Free Market

I didn't know Mr. Freemarket could play the Banjo-lele...

Terminology

What is the difference between a dingus and a doohickey on a firearm?

Joisey

Have you noticed that you never hear from gunnies in New Jersey? Either as a blogger or a commenter. I don't read the forums as religiously as I could, but what I have persused has little showing from the Garden State.

You hear from folks in Illinois, New York (city, even!) and California, but not Jersey.

Are you out there, New Jersey gun enthusiasts?

I understand if you can't talk because the enemy is close aboard, but key your mike or something.

Rank the States

Heinous gun control regimes spread their odoriferous ways in different ways, state to state. Some states are further along the path to tyranny than others. I was wondering, how would you rank them, with number one being the worst.

Illinois and New York are pretty bad, but mainly around the two dominant cities, New York and Chicago. Southern Illinois and upstate New York still have a thriving gun culture. Or is all of New York state as bad as the city?

Massachusetts is bad, but you can still GET a conceal carry permit. You can't in Wisconsin, but I bet there are much more gun friendly folks, otherwise, in WI.

Maryland is bad, but nearly as bad as New Jersey. Case in point: I can buy hollow point bullets anywhere.

Ok, here are the states. Rank them:

California, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois , New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island. (I usually forget those last 2.)

Did I miss a bad state? And I don't want to hear "Indiana is a horrible state because I can't get a short barrel shotgun!" I WISH Maryland was as 'bad' as Indiana. I can, however, in MD, buy a sawed off shotgun after jumping through the standard NFA hoops...

nyah.

October Range Report

I went to the range last week. It had been a while. Beginning of September maybe? No, it was the very end of August.

Here is target number one. .45 ACP is the ragged holes on the left, the clean holes from a hollow point on the right are .40, the 1911 and 229 respectively, all at 25 feet.


Check out the lower left!:

Not bad, hey? Well, no, not really. I was aiming for the target above. That's the bad news. I seem to have developed a wrist break. At least when I am rusty. But, note, they ARE centered. I've been working on improving the trigger pull.

The 229 had a wide, kinda centered, pattern. Not bad, but not good.

Once I settled down with the 1911 the groups tightened and got closer to the center for target 2:

The top 2 are 1911, bottom right Sig.

The last target I aimed at was the top right. The ones on the bottom were early in the string and still wrist breaking a bit (anticipating and compensating...) But later they all seemed to move up and toward the center. My trigger pull is getting much better when I can Zen it out. My standard flaw of 'low and right' from bad trigger work is much lessened, this time. Hopefully I can keep up with that kind of improvement.

It was an ACTUAL group on the top right. Kept clustering in the big hunk near the center on the last couple mags. I don't think the 1911 has been that good to me, to date.

Lookie!

Look what came in the mail!

Not the SIG. Nor the book.

Yup, a Milt Sparks holster. Versa Max 2 with shark skin. They were thinking October delivery and sure enough, here she comes.

Pretty!

I'm so pleased. Can't wait to try it out in public. Golly it's nice. Initial forays from the living room to the kitchen show it to be confortable. Those snaps are one-ways. You have to roll them in just right to fully engage them

Here is a pic of ALL the holsters I have for the Sig P229 DAK:

The half leather one is a Comp Tac that works ok. And the paddle one is a Serpa. More of an open carry rig, that. Or IDPA if I ever thought about doing that stuff.

I am thinking of maybe getting another VM2 for a 1911 if I like how this one rides, though I kinda like something with a thumb break retention strap for the 1911. I'm a bit chicken that way. Hmm, I was thinking shoulder holster the other week... But Milt Sparks doesn't have a shoulder style. Stick with Galco. IF I go with shoulder.

I figure I need a few dozen more holsters, tho. All the gunnies with a lot more experience shooting have a drawer full of holster rejects. I'm look at YOU JayG.

Safety Gizmos

I usually come down with Tam on useless extraneous features. But I don’t think a loaded chamber indicator is totally useless.

Yes, it certainly IS dangerous when you use it as a safety device and then rely on it to wantonly violate Rule 2 and 3 while thinking Rule 1 doesn’t apply cuz the indicator says so.

