NY Rated As The Worst STATE For Gun Owners

And maybe I should underline the word STATE if the caps in the title was not enough to emphasize it. Somehow the author of the Guns & Ammo piece, listing the states, said that Washington, DC (number 51 in his order) was the worst state (source). I guess maybe he follows the Barack Hussein Obama school of reasoning about how many states make up the United States of America. Obama, by implication, said there were 60 states when he said he had visited 57 of them, with one left to go and that Alaska and Hawaii had not been visited because they were off limits to him. To me that sure seems to add up to 60.



Anyway, we all know there are 50 states and as you can see in the article - NY is listed as number 50 or as the worst STATE for gun owners. Sadly, my wife will not move away from his hellhole of super liberal leftists, rights & liberties disregarding politicians and bureaucrats, and out and out tyrannical un-American government.

All the best,
Glenn  B

A Pink Gun...

...is more or less what I would have thought would be the choice of a gal with pink hair. Then again, there is no accounting for tastes or so they say.

Anyway, I didn't post a pic like that here to talk about fashion tastes. I only posted that image here for firearms safety educational purposes, I mean - why else would I put a pic like that here! Thus you probably also will note yes she does have her finger on the trigger, when she shouldn't, but let's for once overlook that to look at how much finger she has on it. It's way too much booger finger on the trigger. The next time you shoot pistol (or rifle or shotgun think about how much of your finger you usually use when performing that other delicate task of booger removal from your always tender nostrils. Respect the trigger of any firearm at least as much as you normally would do with your nostrils and you will likely wind up having he right amount of finger on the trigger - that is at least if you have normal sized nostrils and normal nostril to finger width ratios.

All you really want, in most instances, is the center of the finger pad, to maybe a tad closer to the first joint of the finger, to be on the center of the trigger on the horizontal plane. You do not want the first joint fold or further down (in toward the hand) on the finger to be on the trigger. More on that here but be warned it's a rather long old post of mine.

You can also watch the video I have in that blog; it's a long video but I mention where to start if you just want to see the part about trigger finger placement. You might enjoy the whole thing though - it is pretty amazing for several very different reasons such as great marksmanship and really terrible range safety or lack of it during the trick shooting. In all it is pretty amusing.

All the best,
Glenn B 

I Saw This Today At A Local Gun Store...

...and I just about pissed my pants and busted a gut, I was laughing that hard.

Source: http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi02YWNlZWQzNjc1YTM1NmVj#

 

I don't often just laugh like that at things I see out in public but this just rang so true and at the same time was so funny, how could I not laugh. I am sure though, if I show it to my wife, she would laugh harder than me. That's probably true for many, if not most, other married men.

 

All the best,

Glenn B

Ammo Alert 45 ACP

Cleaning the basement can be just like a treasure hunt. Let me clarify that, I should say a bit of straightening up, not really cleaning it is what I meant to say because my wife would be sure to tell you it is far from clean or even straightened up. Anyway, that's what a I did for about 30 minutes yesterday before I found an excuse to do something else more pleasurable - like nothing. During that brief time, I came across two out of place boxes. I was pretty sure I knew what was in them; well not specifically but in general. I figured both had some ammo in them. I was right and much to my surprise and pleasure I discovered that one contained 250 rounds of FMJ 45 ACP and the other held 500 rounds of it.

Speaking of 45 ACP, I had been doing some shopping for it in anticipation of the 8th Annual Northeast Bloggershoot but now that I have found his ammo, I don't need to buy any additional for the shoot and I'll still have a good deal of this left over. While I was shopping around for it though, I noticed that prices have fallen. They are not what I would consider back to normal but certainly are the lowest I have seen in years now. Boxer primed, brass cased, 45 ACP FMJ ammunition is going for as little as about 30 cents per round. That translates to about $300 per case of 1,000 rounds.

