5 Hotel Safety Tips

By

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August 27, 2020

Today we’ve got a self defense article that’s useful whether you carry a gun or not: 5 hotel safety tips. Sure, in these Coronatimes people aren’t traveling much, but this too will pass, and we’ll be back out on the road before we know it. But when you’re in a hotel, which is the definition of an unsecured location, how can you protect yourself?

1. Don’t stay in cheap hotels in bad areas

Our first of 5 Hotel Safety Tips should be a no-brainer, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut people are cheap sometimes and like to save money. This seems like a good idea until you’re staying in a flophouse watching a guy shoot smack into his veins out your window. Rule of thumb: don’t stay in hotels where your room’s door opens up the outside world. Sure it looks cool when Raylan Givens does it, but think about all the bad things that happened to him. My recommendation: don’t stay in any hotel that isn’t at least as nice as a Hampton Inn or a Holiday Inn Express. Those types of major chains have corporate controls on where they’re allowed to be, and generally aren’t in bad parts of town.

2. Use your Do Not Disturb sign

This might actually be the most powerful of our 5 Hotel Safety Tips. Use your room’s DND sign. Having been a Housekeeping manager for a couple of properties, I can tell you that 99.9% of housekeepers will see that sign on your door and think “sweet I don’t have to clean this room” and move on. It adheres to the gray man principle of not drawing attention to yourself.

3. Lock your valuables (your gun) in your suitcase when you’re not in the room

The biggest concern when you’re in a hotel is preventing casual access/theft, right? Lock your nice items in a suitcase. I also then put my locked suitcase in the closet, but that’s not entirely necessary. The idea here is to not leave anything worth stealing in plain view. Plus, since your DND is up already because of Rule 2 of our 5 Hotel Safety Tips, if someone comes into the room and you find your items disturbed, you can immediately start the process of filing a police report, which greatly increases the chances of getting your stuff back.

4. LOCK YOUR DOORS

Seriously, #4 of the 5 Hotel Safety Tips is the most obvious. When you’re in your room, double lock your door. Use the deadbolt and the latch. This does two things: makes the door much harder to force entry on, and tells housekeeping that you don’t want to be bothered. A modern key card access door that all nice hotels have can only be opened by the God-key when it’s bolted. Hotels will only use the God-key in dire situations.

5. Don’t tag your location on social media.

Last on our list of 5 Hotel Safety Tips is another obvious one. Don’t geo-tag your location on social media. Especially if you want to take a cool “here’s my gun and knife and Rolex on the nightstand” photo, then tag yourself at Bob’s Crack Den and Pimp Shack Motel. This makes you a target, and we want to avoid that, right?

Most of these tips are common sense, or at least I would think they’re common sense. But when used together, they create a solid “gray man” barrier around you and your valuable items. By reducing the avenues that you could be targeted for crime, you increase your safety without making it obvious that you’re increasing your safety.

Kenosha Gunman Arrested in Illinois

By

Keith Finch

-

August 26, 2020

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois has been arrested and charged with first degree intentional homicide and it is being said he ‘fled Wisconsin to avoid prosecution’, a claim that will bear out or not based upon the information that can be corroborated of the events leading up to the first shooting of the man, who was chasing Rittenhouse and had thrown an alleged Molotov at him.

Daily Mail Link

It will be curious to see how the situation is corroborated or dismissed. The available footage shows Rittenhouse in flight and trying to distance himself the mod. He runs from the first man he killed until something (the possible Molotov) was thrown and he turned and shot the man in the head.

That man is alleged to be one that was seen in another earlier confrontation, yelling slurs.

Rittenhouse then continues his flight on camera, is attacked and tripped by a member of the mob chasing him, and surrounded. The crowd begins to attack him as Rittenhouse is on the ground, he fires at those closest.

A man who tried to curb stomp him is fired at but does not appear to be injured. Another strikes Rittenhouse with a skateboard right after and tries to take Rittenhouse’s rifle. Rittenhouse fires from his back and ‘skateboard’ collapses a few steps away, dead or dying after attacking Rittenhouse.

The third man shot was armed with a Glock, he is seen approaching Rittenhouse (hands up at one point), but also grabbing at the rifle. He took a round through the bicep and retreated.

You can hear throughout the video that Rittenhouse is not the only one shooting, lots of other gunfire.

Kenosha, WI

By

Keith Finch

-

August 26, 2020

Another city has experienced protests descend into violence, and on the third night three people were shot in a single incident. Two were killed.

While an investigation is ongoing and the shared details are largely biased (predictably) based on the media source it seems that armed individuals clashed in Kenosha Wisconsin, a place I remember from childhood.

That fact hits differently when all you remember are enjoyable family trips to a city you considered rather sleepy in the grand scale. Now, chaos reins and those looking to score political points with the voting block that are in the streets have abdicated their positions and responsibilities as leaders to be seen instead as “allies” …

The entirely torched dealership with the BLM sign seems to indicate how valuable an “ally” is seen.

What we know.

About the incident that started it all? It’s a mess. A man, Jacob Blake (29), was filmed walking away from police and refusing officer commands, he begin getting into a vehicle. He was shot 7 times by an officer after attempting to enter the vehicle, either to get in or reach something. He was shot in the back at close range.

Blake is alive but reported to have lost the use of his legs. Officers can be heard telling Blake to drop a knife. A taser was deployed by one officer but to no effect. We do not have a clear picture and details have not been released as to the lead up to the on video shooting. Blake is said to be very active in the community by his family, who have deep ties to Evanston and Kenosha.

