BEYOND THE BASICS

The guns themselves...  From your instructor,

Since we’ve been skimming the historical end of the spectrum I thought going into a minimum of depth about the actual handguns (and some rifles/shotguns) common to our purpose of self defense and carry might be both fun and appropriate. This will be a minimum of depth article of subject matter.

• I will cover Handguns: revolvers and semi automatics from Civil War to current day 
• I will cover Bolt Action and semi automatic rifles of the 20th century and present day eras 
• Lever action rifles are post civil war to present in their availability to the firearms market
• Shotguns both Pump Action and Semi-Automatic (with a nod to side by sides)

Before I get started I want to make some mention of both imports and kits as they are available and are made by many hobbyists. Kits, are mostly in the form of black powder weapons as far as handguns are concerned. I know of no major manufacturer offering center fire handguns to be built as kits. I’ll note here that if you order the “Parts House” catalogs from places like Brownells or Caspian you can order the parts to make your own 1911 style pistols. (I highlight these because even though you can do this; you operate in a huge grey area of legality as far as Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is concerned). Changes to laws went into effect during the Clinton  ‘GUN BAN ERA’ and after 9-11  at BATFE that have strict guidelines and procedures regarding “manufacturing of firearms” and what defines a manufacturer and the meticulous restrictions and requirements and records keeping that are mandated by the Federal Government.  Some parts can only be bought and sold through FFL holders and are transferred during sale just like a whole gun. That is why the majority of complete kits are black powder. They don’t fall under those particular guidelines as “modern firearms “. This presents a problem in that the “gun control” folks are always harping on about what is called the “Gun Show Loophole”. At Gun shows you can buy complete sets  of parts for AR/M-4 style rifles from many vendors and you can also find parts for  semi auto pistols in 1911 and Glock styles. Frames, slides, barrels, all internal parts and even bake on finishes. The hook here is that all rules apply. Frames for pistols have to have a BATFE purchase form filled out and the same with some of the AR parts. You buy these parts as “stripped” upper and lower receivers and “stripped” frames and slides, and buy everything else separately to go in on and around them. Here’s the deal for anyone looking to do this. If by some chance you were to assemble a firearm and you did not register it with the BATFE with a legitimate serial# for each individual part required and or one serial number for the entire firearm (stamped at your expense on various parts of that particular weapon)and you happen to get stopped by BATFE agents doing a range sweep or at the local gunsmith you took it to,  to have finished and tuned up; guess what happens?

Yep, they seize the gun and possibly arrest you and the gunsmith for violating Federal law by illegally manufacturing unregistered firearms, and illegally transferring unregistered firearms, and for not having a firearms manufacturer’s license, place of business, and books required. You’re certainly going to go to court over it and many months and possibly years will pass before you or if you ever get your project gun back. If not that, say you get stopped by the local Police and they run the numbers on your gun. OOOOPS!!!! There are no numbers on the gun. Wanna guess what’s next?

Then there is the whole “shade tree gunsmith” thing. Ever built a firearm before? Understand and know about head spacing or how to do it? Proper chamber dimensions? Spring tension, chamber pressure and peaks and drop offs to tune gas systems or unlock breeches safely? Trigger tuning safety? Bluing  firearms? Hot or cold blue?

Chamber leades? Save yourself a world of headaches (and money) and buy assembled weapons from major manufacturers and let the warranty take care of any problems.

 
IMPORTS:

Many major manufacturers import their guns in parts and assemble them here with some parts made here. Cimarron markets their line of Old West style guns but they are  in reality, Pietta, Pedersoli, Uberti, models from Italy. They are finished here as per the laws. Springfield Armory has always been an importer. Their famous 1911 A1 pistols were for years of Brazilian manufacture and some of their parts are still Brazilian made and assembled here in the S.A. factory (their XD line is Croatian). Springfield Armory has not been the U.S. Govt. Springfield Armoury for many many years. Some of the Manufacturers get by the (or add to) the confusion by adding U.S. or U.S.A. to their corporate name. Beretta USA, PARA USA, Springfield USA, etc etc. In the Clinton “Gun Ban” years firearms manufacturers were given time to set up factories here in the U.S. to assemble their firearms and some (I’m not sure exactly which ones or how many) American made parts were required  for manufacture here. Beretta, Springfield, Para, Taurus, Glock, SIG, Cimarron Arms, FNH all have plants here in the States now. This includes all types of firearms mentioned in this rant!

