Gonna miss her

After a lot of heart tugs, I traded my .243. When I purchased it, I noted that availability of ammo and cost were the two down sides of the .243, and they are what tipped me over to the .308. Yes, I already had one Ar in .308, but it was a bull barrel, stainless job and heavy as heck.
The .243 is a great round. availability is the key factor though, and right now its scarce as an honest democrat, not a one to be bought. Walmart is out of both rounds. The reloaders aren't punching out .243 either, not enough demand.
Sorry for not posting pictures, my internet connection is acting weird, and uploads are failing.

The secret to a good nights sleep

Who needs Sominex? I probably shouldn't drink that much caffene before bed time should I?

Another wheel gun

I own a number of revolvers. I know a lot of people consider them a relic of the past, but for me, they have their place. The biggest advantage of an automatic, in fact, the only one, is capacity. Six vs fifteen is a no brainer, so if you are taking on a horde of angry looters, grab the Glock, Sig, or Beretta. Otherwise, a wheel gun will serve your needs just fine.

This grinning monster is a S&W model 66-1 chambered in the capable .357 caliber. It is the only revolver I have with a left hand holster. I'm ambidextrious, left handed by birth, struggling in a right hand world. Honestly, I have always shot right handed. 90% of guns are designed for right handers. The few exceptions are the popular ambi autos, and top break revolvers such as the H&R 999 Sportsman. I have no dominant eye, and with a rifle, I have an advantage in that my strong hand is controling my aim.

Back when the Colt 1911 burst on the scene, it offered only a single round advantage, but the shooter didn't need to eject the empties, only an empty mag. Other autos soon increased capacity, and a few were even offered with 100 round drums. Not bad when the demon hoards of starving lazy democrats come to plunder your life savings.

So, why do I like revolvers? For most folks, a hand gun is their late night defense. Too many of them never take the gun out and clean it, let alone to the range. Month and months of no activity and a full load of cartridges can weaken the spring in that Glock. I have seen two mag failures. One held back three, the other was five or more. I've also seen dented mags that would not function. Saw a big Lt when I was in the service, who after diving for cover during our march to the range, had three mags that suffered for it. Yup, the big guy bent em. Keep that in mind if you leave mags in your vehicle. They are another part that can fail at the most inappropriate time.

The last thing I wanted to point out is another revolver from my collection. This is a close up of a Colt trooper MkV. Note the cylinder release. On a Smith, you push forward with your thumb. With the Colt, you pull back. I know it seems trivial, but late at night, when the chips are down, and you went through your first six, that little distinction may cost you your life. practice with what you carry, carry what you are familiar with. Neither is a bad gun, either will stop the bad guy in his tracks. familiarity is a good thing, it does not always breed contempt.
Spring has arrived, and we are doing range night every Wednesday right before Sons of Guns. Last week we burned through about 250 rounds of ammo. Should be a great time.

Never mess with the man who owns but one gun

I've included a pic from my collection. Near to far they are a Mossberg 800 in .243, an Eddystone M-1917 30-06, an M1A 308, a Bushmaster Carbon 15 pistol and a Marlin Glennfield 75C .22 which I modified myself back in 1986.

Paraphrased, the saying goes never mess with a man who owns but one gun, chances are he knows exactly how to use it. Those who have read my blog know by now that I own quite a few more then just one. Its no secret. I began collecting when I was sixteen, and gun smithing when I was twenty two. It is by no means a profession for me, but rather a serious hobby dedicated to freedom.

In the wars that were waged in the early part of the twentieth century, the arms of the soldier were bolt action repeater rifles. Some machine guns were in use, but for the man in the trench, his beloved was a bolt action Enfield, Mauser, or Springfield. Accuracy mattered. The second shot required actions that made follow up placement difficult. As history marched on, newer weapons replaced accuracy with volume. By Vietnam, thousands of rounds were being fired for every enemy killed. Men like Carlos Hathcock reintroduced the art of the single shot kill. Snipers were long a dirty word, and in many conflicts, a sniper captured by the enemy was assured a horrible death. The idea of a hunter of man on an urban field was unfair to many.

A lot of debates are afire these days regarding guns. While the looming threat of congressional action to reinstate the various bans and forge new ones has dimmed with Heller, the dangers we face as a society are no less real. Recent events through out the world have shown that we live in times that are far from stable. Unrest in several nations has toppled governments, and while unrest here in the United States does not yet threaten our republic, it is present and growing. Now is not the time to be unarmed. What to buy, what to buy what to buy. The question is enormous. If you have limited funds as many of us now do, the idea of a good black rifle would require a considerable investment of precious dollars and might involve a wait of many months. To what avail? If the unruly were to decide to revolt, one would be forced to act fast. Most wars are come as you are, and unarmed is not a good option. What to do?

The traditional reasons for owning a gun are many, Home defense, sport shooting and hunting are only three very good reasons to have firearm. Who needs a reason though, isn't it a constitutionally protected right? We live in troubled times though. The constitution is under assault by evil forces. Make no mistake they have an agenda, and it is not keeping junior from accidentally shooting the kitten either. If you add anarchy prevention and national defense you stand a chance at getting to the crux of the problem. Frankly, everyone should own a gun.

