Kentucky Gunners Rally: Gun rights supporters unabashedly toted weapons
at a rally outside Kentucky's Capitol on Saturday in a show of political
muscle aimed at sending a message to policymakers to protect the Second
Amendment. Speakers stressed the importance of guns for self-defense,
drawing cheers from about 300 people at the rally where American flags
were plentiful. Many in the crowd had weapons holstered at their sides
or strapped to their backs while attending the Kentucky Second Amendment
March. The event is part of a national, grass-roots campaign culminating
with a planned rally next month in Washington... (The national Second
Amendment March is scheduled for April 18.)
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/27/gun-rights-supporters-tote-weapons-rally-outside-kentuckys-capitol/
---
ATK Brass-Destruction Update: ...Two suggestions for ATK:
1. ATK could release a list of the military installations with which
it has had Memoranda of Understanding to take and destroy fired
brass, AND a list of the installations for which it has now
canceled such MOUs; and
2. ATK could identify those employees responsible for both hatching
and approving the ATK-sponsored program to destroy military brass,
the people who approved pitching this program to military
installations with the argument that allowing brass to be sold to
the public somehow fosters domestic terrorism. Having identified
those responsible, ATK could reassign those personnel to a
commission-only job of hauling excess Lake City ammunition around
the U.S. and selling that ammo to the public at shooting ranges
and gun shows.
These two steps would go a long way towards reassuring the public that
ATK is indeed a good corporate citizen, is actively complying with
declared congressional intent and does not attempt to deamonize the
ammo-buying public as domestic terrorists. Even if ATK is willing to go
the extra mile to get beyond its "Zumbo moment," that will still leave a
pervasive problem in the U.S. military of non-compliance with the
congressional prohibition of brass destruction. That problem will still
need to be addressed, probably with further congressional action.
http://www.progunleaders.org/ammo/Update1.html
---
Arenas Gun Drama: After three months of escalating drama, the sentence
of no jail time for Gilbert Arenas felt like an anticlimax. I was glad
to see it, though, because I'd become fed up with all the self-righteous
outrage over the incident in which the Wizards basketball star brought
four unloaded - repeat, unloaded - handguns into the team's locker room
in December. Was it illegal? Yeah. Was it stupid? Double yeah. But the
hand-wringing over Arenas has been out of proportion to the offense,
given the extent to which guns are tolerated and even lauded in our
culture... The one good argument for a tough stance against Arenas is
that any leniency would send the wrong message about respecting gun
laws, especially to young people who admire him. But that's undermined
by the fact that gun laws are routinely broken to a massive extent with
little consequences. Jauhar Abraham, president and co-founder of the
anti-gang group Peaceoholics, said the uproar over Arenas was ironic
given how widespread guns are in the city. "I'm located in the heart of
Southeast. I can go in any one of these neighborhoods, and there's just
as much ammunition and armor as there was when I was in the military,"
Abraham said. "Boys from 13 to 24 are in possession of it. They have
easier access to guns than they do to computers." ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/27/AR2010032702378.html?hpid=topnews
---
Meanwhile, on the Left Coast...: From the shooting earlier this month at
the Pentagon to the one last month at the University of Alabama, the
question has been raised whether stricter gun control laws would have
prevented these tragedies... Let us examine the Chicago model. In 1982,
Chicago officials passed a ban on all handguns. Studies have shown that
the crime rate has only increased since the ban. The youth homicide rate
exceeded Los Angeles last year. How can this happen when the city has
strict laws against the ownership of guns? When a Draconian law such as
the ban on handguns is enacted, it only affects law-abiding citizens -
the gun owners who had to pass a criminal background check to legally
purchase and register their weapons. They either had to turn them over
to the authorities or move out of the city limits. In theory that would
be great. Everyone in your utopian city would not have a gun. However,
no such place exists. An individual who has the intent to use a firearm
during a crime is more than likely not going to register their weapon or
turn it over until they are caught. A loosely translated Chris Rock
lyric is pertinent to this situation, "Don't go to parties with metal
detectors; sure it feels safe inside, but what about the people with
guns outside? They know you don't have one." ...
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/26/1185243/criminals-set-to-do-harm-always.html
---
Force-on-Force Training in Perspective: ...Recently there's been chatter
in the firearms training community on a couple of different subjects.
