Rational Gun

When appendix carry could be so much more or is AIWB mainstream now?

2013-05-17T16:21:00.003-04:00

Please note that I come from an institution where a superior routinely referred one's hands as "foreskin retractors" so don't take the salty language too seriously.

I'm not the most metrosexual of guys by a long shot but traditional wet shaving; either with a double edge safety razor or a traditional By God straight razor is something very much enjoy. Can't go back to canned goo shaving cream and ridiculously expensive, mediocre, multiple blade razors.

Anyway, I frequent a forum for traditional wet shaving. Badger and Blade and it even has a firearm section. Reading that sub forum, I saw that one shooter was "enjoying AIWB" (Appendix Inside Waist Band} with a Raven Vanguard 2 "holster" (does that mean AIWB has become mainstream?) I've tried this holster. Compared to a purpose built AIWB holster, it's not comfortable. Seeing that made me realize that more folks are trying AIWB because of these type of holsters known as "minimalist holsters" or (I thought of this, give credit where credit is due) "cock rings for trigger guards" but never get past the minimalist holster to a real AIWB holster and therefore don't know how comfortable this mode of carry can be.

What a purpose built AIWB holster has on these "cock rings for trigger guards" is that it's built to hold an angle of carry. It doesn't shift around, angle the barrel into your skin and very nearly slip off certain belts plus, I'm of the idea that one should carry with a holster/firearm that one would compete with. That means if I want to go shoot at the range, I'm not taking a holster that requires me to remove the holster from my belt, slip the holster on the weapon, and then clip the holster on my belt.

These "minimalist" holsters are fine for short trips out and about and for when one is in a hurry but for real comfort, stability, and training use; just spend the $60-$80 bucks and get a real AIWB holster. The difference is overwhelming. Your body will thank you.

Pics below show my minimalist holster I bought from Alamo Tactical and my new prototype Dark Star Gear AIWB holster in "Stormtrooper White." I've carried extensively with both and the minimalist holster is in a drawer. The purpose built AIWB holster is both more comfortable and conceals far better. I'm pretty enamored of the new DSG holster; using it every day. The Alamo Tactical Minimalist is a fine holster, limited by design, just like the Raven Vanguard. It's not a waste of money but it's certainly not as comfortable or as practical as a real, purpose built AIWB holster.

FN FS2000 being discontinued rumors

2013-05-13T12:19:00.001-04:00

Here's one source and there's a few others floating around. I believe them, myself. Luckily, the military versions (the F2000) is still being produced for the spare parts availability problem. I've fired a friend's FS2000 and I just didn't get it. One wonders if FN is just concentrating on the SCAR or did these things not sell well, even during the recent Barackolypse 2.0 Gun Buying Panic?

Anyway, here's a sort of review of one from a good friend. Said review is from years ago but I think it's still informative. Said friend is now a Ranger combat vet and is still a dedicated shooter.

I bought an FN FS2000 on a whim the other day. I handled it, I thought it was interesting, it was selling for $300 less than they list for, so I picked it up. Also, with rabbit season just around the corner, I wanted something compact that I could have fun with in the car, and also it just drops the empty casings out the front, which is nice for when you're shooting at vermin from inside a vehicle. Hot brass near the pedals is always better than hot brass on leather, or down a friend's shirt. It's a fun shooter.

It points well, the Eotech sits just right on it, the balance is nice and it's pretty light. It also is NOT ergonomic like everyone says it is, and it's also not very reliable. Mag changes are barely a step up from the AK, and when it jams, (which it does) it's nearly impossible to get operating again in under 3 minutes.

A triple feed. I didn't even know this was possible.

This is how you clear a malfunction.

To reload, you grasp the mag, and push up with your knuckle, then wrench the mag free. It doesn't drop free, in fact it'll fight you on it's way out.

With no bolt hold open, you've got to charge it everytime you reload.

Post Script: the trigger really does suck.

Rough police/drug dealer firefight in Florida

2013-05-12T10:06:00.001-04:00

I ain't even going to attempt to quarterback this one. Kudos to the LEO that immediately assumed an aggressive stance and delivered what were sure to be eventual ("timers") killing, aim shots before taking three shots to the stomach. Well done to the LEO that delivered a head shot ("switch") that ended things very quickly. Best of thoughts to the officers involved. Just leave it on Mute for the whole video, including the danged advertisements.

More truth in reporting

2013-04-28T08:38:00.000-04:00

For ToddG.

Why I trust our unbiased media's devotion to non sensational, fact based reporting

2013-04-26T12:14:00.001-04:00

Janet Reno is looking younger nowadays for some reason

2013-04-23T07:42:00.002-04:00

Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, bomber, murderer of children, and gun control advocate

2013-04-19T11:29:00.003-04:00

As posted on his Twitter page, he's not a fan of Americans owning modern sporting rifles. His words below:

Don't stop retweeting this! this has to change!