The big surprise is that I found it to be less expensive by the box. By the box of 50 rounds, it is selling for $13.99 (Palmetto State Armory) or just under 28 cents per round and that would be only $279.80 for a case. The particular ammo is Sellier & Bellot 45ACP 230gr FMJ. That is a very good practice ammo in my estimation and the price is not bad at all (meaning its darned good) considering todays prices. Add to that, they supposedly have it in stock as I type and you should be ordering by now if you are in need of any 45ACP ammo. Even though I am fairly well stocked up on it, that deal sure is tempting.

I don't know if it is an oversight or if someone at PSA pissed off the folks at GunBot.net but I did not see that deal shown on GunBot's site. In fact, I did not see anything in 45ACP that was listed on GunBot as being sold by PSA. While GunBot is an excellent resource, I guess it pays to shop around even if you use a site like GunBot.

All the best,
Glenn B

If Your Going To Be A Hoarder - You May As Well...

...hoard things that you love. Some people hoard knickknacks, others toys, some just about everything including old newspapers and all sorts of trash but one man evidently hoarded or collected away to my heart's content. When the police searched his home, after finding his decomposing body in his parked car about a block from his house (and that may wind up being a big story all on its own), they found what for once the media could be reporting as an arsenal but for some reason they are not, at least not in the two reports I read. I think an arsenal an apt description, then again I think large collection or life's work might be just as appropriate. The find consisted of more than 1,200 guns and approximately two (2) tons of ammo. While I might almost come near to having half that much ammo (chuckle, snicker, sob) I have a long, long, long way to go to acquiring over twelve hundred firearms.

Police have their rather tedious work cut out for them, they are going to try to determine if all of the guns were legal to own and whether or not any of them are linked to any crimes. Of course, they could all be legitimate and perfectly legal to own, even in California. Here is how one of the cops put it:

"Running the background, history and legality of these weapons is going to require a tremendous amount of time.

It's not a crime to have a large number of weapons so long as they were legal to own and legally obtained. We want to make sure that's the case."

More here at the source but sadly not a good enough picture to put in his post. The first but very small photo of the guns that I saw was one that Fox News had on its headlines page was one showing a large mound of pistols piled one atop the other in apparent total disregard for the values of the pieces. A couple of other photos I found, after doing an Internet search, showed the firearms, evidently outside strewn about on blue tarps an not looking like much care had been given to preserving their condition. A picture of rifles (and maybe shotguns too) showed them piled one atop the other much as in the first pic that I saw of the pistols. All that despite the reported facts that some were high end pistols and that many had still been in boxes with price tags attached apparently unfired. If the police took them and threw them in a heap like that - it seems they disregarded their condition, monetary and potential evidentiary values. I would hope that every one of them was legal and that his survivors receive all of them intact and in excellent condition. I would imagine though that the surviving family members, if any, will have what should have been an unnecessary lawsuit for any damage to the guns that might decrease their value. And yes, they could be very valuable depending on make and model. But that is only what  at most will amount to an afterthought. For now they mourn their lost loved one. My condolences to them in this time of their sadness.

In closing, I must say, if all those guns were legal (and maybe even if not) that man seems to maybe have been a man's man among firearms hoarders collectors!

All the best,
Glenn B

 

On Pretending

 

All the best,

GB

.

Airsoft Never Appealed To Me Before...

...but for some reason it sure does now!

 

This could make a man want to hop on the next plane to
Hawaii to sign up at Impact Games for some Airsoft fun.
Model: Christine Mendoza, © Oseas Dagdad, Island-Foxes.com

Yet another example of a woman without her finger on the trigger - as it should be unless ready to fire.This image posted here for the purposes of firearms safety education and for that aone. I mean, why else would I post a pic like that here.

 

A hat tip, my thanks and an aloha to Oseas Dagdag of Island-Foxes.com for his generous permission to use this photograph (and others) in my blog. More like this one to come!

