The adventures of a traveling semi-pro shooter: how to keep a gun in your hotel room

By

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August 23, 2021

I’m Caleb Giddings, and since 2011 people have been paying me various amounts of money to travel around the country and shoot matches. This is going to be part of an ongoing series where I share stories from the road, tips about shooting matches, sponsorship advice, pretty much whatever I want as it relates to the life and world of being a traveling pro shooter. If you have ideas or questions for a future column, email them to me at gunnutsmedia@icloud.com and I’ll see if we can work them in.

Today’s column is going to be about one of my favorite topics: how to safely store a gun in your hotel room. Let’s say you’re traveling to a match and your match gun isn’t your carry gun, and you’ll leave the hotel at some point to do something other than shoot the match. Believe it or not, your hotel room is probably a safer place to store your gun than your car, since your car is not a safe and I’ve personally heard too many horror stories about people’s cars getting broken into before, during, and after matches.

Step 1: Stay in a decent hotel

Okay, we all know that competition shooters are often…aggressively frugal, but the best way to safeguard any weapons you’re leaving in your room is to not stay in the CrackHouse 6 that’s on the wrong side of the tracks. I actually have a whole rant on this, but if you’re going to spend a significant amount of time on the road shooting matches, being comfortable the night before you shoot is actually important. I know I’ll sleep much better in a Hilton Garden Inn in a decent part of town than I would in a Super 8 by the train tracks. A good way to find a relatively decent area is to look on Google maps for clusters of mid-tier hotels. If you find a spot where there’s a Hilton Garden Inn, a Hyatt Place, and a Courtyard Marriott all clustered relatively close together, there probably isn’t a crack den nearby. Also, never stay on the first floor if you can avoid it.

Step 2: Don’t be obvious

A certain amount of signaling is going to be inevitable, especially when you leave the hotel wearing your cool-guy jersey. But you can do some simple things like not covering your personal vehicle in gun decals, not hanging around the hotel lobby with obvious weapons cases, things like that.

Step 3: Use your Do Not Disturb Sign

Want to keep people out of your room? Use your Do Not Disturb sign. Now this tip is less as a frequent traveler, but in a past life I was also a Housekeeping Manager for a Major Brand. Let me tell you what, when a housekeeper sees that a room has their DND up, she (or he) is ecstatic. “Hell yeah one less room to clean” means less work for the housekeeper. One thing to note: most hotels have a policy on when they’ll “break” a DND sign, however if you’re just in town for a weekend match you’re not likely to run afoul of those guidelines.

Step 4: Lock your guns up (but not in the hotel safe)

Some hotel rooms have cheap electronic safes in them. Those are for things like jewelry and trinkets, not important items like your $3,000 open gun. If you flew to the match and had your gun in a locked case, leave it there. Leave it locked up. Take the keys with you wherever you go. If you drove to the match, I would strongly consider adding a locking case to your packing list, specifically to provide more secure storage for your gun. You could get even more wild and bring a bike lock/chain or handcuffs with you and in addition to locking your gun in a box, you could then lock the box to something like the bed frame or the pipes under the sink. To be honest that’s pretty extra, but if it makes you feel better.

Step 5: Accept the fact that if someone really wants to steal your gun out of your hotel room they will

I know this sounds crazy, but here’s the thing. All the safety measures above are designed to deter opportunistic theft. A housekeeper that needs to make a car payment seeing your gun and grabbing it, a smash and grab through a window, etc. If a professional thief that targets travelers decides they want to get your luggage/your gun, there is a very good chance they’re going to get it. This is why I personally have all my guns insured on my homeowner’s insurance or through a valuable personal property policy. An even better way to avoid this problem is to be a real man and just shoot your carry gun at matches so you never have to leave it in the hotel.

Leaving a gun in a hotel room is a risk, there’s no question about that. Taking the four steps above are all designed to mitigate that risk, and work together by playing into most people’s casual laziness, the inherently risk adverse nature of hoteliers, and adding in a dash of common sense security measures. In fact, having a gun stolen out of a hotel room (from a decent hotel) is so rare that I’ve never heard of actually happening. I have however heard of lots of guns stolen out of cars in hotel parking lots. Like they say in law enforcement: we call that a clue.

Gunday Brunch 16: If you could only have 3 guns for the rest of your life…

By

David R

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August 22, 2021

Today we’re answering a tough question: if you could only have three guns for the rest of your life, what would they be? Keith and Caleb both weigh in with their opinions, and surprise surprise they’re pretty different. Tune in to find out which revolver Caleb picked, and what weird rifle Keith picks!

MemeTalk: No ‘A2’ Love Lost.

By

Keith Finch

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August 20, 2021

Afghanistan has fallen. We have a lot of anger, a lot of frustration, and some fire memes.

I saw this meme this morning and I changed my whole writing plan for the day.

The A2 is stupid.

Not the M16A2, although that got built partially on a mistake, the A2 length stock.

That one time when the USMC decided everyone was 5’11” and would always be shooting from the prone position resulted in the A2 stock. Hope we don’t have any 5’1″ troops stashed anywhere (I type knowing half-a-dozen such folks off hand) that might benefit from a shorter length of pull.

Nope, everyone is 5’11” and they shoot prone.

The M16A2, for those who don’t know, was the 1980’s update on the A1 for a couple of reasons.

One of those reasons, the one that turned out to be a mistake, was that the barrel on the A1’s was believed to be bending (it was actually carbon build up and port erosion). The second was that the USMC wanted the M16 optimized for greater distance.

The A2 stock was part of making the M16 into what was essentially a Camp Perry ready known distance rifle. To be shot at nice pop-up pit targets at 200-500 yards. The Army thought 500 was absurd and stuck with 300 when they picked up the M16A2 a few years later. They and the Marines argued about the sights a lot.

But my point is that the stock was not built with the correct mindset. The A1 stock was, it’s length of pull is much more useable by many more users. The A2 stock was too long for most users, especially in the context it was going to be shot offhand. The A2 stock design suffered the same flawed mishap that early pilot seats did, no accounting for user size, just an average.

