Does dry fire help?

By

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July 13, 2020

Why does dry fire help shooters? To put it simply, dry fire allows us to practice all but one part of the integrated act of shooting a gun in a completely controlled and calm environment. If you’re not dry firing, you’re not really serious about getting good at shooting.

To guarantee that your dry fire does help you improve, you need to set up your practice in a thoughtful way. First, define your goal. That goal could be as simple as “I want to have an 1.00 second draw from appendix carry concealment” or it could be as complex as “I’m training for a major match and have identified a weak spot in skill set x that I need to address if I want to do my best.” An important aspect of your goal is it needs to be achievable given your skill set. For example, if your current draw from concealment is 3 seconds, setting a 1-second goal this month isn’t realistic. But you could set a 2.5 second short term goal, and then a 2-second short term goal, working your way towards that ultimate one second goal.

Now, there is some equipment you need to make sure your dry fire does help you. First, you need some kind of target. You can buy mini-targets designed for dry fire, or you can use something like a 3×5 index card. You’re also definitely going to need a shot timer, because that’s how you track your times. Last but not least, I like to use dummy rounds as an extra safety measure. If I have a dummy round in the gun, there’s no way that a real round could magically sneak into the chamber.

If you’ve asked does dry fire help, you’re already on the right path. Taking 10 minutes a day to work on basic skills like drawing, reloading, and even trigger press and sight alignment will go a long way towards making you a far better shooter. I find that 3-5 10 minute sessions does a lot better for me than trying to grind out an hour long session in one day. Plus, I think it’s easier to find 10 minutes than it is to find an hour to practice. Regardless, make sure that your practice is focused and clear of distractions, and you’ll see yourself improving fast!

Accurizing the X95

By

Keith Finch

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July 10, 2020

Our latest video review where I talk about the accuracy challenges of the X95 and what you can do to mitigate them.

In short it comes down to 4 things.

Use good ammunition for a 1:7 twist barrel.
“Freefloat” the barrel (check the video to see how that is accomplished)
Upgrade the trigger to reduce movement you impart to the gun.
Learn the idiocracies of shooting a small rifle platform, learning to shoot the X95 is a bit of a different animal because of the extremely short overall length.

That’s it all, nothing fancy. Stay tuned for more as I’m out with IWI all weekend.

Threats to Gun Ownership Amid the Chaos

By

DRGO

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July 10, 2020

The first quarter of 2020 was marked by the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic which has affected almost every aspect of our lives. The second quarter of 2020 has seen rising tensions over police brutality and the wider societal effects of racism. These issues have left few areas of American life without turmoil, and few Americans without stress. Second Amendment rights continue to face challenges, and 2020 has not left them free from attack.

Misplaced Empathy

Recent events have intersected with gun rights in various ways. The link between gun violence and societal health does exist. However, it works in the opposite way to what many claim.

Gun violence is an issue that affects black Americans more than other Americans. Decades of racial inequality and a rough economic situation nationwide has led to a situation where crime and gang violence are far too common, and disproportionately affect black Americans. Getting rid of guns does not solve this issue. Eradicating systemic racism and working to fix economic inequality should be the path forward, but these are not fostered by gun control.

Another example is mental health. The prevalence of mental health issues in the US is genuine problem that needs addressing. The recent coronavirus shutdowns, as necessary as they may be, have increased social isolation for many Americans. Social isolation can have negative, and sometimes drastic, effects on mental health. With certain mental health issues, unfortunately, come suicidal thoughts and behavior for some.

Firearms are sometimes used to commit suicide, and this fact is often put forward as cause for restricting gun rights. However, the true issue is the underlying mental health issues. In other words, the desire to commit suicide needs addressing, not any particular way of doing it. What is needed is a better societal understanding of mental health issues and a focus on getting people the help they deserve. Denying people effective and protective tools to defend themselves with is not going to solve their mental health issues.

There are more instances of this kind of thinking. One can see how an unknowledgeable but empathic person would suggest gun control to aid these problems, but the underlying issues are what really needs to be addressed. Recent events involving firearms have brought extra heat. Politicians and media members sometimes manipulate the empathy of their audiences to mobilize them against firearms.

Second Amendment Infringements

A recent Virginia bill brought a number of troubling changes to Virginians’ gun rights. The flagship proposal was a Red Flag laws. Red flag laws allow police departments to confiscate firearms from those who “pose a threat to themselves or others”. There may be a reasonable argument from taking guns from those currently threatening violence, but blanket authorization to dangerous take people’s firearms based on second-hand reports is dangerous. Does having depression count as being a danger to oneself or others? Does seeking a therapist for help with mental health issues count? These laws can be used wrongfully to infringe on Second Amendment rights.

The progressives’ goal to ban “assault weapons” has not diminished either. While such semi-automatic firearms do not pose the threat that is purported, many see reports of deadly shootings in the news and assume that banning certain firearms could end them. Recent court appeals could have resolved some of these issues, but the Supreme Court declined to hear them. Ignoring these important Second Amendment cases only adds to the state of uncertainty.

Oversaturation

One effect of our multiple, daily worsening national crises is an abundance of news about these events. When the media spends so much time covering these stories, Second Amendment issues ignored even more than usual.

The recent Virginia gun control bill is a great example. It would have been the subject of much wider controversy if it wasn’t fighting so hard for air time. We can’t allow these issues to go unnoticed and unopposed.

Hope

There is some hope in all the chaos. Gun ownership is on a dramatic rise. Importantly, it has been on the rise among Americans of color. Minorities are often the most in need of protection for the sake of their health and sanity. An armed minority is harder to oppress. Black gun owners have been showing up to protect peaceful protests, and more new gun owners in general seem to be realizing the importance of gun ownership. If you believe you are living under an oppressive state, firearms offer defensive power to the people. The best part is that you don’t have fire a shot to wield that power.

