Quotes of the Week

"For among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised, and this is one of those ignominies against which a prince ought to guard himself, as is shown later on. Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants."  

--The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli

"There never was a new prince who has disarmed his subjects; rather when he has found them disarmed he has always armed them, because, by arming them, those arms become yours, those men who were distrusted become faithful, and those who were faithful are kept so, and your subjects become your adherents...But when you disarm them, you at once offend them by showing that you distrust them, either for cowardice or for want of loyalty, and either of these opinions breeds hatred against you."  

--The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli

"But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this characteristic [the prince (leader) as both beast and man in ruling], and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived."  

--The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli

Part 1: How to Legally Build a Suppressor

I have my new AR15 SBR that has all the paperwork done as detailed in the series How to Register an SBR.

One thing you should know is that these SBRs are seriously LOUD!

I started shopping for a suppressor. The prices are high: $800 to $1600

I have decided to build a suppressor. The odd thing is that I can't start making it until the paperwork is back. Here is where I start:

• Download and fill out the following forms: 
  
• ATF Form 1 (print 2 sided)
• Certification of Compliance with 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(B)
• Go to CVS for two passport photos
• Go to the County Courthouse and get two fingerprint cards ($10)
• Submit copies for the County Sheriff to sign
• Wait

There are hundreds of designs already available on the Internet. I think I will start with a .22 LR suppressor. I can decide that later because a design is not required on the form. I do need to tell the the Serial Number: JBM0001

--Might be a collectors item one day!!

The Miller Series

I have enjoyed doing a couple series:

How to Buy a Suppressor:

This six part series shows you all the steps, all the paperwork, how much it will cost and how long it will take.


How to Register a Short Barrel Rifle (SBR)

I learned a lot when I bought a suppressor. The process detailed in this four part series shows how it varies a bit from the suppressor process.

What is the next series? Drum roll please...

How to Legally Build a Suppressor

This series starts tomorrow! I will not only walk with you through the paperwork, I will even show you my design concepts and final product!

--This is going to be fun!

Doc Appt Today

I am heading in for yet another damn doc appointment for my back problem. My L4-5 disk is basically gone.

It has seriously cut into my range time. Mostly because simply standing for an hour hurts, dammit.

My next range trip will be taking two more new shooters. These two are friends that go to my church. Both are moms with grown kids and are having Adventures.

They are doing stuff like sky diving, driving a NASCAR track, repelling, and learning to shoot.

They want to try Rifles, Handguns and Shotguns. 

--It should be fun. Doc appointment, not so much...

Why I Love .22LR

I have several .22LR firearms. Both rifles and handguns. I saw this video yesterday while I was drinking coffee and reading my daily comics, including Failure to Fire.




--I can't wait until the .22LR drought is over!

What NOT to Recommend to a Woman

A reader sent me the pic below and I thought it was a good idea for a post. A Google image search found the source image for the gun but not this one. I could not even find it on inhersights.net as referenced in the image.

The fact remains that this is NOT the gun to recommend. I would even go as far as encouraging a new shooter, man or woman, to shoot a lot of different kinds of guns until they foind the one that speaks to them. It is all so subjective.

--Just please STOP with the pink Ladysmiths and the pats on the head!

Mondays

Monday and little time. As usual.  So I will be lazy and post this image that was floating around Facebook.

Quotes of the Week

Movie: Chinatown

Last night I watched the movie Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. They were so young!

I love this movie. Classic Film Noir. It was directed by Roman Polanski which ads to the creepy factor of the ending.

It seemed to have more guns than I realized once I looked it up in the Internet Movie Firearms Database:

• 1 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun
• 2 Colt Detective Special
• 3 Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
• 4 Smith & Wesson Model 10

 Miller Rating = 8 of 10


-- For me the guns shooting people didn't get to me as much as the scene where Jake gets his nose cut by Roman Polanski.