 
REVOLVERS:

COLT: single Action revolvers for cowboy type competition are being manufactured under the Colt name again (I know not where). I would look for Colt to reissue some “classics” as Smith & Wesson is having a lot of success with their re-issues of old revolvers. Look for Python, and Detective Special and Police Positive models.

I don’t know where as the original Colt factory is where U.S. Fire Arms manufactures/U.S.F.A. builds their line of Colt clones and Cowboy guns.

SMITH & WESSON is still based in Springfield Massachusetts. They build revolvers in both production and custom shops (Performance Ctr.). They manufacture revolvers in calibers from .22 to .500 S&W. S&W utilizes different frame sizes in their line. J Frames are the small frame revolvers and are most noted for the 5 shot .38 special revolvers and hammerless versions that are as popular as ever. They as are all S&W revolvers can be had in blue or stainless finish as can most of the production line of Smith & Wesson.

K,L Frame models are geared more toward the .357 magnum and .38 special +P guns like the models 19 and 686, 66, 60 etc.

The N Frame or large frame starts with the .357 magnum and goes to .44 Magnum and .45 ACP. A lot of the N Frames are now being re-issued in Smith’s “Classics” series. What’s old is new again and higher priced.

The X Frame is for the serious handgun hunter and no caliber in this frame size is a good choice for self defense or concealed carry. Calibers of 454 Casull,460 Ruger or S&W or 500 S&W are serious hunting /outdoor guns or “BEAR” guns. In my mind to use these cartridges for self defense borders on irresponsible as over penetration is a reality with them not an anomaly. They are extremely difficult to control for follow up shots.

S&W has a Performance Center line that has all kinds of feature laden models across the frame spectrum and caliber spectrum.

Old West/Cowboy style guns are available from a few sources besides those mentioned above. Cimarron Arms, and Uberti and Traditions have them from Civil War era black powder to center fire models.

STURM RUGER has both Single Action firearms in their Blackhawk and Vaquero, and New Army and Single Six lines, and standard and lightweight double action revolvers in their hot sellin LCR and SP series. Calibers run from .22 long rifle through 44 Magnum and 45 Long Colt and .460 Ruger, across the board, and they also have huge frame hunting and “BEAR” guns in their Redhawk series


TAURUS: “The JUDGE” and Raging Bull series of large revolvers are their main large caliber defense revolvers, but they have a very popular line of small 5 shot .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers that have been around for quite some time. I believe they have discontinued their Cowboy gun. The Judge series has taken the self defense world by storm and are an ever expanding series to include a 2 ½” barreled model and a “carbine” version. ROSSI is now owned and marketed by TAURUSUSA./TAURUS INTL.

CHARTER ARMS is back after a long nap and selling their small and medium framed revolver line that runs up to .44 S&W Special in caliber. They are marketing them in stylish (?) frame colors, of pink, gold red etc.

My apologies to anyone I missed in the lineup, but that pretty much covers the majors in revolvers. They are not cheap in manufacture or price. Taurus/Rossi are the low end price wise but not by too much. Certainly worth looking at though.

 
SEMI AUTOMATIC HANDGUNS:

 Where to begin:

COLT-SMITH & WESSON-KIMBER-PARA USA-SPRINGFIELD ARMORY USA-TAURUS USA-REMINGTON

Are all major US manufacturers who market production lines of their own models of the John Moses Browning model 1911-A1 .45 A.C.P. pistol in every possible configuration imaginable at every price level.

AND THAT DOESN’T COUNT THE SEMI CUSTOM OR CUSTOM HOUSES THAT PUNCH THEM OUT UNDER THEIR OWN NAME!! But these are the major houses here that offer standard production listings.