It is uncertain where things are headed. In a way, things seem to be looking up even while our rights are under greater attack. The best thing to do is to continue challenging irrational anti-gun laws and thinking with reasoned discussion and protest.

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—Jay Chambers is a Texas archer, shooter, survivalist and business owner at Minuteman Review. He believes in free speech, resiliency and self-sufficiency in an increasingly unpredictable world.

All DRGO articles by Jay Chambers

The Air Force Pistol Qualification

By

Caleb Giddings

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July 10, 2020

This will probably come as a surprise, but the Air Force Pistol Qualification is one of the best qual courses in the entire military, and better than a lot of law enforcement courses. I should warn you, that I am slightly biased in my opinion, since my other job is an Air Force Combat Arms Instructor.

Let’s explain what’s going on here. Most .mil/LEO qual courses are super easy to pass and don’t really test the shooter’s marksmanship in a real way. To be fair, the Air Force Pistol Qualification is easy to pass, but it’s somewhat difficult to score “expert” on. Now, all of this may be subject to change, because there’s been a rumor going around that the USAF is getting a new pistol course, but as of this writing we are using the same one we’ve been using for the past 10 years.

What makes the Air Force Pistol Qualification good? To be a “good” a pistol qualification should do more than just check a box. It should require the shooter to demonstrate a grasp of the fundamentals of marksmanship that exceeds the average gun owner. While just qualifying on the course is easy, as I mentioned above it’s difficult to get an expert score. The course of fire is 45 rounds for score, fired on a Green Ernie target. The Green Ernie is a green silhouette target that has a 6 inch scoring circle in the head and a 10 inch scoring in the chest. To qualify, the shooter must hit the Green Ernie 35/45 times anywhere on the silhouette. Like I said, it’s not hard to qualify.

Scoring expert on the other hand requires some decent marksmanship: you have to get 41 out of 45 hits on the target to start with. I have to aside here – I disagree with that pretty strongly, I don’t think any “expert” level qualification should allow you to completely miss, but that’s not the point. Anyway, to get expert on the Air Force Pistol Qualification, you have to get the aforementioned minimum of 41/45 hits, then of those 41 hits at least 6 have to hit the head box, and 25 have to be in the chest circle. A perfect score, which I’ve done once, would be 45 hits on paper, 32 in the chest and 13 in the head.

Getting a perfect score or even an expert score isn’t easy. The Air Force Pistol Qualification is fired from 7, 15, and 25 yards. All the strings of fire at 7 and 15 are failure to stop drills, which I think is an excellent tactic to drill. There is one six shot string at 25 yards, all of which is fired at the target’s center of mass. Making things more complicated, there are only two strings of fire at 7 yards, giving the shooter only two “easy” head shots. The remainder are made from 15 yards. Even a talented shooter would have trouble going 100% on a six inch circle at 15 yards. There are 11 required head shots at 15 yards, so if the shooter made their two at 7, they still need to hit 36% of their remaining heads to get that expert score.

I think military and LEO shooting quals should be challenging. The golden standard of “hard to shoot” quals is the old DHS FAM qual. The FBI qualification is solid, but if you’re looking for another solid course, the Air Force’s course is pretty good. Here’s a link to the publicly available USAF document if you’d like to read it for yourself.

Axeon Second Zero Systems – Caveman Approved

By

Travis Pike

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July 9, 2020

I first heard of Axeon as a manufacturer of a shotgun light, but as I pursued their website I saw this Second Zero system. It proclaimed it could give you an instant Second Zero for long-range shots. I have a caveman brain and while I got the idea, I had to see how it worked. I needed to see this in action and to test out how exactly adding a prism lens could give me an instant Second Zero at 330 or 530 yards.

Enter the Second Zero System

The reason I couldn’t wrap my brain around it was the fact that it is as simple as another lens. Just one more lens. It seemed too good to be true. Axeon sent me numerous models in various configurations. These devices can attach directly to an optic or to a rail in front of the optic. The models that can mount to an optic come made for 40-44mm bells and 50mm bells.

The Second Zero system will work with any optic type, and this includes red dots and prismatic optics. For these things, you want the rail-mounted option, and speaking of the rail-mounted option it also works best with AR height optics.

Installation of either system takes no time at all. It’s very simple and easy to do. They include an Allen wrench you may need to make adjustments for the fit. There are no necessary adjustments to your optics or to the Second Zero system, just for fitment.

All you’ll need to do is have a good 100-yard zero and *bam* flip up or flip down the Second Zero system and you’ll have either a 330 or 530 yard zero. It fits on the gun and the gun fits in my AR15 case without issue. It’s a dead-on MOA adjustment to your reticle without actually making adjustments to your optic. It’s amazing both how it works and how well it works. The Axeon Second Zero is a fascinating system that is remarkably simple and extremely effective.

Now keep in mind 330 and 530 yards are based on a predetermined muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient, but with the MOA shift you can calculate your precise Second Zero in any caliber or tailored load with just about any Ballistic Calculator. Or, better yet, go out and shoot live to check your live impacts with your select ammo, especially if you’re hunting something like prairie dog or coyote.

Grab it here.

Apparently You Have AK Questions.. So here.

By

Keith Finch

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July 8, 2020

I don’t know what kind of planetary alignment came about but I have been inundated with information requests about AK’s.

So, here is the Polish AK Pro himself, Rob Ski, of AK Operators Union 47-74 talking about things to look at when you’re picking up an AK from across the counter.