But nobody is average sized. They have aspects that are, perhaps. With my height and build the A2 actually fits me rather perfectly shooting prone, I still swapped my A2 stock on my A4 for a B5 adjustable.

Sizing is key to ergonomics

Yes we can build a range of sizing, but the key factor is ‘range’ of sizing. Adjustable stocks for different size folk are as crucial as putting your seat in the right spot in the car to reach pedals and see mirrors. Too long in length of pull and the rifle is unwieldly. Too short and you have no support on the stock.

So, I get it upset Taliban dude stuck with a long as hell fixed stock. I understand. But you have select-fire provide courtesy of my government and I don’t, so I am not that sympathetic.

9-Hole Nuka-Cola

By

Keith Finch

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August 20, 2021

I haven’t seen Josh and Henry do one of these in a minute and I am glad it is back!

Scenario: Fallout

The popular game series about the end of civilization is a world renowned classic (especially if we ignore Fallout 76) but the premise is an interesting take away from typical first person shooters where ammunition is effectively unlimited and you and your digital company of heroes goes on a merry godtier murder spree against terrorist Nazis.

Call of Duty and Battlefield have that one covered nicely.

No, Fallout has always had heavy survival aspects to the game and one of those aspects is highly limited resources. Weapons and ammunition are scarce. They are commodities. You don’t just run to your supply buddy and pickup 800 rounds for your SAW secondary weapon, 300 for your semi-auto sniper primary, and 2 LAW rockets able to be whipped out at a moments notice.

Nope, you have a goofy little pop gun and 16 shots for it… better make them count.

Thus we get the scenario from Fallout, you need to survive and travel in a hostile environment and can take one of two loadouts.

A Mosin with an old Mosin optic and 8 rounds of 7.62x54r with a .22 hush puppy type pistol and a handful of magazine, or an AK with most of one magazine.

That.

Is.

It.

You have no expectation of a resupply, you are scrounging for everything. Any fight you get into is extremely high risk and you need to end quickly because every trigger pull is full percentages of ammunition reserve.

We talk about home protection and self protection in terms of a single magazine all the time, it is perfectly reasonable to scale in that context and still be quite adequately protected if you need to go to a gun. Even against multiple attackers in a home a single rifle magazine worth of ammunition is very likely to solve that problem.

But now that is your ammunition supply for… ever. Or at least months, you have to conserve.

So, would you take a bolt action with an old optic and a quiet .22? Or would you take an iron sighted AK with a a mostly full magazine?

For beyond the end of civilization.

Make sure to click through to YouTube and join the discussion.

The Firebase Parabellum – A New Rig From Vertx

By

Travis Pike

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August 20, 2021

Chest rigs are a dime a dozen, right? They come in all sizes and for all weapons for sure but typically follow a very well defined genre and design influence. That’s fine; what works, works. There is always room for something new, and the Vertx Firebase Parabellum chest rigs are unquestionably something new. The Firebase Parabellum rigs bring a new type of innovation to the stale realm of chest rigs.

The Vertx Firebase Parabellum

Vertx is a company well known for its high-quality bags, clothing, and whatnot. My all-time favorite sling bag is the Vertx Commuter, and I’ve been using it for almost five years now without issue. The name Vertx means something. At least to me, it does. I expect a high-quality product, and I’m betting most people feel the same.

The Firebase Parabellum is the first chest rig that Vertx has made, and I approached it with caution. I hoped it would live up to the reputation Vertx is known for. What intrigued me most is that the Firebase Parabellum is more than just a chest rig. I wasn’t even looking for a chest rig when I stumbled across the Firebase Parabellum.

I want a modern bandolier. I’ve always liked bandoliers and found them quite handy. I was also thinking about a concealed fighting rig, and the bandolier seems to be much easier to hide than any chest rig. On my search for a modern bandolier, I came across the Firebase Parabellum, and my interest peaked.

2 in 1? 3 in 1? Modularity Matters

Vertx designed the Firebase Parabellum to be a modular fighting load carrier. Of course, it works like a chest rig and positions your magazines perfectly on your chest. The Firebase Parabellum emphasizes the idea of a minimalist chest rig.

It offers four magazine pouches, and that’s it. You don’t get MOLLE to expand the rig, no radio or tourniquet pouches, just four magazines and a small kangaroo type pouch behind the magazine pouches.

Chest rigs are great, but I wanted a bandolier. Well, I was in luck. You can do a magic trick in a matter of minutes and move some straps around, and bam, now you have a very modern bandolier.

Most bandoliers just kind of hang off your side like a man’s purse. These were an old school means to carry ammunition and tended to flop around and swing when loaded down. The Firebase Parabellum doesn’t face that challenge. Instead, it uses a series of straps that secures the bandolier in one location. It doesn’t flop or shift when you run. It barely moves and offers a consistent spot that allows you to access your magazines.

That’s two of the three functions. The third is removing all straps and the backing from the Firebase Parabellum and using it as a magazine placard. If you want to strap it to a plate carrier, you’re in luck. You can strap it inside a bag or on anything with hook and loop.

Setting Up and Going At It

Swapping between the different modes takes zero time, and you can run the Firebase Parabellum with the magazines up or down. The pouches are insanely tight, and Vertx included buttoned tops for active retention so they won’t flop out if ran upside down.

As a chest rig, I orientated the magazines upwards in a traditional configuration. I could ditch the flaps by tucking them rearward into the hoop and loop behind the magazine pouches. The pouches themselves are tight enough to retain the magazines without issue. The flaps button close and don’t present a challenge to reloading.

I could grip and rip and get the magazines in action with little effort. The Firebase Parabellum allows you to use an optional body strap, and I chose to do so. It offered the most support and tension to remove magazines.

As a bandolier, I ran the magazines downward and found them to be easier to retrieve upside down when using the Firebase Parabellum. Drawing magazines from this configuration took some practice to accomplish. I found a good way to orient the magazines and got quite quick with the entire setup.

When wearing the bandolier, I oriented the bullets facing forwards. One motion undid the flap and allowed me to grip the magazine and free it from its constraint. The magazine sits against my forearm and in my palm. This configuration makes reloading rapid and intuitive.

