(October 2009 Quips)
2 Oct 09 Battle Rifles: I received this morning a note from a subscriber with regard to rifles with which he would equip his unit. This person puts together teams who do security work in exciting places. He indicated that, for his money, the AR/M4 (in 223) tops the heap of currently-available battle-rifles. He agrees […]
(September 2009 Quips)
4 Sept 09 They’re not impressed: On 1 Aug 09, Tom Siebel, a CA billionaire (Silicon Valley) touring in East Africa (Tanzania) was injured during an attack by a wild elephant. He is expected to mostly recover, but he suffered multiple broken bones and lacerations. Siebel indicated that he and a guide were peacefully observing […]
(August 2009 Quips)
1 Aug 09 American in 2009, no good deed goes unpunished: Last Wednesday, a teller working at a Seattle, WA bank was confronted by a robbery suspect. The 29-year-old suspect, a slovenly, unkempt, perpetually-unemployed “transient” (what we used to call a “vagrant”), with a lengthily criminal record, and at the time under the supervision of […]
(July 2009 Quips)
1 July 09 Comments on current developments, from an active consumer and Instructor: “I am starting to see the feeding-frenzy subside, albeit only slightly. Inventories of military rifles and serious handguns are improving. There are actually ARs, SIG 556s, XCRs, FALs, M1As and other good rifles, along with SIG, Glock, SA, Kahr, S&W, Beretta, and […]
(June 2009 Quips)
1 June 09 Losers always have a plausible excuse for doing nothing. This comment on the last Quip: “The description of the home-invasion makes me believe that, even with training and guns, there probably would not been much that these two could have done. By the time he knew he was in danger, there already […]
(May 2009 Quips)
1 May 09 M&P Problems in CA, from a friend with the LASO: “The few S&W M&P Pistols we currently have in the field have all been abruptly pulled from service. Since first approved for Department use at the end of last year, of fifty pistols, we had one that would not eject at all, […]
(April 2009 Quips)
1 Apr 09 Buffalo Soldiers: Black infantry units, lead by white officers, first saw the light of day during the American Civil War. When that War ended, the American Navy became fully integrated, with black and white sailors serving alongside each other! The Army was not quite so enlightened, but black cavalry units, called “Buffalo […]
(March 2009 Quips)
2 Mar 09 At a Pistol Course in TX last weekend, a student brought several hundred rounds of 45ACP hardball that he had acquired from a Web Page called “Rguns.” It was advertised as having been manufactured in Israel. Upon examination, I noticed that ten percent of the rounds had the bullet visibly seated too […]
(February 2009 Quips)
2 Feb 09 Political Considerations…: In 2009, we’re conducting a record number of Urban Rifle Courses, spread out across the Country. Students typically bring AR-15s, RA/XCRs, DSA/FALs, Kahr M1 Carbines, SA/M1As, Ruger/Mini-14s, and various other military rifles. In most states, these rifles are no more regulated than are commercial/recreational ones, and, though currently in short […]
(January 2009 Quips)
2 Jan 09 Overseas Travel: Since 2007, the US State Department has issued all passports with embedded RFID (radio-frequency ID) chips. These hold a digital copy of your personal information, including your photograph. All newly-issued, or renewed, passports contain this RFID chip. Be aware that these devices are designed to be read at non-contact distances, […]
(December 2008 Quips)
1 Dec 08 Springfield Armory: Just talked with friends at SA this morning. Backlogs for M1As are running four to twelve weeks, depending on the flavor. Most in demand is, not surprisingly, is the sixteen-inch-barreled SOCOM. Next in line is the “Scout,” which is essentially the same thing with an eighteen-inch barrel. The twenty-inch “Standard” […]
(November 2008 Quips)
3 Nov 08 Current retail front, from a friend who owns a big gun store in the Midwest: “We are experiencing a feeding frenzy here! We’re selling guns as fast as our staff can run cash registers and complete paperwork. Yesterday expended our stock of Kalashnikovs, and today we ran out of ARs. We have […]
(October 2008 Quips)
1 Oct 08 On 223/5.56mm chamber dimensions, from a respected colleague: “In a ‘match’ barrel and chamber, tested with ‘match’ ammunition through a “match’ rifle, group size is nearly identical with the same ammunition fired through a plain-vanilla, utility rifle with a stock, 5.56mm NATO chamber (with ample freebore). The difference is minuscule and of […]
(September 2008 Quips)
1 Sept 08 SIG 556 “Classic” Friends at SIG tell me their existing 556 rifle, of which I have a copy, will be upgraded over the next few months to what amounts to the original 550/551 (with its wonderful iron sights and equally wonderful folding-stock) that accepts M-16 magazines. This is a great move on […]
(August 2008 Quips)
4 Aug 08 When running 22-rimfire conversions, advice from Doc Gunn: “CCI 40-grain lead, round-nosed ammunition is best. 22/LR conversions require as much recoil energy as possible for consistent functioning, and all-36 grain loads are lacking. And, 40-grainers from Federal and Remington, though functional, are so dirty they gum-up the works in short order. CCI […]
(July 2008 Quips)
1 July 08 CNS Hits: Currently, there is a movement within our industry that advocates the CNS (Central Nervous System) over any other target on the human body, to the point where advocates train for brain-stem shots with carry pistols, to the exclusion of all others. They’re wrong! Brain-stem shots with pistols are indeed indicated, […]
(June 2008 Quips)
1 June 08 A friend with a major pistol manufacturer tells me that they use 155gr 40S&W ammunition for testing durability in their line of 40S&W pistols. Design engineers have nicknamed the 155gr round, the “Gun-Breaker,” identifying it as the one round that produces most wear and tear on pistols chambered for that caliber. Of […]
(May 2008 Quips)
6 May 08 2008 IALEFI Conference in Reno, NV: I arrived on Range in Reno, NV yesterday afternoon, eager to shoot several new guns I’ve only handled up until now. Classes continue on the Range all week with lecture Classes going on simultaneously at the local Silver Legacy Hotel. Ruger’s diminutive LCP is very functional […]
(April 2008 Quips)
1 Apr 08 Illinois Politics, from a friend there: “Here in IL, we have legendary anti-gun politicians, particularly in Chicago and Cook County. The rest of the State is relatively conservative and pro-2nd Amendment. As with the State of NY, one metro area dominates politics state-wide. In fact, when you live in IL, but don’t […]
(March 2008 Quips)
3 Mar 08 Our new contact in Iraq is Maj John M Moore. John tell me his guys need: Leatherman tools Blades Flashlights Candy A more complete and specific list will follow, but these list should get us started. Let’s make sure these guys know they’re not forgotten! Maj John M Moore MWSS-272/Operations Officer Unit […]
