What Qualifies as “Grandma’s Gun”

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November 16, 2023

Firearms Easy to Use for the Elderly, Injured, or Infirm

For those of us blessed with reasonably good health, firearms handling comes easy. We can hold a rifle or shotgun with both hands and into our shoulders. We can work the slides and cylinders of modern handguns. A trigger press is easily managed. Recoil is just something the gun does.

But that isn’t the case for everyone.

For those people in their 60’s, 70’s, or older even, for those with injuries that limit their strength or their range of motion, and for those permanently handicapped in any physical way that limits what they can lift, squeeze, or the dexterity with which they can operate a button, lever, or switch, all of our common mobility means nothing.

Those physically disadvantaged also mean for more physical vulnerability. You or I, in our health and strength, have reasonable odds of surviving and repelling a physical assault with just our physical assets. They do not. These people may rely more heavily on a firearm than ever before in their lives and that we can currently imagine for their safety from attack. A male looking to get in an altercation with me risks far more than a woman in her 70’s, unless that grandmother happens to have a defense tool she can use.

The ‘Grandma Gun’ is that type of tool. A firearm built with advantages for those with physical disadvantages. Slides are easier to move, buttons are larger, recoil is less, but the effect against an aggressive person or animal will still be enough.

Here are some examples of “Grandma Guns”

Shield 380 EZ

One of the best examples of a Grandma Gun is Smith & Wesson’s 380 EZ. Built with extra safety features along the lines of a 1911, the Performance Center 380 EZ shown above also exhibits low recoil, acceptable capacity, bright sights, and an easy to operate slide. For weakened eyes, hands, wrists, and even the inability to use one or the other hand the pistol is built to give advantage back to the user.

Ruger LCR/LCRx .22LR/.22WMR

The older generation grew up with revolvers and good revolver options still exist in spades. The LCR and LCRx from Ruger are examples of the modern craft. They are available in a variety of calibers, however .22LR with some .22 Punch inside or .22 WMR may serve the role as a just right amount of response while being able to be handled by someone too physically infirm for a full powered firearm system. The sight options and comfort of the grip also lend themselves to to this use case.

Where this won’t serve is if they cannot pull the double action trigger on their own. Fitment is crucial, especially with someone with limitations. They cannot improvise, adapt, and overcome the way of able-bodied individuals.

Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7

This gun was a wildcard breakout, review here, the 5.7×28 round quite literally punches above its weight with 40gr JHP rounds doing some more serious work without disruptive recoil. The M&P 5.7 exhibits many of the same easy handling characteristics of the EZ line, however it adds ammunition and performance. 22 rounds in the gun! Optics ready for k footprint options. Extremely low recoil. Extremely accurate. Light and predictable trigger. Low pressure and easy to work slide, magazine catch/release, and slide stop.

The hardest thing about the M&P 5.7 is loading the magazine, and a loader is provided to assist. 22 rounds that can be rapidly and accurately sent where they need to go without abusing the sender. It’s a wildcat, but with the surge in popularity of the round it is a strong contender and worth seeing if it’ll serve.

Mossberg 500 Bantam

A low recoiling pump action .410 with PDX1 or 00 buck is miles ahead of a sharp stick as a home defense long gun. At only 6lbs it isn’t super heavy and with 6 shots and a simple pump it will operate easily too. The shorter 13″ LOP is more favorable for smaller frames too. If smaller is need the 505 and 510 also exist as smaller still. The 510 limits capacity to 2+1 but it is small and PDX1 is a very significant shot per shot round.

The Blackfoot 2.0 From Montana Knife Company

By

Travis Pike

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November 16, 2023

There is something to be said about the handiness of a small fixed-blade knife. The tiny nature of these tools makes them extremely handy in the field, but they also won’t weigh your belt down and turn ounces into pounds. Fixed blades are more durable than any folder, and small fixed blades are excellent bushcraft tools. Knives like the Montana Knife Company Blackfoot 2.0 are the perfect example of what a small fixed should be.

The Blackfoot 2 packs a 3.5-inch blade and an overall length of 7.75 inches. The knife only weighs 3.6 ounces, making it quite light for packing in and out. MKC uses 52100 ball-bearing steel, which isn’t your typical knife steel. It’s a very rugged and strong steel that can get quite sharp. It can rust, so take care of your knife. The handles are made from G10, which offers a comfy but firm set of handles.

As you’d expect from a premium bladesmith, the Blackfoot is a full-tang knife. The grips are just scales that are bolted on. You can pry, twist, and work hard with the Blackfoot, and you won’t run into any problems.

Demands of the Blackfoot 2.0

The Blackfoot 2.0 aims to be the toughest little knife you’ve ever owned. It’s no chopper designed to clear a campground, but it’s light, handy, and perfect for everyday tasks. The blade has a nice big belly for deep cuts. A drop point blade makes it quite versatile for a very wide variety of tasks.