GLOCK-TAURUS-S&W-SPRINGFIELD ARMORY–RUGER; all offer striker fired polymer framed pistols in all sizes and all common semi auto calibers. GLOCK is the pioneer here and sets the standard.

SIG-BERETTA-RUGER  all still offer traditional double action semi automatic pistols of both steel/alloy and polymer frame construction; with hammers and de cock safeties.

There are so many makes and variations of semi autos, it’s hard to keep track much the same with the 1911’s out there. THERE’S A TON OF EM FOLKS! Knock your lights out pickin one.

 
PUMP ACTION SHOTGUNS

 Although there are several companies that market pump guns and self defense or tactical shotguns, there are two universally accepted  names and models:

The REMINGTON Model 870 is the industry standard for pump action shotguns. No doubt.

The MOSSBERG Model 500 runs an almost tie and very negligible second to the 870. They are both seen in Military units and Police cars and homes across the country and in the war zones.

  Yes; I know about Bennelli, and HK etc. but according to 2 of the largest firearms distributors (Davidson’s & Lew Horton Distributors) these two sell in the millions as opposed to thousands.

 
SIDE BY SIDE : They’re still out there
 

SEMI AUTOMATIC SHOTGUNS:

I HAVE VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THESE FIREARMS!

That said, I have fired several REMINGTON MODEL 1100 and BROWNING MODEL FIVE shotguns only in the hunting and skeet domains. I have no experience with these as defensive shotguns and have not seen any in Police hands.

I know that there are specialized models of “tactical” semi auto shotguns from Bennelli, HK, Beretta, and others that are highly thought of but I have no experience with them. They are also very expensive!!!!!! I’ll stick with a pump thank you.


RIFLES

SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLES:

Again; where to begin!!!!!!!

According to polls taken at the 2010 S.H.O.T SHOW (Shooting Hunting Outdoors Trade Show the Industry port of entry annually for firearms and industry) by The National Firearms Retailers Assoc.

In the United States the AR-15 is the top selling semi automatic rifle, with M-4 carbine models outselling the full sized rifles .

RUGER , has its Mini 14 series and it’s been around for many years but can’t match the panache of the AR’s out there. I’ve owned one. They’re great rifles. A scaled down Garand action.

REMINGTON:  8400 semi auto and the R series hunting rifles are regular production rifles and are very expensive.

Makers of AR/M-14 models are:

• SMITH & WESSON
• BUSHMASTER
• D.P.M.S.
• COLT
• SIG
• ROCK RIVER ARMS
• HK
• RUGER
• STAG ARMS
• DOUBLE STAR
• ETC.,ETC.,ETC.,ETC.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY USA has the market cornered in the M1A1/M14 market and their carbine version called the S.O.C.O.M. they also have the M1A GARAND model in their production lines.

Apologies again to the folks at HK, and FNH USA, or Bennelli and who so ever else, but the above makers and models out sell these particular companies semi automatic rifles across the board. I do suspect we’ll see a change there though as the FNH USA, S.C.A.R. has passed most of the US military testing phases and is in the final stage of testing for acceptance as I write this. I think we’re gonna see it accepted as the new military issued combat rifle very soon, and when I was last at Collector’s Firearms in Houston; their sales staff said sales of it were booming in civilian guise and that they are hard to keep in stock (I saw 3 of em so salesmen aside?).



BOLT ACTION RIFLES:    Mauser and Remington/Winchester style actions

 WOW!! 

REMINGTON, RUGER, MOSSBERG, MARLIN, WINCHESTER (Japanese), WEATHERBY, SAVAGE, SMITH & WESSON, BROWNING

 Budget models, field models, “Tacticool” models, varmint models, collector grade models are available from these established manufacturers and have been in these lines of American firms for years. They run the gamut price range wise, so again, knock yourself out picking one out.



LEVER ACTION RIFLES:

WINCHESTER, MOSSBERG,MARLIN. These I have experience with. Cowboy guns from Cimarron, Rossi, Puma, Uberti etc. are readily available.

