CBS Baltimore is reporting a possible active shooter at Walter Reed MMC in Maryland.
The report, seemingly confirmed from a tweet by Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger
I am currently at Walter Reed Medical in Bethesda where we’ve been told there is an active shooter. I am currently safe in a conference room w/ approx 40 others.
More info to follow.
An update from Department of Defense says it was just a drill, carry on.
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Editor’s Note: As was then and is now. Reposted with permission.
Sitting through last week’s GunMeggedon (the all-day marathon of hearings on proposed anti-gun bills) in the California Senate’s Public Safety Committee was enough to raise one’s blood pressure to dangerous levels. The day culminated for Dr. Wheeler and me in the hearing of SB 1006 (Firearm Violence Research Center, Senator Wolk). That experience was already summarized previously by Dr. Wheeler.
In her introductory remarks on April 19th, Senator Wolk said the University of California is “perfectly situated to do the research” she thirsts for. She did not say how and why the U.C. is “perfectly situated” to meet this goal.
Garen Wintemute (the self-described one-of-a-dozen-national “experts” in the field of pseudo-medical anti-gun agitprop who has just such an operation active smack dab in the middle of Wolk’s district) has eagerly hovered close to the witness table at every hearing this bill has had to date. His presence makes it obvious to anyone with more than a superficial understanding of the issue where this center is intended to be located and who is intended to run it. Even a large public institution like the UC would not waste time and resources building such an institution de novo if one is already in place.
That issue aside, let’s examine the arguments presented by the witnesses in support of the bill. In particular, two Sacramento area physicians who seem to have drunk the anti-gun Kool-Aid ladled out by Garen Wintemute. Their testimony consisted of the same modus operandi evident in all medical anti-gun crusaders’ acts: throw up a fistful of statistics like confetti over a gore parade. And use syllogisms. Lots of syllogisms. They’re like big, multisyllabic words. They make one sound smart. And right.
The first physician to testify was Dr. Kevin Jones, an E.R. physician who represented the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He asserted that “physicians rely on research for evidence based care”. I’m all for evidence-based medical care. He led with the example of stroke research resulting in reduced mortality by way of prevention. He then segued to the argument that he needs the Firearm Violence Research Center to do “research that allows me to effectively treat” gunshot wounds like he needs stroke research to help him treat stroke patients.
But what does the reason that Johnny shot Mikey have to do with medical care or medical prevention?
A physician’s job is a clinical one: it is to stop the bleeding, mend the bones, close the wounds and do all the other things necessary to ensure the patient leaves the hospital alive. The events that happen during Johnny’s progress from a doe-eyed kindergartner to a 16 year old juvenile gang member who shoots Mikey are multifactorial and sociological. They are not medical.
Research guiding physicians to do those very clinical things I mentioned has been and continues to be conducted. It’s called trauma medicine. What has passed for objective research in the dubious field of public health gun research, however, has been advocacy research which proclaims banal findings such as: “gunshot wounds are among the most severe injuries a child can suffer”. It agitates for busybodies to strip away good people’s civil rights by attributing causality of multifactorial phenomena to the presence of a single object. Or, it is not research at all but public wringing of the hands that culminates with calling good people murderers if they use deadly force to defend their own lives (bibliography, bottom of page here).
Next to testify was Dr. Lindsey Harms, a pediatrics resident in the Sacramento area. She spoke on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which she identified as a co-sponsor of SB 1006.
Dr. Harms started her testimony asserting: “gun violence is a pediatric issue”.
No, it’s not. As I stated earlier violence, regardless of form or tools used is first and foremost a criminological problem and secondly a social one. Accidental shootings, which are not a medical issue, can be reduced but not entirely eliminated through education.
Harms then declared “gun violence is preventable”. This is an exercise in sophomoric sloganeering. Violence is inherent to the human condition. Firearms are just one tool employed by violent people. Does she think sharp object violence is preventable? What about blunt object violence? Fist violence?
She proceeded to the next predictable part of her testimony, the gore parade of injuries and wounds. This is just cheap emotional manipulation.
