Pics from the 'net....

Been away from this blog for a few days, sorry.  Sitting here in the bunker cranking out a few posts to put out for the next few days...and then I am on vacation (holiday for you European types).  Going to warmer regions for a week with the family, might chime in once while there if I run across anything worthy of mentioning on the gun front, but doubt it.  Going to maybe try and push some stuff out for next week before I leave..we'll see......

Back to the post...  Often I run across some funny stuff on the internet in the form of pictures....and sometimes you gotta think a bit when you see them...  Here are a few examples...

#1 Old Lady with guns...

OK, that's a funny story right there.  But I have to take a sec and question the "what are you afraid of / not a f___ing thing" line.  Yes, I know its a joke.  But many will look at that and high five themselves mentally thinking "hell yeah, packing my piece I fear no evil either..for I am the baddest mothere....blah blah blah".  Yeah, you go buddy...right to your grave.  Fear is a natural, essential part of being human.  Anybody who has told you that they have faced death or danger without fear is either lying, crazy, stupid or a combo of any of the three.

The fight-or-flight response is a natural response to fear and the difference between those that fight and those that fly is not necessarily determined by whether one is armed or not.  I assure you that most of those "black ops" guys all the mall ninjas try to imitate in dress and equipment have one thing that they don't.  An acknowledgement of fear.  Being brave isn't necessarily being fool hearty or blindly jumping into danger, its doing so knowing the danger but doing it regardless of the fear out of a sense of duty or honor to a higher calling or commitment.  Once one can acknowledge their own fears they can then learn to manage and control them in order to work with fear, and not against it.  That little "Spidey sense tingling" feeling one might get right before an ambush on patrol, the slight shiver that a police officer might feel before entering a dark alley that causes him to ready himself, the increased heart beat a CCW holder might feel when they notice the three 'hoods at the corner are sizing them up as they walk buy that causes them to move there had where its accessible to their weapon...all of this is fear.  Its caused by ones awareness of the environment and the bodies reaction to stimulus it receives (sight, sound, smell, ect) and past training and experience that tells the brain to "watch out".   Heed its warning, its your own version of a "early warning system".

Like in the 1986 movie Wall Street where Gordon Gecko talks about greed...Fear Works!  Those who think that a gun will enable them to conquer fear by itself are destined to either fail and freeze or over react when they are confronted with it in a life or death situation.   A gun is a tool in your arsenal of self defense, its not a magic wand that will make all things right it and of itself.  Train yourself to deal with fear and use it instead of fighting it...

#2.  Velociraptor Free Workplace...

Found this on my neice's FaceBook page.  I've seen a couple different versions of this on the internet.  Yeah its funny, funny and whether the person who made it or those that read it realize, it makes a point about guns as well.  Its modeled after those "gun free zone" signs that we see often.  This is obviously made to make fun of them and does so rather well.

What it also does is point out how ridiculous the "gun free" signs are as well.  A sign like this will no more prevent you from an attack by and extinct dinosaur than a gun free sign will prevent someone carrying a gun intent on doing bad things from walking through a door.  Does anyone actually think any workplace shootings have been stopped because the disgruntled employee who packed a pistol and a bag of ammo and went to work to shoot his fellow workers got to the door and said "dang, I guess I can't go in now!".  Of course not.  What signs like that do is to legally (at least in Ohio) limit the ability of legally armed citizens that, in most cases, have passed background checks and obtained some level of training to carry a gun from freely entering businesses that think signs like this make a difference.  Sorry folks, criminals do not obey laws..or signs for that matter..hence the name "criminals"..as in "one who commits a crime".

I have stated it before and will so now, guns are not for everybody.  A fully armed society may be a "polite" society in some views but is unrealistic and unobtainable to boot.  Even in societies that have mandated martial participation in pursuit of the common defense you do not find 100% participation. There is a town in Georgia that mandates by law all residents own a firearm...but its an unenforceable law.  In the meantime you have two types of people that carry guns...those that do it legally by either position (police/LE) or choice (licensed CCW) or those that illegally (criminals).  Only one of those two categories will obey those signs...which one do you want in your establishment?  I know the one will be in there regardless (criminals) so what is the sense letting the law abiding ones stand outside?

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Pictures are powerful communication tools.  Before photography painting and watercolors were one of the most important forms of visual communication available.  Paintings took days if not weeks or even months and years to paint, in which time the artist had ample time to develop and shape the message he wanted to convey to the audience.  Since the dawn of photographs, especially the explosion of digital imagery, TV and the internet we are bombarded by visual stimuli.  Its so bad that many Americans have only a "sound bite" grasp of the meaning of images presented to them.  They judge the meaning of an image solely on the second it takes to absorb the reflected light into their eyes, transcribe it to the brain and make a preliminary decision on its meaning.  Sometimes we need to slow down on what we see and think about the deeper meaning of what we observe and how it might apply to our otherwise buy lives.  While taking an art class in college I remember the professor telling us that art appreciation was not a passive pursuit.  An active mind and critical eye are required to fully assimilate and images meaning...any less and you are simply a mirror looking across the surface of an oceans, reflecting what is on the surface without ever knowing what lies beneath.

Today a friend a work told me that her dad wanted to know who this Pete guy was that was commenting on her post (about her boobs none the less)...she replied "oh, he's my gun friend.." I can live with that...

 I am "the gun friend" to any and all that need one....just look what you get out of the deal...

You might be a country lawyer if.....

From my friend Katie's FaceBook page....West-By-God-Virginia resident and fellow veteran...

  "You know you are going to be a country lawyer when your Mom keeps asking you about what kind of gun you want for law school graduation (because the rest of the family is asking her). I guess a set of pearls is just out of the question. BTW, I knew the answer right away. :)"

Personally my guess for what she asked for...

 

Couple of British items for you...

 
Queue "God Save The Queen"..............

Brits and Argentinians starting to kick political dirt on each other shoes over the Falkland Islands....again.

Story on CNN.