But let’s say you have a prowler in our basement at 2AM. You grab your blaster with a loaded chamber indicator. It’s too dark in your house to do a press check to see if there is a round there, and you don’t want to take off the rail light on your gun to look for brass in the pipe. The house is dim, but not so dim that your can’t shoot a bad guy (and at my house a guy in the basement at 2AM is NOT a good guy, guaranteed. Might not be the same at your house. It could just be your innocent son in law, so don’t air him out.) with your tritium sights and illuminating the area with the aforementioned rail light. You are pretty sure the gun has a round ready to go, as it always does, but you don’t KNOW. The loaded chamber indicator sits proud of the frame and you can feel that and be good to go.

Maybe. I guess the chamber indicator could be broken and shows a round where there ain’t one so when you confront the murderous meth-head in the basement you are gonna get that click instead of a boom.

So… maybe Tam IS right. Relying on gizmos is probably not ideal in any case.

And can a broken chamber indicator gimp an otherwise functioning weapon and make it fail? That would be bad. Like a failed internal lock could kill you with a click instead of a bang. I dislike internal locks, magazine safeties, and loaded chamber indicators on principle, but my dislike of the internal locks is a bit more acute…

I know, I know, the chances of the internal safety lock failing and rendering the gun unusable is vanishingly remote. You know what's more remote? Me pointing a gun at someone because the loaded chamber indicator is down. I still don't want either of them, or the magazine disconnect, on my shooting irons. Full stop.

Hand Owies

THIS is where the gun hurts me.

Doesn't matter if it's double action semi-auto, or single action. Right there in the spot where the nail meets the skin in the corner of the finger tip.

It doesn't hurt their during dry fire practice. I think it's the fact that there is a tiny controlled explosion, that is quite forceful, right there in my hand and that's just the spot that rubs the most.

Where do you guys get your owies? Anyplace different?

I should probably tape up on BIG range days.

Why Eat?

For some reason, I am known as the local zombie expert at work (my day job, not my RoMERO job. Natch.) Someone asked me why zombies don't try to eat other zombies. And why do they eat people anyway.

Short answer: Who knows? Not nobody, that's who.

Long answer: Well, there are lots of theories.

Here are some:

1. Zombies are hungry (though we don't how their metabolic process works) and other zombies are poisonous. Think about it. Would you eat rotten meat (zombies) or fresh meat on the 'hoof' (us)?
2. They have a social taboo against cannibalism, just like humans do, and they are a separate species.
3. A bite is how a the virus that make zombies is spread, and the virus evolved this vector for transmission by compelling the infected to bite. If it is a virus. Again, we don't know.
4. They have the weight of a thousand hells bearing down on their shoulders, and are kinda disappointed that the living aren't in the same boat.
5. They hurt, and brains makes the pain go away.
6. They just plain mad. MEAN mad.
   
7. Maybe they've been spending most of their lives living in a zombie paradise.

boom de yada 4

What I Am Watching Tonite

Well, RE-watching.

Zombiewalk Silver Spring

Tonite!

[and no, I'm not going. it might not be zombies. it might be foolish kids dressing UP as zombies on a lark. and if i shoot a bunch of kids in the head that might be a bad thing.]

BOOM DE YADA 3

Remember this?


And this?


Well:

Zombieland

Some of you are probably wondering why I haven’t posted a review of Zombieland, the movie, yet.

It’s because I haven’t seen it. And I’m not gonna go to the theater to see it.

Think about it. That’s what the zombies WANT you to do. You’re in a crowded, dark room with limited access to exits. Chock filled with panicky civilians. It’s a death trap! A half dozen undead children could control a room full of 400 and treat it as a great big smorgasbord. Instead of buying popcorn on your way in, you would do them a great favor by just soaking in marinade before you left the house and then pour that butter-esque tropical-oil corn-topping over your head there at the movie house.

It’s already on the Netflix queue. I’ll watch it, from the safety of my bunker, when the DVD comes out.

Ask, and Ye Shall Receive

Well would you look at that. I start talking about National Review being a little too urban oriented with their gun outlook, (not hostile, just not too much on their radar) and they go ahead and post a 2nd Amendment article online today.

It's probably my huge influence on them that sparked the response. Yeah. That's what it is.

"New Jovian Thunderbolt: Neophyte shooter, Conservative POWER broker behind the scenes."

