ERGO DELTA Grip Review

By

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May 22, 2020

I first filmed this ERGO DELTA Grip review years ago, and since then have had some time to reevaluate the product. Everything I said in the video still stands, however there’s some more information to share.

The ERGO Delta Grip is designed to change the grip angle of the revolver, and solve one of the problems inherent to small revolvers, a lack of surface contact area. It changes the grip angle so that it’s the same as a Glock, and it adds a considerable amount of gripping area to the gun. The end result is a gun that’s easier to control and easier to shoot well than a standard j-frame.

While the ERGO DELTA Grip makes the gun easier to shoot, it also kind of ruins the j-frame. You see, one of the primary reasons people buy j-frames is because they want to carry the gun in their pocket. Normally, j-frame revolvers are light and small and can be easily concealed in a pants or coat pocket, and that’s how a lot of people prefer to carry them. The ERGO DELTA Grip basically makes pocket carry impossible, unless you have the world’s biggest pockets or a bag of holding.

In fact, it makes the gun harder to conceal, period. The big blocky grip becomes a difficult shape to break up under clothing, and I found that when I wore it, unless my shirt/belt/holster combo was perfect, the gun would print harder than Gutenberg. Again, that’s a problem because why do people buy j-frames? To carry them concealed.

Ultimately, if concealment is your goal, I can’t recommend the ERGO DELTA Grip. Yes, it makes the gun easier to shoot, but so does practice. I will say that one area I think it would be great: a .22 LR kit gun. Something where concealment isn’t really an issue but you want to be able to shoot the gun well. I think that this would be cool on something like a Smith & Wesson 317, but on an EDC revolver? It’s a no for me, dawg.

The Outpost – Trailer

By

Keith Finch

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May 22, 2020

The Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan, 2009 was one of the most significant engagements of the Afghan war, putting US Soldiers against approximately 8:1 odds as their position came under siege, their Afghan help ran away and looted, and hundreds of enemy soldiers rained heavy coordinated fire into a poorly positioned outpost below most of the surrounding terrain.

Orlando Bloom, who has another famous war role in Black Hawk down, plays Lt. Benjamin Keating in the film. The events of the day long battle, as parts of the post were overrun and then taken back and a skilled and adapted enemy tried to make gain victory, and the events preceding it as the American’s pit their “Hearts and Minds” campaign against the determination of the insurgency to achieve ‘victories’, or at least events they could claim as victories, against Coalition and Afghan central government forces.

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the weekend we remember the fallen and their sacrifice. Like the 8 soldiers that died in Kamdesh.

Sgt. Chris Griffin

• Sgt. Justin Gallegos

• Sgt. Josh Kirk

• Sgt. Josh Hardt

• Sgt. Vernon Martin

• Spc. Stephan L. Mace

• Spc. Michael Scusa

• Pfc. Kevin Thomson

I’m looking forward to the movie release July 3rd.

First Morning Back at the Range

By

Dr LateBloomer

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May 22, 2020

F54C9903-9FFE-4B60-9450-8941F36DD6CE — Everything for an hour on the range. Including clip for uncut pandemic hair.

Like a lot of people, I’ve had a very long dry spell in the shooting department.

I tried to go squirrel hunting back on February 1st and had the Ruger .17HMR all ready to go. But when I got to the property everything was socked in with fog. I couldn’t see any squirrels if I tried, and they likely would have been staying snug in their squirrel holes anyway. Since I had already driven up there, instead of being disappointed I turned it into a nice gun-less traipse in the woods instead. It was very quiet and soothing in the snow and fog.

An eerily quiet morning, but not squirrel-conducive.

I had a fine day shooting shotguns with my daughter later in February, but then the ‘Rona butted in and I haven’t been back to the range since.

The girlie-o with a Mossberg 20 gauge pump.

It was sad and frustrating for lots of reasons, but also because right before all this happened, I had picked up a Colt Night Cobra at a local shop, but then couldn’t go shoot it.

I had to settle for dry fire indoors with snap caps in the basement. It gave me an opportunity to play with the DeSantis Swift Strips, but since I hadn’t been wearing real pants with a belt for months, I didn’t really get to play with the DeSantis Inside Heat holster.

Finally after over two months, I had reached a breaking point. I needed fresh air and range time whether it was threatening rain or not.

I decided to go to my local club range. This was a good social distancing choice as the club is only a couple miles from my house and is outdoors. It is down a dirt road and fairly isolated, it has a no-touch electronic gate, and there is enough room that ten or more people could shoot there in various bays while remaining at least 25-30 yards apart. When I go I am usually alone the whole time anyway, and that day was no exception. It was just me and the puddle frogs.

I wasn’t alone on the range. The puddle frogs were singing and cavorting.

I desperately needed to wear a belt again and I chose the Klik belts model that I bought a few months ago. I had worn the belt with work pants for a few weeks before all this started, but hadn’t gotten to use it on the range. I can’t carry at the office, so my phone case was the only thing I had hung on the belt up to that point.

Klik belt with work pants and phone case back in February.

The DeSantis Inside Heat was something new for me. I’ve not used a leather holster before. The clip seemed just a little insubstantial at first glance, but it held up fine on use. After wearing the IWB rig around the house for several hours with only dummy rounds in the gun, I felt comfortable enough with it to go try the range.

Bear in mind that I’m not a revolver newb. I’m not an expert by any stretch, but I’ve shot an S&W 686SSR in IDPA for a couple seasons, so I’ve had a couple turns around the block with the revolver experience.

