Occasionally they are at the range, or plinking in the backyard, just to keep sharp (if I'm going to carry in public, I'm going to be RESPONSIBLE about it). But those days aren't as frequent as I'd like, due to a) lots of work, not a lot of free time, and b) ammo prices (although better than it has been...it's still not "good").
Now...dad's 1952 Colt .38 Official Police? That tends to live in the safe most of the time. Occasionally - like a good cigar - I'll just be in the mood, and give the ol' wheel gun a workout.
At 70 years old, it's still probably more accurate than the guy holding it!
My only remaining safe queen is my nickel S&W 22-4. If it wasn't for wanting to preserve the finish I'd carry it a lot more. Back before ammo prices got crazy, I'd shoot it relatively frequently. The rest of them are pretty heavily holster worn. The Beretta has actually held up pretty well in that respect.
Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2021 - 08:28 am:
So, what to do? Consider that this boy stole the gun from his dad (who bought it 4 days previous), doesn't the dad have some exposure here? Accessory before the fact, for not securing it appropriately? We all know that this is red meat for the GC looney faction. The 2A folks need to have some sensible comebacks to them. If the gun owner is on the hook for someone else using their gun, it may be an incentive to secure it better.
Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2021 - 09:28 am:
Exactly.
YOUR gun is YOUR problem, 1000% of the time.
Which is why mine lives in one of two places:
1. on my hip 2. in my gun safe
Period.
I don't leave it in a car; I don't leave it on a nightstand; I don't put it on the workbench; I don't leave it on the firing bench at the range. (amendment - one of THREE places: hip, safe, or in my hand while being fired).
The Responsible Gun Owner forgot the "responsible" part here...and he SHOULD go to jail along with his kid.
Now, for the gun control nuts:
Should *I* go to jail because of this guy's ineptitude? Should *I* lose the right to bear arms and defend myself as I see fit, because of this guy?
Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2021 - 10:41 am:
Interesting In NC if a minor in your house hold gains possession of your gun as Rat outlined, you are on the hook, a required accessory ( provided with gun ) is a cable lock which if placed correctly prevents use and is to be used.
I don't believe that most common gunsafes are that safe.
I wonder when the confiscation will begin, only in that way can we reach "utopia"
Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2021 - 10:04 pm:
These are all valid concerns.
What I thought was interesting is that dad bought the Sig four days ago but the kid is target practicing and posting pictures on social media is a red flag. I also learned that his parents have advised him to remain silent, which, while a right, seems fishy in the context of the school shooting.
My kids have guns but not access to them. They are kept in my gunsafe (guns, not the kids) and they do not get free reign of when they want to use them. I'm pretty far right, but completely agree that the burden of responsibility is on the owner. We need to keep them safe to prevent tragedies from happening.
When my son turned 2 I had him shooting. Crackers, soda cans, beanie babies and leaves floating down the river with a mil dot scope. There was no mystery to him and the rules were clear. It was something "WE" did. I never let him roam the woods with pellet rifles. He had nerf toys for playing with. Other pistols and rifles came onto the range as he grew up. He didn't need bullets to learn with. I never got swept with a muzzle and he knows firearm safety. He still keeps his guns in my safe. When he buys his own house I'll give him my safe, if I can remember where it fell out of my boat.
I don't believe that most common gunsafes are that safe.
Anything can be end-run with enough effort. See: automotive and motorcycle "security systems". However, the use of such devices (back to gun safes) shows intent to secure and to my knowledge, we have not yet seen any indication that daddy had or used any sort of safety device to keep the gun away from junior.
We don't need "the government" to tell us this is a good idea. More legislation is the LAST thing We The People need right now.
Use. Common. Sense.
If nothing else, do the math - if YOUR gun is accessible to other people, than what's to stop 'other people' from entering your home and USING YOUR OWN GUN AGAINST YOU???
I looked at safes costing $1,000 to $5,000 and determined that I could cut through the sides on most of them. A pry bar will get you through the door in less than an hour on a lot of them. I bought a locker for my weapons. I don't keep them all at the same address, and believe stealth is better than just a lock. If you can't find them, you can't have them. You would not believe some places where there is unused space.
I understand that my cheap gun cabinet is not as secure as a massive safe.
The big insulated box with the fancy lock is a far better choice for your personal papers, my steel box offers zero fire protection.
I "imagine" the Big Thick Box probably has a better lock. But from the occasional lock picking video, any smart guy can open mine in seconds, and an idiot in minutes with a crow bar. It's most "secure" feature is it's screwed into wall studs and floor.
It's to keep out children, the honest, and lawyers.
I joke that I keep my cheap rifles and shotguns in the safe, and the expensive stuff under the shed. That's where the 'chucks live, despite repeated gas attacks.
Locks are liability denial tools. If your guns aren't locked up in New York you're breaking the law, and inviting lawsuits if they are stolen and used in crimes.
If I had a "safe room" then I could properly display a collection on the walls. As a history buff, I'd have a sling at one end and something polymer and modern/scary looking at the other. All legal, of course. And only weapons I have proficiency with.
