There’s a buddy of mine that has been on the fence about getting a gun, but slowly he’s coming to the conclusion that owning a gun would be a wise decision towards the ability to protect his home and his family. Between that, some other people coming to me for advice on “getting starting” with firearms, and noticing a great many people come across my blog because they are searching for the best gun, or the best 9mm handgun, best pistol, or the best defensive gun, good defensive home guns, or whatever combination of search terms… I figured it might be useful to have a posting discussing this topic.
Guns
Keeping your kids safe around guns
Tam is much better than I at being snarky, but she provides a nice counterpoint.
It’s a shame some people don’t understand the point she raised.
Furthermore, if you really want to keep your kids safe around guns? Consider something like the Eddie Eagle Safety Program. That’s what gets me the most about the “well-intended” suggestions towards keeping kids safe, be it regarding guns or anything else. People expect everyone else to make the world safe for them (i.e. you change, I remain the same). The reality is the world is filled with things that, no matter our best efforts, can be harmful. Instead of expecting the world to cater to you, better you should equip yourself with the means, skills, and abilities to deal with the world around you.
So if you really want to do your kids a favor towards keeping them safe, provide them with the skills and know-how to keep themselves safe. We may try to keep strangers away from our children, but we acknowledge they may come in contact so we teach them all those “stranger-danger” tactics so they can manage should danger come their way when we’re not around. We teach kids to walk facing traffic so when there’s no sidewalk, they can see the oncoming cars. So when it comes to guns, even if you think they are horrible things that ought to be banned, it’s possible kids will come in contact with a gun at some point in their life so why not also give them the tools here to deal with it safely?
Stop. Don’t Touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.
If you wish to educate them further, check out Kathy Jackson’s articles on the topic of kids and guns.
Another local
Just came across the website of another Austin-based blogger of similar ilk. I shall add to the blogroll.
I like his name, too. 😉
(Revised) Improved Battlesight Zero
So you have your AR-15, you need to zero it in. There are many ways and schools on how to zero, but it seems that some of the”newer thinking” in this area yields some better results.
The old Maryland AR15 Shooters club website is gone, but one key piece remains: Lt. Colonel Chuck Santose’s Improved Battlesight Zero document. (h/t to M4Carbine.net). The one thing I really miss about the Maryland AR15 shooters website was they had a great many graphs showing trajectories and comparing the various zeroing techniques. When you viewed the trajectory comparisons, it became evident how good IBZ was as a battlesight zero (again, battlesight, not bullseye).
The folks over at AR15.com have their own take on the matter, with some slight improvements along with discussions, clarifications, pictures, and some trajectory graphs.
Updated: I used the Revised Improved Battlesight Zero on a Bushmaster. Clicky to read the results.
Gun laws and Texas schools
A useful article about gun laws as they pertain to schools in Texas. (h/t to KR Training).
One question.
Texasl Penal Code Section 46.03(a)(1) says that you cannot carry concealed on a school bus. But I wonder. Is that school bus period? Or school bus performing school-related activities? The intent of the law seems to pertain to school-related activities, but the letter of the law seems to read school bus period. The reason I wonder is I know the City of Austin (and may well other places in Texas too) uses school buses to shuttle people around for large city events. These events have no weapons restrictions to/from/at the event, people with CHL’s can carry and go about their business as usual, and if the bus was a city bus there’d be no issue. But merely due to logistics of handling the event (needing lots of mass transportation vehicles), school buses get used.
IMHO, this is a place where the law needs some clarification. I would assert that when a school bus is used for a non-school-related function that it’s not truly a school bus, merely a bus that’s painted yellow.
But IANAL. Still, I’m going to write my Texas congresscritters.
He wants a new one
So Caleb wants a new gun.
Based upon his preferences and requirements, I would say either the M&P or the XD(m).
Glock? No. He likes 1911’s and while they both enjoy a favorable aftermarket, the Glock is just different enough in ergos from a 1911 that it may not be enjoyable or may take time to adjust to.
Sig? No. He wants to shoot the gun in competition, and that first DA shot is going to suck. He could practice a lot, but still it’s going to suck.
Wheelgun? Nothing wrong with it, but such a different manual of arms (tho I’m sure Caleb put that there to be silly).
So it’s down to the XD(m) and M&P.
The XD is likely to have a closer manual of arms and ergos to his beloved 1911’s. But depending what exactly he’ll be doing with this, going with the M&P might be worthwhile because in the law enforcement sector you can get good prices, good support products. Both have a strong enough aftermarket, parts, custom work (e.g. Springer Precision for XD work), and reputation. I like both guns, but have an XD bias. 🙂
Anthony Bourdain and Uncle Ted
Two guys I love get together for a little fun, Uncle Ted style.
