Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe

When I was looking for an inside the waist band holster for my compact 1911, a reader recommended the Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe.

It cost less than $70 and is extremely comfortable.

I have been wearing it as my primary carry rig for about six months and still lovin it.

Excellent value.

--Make sure you always wear the right belt!

WANT: LC9

Last weekend when I was at Clark Brothers siting in my EOTech there was a concealed carry class being conducted.

One of the students was shooting a Ruger LC9. She had a nice holster and it was a great pick for carry.

I heard a the question, "What is the best gun for concealed carry."  The teacher said, "The gun you have with you." They discussed pros and cons of cals and features. The LC9 was held up as a very good choice because of the combination of power, size, reliability, weight and concealability.

I have the Kel-Tec P3AT in .380 now but I like the LCP!

--One of these guys will find its way into my safe.

Packing up gear

So I am heading to the The Northcoast Blogshoot II this weekend and started making lists of all the gear I want to bring.

But what should I pack all this in?

I like double rifle, hard sided, Pelican cases. I have one hard sided case that I have had for years. I think I need another.

A new range bag may also be in order. Ammo, mags, ear protection, and other gear.

After last year I also learned a couple things that have led me to bring this year. A shade fly, a cooler, and chairs.

--I will probably forget to pack any clothes.

Quotes of the Week

"If you are going through Hell, keep going."

-- Winston Churchill

"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not going to make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plum, mad-dog, mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."

-- Clint Eastwood, The Outlaw Josey Wales

NPR List Bandwagon

The NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy novels with the ones I have read in bold:

1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin (on TV)  
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan (too rapey)
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell (don't need to read, absorbed via cultural osmosis) 
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley (tried and failed) 
 21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess (tried and failed) 
 31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams  (tried and failed)
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey (tried and failed)
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley (tried and failed)   
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson  
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven

45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien (tried and failed)
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God’s Eye, by Larry Niven  Jerry Pournelle
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks (tried and failed) 
 68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
70. The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel’s Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe  
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer’s Hammer, by Larry Niven  Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis

The Black List

I am glad someone finally put together a consolidated list of Gun Blogs that sorts by recent updates.

Check out the Gun Blog Black List!

I was surprised to find The Miller already on the list.

--Great job North in putting it together!

Earthquake

The Great Virginia Earthquake of 2011 will be long remembered in my house as PEZocalypse.

All humor aside: This event really got me thinking.

People completely freaked out. The Cell phone system totally failed. The Internet was overwhelmed. The highways were Jammed.

The thing that got me thinking is the question: "What if this had been really bad?"

I was at work when it hit. If I wasn't killed outright there would be no way to drive home for all the bridges between the two.

I checked my BOB in the truck. Good there. I have 2 liters of water as well. My sneakers were not there but I think I could squeeze 20 miles out of my work shoes.

--Got more thinking to do. There were aftershocks last night. Or were these all fore-shocks?

Ask Will Hayden

Over at MArooned JayG has the interesting opportunity and asks Will Hayden from Sons of Guns a very important Question:

"Assuming all paperwork were handled properly, could you make Abomination?"

--LOVE the new banner JayG!

The Walking Dead

I was reading up on the new fall season starts of some of my favorite shows. The Second Season of the Walking Dead begins on October 16th.

I hope this season they get a bit smarter about Zombie killin. Look at the promo pic above. A double barrel shotgun, bolt action rifle, revolver, pump shotgun. Sheesh.

--Gimme a nice AR15!

Range Weekend

Took one of my pals to the range this weekend. It was a beautiful day for blowing off some steam. He had never shot a carbine before and I was taking it to tune up the EOTech with it.

First off he is a lefty. Even configured right handed it was very easy for him to shoot.

It can be reversed to for a lefty. Easily in fact. We were getting great groups, even at 100 years.

As configured it got lots of attention at the range. That still surprises me.

--The Px4/Cx4 combination is great.

Quotes of the Week

"If you fall down 7 times, get up 8 times." 

-- Jigoro Kano

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us."

- Jerry Garcia

“Clearly the media is no longer taking a passive role, or even objective reporting. The media has become an activist voice for supremacists and the far left.” 

--Pam Geller 

An old Cherokee told his grandson, "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, & ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, & truth." The boy thought about it, and asked, "Grandfather, which wolf wins?" The old man quietly replied, "The one you feed." 

--Cherokee Lesson

"There is no safety this side of the grave."  

--Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land


"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

--Robert Heinlein

Northcoast Blogshoot II

Last year I was fortunate enough to attend the Northcoast Blogshoot I event. It was a massive amount of shooting fun but the best part was all the new friends I got to meet. Back by popular demand.


This year it looks like it will be a two day shoot and camping space is available! Let Breda know if you plan on attending.

--Next stop Willoughby...

Gun crimes drop at Virginia bars and restaurants

Well what do you know?

There was no blood in the streets. It did not become the wild west.

"Virginia's bars and restaurants did not turn into shooting galleries as some had feared during the first year of a new state law that allows patrons with permits to carry concealed guns into alcohol-serving businesses, a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis found.