First, is dry firing that's taking a hit from some instructors. Let me
state this categorically: I learned to shoot and run the gun while dry
firing. No one, outside of a professional shooter, has the range time
and ammo to gain competency using live fire only. (Note: Even
professional shooters dry fire). As trainer Paul Howe has asked, with
military Spec Ops folks like Delta and others advocating constant and
consistent dry fire practice, "Why would we not recommend it to our
officers?" ...Some instructors are suggesting standard firearms training
isn't working, and we should be doing force-on-force training. Although,
I approve of and have conducted force-on-force, scenario-based training.
Back in the day we used cotton balls. It isn't the end-all. Most F.O.F.
training would and should be considered testing not training. The
instructors place the students in a scenario and monitor how they did.
There may be a debrief post-incident, but most agencies don't videotape
the actions for officers to watch and learn. And there's no opportunity
to run the student through multiple scenarios or work to improve on a
live role-player. Although there's certainly value in F.O.F. training,
it's like throwing a beginning boxing student into the ring for a
sparring match before they've mastered the basics or worked with a coach
on the mitts...
http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/columns/Davis/gunfight_preparation.html
---
Too Much Time on Their Hands?: Next time your character gets shot while
playing Call of Duty it could hurt for real. A tactile gaming vest
created at the University of Pennsylvania can make wearers feel a punch
or a gunfire hit in sync with what's happening on screen. Ouch! "The
idea is to develop a haptic interface for first person shooting games,"
says Saurabh Palan, a graduate student at the university who is working
on the project, on his website. "The feeling of bullet hit, body impact
and vibration or a shoulder tap will enhance the gaming experience and
fun." It's not all play with the vest. It can be modified for real time
simulation and training by the military, says Palan... (I can see it for
force-on-force training.)
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/gaming-vest-makes-virtual-fights-real-and-painful/
---
Those Pesky J-Frame Sights: The knife-blade front sights on S&W J-frame
revolvers with the original 1 7/8" barrels can pose a problem when one
tries to find them under stress. The newer 2 1/8" barrels, with
pinned-in front sights can be fitted with the Big Dot XS front sight. It
now appears that XS Sight Systems has devised a way for a gunsmith to
install a Big Dot sight on the older versions, with the integrally
forged front sights. If you're really looking to spend money, you could
have the rear groove milled to a semicircular shape but, in my
experience, the Big Dot drops nicely into the square groove, with the
center of the dot sitting right at the top of the rear sight. While my
enthusiasm for tritium night sights has waned since I started teaching
the point-shooting continuum, the optional tritium insert in the Big Dot
sight does offer a fairly precise aiming point. Alternatively, some of
the newer Pro Series S&W J-frame models, including a 640 shown at this
year's SHOT Show but not yet listed on the S&W website, are now offered
with conventional night sights, mounted in dovetails, fore and aft.
These may be what some users seek but the dovetails also offer the means
to install other sights, such as the HexSite Sighting System, for those
who would like that on a revolver. All this is offered for those seeking
alternatives - I'm not convinced that one system is the best for everyone.
http://www.xssights.com/NewProducts/
http://www.goshen-hexsite.com/index2.htm
---
Food for Thought: A well-intentioned survivalist offers a list of 25
things you should always carry. Some thoughts of my own: Several years
ago I surrendered a wallet in a robbery rather than shoot the robber
(among other issues, I was not licensed to carry in that jurisdiction).
Since then, I intentionally reduced the amount of cash I carry
routinely; perhaps it's time to re-evaluate. Similarly, perhaps it's
worth carrying a small gold coin or medallion. However, if you do, carry
it discreetly, so as not to attract robbers to your person or your home.
Aspirin is first aid for a heart attack but carry the enteric-coated
stuff, then chew it for rapid absorption. Be careful about using aspirin
immediately after injury as it will facilitate bleeding. Passport? I am
fortunate that I can get through my daily activities without carrying
any ID with a home address (it appears neither on my Arizona driver
license nor CWP). If I know that I may be purchasing a firearm from a
licensed dealer, I pull my Utah CFP from the safe, to meet the F-Troop
requirement for documentation for physical address. I do not carry
anything with my Social Security number. In about two years, when I
become eligible for Medicare, I will secrete that card somewhere other
than my wallet as it contains that crucial element for identity theft.