Wow, almost 30 years since the first Falklands War (I know its called something else in Argentina - The Malvinas but I speak English..sorry) and both countries as starting a war of words over these rocks again.  In the first meeting the the Brits came out winners and kept the Islands after recapturing them from an Argentinian invasion force..but at a relatively steep cost.  The entire war is remembered as being a very rough and uncomfortably affair for both side fought in the early parts of Winter in that part of the world.  The French exocet missile became famous as well as the Harrier jet fighter.  It was a war of logistics for the Brits having to fight a war at the other end of the Atlantic Ocean with the Argentinian mainland within fighter distance for their attacking aircraft.  On land the going was rough on both sides due to the terrain and weather and fighting was fierce.  One notable anecdote was that both sides were basically armed with the same battle rifle, the Belgian FN-FAL (called the L1A1 by the Brits).  The main difference was that the Argentinian models fired fully automatically and the L1A1 was limited to single shot.

Actually the main difference was in who was behind the trigger.  Many of the Argentinian troops were conscripts lead by professional NCO's and Officers, the Brits fielded a professional all volunteer military just like us Yanks...and we tend to fare fairly well against conscript armies lately.. 

 "Hey their rifle.....

 ....looks like my rifle!"

Hopefully this will just be a war of hot air this time and a peaceful resolution will be reached.  If not if will be interesting to see if the Argentinians learn any lessons from last time or would history repeat itself?

And if they do go down there....I hope the Brits don't miss having some of these guys around....

 Gurkas bear brunt of British Military cutbacks...

"Cutbacks!?!?...we'll show you how to cut something!!"

The Gurkas, the stalwart fighters from India and Nepal known for not only for their fierceness but
honor to a political bond long since obsolete to the British Empire, shall soon face deep cuts in their ranks from the same empire.  The BBC is reporting a 400 troop reduction from the regiment that comes on the heals of a previous 150 man reduction.  While not a large by number as some other reductions, as a percentage of the total force this is quite a drop in their numbers.  The Gurkas have a storied past with the British military first as Indian Regiments under British control and then as an actual unit of the British Army after England released India from the empire.  The Gurkas themselves have always been a step below the regular British soldier in the hierarchy of the British Army though.  Their officers were (until a few years ago) given viceroy commissions instead of royal commissions - which meant that an officer of the Gurkas was technically subordinate to an officer of any rank in the British Army.  Also, the benefits and pay were of a different - and lower - scale of the British soldier as well.  There is an active movement of former Gurkas trying to obtain equality in both benefits and status for those who serve the crown in the Regiment, including rights to citizenship and pension.  I hope them the best in that pursuit.

And finally to complete the Brit military theme for this post....

The Chinese National Synchronized Suicide Team...

Another "WTF" moment found on WTA....

Uh, comrade...once the pin is pulled Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend....

Pure propaganda for sure, some guesses to whether or not this is real..my money is that there is a charge in the hole being detonated remotely.  Still, it looks good on film...but has limited value in combat.

Sorry! No ROK M1 Garands from CMP for us!

I know I have been teasing all of you with the rumors that the POTUS would be allowing the ROK to get some old battle horse M1's over here - and assuming that they would be offered via the CMP for what are very reasonable prices.   CMP sent out an email tonight that stated, in part....

GARANDS FROM KOREA: Once again our phone lines and email boxes are flooded with requests for information on the purchase of M1 Garands from Korea. The Korea Times reported last week that the U.S. Government had approved Korea's request to sell 86,000 M1 Garands to U.S. importers. CMP is not a firearms importer and if these rifles are sold to U.S. importers, they will not come to the CMP or be sold by the CMP. We will not have any information on the sale of these rifles.

Damn!  And no mention of carbines either!  So if you do happen to get your hands on one of these rifles it will have an importers name and location  scratched on the receiver and probably pay a lot more than the $530 that CPM is offering them for..

Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up...including mine!  Makes me feel lucky for getting my Greek M1 when I did in such good shape.  

LCP shopping story #2 - how did that get in the safe!

OK, so at the end of my first story about LCP shopping I stated that I basically did not only need to shop at the store that I had the credit at...reason: I don't have it anymore.  What?  Yeah I used the credit to help pick this up...

Its a Universal M1 Carbine.  I know, I know...dream gun and all of that finally acquired.  Not so fast, this will NOT be a permanent part of the collection.  After the war many companies made copies of the M1 Carbine, some using USGI parts and others just making a carbine that looks like a GI issue model but differ in the internals....this is one of these.  To the best of what I can find on the internet this is a "3rd Generation" Universal carbine made in the late 60's or early 70's.  It incorporates a lot of cost savings features that gave rise to a not-so-stellar reputations. You can find these often on gun auctions and sales sights going for hundreds less than USGI models.  I found this for $350 and had to do it, for no other reason as a "filler" in the collection or maybe a knock around gun down the road.

There are several features on it I already do not care for but most of them are minor gripes:

• The stock is too "new" looking and has a lacquered finish..a good USGI one should have a worn stock like my M1 Garand does.
• The short stroke single piston design was changed to a dual piston system..why, I don't know, but the originals were not known for failure so why change?
• The bolt seems to be more or less GI in nature, but the operating rod is hollowed out where it engages the bolt to cam it in and out of the receiver and the charging handle is a bent piece of metal attached to it instead of a single piece unit like on a genuine article.
• There is no bolt lock back on it other than on an empty mag it appears the bolt will hang on the magazine follower, this makes removing the magazine more difficult since it is being held under pressure from the gas system springs.
• The rear sight is a ramp type affair but is very loose and sloppy..the peep site moves to each range marking but is not very tight and moves easily.  The windage screw does not move the sight with "clicks" and is mushy and uneven to boot.

So with all that, why the hell did I get it?  I don't know, I just love the look of the M1 Carbine and I figure if the Korean USGI ones do make CMP I should be able to sell this one for what I paid for it and trade up I guess, in the meantime I at least get a "feel" for what I am after.

I did get it torn down and cleaned (looks like some crud was in there from the Reagan administration era) and lubed back up with some Slipstream grease and the action seems to work smoothly.  Overall, it looks like a duck, it acts like a duck but until I can get to someplace to shoot it I won't know if it sounds like a duck.

More thorough review and evaluation once I get to shoot it.

Oh yeah, and I still need that pocket pistol.

LCP shopping story #1..there ain't no vanilla?..

