Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Advertisement

The Past Year in Medical Firearms Research

By
DRGO
-
commonfund.nih.gov

[Ed: DRGO has returned from the 34th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, hosted in Phoenix by the Second Amendment Foundation. On Sunday, Dr. Brodale discussed medical research on gun violence during the past year.]

From the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics, “Gun violence and trauma surgery”:  “Mass shootings account for less than 1 percent of all gun-related deaths in the US”. You would never know it the way they only react when there is a mass murder.  Every murder is significant, yet they ignore the daily toll of murders from street gangs and the drug trade to make front page news over the less than one percent toll from mass murders.

They go on: “Advancing research on gun-related injury prevention is severely constrained by current governmental policies”.  Is that really true? Many, many articles on “gun violence” have been published by medical researchers since last September.   Here are a few of them:

— “Bolstering gun injury surveillance accuracy using capture–recapture methods“

— “Public opinion about the relationship between firearm availability and suicide: Results from a national survey“

— “Family firearm ownership and firearm-related mortality among young children”

— “Comprehensive background check policy and firearm background checks in three U.S. states”

— “The Dickey amendment on federal funding for research on gun violence: A legal dissection”

— “Firearms, alcohol and crime: Convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes and risk for future criminal activity among authorised purchasers of handguns”

— “Analysis of the strength of legal firearms restrictions for perpetrators of domestic violence and their associations with intimate partner homicide”

— “California’s comprehensive background check and misdemeanor violence prohibition policies and firearm mortality”

— “State firearm laws and interstate transfer of guns in the USA”

— “Repeal of comprehensive background check policies and firearm homicide and suicide”

— “Redirecting the mental health and gun violence conversation from mass shootings to suicide”

— “Changes in U.S. mass shooting deaths associated with the 1994-2004 federal assault weapons ban: Analysis of open-source data”

— “Criminal use of assault weapons and high-capacity semiautomatic firearms: An updated examination of local and national sources”

— “Trends in firearm Injuries among children and teenagers in the United States”

— “Reducing gunshot victimization in high-risk social networks through direct and spillover effects”

— “Extreme Risk Protection Orders: An opportunity to improve gun violence prevention training”

Shall I go on?  I’ll spare you, because the list goes on and on.  I did a few searches on PubMed among its 30 million citations of biomedical literature.  I searched for articles from the past year (September 2018-September 2019). This returned 135 articles just for “gun violence”; over 200 were about “firearm storage”, over 500 just for “firearm”.  And there are many more regarding “mass shooting”, “gun control” and other topics.

Not all these articles are biased toward gun control or that all guns are bad, or ignore the person that is responsible for the criminal acts with those guns.  It comes down to this—there is a lot of medical and public health research being done in the United States and the world about firearm related injury and death, most of which is slanted, even while researchers whine that they can’t find funding to do any gun violence research.

How about this one: “Holding Sweden hostage: Firearm-related violence”?  No, this is not Sweden or New Sweden, Michigan.  This is the Scandinavian country, Sweden.  But firearm-related violence is not supposed to occur in developed countries outside the U.S.  To quote our previous gun-grabbing President of the United States, “This just doesn’t happen in other countries”.   Yes, it does and is increasing in Sweden, a country “with some of the worlds strictest gun laws” according to this article.  Now, Sweden has never had as high a violent crime rate as Brazil or Mexico but there are many societal and cultural issues other than gun laws that affect violent crime rates.  The point here is that firearm related violence still occurs and can increase for reasons unrelated to firearm laws.

Back in the U.S., how  about this from two physicians at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans?  “Let’s Join the Lane: The Role of Infectious Diseases Physicians in Preventing Gun Violence“.  Although not a research article, it is another example of physicians getting in the wrong lane.  They do their best to make a case for why their specialty should advocate for gun control.  They go so far as to state that gun violence is an infectious disease issue because many spinal cord injuries are caused by firearms, that people with spinal cord injuries are at risk for pressure sores ,and these wounds are an infectious disease nightmare.  Along with this incredible stretch in logic, they fail to see that the gun is not the problem. They need to keep within their scope of practice and expertise, and stay in their true infectious disease lane.

Dr. Stephen Hargarten and associates put forth some very interesting theories in their article “Gun Violence: A Biopsychosocial Disease“.  I was hopeful about this article because, taken literally, a biopsychosocial mode could provide a useful perspective on firearm injury.

In the “bio” part (the physical biology) we can study the damage that is done by the bullet and the best ways to treat that (including infectious disease complications).  The Stop the Bleed program and FASTER offer similar training.  These train people to stop bleeding from trauma using direct pressure, clotting agents and tourniquets.  Many of us carry these kits at all times, as I do.

“Psycho” refers to the psychological aspects of violence.  There has been much research done about the psychology of violence. The question of “Who is high risk for violence?” is better understood for suicide than for homicide victims. “Red flag” laws presume that violence is predictable but it is a much more complex than lawmakers imagine.

“Social” (and cultural) causes are a growing area of research into the precipitants of violence.  There is ongoing work to learn how to reduce the social pressure to initiate or respond with violence.

Unfortunately, Dr Hargarten et al don’t stay in any of these lanes.  They begin in the right place but end up right back to gun control.  For example they say “The disease model provides us with accuracy: the bullet and its kinetic energy shreds, tears and destroys cells, and damages organs, leading to death and disability”.   Yes, but this is the last step in the chain.  Then,  “While the behavioral health issues that result in a person pulling a trigger and releasing the energy need to be better understood . . . the gun, which carries the bullets, becomes a necessary focus of intervention”.  Despite acknowledging that the person who pulls the trigger needs to be better understood, they move directly to advocating intervention on the weapon.  Hopeless.

An interesting study appeared by Laura H. Gunn in the Department of Health Sciences at UNC-Charlotte with associates from all over the world, including England and Columbia: “Online interest regarding violent attacks, gun control, and gun purchase: A causal analysis“.  The title tells us something, too obviously. They studied internet searches on violent acts, gun control and gun purchases.  According to the article “Google Trends, as a way to access internet search data, has become a widespread tool for health research”.  It’s unclear how well Google can be trusted to give accurate information about gun-related searches, based on its demonetizing firearm related YouTube channels.

The article documents that, following mass murders, searches increase about the specific act (mass public murders), gun control and gun purchases.  This is not rocket science, but there is an interesting twist in her results.  It appears that interest in the act of violence fades quickly but that interest in gun control and firearm purchases fades more slowly.  They concluded that the continued conversation on gun control in the media is what continued to fuel more searches for gun purchases.  If anti-gunners get wind of this, you might think they would reduce their gun control rhetoric . But listening to the Democrat debates lately, it’s clear that they are not going to be quiet about gun control anytime soon.

But be not dismayed.  There is positive medical research on firearms out there, like this one by Mark Hamill MD et al titled “State Level Firearm Concealed-Carry Legislation and Rates of Homicide and Other Violent Crime“.  This was presented at the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress in Boston in October 2018.  They looked at concealed carry legislation and its effect on the rate of homicide and other violent crime over 30 years (1986-2015) while concealed carry laws were being liberalized in many states.  This study actually looked at the data objectively, unlike so many other firearm researchers with obvious subjectively skewed results.  Dr. Hamill and associates used a very simple model.  They classified concealed carry in two complementary ways:  1)  no carry, may carry, shall carry and unrestricted; and 2) restrictive (no carry and may carry) vs. non restrictive (shall carry and unrestricted).  They did not find any increase in violent crime or homicide as concealed carry laws became less restrictive.