Hits and a Clairification

Yay, Tam linked to me (AND got my back). A Tamalanche is always good for the hit counter. And so did a nice Luddite guy I hadn’t read before that had some references to William F. Buckley’s actual public support for gun rights. Bully!

One commenter did think I was being derogatory to MetroCons. Perhaps he is right in that some might take away from my post that I was. I want to reassure him and others that I intended no such offense, and I apologize for not being clearer. On the contrary, MetroCons LOVE originalist judges, and apart from appointing ME a Senator of Maryland there is not much better for the cause of Second Amendment advocates than to get more originalist judges on the bench. And originalist judges are good for so many other things. In some separate universe where Ruth Bader Ginsberg is exactly as she is now, but pro-gun, I’d still be less than thrilled with most all of her non-gun rulings and find them detrimental to liberties I hold dear. And I have nothing but respect for the intellectual efforts and writings of Mark Levin. Also, his radio show can be entertaining, especially when he rants.

About the only Conservative type I actively dislike are the retrograde PaleoCons. But that is because of a distinct undercurrent of racism, classism, and anti-semitism inherent in that breed. They don’t oppose illegal aliens because of rule of law issues or their negative impact on public resources devoted to maintaining the welfare state or what have you, but because the skin of illegal aliens is often brown in color. Ick. Heck, PaleoCons are quite often anti-gun in that they want to keep arms out of the hands of what they consider ‘lesser’ peoples, often the poor and non-white. And the left tries to paint the REST of the conservative types with the flaws of the Paleos. I’d be happier if they just went back to being Democrats if they took their taint with them.

But the rest of the types are fitting just fine in the big tent as far as I’m concerned. Buckley’s efforts in the 50’s are a big reason why PaleoCon types were and are marginalized, along with the KookyCons (Flouridated water is a Commie plot to sap our vital fluids!), and why all the divergent Conservative types are pulling on the oars in the same direction (or mostly the same direction…)

Converted Another One

So yet ANOTHER work buddy said, out of the blue, “I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting a Ruger MkIII before years end… went looking at guns yesterday. It’s that or a .45. I think I need to measure my junk before I make my final choice.” This buddy is known affectionately as The Beard.

Frozen owns no guns. Frozen chats with me about guns. Frozen goes out and buys one. Then another. More.

Trollop owns no guns. Then Trollops chats with me about guns. Trollop goes out and buys one. Then another.

The Contrarian used to own guns, but hasn’t for years. Then he talks to me about guns, and decides he needs to get one again, now that he is divorced and there is no wife to complain.

And now, The Beard.

I even got ANOTHER work buddy to check out a few things. But he’s a former Marine. He didn’t need any extra encouragement where firearms are concerned. He is seriously thinking Enfield thanks to my guidance, tho, so there is that. He’s know as Coke Machine. Don’t ask how he got that nickname.

Chuckles and Corky were thinking about getting boomsticks just when I was, so I can’t take credit for theirs.

Not a bad record so far, if I do say so myself.

Gonna be a good day, Tater.

MetroCons

Gun Owners, serious ones, are generally conservative. They may be socially liberal, certainly, but they are definitely taking a more conservative view of the US Constitution. For the 2nd Amendment, as well as all the others. And they want to limit the power of the government. Gun owners also have a libertarian bent. Also... generally.

There are other conservative types, and these are MASSIVE generalizations. PaleoConservative (a bit icky, and often racist, thankfully these are dying out for the most part.) Country Club Conservatives (they like the old social order and their position in it. They often also bleong to Rotary. Old style Blue Bloods.) NeoConservatives (used to be liberal, saw the light about 30-40 years ago.) Social Conservatives (sometimes they don't mind government power, especially when used advance their goals on abortion, homosexual issues, and church related stuff.) CrunchyCons (conservatives that are big into the environment and conservation. they often wear hemp and eat granola. They can look like a hippy while voting for a Reagan.) Many other types. FiscalConservatives, LibertarianConservative, Anti-CommieConservatives, SoutParkCosnervatives, &c. There is also the subject for my post: MetroCons. Metro-Conservatives.

MetroCons are folks that live in or grew up in urban or near urban areas and are conservative. Examples include Bill Buckley and the staff of National Review, Rush Limbaugh, and Mark Levin. Conservative that don't reside in "Fly-Over Country."