Watch the gathering storm

2013-04-16T08:32:00.003-04:00

Not sure if they let Darwinism take its course.

A tale of four .308 semi auto rifles (comparison of LaRue, S&W, and Colt .308 AR pattern rifles)

2013-03-31T19:23:00.001-04:00

This is a guest post written by a friend in the firearms industry who likes to share his knowledge and findings but doesn't have the time publicize them as much as they merit. Said friend is a former Marine Scout Sniper who prefers to post real world, not cherry picked groups.

Near to far: Colt, S&W, LaRue PredAR and OBR

Today I just wanted to get some rounds through the two new rifles and see how well a LaRue mount would work being swapped between the four rifles. Scope is a prototype 3-17x w/ 37mm objective vs the 44mm(normal).

Basic drill was to mount the scope, shoot at a rock on the berm at about 190, adjust POI so it was a bit low, shoot correction at berm and if good shoot one round on paper at 100yds do a final adjustment if needed to get the POI close to POA and confirm.

First rifle was the Colt, had a failure to feed on the first round, cleared it and took a few shots w/ adjustments on the berm then shot at the little black silhouette in the center of the tgt. Did a final adjustment and shot another round. Recorded the dope for that rifle, rezored the turrets on the scope and moved the scope to the next rifle. Did that for all four rifles so each had a POI within about one inch of the POA.

The ammo was Hornady Steel Case 155gr, not the best for precision but good enough for today..in the past it has shown it will hold at about 1" for the OBR and about 1.5" for the PredAR.

After the hasty zero on the four rifles I went back and shot each for a five shot group: mount the scope, redial on the recorded dope, shoot five, zeroed out the turrets and moved the scope to the next rifles etc...After the first series of groups I was not feeling comfortable with how loose the locking levers on the LaRue mount felt on some of the rails so I snugged it down a bit and repeated the exercise(yellow groups). Called it good 'nuff for today.

Initial groups at 100yds w/ various ammunition on the S&W. Will repeat them as I'm not into using 'a group' as a benchmark on how well a type/brand of ammunition shoots. Took about 1 minute to shoot each group with 5 minutes between groups to let the barrel cool down some. Brands of ammo were: Hornady, American Eagle, Remington and Federal.

Groups will be shot in reverse order next time out.

Shot these in reverse order from yesterday using the S&W..... Colored holes represent the groups from today, top left group(green) was last and showed me being a bitch and anticipating recoil....threw in a few other bad shots.....

Next will be the Colt.

Rough zero with the Hornady Steel Case 155s from previous shooting. Types of ammo used, in order of groups(same as with the S&W):

Fired first string starting top left target, about 1-2 minutes between groups. Took 10 and then shot the second string(green circles) starting bottom right:

Did the the same as with the S&W and 901, five shot groups about 5min between groups. Second string of groups was shot in reverse order

LaRue PredatAR

Same ammo and groups as with the other three rifles....only major difference is that I did not break five minutes between groups, just the time needed to reload a mag with the next five rounds and get back in position to shoot. There was a break in firing while the first string of groups was marked.

LaRue OBR

NY police: the professionalism of the New Yorkers that can use eevil "high capacity" mags and "assault" rifles

2013-03-15T08:50:00.002-04:00

(Hint: check the optic)
Hat tip to This Ain't Hell

Magpul shrugs

2013-03-11T20:08:00.002-04:00

Goodbye, Colorado. May you soon become the urban centric, debt ridden, Bloombergian utopia you dream of.

Bloomberg bought Colorado Democrats. Bloomberg bought Colorado.

Statement from a Magpul executive:

"We've been going all weekend. Thought we had it late last week...Bloomberg flew in another money guy with deeper pockets to make the rounds, and now we are where we are.

Just to recap for you...this is Bloomberg's bill, brought to the Gov by Bloomberg's lobbyists, Sponsored by a state senator promised Bloomberg support (and at the behest of the governor) passing with votes bought by Bloomberg. All this despite the constituents overwhelmingly opposing it except in some very liberal districts, proponents of the bill admitting it will do nothing for public safety, and thousands showing up at the Capitol and at town hall meetings to oppose it.

Democracy in action, folks."

Drinking snow from plastic cups

2013-03-11T14:19:00.001-04:00

Note the anti gun comments from this North Korean propaganda masterpiece.

