Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 53, Tonight we talk about gun tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and the latest news.
AmmoToGo Plays with Jello… For Science
The team over at AmmoToGo.com ran a ballistic test on their lineup of hollow point ammunition, which included almost 100 different loads, covering four of the most popular calibers – 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, and .380 Auto. They then analyzed and compared the data against the set of performance standards used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This helped them measure variables such as penetration depth, retained weight, and the expansion capabilities for each hollow point projectile.
By analyzing the data from the test you can get a better idea of what ammo you may want to carry.
If you want to see the full write up on the project visit: https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/best-self-defense-ammo/
Testing Standards
Their ballistic test was structured around the FBI test protocol used by law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. According to the FBI, the results are an assessment of a bullet’s ability to inflict effective wounds after defeating various intervening obstacles commonly present in law enforcement shootings.
They fired each round from a distance of 10 feet through a clothing barrier before impacting ballistic gelatin, simulating human tissue. The muzzle velocity and muzzle energy was also measured for each round with the use of a ballistic chronograph.
While these guidelines are in no way an absolute set of rules for testing self defense ammo, they provide a great backbone to build off of.
Best Fit for FBI Standards
.380 Auto
Federal HST 99 Grain JHP Ammo
These rounds by Federal met the FBI’s standards for performance with excellent expansion for the .380 caliber, very consistent penetration and 100% weight retention.
9mm
Hornady Critical Defense 115 Grain HP Ammo
Hornady’s 115gr. Critical Defense line met all of the FBI requirements for testing. Each round had great expansion, achieving an average expanded diameter of 1.5x the original diameter. You also see the consistent penetration coupled with excellent weight retention.
45ACP
Remington Gold Saber 185 Grain JHP Ammo
These lead mushrooms from Remington not only look beautiful, but penetrate within the ideal FBI standard of 12-18 inches and had great weight retention.
40S&W
Federal Premium HST 180 Grain JHP Ammo
Federal HST hollow point made the list again with these 180 grain .40 caliber rounds. Meeting the FBI’s standard for ideal expansion and consistent penetration, these rounds pass their test.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just getting into shooting or if you’ve been around firearms your entire life, everyone will be able take away some new and useful information from the extensive test. These guys definitely went through some steps to bring you this great, free source of information.
NRA “Terrorists”
Just in the past two weeks or so, numerous politicians, journalists and private citizens have used the word “terrorist” in describing the NRA. Here is a sampling.
http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/377120-conn-governor-nra-is-a-terrorist-organization
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pacs-billboard-in-florida-calls-nra-a-terrorist-organization/
https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/declare-the-nra-a-terrorist
https://www.dailywire.com/news/27949/nra-spokeswoman-dana-loesch-attacked-rosie-amanda-prestigiacomo
This level of hatred and vitriol is truly appalling – especially coming from the supposed champions of “tolerance”. Can you imagine the anti-gun left painting ANY other group with the broad brush of hate that they have the NRA?
LGBTQ? Nope
Blue-collar workers? Nope
Medical professionals? Nope
Lawyers? Nope
Minimum wage workers? Nope
Teachers? Nope
College Professors? Nope
Mothers? Nope
Fathers? Nope
Naturalized Immigrants? Nope
Hispanics? Nope
African-Americans? Nope
Muslims? Nope
Hindus? Nope
Sikhs? Nope
Jews? Nope
Catholics? Nope
Protestants of every stripe? Nope
Wiccans? Nope
Atheist/Agnostics? Nope
Ministers? Nope
Women? Nope
Active and Former military? Nope
Law Enforcement? Nope (though maybe close)
Lawmakers? Nope (though conservatives, maybe)
The real irony here lies in the fact that every one of these groups is represented in the NRA membership. These are the people who some anti-gunners are calling “terrorists” – and apparently don’t see any conflict or hypocrisy in it.
The NRA could be considered one of the most inclusive organizations in existence. The only “requirement” for membership is having an interest in firearms rights and safety, and paying a $40 per year membership fee.
In fact, one could start a joke of some sort with the lead-in of, “An African-American doctor, a trans-woman, and a retired college professor walk onto a gun range.” But it wouldn’t work as a joke because they all had fun together at a shooting match and nothing of note would have happened.
Denigrating and de-humanizing some five million American citizens who happen to be NRA members, (and by implication tens of millions of other lawful gun owners) simply because they don’t see eye-to-eye with you on an important point of law and natural rights, is bigoted and prejudiced in the extreme. Anyone who isn’t appalled by this accusation of terrorism ought to examine their conscience and values MUCH more closely.
“Tolerance” means nothing if it only applies to those with whom you agree.
Note: This video was making the rounds as I was composing this missive.
https://mobile.twitter.com/NRA/status/972616295710683136
A Conversation with Julie G – On Shooting Sports and the NRA
Julie Golob is one of the most well-known women in the shooting sports. She’s a seven-division USPSA National Ladies champion, an IPSC World Ladies champion, with nine national titles in IDPA, not to mention a former member of the elite US Army Marksmanship Unit and a US Army Female Athlete of the Year. She’s also Captain of Team Smith & Wesson, head trainer for NRA Women’s Love at First Shot, and a spokesperson for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
I’ve long looked up to Julie because of her wide-ranging accomplishments both on and off the range. Fortunately for me, one of the best things about the shooting sports is that the stars aren’t so far removed from us that regular folks can’t get to know them. And one of the things I discovered with Julie is that she’s both as approachable in real life as she seems on social media, and that she’s even more interesting than I suspected. I’d like to share one of our conversations with you so you can get to know her better too.
