Friday, January 30, 2015

US Made Kalashnikovs


RWC Group is the exclusive importer of Izhmash-made Kalashnikov rifles and carbines. After President Obama imposed economic sanctions on the arms sector of the Russian economy including Concern Kalashnikov, they were between a rock and a hard place. The sanctions meant no more Saiga rifles or shotguns and no more 922(r) compliant AKs could be imported.

Fast forward to this year's SHOT Show. They announced the formation of Kalashnikov USA would begin production of AK-47s in the United States. According to their press release, the US manufactured products will be available during the second quarter of 2015.

From MarketWatch:
RWC Group, the licensed importer for the Kalashnikov company, revealed at the popular Las Vegas gun exposition known as SHOT Show this week that it would form a new company known as Kalashnikov USA to manufacture the weapon. The company is currently negotiating with three U.S. states to locate a production plant, with the rifles possibly rolling off the lines as early as the second quarter of this year, Jim Kelly, the new production manager of Kalashnikov USA, told the website OutdoorHub.com.
 According to an update in the story by Matt Korovesis at OutdoorHub.com, Concern Kalashnikov will not be working directly with either RWC Group or Kalashnikov USA on the new US made rifles and carbine.

The YouTube channel of the AK Operators Union, Local 47-74, had an interview with Rob Young of Kalashnikov USA at the SHOT Show which they published on Wednesday.


Day Two Of Project Gunwalker At Lynch's Confirmation Hearings


The second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for Loretta Lynch featured nine witnesses who touched upon a number of things. There were the "Loretta was a great US Attorney and I felt fortunate to work with her comments" from attorney David Barlow and former FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice Fedaryck. There was the "Loretta comes from a good Baptist family" testimony by Rev. Dr. Clarence Newsome. There was the testimony from law professor Stephen Legomsky that said he was "the" expert on immigration law and Obama's actions on making illegal aliens legal was OK with him.

Then there was what I consider the meat of the day:  the witnesses who described just bad the Department of Justice has gotten, how it has screwed people over, and how it has looked the other way at the abuses of power by the White House. Catherine Englebrecht of True the Vote described how the dogs of war were unleashed on her when she filed applications for non-profit status for two organizations. These "dogs of war" include the IRS, OSHA, the FBI, and BATFE. Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee discussed how the Department of Justice under Eric Holder was actively hostile to local law enforcement. He discussed how Holder and DOJ made the situation in Ferguson, Missouri worse by inserting itself where it had no business. Professor Nicholas Rosenkranz of Georgetown and the Cato Institute spoke about the role of the Attorney General in providing legal advice to the President and how Eric Holder has failed in this regard.

Then there was the testimony of Sharyl Attkisson and Professor Jonathan Turley. They were the bookends, so to speak, as they began and ended the testimony for the day. Leading off was Ms. Attkisson who described how she had been targeted by the Justice Department for her factually accurate reporting on
Operation Fast and Furious (among other things).
When I reported on factual contradictions in the administration’s accounts regarding Fast and Furious, pushback included a frenzied campaign with White House officials trying to chill the reporting by calling and emailing my superiors and colleagues, and using surrogate bloggers to advance false claims. One White House official got so mad, he angrily cussed me out.

The Justice Department used its authority over building security to handpick reporters allowed to attend a Fast and Furious briefing, refusing to clear me into the public Justice Department building.

Advocates had to file a lawsuit to obtain public information about Fast and Furious improperly withheld under executive privilege. Documents recently released show emails in which taxpayer paid White House and Justice Department press officials complained that I was “out of control,” and vowed to call my bosses to try to stop my reporting.

Let me emphasize that my reporting was factually indisputable. Government officials weren’t angry because I was doing my job poorly. They were panicked because I was doing my job well.
While the testimony of Ms. Attkisson was damning, I think the testimony of Prof. Jonathan Turley of George Washington University was even more damning of the Justice Department under Eric Holder. Turley admitted he voted for Obama and supported many of the Administration's policies. Turley is a DC insider. He appears on Sunday morning talk shows, he writes op-eds, he goes to the insider cocktail parties, and he rubs elbows with the powers that be.

Turley submitted a 26-page written testimony accusing the Justice Department of being the architect of the effort to expand the power of the presidency beyond what was Constitutional. He says that they actively attempt to block legislative authority and Congressional oversight. The most egregious example of this, in Turley's opinion, and the one that best captures the obstruction of Congress in recent years is Operation Fast and Furious. Turley devotes seven pages of his testimony to it.
However, the controversy that best captures the obstruction of Congress in recent years is the response of the Obama Administration in the Fast and Furious investigation. The reason that Fast and Furious is particularly illustrative is for a couple of salient factors. First, no one (not even General Holder) defends the Fast and Furious operation, which proved as lethal as it was moronic. It is a prototypical example of a program that is legitimately a focus of congressional oversight authority. A federal agency was responsible for facilitating the acquisition of powerful weapons by criminal gangs, including weapons later used to kill United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010. Congress has investigated not only the “gunwalking” operation, but also what it saw as concealment and obstruction, by the Administration, in its efforts to investigate the operation. Second, Congress had ample reason to expand its investigation after the Justice Department sent a letter on February 4, 2011 stating categorically that no gunwalking had taken place. It was not until December 2011 that Attorney General Holder informed Congress that it had been given false information and the letter was formally withdrawn. Congress responded by expanding the investigation into the false information given to it by the Executive Branch and the months of delay before Congress was informed of the misrepresentation of the facts underlying Fast and Furious. Finally, the position of the Justice Department on withholding documents has, in my view, been facially invalid and lacking in any credible good-faith interpretation of the executive privilege.
Turley goes on to say that one of the most troubling aspects of the Justice Department's behavior has been its refusal to prosecute the House of Representative's contempt citation against Eric Holder.
One of the most troubling aspects of the Fast and Furious investigation was not just the withholding of non-privileged material but the later refusal of the Justice Department to submit the alleged violation to a grand jury— despite a historic vote of the House of Representatives finding General Holder in contempt. The decision to block any prosecution was a violation of a long-standing agreement between the branches and represents a serious affront to the institutional authority of this body.
He goes on to attack the Obama Administration's circular reasoning cited for withholding requested documents saying "I have had criminal defense clients who would only envy such an ability to cite the basis for a criminal charge as the defense to a criminal charge."

I don't think any of the testimony given in day two of the hearings will derail Ms. Lynch's confirmation as the next Attorney General. I really have no doubt that she will be confirmed. I see this testimony as more an airing of grievances and an attempt to put the Administration on notice that a Republican-majority Senate - unlike the Democratic-majority Senate run by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) - is watching them.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

One Way To Objectively Assess Popularity Of New Products


I will admit that I didn't get to the SHOT Show New Product Center. I did go to their Showcase but that was much different. Nonetheless, the New Product Center was fairly crowded when I went past it. The NSSF was able to track which products in the New Product Center generated the most interest. They might not have been my choices but it appears that they were the most popular with those who participated.