AK’s are scarce on the ground right now… like.. really scarce. The Serbian Zastava imports with the new more ‘Americanized’ features like chromed barrels were about the only ones I’ve recently seen in stock just about anywhere. A few Arsenal’s were too.. but not many. Ordering a Rifle Dynamic might be just as quick as finding a regular rifle.

Also remember that Jim Fuller will have his launch coming up soon too, Fuller Phoenix AK’s, and those are likely to be fantastic.

So, let me cover the questions I’ve been seeing most frequently.

Is the AK a good home defense rifle/pistol?

Yes.

Which caliber should I get?

Which caliber do you want/can you find?

Right now, with the general scarcity, a 6.5 Grendel might not be a bad idea but the classics in 7.62 are usually the solid bet. After that I would actually say getting one in 5.56 might be next and then 5.45. Ammo for all the varieties out there are still around but it is tough at the moment. The three core calibers, 7.62, 5.45, and 5.56 are probably overall the best bets for full support. In my immediate distribution chain the 5.45 is the only ammo that can be found at case volume.

Are AK’s still cheaper than AR’s?

Not really, no.

A good entry AK and good entry AR will run you in the $800-900 range. Accessories for both run roughly the same for the same quality. My RD NATO full kit MSRP tags out at around $4,000 and so does the LWRC sitting next to it when you roll in optics, lights, triggers, and furniture.

Assume a system complete rifle will run you ~$2,000 over the whole spend and that’s a good opening ballpark.

Can you do it for less?

Sure.

Can you do it for more?

Absolutely, been there and done that.

Will $2,000 get you a system you’ll have pretty much no worries with?

Yep, that’s why I throw that number out. It is a realistic number and you can spread out the cost. That will cover rifle, light, optic, mags, sling, and ammo all in good quality and quantity.

Which brands should I look at?

The imported WASR types are still your entry price point. The new Zastavas are probably up from there while still being sub $1,000.

Arsenal SGL or SLR series are my go to recommendation.

Getting into the semi-custom realm I recommend the IWI Galil ACE with great enthusiasm. It is one of the best takes on a modernized AK, they have robust aftermarket support and the calibers take the most popular magazines for their respective chamberings so magazine support doesn’t require hunting down anything expensive or exotic.

Then there is the Rifle Dynamics and Krebs Custom level items and upcoming Phoenix line from Fuller.

You do, generally, get what you pay for if you’re paying around market.

What should I buy after the rifle?

Ammunition, magazines, sling, light, optic, training course. In that order and not skipping any of them, especially not the last one. Get a good basic rifle course under your belt to run the gun from an instructor that knows their way around an AK.

Brands?

Ammo: Any, really. FMJ steel case is an AK’s normal fodder. New production.

Magazines: I like Magpul and Circle 10’s. I’ve got good recommendations on Beryl mags for 5.56 AKs and US Palms for 7.62×39. Even surplus steel and aluminums are probably okay as long as they’re still in the proper shape and fit your particular AK’s mag release so check fitment.

Slings: Blue Force Gear, Savvy Sniper, Magpul.

Lights: The four horsemen of the lumen apocalypse: Streamlight, Surefire, Modlite (w/Reptilia), and Cloud Defensive.

Optics: I like magnified optics on many many platforms, but AKs… I like the Fuller approach. Dot on the Ultimak gas tube and call it good. To that end my favorite is the Aimpoint CompM5 but any T1/T2 or RMR footprint dot of quality will serve. Holosun(s), Trijicon MRO and RMR, Aimpoint PRO and T1/T2.

Training: Sentinel Concepts Carbine Employment. 2 Days, nothing crazy, just shooting the gun better.

If you had to pick one AK

Mine.

RD NATO Rifle Dynamics AK in 5.56 NATO .223 Remington with Aimpoint CompM5 and ALG AKT-UL Trigger — Cat shadow photobomb game is strong

Rifle Dynamics NATO, Ultimak railed gas tube, Aimpoint CompM5, Surefire M600DF (Or Modlite PLHv2), Magpul ‘midlength’ forend, ALG AKT-UL Trigger, Krebs safety lever, Blue Force Gear 2-Point sling on QD’s.

Ok… but like on a budget..

Arsenal SLR, Ultimak railed gas tube, Aimpoint PRO, Magpul forend (standard AK length), Streamlight RM1/RM2, Blue Force Gear 2-Point sling.

Conclusion

The AK still slams. It’s a functional option for a fighting rifle. Simple, accurate, effective, modernized through aftermarket with several modern variants, and durable. It has a few functional weak points (as do all machines) but if you are considering one, it is certainly worth consideration.

ReBAMFed! Cobalt Kinetics Now Under New Ownership!

By

Keith Finch

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July 8, 2020

CobaltOverwatch — Image via Cobalt Kinetics, Overwatch XL LE

The makers of the most space age, Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk AR rifle on the market have new management at the helm.

Washington Utah, July 7, 2020: Cobalt Kinetics Under New Ownership

St. George, Utah July 1 – Cobalt Kinetics, manufacturer of premium performance and precision engineered rifles, today announced that its holdings have been acquired by BAQ Defense, a company providing specialty training, products, and programs to non-profit entities involved in combating child sex trafficking.

As a niche manufacturer focused on enhancing functionality and features in AR type rifles, Cobalt Kinetics climbed to fame by designing and building specialty firearms unmatched in the industry. Endowed with bold aesthetics, cutting-edge technical innovation and state-of-the-art engineering, Cobalt rifles have garnered attention by gun enthusiasts, competitors, and high-level dealers since their inception in 2014.

