5 so-called home defense experts.

5 so-called home defense experts

We have all met this guy in light conversation in the office or gun club. He is the resident expert on home defense. He includes statistics and talks in a raised eyebrow you should agree tone. His firearm of choice is the only viable option and will argue like a politician to secure his point, they are the “So-Called Home Defense Experts”

Now keep in mind that this is my perspective and humble opinion. Please let me know if you have a similar experience.

AR-15 Guy:

 This guy wants you to believe that every home defense situation is a quick trip back in time to Vietnam. He does not go into detail about tactics or specific ammunition, just that the black rifle fires an enormous amount of rounds and is great for running off large gangs of thugs.

Reality—The AR-15 used properly is an excellent home defense firearm. Depending on the basic layout of your home--that will determine the ammo and training you will need to ensure success and save the lives of your loved ones.

 Comrade AK-47:

He believes that when you have to absolutely kill every mother-F*&#@ in the room the AK is the weapon of choice. This person will swear up and down that the very sight of the AK will cause a fecal explosion in the pants of the nefarious infiltrator and he will run from your home in fear.

Reality—Once again no mention of training or ballistics with the AK. With the scores of variants in the US, it stands to reason that this firearm is in the average household. However, understanding the firearm is understanding the difficult nature of it as a home defense firearm. The AK fires a round that is roughly equivalent to a 30 caliber brush gun. Again, study the dimensions of your house and the material that lines your walls to ensure there will be little to no penetration.

 Shotgun Noise:

“The very sound of a shotgun will make them stop. That noise-you know-the sound of a shotgun racking a round in the chamber will send chills right up the spine. You see I’ve never had to use ol’ Betty here, because her bark is worse than her bite.” We all know this guy when looking for the best home defense firearm. He is orally passing down the same old story he heard from someone in a bait shop or gun club. This person cannot be reasoned with, nor can they give specifics to the follow-up question; what if they don’t run?

Reality-The shotgun is a superb home defense firearm. It does have some disadvantages such as weight and bulk. Not everyone in your household will be able to shoot or handle a 12 gauge shotgun. Who said it had to be a 12 gauge, more and more people are using the 20 gauge as a viable shotgun option for home defense. It’s light enough and still packs a punch. As for the noise, it may or may not work. Are you willing to bet your life on it? Train, train and more training. No your rounds and your shotgun and various distances within your home. A normal shotgun pattern will stay tight until after a certain distance, so unless you live in a mansion, just aiming in the general direction will not suffice.

Dirty Harry The Revolver Guy:

 

Usually an old timer who once fired a pistol in the air to scare away some “damn” teenagers in his yard. This man will go on and on about how the revolver holds just enough rounds to do the job until the cops show up. I once heard a man at a local gun club exclaim, “If I can’t get him with 6 then I deserve to die” WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY MAN?

Reality-The revolver is one of the oldest home defense firearms in the world. It rarely jams and can pack a mean punch to anyone looking to inflict harm. Not to mention, it does strike an intimidating pose with its iconic standing with Americans. All that aside, how quickly can you reload the revolver? Will you bring extra ammo with you while clearing room to room in your underwear? How do you clear a jam? The revolver is a great defense firearm but needs very special attention to fire and accurately acquire your intended target, especially at night.

 

…Of The Highest Caliber:

 

“I only need one shot to put ‘em down. That’s why I carry a *insert highest caliber possible*. Sure I don’t have a lot of bullets, but don’t need ‘em”. We ALL know this person. They scrutinize and peal back the reasons why you shouldn’t own a smaller caliber firearm. They put no stock into any ballistics except their chosen bullet. It would be easier to get two opposing politicians to agree on pro-life/pro-choice than change his mind.

Reality- Plain and simple situation dependence. I cannot say for certain that one shot is what you will need or not need in a given situation. However, police, military, and many shooting courses will teach follow up shots. The reason is simple, in a home defense situation you will be afraid or at least the adrenaline will be coursing through your body. This makes it very difficult to calmly place a single accurate shot. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a single well placed shot will do the job. If you are truly in fear for your life and your loved ones, then you must fire until the threat has been dealt with. That means out of your home or no longer moving.

 

The reoccurring theme to debunk most of these would-be experts is training. There are many companies that dedicate time and effort that properly train you to defend your home and your family. When it comes to firearm selection, use what you have, but be well trained with that firearm. If the only firearm you can afford is a Highpoint 9mm, then become the unequivocal guru on that firearm. Know the limitations and advantages in your household. As always be aware of your domestic floor plan. Train at night and during the day. If truly serious, then it should be no different than drilling your family for a potential fire.