Last year, Julie announced her candidacy for the National Rifle Association Board of Directors. Since we’re in the height of election season as we sat down for this conversation, starting there made a lot of sense.
Julie, you’ve put on a strong grassroots campaign for a position on the NRA Board of Directors for this year’s election. What makes the NRA important to you? Why did you decide to run?
My appreciation for the NRA goes back to when I was a girl. I grew up around practical shooting. I remember when the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 hit and the negative impact it had on our shooting sport. Even though we were still able to compete, we lost mainstream media exposure. USPSA membership peaked in 1996, but we became quiet and as a result membership growth flat-lined for a decade.
Just as our sport has evolved, so too has the NRA. With millions of members, the National Rifle Association is the tip of the spear when it comes to preserving the Second Amendment. My passion for shooting sports and gun rights go hand in hand. When I was nominated by the nominating committee, I considered it an honor. Most of all, I find the idea of helping NRA programs and sports grow very exciting. We all know that something special happens when you take a newcomer to the range, especially one who is on the fence about firearms. Modernization of the shooting sports and promotion of safe, responsible gun ownership is key in this fight.
Absolutely. I’ve always found that teaching people about guns and letting them experience the fun of the shooting sports are big factors in helping them understand some of the reasons we, as a community, consider the Second Amendment to be so important.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned during your run?
I’ve learned that politics are everywhere and that people are passionate about what they feel is most important. I admire passion. Politics? Admittedly, not as much. If elected though, I hope I can make a positive difference, especially for our shooting sports.
I hope so too! We’ll know the results of the NRA Board election in less than two months. Win or lose, what’s been the best part of the experience for you?
I mentioned this earlier, but I consider having my name on the ballot an absolute honor. To me it indicates that I am reaching and making an impact in a significant way. Influence is a powerful thing. I do not take it for granted. Whether or not I am elected, this entire experience has motivated me to continue to be a voice for our way of life.
And I’m glad we’ll continue to have a voice that is so relatable to so many people, whether through the NRA Board of Directors or otherwise. One challenge I see in trying to build bridges between the gun and non-gun communities is that even among gun owners, we aren’t always really connected to each other. For instance, the NRA is often thought of as an organization as far removed from what we do in practical shooting sports like USPSA and IDPA as to be nearly on the opposite side of the world. Why should competitive practical shooters care about the NRA?
If you live in a city or state that has tough gun control laws, you are affected by the NRA and their work If you compete with or own any sort of modern sporting rifle, in rifle or pistol caliber, you’re affected. If you own a magazine that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds, you’re affected. If you travel with firearms or carry a gun, you’re affected. If you are a member of USPSA or IDPA, you should care about the NRA’s efforts because you are affected. If any of these things mean enough to you or if you want to continue to enjoy your sport and your rights, membership is inexpensive but is one of the best ways and individual can make an impact.
Sounds like the NRA does a lot for all gun owners, competitive shooters or not. What would you like to see the NRA Board do specifically for shooting sports in the next year?
I want to see the NRA BOD embrace the power of the shooting sports. Auditing current NRA programs and modernizing communication is critical. I’d love to see the NRA lead the charge when it comes to developing true entry level programs for gun owners. We need to develop simple gateway shooting sports to get people out to the range and funnel them into a shooting sport they will love, like USPSA or IDPA! We also need to showcase and promote all aspects of the shooting sports throughout NRA publications and media. We cannot depend on mainstream media or social media networks to give us reach.
Absolutely. The NRA has a huge reach, and it’d be great to see them use it for initiatives like that. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to lead that charge.
In the meantime, you haven’t put aside any of your other work while making your run. One of the big projects you launched was your latest book. Can you tell us what it’s about?
One thing that’s great about being a professional shooter is that in the off season I can pursue various personal goals and projects. My most recent is a children’s book about gun safety called Toys, Tools, Gun & Rules. As a mom of two young daughters, it’s a cause that’s near and dear to me. The book is written for children as young as three and as old as ten, depending on their maturity level. Like Project Childsafe and the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, the book teaches avoidance, but it uses human characters and explores the different types of firearms and gun owners children may encounter. I’m thrilled with how well it came out and how it has been received.
So far, my friends with kids seem to love the book. I’m going to have to get a copy for my nephews as I get them started in the gun world. Any other big projects on the horizon that you can tell us about?
This season I have made changes in my schedule and partnerships to fulfill obligations should I be elected to the NRA BOD. I also have ideas for a more books, especially a cookbook but with the shooting season in full swing my focus is on competition goals and doing my best to continue to share shooting.
Sounds like you’ll have plenty to keep you busy no matter how the election goes. Of course, I hope that you’ll be on the NRA BOD, giving shooting sports like USPSA and IDPA some representation, but I look forward to seeing what you’ll be up to either way. Good luck!
Popular Online is not Always Better: ETS
I am a firm believer in always carrying at least one firearm and a back up self defense tool. My gun of choice is the Glock 19. I love the 19 for many reasons, capacity and reliability being the top two.
Between undercover police work, bounty hunting, and carrying as a civilian I have run into a few situations where a smaller gun would have worked out better. Unfortunately, not many small handguns meet my criteria for an everyday carry gun. First and foremost, any EDC gun I carry must be as reliable as my Glock 19. Before I carried my Glock 19 I put 3,000 rounds through it without cleaning it. This was not an easy 3,000 rounds, it was outside in the middle of a Michigan winter, freezing rain, snow, sleet, and cold. The Glock 19 never experienced a hiccup in those extreme conditions.
