Meditations on BUG selection

With some more recent weight loss, I have now been able to carry a Back Up Gun on a more regular basis. I've started trying out different guns and styles, and have come to 3 conclusions.

1) Crossdraw works for me. Accessible by either hand, easy to get to seated, and quick to access. Now I need to find more decent IWB crossdraw holsters. Suggestions would be appreciated.

2) I carry spare ammo for anything I'm carrying. The whole point of being prepared is BEING PREPARED. Spare ammo is part of malfunction clearance, and if I have already gotten to the point of needing a gun, then needing ANOTHER gun, things have probably gone so far sideways that I will probably need spare ammo for that second gun for a reload or malfunction clearance.

3) If your main and BUG do not share ammo and magazines, then your BUG needs to have a totally different style of reload. If you are carrying a Glock 22, and have a Glock 27 as a BUG, then you are cool. But if your main is a CZ-75, and your BUG is an XD compact.... it would be easy to confuse the magazines under stress. So, if your Main uses a double stack mag for reload then you should carry a BUG that uses speedloaders, speed strips, or even just a single stack magazine. Either carry the same reloads, or totally different.

Just my thoughts.

So, the ATF has released it's Shotgun Study

http://atf.gov/publications/firearms/012611-study-on-importality-of-certain-shotguns.pdf

I have given the study a good once over, and here are the parts that stand out:
"Therefore, we recognized that any shotgun with one or more of these features represent a “type” of firearm that is not “generally recognized as particularly suitable or readily adaptable to sporting purposes” and may not be imported under section 925"
(1) Folding, telescoping or collapsible stock.
(2) Bayonet Lug.
(3) Flash Suppressor.
(4) Magazine over 5 rounds, or a Drum Magazine.
"However, the working group determined that magazines capable of holding large amounts of ammunition, regardless of type, are particularly designed and most suitable for military and law enforcement applications. The majority of state hunting laws restrict shotguns to no more than 5 rounds."
(5) Grenade Launcher Mount.
(6) Integrated Rail Systems.
This refers to a mounting rail system for small arms upon which firearm accessories and features may be attached. This includes scopes, sights, and other features, but may also include accessories or features with no sporting purpose, including flashlights, foregrips, and bipods. Rails on the sides and underside of shotguns—including any accessory mount—facilitate installation of certain features lacking any sporting purpose.
(7) Light Enhancing Devices.
(8) Excessive Weight.
Sporting shotguns, 12 gauge and smaller, are lightweight (generally less than 10 pounds fully assembled),
(9) Excessive Bulk.
Sporting shotguns are generally no more than 3 inches in width or more than 4 inches in depth.
(10) Forward Pistol Grip or Other Protruding Part Designed or Used for Gripping the Shotgun with the Shooter’s Extended Hand
"Therefore, it is the recommendation of the working group that shotguns with any of the characteristics or features listed above not be authorized for importation."

Of Interest as well:"The fact that a firearm or feature was initially designed for military or tactical applications, including offensive or defensive combat, may indicate that it is not a sporting firearm."

"examined numerous shotguns with diverse features in an effort to determine whether any particular firearm was particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to those sports. In coming to a determination, the working group recognized that a shotgun cannot be classified as sporting merely because it may be used for a sporting purpose."

"At the present time, the working group continues to believe that the activity known as “plinking” is not a generally recognized sporting purpose."

So, this is the study, the recommends for findings and regulations. There will be something coming out soon stopping the importation of fun shotguns.

I admire the attempt at the upsell, but you picked the wrong guy.

I had to go into Brookstone the other day to pick up a gift. When I was checking out, the sales girl points to a display of overpriced, low power, LED flashlights and asks:
"Anything else? How about a great flashlight?"
Me (brief pause): "I'm good on flashlights right now."
Her: "You can never have too many. What if a hurricane hit right now?"
It took a lot of restraint not to say 'Ma'am, I have with me- right now- 3 flashlights, two knives, one handgun and spare ammunition. I also have dental floss and a magnifying glass. I am good to go for a surprise fucking hurricane.'
Instead I said "I have a good flashlight in my pocket. Thanks for the thought, though."