"There always seems to be a problem with Maryland"

2013-02-24T10:08:00.001-05:00

so sayeth the head of Beretta, Ugo Gussalli Beretta, after visiting Beretta's Maryland plant and meeting with Maryland's governor Martin O'Malley. You see, in a move straight out of a Colorado Democrat's playbook, Maryland is moving swiftly to take advantage of the tragedy in Connecticut in order to ban "assault weapons" and those eeevil "high capacity clips." Copying the Colorado Democrats closely; when warned that a revenue generating gun manufacturer will leave; the morally unctuous Democrats (worshiping at the alter of Mammon) quickly added an exception for manufacturers of the tools of baby killing in order keep that dirty money in state. Remember the lesson of Colorado; we will ban high capacity magazines in state but are happy to reap to rewards of selling them out of state. Drat that company Magpul who is planning to shrug!

However, there's a problem...... This whole "Atlas shrugging" business. Beretta generates a lot of income and jobs for Maryland and they are planning to start manufacturing the civilian version of the ARX-160 rifle in Maryland. But....as their legal counsel notes:

Why expand in a place where the people who built the gun couldn’t buy it?” said Jeffrey Reh, general counsel for Beretta

In other words, Beretta has nearly had enough. In the 90's Beretta moved a warehouse to neighboring, gun friendly (and with a much, much lower crime rate) Virginia in the 90's in response to Maryland's gun control antics back then. Again from Mr. Reh:

I think they thought we were bluffing” in the 1990s, Reh said. “But Berettas don’t bluff.”

You know, it's time for this. Time for gun manufacturers to leave the sanctimonious hypocrites. All over the country, companies are standing up for our rights. I still encourage the individual to stand up for their rights in these states that could care less for the Constitution and individual rights but it's time for companies to leave these states. Hit these states in their pocketbooks. Maybe then the voters will wake up come next election cycle as the Democrats who voted for these measure become forever remembered as "they who sent jobs away in the name of doing nothing for crime, jobs, or rights."

To truly understand the hypocrisy of the Maryland Democrats, ponder the below statement from Governor O'Malley's spokeswoman. Think upon how staggeringly hypocritical said statement is from the governor that wants to ban "assault weapons" but is apparently FINE with exporting "assault weapons from his state:

“We think getting assault weapons off the streets and keeping this company (here in Maryland) can both be accomplished,” said Raquel Guillory, O’Malley’s spokeswoman.

Atlas may be packing his bags for a different state

2013-02-17T09:33:00.002-05:00

And by "Atlas," I mean the Colorado company that plans on 85 million dollars worth of payroll for the state of Colorado. Magpul Industries.

The legislators of Colorado were feeling the need to do something for the children, literally.

"This is about kids who have been shot, over and over and over again," said Democratic Rep. Crisanta Duran said. "I am tired of seeing kids die, year after year, after year, after year."

Apparently kids are getting shot over and over again in Colorado. No word on whether or Duran is in favor of ending the war on drugs as opposed to a statistically meaningless move on "high capacity magazines."

However, there's a problem. How can a Democratic politician save the children of his own state from the eeevil high capacity magazines but keep the 600 jobs and 85 million a year in payroll from Magpul Industries? Well, just backpedal and allow Magpul to export from the now safe state of Colorado. Duh! I have emailed Representatives Kagana and Salazar; asking if they are OK with taking in tax money from high capacity magazines sales in other states.

State Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, said he plans to offer an amendment Friday that seeks to soften the bill's impact on magazine makers in the state.

"It needs to be clear that manufacturers will be able to still sell and transfer these high-capacity magazines to individuals in other states, the U.S. military and law enforcement," Kagan said. "We want them (Magpul) to stay here in Colorado. It would be sad to see them leave."

State Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, agrees with Kagan and insists state lawmakers are still giving the Erie-based company an option to do business in Colorado.

"It's imperative to keep jobs here," Salazar said.

Still, neither Kagan or Salazar said they would be willing to vote against the bill banning high-capacity ammunition magazines in an effort to keep Magpul in Colorado.

Read more:Colorado ammo magazine maker Magpul threatens to leave state over gun bill - The Denver Post
(IT guys, note the "if, then" reference)

Problem solved, right? Export the baby killing high capacity magazines. Keep the profits from these baby killing tools in Colorado. You know, for dolphins, children, and green power. Fortunately, Joe "Tactical" Biden (described as like a drunken, unfunny uncle by the SEALs of DEVGRU) is buys making phone calls to ~~kill Colorado businesses,~~ encourage Colorado Democrats to stand firm for the children and against evil.

