I generally refrain from flaming guns outright- especially when I haven't had a chance to personally put them through the ringer. However, while at the gun shop today, I saw my third Remington R1911 that I have had a chance to inspect and field strip with a fair level of scrutiny.
All I can say is that the thing looks like a total piece of shit.
The first one I inspected was shortly after they came out. There was a noticeable gap between the slide and the rails on the right side of the frame that opened up an angled channel into the back of the gun. I gave it a pass as I assumed QC slipped while they were trying to meet demand
The second one I inspected had grip panels so misshapen, that you could actually see the gap into the magazine well from the back of the gun. Grip panels aren't a big deal I thought- Hell people rag on RIA and Metroarms all the time for grips, and I like both of them just fine.
The third had a trigger that had a quarter inch gap along the top side of the frame, again had screwed up grips (bad cuts by the grip safety) and looked like it had been checkered by an autistic cat who mistook the panel for a scratching post. At this point I gave up on them.
I have never shot an R1911, but if anyone out there is a happy owner who has one of these guns in spec- PLEASE comment- I have not seen one and it pains me that a company that makes such phenomenal rifles and shotguns, who knows darn well how to make a 1911, has not been able to put one within 50 miles of me.
I did see a nice essex 45 that had been built up, (I assume) sometime in the early 1980s. A fairly faithful A1, the 1911 had only non-GI sights to distinguish it from a true US Mil style gun. Price was reasonable at 400+tax.
Rant off.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Cav Arms receiver
Had a nice day today-The weather was a balmy 26 degrees F with a slight chance of precipitation (only 3 or 4 inches so far!). With that being said, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to work out the cav arms receiver some more with a 223 upper on it. This receiver has been working out well- and I am starting to really like it. I currently have it equipped with a standard buffer tube spring and an H2 buffer. For an upper, I have a Del-Ton ultra-light 223 16 inch carbine length. Even with the reddot, the gun weighs in at 6. lbs 7 oz. With a 20 round mag, I'm running at right around 7 lbs- not at all a bad deal for such a potent little package.
The receiver worked well with my leather gloves, and I had plenty of room in the trigger guard without feeling like I would have a negligent discharge at any second. The target today was a highly visible steel plate at 300M.I marked it with a yellow circle in the picture at left, just to make it 'jump out' a bit more for the readers at home.
Hits were not as consistent as I would like- as it was difficult to spot the misses with all the snow. I was fairly pleased though for cheap irons and a zero magnification reddot optic.
I will note that I had an issue today I had never considered when putting this gun together. The snow hit the front of the reddot, and obscured my view of the irons. Whenever I had thought of reddots failing, I always just imagined the battery dying or losing zero at a bad time. Never had I thought about material coating the lens in such a way as to make the view opaque.
It certainly gave me something to think about. I don't use the dot often on this gun,instead focusing on the irons. I might pull the dot off and save it for another project. Removal of the rings and the trophy dot would put the gun in the high 5 lb, to barely 6 lb range- which is mighty tempting. I doubt I would change the rear sight. Though cheap, I like having the elevation and windage drums (ala A2 style rear sights) instead of just windage, as is more common among flip up rears on many ARs.
This rifle is really becoming my 'go-to' shooter for range visits. When it had the E.A. lower, I liked it. However, the feel of the grip frame and trigger in the Cav is really appealing to me- and it has proven to be a completely reliable package so far. The only maintainence I run on this gun is:
Every 550 bulk pack of 22lr I run through the conversion kit- I try to shoot at least 1 mag of 223. oil liberally when dry. That's it. No deep cleaning, no scrubbing, no bore snake. Just shoot it, and when concerned about dirt, shoot it in a bigger caliber.
 |
| remember sun screen. Target marked with Yellow Circle |
Hits were not as consistent as I would like- as it was difficult to spot the misses with all the snow. I was fairly pleased though for cheap irons and a zero magnification reddot optic.
I will note that I had an issue today I had never considered when putting this gun together. The snow hit the front of the reddot, and obscured my view of the irons. Whenever I had thought of reddots failing, I always just imagined the battery dying or losing zero at a bad time. Never had I thought about material coating the lens in such a way as to make the view opaque.
 |
| covered in the miracle of Christmas. . . |
It certainly gave me something to think about. I don't use the dot often on this gun,instead focusing on the irons. I might pull the dot off and save it for another project. Removal of the rings and the trophy dot would put the gun in the high 5 lb, to barely 6 lb range- which is mighty tempting. I doubt I would change the rear sight. Though cheap, I like having the elevation and windage drums (ala A2 style rear sights) instead of just windage, as is more common among flip up rears on many ARs.