 So, as I said last post I went looking for another pocket pistol in .380 again the other day, specifically a LCP.  why? I seem to have a habit of selling these little pocket pistols to people "in need" and was looking to get some cash together for another purchase, which turned out to be my Springfield 1903.  Well I have had both the P-3AT and the LCP before and find them functionally the same for the most part, the LCP is just a better finished product.  Since I have the LC9 now I thought having the LCP would just make sense. 

When I paid off the gun fund recently I sent in too much money and ended up with about a $120 credit at the store.   Well that would make a nice dent in the price of a basic LCP at around $300 - $330 for sure!  All I want is the basic model, I don't need lasers and such, been there already.  All I need is to put a dab of orange paint on the front blade of the pistol and it works fine for a really up close and personal defensive pistol. A simple blued finish, decent holster and and an extra mag is all that this pistol needs in my book.

Pocket perfection in my book...

Went to the store on Friday evening after work..walked in and took a number and waited my turn. When I was called I told the guy I wanted a LCP and was ready to buy.  We went to the case...this is what they had in stock...

the Crimson Trace Model....$399

the "Governor Ricky Perry Coyote model....$399

the NRA half camo model.....$399

the ultra fancy engraved model.....$399

and finally, the Zombie Slayer special.....$399

Wow, no basic no frill models in stock, just those. I was dumbfounded.  Now this is probably just an indication that a lot of people think the same way I do and want just a basic pistol for this type of CCW.  These pocket guns are not designed for real recreational shooting or anything other than what they are designed to do.  I have already talked previously on here about the use of lasers on these guns and how I thought they did provide some utility, but were ultimately not a "have to have" item for them. Engraving and coyote and zombie specials?  WTH? I guess you can dress a pig up and charge extra to show it off at any fair can't you?

It has been said that vanilla is truly the finest of the flavors.  Although sometimes referred to as "plain old vanilla" the thing that makes it great is that it doesn't pretend to be something its not.  Many times ice cream companies will blend vanilla in with cookies, fruit and other stuff, but in the end its still vanilla that carries the flavor to the consumer.   Same thing with a pistol like this...you can slap "Atomic Powered Banshee Slayer" on it, but its still a plain old .380 pocket pistol in the end.  A caliber that most consider the bare minimum to carry for self defense to boot...hardly what one one choose to slay zeds I think.  I will keep looking in the future and checking back at this and other stores....why not just the store I have a credit at?...ah, that will be story #2....

Maybe in the end I will just end up with one of these again...Kel-Tec did me right last time...

The iPhone...the mouse gun of the camera phones?

Don't really talk tech on this blog much, minimal at best.  Kind of surprising because I work in the IT industry, but then again this blog is mainly oriented to the 2A/Military/Gun Culture crowd and not the geek sector...although they are closer linked than some may realize.  And btw, I mean no disrespect by using "geek", I use that term to describe myself sometime.  Anyway, a recent event makes this post even more ironic that I may explain in the future, but not now and not here...

I was reading articles on Flipboard on my iPhone today and this article caught my eye...

Why the iPhone Should Have A Dedicated Shutter Button, by Matthew Panzarine, www.thenextweb.com

In the article the author articulates reasons why the next generation iPhone should have a physical shutter button for the camera feature in lieu of using a "soft button" on the touch screen or double utilizing one of the existing volume buttons on the phone.  The camera on my iPhone is one of my favorite features on it and the iPhone has replaced my normal cell phone, point and shoot camera and MP3 player all in one device.  Pretty nifty, especially since the camera in my iPhone 4 is better in terms of resolution than any previous digital camera I have owned.  Movies are also great and as you may have notices using the iMovie application (available via the Apple App store) I am actually able to make basic videos for this blog and post them directly from the phone when I need to.   Now I know a lot of you reading this use the Android platform and scoff at people who use Apple's hardware as being slaves to the Apple Machine and all of that, I get that, I really do, hey my own friends say that sometimes.  When my wife and I went to upgrade out phones last year the iPhone is just what we both liked in terms of features and appearance and has worked well for us.  So if you are an android person good for you, I am an iPhone user..good for me.

Back to the article...in it Panzarine points out that the camera is one feature that Apple is really pushing in its phone and is making big strides to have the best available on the market.  The fact that the camera is such a selling point should mean that in the iPhone 5 Apple should include a specific hard button for it, firmware to maximize performance and speed (already done for the most part in the iPhone 4S) and redesign the positioning on the lens and flash for more ergonomic pointing. While the iPhone will never be able to replace a high quality, purposely designed digital camera in terms of features or performance, he points out that "The best camera is the one that's with you.".  Gee, I have heard that before.... a lot.   But instead of cameras its usually aimed at the rational for carrying a small "mouse gun" in .380 or similar caliber in ones pocket instead of a .45 or other such similar full sized pistol as a CCW choice. (see, we're back to talking about guns now!)

Like the old saying goes "A LCP in the hand is worth two 1911's in the safe"...I may have add libbed that just a bit there...

I personally prescribe to this theory, that a gun carried and ready to be used is better than one left at home in the safe.  Yes, ideally in a perfect world I would leave the house with a 1911 or Glock strapped to me all the time.  Hell, if I KNEW I was going to be in a armed confrontation I would say screw the handgun and load up with the 870 with Winchester PDX-1 12 gauge buck-and-ball rounds or my AR.   The truth is in my world that I simply cannot carry a larger framed handgun on my easily enough at certain times to make it worth the benefit-risk evaluation.  I live in a relatively nice section of Central Ohio - by choice mind you, the old neighborhood was going down so the wife and I moved as is our ability to do so.  If I want to go to the local grocery store a few miles away to grab a gallon of milk at 11pm, statistically I am pretty sure I will not be assaulted based upon past assaults in the areas over time.  Of course we all know that just like your 401K statement, past performance does not indicate future potential.   The is a slight chance that an assault on my may occur still does exist.  The risk is so slight almost not to warrant attention, but that is how a sheeple thinks and not not a ram.  I would arm myself, but accordingly to the threat level.  In most cases this would mean sticking a small pocket pistol in .380 (most likely a LCP or P3AT) that I have trained on and utilizing good defensive ammo in.   This is especially true in the hot, humid summers we get here in Ohio where all I may have on are shorts, a t-shirt and sandals.