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Quality Cartridge - A SHOT Show Find


If I've heard it once, I've heard it many times. The small out-of-the-way booths at SHOT Show are where you find the really cool stuff. So it was as my brother-in-law Larry and I were walking around the first floor of the SHOT Show. We came across this small booth that was displaying a number of old or unusual cartridges. As you can see from the photo below it was not a very fancy booth with custom-made display featuring lots of graphics (and it is not a professional photo!).




However, what Quality Cartridge lacked in graphics they made up for with the breadth and depth of the brass they make. In my conversation with Pete Cardona I found that they make brass for darn near any rare, unusual, obsolete, or wildcat cartridge that you can think of. Have grandpa's old Remington Model 8 in .30 Remington but can't find brass for it? Or you have a pistol in 10mm Centaur? Now you can get the brass you need and at a reasonable, if not cheap, price.

Quality Cartridge is located in Hollywood, Maryland and sells their brass through their website as well as through Midway USA and Graf and Sons. They have both rifle and handgun brass but do not offer loaded cartridges. However, they do have a list of custom reloaders who can meet your needs.

You can email them here. Or contact them at:

Quality Cartridge
301-373-3719 ph/fax
PO Box 445
Hollywood, MD 20636

Project Gunwalker Makes It Into Loretta Lynch's Confirmation Hearing


Project Gunwalker aka Operation Fast and Furious was mentioned today as the confirmation hearings for Loretta Lynch to become the 83rd Attorney General began. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had this to say in his opening statement:
The Department’s own Inspector General listed as one of its top management challenges: “Restoring Confidence in the Integrity, Fairness, and Accountability of the Department.”

He cited several examples, including the Department falsely denying basic facts in the Fast and Furious controversy. The Inspector General concluded this “resulted in an erosion of trust in the Department.”

In that fiasco, our government knowingly allowed firearms to fall into the hands of international gun traffickers.

And it led to the death of a Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry.

And then, after Congress called on the leadership of the Department to account for this foolish operation, what did they do?

Did they apologize to the family and rush to uncover the truth?

Quite the opposite.

They denied, spun and hid the facts from Congress and the American people.

They bullied and intimidated whistleblowers, members of the press, and anyone who had the audacity to investigate and uncover the truth.
 You can listen to this in the live video of Lynch's hearings at the 25:00 to 26:09 marks.

While it won't bring back the lives of Brian Terry and Jaime Zapata, I'm glad Sen. Grassley at least hasn't forgotten them and what was a proximate cause of their deaths.

The Famous Gun Channels Parody


Let's face it - you don't parody nobodies. It is the only the well known, for better or for worse, that get parodied. The Slovenian guys at Polenar Tactical have come up with a great parody of some of the more famous (or infamous) gun-related YouTubers.

I saw this first on Full30 and then found it on YouTube. If you have ever watched any gunny YouTubes, I think you'll enjoy it.


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

They Don't Respect The Second Amendment Nor The First


We've known for a long time that Josh Horwitz, Ladd Everitt, and the rest of the ne'er do wells at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (sic) have no respect for the Second Amendment. Now it appears that they are trying to silence journalist Emily Miller for using her First Amendment rights. They have started a petition on their website with an additional link on Facebook asking Fox-DC WTTG to fire Emily Miller because she spoke at a Virginia Citizens Defense League rally.

Screen Cap from CSGV.org

CSGV goes on to list their set of grievances against Emily including that she testified before the DC City Council, appeared at the VCDL rally, and that she told her story about the roadblocks she encountered getting a handgun in the District in a book. They accuse her of violating the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

Josh, Ladd, and the rest of their ilk are pathetic losers who live in a make-believe world believing that government should have the monopoly on violence. They denigrate and castigate women like Emily or paraplegics like Kurt Hofmann who only want to provide for their own self-defense. As I said a couple of years ago, they are totalitarian thugs and need to be called out on it.

For another perspective on their actions, see Dave Workman's Examiner column.

UPDATE: Someone has started a Don't Fire Emily petition on Change.org. You can find it here. I signed and I would hope you would do so as well.

Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearings On Loretta Lynch


Loretta Lynch, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, is President Obama's nominee to succeed the despicable Eric Holder as Attorney General. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on her nomination starting tomorrow at 10am. The committee is now headed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

The committee has released its witness list. Looking it over there are some very interesting names on the list such as Sharyl Attkisson, Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote, and Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee. You have to wonder if they will discuss Operation Fast and Furious, the hacking of Attkisson's computer, the targeting of conservative non-profits by the Obama Administration, the vilification of law enforcement by Holder, and other such topics. I would also note that Professors Rosenkranz and Turley both are affiliated with the libertarian Cato Institute.

The full list is below:
Witnesses

Panel I

Loretta Lynch
U.S. Attorney For The Eastern District Of New York
U.S. Department of Justice
Brooklyn , NY

Panel II

Sharyl Attkisson
Investigative Journalist

David Barlow
Partner
Sidley Austin LLP

David A. Clarke, Jr.
Sheriff
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Catherine Engelbrecht
Founder
True The Vote

Janice K. Fedarcyk
Fedarcyk Consulting LLC

Stephen H. Legomsky
John S. Lehmann University Professor
School of Law at Washington University

The Reverend Doctor Clarence Newsome
Cincinnati , OH

Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz
Professor Of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies Cato Institute

Johnathan Turley
Professor, J.B. And Maurice C. Shapiro Chair Of Public Interest Law
Georgetown Law School Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies Cato Institute
Washington , DC

Monday, January 26, 2015

SHOT Show - Zenith Firearms


I happened to stop by Zenith Firearms late on Friday afternoon. They are an importer of Turkish-made firearms. A couple of things caught my eye. First was a G-3 clone that will take the H&K G-3/Cetme magazines. I'd say it is aimed directly at the PTR-91 clones. The second was a very MP5-ish pistol in 9mm. It looked very nice.

The Turks are definitely working hard to make inroads into the US market. Savage is importing a couple of very nice over/under shotguns under their Stevens brand. The wood on those was beautiful Turkish walnut and the price was even better - in the $600 range.

Below is an interview with Zenith Firearms done by the NSSF. I got a chance to talk with Andy Eckert and he was a nice guy.


SHOT Show Attendance Was Second-Highest Ever


According to a release from the NSSF, this year's SHOT Show had the second-highest attendance ever.
Long a bellwether for the industry's prospects, the SHOT Show brings together buyers and sellers from the United States and more than 100 countries. Total attendance for the 2015 SHOT Show was nearly 64,000, second only to last year's record-setting event, where nearly 67,000 came through the turnstiles. Lower attendance reflected strengthened pre-screening of attendees to enhance the overall experience of both exhibitors and buyers.