Mark Levin came out with a book called Liberty and Tyranny that touched on all of the generally appealing principles of conservatives: Fiscal responsibility, low taxes, rule of law - NOT man, don't be beholden the Gaia religionist, elimination of a gov't monopoly on schooling/indoctrination, entitlement reform, a vigorous national defense policy to meet any outside threat, getting a handle on out of control illegal immigration ending gov't hostility to religion, and an almost absolute faith in the Constitution with an originalist interpretation.

He never once mentions guns. Mr. Levin is typical of most metrocons. Metrocons have probably never been deer hunting or to the range or even held a pistol in their hands. They certainly don't mention 2nd Amendment issue much on their shows and in their written columns. It's as if they don't care about gun issues one way or another. Being urban types, the gun activity around them is often of a criminal variety. If not to them, than a few blocks away to other people. Some metrocons are openly hostile to gun rights.

You can read National Review Online for months without seeing a reference to the 2nd amendment. Longer if no 2A cases work their way through the court system. Only one or two contributors shoots a self-defense handgun regularly or has in the past. And it is hard to blame them. By definition they LIVE in the city. And the 2 cities they live in are NY and DC. Neither are known for having lots of places to practice with your boomstick. Or having a boomstick in your house/apartment.

But even the hostile ones can be on 'our' side in the gun debate when you press them. Why? They are Constitutional Originalists. When rhetoric push comes to intellectual shove they line up on our side. Assuming you, the reader, is a single issue person that is concerned about RKBA issues only. And since this blog is about the aspects of ME that is RKBA it might seem that that is all I think about. Relax, dear reader, (all 3 of you) I am more nuanced that that. I just endeavor to stay on topic.

Metrocons might be hoplophobes, but they don't project their hoplophobia onto others.

Technically, I should be a Metrocon. I grew up in the suburbs and had relatively little contact with hunting and shooting growing up. My proclivities lead me to lean toward downtown, not out to the country. I liked the country, but preferred the conveniences of the city. Or close enough to the city. When looking at military service I eschewed Army like activities because I don't like sleeping in the mud. It's a big reason why I liked the Navy. My family did very little shooting growing up, and most of that was BB guns in tightly controlled situation with adult supervision at ALL times. Even when such supervision may not have been warranted. There is no reason whatsoever that I should be interested in firearms.

Had I been more rurally oriented my interest I have now would have happened 30 years ago. 30 years ago my interest was toward larger machines. Combat aircraft.

But better late then never. Getting my first deer 30 years ago might have been better, but hopefully I can correct that omission now.

Would I like it if MetroCons through their more rural minded brethren a Second Amendment bone? Yes. Do they have to? No. As long as they adhere to their philosophy regarding the Constitution they are still on our side. We'll worry about the fight between Metro-Cons and more rural Conservatives later, when it is no longer Democrats on the Left and the GOP on the right in Congress, but Metro-Cons on the Left and 'Rural'-Cons on the right there.

Zombie Wedding Proposal.

Smithing a RIA

So MBtGE has a Commander-size RIA 1911 .45. I know, I know, but it works just fine and the price was right, even for an RIA. You cut too much off the price of an RIA and you Pizza at dinner will cost more than your blaster. And MBtGE got a pizza-price type deal.

It's a bare bones 1911. Which means no beaver tail grip safety, and that can be bad. By 'can be' that means it might have a tendency to drive the hammer spur into the meat of your hand between finger and thumb. And this one sure did. This painful phenomenon is called Hammer-Bite. Owie.

Now MBtGE isn't stupid. He doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a RIA to 'improve' it. But hammer bite is unacceptable and could lead to a serious flinch. Luckily, there is a gunsmith next to his church and the simplest and cheapest mod available is bobbing the hammer, like so:




You can see the old hammer shape in the inset.

I haven't seen the mod in person, but I'd like to. This procedure is simple enough I might try it myself if I ever needed to. The danger is you take too much meat off the trigger and it isn't massive enough to drive the firing pin forward and touch off a primer cap. The worry might be overblown and silly, but I'd still emulate the efforts of a professional gunsmith if I ever wanted to butcher my own gun.

Or maybe I'd just pay a pro and not get laughed at after I mung it up.

MBtGE hasn't taken it to the range yet, either. So maybe it still bites and all the expense is for naught.

Alternatively you can guy the following part and have a gunsmith fit THAT to your 1911:

But that costs a bit more.