Beyond Comfort

It’s August as I type this, and I’m in Florida. As you’d imagine, it’s hot. As such, I gained an appreciation for the minimalist design. It keeps you cool and comfortable. The Firebase Parabellum itself is extremely lightweight and comes equipped with a set of robust shoulder straps. They are also lightweight and vented for increased comfort.

The setup is also incredibly adjustable. I’m a big dude, but the kit adjusts plenty to fit me. It could be adjusted for an even bigger dude if necessary. The entire setup is quite comfortable, and I’m not surprised after using the Vertx Commuter for so long.

The Firebase Parabellum is an exceptionally well-made rig that offers a high degree of modularity. If you already have the chest rig of your dreams, then this might not appeal to you. If you’ve always wanted a modern bandolier, maybe the Firebase Parabellum is for you. They also make a PCC variant I’m promptly ordering cause I need both in my closet. If you’re like me, click here to check it out.

CompExpo 2021 Reports: Maven Outdoor Equipment Company

By

Anna Martinez

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August 20, 2021

“MAVEN WAS BORN OUT OF WANTING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM…OUT OF THE IDEA THAT WE CAN DEVELOP A PRODUCT WITH NO COMPROMISE IN QUALITY, AND NO COMPROMISE IN PERFORMANCE, WITHOUT THE BIG BOX STORE MARKUP.”

About the Company

A company built up from small mountain town roots of Lander, Wyoming. This company prides itself on their decades of outdoorsman experience and consistently finding new ways to create higher quality products without a higher price point.

“The name Maven comes from a shared interest in the book The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (2000). In the book, Gladwell talks about mavens and how they drive brand momentum.”- Maven

The Comp Expo was my first time talking to and experiencing Maven Outdoor Equipment Company. Mollie Dahl was on the ground for Maven. She struck me as very knowledgeable, through real experience with the product, and confident. Turns out that she hunts herself and knows what makes good and bad optics.

Direct to Consumer Business Model

Maven Outdoor Equipment Company puts out quality optic without marking the price up. This works due to their Direct Consumer business model.

The model is simple. Maven kills the markup of their optics due to cutting out the retail portion. Maven delivers direct to the consumer. This allows them to still use the same high quality materials and partnerships with companies without making you pay that quality price.

Transparency

Maven is also very transparent about the quality and specs of their optics. The company tells the consumer the direct origin of their glass.

Straight from the website..

“Quality– Because we sell direct to consumer, we’re not driven by the demands of the retailer. Therefore we’re not building our products to hit a certain price point which limits the type of materials we can use. As a result, we use the best glass available in our optics. In our S, B, and RS Series optics, we utilize the best optical components available from Japan. In all of our optics we plan and build an overall optical system for the best available performance. In our C Series, we use a combination of key Japanese components along with other optical elements from China. In all of our optics we plan and build an overall optical system tuned to be the best performance available.“

They also tell the consumers the specs for each optic all the way down to light transmission, pressure testing, twilight factor, prism type, etc. See all optic specs within the chart HERE. Not many companies give away that much information publicly..honestly, not another one that I know of in fact.

Note: I am still very new to optics in general. Writing this article and talking to Maven it allowed me to deep dive into the optics world and learn some terminology. I found this video below that helped me understand what the terminology means and what could make one set of binos better for a customer over the others. Watch the video for the learning aspect..not the review. At the end, maybe the most interesting of the whole video, are the clarity tests. Going all the way back to 1951 Airforce clarity methods, it is an easy way for you and I to test optics.

Customized Builds

Another special Maven thing..Customized builds. On the website Maven allows customers to build their own optic from the ground up. Choose your frame (type of optic), then go on to choose armor color, ocular end, focus wheel, and objective tube. Maven also allows you to choose the rush on your build. Say you need it for your hunt next month..you can choose a 2 week delivery over a 4. Last but not least, engraving. Maven allows you to custom engrave your optic for an additional $30. Not bad.

Newly Released Products

Maven had many products on the table for the Expo but did have some newly released products.

The newly released B-Series Binocular Line Up

B1.2-8x42mm and 10x42mm

The B1.2 is an improved model of its previous B1 binocular. This improvement allows better performance on a more compact frame for the SAME PRICE. The B1.2 has wider FOV, improved glass coatings, a larger, wider Schmidt-Pechan prism (a type of prism design that allows more compact bodies to house the prism) and brighter glass, yet still in light and compact housing. It also comes in two options, 8x or 10x, including two color options.

Specs

-Price: 8x=$900, 10x=$950
-Colors: Grey/Orange, Grey/Black
-Size: 5.7 in.
-Weight: 26.8 oz.

B6-10x50mm and 12x50mm

The B6 is the brightest mid-size binocular that Maven offers with a 94.75% light transmission level in the 10x and a 93.80% in the 12x. It is also the first B-series model that has a 50mm objective lens. It offers a FOV of 6.5″ for 10x and 5.5″ for 12x.

Specs

Price: 10x $1,000 and 12x $1,050.
Colors: Grey/Orange, Black/Grey
Size: 6.6 in.
Weight: 30.7 oz.

Rangefinder

RF1

The RF1, recommended for archery hunters, rifle hunters, and long range hunters/shooters alike allows ranging to targets from 5-4500 yds. It includes added functions such as Field/Forest. This function allows the operator to get the static out of what they are ranging so to speak.

“For difficult to range scenarios, the Field/Forest Function matches your range mode to your unique environment. Switch to the Field mode when you want to acquire small, hard to hit targets and ignore larger objects in the background. Alternatively, switch to the Forest mode when you need to range objects behind trees, bushes, etc, or when rainy or snowy conditions persist.”-Maven

The RF1 screen in a realistic setting
Manual

The RF1 allows for ranging in both meters and yards, 5 brightness settings and 5 different reticle options. Looking through it everything seemed to pop. I ranged an item about 2,000yds away on a rocky cliff and the RF1 gave me the range right away. However, if ranging further targets it may take a little longer to receive the range back.

The switch for the options within the RF1 is a magnetic switch. Meaning when switching to different modes the switch will not overtravel and it will be a positive click.