It has been alleged he (Blake) stated he was retrieving a gun from the vehicle.

It has been alleged he (Blake) was at the location to help solve a domestic incident and that once officers had arrived he was leaving peaceably with his children, who were in the SUV.

The witness who filmed the video said the altercation had already gotten physical, as officers had wrestled and deployed a taser on Blake prior to starting the camera.

Blake had an active warrant at the time of the incident for third degree sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct tied to domestic abuse. It is not known if officers knew of the warrant during their attempts to detain Blake. The charges were leveled against Blake back on July 6th.

There is no confirmation from Kenosha Police detailing whether or not Blake was actually armed with anything, reaching for anything, or anything was found in the vehicle after the officer grabbed him and shot seven times, severely wounding Blake.

What happened since…

Protests gathered immediately in response to the shooting and they quickly turned violent. Several businesses and vehicles were burned. The Kenosha courthouse was one of the epicenters and has been a LEO/Protester clash point. Incendiaries (mainly fireworks) have been thrown at the courthouse and officers, crowd control devices were used against the crowd.

Protesters at one pointed attempted to topple a fence erected to protect the courthouse. Minor injuries, often between rioters and other protest participants, were common.

Governor Tony Evers released this statement,

”Tonight, Jacob Blake was shot in the back multiple times, in broad daylight, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kathy and I join his family, friends, and neighbors in hoping earnestly that he will not succumb to his injuries. While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country. We stand with all those who have and continue to demand justice, equity, and accountability for Black lives in our country—lives like those of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. And we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites.I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy, equally important is our action. In the coming days, we will demand just that of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognize the racism in our state and our country for far too long.”

“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.”

This portion of the statement is seen by many as very critical of the Kenosha officers on the scene while acknowledging he did not know the details to make such a critical assessment.

It is highly irresponsible and not the attitude of a leader, it is one of a panderer. Evers could easily have stated that he would personally hold officers accountable to the fullest extent of the law IF the circumstances warranted such action. Something he acknowledged was currently unknown. Instead Evers, like many mayors and governors, threw his civil servants to the mob and the resulting violence can been seen as taciturnly approved by his statement.

Kenosha burned.

The third night… People died. [Warning: Graphic Videos]

At around 11:45 a group of protesters, defying the city curfew, came into contact with a young man armed with an AR-15. The protesters were also armed in part (a man who was shot had a Glock)

Accounts vary, but the chain of events seems to be: An altercation took place between the young man armed with the rifle and a group of protesters. At some point the man with the rifle fled the altercation, it is not known if the altercation became physical or which side escalated. An apparent incendiary (Molotov) was thrown at the man who responded by turning around and shooting, killing the man who threw it.

Unknown if the rifle armed young man escalated prior to the incendiary being thrown, although it is highly unlikely a Molotov would be admissible as a reasonable form of self defense given the circumstances.

Footage, reportedly from right after the thrown Molotov and first shots, shows the crowd pursuing the rifle armed man down the street. The man falls and the crowd begins to swarm him. He fires again from the ground as the crowd closes. His shots strike two more people who were on top of him.

One is seen collapsing and is likely the second man to have died. He struck the rifle armed man with a skateboard right after another man tried to close and stomp on him. The rifle armed man’s shots deterred the stamper but skateboard wielder struck. The rifle wielder struggles with skateboard man, who is attempting to take his rifle, and fires a shot into his chest from the ground. Skateboard wielder falls a few steps away, not moving, as paramedic hat (who is armed with the Glock) also appears to attempt to take the rifle. Paramedic hat takes a 5.56 through the bicep and runs away screaming medic.

The rifle armed young man then finishes running to a group of police vehicles, several police vehicles move toward the wounded. The title photo is from that scene, via CNN.

BREAKING NEWS: Gunman, 17, is charged with first degree intentional homicide after shooting dead two BLM protesters and injuring another on the streets of Kenosha during third night of unrest

NEW! PHLster Ascent Mag Pouches

By

Keith Finch

-

August 25, 2020

We are proud to announce our new PHLster Ascent pouches which are now available for purchase. PHLster Ascent pouches bring new materials, technology, and capability to concealed carry.

Conventional elastic pouches are universal, comfortable and slim, but re-inserting magazines can be tricky. Rigid pouches can be uncomfortable or bulky and might not fit many different magazines.

By using an ultra high-strength flexible polymer textile, the Ascent pouches provide enough structure to maintain their shape, while being as slim, comfortable, and versatile as an elastic pouch.

Elastic portions of the pouch provide enough give and tension to accommodate a wide variety of double and single stack pistol mags, while the thin polymer exoskeleton reinforces the pouch and provides unique rigid mounting points for a variety of hardware. This allows for a versatile, thin, featherweight elastic pouch which can accept both Discreet Carry Concepts clips and our unique OWB belt slide panels.

Ascent Rifle Pouch

IWB/OWB
Ambidextrous
Fits 1.5 inch belts and AR, AK, Aug, and Galil rifle magazines.
Includes Mod4 1.5 DCC IWB clip, OWB belt-slide panel, and mounting hardware.

Ascent Pistol Pouch

IWB/OWB
Ambidextrous
Fits 1.5 inch belts and most double or single-stack pistol magazines.
Includes Mod4 1.5 DCC IWB clip, OWB belt-slide panel, and mounting hardware.

