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SIG SAUER Manufacturers 5,000 M17-Commemorative Edition U.S. Army Service Pistols for Purchase

By
Keith Finch
-

Newington, N.H. (July 19, 2018) –SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the limited release of the M17-Commemorative Edition of the U.S. Army’s M17 official service pistol, a variant of the SIG SAUER P320. The M17-Commemorative pistol shares the same components, coatings, and markings as the firearm that was awarded the U.S. Army contract for the modular handgun system (MHS).

Only 5,000 M17-Commemorative Edition pistols have been produced for sale, and each SIG SAUER M17-Commemorative pistol is serialized M17-0001 through M17-5000 and includes the Army’s required unique identifier (UID). The M17 is sold in the same cardboard packaging as delivered to the U.S. Army. From the pistol to the packaging, the M17-Commemorative Edition is identical to the U.S. Army’s official M17 service pistol.

“The U.S. Army’s selection of the M17 earned the SIG SAUER P320 a place in history. It’s regarded as one of the world’s most influential firearms as it enters service with America’s Armed Forces across the globe,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The M17 is the culmination of SIG SAUER’s steadfast commitment to providing the military with the very best, and our determination to never settle. We are excited that collectors and civilians have an opportunity to participate in this history.”

Upon registration of the M17-Commemorative pistol the purchaser will receive an official certificate of authenticity and commemorative challenge coin, both with serial numbers matching the purchased M17-Commemorative pistol.

The M17-Commemorative is a 9mm, striker-fired pistol, and comes with two 21-round magazines and one 17-round magazine. The pistol features a coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slide with the same optic cut as specified by the MHS contract, coyote-tan colored controls just like the original pistols shipped to the 101st Airborne, and a manual safety. The M17 is equipped with a SIGLITE front night sight and removable Night Sight rear plate. The M17-Commemorative comes with a coyote-tan carry-length grip module.

The M17-Commemorative Specs:

  • Total length: 8”
  • Barrel length: 4.7”
  • Weight (incl. 17-rd magazine): 29.6 oz.
  • Height: 5.5”
  • Width: 1.3”
  • Sight radius: 6.6”

MSRP:$1,122.00

The M17-Commemorative is shipping to stores in August 2018.

To compliment the M17-Commemorative, an exclusive M17 Collector’s Case is available for purchase separately atsigsauer.com/store. The case is a solid cherry box, with dark mahogany stain, a tempered glass top, a brushed nickel latch, and a keyhole back for optional wall-hanging. The M17 Collector’s Case features a slate-grey flocked foam insert with an affixed US Army logo, and precision laser placement cuts for the M17 pistol, the official serialized M17-Commemorative Certificate of Authenticity, and the serialized M17-Commemorative Challenge Coin.

M17 Collectors Case MSRP:$199.99 (sold separately atsigsauer.com/store)

About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, Advanced Sport Pellet (ASP) airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 100 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy – a world class, state-of-the-art, 140-acre training facility. SIG SAUER is headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, and has more than 1,700 employees across eight locations, and is the largest member of a worldwide business group that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.

Hunting License Headaches 

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

We’ve been hearing quite a bit lately about the looming generational “cliff”, which will bring with it a consequent drastic drop in hunters over the next decade or two. Conservation societies and state game agencies are scrambling to find ways to recruit and retain hunters. I propose that one way that states could encourage new hunters is to make the licensing process less cumbersome. Some of these state systems are absolutely Byzantine.

Take for instance the state of Pennsylvania. I have lived elsewhere for over 25 years, but I was born in PA and we have family property there. Because of these roots, I have bought an out-of-state hunting license for PA for the past several years.

It is possible to at least apply and pay online, but they snail-mail the yellow license to you in a big envelope, rather than allowing you to simply print it out from your home computer. That seems like a huge waste of money and resources to me, but I have accepted it nonetheless.

This year I decided that I wanted a tag for antlerless deer. In my current home state, you can take an antlerless deer during archery season with no special provision other than the standard license and for rifle season the antlerless license is an extra ten dollars added to your online cart with everything else. But not in Pennsylvania – Big Nope.

In PA, you have to wait to receive your out-of state license package by snail mail, and then apply for an antlerless permit directly to the county treasurer of the county you want, specifying which Wildlife Management Area, using paper applications sent to you by snail mail in your license package. 

Now, bear in mind that WMA’s don’t go by county. There seems to be no geographical rhyme or reason for the boundaries on WMAs. The one I wanted contains pieces of four different counties. I had to page through the guide several times to figure out which WMA the property was in. I also found out as I was reading the fine print that there is a separate pathway to an antlerless permit for property owners, but that has to happen BEFORE the time period opens for the regular application process, so I was out of luck there. And since the property isn’t in my personal name, I might still have been out of luck.

