Welcome to Saturday Shootaround, your spot for all 2A and firearms related news. Instead of a verse this week, here’s a selection of 2A quotes:
“The great body of our citizens shoot less as times goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means in our power. Thus, and not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world… The first step – in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come – is to teach men to shoot!”
Theodore Roosevelt
“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”
Colonel Jeff Cooper
We’re starting this weeks news with a bit on the shooting that happened at the KC Chiefs victory Parade in Kansas City this week. Despite all that you may have heard, there was only one death, 43 year old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, and 22 others were injured.
We know that two ‘juveniles’ have been arrested for the shootings. The entire incident looks to be gang related, but you won’t hear that from the MSM.
Speer just announced that USSOCOM just issued a contract for 8.5 million rounds of their Gold Dot G2 9mm ammo. The G2 version of the venerable Gold Dot (full disclosure, this editor runs Gold Dot ammo in his carry guns) is consistently at the top of the FBI ammo testing.
The Hawaii state supreme court ruled last week that there is no Second Amendment in that state.
In Wilson v the State of Hawaii, a case I was not all that familiar with until recently, the appellee, Christopher Wilson was initially charged with posession of a firearm without a licence and a couple of other charges including criminal trespass.
He was convicted and appealed. The appeals court vacated that conviction in light of both Bruen and Heller. The State appealed the ruling to the state Supreme court and won and this is where it gets weird. The ruling starts this way:
Article I, section 17 of the Hawaiʻi Constitution mirrors the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. We read those words differently than the current United States Supreme Court. We hold that in Hawaiʻi there is no state constitutional right to carry a firearm in public.
In other, plainer words, the Hawaii supreme court just said FU to SCOTUS. It only gets worse from there. Opinion author, Justice Todd Eddins takes several pages to parse both the 2nd Amendment and the Hawaiian version of the same. He also takes several shots at SCOTUS. At one point he invokes the spirit of Aloha to justify the ruling.
In Hawaiʻi, the Aloha Spirit inspires constitutional interpretation. When this court exercises “power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of [our] responsibilities, obligations, and service to the people” we “may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the ‘Aloha Spirit.’” The spirit of Aloha clashes with a federally-mandated lifestyle that lets citizens walk around with deadly weapons during day-to-day activities. (citations omitted)
I highly doubt that SCOTUS will take this lying down. I fully expect this particular case to wind up there before too long.
CCI has a new .22LR load out now. The Uppercut is optimized for 2.5-4″ barrels. It launches a 32 grain jacketed bullet at 950fps from pistol length barrels. Jacketed bullets are a bit unusual in .22LR, as that caliber uses a heeled bullet. The jacket helps keep fouling to a minimum and provides uniform expansion. MSRP for a box of 50 is $12.99
Typically, when I’m recommending a product, regardless of category, I tend to point people to the best in breed for that product. Usually that means a more expensive option. As the saying goes: “buy once, cry once” –that is, buy a better quality item regardless of price, as it will last longer and be more useful during its lifetime.
That adage is especially true when it comes to firearms and accessories. The lowest priced option in guns and accessories isn’t usually worth the cost in the long run, as they don’t perform as well or last as long as the more expensive one. (EDIT from WKL: I have found this to be especially true for optics). That said, there are some quality bargain options available. We’re going to take a look at a few of those today.
If you’re looking for a bargain gun, there are several options in new guns – but don’t sleep on the used market. If you’re willing to overlook some wear and scratches, used guns can be a great value proposition. If you do go the used route, be sure to go over the gun carefully and make sure nothing is broken, and check for any serious damage. As far as new guns go, here are a few of my picks for bargain options:
Handguns
TheCanik TP9 series is one that I like for a bargain priced pistol. I did a review of the SF model a while back, you can read the full review here. The base model TP9 retails for around $380, the SF runs around $400. For that price, you get the gun, 3 mags, a fitted hard case, extra back straps, a cleaning kit and even optics mounting plates if the gun is optics ready.
The Palmetto State Armory Dagger is another bargain option. Retail starts around $300. While I don’t have any experience with this particular handgun, I do have some experience with Gen 3 Glocks, and this pistol is functionally a Glock clone. All the reviews I’ve seen point to a reliable, decent quality pistol.
If revolvers are your bag, take a look at the Rock Island M-200/206. The M-200 is the 4″ barrel option, whereas the M-206 has a 2″ barrel – both are chambered in .38 Spc. This is another pistol I reviewed, you can find it here. You can pick up this Philippine made gat for under $300.
L-R, Canik TP9SF, PSA Dagger, Rock Island M-200
Rimfires
This category has a goodly number of lower priced options available. You probably already know some of the names in the bargain priced rimfire market.
Savage, Ruger, Marlin and Winchester all make quality rimfire rifles that won’t break the bank. I really like the autoloading Winchester Wildcat, you can read my review here. While you can get a Mossberg 702 for under $200, I’d steer you away from that one.
Winchester Wildcat- L, Savage MKII minimalist -R
If you’re looking for a bolt gun, the Savage MKII is an excellent choice that you can get for around $270. The newish Winchester Xpert, a bolt action .22, intrigues me, and it runs around $250
Some pretty good values can be found in rimfire handguns as well. The Heritage Rough Rider is a decent little single action revolver that comes in under $200 for the base model. The Ruger Wrangler is another low priced revolver. It comes in around the $200 mark as well.
If you’re looking for a bargain autoloader, take a look at the Taurus TX-22. You can usually find one for less than $350. The Walther P22 is another good choice in this segment. They retail for a bit less than $300.
Centerfire Rifles
This category comes down to two manufacturers: Savage and Ruger. Yes, Mossberg markets a budget rifle, the Patriot, but I have heard absolutely nothing good about them-and a whole lot of bad. I’m tempted to include the Winchester XPR, but with a retail of $600 for the base model it falls outside of the “budget” category.
Savage’s bargain line is the Axis series. Again, this is a rifle I have reviewed (you can find that review here). For around $400, for the blued/synthetic base model you get a very accurate rifle with a nice trigger and an optic. It’s chambered in a wide variety of calibers that will suit your particular needs.