Once at the range, I didn’t want to bother with dragging out uprights and a stapler for cardboard, so I just went straight to the club plate rack at 18-20 yards. Yeah, I’m a glutton for punishment.

I really had to bury the tritium front sight with such a short sight radius, but once I got used to it, I was dropping 4 plates out of 6 with six rounds. I don’t think that’s too bad at 18 yards with a new gun and no practice.

Falling steel plate rack at 18-20 yards. (Photo from about 5 yards)

Heck, there are lots of people who can’t clean a plate rack with ten rounds and a full size semi-auto. With a 9-pound double action trigger pull and a 2-inch barrel on this Colt, I’m not feeling any shame at my first performance with this gun.

I thought the recoil was manageable for as compact as this Colt is. The fact that it is a little heavier than average helps with that. I used to own a Ruger LCR and eventually sold it. Not only was it only 5-rounds, it was also no fun to shoot because it was so snappy.

This Colt Night Cobra didn’t give me that experience at all. A fifty-round box of shells was fun – not torture. My wrists didn’t mind it too much either. I ended up regretting that I had not brought more ammo. (I was using several-year-old reman I had left over from IDPA, and only grabbed one box)

Obviously one trip to the range does not a gun, holster, or belt review make. Those will come in later installments as I continue to use this gear. But I am definitely happy so far.

Getting that first run out of the way was important for me. I needed it. I’m hoping to continue getting back out there. Club matches are still cancelled for June, so we’ll see how things go. But along with shaking off the cobwebs, listening to the puddle frogs sing made it a quite enjoyable first morning back at the range.

The Gordon Carbine – Building the M4 with 9-Hole Reviews

By

Keith Finch

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May 21, 2020

Black Hawk Down was a film released January 8, 2002 and directed by Ridley Scott. Based on the book by Mark Bowden, it details the events of 1993 in Somalia after the U.S. withdrew Marine ground forces and started hunting down a warlord with a small group of U.S. Army Rangers and SOF Delta Operators.

During the titular events, Somalian irregulars managed to down two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters that were providing transport and air support for the operation. The loss of the helicopters and the casualties involved in the crashes would lead to long rolling gunfight for the Rangers and Delta Operators in areas across Mogadishu with many times their own numbers of irregulars facing the US Forces. Despite the events being from 1993, the movie’s release after the terror attacks of 2001 helped compound the event as a precursory event to the Global War on Terror and the movie would be formative for many in that role. A later example of such a movie is 13 Hours, detailing the events of Benghazi in 2012 where another group of US personnel are besieged by angry hostile forces, but under different circumstances.

9-Hole Reviews, and Henry in particular whose rifle is showcased, holds MSgts Gary Gordon and Randy Shugart in high regard for their actions in attempting to secure the second crash site against overwhelming odds. Gary Gordon and his Colt Carbine and Randy Shugart with his M-14 hold off the Somalian irregulars without hope of support, in a scene immortalized in the movie. The two would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions and Chief Mike Durant, whom they went in to save, would survive, although he was captured after the Delta Snipers’ deaths.

The carbine used by Delta Operators of the day was an evolution of earlier short Colt rifles looking to increase reliability and provide a suppressor capability in a handier more compact package than the M16A2. They also used M4 prototypes before the official adoption the next year.

While the M16A2 wasn’t all that different from the A1, other than an easier to adjust sighting system set up for longer range, courtesy of the USMC, the Colt Carbines were very forward thinking. The Delta Operators attached lights and red dot optics, things we consider standard today, to the 12.5″ and 14.5″ guns they used. It was a lightweight capable carbine that didn’t suffer too greatly from velocity loss compared to shorter guns of previous iterations and future rifles like the Mk18. Rifles that didn’t have the dots but were running A2 uppers would run their rear sight towers all the way up for CQB shooting and other tricks of the era.

The Rangers were using M16A2s and the movie actually does an admirable job illustrating how the svelte Colt Carbines of Delta move well through the tight confines of Mogadishu while the longer M16 struggles somewhat in the hands of the Rangers as they dismount vehicles and move through buildings. It doesn’t fail them but M16A2’s with its long fixed stocks are just a long rifles, and that makes moving a challenge it tights spaces.

You can see a lot of what would become the M4 in the Colt Carbine, although provisions for things like the M203 weren’t integral. Much of what was learned during that fight would shape future weapons development for the infantry forces of the United States, its allies, and anyone else paying attention.

4 years after these events the M16A4 would be adopted. The very year after the events the M4 entered service, 1994, and would receive continuous upgrades to keep it in line the the M16A4. Quad rails, optics, lights, IR and visible laser aiming systems would all make their presence felt and evolve into their state today. The rifles of today are more reliable, their electronics smaller, lighter, and more dependable, and the advancements in optics durable and capable can trace all their origins back to Mogadishu and lessons learned there. LPVOs even started here as Schmidt and Bender would make their 1-4 Short Dot for Delta after the lessons learned on this mission. Two and a half decades later LPVOs are mainstream, much improved, and making their way to the infantry.

Funny enough S&B just made the thing for Delta and never tried to market it commercially, it never even crossed their mind really. Though the 90’s didn’t have the instant communication of the internet so telling America that Delta was using these awesome scopes from Europe would’ve been a slow ponderous push for sales.

NRL Border Wars: The Perfect Way for New Shooters to Begin the Sport of Precision Rifle

By

Anna Martinez

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May 21, 2020

What is it?