“After a demanding run from 2015 to 2019, we felt ecstatic about the progress we had made. As we were in the steps of planning out our next phase of development, we were approached by BAQ Defense and began entertaining conversations about our future.” Said Skylar Stewart, VP of Cobalt Kinetics. “They were deeply interested in our R&D and the potential they saw for taking the company to the next level. From our very first conversations it was apparent they already had a vision in place, one that would capitalize on what we had already achieved, while moving towards new opportunities that would distinguish Cobalt even further. BAQ Defense was the answer we didn’t even know we were looking for.”

Commenting on the decision to purchase Cobalt, BAQ President, Aaron Quinn revealed, “We’ve been interested in Cobalt for some time. Their level of innovation and pure artistry is unprecedented. We watched them maneuver into the industry, filling a need for billet options while also meeting a heavy competition type demand. We want to continue their gold standard of excellence by developing additional firearms that meet every demand in the market. As trends come and go and the flux between tactical and competitive needs arise, we want to be there with products that outfit all buyers.”

Having eased off on production in August of 2019, Cobalt, now under new leadership, will immediately begin its next phase of manufacturing. Carrying on the tradition of AR Style Rifles, Cobalt now promises to move forward on several new projects, including work on a series of prototypes presently in R&D that are going to dramatically enhance Cobalt’s line up.

Jason Parker, VP BAQ adds, “With these exciting changes taking place, we want to assure Cobalt fans that the same level of professionalism that has made the company what it is today will remain the same. Several key staff members crucial to prior success will remain with us full time. We will not let the commitment to excellence slide backwards, regardless of the new channels we open.”

For gun owners seeking access to the best AR type rifles on the market, Cobalt is the product of choice. Now, under new ownership and new directives, the name that has predominantly been associated with elite circles, will also be known by every gun owner who wants to experience the best in the game.

Looking to the future,

Jason Parker
Vice President, Cobalt Kinetics

The Cobalt basic rifle costs about $2,000 and they can reach $5,000 in their Evolve variant of the BAMF (Billet Aluminum Modern Firearm). The company is known for using incredible materials and sharp aesthetics combined with forward thinking competition features like their automatic bolt release. But they are a company that makes an H&K look like a frugal purchase.

DRGO: A Message To Americans for Independence Day 2020

By

DRGO

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July 8, 2020

(from parade.com)

[Ed: This is excerpted from an article posted this July 4 on The Arbalest Quarrel, edited for DRGO.]

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“Americans have the right and the advantage of being armed—unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.” — James Madison, Federalist 46.

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Dear Fellow Americans:

As we celebrate Independence Day this July 4^th we should think about the significance of the War that was fought 240 years ago against tyranny, and the sacrifices that were made to give us a Nation unlike any other–one conceived in liberty. We should give thanks for our founders, and give serious thought to where we are today and how we see ourselves tomorrow.

Americans are shocked at the breakdown of law and order in our Nation; at the destruction of businesses and private property; at assaults on and murders of innocent Americans; at the violent, senseless acts of rioters, looters, and arsonists that go unpunished.

We have witnessed the wanton destruction of symbols of our nation’s history, culture, and heritage. We see the defacement, defilement, and destruction of treasured monuments, statues, and artwork.

We are disgusted by the reactions of “liberals” to the anarchy and chaos happening all around us, and we are appalled at their constant attacks on the Presidency.

The reactions of the radical left leadership make clear their contempt for our nation, for our people, and for our Constitution. The weak-kneed reactions of many conservatives to this lawlessness are no less disturbing and alarming.

But these radical forces have done us a favor. They have shown us their true colors and are telling us what they want: the end of our free Constitutional Republic. Never before has a U.S. Presidential election been so important.

This is a modern civil war. [See the Arbalest Quarrel article “In The Throes Of America’s Modern Day Civil War.”]

In some ways this modern civil war bears more relation to the American Revolution than to the American Civil War, because we are seeing something different, something potentially even more catastrophic. This could lead to the eradication of our Bill of Rights!

Our elected officials in Congress are not representing our interests. We had National Concealed Carry Reciprocity legislation in our grasp but the Senate threw it away. Of all the timely issues the Arbalest Quarrel has addressed over the years, this was one of the most important, the right to possess and bear firearms unrestricted. [See the AQ article “It’s Time For National Handgun Carry Reciprocity To Secure The Citizen’s Right Of Armed Self-Defense, Throughout The Country.”] If we are ever to see national carry legislation become a reality, we must do so with Trump as President and with Republican control of both the House and Senate.

This 4^th of July should remind all Americans that true freedom and liberty always exists with and because of an armed citizenry.

We see firsthand in States like New York, Illinois, Washington, and California to name a few, progressive strong-holds where state and local leadership have either capitulated to lawless mob rule or have actively participated in undermining law and order.

These recent events have also demonstrated how vulnerable the American people are, how helpless they are, and how they are made to feel.

Just take a look at New York City. This is a city which had for years seen a reduction in crime. It is now experiencing a massive resurgence as violent crime and murder rates have soared, equal to or surpassing those seen in Chicago.

Progressive Mayor Bill DeBlasio still refuses to allow licensed Federal Firearms Dealers, gun stores, and shooting ranges to open as “essential” businesses. Yet, he has let criminals out of jail to prey on innocent people, while at the same time he has defunded and dismantled the Police Department, disbanded undercover units, given them conflicting orders, and emasculated what remains of the police.

DeBlasio has made it extremely difficult for average, sensible, law-abiding citizens to exercise their fundamental right to possess firearms for personal protection. He claims citizens who reside in New York City don’t need firearms because the police serve that function–even as he decimates them. That, of course, is a bald-faced lie, as the police have no duty to ensure the life and safety of individuals.

The function of the police is to protect the safety of the community as a whole. [AQ has discussed this issue at length in the article “Can We, As Individuals, Rely on the Police To Protect us?”]

