A Little Cleaning Required For...

...the two new Zastava M70 pistols, in 32 ACP, that I received today from RGuns via my local dealer/FFL. I just sold off some of my other guns, a shotgun & a couple of rifles and while i certainly did not have a glut of cash to spend on more guns, like these, there was enough to convince me I had to take advantage of the deal RGuns has on them. They were $225 ea. plus $15.00 shipping (for both). Add on my FFL fee of $25.00 ea. and I spent a total of $515.00 for both of them. Considering that they each came with two magazines, a holster and a cleaning brush - it was a good deal. It will have been an excellent deal if they are actually in new condition. As far as I can see, through the downright sticky gloominess of the Cosomolne that envelopes them, they are as RGuns claimed - new old stock or as they I think describes them better - New Old MilSurp. Whatever, they do look new and that was a darned good deal on pistols for which so far I have seen only good reviews. Now, of course, that sticky mess that is covering them could be hiding blemishes, only time and a good cleaning will tell.  As to how well they operate - only time, a cleaning and a trip to the range will tell.

That may take me several days at least or maybe until the weekend after this coming one since I am already in the process of stripping the paint off of a Mosin Nagant 91/30 that I painted as a goof for a Zombie bayonet charge at a blogger shoot several years ago. Started that this evening in earnest and must say so far the paint is coming off of the metal nicely (some metal parts were painted a deep pink. It was supposed to be red but paint container was mislabeled or the guy who mixed the paints was colorblind (or both). Anyway, I figure I'll hold off on the M70s until I at least get the metal done on the 91/30.

More on these once I get them cleaned up and to the range.

February 9, 2020, Edited to Add:

By the way, when I purchased these they were advertised as being:

"UN ISSUED NEW OLD STOCK"

These pistols are not new as far as I can tell. The fact is, to me, they appear to have been lightly used. I am in no way saying the dealer used false advertising when selling these, they were probably told they were new and maybe some in their stock were new but evidently at least not the two I received. Here is why I think so: On each of the two I bought, there is evidence of wear on the slide rails of the frame and on the inside of the slide. There also was fouling in the bore and chamber and fouling in each magazine (even though each pistol and both mags with each gun had Cosmoline (or the equivalent, on them). While the fouling could have been solely from an initial test fire, the fact of the finish wear on the slide rails and such probably indicates otherwise. Though, I suppose that could have also come from test firing but, while it is not bad, it seems a bit much to be from test firing. Each also has small scratches and or dings in the exterior finish of the slide and frame finish. 

If I was gong to associate the word 'new' with them, it would be to say 'almost as good as new'; that of course being in my estimation. All things considered though, both were in what I am guessing is 95-98% cosmetic condition and nonetheless they were an excellent deal for the price.

All the best,
Glenn B

Oh Henry

In my opinion, what almost ruined my Christmas spirit this year was this linked article and the leftist balderdash contained therein:

https://nypost.com/2019/11/25/a-nauseating-christmas-gun-ad-killed-my-holiday-spirit/

It was written by whom I think is a seemingly leftist anti-gun reporter and is a piece about the Henry Repeating Arms' U.S. Survival Rifle AR-7, a semi-automatic rimfire survival rifle and about an email for it. He was supposedly nauseated by a Christmas holiday promotion email that Henry Repeating Arms allegedly sent to him reference said rifle.

The rifle in question was meant to be a survival rifle. I own one and I am also quite experienced with firearms (both shooting them and as a firearms instructor and armorer) and I can tell you that using this rifle for more than a last ditch survival rifle or as a plinker would be a risky stretch of its capabilities at best in something like a self-defense scenario. While it could be used, as could any other firearm that actually is capable of shooting live ammunition, in an emergency for self defense it would be a poor choice indeed as a primary self defense weapon. That is due to the caliber, 22 LR, and the inherent rate of failures to fire of 22 rimfire ammunition. In addition, while someone could use it on a violent rampage - just as they could any other firearm or a: can of gasoline & matches, Molotov cocktail, IED, knife, machete, baseball bat, truck, car or whatever - it never was meant to be and is not very suitable, if at all so, as a so called assault rifle. Even under the anti-gun auspices of the so called NY SAFE Act - it is not considered an assault weapon. It's magazines hold a total of eight (8) rounds each and as I pointed out they are of the 22 rimfire variety.