Border War Rifle Series

“..to help grow precision rifle competitions throughout the different regions of the US.”

https://nrlborderwar.org/about-2/

National Rifle League (NRL)

The National Rifle League is how I first began shooting the sport of precision rifle. Many shooters welcomed me with knowledge and gear to begin shooting. They are genuinely there to see shooters get better and grow this sport. Travis Ishida is the President and Founder of the NRL. He runs fair, honest matches which include all types of people. It truly is a welcoming community while still holding true competition due to the best precision rifle shooters in the sport being involved.

From the NRL website “..are a non-profit engine of impacts that empowers organizations and athletes in precision rifle by providing education and opportunities for growth. These activities are designed to develop marksmanship skills for those participating in this discipline, and to educate the public about firearm safety.”

https://nationalrifleleague.org/about/

Isaiah Curtis of Curtis Custom Weapons gifts a young shooter with a rifle at a NRL match.

In 2018 The NRL and Border War Rifle Series announced their partnership.

https://nrlborderwar.org/news/nrl-announces-alliance-with-border-war-rifle-series/

Intent

The Border Wars (BWRS) Rifle Series came to light after Jim See, Border Wars Regional Director, and shooter within the NRL, saw a need . It was seen that many people understandably don’t have the time or money to travel to National matches across the country. Most of these matches are 2 day matches which means hotels, gas, food, and many times taking time off work. It gets taxing. The intent is to have a 1 day, 100 round, and within your home state (or at least close) match that allows new shooters to attend and learn without added pressures and seasoned shooters to stay competitive. It also allows each state to grow the sport. Some states don’t offer many national matches or have Match Directors that are heavy in the sport. BWRS allows them to hold more matches and grow that regions interest and skill.

Regions

BWRS splits into 6 different regions. Your region is based off of your home state. Points will count towards your regional ranking and a possible slot at the National Championship.

North, South, Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast

What do I need?

Many think that you need a tricked out competition rifle to begin this sport. You don’t. The biggest thing that you need is the ability to safely handle a firearm. Many shooters actually offer out loaner rifles and equipment such as bags and optics.

https://nrlborderwar.org/faq/

If you do have your own equipment a rifle, bag, tripod and glass for spotting, and a good optic will get you started. Also a pack to carry your equipment and ammo.

Range dependent, border war matches have shot out to 900yds+.

What is the best way to start?

Attend/RO

The first time I ever saw a Precision Rifle match was when I attended with a friend. This allowed me to understand the basics of how matches work and what I may need to compete. Another way is to help out and be a range officer (RO) for a local match. Match Directors are always looking for volunteers in this aspect.

Join Groups on Social Media

There are many groups on social media that will help new shooters. Search for your regions group, or search your region on the NRL pages. Many are willing to answer questions and help out. That seems to be a pattern huh?

Find the Matches Close to You

Finding the matches closer to you will allow you to find other shooters that you can shoot with on the off time. As stated before, search your region then search for matches.

I recommend becoming a member of the NRL BWRS. This allows you to keep your points and put them towards the finale. It is 50 dollars. I became a NRL member and BWRS member by buying the combo so I could compete and have my points count at the NRL matches as well.

https://nationalrifleleague.org/product-category/memberships/

Support those who support you. The NRL and those within the community has supported me largely and a $50 or $125 membership is nothing compared to what they have given me.

Now..just get out there and shoot. Understanding something always helps someone feel more comfortable. The idea of beginning the discipline of precision rifle can be daunting, but BWRS is a great place to start.

Women’s concealed carry, Part 2

By

Caleb Giddings

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May 20, 2020

What’s the best gun for women’s concealed carry? Well “best” is hard to define because everyone’s situation is different. So we’ve brought JoAnn back to discuss some solutions for women’s concealed carry choices.

First, we want to look at things that may not be optimal, like gimmick guns and poor carry methods. Particularly bad is any form of off-body carry. The big danger with off body carry is that every time you set your gun holding device down, your gun is no longer under your immediate control, and you no longer have access to it. Purse carry gets better if you’re using a dedicated purse holster, but there are definitely better options.

These didn’t exist when this video was originally filmed, but also right out are products like the Lethal Lace holster, which is only lethal to the person wearing it, since the trigger can be pulled right through the cheap fabric it’s made out of.

One of the options that appears to be a gimmick at first but that actually doesn’t suck is the Flashbang Bra Holster. I know, I know. It seems silly but hear me out. The holster has a rigid kydex shell that covers the trigger guard, and as a deep concealment option goes it is certainly better than purse carry.

On to the topic of guns, this is where things became more personal. We have luckily moved past the era of “just get the lil’ lady a j-frame” but unfortuantely we moved into the era of “get her a pink LCP.” There’s nothing wrong with the LCP and if that gun fits your use case then great! But it’s important to identify why someone wants a gun, what they plan on using it for, and whether or not they’re going to spend time getting good at using it. Because what works for a mom of three kids with no free time may not be the right choice for a single woman who lives alone, does jujitsu twice a week and wants to become a proficient shooter.

We’re fortunate that women’s concealed carry has become so popular, because more people exercising their rights is a good thing. Hopefully this video will help educate new gun owners and direct them down the path. This, after all, is the way.

A Mask is Like a Concealed-Carry Firearm

By

Dr LateBloomer

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May 20, 2020

FF45DD58-678B-4B7D-AF7E-4B74D14AF379 — Colt Night Cobra in a DeSantis Inside heat with a homemade “cloth face covering”.