Well that’s quite some laundry list of the Majors and a scratch of the surface of products. Feel free to submit questions about specific models or makers and I’ll get the info if I don’t know it. Cause I don’t know all of the products on the very large retail firearms market. That’s for sure.

Your Instructor... EDDIE  OUT

THE SECOND WHAT?

Here’s how it reads in the Constitution:

Amendment 2

“A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Nothing more nothing less.

I have for most of my firearms career heard all of the rhetoric about the “2nd Amendment” from both those who would seek to keep us from having guns for our own personal defense; to those who would have us believe that God himself wants us all to carry .50 Cals. Neither side has ever afforded in my humble opinion, the general public with a true “definition” of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of The United States. Let’s look at the word “Amendment” shall we? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as: (a mend ment): “1. A change for the better; improvement 2. a correction of errors, faults etc. 3. A revision or addition proposed or made in a bill, law, constitution, etc.”

The Constitution has a bunch of “amendments” or quite simply add -ons, corrections, improvements, etc.

Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we are guaranteed by The Constitution or the Federal, State or local Governments or by God Almighty Himself, the right to carry any kind of firearm in public or at home for our personal protection or self defense. WE , have had those types of laws which govern or licensures of those things written into our State laws and as yet there is NO SUCH THING as a Federal or National law or license for carrying of firearms for self defense.

That’s about as simple as I can make it folks because when you start waving around your “Second Amendment Rights” you are doing nothing more than waving a big grey area around!!

Yes there have been cases in all levels of Courts of Law about the Second Amendment, but not one has said it as simply as “The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that every law abiding non felon citizen of the United States of America can own and bear or carry a gun or guns It’s their right.”, and ya know what? You’re never going to see it defined that way, ever. The government doesn’t want you to have guns because citizens with guns can revolt and take power back the way the framers of the Constitution did way back when. (They did it with guns, they didn’t vote the British out they did it with force and kept it with force…..DEADLY FORCE) The old adage that “power comes at the end of the barrel of a gun.” (Tip of a spear, point of a sword, end of a bayonet etc etc. etc.) is and always has been the hidden truth to the Second Amendment.

The NRA has it all wrong. So does the Brady Campaign, The Handgun Violence Policy Center etc. etc.

Maybe the look should come from another angle. Now let me say I DO NOT PROPOSE OR BELIEVE THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS HOW I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE!!!! I AIN’T THE KING. When I am stuff will be way different.

Maybe if you look at it as if, all guns and gun owners should be registered and cataloged, Nationally, and all gun owners and their guns be issued a license that would allow for Nationwide carrying of their legally registered firearms whether concealed or in the open; and those licenses were flexible in that the legally registered and licensed citizen could add other firearms purchases to the registrations simply with due process according to the licensing (calling in and giving your license # and saying “hey I bought this rifle yesterday Serial #....... Thank you.”) The Government already has the legal purchase form at BATFE or if privately purchased you give the serial # to the licensing authority. Now if I’m not mistaken;

the Gun Control folks would be satisfied right? Every gun would be controlled and owners identified right? The NRA would be satisfied cause now all the “law abiding citizens” would have a National license and be legally covered without being “Infringed” Right? AND! per NRA, Brady et al; the person caught or found with a gun outside this law would be a CRIMINAL in possession of a firearm. Wouldn’t they?

SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? AHHHHH….. Fantasy Land.

ANY THOUGHTS?

YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

HISTORY AND NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

I was asked the following question:
 
QUESTION:
You have referred to several names in your “rants”. I would like to know if you wouldn’t mind, giving a small overview of the actual people named in firearms publications and your posts as you call them: i.e. Browning, Stoner, Colt, Smith & Wesson etc. Are these simply the names of manufacturers of guns? Thank you.

