And each one of those could easily take a lifetime to master. We all know black belts and GMs that are still working to improve. That being said, it is very easy to get caught up in the pursuit of all of this that we manage to forget exactly what it is that we’re working so hard to protect:
Our lives, livelihoods, and well-being. It’s possible to spend so much time refining these skills that the rest of life gets neglected and falls by the wayside. There are some folks who choose to live their lives around the gun, and refuse to go anywhere they’re not allowed to carry (or risk the legal consequences of carrying where prohibited).
Then there are those who go the Travis Bickle route, hardening themselves for what they are certain is an imminent battle. For me personally, I choose to live as fulfilling a life as possible. I enjoy good food and drink, the arts, and travel.
My study of predators, violent criminal actors, and defense craft are there to supplement this lifestyle, and make sure that I’m able to have the broadest and most varied range of experiences possible.
It’s an easy trap to get caught in, and it’s not discussed much. I just wanted to highlight this pitfall so that more people are aware that it’s out there. Ultimately it’s your life. Live it how you choose. But I do think it’s worth asking the question whether or not you’re spending more time training than you actually do living.
I recently got to team up with the guys at Defender Tactical to help design a sighting system and optics mount for shotguns. To be clear, they did the vast majority of the work. I pitched an idea. They did the manufacturing, prototyping, and testing. I had input here and there with my ideas, but they really put in the work to develop the mount and perfect it. It’s called the CoSight, and it’s recently released to the world.
Who Is Defender Tactical?
Defender Tactical are the shotgun guys. They make shotgun accessories for a few different guns, and they have a good focus on the Mossberg 500 series firearms. One of their most popular accessories is an insert that allows you to use any length of shell in your shotgun, from 3-inch magnums to 1.75-inch mini shells. They also make a HighBall sight for Mossberg shotguns and a rear safety that doubles as a rear sight.
They are making some really cool stuff that’s innovative. Defender Tactical is a small company, and they are doing some really novel stuff for shotguns. They were a natural partner for the CoSight.
What’s the CoSight
The CoSight is an idea that implements both optics and iron sights onto a shotgun. I was searching around forever, trying to find a modern version of the rifle sights that companies like Ithaca used to put on their Deer Slayer shotguns. It seems rare these days, and I really like the speed and precision offered by those sights.
I wanted open sights on a shotgun, but I also recognized that red dots rule. Why not have both? The CoSight offers just that. The ability to have both a good, low-profile optics mount and a set of backup iron sights offers you a very capable option.
The CoSight has sight mounts for both front and rear Glock sights. It admittedly doesn’t offer you a very long sight radius, but it’s also a backup sight. Your red dot is doing most of the action. One of the benefits of a short radius is speed, and this is a fast way to get the gun on target. It’s quick and easy to align and, therefore, easy to get accurate lead on target.
With Ghost ring sights a suppressor height sight aligns perfectly.
Using the front sight is optional. If you have a Mossberg with ghost ring sights and have a rifle-style front sight, then you can just use a Glock rear sight. You’ll need a suppressor height .394 height rear sight. It aligns perfectly with the Mossberg front sight and gives you that long-eye relief you might want for accurate shotgun engagements.
Does it Work
I might be a bit biased, but yes, yes, it works very well. The open sights are quick and easy to get behind, which means you’re on target faster. You can cowitness right through the optic with most open emitter optics. Enclosed emitters may require a higher sight. For example, the 509T requires a taller rear sight.
With a Shockwave and just the CoSight irons, I put slugs on steel at 50 yards. I’d say that’s pretty dang accurate. With a Mossberg 590A1 and the longer sight radius, hitting targets at 100 yards with slugs was in the realm of possibility. (A rest helped a ton.)
Up close, I was getting sub-second snap drills with buckshot in the A-zone. That’s fast, and that’s just with the iron sights. I left the dot off. The dot adds a little more oomph, but we know dots work. I wanted to test the iron sight capability.
To be clear, I don’t receive any cut of the sales of the CoSight. My work amounted to some emails and text messages. I like the product. Obviously, there is a bias, but there isn’t a financial one. You can check it out here.
How do we move wood from one spot to another? Such as from the outside woodstack to inside for the woodstove? Many will say “just load up your arms” but there are other options that will make your life a lot easier. These options are called log carriers, a long bag that allows you to stack firewood and carry it away with two hands.
Below are some things to look for when choosing a log carrier and comparisons of a few specific carriers. Hint: A log carrier from amazon isn’t worth the savings of a few bucks.