Back to the phone, I never would have normally put the connection between my CCW piece and my iPhone together but now that I think of it, it makes total sense.  My iPhone goes almost everywhere with my now, it even goes up to bed with me here in a bit tonight (its also my alarm clock).  I bet it is as close to me during the day as it is with a lot of people.  Think of this, next time somebody asks you why they think that it should be a PITA to get a CCW license ask them what they would think if the government all of a sudden made it a requirement to have a license to carry a smart phone...I mean as many accidents that it causes in cars it could happen, right?  Anyway, when the schmuck stammers out about their rights being violated to free speech as they see it under the 1st Amendment  or something like that...point out that its the same feeling for use that embrace the 2nd Amendment when we talk about our CCW's.  Difference is of course that smart phones are not mentioned in the original document but the right to bear arms certainly is.

Speaking of pocket pistols...went out looking for a LCP to replace the P3AT that I sold recently....couple of stories about that later...

That gun done been JESSE'D!

When someone generally says a gun has been "bubba'd" or "bubba upped" it generally implies or brings to mind an image of a redneck type sort hacking away at a barrel with a rusty hacksaw with duct tape and a Dremmel tool nearby to complete their "masterpiece". The web is awash with stories and pictures of weapons that have been "bubba'd", both intentionally and unintentionally, by folks trying to make their weapons "cool", "tactical" or "bad ass"...here are but a few examples from the net...

 A bubba job for sure, check out how the carrying handle has been cut away for the rail and the mounting job on that way to large scope for a SBR..because we all know large power optics go on an 11" SBR and not a red dot or other CQB optic..as well as a bipod...

 I have posted this pic before, in his defense this is supposedly a bubba job for laughs..still cost a Mosin its life though...

OK, technically a bubba, but if that barrel was cut and recrowned properly and that rail is attached solid I think this is a bubba job that might fall into the category of "useful modifications" as a scout rifle style mod...

OK, so you get the drift...

A few weeks ago a web friend from the WTA boards, named Harm, dropped that he was thinking about chopping down his #4 Enfield to a "tanker rifle" sized carbine.  A what?  A "Tanker" or shortened rifle. The term "Tanker" is thrown about to describe a full powered rifle shortened to a carbine length build.  Why tanker?  I don't know, supposedly some armorers in WW2 took M1 Garands and somehow chopped them down to the sling swivel so that tank crews could have something more powerful than pistols to use if they had to abandon their tanks that would still fit and maneuver inside the cramped confines of a Sherman Tank.  Don't know where I heard that so don't ask.  There were some variants of the Enfield during WW2 that were chopped down "jungle carbine" versions of the rifle for the troops in the Pacific theater, but it did not have a stock running the full length of the barrel.  I was skeptical of the idea at first and the thought of chopping a perfectly good specimen down made me shudder a bit.  But it wasn't what I wanted but what Harm wanted and he had another WTA member, JesseL, do the work...wonder how it turned out?

Well, here is the #4 Enfield before any cutting...

 

Here is a composite pic of Jesse working on it through several stages....

 

 And here is how it turned out...WOW!! BEAUTIFUL!!

I have to say that this is an awesome looking build!  It retains the classic lines of the original rifle while giving Harm a shorter, more handy rifle to keep for field or home use.  The most important step in the build I think would be the cutting and re crowning of the barrel.  The crown is the last place in the barrel that the round engages the rifling so any error here will affect accuracy down range.  Recrowning via counter boring is quite common - that is drilling back into the barrel itself to establish a clean crown - and many Mosins or other such surplus rifles may show them.  It is no shame to have one, it actually means you probably have a better crown than what was on the piece before they did it..and better accuracy after.  The nice thing about this chop job was that it gave a clean end piece to crown so it looks factory I am sure.   I also like the fact that Jesse was able to keep the original front sight post assemble and barrel band for the rifle as well.  Too many people seem to just chop the barrel and add a rail to mound a red dot or other optic and call it a day.  Not here, by keeping that hardware on the rifle it really adds to not only the keeping with the original appearance but is a stamp of class and professionalism in my book.

Jesse and Harm are friends and live somewhat close in Arizona I think so I don't know what this may have cost him to do, or if he would be willing to recreate the effort for others.  If you have something similar in mind for yourself and like what you see here, email me and I will ask Jesse if he would entertain any offers.

So now I have to add another term to the shooters lexicon...when a bubba is a weapon that has been hacked upon by an unqualified and less than talented gunsmith or other individual that ruins the weapon either functionally or aesthetically by altering it by unsightly means.....

....then a weapon that has been skillfully modified by a knowledgeable and talented artisan and the result  enhances not only the utility of the weapon in some manner but also maintains or enhances the aesthetic beauty of it as well...

it's been Jesse'd!!

Oops....

Thought I had a couple of posts scheduled to go live today...appears I scheduled them for TOMORROW...damn these short weeks....anyway, thanks to Terry on FaceBook here is a little something to munch on until then....

Getting tired of waiting on the C&R license...

 Been over 2 months now and I know that is about normal....and I did have that one little screw up on my part I had to correct and resubmit...but I have read other people's accounts of how they got them in a month or less!!  Every day I go home expecting to find the postman has delivered an envelope with it in it so I can start mailing copies to J&G, AIM Surplus, CTD and other places to start buying stuff....I already have my eye on a few C&R eligible pieces and look and research more and more every night...sooner or later I will break and buy one without the license anyway...online prices seem to be better than what I can generally find around these parts, as well as available inventory....

Still tired of waiting....screw it...going to buy a Mosin today.....

The Kinks, one of the leading bands of the British Invasion way back when...

Castle Doctrine

James over at Hell In A Handbasket posts a story about somebody who tried to gain entrance into his apartment without permission. Thanks to a locked door and loud dog James did not have to use the loaded gun he keeps close at hand and the result is that nothing happened and nobody got hurt.  In another local story, a burglar is caught breaking into a man's house and the homeowner apparently beats him to death.  Ouch.  Two totally different outcomes there.