Available for only

$59.99 each

Tuesday

By

Keith Finch

-

August 25, 2020

It’s Tuesday folks.

Politics

The Democrats, as a platform, still hate guns. The Republicans are busy trying to polish their platform as staunchly PRO 2A. Meanwhile, Jo Jorgensen openly advocated for the abolishment of the ATF.

That’s national, nothing new.

Local is what is most interesting right now as everywhere that is visited by the riotous masses that fly BLM or Antifa flags while practicing their brick throwing and fire starting (you know, just the essential employment skills) are seeing an uptick in private firearms ownership.

These owners are broadening the political spectrum of the 2A community and that is something we’ve long been trying to do. The 2A is for everyone.

It can become the path to true enlightenment. The realization that you are your own best advocate, your own best defense, your own best method of for growth and learning, and (more often than not) the one standing in your own way.

The true path of the 2A leads to cooler heads, warmer hearts, civility, and self reliance first. It can be exercised by city slicker, the urbanite, the rural roughneck, the suburban socialite, and the average anon. It is for the hunter, the gamer, the dreamer, the memer, the public servant, and the survivalist.

The right to exercise judicious force in protection of your sovereign person. It is universal.

2020 Politics is such a jumbled mess of contradictions that it is truly tiresome. The ballot box still requires our participation, but we don’t have to enjoy the whole circus.

So instead, for today, we shall watch Brandon torture himself with terrible gun images and enjoy.

Glock’s G42 a True Pocket Pistol

By

Scott Smith

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August 25, 2020

Folks who know me know I am not a fan of “pocket pistols”. Generally they are hard to shoot well or the grip is too small for folks with big hands. Sadly small pistols and revolvers seem to be the first ones suggested by many shops when a customer wants a concealed carry pistol. Up until now I want to pull my hair out when I hear someone tell me the guy at the gun shop said this small pistol is perfect.

Recently a family member wanted a true “baby Glock”, the G42. It is chambered in .380 ACP and will literally fit in the palm of my hand. I knew this was their first pistol, but they had done a lot of research and handled a wide variety of firearms. Doing the paperwork, aka paying for it; I had a G42 coming to my FFL.

I was curious to see how a pistol that loaded is just shy of 16 ounces with a 4.88” sight radius would shoot. In my ammunition stock pile I have a few loads for .380s, most of it is mixed full metal jacket. This was fine to get a feel for the pistol.

Surprisingly even with its two finger length grip the G42 was wicked accurate. At 7 yards I was able to shoot a sub-2”, 6 shot group. Moving out to 15 yards the group opened up to just under 3” for 6 shots. This may not sound great but this is a small pistol that I can barely get a solid grip on with my big meat hooks. Once the TFX Pros are installed, I will shoot it again from a rest.

Even with it’s short grip the G42 is easy to shoot accurately.

With the proliferation of true pocket pistols, ammunition manufacturers have developed loads specifically for them. I am a fan of the Honey Badger solid copper loads from Black Hills Ammunition. The reason being, the solid bullet gives consistent penetration and the design gives a wicked wound cavity. Even with the new cartridges hollow points may not get the expansion through heavy winter clothing. The solid will still perform and it is a controllable if multiple shots are required. I like the bullet and trust it enough that I carry it in my daily carry Glock 19.

I primarily used BHAs 60 grain Honey Badgers and an odd box of Barnes 80 grain TAC-XPDs. Both loads were accurate.

I was happy to see the Truglo TFX Pro Sights were not delayed in getting to me. These days, most everything has been in short supply. What I like the the TFX sights is they are both fiber optic and tritium. The Pro has a “U” notch rear sight, which in my opinion is faster than a square notch. The human eye tends to center objects faster in a round sight. The round of the U does this while the legs allow for a precise sight alignment when needed.

The “U” Notch rear sight has tritium fiber optic vials for bright and low light visibility. It is fast and accurate.

The TFX Pro front sight has a day glow orange ring for fast sight acquisition in all light conditions.

The TFX Pro has three other features that set it apart from others. First is the bright orange ring of the front sight which makes this sight as fast as many mini-red dots for acquisition. The second feature is the ledge of the rear that allows for easy one-handed manipulation should one hand be disabled. For many folks the last feature could be one of the TFX’s best; they run $89.99 for a set. This is more than competitive with other tritium sights that offer far less features. Like BHA’s Honey Badger, I use these sights on daily use pistols.

The 6 round magazine is easy to load. Do not expect to do speed reloads, you will have to shift your grip for a reload.

So how does the G42 perform with TFX Pro Sights and NHA’s Honey Badger .380 ACPs? For a pistol of this size it is a tack driver. At 7 yards from a rest, even with a sweat induced flier; the 6 shot group was 1 ¼”. At 15 yards the same group was 2”. This is on par with some 5” barreled pistols I have shot.

I shot the mini-USPSA target at 15 yards, the Shoot N C was at 7 yards. These are 6 rounds from a rest.

The Glock 42 is a class leading pocket pistol that fits in the palm of my hand. If I needed a pocket pistol, I would carry it.

If I were looking for a pocket pistol the Glock 42 would be the first pick. As a matter of fact, it will be protecting family. I cannot endorse a pistol more than that. With a small pistol like the G42 shoot it. This pistol shoots accurately, allows for fast follow-up shots and most importantly is fun to shoot.