Specs
-Price:$400
-Colors: Grey/Orange, Black/Grey
-Size: 4.7 in. x 3.1 in. x 1.8 in.
-Weight: 10 oz.
-Water Resistant
-5-4500 Yard Effectiveness
-Line of Sight & Angle Compensation
-Field / Forest Function (Obstruction Filter)
-5 Reticle Options
-5 Brightness Levels
-Tripod Adaptable

So what makes a rangefinder bad/good? This is all personal opinion obviously. However, the big things that Maven looked to do with their RF1 was speed up the receiving of ranges and make it more consistent. Cheap, poorly made rangefinders will be slow and will be inconsistent in their ranges. The Rf1 shows no issues with that and is made with Mavens same quality glass.

Why Maven?

If their transparency in their products capabilities wasn’t enough, they also give a lifetime warranty to every product that they make. Maven also has a demo program. This means that Maven will send you out a lightly used optic to demo. After two weeks of putting it through its paces you have the option to keep the demo, return it to purchase a new or customized version, or send it back for a full refund minus shipping.

Pro Tip: When talking to Mollie we mentioned fogginess within optics and the glass coatings. While some poorly made optics are just foggy to begin..Mollie talked about how it could be the operator that is creating the problem as well. We, me included, run optics hard. Dropping them in dirt, snow, etc. How do we clean them off? Well our shirts of course! Which as I’m sure you know isn’t the right answer. The more that we use our clothing to clean off glass the more we scratch it with the course dirt on our clothing, remove the glass coatings, etc. We are only hurting ourselves. The right way to clean this glass is to one, use a type of blower to first blow the dirt off. Personally I use a small handheld air blower that was 5 bucks on amazon and keep it in my pack. Then you can use a CLEAN lens cleaning cloth that is made to not scratch up the coating on the glass.

The best leather holsters for concealed carry

By

Caleb Giddings

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August 20, 2021

It seems like in the era of 20+ round semi-automatic pistols with red dot sights and weapon mounted lights that leather holsters have gone completely out of vogue. But there are still plenty of people who use them, and plenty of people who for a number of reasons don’t want a kydex/polymer holster. Today we’re going to indulge in our inner Fudd a bit and tell you about the best leather holsters for concealed carry.

Now if I was feeling lazy I’d just make a list of five solid holsters, but instead of doing that I want to help you understand the criteria for what makes a good leather holster for concealed carry. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to focus entirely on traditional IWB holsters that are worn on or behind the hip. There are a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is that people who want to carry appendix also usually want a kydex holster. However, if you do want to carry appendix in a leather holster, 5 Shot Leather is your best bet (I hope you like long wait times).

On to business. What makes a leather IWB holster “good”? There are some important features that a quality leather IWB holster needs to have, the first is the holster mouth itself. Quality leather holster designs are all going to be fairly similar in design to the OG of the OGs: the Milt Sparks Summer Special.

Milt Sparks Summer Special, from Milt Sparks

Whether it’s the Galco Summer Comfort, or the DeSantis Inner Piece, all of these holsters share similar design features. The most important of these design features is the reinforced holster mouth, which you can see clearly on the pictured Summer Special above. The point of the reinforced holster mouth is simple: keep the holster from collapsing under the pressure of the belt when the gun is removed. This was the gun can be safely holstered with one hand, and if necessary (although not recommended) without looking. Additionally, all of these holsters use snap in belt loops to attach the gun to the belt. Loops like this are far superior to clips, especially if you’re trying to retain the gun during a struggle or some type of close-in contact fight.

Interestingly, that list above actually makes up my recommendations for the best leather holsters for concealed carry. Let’s break down each choice, because while they’re all very similar, there each have unique characteristics that may influence your choice. This list isn’t presented in any particular order.

Milt Sparks Summer Special: The OG of OG leather holsters. Of all the holsters on the list it’s probably the best in terms of construction and quality, however it’s also the most expensive and has a current wait time of 24 weeks if they don’t have one available in the shop.
DeSantis Inner Piece: This holster features a reinforced mouth for holstering, and unlike the other holsters also has adjustable retention, which is a neat feature. Its party piece is a stabilizing fin that goes in the pants to help tuck the grip of your gun closer in to your body.
Galco Summer Comfort: This is basically a clone of the Summer Special, as the name might indicate. It’s greatest advantage over the Milt Sparks is that it’s usually easier to get and is available for a wider variety of guns without having to resort to custom construction.

Regardless of which of those three holsters you pick, you’ll be getting a quality product that designed for serious concealed carry and self defense. If you’re not yet ready to make the jump to appendix carry, these three leather holsters will be your best choices for every day carry.

Ruger LCP MAX .380 Pistol

By

V. Caldwell

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August 19, 2021

There is a class of handguns known as pocket pistols. The original self loading pocket pistol might have been a .25 ACP or perhaps a .32. The double action first shot .380 pistols were really holster guns or jacket pocket guns. Americans like something they can tote in the pocket.

While I prefer a compact 9mm or Commander .45 in an inside the waistband holster some folks struggle with larger guns. Being armed with any gun, they feel, beats tooth and nail. I agree but don’t be in the situation of being armed with a deadly weapon and not able to defend yourself well. Many small pistols are less than reliable or have a terrible trigger and poor sights.

A few years ago Ruger introduced the LCP. The LCP is a double action only slim line pistol in .380 ACP. The LCP is reliable and fits flat and light in the pocket. The pistol was upgraded to the LCPII with a much better trigger and superior sights, as well as a better grip treatment. The pistol being reviewed today is a more advanced LCP.

The primary difference between the LCP MAX and the LCPII is the grip frame and magazine capacity. The new pistol features a longer slightly wider handle. The new pistol is a double digit capacity .380 ACP pistol. Ten rounds in the magazine in such a small pistol is amazing.

Savage once advertised TEN SHOTS QUICK for their .32 ACP pistols- but they were much larger and heavier than the polymer frame LCP MAX. The grip of the new gun fits my hands well, better than the older gun. It is just enough larger that an average sized hand will find the pistol comfortable.