The Material
Many higher quality log carriers are made with waxed canvas. Focus on the stitching such as the addition of cross-stitching and reinforced stitching.
The Shape and Design
Log carriers will come in multiple sizes and shapes. Size will go by inches and ounces.The two things to focus on are the side of the carriers and the handles. Some carriers will have walled sides. This helps with ensuring that the wood doesn’t slide out from the side and onto the ground (ask me how I know). The handles are important in the fact that you may want the option of either a strap connecting the handles together or even a strap connecting the bag together. This will also help in carrying the wood without any falling out.
Design additions such as a small pocket on the outside are always nice to throw extra tools in as well.
On the left is the Amazon log carrier, on the right is the white duck outdoors carrier. Notice how much skinnier the amazon carrier is. Also notice how much more material surrounds the logs on the white duck carrier vs the amazon.
The Price
If you’re paying over 60 bucks for a log carrier, you’re paying too much. High quality carriers that aren’t small are averaging around 40-50 dollars. While log carriers are still a buy once cry once for quality kind of deal, it shouldn’t break the bank.
Options
Below is a comparison between an outdoors company making a log carrier, and a random carrier from Amazon. While White Duck Outdoors is a very trusted and high quality outdoors company, focus on the features that the log carriers have and not have rather than just the company.
LARGE LOG CAPACITY – 38” long X 18” wide, with 6.5” handles, large enough to carry a fair amount of logs, firewood and kindlings. Side-open design allows to carry logs of any length
HEAVY CANVAS MATERIAL – Made of heavy duty 16oz waxed cotton canvas, the log hauler is tear resistant, waterproof and it cleans off easily
PRACTICAL AND SECURE – Reinforced stitching handles and a canvas protection pad with snap lock for easy grip; a metal loop closure with a strap on top to secure the load for safe carrying
This is the amazon carrier. The 16oz size was not large enough for a good amount of wood nor did the open sides of the carrier hold the wood inside the carrier.
Personal Experience
After using both the Amazon Tenn Well Firewood Carrier and the White Duck Outdoors carrier, I will never go back to the amazon one as my main carrier. I will keep it as extra in case I have more hands and help to grab wood, but the White Duck Outdoors blew it out of the water. The amazon carrier caused me to drop wood all of the time due to it sliding out which made me fill the carrier less. In one trip with the white duck carrier I can haul the same amount of wood as I could in two trips with the amazon carrier just due to those walls. I also like having the handle velcro option to close the bag instead of the ringlet strap that the amazon carrier has. If I could have one thing different about the white duck carrier though it would be to add a small pocket on the outside as some of their other carriers have.
These are more options from WhiteDuckOutdoors. Notice the small pockets or top strap on some of the carriers.
It’s no secret that I love shotguns. They are my favorite weapons and offer a powerful, versatile option. They excel at what we consider pistol ranges, and if you want to put a threat down with a single shot, a shotgun is your best go-to. Shotguns are close-range weapons, but slugs can extend that range and deliver one solid projectile on target. Most people load buckshot, but when they meet a slug problem, they are likely to swap buckshot for slugs using a slug select drill.
A slug select drill allows you to swap to that long-range target taker quickly and efficiently. There is an argument that it’s one of those skills we train for extremely niche situations. I’ve even people ask to be shown any documented evidence of a slug select drill ever being required. Up until a few days ago, I would have nothing to show, but I recently watched a video from a body cam from the LASD. They were responding to an active shooter, and the deputy rolled out with a Remington 870.
His side saddle carried slugs, and he very slowly did a slug select drill where he seemed to potentially empty more than the rounds necessary and take a lot of time to get the slug into play. With that in mind, what’s the actual procedure of a slug select drill, and why would anyone ever use one?
The Why Behind Slug Select Drills
The first and most obvious answer is range. Slugs enhance a shotgun’s range out to about 100 yards with a smooth bore, bead-sighted shotgun. That’s a good bit more than the 50-yard or so range we get with buckshot. Other than range, we get greater accountability. Buckshot spreads as it travels and at longer ranges, that’s eight to nine pellets spreadly rapidly, and they are liable to go a foot in either direction of the target at 50 yards. A slug increases accountability.
Slugs also penetrate very deeply and decisively. This makes them handy for large and dangerous game. If you run into an angry bear or upset elk, then a slug is a great choice for a decisive put-down. While dangerous game is an issue, so are engine blocks for police forces. A proper 12-gauge slug can chew through one. That’s a valuable trait of slugs in the world of intermediate-caliber rifles.
