Guns

.38 Special load recipe – for plinking, using Berry’s bullets and Titegroup powder – version 1.1

/ hsoi / 5 Comments

So I have my original .38 Special plinking load.

I realized after loading a bunch that the powder drop was actually dropping 3.7 grains of Titegroup. I’m on the really low end of things so I didn’t think it’d make that much of a difference, but I swore one time at the range those loads felt a little snappier. So I reloaded a bunch more .38 making sure to load it at 3.5 grains.

At the range this morning I tried out both loads side-by-side. I don’t have any chrono results, but I can say I felt a hint more snap in the 3.7 grains vs. the 3.5 grains. And there’s something that wants to say the 3.7 might have been a hair more accurate, but I didn’t have enough on hand to really make that determination.

Nevertheless, 3.5 or 3.7 didn’t make too much practical difference in how things felt. I’m going to run my supply down (should be easy with next month’s snub class), and when I begin .38 loads again, I’m going to try it at the 3.7 grains and see how it goes.

Anyway, at this point I’m pretty satisfied with my .38 recipe. I’m sure I’ll experiment more in the future, different powders, different bullets, different lengths and so on. But for now, what I have works and is good enough to go forward.

Paranoid vs. Prepared

/ hsoi

Earlier I made mention of two concepts: paranoid, prepared. I think it’s worth elaborating on them.

To some, a particular level of preparedness is paranoia. You carry a gun? You must be paranoid, thinking everyone is evil and bad guys lurk around every corner. You’re storing food and water? Do you think Armageddon is coming? Yes, I can see how some could perceive these two notions as a range, and how one could classify something closer to one or the other. However, I don’t think these two concepts are mutually exclusive nor on a range. Nor do I think someone who is prepared is (necessarily) paranoid.
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Initial 9mm reloads

/ hsoi / 3 Comments

Time to change the Lock-n-Load AP from .38 Special to 9mm.

I’ve actually tried a couple 9mm recipes already, and based upon them and the components I have available, here’s what I’m going to start with:

Bullet: Berry’s plated 9mm 115 grain RN DS

Primer: Remington 1.5 Small Pistol

Cases: Whatever used 9mm cases I have

COAL: 1.135″

Powder: Titegroup 4.5 grains (or maybe 4.4)

The only case prep was cleaning the cases (dry vibratory case tumbler), then of course a resize and decap. No triming, no primer pocket cleaning, nothing like that. I used a taper crimp and I know varying case lengths can affect the crimp, but I’m just looking to make a basic plinking/target load that I can shoot in quantity.

The powder selection is because I’m kinda liking Titegroup, I’ve got a bunch of it, so let’s run with it and see what I can get from it. The last time I used Titegroup had 4.2 grains and wasn’t enough to really make the guns run. So what to use? The Speer #14 manual says the max is 4.5 grains, using a Speer TMJ RN 115 grain bullet and 1.135″ COAL (or a Speer GDHP and 1.125″ COAL). Hodgdon’s manual says 4.8 grains using a 115 grain Speer GDHP and 1.125″ COAL, and lists 4.5 grains as the minimum. Hodgdon’s website adds a 115 grain LRN with a COAL of 1.100″ with a max of 4.3 grains and min of 3.9 grains.  Furthermore, Berry’s plated bullets really can’t go more than 1200 fps, and 9mm by nature tends to push towards that limit. Given all of this, given the performance I saw in my prior test, given that I’d like this to run in any 9mm gun I have well… I’m thinking 4.5 grains ought to be right. I didn’t want to spend all day sweating single granule differences in weight, so the final weight was somewhere maybe 4.45 grains. Close enough.

Since this is the first time for a load, I wouldn’t want to load up a lot: load a few, see if they work, then come back and adjust and load more. However, given what I’ve seen, I think this load ought to work out OK. Thus I loaded 45 rounds (was going to do 50 but had 45 primers left in this one tray so I just went with that). That should be enough to ensure the load cycles in all my 9mm handguns, do some basic testing for accuracy, see how it feels, and just see how it goes.