http://codenameinsight.blogspot.com/2008/05/dpt-25-things-to-always-have-with-you.html
---
Tangentially Related: Despite intense Republican objections, President
Obama on Saturday used recess appointments to fill 15 administration
posts without Senate confirmation, including Craig Becker to the
National Labor Relations Board. By filling the jobs while Congress is in
recess, Obama gets around Senate confirmation. Obama justified the move
by charging Republicans with playing politics with his administration
nominees... All 41 Senate Republicans wrote Obama this week urging him
not to use a recess appointment for Becker, a former top lawyer with
Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO, whose nomination
was rejected by the Senate last month, 52-43. The U.S. Chamber of
Commerce also wrote Obama on behalf of 20 business groups that opposed
Becker's nomination and decried the recess appointment... (The head of
the SEIU, in case you hadn't noticed, is calling for nationalization of
privately held retirement savings, such as 401[k]'s. Under this plan,
workers would receive government securities in exchange for investments
they have purchased. See
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=132061.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/27/obama-makes-recess-appointments-vacant-administration-posts/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/27/obama-makes-15-recess-appointments/
Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, has summoned some of the nation's top executives to Capitol
Hill to defend their assessment that the new national health care reform
law will cost their companies hundreds of millions of dollars in health
insurance expenses. Waxman is also demanding that the executives give
lawmakers internal company documents related to health care finances - a
move one committee Republicans describes as "an attempt to intimidate
and silence opponents of the Democrats' flawed health care reform
legislation." On Thursday and Friday, the companies - so far, they
include AT&T, Verizon, Caterpillar, Deere, Valero Energy, AK Steel and
3M - said a tax provision in the new health care law will make it far
more expensive to provide prescription drug coverage to their retired
employees. Now, both retirees and current employees of those companies
are wondering whether the new law could mean reduced or canceled
benefits for them in the future. The news is an embarrassment for
Democrats. As President Obama and congressional leaders tout the
purported benefits of the new health care law, some of the nation's
biggest companies are saying it will mean higher costs and fewer
benefits - not exactly what Democrats want to hear in the days after
their historic victory... (D�j� vu? I seem to recall this sort of
scenario from Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-threaten-companies-hit-hard-by-health-care-bill-89347127.html
President Obama has nominated Arizona federal trial court Judge Mary H.
Murguia to serve on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San
Francisco, the court announced Friday. Murguia, 49, is the president's
second nomination to the nation's largest and busiest appeals court,
with UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu named last month to one of
three vacancies on the court with 29 judgeships... The nominee is the
twin sister of Janet Murguia, a former Clinton advisor and president and
chief executive of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest
Latino civil rights group...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-judge-nominee27-2010mar27,0,4576182.story
---
From John Farnam:
21 Mar 10
From a friend and colleague. Advice with regard to selecting shooting
instruction/school/seminar:
"(1) Be suspicions of flashy, tacky marketing and 'super-secret'
techniques (gimmicks), 'known to only the select few.' There are no
'secrets' in what we teach. Quality training always focuses on acquiring
and mastering fundamentals. There is precious little 'glamour' to any
of it! Come to work, or don't bother. Nothing worthwhile may be had
without effort, and personal devotion. Belief in 'magic' is for children!
(2) By the same token, be suspicions of schools that surround themselves
in a cult of personality. Yes, beware of 'Grand Masters,' 'Imperial
Wizards,' ad nauseam. Most of these guys don't even carry a gun, and
they too often forget who is working for whom! When someone finds it
necessary to endlessly recite his entire resume, it always makes me
wonder why I never heard of him! True Masters relentlessly present
themselves merely as devoted servants, just humble fellow-students,
dedicated to the advancement of the Art and the improvement of their
students. The best instructors inspire, rather than 'impress.' That
pompous 'messiah' had better believe his own press releases, as his
students will likely need his powers of resurrection!
(3) Beware of schools that exhibit an overwhelming preference for a
particular brand/type/caliber of gun. No one pistol, rifle, nor shotgun
is perfect for everyone in every circumstance, and legitimate
instructors have enough respect for their students to keep personal
preferences hidden. Good instructors provide students with honest
advice, but not wearisome dogma. There are many legitimate choices,
and, while we all have personal preferences, students must be allowed
the freedom to make their own decisions.
Again, the goal of the instructor and the student is always the same:
the improvement of the student!
(4) Take note of schools that are 'circumstance-specific.' A school
devoted to training individual contractors how to fight effectively in
Afghanistan, or one that teaches SWAT-team members the fine points of
conducting a drug-raid in the inner-city, or another that teaches
aspiring competitors secrets of winning acheronian pistol matches,
should all be of scant interest to non-police gun-owners who desperately
need to know how to correctly handle, store, carry, and employ guns
within a domestic, civilian environment and a civilian criminal-justice
system. Good instructors have a sufficient depth of knowledge,
experience, and empathy so as to understand and sympathize with all
students who come to them, not just the young, strong, and fit.
