Category: Guns

Keep It Running

Click on the link above to read a great PDF article on keeping your AR-15  lubricated and running.

I like the MEAL acronym a lot

• Magazines
  • A lot of rifle stoppages are caused by bad magazines
  • Prior to the Magpul PMAG hitting the scene, most of the AR15 magazines available were military surplus STANAG Aluminum magazines made by a wide variety of contractors. The quality varied widely.
  • When I worked at a gun shop, I often told customers to save themselves the drama that came from trying to pick out a good alumnium AR-15 magazine and just get the Magpul PMAGs.English: Colt AR-15 A3 Tactical Carbine. Used by counter-terrorist (CT) forces in Counter-Strike (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
• Extractor
  • Extractors can get worn out.
  • Keep the chamber area clean!
• Ammo
  • Quality ammunition makes a big difference.
• Lubrication
  • Be sure to read your owner’s manual and lubricate on all points where it is needed.
  • Understand the difference between oil and grease.

The same principles can be applied to an AK47, M14, or other rifles as well.

In light of the recently highlighted tragedies in which children were killed because a gun was left unsecured by its owner, we need to go over some basics of storing guns securely to the absolute best of our abilities.

Basic Safety Reminder

RULE ZERO: Treat the gun like it is LOADED and assume the gun is loaded until proven otherwise.

A Sentry Safe (model unknown), class 350-2R. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Storing Handguns

• If the handgun is not used for immediate home defense, then it should be unloaded and in a safe
• If the handgun is used for immediate home defense, then it should be carried in a holster on your person or in a quick access safe.
• If you have kids, DO NOT try to hide the gun. They will find it.
  • Teach them about gun safety.
  • “Abstinence only” education on guns is just stupid.

Storing Rifles and Long Guns

• If the rifle is not used for immediate defense, then it should be unloaded and stored.
• If the rifle is used for immediate home defense, it should be readily accessible or in a dedicated safe for quick access in an emergency situation.
  • DO NOT STORE LOADED GUNS ALONGSIDE UNLOADED GUNS.

“But I don’t have enough money or space for a safe!”

That is a poor excuse for not securing your guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.It is your responsibility to store a gun securely. Even in states where you will not be held criminally or civilly liable for not storing your guns correctly, the public opprobrium of being an irresponsible gun owner never goes away in the internet age.

Inexpensive safes like this one are available here.

If you are poor or simply cannot spare any space, then your options are improvised safe storage techniques. THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE for using a gun vault or safe.

1. Remove the magazine or (unload the cylinder) of the firearm you intend to secure
2. Double check the action to make sure that it is unloaded.
3. Keep the action open
   • You can also remove and store the bolt or slide of the gun somewhere else and then continue to step 4
4. Run a python cable lock through the action of the gun(s)
5. Lock the python cable lock onto something really heavy.

Ammo Storage

I like the Plano Field Boxes a lot since they are not bulky and relatively inexpensive. They also have two holes on them that allow you to run a thin python cable lock through them to secure them from unauthorized access.

This is one of my favorite dry fire practice tools for a number of reasons. Here is why you can have fun with the LaserLyte Reaction Tyme Target

• If you are just beginning with concealed carry, you can safely practice drawing from concealment.
• You can also gradually speed yourself up in drawing from concealment.
• You can set it up anywhere.
• You can get creative with the defensive drills.
• You can practice drawing your firearm from concealment under time-induced stress.
• You can incorporate it into a crossfit like fitness routine that involves the SIRT Laser Training Pistol
  • FitShot is a good example of a gun-based fitness routine.

Downsides

• You cannot adjust the timing of the beeps
• It only works with a red laser.

When you are working at a gun shop , there are a few things you should do to improve the customer‘s experience (and make more sales). I learned these through trial and error while working at NOVA Firearms in Falls Church, VA.