So what gun is the right choice? Any gun store worth its salt will have several hundred to chose from in a range of calibers that boggles the mind. You could go with a black gun, arms such as the venerable AR-15, civilian cousin to the oft derided M-16 mighty mattel. You can opt for an SKS on a budget, or even an old L3A3 CMETE, or other variant of a foreign service rifle.

If you want my advise, and if you've read this far, you do, get two guns. Pick out a good well built .22 rifle to plink and practice with. Practice does not make perfect, but it gives you an understanding of why you missed and where to place the next shot. There are several good options out there, the Ruger 10-22 and Marlin 60 series families are both great options. Both are well built and have a confirmed reputation for durability and reliability.

The second rifle is the harder choice. A good hunting or varmint grade rifle can be had for a lot less then an AR. Half or less, and if you shop carefully, even as low as 1/6 the price of an AR.

Caliber is another consideration. I recommend something in a popular caliber. We can debate all day the advantages of our pet round. Whether it be the 270 vs 30-06 argument, or comparisons of the 257 Roberts vs the 280 Remington or 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel, days weeks or years can be wasted on mind numbing commentary. I advise that you pick a caliber that is common and reasonable. No use going bankrupt on a box of ammo. The goal here is to get good and be confident.

Getting to know your weapon isn't crazy. As part of my training in the military, we would take several weapons and put the parts in a box. With a blindfold on, we would attempt to reassemble those firearms with ever faster times being the goal. Ever see the scene in The Unit where Brown is tested? Its real, we do that. Malfunctions happen in the dead of night when a simple light will draw unwanted attention and bullets. Knowing what to do is as important as shot placement.

Most people are 100 yard shooters. They do not take the time to practice, and therefore anything in the medium range and beyond is a waste of lead. Practice folks, that is what the 22 is all about. With a little effort its possible to group 2 inches at 200 yards with a Ruger 10-22. If my wife can, you can. Don't pick perfect days to shoot either. Bad things happen at the wrong times for the wrong reasons. I spent an afternoon several months ago with a 40 mph plus cross wind popping Pepsi bottles. I was giving over a foot of Kentucky windage to keep the shots on target.

Red Dawn laid out a scenario of a massive invasion by Soviet and Cuban forces. The odds of that happening are slim, unless of course, you live in Georgia, Armenia, or any other Former Soviet Republic. If the USA were to be attacked successfully, something would have to be done first to cripple our armed forces. Four years of democrat control of congress won't quiet do that, but it sure didn't help. Frankly, many evil forces wait for the chance to pounce. We are big, soft, and vulnerable if our military is distracted or depleted. Learning the basics of marksmanship could be essential.

Am I saying the Cubans are waiting? No, I'm not. Other dangers lurk for you and your family. As drug usage increases, and our economy continues to tank, those who live on the fringe of the law are becoming more desperate. If you live on the outskirts of town, on a dark street, or in a bad area, you could be vulnerable. Frankly, thugs can go just about anywhere. The down and outers may see you as wealthy and take covetousness to the next level. They regard your hard earned property as community, and if the law is away, thugs will prey. Best be prepared. Yes, that might be a close quarters encounter, but its one you'd better win. Some years back. A group of narco officers confronted a car load of determined criminals. All members were armed with high capacity semi autos. All members had at least one spare mag of ammo. The entire dance was caught by a security camera on a nearby building. The festivities began with the bad guys bailing out of their vehicle as the cops exited theirs. With no formalities, both sides drew and commenced to fire. Nearly 180 rounds were fired by five men at a distance of less then fifty feet. There was no cover as they were between the vehicles, not by the doors. The act ended when the bad guys, out of ammo, selected the Jesse Owens option and ran for their freedom. One was tackled on camera while the other made it several hundred yards, returning in cuffs less then a minute later. As I remember it, only one guy was nicked, and it was debatable whether it was a bullet or a glass fragment that hit him. These Police were professionals. That they missed such close shots speaks volumes to the effects of adrenaline on the human condition. That no bystanders were hit also speaks volumes, it was not an empty street.

In any scenario you encounter, chances are you won't need a hundred rounds unless you plan on missing. A lot. Even if it came to a civil war here at home, you, Joe Average, probably won't need the thousand rounds of full auto capability we all dream of. Mobs would likely consist of a half dozen at most. Frankly, drugies usually are too paranoid to last in large groups.

In your house, you will face added factors, location of family will be of tantamount importance.

Preparation is physical and mental. Have a plan. Have a back up plan. Be ready, now is not the time for drunken stupor. Know yourself and be confident. You can win only if you train, so my admonition to you is become the man who knows exactly how to use it.

Note: I wrote this several years ago and it was posted at blogmocracy. I forgot to post it here, so am updating it and posting it now.

Latest toy

My latest pick is a DPMS Panther LR308. This gaspipe sports a stainless bull barrel. I last picked up a LR243, and after a lot of consideration decided that a 30 cal would make a good addition to the collection.

According to sources, a lot of folks arround JC have gotten these, and are spending a fair number of hours at the longer ranges. Plinking at 1000 meters is not unheard of, and if splodydopes ever become a problem, I'd just as soon keep em beyond blast radius ranges.