The Blackfoot 2.0 delivers a working knife. It’s perfect for skinning games and butchering animals. Since it’s bow season in Florida, I’m waiting patiently for the right whitetail to break down with this thing. Until then, it’s chopped up chicken into bite-sized, taco-appropriate pieces very quickly. That curved belly allows the blade to glide through meat very efficiently. The thin nature of the blade allows it to slide between bones and remove meat without leaving much behind.

The blade comes from MKC insanely sharp, impressively so. It saddens me because I doubt I’ll ever be capable of getting it this sharp again. That’s on me and my lack of knife-sharpening skills. I’ll probably just get it professionally sharpened when the time comes, which doesn’t seem soon. It’s remained quite sharp over the last few months.

In the Hand

The shape of the Blackfoot’s grip is curved just right to lock your hand between the rear of the knife and the blade. The slight inward humps keep the knife positioned between your pinky and pointer finger. Your pointer is positioned perfectly to work with your thumb to help steer the knife for clean and stable cuts. It’s a comfy grip, and your hand doesn’t fight with an unnatural shape. This keeps your hand comfortable and prevents fatigue.

The Blackfoot comes with an awesome kydex sheath. It’s lightweight and well-made. The sheath comes with a belt mount, and the belt mount can be manipulated to mount the knife at nearly any angle. It’s made in America, too, which is a nice touch from another made-in-America company.

Slice and Dice

MKC makes some excellent knives. They are a small business making excellent tools for hard-working people. As you’d imagine, this isn’t the 30-dollar knife you order on Amazon. It’s a premium knife with a rightfully premium price tag.

Overall, you can see the care and attention to detail that went into the Blackfoot. It’s very well made and thought out. It feels like every curve and sweep was well-planned and executed properly. The Blackfoot is an excellent bushcraft knife and is a solid option for hunters, fishermen, and hikers who need something small and tough.

Gunfight Timer: Micro-Drills for Defensive Shooting.

By

The Suited Shootist

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November 15, 2023

Target Barn sent me a shot timer, so I decided to take advantage of the Stay at Home order and get in some dry practice. There’s a lot of things you can use the timer for a lot more than just flexing on the ‘Gram. I give a brief overview and familiarization of the Pocket Pro II, and talk about a couple exercises you can do to improve your shooting. Drills start @ 4:43: https://youtu.be/XgpKLtvvTDI?t=283 Try it out for yourself! Here’s the “unboxing” video: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-2o16EJiDd/?igshid=893jnsyv26vb

I Remember When These Were $499

By

Keith Finch

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November 15, 2023

My first rifle was an Arsenal SGL-20, a green 7.62x39mm AK. While I wanted a decked out M16A4 or M4A1 type clone from Colt or BCM at the time, I was a poor PFC reservist. So $629 was more my speed.

That got me onto the path of enjoying com-bloc firearms at affordable prices. The one I kept trying and failing to save for (I was terrible with money in my youth and didn’t make much of it) was the PSL 54. This despite the fact that they were available for $499 on the shelf of my LGS and I remember seeing $449 at an online location where you wouldn’t get to pick it but it would arrive. They weren’t even charging extra for the 4x PSO-1 Optics at the time.

Oh what a mistake…

The PSL 54 followed the classic Kalashnikov problem solving method of “make the AK do it” that resulted in the RPK and PKM. The Dragunov is actually as different a rifle from the AK as the M14 is from the M1 Garand, but the PSL is just a stretched AK/RPK made to feed 7.62x54r.

If it isn’t broke, do not fix it. If it doesn’t do the thing, modify at little as possible and as simply as possible to do the thing.

The PSL and its aged but still full power rifle cartridge has seen worldwide conflict as a DMR-ish rifle. It certainly isn’t how the west builds a DMR but for the conscript and merc-volunteer types of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East it is a step up from the iron sight AKs that users would adjust the sights on to turn up the ‘power’ of the gun. A little training and users can be effective to the 800 yards or so of a competent 7.62 NATO user.

It isn’t really accurate enough to be a solid marksman rifle, especially with the most widely available surplus ball ammo, and its capacity is half that of battle rifles. So it inhabits this weird niche of looking pretty cool with moderate, but sub-par, practical efficacy… like the M14. Better than a sharp stick, but modern solutions abound.

So if you are chasing an aesthetic or a vibe for fun, these are fun. They were super attractive when 7.62x54r surplus was everywhere too. I do regret not snagging one, although given my purchase and sell history at the time I would likely have not held onto it as I ought.

Anywho, PSL 54 readers. Give the 9-Hole crew their like too, don’t forget!

Veterans Day Weekend Legal Wins – Braces and Frames

By

Keith Finch

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November 14, 2023

5thdistrictcourt — Image via St Clair Record

In back to back progress making court wins rolling into the Veterans Day weekend, both the ATFs pistol brace rule and their receiver/frame rule were given harsh judgements by US Judges.

First, US District Court Judge Mathew Kacsmaryk enjoined the whole of the nation from enforcement of the pistol stabilizing brace rule.

“Public safety concerns must be addressed in ways that are lawful. This rule is not,” Kacsmaryk stated.