I truly apologize. I tend to assume when I shouldn’t. I have been graced with very sharp trainees as a whole and it is wrong for me to assume that their research and understanding of firearms is as mine. I truly apologize for that, and the fact that since I am a rank amateur as a writer I didn’t do proper historical or bibliographical references during my posts. So let me give a very basic overview of the actual names.
1.    Browning, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Remington, Beretta, are all the names of major manufacturers of firearms of all types mostly common to the USA. They are derived from the names of their original design and patent holders in homage shall we say. (The Europeans have many that although imported to the US are not as common or widely sold and distributed as the previous group i.e. Walther, Luger. Benelli, Sauer, Heym, Enfield etc.)
2.    BROWNING: John Moses Browning is the world’s most prolific gun designer. His designs include, most notably the 1911 .45 ACP pistol, the Browning P 35 Hi Power 9mm high capacity (13 rounds) semi auto pistol, the .50 Cal. Machine gun M2 “Ma Deuce”, the Model 1913 Browning .30 Cal. Machine gun, the Browning Automatic Rifle “BAR”, the Model 5 semi auto shotgun . The list goes on and on but Browning influenced every single name mentioned above and sold his firearms under all of those named except Beretta as far as I know. He literally held thousands of patents of firearms design and guns that are manufactured today by all the manufacturers listed and many others.
3.    STONER: Eugene Stoner is the designer and father of the M-16 rifle and all of its progeny and descendants to date. He was an aerospace and aeronautic engineer who pioneered using plastic and lightweight alloys from the aircraft industry and aerospace technology to design the original AR series of rifles (M-16) for the Armalite company thus the AR not (automatic rifle though that became the accepted designation. Originally sold as the AR 10 and later the AR 15 and carbine versions the US Military through Gen. Curtis Le May acquired the weapon design and gave it the designation M-16. The carbine version when fielded was simply named the Colt Commando as Colt had the Govt. contract to produce the M-16 originally and solely.
4.    I was familiar with different versions of the carbine issued as the XM 10, and XM110 and 115 with 15” and 10” barrels and collapsible butt stocks.
5.    GARAND: John Garand designed and built the M 1 Garand semi auto rifle in 30.06 caliber, issued to troops in WWII.
6.    KALASHNIKOV: Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK 47 rifle at the end of WWII, and it is in service to this day as the main competitor of Stoners M-16
7.    COLT: Col. Samuel Colt designed some of the world’s first commercially and militarily successful revolving cylinder handguns. The Patterson, Walker, Navy, Army, Peacemaker, models were all handguns that he held the patents to. (He did not design the first American “bored through” cylinder handgun after percussion designs. A man named Wheeler held the original patent on the first revolving cartridge design that both Colt and Smith and Wesson wound up producing )
8.    SMITH and WESSON: Horace Smith and Daniel Baird Wesson salesmen and entrepreneurs who owned patents but were not designers of firearms.
9.    WINCHESTER: Oliver Winchester was a shirt sales man who acquired the patent to the Henry Rifle and the Volcanic pistol design. He also was not a designer of guns but started the company that bears his name.
10.    REMINGTON: Eliphalet  Remington was the original American manufacturer of what is considered truly American firearms with rifling and percussion firing mechanisms and his manufacturing techniques were the basis of what is now historically called the “Industrial Revolution” and mass production.
11.    JOHN MOSES BROWNING : his designs of firearms were produced under patent by all of the major manufacturers and some are to this day. Remington and Winchester rifles and shotguns, Colt 1911-A1 pistols, Browning Hi Power pistols, are but a sample of his designs that made all these companies what they are today. It is why Browning is acknowledged as “The Father of Modern Firearms Design.” and rightfully so. His 1911 pistols and M-2 “fifty cal” machine guns proudly serve in the field with the U.S military proudly dispensing justice to terrorists in all corners of the globe one round at a time for 100 years. Bringin the hate to the bad guys and sendin it down range. American designed and known worldwide.

Hope this helps although there are many others, these are the basis of the Americans who have had their influence felt across the spectrum of firearms manufacturing and design.

