excessive.

Lambro Guard Budget Buckshot

I never even heard of this budget buckshot brand until Black Friday. I purchased 250 rounds of it for less than 150 dollars, making it the cheapest buckshot I’ve purchased since 2019. This Greek load is a standard nine pellet, 1325 FPS buckshot, with a rolled crimping. Rolled crimping with cheap buckshot is a nice touch that allows for more consistent performance.

Speaking of, a 4-inch spread at 10 yards provides a rather unusual pattern for such cheap ammunition. It also seems to be consistent with the majority of the pellets landing dead center. Occasionally one or two pellets may favor one side over the other, but not by a crazy amount. It’s solid ammo, and for the price, it’s unbeatable.

Fiocchi American Buckshot

I call this American buckshot because of the red, white, and blue box. I don’t know what else to call this simple, 1,325 FPS, nine pellet buckshot load. This laid remains less than a dollar even during the height of the Covid and election shelf emptying phenomenon. While the box claims to be a 1,325 FPS load, I actually doubt that.

Almost every load in this budget buckshot shootout is a nine pellet 1,325 FPS load. Yet this particular Fiocchi load recoils much softer than any other buckshot on this list. I went through an entire 25 round box to see if this was consistent, and yep, it was a lot lighter recoiling than any other load. Spread wise we got a 6.5-inch spread, and it consistently patterned a little more vertically than horizontally. The load is low brass, has a folded crimp, and lacks any buffering material.

Fiocchi Defense Dynamics Buckshot

Purpose-built defensive budget buckshot from Fiocchi seems promising. This eight pellet buckshot load promises a more consistent pattern by reducing flyers by using an eight pellet load instead of a nine pellet load. We also got a rolled crimp and high brass. Oddly Fiocchi went with a full-powered 1,325 FPS load instead of a reduced recoil load.

Performance and function proved perfectly fine without any failures. The pattern hit 6 inches consistently and patterned very consistently in a round pattern. It works well, and I think it would pattern a little tighter and have less recoil with a lower FPS. 1,200 FPS would be perfect!

Sellier and Bellot Buckshot

This budget buckshot load comes from across the pond, way across from the Czech republic. The S&B load steps back in time and doesn’t make use of a wad. Instead, you get one of the old cardboard disks. We do have a rolled crimp, and what just qualifies as a high brass load. Velocity isn’t printed on the box, but according to the website, it’s a 1,200 FPS load.

It certainly has light recoil, and for an unbuffered shot load without a wad, it doesn’t pattern as bad as I thought. My best pattern could also be called my worst. It’s a 5-inch pattern…but the flyer isn’t on the paper! Other patterns showed a typical pattern of 6 inches or so, and a horizontal pattern seems typical.

Monarch Buckshot

At the beginning of this whole Covid thing, I saw the writing on the wall and bought some buckshot from Academy. In fact, I grabbed 500 rounds of their nine pellet buckshot for training purposes. It’s a high brass, rolled crimp, nine pellet load with a velocity of 1,345 FPS. Not fancy, but it proved to be not too bad. A 4.5-inch pattern at 10 yards proved to be the best pattern, with most being closer to 5 inches. The pattern wasn’t always super consistent and did the old donut of death.

The Monarch Buckshot load proved impressive for being budget buckshot, but you can certainly feel a bit more recoil with this load. I’d actually not be surprised if it was faster than 1,345 FPS. It feeds reliably, and my main complaint is that the shells aren’t just like my training rounds. For the price and seeming wide availability, this might be the best when logistics are tough.

Federal XM127 00 Buckshot – The Best Budget Buckshot

I’m not sure what to call this load. It’s the black and white Federal bulk pack. I paid .49 cents per round pre-Covid. It’s a standard high brass, nine pellet load at 1,325 FPS with a folded crimp. Pattern wise, we got less than 4 inches at ten yards. The patterns were all tight to the center and came out to be right around 3.75 inches.

Federal makes good buckshot, even when it’s cheap buckshot! Performance was flawless, and if you can find it, this is the best load I tested. Sure, a lower FPS would be better, but the patterns tight and consistent.

Pattern Your Budget Buckshot!

Loads pattern differently between guns, chokes, and more. The same guns built on the same day from the same factory can pattern differently. Each load must be patterned with your specific gun at your range. Use this as just a simple guide for basic performance, but always confirm with your own gun. I’d advise Federal FliteControl for home defense, but it’s not always available. As such, you might have to turn to a budget buckshot load, and if so, you at least know what to expect.

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