Once you figure out your WMA then you then have to fill out the application “properly” including a second stamp for the tear-off return part in which the treasurer is supposed to send your license. That is, if the license number allotted for the WMA hasn’t already been reached and you have to specify a second or third choice. To make it even more confusing, you “can” send up to three applications in the same envelope, but there is no guarantee that everyone in your party will all actually GET a license. To top it off, when you make out the check to send along, you are supposed to make it out to “County Treasurer”. NOT “Union County Treasurer, NOT “Fayette County Treasurer” – just “County Treasurer”. I had to void a check before I figured that one out.

Are you confused yet? I sure was. How many advanced degrees does it take to figure out the application process for one antlerless deer license? There should be a less cumbersome way to deal with this. We do live in the computer age after all.

I also have hunting licenses for West Virginia and Maryland, due to wanting to hunt with friends on their property. I count the cost as “entertainment money” rather than “meat/grocery money”, and can justify the expense that way. I thus have first-hand experience with the licensing processes of three different states and can safely say that PA is the absolute worst of the three.

It seems to me that if they are truly interested in increasing the number of hunters one of the first things they should do is make the hunting license process less cumbersome. I do understand that conservation and management of the species comes “first”, but c’mon.  I don’t mind the money so much as I know it goes toward conservation, but I spent $166 including postage for a non-resident Adult Hunting Permit, a non-resident Archery Permit, and (hopefully) an Antlerless Deer Permit, all for the privilege of hunting on my own family property. You’d think for that amount of cash every year they would be working harder to make it “easy” for me to give them my money. It certainly doesn’t sound like a way to encourage more new hunters.

What is the licensing process like in YOUR state?

Review: Shepherd Scopes Rugged 1-8x R-Mil

By
Joseph Simoneau
-

Low-Powered Variable Optics (LPVOs) are exploding in popularity. They provide serious advantages when speed up close and precision at distance are equally important. When these advantages mean the difference between winning and losing a match–or between life and death–every little bit helps.

I’ve used a handful of LPVOs over the years. I find them the most inclusive option for general use carbines and competition rifles. At distance they give all of the advantages of a traditional higher-powered scope and at close range they’re red dot agile. The only real limitation is the eye box, it is dependant on head positioning. In real world use the advantages easily outweigh that limitation in my observation.

1-6x LPVOs have become all but ubiquitous at 3-gun matches and have seen military use abroad. Today, 1-8x scopes are taking over… and they’re becoming more affordable.

Enter the Shepherd Scopes Rugged 1-8x R-Mil.

I have been evaluating this entry-level LPVO for several weeks. It’s a second focal plane model available for $550 MSRP at the time of review. The mil-hash reticle and passive ranging can be used with any rifle and ammo.

The locking turrets with adjustable index provide the option for dialing-in range and windage adjustments if you have the time. The clear, unobtrusive milliradian subtensions are easy to use when the day calls for speed at distance. To take advantage of either, the R-Mil also features passive rangefinder that stays out of the way until you need it.

The scope weighs under 19 ounces (without a mount). The included absolute height mount is a nice touch. It attaches easily and securely. My preference is for the much higher 1.93” scope mounts, but it’s a great inclusion. And at this price, it’s easy to justify a change if you want it.

On The Range

My primary test rifle and ammo are capable of sub-MOA performance and the bright clear sight picture at 8x made it almost easy. The initial zeroing day was more of a pleasure than I expected. The range I used had electronic targets with a very detailed display for monitoring hits. By the end of the first magazine, I was shooting 5 round groups at 0.7 MOA at 100 yards. That performance did not change and the zero did not shift in my testing.

The glass itself is remarkably clear for it’s price point. Whether I shot it at 400 yards or 4 yards it showed me what I wanted, gave me the information I needed, and otherwise got out of my way.

There’s not a lot more you can ask of an optic. A longer throw lever would be a nice touch, but there are aftermarket options available.

Shepherd Scopes claims that the Rugged 1-8 R-Mil will handle the recoil of a .50 cal. I didn’t have a chance to test it on one, but it easily handled my abuse.

For what it’s worth, I don’t believe in hard rifle cases except in checked baggage and I don’t baby any of my gear. Over several range trips and competition focused training sessions it held zero and showed no real signs of abuse aside from cosmetic scratches. What I call normal use has destroyed some very nice optics. The Rugged 1-8 R-Mil has performed to the point that I trust it to work when I pick it up.

Illumination

The Shepherd is a second focal plane optic, like all design decisions this implies some trade-offs. What this means is that the reticle subtensions and rangefinding features are only accurate at 8x, every other magnification involves conversion math. I mostly use LPVOs at 1x or their maximum magnification so it wasn’t a problem. Even at only 100 yards, the field of view is plenty at 8x (14.5 feet).

The illumination of a second focal plane reticle is much brighter than first focal plane scopes. In my testing the Rugged 1-8 R-Mil was easily daylight bright in both green and red.

Speaking of the green illumination, the option of changing the color is missing from many scopes, especially on the higher-end. If you have remotely normal color vision your eyes are most sensitive to green, making it easier to distinguish a green reticle from anything downrange.