R, Savage Axis – L, Ruger American
The Ruger American is the other choice in this space. While I have had mixed results with Ruger products in the past-most notably an M77 Hawkeye that wouldn’t group smaller than 8″ at 100 yards-I have no reservations about recommending the American. I’ve had plenty of real world feedback about the American, nearly all of it good. The base blued/synthetic American retails for a bit more than $480. If you add one of the bargain priced optics I’ll get into below, you can have a reliable and accurate rig for right around $600.
I’m going to take a second here and talk about AR-15 style rifles. Call me elitist if you like, but I wouldn’t recommend most bargain priced AR rifles – this is another example of “you get what you pay for”. And unfortunately, they have all had different problems, so it’s not like I could recommend one and the fix for whatever problem it has. In the lower cost sphere, I’ve had the least number of problems with Palmetto State ARs. As of this writing you can get a 16″ flattop for around $450, but PSA is known for their ‘flash’ sales and you might find one considerably cheaper than that. I’ve also heard good things about Bear Creek Arsenal, but don’t have any personal experience with their rifles.
If you want a new AR, I’d tell you to get one from a reputable maker. Am I saying go out and drop $2k on a Daniel Defense? I did, twice, but you likely don’t need to do that. Just do your research before you buy.
You may want to consider building an AR. It’s easier than you think, and tends to be cheaper than buying a complete rifle (EDIT from WKL: be sure to also buy a quality armorer’s tool if you do this). You can also spec it out the way you want.
While we’re on the subject of ARs, let’s discuss caliber choice. If you’re going small bore, make sure your rifle is chambered in 5.56 NATO. 5.56 and .223 have the same external dimensions, but the 5.56 NATO round is loaded to higher pressures and the chamber leade (the area just before the rifling starts) is cut differently.
5.56 chamber leade vs .223 chamber leade
So while you can chamber a 5.56 round in a .223 rem chamber, the resultant spike in pressure from doing so can cause rapid unintentional disassembly of your rifle. Does that happen often? Not really, but it does happen.
I’d also steer you away from any AR chambered in 7.62×39. ARs chambered in the Soviet round suffer from major feeding issues due to the case taper. Well, there is an exception (of course), but starting at $1900, the CMMG Resolute is outside the scope of this article.
As an aside, I’m always available to talk about gun purchases and more than willing to help anyone with that.
Shotguns
This one is a little difficult to parse, as there are a ton of sub-segments in the shotgun category. One thing I will say straight off is to stay away from the really cheap Turkish made guns. Brands like Pardus, Escort, G-Force and Dickinson are all to be avoided if possible.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive pump gun, you can’t beat either the Maverick 88 or the Mossberg 500. You can usually find the 88 for under $250 and the 500 for 50 bucks more. If you’re going that route, look for a combo with both bird and slug barrels. The combos usually run $50-75 more but are worth it for most folks.
The Winchester SXP is another good choice. They usually start around $350 and go up from there.
If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box ready home defense gun, the Stevens 320 Security is an excellent choice. It comes with an easy to use ghost ring sight and either a pistol grip or a cutaway stock. It’s based on the Winchester 1200/1300 and accepts all accessories and parts for that series of guns. They typically run in the $250 range.
L-R CZ 1012, Weatherby SA-08, Weatherby Element
The least expensive autoloading shotguns that I would recommend are the CZ 1012 and Weatherby Element and SA-08. All three are in the $600 range, though you can find them for less. The Element and 1012 are inertia driven guns while the SA-08 is a traditional gas gun.
Optics
I will admit to being an optics snob. Very few of the optics in my extensive collection cost me under $200. There is a reason for that though, and it comes down to the quality of the glass. The least expensive rifle scope I use regularly, an Arken Optics SH-4 4-16×50, cost me about $400. They get a lot more costly from there (I’m looking at you NightForce).
Do you need to spend that much on a scope though?
For most, if not all, of you the answer is no. So the question becomes what optic gets you the most bang for the buck. There are a lot of lower priced scopes and optics out there, but some are better than others.
Were I looking for an optic on a budget I’d look at one specific manufacturer; Vortex. Their entry level rifle scopes, the Crossfire series, cover a wide range of sizes and magnifications. Retail starts at about $120 and goes up from there depending on features and magnification. They are the clearest scopes I’ve seen at that price-point and have an unlimited lifetime warranty. And when I say unlimited, I mean unlimited. If you drop your rifle out of the stand and damage the scope, it’s covered. Run your gun over with the truck? Covered. And they have the best customer service in the industry.
L-R, Vortex Crossfire, Hawke Vantage, Athlon Neos
But, let’s say you can’t get Vortex where you live, what then? Hawke optics make some decent quality scopes for less than $200. Athlon is another decent choice. Their Neos line starts at $150 and goes up from there.
Red dot and reflex sights are becoming more and more popular every day. There are some good choices out there in the bargain space. One of the names has already been mentioned, Vortex. They have affordable, durable and accurate red dot options available and they all have the same unlimited lifetime warranty as their scopes.
L-R Vortex Crossfire, Sig Romeo MSR, Crimson Trace CTS-25
The Sig Sauer Romeo MSR is a good choice for a rifle/shotgun red dot sight. The best part is it comes in under a hundred bucks. It has a 2 MOA dot and a 20,000 hour battery life. The Crimson Trace CTS-25 is another lower priced rifle red dot. This 4 MOA dot runs about $80.
Pistol reflex sights tend to be a bit more expensive. Most of the value options start at the $200 mark and go up from there. The Sig Romeo Zero is an exception, coming in at $139. I have this optic’s sibling the Romeo Zero Elite mounted on my EDC gun, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
L-R Sig Romeo Zero, Crimson Trace CTS-1250
The Crimson Trace CTS-1250 is a decent pistol dot that you can usually find for about $140.
Pistol optics in particular are an area where you shouldn’t cheap out if it can be avoided, though. Since most optics will mount to the slide that means the entire optic will be violently flung back and forth each time you fire, in a way that wouldn’t be true while mounted to a rifle or shotgun. This is difficult for cheap optics to handle – they will tend to lose zero quickly, and may actually break entirely from the shaking.
Keep in mind, you may be able to find the products I’ve mentioned here for less. The prices I’ve listed are either MSRP (and frankly, very few shops sell guns at MSRP) or actual street prices here. Guns and optics regularly go on sale, so look for that when you do your shopping.
If you have any questions about anything in the article or gun related in general, let us know in the comments.