Yet,the author of the article seemingly strongly implies it to be some sort of assault weapon capable of turning the wanna-be mass murderer type into someone who can sneak it into a school or theater and use it to kill "...large groups of people instantaneously". Don't believe me, think I am stretching it - read the article and look at the photographs that accompany the article (then look at Henry's Website https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/ and tell me where was the AR-7 among those pictured in the article).

The article, I believe, only goes to help prove a point that gun enthusiasts have been making for years: The left does not want common sense or reasonable gun control - they want to eliminate all guns. In essence, they are attempting to do so by eliminating one class at a time and expanding that class of firearms by adding on additional ones that were never before considered to be problematic in an evil weapon sort of way. Now, thanks to the author of the article - my guess is that many will probably consider the AR-7 to be an evil assault weapon capable of turning even the meekest or looniest among us into a raving lunatic mass murderer.

I don't know which political party to which you belong or what is your stance on gun control versus gun rights but reporting such as that should offend you since it evidently assumes, as I see it, that the reader is an uninformed idiot. I mean think about it - when is the last time you heard of someone using an AR-7 in a mass murder? Sure, it's possible but not likely; yet, I'm almost willing to bet someone on the left of the mentally twisted variety, I pray not the reporter himself, is hoping that someone with a demented mind and a Henry U.S. Survival Rifle AR-7 will try using one in a mass murder attempt before Christmas - that is now that what I consider to be this media monster has planted his evil seed.

All the best,

Glenn B

I'm Betting Mass Shootings Are Not Caused By The Guns, Stupid

Tonight, I am going to try an experiment to see if what that meme above says is factual. I am going to load one of my so called "evil black rifles" and then I am going to leave it loaded on a table. I will make it potentially much more evil by leaving some extra 30 round loaded magazines on the table with it to keep it company and replenish with ammo it should it decide to get up during the night and go out on a killing spree. Then, I am going to go to bed. 

When I wake up tomorrow (if it does not kill me while I sleep) I am going to scour the Internet media sites to see how many mass killings it committed all on its own while I slept. Would any of you die-hard leftists like to accept the odds I am giving - of every penny I own against you no longer posting/ thinking/ believing stuff like that - that my gun will not have caused a single death let alone will not have caused a mass murder by tomorrow, on its own volition, even though I left it loaded & alone to be free to bring about whatever mayhem it possibly could have caused? In other words, I am betting it is not the guns, at least not mine, that are causing mass shootings. Got it - stupid!

All the best,
Glenn B

The Wide Open Spaces Of The Gun Shows Of Arkansas...

...that I have visited astound me. 

Brendan has been to several gun shows here in Arkansas since he moved a few months over two years ago and I've been to at least 4 or 5 of them since my first visit not long afterwards. Of course, he's been to more than me since he's been living here full time. Most of the ones one I have attended, the first in Hot Springs and the latest one yesterday in Little Rock, have had what I can only call piss poor attendance. One in Conway that Brendan and I went to together earlier this year, or maybe it was last year, had fairly decent amount of people there but even that palled to gun shows I've been to in NY.

At first I was wondering why gun show attendance would be so low in a state that is much more friendly to the RKBA than is a state like NY and I must admit I was befuddled. I asked the promoter at the Hot Springs show why there were so few people walking around looking at and buying guns & ammo and he told me because it was Sunday; he also said that the place had been swarming with people on Saturday and that is the norm for shows in AR. I call balderdash on that if only because I think I attended all the other shows on Saturdays. Of course, his idea of swarming may have been that a few hundred more folks was a swarm. The truth is that each gun show I have gone to here in AT, with the possible exception of the one in Conway, never seemed to have more than 75-100 people in the venues at any given time. I think 100 would be a stretch but maybe it got that high; in fact, it often seemed to me they'd have been lucky if there were 50 people in them at any given time.