The slightly wider grip frame feels a bit more comfortable when firing the pistol. The grip treatment provides a good gripping surface without being uncomfortable. The .380 ACP can be a little snappy in a ten ounce pistol. The grip pebbling is well designed. Ruger has also made needed changes in the slide lock and magazine latch to accommodate the larger magazine. The take down is the same, press a pin out from right to left to break the pistol down. It isn’t as easy as the Glock or turn a lever on the SIG but you have to compromise in small handgun designs. We don’t need a speed take down.

The trigger is the same LCPII type with a safety blade in the center that must be depressed to fire the pistol. The trigger action breaks at seven pounds and one ounce. This is a safety feature as the pistol will be carried close to the body or in a pocket. A tip- when drawing from the pocket be certain to keep the finger off the trigger. Don’t reach in the pocket and make a firing grip or you will not be able to draw. Blade the hand in to grasp the pistol and make a full grip as the pistol is drawn.

An excellent set of combat sights rides on the .81 inch thick slide. The pistol features dual recoil springs on a steel guide rod. A single ten round magazine is supplied. At a retail price of $449 I would like to get a spare magazine. The pistol was lightly lubricated and test fired with a cross section of ammunition. Most of the rounds were expended at 7 yards. The primary load used was the Black Hills Ammunition 100 grain FMJ. Function is good, the load burns clean. It isn’t difficult to punch the loads into the X ring at 7 yards. You are far from helpless at 15 yards or so. I also fired a few rounds of the Black Hills Ammunition 60 grain Honey Badger.

I don’t trust most hollowpoints in the .380 ACP as they tend to under penetrate. Six to eight inches just isn’t enough penetration. The Honey Badger begins cutting flesh as soon as it hits and offers good penetration. This is a load that maximizes the .380 ACP. I also fired a small quantity of the Norma .380 ACP hollowpoint. This 85 grain JHP uses a monolithic (All copper) hollowpoint at an advertised 1285 fps. Not certain what factory test barrel they use but in the Ruger actual velocity was 990 fps, still respectable for this type of loading. The Norma JHP penetrated 14 inches of water without any expansion at all. Just the same- the penetration is on the level you need with a personal defense pistol. Better this load than a JHP that stops in the triceps if you cannot obtain the Honey Badger.

The pistol fed, chambered, fired and ejected all ammunition. Recoil isn’t too sharp and practical accuracy at short range is good. I like this pistol and it will be carried often as a backup. I used a Baddaddytactical.com appendix holster during the test. The holster is secure, a good fit, and ideal for deep carry. This holster confirmed the LCP MAX fits LCPII holsters.

As for the price- is the pistol worth the extra tariff? The sights are worth a pretty penny alone compared to the LCPII. The pistol shoots much better than the LCP and somewhat better than the LCPII. While I like to think my life is worth a great deal I have bills to pay. The LCP MAX is worth the money and a lot more if you need it.

Specifications: Ruger LCP MAX Caliber .380 Auto
Capacity: 10+1 rounds flush fit, 12+1 extended optional
Barrel Length: 2.80 inches
Overall Length: 5.17 inches
Width: 0.81 inches
Height: 4.12 inches
Weight: 10.6 ounces
Sights: U Notch rear, tritium with white outline front sight
Includes: A 10-round magazine and a soft pocket holster.
MSRP: $449

Save the Date: Nov 3 SCOTUS Will Hear 2A Case.

By

Keith Finch

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August 19, 2021

The case that can decide the fate of national carry rights has a hearing date. November 3rd, 2021 marks the day SCOTUS will begin to hear arguments in the case against New York’s law that requires citizens to show ‘Proper Cause’ in order to obtain a state carry permit.

With the majority of US states being ‘shall issue’, New York’s law and the various lower court sustainment’s of it have been the last legal bastion of the ‘may issue’ permit system where the state has full authority to deny a permit for any reason.

This system is ripe for abuse and has been used for legal cronyism and discrimination.

New York, however, maintains that the system is in the vested interest of the public safety and that making their citizens show a ‘proper cause’ (of which general self protection is not enough) keeps the citizenry safer and is not in violation of the 2nd Amendment…

Hogwash, but that is their story and they are sticking to it.

With the majority of states being ‘Shall Issue’ or more permissive in their permitting, the evidence is clear New York just doesn’t want to lose power. States like California who’ve had their gun control schemes shredded legally in recent years are also looking to this SCOTUS ruling with trepidation as their state ‘precedents’ for control are set to take a logical fall from grace and restore their citizens rights.

Why ‘Proper Cause’ must go

In short, it is an entirely subjective legal practice that encourages discrimination and favoritism under the thin guise of a ‘safety check’ by the state asking if somebody really needs a permit to carry. The state and its lackeys have total control over the bearing of arms practically in the state. Friends of the state will get their permits, ‘problematic’ persons for any sort of reason will be denied without objective criterial cause.

Got into an argument with your local commissioner over waste water or trash taxes or something, no permit for you. You are a ‘high risk’ now. Disagreed with the schoolboard on a decision they made, no permit now. Been found in any way, shape, or form disagreeable to current government powerbrokers? No permit. That is the reality of ‘proper cause’ permitting.

It isn’t because Y applicant was a felon or other disqualifying objective criteria, the state simply said he or she didn’t have ‘proper cause’ to get the permit.

This ‘proper cause’ is whatever the state wants it to be that day and for that individual.

A National Shall Issue Standard

The widest implication for this SCOTUS case is that we may finally get the biggest step yet towards a nationally reciprocal concealed carry system. To the states still under the ‘proper cause’ standards, they will finally get to enjoy Shall Issue criteria in their permitting. A standard that makes some sense. If you meet the simple criteria you are issued a concealed carry license, the State must justify any denial of license based upon the written and objective criteria.

If the nation becomes a Shall Issue rule by default, that levels the rules across the 50 states and codifies the right to bear arms outside the home for personal protection. Logically, recognition of permits between states takes on a more substantive meaning at that point as denial of another state’s permit constitutes denial of the constitutional right to bear arms on the person for protection.

National reciprocity is the logical means by which states can maintain a modicum of legal control and a liability waiver for non-residents who are carrying in the state. States can remove that requirement and go constitutional for both in and out of state residents, but for states that will be most influenced by a favorable ruling from SCOTUS (like New York, California, and Hawaii) those places are unlikely to embrace Constitutional Carry just because SCOTUS said.

