Call me Ahab

posted by Caleb on Jan 31

I’m watching the Top 10 Combat Rifles on Top Tens on the Discovery Military Channel.  As you might have guessed, they’re making a list of the Top 10 Combat rifles in history.  Since I’m bored, I’m going to blog it as it goes.

10.  The M-14.  Interesting choice.  Honestly, the M-14 wouldn’t make a top ten list of rifles that I’d put together.  Most of the pundits are talking about the stopping power of the M-14, as well as it’s accuracy.  I’d agree with both of those points, it is accurate and powerful.  There’s a lot of hyperbole about it’s knockdown power and “massive recoil”.

9.  The Sturmgewehr 44.  Ah, the father of the assault rifle.  I’m definitely on board with this pick; the historical value of the StG-44 alone should place it on anyone’s top ten list.  On a side note, looking at the StG-44, you can really see the resemblence to the HK G3.

8.  1903 Springfield.  Another interesting choice; although at number 8 I can only assume that the Mausers on which it was based will show up higher on the list.  There are some good arguments for this rifle, and at number 8, that seems reasonable.

7.  Steyr AUG.  This is the first choice that I really disagree with.  Sure, I wouldn’t have put the M14 on a top ten list, but I certainly wouldn’t have ranked the Steyr AUG above the M-14 on anyone’s list.  I’d call this the fanboy vote if I’d call it anything.

6.  Mauser Model 98K.  The only comment I really have about this rifle is that I’m surprised that it’s not higher up on the list than number six.

5.  FN FAL.  Unlike the M-14, the FN FAL was a successful 7.62 NATO battle rifle.  You can still find FN FALs in the hands of freedom fighters all over the world.

4.  M1 Garand.  Putting the “greatest battle implement” at number seems like kind of a travesty to me.  On any list that I’d put together, the Garand is top three for sure.

3.  Lee Enfield SMLE.  Pefectly logical choice for number three.  I won’t contest the SMLE being in the top three of any list of the greatest rifles ever designed.

 - Note: We’re at a commercial break right now, who wants to bet me that number two and number one will be the M-16, and the AK47, in that order?  Any takers?

Back from commerical, I knew it, the M-16 is number 2.

2.  M-16.  You know honestly, I can’t talk shit about this choice.  It’s been in service for over 40 years, and has probably taken out more enemy combatants than any other US service rifle in history.  Once they corrected the issues with the ammo, it really is worthy of the number 2 spot, and on some people’s lists, the number 1 spot.  These days, there are probably more AR-15 pattern rifles being made than almost any other platform.

1.  AK47.  For the record, I’m typing this before the show actually tells me that the AK is number one, but it’s a foregone conclusion at this juncture.  We’re at a commercial right now; so I’m just waiting for my prediction to come true.  Oh, we’re back from commericals, and there it is, the Kalashnikov.

Intersting show, although as you can see I disagree with some of their picks.  If I were picking, the list would have included the Mosin-Nagant, and not the AUG, and replaced the M-14 with the Israeli Galil.  Because you’re going to ask, my top ten list would look like this:

1. The M1 Garand - the father of the semi-auto combat rifle
2. M16/AR15 pattern rifles
3. Kalashnikov pattern rifles
4. SMLE
5. Mauser 98k
6. StG-44
7. Galil
8. Mosin-Nagant
9. FN FAL
10. ‘03 Springfield

Now show me yours.

posted by Caleb on Jan 31

West Virginia may offer gun and hunter safety classes in schools.

A significant drop in the number of hunters in West Virginia has left multimillion dollar holes in the state’s budget and one lawmaker thinks he has the solution: allow children to receive hunter training in school.

The economic impact of hunters and sport shooters has been discussed before, and it’s also something that the NSSF will be holding press conference about during SHOT ‘08.  One of the things that a lot of anti’s don’t realize is how much money the state’s make in license fees, deer tags, taxes, and sundry other fees off of hunters and shooters.

Children would be instructed in everything from survival skills to gun safety, but the guns would either have dummy ammunition or be disabled in some way. Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, who introduced the bill, doesn’t envision West Virginia’s middle-schoolers firing real guns during class time.