Part 4: How to Register a Short Barrel Rifle (SBR) Done!!

The deed is done. 

On October 1, 2012 the effort began and it was completed on May 23, 2013.

8 months, 23 days. 

Here is the series of events:

• Purchased the AR-15 to be converted to an SBR (10/1/12)
• Purchased the short barrel and upper
• DO NOT ASSEMBLE IT!
• Download and fill out the following forms: 
  
• ATF Form 1 (print 2 sided)
• Certification of Compliance with 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(B)
• Go to CVS for two passport photos
• Go to the County Courthouse and get two fingerprint cards ($10)
• Submit copies for the County Sheriff to sign
• I received signed forms in the mail (about 10 days) (11/1/12)
• Wrote a check to the ATF for $200 
• Sent it all to the ATF (2 copies of Form 1, Compliance Cert, $200 check) (11/2/12)
• Waited.
• Received approved form on May 23, 2013.
• Assembled the SBR.

I made one mistake in this effort. I printed two pages, single sided. It required the form to be a single page, printed on both sides. Otherwise the process was easy but took a long time.

--Next: I need to find the right suppressor for this rig!

ZOMG! That's Illegal!

So I got a phone call from the gunsmith yesterday. One of my AR15s is in there for a mod.

The thing is that AR15 is my SBR (post about that soon) and one of the managers saw it on the bench and made a panic call to me, "Sir, do you know it is illegal to build a rifle with a barrel that short without doing a mountain of paperwork getting permission from the ATF as an official Manufacturer?"

"Yes. I know. I showed the smith my approved ATF Form 1 when I dropped it off."

"Ummmm... Let me call you back."

I ended up going back with the form so they could make a copy of the tax stamp to staple to the work order.

Are SBRs so rare that it causes this kind of confusion?

--Anyway, I should get it back this week.

Fun Custom Rifle Stock

A friend of mine emailed me this pic. Love it!

The 5th Amendment Takes a Hit

At work there was a big discussion about a Supreme Court Ruling that happened this week that eroded the 5th Amendment.

There is a liberal soccer mom in my office that has totally drunk on liberal Kool Aid, but even she actually said,

"With what is happening with the 4th and 5th Amendments recently the NRAs defense of the 2nd Amendment doesn't seem so extreme."

My mouth hung open.

I reminded her of 1st Amendment issues lately as well.

What do all of these have in common? Big government trying to control the people. ALL the people. by removing the tools they have to protect themselves against the Government.

--Wake the Hell Up, people. ALL of you!

WANT: Winchester model 94

When I was at Clark Brothers this weekend I was checking out the consignment rack.  I noticed a Winchester 94, lever action, .44 magnum, rifle.

I now really want one. I love my S&W .44mag. I would long to get a companion carbine for the revolver. The one I was looking at had a 24 inch barrel and a tube mag that holds 12 rounds of .44mag.

I would just use iron sights on it. It would make a good deer hunting rifle! Add a sling and it would be good.

--Might even be a good gun for the fireplace mantel!

Fathers Day at the Range

My son took me to the range for Fathers Day!

We started off with handguns. We took a lot of guns this time never knowing what kind of ammo they might have at Clark Brothers. If you buy ammo there you can use their range for free.

We shot my Glock 21, Glock 17, Beretta Px4 .40 and my Ruger SP101 .357mag.

What is "Low Brass" Ammo?

The second hour we did some Skeet Shooting. I hear it's a popular sport and that the President does it all the time.

I bought a case of clays and 100 rounds of 12 gauge. I had my Benelli and my 870. My son was really bad at skeet the last time we went about a year ago. He hit 1 clay out of 25 last time. This time he hit over 30 out of 50. I shot 47 of 50!

The ammo I bought was the budget 12ga number 7 that was "low brass" $8 a box of 25. The very first round I shot through the Remington 870 jammed it solid. The slide would not move. I was really pissed. I installed the recoil reduction stock on that baby and it is a joy to shoot now.

