Day at the Range

Today's trip to the range was accompanied by a rather large agenda of tasks that I wanted to accomplish.

First and foremost I wanted to work on my draw from concealment with live ammo to see if my dry fire drills have created any bad habits. I had nothing to worry about, as a matter of fact my first shot on target accuracy has improved significantly. While working on my drills, I was also continuing my Tripp Research v Wilson Combat magazine test. I used the same magazines as my previous tests, and the results were pretty much the same as before. I am going to gather a lot more data before posting again, but I am pretty confident that the earlier issues are not random. I was also testing out the first batch of reloads through my Lee Pro 1000. They ran great up until the point when there was a small "pop", and nothing when I pulled the trigger. I found a round with no powder. The bullet did not even completely clear the case. That turned into a "take the gun home and fix" issue. All is well now.

The next task on my list was to try out my new Ruger SP 101. That is one fine revolver. The front sight takes a bit of extra concentration, but I held very good groups with .38 Special rounds. My groups opened up a bit when I shot the Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel Low-Flash 158 gr .357 rounds. I am very happy with this revolver.

While I was doing all this, V was shooting her Hi-Power. While we were at NRA Con, V received a bit of instruction from one of the guys with Novak Sights. V noticed right away that her shooting had improved. She put quite a few rounds down range and was very pleased with the results.

My final task for the day was to break in the bore of my new Savage Scout, and sight in the Leupold FX II Scout Scope. This was where I bit off a little more than V could chew. The temperature got into the 90's and the day grew long for her as I shot one round, then cleaned the barrel, shot another round and ...

I started at the 50 yard range to sight in the scope. Moved to the 100, then out to the 200 yard range. When I was sighted in at 200 yards, I started ringing a gong that I hung out there. V was watching the plate swing through a spotting scope. That is when I started missing the plate. I went from nailing a 3" orange dot to missing an 8" wide plate. Something was up. The factory mounted forward rail had worked loose. Did not make it through the whole break in procedure, but that will wait for another day.

Now it's time to clean some guns. Now, where did I put that loctite...

Memorial Day

From "Fallen Heroes" a photo essay by Daniel J. Wood. Location: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Florida.

Mike has an excellent tribute to our fallen heroes in:

Put the "Memorial" Back in Memorial Day

I have a flag that once flew over the USS Constitution. I do not get to fly it very often as I do not have a pole large enough to properly display it. I brought that flag out to the range with us and flew it from the center pole. I had to fly it a touch higher than half mast this morning due to the height of the pole. As the day heated up, V and I were left at the range to ourselves. The sound of that flag popping in the wind was a constant reminder of those that fought, and died, for our country.

I hope you had the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends, cook out, play, and enjoy this long weekend. I also hope that you took a moment to remember those who died so that we have the liberty to do all of the things that we do.

Nano-Mortar, A First Look

Awhile back, Steve of The Firearm Blog posted "Smallest black powder artillery ever made". That post has images and video of miniature mortars, cannons and gonnes. After seeing that, I knew I had to get into the miniature arms race. For my first effort I used the provided plans.

Here is the Nano-Mortar:

1" long and 0.710" high.

Can't wait to get my hands on some black powder and give this a spark. I wonder if there is a special license for concealed carry mortars?

The EPR

Our official Keyboard and a .45 model showing off the latest EPR (Evil Pink Rifle).



Too bad they didn't have the matching magazine.

Memorial Day National Moment of Remembrance

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).

The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom.

It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

H/T to Sondra K.

A Good Idea?

I've been commenting on all the cool and interesting stuff V and I found in the NRA Exhibit Hall. This is one item that I just do not like at all.

Safe Round. It is basically a dummy round that you would load as the first round in a pistol or revolver. If there is a negligent trigger pull, or if an intruder gets your firearm, the gun is locked up and unusable until the Safe Round is reset.

The first problem I have with this product is that it is a crutch and enables unsafe firearm handling and storage. It can be used as an excuse to leave a handgun where untrained or undisciplined children can get access to it. I can see the news report now. "Geeze officer, I thought I had loaded a Safe Round."

The second problem I have with this product is that it defeats the purpose of keeping a firearm handy for self defense. In an emergency situation where you need to use that revolver right now, are you going to remember to advance the cylinder? How about ejecting the first round in your semi-auto?

You do not need a crutch to maintain a safe, firearm owning, household.

If you watch the video and decide that this product really is for you, then head on over and pick one up. Just do me one favor and don't let this product lull you into a false sense of security and start developing lackadaisical firearm safety habits.