That same punching-through power can deal with barriers without the slug diverting too badly. Glass windows, doors, and the like are butter, and a slug is a hot knife. Slug select drills to make it easy to get a solid ounce or so or lead in your gun and on target quickly and efficiently.
The Universal Slug Select Drill
There are lots of great instructors out there to teach you this drill, and you should seek out a qualified shotgun instructor to really learn the best way to do a slug-select drill for your gun. However, there is a fairly basic way to do a slug select with most shotguns.
Assume the gun is cruiser loaded with a full magazine tube. Rack a round of buckshot into the chamber. Thread a slug into the tube. Rack the gun again, ejecting your buckshot and now loading the slug. That’s it. You now have a slug on tap. You can load a second slug into the tube just in case you need two.
Beretta and Benelli options
Beretta, Benelli, and many foreign semi-auto shotguns have a shell release button. You can manually trip the button and have to load a round from the tube to the chamber. When you fire the weapon, this will also release a round onto the shell lifter. The good news is for a slug select drill on a Benelli or Beretta semi-auto, the shooter simply needs to pull the charging handle rearward.
This ejects the live round and allows the shooter to directly load a slug into the chamber of the gun and fire it. It’s quite nice and very easy to do. Benelli’s SuperNova even has a magazine cut-off button in the pump, which makes slug-select drills really easy with a pump gun.
Slug Select Drills
Like everything, you have to practice and become proficient. It takes some serious practice to become quick and proficient at the task, but it’s worth working at if you want to master the shotgun. Sometimes, you just have to slug it out.
Whether you’re talking about a violent encounter against a resisting opponent, or someone’s perception and opinion of you, nothing we do happens in a vacuum. All of our decisions are going to come up against outside forces. We need to be aware of this, and have enough proficiency to be able to influence the outcome in our favor as much as possible. Because at the end of the day, the other guy get’s a vote.
Smith and Wesson are the revolver guys, and it seems fitting that their revolvers were often the last revolver issued to numerous police and military agencies. In the case of the FBI, the last revolver they ever issued was the Model 13. Prior to the Model 13, the FBI had issued the Colt Police Positive and then the S&W M&P .38. When we came into a new era of revolvers, the Model 13 just made sense.
What’s Different About The Model 13
The FBI seemed quite partial to the six-gun, medium-frame revolver. Their caliber of choice with the Colts and later the S&W M&P (AKA the Model 10) chambered the classic .38 special rounds. That’s fine. Admittedly, it’s not a bad cartridge, but it was showing its age in the modern era. The Model 13 offered the FBI a .357 Magnum that wasn’t too tough to carry.
Most FBI agents aren’t gunfighters. You’ll likely find five accountants and lawyers for every HRT guy. They don’t have to use their guns often, so selling the FBI the big Model 27 in .357 Magnum likely wasn’t going to fly. A lot of this era’s .357s were N-frame or L-frame guns, making them large, heavy beasts.
The Model 13 was a K-frame. It’s not quite compact, but it’s much smaller than the bigger frame models. The Model 13 still chambered six rounds. It was essentially the Model 10, but in .357 Magnum. The Model 13 and Model 19 are nearly the same gun, but the Model 19 features accessible sights and an underlug. The Model 65 is the same as the 13, but stainless steel.
The FBI Model
The FBI Model 13 features a blued finish with fixed sights and the lack of an underlug. They utilized a 3-inch barrel and a round butt model. S&W also offered 4-inch models and square butt versions as well. This version would be quite handy and easy to tote in a suit for day-to-day investigative work. The revolver was first issued in 1981.
The FBI wasn’t the only person to issue the Model 13. The New York State Police issued the weapon to replace their Model 10s. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol liked the weapon but wanted it in stainless, so S&W Produced the Model 65. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also issued the Model 65. Way across the world, the armed officers of the ICAC of Hong Kong issued the Model 13 as well.
It was a popular revolver, but admittedly, it came around at a time when the world was moving to automatics. It served with the FBI until 1991 before being replaced by a semi-auto pistol.
Why It’s the Last Revolver of the FBI
In 1986, the FBI was chasing two bank robbers in South Florida. It ended with a brutal gunfight that’s famously known as the 1986 Miami Shootout. Eight FBI agents faced off against two bank robbers. The majority of the FBI agents were armed with revolvers. The shootout was brutal and ended with two FBI agents killed and five wounded. In the aftermath, the FBI moved to semi-automatic pistols, as did the rest of law enforcement.