It is refreshing to see physicians doing objective research on firearms instead of demonstrating anti-gun bias from beginning to end. Here is another recent example of that bias.

I attended the Iowa State Trauma Conference in August and took in a lecture titled Active shooter in the healthcare setting.  I expected the usual anti-gun blather and I was correct.  Many of the statistics presented were either irrelevant or biased.  During the lecture the author repeatedly mentioned how many firearms were confiscated from people when certain hospitals installed metal detectors at the entrances, without discriminating between legal and illegally carried guns. That wasn’t the worst of it though.  Then she added that perhaps 20% of weapons got through the metal detectors.  So I asked why, if even with metal detectors we cannot stop significant numbers of firearms getting into the facilities, shouldn’t people inside be armed anyway?  She said that “we have found the the increase in the number of firearms is a risk factor for firearm injuries and the number of gun used to protect someone is much less than the number of people harmed with guns every year”.  I brought up the fact that many researchers have found that the number of defensive gun uses is much higher than the harm done by criminals.  Even the CDC’s own survey data (which they hid for 25 years), showed approximately 2.4 million defensive gun uses every year.  That is many more than all of the gunshot harm, including suicides, every year.  She said “we will just have to agree to disagree”.   I had to agree with her there.   She doesn’t want to consider research that doesn’t fit the party line.  I think that we do need to look at it all.

So despite some good articles published by medical researchers this year, we still have a long road ahead with a lot of opposition from medical professionals.  DRGO will continue to counter the biased pseudoscience put out by anti-gun medical professionals and stand up for our right to self-defense.

Other references:

Bolstering gun injury surveillance accuracy using capture–recapture methods. Post, L.A.. et al. J Behav Med (2019)

Conner A, Azrael D, Miller M. Public opinion about the relationship between firearm availability and suicide: Results from a national survey. Annals of internal medicine. 2018;168(2):153.

Kate C Prickett, Carmen Gutierrez, Soudeep Deb. Family firearm ownership and firearm-related mortality among young children: 1976–2016. Pediatrics. 2019;143(2):1

Castillo-Carniglia A, Kagawa RMC, Webster DW, Vernick JS, Cerdá M, Wintemute GJ. Comprehensive background check policy and firearm background checks in three US states. Injury Prevention. 2018;24(6):431-436

Rostron A. The dickey amendment on federal funding for research on gun violence: A legal dissection. American journal of public health. 2018;108(7):865-867

Wintemute GJ, Wright MA, Castillo-Carniglia A, Shev A, Cerdá M. Firearms, alcohol and crime: Convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes and risk for future criminal activity among authorised purchasers of handguns. Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention. 2018;24(1):68-72

Zeoli AM, McCourt A, Buggs S, Frattaroli S, Lilley D, Webster DW. Analysis of the strength of legal firearms restrictions for perpetrators of domestic violence and their associations with intimate partner homicide. American journal of epidemiology. 2018;187(11):2365-2371

Castillo-Carniglia A, Kagawa RMC, Cerdá M, et al. California’s comprehensive background check and misdemeanor violence prohibition policies and firearm mortality. Annals of Epidemiology. 2019;30:50-56.

Collins T, Greenberg R, Siegel M, et al. State firearm laws and interstate transfer of guns in the USA, 2006–2016. J Urban Health. 2018;95(3):322-336. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29671188. doi: 10.1007/s11524-018-0251-9

Kagawa R, Castillo-Carniglia A, Vernick J, et al. Repeal of comprehensive background check policies and firearm homicide and suicide. Epidemiology. 2018;29(4):494-502.

Swanson JW. Redirecting the mental health and gun violence conversation from mass shootings to suicide. Psychiatric Services. 2018;69(12):1198-1199

DiMaggio C, Avraham J, Berry C, et al. Changes in US mass shooting deaths associated with the 1994-2004 federal assault weapons ban: Analysis of open-source data. The journal of trauma and acute care surgery. 2019;86(1):11-19.

.

.

Sean Brodale, MD

— Dr. Sean Brodale is a family practitioner in Iowa. He is pursuing the right to carry in hospitals for eligible medical personnel. At DRGO he is involved in membership and public engagement projects.

All DRGO articles by Sean Brodale, DO

The Taurus G2S – Far From Fancy

By
Travis Pike
-

As the title says the Taurus G2S is far from fancy. The gun snob in me wants to write it off, but the realist in me knows that is a fool’s errand. The Taurus pistols command a big part of the pistol market. They produce pistols that people can afford. I’ve had an overwhelmingly negative experience with more than a few Taurus guns. However, those were all revolvers, and each failed quite poorly. My first handgun ever was a Taurus PT111 New Millenium Edition and believe it or not I never had a poor experience with it.

I purchased the G2S simply to see where Taurus stood in their handgun production in 2019. Plus, at 180 bucks the G2S was priced just a bit above a flippin Hi Point. The difference being that the Taurus uses a more traditional Browning rotating barrel system that doesn’t require a massive slide to operate. The Taurus is a more traditional weapon, and much more refined than Hi Points, Cobras, and most budget brands.

The Taurus G2S – Breaking it Down

The G2S is a single stack variant of the G2C pistol. It comes in both 9mm and 40 S&W, and in a few different finish options. My G2S is very basic, it’s a 9mm model that is all black. The gun comes with two 7 round magazines in the 9mm variant and in 40 S&W it comes with 6 round magazines.

The G2S comes with a manual thumb safety and adjustable sights. The thumb safety is positioned is the best way you could. It’s placed in a position that’s easy to reach and quick to disengage. The sights are a three-dot design and the rear sight is fully adjustable for both windage and elevation. The sights are cross-compatible with older models of Taurus pistols, including the PT 111 series and the older 709 and 740 single stacks designs.

The grip is nicely textured and pretty standard for a single stack design. Taurus really loves their roll mark and it’s emblazoned onto the slide is nice big letters. A more subtle and stylish bull’s head is textured into the grip. Overall the G2S isn’t a fancy gun, it’s very basic and that’s okay.

G2S Ergonomics

As I mentioned before the ergonomics of the manual safety are great. It’s textured heavily and easy to put in both safe and fire position. Safe is up, fire is down. It’s standard and very functional. I’m not a huge fan of manual safeties on handguns, but this one is quite unobtrusive.

Fits the Desantis Inner Piece 2.0 perfectly

The trigger also features a Glock safety blade, which seems to be a bit much when combined with the manual safety. The grip feels a bit like a board. It’s thin and is more corners than soft angles. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s uncomfortable, but better grip designs exist.

The magazine release is placed predictably and is very easy to find. It actually sticks out a fair bit more than most compact handguns. It’s quite easy to find and engage. This is one of the few guns whose slide will lock to the rear in my paws.

Most small guns, including the P365 and Glock 43, positioned the slide lock right where my thumb sits. This prevents the slide from locking to the rear when the last shot is fired. This doesn’t happen while shooting the Taurus G2S. This is a nice change.