The 5 brightness levels are well-spaced and work from low light to bright daylight; I never found myself hunting for a setting or wishing I could set it in-between them.

Like all LPVOs, the battery life is nothing to write home about, and leaving the optic on all the time will drain it. Fortunately, the etched reticle is still crisp and usable without the illumination.

The Bottom Line

The Shepherd Rugged 1-8 R-Mil is as fast as any LPVO I’ve come across up close, has a very clear sight picture, and covers the useful effective range as far as my rifles and ammo can perform. Bright both in terms of light transmission and illumination, and a fantastic value at it’s MSRP.

BROADENING THE 2A TENT

By
A Girl and a Gun
-

By Tiffany Johnson.
I just wanted to thank you all for lending me your ears in the Conference presentation on Broadening the 2A Tent. I was so heartened to hear your great questions and receive your kind support. This is my first time at the AG & AG National Conference, and you’ve all made me feel right at home. I really appreciate it!

As promised, I’m sending out some information from our session. First, here are screenshots of the results of our live polls:



FYI, on that second poll, the “A” responses were 12% and the “B” responses were 3%. We had a total of 69 responses on the polls. (and again, I promise the were anonymous; I’m not collecting phone numbers, LOL).

Gun Control & Racism

Next, for those who were interested in the video I referenced (on the racist history of gun control), it’s from an episode on NRA TV. Here’s a link: . It’s about ten minutes long.

Scott v. Sanford

I also referenced the Dred Scott case, one of many precursors that would culminate with the Civil War. See Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 19 (1856). In the historic opinion, Chief Justice Taney ruled that “A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a ‘citizen’ within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States.” On page 417 of the opinion, Taney argues that surely black people could not be citizens, because if they were citizens, then they would have the right “to keep and carry arms wherever they went,” thereby “endangering the peace and safety of the State.” He concluded that the framers couldn’t possibly have wanted black people to have guns:

It is impossible, it would seem, to believe that the great men of the slaveholding States, who took so large a share in framing the Constitution of the United States and exercised so much influence in procuring its adoption, could have been so forgetful or regardless of their own safety and the safety of those who trusted and confided in them.

You can read the full opinion here: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/60/393/case.html. Scott v. Sanford remained the law of the land until the 13th and 14th Amendments were adopted after the Civil War.

The Hellerstedt Case

The more recent Supreme Court ruling I mentioned was Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 136 S.Ct. 2292 (2016). That’s an abortion case where the Supreme Court invalidated Texas regulations that were aimed at indirectly shutting down abortion clinics (or so the clinics argued). Arguments in favor of the strict regulations often anecdotally cited one abortion doctor who committed horrible abuses. In rejecting that argument, the Hellerstedt opinion gives us this supremely quotable little gem:

[That one doctor’s] behavior was terribly wrong. But there is no reason to believe that an extra layer of regulation would have affected that behavior. Determined wrongdoers, already ignoring existing statutes and safety measures, are unlikely to be convinced to adopt safe practices by a new overlay of regulations.

This pearl of wisdom was written by Justice Breyer (yes, anti-gun Breyer). I would argue this ruling – and the reasoning behind it – applies to gun regulations just as much as it does to abortion regulation. Regardless of what you think of abortion, the 2A community can use this case to our advantage. You can read that full opinion here: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/579/15-274/.

Pioneers in Second Amendment Advocacy

Two of the people I mentioned were Otis McDonald and Rhonda Ezell. Both are lead plaintiffs in important legal cases that have helped fortify our 2A rights, and both are black. I also mentioned Vera Koo, a champion shooter and author. I only learned about Vera Koo from Annette Evans, another champion shooter, author, and good friend (and mentor) of mine who is also an AG & AG Conference Instructor (just goes to show, having friends of different races and backgrounds exposes you to all kinds of great information you might otherwise miss). If we want to appeal to non-traditional shooters, attract new supporters, dispel myths about gun culture, and diversify the gun community, I argue that we should be plastering these photos all over gun shop walls and blasting their little-known stories from the rooftops rather than letting them remain obscured in the background.

Pictured below:
Otis McDonald (sadly now deceased), plaintiff in McDonald v. Chicago (Supreme Court)

Pictured below:
Rhonda Ezell, plaintiff in Ezell v. Chicago (7th Circuit) and founder of Chicago Guns Matter (and you can “friend” her on Facebook, too!)

Pictured below:
Vera Koo, competitive shooter and author of The Most Unlikely Champion

I would encourage you all to celebrate these folks and even reach out to them and others like them. Mr. McDonald passed away recently, but the others can all be contacted online. If you have a budget for speakers, please consider giving them and folks like them a platform. Reach out and forge partnerships so we can all work together and focus more on commonalities than differences. Other pioneers in the gun community with links to more info):

And the list goes on – there are several; I’m sure I’m probably forgetting a few biggies. Bottom line, all it takes is a few minutes on Google (or even Facebook) to open the floodgates. It all starts with an email or instant message. Please reach out and connect!

