Tag Archives: firearms

Membership is great, your CHL or CCW is better.

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There are many great organizations promoting and protecting our Second Amendment rights. From nation-wide groups such as the National Rifle Association, to state groups such as Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association, Buckeye Firearms Association and Ohio Carry for us in Ohio, to your local rod and gun club. They all do important work and being a member of any or all is a good idea. They all also show a collective support of firearms and our rights. The strength in numbers they offer is solid. The problem is, not everyone can afford, or has a desire to financially support so many organizations. Their having good solid numbers is important, but at the end of the day, well, you’ve joined a club. 

I have the opinion that there is something that each of us can do that shows a more sincere and dedicated commitment to protecting and supporting our rights.  Get your concealed carry permit. I understand every argument people have against this. No, we shouldn’t have to pay for permission to exercise our rights. No, you may not have any desire to carry a gun, or even own a handgun. I understand that some are concerned that it gives a solid link to you owning guns. What is often overlooked is the direct benefit it does to the cause of protecting your and my right to own firearms. 

In most cases, getting your CCW/CHL involves taking some training and submitting to background checks  voluntarily. You also pay for the fee of the license and, eventually, its renewal. Many benefits are gained from this. Individually  you have become a certified “good guy.” In many states, having your chl replaces the need for your NICS instant check at the time of purchase of a firearm because your valid CHL shows you’ve already done this and it’s on good standing. The collective benefits are even more substantial. Every license is recorded, counted, and reported, not by a club or lobby organization, but by the issuing government. There exists, at all times, a finite and exact count of the number of permits and the percentage of the population that has them. It’s not arbitrary, estimated, or arguable. X number of people have a valid permit. You or I can look up that number, as can the media, as can your elected officials. The higher that number, the more attention to it that has to be paid. 

The gist of it is this. Having your CCW/CHL shows a level of commitment to firearms ownership that is stronger than being a member of EVERY 2A supporting organization in the country. We gain the advantage of the very people who may consider firearms ownership a fringe or odd thing having their own data tell them that we are here, we are willing to commit the resources to get a permit, and the likelihood is that we also vote.  Sometimes the best way to beat a system is to use the system to beat itself. 

Please consider getting your CCW/CHL, even if you never plan to carry a firearm a day of your life. You bolster the numbers of people who are pro 2A in a way that cannot be matched by any club or lobby. And that benefit is priceless. 

Another article written for a defunct FB page, originally published September 11, 2015.

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Membership is great, your CHL or CCW is better. by Jerod J. Husvar is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Gun owners, it’s time to “come out.”

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You know them, I know them, we all know them. The person who likes to shoot but doesn’t talk about it for fear of repercussions from friends, family, the kids’ school, or the media. They act like they are doing something dirty and should hide it when, in fact, it’s perfectly normal, common and acceptable. They’re in fear of discovery because they feel they will be ostracized or shunned. Sounds pretty horrible, doesn’t it? 

It’s more common than you think. With the demonization of weapons by those who fear them, and publications such as The NY Times calling gun owners, essentially, barbarians, not to mention well funded political groups blaming tools for human acts, some people feel like hiding the fact that they own guns and shoot. 

Firearms ownership is not uncommon. There are, by conservative estimate, 420 MILLION guns in the United States. Essentially, one per person.  Likely two because records before 1968 were less exact. There’s also, by actual count, 8% of the United States population with concealed weapons permits, as well as a significant number of law enforcement officers and retired Leo’s who carry all the time. Let’s call it 6% of the population, and it is steadily increasing. 

You’re not alone. Not only is firearms ownership common, it is acceptable, legal and enjoyable. What needs to happen is to reduce the stigma that some have placed upon it. And those of us more out in the open? We need you who are not. We’re all around, we’ll help and support you. 

So come out. Speak up. Tell your friends and neighbors you’re a responsible and safe shooter and you are not ashamed of it. You’ll probably gain a range buddy or two. And you will fight the false idea that gun owners are freaks. 

Note: This was original an editorial for a FB page I administered, posted October 4, 2015.  I believe the page is long gone, but I felt the content was worth getting back onto the ‘net.

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Gun owners, it’s time to “come out.” by Jerod J. Husvar is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Postcards Of My Life #pcoml No. 8, Fundamentals of Marksmanship, late 1970’s.

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My grandfathers were both shooters, my dad’s father was an amateur competition trap shooter, trick shooter and marksman from his World War 2 service in the United States Marine Corps, my mother’s dad from growing up hunting in the hills of Smith County, West Virginia. As I spent a lot more time with my Pap Ashcraft, mom’s dad, he took on the task of teaching me to shoot and started a life long love of firearms.