The number of major crimes involving firearms at bars and restaurants statewide declined 5.2 percent from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, compared with the fiscal year before the law went into effect, according to crime data compiled by Virginia State Police at the newspaper's request."

--I Love Virginia.

Glock Factory Threaded Barrels

I am so glad that Glock is now making factory threaded barrels.

I already have a Glock 21 and was planning a suppressor. This will make that decision easier!

They are available for both the 9mm Model 19 and the .45 Model 21.

--I like it quiet.

WANT: Gnomes

I love lawn gnomes. I have a grumpy one named Elvis that keeps an eye on my hot tub. Damn squirrels.

Guns and Zombies.

I saw these links this week in several places. It was hard to hat tip the originator. So you know who you are if you linked them!

--I think this set goes together well!

Top Shot Season 3 Begins

"Season 3 starts off with a bang when a shoot-off between pairs of contestants determine who's on which team. Next, the first challenge forces the losing team to face off against the winning team. Finally, a contest inspired by the stagecoaches of the Old West decides who will be the first to go home."

It looks like this season, on the History Channel, will have a bigger budget, more interesting shooting challenges, and be more physically challenging.

It started right off with a Smith and Wesson 500 Magnum challenge. I loved the slow motion vids!

--They need to find more really good female shooters!

Back from Vacation!

Sean Sorrentino

I was gone for two weeks on a camping vacation. The weather was excellent. The food, coffee, beer, bourbon and scotch were all good! There was plenty of bacon, campfires, laughing, shooting stars and moonlight.

I read the first two Monster Hunter books by Larry Correia. Great fun reads, perfect for a vacation that includes lots of hammock time.

Even the little bit of rain we had was fine.

While I was on there I happened to meet another gun blogger!

     Sean Sorrentino from NC Guns

Head over and buy a T-Shirt!

--He is the only person on the planet that didn’t get guns from the ATF!

Quotes of the Week

Switzerland is a land where crime is virtually unknown, yet most Swiss males are required by law to keep in their homes what amounts to a portable, personal machine gun.

–Tom Clancy

 Gun bans don't disarm criminals, gun bans attract them.

– Walter Mondale

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

--Graffiti  

"If you think you have a right to force me to pay for your health care, then why don't you have a right to force me to pick your cotton?"

--Jeffery Quick 

“In these instances of justifiable homicide it may be observed that the slayer is in no kind of fault whatsoever, not even in the minutest degree; and is therefore to be totally acquitted and discharged, with commendation rather than blame.”

-Sir William Blackstone - Commentaries on the Laws of England

“Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes her laws.” 

–Mayer Amschel Rothschild

"One of the things that caused me, as a gun owner and avid shooter, to get more involved with the issue is being greatly incensed at the constant attempts to make me responsible for the negligent, criminal or suicidal behavior of others."

-Sebastian, Snowflakes In Hell
 

Sometimes words fail me...

--Sometimes too much is never enough.

A Visitor

--Bear hunting season start in October...

Alice Upgrades

When I first got my DPMS AR-15 I tossed everything on it including the kitchen sink.

Playing to it's strengths, I reduced the hardware I piled on it. I replaced it with a 12x Scope and a bipod.

Configured this way it better exploits the bull barrel. This baby has groups that can be covered with a .25 coin at 100 yards.

--I need to find a longer range.

WANT: Marlin Camp Carbine

I saw a Marlin Camp Carbine today in a gun shop. If it had been a .45acp version I would have bought it on the spot. The one I saw was a 9mm though. It would be sweet sharing the mags of my 1911.

Marlin Camp Carbine .45

--The want list grows...

Cx4 Upgrades

Without any modifications, my Beretta Cx4 Storm has been excellent. I couldn't help adding some upgrades.

I started with a good two point sling.

Next I added a barrel shroud. It was very easy to install and really works. That barrel gets hot! Damn hot.

The most notable addition is the EOTech 512. The EOTech 512.A65/1 is a Tactical HOLOgraphic weapon sight that actually runs on common AA Batteries. It works great but I wish it had a lower profile so that you could still see the fixed sights through.

--Big Mags and a Suppressor are what next!

Ruger BX-25

A sampling of my 10/22 mags

For years I have been looking for a decent capacity magazine for my Ruger 10/22's.  I have several different brands that always seemed to fall sort for one reason or another.

None of them ever have a metal threshold like the factory ten round mags. Until now...

Now Ruger is making them, the Ruger BX-25.  I immediately bought a couple of them to try and they are awesome. No feed issues. They are easy to load. The nose pins and feed rails are durable metal. They are also reasonably priced.

--I need about ten more. Ten to get started.

Quotes of the Week

I am convinced that we can do to guns what we've done to drugs: create a multi-billion dollar underground market over which we have absolutely no control.

– George L. Roman

Armed people are free. No state can control those who have the machinery and the will to resist, no mob can take their liberty and property. And no 220-pound thug can threaten the well-being or dignity of a 110-pound woman who has two pounds of iron to even things out … People who object to weapons aren't abolishing violence, they're begging for rule by brute force, when the biggest, strongest animals among men were always automatically "right." Guns ended that, and a social democracy is a hollow farce without an armed populace to make it work.