Yesterday's Little Rock Gun Show was a good example. It was a fairly large hall and I am going to guesstimate that maybe there were 250 to 300 tables; and I know the venue has one room that can accommodate 300 tables and another room that can accommodate 100 tables and this was the larger of the two rooms. Not a big show but one big enough to draw a fairly large crowd throughout most of the day like gun show of similar sizes that I've been to in various parts of NY state. Such shows in NY as those at: Albany, Middletown, Saratoga (I think this one is no more), Yonkers (extinct, killed off by anti-gunners), White Plains (also extinct) and a couple small shows on Long Island were packed; the one in Albany I last went to was truly like being inside a Japanese subway car. Those shows were often so packed as to make it very difficult to walk up and down the aisles or to get close enough to a table to really see anything. The show yesterday in Little Rock probably never had much more than 75-100 potential customers inside at any given time, while I was there. Maybe they had more at opening time (which I missed by about an hour) or at closing and I left an hour before that.

So why was the show not packed for at least most of the day; even if there were 100 people in there at any given time, that is just one person for every three tables. Man it was slow.  So, I got to wondering why, once again, why do the gun shows in AR seemingly have such poor attendance. There are only two things that struck me as the possible cause. First is that maybe the selection of guns offered sucks. I looked around quite a bit and have to say, while not as wide a variety as I would have hope to see, there was a decent amount of diversity (yes I can be politically correct) of the gun lover's kind. I am guessing you know what might be the other possible major cause. If you are guessing it is the prices for the guns & ammo; well then, you hit the nail on the head or at least I think that's it.

Here are some of the I remember seeing:

Kel-Tec PMR-30 pistols with an asking price of $650.00 plus tax (and the particular dealer selling them told a customer the state sales tax was 10% although when I looked it up later, sales tax for Little Rock, AR is 9%). So, price plus a bullshitter of a dealer and yes he was a bullshitter as far as I am concerned. He had a certain pistol for sale which I looked over, a Beretta 1934. The finish was less than 40% in my estimation as that is what I believe is a very conservative estimate. As soon as I picked it up to look it over, he was on me like white on rice giving me his spiel. He told me how rare of a pistol it was, saying only 23,000 had been produced and how it was a fine shooter. Then he told me it was an excellent deal but I certainly thought it was more like highway robbery at an inflated price for its condition and considering that more than one million of them had been manufactured. There were many other way overpriced guns, in my opinion, at his tables and each time I stopped there to look something over it was like he was jumping on my back to try to make a sale. I think maybe that was a good clue as to how little business he was doing.

Then there was a Winchester Model 12 at another dealer's table. It was a 20 gauge in at best 80% but probably much closer to 70% finish condition. They were asking $700. Now the 20 gauge in this model is quite desirable and demands a premium over a 12 gauge but still, the going price for one of these, in better condition than this one, is usually closer to $500. 

Another gun I looked over closely was a Llama small frame pistol in 22 LR. It in essence looks like a Colt 1911, some have a rib others do not. They had had four of them, two in 22LR, one in 32 ACP and one in 380 Auto. They were asking $475 for the two in 22 LR. I had to bite my tongue to keep from blurting out how ridiculous was that price and from laughing out-loud. I mean really now - at 100% condition the highest value in a reputable firearm pricing guide is shown as 325. These were maybe 95% at the very best bringing the value down to $200 according to the same reference. That is one hell of a difference.

As you may know from my past blog posts, I've been known to pick up a bolt action shotgun now and then. So, when I saw a Mossberg 183T in 410 bore, I was thinking I might like to make a purchase. That was until I looked at the price tag - a whopping $300! In 100% condition it might sell for the recommended $175 that is shown in one of my reference guides. his one was maybe 85-90% as I saw it and they were asking $300. In my mind it was a $100 to $125 gun at most and that is somewhat higher than what the reference guide says. Now, I'll admit, one of these shotguns recently sold for $175 on GunBroker; the thing is that one looked to be in about 98% condition - a lot nicer than the one I saw at the gun show and remember the one at the show had a $300 price tag).

I also saw several average, at best, Mosin Nagant Model 91/30s for sale with asking prices of between $450 and $500. Nothing even mentioned on the tag as to whether or not they had matching numbers and once I saw the prices I just dropped em like hot potatoes. There was also a so called Mosin Nagant sniper rifle being offered at $800; now that is right at asking prices at other places where I have seen them being sold but I think this one was faked. It looked as if the original bolt handle has been taken off, then a hole drilled into the bolt and a bent bolt secured in that hole. For some reason, I do not think that is how they made the bent bolt handled bolts for these rifles in Russia back in the day.