But.....Magpul is getting ready to shrug. Magpul has made it crystal clear that Magpul will uproot and leave the state if Colorado bans standard capacity magazines and enacts legislation to serialize and track said magazines in the state. As in Magpul understands that gun owners in other states won't buy from a manufacturer so hypocritical as to make high capacity mags in a state where said magazines are banned. Also, one gets the impression that the leadership at Magpul absolutely agrees with these sentiments. I wouldn't be surprised to see Remington pack up and leave after Governor Cuomo refused to meet with Remington factory employees before he saved the children of New York State from 10 round magazines by limiting magazines in New York to seven round magazines (those three rounds are deadly!). Also, Alfred Manufacturing as one of Magpul's contractors (they make PMags for Magpul) has signified their intention to shrug and take 150 jobs with their company out of Colorado. In fact, there's more than one Alfred Manufacturing like company planning to leave with Magpul. You see, Magpul's innovation begat jobs. Jobs and an in state proliferation of polymer (plastic ) based jobs and manufacturers. Ever hear of Otterbox? Magpul had something to with that (indirectly). An entire cottage industry leaving and taking their jobs and tax money with them. Good move, Colorado. Talk about bringing

Seriously, it's time for the other manufacturers to sack up and follow Magpul's lead. Les Baer fled Illinois (the most broke state in the country but IL's unions and politics have nothing to do with that, right?). Colt has already built a facility in Florida. Fears are mounting in Hartford, CT as some folks suddenly realize the real cost of unions and anti gun state governments. Armalite is fielding offers from three other states to leave. Now if DSA and Springfield leaves, maybe Illinois legislators will join Colorado politicians Daniel Kagan and Joe Salazar in being the true shining lights of genuine money grubbing hypocrisy in this uncertain age.

Magpul? Wyoming is about 4 hours away and calling. No state personal income tax. Just desolate enough to keep out the non native Coloradans that ruined Colorado. A state that is firmly libertarian/conservative.

Magpul's statement:

n addition to the national battle to protect our firearms rights, many states are currently engaged in their own fights. Here in CO, a state with a strong heritage of firearm and other personal freedoms, we are facing some extreme challenges to firearms rights. We have been engaged in dialogue with legislators here presenting our arguments to stop legislation from even being introduced, but our efforts did not deter those of extreme views.

After the NRAs visit last week, several anti-freedom bills were introduced by CO legislators, and a very aggressive timeline has been set forth in moving these bills forward.

The bills include:

HB 1229, Background checks for Gun Transfers--a measure to prohibit private sales between CO residents, and instead require a full FFL transfer, including a 4473.

HB 1228, Payment for Background Checks for Gun Transfers-- a measure that would require CO residents to pay for the back logged state-run CBI system (currently taking 3 times the federally mandated wait time for checks to occur) instead of using the free federal NICS checks.

And finally, HB 1224, Prohibiting Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines--a measure that bans the possession, sale, or transfer of magazines over 10 round capacity. The measures and stipulations in this bill would deprive CO residents of the value of their private property by prohibiting the sale or transfer of all magazines over 10 rounds. This bill would also prohibit manufacture of magazines greater than 10 rounds for commercial sale out of the state, and place restrictions on the manufacture of military and law enforcement magazines that would cripple production.

We'd like to ask all CO residents to please contact your state legislators and the members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to kill these measures in committee, and to vote NO if they reach the floor.

We also ask you to show your support for the 2nd Amendment at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb 12, for the magazine ban committee hearing and Wednesday,

Feb 13, for the hearing on the other measures.

Due to the highly restrictive language in HB 1224, if passed, and we remained here, this measure would require us to cease PMAG production on July 1, 2013.

In short, Magpul would be unable to remain in business as a CO company, and the over 200 jobs for direct employees and nearly 700 jobs at our subcontractors and suppliers would pick up and leave CO. Due to the structure of our operations, this would be entirely possible, hopefully without significant disruption to production.

The legislators drafting these measures do so in spite of the fact that nothing they are proposing will do anything to even marginally improve public safety in CO, and in fact, will leave law-abiding CO residents less able to defend themselves, strip away rights and property from residents who have done nothing wrong, and send nearly 1000 jobs and millions in tax revenue out of the state.

We like CO, we want to continue to operate in CO, but most of all, we want CO to remain FREE.

Please help us in this fight, and let your voices be heard!

Magpul's ad this Sunday in the Denver Post

Magpul's statement on proposed Colorado bills

2013-02-13T10:57:00.005-05:00

In addition to the national battle to protect our firearms rights, many states are currently engaged in their own fights. Here in CO, a state with a strong heritage of firearm and other personal freedoms, we are facing some extreme challenges to firearms rights. We have been engaged in dialogue with legislators here presenting our arguments to stop legislation from even being introduced, but our efforts did not deter those of extreme views.

After the NRA's visit last week, several anti-freedom bills were introduced by CO legislators, and a very aggressive timeline has been set forth in moving these bills forward.

The bills include:
HB 1229, Background checks for Gun Transfers--a measure to prohibit private sales between CO residents, and instead require a full FFL transfer, including a 4473.