This rifle is really becoming my 'go-to' shooter for range visits. When it had the E.A. lower, I liked it. However, the feel of the grip frame and trigger in the Cav is really appealing to me- and it has proven to be a completely reliable package so far. The only maintainence I run on this gun is:
Every 550 bulk pack of 22lr I run through the conversion kit- I try to shoot at least 1 mag of 223. oil liberally when dry. That's it. No deep cleaning, no scrubbing, no bore snake. Just shoot it, and when concerned about dirt, shoot it in a bigger caliber.
Took another new shooter to the range
My buddy Jeff had never fired a gun- today, after talking about it for nearly 10 years we finally made it happen. Jeff is an old friend from HS, and we've stayed in touch since then. He is now an engineer living in a marginal (read: shitty and crime-ridden) part of town.
Now seemed like the time to really make an effort to get him acquainted with firearms and their safe handling.
We focused on handguns, with only 1 long gun on the scene today. I didn't want to overload him with too much information, and he expressed his interests as being primarily in pistols anyway.
As per my prior positive results, I start new shooters off with a 22 LR handgun after a thorough safety talk. Jeff enjoyed shooting the little Ruger, and showed some aptitude with it. By the end of the day, groups at 10 yards could be covered with the bottom rim of a coffee mug. I was very pleased with that level of performance from a new shooter after only a few hours of exposure to firearms.
After that, Jeff tried my S&W Model 10, a Glock 17, a Glock 23, and my American Classic 1911. He did his best work with the g23 in 40SW, and thought it might be an ideal option for his needs. Once he had tried every handgun I had brought along, I stood back and let him choose what he wanted to shoot more of.
I fear that too often when introducing new shooters to our sport that we [the gun community] - in an attempt to genuinely share knowledge and be friendly - come across too strongly with opinions on defensive firearms. If Jeff had selected the 22 lr handgun, then I would have supported that decision. I believe comfort is paramount to power when it comes to encouraging responsible gun ownership amongst new shooters. A gun that is comfortable to shoot, will be shot more. Proficiency will be the natural result of that progression. Overgunning a new shooter only inhibits their chance of developing strong fundamentals and shooting ability. As is fairly obvious from the above description, I don't bring pocket guns on first time range visits.
In my opinion, they have no purpose in the arsenal of any casual non gun owning novice (I know this sounds weird but hang in there, I realize non gun owners don't own guns). I will hedge my bets here though and say that I believe that for me when it comes to preliminary introductions to guns. If a new shooter decides to purchase a compact gun as their first purchase- that is their decision. However, as long as they are 'borrowing' their shooty goodness from my arsenal - I strongly urge them away from the small stuff until they have some experience and comfort with the bigger, more forgiving models. Larger guns are inherently more forgiving. They have a longer sight radius, often with more comfortable grips, and additional weight to help absorb recoil. I have always been a proponent of giving a new shooter the heaviest gun they can comfortably maneuver, in the smallest caliber I can access, to allow them a comfortable, gentle familiarization period.
At the end of the visit, we fired a good bit through my 9mm AR- which is running like a top. That gun is singly responsible for the huge decrease in my 9mm ammo stores. It feeds anything I stuff in it (and I have shot some ridiculous ammo through it- including some home brew stuff with reddot and a 148 gr LSWCHP which I will not share data for). That gun continues to prove itself as accurate and reliable- while being an unbelievable amount of fun.
All in all- another great day at the range. Jeff is currently in the pistol permit process, and will probably impulse buy a long gun shortly. Our other range buddy for the day, Justin- is also navigating his way (slowly) through the convoluted NYS pistol permit process. Though he is a fairly longtime gun owner, his interest in handguns has only recently gained enough intensity to make him willing to jump through the hoops.
Final thoughts:
1- when bringing new shooters to the range, I cannot overstate the value of a 22lr firearm.
2- don't be pushy with gun and caliber selection as to what the shooter should 'try next'
3- do try to encourage only full sized options up front. the more forgiving elements of the full sized gun will make the experience better for everyone.
4- bring a lot of ammo. Shooting stuff is always pretty awesome.
 |
| my usual introduction gun- the Ruger Mk II |
We focused on handguns, with only 1 long gun on the scene today. I didn't want to overload him with too much information, and he expressed his interests as being primarily in pistols anyway.
As per my prior positive results, I start new shooters off with a 22 LR handgun after a thorough safety talk. Jeff enjoyed shooting the little Ruger, and showed some aptitude with it. By the end of the day, groups at 10 yards could be covered with the bottom rim of a coffee mug. I was very pleased with that level of performance from a new shooter after only a few hours of exposure to firearms.