The LR 308 family is an updated version of the AR-10 designed by Eugene Stoner more then 40 years ago. It was revived a few years back when the Army decided to upgrade their sniper rifle systems. Knights Armament got the nod, but the DPMS offering is a good second place rifle.

DPMS also makes the Remington R-25 series of guns. Lighter, with a fluted barrel, and sporting a Mossy Oak camo sceme, they are intended for the hunter. Except for the lack of a high capacity mag, they are a great offering since you can order mags from C-Products. Their stuff is good quality, and reasonably priced. I have more then a few of their mags in my kit, from 5.56 mags to 9mm mags. Oh, they also are the only company to offer a 7.62x39 30 round mag for an AR platform.

Price was the deciding factor on this pick. I could get a Remington in 308, but would have paid $250 bucks more. I don't know about you, but for me, $250 is a lot of time at the range. This weapon does have a few down sides, No flash hider, no dust cover, no deflector bump, and no forward assist. Still a good varmit gun.

I topped it for now with a BSA cats eye. I have been waiting for a 6X24X40IR, but BSA is playing menu change potpouri, and is slow to send em. I like the IR scopes, it helps in twilight conditions when the coyotes come out.

Upping the Ante

I recently traded off two of my AR-15s. I know some of you say who can ever have too many? But the truth is you can only shoot one at a time, and while they are light, ammo is lighter. One of them was a DPMS sportical. One feature I liked was the flat top A-3 configuration, pefect for a scope. It did not have a dust cover, forward assist, or forward sling swivel. It was actually a cheap gun. Nice for a starter, but not something for a serious collection.
The second was a A-2 configured rifle with full stock and 20" barrel. A nice over all gun, but it was nearly identical to another, and since its twin was my first, first place won out.

Their replacement is an L-243. This rifle is manufactured by DPMS, and is a very nice rifle. mechanically identical to a Remington R-25, this fine piece of machinery lacks the messy oak paint skeme. The R-25 is offered in .243 Winchester, 7mm-08, and 308 aka 7.62x51. DPMS differentiates bt calling them L-243, L-308 etc.
For tonight, it is topped with my old Tasco 3x9. Eventually it will get a serioius upgrade to something with illuminated reticle, and interplanetary optics and magnification.

I had several choices between Remingtons in 308 and 243, and this one. Cost was a bit of a consideration, but I'm not that hot on the Mossy Oak camo. To me its a waste of money. if I need camo, I will make my own with burlap etc. It will get seriously gillified when needed.
I opted for 243 over 308 for several reasons. Cost of ammo and availability were not two of them. 243 is harder to get, and more expensive. What it offers though is a faster round with less drop. The 100 grain Remington rounds hold velocity very well, bullet drop is thirteen inches less at 500 yards then comparable 308 rounds.

DPMS and Remington together with Bushmaster are now owned by the same corporation. Thus these fine arms share commonality. The R-25 series was designed as part of the Army's sniper rifle competition eventually won by Knights. These rifles are the latest development of Eugene Stoners original AR-10. The Military wanted a new sniper rifle to replace the M-21s M-24s and others, and this bad boy was runner up. it is a great step forward, and is intended to have greater range then the M24s do.
This fellow is not a hundred yard plinker. It is intended for dropping Antelope at 500 or more yards, or Taliban wannabe's where ever they may roam.

Do not adjust your monitor

The gun really is green.
This is a Springfield Armory 1911A1 in 45 ACP. Springfield released a version in olive green and to original military specs about five years ago.
The 45 has been a durable weapon for the US military, carried as the standard side arm for over 70 years. It was replaced by the 9mm Baretta, but still remains in service with some units, and for good reason.

The U.S. Military used a wide variety of side arms in the late 1800's. Most were 38 caliber Colts and Smith & Wessons. While fighting the Moro's in the Philippines, The 38 was found to be unsuitable, and the Army briefly sent 45 caliber single action revolvers to the troops. Hiriam Maxim had designed a self loading pistol in the 1880's, and this sparked interest in semi auto side arms by many nations. The US military initially tested guns from several foreign manufacturers, and evaluated a Lugar in 7.65 which was found to lack stopping power. An improved version of that was tested, the 9mm Lugar aka 9x19mm NATO.
After tests conducted in 1904, it was determined that any cartridge would need to be at least 45 caliber, and design tests continued with designs from several manufacturers. The tests eventually narrowed the field to two, Colt and Savage, and in 1911 the Colt model was selected. The deciding factor was a grueling 6000 round test in which the Colt performed flawlessly while the savage design had 37 malfunctions.
Following WW1, the pistol was modified to become the 1911A1. Changes were minor, and included a shorter trigger, cut back frame behind the trigger, and an arched main spring housing.

With those changes, the mighty 1911A1 soldiered on. Its accuracy became the thing of legends. many soldiers claimed that after firing the seven rounds in hte magazine, you then beat the enemy soldiers to death with the thing. That was not the case though. With little practice, most people can group effectively at ranges beyond fifty meters thanks to the well thought out design of John Browning.
WW2 saw the production of nearly 2 million 1911 from a variety of companies. The 1911 was even made in Norway by the Germans, and a Kongsberg Colt with Waffenamt stampings will fetch a small fortune.