I require my carry guns to have a trigger that I can manage, the sights must be visible to me in all lighting conditions and have a minimum capacity of 10 rounds. I am not a big fan of just adding an extension on the mag without adding an extended spring as this could cause reliability issues. The Glock 43 would be my #1 choice to fit this role however it only holds 6rds in the mag.
Looking at my options I came across Elite Tactical Systems Group Magazines. If you’re not familiar with ETS mags flip through some pictures on Instagram and you will see people using clear magazines in their guns. These magazines look cool and are also about $12 cheaper than factory Glocks Mags.
I am a little wary of aftermarket products, so I bought one of their 9 round mags for the Glock 43 for a test run. This would give me 10 rounds in the gun and with a new set of sights meet all my criteria for a carry gun. Before I use the 43 with ETS mags part of my EDC I need to run it through some range testing and abuse.
Excited to give these new clear mags a try I hit the range. On the first run I had 3 failures to feed issues out of the 9 rounds I had loaded into them. This was a little disappointing but not game over. They were new and perhaps there was a problem with the gun or the ammunition. To rule out the gun I ran 50 rounds through the factory Glock mags without a hiccup. Switching back to the ETS mags for the next 100rds I had numerous failures to feed. The first few rounds would feed properly but as you got to the end the rounds would dip down and not feed into the chamber.
I also noticed issues with loading the mags. Sometimes the mags would only accept 8 or even 7 rounds. I had to unload and reload them to get them up to capacity. The mags are clear so I could see that the spring would compress differently every time I loaded them.
ETS has a lifetime warranty on their products so I sent them an email to alert them of my issues. About a month went by with no communication from them. My editor sent them an email and quickly got a response. They found my original email and were unsure why it went unnoticed. ETS assured me they had not experienced nor had any other complaints like mine, so they sent me two more magazines to test out.
A beautiful day, a clear range, and a clean gun meant my new ETS mags were ready to be tested. I loaded both mags with 9 rounds of Federal 115gr Range, Target, and Practice rounds and was not surprised with the results. The first new mag experienced 3 failures to feed where the bullets dipped, the second mag experienced 4 failures.
Having more than one mag allowed me to do some mag changes. This is where the most severe issues crept up. I found that while removing the ETS mag from its support side mag holder or the pocket any pressure on the top bullet caused it to stand straight up, slowing the reloading process greatly.
I could not just pop the bullet back in place I had to completely remove the bullet before feeding the mag into the gun. The Glock factory mags had none of these issues.
Back at the shop we took a good look at the ETS mags for the Glock 43. Being a single stack mag there is no taper at the top like there is with the Glock 19 mags. This places all the spring pressure on the feed lips. The original Glock mags are supported by a metal sleeve in the mag. The ETS mags do not have this sleeve the lips are a little weaker. With very little pressure the mag follower will almost pop out of the ETS mags.
ETS also says their magazine will survive a drop from 8 feet. The magazine shouldn’t be affected if it is accidentally dropped while I am going for my spare magazine.
The first free fall drop from waist height resulted in 4 rounds ejecting from the mag and some stress marks in the plastic. I continued to drop test all the mags from waist height never exceeding 5 ft. I found that if the magazine hits on the base plate it would eject the rounds, the most rounds ejected in 5 drop tests was 6. I also drop tested the factory Glock mags in the same manner and experienced no ejections.
Wanting to see if I randomly had 3 defective magazines I stopped at my local gun store and opened every ETS Glock 43 mag they had to test the weakness of the follower. They let me load some dummy rounds in them. Every one of them had the issue of the round flipping up with very little pressure. I picked up an ETS mag for my Glock 19 to see if it had the same issues. I ran it through the same tests and had no issues. The ETS 19 mag fed the rounds perfectly into my Glock. Dropping it on the ground the mag kept all the rounds in place. I had none of the issues that I had with the 43 mags, however I will never fully trust the ETS mags for EDC.
After my experience with my ETS mags I have added one more requirement to my EDC criteria, I only use factory magazines in my carry guns. The ETS mags look cool, they are great to use in a training class where students can see the inside of a mag and watch it function, but they have no place in a carry gun. Whenever I get something new that I am thinking about using to protect my family and myself I will always test it extensively then ask myself these simple questions.
What is its purpose?
Why do I need it?
Is it better than what it replaces?
I shudder to think what could have happened if I had to use my ETS 43 mags in a gunfight. Always test your carry equipment before you put it into service, I am glad I do.
PE Class with AR500 Armor, Physics not Physical
There is a universal truth to armor.
It sucks to wear.
The materials capable of stopping a bullet or shrapnel impact and imposing it between you and that potentially lethal puncture/energy transfer usually carry the characteristic: HEAVY.
The affordable steel plates that AR500 Armor is known for weigh 8lbs each. Combine that with necessary trauma padding or soft armor and a carrier you quickly push 25lbs in a hurry. The level IV selection of composite ceramics provide better protection but no savings in weight.
The stereotypical response to a complaint about armor is “It’s supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.” In short, the burden of armor is a necessary discomfort for the protection. A balancing act of mobility against the ability to stop an impacting gunshot. It ironically makes you a little slower and easier to hit, especially on an unconditioned body. Physical education and conditioning make armor bare-able.
However, thanks to science, we continue to develop and apply materials that do things better.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) offers us several material advantages.
Polyethylene? Yes.
Plastic? Yes.