After that, Jeff tried my S&W Model 10, a Glock 17, a Glock 23, and my American Classic 1911. He did his best work with the g23 in 40SW, and thought it might be an ideal option for his needs. Once he had tried every handgun I had brought along, I stood back and let him choose what he wanted to shoot more of.
I fear that too often when introducing new shooters to our sport that we [the gun community] - in an attempt to genuinely share knowledge and be friendly - come across too strongly with opinions on defensive firearms. If Jeff had selected the 22 lr handgun, then I would have supported that decision. I believe comfort is paramount to power when it comes to encouraging responsible gun ownership amongst new shooters. A gun that is comfortable to shoot, will be shot more. Proficiency will be the natural result of that progression. Overgunning a new shooter only inhibits their chance of developing strong fundamentals and shooting ability. As is fairly obvious from the above description, I don't bring pocket guns on first time range visits.
In my opinion, they have no purpose in the arsenal of any casual non gun owning novice (I know this sounds weird but hang in there, I realize non gun owners don't own guns). I will hedge my bets here though and say that I believe that for me when it comes to preliminary introductions to guns. If a new shooter decides to purchase a compact gun as their first purchase- that is their decision. However, as long as they are 'borrowing' their shooty goodness from my arsenal - I strongly urge them away from the small stuff until they have some experience and comfort with the bigger, more forgiving models. Larger guns are inherently more forgiving. They have a longer sight radius, often with more comfortable grips, and additional weight to help absorb recoil. I have always been a proponent of giving a new shooter the heaviest gun they can comfortably maneuver, in the smallest caliber I can access, to allow them a comfortable, gentle familiarization period.
At the end of the visit, we fired a good bit through my 9mm AR- which is running like a top. That gun is singly responsible for the huge decrease in my 9mm ammo stores. It feeds anything I stuff in it (and I have shot some ridiculous ammo through it- including some home brew stuff with reddot and a 148 gr LSWCHP which I will not share data for). That gun continues to prove itself as accurate and reliable- while being an unbelievable amount of fun.
All in all- another great day at the range. Jeff is currently in the pistol permit process, and will probably impulse buy a long gun shortly. Our other range buddy for the day, Justin- is also navigating his way (slowly) through the convoluted NYS pistol permit process. Though he is a fairly longtime gun owner, his interest in handguns has only recently gained enough intensity to make him willing to jump through the hoops.
Final thoughts:
1- when bringing new shooters to the range, I cannot overstate the value of a 22lr firearm.
2- don't be pushy with gun and caliber selection as to what the shooter should 'try next'
3- do try to encourage only full sized options up front. the more forgiving elements of the full sized gun will make the experience better for everyone.
4- bring a lot of ammo. Shooting stuff is always pretty awesome.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas
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| Reindeer, not playing reindeer games. |
Traveling by rail is something I haven't had much opportunity to do. Subways and urban settings had made up all of my train experiences prior to this trip, and I must say I really enjoyed the locomotive atmosphere. A dining car, comfortable seats, adequate leg room, all combined to form a very pleasant trip. The views were spectacular, and the environment was friendly.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Lowes Home Improvement fail
Lowes has a long history of being anti-gun- despite having a policy which states:
That is a big strike in my book. Places that don't respect the second amendment I avoid. Throw in not respecting the First Amendment, and I will actively work to not give you my money.
I generally don't discuss religion. I begrudge no man's decision on religion or the lack there of. It is a choice for each individual to make. I do dislike egregious stereotyping on any topic, including religion. Lowes, after being pressured by Florida Family Association, pulled ads on an apparently 'controversial' show about Muslims in America.
Let me sum up the FFA for you: anti-muslim, anti-gay, anti-'smut' (with a generous definition of porn), and anti-hilarious, (the ffa is petitioning Comedy Central to stop development on a spin off representation of Jesus Christ from South Park), and anti-sexual education / safe sex practices.
Religion is not my sword to die on. I'll be honest. However, Anti-gay, anti-religious freedom, anti-porn, and anti-humor, and anti-education (sexual or other) all combined- makes for some craziness that I do not support. Lowes, in taking advice from the FFA, is just stupid.
Don't advertise on a show you disagree with in premise. Don't advertise on a show you think is a poor financial investment. Don't advertise for any actual reason you want. However, listening to a group of people who can work themselves into pant-shitting-hysterics over things like who you pray to or who you sleep with in your private life, is just not smart.