"We know from long experience that attendance at the SHOT Show is a reflection of the state of our industry," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "This second highest attendance is in keeping with what we saw in the past year -- that our industry is in good health and that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have a positive outlook for this year."
I'd certainly believe it. The main hallways were always crowded and the flow of the crowd at the end of the day towards the Venetian Hotel was like a river.

The show brings big money to Las Vegas.
The SHOT Show, the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, pumps nearly $90 million in non-gaming revenue into the Las Vegas economy.
Those in Nevada who would push the universal background check initiative such as Wynn Resorts co-founder Elaine Wynn should keep this in mind. The firearms industry does have other options besides Las Vegas to hold the SHOT Show. While it is a popular destination for many in the industry, there are other places. I think the NSSF should start making it clear that a vote for universal background checks will come with consequences.

The SHOT Show is about business. On my flight home I sat across from Don Keadle of J.E.K. Wholesale. His company develops 37mm and 40mm grenade, less than lethal, and tear gas launchers. This was the first show they attended and it was very worthwhile. Don said the guys in the shop were going to hate him because they would be working seven days a week. He had received enough orders by the end of the first day to have made the trip profitable. Others I spoke with such as a dealer from Lubbock, Texas said he had placed a number of orders at the show. All in all I take this as good for the industry and good for the US economy.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

SHOT Show Swag


I picked up a bit of swag at the SHOT Show. The swag ranges from T-shirts to pins to patches to caps. I probably didn't get as much swag as if the Complementary Spouse had been with me at SHOT. She is the expert on getting pins and patches.

The joy of swag isn't that you got something. It is the memories that come with it. For example, I ran into a couple of guys from Memphis on Media Day - Tactical Photographer and Everyday Civilian - and they each gave me a patch. I had been following them both on Instagram so that was very cool.

Overhead

Center

Left
Right


SHOT Show: You Had Questions; I Have Answers


Before I went to the SHOT Show this past week, I asked readers if they had questions that they wanted answered or products for me to check out. With one exception, I was able to check out all the companies and products. Unfortunately, Ross & Zheng Engineering was not one of the SHOT Show exhibitors do I couldn't check out their Unimag.

Ronald W. asked about whether Robinson Armament was planning to release their XCR-L in 6.5 Grendel. Currently it is only available in .223, 5.45x39, 6.8 SPC, and 7.62x39. Representatives of the company said they have done chamber drawings of 6.5 Grendel and have the reamers on hand to do the barrel. They did say they haven't had a great demand for this caliber so it might be a while before they release it.

Danno asked me to check out the Chiappa X-Caliber and give my opinion of it. When I stopped by their booth, I spoke with Giada Chiappa, the granddaughter of the founder, about the combo gun. She said they were aiming for the prepper market with their conversion tubes. The intent is to be able to fire just about any ammo you can find. You can see the X-Caliber with the eight barrel conversion tubes. The gun itself is chambered in 12 gauge and .22 LR.


The trigger guard is the lever used to break open the gun. While the official weight is 5.8 lbs, it feels heavier. The triggers seemed OK but the stock was a bit short for me and I'm not a tall person. I don't know the MSRP for the X-Caliber but I found one on GunBroker.com for $750. It is an interesting concept but I think something like a Ruger 10/22 Take Down might be more useful at a much lower price.

Mark C. asked whether Winchester Repeating Arms had any intention of releasing the Model 70 with iron sights like they did in earlier years. The answer is no. The only Model 70s that will come with iron sights are the Alaskan and Safari versions.

Anon. wondered when or if Rhino Arms planned to release their AR-10 in 12 gauge. They had a pre-production model of the AR-10 12 gauge in their booth. A spokesman for Rhino said it probably would not be released before 2016. They are in the process of sourcing the magazines for the shotgun. What caught my eye at their booth was their PDW and their shotgun shell holders for 3-gun competition. You can see a picture from their Facebook page of the PDW below.



Anon. asked about the Sig P320. He wanted to know if it would be available in .45 ACP and 10mm. He also wanted to know if subcompact versions were being released. The Sig P320 is available in both full-size and compact versions now in 9mm, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. There are no plans to offer it in 10mm. Their representative said that is going to be limited to the P220. Subcompact versions are in the works. The Sig P320 is a lot like the P250 in that the chassis is the serialized item. Grips, barrels, and slides can all be exchanged on the one gun.

Finally, a bit of gossip about Glock. While they released a number of new models that were optics ready, they still haven't released a single stack 9mm. Some people wondered if they were going to do a surprise reveal on Thursday. They didn't but it would have been a great marketing ploy. Now for the gossip. According to one of their booth representatives, the single stack 9mm is in the works and probably will be released at the NRA Annual Meeting in April. I'm sure they will sell all they can produce.

UPDATE: One thing I forgot to add. Someone asked me and I forget who about Magpul magazines for the Ruger Mini-14. The answer is no. They don't have any plans to develop a magazine for the Mini-14 at this time. My guess is that they will never have a Mini-14 magazine just because it isn't popular enough.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Girl Power - NSSF Infographic


This week at the SHOT Show the National Shooting Sports Foundation released a study on women gun owners. The study looked at the purchases, perceptions, and participation. I just obtained a copy of this study today and still am studying it.

In the meantime, NSSF has released the infographic below that summarizes some of the findings.




Wednesday, January 21, 2015

SHOT Show Day One - First Impressions


Day One of SHOT Show is over and Day Two is about to begin.

It was different than what I expected but certainly not disappointing.  I think I expected the exhibition area to be like the NRA Annual Meeting but on steroids. It wasn't. Unlike a show in a large arena type setting, the Sands Convention Center has almost a cozy feel to it. It wasn't held in two gigantic  rooms but in a series of smaller (but still large) rooms separated by hallways.

The highlight of the day was not a new product. It was a documentary put together by the Outdoor Channel called "Safe Havens". Produced by Tim Cremins and hosted by journalist Katie Pavlich, it explored the fallacy of gun-free zones. It captured both the emotions and facts behind the so-called gun free zones and their failures. Experts such as Massad Ayoob and Prof. Eric Deitz of Perdue University were featured as were victims such as Amanda Collins who was raped on campus.

The film will be shown on the Outdoor Channel without commercial sponsors. Jim Libratore, president of the Outdoor Channel, said he didn't want anything to be used to muddy the message. For more impressions of the film, listen to our discussion of it on the Polite Society Podcast which we recorded yesterday soon after viewing it.