So at this point, I’ve got my .223 loads, my .38 loads, and now these 9mm loads. I shall be going to the range soon to try them all out. Reminds me… I need to swab out the AR.

At Your Doorstep

/ hsoi / 6 Comments

A quip from John Farnam. Seems a couple guys robbed a bank. Police give chase, the 2 robbers split up in a residential neighborhood. One cons his way into a house and even manages to get the homeowner to drive him out, but they are stopped by the police. The other walks into an unlocked house, finds the car keys, steals the car and off he escapes.

Lessons for me:

Keep doors (home and car) locked! Keep your electronic security system turned on when you’re not there. Be armed, even at home. Don’t engage strangers at your doorstep in conversation, and don’t unlock the door! Tell them that you can’t help them, and that you’re calling police.

Be aware that dangerous, criminal suspects are everywhere, including your doorstep!”

People wonder why I carry my gun, even at home.

Because… shit happens. And when shit does happen, it happens in seconds.

It this being paranoid? No. Paranoid would be thinking everyone was out to get me, the boogeyman was around every corner. I don’t think that. The world is full of good people who mostly go about their day and leave me alone. But there are exceptions to the rule… like those two bank robbers.

Rather, it’s about being prepared. Boy Scouts aren’t paranoid, they are prepared. It’s about making preparations beforehand, so we’re ready when needed.

Capitol Security

/ hsoi

Some nutjob walks into the Texas State capitol building, shoots a gun in the air. No one is hurt, the schmuck is subdued.

And of course, everyone freaks out and there’s a call for more security.

I’m not going to excuse what the guy did.

But clamping down on the Capitol Building is not the way to make it more secure. It won’t stop anything. Look at the “high level of security” that goes on at the airports and it doesn’t stop things.

Governor Rick Perry thinks metal detectors is the wrong way to go about it.

But other Texans do, and “criminals have to think twice before they draw a gun because there is a good chance that they are going to end up outnumbered by law-abiding citizens who are not only armed, but screened and trained properly in firearm use … (which) keeps us all safer,” Perry said.

Even Austin’s Democrat Representative, Mark Strama, says:

Rep. Mark Strama of Austin is open to security changes, but doesn’t want to lose the connection Austinites feel to the building.

“My bias, if there’s not a compelling case coming from the security experts, is to keep the Capitol as open as possible. It’s a jewel to this community,” he said.

However another one of Austin’s Democrat Representatives, Eddie Rodriguezsays:

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez of Austin said metal detectors should be put in place at entrances. He also thinks the open carry law within the capitol should be revisited next session.

“I think after yesterday and what could have happened, it might be something people change their minds about,” Rodriguez said.

Setting aside the fact there isn’t open carry in Texas (I assume this was a journalistic mistake), I don’t see how that would make any difference. As it is, someone with a concealed carry permit can carry concealed into the Capitol building. Why should that change? This guy didn’t have a license, and either way well… he was already breaking the law in numerous ways. How would more laws stop him? Do tell. Could a metal detector have stopped him? Probably so. But it would also stop a lot of legally carrying law-abiding citizens as well.

Please don’t disarm and disable us law-abiding citizens, especially if we’re participating in our state’s political process. It won’t make you safer.

Rick Perry and guns

/ hsoi

So Robbie got to spend the afternoon shooting guns with Texas Governor Rick Perry. And all at the local indoor range. Dang. I wish I had known I would have loved to have run over there and seen this.

Texas State Rifle Association PAC has also endorsed Rick Perry.

NRA endorses Rick Perry. Note here that while Perry has a good track record, it’s also policy of the NRA-PVF to endorse the incumbent unless there’s strong reason not to. To compare, the last time Kay Bailey Hutchison was graded by the NRA-PVF was in 2006 and she received an A+ rating.

Does this mean I’m voting for Rick Perry or endorse him? No it doesn’t. I just think it’s cool to see our Governor at the local gun range, hanging out with the people, giving instruction. Plus a little political and gun-related details about him.

