With the official Gun Nuts Radio Tactical Ballcap of Tacticalness.
Great for range wear, baseball games, slicing the pie, or just sitting around and looking awesome!
.308 rifle recommendations
I’m looking into getting a semi-automatic .308/7.62 NATO rifle for 3-gun competition in heavy metal division, but not being a rifle guy I honestly have no idea what to look for. My hankering is for a Springfield Armory SOCOM 16, but a .308 AR platform might make more sense. Ultimately, I just don’t know, so all advice is welcome.
Now that's a race gun
Catching up on cool stuff – Julie Golob posted a bunch of pictures of her super-tricked out Apex Tactical Smith & Wesson 627. That is a 627 that has been completely worked over for speed; it’s ready to rock in ICORE’s Open Division. While I normally shoot iron sight revolvers, that’s how you do it if you’re making a round gun into a race gun.
Pistol-Training.Com Torture Test: HK45
ToddG from Pistol-Training.Com just announced the latest torture test gun that he’ll be shooting for the course of the upcoming year: the HK45. This is the first gun that he’s used for a torture test that isn’t a 9mm, and it’s also the second gun from HK that he’s used. Here are some of his thoughts:
If all goes according to plan, shooting will begin this week with a goal of reaching the 50,000 round mark before the end of the year. This will be the first non-9mm test we’ve done, and it should be an exciting year!
- How much will the added recoil of a .45 affect shootability?
- How will the larger size impact everyday concealability?
- How will HK’s first “made in the USA” pistol stack up against its Teutonic brethren?
I’m interested to see how the recoil of the .45 ACP cartridge will affect split times on drills like the FAST Drill. Todd will be in Indianapolis this year for an Aim Fast Hit Fast class, so I’ll be interested to get a first hand look at the HK45.
A little background on the gun itself, the HK45 from HK’s website:
The HK45 was developed as a product improvement of the highly regarded USP45, first released in the 1995. The Caliber .45 ACP HK45 includes several user-inspired enhancements including changeable grip panels (backstraps), a Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail, better ergonomics, and more ambidextrous controls.
Using HK’s unique internal mechanical recoil reduction system reduces the recoil forces imparted to the weapon and shooter by as much as 30%, improving shooter control during rapid firing and increasing component service life. Capable of firing standard .45 ACP ball through +P ammunition, the HK45 combines the accuracy, modularity, reliability and minimum 20,000 round service life of the famed USP45 series with the improved ergonomics of the P2000 series pistols. HK45 models can be also be fitted with threaded barrels for use with muzzle mounted sound suppressors.
Looks like a pretty cool gun from the guys at HK; I’m kind of wondering how it stacks up against the other polymer .45s on the market such as the Glock 21SF, the M&P .45, and the XD 45 Tactical. I’ll be following the updates on the gun regularly at Pistol-Training to see how the HK45 performs.
Back and better than ever!
Well, that was certainly an enlightening and educational experience! After an extremely long hiatus without email or access to the internet, I’m back in the saddle where I belong. Regular blogging and twitter stuff resumes today; Gun Nuts Radio broadcasts will pick up again in a couple of weeks once I get new guest booked and into the queue for new shows. I tell you, there’s nothing quite like taking a month off to give a guy a renewed sense of purpose.
As far as the secret project I’ve been working on goes, I can definitely say that I’m incredibly proud of it, and when it finally comes out, I’m extremely excited for the finished product and I think that everyone here is going to enjoy it as well. It’s good to be back!
Introducing Someone to Firearms and Shooting
The following article comes to you courtesy of JP from Desert Defender
Looking back on all the things I’ve done over the years, and especially as a child; the thing I cherish most is my time with my father and grandfather, shooting firearms. Whether it was just plinking away at soda cans, target shooting, or hunting; they are all some of my fondest memories. Both of those men have instilled in me a great respect for firearms, as well as a great fondness for them. They both taught me how to use them, how to maintain them; and gave me an immense amount of general knowledge concerning them.
Now, as an adult I have made it a goal of mine to pass the knowledge and respect on to whomever has been willing to take it in. I cannot count the number of people I have taken out to one of my favorite shooting spots, or to the range and given them their first experience with a firearm. Every one of them has left the firing line with a smile on their face and a new fond memory to look back on.
I’ve had my share of folks who had been initially opposed to the idea and only came along because I convinced them with my “don’t knock it till you try it” speech. Even they left with a smile on their face, and a few of them eventually became gun owners.
I don’t think I really need to tell you Gun Nuts how to introduce someone to the shooting sports, but just in case a new shooter finds this and wishes to eventually introduce other people; I’d like to give you some tips on making the first impression and experience a good one. Heck, even if you are a veteran shooter and have introduced people before, maybe you’ll find something here that can help you.
The most important thing from an instruction standpoint is patience. If you are anything like me, this can be the hardest hurdle as an instructor to get over. If the person you are teaching has never held a firearm before, they will be overwhelmed. For them, firearms often seem very complex and intimidating. What might be seemingly simple and second nature for you will not be the case for the new learner. Take your time with them, and answer any questions they might have.
The other most important thing is safety. This cannot be stressed enough to your newbie. You all know the four rules of gun safety:
- Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. (Make sure they know this. Check your weapon. Is it unloaded? Good, check it again!)
- Do not point your weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy or kill. (Keep it pointed at the ground or down range. Don’t muzzle sweep across people)
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. (Outside the trigger guard, never put your finger on the trigger until the gun is pointed downrange and you are committed to firing)
- Be sure of your target, and what is behind it. (You need a backstop to catch your bullets. They will go through the target and possibly destroy what is behind it)
Don’t take someone to the range until they can recite the four rules from memory, and display proper handling with an unloaded firearm.
Another important thing concerns your gear. Make sure you have some firearms on hand that are suitable for instruction. Sure, your padawan might be really interested in your .500SW and might express interest that, that is what they want to try first – but you are not going to let them. Over the course of the last 10 years, I’ve introduced people using various firearms – whatever I had at the time. I found the best is the .22.
A new person will most likely be afraid of the recoil and afraid of the sound, no matter what they say contradictory to that. By starting off small, you will give them time to experience shooting while naturally building up their shooting habits. It is here where they will learn to not flinch and not jerk the trigger. The most important lesson my dad ever taught me: “Squeeeeeeze the trigger.” I pass that on.
Another thing I follow is no optics the first time out. I’ve seen too many people get frustrated because they are using a scope or holosight because they believe it should make them shoot better. The first time out, I only bring stuff with iron sights. I teach them sight picture. Make them focus on learning with no optical aids. And, if like me – use this time to do the same for yourself.
Once you have them comfortably shooting the .22 on their own, sit back and enjoy watching them shoot or sit down at the bench next to them and put some down range – just make sure you are available for help/questions.
Following these ideas, you will likely have a new range buddy after this first outing. (Just make sure that your offer to supply ammo is only for the first outing or two!)
Optimism
We’re surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them.
– Attributed to LT General Chesty Puller, USMC.
The heat of battle
When I am without orders and unexpected occurrences arrive I shall always act as I think the honour and glory of my King and Country demand. But in case signals can neither be seen or perfectly understood, no captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy.
– Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar
The French
…and thirdly you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil.
– Admiral Horatio Nelson
Heroism
The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared. Some men get over their fright in a minute under fire. For some, it takes an hour. For some, it takes days. But a real man will never let his fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood. Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base.
– General Patton