(5) A high round-count does not necessarily equate to superior
training. Excessive consumption of ammunition, for its own sake, is
pointless. In fact, there reaches a juncture where the student becomes
so fatigued, he begins merely going through the motions, just to get the
exercise over with! Good instructors never allow fatigue to supersede
the student's focusing on understanding and learning the point of the
exercise.
(6) The best schools are well-rounded. Our Art embraces an extensive
repertoire of psycho-motor skills, verbal skills, and disengagement
skills, along with a sound philosophical overlay, all of which must to
carefully integrated. Some of the material is dry, but it is still
important and must be included. Beware of justification models lifted
solely from police sources. Police have a mandate to act, so their
justification models are written with an assumption of that duty.
Conversely, the appropriate model for armed,
non-police citizens stems from an assumption of 'necessity.'
(7) Select a school that is unique in the same way you are unique!
Remain unbiasedly objective. Remember your mission. When you live in a
'shall-issue' state, and intend to carry outside your home, your mission
will be different from someone who cannot. When you carry as a duty,
your mission will be different from either. As noted above, the best
high-risk Contractor-Course might be appropriate for a certain group,
while being mismatched to most others
(8) Finally, attend many different schools! None are perfect, and none
are 'all-wrong.' You'll learn something worthwhile in each, and you'll
become well-connected within our Art. All instructors have something
important to offer, and all are wretchedly flawed in some way."
Comment: Excellent advice! The only thing I will add is, "Don't put it
off!" Acquire these critical skills while you can. You don't get to
know when you will be tested, only that you will be!"
/John
(Most of these are excellent points. While I would not advise going to a
school that has a trademark gun (e.g., 1911, Glock, AR-15, etc.) if you
have not objectively chosen the same firearm for your own use, once you
have made an objective selection, you may well benefit from a course
with an instructor who either specializes or concentrates on small-frame
revolvers, AR-15's, etc. I used to be very skeptical of house-clearing
training for those not required to do it as part of the job - if you
pull up to your house and see the front door has been breached, it is
foolish not to wait for a police response unless you may have family at
risk in there. However, as terrorism becomes an increasingly realistic
concern, clearing techniques could prove invaluable in exiting a venue
that has been targeted.)
23 Mar 10
It comes down to Rifles:
Our spiritual ancestors, the Ancient Greeks, fostered the notion of the
warrior/citizen, and the duty of each free citizen to always be armed,
trained, and ever-prepared to defend the Land. Individual weapons of
war then were sword and spear, and they represented the essence of the
Warrior. And, it was (then as now) the specter of facing a entire
nation of perpetually armed patriots, that sends a bolt of terror
through the hearts of despots, petty potentates, and would-be invaders.
Today, it is the Rifle. Marines have known and talked of it
unapologetically for decades, that every Marine is a Rifleman first, no
matter what other piece of high-tech machinery he is trained to run.
When all machines have died, it is the audacious citizen/soldier, armed
with a rifle, who will decide the day, and thus settle the fate of his
civilization.
I believe it no coincidence that so many courageous Americans are
currently coming to us for competent rifle training, bringing their
personally-owned rifles, eager to learn and exercise, critical skills
that every free citizen should master, eager to earn the title of
"Rifleman," no matter what other title they may have.
In this world, civilizations come and go. All foolishly believe they
will endure forever. None do. The Test comes for us all, as nations
and as individuals, the prepared and the unprepared. Some triumph.
Some perish.
History displays no bias!
In 1907, the winds of war (WWI) were already whispering in Europe, and
all with ears could hear them. The foolish and naive, of course,
ignored them, as they do today. In England that year, Henry Lawson
wrote this:
"So I sit and write and ponder, while the house is deaf and dumb,
Seeing visions 'over yonder' of a War I know must come
In the corner- not a vision- but a sign of coming days
Stands a box of ammunition, and a rifle in green baize*
And in this, the living present, let this Word go through the Land,
Every tradesman, clerk, and peasant should have these two things at hand.
No ranting song is needed, and no meeting, flag, nor fuss-
In the future, still unheeded, shall the Spirit come to us.
Without feathers, drum, nor riot on the day that is to be,
We shall march down, very quiet, to our stations by the sea.
While the bitter parties stifle every voice that warns of war,
Every man should own a rifle and have cartridges in store!"