The rifle above is a single shot, Stevens Junior Model 11. It is identical to the one that my pap taught me to shoot on and that I fired literally thousands of rounds through. It served several generations of our family only to go missing after his death. The rifle was older and field worn. It had many repairs over the years but it shot true. Simple, non adjustable iron sights, manual extraction and loading, and you clocked the hammer to fire it. The trigger was crisp and effortless and it just managed to hit exactly where you wanted out to over 100 yards. It was not unusual for me to toss a soup can out into the yard and then shoot it until it rolled down over the hill over 100 yards away. But, most often my target was a paper plate with a dot in middle that pap would set up at 50 or 100 feet away.

I would sit or stand on the back step and put round after round through that rifle. Usually 50 or 100 rounds at a session several times over each visit. Every hardware store and bait shop knew what I wanted when I showed up for miles around. Yes, they would sell live ammo to a 5, 7, 13 or whatever age boy… Kids didn’t do the stupid stuff with guns then they do now. Probably still was technically illegal, no one cared.

To this day if I had that rifle I could likely dispatch a soda can at 100 yards with it on the first shot. My pap taught me the gun, then gun taught me to shoot it the way it needed to be shot to put rounds on target. The tool was the tool, you adjusted to it.

My grandfather instilled in me what later became the 4 rules of firearms safety that are taught today:

  1. All guns are always loaded. (Treat them so!)
  2. Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
  3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
  4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

I seriously need to find another model 11. I own some of the most advanced firearms in the world but my heart longs for that old, beat up, well loved rifle. I hope whoever has it appreciates it.

In defense of the 1911, and all others.

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I don’t know how any of those hundreds of thousands of GI’s who carried 1911’s ever made it home alive… All with FMJ, too! It’s not about the tool, it’s about how you use it, maintain it, and train with it. Capacity is a factor, of course, as are many other things, but anyone who wants to try to tell me that 1911’s are unreliable and finicky and hard to work on I will HAPPILY take to a VFW hall of your choice and let the guys and gals there show you how fast someone who has TRAINED WITH THEIR WEAPON SYSTEM can tear down, clean, and reassemble one, and then we’ll go to the range and they can show you how horribly these guns shoot. Sure, it’s a 100 year old design, and there are newer, perhaps better designs, but the 1911 is NOT some mystical anachronism. Strangely, the United States Marine Corps just went BACK to a modified 1911 for their Close Quarter Battle Pistol. You can prefer a newer design, you can find it to be something that works better for you, but this bullshit of people saying it’s an unreliable and incapable firearm is getting on my nerves. Pick what works best for YOU and stop telling other people why they’re wrong. The gun YOU want is the gun YOU should shoot, use, carry, whatever. But don’t dog on someone else because they’ve decided to go a different route. If one design were the be all and end all, everyone would make it, carry it and use it and nothing else would need to be sold. the 1911 has stood the test of time, has been copied, modified, upgraded and made in nearly every caliber you can think of from .22LR to 32acp, 380acp, 9mm, .38 super, .40 S&W, 10mm, .45 ACP and yes, even .357 magnum. If it were such an inferior design, no one would bother.

Personally, if I wanted a 1911 for carry today I’d probably go buy a Colt® M1070CQBP, which is what the USMC is going to be using. I would then learn the few changes it has over the 1911’s I am familiar with, and love it long time. If you want to carry a Glock 17, a Walther PPK, a Smith and Wesson J-frame or a North American Arms .22LR revolver, well, God Bless You. Everyone has their own reasons for picking what they pick. I don’t understand the constant need to proselytize one design over another. There are VERY few bad firearms designs out there anymore, and even fewer poorly made weapons. In the day of the Internet, word gets around too quickly and a bad design or process can kill a company.

As to the Ruger SR1911, before you consider one I would HIGHLY recommend you google search “sr1911 rust.”

Sorry for the soapbox, but people need to understand that there is no one solution for everyone. Use what works for you, and be ready for what you have to. Period.

http://www.colt.com/Colt…/Products/ColtM1070CQBPM45A1.aspx
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The “Magic” of Layaway… How I have nice things.

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layawaySo over the years I have accumulated a few items that have very high value.  Many people have assumed I must have a high debt load because of it.  It’s actually the furthest thing from the truth.  Other than my house, car, and about $500 in miscellaneous credit card debt, I own everything I have.

So how does layaway work?  You find a place that offers it.  I’ll use a local gun store as an example because it’s my hobby and most common interest.  Let’s say they have a $700 Ruger SR1911 I want.  I don’t have $700 available cash at hand most of the time.  But if I have 1/3 of it, or about $235, the shop will allow me to place a deposit and then pay on it as I have the funds available over the next 90 days.  This allows me to budget for making the rest of the payments, and to have a great item without having to either go into debt or have all the money right then right there.