Previous decisions only covered the specifically named plaintiffs, FPC members and Maxim Defense customers specifically. The rule has not been thrown out, it has been barred from enforcement pending further decisions.

Then the Fifth Curcuit ruled that the ATF lacked the authority to adopt a final rule as sweeping as the one they implemented in April of 2022.

Circuit Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt authored the majority opinion for the three-judge panel. Engelhardt found that the final rule constitutes unlawful agency action because it “flouts clear statutory text and exceeds the legislatively-imposed limits on agency authority in the name of public policy.” Thus, Engelhardt ruled that the final rule is “limitless” and the Gun Control Act (GCA) does not allow the final rule.

The ATF essentially made up additional authority and definitions to try and get the jobs the administration was placing upon it done instead of firmly relying on Congress to amend the law as is its duty and then the ATF enforcing clearly enumerated law.

While none of these settles either case in finality, they are more procedural victories and continue the momentum established by Bruen in clearing out bad firearms laws from the legal quagmire.

Still to come is a US Supreme Court decision on the grounds of misdemeanors of domestic violence and firearms rights. As law and policy stands now, domestic violence misdemeanors remove firearms rights permanently from a person. But this is not a penalty for any other misdemeanor level offense. Certainly domestic violence is a serious threat, as is any form of violence, but if the offense given and convicted of is not above the misdemeanor level does it warrant the permanent removal of the right to bear arms?

Per ATF,

A “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” is an offense that:

Is a misdemeanor under federal, state, or tribal law;
Has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon; and
Was committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, or by a person who has a current or recent former dating relationship with the victim.

The term “dating relationship” means a relationship between individuals who have or have recently had a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.

Whether a relationship constitutes a “dating relationship” shall be determined based on consideration of:

the length of the relationship;
the nature of the relationship; and
the frequency and type of interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship.

A casual acquaintanceship or ordinary fraternization in a business or social context does not constitute a “dating relationship.”

However, a person is not considered to have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless:

The person was represented by counsel in the case, or knowingly and intelligently waived the right of counsel in the case; and
In the case of a prosecution for which a person was entitled to a jury case was tried, either –
- The case was tried by a jury, or
- The person knowingly and intelligently waived the right to have the case tried by a jury, by guilty plea or otherwise.

In addition, a conviction would not be disabling if it has been expunged or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored (if the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held provides for the loss of civil rights upon conviction for such an offense) unless the pardon, expunction, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms, and the person is not otherwise prohibited by the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held from receiving or possessing firearms.

In the case of a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an individual in a dating relationship; a conviction would not be disabling if it has been expunged or set aside, or is an offense for which the person has been pardoned or has had firearms rights restored unless the expungement, pardon, or restoration of rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms. If the person has no more than one such conviction, and is not otherwise prohibited, the person shall not be disqualified from shipping, transport, possession, receipt, or purchase of a firearm if 5 years have elapsed from the later of the judgment of conviction or the completion of the person’s custodial or supervisory sentence, if any, and the person has not subsequently been convicted of another such offense, a misdemeanor under Federal, State, Tribal, or local law which has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, or any other offense that would disqualify the person. NICS shall be updated to reflect the status of the person

Restoration after 5 years, as described above, is not available for a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

[18 U.S.C. 921(a)(33); 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(37); 27 CFR 478.11]

Michigan, as an example, has two domestic violence levels and both with a misdemeanor level to them. Domestic Assault and Aggravated Domestic Assault are principally separated by the

Does a misdemeanor domestic assault, first offense, that does not have to involve battery or injury and could be punished by a $500 fine alone or 93 days in jail and the $500 fine, does that offense also require the permanent injunction of someone’s right to acquire and defend themselves with a lawfully possessed firearm?

Does the direct penalty for the misdemeanor offense also necessitate and society benefit from the prohibition of arms from those convicted?

That is the question, and the answer is very likely that the law is mostly about politicians being able to pat themselves on the back and “keep guns out of the wrong hands” than it is demonstrably beneficial to public safety.

Knights SR-47 – The Forgotten Knight’s Rifle

By

Travis Pike

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November 14, 2023

In the early 2000s, the gun forums were kicking around quite hard, and the typical arguments were raging. Glock vs. 1911, 45 ACP vs. 9mm, and, of course, AR-15 vs. AKM. The two titans of rifle design and the arguments revolving around them were an ample example of fact and fuddlore mixed together. Knight’s Armory decided to hell with that argument. We’ll just make an AR-47, well, it’s actually the SR-47.

To be fair, Knight’s Armament didn’t decide to make it and certainly wasn’t interested in solving internet arguments. The SR-47 came to be at the behest of SOCOM. Production began in 2001, you know, the year the Global War on Terrorism started. It was a wild time in weapon development, and the idea behind the SR-47 was fairly simple. Design an AR-based platform that could use AK magazines and the 7.62x39mm ammunition.