 

All the best,

Glenn B

Tomi Lahren Tells It To Obama Like It Is About Islamic Terrorism

It is so clear that it boggles the mind that our president does not get it and has to be told off time and time again by Americans who do get it. It also truly illuminates the sad state of affairs under which we now live during the current administration of a president who cares more about gay marriage, amnesty for illegal aliens, playing golf, wage equality, the minimum wage, and a lot of other things than he does about National Security and the safety of American citizens and legal resident aliens.



He has not even had the decency or shown the respect to order that flags be flown at half staff/mast in honor of the four dead marines and one dead naval officer.

All the best,
GB

I Have Got To Give BATFE Some Credit

I don't like the idea that we even have a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives within the federal government and I certainly do not like many, if not most, of their regulations relative to firearms and explosives. However, I have to give them credit when they are due credit. Years ago, I attempted to contact them by email and by telephone regarding an inquiry I had about the legality of a firearms transfer. They basically told me, via a return email, to pound sand. By phone, when I called their HQ, it was not much different. I also sent them a written letter via the post office, it got me nowhere. I called them again, dropped a dime on myself as being a federal agent, and only then did I get someone to give me some advice on my issue.

Last week, I made an inquiry of GunBroker.com an issue I was having about shipping a firearm. GunBroker got back to me the same day and they got back to me twice that day because, after their first reply, I had a follow-up question for them. I suppose that was both to my benefit and theirs; after all they are in the business of being a firearms auction house and it stands to reason they answer user inquiries quickly to keep their customer base happy and thus they keep making money.

Had I sent an email to BATFE and gotten a reply the same day, I may have fallen out of my chair on seeing it. Truth be told, I almost did fall out of my chair after contacting them. I sent them an email inquiry about the same subject on the same day I sent my inquires to GunBroker. BATFE replied to my question only two days after that and the reply I received was completely to the point and addressed my inquiry as good or better, in my opinion, than did the replies I got from GunBroker. I don't know what exactly has changed at BATFE to get them to reply to me so quickly, without any bureaucratic smoke being blown up my arse, but that change is a welcome one. Now if only they would realize the meaning of the Second Amendment.

All the best,
Glenn B

I've Always Wanted To Hold A Pair Of 45s Like These

I imagine they must be hefty but she appears to support them well enough except for the fact that her fingers are on the triggers, well of the one set of 45s anyway.

Folks, remember - barring certain exceptions - don't put your finger on the trigger unless ready to shoot. This photo posted here for firearms safety education and for that purpose alone. Why else would I post an image like this here anyway!

All the best,
Glenn B

Improving The Public's Image Of ISIS

This asshole...

ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi

...has got to be kidding! The leader of ISIS reportedly has banned the showing of beheading videos because it may offend other Muslims if it scares their children. Why worry about offending other Muslims - why not just behead them and get rid of them altogether if they don't like those videos? Isn't that what ISIS has been doing to anyone who has disagreed with or is offended by them! More here.

These jerkoffs have some serious mental issues and I think the only cure might be lead to the head. If that offends anyone, especially those in ISIS, I am happy to have written it.

All the best,
Glenn B

New Militarized Police Uniform Has Prisoners Surrending in Droves

Crime, in the tiny country know as the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, has skyrocketed and the jails are being filled faster than ever before all because of the new military style uniforms issued to Grand Fenwick's all female police department. Criminals are turning themselves in at a rate never before witnessed anywhere in the world. As for crime skyrocketing - it seems once law abiding men are turning to a life of crime just to be arrested. It has been predicted by Grand Fenwick's Immigration minister that a wave of undocumented male foreigners may soon over burden that tiny country's resources if a similar uniform is issued to their all female border guards.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

A Woman & Her Gun

There is just something about this image that stands out.

 

 

I guess its the big gun, and the fact that she does not have her finger on the trigger as should be the case - don't ya think! As usual, this image was posted here for firearms safety education, why else would I post a pic like that in my blog!

 

All the best,

GB

 

If They Don't Already Outnumber Us...