A couple related links:

Kids and Firearm Safety

Educating Your Kids

Something Else to Drool Over

Steyr had a very well equipped and informative booth with pretty much everything Steyr has to offer. I of course handled the Scouts (they had a whole section of them, the marine finish scout would make a great cache gun), but what really caught my attention was the new SSG 08.

At 12+ pounds this is not a light rifle, but is very comfortable to shoulder. Would have loved to have given it a try prone, but not quite the venue for that.

She didn't have a nametag

Jim Shepherd, of Down Range TV, has written what may be the best piece to come out of the NRA Annual Meeting.

She didn't have a nametag

"Sir," she said once again, "you won't let that happen to us, will you?"

Suddenly, in the middle of a record crowd in a busy convention, something clicked.

For the first time in a long time, the whole discussion about guns and gun rights coalesced into an unvarnished truth spoken by a lady most of us would have dismissed without a second glance.

The enormity of it was nearly overwhelming It was as if someone had turned on a bright light in a pitch-black room. The accompanying rush of emotion made my spine tingle and the few hairs still on my head feel as if they at attention.

I had heard a call for help. A direct plea begging that I stop treating the Second Amendment fight like it was just another story...

This one is well worth the read.

Lets Play...

...Name These Shooters!


If you need some help, you might, maybe, possibly find it here.

A Couple of .45's From the NRA Exhibits

First up is Thompson's new pistol. The Thompson 1927A-1 Deluxe Pistol.

Kind of hard to conceal with that 50 round drum (a 100 round drum is available) and an overall length of just under two feet. But what the heck, it's no hill for a climber.

Next up is the KRISS Super V CRB/SO .45 ACP Civilian Carbine.

The KRISS is most tempting. A carbine in the same caliber as my sidearm could come in handy...

How's That Gun Control Thing Working Out in Chicago?

It seems Mayor Daley's gun buy back program isn't working:



If you use the street map feature to move up and down the street, you can see this unfold a bit. You will also see a group of uninterested bystanders hanging out in the shade.

H/T to Say Uncle

Edit: Okay, when you blow the image up, you can see that it is most likely a squirt gun.

The Fifty Calber Institute

Had a booth at the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits. Here is the prototype of the Windrunner Semi-Auto .50 Cal by EDM Arms that is up for grabs in this years raffle.

I am happy to support the Fifty Caliber Institute by being a member, and by advertising these raffles. But I do have to admit, a part of me is thinking "What the heck are you doing, the more tickets you sell, the harder it will be to win".

I am, of course, not serious. I know that if one of y'all win this rifle, I will get an invite to join you at the range. So the more folks I can send over for ticket sales, the better my chances of actually getting of putting a few rounds down range through this awesome rifle.

For more information, head on over to FCI by clicking here.

Closing the "Gun Show Loophole"

This new ad, put out by the Bloomberg cronies, pretty much highlights the weakness in Senator McCain's supposed support for our right to keep and bear arms:

There is no such thing as a gun show loophole. All firearm transactions at gun shows have to follow the exact same local, state and federal laws as any other firearm transaction in that local. Proposed laws to close a "Gun Show Loophole" have nothing to do with loopholes, and everything to do with prohibiting the private transfer of firearms and doing away with gun shows all together.

For more on this issue, please read Closing the "Gun Show Loophole"

H/T to the Star Telegram PoliTex blog

NRA Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum

The Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum was the first event that V and I attended at the 137th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville. It is not the main reason I attended this years annual exhibit, but there were speakers included in the roster that I admire and wanted to see and hear in person. The fact that John McCain and his Secret Service detail decided to make the event a no firearms zone was a disappointment, but not an unexpected decision. As I have mentioned before, Sen. McCain had an opportunity to make a bold statement supporting gun owners and our right to keep and bear arms. He had the opportunity to show is trust in the citizens of these great United States, and he blew it. Again, it was not unexpected. That was not the only disappointment provided by the Senator and Republican candidate this day, but more on that later.

Karl Rove did an excellent job of pointing out exactly what Obama's stand on our right to keep and bear arms really is.