One thing that isn’t so nice is the slide bite I get from the gun. Within the first 50 rounds, it’s broken the skin. Not super fun.

The Trigger

The trigger is an interesting one. technically it’s a DA/SA striker-fired design. It does lack a manual method to decock the weapon though. Taurus calls it a single action with restrike capability. That’s an accurate statement. If the round fails to ignite you can pull the trigger again and it will restrike.

This time the trigger will be a much longer double-action mode. Most single-action triggers are light and short. This isn’t the case with the G2S. The single-action pull is just as long as the double-action, it just happens to be a bit lighter.

The trigger is very gritty and it jumps a bit as it travels. Maybe it will smooth out in a few thousand rounds. The trigger isn’t bad enough to affect the accuracy, but if you’re spoiled on good triggers you won’t love it.

Range Reliability

In my first few hundred rounds, I ran into two failures to extract with steel cased ammo. Also ran into a magazine issue where the follower failed to rise and feed the rounds to gun. The issue here was also with steel cased ammo. After this first range day, I deep cleaned both the gun and magazine and never had issues past that.

Another issue I had was a loose front sight. I was making groups the size of a shotgun pattern and couldn’t figure out where I was going wrong. That’s when I noticed the sight was jiggly. Luckily it was easy to tighten and I applied a little Loc Tite. After that, I no issues punching paper or ringing steel.

Final Thoughts

Overall this isn’t a bad gun by any means. It seemed to have a few hiccups in the beginning but has straightened itself out in further testing. It’s functional, but don’t expect anything innovative, special, or really notable about the gun. The 180 dollar price tag makes up for its few flaws. At this price, this might be the most bang for buck gun on the market. It’s not as fun to shoot as a Hi Point, but I can actually comfortably conceal it.

Anxiety and the Comfort Zone

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

Can I make a confession? I’m having a little anxiety about making a trip to a shotgun class. It’s going to be a bit outside my comfort zone.

I’m signed up for a Defensive Shotgun course with Rangemaster.

Though I’ve had lots of experience with my semiauto shotguns in 3-Gun and sporting clays, a pump gun for defensive use is a whole other animal. I’ve not spent much time with the pump gun that I rebuilt, and I’m worried that I might not have enough of my grip strength and upper body strength back after a bout with inflammatory arthritis this year. It’s improving on medication, and I’m getting function back, but … limitations are something I worry about. That experience has taken away some of my self-confidence.

The last thing I want to do is make an idiot of myself in class. I don’t want to look like some granny who is out of her depth. As a woman in the shooting sports, being judged to be “good enough” has always been in the front of my mind, and I always felt I needed to prove that I could keep up.

BUT – I’m putting these feelings out here on purpose. Lots of us go through this, but not so many are willing to admit it. I want to make it normal and okay to acknowledge the anxiety, but to then push through and come out the other side with more confidence and knowledge than one had to begin with.

On reflection, a little anxiety and discomfort isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. It can mean that one will be teachable – willing to learn more in order to lessen the discomfort. That’s the whole purpose of taking a class, isn’t it – to put oneself purposely into discomfort in order to “become” comfortable? That’s what learning is about, right? 

A wise friend also pointed out that if I am worried about my potential limitations, then a class with experts would likely be the BEST place to find any work-arounds that I might need. Therefore I should be EXCITED about the class, and not worried. That was the exact thing I needed to hear. No wonder she’s a talented instructor!

I have never pretended to be an expert – only a learner. And that’s what I’m doing – learning.

So there is my confession. I feel better already with that off my chest. An After Action Report will be forthcoming. Wish me luck and learning!

Mass Shooters and the Victim Body Count

By
DRGO
-
(from janeaustenrunsmylife.wordpress.com)

[Ed: Dr. Faria first published this at GOPUSA.com August 28 and HaciendaPub.com August 31. It is minimally edited for DRGO.]

The mainstream media (MSM) have been sensationalizing mass shootings for the last three decades, reaching a crescendo in the last several months. They sensationalized gun violence as a way to put pressure on and force Congress to pass unconstitutional gun control laws that disarm the law-abiding citizen while doing nothing to stop criminals.

These laws range from attempting to ban assault weapons to passing so-called Red Flag laws — all of which as written circumvent the Second Amendment or violate the Due Process clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. In countering the gun control propaganda and discussing mass shootings two points that are never cited by the MSM need to be brought forth and emphasized.

First, there is the fact that these deranged madmen perpetrating mass shootings must be taken down from the zenith of celebrity status in which the MSM has placed them and instead sink them into the nadir of the cesspool where they belong! “But how can we do this without describing the perpetrators?” whines the MSM. These deranged malcontents and criminals should not be celebrated with the epithet of a “heavily armed gunman with ‘assault weapons’ and clad in full military gear…” These are jingoistic appellations the criminals apparently enjoy in seeking celebrity status even in death.

Instead, the media should use the appellation, “malcontented monsters, who maim and kill defenseless and hapless victims, including women and children.” And when appropriate to such despicable description, it should be added, “the deranged madman cowardly shot himself when confronted by an armed citizen” (which has happened on several occasions), or “… was shot to death in a well-deserved hail of bullets by the valiant police.” Those are the proper epithets that should be used in describing these sanguinary freaks who perpetrate rampage shooting incidents.

The police or armed citizens who stop these deranged madmen should be described as the true heroes they are. It is they who should be celebrated and not the criminal perpetrators. The constitutional or concealed carry options and the beneficial use of weapons by law-abiding citizens should be encouraged rather than demonized!

The second issue that should be brought forth is the propagandizing and misuse of the victim body count. This is a favored sensationalizing tool that the MSM, supported by the gun grabbers, use continuously in their specious gun control arguments. Daily we are inundated with the “mounting” body count of mass shooting incidents and the number of victims killed in common crimes. Just last week a headline blared: “Gun violence in 2019: There have been 251 mass shootings in the U.S. in 216 days.” A previous report published by PBS claimed that “more than one mass shooting happens per day in the US.”  Not to be outdone, The Washington Post has claimed, “in 2015 alone, there had been 294 mass shootings that killed or injured 1,464 people.” In each headline, some new statistical landmark seems to be reached to propagandize the last shooting as the worse to date!

As we have seen, the MSM and their anti-gun activist allies have deceptively tried to label any incident with two or more casualties as a mass shooting. As I pointed out in my forthcoming book, America, Guns, and Freedom: A Journey Into Politics and the Public Health & Gun Control Movements (2019), anti-gun public health officials have been torturing statistics until they confess, even attempting to lump murder-suicides as mass shootings. In my book I describe in detail the concerted effort of the public health establishment (PHE) to push for gun control, claiming that gun violence is a public health problem, rather than a criminological issue. As far as the PHE is concerned, gun availability and gun violence have reached the level of an epidemic and guns must be eradicated. They ignore the fact that civilian gun ownership is a constitutional right and that self-defense is an inherent God-granted, natural right that precedes government.