I didn't devote a lot of time to checking out all the new products. I did see the new optic from Leupold called the D-evo and it looks intriguing. I will also be getting a Ergo Grip's Delta Grip for the Ruger LCR for review. I'm looking forward to tha.

I am still working on the list of items that you submitted. For reader Ronald, I do have an answer from Robinson Armament regarding the 6.5 Grendel. They have done chamber drawings and gotten the reamer for that caliber in their XCR. They did say that they haven't had too much demand for that caliber.

The Difference Two Years Make


It is interesting the difference two years make. I'm listening to a rebroadcast of President Obama's State of the Union Speech. I was interested to see if he was going to call for more gun control. Reading through the speech and then doing word searches I can find no mention of guns, firearms, background checks, or Newtown. The only mention of crime has to do with the incarceration rate.

By contrast, the 2013 State of the Union Speech contains eight instances where Obama mentioned guns or gun violence (sic). He called for more background checks as well as restrictions on firearms and standard capacity magazines.

I don't know whether it is because there is a Republican Senate and House who (generally) are pro-gun rights or because its just not sexy enough for him to bother with anymore. He's still hung up on "climate change"and "rising oceans". And, of course, it is for "the children".

Oh, well, you can't have everything.

UPDATE: I was wrong. He did mention Newtown and Tucson but in the context of grieving with families just as he grieved with dead miners in West Virginia.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Media Day At The Range


Media Day at the Range is everything people said it was and more. All I can say is wow. I got to shoot everything from the full auto CMMG Mk 47 to a .416 Rigby elephant gun.



I'll have a lot more to post later but I have to get off to the show floor for Day 1 of the SHOT Show.

Monday, January 19, 2015

The Polite Society Podcast - SHOT Show Pre-Show


We recorded our regular Sunday episode of The Polite Society Podcast yesterday. It was our SHOT Show Pre-Show.

Usually these podcasts are done with the host and co-hosts participating from all over the country: Paul in South Dakota (or the road), Rob in California, Gary D in Illinois, Rachel in Texas, and me in North Carolina. This was the first time I got to do it face to face with Paul and Susan. It was kinda cool. I just hope the mikes didn't pick up my coughs, throat clearings, and snorts.

We will be doing micro-casts every night of SHOT. So plan to listen.

You can hear Episode 302 here or download it from the usual suspects (iTunes, etc.)

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Clint Smith On A Shotgun Versus Pistol For Home Defense


Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch is one of the most highly respected trainers in the industry. In the NSSF video below, he discusses the use of a pistol versus a shotgun for home defense.

Often, the shotgun is downgraded as a home defense tool due to its length and the thought that an intruder could grab the barrel. As Clint shows in the video, the difference in length between a properly presented handgun and a shotgun is not that great. That said, regardless of the weapon used, you need to train as Grant Cunningham makes clear in this post.


How To Wear And Adjust An IWB Holster


If you are like me, you didn't have anyone to teach you just how to place and adjust your inside the waistbelt holster. It was a trial and error process. The video below would have been quite helpful and would have cut the adjustment process immensely.

While the video is from Alien Gear Holsters, the information presented could be used with virtually any IWB holster.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

SHOT Show 2015: What Do You Want To See? (Last Call)



LAST CALL 

The SHOT Show begins in Las Vegas in less than a month 3 days and I will be there!

Normally, SHOT is scheduled when I would be teaching. I usually teach my class on Monday nights. However this year, it is the week that includes Martin Luther King Day which means no class for me. I am really excited to be able to go as this will be the first SHOT Show I've attended in 19 years. The last one I attended was in Dallas and was a fraction of what it has since become.

To say that the SHOT Show is huge is to understate it. The show will utilize 630,000 net square feet of display space within the Sands Expo Center. There will be 1,676 vendors displaying their wares. And you have only four days to see it all. If I went non-stop from the moment the doors opened until they closed and visited each and every booth, I would have barely one minute to devote to each booth.

That just isn't going to make it.

Thus, I'm asking you to make suggestions about what you'd like me to cover. Are there certain vendors that you'd like me to make sure that I don't miss? Are there product areas that you'd like to see covered? Moreover, are there questions that you'd like me to ask? For example, I could ask Remington just when they expect to have the R-51 pistol fix available. Another example is that I could ask Glock when we can expect a single stack 9mm now that the Glock 42 seems to be a success. You get the idea.

You can make suggestions in the comments below. You can also email me directly at jpr9 AT earthlink DOT net.

I really do want to hear from you. I think it will take a good deal of advance planning to make my trek to the SHOT Show a success. Your suggestions will make this more doable. The SHOT Show website is here and the list of vendors is here.

One final thing - if you are going to be attending the SHOT Show, let me know by email and we may be able to meet in person.

UPDATE: This is a last call for items you want me to check out. Email is above. I have a short list and will do my best to check everything out.

And In The Category For Best Snarky Name For A New Product


Extreme Gear Labs, a manufacturer of professional grade tactical rigs, is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have just come out with a new pouch that will hold two of the Magpul D60 drum magazines. There was a sneak peak on this new pouch at Soldier Systems Daily this morning.



From Soldier Systems Daily

The name for this new pouch?

The EGL HickenLoop Pouch.

Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) signed the bill that essentially drove Magpul and their jobs out of Colorado. As the people at Extreme Gear Labs said on Instagram, their disdain for the man knows no limits.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Some Guys Have All The Fun


Iain Harrison, editor of Recoil Magazine, conspired with Fred Williams of Motor Trends's Dirt Every Day program to convert a '79 Ford Bronco into The Ballistic Bronco. And just what makes it ballistic? How about Dillion Aero minigun!

If you are in Las Vegas this coming week, you may just get a chance to see it. It will be around the Sands Convention Center, the Venetian, the Mirage, and other Vegas locales.

And if you won't be in Vegas, here is the episode detailing the construction of this monster.


SHOT Show Pre-Release: Korth Sky Marshal 9mm Revolver


The German firm Korth is known for making some of the finest revolvers in the world. I had a Facebook conversation earlier this week with Grant Cunningham about Korth, the French firm Manurhin, and Colt Pythons. In terms of quality he said that Korth was first, then Manurhin, and then the Python. That is high praise indeed coming from Grant.

Korth is releasing a new 6-shot, 2 inch revolver in 9mm that does not need moon clips. They are also releasing a speedloader that works with 9mm. I realize Charter Arms released a non-moon clip revolver a couple of years ago called the 9mm Pitbull Revolver. While I don't want to put down the Pitbull without having tried it, I think it is a reasonable assumption that the Korth Sky Marshal will be orders of magnitude better made.

I realize the video below is in German but I think it gets the point across.




From the release sent to me by Korth, the revolver will be able to test at Media Day. Oh, my!

That Damned Hughes Amendment!


The Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 banned the possession of machine guns produced after May 19, 1986 except for the police, military, and Class 3 dealers. The impact of that was to make pre-1986 machine guns more valuable. It also meant that you and I will never be able to own something like shown below until, and unless, the law is amended.

I've been cruising Instagram the last few days searching for new product introductions that will be seen at the SHOT Show. This morning I came across this .45 ACP subgun from LWRC International that will be shown at SHOT.




If that doesn't make you hate the Hughes Amendment, nothing will.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Another Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS To Take Up Jackson v. San Francisco


More weight was added today to the effort to get the US Supreme Court to take up the case of Jackson v. San Francisco with an amicus brief from the Firearms Policy Coalition and 12 other civil rights organizations. This brief comes on the heels of another amicus brief filed by 26 state attorneys general also requesting the Court take up the issue

The case involves a challenge to San Francisco's gun control ordinance requiring either a trigger lock or a storage safe for firearms. The case was brought in 2009 by six San Francisco residents, the NRA, and the San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association. Both the District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found for San Francisco using an interest-balancing approach. The plaintiffs appealed the case on December 12, 2014 by filing a Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court.

The facts in this case are very similar to the original Heller case where the Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia's requirement to keep firearms inoperable.

From the release by the Firearms Policy Coalition:
ROSEVILLE, CA / January 15, 2015 – The Firearms Policy Coalition and 12 other state and national civil rights organizations filed a brief in the United States Supreme Court today for a lawsuit challenging a San Francisco gun control ordinance.

According to the plaintiffs’ petition for review, the city’s law “requires all residents who keep handguns in their homes for self-defense to stow them away in a lock box or disable them with a trigger lock whenever they are not physically carrying them on their persons.”

In the amicus (“friend of the court”) brief filed by attorneys Bradley Benbrook and Stephen Duvernay, the gun-rights groups argue that summary reversal of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision “is warranted because [it] is plainly contrary to Heller,” a landmark 2008 ruling that held the Second Amendment protects an individual–rather than a collective–right to keep and bear arms. But the groups also argue that the Supreme Court should hear the case in order to “clarify the standard governing Second Amendment challenges, and to confirm that courts must be guided by text and history rather than judicial interest balancing.”

While some Second Amendment lawsuits have been decided based on the “text, history, and tradition” standard used in Heller and McDonald v. Chicago, a 2010 Supreme Court decision that applied the Second Amendment to states and local governments, many lower courts have since applied weaker standards that lets most gun control laws stand.

“The Ninth Circuit’s lamentable decision in Jackson shows why it is the most overturned circuit court in the nation,” said Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs. “The Supreme Court should take up this case not only to correct a clear wrong, but to stem the tide of judicial resistance in recognizing the right to keep and bear arms as fundamental Constitutional rights.”

“The Second Amendment doesn’t protect second-class rights, and it’s time for courts to take the enumerated right to keep and bear arms at least as seriously as they do unenumerated rights like abortion.”

Parties to the amicus brief (in order of appearance) are:

  • Firearms Policy Coalition
  • Second Amendment Foundation
  • The Calguns Foundation
  • Firearms Policy Foundation
  • California Association of Federal Firearms Licensees
  • The Madison Society
  • Florida Carry
  • Hawaii Defense Foundation
  • Illinois Carry
  • Maryland Shall Issue
  • Commonwealth Second Amendment
  • Virginia Citizens Defense League
  • West Virginia Citizens Defense League
The brief can be viewed at https://www.firearmspolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/14-704-Jackson-v-SF-amicus-2015-1-15.pdf.

Espanola Jackson, et al. v. City and County of San Francisco, et al., was filed in 2009 by lawyers for 6 San Francisco residents, the National Rifle Association, and the San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association.

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Steiner Optics Micro Reflex Sight


The micro reflex sight market is getting broader with the introduction of the Micro Reflex Sight(MRS) from Steiner Optics. This low profile sight weighs only 70 grams. Steiner, which is based in Germany, is well known for the quality of their optics especially their binoculars. Steiner is now part of the Beretta Holding family of brands.





From their release:
The MRS is perfect for engaging moving targets, CQB encounters and rapid-fire tactical situations. Its unlimited eye relief allows the operator to engage targets with both eyes open for wide peripheral vision and greater situational awareness.

“The hard anodized MRS is nearly indestructible – ideal for tactical ops, patrol rifles, home defense and competitive applications,” says Tom Frane, VP Sales, Marketing and Business Development. “In CQB situations where quick reaction and accurate shot placement is vital, the MRS improves effectiveness and confidence for successful engagement.”

With its low profile, the MRS balances nicely on any shooting platform; and the 3 MOA red dot is easy to find and won’t obscure targets at longer distances. It’s fully adjustable for windage and elevation with 1 MOA click and 30 clicks of adjustment in either direction. The red dot can be set for automatic illumination control or manually adjusted through three brightness levels.

The integrated screw mount attaches easily to any MIL-STD 1913 rail or other sight platform. The MRS is powered by one CR1632 battery, delivering up to 550 hours of reliable operation; and the battery cap is waterproof and the sight is submersible to 1 ATM or 10 meters.

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Magpul PMag17 GL9


Magpul is on a roll for rollouts at this year's SHOT Show. A precision chassis for the Remington 700, furniture for the AK-47/74, a 60 round rotary magazine, and now this: PMags for the Glock 17, 19, etc.

Using the same polymer as the other PMags, you will get an American made magazine that should be as reliable as the OEM Glock mags and only costing $15.95. The Koreans should be very afraid!


Magpul For The Comrades


Magpul for years has been associated with ARs. While they finally came out with an AK compatible magazine last year as well as a pistol grip, that was about it. That is, until now.

They are releasing a number of items for the AK-47/74. First, they are extending the MOE line to include both a stock and handguard for the AK. Secondly, Magpul is releasing a new line called "Zhukov". Presumably this is named after the great Soviet military leader Marshal Georgy Zhukov.

This latter line will include the Zhukov-S folding stock for the AK and the Zhukov handguard which incorporates their M-LOK system.




According to a post at SoldierSystems.net, these products will release in Spring 2015 and will include plum as well as black.

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Delta Grip For Ruger LCR


New Mexico-based Ergo Grip has released another of the Delta Grips for small revolvers. Joining with the Delta Grip for the S&W J-frame will be a new one designed to be used on the Ruger LCR/LCRx.




According to Ergo Grip's release, the Delta Grip helps to align the shooter's hand, wrist, and arm in a straighter line for a more natural point of aim and better recoil control. The Delta Grip for the LCR will retail for $29.99.

From what I've been told, it will be available for test at Media Day at the Range. If so, I plan on trying it out. I have an LCR and I'd like to be able to make a comparison. I'm especially interested in seeing how it does with felt recoil. I know after shooting a box of ammo through the LCR my hand stung for a couple of hours.

