| Author | Message | ||
     Aesquire |
The NRA Golden Sponsor Awards are out. A few items caught my eye. Keltec has a single tube magazine version of their bullpup 12ga. Lighter, slimmer, and presumably more reliable. ( I have no experience with the double or triple tube versions. But I'd bet they're not perfection ) For a "sits in your bug out bag" or "truck gun" something compact, light-ish, and powerful enough for anything that walks in this hemisphere, with the ammo choices available in 12 ga. It's worth a look. Bird shot to buck-n-ball, the 12ga. isn't a good choice for the big African game like Hippo or Elephant. Heavy bone and deep, hidden organs make anything less than serious deep, hard, hitting rifles the rule on African big 5? ( I forget, & they keep changing ) It's not that a shotgun slug can't kill a Rhino, etc... It's just not a humane, one shot, ethical choice. I also consider it marginal on the big American ( or Siberian ) brown bears. Partly because if I'm in that happy distance for slugs, under 100 yards, and preferably less, I am NOT in my happy distance from a silvertip grizzly. ( which is best measured in miles. ) Many African countries have rules that want a .375 H&H magnum as minimum on the Big Ones, and while every land animal on the planet has been successfully hunted & killed with less, it's not a bad idea for humane hunting. ( 7 mm for sure, & .22 centerfire iirc. And of course most elephants are killed today with AK-47s by poachers who don't give a $%&- about humane hunting and shoot full auto at game and game officers. ) If anyone has the Keltec bullpup, please post your opinion. I'd take it trap shooting at the Expensive local club.  Another winner is the Remington V3 pistol grip only... Now with the long birds head grip & short barrel as a legal "thing". Frankly copying Mossberg in this niche category, but in softer recoiling, more reliable, semi auto. The legal loophole "not a shotgun, thus not a short barrel shotgun" but just over the minimum overall length, that creates a really only pistol grip weapon that, if you were foolish enough to put a regular butt stock on would be a NFA item and instant Federal felony. I personally consider the PGO shotguns useless, but also admit I suck with them, and someone might like them, sooooo... & this one looks like the best. ( in a category I don't care for ) The Crimson Trace guys won with a receiver mount laser for Mossberg 12 ga. shotguns, with more brands to come. Looks compact and decent. Big fan of lasers on home defense shotguns. And Springfield won with their Hellcat. Afaik they don't make 10 round mags, ( easy enough to do ) so although I've seen many praises, not sure if it's available in NY. I am interested in any experience you guys have with their products, especially the Hellcat. And their 911. Not an Award winner this year, but a near 1911 switchology sub compact 9mm that might be just the thing for my next purchase. | ||
| Ducxl |
80% and i'm a lifelong Machinist. Getting it done the AR way | ||
| Ratbuell |
I may have to look into the Viridian mossberg lasers...my EDC is a Springfield Xds 9mm with a Viridian and I love them both. Magblock makes spacers for the Hellcat so it should be no problem to get one legalized for NY. Ive run a couple hundred rounds through a Hellcat amd it is very similar to my XDs, just...more. Its snappy but not overwhelming, it has a typical polymer safety-trigger (not 1911 match-grade but not wooden feeling either), it gets on target and back on target quickly (with AWESOME factory sights!), and it's extremely carry-able. About 0.25" thicker than my XDs - barely a noticeable difference. And I've run thousands through my XDs with zero failures, so if the Hellcat is as reliable....its a true winner. Look around, they've done 10k through one on video, and have since added another 10k to the same firearm (same serial number) for a total of 20k rounds through the same gun. I also like the 911. I ran a couple boxes through one a few weeks ago. Snappy, yes...but predictable and manageable. TINY. But even my XL-glove hands had good grip and not too much hanging over the edges. Very 1911-like, just....shouldn't have washed it in hot water and shrunk it, lol. And true to 1911...you need to run a few hundred through it to get it to loosen up. Couple guys I know have had early feed-ramp issues that usually work themselves out with break-in, and the couple that haven't have sent the barrel back to SA and they rework the ramp no charge. My understanding is, SA has softened the angle a bit on newer 911s as a response. There's also a .380 911 thats a little less snappy. Either can be had with a factory-installed grip laser. | ||
| Glitch |
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| Aesquire |
Thanks for the Springfield feedback. Their Ronin 1911 variant has got high praise from the magazines, but I have no experience with their products. | ||
| Ourdee |
I quit buying Springfield. | ||
| Rick_a |
Why that is? | ||
| Ourdee |
It was due to their participation in The Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA). They back paddled but I felt betrayed by them. So, I just don't deal with them. | ||
| Aesquire |