The Model 13 was a fine revolver, but for law enforcement, it was outdated. Sadly, its no longer produced, but maybe S&W will toss it into their classic lineup one day.
Everybody is the hero of their own movie. Whenever that idea is challenged, the response is typically a desire to defend one’s honor, or explain yourself so that people won’t think ill of you. Neither of those are usually the most ideal way to handle it. Paul Sharp had a great post that highlights some of these concepts that you really should read. Go check it out
IWI US, Inc. (“IWI”) has determined that the Carmel Rifle has a safety issue with the firing pin blocker and is thereby subject to a Safety Warning and Recall Notice. IWI is issuing this mandatory recall to repair the safety issue in the specific Carmel rifles listed below. IWI will correct these recalled firearms at no cost to the customer, and this recall does not affect any other IWI products.
This safety recall notice affects 1,094 Carmel rifles shipped within the following serial number range. All Carmel rifle serial numbers within the below range are affected.
• Option 2: Call IWI US, Inc. Customer Service at (717) 695-2081 and have the rifle’s 8-digit serial number available.
2. Whether you choose option 1 or 2, IWI US, Inc. Customer Service will send you shipping instructions that include a pre-addressed shipping label.
3. Upon receipt of the shipping instructions, follow instructions found in the Owner’s Manual.
• Remove the magazine from the rifle.
• Clear the firearm of all ammunition.
4. Using the pre-addressed shipping label that was sent to you, ship the rifle to IWI US, Inc. Once received by IWI US, Inc. the rifle will be repaired and returned to you within 4-6 weeks.
IWI US, Inc. apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused and will service any affected rifle in the most expedited manner possible.
If you have any questions about this recall, the rifle, or its disassembly or reassembly, please contact IWI US, Inc. Customer Service at (717) 695-2081.
My personal rifle is one of the affected S/N’s and I am appreciative of IWI’s efforts to deliver a completely safe product if there is even a minor possibility of a component that could result in an unsafe gun. It’s a bad part in a good rifle and I look forward to running this gun heavily in 2024.
I never let an opportunity go to waste. While I sat in the eye of Hurricane Idalia, I saw plenty of opportunities to test gear. I tested boots, chest rigs, flashlights, and one of the handiest tools I had, the Montana Knife Company Hellgate Hatchet. The Hellgate Hatchet was released only recently, and the hurricane gave me plenty of opportunities to give it a trial by fire.
MKC, or Montana Knife Company, is a small American-owned business that is owned and operated by one of the most talented bladesmiths in the industry. This small company has developed a dedicated following due to its useful designs and extremely well-made blades. The Hellgate is their first Hatchet, and oh boy, did it become an instant success. I’m pretty sure it’s still sold out at the time of this writing.
The Hellgate is designed to be compact and easily carried but also made for heavy-duty use. It’s supposed to punch above it’s weight. That weight is only 14.9 ounces. It’s a little longer than 10 inches overall. The Hatchet is made from 52100 ball-bearing steel, which, according to knife nerds, is a very rugged steel. It doesn’t chip or break easily, and it can get quite sharp.
The blade is capped with a modern polymer sheath complete with a modular option for carrying it in all different manners. The handles are G10 scales and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Raising Hell With the Hellgate
My home survived the hurricane without issue. I was very lucky to only have the power go out. I’m not complaining, but I did have a few dozen trees down and hundreds of limbs across my yard of all sizes. When it came time to clean up, chainsaws and tractors were used. However, I did use several of the downed trees as cutting fodder for the Hellgate.
When you’re given the perfect opportunity to test a chopping tool, you get at it. The first thing you realize about the Hellgate is how lightweight it is. It feels more like a hammer than a hatchet. In fact, the grip and angle are more hammer-like than Hatchet. It swings easily with a single hand.
That’s great for when the other hand needs to get things done. The blade takes not only bites out of the wood but also chomps. Big swings took big bites. Since the Hellgate is so light and balanced, I could take quick swings without getting tired and cut through the limbs quickly. It was crazy how fast I could swing and cut through some decently thick branches. I made several that were too heavy to move into more manageable pieces.
My hand got tired well before the rest of me. It really was more of an issue with grip strength than the Hatchet. Chopping big things with a little hatchet isn’t easy, regardless of how nice the Hatchet is. My forearm became numb, but my hands never hurt or blistered when using the Hatchet. My grip also never slipped, even though it’s Florida and in the summer.