Normal Wear and Tear of the Leupold Mark4

By

Anna Martinez

-

August 25, 2020

Before we get into this let us take a trip down memory lane with the Mark4.

https://www.leupold.com/leupold-core/stories/30-years-of-service

Mindset

Often during inspections of the Knights Armament M110 the optic can be passed over due to the fact that it is inspected before every firing for looseness and proper mounting procedures. However there are things that wear on this optic, items that need cleaning or replacement that often get looked over.

The optic on a sniper rifle is a very finicky thing, it is a precision tool. When inspecting it is important that whoever is inspecting it has the mindset of both “operator and maintenance”. They need to understand that, as an operator, doing anything with the mount or dials can severely set the operator back on being able to deploy their weapon due to set zero and adjustments. Within this mindset though, maintenance folk can get lost. They can look over things that need replacement on the optic.

For example: The dials.

Mark4 Dials

Recently it was seen that Snipers have been using worn dials on their Mark4’s. To get around this, they would mark the zero with a sharpie and do their best to count their adjustments after that. As far as quick adjustments and everything else that needs to be thought of during a fast engagement of a target, that is not a great practice.

The photos below are from two different sniper sections within the state (Minnesota).

An Easy Fix

Turns out Snipers from all over the state were having this same issue. Normal wear but something that needed to be replaced ASAP. Reaching out to Leupold, they were stellar. First talked on was ensuring that the dials were cleaned properly. As dirt and grime can easily cover up the numbers. Once verified that it was wear, Leupold sent out each set of parallax, elevation, and windage dials for each gun. This is an operator installation so if you’re a maintenance folk don’t be afraid to send directly to your snipers.

Just small wrenches to install, no need to fear.

Huge thank you to Leupold for seeing the need and helping out with it so quickly and with knowledge.

Go to https://www.leupold.com/riflescope-troubleshooting#ImMissing if you need dials or any other external parts and talk to a customer service rep.

Note: Due to a lot of hardwork and perseverance by snipers alike, the Knights Armament M110 now has the Leupold Mark5 as the official optic. Look for it in other articles here on GAT.

https://www.leupold.com/leupold-core/core-insider/news/leupolds-mark-5hd-3-6-18×44-riflescope-chosen-for-armys-m110-rifle

The Razor and the Thumb…

By

Keith Finch

-

August 24, 2020

The Razor HD Gen III from Vortex is one of those industry standard setting optics. It embodies several traits that others, even those who make an exemplary scope, fall short on in one juncture or another. It hits the right balance of ‘excellent’ in all categories without going overboard to be the best in one at the expense of that balance. Well, except magnification and illumination which they flexed hard in.

In their words, “Screw 1-8’s.”

Mike, “THE GarandThumb” goes through the scope (two variants are available) and covers, again, why it should be on your short list of LPVO’s, if your optic budget is around $2k.

Believe it, that is a very reasonable optic budget for a fighting rifle you expect to stretch its legs (>100 yards). Spending the same or more on a (variable power) optic than you spent on the rifle is the norm for durable high quality glass. Red dots and fixed power options are another matter, but I digress.

Can you get perfectly acceptable 1-6’s for about $700-900 less? Absolutely. Should you consider those instead? Perhaps, especially in the SFP models. Does 1-6 cover your need? It could, it probably does in fact. Only you can decide if you want or need the capabilities of the 10x, an 8x, 6x, or even a 4x over a dot just as you would decide second or first focal plane.

The 1-10x is the bridge that now places fighting carbine optics in and beyond where sniper and DMR glass was during early and middle GWOT. This easily eclipses what the Mk12’s Leupold 2.5-8x could bring to an AR. It dramatically increases the PID capability of any rifle, a necessary capability both domestically and abroad. It delivers best in class reticle illumination which allows it to serve in the LPVO role where a reflex dot is what the shooter is looking for to break a quick close shot. 10x gives you that much greater capability to observe and, if necessary, take a positive and confident shot.

That optic might live at 1x 95% of its service, but if you need 10x you have 10x and you gave nothing up over most 1-6’s to get it, except money. And, depending upon the 1-6 or 1-8 you were looking at, perhaps not even that.

Individual optics from names like Nightforce, Leupold, and Schmidt & Bender may overshadow the Razor Gen III in a single category, usually glass clarity, color quality, or light transmission. But not one of them has delivered a 1-10, not one has matched the illumination and battery life, and in the grand calculus (just like the SCAR 16 rifle in SOCOM’s hands) the extra cost they all command is no longer delivering enough extra performance in comparison.

Vortex knew they didn’t have to be the best in glass clarity, weight, or size. They had to excel at them, but they didn’t need to be number one to set the new standard. Developments here are all diminishing return categories. Having a 14oz LPVO would mean nothing if it came out to $8,000 for it and 17-22oz optics are durable, affordable, and abundant.

Having the absolute most exquisite lenses for transmission of image is the same kind of thing. If the 8k TV is 400% of the price but the 4k TV is only 80% more and both deliver an objectively excellent image with highly desirable features, the 4k is going to win the appeal game until the 8k can hit that balance which includes price. Diminishing returns will keep the materially “best” systems in dramatically lower sales volumes while “great” systems thrive, objectively making them the best.

The Gen III having the highest magnification, while achieving near physical parity with peer optics, that stands out. Doing it in a common tube format for modern mounts, that stands out further (sorry Atibal, 34mm was the answer). Closely paralleling your current industry standard LPVO so that the new one can take over in place (by getting the same mount or rings, just in 34mm) brings even more interest…

Cracking the front focal plane illumination conundrum with an exceptional reticle (that you can see past, even) and keeping it at the $2,000 street price point. That sets new standards.