Be that as it may, the number of mass shootings represents a very small percentage of homicides, fewer than one percent. Moreover, the body count is misleading in discussing gun violence on a rational basis. That is unless both sides of the gun violence debate enter the equation. In 2012, for example, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) claimed in an article published in the Los Angeles Times, that good citizens killed only 259 criminals each year. To the VPC activists and the Los Angeles Times, the 259 figure of criminals killed by citizens was very small. They erroneously concluded that the beneficial shooting deaths “in comparison with the 1.2 million violent crimes committed that same year did not reflect much of a benefit in gun ownership.” They are dead wrong.

As I also discuss in my book, the figures cited for the criminal body count is wildly underestimated. The FBI Uniform Crime Report makes the assignation of “justifiable homicide” from the preliminary data of the reporting officer, and not from final determination; therefore, the number of “justifiable homicides” is under reported. They are classified as criminal homicides, when in reality up to 20 percent of the initially classified “homicides” are eventually judged correctly to be “justifiable homicides,” although they do not appear as such in the final report. The more correct figures are that between 600 to 1,500 criminals are killed by good citizens in self-defense (i.e., justifiable homicides) every year. Armed citizens kill at least twice, and as many as three times, the number of criminals as do police.

The good guys (the cops and lawful citizens) do not kill unnecessarily, as violent criminals are prone to do, but only when they absolutely have to protect themselves or their fellow citizens. Violent offenders, many of them repeat criminals, kill in the commission of crimes and to get away with whatever they intend to do with little regard for life or property. Some criminals kill for the sake of killing, but good guys do not. As I stated in my book, from data collected by criminologist Gary Kleck and summarized by Dr. Edgar Suter, a former director of a gun rights organization advocating integrity in science:


“The true measure of the protective benefits of guns are the lives saved, the injuries prevented, the medical costs saved, and the property protected—not the burglar or rapist body count. Since only 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent of defensive gun usage involves the death of the criminal, any study that counts criminal deaths as the only measure of the protective benefits of guns will expectedly underestimate the benefits of firearms by a factor of 500 to 1,000. The defensive uses of firearms by citizens amount up to 2 million  to 2.5 million uses per year and dwarf the offensive gun uses by criminals. Between 25 and 75 lives are saved by a gun for every life lost to a gun.”

In conclusion, the real heroes in mass shooting incidents are the police and the armed citizens who intervene and help stop the deranged madmen involved in those tragic and barbaric incidents. These criminal malcontents blame fellow citizens and society for their own personal failures. The Democrats and their allies in the MSM must stop demonizing guns because the most efficient way to stop mass shooters is to eliminate gun-free zones, and instead have more law-abiding citizens carry firearms for self, family, and fellow citizen protection.

.

.

faria-13wmaz-sml

—  Miguel A. Faria, Jr., M.D. is a retired Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery and Adjunct Professor of Medical History at Mercer University School of Medicine. He is Associate Editor in Chief and World Affairs Editor of Surgical Neurology International. He served on the CDC’s Injury Research Grant Review Committee.

All DRGO articles by Miguel A. Faria, Jr., MD

Q5 Your Walther PPQ!

By
Keith Finch
-

Walther Introduces Q5 Match Upper Conversion Kit to Performance Accessory Line

FORT SMITH, AR – The rapid growth of popularity in the Walther Q5 Match series of pistols has led customers to continually ask for a conversion kit for the standard PPQ series. Walther is proud to announce the release of the Q5 Match conversion kit.

Showcasing Walther’s modern take on practical shooting, the Q5 Match series delivers extraordinary efficiency and adaptability, which garnered its immediate distinction in the industry. This platform allows you to maximize the accuracy, power, and speed necessary to dominate the competition completely!

A modern work of art in its own right, the slide is outfitted with features previously found only on custom handguns. It is ported and optic ready, with LPA sights as well as front and rear serrations. Walther’s superior accuracy is quickly realized when shooting thanks to the 5” barrel with polygonal rifling and stepped chamber.

This conversion kit works with any polymer PPQ 9mm (excluding Sub-Compact) and is ready to install. Includes slide, barrel, recoil assembly, all internal components, LPA rear sight, LPA fiber optic front sight, and a test target showing a 5-shot group at 25 meters.

About Walther

Walther is the performance leader in the firearms industry. Renowned throughout the world for its innovation since Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first blow-back semi-automatic pistol in 1908. Today, the innovative spirit builds off the invention of the concealed carry gun with the PPK series by creating the PPQ, PPS and Q5 Match Steel Frame series. Military, Police, and other government security groups in every country of the world have relied on the high-quality craftsmanship and rugged durability of Walther products. Excellent service and superior quality will continue to be benchmarks of Walther’s success. In the future, Walther will continue its long tradition of technical expertise and innovation in the design and production of firearms.

Nov. 1st Constitutional Carry in Oklahoma

By
Keith Finch
-

The new law, as of Nov. 1st, will no longer require a person with a firearm to inform a police officer they are carrying a firearm unless they are asked. Gun owners will be able to choose between the Constitutional Carry/Permitless Carry or the current Conceal/Open Carry law.

Under the new rules passed this year, Oklahomans 21 years old and older will be able to carry firearms without a permit beginning Nov. 1. For those serving in the military, the age for permitless carry is 18 years and above, granting deference to the training service members receive and allowing them to protect themselves at home.

Does passing basic training at 18 make them handgun qualified or proficient? Not in the slightest, with a possible exception for MPs but even then most DoD personnel I know can’t shoot nearly as well as they think they can. This rule is about their proficiency. The law is about the right of self preservation. Denial of the right to carry a firearm in Oklahoma will be tied to the same prohibitions as owning one.

Federal background checks via 4473 forms will still apply to purchasing a firearm. Individuals with felonies, domestic violence convictions, and adjudicated mental illness are prohibited from carrying a firearm. The laws for possession and carry are now closely tied on their disqualifiers.

Photo from an Edmund Oklahoma meeting on the new permitless constitutional carry laws
More than 400 audience members listen to a presentation at the Edmond Downtown Community Center where Police Lt. Jeff Richardson explained the Constitutional Carry/Permitless Carry law that becomes effective Nov. 1 Photo from EdmundSun.com

The new law was vetoed in 2018 by then-Gov. Mary Fallin, but was signed into law this year by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Oklahoma has been trying to pass this one for awhile.

At a conference addressing the changes in Edmund the police gave information to the public on the changes.

“For most of us there’s not any big change,” said Lt. Jeff Richardson, a 22-year veteran of the Edmond Police Department. “For Edmond Police officers — do not present your weapon to an officer, just inform them where it is located,” he said. This is on request by the officers as duty to inform has changed to on request.

The firearms allowed to be carried won’t change much Nov. 1, but there are a few additions. Rifles with a barrel length of over 16 inches and shotguns with a barrel(s) over 18 inches may be carried, non-NFA, traditional, Title I firearms. Constitutional Carry/Permitless Carry only allows open carry firearms to be carried in a holster, scabbard, case or sling. Firearms cannot be taken to a university event or a sporting event, existing law prohibits this. Firearms cannot leave the interior of a vehicle when in a school parking lot, K-12.

“I Will Not Comply with the Assault Weapons Ban”

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

Those fighting words were uttered by a retired female cop yesterday and the country has sat up and noticed. If you caught this moment of the House Judiciary Committee Hearings on Wednesday, you heard everything that was really important.