Damn.

Oh, and yes, rapper Kendrick Lamar really did win the Pulitzer for his album, Damn.. 😊

I welcome any feedback you all have for me and for this mission of breathing new life and new perspectives into the 2A community. Please feel free to reach out any time. I look forward to training with you all soon.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/broadening-the-2a-tent/

We Like Shooting 246 – Virtue Savaging

By
We Like Shooting
-

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 246 – tonight we’ll talk about Bronc Box, DS Arms, Polymer80, NRA Annual Meetings 2018 and more and more!

 

WLS 246 – Virtue Savaging

XS F8 Night Sights

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

I admit that I am a “basic” kind of gal. I tend to get along fine with stock gear unless I have a good reason to change. I am also a “Glock Girl”, and my carry gun is a Glock 43.

I’m used to my stock Glock sights and did fine with them in a class from the Cornered Cat the other year. With that said, when I was given the opportunity to try XS Sight Systems F8  – with the big orange and tritium front sight – I decided to give it a whirl. 

I’m getting older and don’t see as well in low light as I used to so I thought it would be wise to investigate sights which might increase my ability to acquire them quickly in less than ideal lighting conditions.

I had not ever installed sights by the “file to fit” method before. So I knew from the get-go that it would be a new challenge. But I also had too much “I am woman, hear me roar” pride to just hand it off to guy friends without even trying. So off to “YouTube University” I went in search of tutorials. XS does have videos and the sights do come packaged with thread locker and a front sight wrench, by the way.

To say that the installation experience was “challenging” would not do justice to the amount of swearing and blaspheming that took place at my kitchen table that evening. There is probably still a cloud of blue invective hanging over my neighborhood that you can track on your weather app. Admittedly, though I do own a good set of brass punches, I do not own a metal file. I was using an emery board because it’s what I had. It did work, but it took much longer than it would have had I just broken down and gone to Lowe’s for the proper tool.

My less-than-ideal filing tool

The process – especially with the rear sight- was certainly not the “delicate” work that I thought it would be. It was more like file scraping, followed by pounding with hammer and punch such that I was sure I would break the tritium tube. After over an hour of scraping and pounding, followed by more scraping and pounding, I was finally able to force it to yield to my will. And the tube was still glowing when I was done! Yay!

The rear sight survived my best efforts to break it!

I think I’ll invest in a sight-pusher next time. Or at least a proper metal file. It might keep me from having to do my Yosemite Sam impression for the whole neighborhood! 

The first test of my new handiwork took place in the basement with a laser set-up. I was impatient to see if I had everything centered properly. I also didn’t want to leave the house because I had a loaf of bread in the oven (multi-tasking for the win!) It was a Sunday night and I was scheduled for hand surgery in three days, so I knew I wouldn’t get out to the gun club range before that happened. Thus the basement was what I settled for.

I was actually quite happy with the Laserlyte test. For reference, the circle is 5 inches in diameter (the IDPA -0 zone is 8 inches in diameter). I shot from 7 yards – roughly defensive distance. The grouping would have been better, but I had to remove the magazine and rack the slide after every shot, meaning that each shot represented a new grip, stance and sight picture. Even so, things were pretty consistent shot-to-shot. I was pleased. And there’s where I had to leave it until after my surgery.

Laser target test run

After a post-op hiatus of about 3 months, during which I regained my grip strength and ability to rack a slide properly, I took my new sights out for an actual shooting test at my local IDPA match. I shot BUG (Back Up Gun) classification due to the size and magazine capacity of the Glock 43.

I was exceedingly happy with the results. I am never a “fast” shooter, and my time scores suffer for that reason, but my accuracy with the new sights was great! All of the steel poppers fell on the first shot, and all the targets that were stationary at close range or middle distance I scored down 0 or -1. The only targets on which I had worse accuracy scores than that were on the moving targets and the ones out to 15 or 20 yards. The Glock 43 is not a “distance” gun, so that was no reflection on the F8 sights or on my ability to install them properly. I was VERY pleased. The guys on my squad were also impressed and kept remarking upon how well I was shooting with just that little gun.

IDPA test run

I can only think of a couple of drawbacks to this F8 sight. The first obviously would be the “ease” of installation, but I already mentioned my lack of strictly proper tools. I still get personal pride points for doing it all myself though. The only other drawback I can think of is that there may be some who simply do not appreciate a large dot front sight. I however, LOVE it. 

One of the features that I really like about this sight system is that in addition to the luminescence of the tritium in both front and rear sights (providing “Figure 8” alignment), the front sight is surrounded by a large ring of orange which not only catches the eye in daylight, it also absorbs ambient light and then glows in low light as well. For an – ahem- “mature” person with aging vision like myself, that is a huge plus. The rear sight has a wide notch, increasing the amount of light around the front sight, and it also has a ledge which helps with one-handed manipulation of the slide. In addition to all of the above goodness, the XS F8 night sight carries a ten year warranty.