Remember my post from last week? About what a wasteland social media is now? Well I still think that, but I at least can get good material sometimes. Some discussions that I’ve seen float by my feed this week have led me to compile a list.

Use this list to stimulate your thought processes. Share it around. Come up with your own. This is just for fun – remember how we used to laugh at stuff?

So without further ado I present,

Dr LateBloomer’s Top Ten Ways that a Mask is like a Concealed-Carry Gun

10- People get really judgey about them.

9- People who don’t like them are often full of misinformation.

8- People who do like them can sometimes be overconfident in their ability to use one effectively.

7- Both have the “potential” to protect yourself and others.

6- Once donned, excess handling should be minimized. STOP TOUCHING IT!

5- They should never be banned, but making them mandatory can be problematic.

4- They are not magic talismans.

3- Both “should” change they way you interact with others.

2- They require careful, regular cleaning to maintain effectiveness.

And the number one reason that a mask is like a concealed-carry gun is…

1- It is better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it.

There you go. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Thank you, you’ve been a great audience.

Don’t forget to tip your waitress … oh wait, I forgot.

FNC – A Forgotten Rifle, not a Sports Franchise

By

Keith Finch

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May 19, 2020

Mike (Garand Thumb) has gotten one of his dream guns. The FN FNC carbine was designed and produced in the 1970’s to compete against the emerging 5.56 rifles sweeping into NATO service. It came after the FN CAL which was FN’s first 5.56, and a market failure. They tried to capitalize on the success of the FAL but also tried to save money on production because the FAL was expensive to make. The CAL was also, it turned out in the end. The FN FNC was a proposed solution but it didn’t do well in trials.

The development continued and it was eventually adopted by Belgium in 1989 where it would serve until replaced by the SCAR in 2004. In many respects it was a refined AK design that took the AR magazine to compete against the AR. Longstroke rotating bolt gas piston with a folding stock option.

But.. it was heavy. 8.5 lbs slick. vs 6.4lbs for the M16. Nations weren’t interested. Many developed their own home grown solutions. The L85, the FAMAS, the AUG, etc. or they didn’t give up their FALs and G3’s at all.

But it’s an interesting, aesthetic, and well developed piece in late 20th century small arms. And where it was originally designed to undercut the price of AR-15’s they now go for many times the cost of a quality AR. Such is the way of the markets.

Supreme Court is Eyeing 10 New Cases

By

Keith Finch

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May 19, 2020

The United States Supreme Court disappointed gun rights advocates across the nation when it failed to take up and rule on the New York City transportation case and instead said the point was moot. In legal terms that was technically correct, and it was what New York was hoping for by changing the rule themselves.

By getting the case declared moot with their rule amendment they avoided jeopardizing a whole swath of gun control laws on the books nationwide. Places like California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and more all had various laws at risk depending on how hard SCOTUS banged the gavel down. New York was always going to lose that case, they knew it, that’s why they took such pains in changing the law and pushing for SCOTUS to dismiss the challenge and not rule on it. The egregious nature of New York City’s rule would have given SCOTUS a huge lever into gutting gun control in a way we hadn’t seen since Heller.

But New York got their wish and the case was dismissed as moot on the basis of NYC changing the offending rule already in a 6:3 vote. 4 Justices (IIRC) including one who did vote to dismiss went on record as having expressed a desire to have ruled on the case anyway despite the moot nature in New York’s case to set a national precedent and curb the encroachments that shifty legislatures using scare tactics, bought seats (*cough* Virginia *cough cough*), and under informed voters have managed to get through and place another firm line in the sand for what prudent and reasonable measures states and municipalities can and, more importantly, cannot enact.

Now, 10 different firearms related cases are on the current SCOTUS agenda. We could hear as soon as today that one will be taken up. With the comments that came out of the dismissal of the New York case it seems the court is eager, in part at least, to take some on that are against active laws.

I concur with the dissenting Justices that a ruling should still have been made and the gavel brought down hard on gun control, using New York as the vessel. But I can also appreciate the dual facts that we are in the middle of a lot of other things right now with a global viral fight going on and that it could appear to be legislating from the bench.

The Friday conference came just a few weeks after the Supreme Court broke its 10-year silence on guns in a case over a since-repealed New York City handgun regulation. The court avoided a substantial ruling in the case for technical reasons. Yet three of the court’s conservatives — Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas — wrote they would have sided with the gun owners who were challenging the law.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with the court’s majority, but urged his colleagues to take up the issue again “soon,” noting that there were “several Second Amendment cases” in the pipeline. – CNBC

Not everyone is happy that the high court has four eager Justices that are too likely (in their minds) to land on the pro-gun side of the argument. And it only takes four to take the case on.

“There’s no question that there are a number of justices who are itching to take another gun case soon, and to almost certainly push for a vast expansion of the Second Amendment in a way that has never been countenanced in American history or law before,” said Jonathan Lowy, the chief counsel at the anti-gun violence group Brady.

We could just say anti-gun group Brady, violence has nothing to do with it.. And a ‘vast expansion’ is utter bullshit. Does Lowly not believe history existed prior to the National Firearms Act, Gun Control Act, or any other 20th century gun control measure? This isn’t an expansion, its a return of stolen ground that was lied for, cheated for, bought and paid and traded for in political poker. It was countenanced in 1791 there, Jonathan. Nobody tell this guy we’ve had privately owned warships before too, complete with equally privately owned cannon, I don’t think he can handle the strain.

The gun cases the court could take up involve a smattering of issues including whether individuals have a right to carry handguns outside the home for self defense and if states can ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.