Dianna Muller, a retired Tulsa Oklahoma police officer turned professional 3-Gun shooter laid it on the line during questioning.  I listened to the testimony of all of the speakers, and she was one of only two pro-2A advocates on the panel. The rest of the panel was stacked with people intent on pulling heartstrings and spreading the usual erroneous information and outright lies about firearms in general, and the “AR-15” in particular.

You can see that part of the testimony here.

But you really should watch all of it [see link below] even if it makes you nauseated. Because we need to KNOW all of the lies that are being told about lawful gun owners and the firearms we possess. 

These are the people who are making critical decisions about our rights. If you are one of the silent majority, you need to stop being silent. You need to pound your legislators unceasingly with the truth, with facts, and with your votes. Because you can be sure that the anti’s are already pounding them with lies and emotional appeals. Do you want to wake up one morning as an overnight felon?

The Loudest Sound in a Gunfight

By
The Armory Life
-

“It’s the loudest sound in a gunfight,” says Freddie Blish, Gunsite Instructor and respected firearms expert. What’s he talking about? When your gun goes click instead of bang. So, what can you do about it? Today, we’re out on the range with Freddie to answer that very question. He runs us through the four types of malfunctions you can face while running a semi-auto pistol — and how to fix them.

Yamil trains with Freddie Blish on clearing semi-auto pistol malfunctions.

From a Type 1 failure to fire/feed to a Type 2 failure to eject to a Type 3 failure to extract to a Type 4 obstruction to the slide, Freddie gives us life-saving details on how to clear our pistol and get it back into the fight.

A Type 3 malfunction, or failure to extract, where an empty case is stuck in the chamber and a live round has attempted to feed in behind it.

From learning how to induce the malfunctions on the range for training purposes to the life-saving drill of “tap, roll, rack,” the video above will get you all the info you need to start training for when that “loudest sound” might happen to you!

Watch the Full Video

The SureFire Optimized Bolt Carrier, It’s Here

By
Keith Finch
-
Surefire OBC Optimized Bolt Carrier Group

The SureFire OBC is designed to greatly increase the reliability of an M4/M16/AR variant during both unsuppressed and suppressed firing. The OBC comes as a package with the OBC bolt carrier group as well as buffer and buffer spring. This patented design makes numerous improvements to the standard Mil-Spec full-auto bolt carrier group starting with delayed unlocking of the bolt during the firing sequence. This delayed unlocking is a result of a lengthened cam pin slot and our neutrally balanced counterweight. This delay allows expanding gases more time to exit the bore, lowering chamber pressure by 15%, which not only reduces wear and tear on parts, but also reduces back-pressure gases exiting the ejection port.

The shortened gas carrier key in conjunction with shorter buffer allow a 60% increase in stroke. This increase in stroke gives the magazine more time to feed, which can be essential as gas ports erode and magazines become dirty from austere environments. This additional stroke also provides smoother and more reliable feeding due to increased inertia when the OBC picks up a round from the magazine.

The neutrally balanced counterweight works three times in the cycle of operation. First the counterweight delays unlocking, as mentioned before. Secondly, the counterweight keeps the carrier group to the rear for additional time, allowing more time for reliable feeding of ammunition from the magazine and nearly eliminating bolt-over-base malfunctions. Lastly, this counterweight improves carrier and barrel extension lock-up, nearly eliminating bolt bounce. The OBC also reduces felt recoil, allowing for better tracking of sights and more control of the weapon when firing. Coated with an advanced anti-friction coating, the OBC resists friction during use and makes cleaning easy. For the ultimate in reliability, choose the SureFire OBC.

Rob Leatham: How to Zero Your Pistol

By
The Armory Life
-

I just got my grubby little hands on a few of the Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer (RO) Elite pistols. (Four to be exact.) And the one that grabbed my attention first was the Target Model. Probably not a big shock to those of you who know me as a competition shooter — this pistol was designed for someone just like me.

Testing Day

Any time I get a new gun, the first item on my to-do list is “zeroing.” Zeroing is the process where I test for point of impact on a target and, if needed, make changes to the sights to cause that position to coincide with where I actually see (or think I see) the sights on the target.

A properly zeroed pistol means there is no variation between where I aim the gun and where the bullets hit. Now, to be honest, the term “zero” means there is zero variation from sight to bullet impact. The reality, though, is there is seldom a time when I use a gun that is 100 percent “zeroed.” So for me, zeroed means “sighted in.”

Since this is kind of confusing, I’m going to document my zeroing-in process for your information and enjoyment. The RO Elite Target is fitted with my preferred fiber-optic front sight and a fully adjustable target rear sight — a perfect set up for quick and easy zeroing.

More Than Meets the Eye

Several factors come into play that affect zeroing a pistol:

  • Eyesight
  • Ammunition
  • Distance to Target
  • Shooter Preference and Skill

I’m pretty efficient at zeroing my guns, as I’ve been doing it for many decades. The more you do it, the better you’ll get, too. Just follow these easy steps:

Gun and Ammo Initial Check: I first test how well the gun shoots out of the box and which ammo is the best or most suitable. This can be done in many ways, but I usually shoot standing, slow-fire with a two-handed grip at 25 yards. (That’s 75 feet on Top Shot!)

  • I try a variety of bullet weights, brands, and loads and make my final choice of which to move forward with based on several factors, including accuracy and felt recoil.
  • I check to see if the grouping size is adequate for my intended need. Once I establish which load I will move forward with, I then work on point of impact (POI). 

POI Versus Point-of-Aim Check: With the selected load, I use a very specific aiming point in the center of the target. A square piece of 3/4″ black tape works well, but sometimes I just use a full-size USPSA target and shoot at the “A” imprinted in the middle of the body zone or the center of the smaller “head” of the target. I shoot five-shot groups to see where the gun/ammo combination actually hits. When I establish whether it is dead on, high, low, left, or right, I start making basic adjustments to the rear sight.

How precisely I zero the pistol is based on the intended use of the gun. For many applications, it is at this point “close enough” and nothing further needs to be done. My competition guns however are a different story. I want them perfect.

Read on!

Springfield Armory Hellcat, Newest Micro 9mm!

By
Keith Finch
-

World’s Highest Capacity Micro 9mm

GENESEO, ILL. (09/25/19) – After years of development, we are proud to introduce the Hellcat™, the highest capacity micro compact 9mm in the world and the next generation of defensive pistol from Springfield Armory. 

Enter to win one! Click here!

“This is the first step in a new direction for Springfield Armory polymer handguns and embodies our disciplined approach to modern firearms design. Every detail of the Hellcat has been shaped by a singular mission — to deliver the definitive concealed carry handgun,” says Dennis Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory.

The 3″ barreled micro compact pistol features a class leading capacity of 11+1 with its patented magazine — 13+1 with the included extended mag — and is the result of years of painstaking development and engineering in addition to intensive collaboration with top engineers, shooters and self defense experts.

In addition to minute dimensions and stunning capacity, the Hellcat offers a paradigm shifting approach to red dot sight integration for an EDC pistol. Offered in an Optical Sight Pistol configuration, the Hellcat OSP features a seamless cover plate that removes to allow direct mounting of a micro red dot to the slide for the lowest possible profile. The result? A micro sized pistol weighing in at a mere 17.9 oz. with capabilities previously reserved only for full size defensive handguns.