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) is a subset of the thermoplastic polyethylene. Also known as high-modulus polyethylene, (HMPE), it has extremely long chains, with a molecular mass usually between 3.5 and 7.5 million amu.[1]
The longer chain serves to transfer load more effectively to the polymer backbone by strengthening intermolecular interactions. This results in a very tough material, with the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made. –Wikipedia
UHMWPE is odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic.[3] It embodies all the characteristics of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with the added traits of being resistant to concentrated acids and alkalies, as well as numerous organic solvents.[4] It is highly resistant to corrosive chemicals except oxidising acids; has extremely low moisture absorption and a very low coefficient of friction; is self-lubricating (see boundary lubrication); and is highly resistant to abrasion, in some forms being 15 times more resistant to abrasion than carbon steel. Its coefficient of friction is significantly lower than that of nylon and acetal and is comparable to that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon), but UHMWPE has better abrasion resistance than PTFE.
UHMWPE is 8-15 times stronger than steel in strength to weight. It also has a very high chemical neutrality resisting water, oils, and solvents. It’s molecular strength is extremely high but actual density low, making it buoyant.
The polyethylene is made into long molecular aligned fibers and woven into a sheet. When layered with other sheets it allows for exceptional energy transfer reduction between the molecules and layers. The sheets are oriented in varying directions further increasing the overall property strengths of the UHMWPE as the aligned fibers crisscross.
The layers and dissonant orientation of the specialized polyethylene form an energy absorbing ‘catcher’s mitt’ plate that successfully stops rifle rounds. NIJ Level III rated stopping 7.62x51mm (.308), 7.62x39mm, and 5.56x45mm (.223 Rem) multiple hits stand alone (does not need to have a soft armor or carrier component to function). UHMWPE would be a worthy armor candidate on fewer property merits but when the material is formed into 10×12 armor plates they weigh less than half their conventional level III and level IV counterparts.
3.3lbs each and buoyant (won’t sink in water) cuts the overall weight of a kitted carrier down by around 50% while still maintaining level III protection.
Physically the plates are higher volume but most carriers like my Valkyrie have enough room to accommodate them without issue.
The thick light weight plates are also significantly less fragile than level IV ceramic.
Ceramic body armor plates are fragile, to a degree, being designed to catch a high velocity projectile from the front (or back) strike face. The layered ceramic is designed to crush and break, catching impacting rounds. Once it is broken the plate needs replacement. Ceramic is still a glass product and if dropped, sat on, or torqued in a way that cracks the layers they are now compromised.
The polyethylene (plastic) plates aren’t as vulnerable to unintentional damage from rough handling.
If considering any maritime application the buoyant water proof plates will not sink a water bound wearer or be compromised by immersion. The coast guard, any harbor or coastal deputies, and in any other emergency or duty armored application near water UHMWPE benefits the wearer if they end up in the water.
Putting UHMWPE Polyethylene plates into your armor set up increases comfort, durability, mobility, and water safety (where relevant), while significantly decreasing physical duress and kit weight. Unless you’re requiring a level IV threat protection the PE plates have substantial advantages in a carrier.
It’s an armor material selection or upgrade worth serious consideration, currently my standard plates. They suck much less to wear, almost comfortable.
“No one sweats into their armor or has to go into the rain or water while wearing it and no one uses oils and solvents around firearms while wearing armor. It certainly isn’t heavy and doesn’t cause discomfort so I’m not sure why any of this is advantageous.” – Marine Veteran, after going for a swim with a rifle while in body armor now cleaning said rifle as the heavy SAPI’s and carrier chafe
Using Children as Puppets: Kohlberg Stages vs Political Theater
Children are the new hot-ticket political wedges used by news outlets and political agitators alike. It’s a trend that runs against developmental theory.
The evidence:
Traumatized teenagers from Parkland were wrangled and paid for by professional political organizers. https://www.dailywire.com/news/27689/parkland-students-pushing-gun-control-have-high-emily-zanotti
The “student” walk-out was organized by the genitalia-hatted, and forced by school administrators. http://ktla.com/2018/02/18/womens-march-organizers-plan-national-student-walkout-to-protest-gun-violence-in-wake-of-florida-shooting/
There was even a legislator’s 8-year old in Connecticut who was permitted to speak at a legislative hearing regarding bear hunting last Friday.
http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-bear-hunts-coyotes-turtles-crabs-20180309-story.html
Who needs higher education, life experience, and intellectual discernment? We’re apparently going to let high schoolers determine constitutional law and third graders write conservation policy now.
Does anyone genuinely believe that elementary school students “walked out” of school all on their own and thought up their own signs to carry? Let alone remembered to bring the signs along outside and remembered to put their coats and mittens on?
Can you imagine a middle-schooler turning down the opportunity to get out of class for ANY reason? That’s even assuming they were allowed to refuse. There is some doubt in that regard.
And high-schoolers – bundles of hormone and emotion that they are – I’m sure that their “walk-out” was completely grounded in logic and constitutional law, don’t you think? https://www.dailywire.com/news/28281/watch-tennessee-students-brawl-tear-down-american-emily-zanotti
This is nothing more than despicable emotional theater – staged by adults – with children in the starring roles. Just like their Hollywood stage-parent counterparts, the adults behind the scenes of these “protests” are using the children as puppets.
Children tug on the heartstrings, we can agree on that. But to shove children in front of the camera every time there is an agenda to push is manipulative, craven, and beyond despicable. Why? Because these children are developmentally unable to understand the implications of the situation they are being thrust into.