“It’s a way to take this kind of education in the classroom and make it more convenient for young people,” the Wyoming County Democrat said.

It’s a fantastic idea.  The fact of the matter is that the hunting population is getting older, this has been recognized by the NSSF and several other groups who have formed various campaigns to try to get more young hunters into the field.  By offering firearms instruction in the classroom during school hours, you get the opportunity to expose more kids to hunting, and the shooting sports in general.

I’m always, always in favor of getting young people shooting, and I also think that opening different avenues for them to have more access to safe training on gunhandling is always a good thing.

posted by Caleb on Jan 31

In Nebraska, a man is facing 3rd degree assault charges for a negligent discharge at the shooting range.  The person in question was taking about his Glock, and apparently failed to do a chamber check before beginning the takedown process, and then inadvertently shot a fellow range patron in the shoulder.

Two things of note, I am beginning to dislike how the media represents negligent discharges; they’re almost always referred to as “accidental”, and usually accompanyed by a statement like “the gun went off”, or “then the gun fired” as if by some magic the gun just went off.  The second thing I want to point out is safety - all firearms are always loaded, and if you’re taking a firearm down, especially a Glock you need to be double sure that the firearm is unloaded.

Safety is key, in this case the person was negligent in his safety procedures and ended up injuring someone.  Remember the Four Rules.

posted by Caleb on Jan 31

I’m sure that a lot of shooters out there are like me, and have thought about getting into trap shooting, but because they’re not “into” shotguns are kind of put off by the high price of a lot of trap guns on the market.

H&R Firearms, which is a subsidiary of Marlin (which has now been bought by Remington) has introduced a trap model of their incredibly versitile line of of Topper shotguns.

I love my Survivor .410/.45 Colt shotgun, it’s handy and accurate.  I give H&R a lot of respect for making quality, affordable guns that get the job done.  Based on my experience with other H&R guns, if you’re looking for an entry level trap gun, you probably won’t go wrong with an H&R.

posted by Caleb on Jan 30

Here in the States, this story would have ended much differently.

Two Palestinian terrorists disguised in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniforms entered the study hall at Makor Haim High School in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion southeast of Jerusalem.

Armed with guns and knives, the terrorists managed to stab several students before armed school counselors arrived and shot them dead.

In the US, all those kids would have been killed, and we would have been treated with weeks of media coverage about evil assault weapons or some such.  In Israel, armed school employees pulled their personal firearms and took care of the problem.

People talk a lot about how if you allowed teachers to carry in our schools it would just cause a bloodbath; there would be chaotic gunfights all over the place and people just randomly shooting.  While that’s quite obviously hyperbole, I do believe that if you’re going to allow teachers to carry, then those teachers should be required to go through a training course.

I’ve advocated in the past for a “teacher carry system” that would be similar in design to the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which allows airline pilots to carry firearms on board the aircraft.  There is a lot of training and screening that goes into that, and if we’re going to get armed teachers and administrators in our schools, then we’re going to have to climb through a lot of red tape to get there.

Guns and schools is a major hot-button issue for a lot of people.  School shootings are relatively rare compared to other forms of violence in the country, but because children are involved, they always draw a lot of media attention and the accompanying charged emotions that goes with such stories.

Frankly, I support arming teachers; I think that if someone wants to accept the responsibility and training that comes with that, then they should be allowed to carry and supported in that roll with training.  I don’t for a second want every teacher in the country to have a Beretta or a Glock, but I want responsible individuals concerned for their safety and the safety of their students to be able to legally provide for that safety, and to receive the appropriate training to do so.

(H/T to KDT for the link)

posted by Caleb on Jan 30

I have to say, I’m pretty proud of the response by Purdue students to the anti-gun op-ed piece that ran on the 24th, which I blogged about yesterday.  Not one, but two excellent letters appeared in the Exponent, which quite accurately refuted the points made by the original op-ed writer.

Guns on campus, and in off-campus housing is a touchy issue, I agree 100% with that.  I know that some of the apartments in the area have a strict no-firearms policy; but at the same time I knew students who kept legally owned firearms in those apartments all the same.