It's Not Like The Media Isn't Already In The Tank For Them (Update)


The mainstream media isn't our friend. They have a narrative and they consider us to be on the wrong side of it. The only exception to this is, on rare occasion, the local media. They will sometimes do favorable stories on concealed carry and women or some other aspect of the gun culture that has a human interest component to it.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that Everytown Moms for Illegal Mayors is funding a two-day workshop  put on by the Columbia School of Journalism's Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma for local and regional journalists. As Sebastian noted, "most journalists don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to this topic, so they won’t be able to tell they are being spoon fed bullshit."

The workshop will:
offer independent expert briefings and specialized reporting skills training to enhance the practical ability of journalists to report on guns and gun violence knowledgeably, ethically and effectively. The workshop will cover such topics as state and federal gun laws; patterns of gun sales and gun trafficking; national trends and polling; education and prevention initiatives; social, economic and public health impacts; and special populations (e.g. children and youth, women and returning veterans.) Speakers include national public health and policy experts; researchers and clinicians; award-winning journalists, and prevention advocates and survivors.

Speakers include national public health and policy experts; researchers and clinicians; award-winning journalists, and prevention advocates and survivors.
I find it particularly interesting that they want to concentrate their efforts on reporters, editors,  news directors, photographers, and producers in the Southwest. If I were to speculate, I would say this concentration on the Southwest is intended to bolster their efforts to win universal background check initiatives in states such as Nevada and Arizona. The price that Bloomberg is paying for this workshop pales in comparison to the return that they could potentially get in terms of stories slanted towards their agenda by a local media that has bought into the narrative. Money spent here means much less money has to be spent during the initiative campaign.

While the NRA doesn't put on such workshops for the media, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has done training in the past. That said, I doubt it was intended to indoctrinate gullible journalists in quite the same way as Everytown intends to do. From what Michael Bane has said on his podcasts in reference to it, the NSSF events were more about educating journalists on firearms in general.

UPDATE: According to a story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Everytown spent $48,000 to fund this gun violence (sic) propaganda training event for journalists. Bruce Shapiro, director of the Dart Center, insists that the Center will be the one assembling the curriculum content and not Everytown.
"The Arizona workshop is funded by Everytown, but the Dart Center alone will determine the content. If Michael Bloomberg, or any funder, tried to determine the content of our programs we'd give the money back," Shapiro said in an email. "At this workshop as in everything we do, we'll combine briefings by diverse, independent scholars on key issues (and I'd welcome any suggestions there) with journalist-to-journalist conversation about the craft of reporting on this challenging debate. And that's it."
I'm with Lee Williams of the Herald-Tribune on this one - "I don't buy it."

One thing I missed about the story earlier is that it will be open to 30 participants of which half will have their expenses paid. I had thought the event was only for 15 journalists.

UPDATE II: For more on the former NSSF's Media Education Project, see today's blog post by Michael Bane.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Unlike MSNBC And ABC News, I Won't Cower


Below is the first cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine since the murders in their offices last week. It features a tearful Mohammed asking for forgiveness and saying he is Charlie. Both MSNBC and ABC News blurred out the cover when reporting about this edition. Unlike them, I won't cower before the Islamofascists.

As David Codrea wrote, "Je ne suis pas Charlie. Je suis armé."



Tuesday, January 13, 2015

SHOT Show Pre-Release: CRKT G.S.D Knife By Liong Mah


Columbia River Knife and Tool is set to release another Liong Mah designed knife at SHOT. It will be called the G.S.D. for "Get Shit Done". According to the blurb on Instagram, it is for the gentlemen who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty.


A photo posted by Liong Mah (@liongmah) on

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Lancer Adaptive Magwell


Lancer, the company who makes the L5 and L7 polymer AR magazines, is releasing the Adaptive Magwell for all mil-spec 5.56 AR lowers.


The Lancer Adaptive Magwell is a simple, easy-to-install component engineered to significantly reduce reload times for law enforcement officers and Soldiers. The new magwell will debut at SHOT Show® 2015.

With its funnel-like design, the adaptive magwell increases the diameter of the magwell and trigger guard area. The component is designed to fit Mil spec 5.56 AR style rifles with winter trigger guards and requires no tools to install. The adaptive magwell is machined from 6061 T6 aluminum.
They currently offer it as a two-piece magwell. They say the one-piece unit will be available by March 2015.

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Magpul D60


If 15-round magazines upset the gun prohibitionists and 30-round magazines are doubly upsetting, the new Magpul D60 rotary magazine should really throw them into a tizzy. And if Gov. John Hickenlooper hadn't kowtowed to Michael Bloomberg in exchange for vague promises of support of a presidential run, it would be made in Colorado.





According to their Facebook page, MSRP on this jewel is $129.95 and will begin shipping to the rest of free America in Spring/Summer 2015. They note it will be available for testing at Media Day at the Range. And to quote the Jackson 5, I'll be there.

The production D60 will be black with a round indicator window. The transparent and cut-away versions shown in the video were pre-production test models.

Interactive Infographic - M16A1


I came across this interactive infographic at Stars and Stripes. It was in a historical section on the Vietnam War.

It should give info on each section of the rifle if you click on the red bullet. I'm giving it a try.




The Rumors Are True About The New Glocks


In the run-up to the SHOT Show, a lot of new products are officially announced. There are also some products that slip out when a distributor prematurely posts pictures of a new product before the manufacturer has announced it.

Such is the case of the optics-ready longslide Glock 34, 35, 41, and the Glock 40 Hunter. Kiesler Police Supply posted these pictures on their Facebook page about 10 days ago. As Soldiersystems.net says, the SHOT Show leak award goes to them.







However, it isn't official until the company itself makes an announcement or at least gives some indication that the rumors are true. Below is a picture from Glock's official Instagram page showing pistols that they are packing for the SHOT Show. I count six Glocks with optics in that picture including the one on top in the upper right corner. I'd say that was proof enough that it is official.


A photo posted by GLOCK Inc. (@glockinc) on

Monday, January 12, 2015

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Emerson Knives Combat Systems Fighter


Emerson Knives will be releasing the Combat Systems Fighter in black and stonewash at the SHOT Show. It will be part of the Signature Series collection and retails for $263.95 directly from Emerson.




More details on the knife below:

  • Overall Length: 8.9 in.
  • Blade Length: 3.8 in.
  • Blade Thickness: .125 in.
  • Hardness: RC 57-59
  • Handle: G-10
  • Blade: 154 CM
  • Finish: Stone Washed or Black Coating

French "Mouse Guns"


In the reports of the terrible events this past week in France, we've seen the Police Nationale armed with carbines that for all intents and purposes are Ruger Mini-14s.