Honking big orange and tritium front sight

If you are looking for nights sights with an easy-to-find front sight for the daytime, the XS F8 may be the answer that you seek. I can heartily recommend it. (I also recommend you NOT be like me and invest in a sight pusher for installation. Sometimes being stubbornly independent has its drawbacks!)

LETHAL FORCE IS NO LAUGHING MATTER

By
A Girl and a Gun
-

When I teach the Texas License to Carry Course, there is a segment that addresses the state Penal Codes on Use of Force in defense of person and property. After I have spent some time reading the codes word-for-word, which generally states that a person can use lethal force if she believes herself to be in imminent danger. Then I show a slide with the images below and ask my students, “What do you think of this?”

There is always a giggle from someone, often there are mumbles of agreement. Usually there are a few confused faces trying to make sense of what we just covered and the images before them.

This is when my “mom voice” delivers the smack-down of reality:

If you have a bumper sticker that says “Keep honking I’m reloading,” have a sign on your house that says you shoot to kill or “we don’t call 911,” or you wear a shirt that says “The first rule of Gun Safety is don’t p!ss me off,” look at how you are presenting your character. Is this who you are as an American gun owner?

Could a reasonable person believe that you can’t be trusted because you might start shooting people just because you feel angry or annoyed?

If you are ever in a life-threatening situation and you have to use your firearm, every social media post, every inappropriate meme you have shared or liked, every bumper sticker, every selfie of you wearing the “Heavily Armed Easily P!ssed” or “I Have a Beautiful Daughter and an Alibi” shirt will become who you are to the media, the public, and worse, the Judge and jury of your peers. You could be depicted as an irrational person who is waiting and eager to shoot someone. All of your good, hard work of training, knowledge of the law, safe handling, storage practices, and 2A rights activism will be gone out the window.

Your entire character is on the line, and believe me when I say that your defense attorney won’t be happy to have to fight against this negative public image, especially if your actions were reasonable and justified, and otherwise a slam-dunk case in your favor as to why you had to act in defense of person or property. You have not only damaged your reputation, but your future and your freedom.

Part of being a responsible and safe gun owner is understanding that you can hurt your defense by something you might be doing unknowingly and unintentionally. If you ever have to use lethal force to save your life or protect a life of another, your character will be called into question. Your persona on social media will paint a portrait of your character. Avoid memes that are somewhat inappropriate or controversial because they may be used to describe your mindset. Inappropriate signs in your home or bumper stickers on your car will sabotage your defense as you are trying to prove your analytical mindset and your understanding of the law and Use of Force.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/lethal-force-no-laughing-matter/

WLS 245 – Company Store

By
We Like Shooting
-

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 245 – tonight we’ll talk about Fire Control Unit, PFlex Pro, Primary Machine comp, Surefire600DF, Faxon Firearms and more!

WLS 245 – Company Store

ROTATE YOUR AMMUNITION AND MAGAZINES

By
A Girl and a Gun
-

In order to keep your self-defense guns functioning well, you must rotate your ammunition and magazines. Follow this simple plan to rotate them twice a year, similar to changing the batteries in your smoke detectors.

In January, purchase a box of your preferred hollow point ammunition. Clean your guns that are designated for everyday carry, vehicle, and home defense.  Fill your magazines with the fresh ammunition and load your firearm to your preferred status. Condition “Hot” indicates that there is a round in the chamber, while condition “Cold” indicates that a magazine is inserted, but there is no round in the chamber.

Check on these firearms every month to make sure they are in good working order. Ensure there are no dust bunnies collected within the holster or your storage method of choice.  If you are practicing with these specific guns, keep in mind that repeated stress of chambering a round can cause ammunition to malfunction.  Rotate the top cartridge down every time you remove the magazine.

In July, take the ammunition and transition it to a fresh magazine. Springs in a magazine can become weakened over time when they are constantly under pressure, so this will help you avoid wearing out the magazines prematurely as well as the risks of malfunction when you need your gun the most! Clean your guns if you have not done so in the past six months.

When January arrives again make a trip to the range and shoot the ammunition that is currently loaded in all of your defense firearms. Then start the process again, with new ammunition and fresh magazines.

If your ammunition is never exposed to extreme fluctuating heat or cold for extended periods of time then you may never have to replace it; however, it is simple to follow this routine and do monthly maintenance of your firearms. If nothing else, this affords you an extra opportunity to inspect your ammunition and your firearms to ensure they are fit for protecting your life should you ever be in the situation to need it.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/rotate-ammunition-magazines/

Sunday Sermon: Use Cover

By
Keith Finch
-

Being a hard target is more than just a mindset.

It’s also about physically being a harder target.

How?

Be smaller, harder to see, and protected.

Using the terrain to your advantage serves your desire to stay alive and avoid injury.

It can allow you to hide most of your body. This is concealment. It’s difficult to hit what you can’t see, so be unseen.