Allow me to indulge in some academics to explain this. I present for your consideration, the Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development.
Under Kohlberg’s Theory young children operate in a pretty black and white mind set. Their moral choices are based on fear of punishment, or what they can “get” out of a particular behavior. The is the first level (stages 1 and 2) of moral development. Some people – particularly criminals – never get past this level.
If they are lucky, children move out of this stage and into the next level beginning around the ages of 10-13. This second level (stages 3 and 4) extends from adolescence to about middle age, and many adults never get past this point. This stage involves the concepts of tribal conformity, and law and order. It focuses on group norms and expectations and maintaining order, with punishment for violating societal norms.
Somewhere past middle age, a smaller subset of people move on to the third level of moral development. This third level (stages 5 and 6) takes prior rights, social contract, and universal ethical principles into account.
This last stage is the level at which the Founding Fathers were operating. This last stage is the mindset under which the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were formulated.
Children – and even most teenagers – are not developmentally equipped to understand the second and third order effects of the legislation that they are manipulated to promote. They do not understand nuance. Their views are black and white. These students are not yet functioning at a developmental level which will allow them to see clearly the true effects of what they are asking for. Thus, parading children as marionettes for political ends is cravenly cynical, emotionally manipulative, and morally bankrupt.
That hasn’t stopped everyone from “The Women’s March” to Bloomberg’s “Everytown” from twisting the grief and shock of the children of tragedy to promote their Anti-Second Amendment agenda.
I suppose this just goes to prove that even supposed “adults” haven’t necessarily progressed up the Moral Development Ladder.
Preparing the Ground for a Hunt
Everything about hunting involves taking calculated risks. When you choose to hunt one stand, you are hoping it’s the right one for that day – but you risk the possibility that another would be better. Creating food plots shifts the odds in your favor. When you choose to manage the habitat of your hunting land, you are investing time and money to improve your hunting and the carrying capacity of your land.
Choosing the right equipment to put in food plots is a critical part of that process. You need equipment that does the job the way you want it done, is easy to use, and won’t break down. In choosing that equipment, you risk making a bad choice – breakdowns, poor results and high costs.
Firminator is a popular brand among serious hunters who put in their own food plots. The Firminator combines a heavy-duty disc harrow, an agricultural-grade cultipacker and a precision ground-driven seed system in one unit, with versions that give you the choice to pull it behind either an ATV or a tractor.
It prepares the ground, delivers any kind of seed you want at any planting rate you want, and seals the ground to provide good soil-to-seed contact for maximum germination rate.
The American-made quality and the way the company stands behind its products gives you maximum flexibility in putting in the kind of food plots you want, with very little risk of poor results. The reliability of your food-plot equipment will lead to more productive hunts. The quality of design and parts of the Firminator make it easy to use and easy to adjust allowing the user greater success.
The Firminator Accu-Seed system, a simple hand adjustable item, allows you to seed anything from clover to beans to blends. A wide range of pitch and angle adjustments, along with the heavy tilt of its disks, allow you to work the widest possible range of soil types. The range of usability lends itself to setting up as many plots as you need a variety of terrain and soil.
To find out more about the Firminator and the whole line of Firminator products and accessories, check out their web page at www.thefirminator.com.
Setting the stage for a successful hunt starts now.
West Michigan’s HolsterCo EDC Solution: The Stealth.
Holsters are hard.
Seriously.
Those of us who carry regularly usually accumulate a small dragon’s horde worth of holsters, even if they are quality offerings. In many cases it’s difficult to find holsters, especially with other than main stream models. Everything is Glock-centric, understandably but it doesn’t help if you enjoyed a different firearm model. P320’s and Glock 17/19 frame dominate the market space. If you happened to pick up a CZ RAMI… sorry.
Kalamazoo’s HolsterCo is helping to change that space with their Stealth model IWB holster. Not only is it a configurable design and not a one mount fits all but the options for firearms it will conform around is vast.
Oh, and they’ll ship it to you in 72 hours in most cases.
Custom holster in 72 hours. I didn’t have a dedicated holster for my Sig Sauer P229. Now I do.
The long term evaluation is in progress but the initial impressions and week I’ve carried it so far are promising. With one part I got in addition I can configure it in under 2 minutes from strong side carry to appendix or back again.
I’m comfortable recommending the Stealth, sitting at my desk with it on, and having HolsterCo able to deliver the holster you need on short order.
