Archive for the 'Firearms' Category

Here is an interesting video I stumbled across.  Yea, he’s not Jerry Miculek, but that makes it more useful.  He shoots more like I would (I’m pretty good with a pistol and a revolver, but I’m not Jerry either).

So here’s one takeaway.  Yea, there are fewer possible shots with a wheel gun unless you’re Jerry and can reload as quickly as he does.  But there are disadvantages with the auto-loading pistol as well.

FTF, FTE, stovepipe failures, light primer strike or dud ammunition requiring you to cycle the slide and hope that there are no terminal failures of the machine.  I’m sure this is just a partial list.

Furthermore, he demonstrates auto-loading pistols going out of battery, and the shirt getting caught up in between the slide and frame was something I didn’t see coming.  And duress, there’s something very nice about the simplicity of a double action revolver.

I sometimes carry an auto-loading pistol.  When I do, it’s most usually a Commander size 1911, although not necessarily so.  I sometimes carry a small revolver.  When I choose to do that, it’s most likely in a truly non-permissive carry situation, i.e., I absolutely cannot print, so I’ll carry a small revolver in an ankle holster.

I shoot 1911s well because of the narrow single stack design, but I shoot subcompacts very poorly, probably because of the severe RA in my right hand and the gnarled up joints in my fingers.  I do much better with small revolvers than I do any subcompact.  The only time I can shoot a double stack well is for medium frame pistols, so I might choose to carry one of those.

What I do depends upon a lot of considerations, and the notion that more rounds is always better misses the real complexity of this issue for a carrier.

I have two general comments on this video.  First, I think Ammoland needs to work on its videographic skills.  The person doing the video is halting, seemingly unprepared for the video, and doesn’t do a full blown review of all of the features, modes, strengths and weaknesses.

Second, I think it’s important to highlight new products like this one because (in my opinion) Surefire is the 900 pound gorilla in the room and charges way too much for its products.  I think they need some good competition, and this light seems like it.  I want one.

And by the way, Amazon has it for sale at a decent price point.

For the record, I don’t think the DOJ/ATF was trying to clarify anything.  I think they intended to muddy the waters and use fear as a tactic.  Also for the record, I don’t think fear is going to work as a tactic.

Paul answers his critics.  I dream of an America where pests don’t badger Paul with idiotic comments and make him spend time addressing stupid things.  But his breakdown of Biden’s shotgun advice is priceless.

Then there is this from Mountain Guerrilla.

“Since it evokes commentary in every class I do……I lubricate my rifles with copious amounts of whatever motor oil happens to be on sale at the gas station when I’m enroute to the class, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t cleaned any of our primary rifles in at least five months…..somewhere in the vicinity of 7000-8000 rounds per weapon….and they still run flawlessly……motor oil is designed to do what? Protect and lubricate high-velocity, reciprocating pistons in a machine (your car)….what is your bolt carrier group? A high-velocity, reciprocating piston …”

I knew most of this already.  The main points are that you never get something for nothing.  A long barrel causes the .357 magnum to shine.  That round beats the .38 Spl by a non-trivial margin.  It does so in both the short barrel wheelgun and the long barrel (although more so with the longer barrel).

However, splits to followup shots, ability to control recoil, gun weight, concealability, etc., are all factors in making a decision on what to carry, and when.

Outdoor Life.

These are some nice rifles, and they all shoot < 1 MOA out of the box.  I especially like the Tikka T3X Lite and the Savage 110 Hunter.

Of course, you could go with the Savage 110 Ultralite with its carbon fiber wrapped barrel, and get an even lighter rifle (< 6 pounds).  But then you’d be spending twice what you’d pay for the Savage 110 Hunter to reduce rifle weight by one pound.  And get a prettier looking gun.