This could be the largest 2A victory in over a decade and one that can pave the way for several more necessary ones on items like ‘assault weapon’ bans and magazines.

The Best MCARBO Upgrades for Your KelTec Sub 2000

By

Travis Pike

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August 19, 2021

The KelTec Sub 2000 is just one of those guns. It’s unique and interesting, and that’s why it sells. It’s not a particularly ‘good gun’, but the unique folding design, reliable blowback action, and affordable price tag make it popular. It’s a popular weapon but has a limited aftermarket, and in that limited aftermarket, a company called MCARBO rules. MCARBO goes to bat with some of the best upgrades available for the platform, and they vary widely.

They make tons of good stuff, but two upgrades that stand out to me are the optic’s mount and the recoilless charging handle. These two upgrades completely transformed the Sub 2000 into a much more modern and comfortable weapon. While today we are going to focus on the optics mount and charging handle, the MCARBO upgrades are fantastic all around. You can upgrade your sights, your trigger guard, the deployment latch, and so much more. Check ’em out.

The MCARBO Optic’s Mount

Adding an optic to a gun that folds in half turns out to be a major pain in the ass. As we all know, a good PCC is well equipped with a red dot optic. Users were left with choosing between using an optic or being able to fold their gun until MCARBO released a rather ingenious optic mount solution.

It bolts to the barrel side of the weapon and mounts the optic to the area where four bolts hold the handguard onto the gun. MCARBO includes four extended bolts to replace the stock bolts and to bolt the optic mount to the gun. The optic’s mount uses a short Picatinny rail that’s sized perfectly for a compact red dot.

That section of Picatinny rail flips out of the way with the press of a lever. Once out of the way, the gun can then be folded and stored like usual. The rail is long enough to mount an Aimpoint micro-sized optic or a pistol-sized open red dot sight. The optic’s mount places the optic perfectly for the ability to co-witness with the iron sights.

This means the optic needs a low mount, and it has to sit extremely low, so it’s a little tough to get a nice comfortable cheek weld to use the optic. If you don’t mind losing the cowitness ability, you can use a higher amount and push the red dot a little higher on the gun.

Once it’s equipped and zeroed, you feel the difference instantly. Red dots make it so much easier to get on target and make it easier to shoot further. The glowing bright dot is quick and easy to find and to track between targets as you transition from one to the other.

The Recoilless Charging Handle

MCARBO designed the charging handle to be dummy thicc. Not only is this charging handle easier to grip, but it weighs 3.2 ounces. That extra 2.2 ounces it adds to the bolt of the gun helps reduce recoil. The KelTec Sub 2000 is a direct blowback gun, that’s essentially a high-quality Sten gun.

It’s a tube, a heavy bolt, and a spring. This system is very reliable but adds more recoil to a 9mm carbine. The addition of a few ounces of metal does wonders to reduce recoil.

I’m not gonna lie; I didn’t buy the hype. How much could 2 ounces of weight really do to reduce recoil? Well, I ate crow, and the MCARBO recoilless charging handle did absolute wonders. It slows down the heavy reciprocating bolt and greatly reduces recoil. The Sub 2000 was never a shoulder bruiser, but it feels like it has some snap to it.

The addition of a simple fat charging handle made the gun handle so much better. You feel an instant difference to the gun, and it’s much more enjoyable than the stock Sub 2000. Combined with the MCARBO optics mount and a red dot, your KelTec becomes much faster to engage with and to fire follow-up shots with.

As a secondary effect, the MCARBO recoilless charging handle also makes the bolt easier to grip and pull. The hefty spring necessitated by the blowback action means the gun offers a lot of resistance when you try to work the action. The bigger charging handle is much more comfortable to rip and to get into play.

Boom Bang Pow with MCARBO

Two of the Sub 2000s biggest issues are solved with two upgrades from MCARBO. Lowering recoil and adding an optic makes the gun so much easier to handle and shoot and really opens up its potential. Both of these upgrades add bulk but the SUB 2K will fit into any AR 15 case. KelTec would be wise to team up with MCARBO and offer these as stock options on the Sub 2000. Til then, check out MCARBO here to find all the goodies you could ever want for your Sub 2000.

Pandemic Potatoes

By

Dr LateBloomer

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August 18, 2021

20DE78FD-2A97-47A4-8DF9-2DC382FF4435 — It’s not a toomah!

Although you probably got tired of hearing about my Pandemic garden last year, I’m going to tell you about something new I tried this year.

For a new challenge this year I tried to grow potatoes in an old laundry basket and two old milk crates – each lined with a garbage bag with holes punched in it. Yeah, I was being a Cheap Ass, but that was part of the challenge – to see if I could grow potatoes in containers I already had. Remember that my soil is clay and rock, so I do need to grow above ground using soil that I have to buy. So I tried to do the rest as cheaply as possible.

In a survival situation you’re going to grow potatoes from what you have. But in the current world you are better off buying seed potatoes. Store bought potatoes are treated to suppress sprouting, so you are not likely to get a crop by just throwing a couple taters from Aldi in the ground. But if they do sprout for some reason, you can try planting them.

I bought two varieties – Purple Viking from Gurney and plain old red from a bin at my local Rural King. Rural King was way cheaper, so since all grew well, I’ll not spend the money for the speciality ones next year.

All told I had three containers growing. I put the pieces with eyes in the ground on April 3rd. Then as per internet instructions, I let them grow, and added more soil over the top as the plants got taller until the soil was at the top of my containers, and then I stopped.

Then, it was just waiting and watering until the potato plants flowered and started to die back. Whereupon one is supposed to harvest.

Leaves starting to curl and yellow in mid-July.

The did indeed flower, though anemically, and the leaves have now curled and are turning brown/yellow. The vines haven’t completely died back yet, but my impatience to know the results of my experiment overcame my willingness to wait for perfect homegrown potatoes. So I overturned and dug up one of the containers two weeks ago – the one that looked the done-est. And then this week I dug up the second bin. That leaves one more left to harvest.