Models available for:
-Beretta: APX, 90 Two, 92 FS, M9 A1, PX4 Sub-Compact and Full Size, Nano
-Bersa: Thunder .380, Thunder .45
-Canik: TP9SF Elite, TP9SA. TP9SF, TP9V2, TP9SFX
-Chiappa: Rhino 4″
-CZ: P-10 C, 2075 RAMI, 82, 83, 75 Compact, 75 Compact PCR, P01, 75 Compact w/rail, P07, P09, SP01, SP01 Phantom, Shadow 2, 52
-FN: 509. FN FiveseveN, FNS 9/40 Compact, FNS 9/40. FNX 9/40 FNX 45
-Glock: All Frames, specify generation. Poly80 19’s
-Hi-Point: CF-380, C-9, JCP-40, JHP-45
-H&K: P30 SK, P30 L, VP9 SK, VP9, VP40, USP Compact, USP, USP .45
-Hudson: H9
-KAHR: CM/PM 9/40, CW 9/40
-Kimber: K6S 2″, Mirco 9mm, 4″ Pro, 5″ Custom,
-Para: 1911 5″
-Rock Island Armory: .380, 1911 5″, 2011 5″
-Ruger: SR22, LCR .38, LCRX 1.87″. LCRX 3″, LCP, LCP II, LC 9/.380, SR9, SR9 Compact, SR40, SR40 Compact, SP101 3″, American 9mm, American .45
-SCCY: CPX1, CPX2
-Sig Sauer: P365, 1911 3.3″, 1911 4.2″, 1911 5″, P225A1, P226, P227, P228, P229, P238, P250, P290, P320, P320 X5, P938, MK25, SP 2022
-Smith & Wesson: BodyGuard 380, BodyGuard .38 Spl, Shield 9/40, Shield 45, M&P Compact 9/40, M&P 9/40, Shield 2.0 9/40, M&P 2.0 Compact 9/40, M&P 2.0 9/40, M&P 2.0 5″, M&P Pro 5″, SD9VE, J-Frame 442/642, J-Frame 340, 686 4″, Governor
-Springfield: XDE, XDS, XDS 4″, XD Sub-compact, XD 4″, XD 5″, XDM 3.8″, XDM 4.5″, XDM 5.25″, XD Mod2 3″. XD Mod2 3.3″ 45, XD Mod2 4″, XD Mod2 5″, 1911 5″, TRP Operator 5″
-STI: DVC 3-Gun, DVC Tactical
-Taurus: PT111/140, Judge Public Defender Poly
-Walther: CCP, PPK/S, PPK .32, PPS, PPQ, PPX
-More: Specify, they will work to make it happen.
VERTX® REDEFINES TACTICAL GLOVES WITH LAUNCH OF INNOVATIVE LINE FOR 2018
Vertx®, a leading manufacturer in low-profile apparel and gear, announces the launch of a
new cutting-edge tactical glove line designed to further support the Prepared Professional™. This new line of gloves consists of four innovative styles including the VaporCore™ Shooter, Rapid LT, FR Assaulter and FR Breacher.
“With more than 175 years of experience in the military and tactical world, we combined expertise and research to develop a new line of gloves that would meet our standard of quality, provide superior functionality and address some of the top needs expressed by today’s customer base,” said Justin Roberts, Vertx Brand Manager.
All four gloves share similar features including articulated pre-curved fingers that provide exceptional fit and dexterity necessary for comfort and functionality. Strong hook and loop wrist closures ensure a secure fit and double needle topstitch reinforcement in all key areas maximizes the gloves life-span. The gloves mimic human skin through the use of natural goatskin suede, enabling a better sense of touch. The middle finger and thumb also include conductive touchpoints for use with smartphones and other touchscreen technology.
In addition to the gloves’ shared characteristics, each style has a unique set of key features. The VaporCore™ Shooter has active particles permanently embedded within its fabric that allows the glove to dry five times faster, keeping the hand cool and comfortable. The Rapid LT incorporates an expertly constructed lightweight design, pairing the suede with a two-way fabric providing free range of motion. This glove also benefits from
color fastness, retaining its original color wear after wear. The FR Assaulter and FR Breacher both benefit from flame resistant qualities, as Kevlar®
thread knitted throughout the pieces provide excellent durability. The FR
Breacher also provides knuckle protection, guarding the back of the hand from harsh environments and general wear and tear.
For more information regarding the new tactical glove line, visit www.vertx.com.
EDC Carbine: Galil ACE. The First Impressions
EDC Carbine
The EDC carbine, here meaning ‘Pistol’ Carbines and Short Barreled Rifles, continues to be a popular platform. Their unique compact profiles and legal niche give them a utility no other platform can surpass.
My LWRCi and Zenith MP5 are used daily and sometimes in tandem as PDW’s during EDC. They are simple vehicle/bag portable items that take little more effort to grab than a wallet and your sunglasses.
The overall size of an EDC carbine with an 8-10″ barrel makes them maneuverable inside and around a vehicle. Emergency up gunning made easy.
I like these EDC carbines and when I was talking with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) they insisted I look at the ACE up their sleeve.
The Galil ACE is a derivative of the original IMI Galil. The IMI Galil was an AK variant Israel developed in order to invest in a highly reliable and robust 5.56 and 7.62 NATO platform that would perform in the deserts of the middle east. The original Galil platform was derived from the Finnish RK-62 which was a derived AKM variant with a few improvements over the Soviet and Polish designs.
As most successful arms projects go you take what works and add incremental improvements. The Galil to ACE improvements featured material and interface modernization more than anything else.
With a couple hundred rounds through this platform, so far, I’m growing attached the unique blend of AR and AK ergonomics. Additionally when considering features around a high quality emergency or “bug-out” gun the ACE holds some out of the box that should place it very high on a list of candidates.
-The full stroke AK derived gas system is proven reliable and easily maintained.
-The tri-lug bolt, robust extractor, and fixed ejector are in keeping with AK reliability and design.
-The full length top rail allows for a modern optics suite if desired, however the iron sights are the more accurate peep style too. The sights are the full length of the top rail and come with tritium night sight inserts allowing daylight and low light use out of the box. The handguard portion features a quad-rail with integrated lock-on covers for modern accouterments, lights, lasers, grips, etc.
-The 5.56 uses readily available and inexpensive STANAG pattern magazines. Whether PMAGs (Including the D-60), Lancer’s, Daniel’s, or the old ever present aluminum GI’s. The other variants have equally available magazines too.
No reliability issues so far. Accuracy has been quite acceptable with a more substantial test in the near future.