There is no info available on the person(s) who attempted to open James' door but the deceased in the other incident pleaded to felony burglary charges in 2010.  How much you want to bet whoever was (unwisely) testing the waters at James' apartment probably had a similar record.  In both cases the use of force is or would of been probably justified by the use of what is commonly referred to as "The Castle Doctrine".  Going back to the Magna Carta and English Common Law which proclaimed that "every mans home was his castle" it was a trade off at the time for the English crown to renounce some power over its subjects and lower lords in return for being able to remain in power.  Many of the concepts were passed onto the "New World" and indeed are found in our own Constitution this very day.  In modern times the "Castle Doctrine" has evolved into a law based on the basic premise that a man has a right to defend his home and family by any means necessary against persons intent on doing them harm by trespassing and any other egregious acts.  I am not a lawyer and there is no single federal law covering the "Castle Doctrine" as it applies to the US, so please check your local state laws in regards to specifics in your home state.

Recently the Castle Doctrine received significant coverage when an 18 year old widow shot and killed a intruder armed with a knife to defend herself and infant son.  Notice how Oklahoma is a "red" state in the above map....castle doctrine tested and approved.

In Ohio, in basic terms it means that the homeowner/resident of a property has the right to use any force deemed necessary to protect themselves from a person who unlawfully presents themselves as a threat to the safety of the owner/resident or their family. It also provides civil protections to the owner/resident from prosecution in civil court for damages inflicted to the attacker on his or his families behalf.  In Ohio we have a "stand your ground" clause that also means that the person defending themselves has no duty to retreat from the confrontation.  In other states there is sometimes a duty to remove yourself from the attacker, if possible, before using force.  For example, attacker breaks down front door, you lock yourself in a bedroom and retrieve your handgun and tell them to leave, they break the door to the bed room and come at you with a knife...at that point the duty to retreat would of been sufficed in order to utilize deadly force.

This is not, contrary to popular belief, a "shoot first, drag them over the threshold" law as some would seem to want to have you believe.  You still must show that a reasonable threat was presented and also that the person present was their illegally and that you were not engaged in illegal activity at the time...so you can't shoot the guy that tries to rob you in a drug buy at your crib when he pulls out a knife...sorry...well, no not really.  I am 6' and about 250lbs and have had training in some self defense techniques. I would be hard pressed to show a judge and jury why I needed to shoot an unarmed,  120lb, 69 year old man who shows up at my door and will not leave, insisting he lives there.  Again, use your brain and look up your local laws to be sure you know what you can/can't do when employing the castle doctrine to defend yourself, your family and your home.

Those pesky 1903 sights solved via a source all but lost...

A great site is back online...surplusrifle.com which has been absent from the net from some time is now available at the following IP address:

http://207.36.233.89/index.asp.

There was no explanation for why the site was down on its front page and and it appears that it has not been updated for some time.  I don't know what the deal is other than its a great site for doing some quick reference for those milsurp rifles you may come across.  I was finally able to look up the 1903 Springfield I have and look what I found concerning that pesky ladder sight:  (Cut and paste from surplusrifles.com, all credit to the writer there for the info contained)

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I found the rifle's rear sight was fairly complex and I could not figure out which notch or aperture to use. So I set off to do some research and this is what I found.
To use the rear sight's adjustable notches or apertures the sight leaf is lifted as shown in figure 3.
To adjust windage (left or right) turn the windage knob (as shown in figure 4). Each graduation marking equals 4 minute of angle at 100 yards.
I believe that the 1903 has one of the most accommodating rear sights found on any early 20th century battle rifle. Imagine a sight being produced for a rifle with no less than 5 sight notches and apertures (3 adjustable and 2 set for specific distances). To adjust for elevation loosen the elevation knob on the right and then slide the aperture up or down (as shown in figure 5).  Figure 5 shows a type 4 sight leaf  with graduations from 100  to 2825 yards. The 1903 had seven different leaf types (ranging in max graduated distance from 2000 to 2825). The leaf's left side scale ranges from 200 to 2820 while the right side scale ranges from 100 to 2825.
Ref Name Range Used a Top "U" Notch 2850 yards b "U" Notch 1400 to 2750 yards c Battle Sight Notch 400 to 530 yards d Bottom Sight Notch 100 to 2450 yards e Peep Sight 100 to 2350 yards f Windage Scale Eleven per side (each marking equals 4 minute of angle at 100 yards)
Figure 6 shows the 1903 battle sight picture that is set at 400, 530, or 547 yards (depending on sight type and cartridge used). The battle sight was used for the following: A soldier using the battle sight could hit a man between 100 and 400, 530, or 547 yards (depending on sight type and cartridge used).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow, that is just the info I needed for that rifle!! A maximum range of 2,850 yards!  Who could see that far?  Not many people, it was actually more likely intended to be used to volley fire great distances at advancing cavalry or other such troop formations to create a beaten zone of fire for the enemy to advance through.

New Magpul mags

Thanks to The Firearm Blog for this info...

Magpul has introduced new mags the PMAG 30 M3 that are yet another evolution of their nearly universally liked PMAG line of polymer magazines for the AR.   Unlike the shotgun stock and forearm that they recently announced, I am not so "meh" on these magazines.  Seems to me that the design changes were either mostly cosmetic (dots for writing numbers on them..good idea but my paint pen has worked well on mine) or more geared toward working on the SCAR and other next generation assault rifles in the same class as the AR.  For me, the changes are not enough for me to change out my existing first and second gen PMAGs in my kit for the new ones, but its nice to know that Magpul is not sitting on their laurels and are looking forward with designs..

Wow, sometimes I can't figure some people out...

I cannot understand how some people in this world think.  Yes I know we are all individuals but this was a mind number for me.  This was a FaceBook thread started by an online friend of mine Erik (not the paratrooper and who works for Beretta BTW)...pay attention down the page when "Monika" chimes in....I think she is a liberal...well, yeah she obviously is with her "I know it all but will tell you I am open to discussion knowing damn well that my opinion will not change" style....

This all started when Erik  posted this picture...

And here is the conversation thread (if you didn't know I am "Pete" in real life and below)

Ali XXXXX practice gun control, use both hands

Erik XXXXX  Yes ma'am :)

Chris XXXXXX Guns are bad mmmmk .. If we just got rid of all the guns no one would have guns to shoot anyone.