Packing a Piece of Steel
This is a nontypical use for a hatchet. You’d typically want a heavier tool for this kind of work. However, it worked fairly well for its small size. Given the choice, I’d take the power tool or full-sized axe, but it proved what the Hellgate could do.
I have used the Hatchet to trick broken limbs, split wood for the pile, and perform similar tasks, and it performed perfectly. That’s the work something like this is more accustomed to. It’s bow season, so hitting the field and trimming spots for a tree stand has been on the list. The Hellgate’s lightweight design and easy-swinging nature made it easy for me to hold onto the tree and swing it above my head and effectively clear a good spot to sit in my stand.
The Hellgate Hatchet was super easy to tote while walking. I hooked it up to my Skyweight chest rig, which is basically a fanny pack for your chest. The lightweight design and actively secured buckle kept it in place and gave me a hatchet that was easy to access without being stuck to my waist.
The Hatchet
Like many young men, I read the book Hatchet and longed for my own adventure and sharp mini ax. I have the Hatchet. Now, I need to find the adventure. The Hellgate is plenty suited for any variety of adventures. Primitive and standard camping, fishing, hunting, and even yard work. It’s light, well-made, and scary sharp. It’s a premium-grade tool, and if you want one, I’d sign up for in-stock notifications from MKC.
SIG Sauer is excited to announce that its Romeo-M17 red dot sight has been awarded a National/NATO Stock Number (NSN). This designation will significantly expedite the procurement process for the U.S. military, NATO members, and select allies.
This milestone is an integral part of the ongoing modernization initiatives of the Modular Handgun System (MHS) Program. The U.S. Army, in its quest to update the MHS Additional Authorized List (AAL), conducted rigorous evaluations on numerous pistol red dot sights from various manufacturers. Among those tested, the RM17 and R2 were successfully chosen. SIG Sauer is proud to highlight that the RM17 was notably superior, emerging as the best-performing and most robust sight evaluated.
Technical DetailsForM17 Red Dot
The ROMEO-M17 (NSN: 1240-01-713-9795) was specifically developed for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System. It boasts features such as the proprietary SIG-LOC mounting system, which includes bottom-mount technology and five interface points with the pistol slide. This ensures an incredibly durable and secure lock-up. The sight’s design, combined with a side-mounted battery, offers a comprehensive sight picture that perfectly co-witnesses with the standard-height iron sights.
Modular Handgun System M17 pistol equipped ROMEO M17 red dot sight drawn from a Safariland SIG M17 holster. An M18 holster for the smaller version is also available.
Additionally, the SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO-M17 is a mil-spec, enclosed, and gas-purged red dot reflex sight. It features a distortion-free glass aspheric lens, is submersible up to 35 meters, and incorporates numerous other advanced features, including:
A robust flexure-arm adjustment system made from Beryllium Copper.
A housing forged and machined from 7075 Aluminum with an integrated loaded chamber indicator (LCI) gas deflector.
Machined anti-reflection grooves for reduced glare.
A high-efficiency point source red LED emitter.
Independent brightness adjustment buttons and multiple brightness settings.
A battery compartment design that negates the need to remove the optic for battery changes.
The M17 pistol is based on the SIG P320; the M18 pistol on the SIG P320C.
ROMEO-M17 Specs:
Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
Reticle: Circle dot with 2 MOA Red Dot / 32 MOA Circle
Lens Type: Asphere
Brightness Adjustment Settings: 15 (12 Day / 3 Night Vision)
Water Resistance: Submersible to 20 meters
Overall Length: 2.4 inches
Overall Width: 0.9 inches
Overall Height: 1.1 inches
Mounting Footprint: SIG-LOC™ MHS
Battery Type: CR2032
Battery Location: Side
Weight (w/o battery): 1.5 ounces
Statements from SIG Sauer
Andy York, President of SIG SAUER Electro-Optics, expressed his enthusiasm: “The assignment of an NSN number is a pivotal achievement for our ROMEO product line. With rising global demand, the NSN will simplify procurement, expand our presence within NATO nations, and ensure swifter deployment. Additionally, this NSN designation attests to the rigorous testing and approval by the world’s most discerning military clientele.”
For clarity, the Modular Handgun System M17 pistol, which uses the ROMEO M17 red dot sight, can be drawn from a Safariland SIG M17 holster. There is also an M18 holster available for the smaller version. To provide further background, the M17 pistol is modeled after the SIG P320, and the M18 pistol takes inspiration from the SIG P320C.