Preasure from NATO for conformance was to spell the end of the 1911 though. As the pistols began to wear and break, the Army Arsenals repaired them by taking parts from other guns. By the late 1970's, the end was fast approaching, and field tests confirmed its successor, the M-9. Many units retained the 45 though. USSOCOM, and delta Force in particular were not satisfied with the 9, and in 2004 a new generation of 1911's known as the 1911A2 began testing. the 1911A2 design incorporates a variety of sights, finishes and features that are a full family of weapons adaptable to a wide variety of missions.
With that change, the 1911 will continue to soldier on well past the century mark, an impressive feat for a military arm, especially when you consider that prior to its adoption, the military was testing and adolting several new side arms a decade.
How long will the 1911 series remain in service? your guess is as good as mine. Its hard to beat perfection.

Give me Liberty

Or at least, give me a Liberty 100. The Liberty, produced by Calico Arms (California Instrument Company) is one fine carbine. Chambered in 9mm, and also offered in a 22LR rimfire, this is an above grade gun for military or police use. Calico first developed their fine line in the 1980's, before the insult weapons ban. No misspelling either, all it did was make a bunch of crap polyticks feel good. That congressional act almost ruined the company by eliminating the civilian market. The calico is revolutionary. It has a top mounted helical magazine in either 50 or 100 round versions. The mag is loaded, then charged by cranking the handle at the rear. It has bottom ejection for easy policing of brass, and also eliminates the pesky hot cartridge down the collar for left handed situations. Yes, I said left handed situations not shooters. I'll talk more about that later.


The Calico line of 9mm weapons uses a roller delayed block blowback system. Two links pivot out to secure the bolt in place while firing, then slip back once chamber pressure drops. It is an excellent system and is used on H&K submachine guns as well as others. It has a good ergo grip and is angled nicely like our AR-15 M-4 arms.

A nonmoving rear sight is built into the magazine, and all adjustments are made at the front sight which is at the front of the mag. This is a slight problem as it limits your sight radius, but it also protects the sight from potential damage when carried in a vehicle. A scope mount is also available which fits on top of the mag. It somewhat impedes mag changes, but with a 100 round mag, how often is that a problem?

The Calico has several advantages over most carbines and subs I have fired. The design limits muzzle climb. If you look at the lines of any standard rifle, you will note that the line of the barrel is well above the line of the shooters arm. With the calico, the barrel and wrist align so that kick is directed back at the wrist rather then over it. That reduces twisting of the hand and therefore muzzle climb. This is important in full auto situations. Many years ago I had the opportunity to fire a M-951A full auto. It was like having a supersoaker that spit lead instead of water. That day fueled my desire to eventually own a Calico. Today, I own two.

A kelly grip is also optional and gives it that gangster look so many crave. The Liberty comes with either a fixed stock, or a collapsing stock. I have one of each. The collapsing stock has an extra long setting for folks with long arms. Original Calico's had an optional flash supressor muzzle arrestor, the current crop are straight barrel post ban style weapons.

Calico also produces a pistol version, the M-950 as well as the their M-100 22 carbine and M-110 22 pistol. They are a good solid gun in my opinion.

The company was originally headquartered in California, but wise hands shifted their base of operations to Hillsboro Oregon. Fruits, nuts and guns don't mix very well, and Cali's horrid treatment of companies, means that desertion is the game of the day if you want to thrive.

Regarding left handed shooting, I'm left handed. I principally shoot right handed as I have no eye dominance. It gives me the advantage of using all common fire arms, plus the benefit of having my strong arm supporting the muzzle. Only on the range can you be assured of control of your shooting stance. Whether hunting elk In the mountains, or bad guys on the streets of Afghanistan, there are times when the south paw stance is preferable. You may not be able to get into any other position without compromising your position, or you may have a shot that is so off balance that a left hand position is the only option. I can and do shoot both ways. Practice practice practice.

The bullpup 500

O.F. Mossberg has been cranking out shotguns for ninety years. The model 500, first introduced in 1960 is probably the most reliable shotgun ever produced. it is the only shotgun to meet the strident Mil-Spec 3443E standard. Mossberg has offered many variants of this reliable weapon, and tonight's feature is the Bullpup. First offered in 1987, it was designed for police and special security needs. That it was discontinued is a travesty.


Shotguns are excellent weapons for home protection and other various needs. Floyd Reagan, a Minnesota DNR game warden swears there is no animal on the North American continent that cannot be taken with one. Floyd would know. When assigned in Alaska patrolling for poachers, Floyd selected a 12ga as his weapon to carry. On one foot patrol he encountered a Kodiak bear. The bear wanted Floyd for lunch. The charge of shot nearly severed the bears head. I'd just as soon not let them get that close.

Many people today are opting for pistol grip shotguns. They look bad ass. They also shoot like crap! A shoulder stock offers a steady support for your shots. Whether one opts for a solid stock, collapsing stock or folding stock, in my opinion, they are a must. Heavy shot, or slugs play hell on the wrists. The extra length may be a bit of a problem in close quarters, but in my opinion is well worth it.