There was also the Ruger Mini 14 with a price tag of $900. Yes you read that right and it was a used beaten up clunker with an early serial number prefix of 183 and nothing special about it.
 
Table after table, dealer after dealer, the prices were outrageous in my estimation. Of course though, there were some decent deals to be had if you looked but they were apparently few and far between from what I saw. 

 

Ammo, I think, was another thing that went along the same lines, it was mostly overpriced but maybe not as badly as were the guns. None of the ammo dealers seemed to be doing brisk sales as far as I could tell. I saw Blazer 22 LR ammo at one dealer (not the one pictured here) with a price of $5.00 per 50 round box. Even Cabela's sells the same sized boxes for $2.99 (source). That ain't cheap for this stuff but it isn't bad compared to the $5.00 per box that was to be had at one table at this gun show. 

Granted, I suppose anyone could have tried to haggle on the prices but what would that have accomplished on a gun for which a seller was asking more than double the book value of a used gun or was about 35 to 40% more than the going gun store price for a new gun. What would likely happen is that the dealer would come down in  price and an uninformed buyer would think he was getting a good deal while he was actually being hosed.

Remember, in addition to high prices, each customer had to pay $10 to get in at the door, or $12 for so called VIP tickets if bought online. VIP evidently meant no waiting. Me, I did it on the cheap; I paid $8 because I copied a discount ticket from the promoter's website and showed it to the cashier. I did not wait longer than showing her that, paying my money, getting my hand stamped and walking inside - all of maybe 30 to 45 seconds.

I almost wish I would have gone back today, to see if any of the pricing came down for the second day or if attendance was any better, but I decided to stay at my son's place with him to kill the day. Then again, no I really don't wish that, not even almost, because  I did not need to be disgusted for a second day by seeing those prices. I am guessing that very few if any, who attended the show yesterday, went back again today for much the same reason.

As to why gun shows in NY are attended more, well I think its not so much that the prices are good, they suck too yet I think are nowhere nearly as high as comparable to those here in AR, but that in NY people are grabbing guns as fast as they can before King Cuomo outright bans them all. In NY prices can be high and people still flock to the shows. As for AR flocking to a gun show is an oxymoron. My solution to the low attendance at the AR guns show which I have visited is for the dealers down this way to bring their prices down to competitive levels since it is not like their state government is hoping to ban anything. If they did that, I am willing to bet that attendance and sales would skyrocket.

All the best,
Glenn B

Feeling Guilty Before The Deed Is Done

I am going out soon to sell a Norinco Type 56 SKS. 

All I can say about it now is damn - I am already suffering from seller's remorse. Yet, a deal is a deal and I am not about to call it off because I am now thinking I should have kept this one. Oh well, I can use the cash.

All the best,
Glenn B

Selling A Voere Semi-Auto At GunBroker.com (not selling it here on Blogger)

I have decided to sell my Voere semi-auto rifle in 22LR. It was made in Germany and imported by KDF of Seguin, TX back in the 1980s. It fires from an open bolt and evidently some people find that to be an extremely alluring feature of this rifle along with the fact that further importation of them was banned by ATF in the early or mid 1980s (but existing ones in this country were not outlawed). Many if not most of these rifles were reportedly converted to fire in full auto mode but one has to wonder why since the only magazines available for them held only 10 rounds. Mine was never converted and that makes it rarer and to some a more desirable one to find.

Mine in in excellent condition, I figure at least 95% to 98% of metal finish remains. The wood has been refinished but I do not think that should detract from the value as the feature that sells these guns seems to be that they fire from an open bolt. Regardless, the new finish is nicer than the original which was pretty badly marred on one side when I purchased it. In addition, I am selling it with two magazines. Extra magazines are fairly hard to come by and relatively very expensive compared to other mags for rifles in 22LR; that is when you find one.

Everything works as it should and I have test fired it to make sure of that. Had I not fired test fired it, my guess would be that it was unfired before then except maybe for test firing at the factory. That is how little wear is apparent on the gun and on the one magazine that came with it. The other mag was purchased separately.