Yet, as she proclaimed that, in the U.S., firearms are the most lethal method of suicide for young people (they are, for all age groups) I wondered if she’d considered what are the most common (and just as lethal) methods of suicide in countries where firearms are not accessible, where the suicide rates are higher than that of the U.S. Because, after all, she ranks the U.S. against them. And she cares about the children. She says she does, because she says she wants to protect children. But the responsibility of protecting children rests with their parents and not idealistic budding physicians with a savior complex and nanny state impulses.
Dr. Harms and Dr. Jones both beat the same drum to the same hackneyed “we-need-research-and-data” beat. But what new data will hoplophobic advocacy researchers with an axe to grind conjure up that is not available through the FBI’s crime data? And why is prevention particularly more important in pediatrics and not in adults or geriatrics?
Invoking other fields’ strides in reducing preventable deaths, as Dr. Jones did, is an invalid comparison in this debate. Those advances were made by addressing medical issues or other single-factor non-medical issues. Preventing the tragedy of one innocent kid having the terrible misfortune of being shot in two separate drive-by shootings, or one kids from one gang shooting another kid from another gang are things we all care about and things we should endeavor to prevent. But we are not going to do that by treating wrongful homicides as if they were cholera, malaria or chlamydia. Neither a virus nor the gun made Johnny shoot Mikey.
Dr. Harms, in exhorting the committee to support SB 1006, stated: “The role of science is to guide us by objective data, especially where our personal bias might be misleading …. As a pediatrician, I want unbiased research. I want objective data…”
If Dr. Harms gets her way in the form of the Firearm Violence Research Center, she will get none of those things. All she will do is strip away the civil rights of countless good people. She’ll have done more harm than good.
—Arthur Z Przebinda, MD is an imaging
specialist in Southern California. He advocates for the Second Amendment in his state and nationally and since 2017 serves as DRGO’s Project Director.
All DRGO articles by Arthur Z. Przebinda, MD.
Readers may note that I have already reviewed the VooDoo Tactical Mini Tobago pack in the past. I love my gray-with-pink-stitching version – using it for day trips, day hikes, and as a travel carry on. It was also my EDC pack for SHOT 2018.
The fact is, that I love that pack so much that I decided to order the exact same model in a camo pattern for my hunting gear this fall. It arrived in time for one of my first crossbow expeditions of the year, and I wanted to give it a new review because I bought it for a completely different purpose.
Specs
-Durable pack cloth construction
-Measures 14” x 9” x 17.5” and has a volume of approx. 25 liters.-
-Padded shoulder straps with sternum strap for comfort.
-Grommeted drain holes
-Heavy duty zippers with paracord pulls
The outside of the Mini Tobago sports generous amounts of MOLLE webbing to attach whatever extras you may want. I may even sew-up some blaze orange panels to velcro onto the MOLLE for rifle buck season.
The pack is roomy, with many pockets, but compact enough that it doesn’t overwhelm my short-ish female frame. I also try to keep size under control because packs – just like purses – tend to accumulate way more crap than I actually need. If there is more room, more unnecessary “stuff” goes in.
I am no hunting “expert”, but I try to be prepared, so here is a pocket-by-pocket description of what this pack holds for me. Bear in mind that where I hunt is 2.5 hours from home, and a good walk from the car, so I can’t just run back to the house if I need something. I have to have it ON me.
On top is a sturdy carry handle. Once the pack is off my back, hefting it around on stand is usually done via the top handle. This handle is no wimpy afterthought.
The upper left side pocket contains “survival” gear like waterproof matches, a fire-starter, and compass. Granted it’s hard to get lost on the particular 100+ acres I hunt, but “better to have and not need…”
The upper right side pocket holds a small first aid kit.
The lower left and lower right side pockets will hold 16-ounce water bottles. This pack is hydration compatible, but I don’t have a bladder unit, and knowing me I’d be dragging the hose mouthpiece in the mud or something. I just re-use old Gatorade bottles. I’m cheap like that.
The bottom front zipper pocket contains deer gutting and dragging gear, including an extra knife. I’m trying to keep all the gloves and bags and such in that pocket so that I don’t even need to open that zipper unless I am successful in dropping a deer. The less stuff I have to paw through in the main compartment, the better.
The front top zipper pocket holds maps and an extra orange vest
The next pocket inward (including administrative panel) holds pens, rangefinder, Surefire flashlight, headlamp, granola bar, plastic bags for trash I find or accumulate, and a completely empty pocket.