It can allow you to use stronger objects, like a vehicle engine block, to protect you from incoming fire. Even if an assailant knows where you are and can shoot in your direction it won’t necessarily mean they can defeat your protection. This is especially true if you are also hard to see and effectively returning fire.

It can increase the effectiveness of your return fire. Properly using terrain or a barrier as a improvised supported firing position increases the accuracy of your shooting. More accurate can easily translate to a quicker and greater effect on a hostile threat. Using support can mean the difference between round landing around a threat and forcing them to cover and rounds landing on threat and removing them as a threat entirely.

Using cover and concealment is fairly simple. Using them well requires some knowledge.

Remember concealment is non-protective. It is terrain that hides you and nothing else. A door can be concealment, a pile of cardboard boxes, a curtain, none of which will stop or deflect incoming fire.

Cover is protective. Large, strong, dense objects that will catch or deflect gun shots. Concrete barrier, engine block, defilade from micro terrain will decrease the likelihood of taking a hit because you’re much more difficult to hit.

Know the difference.

Additionally know just how much of you is covered or concealed. Be aware of how much space you occupy and what on you is and isn’t protected.

We Like Shooting 244 – The Courthouse

By
We Like Shooting
-

Welcome to the We Like Shooting show, Episode 244 – tonight we’ll talk about Ideal Conceal, Pharos Industries, CMMG Banshee, Fit n’ Fire and more! and more!

WLS 244 – The Courthouse

Gone Shooting: IWI Academy

By
Keith Finch
-

GAT is out of the office and down with IWI Academy learning from the Tavor masters themselves how to run this uniquely exceptional rifle.

So while we’re out shooting here’s what were shooting

Gun Clutter

By
Dr LateBloomer
-

I’ve been reading a lot lately about cleaning and organizing one’s life. One trendy method is some Asian thing where you hold your possessions and commune with them before deciding whether to keep or pitch them. There’s another one out there called “Swedish Death Cleaning”.

That last one sounds a bit morbid, but it stems from a basic reality. My personal interest in these things stems from being a member of the generation whose parents are down-sizing or dying. Having been through the death of my father, and the moving of my mother through three successive downsizes in eleven years, I can tell you how much “stuff” people accumulate over the course of a lifetime. It’s made me think about my own stuff. Especially my shooting-related gear.

When my father died, it was relatively unexpected. We had a lifetime of hunting and fishing gear to go through, and at the time I knew nothing about his firearms. There were things I’d have kept if I had known what they were. There were things I didn’t know he had until they came up on the block at auction. There was even a paper bag of what I know now were antique brass shotgun hulls. I’d have kept a couple if I knew what they were. If he’d been a little more organized maybe we wouldn’t have lost so many potential keepsakes. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

Dad was not only a lifetime hunter, he was also a fly fisherman, who tied his own flies. So, in addition to all of the hunting gear there were boxes and cans of feathers and furs, and hooks, and thread, and all of that detritus to go through along with the hunting gear. Dad had taught fly-tying classes a few times at the public library, so Mom had the brilliant idea of letting his students go through all of his fly-tying stuff and take it with them. That helped a good bit.

I’ve only been at this gun-nut thing for nine years now. But I’ve accumulated more “stuff” than I ever thought possible. I’m not actually planning on kicking the proverbial bucket anytime soon, but I recognize that sometimes the universe has other plans. I commute to work on the Interstate and I’ve often wondered what my adult children would do with all my crap if I got taken out by an 18-wheeler on the way to work one day. As an aside, I also wonder what the funeral attendees would say about my housekeeping. You could probably measure my dust layers with drill core samples, but hey I’d rather be remembered for the interesting life I’ve led than be judged upon the quality of my janitorial skills.

I’ve written about my slow accumulation of gun-related stuff on my blog in the past, but the accumulation has continued in the interim. I’m starting to think that I need to readdress my organization and let a few things go.

It’s not that I have a “complete” mess, but things do need to be sorted again. A few years ago I decide to make use of all of my saved zipper bags that various bedding has come in over the years. I’m not exactly a hoarder, but I could never bring myself to get rid of those nice heavy-walled plastic bags with actual zippers, so I put them to use in keeping my accessories organized for the different firearms I own.

I also started organizing my ammo a few years ago. As the kids started growing up and moving out, I found there was an unused bookcase in someone’s room, and also plastic storage tubs that used to contain a variety of old Happy Meal toys and action figures. I moved those down into the basement to my gun corner, and turned that into my ammo center. I have no intention of giving away my ammo in some crazed cleaning frenzy, but at least this way, if I accidentally become road pizza, my kids have some way of knowing what all those “bullets” are.

I’m also thinking of picking up an old used filing cabinet from the Habitat ReStore to better organize my accessories and spare parts. I’m a ziploc bag addict anyhow, and that would give me some place to store all those bags of random parts. One drawer for semi-auto pistol parts, one drawer for revolver parts, one drawer for shotgun parts, and one drawer for rifle parts – sounds good in theory anyhow. At least when I die, the estate auction people can dump it all in the same box lot. I’d really like to do better than that, but I’m not sure what one does with all of these extra parts and pieces.