Delta Force is known to use off weapons (Dalton Fury)

SOCOM was seeing the likelihood of a war with stretched-out supply lines. Special operations forces would alone out in Indian country with whatever they could carry on their backs. The idea behind the SR-47 was simple. Give troops a platform they are familiar with, but allow them to use enemy ammunition and magazines. If we couldn’t supply our forces with bullets and mags, then they could make use of host nation and enemy sources. Thus, they needed an AR platform that could use AK magazines and ammo.

Enter the SR-47

LMT, Robinson, and Knight’s all entered the contest, and the SR-47 seemingly won. At least, it was taken the furthest. As you can likely predict, the project never got too far off the ground. The SR-47 rifle isn’t an AR-15 or an AR-10. It’s something in between. The lower and upper are reportedly proprietary and larger than the standard AR-15 in size. Today, we see something similar with the CMMG MK47 (aka the Mutant.)

It was a challenging process to make the rifle work. The AK 47 magazine wasn’t exactly going to fit into the magazine well of an AR. The curved nature and the rear tab ensured your magwell would be interesting. Clearly, the SR-47 uses a fairly unique magwell, and it shows in the few photos of the SR-47 that exist. Interestingly enough, Knights found a way to use the standard push button magazine release of the M4 with the AK mag. I could be wrong, but that’s the way it looks, according to photos.

The SR-47 used a standard M4 length 14.5-inch barrel, weighed 7.7 pounds, and featured M4-style collapsing stock. The rifle featured a flat top upper, as well as a KAC quad rail. The magazine release and safety appear to be ambidextrous, which is a nice touch. For 2001, this was a high-tech rifle. As we all know, the Eastern Bloc wasn’t big on following specs when it came to AK magazines, so I’d be curious to see how well it fits a variety of AK mags.

The SR-47 In Action

Knight’s delivered six rifles to SOCOM, who then tested them with the SEALs. How the tests were conducted, and if any ever went overseas, is lost to time. We don’t know the results of the test, and I’d imagine the rifles performed without issue. Knight’s makes great stuff, and I’m sure the SR-47 lived up to their reputation.

It seemed like SOCOM wasn’t interested in pursuing the project. I’d assume that the military discovered they wouldn’t have too many issues with stretched-out supply lines. SOCOM-oriented troops weren’t having issues obtaining ammunition for their running gunfights, and the idea of teams working far away and out of range for supply runs didn’t manifest.

Thus, the SR-47 faded away. The six who went to SOCOM seemingly remained with SOCOM, and Knight’s Armament kept one in their famed museum. That was the end of the SR-47, which is sad because it might be a hit today.

How Pant Rise Affects Your Carry Setup

By

The Suited Shootist

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November 13, 2023

Today I talk about making sure that your wardrobe doesn’t interfere with your carry setup. Jeff Mau at Tenicor ( https://www.instagram.com/tenicorusa/ ) and Spencer Keepers over at http://keepersconcealment.com have touched on this subject, so definitely go check them out and follow them as well. Most dudes aren’t familiar with the concept that pants have different “rise” (the distance between the waist and the crotch). This measurement can either facilitate or hinder your EDC. Also, if like me you have a bit of a “successful lifestyle body”, you might fall into the trap of wearing their pants too low on the hips instead of at your natural waist. Given that we’re all hold up and eating our anxiety, you might find this info useful over the next few weeks. In case you’re wondering, the products featured in this video are: – Holster = Keeper from Keepers Concealment – Belt = Slide Belt Black: https://amzn.to/2O8iDlF Slide Belt Brown: https://amzn.to/34jjdmq Slide Belt Walnut: https://amzn.to/2DeHkGJ (I’ve done a review of these on my blog. https://thesuitedshootist.home.blog/2019/11/24/slidebelt-v-kore-essentials/ )

The Cobalt Kinetics Muzzle Device: 2.75 inches

By

Anna Martinez

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November 13, 2023

If you’re thinking about building a 13.7 inch barreled rifle for close range rifle work such as competitions or training, this is the article for you.

First, let’s do some quick math. If I have a 13.7 inch barrel, what do I need to permanently attach to make an overall length of 16 inches? Good work, at least a 2.3 inch muzzle device. Which as you may know, there isn’t a crazy large amount of these on the market.

Note: I did find a list of over 2.3″ devices that a company graciously compiled back in 2021. Thank you bexararms.net.

Add Cobalt Kinetics to that list. The RCB-KM Deadair Keymo muzzle device eats recoil and allows for a deadair silencer to be attached. It is also 2.75″ long allowing for a 13.7 inch barrel to reach an overall length of 16 inches.

gun build, vltor a5, cobalt kinetics muzzle — This is a 13.7 inch build, now with the Cobalt Kinetics muzzle device it reaches an overall length of 16 inches. Notice the VLTOR A5 buffer system. Pair this with the muzzle device and there is virtually no recoil.