1. DON’T BE A GROUCH!
   • I cannot stand going into a gun store with a clerk who treats customers like they are idiots because they are total newbies or they don’t know the lineage of some 1918 Browning vest pistol with silver engraving.
   • Smile at and greet everyone who comes into the store WITHOUT FAIL.
   • If the store is busy, just say “We’ll be right with you.”
2. Phone Skills
   • Politely greet the customer
   • If you are dealing with someone who want to just compulsively check prices, just ask them to come into the store as we are really busy.
3. Know your material.
   • Know the differences between common pistol and rifle cartridges.
   • Know how hollowpoint bullets work
   • Know how the AR-15 gas system works
   • Know how the AK-47 gas system works
   • Know the differences between a DA/SA Pistol, a single-action pistol, a double-action only pistol, and a striker-fired pistol.
   • Be able to explain why you carry your gun a particular way
     • If you are going to carry your gun in a Sonny Crockett style shoulder rig, be sure the damn thing is anchored to your belt and not just draped over your shoulders.
     • Better yet, ditch the shoulder rig.
4. Sell what you like
   • Ask the customer what they are buying the gun for.
     • Most will say for personal security.
     • Ask if it will be for home defense or concealed carry.
   • When making a recommendation, be forthright and bold in what you recommend because it is what you would use to defend yourself.
   • If you are trying to talk up something that you wouldn’t carry for yourself, then it will show through to the customer.
5. Knock off the Walter Mitty BS.
   • Don’t spout junk about the sound of a shotgun racking scaring the bad guy off or “they all fall to .45 hardball”.
   • It turns off new customers and makes you look like an idiot
   • DO NOT LIE about military service.
6. DON’T SMELL LIKE S**T!
   • Wear a good quality cologne, especially if you are a smoker
   • Wear a clean shirt.
   • Be clean-shaven or have a well groomed beard.
   • Chew any sort of gum.
     • I like Dentyne Fire and Dentyne Ice.
7. You are not a lawyer and do not play one on TV
   • Advise customers to check their state’s self-defense laws.
   • Rule of thumb is that lethal force may be merited if you are in a situation in which you are in fear of being murdered or raped.
8. It is not about making the sale.
   • The moment all that you think about is “making the sale” or “pushing” a gun is when sales will be much harder to make.
   • The guns will sell themselves, your job is to guide the customer to the right gun.
   • Your goal is to determine what is right for the customer, here is how to do it.
     1. Ask if the gun is for home defense or concealed carry.
        • If it is for home defense, show a semiautomatic rifle or a full size polymer framed modern striker-fired pistol (Glock/Springfield/S&W M&P)
          • The problem with home defense shotguns, is that significant others often find shotguns uncomfortable to shoot.
        • If it is for concealed carry, ask how they plan on carrying it and then make your recommendations for carrying it.
        • If the method of carry they propose is something really stupid, then be able to politely articulate “you might want to consider this way instead”.
9. If the customer doesn’t have all the IDs needed…
   • If a customer gets grouchy over not having the right IDs on hand, you need to politely emphasize that you do not make the rules, the state/feds make the rules.
   • Offer to have the customer put the gun on account, they pay now, then come back with their IDs to fill out the paperwork.
10. Dealing with a prohibited person
    • During the course of conversation with a customer, the customer mentions something about going to jail, smacking his girlfriend around, or getting arrested for dope or  smoking weed, then you need to immediately and politely state “I’m sorry sir, because of what you just told me, I’m not allowed to sell you a gun or ammo and it would be best if you leave.”

Knowing how to fight without a gun is just as important as knowing how to fight with a gun.

The easiest way to get started is the Jim Grover’s Combatives Series DVD and then find a gym that is not afraid to have students wail on each other. 

Get it for yourself and learn it.

Practice Ammunition

When you are selecting FMJ ammunition for your range time, make sure that the bullet weight matches that of your defensive ammunition.

• 9mm
  • Example: Use 115 grain FMJ for practice and 115 grain Hornady Critical Defense for carry and defensive use
• .40 S&W
  • You should use 165 grain FMJ with 165 grain defensive loads or 180 grain FMJ with 180 grain hollowpoints.
• .45 ACP
  • Use 230 grain FMJ with 230 grain hollowpoints.

Defensive Ammunition

• Don’t be a cheapskate when it comes to defensive ammunition.
  • Hornady Critical Defense works well and has a rubber core that prevents the hollowpoint from getting clogged prior to expansion
  • CORBON DPX is excellent as well
  • Federal Premium Hydrashocks are good as well

Selecting a Rifle

Go with an Arsenal SGL-21 in 7.62×39 and save yourself the drama that can come with a Century Arms, IO, or other parts kit built gun.

Why 7.62×39?

Ammunition and magazines in 7.62x39mm are more common in the USA than for 5.45×39.

Magazines

• Surplus steel magazines and Bulgarian “Circle 10″ polymer magazines are the ones I recommend as of this blog post.
• The Magpul AK mags look very promising though.