What DOES one do with all the little bits of metal and springs, and levers, and old front sights, and old grips, and, and, and? I’m open to suggestions. Anybody? Bueller?

SHOOTING WHILE PREGNANT OR NURSING

By
A Girl and a Gun
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Note: Those who are pregnant or moms of infant children should always seek the advice from their doctors and take into consideration any special circumstances that may exist.

Shooting is a perishable skill, so 9 months to 3 years is a long time to go without pressing the trigger. If you don’t practice, you can lose your proficiency. Fortunately you don’t have to avoid shooting, but you do have to pay close attention at how to shoot safely during pregnancy and beyond, as well as other options to keep your skill sets strong.

The two biggest concerns for the baby when shooting are lead poisoning and noise exposure. There are many articles by medical professionals that go into great detail on these topics, giving worst case scenarios and many guidelines if you work in an environment that puts you at a higher risk for injury to the baby. While all of that information is extremely important, it muddies the water on the simple question of “can I shoot while pregnant and/or breast feeding?”

Lead Poisoning

Lead enters your body in two ways: ingestion, such as touching your food with your hands containing gun powder residue; or inhalation if you are shooting at a range with poor ventilation, as opposed to facilities with state-of-the-art systems to remove contaminants from the shooting area. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Young children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. High levels of lead may cause vomiting, staggering walk, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

In most ammo brands, the primer inside the bullet contains lead that is released into the air every time you shoot your gun. The lead gets on your hands, arms, face, and in your hair, and also lingers in the air and you inhale it. In addition, the projectile of the round is usually made out of lead, which increases your exposure. Xavier, a Registered Nurse, admits that: A pregnant mother does transfers lead to her unborn child; however, doctors do not know what are safe levels of lead for a baby. Exposure to lead has proven to cause decreased birth weight in babies, affect the baby’s head circumference, cause miscarriage, premature delivery, and preeclampisa.

Noise Exposure

Noise not only damages your hearing, but has greater adverse effects. Just like lead exposure, noise exposure can cause decreased birth weight, premature delivery, and developmental problems. In addition, increased noise levels can cause stress, resulting in high blood pressure and anxiety.

Some pregnant women have had to leave a shooting range because their babies kicked and moved so much because of the noise. Xavier says: Your baby will start responding to sound as early as 16 weeks into pregnancy, and at 24 weeks the baby’s cochlea is completely developed. Studies have shown that continuous loud noise may be harmful to a baby. In women that were exposed to a continuous loud noise at 80dB daily for 8 hours (a normal work shift) babies were born with hearing loss, decreased birth weight, and even suffered a risk of early birth. A gunshot is 140dB. Repeated exposure for long periods can damage a baby’s hearing; however, if you may feel that your baby can tolerate a little range time. Some doctors advise to avoid shooting during the third trimester of your pregnancy. If you want to be extra cautious, shoot .22 Long Rifle or use a suppressor.

Shooting While Pregnant

Can I shoot during my pregnancy? This is a wonderful question that we love to get! There is not a simple yes or no answer, but we have several resources that will help you make the best decision for you while pregnant and/or breastfeeding. A similar question is: can I exercise while pregnant? The professional answer on that is if you already are physically active, continue your normal workouts as usual. If you are not someone who exercises regularly, pregnancy is not the time to start training for a marathon. The same can be said for shooting sports, but all things should be kept in moderation.

The easy answer is yes you can. The complicated answer is: there are rules that you MUST follow to stay safe. No use of indoor ranges while pregnant. Period. No exceptions. A Girl & A Gun prohibits our pregnant moms from participating in events at an indoor range. Indoor ranges, even state-of-the-art facilities with high-end air filtration systems and noise-reduction construction still pose a risk for lead poisoning and noise irritation. Indoor ranges are a no-go zone during pregnancy.

Shooting While Breastfeeding

Lead contaminants exist in the residue left on your clothes and body while shooting. Anytime you use a firearm or handle ammunition, you must clean your body/face and change your clothing before feeding your baby. A Girl & A Gun’s policy is that breastfeeding moms (and really All Moms or ANY PERSON that comes in contact with infants and young children) follow this important guideline.

What about “pump and dump”? Studies indicate there is no benefit to pumping and dumping after drinking alcohol, but what about shooting guns? Melody Lauer has a wonderful article for nursing moms. She says: A quick note on lead exposure and breastmilk: What you ingest will make it into your milk supply. You will inhale or otherwise absorb lead particles throughout your time at a gun class. That lead has potential to make it into your milk. Try though I may I have found no reliable source of information to indicate that that exposure is enough to harm your baby through your milk. Even so, some mothers choose to pump and dump the milk they express during and immediately after gun classes. That is your choice. Personally, I have not had an issue giving the milk I have expressed during gun classes to my children and the lead tests they have had in their childhood have all come back normal.