* "Baize" describes a coarse, cloth wrapping, napped to look like felt,
that was frequently used to pack rifles for long-term storage
Today, without "meeting, flag, nor fuss," real Americans are also
instinctively sensing the need to have these two items, and the need to
know how to use them. Thanks to our far-sighted Founders, and the
Second Amendment, we can... and do!
Just as personal liberty and freedom are the birthright of every
American, so honor, fitness, and readiness are ever our individual
responsibility.
Never doubt it!
/John
(Perhaps it is because I have lived in hunting country for the more than
ten years I have been back in Arizona, but it has always intrigued me
that I have only had one pair of students take a rifle course from me in
this state. Admittedly, I once had a couple come for two days of
training, who had originally wanted to do handgun the first day and
rifle the second. At the end of the first day of training, I asked them
to evaluate what they had learned that day and told them what they would
do in a second day of handgun training, which I thought would be the
better investment for them; they agreed. While I get annual Christmas
cards from them, they have not returned to Arizona for their rifle
training. If they have sought it elsewhere, I have no ill feelings. My
instructor certification includes patrol rifle but not precision rifle.
Both have their role. Just be aware that shooting a deer or an elk from
a couple of hundred yards does not train you to fight with a rifle [or a
handgun].)
24 Mar 10
"Stockless" Rifles?
After my recent Quip with regard to FN's diminutive P90 rifle, several
have asked about the viability of short-barreled ARs, and some other
rifles, that are actually sold as "pistols."
Under federal regulations, "rifles" must be equipped with a
shoulder-stock, in addition to a barrel of at least sixteen inches.
However, when a firearm is marketed as a "pistol," there is no lower
limit on barrel length, but the weapon may not have a shoulder-stock!
For better or worse, that is the law, at least for now.
Hence, some manufacturers are currently marketing "pistols," which are
simply short-barreled ARs, without a shoulder-stock! In our experience,
these guns are not as reliable as the rifle-model from whence they came
(owing to their excessively short barrels), but, to one degree or
another, they run, and they have succeeded in attracting the attention
of some dewy-eyed consumers.
The question comes: What are they for?
And, that is the question for which I've yet to discover a particularly
viable answer!
These "pistols" are way too big to be carried concealed, as least
routinely. And, without a shoulder-stock, upon which to establish a
solid cheek-weld, their useful range is not much greater than that of
most pistols. Rifles have four points of support: (1) strong hand, (2)
support hand, (3) cheek, and (4) shoulder. These "pistols" have only two!
Granted, they boast a magazine-capacity far in excess of most pistols,
and fire a cartridge more powerful than any in common use by pistols.
But, for routine, concealed carrying, they won't do, as noted above.
And, as a "car-gun" or "house-gun," a standard AR, XCR, DSA/FAL, M1A,
SIG/556, AK, Beretta CX4, or even an FN/P90 represents a vastly superior
choice for most.
When compactness is an issue, for air-travel or low-profile
surface-transport, get one of the above with a folding stock and the
shortest (sixteen-inch) barrel available. So equipped, your rifle, with
stock folded and high-capacity magazine inserted, will easily fit within
a innocuous tennis-racket, viola, or guitar case. In addition, locked
within a hard-case, it will fit completely inside your Columbia Wheeled
Duffle and will be routinely accepted by TSA, as checked-baggage, on
domestic flights. I do it all the time!
The same issue also arises with shotguns. Yes, some shotgun
manufacturers market "stockless" shotguns, in a similar vein to the
foregoing. They are all so unpleasant to shoot, it is difficult to
imagine anyone "liking" them, other than to look at. And once more,
without shoulder-support, their usefulness is minimal!
Of course, in our capitalistic society, manufacturers produce products
that consumers think they want, and are willing to part with hard-earned
money to acquire. In fact, the pesky "... yes, but what is it for?"
argument is one I get into with CEOs and marketing vice-presidents all
the time!
My personal interests are strictly serious and utility-oriented. I thus
have scant use for silly toys, trinkets, and gimmicks, designed mostly
to impress the shallow and naive, rather than perform any genuinely
useful function. Nor do I have any interest in most shooting
competitions. But, I realize lots of people buy guns for lots of
different reasons, not just the ones I consider legitimate.
In summary, I can say that students have brought these "pistols" to our
Classes (despite our admonitions not to), and all have amply proven
inadequate to the task. The same cheerless indictment applies to
"stockless" shotguns.
In a word, they're silly! None are recommended.