The Muzzle Device

COBALT KINETICS RCB-KM DEAD AIR KEYMO®
Price: $107.76

Length: 2.75″
Weight: 6.2 oz
Material: 4140 Steel
Coating: Nitride
RC Hardness: 32-34 RC
Tread pitch: 1/2X28 tpi & 5/8X28 tpi
Calibers: 5.56 X 45mm (NATO) & .30 Cal

Installation

It was pretty easy to install. Shims did come with the device and each shim size was nicely labeled and separated out.

The RCB-KM deadair muzzle device has flats that will accept an armorers wrench for easy install. This is a midwest industries armorers wrench.

Now pin and welding, that’s a different story.

To make an overall barrel length of 16 inches from a 13.7 inch barrel, there will need to be a permanent modification done, i.e. a pin and welded muzzle device to the barrel. There are a few things to take into account when getting a pin and weld done.

You don’t have to use your “local gunsmith”. There are a multitude of companies that you can purchase a pin and weld service online from that are very very good. Simply box up your upper in a non firearm looking box and send it off to the company. Easy and legal. One of these being Dwilsonmfg.
If the pin and weld is done poorly or without the proper tools it can damage your muzzle device and your barrel. The drill bit should just barely go into the barrel. Poor pin and welds will go too deep into the barrel damaging the barrel.
The weld is important. If the weld is done poorly it will be hard to remove the device if you ever want to replace it.
A hand drill is not a proper tool if you’re paying for a service. The drilling should be done with a mill.

The Recoil Build

The goal of a 13.7 inch rifle is to be able to move quickly from target to target whether that is running or just shifting the gun. To do this, not only does the length and weight matter, but also the recoil system. The RCB-KM eats recoil. Now pair that with a Vltor A5 recoil system and you have a very flat shooting gun. This allows for faster follow up shots and finding your sight picture faster.

Uses

So where do these shorter builds shine? Well, in matches that involve quick target engagements and even in some long range gas gun matches.

2gun: Many local clubs will run 2 gun matches. Often a non-sanctioned club match, these matches involve close range engagements with both a pistol and a rifle. There may be some 200-300 yard engagements however many are running red dots on their rifles so the vast majority of the engagements are inside 25 yds. Speed is the goal here.
RPGI night matches: These day-night matches directed by RPGI have blown up. With a two on paper scoring scheme and fast close range targets, a shorter carbine fits the bill. Don’t forget the white light! Keep an eye out for these matches. It’s not shocking that 150 shooters want to show up to a match that has physical challenges, 7 stages in the day, and then 7 more at night. NVG or white light is allowed.
Precision Gas Gun Matches: Yes, even a short gun can do work at long range gas gun matches. There are a few options for shooting long range matches such as under Quantified Performance or within the IWI Gas Gun Challenge.

rpgi night match shooter — This picture was taken at the last RPGI day nite match in West Virginia. Small carbines are great to run at these matches. This shooter was using night vision

Guns 101 – The Manual Safety and Revolvers – What’s The Deal

By

Travis Pike

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November 13, 2023

Have you ever read a book and had the writer describe a character flicking the safety off of a revolver? Maybe it’s been a piece of dialogue in a terrible action flick. Or maybe they pull the revolver, and you hear the click of the safety disengaging, and you know it’s a safety because your wife can’t watch TV without subtitles. If you’re new to guns, you might not realize that the vast majority of revolvers have no form of manual safety.

In fact, in the modern era, most handguns these days don’t have a manual safety, but revolvers especially lack safeties and practically always have. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a revolver with a safety. It just means it’s going to be fairly hard to do so. That being said, let’s explore the idea of a manual safety on a revolver, highlight some actual examples, and why revolvers, by and large, don’t have manual safeties.

The Safety You Can’t See

First and foremost, almost all modern revolvers do have a safety device. If you don’t look, you can’t see it, and it’s a transfer bar system. Modern revolvers have something called a transfer bar. A transfer bar removes the firing pin from the hammer and places it on the frame of the gun. Between the hammer and the firing pin sits something known as a transfer bar.

If you look at your revolver, the hammer can’t quite reach the firing pin. It needs an extension. The transfer bar is that extension. When the trigger is pulled, the trigger presses the transfer bar upwards, and the hammer strikes the transfer bar, which then strikes the firing pin and fires the gun.

If the trigger is not pulled, the gun cannot fire. This safety prevents the weapon from firing unless the trigger is pulled. This makes them drop safe and much safer than revolvers of old. Carriers of guns like the Colt Single Action Army used to keep the hammer down on an empty chamber before the transfer bar existed. In the vast majority of modern revolvers, the transfer bar system is a safety device.

With that said, I have seen some replicas of older revolvers, like the Colt SAA, that lack the transfer bar, so keep that in mind.

Some Revolvers Have a Manual Safety

Some revolvers do have external safeties. The only current production revolver I know of that has an external safety is the Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider revolver. These ber cheap rimfire revolvers are popular first guns, and there can be an argument that new, especially young, shooters can benefit from a manual safety. These are certainly not defensive revolvers.