HB 1228, Payment for Background Checks for Gun Transfers-- a measure that would require CO residents to pay for the back logged state-run CBI system (currently taking 3 times the federally mandated wait time for checks to occur) instead of using the free federal NICS checks.

And finally, HB 1224, Prohibiting Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines--a measure that bans the possession, sale, or transfer of magazines over 10 round capacity. The measures and stipulations in this bill would deprive CO residents of the value of their private property by prohibiting the sale or transfer of all magazines over 10 rounds. This bill would also prohibit manufacture of magazines greater than 10 rounds for commercial sale out of the state, and place restrictions on the manufacture of military and law enforcement magazines that would cripple production.

We'd like to ask all CO residents to please contact your state legislators and the members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to kill these measures in committee, and to vote NO if they reach the floor.

We also ask you to show your support for the 2nd Amendment at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb 12, for the magazine ban committee hearing and Wednesday,
Feb 13, for the hearing on the other measures.

Due to the highly restrictive language in HB 1224, if passed, and we remained here, this measure would require us to cease PMAG production on July 1, 2013.

In short, Magpul would be unable to remain in business as a CO company, and the over 200 jobs for direct employees and nearly 700 jobs at our subcontractors and suppliers would pick up and leave CO. Due to the structure of our operations, this would be entirely possible, hopefully without significant disruption to production.

The legislators drafting these measures do so in spite of the fact that nothing they are proposing will do anything to even marginally improve public safety in CO, and in fact, will leave law-abiding CO residents less able to defend themselves, strip away rights and property from residents who have done nothing wrong, and send nearly 1000 jobs and millions in tax revenue out of the state.

We like CO, we want to continue to operate in CO, but most of all, we want CO to remain FREE.

Please help us in this fight, and let your voices be heard!

We have included the contact information for the House Judiciary committee for your convenience:

House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Daniel Kagan, Chair: 303-866-2921, repkagan@gmail.com
Rep. Pete Lee, Vice Chair: 303-866-2932, pete.lee.house@state.co.us
Rep. John Buckner: 303-866-2944, john.buckner.house@state.co.us
Rep. Lois Court: 303-866-2967, lois.court.house@state.co.us
Rep. Bob Gardner, 303-866-2191, bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
Rep. Polly Lawrence, 303-866-2935, polly.lawrence.house@state.co.us
Rep. Mike McLachlan, 303-866-2914, mike.mclachlan.house@state.co.us
Rep. Rep Carole Murray, 303-866-2948, murrayhouse45@gmail.com
Rep. Brittany Pettersen, 303-866-2939, brittany.pettersen.house@state.co.us
Rep. Joseph Salazar, 303-866-2918, joseph.salazar.house@state.co.us
Rep. Jared Wright, 303-866-2583, jared.wright.house@state.co.us

Stand and Fight Colorado

Travis Haley's newest business venture (MULTI ACTIVE WARNING)

2013-02-10T20:15:00.002-05:00

I'm not really hating on Haley but damn dude....... Who saw this coming? I mean; shaving and skin care products " "Designed for military, law enforcement, adventurers or businessman who spend time in the outdoors or on the road."

No word on Costa's rumored beard trimmer release date........

Commentary from a friend in Baltimore

2013-02-04T13:07:00.003-05:00

On the Superbowl (Baltimore Ravens won).

17 people have now been murdered in Baltimore as celebration. Rumor is they will try to get to 52 tonight, just to honor Ray.

Obviously, this is a joke. Only sixteen people have been murdered in Baltimore in the past 30 days (six in the past week). Oddly enough, Maryland's strict gun control and limitation of carry permits have not made it a safer place to be than say....neighboring, gun friendly Virginia. Perplexing indeed but Governor O'Malley's bill banning "assault weapons,' "high capacity magazines," and fingerprinting gun buyers will fix this problem.

Governor O'Malley is considering a 2016 presidential bid. It is not known at this time if he owns a shotgun like everyone else who wants to ban guns.

Joe Biden Tactical

2013-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Guess what? A shotgun will keep you a lot safer, a double-barreled shotgun, than the assault weapon in somebody’s hands [who] doesn’t know how to use it, even one who does know how to use it,” the outspoken vice president, a shotgun owner himself, replied. “It’s harder to use an assault weapon to hit something than it is a shotgun. You want to keep people away in an earthquake? Buy some shotgun shells.”

No harm is confusing this with Jack Booted Thugs Tactical

Yes, of course! You see, the lesser recoil, adjustable for arm length stock, better sights. and far faster reloading of the "assault rifle" (Unky Joe means mo dern sporting rifles (MSRs) or military style sporting rifles?) are impediments. Because, you don't have to aim a shotgun, right? And 2 shots are all you'd ever need to defend yourself or "keep people away in an earthquake." ~~Which is why Biden's security team carries double barreled shotguns instead of rifles.~~

Any attentive gun owner will be scratching his or her head at this point, wondering how the anti gun folk can bray on about how "assault rifles are designed to spray bullets from the hip" (sans aiming, we can assume) but a shotgun that you allegedly don't have to aim is just fine, folks.