 

 

 

American Sniper from a vet perspective.

My wife and I went to see the movie with another couple to a sold out theater. I'm not fond of going to the movies for so many reasons--shitty exits, unknown threats, rude people, but the theater in Oklahoma was at least inviting enough to stifle my anxiety.

As I watched the movie unfold it was clear to me that this was not a SEAL promotion movie or a gratuitous violence movie--it was about a man faced with difficult choices to save fellow service members and having to return home with the burden of combat. You would think that the combat was the hardest part of war, but it is not--it is having a wife who wants to love you but cannot because she does not know how to help you through the mind-blowing shit that you have experienced. Further, you cannot help her because you cannot articulate or describe the horror and helplessness felt at times during those engagements. The movie does a beautiful job portraying this exact conundrum.

As I listened to the audience reaction when he killed the boy with the grenade and eventually shot the boys mother who had attempted to finish the job--it was a heart stopping gasp. When the scene was over the audience did move on adding it to the problems he had to face. Unfortunately, most understood, but could not comprehend the spiral down feeling that Bradley Cooper portrayed. At a birthday party he quickly reacts to the dog playing with children--believing it to be an attack his honed instinct is to eliminate the dog to protect his child. As a sniper, JTAC, platoon leader, officer, ect. The overwhelming feeling is to do anything to protect those ground pounders at whatever cost to your soul. This is often dismissed as just the war or something akin to being a vet, but it goes beyond this. My own experience on my 2nd deployment the enemy was constantly hitting us with mortars and small arms. We sent out patrol after patrol but always had a hard time finding them. Sometimes we would and destroy them and it felt good--I will not lie to you. However one night we had a enemy mortar team in our sights. The A10 overhead saw the flash and so did we. I believed this to be one of the easiest controls ever. I was fortunate to have another JTAC with me so it was painfully easy. Unfortunately the Tactical ops Center did not want to strike the enemy they wanted the Quick Reaction Team to intercept and capture the bad guys. Attempting to use the A10 to relay the quickest route proved difficult and the mortars team got away. Several weeks later, that enemy mortar found it's mark. It slammed into the old canvas style tents the military used to have--killing and trapping five soldiers to be burned alive in that tent. Meanwhile one of the fuel trucks had been hit exploding and catching another on fire--with no regard for himself an 11B private jumped in got the truck started and drove it away from his fellow soldiers. Fortunately only the tires were on fire and were put out by the act of driving it away. For his heroic, selfless action he was awarded an Army Commendation while our Battalion Commander and his Sergeant Major hid in the bunker and both received a Bronze star with valor. This is the war we fought, this is the war most do not know. My point is this--whatever it takes to protect your brothers you do it without hesitation. You cannot count on the military garrison system to protect you or back you up. I often think of that night when we had that mortar team--that I should have disobeyed orders and cleared the aircraft to destroy that team. Maybe those soldiers would still be alive.

Chris Kyle was an extraordinary man, great father and loving husband. The movie is a testament to a man who was driven to help his fellow vets and get them to work out their problems and feel like a man again. His life and death are a part of us all--the SEALs lost a great operator/friend/brother--the vets still trying to work through issues lost a mentor/guide/hero. And we all know what the Kyle family lost --a wonderful Husband and Father.

He was an advocate of getting healthy and confronting your problems. He understood that no matter what service or what the conditions, we are all in the same boat as far as screwed up things in combat. My personal battle with PTSD is on-going and will never just go away--Chris Kyle is someone that I can still look towards for guidance and pathways to help others and myself--as for Chris Kyle--he is an inspiration to help our vets and to prepare our future vets. Rest in Peace Chris Kyle--Thank you Mrs. Kyle, Mr. Eastwood and Mr. Cooper for helping Chris bring his vision and story to life for all to see.

I wanted to end with something profound, but the words escape me. All I can say is the book and the movie had the same effect on me--thank God my wife was there and will always be here to pick up my broken pieces and put me back together again. Chris Kyle has shown us the path to help our Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Marines. It is up to us not let him down.

If you have problems get yourself right--get help please.

Thank you brother, to my brothers that have served and the ones we just couldn't get home alive--I miss you, I miss you so much.