With all that being said, I'm disappointed in Lowes. Worse than being bigoted, Lowes seems to be fairly spineless and will do whatever the mean people who write angry letters say- regardless of what is actually right.
I like Home Depot better anyway.
Dear XXXXName redacted for privacy, H/T to Opencarry.org for the correspondence . On top of that, they are hipocritical enough to still want the gun community's dollars, by selling. . . . Gun safes.
Thank you for giving Lowe’s an opportunity to respond to your concerns regarding our policy on firearms in our stores.
Lowe’s abides by federal, state, and local laws regarding firearms, and will continue to do so. Our first and foremost concern is for the safety of our customers. However, we take all comments and concerns from our customers seriously. We are considerate of all customers, and take no position regarding federal, state, and local laws governing the right to carry firearms.
If Lowe’s can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call 1-866-900-4650 Ext. 1 or email execustservice@lowes.com. You may also contact us by mailing your correspondence to 1605 Curtis Bridge Road Mail Code CON8, Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697.
Thank you,
Jamie
Lowe’s Executive Support
That is a big strike in my book. Places that don't respect the second amendment I avoid. Throw in not respecting the First Amendment, and I will actively work to not give you my money.
I generally don't discuss religion. I begrudge no man's decision on religion or the lack there of. It is a choice for each individual to make. I do dislike egregious stereotyping on any topic, including religion. Lowes, after being pressured by Florida Family Association, pulled ads on an apparently 'controversial' show about Muslims in America.
Let me sum up the FFA for you: anti-muslim, anti-gay, anti-'smut' (with a generous definition of porn), and anti-hilarious, (the ffa is petitioning Comedy Central to stop development on a spin off representation of Jesus Christ from South Park), and anti-sexual education / safe sex practices.
Religion is not my sword to die on. I'll be honest. However, Anti-gay, anti-religious freedom, anti-porn, and anti-humor, and anti-education (sexual or other) all combined- makes for some craziness that I do not support. Lowes, in taking advice from the FFA, is just stupid.
Don't advertise on a show you disagree with in premise. Don't advertise on a show you think is a poor financial investment. Don't advertise for any actual reason you want. However, listening to a group of people who can work themselves into pant-shitting-hysterics over things like who you pray to or who you sleep with in your private life, is just not smart.
With all that being said, I'm disappointed in Lowes. Worse than being bigoted, Lowes seems to be fairly spineless and will do whatever the mean people who write angry letters say- regardless of what is actually right.
I like Home Depot better anyway.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Day at the range
A couple friends from Buffalo came into town today for some shenanigans and shooting. Buddy 1 just got his pistol permit and bought the below 10-5 K frame (excellent taste).
His 10-5 is in excellent condition. Whereas mine has significant wear and a bit of patina on the back strap, the bluing on his fared quite well over the years.
I believe he paid under 300 OTD, and the gun came with an old holster, Tyler T-grip, and 1 box of 158gr LSWCHP ammo. Sounded like a pretty solid deal in my opinion.
Buddy 2 is a Greek with dual citizenship, also in my graduate program. He had never shot before so we took him out to enjoy some range time. We shot 22s, both 10-5s, my AR with 22 conversion kit, and a couple 45s, and generally had an awesome day.
If you haven't made it to the range lately, try to get a trip in. I'm convinced shooting is good for your health, as I have yet to find a better way to relieve stress from the grind of life.
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| not my K-Frame |
His 10-5 is in excellent condition. Whereas mine has significant wear and a bit of patina on the back strap, the bluing on his fared quite well over the years.
I believe he paid under 300 OTD, and the gun came with an old holster, Tyler T-grip, and 1 box of 158gr LSWCHP ammo. Sounded like a pretty solid deal in my opinion.
Buddy 2 is a Greek with dual citizenship, also in my graduate program. He had never shot before so we took him out to enjoy some range time. We shot 22s, both 10-5s, my AR with 22 conversion kit, and a couple 45s, and generally had an awesome day.
If you haven't made it to the range lately, try to get a trip in. I'm convinced shooting is good for your health, as I have yet to find a better way to relieve stress from the grind of life.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
reloading steel
On par with 9mm vs 45acp, AK vs AR, Lead and poly rifled bores, and glock vs 1911, is the venerable debate on the reloading of steel cases. Many reloaders and shooters won't fire steel cased ammo at all, let alone reload it. However more and more manufacturers are entering the steel cased
market (even Hornady), and the metals market in general has been quite volatile. Being able to separate facts from Internet fiction could become paramount in maintaining an adequate brass supply for shooting.