/John
(I have seen one person, who happens to be a list member, show
competence on the range with an NFA-registred short-barrel, "stockless"
shotgun. For most, they are expensive toys used to cultivate a macho
appearance. For the years I taught with the now-defunct Lethal Force
Institute in southern California, I was the object of constant
resentment from Ayoob's appointed "senior instructor" for the state. The
flames of that resentment would periodically be sparked by incidents
such as his purchase of HK's SP89 pistol, a semi-automatic, look-alike
version of their MP5K submachine gun. When he boasted of it, I asked,
"What's it for?")
26 Mar 10
Get your personal rifle, and get it set up, while you still can!
I've been asked about the "ideal rifle set-up."
I like a rifle that can be called upon to perform nearly any task a
serious rifle can be expected to do, reasonably well, but that can't do
any specific task perfectly. Rifles that are set up to do a single task
perfectly, usually do all other tasks poorly. You can't have it both ways!
I like universal tools, not specialty tools, but that is just my opinion
and personal preference.
So, here goes:
Caliber: It makes a lot of sense to have at least one rifle cambered for
223 (5.56x45). Far from the ideal, fighting caliber, but universally
available (both in, and out, of the military supply system), and likely
will be so for the foreseeable future.
Soviet/30 (7.62x39) and 6.8SPC both represent superlative choices. Much
extended range and enhanced penetration when compared with the 223. For
now, both are unavailable within the military supply system. However,
both are generally available commercially, particularly 7.62x39.
308 (7.62x51) and 30-06 (7.62x63). These are the heavyweights, but they
require big, heavy rifles, and the weight and bulk of the ammunition
itself means that you'll be able to comfortably carry a good deal less
of it than would be the case with any of the foregoing. Both calibers
are generally available, albeit relatively expensive. When you weigh
in, in excess of 165lbs, a rifle in one of these calibers may be just
your ticket!
Other choices: Soviet/22 (5.54x39). Superior to the 223, but
availability is a concern. Nearly all of it currently on-sale is
imported. M1Carbine: Range-limited, but still a good choice. Readily
available. FN's little 5.7X28 is also range-limited, but may represent
a good choice for some. It is reasonably available, at least for now.
Rifle: We should all probably own at least one copy of the Stoner/AR.
Maintenance-sensitive and generally inferior to most others listed
below, still there are lots of spare parts available and lots of folks
who can fix them. Best candidates are RRA, DSA, S&W, DPMS, Sabre-Tech
Other choices: Gas-piston rifles are superior to the Stoner System, for
a host of reasons. For one, all are a good deal less
maintenance-sensitive. Best candidates are RA/XCR, Berrett Ret-7,
SA/M1A, FA/M14, Garand, DSA/FAL, Krebs/Kalashnikov, SIG/556. For all,
I recommend a folding stock (when available), in order to facilitate
low-profile transport.
The M1 Carbine is not exactly a "gas-piston" rifle, but it runs well.
Short and handy, the best are available from Kahr and Fulton Armory.
Since it uses a low-pressure round, flash-hiders are unnecessary.
Likewise, Beretta's excellent CX4 Carbine, chambered for 9mm and 40S&W,
is range and penetration-limited, but short, easy to use, and features
low-recoil/noise/launch-signature, and, as with the M1 Carbine, does not
require a flash-hider. Good choice for the small-statured.
Your fighting rifle needs to be short, slick, and handy. Things to be
avoided include excessive length, snags, sharp corners and edges, and
maladroit controls. Generally, extended/enlarged/ambidextrous controls
create more problems than they "solve."
Rifles marked and marketed as "match" or "target" should be shunned like
the plague! Military rifles need to have relatively loose chambers and
other tolerances, so they will tolerate grit, dirt, and continuous
neglect and lack of maintenance. Tightly tuned, target rifles will
predictably go down in short order when exposed to "exigent"
conditions. For our needs a general, utility, battle-rifle serves
best. Accuracy, in relative terms, will never be better than mediocre.
Sights: The best set-up for your rifle is a full-length, top-rail, with
side and bottom rails forward. Your rifle needs iron-sights, no matter
what else you have! Best are Western-style, peep rear and front post.
Yankee Hill, GG&G, Troy, and LaRue all make excellent examples, and all
"fold-down" and out of the way when not needed. Those with good eyes
may be able to use Soviet-style "pistol" sights, but these are
generally inferior to peep sights.