The 2500 Pro Magnum Tumbler was a great replacement to my old tumbler. It is more quiet and has a large capacity for cases.
Cleaning brass is and will always be a personal preference/battle within the loading community. Some use certain kinds of media, some wet tumble, some dry, either way, there will always be different types of equipment to choose from to get the job done. Personally, I dry tumble with Hornady corn cob media. Specifically, Hornady One Shot. Due to this, I need a dry tumbler that can clean a good number of .223 brass and larger cartridges such as 6.5 Creed. The Lyman Tumbler allows me to do that both quietly and effectively.
Before going any further there needs to be some honesty here. The reason for buying the Lyman Tumbler in the first place is that my previous tumbler broke and was not replaced by the company. I won’t say who it was but it rhymes with Nornady. Basically it came down to that the tumbler is not manufactured in house, thus when the tumbler goes out of date of the warranty, it is pretty hard to fix or replace. This was in an email, I didn’t call.
Either way, I decided to go with the 2500 Lyman Pro Tumbler. Lyman has always had good reviews associated with its reloading equipment, the tumbler was readily available on amazon, and the price was right.
This was after a 4 hour tumbler with the Hornady corn cob media. It’s worth it to note that I did have to manually turn off the tumbler due to there being no timer to set which is a downfall of the tumbler.
“Lyman’s Pro Magnum Tumbler is designed for the high volume reloader, and high volume reloaders are always looking for value. The two gallon capacity bowl is engineered to deliver powerful cleaning action even at full capacity. Handling up to 1000 .38 Special cases at a time, the heavy-duty motor and advanced drive system deliver fast cleaning and long life”-Lyman
Voltage: 115cv or 220V
Note: Lyman tumblers can be converted to larger capacity tumblers by removing the bowl and replacing to a bigger bowl.
This tumber was very easy to put together and came with simple instructions that lists each model of tumbler. Simply throw the bowl on, tighten down a wing nut, and do the same with the lid.
Pros
The Lyman Pro is very very quiet, quieter than my last tumbler.
Good price, just over $100 w/ amazon free shipping. On Lyman the 115v is listed as $129.99
Easy Install with two flat washers and two wingnuts. These wingnuts have also not come loose during the use of the Tumbler which is great.
The tumbler came with a large instruction manual that listed all of their products. It was nice to compare and contrast with what else Lyman offers.
Cons
The largest con and difference between the Lyman Tumbler and my last is that there is no timer on the tumbler, just an on/off switch. Meaning, if I want to turn it on to tumble cases I only have the option to flick the switch on and walk away, coming back in four hours. With my last tumbler I could leave it on overnight knowing that it will stop after four hours and not waste power.
The Lyman 2500 Pro Magnum tumbler has a large capacity for media which means more cases can be thrown and cleaned at a time. If you already own a Lyman tumbler that has a smaller bowl than the 2500, just the bowl can be changed out without having to purchase an entire new tumbler.
Aridus Industry is an awesome company. I’m not just saying it because they make shotgun stuff, and I love shotguns. They are a small shop that is making innovative accessories for the shotgun market. Aridus Industries really helped the Beretta 1301 become the shotgun it is today. I follow them on social media, and they recently posted a photo of a shotgun covered in Witness marks and remarking that serious-use shotguns should have witness marks. Aridus Industries is right, but I figured I’d take the time to elaborate on the what and why of witness marks.
The What and Why of A Witness Mark
A witness mark, also called an index mark, is a small, visible marking used to help track the attachment of accessories. Specifically, it allows you to track accessories that are threaded onto the gun. Shotguns are heavy, recoiling, violent weapons that are always moving around. That movement makes things unthread and loosen and eventually come off or create malfunctions.
I first experienced this with a magazine tube extension, and they are common fodder for the problem. It’s not like the tube popped off, but my 930 started having failures. It was only when I realized the shells could move without resistance that I noticed the tube was just loose enough to create slack. It’s not always obvious.
Witness marks are placed on the threaded device, be it a mag tube nut or bolt for a mini red dot, and at the base, it’s attached. It’s one continuous mark. This way, when something rotates or loosens, it’s immediately obvious. You can easily see when the bolt is working its way out of your red dot or when the tube extension is starting to come off.
Where Should You Witness Mark a Shotgun?