Another way to think about this is that whatever your blood level lead content is your baby can receive 5%. If you spend a significant amount of time on the range or work in an area that may be of concern, you can have your blood tested every 6 months and monitor your levels. Julie Golob has a wonderful guide that dives deeper into issues of lead and noise exposure during pregnancy.

Reducing Lead, Noise, and Contaminants

Good news, you get to slack off! That’s right — you don’t have to pick up brass, you don’t have to clean your guns, and really shouldn’t be loading your mags. If you have latex gloves you can at least handle ammo.

  • Use firearms with suppressors to limit noise exposure. This is a dream for any shooter. A very expensive dream, but if you have access why not?
  • Shoot lead-free ammunition. Brands like GECO use lead-free bullets AND primer.
  • Only hunt with lead-free ammo so that you do not contaminate your meat.
  • Use a face mask to limit inhaling lead dust.
  • You may want to use gloves while shooting and always wash your hands and arms with a de-lead soap or wipes.
  • Immediately wash all exposed skin with COLD and soapy water. Cold water keeps the pores of your skin closed and small, while hot water opens the pores and may encourage toxins to absorb into your skin rather than washing off.
  • Shower as soon as possible. Clean your hair and body, head to toe.
  • Remove range clothes as soon as possible and wash them separately. If possible, use a de-lead detergent designed to remove heavy metals. Keep in mind that if you get into your car and are wearing the same clothes you wore at the range, there is always a possibility for those toxins to leave a residue.
  • Do not collect spent brass.
  • Ask someone you trust to clean your firearm to avoid exposing yourself to lead, solvents, and other contaminants.
  • Only eat and/or drink in areas where lead or lead-containing products are not being handled or processed AND after you have washed your hands and face thoroughly.

Safe Options for Pregnant Shooters

Many competitors and law enforcement officers are unable to wait 10 months or longer without a decrease in muscle memory. If you choose to live-fire during your pregnancy, shoot in an outdoor, well-ventilated area. Ensure that you’re using lead-free ammo (with lead-free primer). Follow the tips listed, above. Be aware of risks of lead and noise exposure, and participate in moderation.

If you want more safeguards, you have many dry-fire options. Dry-fire practice with a clean, decontaminated gun is a great way to continue to keep your skills sharp and work on trigger press, target acquisition, and more. You can find a lot of drills in our Shooting Journal or you can buy dry-fire cards. Similarly, you can use a SIRT pistol, alone or in conjunction with target or laser-shot software. You can still stay ahead professionally or defensively, have fun with your friends and family, and keep your baby safe.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/shooting-pregnant-nursing/

SEMI-AUTO VS. FULL-AUTO

By
A Girl and a Gun
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The terms may be confusing to some people, but semi-auto and full-auto firearms are very different from each other.

What is the difference between a semi-automatic and a fully automatic firearm?

Semi-automatic means that once you have a round in the firing chamber, when you pull the trigger, that round will fire. It’s referred to as “semi-automatic” because the next round will automatically cycle into the chamber from either an internal or external magazine.

Fully automatic means that once a round is loaded into the chamber, if you pull and hold the trigger, the firearm will continue to fire until you let go of the trigger or run out of ammunition. Fully automatic firearms are sometimes called “machine guns.”

Can I buy a semi-automatic rifle?

Semi-auto rifles are commercially available in a variety of makes, models, and calibers at thousands of gun and sporting stores. In most cases, a person can buy an AR-15 in the same manner as buying a handgun.

Is an AR-15 an automatic rifle or “assault rifle”?

No, “AR” stands for ArmaLite Rifle after the company that first developed the firearm 60 years ago. ArmaLite sold the rights to Colt, which modified the rifle and sold it to the military as the M-16. The M-16 can be fully automatic, but an AR-15 is only semi-automatic.

The term “assault rifle” is technically referring to military rifles, which have a switch on the side that allows the user to select semi-automatic, fully automatic, or three-shot burst.  These rifles have not been used in mass shootings; semi-automatic rifles were used in the shootings in Orlando, Newtown, and San Bernardino.

How many bullets are shot from a semi-automatic firearm per second?

The user can shoot as fast as his or her finger can press the trigger. One trigger pull = One bullet fired.

Can I buy a full-auto weapon?

Not likely. Fully automatic firearms are available only to the military or law enforcement. The only automatic weapons legal to purchase for civilians in the United States are the ones that have been registered between 1934 and 1986. Taking possession of them requires paying a $200 federal transfer tax, filling out an application to register the weapon, submitting passport photos, getting your chief law enforcement official to sign your application, and submitting to an FBI background and fingerprint check; or obtaining an NFA Trust, which has different requirements. Those firearms (and specialized kits to convert semi-autos to full-autos) are difficult to obtain and very expensive.

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://www.agirlandagun.org/semi-auto-vs-full-auto/

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