Black (Rifle) Friday
Why go to the store when you can stay home, and do all the shopping for the gun nut in your family at Brownells? Just click the banner to get started on all the awesome AR15 parts your heart could desire.
FTC disclosure beneath the jump.
Continue reading →
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone
Be thankful that despite everything that has happened in the past year, we still live in the greatest nation on earth.
Be thankful that we have a vibrant and lively shooting culture that enables us to defend our rights from those that seek to destroy them.
But most of all on this day, be thankful you’re not a vegetarian.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone – enjoy it!
Gunbroker Mobile
I’ve been using Gunbroker’s Mobile site (http://m.gunbroker.com) from the iPhone for a while now, and it’s high time that I posted a review of it. The iPhone has changed the way I approach “mobile” websites, because compared to previous smartphones (I’ve had like, seven Blackberries) it easily has the most robust browser of the smartphones I’ve seen and used. This is important, because it directly impacts how I interact with Gunbroker’s mobile site.
Here’s the front end of Gunbroker mobile, screencaptured from my iPhone browser:
That is about as complicated as the interface gets – there are no categories, or ads to slow down browsing, which makes it great for most mobile browsers. This is the in item view of a search, notice how the description and pictures are loaded into different tabs.
Again, this is a great function for mobile browsers, because it keeps loading speeds fast, and doesn’t clutter up the page with a lot of stuff to interfere with your ability to covet.
It’s an extremely streamlined interface, which I think is great. The problem is that it’s almost too streamlined, especially for some of the newer “high power” mobile devices that are capable of doing a lot more with their browser than older smartphones. I’d love for Gunbroker to continue to develop their mobile app, and with that in mind here are a couple of things I’d add to “version 2” if it ever comes out:
- Searchable categories – If I’m searching for a Smith & Wesson 686, I’d love to be able to go to “Revolvers” and search only in that category. That way I don’t have to see 4 pages of results for HOME MADE SW 686 PANCAKE HOLSTER or whatever.
- A “Return to Search Results” button – right now, if I’m coveting searching for something and I click into an item, when I want to return to my search results, I have to hit the back button twice which is kind of annoying.
I really do like the mobile version of Gunbroker though – I’ve used it on a couple of occasions to bid on firearms while I was away from a real computer, and I’ve been quite happy with the results. I think that a couple of simple changes would really bump it up a couple of notches in terms of workability, though.
The Truth about gun shows
Like everyone else, you’ve probably had the (mis)fortune to see a lot of the coverage in the media lately about “gun shows”, and “illegal guns”, or whatever buzzword is getting tossed around. For a multitude of reasons, anti-gun groups have decided to again lay their attacks at the feet of gun shows, to create this entirely fictional bogeyman which can then be propped and used to win talking points against the uneducated.
The problem is that it’s all lies. If you want to know the Truth about gun shows, check out last night’s Gun Nuts Radio which is embedded in the above link. It’s also available in .mp3 format or for download on 
by clicking the button.
We win by being more informed than our opponents, by being able to spread information to people more efficient. So share The Truth About Gun Shows with a friend. Our most effective marketing method is word of mouth, so tell a friend about Gun Nuts Radio, and if you’ve got a blog or a website, I’d love for you to link to last night’s show under the headed of “The Truth About Gun Shows“.
Camera tricks
It’s pretty amazing what good photography work can do – I mean, in this picture from NRA’s Bianchi Cup facebook album, I almost look like I know what I’m doing!
The speed steel event was a lot of fun at the 30th Anniversary Bianchi Cup; once the holidays are over and everything is squared away, it’ll be time to start practicing for the 31st Bianchi Cup. I can’t believe that May is just six months away now. By my calculations, that means I’ll have 4-5 months of good solid practice time. Can’t wait for the Cup this year!