Welcome to Saturday Shootaround, your weekly foray into the 2A news and notes. As usual, we start with a verse. This week it is the final stanza of ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, by Wilfred Owen (1893-1918). Owen was an English soldier who was gazetted the Military Cross – the second highest military honor in the British army at the time – for his actions near Joncourt France in 1918. He was killed in action exactly one week and one hour before the Armistice was signed.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.
Let’s start with the news that Wayne LaPierre is stepping down as CEO and executive vice president of the NRA. Before I get into this, I probably should disclose that I am a lifetime NRA member. I won the membership in a competition in the Army. Ok, that’s out of the way, now on to my thoughts. At some point in the past 10-15 years the NRA lost its way. A big part of the problem was Mr. LaPierre. It seemed to me that LaPierre was more interested in the perquisites of the job than the actual job itself.
While I consider the suit politically motivated, the legal actions by Letitia James, the New York AG, laid bare a lot of financial shenanigans at the organization. LaPierre and those around him used NRA donations as their private slush fund, spending hundreds of thousands on tailor bills and catering. Frankly, I haven’t sent the NRA a dime in a very long time because of rumors about just that. Maybe now the NRA can get back to doing what It was founded to do; protect and defend gun rights.
On a side note if you feel called to donate to a 2A group, consider the Firearms Policy Coalition or Gun Owners of America, both do yeoman’s work on the gun rights front. Your state and local gun rights groups are also a good choice.
There were some new options in optics announced this week.
First up from Vortex, two new Venom scopes have been released, a 3-15×44 and a 1-6×24 LVPO. The 3-15 is built on a 34mm tube and features a first focal plane reticle and an MSRP of $649.99. The 1-6 is built on a 30mm tube and features an illuminated second focal plane reticle and is listed at $449.99
Meanwhile, Trijicon has announced 3 (2 and a half really) new scopes. The new Tenmile HX 5-25×50 FFP scope has a red/green illuminated reticle, a 30mm tube and an MSRP of $2195. the other scopes are versions of the 34mm 1-10×28 Credo LPVO, one with a tactical style m-rad reticle and the other has a hunting friendly MOA reticle. Both have the same red/green illumination as the Tenmile. MSRP for the two Credo scopes is $2150.
The Illinois ‘assault weapons’ registration law went live on New Years day, but it seems there is mass non-compliance with the new regulations. According to the numbers I’ve seen, less than 1% of Illinoisans have actually registered their guns and magazines. It also seems that the Illinois State Police will not be actively looking to charge anyone under this new statute. That said, if someone gets nailed for something else and happens to have an unregistered gun or mag, expect them to get hammered. . .
Mossberg has just announced a new OU option, the 20 gauge Gold Reserve. This new chambering has an MSRP of $1135, so it’s not going to break the bank. It has 3″ chambers, 30″ barrels and comes with a set of 5 choke tubes. It is made in Turkey, but don’t let that scare you off, some Turkish guns are well made. I’ve handled the 12 gauge version of the Gold Reserve and it has a quality feel, I expect the 20 to be the same.
This week’s gun porn is a matched set of early 19th century French percussion duelling pistols. The starting bid is $2250. Here’s what the seller has to say:
Pair of French Percussion Dueling Pistols, Likely 1830’s – 1840’s Set triggers Nicely engraved and detailed. .54 caliber 8 1/2″ finely rifled barrel
This is an intriguing pair of pistols. I have to wonder if they have any bodies. . .
The seller happens to be local to me, so I may take a trip to go check these pistols out in person. If I do, I’ll report back.
Welcome to Saturday Shootaround, your source for 2A news and notes.
As usual, we start with a poem. This week’s selection is High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr. A RCAF pilot in WWII, Magee died in a crash over Lincolnshire in 1941. This poem is engraved on the Challenger Space Shuttle monument.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air ….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor ever eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
A gun control group in New Mexico is under investigation for a gun buy-back program they ran. It seems the organization, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence (NMPGV), ran afoul of state law by not having background checks done as part of the buy-back. San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said “Reviewing the law I do not see where they are exempt from having to undergo a background check and are required to like anyone else. A sale is taking place (gift cards $100 and up), it is advertised as a purchase and called a ‘buy back,’”.
NMPGV issued a statement saying no transfers occurred because they dismantled the guns on site during the buy-back. Sheriff Ferrari said images NMPGV shared of firearms they collected may show that the firearms were not properly dismantled, as defined by federal law. “I know how many times a receiver needs to be cut to be considered destroyed,” he wrote.
Whoops.
I am not a fan of buy-backs in general. They do little, if anything, to reduce the number of gun crimes. That said, I have participated in a couple. Don’t worry, I was gaming the system both times. I got $350 for a collection of out-of-spec and worn out AK parts that I dropped into an incomplete receiver flat, and $250 for a non-functional Saturday night special my cop father had as a ‘drop piece’. That money went to one of my locals in exchange for an AR lower and a used Buckmark. . .
I make no secret that I am a fan of Bergara rifles. You can read my review of their B14 Ridge here. Well, Bergara has just announced a new chambering, the 6mm GT. It’s available in the Premier Competition rifle. This rifle is optimized for the production class in PRS (precision rifle series) shooting and is ready for competition right out of the box. It features a custom Trigger Tech trigger, a 26″ 1 in 7.5″ twist (in 6mm GT) stainless barrel and a chassis stock from MPA. Bare, the rifle weighs in at 12.7 pounds. MSRP is $2750, but I’ve seen it advertised for a couple of hundred less in 6 and 6.5 Creedmoor.
The 6mm GT round is capable of launching 100+ grain projectiles at 3000fps. It is popular in PRS for its high ballistic coefficient bullets and velocities with mild recoil. It is a newer cartridge that gained SAAMI specification in 2022.
This one irritates me. Jeramy Wilborn is suing the ATF to get his guns back. The ATF confiscated them because he mightsome time in the future, possibly be charged with domestic violence. Wilborn, a Michigan resident, had been convicted of a misdemeanor DV charge in 2008, and had his record expunged in 2022. A quick side note, expungement means it’s as if it never happened. The Jackbooted thugs ATF, despite not having a legal basis, seem to think the potential for future crime is reason enough to strip someone of their rights.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not think serial domestic abusers should have access to firearms. But in this case, and I’m sure there are others like it, there is no good reason to make him a prohibited person especially after an expungement.