• In 1996 Barak Obama filled out a questionnaire for the Independent Voters of Illinois in which he stated that he supported a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of all handguns.
• In 1998, according to his responses to that years Project Vote Smart Illinois State Legislative Election National Political Awareness Test, he pledged to ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
• In 1999 the Chicago Defender reported that State Senator Obama "is proposing to make it a felony for a gun owner who's firearm was stolen from his residence which causes harm to another person if that weapon was not securely stored in the home".
• In 2001 Obama pressed for a law to require gun owners to register with the State of Illinois. As the State Journal Register put it "The proposals would make gun owners apply in person for a firearms identification card and supply their photos and fingerprints."
• In 2001 the Hyde Park Herald reported "State Senator Barak Obama (D 13) helped defeat a bill that would allow people who receive an order of protection to possess and carry a concealed firearm". He told the newspaper "It was a bad idea and I'm glad it failed".
• In 1999 The Wall Street Journal reports "Mr. Obama urged enactment of a federal law prohibiting the operation of any gun store withing 5 miles of a school or park. This would eliminate gun stores from almost the entire inhabited portion of the United States".
• In 2003 State Senator Obama voted for State Bill 1195, which the Illinois State Rifle Association stated would have banned most of the privately held shotguns, target rifles and black powder rifles in the entire State of Illinois.
• In 2004 State Senator Obama voted 4 times against legislation protecting homeowners from prosecution in cases where they use a firearm to halt a home invasion.
• In 2004, when asked in a questionnaire "Do you support legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of assault weapons", his response was short and to the point. "Yes".
• In 2004 Obama told the Chicago Tribune "On the issue of carrying concealed weapons, Obama said he believes national legislation should be passed to prevent other states laws from threatening the safety of Illinois residents. Pass a federal law to do away with the state law on concealed carry". He went on to say "I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry."

There is more, but you get the gist of it.

During Oliver North's speech, Mitt Romney held a mini interview while the Colonel was talking. That was quite rude as it distracted from what the Colonel was saying.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson gave a good speech, but did not touch upon her statements at the Heritage Foundation concerning her support of an assault weapons ban.

John Bolton was an excellent Ambassador to the United Nations and it was a pleasure to hear him talk about foreign affairs and the Middle East.

Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal, Survivor, and author of Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, and Sgt. Greg Stube, a true American hero were the best part of the forum. No political BS, just a quick recounting of their stories and a call to serve in any way we can. These heroes received the real applause. These American Men stood in for those who continue to serve overseas and at home, and we did what we could to show our appreciation.

For the most part, this was a political rally for McCain. It was amusing to listen to Mitt Romney, past Governor of the anti gun state Massachusetts, talk about his support of our right to keep and bear arms. I wonder if he even feels a twinge of hypocrisy over signing that Mass. AWB?

Then there was Huckabee. I cringed, as did much of the audience (but not as many as I would have thought) when he joked about someone pointing a gun at Obama. They were politely received, but not much more than that.

Then we had the keynote speaker. Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential election. Once again he missed an opportunity to impress.

When talking about gun shows:

Over the years, I haven't agreed with the NRA on every issue. I have supported efforts to have NICS background checks apply to gun sales at gun shows. I recognize that gun shows are enjoyed by millions of law-abiding Americans. I do not support efforts by those who seek to regulate them out of existence. But I believe an accurate, fair and instant background check at guns shows is a reasonable requirement. I also oppose efforts to require federal regulation of all private sales such as the transfer between a father and son or husband and wife. I supported campaign finance reform because I strongly believed our system of financing campaigns was influencing elected officials to put the interests of "soft money" donors ahead of the public interest.

It was at this point, early in his speech, that a slow but steady trickle of people started leaving the venue. He had lost our interest. John McCain's determination to do away with the private sale of firearms is unacceptable. Yes David, no one booed. Honestly now, would you have? This was not a crowd of liberal college students bent on making a disturbance, but a crowd of good and decent Americans. They offered up polite applause and stood when he was done. They clapped again when he came back on stage, it was the polite thing to do. I did not hear one enthusiastic comment about McCain's platform from anyone not on a stage the entire weekend. There is hope (but not much faith) that he will pick a VP that will do us proud. There was a mixture of disappointment and disgust that this is the best that the Republican Party could come up with as a candidate. No one booed, no one walked out of there fired up for McCain either.

Folks. We have to work extra hard to get good legislators elected on our local and state levels this year. I am not sure if there is any hope for Congress at the moment. I doubt McCain would sign an AWB, but at the moment it looks like any veto from him will be easily overridden by congress. It is pretty much guaranteed that he will do away with private sales of firearms if such a bill crosses his desk, we have to keep such a bill from making it there.

Wayne LaPierre was the last speaker of the forum, he spoke to an audience heading out the door.

I have the audio of Karl Rove, John Bolton and Kay Bailey's speeches. I'll email them to anyone who asks. I'm really kind of irritated that I somehow deleted Luttrells's and Stube's talks. If anyone has them, let me know.