What drove me to put this up for auction on GunBroker was that I am tapped for cash after unexpected veterinary bills over the past month or so. I would like to recoup as much as I can to replenish my savings account. I have other guns to sell and have one or two up for sale right now but there was one other thing that convinced me to try to sell this one. Someone else just sold one on GunBroker, one in nowhere as nearly good a condition as mine from what I could tell, for $899.00. It was essentially the same exact model except its stock was checkered. Then again that one's stock also had pretty bad finish damage and its metal looked not nearly as nice as that on mine and it only came with a single magazine. You can see it here until GunBroker pulls the ad for it. I am hopeful I am not a day late and many dollars short due to poor timing. Maybe I should have listed mine last month.

I am being optimistic and I figure, since there was one person out there who would pay that much, maybe there is another who would be willing to start the bidding at about $50 less for essentially the same exact rifle but one that has a better metal and wood finish and the added enticement of an extra magazine. Maybe it will achieve my starting bid and maybe not but if it does - then maybe the bidding might go up from there because of the condition of the gun and the extra mag. Time will tell.

If you want to see the one I have up for bids, you can view it at GunBroker.com, item 785816457. Please note, it is not being offered for sale anywhere other than via GunBroker.com, in other words this Blogpost post absolutely is not an offer to sell it and is merely for informational purposes only.

All the best,
Glenn B

On The Fence About A Bear Gun

I have been considering a 357 Magnum revolver instead of a 44 Magnum as a bear defense gun for our upcoming Alaska trip. That would be as backup to bear spray and to a Remington 870 shotgun.

The reasoning behind me even considering a 357 is that while the 357 not as powerful as a 44 Magnum, it is probably easier to control and thus much quicker with which to get off an aimed 
second shot or possibly third - which in all likelihood would be the outside highest number of rounds you could get off at a charging Brown Bear (1). Note that I put the word reasoning in italics because the reference article containing that opinion seemed based upon little more than an opinion with little to back it up. Then again, I suppose each of the three articles I present as references in this blog post are opinions although the other two seem somewhat more substantial in the amount of thought put into them.

Getting back to the caliber choices, the 357 is also considered by some, to be suitable for defense in Brown Bear country (2). Adding that consideration t the premise of the first article I indexed, I started to lean to the 357. While you might be able to get off two or even three shots with a 44 Magnum, reacquiring the target, and then reengaging with a second well aimed shot, after the recoil of the initial shot, will take a bit longer with the 44 than with a 357. A good aim, at the central nervous system is an absolute must to stop one of those steam rollers with huge teeth and bigger claws. If you can get that on the first shot all might be well and fine and result in a one shot kill. I tend to doubt that - when my or Brendan's knees are giving out, or when our bladders have let go a warm stream down our legs and the pucker factor has just let loose behind us - either one of us might get off a perfectly aimed first shot as we are being charged by one of the great bears. It may be that well aimed but who can tell until it happens and you actually shoot that well under such fearfully intense pressure. Even if we were able to stand our ground with steely and icy cold reserve and a belly full of the grittiest true grit, while facing one of those monsters eye to eye, I would hope for at least two shots and better yet three. Thus, lately, I have been leaning toward a 357 from my precarious perch on the fence.

I suppose it was inevitable that the next article I would find on the subject did not completely discount the use of a 357 but blatantly said that at best it is marginal for large bears. The writer of that opinion openly admitted to not being an expert (maybe his advice is best) and also admitted to never having hunted bears. Yet he rather eloquently said one of the most thought provoking things out of all the authors whose works I have read on the subject of whether or not a 357 is suitable for great bears:

"A note on grizzly bears: they are smart, strong, mean, bulky, motivated and fast. The grizzly bear is the one predator in North America that truly inspires terror in my heart. No matter what you can do, he can do it better. He or she can be merciless in defending turf or litter, and may just kill you for kicks." (3)

After reading that I have to admit the 357 may not be enough. That is true especially if one shot is all we could take. In that scenario, it seems logical we would rather have all the power we could get out of 44 Magnum. Some of the gun gurus consider the 44 magnum to be the low end of a bear defense caliber (4). The fourth referenced article completely rules out 357 Magnum and 41 Magnum rounds. Now that I reminded myself of these last two references, here I am again not leaning either way - sitting straight up on the center of the fence - and my arse is starting to hurt because I have been sitting here so long trying to make up my mind about which to get. I definitely am not going to go for a larger caliber revolver than a 44 Magnum, no matter that some believe it the low end for great bear, if only because I truly believe the revolver would be both too heavy and have too much recoil. It is not easy making up your mind with all these experts out there with differing advice. What makes it more difficult is living in an area where there are no guns shops/ranges at which I can rent a 44 to test fire it and see how well I do. There is one in PA, at least a couple of hours away but I have not had the chance to visits it and time is running short to order a revolver. I may not order one today as I had hoped but I hope to order it at least by the middle of the week and am determined to do so by the end of the week at the latest! Decisions, decisions...