Time to add optics and other equipment and see how if it stands up.
We Like Shooting Double Tap 052 – I am a fan of fiction
Welcome to We Like Shooting’s Double Tap, Episode 52, Tonight we talk about gun tech, we’ll answer your questions on Dear WLS, we’ll talk about NOT GUNS, and revisit past gear
Test-Driving Your Emergency Supplies
I’m not actually a “prepper” per se. Neither am I the “operator” sort. But living alone and being an empty-nester, I do recognize the importance of being as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to the unexpected. If a disastrous weather event strikes – taking out power and water, or interrupting my ability to get to the grocery store – I want to be able to handle things myself for at least a week of “sheltering in place”. Thus, I have a small stash of supplies, including non-perishable food like canned meats and vegetables, ramen, flavored rice packets, etc. Not to mention lots of spare ammo.
Some people rely on “bug-out bags”, and though I do have a small pack organized, I doubt that 50-something out-of-shape me would get very far on foot. Thus, most of my emergency plan involves staying home and making the best of it for as long as possible. Those of us who are only old-time Girl Scouts, and who did not go through SERE training need to think a little harder about what we are capable of, and what our needs really are. If you have not already done this kind of planning, here are a few places to start.
https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/areyouprepared/index.htm
http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/be-red-cross-ready/get-a-kit
https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Emergency-Preparedness
Assuming that you already have a plan and supplies in place, early spring is a good time to go through your emergency stash of food and decide what needs to be replaced. In early spring the worst of the winter storms are over, and it’s not tornado or hurricane season yet, so you have a little time to evaluate your stock. Though packaged food is often good for long after the printed out-date, it does tend to lose flavor or have a change in texture. Periodically going through your stash gives you an opportunity to rotate the stock and keep things fresher.
On your next summer camping trip you can then use-up whatever stock you have culled. You will be replicating conditions that you might experience during an emergency anyway – boiling water and cooking on a camp stove or fire – so it would be a good test of what you have planned for your emergency food. It will also be a good test of palatability after long storage. This is all assuming of course that you are using regular family-type grocery supplies and haven’t just stashed a case of MREs in your basement that are good for ten years or more. MREs store well, but they are also expensive.
You don’t even have to actually go camping to do all this. It is possible to “field test” your supplies in your backyard on a weekend, or even on the balcony of your apartment. All it takes is a little imagination. Pick a weekend and mark it on the calendar as “rough-it weekend”. Tape down the light switches to remind you not to use electricity. Tie plastic grocery bags over the faucets to remind you that you can only use bottled water or what you have saved in a tarp-lined bathtub. Cook your meals in a skillet on the propane or charcoal grill. Make coffee without your Kuerig. Take sponge baths for the weekend. Use only the gray water from washing the dishes or your sponge bath to flush the toilet. Keep a bucket in the bathroom to store the gray water.
Those of you who like role-playing games might even come up with scenarios to challenge each other in substitute for a usual Friday night table-top RPG.
You see before you three food items, a candle, an empty can, a spork, and a pocket knife. You must prepare enough food to give your party energy for the looming fight. You have one hour before the Orcs arrive. You may also use whatever your party has in their pockets at this moment.
Or you could have the players roll various dice to see what supplies they are allowed to have and let them figure it out from there. Whatever it takes to have a fun test of your gear and mad skillz.
I’ve actually done some of these things already anyway, but it never hurts to keep one’s skills up-to-date. When I was a Girl Scout back in the Stone Age I had to start a fire from scratch with only two strike-anywhere matches. The family hunting cabin (built in 1946 and now nearly uninhabitable) has an outhouse and no running water. We haul drinking water from home, and for washing-up we use water out of the creek, which has been boiled on the wood stove. Bathing out of a basin with only a quart or two of water is a good lesson in which body parts need to be washed first, and which ones last! I have even used a kitty litter bucket for a camping commode. But it’s up to you how far you want to go for the sake of “practice”. (Or how far you can convince your spouse and children to go.)
While you are in the midst of your rough-it weekend, check that the tools in your stash actually do what they are supposed to do.
-Can you really make that flint and steel work to start a fire? Or is it a 2-hour struggle? (This is where having a balcony grill would be helpful if you are an apartment dweller.)
-Does the can opener on your pocket knife actually open a can? Or does it open your finger instead?
-Do you have a med kit suitable for taking care of that opened finger?
-Are your flashlight batteries and phone charger sufficient for the entire weekend?
-Is your emergency spork comfortable to eat with? Or is the “bowl” too small for soup, and the tines too dull to stab any meat?
-Did you remember board games, cards, and books to keep the kids (and yourself) occupied?
These are all things that would be good to shake out at home on a weekend, BEFORE an emergency strikes. You don’t want to discover in the midst of the snowpocalypse that you have a tool that doesn’t actually work, or discover that your food stash is inedible.
With a little planning the experience can even be fun. Try to make it a family (or group of roommates) adventure. Take notes as you go along, because you’ll want to remember what items it would have been nice to have (or turned out to be essentials that you hadn’t even thought about). Then when the adventure is over you can take advantage of the summer sales to replace your stock and shop for whatever else you discovered would help you be better prepared the next time.
It’s a Monday…
Gun Control proponents have made gains.
-Florida passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
The age to purchase firearms in Florida is now 21. Military service members and LEO’s can purchase if they are under 21 for rifles and shotguns.
A three day minimum waiting period is now applicable for all firearms. Exceptions for concealed carry license holders, and Military/LEO who are buying long guns, and licensed hunters buying long guns.