The 500 Bullpup has the advantage of a full length barrel, plenty of spare rounds, a shoulder stock, and a neat small package. The action is the same as any other 500. The stock contains a transfer bar that fits to the original trigger.

Shotgun performance is also outstanding. A 12ga shotgun slug generates more muzzle energy then a 30-06 150 grain round. Its down range performance is better then a 30-30, and modern rounds remain accurate beyond 150 yards.

Much can be debated regarding buckshot. A 2 3/4 12 ga round holds eight or nine pellets 00 depending on manufacture, and is the equivalent of firing a short bust from a submachine gun. Down range performance drops as the spread of the pellets soon reaches the point where only a few hit the target. I prefer #4 buck. Twenty seven pellets vs only nine increases the probability of multiple hits at extended ranges. Shot size drops from .33 to .24 inches resulting in a pellet that is nearly 1/3 the weight, but with the increase in number results in a somewhat heavier overall load and increased hit potential.

12 ga ammo is plentiful, especially compared to some of the more popular rifle calibers. Shotgun ammo is also easier to reload. even a 10% variation will still shoot within parameters since accuracy is not pinpoint. In a last ditch situation, almost anything can be used for projectiles from gravel to glass.

Mossberg has been my shotgun of choice for thirty years. I know that many of you are fans of Remington, Benelli, or Winchester. Its all a matter of what you like. I have never had a Mossberg fail to fire, and some of mine have been heavily abused. Mossbergs are low cost, high quality, and not a lot of flash. The 500 series has been around for nearly fifty years with only minor changes, and is second to the 870 in total sales.

The Mossberg 500 bullpup truly fits the bill for an all around defense weapon. Its size is about the same as a pistol grip model, it has a full length barrel, and handling is good. Sadly, Mossberg has no announced plans to reintroduce this excellent arm, and no after market manufacturers have any offerings out at the present time. I would like to see after market stocks for the Remington 870, 1100, and some of the other popular guns. I can always hope, can't I?

The AR-15 on Steroids

IN the early years of the Vietnam war, the thinking heads of the Kennedy administration decided that the military needed to upgrade their weapons to a still smaller caliber. The progression has been a long process. During, and immediately after the revolution, there was no true standardization of caliber. Since each weapon was hand crafted, variations in caliber were common, and each soldier carried a bullet mold with him. This practice remained into the (un)Civil War. The earliest weapons often ran to calibers approaching .75, with .72, or 12 gauge being very common. the .50 Kentucky, common among modern rendezvous's was not a popular caliber. Since rifle tech was in its infancy, high chamber pressure was dangerous. therefore, to achieve power, a larger projectile was used. During the Civil War, caliber dropped to .58 for the Springfield rifles as rifling and the Minie ball brought advances to the battle field. Other calibers included the 56-56 Spencer, .577 Enfield .52 Sharps, and a host of others. Improvements meant longer range, increased accuracy, and more power.

Advances immediately after the war brought the Springfield 1873 in 45-70 to the military, and its companion, the 45-55-405 cavalry carbine, famous for its failures at the battle of Greasy Grass.

The next step, and again a step down in caliber was the 30-40 Krag series of Rifles from 1892 to 1907. This was the first round developed for smokeless powder. It was a rimmed cartridge, the last used by the military.

It was replaced beginning in 1903 by the 1903 Springfield in 30-06. The 30-06 and 30-40 were balistically similar, but the design of the 06 case improved function and reliability of the weapon.

The 1903 was supplemented in WW1 by a design called the 1917 which was a modification of the Enfield pattern rifles built under contract by Remington and Winchester for the Brits. This adaptation was a well built weapon and was actually the mainstay for our forces in Europe.

1932 saw the advent of the Garrand. No change in caliber, just an automatic weapon, the first for a battle rifle.

WW2 revealed many shortcoming in the Garrand. They are an awesome piece, but the enbloc clips left much to be desired. Tests showed also that the 30-06 cartridge was far more powerful then was needed for combat. That's their theory anyway. My theory is that if the round does not blow the adversary limb from limb, and kill the nearest soldiers on his flank and rear, shoot him again just to be safe.

The end result of all that testing was the 308, or 7.62x51, a round very similar to the 06, but shorter. Improvements in powder made it balistically equal to the 06.

In 1964 the Army again shrunk the cartridge with the adoption of the M-16 and its companion M193/m196 round. This dropped the caliber again to 5.56mm or .223 inches. This change had advantages and disadvantages. One advantage was the amount of ammo a grunt could carry. 210 rounds became the standard load, seven thirty round mags.

The M-16 served for well over 40 years despite its short comings. Army tacticians had determined that the limited range and reduced power were not disadvantages. the theory was that a wounded enemy removed three soldiers from the Field of battle as two were needed to carry their buddy to medical aide. Wounding was also for some strange reason deemed humane. I say well, see comment above.

The fighting in Afghanistan has brought a renewed approach to the age old argument. Given the battle field conditions seen in Afghanistan, it became clear that a round with better range and power was again needed.

Enter the 6.8 Special Purpose Cartridge. Using a round very similar to the 5.56 NATO Remington was able to deliver increased punch in the same package. Bullet weight jumps from 69 grains to 115 grains. This resulted in a jump of nearly 25% in energy.