One of the things, other than the actual guns and caliber of the ammo, that is talked about in some of the reference materials I have looked over, is the bullet type in any given bear defense caliber ammunition. From what I can gather, hollow points (in handgun rounds) should be avoided as bear defense rounds and solid points of one type or another should be chosen. If I go with the smaller caliber 357, I think I would opt for a round with a solid lead core bullet. Corbon offers this one, their 357, 200 grain, Hunter HC. HSM offers this one, a 180 grain, hard cast, RNFP-GC Bear Load. The Chuck Hawks article also made mention of a similar round by Federal but I searched for it and it does not seem to be available in the current market. I would also go for a similar round in 44 Magnum if available, but right now they do not seem available from any manufacturer.I n lieu of that, I would go with something like this, the Prvi Partizan 44 Remington Magnum, 300 grain semi jacketed soft point. Decisions, decisions...

So, I am still on the fence. I don't have to make up my mind by the time I get to my dealer today but I would like to select one before then or at least have a much better idea of which I want. Either way - decision made or not - I am going to talk this over with Bruce, from Hunter's Essentials. Bruce is the owner and is also a very experienced hunter from what I can tell. His experience may be able to convince me one way or the other and I don't think the price difference (as in profit difference) will sway his judgment to steer me toward the one that would make him a few more bucks.

All the best,
Glenn B

Footnotes:
1. http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/game-changers/how-pick-right-sidearm-backup-bear-protection
2. http://www.chuckhawks.com/protection_field.htm
3. http://www.snubnose.info/docs/grizzly_357.htm
4. http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/8/13/packing-pistols-in-bear-country/

Remington 241 Takedown Rifle - Partial disassembly and reassembly using takedown feature

BB's Blog reader Fred sent me an email saying he just picked up a model 241 for himself. He is unaware as to how to operate the takedown feature of this rifle and asked that I let him know how it's done. It is a simple operation as follows. Remember to always make sure to follow the rules of firearms safety when you carry out this, or any, disassembly/reassembly of a firearm.

Disassembly: (Note: In the video I say this is one easy step, but as you can see here the takedown can be broken down into several, although still easy, steps).

1) As with virtually any firearm that you are about to disassemble, make sure that it is unloaded.

2) Grasp the rifle, preferably with two hands, one at the rear of the barrel assembly, and the other on the receiver.

3) With a finger of either hand, push or pull the take-down button toward the rear of the receiver. The takedown button is located on the left side toward the front end of the receiver.

4) Holding the button toward the back of the receiver, give a twist to the barrel at the breech end, twisting it as far as it will go in a clockwise direction (when looking from stock toward muzzle).

5) Pull the barrel assembly free of the receiver. Now your model 241 is ready for cleaning, storage, or carry in the taken down mode.

Reassembly:

1) To reassemble the rifle, hold receiver in one hand, barrel assembly in the other hand, and place the breech end of barrel assembly into the receiver in same position as it was when you removed it, and so it is fully seated. Then twist the barrel assembly counter-clockwise (when looking from stock toward muzzle) back into place. When doing so you should hear an audible click indicating that the takedown button has reengaged.

Note that is you have a different version of this rifle than mine, yours may operate differently than the one in the video, and may require different steps for disassembly and/or reassembly.

This may not be Hollywood, or even Bollywood, level video; but I think you get the picture.

All the best,

Glenn B

Ballseye's Training and Tactics - Knife versus Gun

Okay, I am not the greatest artist in the world. In fact my artistic abilities, especially when it comes to music and drawing absolutely stink. Yet I think I have drawn up an illustration that suits the purpose of this rant, or should I say of the question I am about to pose since I will not give my ideas on it quite yet.