Most places offer 90 days, some will go out to six months or even a year, especially for high-dollar items.  Just remember to read the terms of the agreement, that you’re entitled to a refund if you can’t, for some reason, pay it off in time, and that you’re dealing with a reputable shop.

Enjoy your new item, that you own, outright.

On CCW firearms…

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MouseGun_Group_DSCN1475

I was recently involved in a conversation on a discussion forum at my friend Adam Litke’s Facebook page for his company, Shield and a Sword Academy.  I felt that the information was worth sharing with others because I managed to give a short, succinct, detailed answer that quite a few people found informative.

Carry guns are totally a compromise.  I’m somewhat old school. Function over form, as much power as you can manage, and figure out how to tuck it away if you have to.

The average person, however, is much more driven by easy of conceal-ability and price. There’s a different mindset between “gun guys” and a person who just wants to be able to protect themselves. Another thing to consider is that a lot of people think you need to arm yourself to “go to war” in order to carry. In my mind, a carry gun is most often a “last stand” weapon and should be adequate to meet the ‘rule of 3’s.’ (The average self defense scenario happens in less than 3 seconds, at 3 feet away with 3 shots fired.)

My personal preference, due to the fact that I can’t wear restrictive clothing or anything that puts long-term pressure against my body, is for either a Walther PPK/s or my wife’s J-frame Smith and Wesson 642 Airlite .38 special. For a last stand, .380 or .38 special is more than adequate. Even .32 ACP will suffice from me to you in a close fight, given the right ammo. If I were to absolutely KNOW I was going into a situation where I has a huge probability of having to defend myself, my Para p13.45 .45 ACP would be on my person loaded with Golden Saber’s or HST’s.

There are so many factors in carry weapons to consider, function, features, price, power, but the only one that matters to begin with is this… Is it a hassle to carry it to the point that someone will think about making a compromise and NOT carrying it? If it is, it’s the wrong weapon for that weapon. A .22 mouse gun you’re comfortable sticking in your pocket EVERY TIME you walk out the door is worth more than a $2500 Kimber 1911 that someone lets sit because they have to go through gyrations to conceal it.

At the end of the day I feel it’s important to educate people on the best option, encourage them in any way we can to seek out the best options for them, and then support them and teach them how to use what they decide to carry. The gun you have is worth 1000 of the one you don’t.

.44 magnum still has it…

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Ever got curious about something and started digging? I knew the .44 magnum 180gr JSP’s Remington makes hit hard. I started doing some research on them. Out of my Super Blackhawk they should hit 1600fps at the end of the barrel… That works out to 1023ftlbs of muzzle energy and 1181fps with 557ftlbs at 100 yards. Nice. But out of my Rossi 1892 with the 24″ barrel they clock out the end at a documented 2425 fps. That works out to 2350 ftlbs of muzzle energy. At 100 yards they are still moving at 1804 fps and carrying 1301 ftlbs of energy. When we shot up that server we were about 20 yards away. That means each shot that hit the server was clocking out at 2282fps and carrying 2081 ftlbs of energy. Or… A ton+ plus, per shot. It holds 12+1. This means that I carry 30,550 ftlbs of muzzle energy from my rifle… 6,138 ftlbs from my revolver… Without reloading, totally effective out too at least 200 yards with either, and well beyond with the rifle. At 500 yards the rifle is still holding over 800fps and over 225 ftlbs of energy. This makes me happy!

magnumpair

Took a nice little Star BM 9mm in on trade…

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starbm9

Did a little trading with a friend the other day.  I traded him a Charter Arms Off-Duty for this Star BM 9mm.  The Star needed a good cleaning, which is in process.  These little Stars are built rock-solid and actually are desirable because they shoot VERY well.  It’s a numbers matching import and upon receipt was in… 60-70% condition.  A good cleaning should push it to a solid 80%.  It has some finish and holster wear, but functionally is flawless.  I’ve actually shot this pistol before.  An old friend in Columbus also had a magazine for this, which is almost the Holy Grail of magazines right now, so I bought it and it’s being shipped up.  I think I’m going to have the wife do her deep spit and polish and I’ll post some photos when it’s done.  Nice little trade!

“I Don’t Want Them To Know What I Own!”

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rkba2

I hear this in the firearms community on an almost daily basis.  People who’d rather buy a gun from an individual than a dealer because of the fear that the government is going to know what they have.  I plan to address a few harsh realities with you in this article, and I do NOT intend to scare anyone, only to educate you.  Some states have additional procedures which I cannot speak to.  This is the situation in MOST areas of the United States.