Field tests in actual combat proved this cartridge to be worthy. troops I have met who have used it in combat say it is a most effective round. Also note that the military has significantly faster rounds then what Remington offers online.

Tonight's offering is an Olympic Arms rendition in the 6.8 SPC caliber. It sports a BSA cats eye scope which is a low light illuminated reticule in 3.5-10 power. This is one of my collection of AR-15s. We can call this the Might Mattel on steroids.

Not your average Marlin

Marlin has made several versions of their famous Glenfield 60. Beginning in 1960, Marlin introduced the world to microgroove technology in the form of a little fast repeating tube fed .22 rifle. The rifle was an instant success. Over the decades, Marlin has offered several modifications of this versitile arm. One of these, the Marlin Glennfiend 75C wandered through my life back in 1985. I love Marlins, but I prefer the mag feed. It has some liability in that it only accomodates seven rounds, or ten in the newest versions, but the luxury of a fast reload out weighs the higher capacity in my opinion. I had modified several 60s by the time this beauty entered my life, and had a fair idea of how I was going to approach this. I like bullpups. Since first encountering one in the hands of a French soldier, they have intrigued me. My first conversion was a model 60 that had been used as a club by an irate wife, not mine, who narrowly missed her husbands head with the swing. It shattered the stock and gave the barrel a slight bend. No matter, it still shot. A replacement stock cost as much as the rifle back then, so it was pretty much throw away. I go it for parts, then decided to make a stock. Now, I'm a fair hand at wood working, but even I must admit the first one turned out aweful. I routed the barrel groove freehand, not good. It perked interest though, and I sold it. Immediately after that, I went arround to pawn shops and picked up a few more orders. A little experimentation led to several jigs to speed production and I began making the stocks and a retrofit kit.

The trigger is the original. It is moved forward, and a transfer bar fitted to create the system. As you can see, the original gun was a tube fed model. Conversions cost me arround ten dollars back then.

The downfall for these was a scope mount. In order to use the gun, you had to crank your head arround into an impossible position, or use it like a pistol. I acquired the scope with an SKS rifle. It is a short Leapers 6X32 set on adapter risers from Cabella's.

This is the only 75C I modified. Maybe someday Marlin will be interested in an agreement and we can get this badboy onto the regular market.

The M1A

As the Art of War has progressed, the battle rifle of yesteryear often has become the sniper rifle of the next generation. That was the case with the 1903 and later, with the M-14. The M1A is the civilian version of the M-14. Nearly everything is the same except it does not have the parts for full auto.

Springfield armory developed an offset scope mount for the M-14. It is hammer fitted and is intended to remain with the rifle. It an be removed and remounted for cleaning and is supposed to retain its set.

Elmo sez Go ahead Punk, make my Day

Tonight's howitzer for the hand is the famous Smith & Wesson model 29. Dirty Harry Callihan was a hero to me when I was a kid. Something about the image of a man with a gun big enough to blow your head clean off hooked me. Over the years a wide range of guns have surpassed the 44 magnum in power and size, yet this weapon remains an icon, an image of rebellion against the system when the system is broke, corrupt, or just doesn't work.

I first fired a 29 while in the service. One of the guys in our barracks was well regarded as an expert on weapons. he had to keep his private arsenal locked in the arms room. It consisted of a 29, a Highway patrolman, a Walther PPK and a shotgun of some sort. Well, one fine spring day, we had some down time and decided it was right and proper to go ventilate a few beer cans out along range road. My friends .44 had a 4 inch pipe IIRC, and that equated to a lot of felt recoil. He had been to Pat's pawn and Gun, the famous store on the eastern edge of Ft. Riley KS for his ammo, and Pat Livingston sold him the hottest stuff he had. maybe not such a good move. by the time we had emptied the first box, my friend was flinching pretty bad. When I wrapped my fist around the grips, I was hooked though, and started my search for my Dirty Harry Special. I found it several months later, an 8 3/8 barrel with classic shoulder holster.

Now as for Elmo, there is a reason he is armed. My grandkid seems to think it A-OK to just up and poke poor Elmo right in his guts. This has the poor fellar convulsing on the floor, sometimes for several minutes.

Seriously though, I'd like to create an off shoot of Elmo called tickle me Mr. T. remember him from A team? The big black fellow with the strange haircut and an attitude that would scare the KKK into brown soiled sheets. Yes, him! incorporate his attitude, hair style and lyrics into the doll. When you touch him he begins his moves but accompanied to a line along this: " What the heck you doin pokin me in the stomach? You want me to show you the other end of that finger? I'll stick it some place the sun aint never gonna shine. Hiya hiya. Try that again sucka, I dare ya I dare ya, I double dawg Dare ya Punk!

That would sure beat figgle giggle fall down giggle again again again.

Lessons from an old rifle.