Elections are coming up so pay attention. Gene Green, S.Jackson Lee, John Cornyn, Bill White are all names of people I will personally do everything to see defeated in the upcoming round of voting. Do the duty folks. I hate to get political but defeat all the non gun candidates and check the NRA and TSRA websites for info on who they are. I say these candidates because their agendas go far deeper than just Gun Control issues. These are the folks who would rather society destroy itself than lose their personal agendas to what is right for the people….all the people….not just their people.

EDDIE

MORE RIFLE STUFF

I stopped by a local “Armory” yesterday to pick up another Magpul 30 round magazine for my M-4 Carbine in anticipation of attending a Law Enforcement Instructors course (NRA) for patrol rifle.  I really like these magazines. They are solidly made and totally reliable. Being polymer, dropping them doesn’t bang them up like it does aluminum G.I. types and they are lighter in weight. I’ve had a long association with the M-16 and yes let me tell you, you can tell a difference in the weight of various magazines outside of capacity of course. I was perusing the other merchandise when two gentlemen asked what rifle I was getting the magazines for and not knowing these fellas I just said “mine.” with my usual half assed grin. They told me at that point that they were sales reps for a well known tacticool equipment manufacturer/supplier and gave me a business card and coupon (which they both signed) for a substantial discount on their product line in store or on line. Conversation went to “tacticool” stuff. They said their business was “through the roof” and their corporate  HQ had had to expand. Cool….good for them. They reaffirmed what I had researched; that though sales of “tacticool” rifles was down at least 1/3rd across the board, accessories were up well over 150% from the previous year for them. Great. Lotsa AR’s are in home safes across the land. They asked what sling I use. I told em the one that came with the rifle. Of course, they had to show me their latest, greatest,” you can tow a 737 Jumbo Jet” single point sling. At this point I just said a sling is just a carrying strap and excused myself as their jaws dropped.

I learned in a very harsh environment that a sling is just a way to carry your weapon. Look, I realize there are some techniques of rifle marksmanship training that teach and have been taught since WWI how to use the standard G.I. issue (leather) rifle sling to steady your aim by wrapping it around your support hand. Great, but otherwise you use the damn thing to sling it over your shoulder. Just like the rubbers we got in our kit. You used them to put over the muzzle to keep rain and twigs and crap out of the barrel not  to prevent getting an STD from the Saigon B girls, and trust me; they were far more effective in the former role and rarely in the latter.

I see training videos with tape being placed over the muzzles. Try it. I can tell you that I have and it doesn’t work. The tape won’t stay on for more than a couple of minutes of being carried through brushy terrain or crawling through thorny vegetation or “come along vines” as we used to call them.

If you expose your rifle to any significant amount of time in the elements of Texas you’re gonna find that your strap will rot or fall apart relatively quickly from abrasion, humidity, sun exposure, sweat or all of the above. Few if any riflemen give their sling any kind of maintenance, and I doubt if any have ever read the instructions for care and cleaning when they bought it or took it out of the box.

If you have an M-4 with the standard collapsible stock; you can single point the sling you get or as I say “short 2 point” it by putting the thing on the mount holes at the rear top & bottom of the stock. A lot of so called “experts” say you should take a hammer and punch and get rid of the front sling swivel underneath the front sight on AR/M-4 rifles. Don’t!!!!! On any firearm, I don’t give a damn if it’s pistol, rifle, or anti-aircraft gun; DON’T REMOVE PARTS THAT WERE ORIGINAL TO THE DESIGN OF THE GUN!  If it ain’t broke…..don’t fix it.

When you start putting accessories on an M-4 carbine or AR-15 after-market; they will get heavy quickly. Optics/red dot sights (w/batteries), vertical grips, quad rails, lights, mounts and lasers when combined will up the weight by 3 or 4 pounds. Add a 30 round mags and two or three more and you’ve got a substantial load. Great if you’re a SWAT officer or Infantryman otherwise you’re just being “TACTICOOL” and man; where you carrying all those extra batteries you’ll need?