The main compartment (with another administrative panel)- contains a blue tarp (for either dragging a deer or emergency shelter), space blanket, paracord, collapsible shooting stick (it does stick out the top a bit), camo duct tape, roll of “no trespassing” signs, small notepad, ziploc bag of license/tags, and a couple more empty pockets.
With all of that, there is plenty of leftover space for a soft lunch bag cooler (for on stand munchies) and room to stash an extra fleece layer in case I need to peel off when the sun comes up.
For those who are worried about encountering creatures that might shoot back, the Mini Tobago pack also has an armor panel pouch inside the main compartment (armor not included), and a zippered padded mesh butt-pad that “could” hold a kydex velcro-backed holster with a subcompact pistol – like my Glock 42. I will neither confirm nor deny that mine contains that pistol, just saying that it “could”, in case – you know – “reasons”.
If you have reasons of your own for wanting a sturdy, compact but roomy pack to hold all of your hunting extras while you are in the field, consider pointing yourself or your gift-buying-other to VooDoo Tactical this Christmas.
As a big fan of shotguns, you guys know I’m a huge fan of the Mossberg Shockwave style firearms. I own entirely too many of them, including ultrashort 10-inch models, the Remington Tac 14, the Mossberg Shockwave, the Shockwave 590M, but my favorite is my newest model, the Tac 14 Hardwood. I guess you can say this gun gave me wood.
First off in a world of high tech, impact resistant, space polymers the Tac 14 Hardwood has some beautiful wood furniture. Remington knocked out with the hardwood grip and pump. The rear grip is amazingly smooth and is the same size as the Raptor grip we all know and love from previous Shockwave and Tac 14 guns. The pump is a corncob model with some grip lines cut into it. The finish is also a matte blue, which stands in contrast to a regular Tac 14.
The entire package stands out compared to a Tac 14. The Tac 14 certainly has its charms with its black polymer furniture, and it’s Magpul SGA pump. The Tac 14 is undoubtedly the more modern choice. However when it comes down to being vain the Tac 14 Hardwood is gorgeous, it’s matte blue finish, and wood furniture stands well above the plastic and black oxide finish of the Tac 14.
That’s not where the differences end either. The Tac 14 Hardwood comes with two features that place it a step above the standard Tac 14. First, a plus one extension that makes the magazine tube flush with the end of the barrel. This gives you a total of 5 rounds in the tube and one in the chamber. Additionally, the Tac 14 Hardwood comes ready for a sling with a very interesting front sling keeper. The front sling keeper is a shield type that acts as a handguard as well as a sling keeper. Remington being the sweethearts they are included a sling reminiscent of the old GI web slings.
After that, you have a traditional bead sight, and everything is pretty standard Remington 870 Express.
After owning a number of Remington 870s and Mossberg 500s/590s, I do tend to prefer the Mossberg for a few reasons. However, in a head to head comparison of the Mossberg Shockwave versus the Tac 14 Hardwood model I’d take the Tac 14 Hardwood. The capacities now match, the Remington is heavier which helps with recoil, and comes sling ready.
My Shockwave didn’t come with a rear sling swivel, and I’m salty about that. Overall the Remington feels smoother with a smoother pump action, a better trigger, and smoother pump release.
A lot of people see these guns as range toys, and admittedly they are a ton of fun at the range. They are difficult to control and use effectively and when you do you get an immense feeling of satisfaction. While it’s not a gun for clays, it’s a blast to throw clays on the berm and try to light them up.
Recoil with birdshot is pleasant and hardly uncontrollable. When you move into buckshot, it becomes a little more a challenge to hold on to. Proper technique is undoubtedly needed. You need to extend your nonfiring hand forward and almost lock your arm. The rear hand should be pulling rearward on the gun, and you aim as if you would a stocked weapon. I typically aim right below the target and let it fly.
The feeling of putting a load of buckshot in the chest, or even better the head of a target, is hard to beat. From 15 yards it’s a devastating weapon that disperses a decently wide pattern with buckshot. Although rounds like the Federal Flight control loads will give you a lot more range. You can shoot easily out to 25 yards and beyond with the right skillset.
Remington has been hit hard with a lot of bad press due to reliability and QC concerns, but it does seem that they are trying to work past that. Both my Tac 14s have been reliable and functional without any issues. The finish on both looks great, and I’ve no problems with feeding, ejection or firing.