Fresh from imparting these hard won tactical lessons from a life of politics in Washington DC (Joe has never served in the military nor law enforcement), our dear drunken, uncle had another sewer of the mouth moment and just happened to mention that:

Nothing we’re going to do is going to fundamentally alter or eliminate the possibility of another mass shooting or guarantee that we will bring gun deaths down to 1,000 a year from what it is now,” he told the group of reporters.

Remember folks, fuck those military veterans, cops, and anyone else who tells you otherwise about weapons choices. Especially, those damned sheriffs that keep on running their mouths about Unky Joe's gun control efforts. Look for more nonsensical drivel like this as people that want to ban guns explain that they are on your side because they own a shotgun (like Governor Cuomo )or because they shot a shotgun once like Obama. Also, remember gun control isn't about guns. It's about control.

Contempt

2013-02-01T21:27:00.001-05:00

A legal immigrant makes a dignified, well reasoned call for sanity regarding the latest gun control hysteria in Connecticut. The man's diction is perfect, his reasoning sound, his demeanor calm. Watch for yourself and it's OK to applaud.

What does his Senator Beth Bye do as this man reads his carefully prepared speech and pleads for his lawmakers to listen?

Talk shit on Facebook. Her mind is already made up and see what she was doing while at her job. While a man makes a reason, calm, prepared speech; his Senator cannot be bothered to get off Facebook while at work. Whether you disagree with Mr. Ong or not, anyone can and should be infuriated with the loathsome Beth Bye's juvenile and reprehensible conduct.

My definitive 5.45x39mm AR15 article

2013-01-31T08:18:00.001-05:00

I've been sitting on this article for some time. Much thanks to Tam for prodding me into finishing and publishing it. I will update this if folks have specific questions that I can answer.

In September of 2008, I bought a Smith and Wesson 5.45x39mm MP15R rifle. This is a 16" barreled, M4 pattern AR15 rifle with a carbine length gas system, 5.45x39mm specific barrel, firing pin, extractor, bolt, and heavy hammer spring. The heavy hammer spring is needed to ignite the Soviet/Russian ammunition that has hard primers. The heavy hammer spring gives a roughly 7-8lb trigger pull with a positive reset. This may concern those that are used to light triggers; positive reports abound of the Geissele triggers being able to handle the hard primers, some with the heavy duty hammer spring, some without. Myself, I bought this carbine to primarily save money and I am a fan of triggers heavier than the American gun owning public likes so I adapted easily to the "heavy trigger" and don't see the logic of installing a $300 Geissele trigger in a "training" rifle. The only part you need to change out on a standard AR15 lower in order to use this 5.45x39mm upper is the heavy hammer spring. The weapon shipped with a black extractor spring insert and a 5 coil extractor spring.

I have roughly 25,000 rounds of Soviet surplus 5.45mm ammo through this weapon. The first barrel was shot out at roughly 12,000 rounds. It went quick. As in I was shooting fine and the next thing I knew, the rounds were hitting the target sideways or what is commonly referred to as "keyholing." I called S&W, they issued a call tag on their dime, I had the rifle back with a brand new barrel in six days. They paid shipping for the return as well. Included was a terse note reading "bad barrel, replaced." At around 15,000 rounds the weapon started going full auto at the range and was immediately shelved. Once again, S&W fixed the rifle on their dime in less than a week. This time the entire fire control group (FCG) in the lower was replaced. A note on key holing bullet strikes; it is not uncommon to see this here and there using the Soviet surplus ammo. That is mainly an ammo problem. If you're seeing some key holing, test different ammo lots and brands. If it continues, you probably have a shot out barrel.

50 yard target showing the effects of a shot out barrel

The primary draw of the 5.45x39mm cartridge to American shooters is that it's a cheap substitute for the American military issue 5.56x45 and civilian .223 rounds (not identical!). Felt recoil is a little less than that of the 5.56. Aside from the heavy hammer spring, bolt, magazines, barrel, and firing pin; everything else on this weapon is identical to a similarly configured 5.56mm AR15. The max point blank and holdovers are very similar to the 5.56mm; certainly close enough to use as a 5.56mm AR training analogue without busting out a ballistics calculator. Soviet surplus 5.45x39mm ammunition is still amazingly cheap if you can find in during the Barackolypse 2.0. At the time of this article (01/31/13), I ordered 2160 rounds delivered to my door for the whopping sum of $339. The very next day, PMC 55grain .223 training ammo is going for (it will sell out before lunch) $12 per box of 20. 108 (2160 rounds) twenty round boxes of .223 at $12 per box is $1296. $1296 minus 339 equals 957 dollars saved by going with the 5.45x39mm AR.