Complementing the optic is the U-Dot™ sight system, offered on both the OSP and standard non-optic model. It is made up of a high visibility tritium and luminescent front sight paired with a tactical rack U-notch rear. This provides a quick-to-engage sighting system ready for a wide range of lighting conditions and allows one handed racking of the slide should the situation demand it. Additionally, the direct mount capability of the OSP allows for co-witnessing of the U-Dot sights with a red dot for ultimate instinctive target engagement.

Along with its small size and advanced features the Hellcat delivers rugged durability. The +P rated pistol features a hammer forged steel barrel and billet machined slide, both featuring Melonite™ coating. The lightweight and strong frame features Adaptive Grip Texture™, a seamless, pressure activated texture featuring a pattern of staggered pyramid shapes. The taller pyramids have a flattened top to ensure comfort in the waistband, while the shorter pyramids come to a point and are engaged when the pistol is firmly gripped. A high-hand beavertail and undercut trigger guard situate the pistol low in the hand for maximum control. A reversible mag release and standard accessory rail for lights and lasers ensure maximum adaptability.

Rear serrations run over the top of the slide for quick and easy manipulation and are designed for positive engagement. The Hellcat’s flat trigger body and nickel boron-coated trigger group provide a consistent trigger pull. A full length guide rod and dual active recoil spring ensure reliable operation and a smooth recoil impulse. The Hellcat also features a textured stand-off device at the muzzle that ensures the pistol will fire when pressed against a target.

Hellcats ship with one 11-round magazine with finger extension and optional flush fitting floorplate as well as one 13-round extended magazine. This provides you with maximum flexibility for both firepower and concealability to fit your specific needs. 

It’s a jungle out there. The class leading Hellcat is designed to give you the Capacity to Defend™.

Hellcat in an IWB concealable holster Springfield

About Springfield Armory®

In 1794, the original Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the defense of our young, free Republic.  The Armory functioned as a firearms supplier for every major American conflict until 1968 when the government sadly closed its doors. In 1974, nearly two centuries after its inception, Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Ill. revived the iconic heritage of the Armory to carry on its legacy.

We strive to honor this responsibility as guardians of the original Springfield Armory legacy by manufacturing the highest quality firearms to enable responsible citizens to preserve their right to keep and bear arms in the defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

With an unmatched emphasis on craftsmanship, performance and exceptional customer service, our mission is to forge superior firearms and provide the tools necessary to defend individual freedoms and equality for those who embrace the rights and principles secured by our Founding Fathers.  For more information, please visit us at: springfield-armory.com. 

Hunting In Canada, for Americans

By
Keith Finch
-
Image via Google Search... couldn't see across Huron today so...

Did you know you can hunt in Canada, even if you’re not Canadian?

Did you know, even though Canada lacks a 2nd Amendment, there are millions of Canadians who have gun licenses and own firearms, either for target shooting at the range, or for hunting? It’s a pretty common thing up here as soon as you get away from the big cities.  So if you’re interested in a trip up north so you can bag a Canadian moose, bear, deer, wolf, or cougar (no, not that kind of cougar, that kind are no-bag-limit, hunt at your own peril), then read on!

First thing’s first – where do you want to hunt? Canada is internally divided into ten provinces and three territories, which are kinda like the States, but way bigger and with way fewer people in them. (Mostly). Hunting is regulated at the provincial/territorial level, so you’ll need to be sure to check the provincial regulations before committing to anything specific. For this article, I’m going to discuss British Columbia, a wild, sparsely populated province with ample opportunities to hunt pretty much anything you might desire.

LET’S JUST GET THIS OUTTA THE WAY. IT’S GONNA COST A COUPLE BUCKS. (LOL, PUNS!)

First, the bad news. As a non-resident alien, hunting in BC requires a couple different, well, think of them like tax stamps and you won’t be wrong. You’re going to need a non-resident alien hunting license, which is $180 Canadian. You can get one for Big Game, where you will need a Guide Outfitter to accompany you, or with the right certification, can get an unaccompanied license to hunt game birds, foxes, coyote, raccoon, skunk and snowshoe hares.

Big Game is defined as deer, elk, moose, or caribou; mountain sheep or mountain goat; cougar, lynx or bobcat; wolf, wolverine or bear. You can book a Guide Outfitter through the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia – their website (www.goabc.org) lists its affiliates by both name and critter. If you know you want to hunt moose, (at the time of this writing) 136 outfitters who are happy to hook you up and lend you their expertise. Non-resident alien hunting licenses will cost you $180 Canadian (which is roughly $140US these days) for your block of time. In addition, you’ll need to purchase tags in advance. Depending on what you’re gunning for, it could be as little as $40 (bobcats and wolverines, but seriously, if you’re hunting wolverines, don’t frickin’ miss, because with their healing factor they will mess you up) up to several hundred for Bison or Bighorn Mountain Sheep. Deer tags go for about $125, wolves are $50, moose and elk are $250, and so on. Find the entire BC list here. Make sure, if you’re travelling all this way, you investigate different parts of the country to see how prices might vary. The current Ontario regulations show non-resident tags for wolves are around $250, moose are $450, and deer are $225. I haven’t investigated prices in other provinces, but when wolf tags are 1/5th as much in BC, and certain regions don’t even have bag limits for them… well, it can make for a very different hunting experience.

ZONES AND MANAGEMENT UNITS AND BEARS, OH MY

Of course, it’s not quite that easy. One does not simply walk into BC and start killing orcs, I mean, moose. Wildlife regions are carefully managed by conservation officers throughout the province and every critter has an open season and a closed one, and that can vary from region to region within BC. The Hunting and Trapping Regulations chops BC up into nine zones, and then each zone is subdivided yet again for a total of 200+ management units. It can all be a bit overwhelming, but what I’ve found is the Hunt Buddy BC app takes a lot of the guesswork out of it. Download the app to your smartphone and you’ll be able to check the time of year and location, and it will tell you what animals are open season and which are limited or off-season. For example, the last time I went hunting, I was in zone 5-2 near Hendrix Lake. Right now, 4-point Mule bucks, white tailed bucks, full-curl bighorn sheep, black bears, wolves, and cougars (but not kittens) are all in season. So are coyotes, snowshoe hares, grouse, some duck species, and some geese. The App even includes sunrise/sunset data, moon phases, and other limitations or restrictions that may be unique to a particular zone.

CROSSING THE BORDER WITH GUNS

So once you’ve got your Non-Canadian license, have arranged for your guide, and bought your tags, the only other thing to worry about is actually getting your firearms into the country. Believe it or not, it’s not that complicated to cross the border with guns. You’ll need to complete the RCMP form 5589 which says it’s four pages, but It’s actually only one, it’s just your contact info and the technical stats for the guns you’re going to bring. Make sure you check out how to measure barrel length, because semi-automatic rifles with barrels shorter than 470mm (about 18.5”) are restricted and not lawful for hunting.

CAVEAT: So are AR-15s whether their barrel length is 19” or 17”. It is what it is, they’re for target shooting at the range only up here. Sorry.