The Tac 14 Hardwood classes it up. The addition of wood doesn’t make tactical sense, but damn does it look and work nicely. Seeing as how I’m not protecting witnesses or clearing trenches I don’t necessarily need to be tactical.
This is the closest I’ll ever come to owning a Witness Protection 12 gauge without a tax stamp and a butt ton of money, and I’ll take it. The original 12.5-inch barrel Witpro guns were great, but whoever argued over 1.5 inches?
Remington really did this gun right, and compared to Mossberg’s competing Nightstick I thing the Tac 14 Hardwood is the winner.
Isn’t the 21st century wonderful? Unfortunately many parts of the firearms industry, especially where it meets the government, are in an antiquated state.
Buying an NFA item, anyone?
Well the good news out of Michigan is that their Concealed Pistol License renewal system has gone online. The paperwork heavy process has now simplified through the ground breaking concepts of email and the internet.
Now the process still involves manual paperwork as the State of Michigan will mail out a renewal notice with a PIN to start the online process.
https://cplrenewal.msp.state.mi.us/CPLOnline/#!/
The Michigan State Police (MSP) Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Unit began accepting CPL renewal applications by mail and through the online system on November 1, 2018. Those eligible to submit their CPL renewal application online will receive a renewal notice through the U.S. mail from the county clerk that issued their CPL containing a PIN. Once in receipt of the PIN, CPL applicants may proceed to www.michigan.gov/cplrenewal to submit their renewal application. CPL holders who receive renewal notices not containing a PIN are not eligible to renew online. However, you may submit a completed CPL renewal application, with payment, to the MSP CPL Unit, or renew in person at their county clerk’s office.
The system is active. If you have a PIN no more trip to the County Clerk.
Fall and winter welcome cold weather, holidays, parties, and guests! As you enter the holiday seasons, there are many areas of vulnerability that you need to consider. Here are safety tips to help you develop your comprehensive safety plan.
Before you have family and friends to your home, ensure that all of your firearms are properly secured. If you need resources, you can request cable-style gun locks and safety instructions from Project ChildSafe and they will send them to you free of charge.
Clear your walkways, staircase, and driveway of obstacles which could lead to guests injuring themselves on your property.
If, after your holiday meal or party, guests are too impaired to drive, have them eat and drink water or coffee to sober up before they leave. Another option is to let a trusted, sober friend or paid driver get them home. If you have an extra bed or couch, give them a safe place to sleep for the night.
Whether it is a ballet, citywide lighting display, or nativity reenactment, there are many great reasons for your family to participate in holiday outings. Crowds can be targeted by criminals and terrorists, so keep your guard up. Know the area and routes to take in an emergency. Don’t travel alone, and keep items such as mobile phones, purses, and electronics out of sight. Keep your head on a swivel.
When you enter your car, lock the doors right away, and then start your car. If you feel that you are being followed, call 911. Never pull over for a non-police vehicle. Be aware of your exact location so you can provide it to the 911 dispatcher.
Try to shop during daylight hours or park in well-lit areas. Do not leave anything of value visible through your car windows. Put these items in the glove compartment or the trunk or leave them at home. Take, Hide, and Lock. When shopping, do not make more than one trip to your car with purchases. Criminals can be observing you and could break into your car knowing to take your purchases.
If you shop online, make sure websites are secure and trustworthy. If packages are delivered and set in plain view, they are easy targets. Have neighbors watch for packages or check with your shipping company for alternative drop-off options.
Some people have been victimized by selling or purchasing an item on Craigslist and other online apps. Arrange to do these transactions in public places (e.g., Police Department) where you can immediately get assistance if there is a problem.
If you are giving or receiving a firearm as a gift, include training classes, too. Ensure that everyone who handles the firearm consistently follows the Rules of Gun Safety. If you don’t know how to use the gυn, don’t fiddle with it thinking you’ll figure it out. Ask your AG & AG Chapter Facilitator or another firearms instructor if there are upcoming classes that you can take. Having the right instruction will not only ensure the safety of yourself and those around you, but will give you greater success and enjoyment with the new gift.
Don’t invite food poisoning or fire to your holiday dinner. Federal guidelines state that your turkey is safe to eat when the innermost part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees. Check the turkey’s temperature by inserting the thermometer in three places: the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.