But today DeBlasio isn’t even providing New York City residents with that minimal level of protection. Instead of reinforcing the police, and supporting them, he has bowed to the will of the mob.

DeBlasio has empowered criminal, sociopathic elements. He has demoralized the police and left average, responsible, law-abiding citizenry helpless. If this is DeBlasio’s intention, he has succeeded. If not, this is evidence that he is incompetent and clueless.

This is repeated across the Country. You see it happening every day. America is on fire!

Governors and mayors fail to protect us, fail to protect society at large, and deny us the right to protect ourselves. They exercise absolute control. They ignore their own legislatures, arrogantly issuing illegal executive orders to exert control over Americans. They use that same authority to benefit themselves and the radical left agenda. This must stop.

Well-funded and well-organized left-wing forces, from within our country and outside it, have infiltrated our government, our schools, our social and business institutions–our very way of life.

Their focus for the time being is on the progressive-controlled sanctuary cities and states.

These destructive forces aim to accomplish their goals through a seditious “Fake News” media to create a totalitarian regime. They hide behind the protections of a “Free Press.” Beware if you are not “politically correct.”

Fortunately, President Donald Trump is not their puppet. He does not stand for their antics. He calls them out for the corrupters they are. He cannot be bought.

Leftist forces intend to defeat Trump at all costs. They constantly proclaim a runaway “Blue Wave” victory. It is the same claim they made during their failed attempt to elect Hillary Clinton.

These forces will be met by a counterforce. It is the same counterforce that succeeded in electing Trump President in 2016 and it will see Trump reelected in 2020. That counterforce consists of you, me and the great “Silent Majority.”

We need to understand the issues, know the facts, and be proactive. We will put out the fire burning in America with a backfire! The Presidential 2020 Election is only a few months away. The stakes are high.

Voting has consequences, as evidenced in the midterm elections of 2018 which allowed Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives while Republicans narrowly held on to the Senate. That midterm election upset put a halt to any possibility for the passage of national concealed carry reciprocity.

Then, too, the recent swing vote by U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts on the New York City gun transport case has done nothing to strengthen our Second Amendment rights. [AQ discusses this in the article “Antigun Crowd Breathes Collective Sigh Of Relief After Supreme Court Majority Gives NYC A Victory In Gun Transport Case.”]

Only President Trump’s reelection, along with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, will preserve a free Republic and our fundamental, unalienable rights. We cannot take anything for granted. The stakes are too high!

Conservatives must also fight for control of states and localities presently under the grip of the Left.

We must prioritize and plan our battles. But to successfully counter the forces that wish to undermine our Nation, we must keep informed. We need to understand the issues, know the facts, and be proactive. All of us must do our share. Let your voice be heard!

Keep up with Second Amendment news, and share it on social media. Share this message with your family, friends and acquaintances. Reach out and touch someone.

Call President Trump and the candidates for your Congressional seats. Let them know how you feel about these important issues. Remind them that they work for you, not for themselves. Make it clear that you will monitor how they vote on legislation and that you can as easily vote them out of office as vote them in.

The Capital telephone number to reach anyone in the Federal Government is: (202) 224-3121. This is staffed by switchboard operators who will connect you to the official’s office you want to reach. We use this phone number often. It only takes a few minutes. You, too, can make difference.

Remember well that if we do not retain control of the Federal Government, this July 4^th Independence Day celebration could easily be our last one as a truly free nation.

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— NYPD veteran Stephen D’Andrilli is President & CMO of the Arbalest Group, holding masters degrees in Criminal Justice Administration and Public Administration. He is NRA Certified as a Firearms Instructor & Training Counselor. He is passionate about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, testifies before government panels, and writes and appears in various media.

Ballistic Adjustable Mount (B.A.M.)

By

Keith Finch

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July 7, 2020

Stephanie has talked at length about SPUHR and the engineering marvels of Hakan. Then this past weekend I see Ian of Forgotten Weapons post this gem about an optic system in a slightly different train of thought than the typical bomb proof SPUHR scope rings.

BAM! Or B.A.M. the Ballistic Adjustable Mount is SPUHR’s solution to the conundrum of machine gun optics.

As Ian points out, rifle and machine gun optics are two very different animals. I was having these discussions at the beginning of the decade with my platoon commander, I was sitting as the defacto platoon sergeant watching our squad leaders run contact drills and we were discussing the M249 SAWs and upcoming M27’s. We both had pretty much matching opinions on the subject. Ian’s opinion closely matched ours.

In the Marine Corps, for all our line company weapon systems, we ran ACOGs. M16’s and M4’s ran TA31’s, M249’s (and later M27’s) ran TA11’s with RMR’s on top, and the M240’s ran TA648’s with RMR’s. It was a… durable solution to the problem of providing our support and suppressive weapons with greater observation power and quicker adjustments to get rounds on target.

The problem is that automatic weapons use a ‘One Sight Picture/Burst’ instead of a ‘One Sight Picture/Shot’ method of operation. Firing 7-10 rounds it an area to control movement within it as well as cause casualties. Automatic weapons are about area dominance, they are used more often to deny an enemy element movement then they are to cause direct fire casualties. That is what rifles are for.

A burst is going to break your sight picture, period. A magnified optic, even one with a 1x setting, has an eye box that is going to be disrupted during firing. This means getting back onto target becomes more difficult as you deal with searching the narrow field of view to reacquire and re-engage. Ideally, you want magnification to find and observe and an open sight to engage so the gunner can very quickly reacquire the sight.

Marines will often use two person teams to accomplish this, one observes and calls adjustments and the second sits behind the gun pulling the trigger, supporting the gun, and looking at the narrower sight picture. This is an imperfect solution as it requires two brains to communicate and process two visuals that the other cannot see and is not processing in the same way, but it does work. It takes practice to do well and a team that has worked together will do it better than two who have not.