Co!t really ticked me off too. "Oohh! We won't make any more scary civilian handguns anymore, we are Woke and Proud!" Figuring they make their nut in military M-16 & machine gun sales, and no one complains. The above is a biased massive oversimplification, to be fair. Trouble was, the patents ran out on Stoner & Sullivan's work years ago, and FN or HK are big, diverse, ( meaning usually losing one contract doesn't kill them, although the German Army Rifle Fraud hurt HK, ( not their fraud! ) ) and don't pay taxes & bribes where Colt does. ( excuse, me, campaign contributions ) Don't know if they fired the idiots there, but they improved and are off my $%&+ list, but I could be wrong. S&W did some stupid too. Springfield, no relation to the old government facility, has imported, then seriously improved, a polymer line, and the 1911 line gets mixed but generally positive feedback. And they suffer from being in a State run by criminals and despots, with all that entails. | ||
| Rick_a |
I see. Springfield Armory, Troy, and Rock River Arms are all companies that have made questionable decisions. Unfortunately I'll buy the products that best suit my needs over their personnel choices or the dumb political trash they've tried to pull. | ||
| Ourdee |
I am leaning towards Dan Wesson. | ||
| Rick_a |
Dan Wesson is the best 1911 money can buy under $3000. I have a fully customized Colt and a nearly stock Springfield...because I tried to make a $750 pistol perform like a hand built custom...then was sick of all that and just wanted something that was adequate. | ||
| Aesquire |
I don't NEED a Les Baer $3000 pistol. Oh,I'd love one, sure. But what I "need" in a world of polymer striker fired Glock knockoffs/improvements is a solid carry piece and optionally a Commander alloy frame for ringing a dueling tree and occasional competitions. Heck, I've run in the Back up category with a .38 J-frame, so a refreshed one is all I actually need. But I've budgeted some for this year to upgrade, if only because laser tech is improved to the point the old battery waster is dim & expensive to run. Plus I just want... And a compact carry auto with red dot & laser might just up my game to shoot better, maybe even hit the narrow side of a barn. Hellcat???? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hellcat is a great piece. My XDs shoots SO much like it though...that I couldn't justify the upgrade, just for a few extra rounds. I'm just fine with the new TruGlo sights that cowitness with my Viridian instant-on laser. 7+1 should handle anything that comes my way. Anything that requires more...I'm going to do my damnedest to exit the area quickly because it isn't a fight I can survive. | ||
| Rick_a |
The G48/G43X are good options. With the Shield Arms mags you have a flush 15+1 capacity. The Hellcat is pretty nice for a tiny gun. I'm not ready for tiny guns meself. My J frames will still do for the time being. | ||
| Rick_a |
I'm trying to get a hold of a G42 for the GF. I think a TLR-6 combo would be pretty good. One of these days...  I'm probably going to sell a spare lower I have. Now seems to be the time. | ||
| Aesquire |
Review of the book "The Scout Rifle Study" & a short-ish comment on the concept. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-BD2tCsV2uA Personally, I really like the concept. I tested out the forward mounted scope idea on a Chinese SKS which had a side rail incompatible with Soviet mounts. I tried receiver cover mounts ( either not accurate, or not reliably easily repeatable mounting ) of a couple designs and concluded that having to re-zero a rifle after basic cleaning was stupid. So I found a rear sight replacement mount. It's not perfect either, for the same re-zero issue, and in the years since they now make a short rail mount to replace the rest sight, which, with a good quick release mount on the scope, solved all functional and administrative problems. ( neither type of mount was really available when I built it ) The forward mount scope, as tested, in my experience, is a good idea. It's a compromise, not as good as a higher power conventional scope at longer ranges, but better than a 1x dot sight at medium. And if you have imperfect vision, it can be far superior to irons. Thus, sighting equipment choice is, as you'd expect, dependent on training, ability, and mission. In the context of the Mission of a Scout rifle, you want to be able to kill game at close to medium range. Col. Cooper didn't think ranges out past X ( 500 yards? ) was responsible hunting practice. The gear in the 20th century just wasn't capable, with rare exception. Despite magazine articles and bragging, I think that's still true. Yes we have scopes and rifles, surprisingly affordable ones today ( Savage & Ruger ) that are mechanically capable of hitting a target out past sane hunting distances, ( awesome! ) but I doubt many humans are. So my moral loadstone for ethical hunting practice really hasn't changed much. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy ringing the gong at ( for me ) long distance. It's a skill and discipline I desire & envy. But hunters in my opinion, are responsible for humane practice. And the Scout isn't intended to be a sniper rifle. That's a specialist, specialized, rifle. The other aspects of the Scout concept are, IMHO generally good, again, in context of mission. The light, handy, sling parts of the equation are all positives with little downside. The caliber choice is big game hunting biased, and I think also reflects Col. Cooper's bias and proven experience. His service time had the .30-06 (.308 soon after, but close enough ballistically ) & .30 Carbine. In the 1970's the 5.56 wasn't a realistic big game caliber. Overall, my opinion is the Scout Concept is valid, and in a fairly broad spectrum. It's not an Everything rifle, although with quick detach repeatable mounts & a conventional scope in your pack, you can extend the utility and range considerably. It's actually a pretty good answer to the "if you can have only one rifle?" question. In the high power centerfire category. A .22 rimfire might be your choice as a More universal answer. And the Steyr Scout is a very well designed rifle, if I ever see a good deal... And so are a few of the others out there. A Ruger American with some custom work and optics perhaps? In the 21st century, you can argue for radically different choices, and wouldn't be wrong. No matter your opinion on what's perfect for YOU, it's going to be a compromise. | ||
| Aesquire |
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| Hootowl |
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/tsa-new-jersey-assa ult-rifle-artfully-concealed What is a “high powered magazine”, and what constitutes an “arsenal of ammunition”? It looks like the Fox writer simply pilfered verbiage from the CNN piece attributed here. https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/07/22/tsa-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••-bag-at-nj-airport/ And then changed semiautomatic to assault. An assault rifle is a very specific thing. This isn’t it. I guess I expected more from Fox. Guess not. | ||
| Hootowl |
uh. https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/07/22/tsa-•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••-bag-at-nj-airport/ | ||
| Hootowl |
Okay, I give up. | ||
| Aesquire |
that news story has been removed, I think. Just a reminder, back in the 1970's there was an organization called Handgun Control. They published their manifesto, and I had a copy of the book. ( loaned out and gone, but still available used at online stores. ) Much like Rules For Radicals, it's a text on how they would lie to incrementally take away your guns. First, give a kind of gun a scary name. Second, demonize that name in a ad/propaganda campaign. Third, get it banned by legislation. Fourth, move on to the next label/demonize/ban subset of gun. This let them write letters to the editor with catch phrases like, "I'm a life long hunter, but no one needs an Assault Rifle to hunt deer". To push the lies across the Media. And, yes, an Assault Rifle is a very specific Military Technical Definition. And yes, they lie about it at every level and every aspect. Assault weapon is a phrase invented by an anti rights activist, and Wikipedia used to give his name and when & where he invented it, as well as his intent, which is to demonize guns with lies to take them from You. That has been erased from History, and bull crap put in it's place. Seriously. I swear. Handgun Control changed it's name to the Brady center to exploit a crippled guy who can't speak for himself, and the Brady institute to exploit a crippled guy who can't speak for himself. ( pretend separate orgs for tax purposes ) But I remember the Planned Lie Sequence fairly well. First, Assault Weapons. Anything vaguely military looking with a laundry list of characteristics that lets you ban nearly anything you want. ( Success, Clinton Gun Ban, fortunately sunsetted ) The history of the name Assault ( Storm ) Rifle is interesting, feel free to ask if you don't know. Second, Sniper rifles. Anything with an optical sight. No one needs a Sniper Rifle! Snipers are Evil! ( this one was delayed in it's planned implementation after the Clinton Gun Ban, because American Snipers in Iraq became popular heroes. But it will return ) Third, anything concealable. No One needs to hide.... you get the idea. This is a background continuous propaganda campaign, but fairly low key and subtle, with Long Term goals ) Fourth, Sawed Off Shotguns. Obviously a criminal Only murder weapon. and, oooh! ANY shotgun plus a saw equals a sawed off shotgun thus it's a shotgun ban, period. ( see the background of the Ruby Ridge Massacre ) Fifth, Assassination guns! Since, ( according to the Mythology of the Anti Constitution Activists ) the .22 is the Choice of Assassins, NO ONE NEEDS an Assassination Gun! so, a .22 rimfire ban. I do suggest you read the manifestos of Evil so you know how they plan to screw you, but the above is a half decent thumbnail sketch of the basics. | ||
| Hootowl |
paste error, apparently. https://www.foxnews.com/travel/tsa-new-jersey-assa ult-rifle-artfully-concealed | ||
| Aesquire |