It seems pistol shooters are slightly less reluctant to take the plunge into toying with steel cases, partially (I suspect) due to the US military issuing steel cased 45acp during WWII. However, many rifle users remain reluctant.
I've experimented with 223 and 45acp wolf steel casings to see how they fair in the reloading world. I've learned a little, and shot a lot - and hope this might help other people do the same. In discussing the 223 casings first, know up front that not all wolf 223 is boxer primed. Much of it has been (and I suspect always will be) berdan primed. I can say that as of 2006-07 when I first started trying to reload steel, that both were available, and I never did figure out if there was a way to distinguish which was which from factory packaging.
I have noticed three major points in reloading steel for rifle rounds (specifically 223) as opposed to brass. First- their is a slight increase in the amount of effort necessary to process the case. Both the resizing and chamferring of the case mouth requires slightly more effort with steel.
Second, they do not last as long as brass. I have never had case head separation while reloading wolf 223 steel, but I have had cracked necks. The maximum number of reloads I have ever gotten from a wolf steel rifle case in 223 was 5. I lost the nerve to load them after that, or the case mouth just was no longer suitable for shooting.
Finally, the third thing I have learned about steel is quite obvious, you have to dry them fairly quickly after shooting or they will rust on you. After a tumble, you will notice the steel feels extremely smooth, and is actually quite nice to work with.
As far as the longevity of the pistol cases is concerned, I have never bothered to keep count. I lose them or just don't bother with the record keeping on the lower pressure stuff like 45acp. I can say I have yet to notice a crack in any of my 45 steel- but that could be as much a function of turnover as it is vitality on the casings' part.
As far as the feel of the steel for reloading pistols, I never have had to chamfer or debur a steel case in 45acp. I just treat them like brass and run them through dies (carbide lee dies). They hold bullets firmly, require no crimp modification, and don't seem to have any issues with primer pockets working loose quicker than any other casing.
As far as loading data is concerned, All of my loads with steel (and brass for that matter) are published load data in 45acp and 223. The cases have had no issues with unique and reddot in 45acp, nor have the rifle cases in 223 had problems with 846T, IMR4473, or Win748.
I enjoy having a fair amount of steel around because I really don't care if I lose it / don't recover it. In that regard it is great for ranges or shooting situations where high grass, snow, or terrain makes losing empties the norm.
I also have found that people object far less to you picking up their empty steel casings as opposed to their brass ones. This goes for both ranges and individuals, who even if they don't reload, might scrap their brass to recover some of the cost of shooting.
Also, it was just nice to investigate something myself instead of blindly taking the word of others who are just repeating things they have heard. I've cycled through hundreds of steel 223 at this point, and probably just as many 45acp. I know that is not nearly an exhaustive number, but it is enough for me to know that this is a viable resource I can use to keep myself shooting.
We in the gun community participate in a sport that is fiscally tied very closely to the price of gas, metals, and politics. Variation in any of those markets can have large and negative impacts on the ability of the shooter to do what he or she enjoys best- shooting. laying into a supply of cheap steel cased ammo, and knowing that it may be able to at least in part provide you some return beyond its initial firing can be very handy information indeed the next time wolf 223 goes to 7 dollars a box.
Take this information for what it is worth- I am not advocating you go out and hotrod some shitty steel casings you find, but I am saying that I have played with them for a few years now, and have no issues to report when proper care and loading techniques are used.
carry on and shoot well.
 |
| wolf 45acp and 223 steel cases |
It seems pistol shooters are slightly less reluctant to take the plunge into toying with steel cases, partially (I suspect) due to the US military issuing steel cased 45acp during WWII. However, many rifle users remain reluctant.
I've experimented with 223 and 45acp wolf steel casings to see how they fair in the reloading world. I've learned a little, and shot a lot - and hope this might help other people do the same. In discussing the 223 casings first, know up front that not all wolf 223 is boxer primed. Much of it has been (and I suspect always will be) berdan primed. I can say that as of 2006-07 when I first started trying to reload steel, that both were available, and I never did figure out if there was a way to distinguish which was which from factory packaging.
 |
| all reloaded and ready to go |
Second, they do not last as long as brass. I have never had case head separation while reloading wolf 223 steel, but I have had cracked necks. The maximum number of reloads I have ever gotten from a wolf steel rifle case in 223 was 5. I lost the nerve to load them after that, or the case mouth just was no longer suitable for shooting.