Optics greatly improve speed and accuracy for many, but at the expense
of extra bulk and battery issues in the case of some. Magnification is
handy when one needs to make out downrange detail, but too much (more
than 2.5X) leads to confusion and slow reactivity. Zero-magnification,
"red-dots" generally represent the best combination of features.
Aimpoint's T1 tops the list!
Aimpoints, Z-points, EOTechs, and others can be combined with a
swing-out "magnifier," mounted, in tandem, on the top rail, behind the
optic. This set-up provides optional magnification when required, but,
again, at the expense of even additional bulk and "... yet another
'option' to clutter your mind!"
The Achilles' heel of all rifle-optics is frost! Most optics, even with
cracked glass, still function normally. Fog can be quickly wiped away.
But, a thick layer of frost on lenses, which often forms instantaneously
and without warning, renders the optic temporarily useless, and frost
cannot be wiped away readily. In addition, a frosted optic will
simultaneously render back-up, iron sights (when mounted in-line) also
unusable!
So, all rifle-optics need to be attached to the top-rail via a
quick-release mount that will allow the Operator to instantly take the
frosted optic off his rifle, deploy his iron sights, and get back into
the fight without delay. When the emergency subsides, the (now clean)
optic can be quickly re-mounted, and iron sights re-folded. With modern
rails and mounts, re-zeroing is unnecessary. Best quick-release mounts
are made by LaRue.
Optics need to be forward-mounted, away from the Operator's face. That
way, the Operator can easily look around the optic, as well as through
it. Most red-dots and scout-scops are not eye-relief-critical, so they
can be mounted virtually anywhere on the top rail.
Slings: To be truly useful, your fighting rifle must be equipped with a
sling! One-point slings are currently the rage, but, for all-day carry,
a two-point sling is hard to beat. Blue-Force Gear's Vicker's Sling
tops the list.
Finally, your rifle needs a co-axial flashlight, forward-mounted on the
right, forward rail (for right-handers). Surefire, Insight, and
Laser-Devices all make excellent candidates. Minimum strength is 120
lumens. A co-axial flashlight will make your sights (optical and iron)
useable in low-light and instantly provide you with the critical
information you will need in order to make well-grounded decisions with
regard to the use of
deadly-force. Indispensable on a serious rifle!
Other options, like vertical forends, must always be evaluated balancing
tangible benefits (not just, "it looks sexy") versus concrete
liabilities, mostly additional bulk/weight, fragility, the likelihood of
it coming loose, and its potential to interfere with vital tasks/procedures.
Your rifle, even when properly equipped, is still mostly useless until
it is sighted in! You must have complete faith in your sight settings,
and in your ability to precisely apply them to the challenge at hand, or
your next fight will undoubtably go badly! Most rifles enumerated above
should be set so that they are dead-on at forty meters. So zeroed, your
rifle will be, for all practical purposes, dead-on for any target
between twenty-five
and seventy-five meters, and within two inches all the way out past
two-hundred meters.
Once zeroed, re-zero every chance you get! Constantly re-confirm your
zero, particularly when traveling with the weapon and after changing
brands of ammunition or bullet weights. When the Test comes, you don't
want to be wondering about the validity of your zero. By the same
token, don't "lend" your rifle to other people. They may decide to
"adjust" your sights without telling you! With regard to your rifle's
zero, "When there is doubt, there is no doubt!"
This represents a real problem for many police departments, in that it
is ever-convenient for officers to "share" rifles. It may be
convenient, but it is a can of worms! Individual rifles need to be
issued to individual officers, and an officer's individual rifle needs
to ever-remain with him, and he needs to take, and accept, complete
responsibility for it, and for his competence with it. Anything less
invites disaster!
Shoot your rifle! Get rounds downrange every chance you get, in order
to confirm your zero (as noted above) and also to confirm that the
weapon is running normally. Field-strip, clean, inspect, and lubricate
it. Then, reassemble it and shoot it again!
When the Test comes, you'll be supremely confident, and ready!
/John
(Rifles, as noted, tend to be even more specialized than handguns. Few
of us who are "into" guns own only one. For those who intend to purchase
or personalize only one, it is crucial to identify the mission - there
are different desiderata for those whose main concern is defense of the
home and for those who are thinking in terms of watering the tree of
Liberty or engaging trained terrorists at the local mall. In the former
case, the very characteristic that weakens the .223 as a military
caliber - poor penetration - make it desirable for use inside the home.