Read labels carefully. See USDA recommended guidelines on turkey thawing and preparation.
Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking so you can keep an eye on the food. Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Ensure electric cords, knives, and stove-tops are out of reach of children.
Install deadbolt locks on your doors, which provides better security than chain locks. Instruct your children to not open the door if a stranger comes to your home soliciting.
Illuminate the interior and exterior of your home. Consider installing a residential alarm with camera systems if possible. Instead of displaying your holiday decor in a main window, try to obscure your holiday gifts from view from potential criminals.
Be cautious about putting the boxes that contained your recent purchases or gifts out on the curb for bulk trash pickup because the boxes will let thieves know what is in your house. Shred any paperwork with personal information, e.g., bank statements, credit card statements, medical records, etc., prior to discarding.
Know the laws for Use of Force and Related Weapon Laws of all the states you will visit. Websites like handgunlaw.us are extremely valuable or find an app that you trust and download it to your phone.
Know the airports, roadways, and rail stations you will be traveling through. If there are delays or closures, you may spend more time there than planned figuring out Plan B. Knowledge of what options are offered could save you time.
It’s a good time to review your family emergency plan, your universal action plan for your family that includes action words, safe words, and basic escape strategies for a variety of emergency scenarios.
Ask neighbors to keep an eye on your home if you’re away. Have them check for mail, newspapers and flyers. Consider placing a “hold” on mail and newspapers. Do not pre-announce your trip on Facebook or other social media. Delay posting pictures of your trip until you are actually home.
SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/holiday-safety-tips/
Readers,
Like some and unlike other, I am a bullpup fan. I’m in the process of procuring an X95 for some of it’s fantastic characteristics.
We reported the roll out of the A3 a couple months ago, but information was scarce. Matsimus helps spin us up on what the, now in service, rifle is offering to UK MoD forces.
Deniz Cam over at Forbes, covers the world’s richest people.
I’m sure she means this as an overview of how she opines on the lifestyles of folk with money but in this article she takes a swing at billionaire inventor, Gaston Glock. Because we must get in a jab at the man who invented what is arguably the world’s most popular modern sidearm. Mass shootings are his fault after all.
Next, Miss Cam will likely take on Henry Ford and expound on how his brand has become a mainstay for drunk and distracted drivers, costing thousands of lives annually. Wait, probably not. No easy low hanging political points there despite a drastically higher death toll.
Nope. Ahhh GUNS! GLOCKS!! Terrifying death machine… used across the world by the most professional military and law enforcement personnel, literally in the millions of units deployed. No mention on how the greatest culprit category for firearms used in homicide is a shifting ‘model’ but overwhelming has one characteristic ‘cheaply acquired’.
The shock and surprise expounded by this Forbes piece, that a wildly popular sidearm gets used by bad people too, smells of a tragic lack of journalistic integrity. In its place is ACTIVISM! Let’s gloss over the fact that societal violence has a myriad of motivating factors and just blame the guy who made a product that works.
Screw you Apple and Android! You too Zuckerberg! Cheaters are your fault! How dare you be rich!
See?
See how stupid this is?
The Austrian military needed a sidearm. Gaston made the best one. He made it so well that in its 5th generation it isn’t radically different than in its 1st. Millions exist and serve in the hands of peaceful people every single day.
This has made Mr. Glock a billionaire, good on him. I’ve contributed to his wealth, owning probably about a dozen Glock models in the last decade.
Shaming an old man for his successful invention based on its willful misuse… classy, Forbes. I will be certain to look for the excoriating critique of General Motors board of directors when DoT releases traffic fatality stats.
Readers,
Stay safe. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the company of friends and family. Do good unto others and happily slip into a Turkey stupor.
Then brace for Black Friday! Make sure to look in here. You won’t even need to leave the comfort of home.
Police Chief Loren Culp of Republic Washington is saying he will refuse to enforce the onerous measure passed on election night by the state at large
On on interview with Fox, Culp explains how the law is offensive and contrary to his oath of office and in violation of the Washington State and National Constitutions.
His jurisdiction has a differing view than the liberal haven of Seattle and both Culp’s small police force and the town council are looking at adopting a measure to make the small town, Republic, a haven for the gun owning folk of Washington State.
The proposal certainly doesn’t mince its purpose.