S&W released a revolver called the Centennial in the 1950s. The Centennial, oddly enough, has a grip safety. This was the first and last time we saw S&W use a grip safety on their revolvers. It seemed like an odd design choice and was one that was quickly let go.

Way back in 1895, Webley-Fosbery released a semi-auto revolver known as the Weblet-Fosbery Self-Cocking Automatic Revolver. It was a recoil-operated revolver that automatically cocked the gun to single action with every shot. Because it self-cocked and had a single action trigger, it was fit with a manual thumb safety.

Why Don’t Modern Revolvers Have Safeties?

Why don’t we see modern defensive revolvers with safeties, especially a manual safety devices? Mainly because they aren’t needed. A modern defensive revolver is a double action design, and the long heavy trigger pull is a safety device unto itself.

If you are capable of following the four rules of firearm safety, a revolver with a manual safety seems silly. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire. Make sure your revolver has a transfer bar. Use a holster that covers the entire trigger of the revolver. Boom, if you can do that, you don’t need a manual safety.

Gunday Brunch 126: Battle Rifle Hot-Crazy Matrix

By

Keith Finch

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November 12, 2023

If you’re not familiar with the Hot/Crazy Matrix, you need to fix that right away. Today the boys are all back, and we’re rating battle rifles on the hot/crazy scale. Is your favorite too crazy for its level of hotness? Find out.

A Thank You For Honorable Service

By

Keith Finch

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November 11, 2023

Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow vets out there. Happy hangover recovery for my Marines. My head hurts too.

Go get you some delicious discounted food, but tip your server the full amount! Don’t be a cheap ass.

Now, is it just me or does this Veteran’s day feels… different?

It’s been hard to put into words, but with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza flaring, after the twenty year fight in Afghanistan so disastrously closing, it just feels hard. It’s hard to be a GWOT Era veteran who either deployed, or supported our brothers and sisters who deployed to harms way, and see so little to show for those efforts. We didn’t get treated like Vietnam vets back in the day, but we’re lost as to what we spent all the effort on. It is hard to see the war flaring again, and another war in Europe that we’d been promised was done with the close of the Cold War.

This is hard to watch for veterans right now.

It’s even harder to watch the active military struggling with so many compounded issues. From the brass blaming their troops for housing problems, to the recruiting crisis as the military wholesale abandoned its core mission of being the honed weapon of the United States for some nebulous DEI friendly outlook antithetical to its core missions and personnel, it is rough to serve and rough to be a vet who has served.

Serving was never easy, but the real crux of the matter is that the hardest parts about serving started to become the parts that the men and women in uniform shouldn’t have to worry about. Getting paid on time, having their family’s taken care of and moved properly, traveling on orders being covered and not bankrupting a service member, having gear that works, being able to schedule and access the services that are benefits to them, being fed or allowed to feed themselves when they are on posts in first world nations for pity’s sake. None of these things should be stressing the service member so that they have the bandwidth to train and work on the hard and dangerous points of their job.

The military has done a bang up job tarnishing their image as a desirable place of employment in numerous ways. But to those serving who do try their damnedest every day to make it work and keep their troops well, I see you too. The behemoth of the DoD isn’t making your lives easy either, as you try and cover down on your troops and their welfare while keeping them mission ready.

And to young people who are looking at serving as an option, don’t let our burned out seething keep you from considering it. There are still a mountain of benefits to serving, you can make it a rewarding career, you can do good work and work with fantastic people. But it is hard. In a lot of ways it is hardest in all the ways it should not be. But it is a serious choice and for some of you it could be a damn good one.

Alright, off my rant box here.

Thank you for your service.

I mean that in the most heartfelt way, to all of you alive who served in each of the eras of our nation’s need. Thank you. To you who showed up each day, good and bad, and got your jobs done. Thank you. To those of you who were chosen and stepped up to lead, and train, and take care of your teams, even if it cost you sleep, money, and personal time. Thank you.

You who honorably served and showed up to take your place in the profession of arms in this nation…

Thank you.

248 Years – Happy Birthday, USMC!

By

Keith Finch

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November 10, 2023

The Tenth of November, 1775…

The Continental Congress authorized the raising of two battalions of Marines. In the 248 years since, the United States Marines have served as a special and conventional mission force capable of rapid world wide deployment. Their official specialization is amphibious infantry in conjunction with US Naval forces and able to project the will and might of the United States wherever they can be landed.

In modern context, this turns every carrier battle group with a MEU attached to it into one of the most powerful independent military forces on the planet. A MEU backed by a carrier strike group is capable of air, land, and sea dominance anywhere in the world.

Happy Birthday Marines. Especially to the CENTCOM group who did not get to have their traditional birthday celebration due to the world being in a… spicy state at the moment.