They have a gunsmith on staff and he cleared it for me. It jammed again on the very next round. He told me that Remington 870s have a problem with the "Low Brass" type of round. The Benelli ate that ammo just fine.

--I confess I have never shot low brass ammo. Not buying that again.

Quotes of the Week

“I have NO confidence whatsoever that some sort of gun registry doesn't already exist, in light of the NSA revelation, IRS revelation, AP wiretap revelation, etc.” 

- Rob Olive

“The ultimate authority resides in the people alone.”

- James Madison

“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.”

- George Orwell

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”

- Noah Webster

“The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.”

- Noah Webster

Truck Shopping

I am going shopping today for a new pickup truck. Here is the feature set I want!

1. Full size pickup
2. Made in the USA
3. V6 or V8
4. Extended cab
5. 8 foot bed
6. Cap on the back
7. Gun rack in the window

--Well the gun rack I  can add later.

UPDATE: Mission accomplished! The photo on the right is my new pickup! Dodge Dakota! Happy Fathers Day to me!! 

Top Sniper II

I have been watching the TV Mini-Series Top Sniper II on the Military Channel.

This is a Documentary about the Military Sniper training competition.

It is NOT one of the new "Reality" TV shows with dumb-ass, fabricated drama and crap.

The series has serious discussions about the tools, technologies and methodologies of the trade.

Check out the vids in the link on line.

--The mostly makes me want to spend a pile of cash on a .338 Lapua Magnum! or .50 BMG.

Go Follow Katee Sackoff

You remember Katee Sackoff, she played Starbuck on the reboot of Battlestar Galactica.

This week she started talking about the importance of gun safety and children on twitter.

About 100,000 people quit following her because of it.

I am kind of surprised that 100,000 people, that were smart enough to be her fans, hate children so much they don't want them to be safe.

I bet these same people don't want to teach kinds to drive safely, or teach them how to swim.


In this country, one in every three homes have guns in them. It is gross negligence as a parent to intentionally keep children ignorant because you are afraid.

I applaud and respect Katee. Follow her on Twitter!

--Why do these people hate children so much?

MD Backlog

I saw on the News that Maryland gun sales have skyrocketed.

MD has a waiting period. During that time they would run a background check.

The time the check takes has gone from one day to TEN WEEKS.

This is absurd.

In VA where I live gun sales have been huge as well. Way higher than MD. Background checks here take about 5 minutes. Even at the gunshows. I can buy a handgun and walk away with it right then. In addition our crime rate is lower. No blood in the streets.

--I think MD uses it to discourage buyers.

Irons in the Fire

Its a very busy week for me at work. More doctors appointments for my back injury too. Next week should lighten up on me.

I have several articles in the queue.

I got my SBR paperwork back. That same AR-15 is at the gunsmith for a repair. I submitted SBR paperwork for one of my Glocks in prep for a Roni wrapper. Planning upgrades to my gun shop. I am compiling a must have tool list. Skeet shooting trips. Killer Robot pics. Range runs. Where the hell is all the .22lr!

--But right now. Off to work.

FBI Gun Violence Stats Infographic

Quotes of the Week

“The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.”
- Noah Webster

“A government resting on the minority is an aristocracy, not a Republic, and could not be safe with a numerical and physical force against it, without a standing army, an enslaved press and a disarmed populace.”
- James Madison

“The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.”
- Noah Webster

“A government resting on the minority is an aristocracy, not a Republic, and could not be safe with a numerical and physical force against it, without a standing army, an enslaved press and a disarmed populace.”
- James Madison

“I have always been fascinated with guns. I grew up in America so granted, it is part of our heritage and it is written into the laws of how this country is run.”
- Joe Perry, Aerosmith

On DVD: Hit &Miss

I picked this TV series up at my favorite used book shop. They also sell music and movies too.