There is precisely one choice for quality defensive/hunting ammunition and it's the Hornady V-Max ammo. I have some; I have not tested it during hunting nor any form of ballistics testing. There's some encouraging results from the field here

That brings us to the cheap ammo. You can either use dirt cheap (roughly one 1/3 the cost of brass 5.56mm) Soviet surplus ammo or factory new, Wolf steel cased ammo. Obviously, if the cheap stuff works, this setup can save you some money. Good news: it does. I've attended the below carbine classes using this carbine and never once fell behind because of accuracy or reliability issues. ~~If I do my part, it will shoot like this ALL day long.~~ (required joke)

Kyle Defoor's 2 Day Advanced Carbine class

Vickers Tactical 3 day Advanced Handgun and Carbine class

Failure2Stop 2 Day Practical Carbine Course (twice)

10 shot group at 100 yards (plus a few more for good measure) group from prone using a 4 MOA red dot and Soviet surplus ammo manufactured in the 70's shot at Kyle Defoor's 2 day Advanced Carbine class.

Using good magazines and a properly setup carbine (good springs and lube), this rifle is as reliable as any Glock I've ever owned. I did mention "good magazines." The best magazines I've used are purpose built for the 5.45 AR, C-Products and ASC magazines. The ASC magazines are supposedly built by the company that bought out C-Products according to errornet RUMINT. I've had good luck with both C-Products and ASC mags except for four of the below from C-Products. Note the top (in the picture) feed lip. I would love to exchange these for in spec magazine bodies.....

I've had some luck using downloaded Gen1 Lancer magazines and Magpul EMAGs. If you're going to try using non 5.45 specific magazines, start off with the magazine downloaded to 20 rounds and watch for the magazine's feed lips to spread. Really, this weapon's biggest failing is that of all magazine fed weapons: the magazine. Try to scrounge up some 5.45 mags if you can.

I have never messed around with modifying 5.56 magazines to work properly but....this article from Surburban's Domain is so well done, there is no need in me bothering to put up an article should I decide to hack on some 5.56 mags.

On to religion..... I speak of course of that faith American gun owners follow in that the act of worship (cleaning way more often than needed) will persuade your weapon god to reward you with good service. Normally, I'd clean an AR15 every 1500-2000 rounds whether it needed or not and then my cleaning ~~ritual~~ routine would be blast out the weapon with non chlorinated brake cleaner (outdoors of course), push 2-4 patches of carbon and then of copper solvent, and then relube generously with whatever's on hand. However, the corrosive salts used in the ammunition of the popular Soviet surplus 5.45mm ammo means that I actually have to do more.

Cleaning when using corrosive ammo

I've tried several different cleaning routines over the years and have settled on the below after every time I fired the weapon. It works and has for roughly the last 10,000 rounds I've put through the weapon.

Rinse the field stripped weapon with water (preferably hot but it doesn't really matter so long as you flush it copiously), all over , and sparing no area. That means as a minimum, breaking down the bolt carrier group (BCG) and rinsing each part (copiously) in the BCG individually along with the barrel, chamber, and gas tube.
Shake/air dry. Add a little lube.Push 2-4 carbon solvent soaked patches on a jag if you've just fired over 200 rounds (optional).
Reassemble, function test.

Every few thousand rounds or so, I'll add a thorough hosing out with non chlorinated brake cleaner after the water rinse.

The corrosive stuff in this ammo is a salt. Salt does not dissolve in oil. Salt dissolves in water. Salt dissolves more betta' in hot water.

Trust me folks, I've tried the Windex route. It just adds complication and I'm a simple man. I've done the plain water rinse for literally thousands of rounds and it works. I've tried adding more lube instead of cleaning (didn't work) and cleaning only with non chlorinated brake cleaner (didn't work). You must clean this with a rinse after shooting corrosive ammo. Windex will work, water is cheaper.

You can go longer without cleaning in more arid environments but even a quick dunk in a lake/stream will work in the field. Here's what you can expect to see if you prolong a water rinse after shooting. A fresh water rinse, a light scrubbing with WeaponShield and the parts were back in business. I do not advocate mechanical removal (that is scraping) of carbon. I have never scraped carbon off of this rifle's internals and never will.