I am proud of the response by several Purdue students though; I have always believed that engineers should be able to understand that a firearm is nothing more than an inanimate machine better than those hippy-dippy pot smokers at IU (I keed, I keed).

posted by Caleb on Jan 30

Uncle has a tough question up; one that there really isn’t a clear answer to.

I have been a shooter for over a decade. My wife has no problems with my hobby and has encouraged me to teach our children both firearm safety and how to shoot well. However, I have found no way to get my wife to try sport shooting with me, due to her negative experiences with firearm victims when she worked in an Emergency Room

He doesn’t know how to get around that emotional barrier and get his wife to come shooting with him; which seems to be a source of frustration for the guy who asked Uncle the question.  I agree with Tam who says in the comments that not everyone is going to want to be a shooter, and I also agree with Sebastian  who points out that part of the reason guys try to get so many people to come shooting with us is because it helps fight back against the overwhelming anti-gun tide out there.

To answer the original question, I would say that the most important thing to do is not push the issue with your wife.  If she doesn’t want to go shooting with her, that’s fine; leave the issue alone.  Pestering her and constantly trying to get her to the range is certainly not going to make her want to go shooting.  The best solution is to keep shooting, keep going with your kids; and eventually if your wife wants to come with you, she will.

To relate a bit from personal experience, I have a friend who saw some action overseas, and for the longest time wanted nothing to do with any firearm that even looked like something he would have carried.  That meant M9s, Remington 870 shotguns, and especially AR15 pattern rifles.  It took him several years, but he’s just now finally starting to get over the negative emotional relationships he had with those types of firearms.

So don’t push the issue. That’s the key thing is that you’ve got to take it easy with people who are outside the shooting sports, especially those who have an emotional reaction or association with firearms.  You’re not going to overcome that emotion by persuasion, the only thing that’s really going to beat it is time.  I can’t emphasize that enough, constantly driving the issue will do nothing but turn her or any other prospective shooter off to the shooting sports.  Don’t push it, just be patient.  She’ll come around when and if she’s ready.

posted by Caleb on Jan 30

This is how they roll in Idaho.

That’s right, they’re running a steel match in the snow, in Idaho.  In January.  Makes me feel pretty poor about my manhood, seeing as I don’t go to outdoor ranges in the Indiana winters.  I just hope this doesn’t lead to some kind of trend of gun-bloggers standing out in the snow with their iron trying to prove their manhood by shooting in the coldest weather possible.

posted by Caleb on Jan 29

Looks like Sen. McCain has picked up a key win in Florida.  It seems that Rudy’s “strategy” of skipping the early primaries and campaigning in Florida didn’t work out so well.

Two GOP sources with direct knowledge of Giuliani’s plans said he will drop out of the race and endorse McCain at an event in California on Wednesday. (from CNN.com)

What does this do for McCain’s campaign?  Despite the fact that the number of delagates he wins is cut in half thanks to Florida’s primary shenanigans, this really gives him a tonne of momentum going into Super Tuesday next week.  Plus, as mentioned above, it will/should remove Rudy from the race.  I’ve never been a fan of Rudy, and I’ll be glad to see him go.  He’s no friend to the 2nd Amendment for sure; but he’s not really a friend of liberty or personal freedom at all.

I want to watch the McCain campaign closely.  His quotes about gun control as well as his backing legislation that would have closed the “gun show loophole” make me extremely wary of a McCain presidency.  I like McCain’s foreign policy, but when it comes to domestic policy, he really makes me nervous.  McCain-Feingold, backing anti-gun show legislation, the immigration sell-out; that sort of track record makes me nervous about him.  If I’m forced into a choice between Mitt Romney and John McCain, I don’t know what I’ll do.

posted by Caleb on Jan 29

Contact your State Senators and express your support for Senate Bill 356.  It would enhance Indiana’s current right to carry laws, by allowing Hoosiers with CCW permits to carry in all public buildings, with exceptions for airports, penal facilities, and county courthouses.

Follow this link to find out who your state senators are.

From NRA/ILA