Pistol-caliber carbines may also be good choices if they will be used by
a family member who cannot tolerate much recoil. Revolver-caliber
lever-action carbines may be the ticket in a jurisdiction that restricts
ownership of semi-automatic firearms. Perhaps a step up the power ladder
is appropriate for a rifle that will be stowed in a vehicle. An
inexpensive SKS will not be that much of a loss if the vehicle is stolen
and, for now, its 7.62x39mm is sufficiently available to build up a
large supply of the stuff. I use a non-collectible M1 Carbine as a truck
gun because I can more easily afford its loss than that of a more costly
AR-15. Reports from other sources suggest that military units that have
used gas-piston modifications to the Stoner system have not found that
they make much difference. It's important to go back to the commentary
on selection of schools - is the equipment that will facilitate your use
of a rifle in a big-name course relevant to the range of missions you
foresee? I remain amazed that John has ignored at least two suggestions
to investigate the double-aperture HexSite system for long guns; perhaps
it's because the military unit that is rumored to be conducting the most
extensive testing is part of what Marines refer to as "the Department of
Transportation" - the Navy. If you choose to mount a light on a rifle,
mounting it on your dominant side presumes that you will not need to
shoot around the non-dominant side of cover in poor light. The one on my
home-defense carbine is mounted at 6 o'clock. Admittedly, this has
limited how far forward I could place the vertical foregrip, whose
primary function is to help "drive" the rifle to additional threats, a
role best served by placing it farther forward than you would place your
support hand for a precision shot. Many operators would not use the
vertical foregrip for the latter and would place the support hand under
the handguard just forward of the magazine well when it is time for a
less hurried and more distant shot. Just as a vertical foregrip may
limit how close you can get to the ground in prone positions, so may a
very long magazine. My home-defense carbine wears a "stubby" vertical
foregrip from TangoDown and feeds from their 20-round ARC magazines,
rather than their 30-rounders, for that reason. [Disclosure statement: I
have received samples of many TangoDown products and use those which I
feel enhance my abilities.])
---
From AzCDL:
Three important pro-rights bills have been scheduled for the Senate
Third vote on Monday, March 29, 2010. These will be recorded votes that
determine the fate of each bill. It is critical that you contact your
Senator and ask them to vote for these bills.
The first of these is SB 1108, the Senate version of the AzCDL-requested
Constitutional Carry bill which eliminates the prohibition and penalties
for law-abiding adults who carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
After passing Third Read, SB 1108 will be sent over to the House. The
House is expected to substitute SB 1108 for HB 2347 during the House
Third Read. If SB 1108 passes the House Third Read, it will head to the
Governor via the Senate. However, right now, it is important to make
your Senator aware that you want SB 1108 to pass. A letter urging your
Senator to vote for SB 1108 during Third Read has been prepared and is
waiting to be sent by you at AzCDL's Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/azcdl/issues/alert/?alertid=14820506 .
The second bill is SB 1168, the Firearms Preemption bill that
strengthens state firearms preemption laws, adds firearms storage and
accessories to the list of things political subdivisions cannot
regulate, and removes the prohibition on carrying a firearm in public
parks without a concealed weapons (CCW) permit. It too has a clone in
the House, HB 2543, that is awaiting a House Third Read vote. A letter
urging your Senator to vote for SB 1168 during Third Read has been
prepared and is waiting to be sent by you at AzCDL's Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/azcdl/issues/alert/?alertid=14753896 .
Finally, HB 2307, the Firearms Freedom Act, that reinforces States'
Rights under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, will be voted
on in the Senate Third Read on Monday. A letter urging your Senator to
vote for HB 2307 during Third Read has been prepared and is waiting to
be sent by you at AzCDL's Action Center:
http://capwiz.com/azcdl/issues/alert/?alertid=14872561 .
Stay tuned! When critical legislation moves, we will notify you via
these Alerts.
If you want to get legislative news as it happens, follow AzCDL on
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/AzCDL_Alerts .
AzCDL "tweets" from the Capitol with committee votes and breaking news
as it happens.
You can also follow AzCDL on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDL .
AzCDL's Political Action Committee (PAC) is also on Facebook:
http://tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDLPAC .
These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League
(AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots
organization. Renew today!
http://www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html .
AzCDL - Protecting Your Freedom
http://www.azcdl.org/html/accomplishments.html .
Copyright � 2010 Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc., all rights
reserved.
--
Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
The tactics and skills to use a firearm
in self-defense don't come naturally
with the right to keep and bear arms.
http://www.spw-duf.info