Over 900 State Legislators sign amicus brief supporting gun rights
That might win an award for the longest post title I’ve ever written, but it’s for a good cause. As mentioned, over 900 legislators from State houses across the nation have signed on to an amicus brief in the Chicago gun ban case supporting the rights of American citizens to keep and bear arms. Read the entire brief here at NRA’s website. For my Indiana readers, here’s a list of our state legislators that signed on to NRA’s brief:
INDIANA
Jim Arnold, State Senate
Kreg Battles, State Representative
Bob Behning, State Representative
Matt Bell, State Representative
Bob Bischoff, State Representative
Sandra Blanton, State Representative
Phil Boots, State Senate
Bruce Borders, State Representative
Randy Borror, State Representative
Brian Bosma, State Representative
Woody Burton, State Representative
Ed Charbonneau, State Senate
David Cheatham, State Representative
Bob Cherry, State Representative
Jacque Clements, State Representative
Ed Clere, State Representative
Bill Davis, State Representative
Richard Dodge, State Representative
Cleo Duncan, State Representative
Sean Eberhart, State Representative
Bill Friend, State Representative
David Frizzell, State Representative
Terry Goodin, State Representative
F. Dale Grubb, State Representative
Brandt Hershman, State Senate
Travis Holdman, State Senate
Clyde Kersey, State Representative
Tom Knollman, State Representative
Eric Koch, State Representative
Dennis Kruse, State Senate
Donald Lehe, State Representative
Matthew Lehman, State Representative
Jean Leising, State Senate
Dan Leonard, State Representative
David Long, State Senate
L. Jack Lutz, State Representative
Rich McClain, State Representative
James Merritt, State Senate
Mark Messmer, State Representative
Patricia Miller, State Senate
Mike Murphy, State Representative
Timothy Neese, State Representative
Cindy Noe, State Representative
Johnny Nugent, State Senate
Allen Paul, State Senate
Scott Pelath, State Representative
Scott Reske, State Representative
Kathy Richardson, State Representative
Bill Ruppel, State Representative
Tom Saunders, State Representative
Scott Schneider, State Senate
Timothy Skinner, State Senate
Ed Soliday, State Representative
Brent Steele, State Senate
Steven Stemler, State Representative
Greg Steuerwald, State Representative
Dan Stevenson, State Representative
Russ Stilwell, State Representative
Marlin Stutzman, State Senate
Jeff Thompson, State Representative
Jerry Torr, State Representative
Randy Truitt, State Representative
P. Eric Turner, State Representative
Dennis Tyler, State Representative
Trent Van Haaften, State Representative
Greg Walker, State Senate
Jackie Walorski, State Representative
Brent Waltz, State Senate
John Waterman, State Senate
Dave Wolkins, State Representative
David Yarde, State Representative
In case you’re counting, that’s 72 legislators from the State of Indiana. If your State Rep or Senator is on that list, give ’em a call and thank them for supporting the rights of law abiding Americans.
Gifts for Gunnies
Get started on your Christmas shopping now. If you’ve got a Gun Nuts in your life, then instead of wondering what the best gift for them is, why not just get them a gift card? Order a $50 Brownells Gift Certificate and receive $5 off the gift certificate. Use Promo Code:CMG at Brownells.com! If you’re a gun nut and you’re tired of getting socks, sweaters, books, and other silly things, just email this post to your friends, family, and in laws. Hopefully they’ll figure it out.
FTC Disclosure section: I do earn commissions of those gift cards; every one of those that you buy helps keep Gun Nuts Media up and running.
Gun Nuts Tonight: The Gun Show Show
Tonight on Gun Nuts Radio, live at 9pm Eastern time Breda and I will be bringing you a show on one of the most popular and controversial topics in the shooting community: Gun shows! We’re going to be taking a look at popular myths and misconceptions about gun shows, as well as presenting a list of “do’s and don’ts” for gun show etiquette. As usual, the party starts live at 9pm Eastern time at www.blogtalkradio.com/gunnuts – to get the most out of tonight’s show, make sure you listen live. Breda will be hosting live tonight on the webcam feed, and that’s never something you want to miss out on.
It should be a great show, and lots of fun tonight. The chat will be lively, and we’ll be taking lots of callers to share their gun show experiences; so make sure you join the show tonight live at 9pm eastern time! We’re live at www.blogtalkradio.com/gunnuts – be there!
10mm thoughts
The 10mm is the dumbest autopistol cartridge ever. Seriously. As much as I revere Jeff Cooper for what he brought to the school of defensive pistol shooting, this was not a good idea. You want to talk about an answer in search of a question, look no further than the 10mm pistol cartridge.