Taurus has introduced its first 10mm (the best mm) pistol, the TH10. It’s a hammer-fired DA/SA, polymer framed rig. It has a decocker/safety and a 15 round capacity. MSRP for the 28.5 oz pistol is $529.99. That makes it the lowest priced 10mm gat on the market.
Frankly, I’d save another $100 and buy the Rock Island Armory Ultra FS in 10mm before I bought the Taurus, but I can see the appeal of a (relatively) inexpensive 10.
There are a couple of items of note in the shooting world. CSG, a Czech firm, just bought a majority stake in Armi Perazzi. You may know Perazzi from their high-end competition shotguns. CSG you probably don’t know. they’re a Czechia based firm with a variety of holdings including Fiocci ammo, Lyalvale Express(the largest British shot maker), Tatra cars and trucks, and a variety of defense and aerospace ventures.
Savage announced that a long-time employee will be promoted to CEO starting 1 January. Chris Bezzina who’s been with Savage Arms since 2007 when he joined as leader of the engineering team will be taking over for Al Kasper. Kasper has been with Savage for 25 years and will stay on the company’s board.
Today’s gun porn is another piece of history, the Borchardt C-93. The C-93 was the first mass-produced semi-auto pistol. Here’s what the seller has to say:
All original DWM Borchardt c-93 Matching numbers gun including the magazine SN 1660. Stock SN is different from the gun 1691. Not uncommon to be slightly off. This gun is 125 years old and is in great condition 95% original bluing only shows sins of high point and holster wear. Wood is in very good shape, no cracks or splitting. Leather is not great but a lot better than expected for 125y and two world wars. This is my personal gun. It can transfer directly to your C&R FFL. What you see in the pictures is what you get. Payment is do within 7 days of winning bid.
Borchardt developed the high-velocity, bottlenecked 7.65×25mm Borchardtcartridge for the C93. His assistant at the time, Georg Luger, also claimed to have influenced its design. Machine tool manufacturer Ludwig Loewe & Companyof Berlin, Germany, produced the C93 in anticipation of military orders. With about 1,100 manufactured by Loewe and nearly 2,000 more produced by Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM). The Borchardt C93 was the first mass-produced semi-automatic pistol
This weeks verse is Wartime Christmas by Joyce Kilmer. Born in New Jersey in 1886, Kilmer enlisted in the US Army in 1917 and served in the Fighting 69th in Europe during WWI. He was on a reconnaissance mission with ‘wild’ Bill Donovan when he was killed by a German sniper near Seringes et Nesles France on 30 July 1918.
Led by a star, a golden star, The youngest star, an olden star, Here the kings and the shepherds are, Akneeling on the ground. What did they come to the inn to see? God in the Highest, and this is He, A baby asleep on His mother’s knee And with her kisses crowned. Now is the earth a dreary place, A troubled place, a weary place. Peace has hidden her lovely face And turned in tears away. Yet the sun, through the war-cloud, sees Babies asleep on their mother’s knees. While there are love and home—and these— There shall be Christmas Day.
Now on to the 2A news. . .
US district court Judge Cormac Carney issued a preliminary injunction on parts of California SB 2, the Bruen response bill. The sections enjoined were the so-called sensitive places sections of the law and prevents enforcement of the new gun free zones. Carney described SB 2 as “repugnant to the Second Amendment, and openly defiant of the Supreme Court.” The law “turns nearly every public place in California into a ‘sensitive place,’” according to Carney, “effectively abolishing the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding and exceptionally qualified citizens to be armed and to defend themselves in public.” The injunction covers the following “gun-free zones” established under SB 2:
Hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, medical offices, urgent care facilities, and other places where medical services are customarily provided,
Public transportation
Establishments where “intoxicating liquor” is sold for consumption on the premises
Public gatherings and special events
Playgrounds and private youth centers
Parks and athletic facilities
Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Fish and Wildlife property, except hunting areas,
Casinos and gambling establishments
Public libraries, zoos, and museums
Places of worship
Financial institutions
Privately-owned businesses open to the public
Parking areas (including those adjacent to “sensitive places” not challenged by the plaintiffs)
The remainder of SB 2s provisions are being challenged in separate suits.
Smith & Wesson have released a new take on the old Sigma line of pistols, the SD9 2.0. If you know anything about the Sigma/SD9, that was the pistol Smith got sued by Glock over and lost. They had to pay Gaston a royalty for every one sold. The reboot has a redesigned slide and frame. Here’s what S&W has to say about it.
The perfect package for those looking for a “do-everything” handgun from the most trusted brand in firearms, without breaking the bank. Featuring an updated trigger and more aggressive slide serrations, the next generation of SD is built to do it all.
Offered in 9MM, the new generation of SD from Smith & Wesson offers brand new performance benefits at a budget friendly price. The trigger in the SD 2.0 is an enhanced flat-face design, giving better feedback during the pull, break, and reset when shooting.
The addition of new serrations on the slide gives you better surface area to manipulate the pistol. The SD 2.0 offers an impressive 16+1 capacity in a utilitarian side, making it perfect for duty, home defense, concealed carry, or just a day on the range. SD 2.0 offers white-dot sights and is compatible with standard SD accessories like holsters, lights, and lasers.
MSRP for either the full capacity 16rd version or the compliant 10rd is the same at $349.99. Once they start hitting the shops, I’d expect them to retail for around $325. Unfortunately, Commiefornia isn’t going to be getting these, as they aren’t on the registry. Massholes won’t get them either but not due to any registry issues, but because they don’t come with a Mass compliant 10lb trigger.
In firearms industry news, Colt CZ group just acquired ammunition manufacturer Sellier & Bellot. S&B is known as more of a value brand here in the US, but they manufacture quality ammo and supply several militaries throughout the world. They are also the lone(ish) source for a variety of obsolete military cartridges.
Imagine being this person. What kind of life do you have to lead to get that worked up over a toy? Also it’s fucking Sheels. They sell real guns and all sorts of outdoors gear. I’ll admit it’s a regional chain, but they operate 32 stores in 15 states.
Here’s another newly released gun for you from Heritage manufacturing. You may know Heritage from their Rough Rider rimfire pistols and revolving carbines. They have just announced the Heritage Badlander, a 12ga side by side. The all steel receiver features a tang safety and double triggers. All the metal is finished in a black oxide while the wood stock and forend have a dark walnut finish. MSRP is $849.