First, it says that “all federal and State acts, laws, orders, rules or regulations regarding firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition are a violation of the 2nd Amendment.”
Neither does Culp.
“I’m just standing up for people’s rights,” he says. “I had people asking if the Police Department was going to start arresting teenagers, 18-, 19-, 20-year-olds, carrying and using a semi-automatic .22 rifle. I told them, ‘I’m not going to infringe on someone’s constitutional rights.’”
“As long as I am Chief of Police, no Republic Police Officer will infringe on a citizens right to keep and Bear Arms, PERIOD!”
Some from the state have lashed out at the small individual rights minded community calling them insane, evil, etc.
For those of us still rubbing brain cells together, we congratulate Chief Loren Culp.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and so is rifle buck season. That means that I had to make some range time to sight in my deer rifle.
Because the state I hunt in is still living in the Stone Age, my deer rifle is a Marlin 336 that – though I love the lever action – doesn’t fit me very well. I’ve even had to jury-rig a redneck cheek riser with pipe insulation and camo duct tape. I would much prefer to use my AR-platform rifles – which fit me well, and are a style with which I am comfortable and familiar. I even bought a .300 BLK upper last year in high hopes of a change in the game law, but Noooooooo.
So to console my frustration, I brought my Aero Precision AR pistol along to the range for some fun once the sight-in work was done.
My Marlin smacked the 100 yard steel 3 out of 3 shots, so that was done with pretty quickly, and I whipped out the Aero.
In the spirit of the season, I brought along some turkey cartoons to keep things fun. Admittedly, with astigmatism, and a red dot, all I could see to aim at were brown blobs at 50 yards. But the Aero ensured that they were still dead turkeys. One target even had a set of perfect neck shots! Ahem – yeah, I meant to do that!
These are, incidentally, the ONLY turkeys I shot this year. Yes, I know that one does not use a .223 to hunt turkeys, but whose range time was this anyway?
Besides, turkeys “could” be home invaders – didn’t you see the video of that turkey that invaded that couple’s living room – right through the glass window even! Tell me that gobbler didn’t have malicious intent!
And how about that video of the turkeys circling the dead cat! Tell me that wasn’t some dangerous cult-like activity right there, huh? We need to train against potential turkey attack, I’m telling you.
So that’s exactly what I did. Do you feel safer now? You’re welcome.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What do you get when you combine seven women, wine, a vacation house, grilled venison, shotguns, pheasants and dogs? A Ladies Hunt Weekend of course!
For the past several years Calibered Events has run ladies only hunt events, designed to get more women into shotgunning and bird hunting. This was my fourth year of participation, so I’ve now got three pheasant hunts and a duck hunt under my belt.
What keeps women like myself coming back to these events year after year? It’s the opportunity to continue honing skills, and the camaraderie with other women interested in hunting.
But why an organized women-only hunt, you may ask?
Let’s be honest – bird hunting is a “lifestyle”. If you don’t have your own trained bird dog and property to hunt, this is not likely to be something that most of us women can just “pick up” as we go along, especially later in life. We need coaching and encouragement and access to experienced guides with dogs. That is exactly what these ladies’ hunts provide.
Although Calibered Events is based in Western Maryland, women come from several surrounding states – including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia – to attend the annual events. Organizer Ann Marie Foster provides shotgun coaching and hunting mentorship to women both experienced and novice.
The events combine clays/5 stand practice on Friday, with a hunting experience on Saturday, and a group vacation house/ sleepover atmosphere. The group stay-over builds camaraderie and allows shared experience for those who may be nervous newbies.
After the experience, even if new women don’t want to rush out, buy a dog and become new bird hunting enthusiasts, they have at least had the experience, have supported local guides, and have been exposed to game habitat and harvesting meat in a way they may not have before.
My own latest ladies hunt weekend was two weeks ago. We started out with seven women, but one of our party was ill and had to leave early. So we had seven for clays on Friday afternoon, and a hunt for six on Saturday.
This particular group had experience in doing this before – not only the hunt portion but the get-together house-party portion. With everyone bringing different types of food to share, you’d have thought we were feeding Patton’s 3rd Army rather than six middle-age women for one weekend!
We started out the weekend with a Friday meet-up in Western Maryland, whereupon we proceeded to the Wild Wings Hunting Preserve property to meet our host and shoot some 5-stand.