When I was arround thirteen, my father passed his rifle to me. It was an ancient 22 single shot, made in Germany just after WW1, when dad was a small boy. The rifle was a light weight piece, tipping the scales at under 4.5 lbs. it was something a kid could carry all day. In fact, I often did.
I learned to shoot accurately right away. Since it took a moment to reload, and required taking my eyes off the target, I got very proficient. The front dight was also a little loose, and it would move if bumped, so the aspects of windage and compensation came early on. Okder rifles were not button rifled. The lands and grooves were far from smooth so cleaning was a regular chore.
I also learned about adjusting a trigger. Initially the trigger was loose and sloppy, but it was an easy one to tune.
I often hunted with friends, and got teased about the rifle. The only thing close was a Remington 411 scoremaster, and it was a repeater. I got good enough they shut up though. None of them have ever come close. Yes, many people have outshot me, but among my school mates, none were dedicated to becoming good. Most of the guys I hunted with had semi autos. from Ruger to Marlin, Winchesters, Remingtons, you name it.
We were poor, dirt poor. dad farmed, but he never liked it, so his heart wasn't in it. As a result, ammo was scarce. I had several jobs through school, and a good chunk of my wages went for ammo.
When I got close to sixteen, I decided I wanted a better rifle. Since my closest friend had a Marlin Glenfield, I decided that was the way to go. His was the model 60, the 18 shot tubular. After some consideration I opted for the seven shot magazine instead. I bought several extras so that I had the capacity above what my friends had.
I soon learned that my old rifle had certain advantages over the new semi auto. It was lighter, more accurate, and it forced me to take the time for accurate fire.
A year later, I was in the Army taking basic training at Little Krea, Ft Leonardwood Missouri. Again the lessons of marksmanship came calling. When we went to the rifle range, I was #2 in my company. One guy outshot me. he was the atypical hillbilly, a master shot, long lanky, soft spoken and not easily riled. He shot 39/40 to my 38/40. A side note, the Drill sergeant removed his front sight post before weapons issue, and he still only missed one.
The importance of marksmanship is becoming a lost art. today many people have semi autos. from AR-15s to SKS's Ruger Mini 14s and Remington R-25s, the trend is toward semi's. Thats not a bad thing. A self loading rifle saves time when shooting varmits. Accuracy counts though.
If you haven't trained to a one shot one kill standard, now is the time to start. Ammo is scarce these days.

Here come Da Judge.

Taurus named this beast "The Judge". According to their website, it is because it is carried by many judges. Frankly, it would be an ideal weapon for a court room when loaded with heavy shot. 000 Buck contains three pellets, ample energy at close quarters to keep a serious offender from being a problem.

The sight of the gun is also intimidating. as the size of guns increases, this one is still tops. With a cylinder more then three inches in length, it conveys one message, power.

Accuracy isn't bad either, just don't plan on winning any trap shoots with it.

A Savage for us savages

This little giant is a Savage 112. If you were to google it, you would find that the Savage 112 is available in 25-06 and 300 mag. This beauty is neither, it is a standard .308. When I purchased it, it was a 25-06. Not a bad cartridge, in fact a very good one for long range plinking or varmitting. My problem with the round stemmed not from anything I experienced, but rather from anothers bad range day. It seems a fellow went to a nearby range to zero his rifle for deer season and try out a few loads. His plinker was a .270. If you are not familiar with rifle cartridges, there are some families of cartridges. two prominent ones are based on the 30-06, and the 308. cartridges include, for the 30-06, the 25-06, 6mm Remington, and the 270, and for the 308, the 243 and 7mm-08 The 308 family, being somewhat shorter, will chamber in a 30-06 action.

You can also chamber smaller caliber cartridges in the larger calibers, but those are pointless. The round just bounces down the barrel.

Back to the story. The guy also owned a 308. he did not have that rifle at the range, but by accident he had some 308 rounds in the bottom of his shooting vest, forgotten from his last outing. After an initial group, he reloaded the rifle. he accidentally slipped a 308 round into the magwell of his rifle and chambered the round. One touch of the trigger did put the round down range, but squeezing a 308 caliber slug through a 270 caliber barrel takes considerable force. The bolt of the rifle jammed. He is lucky, some times an accident like that can split the chamber and might kill some one.

That prompted me to opt for the 308. The new barrel is a stainless matte finish. The wife thinks its purdy, and even though she will never fire it, it is displayed in our living room. besides, burlap camouflages anything. It is uncut, retaining its original 26 inch length. 20-22 is optimal for the 308 caliber. you don't get any additional speed with the longer length as you would going from 16 to 20, but what you do gain is control. The added weight reduces recoil allowing a better chance of remaining on target for a fast follow up shot or a chance to observe bullet placement.

This piece is topped with a Tasco 8-32X44 scope. giving the rifle just under .5 MOA at 200 yds. The trigger is factory original, and since this piece was molded before the accutrigger came to be, will eventually get updated to allow for a 1.25 to 1.5 lb trigger pull. Butler Creek lens covers replace the tasco screw in covers which take minutes to remove.

The rifle tips the scale at a mere 12.75 lbs loaded. You will want to be in shape if you haft this through the back country.