I will say this. I will not vote for Kay.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

So Smith & Wesson released a new line of pistols at SHOT called The Bodyguard.

The intent seems to be making small pistols, able to be deeply concealed, and with an integrated laser. There’s a semi-auto version chambered in .380 and a revolver in .38 Special +P.

One thing I can’t tell but am curious about is frame construction. The semi-auto looks like it might be a polymer frame, but I can’t tell about the revolver. The revolver did talk about a “smooth trigger” so I wonder if there are different/reengineered internals for the revolver. Basically, is S&W working to directly compete against the Ruger LCR?

I does look like the semi-auto has a mechanical thumb safety, akin to a 1911’s. Consequently, I wonder what the trigger pull is like on that. By adding the mechanical thumb safety, could that mean they gave it a better trigger (i.e. gun doesn’t need a long and heavy pull to counteract the lack of a manual external safety)? Or could it be to have some sort of 1911-ish ergos so if one carried this as a backup or deep concealment gun your 1911-using-muscle-memory would apply just the same? I wonder.

What really perked my interest however was the snub. This snub is made with an ambidextrous cylinder release. Granted the cylinder still has to swing out to the left, but I wonder how an ambi-release will change things for snub users. I’m not a lefty so this isn’t an issue for me. However, their integrated laser is up there on the right side. Does it interfere with operating the cylinder release from the right side? If so, that’s kinda defeating the point. I’d have to be able to see and fondle one to find out.

Certainly tho my interest is peaked. I doubt I’ll buy one, but certainly I’ll keep my eyes open for either gun — the snub especially — when I’m at the stores. I’d like to get a closer look at them.

The snub vs. multiple attackers

/ hsoi

Michael de Bethencourt has an excellent article addressing the question if a snub nose revolver (with it’s 5 rounds) is enough to contend with multiple attackers.

What’s interesting about Michael’s response isn’t so much addressing the hardware as addressing the software. That whole “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog”. It comes down to you and your ability and will to fight and prevail.

I may not be high on things like .380 Auto pocket guns or using a .22 for home defense. But I maintain that something is better than nothing. Everyone’s situation is different and there’s no “one perfect recipe” that suits everyone. I do think Micahel provides a reasonable guideline:

My advice on self-defense handguns comes down to this: Pick out that “minimum” gun you are absolutely certain you will be carrying when it is absolutely impractical and uncomfortable to carry any other make/model/style gun. Train with it like you will be facing three attackers. Learn to draw quickly, hit what you are aiming at quickly, learn to shoot on the move and learn to reload quickly with the spare ammo and the ammo carrier you actually carry. Train hard – its fun to do so it anyway. Then if you have to face one guy followed by one guy followed by one guy all one-after-the-other then you might just pull it off.

Figure out the hardware, then train train train practice practice practice.

.38 all done

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

Just came in from the garage. I have loaded all the .38 Special that I can load — I have no more .38 bullets, so that made it easy to stop. 🙂

I figure I have enough .38 on hand now for next month’s snub nose revolver class, then enough left over for practice. I do want to get to the range soon tho (next week?) and try out the loads to ensure they’re working well.

Now to change the press over to start loading 9mm. 2000 rounds to go….

I think I should go to Cabela’s and pick up some more components, especially 9mm bullets. The kids will like that shopping trip. 🙂

Austin Gun Show – More details

/ hsoi / 2 Comments

Howard Nemerov has more details about the situation with the Austin gun show.

Howard’s conclusion?

It appears that the Texas Gun Show event in north Austin was cancelled because:

·      The promoter didn’t follow the rules he originally agreed to.

·      After TGS agreed last week to uphold the sublease agreement, sales by unlicensed dealers continued inside the venue.

·      Another illegal alien was arrested for buying a firearm.

·      Because of prior public notification, a private gun seller is now at risk of federal prosecution.

·      HEB, being ultimately responsible to abate the nuisance created by the previous year’s illegal activity, acted to protect their interests, as any responsible company would.