Angela XXXXXX Careful what you say, You don't know who is American. Canadians on the other hand are cool, safe and prefer to snowboard and play hockey then shoot guns:)

Preston XXXXXX Really? I know a couple of canucks who'd shoot day in and out more than those other things

Angela XXXXXXXX Hey hey hey..I was just saying that if you want to get away from gun, come to Canada. It is a privilege to have a gun not a right.

Chris XXXXX You'll never be able to get away from Guns. My comment was 100% satire.

Brad XXXXXX Canada's Crime Rate 50 % Higher than U.S.

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/1/24/150547.shtml

Chris XXXXXX This ladies and gentleman is why I own a gun. It is also why I will not date any female who does not have a gun, taser or the like. Having dated a girl who was raped by my room mate. I WILL NOT allow such an event to occur again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia

Brad XXXXX and castle rock v gonzales

Angela XXXXXX Wow. That is all i am going to say. ( I am a proud Canadian)

PrestonXXXXXX Okay, so what my wife was trying to say is that Canadians are bit more focused when it comes to guns. Though by the numbers there are less gun owners than non gun owners.

Chris XXXXXX You say'n we not focused!?! You say'n we ignant! COUSINS! Git ur guns. w'be goin out.

Chris XXXXXX I'm not saying anything against you or your wife. I meant no disrespect really. Its just even when focused, I believe a gun is a right. Just like self-defense. It evens the playing field among me and my assailant. I'm a big guy, but theres always someone bigger. My life is too precious not to defend. As are the lives around me.

Preston XXXXX Trust me, I agree completely. Think of The origins of the Castle doctrine. That comes from the magna carta, buuut every Canadian doesn't think that right applies to them anymore and thus they lost it.

Angela XXXXXXX Easy there Hubby:)

Angela XXXXXX Lets just go with this. Canadians can play by their own rules and the Americans can play by their amendments.

Erik XXXXX Hey now folks..

Ryan XXXXXX
There is a pretty strong sentiment in Canada to relax restrictions on legal gun ownership and self-defense...

But it is extremely hard for people, even Americans, who have not been exposed to firearms for an extended amount of time to unde...See More

Monika XXXXXX
The constitution and amendments were written in times when there was neither organized police nor army. Today there was no need for private gun ownership based on 2nd amendment.
Polish Constitution was the 2nd in the world (written a few years after yours) and the 1st in Europe. Since then it has been rewritten a couple of times because the times changed. Many other countries have rewritten their constitution to adopt to current times.
Instead of living in the past, America should write a new constitution and get rid all the amendments, especially the 2nd one because it does not apply to today's system.

Erik XXXXXX
Monika, I welcome your viewpoint and input and value that you are indeed entitled to it, however I must disagree with it.

The purposes of the 2nd Amendment go much deeper than just for self protection. I don't have the time to go into as much depth as I would like at this time, but I'd be happy to do so later on if you'd like. Suffice it to say that self protection is, while an integral part of the 2nd Amendment, not the entire point of that particular Amendment.

Mark XXXXXX
Monika, it's always more helpful in these kinds of discussions to acknowledge the current reality rather than just talk about what we all wish should be. We all have our own versions of utopia that aren't always compatible with others versions, and more to the point, utopian thinking never results in real change. Utopia is a place that can never be.

You just can't get rid of all the guns in this country. There are too many, nobody knows where they are, and people aren't going to give them up willingly. So how do you make your view of what's right a reality under those circumstances?

Pete XXXXXX
No organized police or Army? seriously..head...4th point of contact, remove former from latter please...ever heard of the Continental Army?...you know the one that Washington commanded...still around in 1887....police? you think the entire system of laws and punishment just went away when the Brits left? And you do realize we have written and adopted new amendments (hence the term) that have not only added to the Constitution but have also removed former parts of it? And yes, if I were Poland and coming out of half a century of communist rule I might write a new one myself...tell you what just for the Polish remark I am going to go buy that Polish Tokarev that I looked at the other day after seeing Erik's..and hey, lets get rid of that pesky 1st amendment you libs throw around so much...

Monika XXXXX Erik send me an email about the other reasons for second amendment and what the word militia means (there is no need for militia now so that is my reasoning against the 2nd amendment)I do not read about the pro and contra for second amendment by others so it would be nice to hear other views.

Pete XXXX well, there is no "need" for the airbag in your car until an accident either...

Erik XXXX Monika, I'll do that this evening.

Monika XXXXX
Pete, I have lived for many years in many countries and I have more international take on things. Poland is not the only country that changed their const. And now I haven't heard of continental army but will educated myself unlike you not by buying a gun but by reading about it and broaden my views and knowledge
Mark I understand your view. It's not utopia that there are countries in Europe that exist and function without private gun ownership. It took probably decades to make that work but it was possible. So I don't think it's utopia.
Most people are happy if they have a dry and warm place to live, friends and family and some food to share with them. That is the basic happiness. They dont think about guns. And then there are few that need to have guns to be happy.
Question: why do you have or want to have a gun? What is it about that it makes it so important to you?

Mark XXXXXX
In the case of America, I think it is utopian. I think you may be underestimating just how many guns there are here. Last I checked, there are well over 320 million guns in this country. Very few states require any sort of registration with any agency, so we don't know where they are or who owns them. And we know that the vast majority of gun owners simply won't give them up willingly.

Take that into account with the complicated and time-consuming process of amending the constitution and it's pretty clear that it's something that will never happen. At least with the consent of the people anyway. And without that, what do we have? Not much.

You're right about one thing, we don't need guns to be happy. I was happy before I ever owned guns, and I could live a nice life without them too. But I enjoy them. I get satisfaction from shooting the same way that an archer does when he puts his arrow right in the bullseye. And the way I see it, they're legal for me to own, I'm a respectful and thougtful person, and I am capable of owning them without putting anyone else at risk. So if something bad does happen, earthquakes, riots, etc, (which aren't unheard of in socal), I have the ability to take care of myself, my family, and my friends and neighbors.

I mean, if you can think of a way to ensure that criminals as well as law abiding citizens won't have access to firearms, then that might be a more valid argument. But I've been thinking about this subject for a LONG time and I have yet to hear a compelling argument about how that happens.