From Forgottenweapons.com


Yes but not quite.

As these two stories make clear, this carbine is the Mousqueton A.M.D. in 5.56. Mousqeton is French for carbine. The carbine was made in France under contract from Ruger.

There is quite a bit of history about the Mousqueton in this Shooting Illustrated story by Martin Morgan including which agencies have used it.

Ian at Forgotten Weapons goes more into the mechanical details of the Mousqueton in this post.


Sunday, January 11, 2015

Kudos To Panteao Productions


I have to give kudos to Panteao Productions. They recently released a video entitled Kids and Guns with Tatiana Whitlock. It is, as the title should make obvious, a video for parents that reviews things like safety rules, safe storage, introducing your children to firearms, sources for further training, and how to set the proper example for your kids with regard to firearm handling. The video is not a tutorial on how to teach your kids how to shoot.

The video features Tatiana Whitlock who has done a number of instructional YouTube videos for the new NRA Women TV series. Ms. Whitlock is the owner and found of ID Target Systems which manufactures and sells a line of proprietary dimensional targets for both shoot house and square range training environments. She is also certified as a NRA Basic Pistol instructor, Range Safety Officer, and Refuse to be a Victim instructor.

So why am I giving Panteao kudos for selling a safety video? Because they have also made it available for free on YouTube for everyone to watch. Even the simplest videos cost money to produce. I sincerely doubt that they will sell enough of these DVDs to even break even with production costs.

For all the proclamations from Shannon Watts, Ladd Everitt, and rest of their ilk about "gun safety", it is we in the gun culture and the gun rights movement who do the real work for the safe use of firearms. Unlike them, we do not engage in using the perverse pseudonym "safety" as cover for "control" and "confiscation". Whether it is the NRA's Eddie Eagle program or Ms. Whitlock in this Panteao Productions video, safety is, and should always be, our paramount concern.


It's That Time Of The Month Again


Aaron at Weapon-Blog has released his monthly list of contests in which you can win a firearm or firearm related product.

It is a little slimmer than last month but still not bad. In the handgun category, there is everything from a Rock Island 1911 in 10mm to the new Ruger LC9s Pro (no external safety).

In the rifle category, there are not one but two .338 Lapua tactical rifles plus the usual assortment of ARs and AKS.

You can see all the contests here.

Friday, January 9, 2015

SHOT Show Pre-Release: ALG Defense AK Trigger (Updated)


Let's face it, the triggers on your average AK were made by comrades who couldn't wait to get their next bottle of vodka. They work when they need to but they tend to be heavy and gritty like the comrades that made them.

The people at Geissele Automatics' sister company ALG Defense may have a solution to fix those triggers. According to their Instagram post, it is called the Lightning Bow and it will be released at SHOT Show. Geissele is going to be one of the participants at Media Day at the Range so I may have a chance to try it out.

If it is anywhere as good as their ALG MilSpec trigger for the AR, I think they may have something here.


A photo posted by ALG Defense (@algdefense) on




UPDATE: ALG Defense has posted the details and the MSRP of their AK triggers on their Facebook page this afternoon.
New Product Announcement - The ALG AK Trigger

The ALG AK Trigger (AKT) is a single stage trigger machined from S7 tool steel for the AK47 and AK74 variant platform. The AKT features a smoother and shorter trigger pull than the stock trigger, and is ideal for combat and home defense use. It has a Manganese Phosphated finish for corrosion resistance.

In addition to the standard model, the Enhanced model has a pull that is even lighter and has a much crisper break which is ideal for precision and target shooting. The Enhanced trigger is hard lubed which creates a permanent self-lubricating surface which will enhance the smoothness of the trigger’s pull, and the hammer is Black Nitride processed for maximum abrasion and corrosion resistance.

Both models feature a unique trigger bow known as the Lightning Bow, which is a hybrid between a flat and a curved trigger bow that produces a very comfortable feel for the user over the stock trigger. For OEM’s and builders, the AKT will also lend three parts towards 922(r) Compliance.

MSRP: ALG AK Trigger: $49 ALG AK Trigger Enhanced: $75

***Please note: The straw coloring of the trigger is due to heat treatment on a prototype trigger.

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Remington V3 Shotgun


Remington is set to release a new semi-automatic shotgun. The V3 continues on the advances made by the Versa Max and expands the number of gas ports to eight. According to the video review of the V3 by John Snow of Outdoor Life, the price point of the V3 will be in the $700-900 range. This puts it significantly lower than the Versa Max which comes in at $1,045 MSRP for the Sportsman Model and $1,427 for the Synthetic Model.





More details on the V3 can be found in this review by Phil White at The Firearm Blog.

About Taping Those Mags Together...


I've heard about taping mags together to facilitate a quick mag change but I don't think this is the way to do it.

The things you can find on Tumblr!


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Not Just Illegal Mayors Anymore


Mayors Against Illegal Guns has had so many of its members run afoul of the law that I've taken to calling it Mayor Bloomberg's Illegal Mayors. Thanks to news out of Philadelphia, I will have to expand that.
The special prosecutor and grand jury investigating allegations that Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane leaked secret information to a newspaper have found evidence of wrongdoing and recommended that she be criminally charged, according to numerous people familiar with the decision.

The panel concluded that Kane violated grand-jury secrecy rules by leaking investigative material in a bid to embarrass political enemies, sources said.

Some of those familiar with the grand jury presentment say it recommended charges that included perjury and contempt of court.

The statewide grand jury sitting in Norristown has turned over its findings to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, who must decide whether to affirm its findings and arrest Kane, the state's top law enforcement official.
 Kane reportedly leaked those grand jury materials in order to embarrass political opponents

Michael Bloomberg invested heavily in Kane ($674,000) when she first ran for Attorney General in  2012. Kane ran as an anti-gun candidate saying she would review all concealed carry reciprocity agreements with other states and cancel those that didn't measure up to her standards.

This last year has not been a good one for Kane. Earlier in the year reports surfaced about how she tried to squash an investigation into corruption in Philadelphia. Then, as the year came to a close, she announced she was getting divorced from her husband Christopher after 14 years of marriage saying the marriage "was irreparably broken."

Bitter has her take on this news here.

All I can say is that Bloomberg knows how to pick them. Or not.

SAF To Launch Training Division


Below is a release from the Second Amendment Foundation announcing the launch of the SAF Training Division. The program is intended to train new and inexperienced shooters in the defensive use of pistols, carbines, and shotguns.

Of course this is what the NRA has done for years. I will admit to being a bit skeptical about this SAF effort. However, their Director of Firearms Training is none other than Tom Givens of Rangemaster. His wife Lynn will be Director of Women's Programs. I had the opportunity a few years ago to take a short training course with both of these fine people. They are excellent trainers and highly respected in the field. I'm still trying to find time to get to Memphis for a class with either of them. The involvement of Tom and Lynn tempers my skepticism a bit and we'll just have to see how it pans out.