It is so original I love it. Granted I am only 4 episodes in but it is great so far. I am a very jaded viewer. Always on the look for something original.

This is original.

It has some really good guns too! Even though it takes place in the UK.

Here is the list of guns from the Internet Movie Firearms Database:

• 1 Taurus PT911
• 2 Beretta 92S
• 3 Beretta 84B
• 4 Norinco NZ 75
• 5 Ruger Speed Six
• 6 INDEP Lusa
• 7 Heckler & Koch HK93
• 8 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun

 --Good stuff. Good Guns.

Nation's Gun Show is This Weekend

The Nation's Gun Show is this weekend and I think I will be going this afternoon.

I need some bulk .223 if I can find it. Some .45, 9mm and .22lr if possible.

--Me and everyone else...

Dulles Expo Center
4320 Chantilly Shopping Center
Chantilly, VA 20153

22 Miles from Washington, DC

Directions: I-66, Exit 53B,
go 3 miles Rt. 28 N, turn right onto Willard Rd.,
 take 2nd left into the Chantilly Shopping Center,
Follow signs to Expo Center.

Advanced HUD Systems

A friend sent me this picture showing what he said is a British Soldier using a new HUD based set of optics.

This rig looks like it has the kitchen sink. It probably has one or more of the following:

• HUD Targeting
• Vid recording
• Low Light Amplification
• Infrared
• Data feeds
• LASER Sight
• Flash light
• Beer bottle opener

In time these will get smaller, lighter and have better integration.

--Father day is coming up. Just sayin...

Still on Travel

I am still at a conference and between sessions I have been reading a lot.

Yesterday I read Lucky Thirteen by Marko Kloos.

This is a short shorty that takes place in the Terms of Enlistment universe.

Great action adventure, scifi stuff.

I understand Marko is planning multiple sequals.

I support this plan!

--But when is the movie!?

Travel

While I am traveling I am enjoying the Kindle book, Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos.

I am about half way through and enjoying the hell out of it. I will do a full review when I am done.

Kindle books are great to have handy when you travel. I have access to the books on my iPad as well as my iPhone. It remembers my place as I switch from device to device.

The added bonus is that the books are cheaper and I can easily carry a few hundred with me in my pocket.

--Conference is starting! More coffee!

UPDATE: Finished it during lunch today. Now I want to see the movie!!

On Travel

I am traveling again this week.

I am attending a conference and I am lucky enough to bring my wife along. She gets to relax and vacation while I am slowly murdered by nerds with powerpoint slides.

If my soul is not eroded to numbness I will post about concealed carry here.

Keynote begins soon. Time enough for more coffee!

--More later.

Quotes of the Week

"Denial is a common tactic that substitutes deliberate ignorance for thoughtful planning." 

– Charles Tremper

 “I carry a weapon. I got a death threat a few years ago and was really scared. But I don’t want bodyguards. I am my own security.”

- Miranda Lambert.

“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed, unlike the people of other countries, whose leaders are afraid to trust them with arms.” 

- James Madison

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”

- James Madison

“The ultimate authority resides in the people alone.”

- James Madison

“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.”

- George Orwell

So You Want to Build a Suppressor

The press has been all a buzz about the use of 3D printers recently. That has generated a ton of talk at work about 3D printers, zip guns, CNC machines and garage projects.

Including the making of suppressors at home. It turns out that there are thousands of designs out there on the Internet. I did a random Google image search and found thousands in a few seconds.

Here is an old patent drawing:

There are even Youtube videos on how to make quick disposable suppressors from plastic bottles or oil filters and other stuff.

I want to do it legally start to finish. I think a .22 will be my first.

After a bit of research I discovered all you have to do is fill out an ATF Form 1 suite of paperwork, and pay the $200. Provide a description and serial number and your off. Well you will have to wait the 9 months for approval but then you are good to go.

With the cost of suppressors so high it is worth a shot! (pun intended)

-- I may have a new series about to begin.