AFTER YOU HUNT

So you bagged and tagged a couple deer and want to stock the freezer, but… you’re not sure whether you can take game meat over the border back home. Good news, generally speaking, wild game meat from Canada can be exported to the USA without too much trouble, just make sure you keep your tags, export the results of your hunt within one year, and take it over the border yourself. The BC Regulations I listed above have specifics on exporting, and Customs and Border Protection has importation details here.

Lastly, because it’s a thing, no, we don’t have snow year-round up these parts and you won’t be sleeping in igloos. It’s prime hunting season right now and up near Williams Lake where I was hunting, the weather forecast is calling for a range between 40 and 70 degrees depending on the day and time. So layer your thermals, stay warm, and come see what we Canuckleheads have to offer.

Cheers

Frozen Hoser

EDITOR’S NOTE: A guest article submission from a friend of friends. Thank you, bud!

SIG and DeSantis Honor USMC (Ret.) Major Jose Anzaldua

By
Keith Finch
-
In observance of POW-MIA Recognition Day, SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce the production and presentation of a commemorative 1911 pistol to Major Jose Anzaldua, USMC (Ret.), and the release of a short documentary, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine: The Story of Major Jose Anzaldua.” 
Sigs Commemorative 1911 for Major Anzaldua with DeSantis Holster
Commemorative SIG Sauer 1911 and DeSantis Gunhide Holster for Maj. Anzaldua

Major Jose Anzaldua, USMC (Ret.) volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War, and served until his retirement in 1992 after 24-years of service.  On January 23, 1970, Corporal Anzaldua was taken prisoner of war and imprisoned for 1,160 days in a jungle POW camp, as well as prisons in North Vietnam including the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” He was eventually released on March 7, 1974 during Operation Homecoming.

The unique distinguishing features of the commemorative 1911 pistol crafted by SIG Custom Works are:

1911 Pistol: the 1911 pistol was carried by U.S. forces throughout the Vietnam War, and by Major Anzaldua throughout his service. The commemorative 1911 POW pistol features a high-polish DLC finish on both the frame and slide, and is chambered in .45 AUTO with an SAO trigger.  All pistol engravings are done in 24k gold;

Right Slide Engraving: the Prisoner of War ribbon inset, with USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor and “Major Jose Anzaldua” engravings;

Top Slide Engraving: engraved oak leaf insignia representing the Major’s rank at the time of retirement and a pair of dog tags inscribed with the date, latitude and longitude of the location where Major Anzaldua was taken as a prisoner, and the phrase “You Are Not Forgotten” taken from the POW-MIA flag;

Left Side Engraving: the Vietnam War service ribbon inset, with USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor engraving;

Pistol Grips: anodized aluminum grips with POW-MIA flag.

A holster was provided by DeSantis Holsters as part of the presentation that is a replica of the holsters used by U.S. Forces during the Vietnam War inscribed for Major Anzaldua. 

Additionally, SIG SAUER is honored to release the video feature, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine: The Story of Major Jose Anzaldua,” to honor Major Anzaldua’s service to our country.  This documentary chronicles Major Anzaldua’s time in captivity as a prisoner of war, features the 1911 commemorative pistol, and interviews with Major Jose Anzaldua, Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc., Tim Butler of SIG Custom Works, and members of the Anzaldua family. 

On National POW-MIA Day on September 20th, and every day, we honor those whom have served and sacrificed for the United States of America in the defense of freedom. 

The commemorative 1911 pistol was previously presented to Major Jose Anzaldua in a private ceremony at SIG SAUER Headquarters in Newington, New Hampshire by Cohen and Butler. 

A full series of photos of the Commemorative 1911 pistol are available for viewing at sigmedialibrary.com.

About SIG SAUER, Inc.

SIG SAUER, Inc. is  a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 150 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy. Headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, SIG SAUER has almost 2,000 employees across eight locations. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

It is Everyone’s Rifle

By
Keith Finch
-
From Thunder Ranch, The Aero Precision Media Event. August 9-12 2019

The AR-15 is everyone’s rifle. It remains the premier multi-tool of the firearm’s world. No platform is more configurable to any user’s needs or adaptable from one need to another so quickly. No platform has greater commonality right now, the entire market builds to support the AR-15. AR’s are the most self sufficient modern platform, able to be completed from the bare receiver up with factory parts and very simple tools.

It is Everyone’s Rifle, and Aero Precision will help you build it.

Aero Precision and Ballistic Advantage held one hell of a get together to reaffirm just how true that working concept is. From a pile of factory ready to assemble parts to a functioning, zeroed, and ready to run duty carbine in the span of one gorgeous morning. Then putting that rifle to a hard run test in a 2-Day Urban Precision Rifle course, via the team at Thunder Ranch.

The Aero Precision & Thunder Ranch Media Event

Thunder Ranch of Lakeview Oregon at the Aero Precision Media Event
That view though

On August 9th, 12 of we humble writer folk gathered at the invitation of Aero Precision, Thunder Ranch, and their partners for what was to become one of the most entertaining, informative, and valuable media events I’ve had the privilege to participate in.

GAT Marketing, coordinated and brought us all out to this mountainous landscape, outside of Lakeview, OR.

You can build it, it’s your rifle.

Aero Precision Ballistic Advantage and Rise Armament all forming this compact 14.5" barreled AR going to be topped with an eotech VUDU 1-6x scope
Rise Armament and Ballistic Advantage goodness inside.

Friday morning we sat down on an open air patio to a neatly laid out pile of parts. Aero emailed us what could best be described as a ‘rifle menu’ where we got to pick out all the good stuff we wanted to play with. I ordered a #1, hold the pickles.

Configuration #1: 14.5 ATLAS R-ONE Build:Price as built with optic $3257.61.
Price of parts available from Aero Precision/Ballistic Advantage: $1344.66

I wanted a compact mobile rifle that was a short as possible while still being Title I (non NFA). The parts list was precisely my kind of build. Much of it consisted of the same parts list that ended up in my SCDM project. Others were new and untried.

The not yet dirty dozen of us had varying degrees of experience building AR’s. We ranged from one who had never done this (or at least was willing to admit as much) to those like me who have armorer certifications and build a few for fun each year. The Pro’s from Aero and Ballistic Advantage who do this on the daily floated around us, giving us tips and generally demonstrating they ‘why’s’ behind the directions.

Other articles you’ll see on this event will probably detail the build process. I’m going to skip that one. Why?

They do a way better job of explaining it and visuals are everything when putting these together. For my part, I will say that the M4E1 receiver set is the greatest set of parts I have ever had the pleasure to work on. The threaded bolt catch alone saves so much aggravation and hitting things with hammers that it is the greatest of all time. I’ve worked on Colt’s and FN’s more than anything and the M4E1 spec is better than mil-spec, period. It is vastly more user friendly during assembly, maintenance, and parts upgrades.

As I get time I’ll review some of the major parts in detail, like the ATLAS, but suffice to say succinctly they have made a builder’s life easy.

KJ of GunTalk putting in the RA Trigger as I do… something… probably about to torque the ATLAS barrel nut, in the background. There were stations for the specialty tool items, specifically torquing the barrel and putting the receiver extensions on.
  • Buffer tube station. Hammer time.
  • Parts and Fuel
  • Gas Em’ Up
  • 90% of an AR can be assembled on a table by hand.

It was a productive morning.