Accessorizing

Furniture

• Stock
  • Polymer solid stocks are always a good choice
  • I don’t really care for the wood furniture since it adds weight to the rifle
  • Folding Stocks
    • Avoid anything that requires you to take a dremel or hacksaw to the receiver to get it to fit.
      • ACE Folding stocks are notorious for requiring the user to cut the tang of the receiver to fit the stock.
    • If you are going to get a MAKO stock, then get the side folder model.
    • The TAPCO Galil style folding stocks are a bit cheap in both price and durability.
    • The Soviet paratrooper wire folders are not that comfortable to shoot
• Pistol Grip
  • It is a matter of personal preference, but I really like the Hogue Grips
  • Magpul and US Palm make good pistol grips as well
• Sling
  • Keep it simple with a two point sling
  • I don’t like the surplus slings with the leather buckles, the leather is often worn out or weather-beaten.
• Optics and other accessories
  • The Ultimak gas tube rail mount is really the only scope mounting solution I recommend for an AK
  • The Aimpoint micro is the best red dot out there in terms of being able to tolerate heat and maintain zero. Like many good optics out there, it is not cheap.
  • Don’t try to turn your AK into a combination CQB and Sniper weapon. It will do neither well.
  • The Haley Strategic Thorntail SBR mount works great in combination with the Ultimak mount and a Fenix TK-21 flashlight.

Why?

It is important to be able to practice your draw from concealment and trigger control even if you cannot make it out to the gun range. It is also important to be able to practice wearing clothing that you are most likely to find yourself having to deploy your firearm in a defensive use situation.

Safety

• Remove any live ammunition or live weapons away from the training area
• Double check your magazine pouches
• Make sure that your magazines are empty if you are going to practice reloads
• Triple-check your pistol to ensure that there is no live ammunition in the chamber

Pocket Pistols

• As a refresher pocket pistols are often defined by the following traits
  • Small Frame
  • Single stack (all the cartridges are in a straight line as opposed to being staggered) magazine to ensure a thin profile
  • Usually chambered in .380 ACP or 9mm.
• The following models of pocket pistol are generally good to go when it comes to this category of handgun
  • Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380
    • The double-action only trigger means that you will not have to rack the slide to dry-fire the gun again.
  • Ruger LCP
    • The double-action only trigger means that you will not have to rack the slide to dry-fire the gun again.
  • Beretta Nano
    • I like striker-fired guns a lot but you will need to rack the slide each time to reset the trigger after dry firing the gun which means that you run the risk of developing bad habits from training.

Things you will need

• The LaserLyte Pistol Training Target
• The LaserLyte Reaction Tyme Target set
• A Laserlyte Pistol Training Cartridge
  • Here is one in .380 ACP
  • Here is one in 9mm

Configuring your pocket pistol for dry-fire training

1. Drop the magazine from your gun
2. Make sure that there is no live ammunition in the magazine
3. Check the chamber of your gun by racking the slide back with no magazine in the gun
4. AGAIN Check the chamber of your gun by racking the slide back with no magazine in the gun
5. Insert your .380 ACP or 9mm LaserLyte cartridge into the chamber
6. Pull back and rack the slide into battery
7. Insert the EMPTY magazine into the gun

Training Drills

This is where it can get really fun! 

Be sure to incorporate the following elements into your training drills. You can set up drills for yourself that focus on one particular element or set up drills that incorporate all elements

• Drawing your firearm from a belly band holster
• Drawing your firearm from a bag or purse
• A sudden signal to draw your firearm
• Targets placed in unpredictable and irregular spots by your training partner
• Fast and explosive movement from one spot to another
• 360 degree awareness
  • This means placing targets at opposite angles of attack
• Irregular shooting positions
  • Seated, On your back, On your side, etc.
• Reloads or a transition to a secondary weapon
• Escaping the area

Conclusion

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Dry fire practice, movement, and weapons manipulation are far more important to developing defensive skills than just popping off rounds at the square range.

This is a tragedy that was completely preventable. I put the blame squarely on the parents for this. Unsecured in the corner of a room is not an acceptable place to store a gun
At bare minimum, a $10 cable lock through the opened action is needed.
There was no excuse for not clearing the gun prior to “storing” it in the half-assed manner the parents did.
In my opinion, five years old is a bit young for a kid to have their first gun, let alone have one unsupervised.
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