Solutions to lower the number of people needed to effectively run machine guns have been a heavy focus of GWOT efforts and SPUHR’s optics solution helps further the cause quite nicely.

The B.A.M.

sphur BAM B.A.M. machine gun optic mount — Via SPHUR

This Bad Ass Mutha is a modification of what operators have been doing with the RDS/Magnifier combinations for a long time now. The open eyebox of a Holographic or Red Dot optic makes them fast and, more importantly, the fastest sight to reacquire. The magnifier behind the dot grants 3x and 6x observational capability and the ability to use shorter bursts (or single shots on newer machine guns) with great effect.

Added onto that base capability is a range knob that will adjust the whole simple assembly for greater distances. No drastic hold overs, point of aim/point of impact with your dot. This allows the gunner to do all the thinking and make the decisions for the gun on their own, limiting the feedback they need from a second person. Both LMGs and GPMGs are increasingly one person on the gun so being able to do more is a critical need.

The theory is simple, observe using the 3x or 6x magnifier to confirm the target and then flip it out of the way so you can track the dot during recoil and reset it to the spot after each burst. Flip the magnifier back for detailed obersvation.

The Marines tried, with a modicum of success, to do with this with the ACOG/RMR set up, but problem is you have to give up a good position on the gun to use the unmagnified optic and in moving your body you further disturb your aligned position. The B.A.M just allows this same capability from the strongest position behind the gun, for both magnified and unmagnified use it is the same body position and the magnifier just moves helpfully into and out of place with your support hand.

You can use it or lose it on the fly depending on your immediate need as the gunner, a solid position might allow you to fire with the magnifier in place while a hastier position may require you to flip it to the side to be effective.

The point ultimately being, the SPHUR B.A.M. provides a rock solid plate of capabilities to a machine gunner that needs a different set of optical capabilities than the riflemen they are supporting.

And that’s just neat.

Do you need to aim a shotgun?

By

Caleb Giddings

-

July 6, 2020

Do you need to aim a shotgun? Thanks to television and movies, a lot of people don’t understand how shotguns actually work. We’ve all seen shows where shotguns blast circular holes out of doors, or where a scattergun fired down a hallway takes out three badguys. And of course good old Shotgun Joe Biden telling people to just go outside and “fire two blasts” to ward off intruders is comedy gold. But how true is all that? Are shotguns accurate?

The truth is you do need to aim a shotgun if you want to hit anything. To put this to the test, I took a Beretta 1301 and some Federal FLITECONTROL 00 buckshot to the range. We shot it at distances from as close as 3 yards to as far as 15 yards, which is about the longest shot I could personally take in my house. At 15 yards the Federal 00 buck was still shooting tight patterns that were 4-6 inches wide. At close range, it would put all 8 pellets into one big hole. That means two things: you do need to aim, but also that a shotgun with the right load is accurate enough to take a hostage rescue shot. We saw this for real in 2016, when a San Diego police officer shot a man in the face with a shotgun while that man held a woman hostage.

If you’re wondering do you need to aim a shotgun, we can absolutely answer “yes” to that. One of the key items to remember in any home defense situation is that regardless of why you’re shooting, you’re responsible for every round that leaves your gun. With a shotgun that means you’re dealing with 8 projectiles all at once. The best way to make sure that your rounds don’t hit something they shouldn’t is to hit what you’re trying to shoot. Even with a shotgun, and especially with a shotgun in a home defense context, that means aiming.

The next time someone says something to you about how shotguns just spray a huge pattern, you can turn to them and say “do you need to aim a shotgun?” Then reference the tests from the video that demonstrate that you do…if you want to be responsible.

Doctors’ prescription: Disarm

By

DRGO

-

July 3, 2020

(from whatsonafrica.com)

The latest Lancet Psychiatry editorial mixes several poorly articulated ideas in a swing-and-a-miss effort to impugn American gun owners by suggesting that current gun purchases are fueled by cowardice in the face of economic adversity. Given The Lancet’s other-than-the-United States focus, it isn’t surprising that it woefully mischaracterizes us.

“Home of the brave?” links economic hardship with gun purchases, and even resurrects Obama’s whopper foot-in-mouth statement: “bitter clingers”! Their conjectured emotional logic goes something like this: an economic downturn breeds anxiety, and guns are a salve for unhealthily worried minds.

The purported association between gun purchases and anxiety misses the mark. People typically aren’t quivering in fear when they purchase house insurance, for example, and I’ve not seen either panic or anxiety in guns stores over the past months. I have met people who are appropriately concerned about possible bad outcomes. Rather than outsourcing the responsibility to prevent those outcomes, new gun owners are taking it upon themselves to be as self-sufficient as they can be.

In contrast to anxiety (often, “an irrational reaction to a stressor”) concern is a thinking-and-feeling state that arises from accurately appraising the world we live in. This includes the realization that the police cannot arrive fast enough. Even in the best of circumstances, there will be a delay, and we are not currently living in the best of circumstances.

People buying guns have taken a brave first step towards becoming their own immediate responder. That’s the opposite of cowardice. Although debate rages among internet lawyers and tactical experts regarding the legality and strategic wisdom of the St. Louis couple that confronted a crowd of 300, what cannot be questioned is their bravery. They neither hid nor waved a flag of surrender.

After attacking gun owners, The Lancet changes it up by attacking the guns themselves: “We can be confident that . . . guns will play a primary role in pushing higher the US’s already high preventable death rate.” Depression mixed with suicidal ideation is a dangerous condition, not gun ownership. We know this because other countries with far less gun ownership have worse rates of suicide, such as Japan and parts of the former Soviet Union. Deaths involving the use of guns have been falling while the number of gun owners and guns has skyrocketed.