Stache was around to assist us too. Also for head scratches… ok, exclusively for head scratches.

It’s your rifle, zero it.

By the early afternoon we had 12 functioning rifles. Time to zero those EOTech VUDU’s we mounted on top of them.

Brown Range, 100 yard zero.

There’s a mountain of data on the internet about proper zero’s. My personal favorite is a 50/200 confirmed at 200. But keep in mind that different rifles, sight heights, barrel lengths/muzzle velocities, and ammunition all influence your zero. Purpose and equipment choose your zero also. A rifle set to shoot hogs, prairie dogs, or coyotes at 200-500 yards will have a zero to match and a rifle set to burn holes into the chest of a home invader at across the room distances will too.

Zeroing also function tested the not yet dirty dozen to work out any possible bugs. My #1’s bolt had a tight fit but smoothed out after 100 rounds. Function tests are critical! Spend some good ammo and proper lubrication to work the parts in.

AR’s are a working balance of parts trying to do their jobs within fractions of a second, one part moving too fast or too slow will throw the entire thing into a mess eventually, either through greater parts wear or an unacceptable stoppage rate.

This concluded Training Day 1. Twelve working rifles.

Lies, Damned Lies & Politicians

By
DRGO
-
(from risumteneatis.wordpress.com)

Q: “How do you tell when a politician is lying?”  A: “His lips are moving.”

This is particularly true when the political topic is guns.We have even seen commentators on the left questioning their own side’s stance on gun control.

Jeffrey Goldberg’s 2012 Atlantic article: “But these gun-control efforts, while noble, would only have a modest impact on the rate of gun violence in America. Why? Because it’s too late.”

Justin Cronin’s New York Times 2013 article: “. . . I am my family’s last line of defense. I have chosen to meet this responsibility, in part, by being armed. It wasn’t a choice I made lightly.”

Jamelle Bouie’s Slate 2015 article: “. . . assault weapons—there’s no official definition for the term, which makes identifying them for prohibition difficult, if not impossible . . . But out of 73 mass killers from 1982 to 2015, just 25 used rifles of any kind, including military-style weapons. Most used revolvers, shotguns, and semi-automatic handguns. Which gets to a related point: We might feel safer if we ban “assault weapons,” but we won’t be safer. Of the 43,000 Americans killed with guns since 2010, just a fraction—3.5 percent—were killed with rifles.”

Leah Libresco’s Washington Post 2017 article: “By the time we published our project, I didn’t believe in many of the interventions I’d heard politicians tout. I was still anti-gun, . . . But I can’t endorse policies whose only selling point is that gun owners hate them.”

Alex Kingsbury’s New York Times 2019 article:  “. . . [C]alling for military-style rifles bans—as I have done for years—maybe making other lifesaving gun laws harder to pass.  America’s gun problem is far larger than military-style weapons, the mass killer’s rifle of choice. There are hundreds of millions of handguns in the country . . . The guns . . . are here to stay.”

After each mass shooting the demand for more gun control rises in proportion to the death toll.  Few Democrat politicians forego the opportunity to denounce guns in civilian hands.  Even a few Republicans now vie for their place in the line before the microphones.  But all this clamor for gun control is another BIG LIE.

Even if that progressive wet dream—repeal of the Second Amendment—happened, gun owners would defy the ban, burying their Cosmoline coated guns in PVC pipe.  Merciless enforcement might scare some, but there would remain hundreds of millions of firearms in patriot hands.

The most remarkable aspect of gun control advocacy is that proponents cannot explain how their “common sense”, “reasonable” measures will reduce gunshot mortality and morbidity.

Background checks are a perfect example of the unwillingness to acknowledge the ineffectiveness of a gun-control measure.  For more than 20 years we have had in place an extensive regime, the National Instant Background Check System, required of all retail dealers.  And almost all mass killers have passed this background check.  A few stole their guns or bought them illegally, sometimes violating state laws mandating background checks on private sales.  Occasionally, the NICS failed due to weaknesses in implementation.  Also, straw buyers routinely buy guns on behalf of prohibited persons—yet these violations are rarely investigated or prosecuted.

Background checks can’t stop anyone with a modicum of craftsmanship from building his own gun.  Nor can they influence robbers, traffickers or other criminals.

We should strive to improve the existing background check system for licensed dealers before expanding its scope, because it produces far too many false positive (and temporary) prohibitions.  “Universal” background checks will not be the magic bullet that stops criminal “gun violence”.

“Assault weapon” bans are another example of a gun-control proposal that doesn’t stand scrutiny.  The FBI reports more homicides by hammers, clubs and cutlery than by all rifles. Yet, no one speaks of banning cutlery or clubs (except in England, of course).

Just what would be banned as an “assault weapon” anyway?

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy was asked: “What is a barrel shroud?  And why should we regulate that?”  She finally admitted:  “I actually don’t know what a barrel shroud is . . . I believe it a shoulder thing that goes up.”  A barrel shroud is just a fore grip that prevents the user burning his hand on a hot barrel. Neither this, nor any fore grip, have any influence on lethality of “military-type guns”.

There is no practical definition of an “assault weapon” that distinguishes it meaningfully from most other types of firearms. The attempt to do so would lead down the slippery slope to outlawing all semi-automatic firearms. But it’s politically and practically impossible to confiscate the ubiquitous semi-auto long gun in America, while handguns have already been defined by the Supreme Court as in common use and therefore inviolable.

In fact, none of the supposedly “reasonable”, “common sense” gun controls proposed stand up to political or practical scrutiny.  Gun control advocates know this and refuse to debate the effectiveness or economics of implementation and enforcement.  When challenged they always retreat immediately behind the shield of “We have to do SOMETHING!”

Stated clearly, we are being lied to. Politicians promise gun control to satisfy their fearful constituents, yet there is never any measurable impact on gunshot deaths or wounding.

Why? Because no gun control measure short of successful nationwide confiscation of all firearms could substantially affect these casualties.

Two-thirds of gunshot deaths are suicides, and a single-shot weapon does as well as one with a 100 round magazine for that. One-third of gunshot deaths are homicides;, and almost all injuries are attempted homicides. These are committed mostly by convicted felons, gang members, and in drug-related crime. Meanwhile, mortality due to firearm accidents has practically become a rounding error.

Until we are prepared to criminalize as much as half of Americans, repeal of the Second Amendment won’t happen.  Nor could it be passed while 42 states are Right-to-Carry jurisdictions and just 13 opposing states could block any amendment.

Politicians using gun control to mobilize their base on Election Day are also inflaming gun owners to vote to against them. These effects seem, so far, to offset one another.

Why do progressives risk jeopardizing the rest of their platform for the promise of “reasonable” and “common-sense”, but impotent, “gun control”?  Why do they pursue incremental gun control that can’t deliver on its false promise of reducing gunshot mortality and morbidity?

Maybe they’re lying to themselves as much as to the rest of us.

.

.

—‘MarkPA’  is trained in economics, a life-long gun owner, NRA Instructor and Massad Ayoob graduate. He is inspired by our inalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and holds that having the means to defend oneself and one’s community is vital to securing them.

All DRGO articles by ‘MarkPA’ 

1...296297298...414Page 297 of 414
© All rights reserved © 2023 GAT Daily. Designed by GAT Marketing