Like I’ve said previously, the Razor Gen II and Razor Gen II-E were not materially the best. Both the CQBSS and VCOG held material superiority in various categories. But they didn’t hold the balance in all categories, Vortex did, and that balance raised the stakes and caused a rise across the industry in quality, quantity, performance, and accessibility. The Razor Gen III was designed to repeat the feat, and it has.

The whole feature set makes it the trend setter. The most magnification with the best illumination in two exceptional reticle patterns through excellent glass, housed in an identically weighted nearly parallel eye-relieved body with defense industry preferred capped/protected turrets at a street price well within the current markets standards for optics.

a little knowledge about buying quality — I have found this to be 100% accurate.

Franklin Armory – Title 1 Suit

By

Keith Finch

-

August 24, 2020

Franklin Armory® goes to great lengths and expense to bring quality products to market that people want. Franklin Armory® has designed, developed, and begun the manufacture of a new firearm — The Title 1® — that is California compliant but is neither a rifle, shotgun, nor pistol. Franklin Armory® has, and will continue lawfully taking preorders from buyers in the state.

Tens of thousands of Californians have already placed deposits on the Title 1® firearm so they could get one as soon as they become available. Franklin Armory® has made it a priority to deliver on these pre-orders to their customers – but we can’t – because CADOJ is unlawfully refusing to process the requisite paperwork.

In response to this inaction, the law firm of Michel and Associates, PC is preparing a Mass Action Lawsuit to represent those persons whom CADOJ has prevented from lawfully acquiring their firearm. If you have made a deposit and are unable to receive your firearm(s) because of defects in the CADOJ designed and maintained Dealer Record of Sale Entry System, you should consider joining this lawsuit. There are no fees or costs involved for participants.

Even though the possession of Title 1® does not violate California law, CADOJ has deliberately refused to process sales of the Title 1®. As a result, Franklin Armory® retailers cannot transfer Title 1® firearms to consumers because licensed dealers cannot submit their sales applications to CADOJ online. The state-mandated system, Dealer Record of Sale Entry System (“DES”,) does not allow for the transfer of certain firearms that do not meet the limited predefined identifiers in the DES System. It is an easy technical fix, but CADOJ has deliberately delayed the simple technical correction to allow this product to be sold.

The sale of Title 1® firearms are being blocked by biased CADOJ bureaucrats. CADOJ was made aware last year of the need to add an “other” category to facilitate Title 1® sales but refused to take this step. This technological barrier prevents licensed firearm dealers from proceeding with a sale, transfer, loan, or submission of information to the CADOJ. The actual effect is that California firearm dealers cannot accurately submit the necessary information to the CADOJ for processing.

This, we believe, constitutes a violation of the CADOJ’s duty to accept and process all firearm applications and a violation of each purchaser’s due process rights. On behalf of the tens-of-thousands of people who put a deposit down to purchase the Title 1®, this lawsuit seeks to declare CADOJ’s conduct unlawful and to compel CADOJ and its agents to fulfill its obligations and process all Title 1® purchases that were made prior to any subsequent prohibitions, restrictions, and/or limitations.

To join the lawsuit or for more information, visit https://title1lawsuit.leverage.law/

FN M249 SAW Drive Rod Spring, Improper Install

By

Anna Martinez

-

August 21, 2020

The Incorrect Install

On the drive rod assembly there is a riveted or (dimpled) pin that holds the assembly together. Owners and operators of this gun often install the rod with the dimple up and exposed. I have also seen them somehow lock the two pins on each side inside the receiver at the 12 and 6 o’clock.

The Proper Install

Below is the correct installation of the drive rod and drive rod spring. The dimple should be DOWN and the pins should be locked in to the receiver at the 9 and 3 o’clock.

Why do we care?

There is a legit reason for installing the drive rod with the dimple DOWN. If anything were to break within the drive rod assembly that rivet that is holding those parts in would not be impacted by anything in the gun as it is protected by the bottom of the receiver. If the rivet were to be up and the drive rod were to break that rivet could be removed by other parts within the weapon and more damage could occur, not to mention the difficulty it would be to remedy the malfunction.

There are now drive rods that are being pushed out from manufacturer that have stamped on the rod “this side up” because it is still being installed incorrectly.

I too have installed this part incorrectly a number of times because I didn’t understand the “why” of it. After going to the FN M249/M240/MK-19 course by FN in South Carolina, I have not messed it up once because it registers as being something of importance.

Rising Gun Sales During COVID-19 & Social Unrest

By

DRGO

-

August 21, 2020

(from app.com)

Gun owners and dealers alike are well aware that firearm sales spike during times of national crisis. This usually occurs when people fear that new gun laws may be implemented in the near future. However, this year a different kind of scare has sparked a national run to the gun shops. While we are in an election season, the increase in purchasing firearms also correlates with the rise of COVID-19, and is greater than the typical surge.

How Large Is the Increase?

Before the reasons of this surge are examined, let’s examine just how large this surge has been. There actually aren’t direct counts of the exact numbers of firearms purchased. However, there is data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Every time someone purchases a firearm from a licensed dealership, a background check is conducted. Statistics from this don’t technically record how many firearms have been purchased. But reasonably accurate estimates can be made based on this background check data.

In March, approximately 2.6 million firearms were sold. This is an 85% increase over March of the previous year. In April, the number was around 1.79 million, marking a 71% increase. Data suggests that in July, there were likely around 1.2 million handguns purchased and 600,000 long guns purchased which are 152% and 108% increases respectively over 2019. This increase in gun sales has been truly historic, but what does it all mean?