This week’s gun porn takes us back to late 1936/early 1937 and a bit of American Gun history. We have here today for your approval a pair of Winchester Model 70 rifles, serial numbers 1 and 2.
Here’s what the seller has to say:
Absent anything short of absolute certainty these rifles stand among the world’s most important and valuable sporting arms. That they are paired presents an unequaled acquisition opportunity.
Both have a captivating history. According to Roger Rule’s The Rifleman’s Rifle, serial number 1 was marked on January 20, 1936. As Winchester records are unavailable so far as supporting a proper factory letter is concerned, the actual shipping date and destination are unknown. As detailed in Winchester Model 70 No. 1, a feature article appearing in the June, 1990 issue of American Rifleman (copy included), the current owner’s uncle purchased the rifle from a hardware store in Durango, Colorado during the 1937 hunting season. Whether new or used when the sale was wrung, the rifle was already fitted with a Lyman receiver sight. Upon returning from the hunting trip, the owner had the rifle drilled and tapped in order to install a 10x Fecker scope, then hunted with it for the next forty years. In 1977, after using it over the course of several deer seasons, the current owner formally acquired the rifle – it still wearing the Fecker and with the Lyman sight in tow. Staggeringly, another ten years passed before a chance showing resulted in a dealer getting the vapors and blurting out a surprisingly high offer. This sparked a curiosity which lead to the realization that his plain old Model 70 was the first of its kind. With significant reservation, the rifle was retired from hunting after 50 years of faithful and flawless service.
Published in 1982 by Alliance Books, The Rifleman’s Rifle did much to expand and solidify collector interest in Winchester pre-64 Model 70 rifles. Quite naturally, the owner of the number 1 rifle acquired a copy as part of his research. Page 193 carried a photo of serial number 2 from Rule’s collection, and page 52 showed a photo of a letter from Richard Pelton, Winchester’s Director of Marketing dated March 6, 1980. Written to Mrs. Ethel M. Lied, the letter mentions the January 20, 1936 marking date for the number 1 rifle and also states that assembly of Model 70 rifles did not begin until 1937. Pointedly, the letter references Mrs. Lied’s inquiries as to the value of her rifle – serial number 2. No doubt, ownership of the number 2 rifle passed to Roger Rule at approximately this time. At some point thereafter, the number 2 rifle was presented for sale at a major gun show attended by the owner of rifle number 1. As things tend to do, one lead to another and ownership transferred.
To no surprise, both rifles are of “standard” configuration and chambered in .30-06 Springfield.
Serial number 1 condition: The bore remains smooth, strong and viable. Drilling/tapping for scope mounting includes 2x on the barrel just forward of the rear sight boss and 2x on the front ring. The rear sight is absent and the dovetail is protected with a “plug”. Overall metal finish is approximately 65 percent, as expected after 50 years of use in the hunting fields. Wood integrity is strong (absent cracks or chips). Wood finish condition is approximately 60 percent overall. Checkering is smoothing. Finish is thinning or absent in places and a general distribution of field impressions and scratches are in evidence. The bolt body is faintly marked “1” in electric pencil (or similar). The Fecker scope is viable and remains optically clear, with surface finish of approximately 70 percent.
Serial number 2 condition: The bore remains smooth, strong and viable. Drilling and tapping for scope mounting includes 2x on the front ring. Overall metal finish is approximately 75 percent. Wood integrity is strong (absent cracks or chips). Wood finish condition is approximately 70 percent overall. Checkering is strong. A general distribution of field impressions and scratches are in evidence. The bolt body is faintly marked “2” in electric pencil (or similar).
Inclusions: In addition to a complete bound set of American Rifleman magazines from 1990 with the referenced article, a personalized letter detailing the known history and transfer details of the rifles will be provided by the owner.
Price is firm and an installment sale may be arranged following a suitable, non-refundable deposit. The pair will not be separated. All transportation arrangements and associated costs are the responsibility of the purchaser.
That price? $1.7 million. That’s a bargain if you’re still looking for a Christmas gift for this Editor. . .
Yah, I know. But to be honest, if I were anywhere close to having that kind of money, I’d buy this pair in a heartbeat. Just to say I owned an important piece of American history.
It’s time for the fever dream that is Saturday Shootaround. It’s your weekly 2A roundup and source for all gun related crap. As has become tradition, we start with some verse. This week’s selection is a piece from one of my personal favorites, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). While Kipling never served in the military, his poetry and short stories never failed to capture the thoughts and feelings of those who were serving at the time.
‘What are the bugles blowin’ for?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘To turn you out, to turn you out,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What makes you look so white, so white?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘I’m dreadin’ what I’ve got to watch,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,
The Regiment’s in ’ollow square—they’re hangin’ him to-day;
They’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,
An’ they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What makes the rear-rank breathe so ’ard?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s bitter cold, it’s bitter cold,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What makes that front-rank man fall down?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of ’im round,
They ’ave ’alted Danny Deever by ’is coffin on the ground;
An’ ’e’ll swing in ’arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound—
O they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin!’
‘’Is cot was right-’and cot to mine,’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘’E’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘I’ve drunk ’is beer a score o’ times,’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘’E’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ’im to ’is place,
For ’e shot a comrade sleepin’—you must look ’im in the face;
Nine ’undred of ’is county an’ the Regiment’s disgrace,
While they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What’s that so black agin the sun?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s Danny fightin’ ’ard for life,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What’s that that whimpers over’ead?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s Danny’s soul that’s passin’ now,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re done with Danny Deever, you can ’ear the quickstep play,
The Regiment’s in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us away;
Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll want their beer to-day,
After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!
Danny Dever – Rudyard Kipling
Bad news for any Illionians out there. SCOTUS just punted on an emergency order on the most recent gun grab in the land of Lincoln. This isn’t the end though, I’m thinking the Supremes wanted to wait on a couple of things. First, there’s a case in Maryland that just got sent back to the circuit court. Second, they probably want a riper case, meaning they want a ruling from the district and circuit courts hearing the case.
Sig fans rejoice! Sig just announced a competition version of their P322. This new model adds a compensator and comes from the factory with a Romeo Zero Elite red dot sight. Other additions include swappable trigger shoes, an extended mag release and a cocking lever. While I haven’t seen an actual MSRP, I have seen them online for around $700.