Pete XXXXX
I to have lived and worked in foreign countries.... Kuwait, Afghanistan......Europe is a mess...their forced socialist agendas have weakened their economies and lets not also forget that their "enlightened" views lead to two world wars..not exactly a winning record...I too am happy to have a warm place to live, food to eat (and I do eat indeed) and friend and family to share them with...and I own a gun to help protect all of that...the one thing you miss out on the 2nd amendment that Erik was dancing around that ultimately the 2nd amendment was provided a general check against the government....we allow ourselves the right to revolution if we see its the only way to remove an corrupt and unjust government...at the time the constitution was written we had just thrown out one government and left ourselves the means to do it again..thus the allowance in our USC for both organized and unorganized militias to be recognized..now do I actually see another armed revolution in this country, no...but then again I bet European saw a failed art student leading Germany into the 3rd reich either...

Pete XXXXX I would give mine up if somebody would pass a law giving me an armed security detail like many politicians get to sit and watch over me and my family....

Monika XXXXX Pete, Germany being a socialistic country has currently 7.7% unemployment rate, which one cannot say about USA right now.

Monika XXXXXXXXXX
but that is outside the scope of this conversation. I dont believe in guns however I will go sailing in a year or so and I am thinking about getting a gun for protection. Nevertheless, in a country that the Police forces work well, there is...See More

Monika XXXXXXXXXX Pete, there will always be some people who think differently. In every country there are some crazies. As an example, you just had yours a year ago that shoot the governor and few others. Europe changed since the WWII. So has USA. Maybe it is time to move on

Pete XXXXXXXX
but JC, you just said you were thinking of getting one...which is it? a society without gun or one where you can buy one if you think its in your own self interest...maybe when you are out on your boat you can float on up the Rhine and settle in Germany with their excellent police force..I hear they have plenty of jobs there...food fairly well sucks but that too is outside the scope of this conversation...and one last thing, why the hell do people attack you so much?

Monika XXXXXXXXX I am an open minded person who listens to other opinions. I would be very happy to hear to yours if it is constructive and learn more why it is important that the US citizens need a gun. Dont you feel safe in your country?

Mark XXXX So how do you get rid of the guns that are already here Monika?

Ryan XXXXXX
If the US stopped trying to adopt socialist policies which in turn destroys business and jobs, we wouldn't be so bad.

I'll take freedom and unemployment over servitude to the state.

Think of it this way, America has always been the exception to the norm. Why should we start changing now to be more like Europe? A lot of people in Europe continue to immigrate here. It must not be all that bad. If people prefer Europe, they should by all means move there.

The revolutionary war was partially sparked over British troops attempting to disarm colonists.

If you think the basic principals in the Bill of Rights are out dated and archaic because they were adopted over 200 years ago, take a look at most English common law and other legal systems in Europe.

I have firearms for several reasons. Self-defense is the most basic human right aside from reproduction. This includes the right to defend against a tyrannical government. Target shooting, collecting, etc are all separate hobbies themselves.
Think about this, America has never been invaded successfully. We have two large oceans on each side and 50% of households have at least one gun in them. That is why no one has tried even during the World Wars, etc.
An armed populace is one reason America had such a hard time in Vietnam. We weren't ready for farmers and villagers with guns that didn't look like soldiers.

Ryan XXXXX Most basic human instinct/natural right* sorry I'm on my phone.



Monika XXXXXXXXX Ryan, agree with you on many points you have made. I would like to say something to all of it but and it is something we can talk and talk and talk. So, if you ever wanna meet and talk about it then I am up for it :-)
Pete, what can I do that I had parked my car beside an asshole who couldn’t driver? The other situations: bad Karma, bad judgment of people? The point was not my personal life, but the experiences I had in different countries with the police forces. You are becoming personal and straying away from the subject and therefore your argument becomes weak.
Mark, if I tell you how I would go about it, you probably would not like it. But if you ever want to talk about it I am open to discussion on more private ground than FB.


Angela XXXXXX Hey Ryan. I am a gun owner up North in Canada. Non of these comments offend me in any way. No hard feelings, eh :)

Pete XXXXXXXX yours was weak to start with...you want a gun free utopia but want one yourself now that it may suit your needs...you can't have it both ways comrade..oh wait, thats how NYC issues CHL permits..yes I guess you feel that you and you alone are the only person "enlightened by your experiences" to own a firearm for your own protection...and how do you know that karma won't put another bad person in your path - or more importantly to me, mine or my family..I would rather have the right to defend myself and them than rely on a police fore that A) is not right there at the exact moment I may be in danger and B) has no legal requirement to protect me anyway...you are the sheeple we always talk about Monika, except you...I have talked to your kind before, "open minded" as long as I say the same thing you are..want to change the world for the better as long as it fits your view, I bet you occupied recently, didn't you? Socialist paradise, all for the common good as long as I get to sail around the world then...with my gun of course which you can't have...

Monika XXXXXXXXX Pete, Only because I am thinking about one does not mean I am gonna get one, it is something I consider, in case I decide to sail into more dangerous areas. I do NOT think about getting a gun while I live here and never thought about one while I was in Europe. Do you see the difference? I live here, I feel safe, I dont need a gun. But you do

Pete XXXXXXXX you don't live where I do now do you? you make it sound like we are in the same apartment complex or something...it looks like we are half a country apart to me...the same reason many of our current gun laws are allowed to be state issues instead of federal ones...what might be right for you may not be right for me...

‎Pete XXXXXXXX...and buying and owning a gun in a country that allows you to do so legally doesn't make sense but putting one into your boat and sailing into international waters and foreign ports does? 

 Monika XXXXXXXXX Pete, we should stop this conversation here. If you want to say what you think send me an email. I think right now this became some sort of your personal vendetta against me. 


Monika XXXXXXXXX BTW I live close to Oakland, one of the most dangerous cities in USA...

Pete XXXXXXXX Oakland...damn, I'd buy a gun..and don't take it personally, its my vendetta against every anti 2A out there in favor of taking away my constitutional rights...

and I'll end this here....

Sorry, lengthy I know.  What I can't get my head around is that this woman, Monika, has been attacked not once, but twice and still doesn't see a need to defend herself until now when she is talking about getting one when she sails around the world.  WTF?  What is it lady a gun free utopia or not?  You can't have it both ways, outlawing guns except for yourself as you see fit as a liberal...oh wait, I think that is how NYC issues concealed carry licenses....Honestly the way her name is spelled, her pro European lilt to her views I think that she is actually Polish anyway (confirmed by Erik this afternoon), her views are probably already cemented in her mind.  I wonder if she ever visited the sites of Auschwitz, Belzec or Sobibor and think how those folks might have felt about self defense?