Panic

The coronavirus introduced serious uncertainty into the country. At times, this uncertainty has manifested as panic and panic buying. Fears of resource scarcity were bound to bring people to the gun shops along with searching for toilet paper. Fear of potential social unrest if large amounts of people could no longer find food was a driving factor. There was also the simple fact that self-reliance seems like even more of a virtue in times like this. Another part of the cause for the large increase in gun sales is that police departments across the country have become less responsive due to the coronavirus and social pressures. Response times have increased, and the value of being able to defend oneself has therefore increased as well.

Along with general societal issues, Asians faced increased discrimination that encouraged their purchasing firearms for self-protection. Reasonable people understand that looking Asian does not mean someone was responsible for bringing coronavirus to the U.S. Nor does it mean they carry the virus. Unfortunately, some are not reasonable. Many of the purchasers have been of Chinese descent although Asian Americans in general have increasingly sought out gun shops.

Our current nationwide urban unrest is also responsible. This has raised two reasons for people to purchase firearms. First, many black Americans are discovering their right to firearms ownership for their own protection. Americans are generally realizing what “defunding” police with increasing street violence may bring. In certain cities, citizens no longer feel safe relying on local government for protection. No one can know how long this will go on.

What Comes Next?

Along with these disruptions, the hot coals of the 2020 election are flaring up. Many Americans fear the changes in gun laws that a Democrat regime may bring; Joe Biden will not be kind to the Second Amendment should he win.

Neither will the coronavirus end soon. While there are talks of a vaccine on the horizon, its arrival date in unclear and unlikely within the next few months. This means that the coronavirus and its effects will be here for some time.

What will the long-term influence of all these new gun owners be? There definitely include more than the usual proportion of new gun owners. Many who were previously disinterested in firearms and self-protection seem to have changed their minds. As we see many on the left of the political spectrum exercise their Second Amendment rights, could there come a change in how Democrats view gun issues in the future?

It may well be that whichever side wins in November 2020, this increased awareness of and preparation for self-defense will continue. That would be good for the individuals doing it as well as for the health of our country.

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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

5.11 Tactical’s Women’s Workout Clothing

By

Scott Smith

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August 21, 2020

It seems more and more shooters; male and female are taking fitness more seriously. I have heard from a number of women they like their athletic apparel but it is not built for the range or tough enough to endure the rigors of training for competitive shooting; especially three gun and “tactical” events. When enough people speak companies listen, especially 5.11 Tactical. A few years back 5.11 introduced their tough as nails Range Tights and Capri pants. These were a big hit but the heavier weave gets hot working out indoors or on hot days.

To give ladies another option that worked well for range, yoga or casual wear; 5.11 introduced the Natasha Tight and the Recon Jolie Tight. These tights do not have belt loops and are a lighter weave than the Range Tights. This makes them much better for workouts and casual wear.

When I was talking with 5.11 about these and a few other pieces of lifestyle clothing, I was wondering who would help me T&E them. Then it dawned me a friend of mine Nicole Lynn (on Instagram @moparmodel_offical) is an active outdoorsy lady. She is a fitness model, yoga instructor, mom, wife and outdoor addict; she would tell me how they perform. Since these items were not standard range apparel, she suggested we do photos that fit their purpose; exercise and casual wear.

Nicole Lynn, said the new 5.11 Tactical athletic apparel looked good and fit well.

The first item we looked was the Recon Jolie ($79.99). These tights come in a variety of patterns; Star Spangled (red, white, blue), Razzle Dazzle (Black, White, Grey) and Camp Rose (White, OD, Black). Below the calf and stripe up the leg are contrasting colors. Unlike many athletic pants, they come in sizes 0-12 and run true to size.What sets these apart from designer pants is the material, they are 88% nylon and12% 8.6 ounce elastane. This material is abrasion resistant while it is soft and comfortable like those made from Lycra blends. The blend also is far more odor resistant than other fabric blends and moisture wicking.

The Recon Jolie with it’s patterns is a change from the monotone look of many athletic pants.

5.11 Tactical designs user friendly features into their pants not seen in yoga pants, pockets. There are slash pockets on each thigh to carry your phone, money, etc. If you prefer a more secure spot for money, there is a hidden pocket in the right side waist band. These pants were comfortable enough Nicole Lynn climbed up on her Jeep, Scarlet and got comfortable. She said they would be ideal for the active lifestyle.

There are slash pockets on each thing so you can carry your phone, ID, etc.

If you are looking for a bit more subdued pair of tights, the Natasha ($59.99) might be more what you are looking for. They are sized S-XL in black and flint. The material is again 88% nylon and 12% elastane but it is single jersey so it has a leather-like sheen. This material also incorporates Enduro-Flex properties so it is anti-microbial and moisture wicking. Like the Jolie, the Natasha has thigh pockets. These have flat coil zippers to secure items like your phone.

The pockets have enough give that even your sunglasses are safe in them.

The Natasha may not look it, but these pants have enough stretch to be comfortable doing even the mos complex yoga moves.

While shooting photos of the Natasha we noticed they are dressier pair tights. The question is, would the dressy and slightly heavier tights would they be good to workout in? As you can see they certainly are ready for the most active of activities. Nicole commented that these are the perfect tights to show you can be dressy and shoot in heels…so we did.