A cop in North Carolina has been charged with 32 felonies. Among those charges are several relating to using her badge to make straw purchases for prohibited persons.
I include this not as an indictment of all cops. Rather I use it to bring up a couple of points. There are good and bad people in every group or organization, police are no different. They should be treated the same as everyone else. If I have to fill out a 4473 to obtain a firearm, then they should too. Likewise, if they have access to 30 round mags, I should have that same access. Doing anything else makes them a special class of citizen, and frankly, that’s wrong.
This year marks 75 years since old Bill got together with Alex and started a gun company. You’ll know them as Ruger, but the proper name is Sturm, Ruger and Company. I’m not going to recite the entire history, but Bill was the brains and Alex was the money. Anyway, the company has released some 75th anniversary edition guns, 2 1022 models, a MK IV and an LCP max.
If you want one of these commemorative editions, the 1022s go for $399, the Max for $479 and the MK IV for $599. Not for nothing tho, if you buy an LCP Max, we can’t be friends.
Today’s Gun Porn comes to us from Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. The oldest continual manufacturer of firearms built this one off on their 486 Parallelo action. This 12 gauge side-by-side shotgun is a tribute to the Renaissance astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe.
Here’s what Beretta has to say about it:
Presented as a world premiere during the event celebrating the luxury of Pietro Beretta Selection, it is testimony to the Gardonese company’s desire to push the boundaries of innovation and craftsmanship: 800 hours of work by master craftsmen in Gardone Val Trompia, added to months of study by the Research & Development, Design and Marketing departments.
The typical receiver with its rounded profile and the cross of the 486 are coated with a color case treatment in shades of blue, green and red, reminiscent of the environment and light trails of space.
For the first time, the engravings also extend to the stock with small copper and silver stars to create continuity with the receiver, forend and sleeve. The connecting lines of the stock and receiver of the 486 lend unsurpassed harmony and elegance to the shotgun’s proportions.
The case, handmade in the prestigious Atelier, completes the masterpiece: a blue leather with a digital print of the celestial map designed by Copernicus, enriched in the centre by a three-dimensional brass plate reproducing the sun, laser-etched and then hand-etched for greater definition of the rays.
Yeah, what they said. All joking aside, this is an absolutely stunning work of art. Carlo Ferlito, General Manager And CEO Of Fabbrica D’Armi Pietro Beretta S.P.A., said the following about the Beretta 486 Copernicus project:
Niccolò Copernico said: The wisdom of nature is such that she produces nothing superfluous or useless.
This is our spirit, because we are part of nature and, in our own small way, like nature we want to act:
PB Selection is a luxury that does not create the superfluous and unnecessary, but produces innovation and inspiration, in technology as well as in beauty. A perfect synthesis of this spirit is the 486 Copernicus.
It’s time for my 2A Fever Dream that is Saturday Shootaround.
My selected verse this week is For the Fallen by Lawrence Binyon (1869-1943). Binyon was an English poet who despite being in his 40s served in the Red Cross on the Western Front during WWI. For The Fallen was written in 1914, shortly after the first combat between British and German troops occurred.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Here’s some good news out of New Mexico. U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs just enjoined enforcement of the Governors ban on carrying concealed in parks in Bernalillo county and Albuquerque. This is the second federal intervention in Michelle Lujan-Grisham’s naked power grab on gun rights. Grisham’s original order suspending the right to carry across the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County was halted by U.S. District Court Judge David Herrera Urias not long after it was issued.
Here’s a gun I didn’t have on my bingo card. Ruger has just announced a Super Redhawk chambered in .22 Hornet. Yep, you read that right, .22 Hornet. The 9.5″ barreled wheel gun has an MSRP of $1499. She’s a chunky girl weighing in at 66oz and has an 8 round cylinder. This is what Ruger has to say about it:
Triple-locking cylinder is locked into the frame at the front, rear and bottom for more positive alignment and dependable operation shot after shot.
Strong, extended frame with extra metal in the top strap, sidewalls and barrel mounting areas to handle powerful, big game loads.
Hogue Tamer Monogrip with an internal recoil cushion positioned under the web of the hand helps reduce the impact of powerful loads, while the peg-style grip frame easily accommodates custom grips.
Transfer bar mechanism provides an unparalleled measure of security against accidental discharge.
Replaceable HiViz front sight and adjustable rear sight.
Cold hammer-forged barrel results in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning.
Patented integral mounts are machined directly on the solid-steel barrel rib to provide a stable mounting surface for the included scope rings, eliminating a potential source of looseness and inaccuracy in the field.
Unfortunately, if you’re a Masshole or in Commiefornia, you can’t have this one, she’s not on the registry in either place, at least not as of this writing. Let me know what you think about it in the comments below, I haven’t made up my mind yet. . .
For those of you in the market for body armor, the NIJ has just released new testing protocols and rating levels. Gone are the level IIA, II, IIIA, III, and IV ratings and in their place comes HG levels 1 and 2 and RF levels 1, 2, and 3. I may do a deep dive on the changes in a separate piece, but for now, just know the new protocols and ratings make more sense than the old ones.
There were two notable shootings that took place this week. In the first, some dude in Texas flipped his nut and shot and killed his parents in Bexar county and then drove to Austin and shot a couple more people including some cops. It appears this sub-human had been a 1LT in 1st Cav at Ft Hood Cavazos. The Army, as it usually does, has stonewalled on the reason for his discharge. He was finally taken into custody and is facing several counts of murder.
The second shooting occurred on the campus at UNLV. There, a man disgruntled about not getting a job there decided to shoot and kill several members of the staff. There have been reports that he had a list of people he wanted to murder. It should be noted that he didnot target any students, not that his choice of victims makes it any better. The local law enforcement response was swift and final. The shooter was killed on-scene by officers.
Why do I bring up these two incidents? Simply because the Left is renewing its gun control push and will use them as leverage. We have to do something. The calls for more gun control have already started.
For those of you who watch or follow any Guntubers or other 2A media types, the voting for the annual Gundies has opened. The Gundies is a 2A/shooting content creator awards show. There are several categories to vote for like Best Creator, Best Shooter and Influencer of the Year.
Today’s gun porn is a pricey bit of kit. The FAMARS (Fabbrica Armi Mario Abbiatico Remo Salvinelli) Quattrocanne is a four barreled 28 ga with two external and two internal hammers. This unique piece can be yours for a mere $149,999.