Everywhere! Really, on anything that’s threaded onto your shotgun. This includes sights, optic rails, optics, magazine extensions, bolt release extensions, and beyond. If it has threads, a small witness mark finds a spot. I use a Birchwood Casey paint pen, and I don’t go too overboard with the entire thing. It’s just a mark big enough to see.
Let it dry, and occasionally give them a peek. It becomes obvious when they move. You’ll have to update them every so often because paint pens tend to wear away. Maybe one day, I’ll have them laser engraved, but for now, a paint pen works.
Put them everywhere and check them often. If you run a shotgun hard, you’ll be surprised at how quickly things can get loose.
This week, Caleb has Melody back on the show as they talk about concealed carry tips for parents. For more information on Melody, check out Citizens Defense Research.
Halloween is right around the corner. If you’re searching for a costume that can mix your interest with guns, then you’ve come to the right place. We often dress around our guns to conceal them effectively. For Halloween, we can dress around our guns to make them a fun part of the costume. Of course, this requires you to live in a state that allows open carry. That’s not exactly a ton of states, but a costume isn’t worth breaking the law.
If you don’t live in a state that allows open carry or you simply don’t want to open carry, you can always replace the gun with an airsoft option. Plenty of cheap spring-powered airsoft guns can fill your holster. Also, this is an article aimed at having fun. If you take some issue with me suggesting open carry, then I’ll have to ask you to lighten up, Francis.
Let’s look at a few costumes and the guns or airsoft props worth carrying when dressed as specific characters.
James Bond – Walther PPK (or P99)
Admittedly, going as a suited James Bond makes it pretty easy to conceal a gun. James Bond is an easy costume. Dress sharp, maybe steal a look from the films. A white tuxedo and red boutonniere set it off quite well. Throw on a Galco Miami Classic with a Walther PPK, and you’ve got a complete James Bond costume.
(MGM Films)
Add a prop martini and bam, you’re a secret agent man. While the Walther PPK is the classic James Bond gun, I am partial to the Pierce Brosnan Bond, who notably carried a Walther P99 on occasion. Even Daniel Craig had his hands on a P99 when necessary.
Any Cowboy – Colt SAA Clone (or Heritage Rough Rider)
If you want to go as a cowboy, that’s an easy Halloween costume to pair with a gun. You can go as Billy the Kid, Jesse James Butch Cassidy, Wyatt Earp, and many more and carry some form of Colt Single Action army. A real Colt SAA is a bit expensive, so maybe look to one of the many Italian clones. Even better, the El Cheapo Heritage Road Rider is another path you can take.
(Tombstone)
Of course, you need a classic leather rig with plenty of loops for extra cartridges. A real rig is pretty expensive, so maybe pleather is the better way to go. Either way, you can’t complete the look without the belt and the hat, and maybe a fake Marhsal’s star.
Lt. Dangle – Beretta 92FS
Sometimes you just want to chop it up, not be so serious, and maybe you wanna show off your legs? If you’ve been hitting the gym hard and can brave fall weather in short shorts, then a Lt. Dangle Halloween costume is for you. The leader of the police department featured in Reno 911 is known for his aviators, short shorts, and, of course, the Beretta 92FS.
(Viacom)
Okay, well, maybe he isn’t well-known for his Beretta. The comically inclined show isn’t known for its gunfights but for hijinks, mischief, and incompetence. The Lt. Dangle costume is perfect for not taking yourself so seriously and also sets up a group costume.
Deadpool – Dual Desert Eagles
Deadpool and his logo gracing so many guns has really become the new Punisher for the gun world, but what other Halloween costume allows you to carry dual Desert Eagles? Plus, the costume is pretty easy to find these days and makes for a simple grab-and-go costume. This is a great candidate for airsoft guns because Desert Eagles are notably expensive.
(20th Century Fox)
This can be the most expensive gag costume ever or just a fun option with cheap plastic guns. If you go the real deal, you’ll need a helluva belt and holsters to hold them both up and around your waist. Just try not to pretend to be the wisecracking merc cause it comes off try hard.
Indian Jones – S&W M1917 (Trimmed)
While the latest Indiana Jones movies weren’t a hit or really that great, the classic three movies are still well worth the world of costumes. The classic Indiana Jones costume stands out nicely and is easy to assemble. Your finish touches will be a Fedora, a satchel, and, of course, a S&W M1917 revolver.
Lucasfilm
Indy’s specific model is trimmed with a new front sight. The M1917s are big guns, so it makes sense to trim an inch of the barrel off. That might be tough to do with a real M1917, so maybe just carry a long barrel and leave the antique alone. A S&W 1937 Brazil contract model might be a better choice for trimming a barrel as they tend to be rougher guns.