Those two a crucial items we will hopefully see make the case cut. Whether arbitrary bans based on features, largely cosmetic, and capacity will fall and whether or not the bear part of ‘Keep and Bear Arms’ will receive further protections from SCOTUS.

Federal appeals courts have consistently upheld bans on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, according to the Duke Center for Firearms Law, though they have split on whether states can require individuals to show “good cause” to obtain a public carry permit. Most have said such regulations are permissible.

And many of those are stacked with anti-gun judges or others who are simply making their lives easier so that it gets kicked ‘above their pay-grade’ so to speak. The California demise of their magazine ban (temporarily and in flux) and their prohibitions against ammo purchases online and requiring an additional background check through a broken system are conveniently not mentioned by CNBC. California, everyone’s favorite gun control state where nothing bad ever happens and there are no murders or mass shootings ever, and if there are its the fault of Nevada and Arizona, got hit hard in the legislative teeth by Judge Roger Benitez.

We should know and see soon what SCOTUS picks up.

The Judgement Free Guide to Empty Chamber Carry (and how to fix it)

By

Travis Pike

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May 18, 2020

The title of the article is way too long, but I’m not sure how else to sell this to people. For a long time, I saw the jokes and memes about empty chamber carry and assumed it wasn’t common. People here and there may do it, but it seemed far from common. Then I joined a few Facebook groups and saw those same memes with hundreds of comments. While most agreed, I’d say 30% defended carrying without a round in the chamber. People tend to dig in when they are teased and taunted.

With that in mind, I still think carrying with an empty chamber is an inefficient way to carry a firearm. Our judgment free guide is here to help you transition from carrying with an empty chamber to carrying locked and loaded. Here are a few things you can do to get over your fear of carrying with a round chambered.

Get Training

The best thing someone carrying with an empty chamber can do is seek training. Training will make you am ore competent shooter, and you’ll be under the eyes of a professional. Training will also improve your confidence with your firearm. Good training from companies like Sentinel Concepts and IWI Academy will show you the benefits of carrying with a round chambered.

Train, train, train and you can be John Wickish

A lack of confidence is often the biggest reason people carry with an empty chamber. Get some training, then after you train, get a lot of practice. Stay sharp, and as your confidence rises, you’ll have less, or likely no fear, about carrying with a round chambered.

Invest in a Good Holster

A holster is a big part of safe handgun carry. There are some holsters that are just unsafe, and empty chamber carry would be a safe way to carry with them. The SERPA, for example, has a long history of NDs attached to it. (Although Blackhawk does make decent holsters outside of the Serpa) Ill fighting nylon holsters also have issues, as do beat up, cheap, worn out leather rigs. These can all cause safety issues.

The Desantis Inner Piece 2.0, a Proper fit nylon rig. Holster size and fit are critical to safety.

Simply put, don’t carry them. Carry extremely well made, purpose molded holsters that fit your firearm. If you want me to save time and just tell you some good holster manufacturers, here you go.

Phlster
Dark Star Gear
Desantis
Raven Concealment

Carry Cocked With an Empty Chamber

Something you can do just to test how safe your firearm can be is to cock the weapon and still carry with an empty chamber. Do it all day long. Do it in public, around the house, and everywhere else for an entire day, or a week, or a month. At the end of your period of time, pull the gun out and see if it’s still cocked.

If it is still cocked, then the weapon would not have fired as you carried it throughout the day. If you do this daily and check the weapon daily, the goal for you is to gain confidence in your weapon. You can examine and see how the weapon doesn’t just go off.

Carry a Modern Gun

Was your pistol made before World War 2 (not designed, made)? Okay, then maybe it’s not drop safe. However, the vast majority of modern firearms from the last 50 years are drop safe. A lot of justifications for empty chamber carry is that ‘accidents happen’. Accidents are different from negligence, and a negligent discharge is just that, negligent. An accident can be a gun falling and going off.

But these days that really doesn’t happen. Sure, freak accidents happen, but people also get struck by lightning and knocked downstairs by owls. A modern, unmodified weapon isn’t going to go off when dropped. Buy a modern gun, and don’t bubba it up.

Empty Chamber Carry and You

There are lots of good reasons to carry with a round chambered. It’s faster, allows you to draw and shoot one-handed, and simplifies your life. I’m hoping something in this guide will help you gain the confidence required to carry with a round chambered—the more good guys with guns we have, the better. Regardless of how you carry, get out there and get sharp, get fast, and stay safe.

Concealed carry for women, Part 1

By

Caleb Giddings

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May 18, 2020

One of the biggest growth areas in the firearms industry has been in products with concealed carry for women in mind. Women are buying more guns, they’re carrying them, and that’s good news. What’s rough is that a lot of advice for concealed carry comes from dudes, and dudes don’t always understand that there are different needs and priorities.

I bought in my friend and firearms advocate JoAnn to talk about some issues around concealed carry for women. It’s a complex subject, because while some traditional advice applies, it’s not 1 for 1. Just because I choose to carry a full size pistol at the appendix carry position doesn’t mean that someone like JoAnn will have those same choices.

At the same time, I personally loathe the idea of just making a gun pink to make it for “girls.” Products made for concealed carry for women should be good products first, and then worry about making them visually appealing. This is why I don’t hate on the Tiffany blue Glock 42 and 43. They’re a good product, well-made and reliable, and then Glock added some colors that might attract a female buyer. Some women like that color, some don’t. Thankfully for the ones that don’t you can always get the normal colored guns.