Let’s surrender!
I really do not like Ann Coulter. But this article I mostly agree with. I don’t like all of her cheapshots and bashing (but it’s not being diplomatic that makes her money), but her underlying argument is spot on.
Random thoughts from the gun range
I was able to make a quick trip to the local indoor gun range this morning to try out my new purchase. Nothing really cohesive here… just a bunch of thoughts from the trip.
First, the Buck Mark was so nice. I cleaned her before I went, to take off the manufacturing/shipping residues and ensure it was well-oiled. Daughter helped me. I do think she’s more into shooting than her brothers, which is great! She can’t wait to try out the Buck Mark. I just didn’t have time this morning (and I refuse to take my kids to the indoor range), so I’ll soon be making time to take her to the outdoor range as soon as I can. Meantime I told her we can do some dry practice with it at home so she can learn it.
At the range, it was nice. This is why I prefer going early on weekday mornings: I was the first and only person on the range. Shot benchrest so I could get the rear sight adjusted. Shot at 7 yards to get it on paper, then out to 15, then 25, then back to 7. Fine tuned along the way. Should be sighted in, but after squinting so hard for so long my eyes were getting upset with me and it’s so dark in there, so I may need to re-verify the sight-in later. I have a hard time shooting with both eyes open, but it’s something I work on and I’ll get there eventually.
The Buck Mark itself was quite nice. It balances very well (has a 5.5″ barrel). The grip is very comfortable, but either it’s a wee thick (nah) or the magazine release button is a little short (this)… I can’t quite get my thumb to drop the magazine. I’ll have to see if there’s an aftermarket replacement for the mag release that’s just a hair bigger, but it’s a minor nit. Trigger felt nice. The magazine is a little tricky to load but once you get the hang of it, not so bad. I did buy one of these HKS magazine speed loader things, tried it once, didn’t use it again. Not that there’s anything wrong with it (I’m sure it’ll make things a bit easier for my kids), but it’s just another gadget to lose or break or forget and doesn’t really offer me any sort of advantage… certainly didn’t help me load any faster.
All in all, I’m happy with it. I really want to shoot some steel with it… that’ll be fun!
As for other things at the range…
When I arrived there were a group of guys in the parking lot talking. I figured they had just finished up and were talking before leaving. But as I was finishing up I saw they had moved into the ready area and were coming in. So, I only put about 70 rounds total downrange and did feel I got her dialed in fine, but with them coming I opted to leave a little early (only thing remaining was to just shoot offhand for some fun). I have no idea what their gun handling skills were like, but seeing some of their targets at 3 yards with holes all about well… better safe than sorry.
When I was back in the store area waiting for a cashier, I observed other people. One guy was at the rental counter trying out different guns. He would hold the gun at his stomach to rack the slide, violating rule 1 in a few ways, the biggest of which was that “into your stomach” is not a safe direction for a muzzle. Another man was getting his gun worked on. Looked to be a Ruger Charger Pistol, looked like he was getting a bore sight. Bore sight completed, employee handed the gun back to the man, then I don’t know what he was doing but he then proceeded to aim at the ground (and his feet) and do something… with his finger on the trigger. I did my best to stand somewhere else.
The shop/range wasn’t all that busy this morning, but it was enough. I try to avoid this place for these reasons (amongst others), but there are some things it’s good for (e.g. sighting in). So, when I was leaving to go there this morning I had to explain to the kids why they couldn’t go and why I won’t take them. When I got home, I was able to give them specific examples as to why I won’t take them there.
On the drive home, I thought more about the Ruger Charger. Oldest likes it because of how it looks. He really wants one. I tell him it’s just the same as the Ruger 10/22 rifle we already have (it’s the same action), just different stock/grip and shorter barrel. So that’s why I haven’t been interested in getting one as I haven’t seen the point. However as I thought about it, I think I do see a point. Sometimes I don’t like shooting the 10/22 because I want to shoot a handgun, not a rifle. Then when you consider the Ruger 10/22 is the most popular rimfire rifle in the world and has a big aftermarket, what that means is with the Charger you can have a .22 pistol with a massive aftermarket, so you can really customize and tune it just like you like it. That’s actually a pretty good thing. So no, the Charger isn’t on my “to buy” list, but now at least I’ll consider it.
In case of zombies…
…. break glass!
I’m not sure about the birdshot, but the inclusion of safety glasses was a nice touch. 😎
Stuff From Hsoi 