Finally, the editorial makes a leap to institutionalized racism. Although it notes that “gun violence” largely impacts minorities, rather than addressing poverty and disparities in education and job opportunities related to racism, it proclaims the solution is “advocating for fewer guns.” People protesting institutionalized racism every night around the monuments of Confederate generals here in Richmond would take exception to The Lancet’s position. Why? Because they are armed. Some have open-carried AR-15s and conceal-carried pistols. Even the local news, which is typically aghast at public displays of civilian gun ownership, gave them a pass because the logic of wanting to defend oneself is unassailable, in these current circumstances.

Given the genocides that have occurred around the world for generations, why can’t The Lancet see the importance of minority gun ownership? At this year’s historic Virginia Citizen Defense League’s Lobby Day, every ethnic group was well represented. Placards that stand out in my mind read: “Armed Minorities Are Harder To Oppress” . . . “I am UNARMED today due to GOVT. OPPRESSION” . . . “The easiest way to enslave people is to DISARM them.”

Unfortunately, terminal hoplophobia is a treatment-resistant condition characterized by blind allegiance to a fairytale that reads “. . . all the guns were banned and the people lived happily ever after.” This affliction keeps otherwise intelligent people from seeing how defensive gun usage vastly outweighs criminal usage, or experiencing the challenge and fun of the shooting sports.

The Founders of our country understood human nature at a level that Lancet Psychiatry cannot grasp, because these ivory-tower academics put the blame for violence on the weapon, not the person wielding it. Isn’t it curious that such mental health experts are more concerned about the weapon than with the perpetrator? Is it so hard to fathom that once disposed towards violence, a person will weaponize whatever is at hand?

Rather than slighting the literal and cultural descendants of the Greatest Generation who freed Europe—with guns—The Lancet would do well to learn from them.

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–Dennis Petrocelli, MD is a clinical and forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for nearly 20 years in Virginia. He took up shooting in 2019 for mind-body training and self-defense, and is in the fight for Virginians’ gun rights.

All DRGO articles by Dennis Petrocelli, MD

The Original NATO AK

By

Keith Finch

-

July 3, 2020

The Wz. 96 Beryl or Assault Rifle Model 96 Beryllium marked the Polish integration into NATO military alliance from their former home in the Warsaw Pact. Under the Soviet alliance the Polish had been preparing to transition to a 5.45 caliber rifle like Russia did with the AK74, the FB Tantal. Well with no more Soviet Union there was no more alliance based using 5.45 and they were joining an alliance that used 5.56.

Simple problem, simple solution.

Make a 5.56x45mm AK. And it worked.

Henry over at 9-Hole reviews (go subscribe) has a closer and more personal connection to the Beryl than many since he served very closely with the Polish both in Europe and the Middle East. I personally went to Poland on a short mission in 2018 and the Beryl’s were ever present and well cared for. I wish I could’ve gotten up close and personal on the rifles then but it wasn’t part of my job. I was busy elsewhere and despite my Infantry and Small Arms MOS’s I was doing neither of those two jobs.

AK “Purists” are a funny bunch and many deride the existence of 5.56 chambered AKs as pandering to the US market or as substandard to true AKs. Many claim such rifles are inferior to the 7.62 and 5.45 Soviet chamberings and used all manner of anecdotal ‘data’ to prove it. From the results of the AK74’s use in Afghanistan to the massive number of AK/AKM clones worldwide to the legend of its indestructible nature. Just don’t put it in mud, check InRange TV to see why.

Once one digs beyond the surface of those claims they.. well they fall apart. It turns out that a poorly built AK is still a poorly built rifle and a well built AK is a well built rifle.

My RD NATO featuring a Binx Shadow Photobomb

The caliber is secondary to the build quality and the build quality of rifles like the SLR106F (Which are the base rifles of RD NATO’s) and the Beryl’s are top notch.

If you look at the modern Beryl and how a great many ‘Western’ AK’s (of all calibers) are run you can see that the Polish military were both pragmatic and forward thinking in their design choices and have not sat on their hands in keeping the Beryl up to standards. The Beryl reminds me of the Canadian C7 and C8 rifles, the Canadian Armed Forces did a great job of integrating small improvements into their rifles while sidestepping a lot of the extravagant things that US rifles went through.

Now the Beryl is set into its retirement arc similar to the M16. As the M4A1 and M27, to be follow by the NGSW (according to plan), have taken over in US Service the FB MSBS Grot is taking over in Poland.

The new rifle is highly reminiscent of the ACR and began being fielded in 2018. Unlike the interim Beryl which only had ammo commonality the Grot has STANAG magazine commonality and the improved 21st Century “AR” derived control suite that we are seeing on the majority of modern rifles. The Bren 2, SCAR, MCX, APC, XCR, MARS, HK416, HK433, Carmel, and the MSBS all seem to feature very common threads of control development. The NGSW doesn’t stray from these commonalities either as the most significant change is the caliber, not the ergonomics. Short stroke gas piston, free-float, ambidextrous controlled, negative space rail system… I just described every modern service rifle/service rifle candidate of today.

The Polish clearly liked some of the bullpup advantages too as their is an MSBS ‘B’ Bullpup variant that resembles an X95

Additionally they have a 7.62 NATO model that has a degree of parts commonality and could easily be a candidate for following the US ammunition selection of the NGSW should Poland so choose.

The Early Days of Modern Optics

By

Keith Finch

-

July 2, 2020

Karl from InRange TV dives into the Hensoldt G36 dual optic system in the this featured video. It’s more interesting insight into the futuristic ambitions of the turn of the century weapon programs that were unmatched by technological development. Big ideas, but not possessing the tech to bring them to life.