The last thing, and my biggest pet peeve about concealed carry for women is when a woman’s first instructor is her husband or boyfriend. You know why? Because inevitably those dudes aren’t instructors, and they’re just going to pass on all their crappy habits to their wife/girlfriend. Ladies: please get professional instruction from a reputable instructor. Google is your friend!

Fortunately, concealed carry for women is on the rise. Personally, I love the idea of more legally armed citizens, and I don’t care what gender they are.

The Low Cost Light Rifle and the Benefits of the 20 inch Barrel

By

Travis Pike

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May 18, 2020

The AR-15’s popularity has been driven quite far by the carbine variant of the rifle. Carbine variants with their 14.5 or 16-inch barrels and collapsing stocks dominate the market, and for a lot of people, they are a great option. I still see the classic rifle variant of the AR-15 with a 20 inch barrel as a very viable option. Not to say anything bad about shorter carbines, AR pistols, or SBRs.

Most companies who produce a rifle variant of the AR-15 present it as a marksman’s rifle or an A2/A4 clone. Nothing wrong with that, but what about an alternative option? There are lots of different kinds of carbine builds out there, but I wanted to present a rifle build. I call it the Light Rifle. My goal with this particular model was to modernize the full-sized rifle on a budget, while still using quality components.

Why Aero?

I chose Aero for a few reasons. First and foremost, I wanted a quality option at a good price. Aero Precision makes excellent rifles and does so at a rather attractive price range. You can find cheaper, but you won’t find better quality at such a low price.

I also wanted the upper and lower to be built. I enjoy building AR-15s, but I do trust professionals to do it more than I trust myself. Aero is one of the few companies that offers a 20 inch AR these days. This specific model is the M16A4 lower from Aero and the A4 upper without the Knight’s rail.

The 20 Inch Barrel

The reason for the 20 inch barrel is simple. This is what the rife was designed with and what length gets the most out of the 223 Remington/5.56 NATO chamber. The round gains a bit of velocity through the longer barrel. Extra velocity equals extra oomph.

Extra oomph is a scientific term. That extra oomph often translates into better penetration through ard cover with less energy lost. At longer ranges, the increased velocity can lead to more damage against a fleshy target. At close ranges, the extra velocity allows for a greater chance for hard armor-piercing capabilities. This is especially true for M193 rounds from a 20-inch barrel.

It’s important to distinguish that its not just steel armor, and not all steel armor is created equally. Lower end steel armor from fly by night companies might as well just be target steel. If the company seems new with prices too good to be true, then it likely is. AR500 Armor, for example, ensures they explain their ratings and distinguish between what one set of plates can do versus another.

Even ceramic plates have weak points around the outside of the plate a complete stop on the sides is never guaranteed.

That extra velocity also helps make the round better suited for most hunting loads. A lot of 223 Remington rounds with soft points designed for hunting work best from a 20-inch barrel when it comes to expansion.

The Handling Effect

The 20 inch barrel AR gets you extra velocity as well as a smoother handling rifle. Recoil is lighter, and concussion is reduced as well as muzzle climb. The rifle-length gas system allows for a smoother and reduced recoil impulse. This Aero Precision M16A4 clone handles like an absolute dream. Since the trigger lacks the three-round burst function, it’s much better than the USMC M16A4 trigger.

On the other side of the equation, the 20-inch rifle is harder to use in and out of vehicles, as well as in close range CQB situations. As someone who served at a time when only Squad leaders and above got M4s, I’ve cleared numerous rooms with an M16A4 and its 20 inch barrel in MOUT towns across the Marine Corps. Often with an M240 slung around my back because the Marine Corps rarely makes sense.

Given a choice, I would take an M4 profile or shorter gun for inside the home. However, I still feel comfortable clearing rooms and buildings with a full-sized AR-15 rifle. It’s not as comfortable or as easy, and you do have extra precautions around corners and when stacking up. It’s a training issue you can overcome.

A bonus to the extra barrel length is extra standoff distance is you equip a pointy stabby thing to the gun.

Fixed Stock – The Why

A fixed stock is not a requirement of the light rifle or any rifle length AR-15. Throw whatever stock you want on the weapon. I did like the fixed stock on my Aero Precision M16A4 clone, but I didn’t necessarily love the M16 stock. I popped it off and attached a Magpul MOE rifle stock.

An adjustable stock does give shorter shooters more options, but I find the Magpul MOE’s 13.5-inch LOP perfect for me. This stock is heavier than most M4 stocks, and at 14 ounces, some stock weighs less than half of it. I do find the extra weight to better balance the rifle with it’s longer 20 inch barrel.

Additionally, the stock’s length is always the same, and I always know what to expect when I throw it to my shoulder. The Magpul MOE stock also gives you a rather larger storage compartment for stashing cleaning gear, spare parts, and even Skittles.

Finally, it’s beard friendly and affordable.

Modular Light Weight Handguard

As far as quad rails go, there is no better option than the Knight RAS rail. However, the light in light rifle necessitates we trim a little weight. A free float rail isn’t going to happen with the front sight base.

Modular and much lighter rails now exist, which makes the gun less front heavy. I went with the matching Magpul handguard, so the colors matched! Finding modular handguards for a rifle with a front sight base with a 20 inch barrel isn’t always easy, and Magpul offers a proven option.

Also, it’s an affordable option for an affordable rifle. The handguards have M-LOK slots, and you can make it as modular as you choose. Other options exist, and some may even be better, but I am a fan of the Magpul series.