...and if the rate at which they are getting driver's licenses in CA is any indication, they soon will. More than half, get that, read it again, more than half of all driver's licenses issued in the state of California are issued to wetbacks illegal aliens (source). We are no longer a nation, there is no longer a United States of America - we have lost our country to interlopers through lack of interest in protecting it from this invasion. It boggles the mind that we not only allow this to happen but many encourage it.

It's no wonder the amount of terrorist attacks are and will continue increasing on our soil; our borders are open to all comers and once they are here our president encourages making it easy for them to remain. What a disgrace. As far as illegal entry into the USA goes, Donald Trump has hit the target dead center.

All the best,
Glenn B

A Gun Guru Handgun Video That's More Amusing Than Informative...

... because of the mistakes he makes about these pistols such as calling a magazine a cartridge, what he says about firing one handed and how he tells/shows you to unload a revolver. His comment about why women should like the Ruger LCP is destined to become a classic.



By the way, my calling this a gun guru video has nothing to do with his accent. Gun guru is long used term to denote a master firearms know it all instructor (at least he thinks he knows it all) who in essence has virtually no to only little real clue as to the subject matter. Folks, make sure if you seek firearms training, you are getting it from someone who really has the knowledge and experience to train you. That term, in my opinion, fits this guy perfectly. I prefer someone who has been certified as an instructor by a major firearms organization like the NRA but sometimes even that is no guarantee. Do yourselves a favor, read a good book or two - an actual published work on the subject of shooting before you even think of picking up a gun. Then, check with a group like the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National 4-H Shooting Sports; they can all point you in the right direction to find an instructor who is right on target.

All the best,
GB

A Good Example Of Why I Try To Discourage Bag Carry

I don't think firearms are secure when carried in a handbag, purse, attaché case, brief case or any type of bag you usually carry in your hand or hand over one shoulder. First of all, you almost always wind up putting the bag down somewhere during the course of your activities and the pistol inside of it is then in essence not secured. Then there is always a chance of something like this happening. It is just too darned hard to retain a pistol that's inside a bag in such a situation let alone trying to draw it to use it against your assailant.

Let's hope no innocents are wounded or killed by this one that's now in the hands of a thug.

All the best,
Glenn B

It's A Longer Wait Than Waiting For Godot

 

 

Godot probably arrived about the time the skin started to slough off.

 

Hat tip to Ed S on whose FB page I first saw this.

 

All the best,

Glenn B

Crusader Fashion

If my wife would wear it, I'd by her one but I think the days of her wearing something like that are gone. Although, I must say, she definitely still has the shape for it.

All the best,
GB

Four Dead Marines - Can I Just Say I Am Disgusted...

...over today's terrorist attack on our military and LE here at home (source). No I cannot limit myself to saying only that.

Not only four dead marines but a critically wounded (shot) member of the Navy and a police officer also shot (heard that about the wounded on Fox News on the television). It was allegedly committed by a U.S. citizen who was shot down like the dirty dog he was by police. The alleged terrorist dog (yes I added the dog part) reportedly naturalized after immigrating here from a Kuwait (and for the ignorant that is a Muslim nation). So it has been reported thus far. And yet they, as in some government officials, are calling it domestic terrorism! They have got to be kidding. It is the next to last day of Ramadan - so you can bet this was inspired by Islam and especially by the Islamic pigs of ISIS.

How the politicians and military brass have disarmed our military is unfathomable. We are at war people - with a group that wants to annihilate us - whether or not we all want to believe it. They sure believe it and they have been waging war against us at every opportunity. If today does not wake people up to the fact that we are at war with Islam or at least with a huge portion of it, then so be it. When the next jihadi coward commits yet another surprise attack, let they who insist on sleeping die in their sleep. As for me, I am on alert and prepared to defend me and my loved ones and to help defend America in the event that an act of terrorism takes place in my presence and I am able to do anything to help stop it.

If you are not arming yourselves and preparing likewise, I believe you to be fools. I think though that most of the folks who read this blog are already at least somewhat prepared. I hope so.