The process for buying a new gun at a dealer with an FFL is pretty simple.  You pick a gun.  You and the dealer agree on the price.  You fill out a US Government Federal Firearms Transfer Record (Form 4473 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_4473,) answering the questions on it, signing and dating it.  (These forms are given the same status as a tax return under the Privacy Act of 1974 and cannot be disclosed by the government to private parties or other government officials except in accordance with the Privacy Act. Individual dealers possessing a copy of the form are not subject to the Privacy Act’s restrictions on disclosure. Dealers are required to maintain completed forms for 20 years in the case of completed sales and 5 years where the sale was denied by the NICS check coming back disapproved or other disqualifying information.)

The FFL dealer then calls the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Check System.  The dealer identifies themselves and verifies their FFL #.  The NICS clerk then asks for your name, gender, place of birth, height, weight, Social Security Number, state of residence, race and verifies you status as a citizen/legal alien.  They check to make sure you’ve filled out and answered the form correctly.  They then ask if you’re buying a Long Gun, Handgun, or Other (a lower receiver for an AR15, etc.,)  They process the request and give a confirmation number to the dealer followed by a status.  The statuses are Proceed, Delay or Deny.  In many cases a delay is then bumped to a senior clerk for verification that you’re not someone with a similar name.

Upon receipt of a Proceed, the dealer copies the identifying information for the firearm, Make, Model, and Serial number, along with your name, address and confirmation number into a book that THEY keep.  At no time is the information on the actual firearm provided to anyone but yourself and the dealer.

You then pay for your firearm, shake hands, and walk home with your new purchase.  Only you and the dealer know exactly what you bought.  The NICS system as it currently stands is required to purge the check information.

A lot of folks think even this is too much involvement with the government.  I don’t intend to argue that point.  The most common fear is that they government will know what you’ve bought, where you live, and how many guns you own.  This isn’t the case.  They know you asked to buy a firearm and were confirmed or denied.  Period.

There is a prevailing fear that the government can, and will, use this information to come and get the guns.  Without digging into conspiracy or fear mongering I am want you to think about the computerized society we live in.  There are, in day to day operation around the world, computerized systems that can monitor nearly every bit of information floating around in the electronic spectrum.  In the case where a truly oppressive government wanted to find out who owned, or was even suspected of owning, firearms, this information likely could be gathered from telephone calls, faxes, e-mail, web sites and forums, Facebook or any and all other social media, as well as even mailing of magazines and memberships in organizations such as the NRA.  Or if you have a Concealed Carry permit…

These capabilities exist.  If you’ve EVER bought a firearm, had a Guns and Ammo subscription, used a debit/credit card for purchasing anything related to a firearm, posted on Craiglist or Facebook or Myspace or Armslist or Glocktalk or any other electronic forum, hypothetically you’re ALREADY FLAGGED.

So you have two choices…  Drop off the face of the earth and hide (that worked really well for Osama bin Laden, or you can live your life, enjoy your hobby, and not live in fear.  I, personally, have bought and sold firearms to FFL dealers, as well as from friends and countrymen.  I’m not going to stop enjoying my hobby, or even limit it, when we live in a society that could, in theory, turn oppressive.  Living in fear is a technique terrorists use.  I prefer to enjoy my life and be prepared for anything that comes my way.  I hope you will, too.

MtNkitty lives!

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I have a very special friend named Jan who lives in Minnesota. She saw a joke post I put up about the Hello Kitty AR-15. She kinda like it. I decided to take on the project of building something for her that would be similar but not involve such a huge investment. This is MtNKitty. It’s a 1943 Mosin Nagant M44 carbine. These were used by the Soviets during both World Wars and after. I found one that lacked a bayonet, which removed a lot of it’s “value.” It did, however, make it legal for use for hunting in Minnesota, and also, affordable. We ordered an ATI Gunstocks Monte Carlo stock for it, put the factory wood stock away, and then, with the help of Jason Mcdaniel, it went to paint. It is White and Rose Duracoted, and the whole thing was cleared with several coats of automotive clear coat. I sourced some automotive exterior quality Hello Kitty licensed decals and applied them, along with a few other creative touches. This is the result. Thanks to EVERYONE who helped with this, including Andrew Laurence at Home on the Range LLC who helped me ship it to Jan’s FFL-licensed dealer in MN. If you’d like help with a similar project, give a yell, I’m happy to provide whatever I can. By the way, Jan just re-enlisted for an additional 3 years in the Minnesota National Guard. 🙂

mtnkittyfinal1 mtnkittyfinal2