Optics

Modern rifles need modern sighting solutions. The modern solution for a modern world is a low powered variable optic. These optics allow for both close quarter’s encounters with their illuminated reticles and 1X capable settings. As the distance increases, so does the magnification up to 10X these days. A 1-6X or a 1-8X is perfectly acceptable. I use an Athlon Argos BTR 1-8X. It’s an affordable, high-quality optic option that fits our needs.

If you wanted to put the light in light rifles, a prismatic fixed power optic is a good choice as well. The Marines recently dumped their ACOGs fro LPVOs, but these optics are still very capable. Some newer prismatics are very tough and very capable. The Primary Arms and Swampfox lines are impressive prismatic options at a really great price.

Iron Sights

I do thin the Front sight base on a 20 inch rifle makes a lot of sense. On the affordable front, you may not be able to add an optic right away. If that is the case, then add a carry handle rear sight. The long sight radius makes the gun stupid easy to shoot accurately. In fact, the carry handle comes with the Aero M16A4 upper is the perfect rear sight.

As far as back up iron sight, the Magpul MBUS sights are also a good, low profile choice. I have a rear Troy sight on mine simply because it was an extra I had laying around. If I had to purchase a new option, the MBUS sights would be perfectly compatible.

Light Rifles For All

This isn’t a gun for everyone, but I do see a rifle that’s perfect for a variety of tasks. It can be a defensive carbine, a hunting rifle, a fun gun, or even a competition rifle. While the carbine may rule I do believe the 20 inch barrel AR-15 is still a worthy contender and a damn fine choice when it comes to choosing an AR-15. I’m not the only fan of rifles with 20 inch barrels. Check out Keith’s articles on his version of the M16A5 and his 2020 update. We share very similar tastes in rifles and full-sized EDC handguns.

The Fourth Rule of Gun Safety

By

Caleb Giddings

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May 15, 2020

The fourth rule of gun safety is often stated as “know your target and what is beyond it.” Simple enough, but people often focus on the latter half – what’s beyond your target. It is important to know your backstop, but we shouldn’t neglect the most important part of this rule: know your target.

To me, that’s the fourth rule of gun safety is really about target identification first. Every year, there are three or four or more tragic stories where a homeowner shot their spouse or child because they thought the spouse or child was a home invader. All of this is because someone failed to know their target. Target ID is a critical step in the shooting cycle and the self defense process.

Target ID is important regardless of whether you’re a cop, an armed citizen, or in the military. The critical decision of “does this person need a bullet” isn’t one that should be shortcut or shortchanged, because if we get that wrong in any context we could end up taking someone’s life who didn’t need to die. That’s why the fourth rule of gun safety is so important – target ID saves lives.

It is important to be aware of your backstop as well. Once you’ve identified your target and it’s something that needs bullets, are you in an environment where a poorly placed shot could have a negative outcome for a bystander? That’s something you have to bear in mind, coupled with your marksmanship ability. Fortunately with modern defensive ammo, there is little risk of over penetration, and the best backstop is the bad guy, but that doesn’t obviate our need to be sure of our background and surroundings.

The fourth rule of gun safety often gets lost among the other three more commonly quoted rules. You could make an argument that it’s the most important. Like I said above: target identification saves lives.

SIG P365 Air Gun – Train At Home

By

Travis Pike

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May 15, 2020

BB guns have changed quite a bit since the Red Ryder I owned when I was 8. My impression of BB guns was that they are cheap toys for kids. Fun for sure, but generally not useful beyond teaching sight alignment and gun safety. Times have changed, and BB guns have apparently gotten a lot better, and a lot cooler overall. The new SIG P365 Air Gun is an excellent example of this. I kind of just walked past the SIG air guns when I see them on shelves on gun stores, but sadly I never took a good long look.

The P365 Air gun is one of the newest SIG air guns, and it’s also pretty damn affordable. With a lot of us looking for train at-home options, an Air Gun might be the ticket. I carry a P365 as my EDC gun, and it seemed like the SIG P365 Air Gun might be an excellent tool for doing some backyard training. The gun is the exact same size as a standard P365 and is only about 4 ounces lighter than the real thing.

It matches the P365 in almost every way imaginable. The grip, the magazine capacity, the controls, and more are identical to the real deal SIG P365. There are a few differences; the air gun variant lacks night sights but has similar sights overall. The magazine release is not reversible, and you are forced to have a manual safety. Other than that, it’s 100% P365. The slide is even made of metal.

It’s a semi-automatic BB gun that utilizes 4.5mm bbs and is powered by cheap and available 12-gram CO2 cartridges. The disposable components are ultra-cheap and make this an affordable all-around design.

The Training Aspect

Obviously, the SIG P365 Air Gun cannot compete with a real gun for training. It won’t replace real range time, but it can supplement it. The SIG P365 Air Gun will fit the vast majority of P365 holsters. The only time they won’t work is if the holster does not fit the SIG P365 with a manual safety.

In terms of training, it does offer you an ultra-cheap means to practice drawing and to fire into a target. It does give you something a little more than just dry fire. This BB gun is a blowback design, and that means the slide moves like a real gun. This allows you to practice with some recoil and noise, as well as moving sights that have to be tracked.

It’s easy and quite enjoyable to do simple things like failure to stop drills, double taps, and more. It also allows you to build muscle memory and improve speed. The SIG P365 Air Gun is a fun tool that does give you a step above dry fire training for your stuck at home training regiment.