All the best,
Glenn B

It's Arrived

Today's mail held something for which I have been patiently waiting - my nonresident Pennsylvania License To Carry Firearms. I applied for mine at the Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office on June 24th. They normally issue them on the day you apply, if you pass the checks they run (and I did pass) but their printer was down. They told me that when they got a new printer, they would print it up and mail it to me. So, it took a little bit - but not all that long considering how long it would take to get a pistol license in NY. Three weeks and a day is nothing compared to the the six months within which it is supposed to be in NYistan; and believe me it usually takes much longer than that unless you are a retired LEO.

One thing I have to point out about the Lackawanna County Sherriff's Office - they all were very nice folks, especially the lady officer who ran the checks and issued the license. In addition, the application process was brief and uncomplicated and the cost was very reasonable at only $20. Of course, I don't think we should be required to have a license to carry anywhere within this country but as it stands now we are so required. Whatever, I am compelled to say that doing business with the Lackawanna County SO's office was an absolute pleasure.

This is my first out of state non-resident pistol license. I anticipate getting at least a couple to a few more. Ones from other states that come to mind possibly would be from AZ, FL, NH, UT and VA.

All the best,
Glenn B

Police Execution Or Justified Shooting - You Decide

Watch The video at this link - before it disappears (as the courts may decide it has to be removed).

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-federal-judge-orders-release-of-videos-20150714-story.html#page=1

Now think about what just happened in the video (even though it was about 2 years ago). Watch it again if you want and really think about what happened. Then answer this - were the police justified in using deadly force in that situation. I am not going to answer it for you, you need to answer that for yourselves; just as the cops had to make their own decisions, you get to make your decisions. There is a difference though, the cops had to do it in a split second while in a real life situation and not while watching a video. I am not justifying there actions, just stating a fact about why it is different than us watching a video.

Now, many people will condemn tem for using deadly force. Many say it was not justified. Others, while not praising the officers (since they shot an unarmed suspect who was not the guy for whom they were searching) certainly are not condemning them but are supportive of them. I will do neither
but I will say this, I may well have shot the guy too but then again maybe not. It depends.

Let me give you a scenario that might be closer to home for you and then think about and answer whether or not you would shoot in the situation I am about to give (one that will be very similar in nature to the one in the video just one that would be more likely for the average guy or gal to encounter since we usually do not go out hunting down suspected violent criminals).

You are home at 1AM, up late and watching a good Bogart movie. You here some noises on the outside of your dwelling, sounds like someone was screwing around with your door. You grab a hand gun and go to investigate. You find a guy trespassing on your property. You tell him not to move, he stops. You tell him hands up - he puts his hands up. You take out your cell one handed, gun in other, and start to call 911. The guy move, you tell him top. He puts his hands down near his waist. You order him to put his hands up and he does. Then he drops his hands and starts moving them erratically. You tell him to put up his hands and not to move; he does it but then drops them to his head and then slightly lifts his hat at the back of his head as maybe he is going for something under it. His hands go back up after another command from you. Then he suddenly takes off his hat. He then drops his hands, with his hat in his left hand (the side to which the cops who shot him were reportedly standing so we will say you are also to your suspect's left), to his waist level. Watch though what he does with his right hand - he moves it momentarily to his right hip and then out from the hip like drawing a gun. Or maybe he was moving his hand toward the hat, and remember that just a moment before it looks as if he was about to reach under his hat. it depends on how you think about it during a stressful few moments. If you do not see it in the first view shown on the video, wait for the view from an additional angle shows. How he moves his right hand can be seen plainly. Granted, it can also be seen to contain nothing but we cannot see inside the hat and by te time the hand is coming up empty - it was too late - the first shots were fired.