Bump stocks are no more. Possession and transfer are now prohibited in all forms.
For the violation and delay of the second amendment rights of all and especially those 18-20 we have gained…
A provision called the “Guardian” program where certain school faculty members can take 132 hours of specialized training (3+ weeks full time) and then be armed on school grounds. While this provides a more formalized methodology it must still be administered by the local jurisdictional law enforcement, who in all reality could have implemented similar programs already if they have chosen to do so.
While I believe there was a lot of positive language in the bill it should have stood alone away from the firearms prohibitions. From a legal standpoint gun owners lost much and gained nothing that could not have been easily accomplished in other ways.
The security farce of gun control has been appeased and now we see how far down the slope we slip because…
-Illinois HB 1465 passed the house solidly and was referred to the senate.
HB 1465 Provides that on or after the effective date of the bill, it is unlawful for any person within the State to knowingly deliver or sell, or cause to be delivered or sold, an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge to, any person under 21 years of age. Makes it unlawful for any person under 21 years of age to knowingly possess an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge 90 days after the effective date of the bill. Provides exemptions and penalties. Provides that it is unlawful for any person within the State to knowingly deliver or sell, or cause to be delivered or sold, a large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person under 21 years of age. Provides that it is unlawful for any person under 21 years of age to possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device within the State. Provides exemptions and penalties. Effective immediately. (Emphasis mine)
If the State Senate passes it the solidly blue state of Illinois will go further into the gun control hole.
-The Department of Justice submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a notice of a proposed regulation to clarify that the definition of “machinegun” in the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act includes bump stock type devices, and that federal law accordingly prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of such devices.
While I personally hold bump stock’s somewhere between bemused acceptance and mild contempt as being a gimmick for amusing ammo consumption. Holding no other purpose, I do not wish to see them banned as the precedent set is ‘we can ignore mechanical realities if we feel like it and it makes us feel good’.
In the video above Gunner Wade of 2MARDIV demonstrates how effective (or ineffective) automatic fire actually is when the express purpose is to cause casualties. Gunner Wade is an expert in his field and is regularly part of the future systems process for the Marine Corps.
What does this mean?
A bump stock and the other methods for rapidly firing a rifle with mechanical advantage are sloppy workarounds to actual machineguns. While the fire rate does increase the effectiveness of the shots diminishes to nothing, actually hindering accuracy substantially. The additional mechanical slop induced by bump fire devices magnifies the diminished effectiveness of automatic fire in standard machineguns.
It is possible to easily bump fire a rifle without mechanical aid. It is still ineffective beyond extreme close quarters.
Las Vegas was a circumstance where the target of the attack was thousands of closely packed people. Casualties were easy to induce because the target was hard to miss and the noise at the target venue covered immediate notice of the attack among the other general confusion. Any rifle including a single shot would have been effective on such a target and the massacre would have been equivalently horrific. Use of a vehicle as a weapon or HME (Homemade Explosive) would have dramatically increased casualties as well.
In short it is impossible to factually argue a bump stock or similar device increases anything but the rate at which the firearm expends ammunition. It cannot be factually argued without a very staged set of circumstances that it would produce higher casualties or that it’s regulation will reduce casualties in similar circumstances.
The regulation will not and cannot give the desired result of casualty prevention and reduction.
This will result in proposition of additional regulations when the current ones fail to prevent casualties, despite every expert’s warnings to exactly that result. This is the slippery slope of gun control regulations.
Hang on folks we are not done.
“That Holster”
From Team Hollis
Any woman shooter can relate… The awful challenge of finding “that” holster. I’ve used a few different kinds, and can honestly say I still haven’t found the right one for me.
Each person is different and we all have our likes and dislikes, but like everything that has to do with a female, it is usually a bit more complicated. Finding the right holster is no exception. I will be the first to say we don’t wear sturdy pants with waistbands, or tactical pants to work or around the house every single day. We wear skirts, dresses, yoga pants,etc. How in the world will a holster work with those ? Simply put, it won’t. And if it does sit in your waistband.. Is it still safe?
I’ve seen all sorts of different wraps and such, advertised and all the different places as to where you can stow away your piece, while still wearing the things we want to wear. I have not been a fan of those items, due to the time it may take me to draw my weapon in the event of an emergency. I am not the most graceful person, and having my HKVP9 wrapped to my body, or stowed away in a bra isn’t much of an appealing idea.
I have used a concealed waistband holster, which I prefer from everything I have used thus far. It clips over my belt & waistband, no fuss with loops or other clips. An advantage of being an easy & fast draw, however a major disadvantage IF, your belt/ pants are on loose OR your holster secures your weapon tighter than most. You will struggle to produce a quick draw while at the same time trying not to give yourself a wedgie! Also, you always have to ensure that your holster is in fact, clipped below your belt or when you attempt to draw, you will pull your holster and weapon completely away from your waistband.
I have also tried the holster that sits on the outside of your waistband and that is secured through two plastic loops on either side. From a female standpoint, it is not ideal, due to the fact that you obviously need to wear something with a belt & a sturdy waistband. It makes trying to match that much harder ! However, the draw is safer, as your weapon sits more securely and it won’t delay with or “stick” with the holster when attempting to draw.
Whichever you use, however you use it, be sure that when “that time” comes around that you need to use your weapon, ensure you can access it with ease, produce a quick draw and be on the trigger with ample time to also engage your enemy! Be safe & good luck to any other females still looking for “that holster”.
-Team Hollis (Candace)