While not ideal for competition, if you get the urge Nicole shows us you can rock red pumps while shooting.

With most of the country having temperatures in the 80s plus it’s hard to think of needing the next item, 5.11’s Kinetic Full Zip jacket ($89.99). It is available in sizes XS-XL and Black, Peacoat, Grenade and Lunar. This jacket is uses to different blends. The body is constructed of 94% polyester, 6% spandex blend; contrast constructed of 87% polyester, 13% spandex. Using two different fabric blends ensures the jacket washes well, endures the rigors of the range and looks good doing it.

The off center zipper helps prevent brass from going down the Kinetic’s cowl neck.

Aside from the material used in the Kinetic, it has a few unique features. First is the cowl neck and off center zipper to keep hot shells from being ejected down the jacket. Second to help keep the chill off, the drop hemline prevents the tail from riding up. Third are the sleeve thumbholes to keep your hands warm. Fourth, you will find pen slots on each sleeve. The next to last item is a zipper key pocket on the left cuff. Last is the back pocket for extra shells for the range or other items if you are out hiking. 5.11 packs the Kinetic Full Zip Jacket with loads of features to give you the best bang for your buck.

Thumb hole sleeves have become very popular. They keep the sleeves from riding up when layering under another jacket and help break the chill.

5.11 is known for serious use clothing items, but they also offer fun t-shirts and tanks for working out and casual wear. We looked at a couple of shirts to give you an idea of what 5.11 has.

First up was the white Sunday Gunday t-shirt ($18.39). This is a fitted shirt sized S-XL, made from 50/50 cotton polyester, 4.3 ounce ringspun jersey. Using this blend ensures the shirt will keep its shape wash after wash. For comfort and to prevent it from losing shape, the neck tape runs from shoulder to shoulder. Lastly all of the seams are double stitched to prevent them from coming lose.

This photo sums up the Sunday Gunday t-shirt; fun and sassy.

Our next to last item is the fitted Barbell BAE Tank ($24.99). Available in grey sized XS- XL, this 50/50 modal, cotton blend was designed with working out in mind. Unlike many tank tops, the neckline and arm holes are cut to prevent too much of you from showing when working out. Nicole told me both shirts run true to size. She likes her clothing tighter and wore a small in the Sunday Gunday Tee. For a looser fit, the medium in the Barbell BAE was ideal.

As you can see the BAE Barbell Tank’s neck and arm holes are cut to allow full range of motion without having a clothing malfunction. The Multicam Flag Bearer hat is ideal for casual wear, hunting or duty wear.

The last item is the Multicam Flag Bearer Hat ($19.99). With its six panel 100% cotton canvas, high brim construction; it will not lose its shape. The moisture wicking sweatband is foam lined for comfort, fit is adjusted with a hook/loop closure. On front of the Flag Bearer is a block of loop material to attach a patch. If you wear this as a duty hat there is another square on the crown for a reflective tape. 5.11’s Flag Bearer is built keep the sun out of your eyes for years to come.

This piece barely touches on workout clothing from 5.11 Tactical, but it is a good overview. Keep an eye out for more items to be added to the 2021 catalog. 5.11 understands ladies are an important part of the outdoor/shooting industry and continues to bring more items out to meet their needs.

The 240 Origin Story: FN-D

By

Keith Finch

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August 21, 2020

The FN M240, or internationally the FN MAG, is probably the most successful and wide spread general purpose machine gun of the western world. It has also been called a medium machine gun or MMG in addition to the GPMG title which is associated with its multi-role and multi-variant nature.

How many variants? Well FN produced four. The Brits have twelve of their own. The Swedes have five. The US military has eight and that’s before the Barrett/Geissele. And then the Chinese made one illegally without license because, “F*ck you, we’re China.”

“But Keith, Ian is showing a BAR that looks kinda like the Colt Monitor Variant.”

Correct. The Browning BAR (via Colt to FN) was the direct predecessor of the FN MAG. The BAR internals and operation were (and are) suited for sustained automatic fire. They just needed longer duration and that has always been best accomplished with felt feds. Pulling the internals out of a BAR look shockingly familiar to modern machine gunners.

As Ian covers, the FN-D introduces the barrel change mechanism that carried over to the FN MAG/240. That feature has, while perhaps less practically applied, sustained on variants to this day. The “barrel swap” in order to increase sustained fire rates and preserve barrel longevity is fantastic in theory but in consistently applied outside of training ranges (and sometimes even there) since taking your working machine gun apart in a gunfight you’ve clearly been at for a minute has its downsides.

Anyhow, take it away Ian. The FN-D.

The imported Ruger GP100s

By

Caleb Giddings

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August 21, 2020

Imagine stumbling across a nice, 3-inch stainless steel Ruger GP100 in a gun store back in the early 2000s. The gun looks great, and there on the left side of the frame is a mysterious stamp: “CIA, Georgia VT.” Those three letters, “CIA,” immediately send the mind on a tour of fantasy, wondering if this gun was in the hands of an agent creeping around Central America? No, as CIA in this case stands for Century International Arms, the company that re-imported these guns. That doesn’t make these imported Ruger GP100s any less interesting, though.

During the mid 1980s and into the early 1990s, Ruger produced GP100 revolvers specifically for the export market. The two biggest consumers of these guns were Canada and France. In Canada, they were issued to the RCMP and municipal agencies, including the Montreal police department. In France, they were also issued to municipal police forces, sometimes alongside the Manurhin MR88, and sometimes instead of the French manufactured revolver. Eventually, they have been retired or phased out of service, and these imported Ruger GP100s have returned to the United States.