Finally, the third thing I have learned about steel is quite obvious, you have to dry them fairly quickly after shooting or they will rust on you. After a tumble, you will notice the steel feels extremely smooth, and is actually quite nice to work with.
 |
| checking for boxer or berdan primer is as easy as looking down |
As far as the longevity of the pistol cases is concerned, I have never bothered to keep count. I lose them or just don't bother with the record keeping on the lower pressure stuff like 45acp. I can say I have yet to notice a crack in any of my 45 steel- but that could be as much a function of turnover as it is vitality on the casings' part.
As far as the feel of the steel for reloading pistols, I never have had to chamfer or debur a steel case in 45acp. I just treat them like brass and run them through dies (carbide lee dies). They hold bullets firmly, require no crimp modification, and don't seem to have any issues with primer pockets working loose quicker than any other casing.
 |
| fired wolf 45acp with factory primer |
As far as loading data is concerned, All of my loads with steel (and brass for that matter) are published load data in 45acp and 223. The cases have had no issues with unique and reddot in 45acp, nor have the rifle cases in 223 had problems with 846T, IMR4473, or Win748.
I enjoy having a fair amount of steel around because I really don't care if I lose it / don't recover it. In that regard it is great for ranges or shooting situations where high grass, snow, or terrain makes losing empties the norm.
I also have found that people object far less to you picking up their empty steel casings as opposed to their brass ones. This goes for both ranges and individuals, who even if they don't reload, might scrap their brass to recover some of the cost of shooting.
Also, it was just nice to investigate something myself instead of blindly taking the word of others who are just repeating things they have heard. I've cycled through hundreds of steel 223 at this point, and probably just as many 45acp. I know that is not nearly an exhaustive number, but it is enough for me to know that this is a viable resource I can use to keep myself shooting.
 |
| lets be honest, steel also looks badass when it is loaded |
Take this information for what it is worth- I am not advocating you go out and hotrod some shitty steel casings you find, but I am saying that I have played with them for a few years now, and have no issues to report when proper care and loading techniques are used.
carry on and shoot well.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thinning the herd
I'm contemplating selling a few guns to make room for some new and exciting toys.
Short list of things to go:
1- 150 prefix Ruger Security Six- I have two of these, and the shorter barrel one just doesn't see much use.
2- Kel-tec P11. Great gun! I have nothing against it, other than I rarely carry it. I find when I go for a small gun, I prefer my J-frame Smith. The rest of the time, I prefer a larger 45 auto or 4inch 38spl.
3- Colt LW Commander 1911. I lusted after this gun for a while- but once I got it, and then an officers model- it splits the baby too much for my taste. It isn't as forgiving as shooting a Government size for accuracy, nor is it as comfortable as an officers size for carry.
All are good guns, and really I have nothing against any of them- They just aren't getting the amount of use I think they deserve, nor are they giving me the satisfaction I demand in a piece that is going to be in my collection for the long term.
I know some people say 'never sell a gun' but frankly, I've bought and sold many- and I have yet to regret it. My collection will never be without a 1911 style gun, or a Ruger SS for that matter, however- the redundancy and variation in these models is just not what I want right now.
I'll probably get the slide refinished on the Colt before I put it up on the block, as it is a little rough right now and I don't feel comfortable letting it go as is. Once that is sorted though- I'll be moving it right along.
Short list of things to go:
1- 150 prefix Ruger Security Six- I have two of these, and the shorter barrel one just doesn't see much use.
2- Kel-tec P11. Great gun! I have nothing against it, other than I rarely carry it. I find when I go for a small gun, I prefer my J-frame Smith. The rest of the time, I prefer a larger 45 auto or 4inch 38spl.
3- Colt LW Commander 1911. I lusted after this gun for a while- but once I got it, and then an officers model- it splits the baby too much for my taste. It isn't as forgiving as shooting a Government size for accuracy, nor is it as comfortable as an officers size for carry.
All are good guns, and really I have nothing against any of them- They just aren't getting the amount of use I think they deserve, nor are they giving me the satisfaction I demand in a piece that is going to be in my collection for the long term.
I know some people say 'never sell a gun' but frankly, I've bought and sold many- and I have yet to regret it. My collection will never be without a 1911 style gun, or a Ruger SS for that matter, however- the redundancy and variation in these models is just not what I want right now.
I'll probably get the slide refinished on the Colt before I put it up on the block, as it is a little rough right now and I don't feel comfortable letting it go as is. Once that is sorted though- I'll be moving it right along.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Colt Official Police Vs Smith and Wesson M10
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| The set up |
Not too long ago, you could find a revolver in the holster of most every police officer in the United States. Chief among those revolvers for many years was the Smith and Wesson K frame (model 10) and the Colt Official Police, built on the I Frame. These two powerhouses dominated the law enforcement market - and competed directly against one another.