Gun trading

Several years ago I assembled an AR 15 in 7.62X39. It has been somewhat disappointing. Magazines that were available were mostly five and ten rounders. The few thirties on the market were abominations of an AK mag coupled to part of an AR mag. They often jammed. A further down side was ammunition. I'm not condemning the 7.62x39 here, the round itself is a good combat cartridge. The readily available stuff is mostly Russian Chinese or Romanian manufacture. Most of it is steel cased. It does not feed well in the AR platform. In order to get consistent performance, I had to switch to Winchester or Remington ammo, a huge price jump.
Today I got a great deal. I traded my 7.62 upper for a 5.56 flat top with M-4 style barrel. For those of you who do not know, the M-4 is the version with the odd reductions in the barrel diameter. This is done so that an M-203 grenade launcher can be fitted to the heavy barrel configuration.
We had storms roll in this evening, so the trip to the range is postponed until Saturday. Also need to decide on what type of glass to affix. I'm getting older, my vision is getting weaker. I didn't start using a scope for deer until two years ago. I can still maintain minute of angle at 100 yards, but its straining my eyes to make it.
This upper is a Smith & Wesson. I expect I will be playing musical uppers again and will mount it on my S&W lower. right now it is sitting on an LMT lower.
Decisions decisions.

Remington, #6

This little jem was a recent addition to the collection. Back in the mid 70's, we moved from the farm to grandma's old house. As we started cleaning up the place, mom took me through and gave me a list of stuff to be thrown out and hauled away. Grandpa had been a tinkerer of sorts, and there was a lot of accumulated stuff in the basement. One of thsoe items was a rolled up rug stuck up into the joists. When I removed it, it was heavy and rigid, so I unrolled it. Inside were a Remington rolling block rifle, and a Remington double barrel shotgun. When I showed them to the folks, mom exclaimed "Why thats Sis' rifle, and brother's shotgun!" much to my dismay. A few months later they were both duely handed over to their rightful owners. Both guns had long stories, but the rifle is the story today. No, the one in the picture is not aunties rifle. Saddly, she parted with it only a short time after we returned it to her. She had found it in the attic of the first house she purchased after she got married. It was stuck up there and apparently no one remember it existed.

One day while brousing an online web site, I came accross this one. At first glance it was almost identical to my aunts rifle. Both were rolling block outside hammer remington singles, but this one lacked the tang peep site, and also had a take down lever on the side. When I inspected the rifle, the bore was reasonable clean, no pitting, and everything worked smoothly. But when I fired it, it was an entirely diffrent story. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the thing let alone a tin can at twenty paces. I researched the rifle and discovered that although it appeared to be a rifled bore, it was in fact a smooth bore intended for the 22 dust rounds that people like for shooting rats and mice.

Bigger is better, Right?

Last week, I got an invitation to go shooting with a few Marines. At a quarry near Manhattan, I got my first opportunity to fire a rifle in 50 BMG.

Now, as a trooper in the Army, I fired the age old work horse, the M2HB on many occasions, but those were mounted, this would be a shoulder fired weapon. Having fired a few other shoulder cannons, I was expecting a shoulder smasher. (well, something as strong as a 7mm mag anyway.) The weapon as presented weighed a hefty 50.5 pounds, having been stripped of roughly twenty pounds of night and poor weather gear right down to just the scope and bipod.

Other weapons at the range included an M1903A3 that had been sporterized. A Savage 112 converted to .308, A bushmaster M17 in 5.56, and an Olympic AR15 in 6.8SPC.

The target of the day were a collection of limestone boulders that we set against the quarry slag pile. As the host of the event, I got first chance on the fifty. Never one to pass on such a chance, I of course took the first shot. One rock down. yes it was a luck shot. We discovered soon enough that the scope was far from on, over eleven inches off to be exact.

The second shot went to my future daughter in law, a petite five foot ninty pound package of TNT. dynamite, eat your heart out. As she got into position we were joking that this would be a shot worth of a roadrunner cartoon. The projectile would stay in place while Morgan and the rifle launched backward leavingthe bullet to fall onto the ground. No such image. While she missed, she did not flinch. This was her first shot ever on a gun bigger then a 22 long rifle.

The third shot was fired by a Marine sniper, a man with many kills to his credit, and one seen on several episodes on the History channel and military channel. When that one was a clear miss, we knew something was wrong, thats when the rifles owner got in and checked zero. after several shots, we were dead on.

After creating several buckets of gravel, it was time to move on to other fun stuff. The 30-06 was next on the list. This work horse of WW1 proved to be the shoulder crusher of the bunch. Sporterizing had removed several pounds from the piece, but it stil retained its steel butt plate. That thing will wear on a shoulder in a fire fight.

The 308 proved comperable to the fifty. A heavy rifle designed for sniping praire dogs, the 112 is no featherweight, and with a 24 inch bull barrel, a 32X scope and bipod, it is geared up for the long range contest. It grouped under an inch in the hands of our Marines.

As daylight waned, the Marines got their first chance on the 6.8SPC. Developed during the fighting in Afghanistan, the 6.8 is a heavier cartridge then the age old standard 5.56. The 115 grain slug gives stability out beyond what the M-4 in 5.56 is capable of. When the military switched to the M-4, they shortened the barrel. this brought a drop in velocity and thus a drop in energy and range.

At the conclusion of our afternoons event, everyone agreed that the 50 was a truly great long range weapon. The 6.8 got high marks for performance as well.

Rifles in the picture include the M-17 at center with a barska scope, and the Savage 112 at Right with 4x32x40 Tasco scope. Sorry, no pics of the 50.