Now that they’re back, the imported Ruger GP100s make great basic carry guns, fun range guns, or first revolvers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they could be found for $300-$350 from surplus websites or on Gunbroker, and will hopefully return to around that price once the world settles down. If you do get a chance to inspect one before you buy, check three areas before you slap your cash on the glass. The first thing to check for is lockup – when the hammer is forward and the trigger to the rear, the cylinder should not have excessive side-to-side movement. A little wiggle is okay, but you shouldn’t be able to move the cylinder hole opening past the forcing cone. Next, on a GP100 you want to make sure the trigger/hammer engagement is working correctly by decocking the revolver. Cock the gun, then ease the hammer forward while releasing the trigger. The trigger should rebound forward on its own. Last, take the grips off and check for rust under them.

If you happen to have a set of feeler gauges and know what you’re doing, you could also check one of these imported Ruger GP100s for endshake, which is the amount of forward and backward cylinder movement. Truth be told, most of these foreign trade-ins have been shot minimally, so endshake won’t be an issue. I had a GP100 that fired over 10,000 rounds of 38 Special and never developed significant endshake, so a cop gun should be fine.

These imported Ruger GP100s are a great choice for a first revolver or a carry gun, if you can find one for a reasonable price. They’re fun guns with a good story, and they’re also some of the last law enforcement trade-in revolvers out there. If you see one, grab it!

During the mid 1980s and into the early 1990s, Ruger produced GP100 revolvers specifically for the export market. The two biggest consumers of these guns were Canada and France. In Canada, they were issued to the RCMP and municipal agencies, including the Montreal police department. In France, they were also issued to municipal police forces, sometimes alongside the Manurhin MR88, and sometimes instead of the French manufactured revolver. Eventually, they have been retired or phased out of service, and these imported GP100s have returned to the United States.

Now that they’re back, the imported Ruger GP100s make great basic carry guns, fun range guns, or first revolvers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they could be found for $300-$350 from surplus websites or on Gunbroker, and will hopefully return to around that price once the world settles down. If you do get a chance to inspect one before you buy, check three areas before you slap your cash on the glass. The first thing to check for is lockup – when the hammer is forward and the trigger to the rear, the cylinder should not have excessive side-to-side movement. A little wiggle is okay, but you shouldn’t be able to move the cylinder hole opening past the forcing cone. Next, on a GP100 you want to make sure the trigger/hammer engagement is working correctly by decocking the revolver. Cock the gun, then ease the hammer forward while releasing the trigger. The trigger should rebound forward on its own. Last, take the grips off and check for rust under them.

If you happen to have a set of feeler gauges and know what you’re doing, you could also check one of these imported GP100s for endshake, which is the amount of forward and backward cylinder movement. Truth be told, most of these foreign trade-ins have been shot minimally, so endshake won’t be an issue. I had a GP100 that fired over 10,000 rounds of 38 Special and never developed significant endshake, so a cop gun should be fine.

These imported GP100s are a great choice for a first revolver or a carry gun, if you can find one for a reasonable price. They’re fun guns with a good story, and they’re also some of the last law enforcement trade-in revolvers out there. If you see one, grab it!

Stock Options – AK Portfolio

By

Keith Finch

-

August 20, 2020

The AR platform is essentially the God Emperor of Dune, if Dune were Modularity instead of a fictional planetary creation of Frank Herbert. If I want an entirely new stock on an AR platform it is nearly universally a 10 minute ordeal, at most.

Rare exceptions for one off systems like Maxim Defense and LWRCi models that have shorter unique buffer systems but those only add moderate complexity to the task. AR’s have threaded in receiver extensions that take the recoil system and support the stock and working around that system is very simple.

Upgrading my M16A4’s fixed A2 stock to the more comfortable Magpul MOE rifle stock took a few minutes and a flat head screw driver. The most complex thing about it was not loosing the rear takedown pin’s detent spring into orbit, since it is held under tension by the stock.

When I opted to further upgrade the M16″A5″ into the A5-I, I changed the stock again. The adjustable B5 SOPMOD Bravo went on which, unlike the MOE, required removal and replacement of the rifle length receiver extension and recoil system. This whole process took about 15 total minutes, including staking the castle nut (Yes, you should do that. It’s easy.), and I had my adjustable stock equipped M16.

And that’s really the extent of the complexity. Regardless of the current or future recoil and stock systems I want to run on that AR (or any other AR) the process of properly adding them to the rifle is rather simple and they are highly interchangeable.

Not so, on the AK.

In the video, Brandon goes into why choosing which stock option you want on the AK is crucial prior to purchase. With the exception of the standard ‘fixed’ stock tang configuration, which has some strong after market options, what you pick is pretty much what you get. A side folder is a side folder and an under folder is an under folder.

I like the side folder I bought, personally, and that’s good because I cannot just go and snag a B5 to put on the end of my rifle. I don’t intend to, but the point is that I can’t. My receiver is cut for the hinge and locking mechanism of the AK folder and replacements are nowhere near as prominent on the market as AR stock parts.

Add to that, each type of stock has it’s own receiver machining, and the under folders are especially invasive to the virgin stamping, making your selection prior to purchase critical.

That, ultimately, is what this post is about. Knowing that choosing the venerated and robust AK platform means making some largely permanent decisions when it comes to what configuration the rifle is in.

Nyet change, rifle is fine!