The Hensoldt is an ambitiously forward thinking but ultimately bad optic. It’s counterpart on the XM8 was too. The 1.5x ‘Donut of Death’ Steyr AUG optic, made by Swarovski, was also limited even though it was well made. The SUSAT has suffered the same fate. Even just a couple year I had hands on a very nicely made gunsight from Meopta that was ultimately a bad design, it was one without a place.

In fact all of these optics were well made. They were not well designed. They were not suitable, especially by today’s standards, to accomplish their goals based upon real world experience. It is a symptom that can come of good engineers building something they do not understand because it is from the eyes and hands of the soldier that they need to draw design criteria.

These are interesting historic notes in optic development but as we can see from the modern optics of today we needed optics that allowed for very “heads up” capability.

Turn of the century optical engineers tried their best but the developments needed more time. Which is why, ultimately, only one optic emerged from that time period as a clear international winner.

The Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight model TA01 was introduced in 1987, that model did not feature the common fiber optic illumination on later models but its profile, field of view, and magnification were that of the widely procured TA31 model. The ACOG has since been adapted and adopted on nearly every rifle platform that originally had a native optical sight. Elcan’s also made a strong international showing but did not gain the universal acceptance of the ACOG.

Even the modern ACOG Generations, like the TA44 and TA50, don’t vary widely from the goal of these early optics but they execute that goal in a smaller, better lit, wider FOV, and more durable and modular manner than the older optics.

Today we live in a time where 1-8x and 1-10x gunsights are more durable, brighter, clearer, and capable than anything imagined at the turn of the century and they can be used to take full advantage of the innate capabilities of their platforms like never before. The quality of these tools in every aspect has never before posed these opportunities to grow and develop.

So thank you Hensoldt, SUSAT, Donut of Death, and every other oddball aiming solution of the past few decades. Thank you for paving the way to the glory days, even if objectively you were terrible optics. It was theorized, tried, and ultimately has been passed on to better systems. Day time optics will be LPVOs and likely backed up by dots and irons. Reliable and redundant systems to the point that it is more likely the whole weapon is out of commision due to damage than just a primary optic going down.

Brandon Herrera: “Help Me Save This AK”

By

Keith Finch

-

July 1, 2020

I don’t have a lot to say on this one guys. If you saw Forgotten Weapons post about the poor truly atrocious Krink build that they did in “.223mm” (Yes, that is the actual engraved marking for caliber) then the video here is Brandon breaking down what is wrong with this abomination in detail.

Somebody royally and utterly wrecked this thing. I’ve seen Pakistan hand builds that looked better (and safer) than this NFA registered select-fire (yep it is a rare transferable it sounds like… God help this poor owner…)

Just watch. And please, if you happen to know the owner, pass on Brandon’s offer to fix it. It needs help. It needs all the help. It could be a great select-fire… but for now it is a dumpster fire.

An Overnight Meme Sensation

By

Keith Finch

-

July 1, 2020

The McCloskey couple have overrun Social Media, especially in 2A circle, in a confused blitz of combined praise and mockery. The now famous lawyers are the subject of a myriad opinions ranging from “Hell yeah, that’s what the Second Amendment is for!” to “Ok, BoomerKaren.”

And the memes are truly legendary. Just truly spectacular.

This incredibly artful piece via, ‘The Gram’

For those unaware, the McCloskey’s are lawyers who lived in a legitimately gated community in a $1.1 million dollar home that is just as fancy as you could imagine. They had the misfortune, however, of living in the same community as St. Louis Mayor, Lyda Krewson, who had drawn the ire of the latest BLM protest march. The march started in the public domain and on public streets but then they broke down the gate into the private, marked ‘No Tresspassing’, neighborhood to reach Krewson’s home.

This put the crowd going right past the McCloskey’s home. The McCloskey’s responded to the group, who had just broken down the gate and entered the outdoor properties of the neighborhood, by grabbing an AR-15 and a pistol that looks like a Walther PPK and pointing them at the trespassing protest. They did this while barefoot and looking very very suburban. Their weapons handling was… sub-par. The specific legality of the situation is probably in the McCloskey’s favor, however opinions are all over the board and the optics are.. entertaining.

From the perspective of the (trespassing) crowd, who did break down the gate and certain reports have alleged were armed in some manner, this was two rich white people waving guns at them even though their overall aim was to yell at the Mayor down the street.

From the McCloskey’s perspective, a large group that is associated with instances of aggravated assault, arson, and looting, just forcibly entered their private neighborhood with unknown hostile/semi-hostile intent. The group had proven, that at the very least, destruction of property is on their list acceptable actions.

This is the very definition of they said/they said and they thought/they thought. It’s an optics and perspective game and who you believe or was in the right or in the wrong and to what degree is based entirely on perspective. Some will justify the McCloskey’s actions and their firearms brandishing and others will excuse the vandalism that allowed the crowd access to the private neighborhood. You all fall somewhere on that scale and have an opinion.

Couple in their 60’s, menaced by BLM mob who broke through their community gate, protect themselves by brandishing firearms.

BLM protest against Mayor in private neighborhood menaced by white rich couple brandishing “assault rifle” and handgun from the couple’s property.

Both are reasonably accurate headlines from the two points of view. I prefer a third perspective, however.

‘Burb Lawyers Brace for Barefooted Boogaloo against Gatecrashing BLM and set new 2A Fashion Trend. Memelords Rejoiced.

From where I sit, I think the McCloskey’s did what they felt they had to do. They just did so in a hilariously cringey manner.

And we get to benefit from it.

I love the internet.

Demand for M16A2 style rifles is about to go way up too. I suspect to see this arise again at the end of October in 2A Halloween circles.