That's not what I expected to happen

So, there is this buzz on the interwebs that the BATFE is going to step on their own johnson again and issue a ruling that will stop the importation of Saiga Shotguns.

As I mentioned on my Resolution post, I was planning on getting one of the Saiga 12Ga shotguns sometime this year. Well, since the ruling is coming up on Monday, and I has a spare $100 in my pocket, I put a Saiga 19" barreled 12GA on layaway yesterday.

I planned on getting the 1911 first, or the Ranch Hand... but heck, the price may double tomorrow. Had to get this one locked in.

All the bad things about gunshops

So, I am in the big gunshop in my town, and I have had all the things I hate about gunstore employees happen in less than 10 minutes

I had the chance to finally handle a Rhino revolver, and also the new Ruger gunsite Scout. The sales guy treated me like an idiot and assumed I knew nothing about guns. And he talked down about a product he is selling. Moron.

And then I overheard another employee selling a pump shotgun tell the guy buying it that the racking sound will make burglars flee and turn their life over to Christ, or some such drivel. At least he talked the guy out of a pistol grip 12ga for a wife that never fired a gun.

This is why I like small shops

New Years Resolutions

I am ditching the normal resolutions this year. But here are two I'm going to make:

1) Shoot More. I have all these guns and accessories, and hardly ever use them. I am resolving to go shooting at LEAST twice a month. Also to do dry fire training once a week with both handguns and rifles.

2) Finish more of the gun projects. I have bought guns through my life with plans of what to do with them, and with very few exceptions NEVER finished them. I am going to focus less on acquisition of guns, and more on building the ones I have the way I want them to be.

However, there are a few on the 'must get' list that will be done this year.
-Rossi Ranch Hand
-a 1911 of some sort for the Centennial celebration
-Saiga 12Ga.

Preparation for ANY apocalypse

There was a quote that I caught on some TV show pointing out that if you have the ability to make gunpowder and alcohol, you can barter for anything post-apocalypse.

And this goes for ANY apocalypse- not just the Zombie Apocalypse. It would go for Nuclear Winter, Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", Returning of the Dinosaurs, or any 'LMOE' (Last Man On Earth, pronounced 'Elmo') situation.

So, I need the Still, and the knowledge to use it.

Then, the knowledge to make powder, bullets and primers. I have books on that stuff already.

This is good preperation, but falls a little short in my estimation. What we need to round out the "making post apocalyptic money" is the ability to make and store BACON!

You could probably start a civilization on those 3 commodities. Make sure to guard the knowledge, though. Or else someone can use the knowledge and try to take the hardware.

Merry Christmas!

I hope Santa brings you what you want!

Using an AK to build a Guitar

An Instrument for Peace, Literally



See this news story, and I immediately come up with rules for it:

The NGA 3 rules:
ALWAYS keep your guitar pointed in a safe direction.
Keep your fingers off the frets until you are ready to ROCK!
ALWAYS keep your guitar unplugged until ready to rock.

Jeff Cooper’s 4 rules:
All Guitars are ready to rock.
Never let the headstock cover anything that you are not ready to rock out
Keep your fingers off the frets until your sights are on the music
Be sure of your music! Know what the tune is, what it sounds like, and what is behind it. Never rock out anything you have not positively identified. Be aware of your surroundings, whether in the studio or on a stage. Do not assume anything. Know what you are doing.

Maybe it's not Vaporware this time

GunPundit has more info on the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver (CARR)

I love oddball guns. A revolver in Auto chamberings with no moonclips speaks to me. They first announced this like FIVE years ago. One of the reasons I did not buy a Bulldog back them was I would rather have it in .45ACP.

And I would love to have one in 9mm as well. Cheap ammo, low recoil, easier extraction with a short ejector rod (over a .38Spl or .357 Mag). I would like to see if it will be listed to run .380 as well...