The Oft Forgotten Bushmaster Assault Rifle

By

Travis Pike

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November 9, 2023

-RARE-Gwinn-Bushmaster-Assault-Rifle-5-56mm_101575083_70986_BC8A315D3C4B237B — (Guns International)

In the last decade or so, if you heard the term Bushmaster, you’d likely relate it to some very subpar rifles put out by the ‘Freedom Group.’ Freedom Group, owned by Cerberus Capital Management, was the same death-dealing group that killed AAC, Remington, H&R, Marlin, and a few more. Prior to Freedom Group, Bushmaster was a fairly respected name in the world of AR rifles. They’ve been around for decades, but the first Bushmaster wasn’t an AR. It was known as the Bushmaster Assault Rifle.

Before Bushmaster was called Bushmaster, it was called Gwinn Firearms. Mack Gwinn Jr. founded Gwin Firearms after returning home from Vietnam. Gwinn was the real deal, and he served in the Special Forces as a captain.

He had some extensive knowledge of the Stoner 63 system and was a fan. When he came home and started his company, he designed the first Bushmaster Assault Rifle. It bears mentioning the Bushmaster Assault Rifle was not an assault rifle but simply carried that designation as a moniker. The Bushmaster Assault rifle would be produced by both Gwinn and later owners who changed the company name to Bushmaster.

Inside and Outside of the Bushmaster Assault Rifle

Gwinn saw that the future of firearms was rifles like the AR and AK series. This meant mixing modern materials like polymer and aluminum in the mix. Gwinn originally used cast aluminum, and later on, Bushmaster would use stamped sheet metal for the upper. Regardless of who was in charge, the flowers were made from aluminum.

The Bushmaster Assault Rifle was modern for the era. It mixed the controls of the AR-15 with the long-stroke gas piston system of the AK-47.

The rifle utilizes an AR safety and magazine release as well as an AR fire control group. It used AR-15 magazines as well. The sights functioned much like AR sights of the era but were not stacked on a carry handle. The barrel was 18 inches long and topped with a birdcage-style flash suppressor. These days, that sounds long, but in this era, the 20-inch barrel was standard. It was basically an M1 carbine-length barrel on a 5.56 rifle.

The Bushmaster Assault Rifle came in a couple of variants. Early models came with plain wood furniture. Later models have black painted wood. Another model featured a simplistic metal folding stock. A magnet held the folded stock closed.

The rifle has a reciprocating charging handle that, much like the AK, is connected to a long-stroke gas piston system that sits above the barrel and receiver. It sits on the left side of most Bushmaster Assault rifles. There are some variances depending on who owns the company and the design. When Gwinn owned the design, the charging handles were on the top of the gun.

The Long Stroke Piston Of It

Gwinn had used the Stoner 63 in Vietnam and was seemingly a fan of the design, which is what likely encouraged him to utilize the long-stroke gas piston system. Mixing in AR-like controls makes sense logistically since they were available to the average Joe.

It’s not like the Stoner 63 was on the shelves of Western Auto. Plus, the M16’s controls were super ergonomic for the era. Keep in mind most guns in this era were still using World War 2 like ergonomics, like the AK and M14.

Another good reason to stick to the long-stroke gas piston system was that direct impingement and the M16 didn’t have a great reputation in this era. The DOD mucked up the release of the M16 so badly that it took decades of fighting the GWOT to change people’s minds on the reliability of the platform.

The guns didn’t have a great reputation for reliability anyway. They weren’t known to be problem-free mass-produced rifles. They tended to have a fairly poor reputation. However, they did tend to shoot nicely and were fairly accurate guns all around. Bushmaster tried to market the weapon, and at this time, Colt owned the rights to the AR-15, so it was seen as an alternative.

However, once the AR015 design package lost its protections, Bushmaster pivoted towards the AR-15 and away from the Bushmaster Assault Rifle. Being a small company makes it tough to produce a new firearm design, and the Bushmaster Assault Rifle is evidence of that.

Vet Sources

By

The Suited Shootist

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November 9, 2023

It’s really important to approach information with a little skepticism and a critical mind. Just because someone did XYZ job doesn’t necessarily mean they have the expertise to comment on a given subject. Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve seen an uptick of folks with impressive resumes putting out bad information on several subjects related to the defensive world. It’s troubling because a lot of folks will take their commentary as an endorsement, without doing any deeper research of their own. In most of these instances, I choose to chalk it up to knowledge bias: They’re so accomplished that stuff seems easy or obvious to them that might be more difficult for us “regular earth people”. You spend enough time around enough highly capable people, and it’s easy to get an inflated view of what base-level abilities are. Defensive driving & correcting a skid are probably a lot easier for Mario Andretti than it is for you or me. Unfortunately, there are those out there that appear to be trying to capitalize on their backgrounds for their own gain, and aren’t interested in the quality of the info they’re putting out as long as it turns into more sales. Thankfully, they’re easy to spot. Regardless of who your chosen experts are, it still bears asking “why do they have this opinion?”. If their explanation stops at “Because I was X”, that’s just a fancy way of saying “because I said so”, which is an unacceptable answer in my opinion. If someone takes exception to being challenged (provided you’re not being a dick about it), that is probably a clue. Please be selective about who gets your money, as well as your intellectual and emotional resources. We are in the golden age of good information that’s readily accessible. We owe it to ourselves to create a non-permissive environment for derp and myth.