Those are the facts of our scenario - pretty much just how they appear in the video with the part about the guy fiddling with and removing his hat and moving his right hand. Now think about it relative to our closer to home scenario. What would you have done in that scenario when the guy removed his hat and he moved his other hand toward his hip with that all being at least partially obscured from your view (because you are to his left)? Would you have just stood there while allowing him to have done all that and thus maybe have allowed him to do what may or may not have come next like draw a weapon and shoot you. Would you have yelled at him some more not to move. Would you have thought - holy shit, he's going for gun and if so would you have shot him. Would you have run away to cover. Do not change the scenario - do not tell me you would have stayed inside. This is being asked to see what you would have done had you confronted the suspect while you were armed with a gun. Then think about the actual shooting and answer whether or not the cops were justified to have shot the guy - regardless of how you think you would have reacted.

I will make only one critical assessment of how the officers handled this situation and it is one of something which I have seen all to often in such videos. I also saw it repeatedly throughout my 32 year career in law enforcement even though, for the several that I had collateral duties as a firearms instructor, I taught my students to do otherwise. I immediately saw that those officers used their guns as their magic shields; in other words - the only thing they stood behind was their guns - THEY DID NOT TAKE COVER, not even did they get behind concealment. That was a glaring error on their part and it, in my opinion, was one of the deciding factors that added up to why they shot this guy. Maybe that was because it seemed as if there was no cover or concealment but there were the police cars and they would have been much better than nothing. Maybe they have been trained to point the nose of their cruisers at suspects so they get it all on the police video cameras but I was never taught that and never taught it to anyone. I was taught that you could angle your car, during a stop, to offer protection to you and your partner. Apparently these officers did not do that and I think, if they had done so, they may have spared a moment or two longer and seen that the suspect was unarmed. I am not saying it would have happened for sure, simply that it may have, but we will never know now because it is too late. I do know though, that taking cover should be one of your primary considerations in any such encounter if for nothing else - for your own safety.

Now that you have watched the video, and probably read the article and hopefully answered my questions about our closer to home scenario or otherwise just figured what you would have done in that real life scenario, answer one more question and please be very honest about it. How many times did you watch that video before making up your mind whether or not you would have shot the guy or as to whether or not the cops were justified to soot him. Remember, they did not have a video to watch; it was happening in real time and thus as fast as watching that video once but with the potential of them being injured. They were there in the heat of the moment facing potential danger and did not have the convenience of being able to watch it unfold in the safety of their living room while sipping a cocktail on a hot summer's night. Again, I am not making excuses for them, I am telling you factual information on which they, at least in part, probably based their decision to shoot and that is information you should consider too in judging them or in deciding whether or not you would use deadly force in a similar situation.

This was a case of an innocent man being gunned down by police because they mistakenly believed he was drawing a weapon. Or, if you prefer, it happened, as some critics say, because it was an execution of an innocent man carried out by trigger happy police who shot the guy because he would not obey their commands. 

Regardless of what anyone thinks on what were the motivations - it was a sad situation with an even sadder result because an innocent man lost his life.

A hat tip to Kenny over at Knuckledraggin My Life Away for having the link posted here.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

It Would Be An Interesting Hike...

...up and around the mountains of Pluto, that is if you could survive there long enough to take a breath or three. Since you can't, I imagine that this photograph may be the next best thing:

 

More, but alas shamefully scant, information about this photo of Pluto can be found here. You would think that the eggheads who are responsible for all this could have told us a good deal more since we paid for it all with our tax money. Or is it they don't have much more of a clue! Anyway, I like the pic, it's now my wallpaper at least for a bit.

 

All the best,

Glenn B

So The Judge Cannot Understand Why Someone Did Something...