The 5-stand set-up on the property was a new addition this year, and it gave us ample opportunity to work out the skills cobwebs on multiple challenging presentations. Our trapper was owner Don Calhoun who runs the operation, with wife Lisa (who provided a yummy hot homemade meal on hunt day, as well as bird-cleaning services.)
One of the presentations (Trap 4) was the toughest, and the term “number 4” became the running joke of the weekend. It was a fast, dropping crosser, and you had to stay ridiculously far ahead of it. We worked hard on that one, and by the end of the afternoon, I think everyone had hit it at least once. After the hunt the next day, one of the gals described some birds they saw as “definite number fours”.
After clays, we retired to our vacation house digs for the weekend, divvied up the bedrooms and settled in for an evening of fun. The food and wine flowed, and the cutthroat games of Parcheesi commenced. One hitch in the evening occurred when we discovered that the rental company had not provided dry firewood for the fireplace, so we called in reinforcements. Our hostess did not live far away, so her husband and brother-in-law rode to the rescue with a load of dry firewood! Yours truly, being the former Girl Scout of the group, then set us up a warm blaze.
Saturday morning broke with frosty wind, and rain. We heard from the outfitter that the birds would be unlikely to fly in such conditions, so we gladly accepted when he offered us the opportunity to move the hunt to the afternoon when the forecast looked better. The fields were still wet on our arrival, and the sky started out overcast, but slowly broke into blue through the course of the afternoon.
We separated ourselves into two groups of three women – each group with their own guide and dogs. My group’s guide was Chris, with his dogs Freda and Blitz.
Our quarry were pheasant and chukar that had been released for us to find. We donned our orange, loaded our shotguns and away we went. Our guide led us through the strips of field preceded by the dogs – who were bounding through the hip-high sorghum like dolphins in the ocean. I never get bored watching bird dogs work. It’s a ballet of nose and tail. It was obvious that they LOVED it. Their hindquarters were literally vibrating with anticipation as soon as they got out of the truck. It was a beautiful day afield.
I’ve found over the course of these experiences that I really love the smell of the wet earth and dead leaves combined with the sent of fresh spent powder when I open my shotgun breech. The smell evokes the same feelings as fresh hot coffee in the morning – a kind of “Ahhhhh” feeling. It’s a visceral reaction that I never would have anticipated before I started this journey.
Our group of three bagged 16 of the 21 birds that had been released for us, which wasn’t too bad considering two of us hadn’t hunted like this since last year, and one of us not for several years.
The other group did not have as much luck as we had, but it was apparently windier with worse conditions in a different field higher up the hill. But we split the birds evenly and everybody got some meat to take home.
When we got back to the preserve lodge, there was a delicious hot dinner waiting for us, which we devoured greedily while Lisa finished cleaning our birds for us. Last year I got to help clean, but this year Lisa was way ahead of us, having collected some of the birds from us while we were still in the field. As a result of her efficiency, the job was nearly finished by the time we returned.
After our meal, and thank-yous to our hunt hosts, we returned to the rental house, showered, and began another evening of fire, fun, and food. There was still tons of food, including venison tenderloin on the grill. Some of the gals cleaned and brined their birds for freezing that night. The rest of us kept them in the fridge for prepping at home.
Sunday morning meant it was time to pack up and head for home, but we each swore we’d be back again and started making plans for next year.
If you are interested in an adventure like this for yourself, check out Calibered Events, or check around in your own area of the country. There are likely outfitters that would love to host a ladies only group hunt, if you’d only ask for the opportunity.
The folks of Springfield Armory are well established in the field of 1911’s. They have been making the John Moses Browning classic for decades.
From their Mil-Spec base model to their TRP, Springfield Armory has a wide array of offerings in their 1911 portfolio. But the Geneseo, Illinois based gun company set a new standard when they introduced the Range Officer series.
1911’s at the time had drifted into two distinct camps, GI Models and “Race Guns”. The middle ground was sparse. Springfield Armory planted their flag into the wide open middle ground by bringing the race gun, and later tactical features, to a more blue collar price point.
Today Springfield launches their 10mm addition to the Elite Operator line. The EO line has 9mm and .45 ACP offerings already, both at about $1150 MSRP. With this third offering, in 10mm, the line offers a caliber for everyone’s tastes.