I agree with Rat, UCS, But the comment was made because I watched a man cut thru a "big box" gun safe with a cutoff wheel and a 4 1/2" side grinder.( both commonly available) in under 10 minutes, and the pro lock smith opened one safe in seconds with a magnet, Not confidence inspiring ...
I live alone so issues with others are not likely .
You have to cringe each time a mass shooting happens, a question where was the school resource officer? was the officer Armed ? or is this the result of Democrat policy?
Here the high schools have resource officers and they are armed we also don't have shootings.. [KOW]
There are countless videos showing how to break into 'safes' with screw drivers. These 'safes' are thin sheet metal and get most of their weight from cheap sheet rock for the fire proofing.
The tipping point for me was grabbing the interior frame of a Liberty Safe and being able to flex it with my hands.
I found a tank of a gun safe for $300 on Craigslist. No gimics. No 'fire ratings', etc. It's a 1/4" thick sheet metal. The frame around the opening is reinforced with box steel. The door has reinforced ribbing/shelving on the inside. The best part? The two sheets of paper will keep it from closing and latching, so there's no way of getting any formidable pry tool into there to get it open.
Sturdysafe Company is doing heavier safes that can't be opened with heavy flat blade screw drivers.
Next best option? A toolbox that is used on job sites. They are heavier wall than most of the gun safes and all the pry points are generally reinforced.
So, mommy and daddy bought a pistol (using the state firearms law term), for a minor, in a state that does not allow posession of a pistol by anyone under 18.
Keep in mind these people have been convicted by CNN.
So you're foolish to make a judgement, yet.
You don't know what lies are being told by who.
On the lock subject... I drove 400+ miles to a storage facility to help sort & retrieve stuff for a friend a few years ago. 20 miles from our destination, my friend realized he'd forgotten the keys to the Master Lock securing the module. So we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought a replacement lock. I popped the padlock with 2 open end wrenches faster than it would have taken with the key and lube to get through the rust.
Locks are for children and the marginally honest. Any teen could break into anything if they really wanted and didn't care about consequences.
In the face of the law, the gun owner is required to TRY to keep them isolated and locked up.
The parents being "on the run" is truth enough for me - actions speak louder than words.
I would, however, like to see equal coverage for the Texas school shooter...
...but I won't count on that because that was a black kid. And that goes against the MSM narrative that "blacks are oppressed" and the "victims" of society.
I would, however, like to see equal coverage for the Texas school shooter...
...but I won't count on that because that was a black kid. And that goes against the MSM narrative that "blacks are oppressed" and the "victims" of society.
Oh no not again,
A thought here, Most courthouses have armed guards and security screening, perhaps NOW being the police are to be defunded and school resource officers may be dropped from the payroll. entry and exit screenings for contra band items
The real problem resides in state houses, and washington.
So...I snipped the back of the light pipe and shaved the top to give me a flatter profile. It also exposes more of the black which helps with contrast with the rear. The results were favorable. 20211210_124850 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr 20211210_122644 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
The C&Arsenal crew just released the Colt 1902 video in their long awaited series leading to the fabled 1911.
at the end of the video is a double rant on dry firing antiques & half safeties in slide operated guns.
The 1902 had only a half safety, no other manual or grip type. It was a transitional design on the way to "normal".
But it also reminded me that I dislike the 1911 "cocked and locked" carry mode. I love the trigger pull. I'm big on good triggers. I don't like that I'm a fraction of an inch of sear engagement from boom, and I've pulled 1911s from holster and found my fat movement ( or malicious daemons ) has already flipped the safety to fire.
In a well built holster and a well maintained pistol, I'm still pretty safe, and my favored Yaqui slide holster and others do shield the trigger from twigs etc.
Still....
Once upon a 1970's there was an Australian custom frame that had a grip cocked setup that allowed and required hammer down carry. I really liked the looks but production was small & I've never tried one.
Like the H&K P-7, but with the grip safety/cocker at the back.
Speaking of gas delayed blowback...
I want the next generation of this one for concealed carry. Or the funds to afford one.
I believe the 1911 is the most perfect semi automatic pistol ever devised. The way it can be detail stripped without tools is pure magic. That it was designed in such an era with such intricate mechanical interfaces is impressive.
With a grip safety blocking the trigger, a half notch, and a manual safety blocking the sear, they are inherently safe.
Traditional 1911's can fire if dropped muzzle first on a hard surface from a height of eight feet or more.
Some more modern iterations have passive or active firing pin safeties.
My personal gun has a titanium firing pin and extra powered firing pin spring.
That Alien is a cool gun, though I have doubts concerning long term durability. I've also found delayed blowback guns to have a strange recoil impulse that takes some getting used to.
I also believe that simplicity and practicality matters. Is it that much better than a run of the mill $500 gun?
I carry a mini 1911 (kimber micro) cocked with the safety on. I feel completely safe doing so. My understanding is that, with the safety on, even if the hammer falls, it cannot strike the primer. I don’t have extra flesh to accidentally turn off the safety.
Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 - 09:37 am:
I'm considering a new Wilson Combat EDC-X9. My big debate while shopping is, standard safety or ambi safety? I understand the desire for ambi if you are forced to shoot off-hand...but more curious/concerned about the exposed safety lever while holstered.