Ban State Friendly Home Defense

By

Travis Pike

-

November 8, 2023

So you’ve found yourself in a state that bans certain weapons due to their cosmetic features. Oof, that sucks. You might be feeling boxed in when it comes to your firearm’s selection. It seems like your choices are fairly limited by your ban state. You have pump-action shotguns and handguns with neutered capacities. That sucks, so today, we have a few suggestions that defy the norm and will give you at least a few extra options you might not have considered.

As of this writing, most states that have assault weapons bans have magazine capacity bans, so this also creates a situation where we still have to deal with ten rounds or so. With that in mind, let’s look at a few alternatives that take us beyond pump shotguns and handguns.

The Henry Homesteader or Ruger PC Carbine

A 9mm carbine in a traditional layout is an easy option for most ban states. The Henry Homesteader is essentially featureless and comes with a five and ten-round magazine. The Ruger PC Carbine is another PCC that does have a few options that are featureless, namely the original models of the carbine because the tactical models are too scary for ban states.

Either one of these guns is a great option for close-range home defense. While they both fire pistol rounds, they are rifles and offer you the stability and precision of a rifle platform. Both guns are light and fairly short and fire the very common 9mm round.

Obtaining ten-round magazines isn’t tough for either platform. Both have modular mag wells, and you can swap to Glock mags, which are likely the easiest 10-rounders to find.

The Foxtrot Mike Ranch Rifle

Foxtrot Mike is now producing an AR-15 lower receiver that’s similar to the old FightLite SCR lower. It does seem like the Ranch Rifle lower is easier to obtain than the SCR these days. The Ranch Rifle gives the AR-15 lower a more traditional, pistol grip-free rifle design that doesn’t look like an abomination.

The Foxtrot Mike Ranch Rifle lower allows you to skip most of the silly ban requirements. You might need to use an unthreaded barrel or a brake instead of a flash hider, depending on the state. The Ranch Rifle uses a Magpul SGA stock that makes it super ergonomic and easy to handle.

Toss on a 5.56 upper, and you have an ergonomic, lightweight, and very effective platform. Inside the home, 5.56 is tough to beat, and since the AR is so common, you can find all manner of parts and pieces for it.

The Mini 14

The classic Mini 14, the gun subject to many accurate memes comparing AR-15s and Mini 14s and stating how they are very similar, but one is banned, and the other is not. It’s true. Both are lightweight, semi-auto rifles that chamber the 5.56 caliber round, although some Mini 14s are chambered for the .223 Remington. The Mini 14 is also a magazine-fed rifle with low recoil and easy handling.

Ruger makes several models, and while the tactical variants and the collapsing stock models will likely be a no-go, the standard models with wood or even polymer stocks are featureless under most bans. This makes them an excellent AR alternative for home defense.

The 5.56/.223 Remington variants are likely the best choice, but the Mini 30 model in 7.62×39 or the .300 Blackout option will serve you well. Make your memes a reality.

Henry Big Boy X Series

In case you want to root and toot, then a lever gun isn’t a bad home defense option. Lever guns are manually operated, and the vast majority do not take removable magazines. Guns like the Henry Big Boy X are modernized for the defensive role and throw powerful, hard-hitting rounds like the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt.

A rail and a couple of M-LOK slots make adding accessories easy. The rifles are tapped and ready for an optic and rails. Lever actions aren’t as fast as semi-autos, but with practice, they can be pretty darn fast. The close-range rounds they far tend to be good options for defensive use, especially with the right projectile.

Henry is well known for making quality guns, and the Big Boy X series is a step up from wood and octagonal barrels into the modern era. Plus, you get to play tactical cowboy!

SRM 1216

I know so far we’ve had nothing but rifles but consider a shotgun. A shotgun that holds 16 rounds in a detachable magazine but isn’t hit with ban state laws. That detachable magazine is technically four magazines, specifically four tubes that rotate to feed the gun. That’s the SRM 1216.

Obviously the SBS versions are a no go, but the main model is ready to rock (SRM ARMS)

This semi-auto shotgun is a roller-delayed shotgun. The shotgun is remarkably underrated and one beast of a weapon. It can be converted for left or right-handed use and is shorter than most shotguns due to a bullpup-like format. It’s more Uzi-like than a traditional bullpup.

It’s slick and easy to use, with excellent ergonomics. Adding lights and optics isn’t a challenge, and the gun looks too cool to be so effective. It’s an American design, and American built. Shotguns are very capable defensive firearms, and this one doesn’t slack in ammunition capacity. At the same time, it’s still ban state friendly.

Ban Ban States

Ever since the original AWB, the idea behind banning guns by cosmetic features has been the modus operandi for the anti-civil rights crowd. Luckily, the pro-gun side seems to be winning, and hopefully, articles like this become relics of a dark time. Until then, there is no reason to put your family and home at risk. Protect yourselves, practice your rights as much as you can, and, as always, keep fighting.