The Range Officer Elite Operator is a well thought out pistol by every standard dimension. Springfield starts with the forged steel frame and slide. G-10 laminate “thin-line” grip panels, in a handsome blue gray finish, provided a positive rentative grip with gloves and bare hands.
A skeletonized trigger and hammer system break at about 5-5.5lbs. Single action pistols have good triggers as a general rule, but this clean pull through still impressed me. The safety is an ambidextrous lever and the slide is cut with slanted front and rear slide serrations for ease of manipulation. The serrations are deep enough to prevent slipping off the slide while not being sharp.
Topping the RO EO 10mm off is a set of the standard Range Officer sights, a red fiber optic front with a double white dot rear. Both the front and rear are serrated for glare and the rear is shelved for one handed manipulation.
The RO EO’s safety has a positive on and off engagement. The trigger, during dry fire, had a small amount of take up and a smooth press through before a clean break. The reset and press have just a little more travel than my P226 Legion in single action and probably a pound more pressure required.
The backstrap mainspring housing is textured while the front of the grip is smooth. This is typical of the Range Officer line and more than some other options offer for grip surety.
The barrel is a stainless match grade 5″ with a stainless bushing. Recoil spring is on a standard GI style guide rod. Texture on the guide rod asssits with disassembly. Finishing off the frame is a 1913 rail for your favorite light. I added a Surefire X300.
I have been out of the 10mm circles for a couple years, since I sold my G20. I can say now that the 1911 is a fantastic platform for the powerful handgun cartridge. The full steel frame and slide mass are excellent absorbers for the recoil energy of the 10mm.
I found 3 loads from HSM to try in this new pistol. 180 grain FMJ and Hollow Point loads and a 200 grain “Bear Load”.
Certain 1911’s have a reputation with hollow point ammo, it’s not a good one. I started with two magazines of hollow points to see if this pistol fit that tragic mold.
It did not. The HSM hollow points fed and cycled beautifully, punching away at the head box 10 yards away.
No issues, until I got a “click”. The slide didn’t lock back when I finished the second magazine. Not unheard of in 1911 magazines, I marked the side of that mag to keep an eye on it.
Quicker than I wanted the FMJ and hollow point ammunition was spent. Not one failure to feed or fire.
Now it was bear load time.
200 grain flat nose and non jacketed. I loaded the magazine, loaded the gun, and was enveloped in smoke when I fired. I waited for the bay to clear from the powder blast and squeezed again to send another round… dead trigger.
Failure to feed on the bear load. I cleared the stoppage and kept firing. The recoil was mild for a 200 grain in my opinion and may have contributed to a slightly short cycling.
Another dead trigger and failure to feed.
The RO Elite Operator ran without an issue on jacketed rounds but the smokey bear loads and it were not agreeing. I finished the box off with one more stoppage, another fail to feed.
I’m chalking this behavior up to the ammunition, either a little lightly loaded on the powder charge or the flat nose and no jacket didn’t interact well with the feed ramp and chamber.
Accuracy: Excellent, the Range Officer Elite Operator sent a 10mm exactly where I told it too. Errors were mine, not the gun.
Recoil Management: Excellent, 1911’s are a grip sensitive platform and the 10mm is a stout recoiling caliber. The heavy steel frame manages the felt recoil on the shooter very well.
Reliability: Good, with jacketed rounds the pistol fed, fired, extracted, and completed cycling no issue. The reason it can’t be rated excellent is the pistol’s issue with the flat nose rounds. I still place the “blame”, if that’s the correct word, mostly on the ammo. They just didn’t work together.
Fit, Finish, Design: The 5″ ‘Government’ 1911 is a time tested platform and this one is true to form with nothing radically changed. The choice of G-10 grips makes sense, especially for use in wet environments or with gloved hands. The finish was cleanly done and evenly applied over a tightly machined smooth cycling assembly.
Other Notes: The one magazine I marked from Springfield was having the sporadic failure to lock issue with the slide. The second magazine functioned flawlessly.
Under recoil the grip screws like to walk a little and the panels were a little loose after firing a couple hundred rounds. Loctite and retighten, easy fix.
With an MSRP matching the 9mm and .45 ACP models at $1,145, Springfield Armory has a solid contender in the resurging popular 10mm field.