What was the result of all that competition? Which gun excelled in what areas? Was one of them a clear winner? Well, I don't know how conclusively I can say which one is better- but I did spend a while comparing these fine revolvers, and I certainly have some opinions on which one performs more to my liking. What follows is a simple series of comparisons I conducted comparing how the guns shoot in single and double action, how they compare on target transitions, and finally, how they group with a variety of common weight 38 special ammo.
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| The Guns |
With those restrictions in mind- I'll say right up front that this was a heck of a lot of fun to compile.
I started the day off by warming up with my Ruger mk II just to get a feel for some trigger time again. All shooting was done at 10 yards on the large Birchwood Casey shooting circles ( 3 inch diameter). Shooting was all unsupported and fairly quick. No more than a second or two between shots. All targets were shot with a 6 o'clock hold.
These are working guns that were meant to be in holsters protecting life and limb- though they may be capable of target accuracy, I am not. So I really just focused on what an average shooter can do with each gun in what I think are reasonable circumstances.
Those factors right off the bat gave the smith a bit of a leg up in my mind. It has a lot of qualities that make it a far more forgiving and user friendly gun.
I started the test with 6 rounds of slow fire single action shooting at 10 yards. Ammunition was 200 gr LRN 38 special +P ammo, reloaded by yours truly. This load mimics some of the older 200 gr 38 special police ammo in power and function.
The smith did not disappoint. The group was 1 ragged hole 1.5 inches above POA and 1-1.5 inches to the right. I nearly called it a day right here- as I suspected that would be one of the better groups I fired during the entire outing.
The Colt did fairly well (shot in lower right off target was existing on target backer) grouping high with no discernible left or right favor. The group was not nearly as nice as the smith- but still very functional.
At this point, I tentatively will give the single action leg up to the smith. I found the break on both guns to be very good, but I did prefer the feel of the Smith and Wesson.
Next up, I tried the guns at the same distance on fresh targets double action. Interesting fact- I suck at shooting double action and desperately need more practice at it.
The colt put the rounds generally high and to the left for me, but I did manage to put 1 round low and right- just to completely destroy any insight I might have as to what I should work on, aside form just sucking less.
Not to be outdone- I sucked equally as much with the smith, but this time grouped consistently low and right.
How is that for useful target analysis? You either shoot high left, or low right. Maybe if I hold them both at the same time, I can hit something near where I placed the target, and I can cancel out whatever messed up habits I am developing.
On the second time around, the smith provided me with a slightly more respectable target, placing all 6 rounds either on or nicking the target circle.
Overall, I give the feel of the double action pull to the colt. I found it to be more predictable and generally smoother than the smith.
Next up I tried some target transitions. I set two targets about 18 inches apart, and fired 1 round at each target alternating between them in double action.
First up was the Model 10. I have no idea where the third round on the right target went, but I was pretty pleased with the results of this little drill. Switching quickly between targets and firing double action actually yielded groups, and even scored a solid hit on the right target.
The colt did perform better, but we have already established I prefer the double action pull on the Official Police to that of the model 10. Grouping on the left target was all on the target circle, and
At this point I was fairly undecided on the guns. The smith had a better single action pull, and grouped better for me. The colt consistently won the double action game, but never seemed to have the same grouping potential as the smith.
It seemed as though this was going to be an even match.
Next I tried each gun with a 148 gr LSWC load, fairly common in target shooting. The smith grouped low right and had a bit of vertical stringing. Shooting was done in single action for this drill with both guns.
The colt strung slightly horizontally, and was also a touch low. Grouping slightly favored the colt for this weight ammo.
The final test of the day was going to be the most common ammo available for the 38 special- 158 gr LSWC. This ammo, in varying forms (158 gr LSWCHP, +P, +P+, etc) was a go to police round for many years- and is still my preferred 38 special carry round (158 gr LSWCHP +P)
The smith continued to group slightly right for me, and POI was right on for POA. The grouping was fairly tight, and was probably right at 2 inches.
The colt shot just above POA with a 158gr load, and had no discernible left or right favor. The group was slightly smaller than the model 10, but not by a large amount.
The guns will generally fit in the same holsters, and any difference in weight between them is completely unnoticed by me. I do prefer how the smith has a captured guide rod, and I also prefer smith and wesson's design to push the cylinder release toward the muzzle instead of colt's method of pulling the release toward the rear.
Prices on the guns are fairly comparable, with the total cost of both of them coming in at well under 400 bucks. A shooter would do well to own either, and I would say that every handgunner needs at least 1 four inch 38 special gun in their collection.