There is nothing wrong with being a European, I enjoy all of my readers there that I see on my stat counter and wish you all the best.  No I do not agree with how you run your countries necessarily, but an ocean - like a good fence - often makes for good neighbors.  I would like to think that if you are from somewhere other than the US that forbids gun ownership that you come here because you hope to change that someday.
As for me, I thank my God that I was born an American!  No, things are not perfect or pretty in the USA, but I still would prefer to be here than anywhere else!

Ohio news: Canton unemployment numbers increase by 1...

Police officer Daniel Harless who threatened to execute CCW holder fired by the city of Canton, Ohio.

You may remember this incident from June of  last year from here in the Buckeye state.  It made national press and has been used to show the bias some police have against CCW holders...justified or not this was clearly a case of an over-the-line officer going way beyond any reasonable amount of self restraint.  Given, the "suspect" in that case did not do enough in my book to let the officer know a head of time, but both officers made what seem to be gross mistakes in the handling of the situation.

It is notable that former-officer Harless claims he suffers from PTSD since 2003 when he was attacked while on duty, but if this is his defense why was he allowed to be on an active status for so long without any treatment?  Also the question is raised in the article about not only a trial he recently testified at while supposedly "mentally disabled" according to his union at the time but incidents of police brutality his is accused of prior to the 2003 incident that he claims triggered the PTSD that lead to his behavior.

Doesn't look like news reports for Harless are going to end anytime soon.

Estimating range with an EOTech...

Knew you could do this just never found a video demonstrating it so well...I will have to try this at the next Posse shoot when I get some distance and people to use...of course it will remove my EOTech from my rifle first....

This reminds me of an email I sent to EOTech a few years ago and their response...at close distance the lower tic mark on the outer ring is a 7 yard zero on the rifle..helpful if you have an AR with a fold down front sight..for me anything up close I can usually engage with just centering the front post in the EOTech window that close...

My emailed question...

From: Pete [mailto:XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 1:31 PM
To: XXXXX, Deb @ EOTECH
Subject: Use of the lower 65 MOA ring as a 7 yard battle sight

I just purchased an XPS-2 and must say I love it. 

I found a vid online that has one of your spokesmen stating that the bottom portion of the ring (I assume where the lower vertical tic mark meets it) is the 7 yard CQB aiming point (obviously due to height over barrel issues with a 50 yard zero).  I cannot find any documentation that supports this anywhere and wanted to know if this is confirmed true, a rumor, or just one of those "inside" tricks learned through use, like the use of the ring to estimate distance on a full height target.

Thanks, and again, nice job on the sight. Glad our troops are using it.

 And the company's response....

Hello Pete,

That is indeed true, but it is not published as the sights were designed for a 50yd zero with the 5.56 round.    Mostly LE uses them for close range and for the most part, putting center mass in circle will suffice but for a precision close shot that aiming point when properly zero’d would be correct.

All close range aiming points should be validated by live fire.

Sincerely      

Mike XXXX

Customer Service Manager

L-3 EOTech

1201 E Ellsworth Rd

Ann Arbor Mi  48108   

734 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"speed means survival"

Zo is right...don't hate Bill Maher...

• Sure he was a second rate comedian before his show on HBO....still is in IMHO...
• Sure, I can't watch his show without wanting to throw something through the TV most of the time...
• Sure, he pits the most popular liberals he can find against usually weak or obscure right wing guests to be fair...

But as Zonation points out you're hating the player, when you should be hating the game...

Remember when Rush Limbaugh had his show?  Yeah, me neither really...he did have one back in the early 90's for a while...had guests from the right wing of the isle on the show as well as popular guests like Ted Nugent and Lee "God Bless the USA" Greenwood (for those of you that missed Desert Shield/Storm)...but it never was "mainstream" by any real means.  Dennis Miller had a show on HBO for a while too, his sense of humor I think was to dry and highbrow to last on that network... who do we have?  There are conservatives in Hollywood, but who is young and charismatic enough to make a show work?  Norm MacDonald, thats who?  He has the comedy chops, generally leans to the right and with the correct amount of coaching and PR work could be a very convincing alternative to the Bill Maher vibe.  Of course he is not an American and that could turn a lot of people off so here is another wild card you might not think of...Adam Sandler...yep, registered Republican.  We might have to wait a few years until the movie roles slow down for him, but he is popular, funny, has made a slew of popular and successful films in liberal Hollywierd and most of all, has played to a populist mindset of character selection in most of his films.  His films generally show a common man with his head and heart in the right place that can succeed by following his dream and trying hard to achieve a goal (Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Mr. Deeds).

I think that would be awesome...of course now that I say that it will never happen, but a guy can dream about a show like that the same way he can about an SR1911 being dropped in my lap...

Why doesn't Ruger make a pump or semi shotgun?

This is a thought continued from a WTA thread....

Ruger is probably one of my favorite manufacturers right now in terms of the amount of offerings they have that appeal to me.  Some of you may not think so highly of them for one reason or another, but this is just my opinion, again your mileage may vary.  The offer everything from deep concealment pistols (LCP), duty weapons (SR9/40, P series), O/U sporting shotguns, and AR (SR556), the premier .22 autoloader in the 10/22 and a whole bunch of other stuff...

But where is the pump or semi shotty for us?  Hey Ruger, listen up! Is the market so dominated in the segment you would target by Remington and Mossberg that you simply choose to focus elsewhere?  Are there some patents you cannot work around in the design process that is keeping you out?  What's the deal?  Stevens, H&R and NEF offer cheap pump shotguns aimed at the budget crowd, I bet you could too. You have announced a bunch of .22 handguns recently and a new .30-06 rifle but can't come up with a 12 or 20 gauge sporting/defensive shotgun to offer?

If you did this you would come really close to offering something in pretty much every category that a sporting/recreational/defensive minded shooter could use...all under one roof.  That would be impressive.

And how about a SR pistol in .45 ACP.........