...and his solution to that is not to try harder to do so but to sentence the defendant to four more years of community service and to additional psychological counseling. That, regardless of the fact, that two psychologists appointed by the government, found the defendant to be completely normal and well balanced! So, in essence, it seems to me what has happened here is one of three things because right now I cannot think of another possible one. The first possibility is that the judge has violated the ethics of his office and has sentenced someone based upon his personal feelings and lack of ability to understand why someone did something with total disregard for government appointed experts in the relative field and disregard for rule of law. The second possibility is that he has railroaded a political opponent or at least someone who does not support the same politics as those endorsed by the judge. The third is the judge is too egotistical to realize that the experts in the field of psychology are more knowledgeable than himself and that the motive for the crime is totally independent of the defendant's current mental health status. There may be other possibilities but they elude me right now. You might be surprised to see to whom this just happened but under the political and tyrannical climate in which we live, I am not surprised at all. More here.

Hat tip to PQ for sending me the link to the article.

All the best,
Glenn B

That Winchester Model 37 12 Gauge Shotgun - The One I Almost Sold Last Week...

...one week ago to the day - it just sold a mere 24 hours, 23 minutes and 24 seconds after I put it up for auction on GunBroker.com. That as opposed to having it listed in a local gun site's for sale forum and all that followed. It even wound up fetching the 'Buy It Now' price which was $50 more than the starting bid price and more than I had asked on the gun forum. Evidently, the person who bid, must have known a decent deal when he saw it, and he hit the buy it now icon. Sure, now I have to fork out some cash to pay GunBroker their fees but that will wind up being less than $10.00 total for the listing fees (basic listings are free but I added some extras) and the final value fee (which is based on a percentage of the selling price). GunBroker's fees are very reasonable.

I will wind up with more than I had been asking on the forum and quite a bit more than I paid for it a few years ago. I probably could have gotten even $50 to $100 more even though it is in fairly rough condition cosmetically (although it operates excellently). Regardless, I decided to try for a quick sale and not be greedy. I gave an honest and thorough description of the shotgun and posted several pictures and it sold quicker than anything I have put up on GunBroker before. Of course, now I have to wait for payment, a copy of the appropriate FFL and ID and such from the buyer and then will have to pack and ship it but that is all right on target when selling through an online auction house. The deal should be completed to delivery within about 10 business days or so if all goes well.

I have sold several items via GunBroker and as far as I recall, I have only had one deal go bad when one person bid on it, another sent his FFL and payment saying it was for him and when I questioned that he said something like it had been his daughter who had been bid on it but he was buying it. I had to say sorry Charlie and leave it at that. I notified GunBroker that there had been a discrepancy, that I was not paid nor would I accept payment from anyone but the actual bidder, and they refunded whatever was the final value fee they charged and relisted it for free. It sold shortly after that. I expect this transaction will go smoothly though as have all the others, except that one, that I have done through GunBroker.com.

So, I anticipate but am not yet counting some of that cash going toward the credit card bill for two other guns I bought recently. I'll even have almost half of it leftover because I already put almost everything I owe for the other two guns into my savings account already!. Hmm, I guess that means I can use the other hald to pay for the Sight Mark Ultra Shot QD Digital Switch reflex sight I ordered yesterday! I am a happy camper shooter. 

All the best,
Glenn B

Stevens M320 12 Gauge Shotgun - First Impressions

There I was yesterday afternoon, all eager and ready to pick up a Sight Mark Ultra Shot QD Digital Switch reflex scope for Hunter's Essentials and then slap it on the Stevens M320 12 gauge shotgun and head to the range for a blast. The gun store's website said they were in stock but when I got there - no such luck. So, I ordered one and will probably pick it up next week. Not to be deterred, I decided to head to the range regardless of not having the sight figuring I could do a test fire using the guns bead front sight well enough. I also brought along one of my Beretta 92FS pistols that I had done a minor repair on since I wanted to make sure it was functioning properly after the repair. In truth, I already knew the repair had taken properly, it was just the replacement of a grip screw washer but any excuse to do some shooting is a good thing so I brought along the Beretta too. (Note to self: Be more careful when disassembling guns for cleaning, losing that washer meant when the screw was put back in and tightened it interfered with insertion and removal of the magazines. Luckily, I found that out at the range instead of during shootout.)