The weapon was upgraded upon advice of folks I trust in gun forums with an "O-ring" extractor upgrade and the carbine weight buffer to an "H" buffer. This was when the weapon was new. At around 15k rounds, I knew I was going to need a spare bolt so I bought a bolt and firing pin from THE 5.45x39mm AR people; US Armory Corps. It was a pleasure doing business with them, highly recommended. I have never needed the spare bolt but it resides with the spare firing pin inside of my Magpul MOE Plus Grip (the rubberized grip is comfortable and very grippy). I also impulse bought a nickel boron coated Kiess BCG (Bolt Carrier Group) and swapped it out. I have no problems with the Kiess BCG but do note that it's certainly not immune to the surplus ammo's corrosive salts. That being said, it cleans up far more easily when blasted with non chlorinated brake cleaner and does seem to have a more resilient finish. Time will tell.

I am happy to note despite boohooing and hand wringing over the effects of steel cased ammo on extractors, I'm still using my original.

All springs and the gas rings are replaced at or near the recommended AR15 intervals.

A careful observer will note that I use a captured firing pin retaining pin. I've lost two during my outdoors cleaning of this weapon and this piece solved that problem.

Below pics of the weapon as currently configured and its internals after over 24,000 rounds of corrosive Soviet surplus.

Before cleaning

After water and non chlorinated brake cleaner cleaning:

Cleaned, lubed with Slip2000 and ready to go.

Back together. The weapon is wearing a Troy 13" TRX Extreme rail/handguard, front Magpul MBUS sight, YHM rear sight, Magpul MOE stock, Magpul MOE + grip, Vickers padded sling, Aimpoint Micro H1 red dot sight (RDS), and a Surefire X200 light. It does not match cosmetically and at least 3 of the parts on the weapon are there because friends didn't want said parts. Nevertheless, I would trust my life to this well worn weapon and am quite happy with it as configured. The savings in ammunition costs are readily realized with this weapon if you properly maintain it and do not plan upon reloading spent cases.

Failure2Stop's most grueling test yet!

2013-01-18T10:04:00.004-05:00

Being interviewed by what appears to be an extra off of "O' Brother Where Art Thou" who is wearing a multicam tie. It's funny, laugh.

Keynes versus Hayek

2013-01-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

Sublime brilliance, particularly Keyne's hangover scene and the ending on the second one. Worth your time.

Round 1

Round 2

01/11/13 link roundup, Brits go Glock

2013-01-11T08:33:00.003-05:00

British Army retires the Browning Hi Power for the Glock17

NRA meets with Biden, reports he is focused on restrictions for law abiding gun owners

WSJ points out that we have lost the war on drugs and ending it would benefit the nation. I sincerely doubt that Mr Hope and Change will heed this elephant in the room in his rush to expand government and ban certain firearms.

NYC PD Pre Crime. Don't doubt for a minute that they won't use this as an excuse to get wiretapping privileges.

Great, inspiring post by an police officer on the death of the 4th Amendment in Indiana

TSA defining mission creep by deploying a VIPR Team to Minnesota football game. Never expected to hear "papers please" at a football game in the Midwest. Coincidentally, a drone was photographed at the same football game. An official TSA blog entry denies that that the drone was theirs but then falls silent on making an official statement as to the VIPR team at a football game.

Sometimes folks do better with visuals

2013-01-10T11:54:00.003-05:00

Connecticut politician moves swiftly

2013-01-05T15:24:00.001-05:00

To helpfully identify Connecticut gun owners with a badge they must wear in public. In the shape of a yellow star, the badge must be worn in public at all times in order to “to get a broader discussion going on gun issues and mental health in the state.” We'll call it the "yellow badge of gun owners."

OK, he hasn't proposed the yellow star YET. However, Stephen Dargan hopes to promote a "broader discussion" by publishing the names and addresses of all 170,000 Connecticut gun owners. You see, publishing the names and addresses of gun owners online helps the public by letting criminals know where retired police officers live. Makes sense, right?

You see, an online searchable database is not state sanctioned bullying but.....oh, I can't go on with a straight face. More here: Feel free to let the cowardly bully know how you feel here with an email to Stephen.Dargan@cga.ct.gov Feel free to ask him how an online searchable database of gun owners and their home addresses has anything at all to to with engendering a discussion on gun laws and mental health.

This sort of state sanctioned bullying is something I literally cannot fathom. I understand that he's trying to bully and shame gun owners which is typical passive aggression and misuse of the powers granted to his office. However, I do not understand how he can do this with a straight face. People with families, people with stalkers are on this list. How can any human being sanction this invasion of privacy? It's one thing to attempt to ban weapons but to publish names and addresses in an online searchable database? How do you look yourself in the mirror, Mr Dargan? If your bill goes through and ONE person's home is invaded, ONE person is hurt; the blood is on your hands, Stephen Dargan. I do understand that you do not care and will instead seize any incident as a handy excuse to ban all weapons. I get you, I really do. I just have more morals than you do, you despicable coward.