Results?

I was pleasantly surprised. While there weren’t scads and scads in the first bin, there were indeed potatoes in that soil – some of a quite decent size. There were more small ones than big ones though, so I decided to let the other two containers go for a few more weeks to see if that helped the size.

The second bin this week gave me much bigger taters, though they were the red ones rather than the purple ones, so I’m not sure if it was variety or time that made the difference.

The soil at the bottom of the containers where the taters were was rather dry. So my regular watering was at least not making them rot in moisture. I was worried about how much to water, so that answered my question – I was doing it about right.

After admiring my crop for a whole twenty minutes, I opted to eat the smallest ‘taters right away with my supper. I just nuked ‘em with butter and salt, skins on, and they were delicious! Talk about fresh produce – it’s hard to beat twenty minutes from the ground to mah belly.

I used up the first batch of potatoes pretty promptly because they weren’t that big. But since the second batch were larger specimens I’ll try to store a few in a cool dry place. I may also can some in cubes for future potato salad or dehydrate slices for future scalloped potatoes – it depends on my mood. And I’ve still got the third batch yet to harvest.

I’m just so tickled that this experiment turned out positively. I was prepared for there to be zero return or only a couple rotted stubs. Low expectations means no disappointment. But I am just elated that this worked.

Although I will be purposely preserving some of these, potatoes can be stored “as-is” for months at basement-type temperatures as our ancestors did in their root cellars. This makes them a near perfect pandemic grid down first emergency crop to be planted. It’s good to know that a garbage bag and some potting soil are all you need to produce a calorie and nutrient-rich crop when the chips are down and resources are scarce. And you might not even need the potting soil if your ground is decent. Even the guy in “The Martian” managed to grow potatoes.

If you have a yard, you have soil even if it isn’t the greatest. If you are an apartment dweller you can use this container method with minimal resources. So try growing your own potatoes – I haven’t regretted it.

Gun Review: FN M240B

By

Caleb Giddings

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August 18, 2021

Today we’re reviewing one of the greatest guns ever: the M240B medium machine gun. Yes, this is a serious post but also it’s not, because obviously the M240B is, and I quote, hella illegal for general civilian ownership. However it also rules so we’re going to talk about why it rules. The first reason why the M240B rules: it is durable as hell.

In the above video, the shooter, who is definitely not me, yeets a series of bursts through this M240 that, based on the pile of brass and links in the frame, has already been run pretty hard that. It doesn’t complain, it just keeps taking the abuse and going on and on. This is in contrast to its bitchy cousin the M249, which while I love the M249 for many reasons, can be a real pain in the ass to keep running.

Anyway, back to why the M240B rules. It rules because it’s probably the best medium machine gun that the US military has ever fielded, including the revered M60. That’s right, I said it. The M240B is better than the M60. It’s also better than the M1919, even though the M1919 was designed by Saint John Moses Browning, who designed every good gun ever. Here’s 5 reasons the M240 is better than the M60.

The M240B isn’t based on Nazi machine gun designs. Nazi machine guns in WW2 are o-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d and people think they were awesome for the same reasons they think the Sherman sucked: those people are low-key dumb.
M240s will endure round counts that would shatter an M60 into a gajillion little pieces. I’ve seen a single M240 eat 24,000 rounds in a day without a single failure. That’s gnarly.
Barrel changes on the 240 are way easier than the M60
The Belgians (who designed the M240) make better beer than Germans or Americans, thus the M240 is better.
Yes, “Pig” is a cool nickname for a machine gun, but the M60 got that name because it was unbalanced and liked to nose dive into the ground. Everyone loves the 240, so it doesn’t have a mean nickname.

Alright, let’s do some real review stuff here for a second. The M240B is a 7.62 NATO, gas operated medium machine gun that fires from the open bolt position. It has a rate of fire from 650 to 850 rounds per minute, and has fixed headspace barrels, which means that theoretically, any 240 barrel on the planet should fit any 240. For the most part, the guns issued to the US military have been manufactured by FN USA in Columbia, SC; however I’ve personally seen at least one Colt manufactured M240B. In Air Force ground combat doctrine (yes that’s a thing I promise you) the role of the M240B is to either be vehicle mounted on mobile patrols, or mounted in a fixed position to cover a sector of fire in the ground airbase defense role. In traditional infantry fire and maneuver situations, the M240B is used to provide a base of fire that allows the maneuver unit to advance on the objective.

But now the most important question to answer in this M240 review: is it wicked awesome to rip a belt through? YES DUH. And if you ever get the chance I highly recommend you do it.

Global Ordnance Now Offering New Grand Power Stribog Curved Magazines

By

David R

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August 17, 2021

Global Ordnance, the exclusive distributor for Grand Power in the United States, is officially launching the highly-anticipated 30-Round Curved Magazines for the Grand Power Stribog SP9 lineup. After years of research and development, rigorous testing, and a long ride across the sea, the all-new magazines are finally available for purchase from Global Ordnance and their select dealers.

The Stribog Curved Magazine offers customers a more desirable design that’s easier to load and allows smoother feeding for the tapered 9mm cartridges, robust polymer construction, and a more compact package.

Grand Power has worked with Global Ordnance for many months to perfect and test the new magazine design. “We are pleased with the results of our partnership in design and development with Grand Power,” said John Dilley, Director of Commercial Operations for Global Ordnance, “we are excited to put the new magazines in the hands of the dedicated fans and followers of the Stribogs.”

Initially, the new Stribog 30-Round Curved Magazines will be offered for retail purchase in limited quantities directly from Global Ordnance’s commercial website and select dealers, including Gun Mag Warehouse. Additionally, for current inventory, Grand Power Stribog SP9A1 and SP9A3 models will be upgraded to include one Curved Magazine in all new shipments.

Grand Power Stribog SP9A1, Stribog SP9A3, and the new 30-Round Stribog Curved Magazines can be purchased by visiting the Global Ordnance website at www.GlobalOrdnance.com. To learn more about Grand Power and the Stribog lineup, please visit www.GrandPowerUSA.net

Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, Global Ordnance LLC (GlobalOrdnance.com) is a force multiplier within the commercial and defense military industries supporting a wide array of equipment, ammunition, and firearms. As a Veteran-Owned Small Business, Global Ordnance LLC strives to provide excellence to our customers with unparalleled integrity of values and the loyalty expected.