If you can only buy one, I would say go get a smith. If however, you had a bit of extra cash- owning both is a pretty sweet deal too.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
CVA Accura makes meat
Muzzleloader season starts tomorrow by me, but I took mine out today all the same. About 15 minutes before dark a nice doe presented herself at 70 yards to my left (South of where I was setup). I brought my Accura to my shoulder and squeezed off the shot free-hand. The doe flopped over with a clean pass through mid way up the front shoulders. The doe was definitely the largest bodied deer I have ever harvested,
and probably weighed between 160-165 lbs live weight. I know people take
monster 200+ lb deer in the northeast, but I certainly don't see many
of them.When I walked up to the doe, she was still alive, though completely incapacitated. I dispatched her with one shot through the head from a pistol.
As that isn't much of a story (despite being really exciting for me) I'll give a review of gear and what I would change.
First the load: I used 100gr of loose Triple 7 powder and a 250 gr TC shockwave. The load shoots well and has plenty of knockdown power.
Second the knife: This is the third deer I have dressed out with my mora 440 sporter knife- and it has held an edge well. If I were buying it again, I would buy one with an Orange handle instead of black, so it would be easier to find when I put it down.
Third the Flashlight: Still carrying a solarforce L2 with a Cree XP-G emitter. Light is bright, and I have no complaints about it. I keep a single 1850 stick battery in there and I never have problems with it.
Sidearm: Springfield armory mil-spec loaded with 230gr winchester white box PD JHP. This load has performed well in the past, and gave a clean pass through on her head for a finishing shot. Slug was not recovered so I cannot comment on expansion- though judging from the exit wound, I don't believe it opened up much. Magazine was a C-products 8 round mag. Not the greatest, but functional and it was loaded up with the ammo I wanted to carry.
Camo was all scent lock gear, and ontop of it all I wore a harness from Hunter Safety Systems.
Tree stand was some no-name ladder stand I couldn't say anything exceptional about one way or the other.
That is everything. I try not to carry too much stuff when I am out in the woods. Throw in a cellphone and a couple zip ties to attach tags to animals, and some latex gloves for gutting and you have my entire 'kit'. Hopefully, I'll put at least 1 or 2 more in the freezer before the close of season- as this was only the second day I have been out this year. Dad has put up 2 in the freezer so far, and if we can get 4 or 5 total we'll be well set for meat for the upcoming year.
As that isn't much of a story (despite being really exciting for me) I'll give a review of gear and what I would change.
First the load: I used 100gr of loose Triple 7 powder and a 250 gr TC shockwave. The load shoots well and has plenty of knockdown power.
Second the knife: This is the third deer I have dressed out with my mora 440 sporter knife- and it has held an edge well. If I were buying it again, I would buy one with an Orange handle instead of black, so it would be easier to find when I put it down.
Third the Flashlight: Still carrying a solarforce L2 with a Cree XP-G emitter. Light is bright, and I have no complaints about it. I keep a single 1850 stick battery in there and I never have problems with it.
Sidearm: Springfield armory mil-spec loaded with 230gr winchester white box PD JHP. This load has performed well in the past, and gave a clean pass through on her head for a finishing shot. Slug was not recovered so I cannot comment on expansion- though judging from the exit wound, I don't believe it opened up much. Magazine was a C-products 8 round mag. Not the greatest, but functional and it was loaded up with the ammo I wanted to carry.
Camo was all scent lock gear, and ontop of it all I wore a harness from Hunter Safety Systems.
Tree stand was some no-name ladder stand I couldn't say anything exceptional about one way or the other.
That is everything. I try not to carry too much stuff when I am out in the woods. Throw in a cellphone and a couple zip ties to attach tags to animals, and some latex gloves for gutting and you have my entire 'kit'. Hopefully, I'll put at least 1 or 2 more in the freezer before the close of season- as this was only the second day I have been out this year. Dad has put up 2 in the freezer so far, and if we can get 4 or 5 total we'll be well set for meat for the upcoming year.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Another Virginia Tech Shooting
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/virginia-tech-shooting-dead-police-officer.html
still looking for the shooter. I have nothing to say about this other than it is heart-breaking.
If you believe in a God, pray for them.
still looking for the shooter. I have nothing to say about this other than it is heart-breaking.
If you believe in a God, pray for them.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
EDC
Saw this video on Youtube and almost cried laughing (h/t to Everyday Carry). It is a very tongue-in-cheek remake of 'Hand in My Pocket' by Alanis Morissette.
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