Mosin Nagant

I was lucky enough, a couple years ago, to find an M91 untouched in a pawn shop for 120 dollars. I know what you're thinking, So what they are all over pawn shops EVERYWHERE, Duh!
Well my friends it was a rare find indeed: It was a 1916 M91. First and foremost most M91 were converted in the 1930s to the M91/30 which shortened the barrel, added a hood over the front sight, and changed the rear sight. Eventually the hex receiver changed to a round receiver.

So why was this so unique? It sounds like one slipped through. Well I will educate you my friend.
The Bolshevik Revolution occurred in 1917 with its grand promises of the united worker against the "evil" tyranny of the Czar. Meanwhile, there was an enormous contingent of Russian soldiers on the front lines with World War I nearing its final bloody years. This made it easy (relative) for the Bolsheviks to take advantage of a home front security with so many of the motherland's troops on the front. But they needed weapons and so did the government forces with so many assets going toward the troops.

Armed with this knowledge, I examined the rifle very close. Looking for proof marks, stamps and dates.
-It had no communist marks--This was unusual most Mosins that were turned in after the communist took over were re-stamped. Even captured rifles were re-stamped with the gaining countries proof marks or re-barreled for there primary cartridge. One of the most sought after Mosins is the Finnish Rifle re-stamped with an SA. Even the Germans re-stamped captured rifles. Once again, this had nothing but the original stamps.
-One unusual defacing of the rifle was the imperial stamp of the Czar. It had been "stabbed out" with a knife or bayonet. If this had been a recent marring it would have been sharp on the raised edges, but these were worn down by time, which points to the fact that this was done decades ago. I can only surmise that this rifle had belonged to an angry communist who wanted to deface the imperial stamp to show his disdain for the ruling aristocrat. Of course this is only a speculation but it seems to fit human nature when opposed to an ideology or political idea.
-It has no visible import stamps. There are rifles that were brought over without import stamps but usually they are 1940s from WW II. Obviously there have been WW II rifles from the first war brought over, but not many in an un-changed condition, such as this particular Mosin. The Austro-Hungarian M-93 was brought back into service, but most that have made it to the US have the proper import stamps. This leads me to believe one of three things:
--This was a grabbed by a US soldier in WW I on a battlefield or traded after hostilities.
--It was acquired during a small US force along with a combined allied force attempted to help anti-communist Russians defeat the communists immediately after WWI.
--The rifle was somehow left in its original state by an average European and through a series of events, eventually fell in to the hands of a US soldier.
The end result is the same--it found its way to pawn shop in EL Paso and into my hands.

We blow off Mosins because the Russians made so many that we do not think they will ever run out. However, the supply is getting just a little tougher to fill lately and the rifle has made a 100-200 hundred dollar increase in value in the last year. We take for granted the WWII mosins are for the most part the same and I encourage everyone to own one , because they are a ton of fun to shoot. But if you are a collector you will be looking for those pre-1941 Mosins, specifically the ones for WWI. These are the gems for a collector. The really rare finds are the Mosins made in the US for the imperial Army from Remington and Winchester. You find one of those and you have yourself a keeper.

Take the time to get your mosin out of the closet blow of the dust and really look and the stamps. You never know when you may find a diamond in the rough. A great site to meet all your mosin needs is:
http://7.62x54r.net/

Remember to be safe, have fun and know your rifles history.

Useless and useful gun knowledge.

Where would be without the gun? Used both for good and evil it is a tool to enforce and defend. It is in essence just steel and wood--nothing more or less. We have demonized the tool instead of the people who use it, but that is not what this blog is truly about. All weapons throughout our history have fed, clothed and protected us. I am using this site as a tool to discuss, place and identify little known facts about firearms and their origins.

Often I would find an old gun with markings and search for hours sometimes weeks for the unique markings. That invariably led to the actual history of the firearm, which I found interesting--the people, places, and events that these firearms were used. Basically, the study of the firearm leads to  the people who used them and why they used them. We all have a very narrow view of firearm design, but events drive a necessity for improvement and innovation to aid in that particular cause or event.

I'm looking forward to sharing my knowledge and findings in this format. My hope is to educate and enlighten--not just about "guns" but the history behind them and the people who used them. As James Earl Jones says in Conan, "What is steel, without the hand that wields it"

I will begin my research and can't wait to read your feedback. Keep it clean and professional. This is not a blog about whether guns should BE in society. The have been here for hundreds of years--this is about the history and the search for knowledge.

Thanks