Hey it’s great that you can have all these things so get them and hang em on the guns while you still can. I’ll say again that these rifles are not the best in the house defense weapons. A shotgun is much better , but the hairs on the back of my neck are starting to pop up again over the whole “Gun Control” thing. The vaunted efforts of the NRA have won exactly SQUAT! In the two big cases “D.C. v Heller” and  “The City of Chicago v Mac Donald”  Even though the Courts ruled in favor of the Second Amendment right of individuals to have firearms it also left a typhoon sized grey area in the form of “reasonable regulations”….those regulations are in the form of incredible red tape, exorbitant fees, and registration requirements. If Da Prez-O-Dent gets elected again and his tilting of the Supreme Court takes hold, AND he keeps idiots like Holder, and Napolitano,et al in place, man we’re gonna get “phuq’d” as gun owners and prices are gonna skyrocket again and panic buying will show up again making lots of items very hard to get. Keep your eyes and ears open for the warning signs of the impending and I believe now, inevitable assault on the Second Amendment and private firearms ownership. A mass shooting by some “nut job” who twists off at a mall, school, or workplace, or some terrorist/homeland security, national security issue  will set them off screaming for more regulation by way of gun control on the law abiding citizen and certainly not on the dirt bag criminals who love gun control cause it makes their job that much easier. Beware! I think it’s coming.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR…   OUT

A Great Buy and My thoughts on AR15 / M4 for Home Defense

I’ve had three classes in June and folks are really picking up on their own self defense and how important it is and how fragile that right is becoming, especially with a self described hard core liberal who has never been a judge; fixin to be seated on The Supreme Court by Da Prez O Dent, & co.

To that end and as always as a consumer advocate for my friends and trainees, I’ve got some info for ya.
Philip, one of my June trainees has given me a heads up on some new Springfield XD’s at a great price. They are NOT XDM’s…….AJC Sports in Clute; have acquired an inventory of Springfield Armory XD’s from a shop that went out of business I understand.

Here’s what I have been told:

SA XD’s
New in the box
9mm and 40 S&W calibers ONLY. (IN THIS BATCH)
Black frame with stainless slide (silver).
Holster, mag holder and 2 magazines (XD Gear) in the case.
$399.00  (all factory warranties apply)

This is a fantastic deal on a very good firearm. Jump on it if you’re in the market. They won’t last long at that price and those guys are a big gun show vendor.

"PEARLS BEFORE WHINE”

People complain about practicing, instructors and trainees alike so here are some words to conjure on:

Down the hall in your home when you’re defending yourself and your loved ones it is not that;

“He’s so close I can’t miss!”…… it’s ……..He’s so close you can’t AFFORD to miss!!!!!!!

For many folks it’s not “TACTICAL”….IT’S….”TACTICOOL!”

FASTMAN SAY:
Buying a firearm because it’s cool or popular or cheap is just the “the debit card road to perfection”
You’re not gonna find perfection you’re gonna get A BILL!

AR and M-4 Tips.
A lot of these guns are out there and I’ve been watching people shoot them. I also have in my continuing quest to be a better instructor; acquired several video training series that include a couple geared directly at fighting with rifle and specifically the AR 15 and M-4 carbines that are prevalent today.

O.K. let me get this out of the way. I am going to preface this by saying that if you want to get an AR 15 or M-4 or other semi auto “tacticool” or “combat” style rifle, by all means do so. That is our right in this country and by all means exercises that right before the liberal democrats legislate it away as Clinton did.

Having said that let me say this as an Instructor. You better learn how to actually use it, and I don’t mean takin it out to the range or the deer lease and firing at whatever as fast as you can.

To shoot an AR15/M16/M-4 carbine effectively takes many factors. Basic marksmanship skill with rifles, understanding of bullet weight and rate of twist for the .223/5,56mm, the difference between 5.56 and .223 and which rifles will fire both or not (THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THE AMMO AND THE RIFLES!!!!!!), the operating system, and lubrication and cleaning of these particular weapon systems.