That's a PISTOL. You are totally justified in your disgust at inaccurate and sensationalist "reporting" AKA lying to you. Even if it's ignorance & just parroting the Lies handed to them by treasonous pigs in the government violating their oaths to uphold the Constitution. Still a crime to try and conceal a weapon & take it on an Airliner. My "no, you aren't hijacking this airplane" weapon for airline travel is utterly unconcealed, and quite helpful in navigating the uneven floors getting on & off jetways. It's a custom cane. ( not a sword cane ) It "just happens" to be the same length as the rattan sword I fought full contact with for over 2 decades. Short enough for a "grasscutter wrap" and long enough to reach out and enforce social distancing. ( no, not 6 feet, but "don't breath on me obviously" )_ I can give you references for local training, and a heck of a good laugh. One of my household, an expert fighter, found a book on stick fighting, and we all had a good chuckle. Not that it was bad, but there was a section that showed various opening fighting stances. The first showed a baseball batter stance, with the caption, "He's going to try and knock your head off" Then, a tentantive 2 handed grip with the stick held in front as if to ward off a Monty Python Unbrella attack, ( typical movie "I don't know what I'm doing and I'm really scared" position ) with the caption "Doesn't know what he's doing and is really scared" Then a classic fencing low guard..."Danger! Knows how to fight!" Then a SCA hanging guard position..."Run! He's going to Kill You!" Funny, and accurate. | ||
| Hootowl |
Oh I agree, and how stoopid do you have to be to think a veil of nylon is going to stop the xrays from bouncing off the big chunk of metal you’ve secreted away in your luggage? | ||
| Ratbuell |
butbutbut...it's POLYMER! \sarc.off | ||
| Ducbsa |
https://monsterhunternation.com/2020/06/04/where-a re-all-you-gun-owners-now/ | ||
| Ratbuell |
Excellent rant. "All us gun owners" are smart enough not to fan the flames. We aren't warriors, especially in the name of defending snowflake rioters. We're GUN OWNERS. We own tools to protect OURSELVES, and OUR families. Period. Now, if a tyrannical government takes power and starts to oppress people globally, that might change....but it won't be citizen against citizen at that point. | ||
| Aesquire |
Long time now in America, it's been the Citizens who support the Constitution who are pro-police, pro-responsibility, and pro-2nd Amendment rights. You want to gather THOSE people, us, together to fight the Police who are defending a courthouse against Communist Agitators throwing fire bombs. You wanna stick law abiding patriots between Communist Agitators and the police? That's how you get dead Communist Agitators. We know who the bad guys are, they're the ones with Molotov cocktails breaking store windows. We'd be useful idiots if we went into Democrat Party failed cities and escalated the planned disruption. The cities whose Masters would throw us in jail forever without bail or hearings using the anti-terrorist laws the previous regime out into effect? We either escaped, or are laying low to avoid the crap aimed at US. Sure, "gun owners" are at odds with the ( mostly D ) politicians who write these rights violating laws. And yet, the NRA and the Responsible Citizen are not only supporting law enforcement, we run classes to train them. Admittedly there's some hypocrisy in being a guy who speeds on the highway ( but gee, I was only 6 over! ) really doesn't want a ticket, and yet really wants the police we don't want to be busted by to patrol the roads to catch the "real" bad guys. Even though we might agree that speed limits are, while a bit arbitrary, not stupid in principle. ( there are some Darwinist radicals who think no speed limits would improve the species, which is true, but costly ) You can see that hypocrisy in pot smokers and, say, some people who have ( hypothetical scenario ) a AK-47 stashed in their attic in no rights States. None of the above want anarchy, none blame the police, and all are violators of unfair laws. Bottom line is the Leftist agitators asking US to shoot at police is such an obvious trap and setup for betrayal and excuse to oppress US, that I'm INSULTED they think we're that stupid. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm INSULTED they think we're that stupid. Well....they ARE the kings of Projection... I have a coworker - a new hire, and a very young (20), tiny (4'11", maybe 90 lbs sopping wet) cute blonde. A customer came in, full-dress Sheriff uniform. Female deputy. My coworker was staring her up and down, and after the sheriff walked out I asked what's up? She said she'd always wanted to be a cop but didn't think there was any way she could because she's so tiny (mind you, the deputy was only about 2" taller). Turns out, after we put our coworker on the spot and called the deputy back inside, the deputy is not only full-duty, but also a recruiter! They had a very good talk...and I may very well lose my new coworker! My manager came in after all this, asked what was up, and once we filled him in (and he's ex-Army), he said "are you crazy? Why the hell would you want to be a cop in today's world?" She piped up "that's exactly WHY I want to be a cop!". I seconded that - if it wasn't for my leg rebuilds (I can't run, so a physical would damn me), and my age (nearing 50, ugh), I'd sign up in a heartbeat. The Conservatives need to grow a pair, and re-assert Rule of Law across our nation. Now. November is going to be a clusterfuck, unless we get a handle on all this shit. |