Here is the scenario, and my drawing (click on the drawing to enlarge it). You are at home, in a motel, at a friends house (wherever), and you are chilling out in the living room type set-up. You are just coming back from grabbing a nice cold beverage (must be a soda because you are armed) and are headed to the sofa to couch-potato out after a long day at work. You hear a noise, you look to the doorway and see a really bad boogular coming at you with a knife in his hand, raised as if to attack. You go from being in white mode to red alert instantly because you recognize the threat. There is absolutely no doubt in your mind that you are about to be skewered, nor should there be any doubt in a reasonable person's mind that such is about to occur. You are in fear for life and limb. You are armed with a handgun (yes some people do wear them at home).

What do you do? You have to do it right away!

Think quickly, and decide now!

What was it that you decided to do? Did you decide on any of the following, or did you come up with something else.

Do you freeze.

Do you comply with the demands of the bad guy?

Do you draw and fire?

Do you move backwards as you draw then fire?

Do you seek cover, if so where?

Do you attack the bad guy with hand to hand combat?

Do you throw the soda at him?

Do you run away?

Do you cry for mama?

Do you pray?

Do you do something else?

The real question is: What would you do?

Think about this, and please come up with an answer if you will, then share with all of us. This is a good way to learn the good, the not so good, and the outright bad choices one can make. We can all benefit from this.

There are some outright wrong answers as to how to survive this, and there are some better answers, but probably not a completely right answer as each can have its faults and there are just too many variables. The truth be told though, there is definitely one thing about which you should be thinking of doing in order to increase your odds at surviving this type of attack? The success of almost everything else you do very likely will depend on that one thing. Do you know what it is?

Whatever answer you come up with, don't feel afraid to leave it here. There will be no embarrassment coming from me to you.

I'll add, in a leter post (probably tomorrow or Sunday), what I believe would be my response to such an attack, a response designed to keep me alive and unharmed.

All the best,
Glenn B

My Plan 9as I posted over on TheHighRoad.org:

Yep, 8 feet sure is close isn't it. If the bad guy was approaching me fast, I woulld prepare for hand to knife combat, I would try to sidestep and move away, and try to gain distance. As you sidestep, if he is really close, you may also be able to push him away to the other side, giving you a chance to gain even more distance. You may get cut, but maybe not. If I had the room I would try to sidestep toward my gun side, keeping my gun arm farthest from him. You now are making him react to you in having to change direction to get you, this gives you an edge (no pun intended). Now where to run for you. Right in the direction the bad guy just came from, and while maybe not through the door, because others may be out in the hallway, you could still run off on a diagnoal toward the other corner of the room. Still you can run fastest in that direction because you are facing that way. Remember to that the bad guy has been sidestepped and momentum should have kept him going a step or two past you; he now has to turn around, and you have gained time and distance because of that. If the bad guy was moving very slowly, I would again prepare myself for hand to knife combat, and if I thought of it I would sidestep to the left and rear, move that chair out, if only because it would create distance between us. He cannot come through a chair, he has to come around it, or over it to get me and that is more distance. Then I would continue trying to make distance between us as fast as I could do so. As he tries to go around it to the left, I would sidestep right and run, and the other way around if he went right. Or if need be I would go backward to the door behind me (least preferable route of escape here in my mind) but better than standing your ground.As you make distance, anything that you can put between the two of you without sacrificing a wound is good. If you can get behind real cover at a good distance from the bad guy, do so. Then draw and fire. Why not draw as you are running, that is okay too if you have gained enough distance but not before. Yu may still need bnoth hands for combat, or to move items between the two of you, or to open a dor, or whatever. Enough distance for a draw would be, in my opinion, equivalent to about 27 feet no cover, and 21 feet with cover. Remember though, it will be hard to tell if you have made that distance or not while under attack so practicing, and measuring after each practice scenario would be of help in preparing you for this.Bear in mind, if you move backwards, and draw as you do so, then fire, chances are he will cut you pretty badly if he knows how to use a knife. If you stand your ground and draw you are most likely going to get hurt really badly. If you go to groud with legs raised in front of you and try to draw and fire, chances are you will be cut badly, and maybe even shoot yourself. Even if you drill this exercise from 21 feet, you are not shooting at a real bad guy when you drill. Pumped up with adrenalin, a bad guy who is intent on hurting or killing you has momentum. Even if you could shoot such an assailant multiple times, chances are that his momentum would carry him to you, and you would be cut badly. Do not believe even for a moment that a cut has to happen. Do not allow yourself to be cut because you foolishly believe it inevitable. Use the bad guys momentum against him if you can. If you can gain distance, do so. Distance is your friend, and maybe even your life saver. Remember that distance is sometimes created without you moving, such as moving an object between you, but that distance is usually quickly covered even though it slows the bad guy a bit, so you have to move as you block his path. Also remember another way to create more distance is to sidestep and make the bad guy have to change direction. Again quickly overcome, so you have to keep moving if practical. You can move faster to the side than you can to the rear, and then you can move even faster straight ahead as he passes you (remember he has momentum too).If you have a friend willing to train with you, try this out. See how it works for you. You may still get cut, but your chances of not being cut, and of surviving probably have been increased. Also bear in mind that each situation will be different. You need to be able to improvise, training regularly and changing it each time will help with this.