Once at the range, I set up and decided to shoot the Beretta first. I did not want an aching right shoulder to hamper me in any way and I was certain that once I had fired several rounds though the shotgun, my shoulder would be aching pretty badly, especially since I had not fired a shotgun in probably at least a few months prior to yesterday. I shot the Beretta at close in ranges from 3 to 15 yards. I only fired about 150 rounds total but I was pretty happy with my shooting. Of course , I was at the range and I was only shooting at paper that was not shooting back at me and that makes it a lot easier but I was happy with it nonetheless. Here are some of my targets:

My 3 yard 'group' has the widest spread on all my targets
even though at the shortest range. That's because I did
not use the sights or top of the gun, I simply point shot
over the top and as fast as I could squeeze the trigger.

 

At 5 yards, I used the sights for slow fire but aimed
down the top of the gun for rapid fire without lining
 up the sights.

 

At 7 yards, using sights. It seems there always
has to be at least one party pooper in he group.

 

Rapid fire using sights.

 

Not quite as good as at 7 yards but none too shabby.

 

Almost as good as my slow fire at 7 yards.

 

10 shots rapid fire and 10 slow fire. I did better
at 15 yards than I would have thought possible but
my rapid fire was nowhere nearly as rapid and
 my slow fire was slower than at shorter ranges.

Once I fired up all the 9mm ammo I had along, it was time to break out the 12 gauge. I had 40 rounds with me but as I said above, I was not looking forward to an aching shoulder so whether or not I shot that much depended on how much my right shoulder could take. The Stevens model M320 that I have is the version with pistol grip, rail and heat shield. For some reason, it is the most expensive version offered of this model but I would have thought the one with ghost ring sights would cost more. Wrong again. Anyway, I removed the rail so that I could sight down the groove atop the receiver using the bead front sight. I was going to put the screws, that hold the rail in place, back into the holes in the receiver but realized if I did that they would protrude above the receiver and interfere with sighting. Oh well, I left the screws out.

 

The model M320 has a 3" chamber but I did not have any 3" shells and went with 2 3/4" shells holding 1 ounce slugs. I set the target at 15 yards, loaded up five rounds for the test fire and started to blast away. While the loading mechanism on the M320 is similar to a Remington 870, I noticed right away that the lifter has much less resistance than those on 870s. As soon as I fired the first shot, I also discovered that the slide also has a lot less resistance on the Stevens than on the Remingtons, a few times it flew back almost from the recoil alone. The operation of the shotgun was pretty straight forward and everything functioned as it should have done. As far as accuracy goes though, I was not all that impressed but I am not sure if I can blame it on the gun or if  should blame it on myself. I shot the first 5 rounds about 3 inches to the left of center and somewhat high. I tried again with the same exact result. Then I moved the target out from 15 to 25 yards and shot another 5 rounds. While the shots were a bit lower they will still a tad high. They also were to the left the same distance from center as when I shot at 15 yards. The group was a little smaller than my open hand size lengthwise or in other words about 7 inches high but only about 2.5 inches across.

 

I could live with shooting a shotgun like that but sure would like to improve on it; I don't mind it shooting a bit high but the l So, it would be good to know if it was me or the gun causing the shots to go high to the left. I'll have to bring my Remington 870 and my son's Mossberg (?500 or 550?) along with the M320 next time to do a comparison. If I shoot all three like that, then it's me - if I only shoot the Stevens like that, then it's the gun. The way I usually shoot slug guns, I tend to think it's the gun. If that's the case, then the addition of the Sight Mark Ultra Shot QD Digital Switch reflex sight would help correct for that. If it doesn't help, I'll find another use for the sight and sell the gun. Hopefully, it won't come to that and this will be a fun gun for the range and a decent one for home defense if ever needed.

 

Did you notice, I wimped out after only 15 rounds. The snap crackle and pop sound that came from my right shoulder blade was more than enough of a hinted warning to cease fire. Today, my shoulder feels pretty good so I guess I did right by calling it quits.

 

All the best,

Glenn B