Blog

...actually, it's going to be a bumpy year. I've no doubt that the Democrats will lose big in 2010 - and any chance for the Pelosi/Reid/Obama machine to "change" our country will be gone at that point. But who will take their place? And what will they be able to accomplish in the meantime? Edit: They know it, too. President Obama made reference to "casting a vote that might lose an election for you" when he addressed House Democrats. Translation: They know the end is coming - soon - and… Read More

Today our nation mourns the loss of 13 warriors, and prays that the dozens in hospital will recover fully, although the sad reality is that many will be damaged for life, both physically and mentally. We have not yet heard renewed calls for tighter gun laws, although with the inevitable copycat shootings that are sure to follow, we probably will. What most gun control advocates conveniently ignore is that the majority of mass shootings take place in "gun free zones" - shopping malls, schools, businesses, and in this case, a… Read More

I've covered similar topics before, but wanted to address this again. I saw this quite often when I was working in a gun store, but I also encounter such people at the range. Sometimes they're fairly well off, but it really pains me to see someone on an extreme budget do this. What I'm talking about is the notion that spending more money on a firearm - beyond the point of diminishing returns - will be more beneficial than training with that firearm. A lot of times, this is fueled… Read More

If you've read my Osprey Defense scuba "test" article, you probably picked up that I'm a little suspicious of the methods this company uses to market their products. Well, they've put out a half dozen or so videos since then, so I thought I'd address a few of them as well. Don't take me not addressing a particular video as a sign that it's a good test - I just don't have the time to wade through that much crap. First, their "sandblast" test. They start out by having a… Read More

All too often, I hear someone describe an AR-15 as being high quality because the upper and lower fit together tightly, and the finish on the receivers matches perfectly. Often, much attention is lavished on the rich, deep black anodizing of the receivers (Strangely, these same people are perfectly okay with dremeling feed ramps through that same perfect black anodizing. But I digress). Unfortunately, much of this comes from magazines such as Guns & Ammo. I just skimmed a few recent AR-15 articles, where fit and finish was mentioned before… Read More

There aren't any lies in this video. The guys clearly show what they did with the weapon. No shenanigans, unlike the Osprey scuba video. However, the omission made is that a standard AR-15 would do just as well during this test, as you can see in this video, which I made recently. Essentially, the Adams Arms rifle was laid ejection port down in some sand, shaken around a bit, and fired. The sand on top wouldn't have much of an effect. If the Adams guys want to market their system… Read More

I'll admit it, I'm addicted to flashlights. I have way too many of the things. I learned the utility of small flashlights that were easy to carry yet very bright when I was in Iraq. There are times when night vision is useful, and times when a flashlight is more handy. Today, I always have a flashlight on me. I use it probably a dozen times a day, for everything from working inside a computer, to trying to figure out what else has broken inside my Jeep, to identifying things… Read More

You might be surprised to learn that, while living in Southern Arizona, I sweat a little bit in the summer. I've had problems with many carry guns rusting. At first, I thought it was just inadequate finishes. My Kimber 1911 with its blued finish quickly rusted in a leather holster, and even a switch to a kydex holster didn't help. I bought stainless firearms - Sigs, Kimbers, and Smith & Wesson revolvers. They developed rust as well. I even had a Smith & Wesson M&P - stainless steel with a… Read More

I like 1911 style handguns. I have owned several exceptionally reliable and accurate examples of the breed. However, I don't think 1911s are for everyone. Why? And why do I make a distinction between a "1911" and a "1911 style handgun?" Well, they require a little more upkeep than some of the pistols available today. While they generally last a very long time, when certain parts do need to be replaced, they need to be properly fitted to the other parts in the pistol. Also, many 1911s manufactured today are… Read More

If you've been in a gun store at least once, you've probably heard an opinion about a firearm, good or bad. You've probably also heard some outlandish stories, too. I tried working in a gun store, and I could only take it for about six months. There's an incredible amount of misinformation out there, and if you're new to the world of shooting, it's going to be next to impossible for you to sort through the bad and find the good. I wouldn't dream of trying to put every bit… Read More