A Smithy Bullpup?

By

Keith Finch

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August 17, 2021

Yep, a Smithy bullpup.

Smith & Wesson is getting back into shotguns with a bullpup 12ga. It can hold upwards of 20 (with mini-shells) and is alleged to run just fine with the otherwise somewhat problematic little rounds.

This is all a fascinating development for a Tuesday.

Now, I am a bullpup fan. The X95 is a superb carbine. Bullpup shotguns (and I owned a KSG) still seem like a tough sell. Sure, they hold more ammunition, sure they have the compact profile that the bullpup excels with, but the reload mechanics and clearance procedures are still a little bit much. They still feel and look like juggling.

Now, that isn’t to say I am simply observing without experiencing (because I am in this instance) and this scattergat may be superb in its handling. But the M&P12 seems to have come no closer to solving the geometries that make loading smooth than any other of the current bullpups.

That is the compromise, bullpup shotguns save you the space and give you the capacity of two shotguns but they are much more ‘fire until empty, then dump’ than shotguns you can dual and quadload with. If that’s a tradeoff that sounds worth it (and 15 2-3/4″ 00 Buck is a lot of onboard boom) then the newest M&P is worth a gander.

Commando Gunsmithing

By

V. Caldwell

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August 17, 2021

Commando means different things to different people. Commando may mean being undisciplined in some way and going without certain essential garments, or it may mean you are well trained in overland and overseas maneuvers. Safe to say I think the term is unconventional.

There is a book called Commando Gunsmithing. Not one thing in the book describes work that must be carried out with a lathe or drill press. It is all about maintaining, repairing and modifying certain firearms, mostly handguns, with some mention of shotguns and rifles as well, and tells how the average shooter can keep the firearm running with a minimum of skill and a few parts on hand.

I think that the real value is explaining which guns will need what parts. During an my shooting life I have figured out exactly which gun needs what parts and almost in the order they will need them. This isn’t a boast, I simply want to make life easier for you. As an example I have replaced quite a few 1911 extractors. Grips crack, grip screw bushings are a trouble. I have cracked exactly one frame in a hard use pin gun. I believe it broke at about 11,000 rounds. That isn’t a lot but the pin load was a hard cast 255 grain SWC at 938 fps. Yet, that’s too much. So I don’t have a spare frame as I wont need it. I have a couple of spare extractors. They are not pre fitted as I don’t know which 1911 I will need it for. If I had but one 1911 and used it in competition I would pre fit the extractor by grinding the bump on the extractor until it fit that one gun perfectly. I would be certain it didn’t clock or turn in the slide. You should as well if you are in this game.

Lets look at the different types of pistols many of us use in competition and personal defense and see what parts you should have on board for a long and happy service life. If you have tried to order parts lately as I have you know some parts are scarce and shipping times longer than ever. It pays to be proactive. Fortunately most of these parts are inexpensive.

Autoloading Pistols

Grips break. Not a bad idea to have a spare set put up unless you are using a polymer frame gun- then there is no need. Beretta and CZ grips are a little thin and break often. Magazines are a renewable resource with a finite life. Factory magazines from Beretta, SIG, and Glock will last a lifetime, at least the bodies will if not damaged. In the 1911, Wilson Combat and MecGar are top choices. You never have enough magazines. If you keep them in the original packing then they have not been proofed in the gun but should work. Check magazine spring pressure. At a high round count the magazine spring may be ready to give up the ghost. It is asking a lot for a magazine to ride at full compression and always feed time after time even when the last few rounds are at almost no compression. But then SIG and Glock get it done don’t they? Recoil springs should be kept on hand. Some last longer than others. A good bet is to replace the magazine spring at 5,000 rounds and the recoil spring at the same time. With the high pressure .357 SIG or 10mm, perhaps a bit sooner. When recoil becomes greater and the spent cases are sent flying a bit further the recoil spring may be on its way out.

Revolver Generalities

Revolvers last and last and last- but they too show wear. The only common complaint from police service was the adjustable sights on some revolvers getting knocked off by contact with door jambs. Some of the guys who put Smith & Wesson revolvers sights on their automatics- a labor intensive and once popular modification- later wished they had footed the bill for Bomar sights. If you own a goodly number of revolvers it may not be a bad idea to put up one set of adjustable sights and at least a leaf or two. Another thing that you will probably have a need for with Smith & Wesson is end shake bushings. If you have a K frame .357 Magnum sooner or later the revolver will develop end shake. This is simply loose play on the cylinder. Be certain to order a package of end shake bushings. They are simple to install and make a great deal of difference. They will cure forcing cone spitting and end shake or end play as it is often called. ( Or cylinder play.)They are about a nickel each. Revolver action springs don’t seem to go bad often enough to keep them in stock. Occasionally the trigger return spring on a Smith & Wesson revolver will give up, but more often a simple cleaning is all that is needed. If you own several Colt Pythons I would put up a firing pin. The original will break if dry fired and the last time I had to order one it was three weeks before I was able to find it!

Going back to the self loading pistol. Among the very few parts needed for modern pistols may be a locking wedge for the Beretta 92. While the newest versions are improved these locking wedges have a finite life, anywhere from 13,000 to 18,000 rounds before they crack. The SIG doesn’t seem to need anything on a regular basis. Friends using CZ75 types in competition tell me the extractor needs replacing at 8,000 rounds or so but then some are running at 15,000. The next thing that is needed is a proper tool set. Real Avid offers excellent gunsmith grade punches, sight movers, tool kits, and cleaning kits. A good cleaning kit and thorough maintenance on a regular basis will avoid breakage. These are machines and machines must be serviced and lubricated. They will last practically forever if properly maintained.

Commando Gunsmithing

Robert Campbell

Don’t buy the print copies! Folks are asking absurd prices on these, completely ridiculous at thirty to sixty dollars. The Kindle book is only $3.99 at Amazon.com

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08ZHY774Y