H.R. 1022 - A New Assault Weapons Ban...

...has been proposed and put forth by Representative Carolyn McCarthy. My understanding is that in it she proposes to resurrect the old assault weapons ban, add on numerous types of firearms (that are sportsmans' guns and really have nothing to do with being assault weapons - not that weapon type matters under the 2nd amendment, I am just mentioning what she wants to do), and add a 10% tax on ammunition by each round sold. Yes folks you read that right, a 10% tax on each and every bullet that is sold. Maybe someone ought to remind Rep. McCarthy about the founding of this nation, and the Declaration of Independence. Said document was penned for various reasons, and one of them was because of the excessive taxes imposed upon the colonists by the tyrannical government at the time.

Wake up folks, not simply by buying ammunition now before this bill can pass, but to take action and call the elected officials in Washington so they know we oppose any such legislation. Call to voice, write and then send by mail or email, your opinion to the elected officials in Washington, D.D.. Let them know you oppose such a law, and believe it to be an outrageous attempt to infringe upon your liberties and rights. Get it done folks, do it like you mean it. Write and call weekly until this thing is defeated. If they get an avalanche of mail and calls, you can be sure that passage of such a law will never come about. If you say, 'hey, my one letter cannot do anything, neither can a bunch of them' well then think what a few hundred thousand might do.

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Edited 02/27/2007 to add:

Greybeard got in touch by way of a comment and asked for the info on the bill so that folks can write to their politicos and say which bill they oppose. Brainfart alert on my part in that I forgot to include such in the post originally. So I am now editing it (02/27/2007) to include that info along with some informative and helpful links. If you go to Representative McCarthy’s website @ http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=686&ParentID=0&SectionID=32&SectionTree=32&lnk=b&ItemID=675, she writes about her wanting to reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban, but I did not see an obvious link to the bill, not even under her legislation link.

I was able to find the bill on the Library of Congress website at this address: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:8:./temp/~c110VcFgc2:: but for some reason when I try to click on the link for that address I get noting. You can go to the home page for the site and do a search for H.R. 1022, or simply for the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.1022.IH] (oh lookee they just supplied a link in the title of the bill, how nice).

If you would like, you can go to the site at this link http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/409898348?ltl=1172617322 to file an online petition as your first step in opposition to said bill. Please note that the effectiveness of online petitions is highly questionable, so you must follow that up with emails, letters and or phone calls to your elected officials to oppose this bill.

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My blog certainly does not get an awful lot of hits, so please spread the word about getting the message to Washington that we oppose such legislation. Let other bloggers know that they ought to put something on their sites about this if not already done, put something into your own blog, put it onto online forums, talk to it with folks at the gun range or club, talk to your neighbors about it, do whatever you can legally do to help defeat this tyrannical piece of legislation from ever becoming law.

Keep up the good fight to keep and bear arms without infringement of your rights and liberties, otherwise tyranny in democracy's clothing may rule us yet.

All the best,
Glenn B

Here Is A Gun Trivia Question...

...to which I seek an answer because I do not know the answer.

In the 1941 film version of the Maltese Falcon, what make and model of pistol did Joel Cairo hold on Sam Spade? I am hoping to get the correct answer backed by some sort of factual reference other than just getting guesses, or answers like: 'Hey it looks like a Colt' or whatever.

Thanks,
Glenn B