On top of that, it’s a fun, safe, and easy tool to train kids with. I started my shooting career with a bb gun, and it was nowhere near as cool as this one. My son loves it, and he blasted away a dozen magazines worth of BBs and CO2 while learning how to use the sights and building confidence.

How the P365 Air Gun Runs

The SIG P365 Air Gun is incredibly reliable. It seems to feed and shoot without any issues. I’m about a thousand BBs deep, and the gun runs flawlessly. It does seem to eat through CO2 quite fast. Three or four magazines in and the CO2 starts getting super weak. These CO2 cartridges are luckily very affordable and can be bought by the dozens if you so choose.

As the CO2 dies, the air gun might be firing two bbs at one time. It also obviously won’t shoot as far or as fast, so the point of impact changes. Just change the cartridge when it gets weak. I do love that the slide locks back to the rear when your empty, and I appreciate those little details. The magazine also holds 12 rounds, which is the most popular P365 magazine anyway.

Accuracy wise it’s still just a BB gun. At 15 yards, it’s still accurate enough for headshots. The BBs tend to group at about three to four inches wide at this range, and it groups somewhat unpredictably. It’s not a marksmen’s BB gun by any means, but solid enough for training purposes.

The trigger isn’t as good as the P365, and it requires you to fully release the trigger. I mean, you might as well hit the trigger guard because the trigger reset is long. It’s not a heavy trigger, though, and it decently mimics the feel of a P365 trigger.

Final Shots

The SIG P365 Air Gun is a fun little BB gun that can also serve as a competitive training tool. It’s more interesting than just dry fire and does allow you to practice shooting in the safety of your backyard. The little guy is reliable, easy to use, and mimics the P365 also flawlessly. It’s also reliable, well made, and fun to use. They seem to be available for around 70 bucks, and that’s an awesome investment into an excellent training tool.

SIG also produces P320, 1911, P210, and P226 models in both BB and pellet gun models. On top of that, they are producing a Pro level Airsoft variant of the M17, which might be an interesting force on force tool. Check out their list of airguns here.

Not Another AR-15!

By

Keith Finch

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May 14, 2020

Fine!

I get it. Hell, I’ve been it. The AR-15 is a cookie cuttered platform that can get… stale. Like flat root beer or corn chips that didn’t have the bag rolled up right. You’re just kind of done with it.

The AR-15 is the most invested in platform of the firearms market here in the US. The AK might arguably be on the worldwide scale but that argument really doesn’t scale modernization into the equation, millions upon millions of the AKMs are still just as ‘Nyet! Rifle is Fine! Just add colored duct tape’ as they have been for decades.

So, what to look at if you don’t want another AR but you still want it AR~ish? Tim has a list in the video that he is liking and I have mine. Tim hits on a salient point that most rifles and carbines worth the time and resource to buy are more expensive than a comparable AR-15… that’s what happens when the whole of the market supports a single product.

Hell, even IWI makes an AR now. A pretty damn good one actually. And it’s because they, like others before them have and others after them will, are supporting the strong demand of the market for the one rifle that clearly everyone should support.

But that does get boring, I know.

That’s part of the reason I own so many ‘not ARs’ like I do ‘not a Glock’ handguns. It’s fun to see others take on the idea, especially when they do it well. Seeing the ‘million ways to build the mouse trap’ when they work well is just plain neat sometimes. It’s why we like rifles like the MCX, Bren 2, & HK433 despite them basically still just doing what the M4 does, it’s because they aren’t an M4 but they work well that we feel a sense of refreshment.

I’ll be doing a video on those 3 specifically in the near future, as I believe they represent what is essentially the edge of current service rifle tech at present in the 5.56 field.

One rifle I want to mention that Tim does not is the XCR.

If there was ever a little company that I am just damn straight impressed with for keeping on the grind its RA. Talking with Alex at SHOT this last year and ordering this little guy was a real treat. I know my buddy Mike, who writes for us every now and then, still loves his XCR-M but this L just reaffirms the work they’re doing.

This gun has never stopped evolving. In a way that is especially impressive due to the fact it was keeping up with the aforementioned AR-15 and was introduced as a competitor in the SCAR program but lost due to no BFA. Long stroke piston with adjustable gas port. Buyer selectable M-LOK or Keymod negative space rail systems which Alex implemented… and he didn’t have to. He could have said, “no, 1913 rails are fine and I’m just going to make sure the gas system and springs and all that are running.” He didn’t. He has kept this whole thing inline with emerging tech. 2-Stage trigger, check. Adjustable and folding stock with equivalent brace system, check. Negative space monolithic receiver rail systems, check. Freefloat barrel, check.

It’s a testament to the little shop doing big things. It’s a damn fine little truck gun. About the only two criticisms I have, and really it’s more like one and a half..

First, I want the industry to stop using muzzle breaks, enough, no more, especially on short barrels. Someone orders an 18″ competition gun, fine. Everything else needs to run flash hiders and/or close proximity compensators. Breaks are dumb on anything that isn’t a gamer gun, or a precision rig (usually magnum caliber too), or a suppressor host. Comps and flash hiders, folks.. Comps and flash hiders.

And the other is an A2 grip.. C’mon.. 1985 called and said they made a mistake. Start using K2’s or B5’s or Mod 3’s as the standard already. This is the half criticism because it’s such a small easy thing to change out. A2’s are the ‘Glock Iron Sights’ of AR type platforms and its essentially just a stand-in until you add your preferred grip. It isn’t meant to stay there.