I will definitely be checking them out at the SHOT Show.

From SAFTD:
BELLEVUE, WA – Following a year of organization, the Second Amendment Foundation Training Division (SAFTD) has embarked on the development of a program specifically directed at training the new and inexperienced shooters in the defensive use of pistols, shotguns and carbines.

In early 2014, experienced trainers from throughout the country were recruited to act as the core of SAFTD and to begin the development of a number of foundational courses. Initial offerings include MOI – Methods of Instruction, Defensive Handgun 1, Defensive Handgun 2, Defensive Shotgun 1, Defensive Shotgun2, Defensive Carbine 1 and Defensive Carbine 2 in addition to instructor level course work to train a national cadre of firearms instructors to offer SAFTD courses throughout the nation.

All of the courses offered are presented with the defensive use of the individual firearm in mind. While familiar foundational material is presented, additional defensive topics and activities are included such as firearm selection, holsters, use of force, discussions about AOJP – Ability, Opportunity, Jeopardy, Preclusion – Disparity of Force and much more. All Level 1 courses are introductory and foundational. All Level 2 courses take the student’s foundational skill set and builds it into a more comprehensive defensive shooting level.

These courses will be the introductory set rolled out through the Spring and early Summer of 2015. The national introduction of the SAFTD courses will be held at the Shot Show in Las Vegas in late January. Initial instructors will be trained beginning in February. Initial student level coursework will begin in mid-March. All coursework will be scheduled via SAFTD’s website with all available courses and regional trainers being listed along with full course descriptions and full bios of all certified SAFTD instructors.

Instructors will need to attend SAFTD’s MOI course – as well as completing periodic Continuing Education, the course they wish to be certified to teach and the instructor version of that course while achieving passing scores of 90% on all written exams. At the end of the instructor course, they will shoot a qualification course requiring a passing score of 90%. Instructors must also have a First Aid certification from a recognized organization as well as having certified instruction in CPR and the use of an AED.

In addition to the core offerings SAFTD will also be offering a Situational Alertness for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) course which is designed to teach the student to develop and adopt the situational awareness mindset while at home, at work, on the road, traveling, on the phone etc; and teaches how to make your home safe and less attractive to would be robbers and home invasion.

SAFTD will also be offering a Women’s Program. The SAFTD Women’s program was developed by women for women and addresses the specials needs of women, their firearms, security and special concerns with carrying a firearm both on and off-body. Initially our Women’s program will consist of Women’s Defensive Handgun 1 and 2 but will eventually lead to a full women’s program starting in early 2016 including State Chapters and State Leaders for each state.

We are excited about our program. We strongly believe it fills a significant gap in what is being offered to a new defensive firearms student. We look forward to meeting you all at Shot Show and in the weeks, months and years to come.

About SAF Training Division:

The mission of the SAF Training Division (SAFTD) is to fill a long standing void in the national training community, by producing a program that is based on enabling law abiding citizens to protect themselves and their loved ones through solid defensive training! Our primary responsibility is to the student and our primary allegiance is to our instructors! We know that we need to support our instructors and their respective businesses, their livelihoods depend on it! By supporting our instructors and providing them with different revenue streams and a responsive organization, we enable our instructors to give a first class experience to the public! For more information, visit saftd.org.


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

SHOT Show Pre-Release: Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander


With the start of the SHOT Show being less than two weeks away, a number of new products are being released to the public. As these releases become public, I'll be doing a series of pre-release posts on these new products. I should point out that I haven't been made privy to any of the new products by their manufacturers before their release and have signed no non-disclosure agreement. So if someone slips up and the word gets out early, I'll try to report it.

In that vein, Ruger will be releasing a new version of their SR1911 pistol. It will be a Lightweight Commander that will feature an aluminum alloy frame. According to the post on it by Richard Johnson at Guns, Holsters, and Gear, the pistol will weigh a mere 29.3 ounces. This is a reduction of over 6 ounces from the original steel-framed SR1911 Commander.

The MSRP for the new pistol is $899. This should mean the street price could be as much as $100 less. More details on the features can be found at the link above.

Ruger, itself, has not posted anything about the pistol on its website. Given they are a public company, announcements on new products are usually made there as it would be material information. I'm guessing this is one that slipped out a little early.

Ruger will be one of the exhibitors at Media Day at the Range so hopefully I'll get a chance to shoot this one.

UPDATE: Ruger has now officially released the SR1911 Lightweight Commander. A list of its features is below: The titanium feed ramp mentioned below is to facilitate feeding of hollow-point bullets.
Features:
  • Classic, original 1911 Series 70 design.
  • Lightweight, anodized aluminum frame.
  • Polished titanium feed ramp.
  • Precision CNC-controlled machining process results in a superior slide-to-frame fit and smooth slide travel.
  • The stainless steel barrel and bushing are produced from the same bar stock, on the same machine, for improved accuracy.
  • Positive barrel lock-up allows for superior accuracy out of the box.
  • Oversized ejection port and extended magazine release enhance competition performance.
  • Thin hardwood grip panels, checkered backstrap and front strap serrations.
  • Lightweight, aluminum, skeletonized trigger features an adjustable over-travel stop and provides a very crisp, no creep, light trigger pull with a quick, positive reset.
  • Skeletonized hammer is lightweight and provides faster cycling.
  • Dovetailed, high-visibility 3-dot sight system features a Novak® LoMount Carry, windage adjustable rear and standard front sights that combine optimal target acquisition and an ideal carry configuration.
  • Oversized beavertail grip safety provides positive function and reliability.
  • Extended thumb safety and slide stop lever for improved, positive manipulation.
  • Integral plunger tube for slide stop and thumb safety is not staked and will never come loose.
  • Features a standard recoil guide system and flat mainspring housing.
  • Visual inspection port allows for visual confirmation of a loaded or empty chamber.
  • Rear slide serrations allow for positive grip.
  • Accepts all standard, aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories.
  • Also Includes: swaged link pin; titanium firing pin; two stainless steel magazines; bushing wrench; soft case.

Chaffetz Renews Project Gunwalker Subpoena


In his first move as the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Operations Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) renewed the subpoena issued to Attorney General Eric Holder.




Subpoenas die at the end of a session of Congress and thus need to be renewed. However, as Mike Vanderboegh notes, he doubts this will really go anywhere.

Sadly, I must agree with him. To the media, this is yesterday's story no matter that people are still being killed and will be killed with the walked AKs for a long time to come. Moreover, with Holder leaving office as soon as Loretta Lynch is confirmed as Attorney General, the impetus to go after him will diminish.