Welcome to the weekly 2A fever dream that is Saturday Shootaround. Today’s verse comes to us from the pen of Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was an officer in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during WWI and was awarded the Military Cross.
The General
“Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of ’em dead,
And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
“He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.
But he did for them both by his plan of attack.
Senator Angus King, I(diot)-Maine, introduced a new gun control bill in that august body. The GOSAFE (Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion) act would ban all gas operated firearms and mandate 10 round magazines in rifles and shotguns and 15 rounds in pistols.
It also requires manufacturers to o submit their designs to the Attorney General before they start production.
A licensed manufacturer may file with the Attorney General an application, under penalty of perjury, for approval for a semi-automatic firearm as not subject to the prohibition under section 922(v), which shall contain—
‘‘(A) a detailed description of the specifications and operation of the firearm;
‘‘(B) a physical sample of the firearm;
‘‘(C) any patent application for the firearm;
‘‘(D) marketing materials and plans;
‘‘(E) an explanation of why the firearm should not be subject to the prohibition under section 922(v);
‘‘(F) a description of any features that prevent modification of the firearm; and
‘‘(G) any other information the Attorney General shall require
Other than being facially unconstitutional, this bill faces stiff headwinds. The R’s in the Senate are likely to filibuster it, and if by some miracle it passes out of that chamber, it’s DOA in the House.
This next one comes to us from Chance’s neck-o-the-woods, Michigan. Holton Township in Muskegon County has declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary and created a maximally inclusive militia in hopes of protecting citizens’ constitutional rights from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s gun control laws.
Holton Township Clerk Malinda Pego, who is also co-chair of the Michigan GOP, introduced a motion at a Nov. 14 board meeting declaring the township a Second Amendment sanctuary.
The resolution stated that “the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of our nation; … the Second Amendment to the Constitution states, ‘A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed’; and … the United States Supreme Court has affirmed that the right of an individual to ‘keep and bear arms,’ as protected under the Second Amendment, is incorporated by the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states.”
Noting that board members will remain steadfast in upholding the the U.S. and Michigan constitutions and oppose “any law that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the citizens of Holton Township to keep and bear arms,” the resolution called for the technical establishment of a militia.
Accordingly, all legal residents with primary residency within the township who are 18 or older, capable of passing a federal firearms background check, and desire to do so can become a member of the Holton Township Militia simply by indicating their intent “on open media or to friends and or family or by letter.”
This is sad and funny at the same time. How well it will work remains to be seen though.
If you don’t know who John Lott is, you should. Lott is an economist and gun rights advocate and heads up the Crime Prevention Research Center. He’s my personal go-to when it comes to 2A numbers and data. He’s reporting a small drop in the number of concealed carry licences in the US. The number of CCW permits is down 0.5% from 2022 record high to 21.8 million. Don’t think that the decline in permits equals a decline in the number of people carrying.
A major cause of the marginal decline is that 27 states now have Constitutional Carry laws after Nebraska’s Permitless Concealed Carry law took effect on September 2, 2023. In other words, people in those twenty-seven states are allowed to carry concealed handguns without permits, representing 65% of the land in the country and 44% of the population in 2022.
Good news if you ask me.
I teased more GunJack memes last week, well I found most of them. Here’s this weeks meme.
Arken Optics has become one of my favorite scope manufacturers. I was first introduced to them a few years back by a shooting buddy and they quickly won my approval. My latest acquisition is the EP-8 1-8×28 LPVO. I like that scope, a lot. Well, Arken has just introduced a digital day/night scope, the Zulus. It’s a 5-20 zoom optic with a cutting-edge Sony STARVIS 2 chipset for unparalleled visibility. It has an integrated IR illuminator with a high-definition 1920×1080 Micro-OLED HD display. It’s available from Arken for $649.99.
Today’s gun porn is a 1-of-10 Benelli shotgun. The Magnifico is a collaboration between Benelli and the Piotti brothers. From the GunBroker listing:
This handcrafted firearm was manufactured by Benelli Armi SpA, an Italian firearm manufacturer that’s known across the world for its inventory of cutting-edge shotguns. Created to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary, only 10 of these firearms exist worldwide. Behind this firearm’s design is a collaboration between Benelli and the Piotti Brothers, another famous Italian gun manufacturer. In addition, this firearm also uses design notes from architect Marco Gaudenzi.
On a technical level, this firearm is a semi-auto shotgun that’s constructed around an ornate walnut stock. Its receiver comes from the high-end Benelli Executive, partnered with a special steel 42crmo5 barrel that’s been deep drilled, reamed, and hand-polished. Beyond its super classy technical specs, this shotgun’s presentation is what truly sets it apart. Each one features an engraving from master engraver Giorgia Contessa and comes with a gold leaf inlay in the engraving.
It is currently listed for $65,999.99. No, that is not a typo, the asking price is sixty five thousand, nine hundred ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents.
Welcome to my weekly 2A/firearms fever dream. Today’s verse is from Wilfred Owen. Owen was a British soldier during WWI and was killed in action on 4 November 1918 during the crossing of the Sambre–Oise Canal, exactly one week (almost to the hour) before the signing of the Armistice which ended the war. Owen is regarded by many as the greatest poet of the First World War, known for his verse about the horrors of trench and gas warfare.
The End
After the blast of lightning from the east, The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot throne, After the drums of time have rolled and ceased And from the bronze west long retreat is blown,
Shall Life renew these bodies? Of a truth All death will he annul, all tears assuage? Or fill these void veins full again with youth And wash with an immortal water age?
When I do ask white Age, he saith not so,— “My head hangs weighted with snow.” And when I hearken to the Earth she saith “My fiery heart sinks aching. It is death. Mine ancient scars shall not be glorified Nor my titanic tears the seas be dried.”
Wilfred Owen 1893 –1918
A gun shop in southwestern Michigan was robbed this past week. Two brothers are accused of targeting a Dunham’s near Benton Harbor, 100 miles east of Chicago. They held a manager at gun-point, abducted him and forced him to give up the code for the burglar alarm. They got away with 123 handguns, all but one of which was recovered. The pair are facing multiple felony counts.
Be strapped or get clapped. Stay frosty friends. . .