– L. Neil Smith (from The Probability Broach)

The police can't stop an intruder, mugger, or stalker from hurting you. They can pursue him only after he has hurt or killed you. Protecting yourself from harm is your responsibility, and you are far less likely to be hurt in a neighborhood of gun-owners than in one of disarmed citizens – even if you don't own a gun yourself. – Harry Browne


A strong body makes a strong mind. As to the species of exercise I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks.

– Thomas Jefferson

Gun control? It's the best thing you can do for crooks and gangsters. I want you to have nothing. If I'm a bad guy, I'm always gonna have a gun. Safety locks? You will pull the trigger with a lock on, and I'll pull the trigger. We'll see who wins.

– Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, whose testimony convicted John Gotti

I say that the Second Amendment doesn't allow for exceptions – or else it would have read that the right "to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, unless Congress chooses otherwise." And because there are no exceptions, I disagree with my fellow panelists who say the existing gun laws should be enforced. Those laws are unconstitutional [and] wrong – because they put you at a disadvantage to armed criminals, to whom the laws are no inconvenience.

– Harry Browne, meetings with NRA's EVP, Wayne LaPierre and other panelists 
 

Survival Gear

People keep sending me links to stuff that made them think of me. You probably get them too. Some get flooded with porn links. I get links to guns and survival gear.

I am actually very pleased at how common Bug Out Bags, Multi-Tools, First Aid Kits, and Small Survival Kits have become.

The one in the picture is from Gerber and is prepacked and only $35 including the pouch and Multi-tool.

--Toss one in your glove box!

Pending Zombie Apocalypse Preps

Most of you probably already know that the CDC now officially has recommendations for preparing for the Pending Zombie Apocalypse.


"There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That’s right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency."
 
Where the CDC fails is in the recommendation on the best firearms for the job. And NO, it's NOT Shotguns!!

I know that all my intelligent readers are preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse. Of course you are. I know I am!

One of your important preps is a Zombie Rifle. One good selection is a Mini-14.

Above you will see the standard version, out of the box and one with tactical stock, dot scope, LASER, high cap mag, and light. The modified light rig is .223 and shoots very nice groups at 100 yards. The gas operated action is the same as the M1A and the classic M1 Garand. It is almost recoilless and is easy to maintain target acquisition. Very fun to shoot.

--Don't forget to buy ammo!

Blog Roll Updates

Guns Smithing and Politics

He is a twenty one year old student from Tucson, AZ. He is in the process of enlisting in the US Coast Guard. Guns, smithing, politics, and Christ are the things that gets him going.

Gun Free Zone

Gun Free Zone? The short version: “I am just messin’ with y’all!”

The Shooters Log


This Blog is from the folks at CheaperThanDirt.com.

--Go check Themout. Tell him I sent you!

3AT = .380 get it?

A lot of people often discuss the "best" gun". Kel-Tec rarely makes peoples best of lists. But I have to say I really like the Kel-Tec P3AT in .380.

I believe that the "best gun" is the one you have with you when you need it.

The P3AT is tiny. It is very light, even fully loaded and comfortable to carry. Mine cost $269 (plus another $15 for the belt clip). The .380 round is not the best but it is a much better round than the .25cal I have in my Beretta 21A that is the same size.

You can also get a nice little belt clip for the P3 that makes it VERY easy to carry concealed. Even wearing shorts and a T-shirt you can carry the P3.

At the range it does OK. I can put six rounds in a five inch group at seven yards consistantly. My friend T-Bolt says it's good within "Bad Breath Range". I agree.

One other thing you need to know about the P3AT is that it NEEDS to be clean. By the time you get to 100 rounds at the range mine begins to suffer stove pipes and other failures to feed. While freshly cleaned and lubed it works great. It's way better now after breaking it in.

--The Kel-Tec P3AT is a good value. 3AT = .380 get it?

Gun Bag Go-To Guns

People got me to thinking about the guns I have that usually find their way to the range with me.

When I go to the range it is usually with a specific focus. Sighting in a new scope or airing out a new firearm. That usually never takes a whole hour. So what do I take that makes up the difference? Usually they are guns with lots of mags already loaded.

First I take my regular carry piece. Currently my compact, slim gripped, 1911 RIA goes with five extra mags.

Second I take a Glock. My model 19 or model 21. Each with lots of preloaded mags.

Next would be one of my Ruger Mark III's.

Also one of my Ruger 10/22's.

--At least two of these guys ALWAYS go to the range with me. (One in a holster.)

MMR Tactical

Mossberg has a new AR-15 that, right out of the box, is configured exactly how I want. They call it the MMR Tactical. MMR stands for Mossberg Modern Rifle. It has the barrel, stock, fore grip, flat top, weight and sights I have been looking for.

Mossberg MMR 556 Tactical

I still have not handled one so I may change my mind. The best part may be the modest price. Internets says it can be had, as configured above, for about $800.

--This may find it's way to the want list. Let's hope so.