The biggest mistake I see with owners of AR rifles being made is the open dust cover. This was designed with a purpose and it must be closed whenever possible to keep crud out of the weapon and the follow on jams. On a windy day at the range you will see someone as I have; shooting their M-4 carbine and not closing the dust cover between shot strings. One guy I watched came back from checking his target, and then getting a soda, all the while wind and dust blowing across his action open M-4 carbine. After two rounds he had failures to fire and failures of the M-4 to go into battery. After listening to him curse the thing I suggested that he field strip and clean the weapon cause I was pretty sure it had gotten dust in the action as I was downwind on a bench and had to rub grit out of my eyes every time the wind blew across the line. He was frustrated and said he was going home. Bye!

The dust cover is there for a reason, Stoner designed it that way, and it’s called a “DUST COVER!” Close it when you’re done. Cover the action from dust. AR 15/M-4 carbines are NOT self cleaning. That is a myth that chrome lining does not cure. You have to clean and lubricate an AR/M-4 for reliability and I mean ……LUBRICATE………it. A lot!

Everyone I see shooting AR/M-4’s eventually lets go with a barrage of bullets as fast as they can SLAP the trigger. Even the U.S. Military demanded a change in design of the M 16 to a 3 round burst instead of the original full auto mode of fire. This was to stop the average foot soldier from dropping into the “spray and pray” mode. They still do it in the Sandbox but have to pull the trigger after every burst of three but here at home there is always an attempt to replicate auto fire in a semi auto rifle. It’s impossible to either replicate or hit accurately when you slap a trigger instead of deliberately pulling it.

I also even see this on the training videos I’ve acquired from two highly respected Instructors and one joke of an Instructor. My two almost heroes/idols of firearms instruction can be seen not only SLAPPING BUT YANKIN the triggers of these weapons and you never see the targets( CAUSE THEY AREN’T HITTING ANYTHING BUT IT SURE LOOKS COOL BEFORE THEY HOLLER “CUT!”.

Ya know my basic mindset is that if you have these rifles great learn to use them but don’t get off track by trying to learn to fight with them. O my Gawwwwwwwwwd what did he just say? To quote comedian Chris Rock…..”I Said It! Yeah I Said It!”

If all you have at home is an AR 15 or M-4 carbine and you have decided upon it as your home defense weapon, so be it but it is not the ideal house gun because of over penetration. Maneuverability issues and tactics. That is what the 911 and ensuing Police response is for.

Look if you are in a rifle fight in your home or in the Continental U.S. of A. for that matter; you are in what is affectionately known as a “world of sh*t Private”. I hate to go against my idols but learning a one handed reloads with your weak hand of an M-4 is a useless skill in the confined spaces of your average home. If you are in such deep doo doo that you have to reload a rifle to fight with in your own house you have more problems than solutions to work out. One handed weak hand rifle reloads, on the ground reloads, charging handle manipulation and malfunction clearance of an AR/M-4 with weak hand are all things you do if you have a partner with an AR/M-4 laying down suppressing fire for you while you sort it all out. Standing in your hallway in your boxers is no place to have an exchange of rifle fire and I’ll bet you that you’re boxers don’t have 30 round magazine pouches built in. But hey, what do I know?

Just like your handguns; if you get an AR/M4 or just gotta have one great. Learn how to use it.
If you’re ranching or deer hunting on the border regions or “the valley” having an AR/M-4 makes some sense. It does not mean you are ready OR able to defend yourself or “fire fight” with seasoned and hardened cartel soldiers crossing the border ready to kill you for the drug trade they ply. It is a good choice though in that situation which allows you to get the Hell outta there and call in the Cavalry that’s their job.

Another major Instructing school was shown teaching the absolute nonsense of tucking an M-4 under your arm to operate its weapon mounted light when the M-4 either went dry or malfunctioned. If you’re fighting with an M-4 and it runs dry,  SCREW STICKING IT UNDER YOUR ARM! DROP IT! GO TO YOUR HANDGUN AND THEN GO AWAY ASAP!  A weapon mounted light on an empty or broken weapon is as useless as it gets.

All these so called techniques are geared to keep TV audiences interested but of little real life use to anyone other than Law Enforcement or Military professionals who really need some of these skills from time to time.

Just my thoughts!

Your Instructor, Eddie…. Out!