Tennessee governor Bill Lee has said ‘red-flag’ legislation is off the table in his state. This is a turnaround from Lee who said he’d support a temporary mental health order of protection in the wake of the Covenant school shooting earlier this year. Those efforts met strong headwinds from the Republican majority in the Tennessee legislature.
An Oregon district court judge has ruled that state’s recent gun control ballot initiative, measure 114, unconstitutional. Harney County Circuit Judge Robert S. Raschio ruled that the ballot measure, which imposed a ban on “large capacity” magazines as well as a new permit-to-purchase requirement for all would-be handgun buyers, violates Oregon’s constitution and cannot be enforced going forward. This will not be the last word on the new restrictions, as a related case has been appealed to the 9th circuit court of appeals.
This meme is from a series that’s been kicking around the internet the past few weeks. If I can find the rest of them, I’ll post them in this space weekly.
I mentioned that I killed a deer in yesterday’s Friday Fun. Today I’ll give you a bit of a post mortem, so to speak. I shot that deer with a 150gr Nosler Partition out of a 7mm-08 over 41 grains of Reloder 15. That combo gets me 2790 fps at the muzzle of my Tikka T-3X. I’ve used that load almost exclusively with that rifle for deer and black bear and it works wonders. Thanksgiving day was no exception. The buck I shot Thursday was about 130 meters from me when I pulled the trigger and it dropped in its tracks. Part of that was shot selection, and part was the caliber/bullet/load/gun combo. Unfortunately, I didn’t recover the bullet, as there was a clean pass through. The vitals were a mess though. the bullet entered the chest cavity a bit high, and destroyed the lungs and clipped the top of the heart. I’ve taken 12 whitetail and 4 black bears with this combo and never had an animal go further than 50 meters. And that folks, is why I called the 7mm-08 the best deer cartridge.
Gun owners in Maryland got some good news this week. In a 2-1 decision, the 4th Circuit ruled that states handgun purchase scheme unconstitutional. Judge Julius N. Richardson penned the opinion, going so far as to point out that the state knew it never had the support of a historical precedent. “The challenged law restricts the ability of law-abiding adult citizens to possess handguns, and the state has not presented a historical analogue that justifies its restrictions; indeed, it has seemingly admitted that it couldn’t find one, Under the Supreme Court’s new burdensome test for these claims, Maryland’s law thus fails, and we must enjoin its enforcement.”
Today’s gun porn comes to us in the form of a drilling. The name is German, Drei being the word for three. Thus we have a German three barreled combo gun. From the auction description:
GERMAN DRILLING SHOTGUN RIFLE COMBINATION, ANT. HAYDT, AICHACH, 16 GA. AND 9.3X57, EARLY 20TH C., L 28″ BARRELS, SN S 15912 Elaborately engraved receiver with scrolling floral designs and a fox, hunting dog and deer. Carved walnut stock with a relief hunter behind the cheek rest. External hammers side by side 16 ga. under lever shotgun barrels with German proof marks on the undersides. One rifle barrel also bearing German proof marks. Marked at the rib ‘Ant Haydt Aichach’. Tang mounted lever flips up a rear sight. Engraved butt stock opens to a bullet storage compartment. A work of art and functional firearm. Provenance: Property of a Rochester Hills, MI private collector.
Welcome to the second edition of Saturday Shootaround.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted: They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
These two stanzas of British poet Laurence Binyon’s “For the Fallen” seem especially apropos today. Now, into the fever dream.
A three judge panel of the 5th circuit issued a scathing ruling in Vanderstock v Garland, the ‘frame or receiver’ suit. The unanimous ruling said the ATF’s rule “flouts clear statutory text and exceeds the legislatively-imposed limits on agency authority in the name of public policy”, and “constitutes unlawful agency action in direct contravention of the legislature’s will.”
I suspect that SCOTUS will take up this case at some point soon, although probably not until after Garland v Cargill – the bumpsock case- is decided. Oral arguments for that case will be held some time during the spring term at the Supreme Court.
Walther WMP
I got to play with an interesting handgun recently, the Walther WMP. Chambered in .22 WMR, it seems like a decent pistol. It has a 4.5″ barrel and the aluminum slide is cut for an optic. I didn’t have an opportunity to shoot it. Yet. When I do, a review will likely follow, unless it’s a complete turd. . .
While at a local the other day, I got into a discussion about low-to-mid priced night vision and thermal optics. I was honestly surprised at the level of dis-and-mis information that is out there about NODS and thermals. So, I spent a half hour explaining the pros and cons of each to the guys I was talking to. If y’all would like an indepth explainer on the subject, let me know in the comments below.
Here’s a quick note for all of our Commiefornia readers; You can now get a Sig P365.
The P365 redefined what a concealed-carry pistol should be, now the most concealable pistol in its class is optic-ready from the factory. Cut to accommodate direct fit ROMEOZero Elite and ROMEO-X Compact red dot sights, the most popular pistol in its class is even more versatile.
The California Compliant P365 is striker-fired, with the clean crisp trigger pull you expect from a SIG. It’s optic-ready with a removable sight plate ready to accept the new ROMEO-X Compact red dot. Chambered in 9mm it is rated for +P ammunition and includes XRAY3 Day/Night sights, and two 10-round magazines.
California State Compliant with Magazine Disconnect Mechanism which prevents firing with magazine removed
Equipped with a Mechanical Loaded Chamber Indicator
Ambidextrous Manual Safety
XRAY3 Day/Night Sights
(2) 10-Round Steel Magazines
Now, I’m not a fan of magazine disconnects, and have had them removed from all but one of the guns I’ve owned with one (Hi-Power, I’m looking at you. . .), they generally don’t mess with reliability.
I don’t know how many of you are into surplus but I’ve found a new-ish supplier for my fix. Americana Pipedream has a very good selection of surplus from a bunch of different countries. I’m still looking for some Paddyflage (Irish DPM) tho. . .
Irish DPM smock
Here’s a drill to improve your pistol skills. The El Presidente was developed by Jeff Cooper as a test for potential presidential guards for an unnamed south American country.
It consists of:
Standing 10 yards away, back facing three targets that are 1 yard away from each other
Hands at the surrender position
Turning around and shooting two into the center circle of each target
Mandatory reload
Shooting two more into the center of each target
10 seconds is the par time. I average 8ish seconds, and the best shooters can get that down to 5.