Light, Camera, Guns, Costumes
Here are just a few ideas that pair well with classic and not-so-classic guns. Halloween is supposed to be fun, but I know people get wrapped around the axle with open carry. Keep in mind this article is supposed to be fun, and hopefully, we had some.
View of a damaged property after the arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, U.S., August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Julio Cesar Chavez
After Idalia passed, there was an eerie calm. The power was out, so we fired up the generator and got it running. We turned the lights back on and got the toilet flushing. Once it’s safe to go outside, it’s smart to walk out and do a home assessment. Roof damage is common, and it’s something you may want to repair or tarp over if you safely can.
My home was perfectly fine. Our tree line was thinned out. The road was completely blocked. Trees were downed everywhere. My driveway had trees I couldn’t wrap my arms around blocking it. Powerlines were down everywhere. This kind of damage was spread throughout five counties. Roads were blocked everywhere. It became very clear that help was not on the way. No one was coming, at least not for some time.
What’s Next After Idalia
For safety’s sake and the location of my home, we had the entire family there. My parents and my wife’s parents all huddled up with us, but immediately afterward, my father-in-law wanted to check his property. I wasn’t going to let him go alone, so I tagged along, and we made our way there. We were able to drive about a mile in a four-wheel drive truck before debris prevented us from getting there. For the next two miles, we climbed over trees, through ditches, and even on our bellies under logs.
We remained vigilant for downed powerlines, and after an obstacle course of a road, we made it. His home was standing, but trees older than the both of us were not. After two miles of walking through the downed trees and power lines, we realized how trapped we were.
Getting Out
No one was coming for us, but we had chainsaws and tractors. We went to work cutting through debris to remove it and clear roads. I live in a small rural community, and we tend to be self-sufficient. With that in mind, have a chainsaw if you live in hurricane land, learn how to use it, and have all the necessary PPE. Getting to a hospital after Idalia wasn’t going to happen.
Entire roads were blocked off by trees, and our emergency response personnel were already spread thin. The state and county employees worked extremely hard, but the buzz of your average Joe with a chainsaw filled the air. There was a feeling of community in the process. When you stop saying ‘somebody should do’ and start being the somebody who does, it feels great.
The Value of Power
Power was gone, and it likely would be gone for weeks. We knew that ahead of time and had a generator ready. We had enough fuel for a few days and ensured our generator maintenance was up to snuff. When using a generator during a hurricane or any power outage, make sure you abide by basic safety rules.
Generators start fires all the time, and two houses in town were lost because of generator fires. Generators are hot, and if left near grass, they will and can set it on fire. Being an idiot while refueling or running the generator absolutely nonstop is never a great idea.
Having power is a great feeling, even if it’s just a few lights, fans, and your fridge. It’s worth the investment. It’s only as good as your fuel supply, so keep that in mind. Having three kids and surviving Idalia was easy thanks to a generator.
The Threats
In my community, there was no Katrina-style violence or looting. The violence was contained to people arguing and a few fights in the lines for free stuff, mostly gas. There was some looting from people who evacuated, but no overall violent encounters. Albeit we knew the hurricane was coming and had tons of law enforcement hit our small town.
Another threat we had was animal threats. Mostly snakes due to our area. There is also a threat with dogs now escaping from behind fences that have Beware of Dog signs. We chased more than a few off.
The biggest threats are the roads and debris, as well as downed power lines. Luckily, they killed the powerlines in anticipation of the storm’s damage, so we did get wildfires mixed with hurricanes. Threats like widowmakers, which are famously large limbs or tree tops being suspended in mid-air, falling were the most lethal problems in our community.
While not a threat to your safety, I was amazed at how many contractors descended on our town the day of Idalia. They were offering tree removal services at astronomical rates. Beware of these fly-by-night’ companies.’
At best, they’ll do the job and overcharge. At worst, you’ll make a deposit, and they’ll disappear forever. We had one quote from my inlaws for seven grand to clean up. Out of curiosity, I asked a local friend who does land clearing, and he looked at it and said he’d charge two grand on a normal day.
Staying Safe
My power is back, my A/C is working in full force, and my family is safe. I was quite lucky. Luck is often where preparation meets opportunity. Beyond being a little prepared, I can’t credit my own family enough. It’s family and community that pulse you through the rough times, and that’s one of the more important lessons to remember.
