NRA

Op-Ed: Gun ownership is tarnished by fools among us, keep your pistol holstered

Among those of us who carry a firearm on a day-to-day basis, it isn’t uncommon to hear us cite self-defense as the primary reason we lug our EDCs around with us. Indeed, the internet is rife with stories about legal concealed carriers stopping tragedies before they can happen, or ending them sooner than they otherwise would have, but unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Last week, a story broke about a legal carrier opening fire on shoplifters at her local Home Depot… and it got me thinking… maybe some of the folks who criticize America’s love affair with firearms have a point.

During the onslaught of visitors in our home throughout the holidays, one of my more liberal-leaning relatives snuck in a remark about us gun-toting crazies, keeping a pistol strapped to our waist “and looking for a fight like this is the Wild West.” Of course, I disputed that statement, and she pleasantly back tracked, happy to suggest that I’m “different” because I received military training – perhaps unaware that she was then extending her insult only to my lovely wife, who despite not actively serving in uniform, keeps a Walther tucked in her purse.

In the spirit of the season, or maybe because my wife was digging her nails into my arm, I let it go… but it kept nagging at me. The idea that all concealed carriers see themselves as some kind of cowboy, carrying their pistol to dispense justice over personal slights, is an offensive characterization of my people – but the part that stung the most was the realization that, in some ways… it’s true.

Now, you may be an upstanding gun owner. You may follow the rules of firearm safety to the letter. You may be well-trained and practiced regarding situations that may call on you to draw your weapon. You may be the very model of responsibility… but as long as there are folks looking to draw down at Home Depot when they spot some shoplifters, we all carry that 2nd Amendment scarlet letter. When we suffer fools within our ranks (however loosely established those ranks may be), we make ourselves all look a bit foolish.

I know what you’re saying: “It isn’t fair to judge such a broad group on the actions of a foolish minority,” and I agree. It isn’t fair – but these types of generalizations exist in all walks of life, and often, are the very basis of legislation when anti-gun types start writing up new laws. To the lefty-gun hater that lives in suburban Connecticut, firearms exist only as they’ve seen them on TV, in fictional depictions, and news stories about murderers.

If your only exposure to guns comes from the media, it makes perfect sense that you’d perceive them as too dangerous to be necessary.

So, because I know that convincing anti-gunners that gun owners are overwhelmingly responsible is a never-ending battle, I’ve decided to take the fight in a different direction: I’ve decided to take the argument to fellow gun owners themselves. We all need to work to ensure that we’re all on the same page when it comes to drawing (and discharging) our firearms.

Sure, I could come up with a long think-piece about utilizing a “rules of engagement” type escalation of force when facing a potential threat… but honestly, I think it’s simpler than that. In fact, I think it really boils down to one simple rule any time you’re not standing on land you own:

Never draw your weapon unless you think someone’s life is in danger.

That sounds easy enough, but it gets murkier in practice. There’s no question that seeing someone steal stuff from Home Depot isn’t a life threatening set of circumstances, but what about when an aggressive driver gets out of his car to confront you in traffic? Or what if a rowdy drunk shoves you outside the bar you met some coworkers for a drink? The truth is, it can be downright difficult to know for sure if your life is in danger… right up until it’s abundantly clear.

I can’t make that judgement call for you, no matter how long I wax on about possible circumstances: it’s a decision that you’ll have to make in the moment, and the repercussions of that decision could potentially end a person’s life, and irreparably change the course of your own. That is the inherent responsibility of gun ownership: understanding that, tucked into your concealed carry holster is a magic wand, capable of ending lives and ruining your own. That bit of security you keep in your waistband or purse has the capacity to keep you safe from danger… or the potential to unravel someone’s existence – to take a child away from their parents, to take a father away from his children.

When you decide to carry a firearm, you make a bet with fate. You’re gambling that your judgement will be sound, your marksmanship will be adequate, and your response will be appropriately measured… and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Losing that gamble could cost your life, the lives of your loved ones, or even the life of a shoplifter that, while deserving of punishment, may not be deserving of execution.

Like it or not, we’re all judged by the actions of our fools. As a conservative-minded guy, I’m constantly held accountable for the crazier things those with similar political affiliations say. As a man, I’m held accountable for the cultural misogyny of creeps and monsters like Harvey Weinstein and company. As a Marine, I get asked about washouts like last week’s attempted terrorist in Northern California. If you’re a woman, a person of color, a vegetarian, a southern judge, a politician, or a firefighter… we’ve all got ideas about you and your beliefs; many born out of the actions of the most foolish and outspoken among you. It’s just how our brains work.

That means those of us who choose to place ourselves within the firearm-owning demographic have to remain constantly aware of the responsibility we carry in our holsters. Your firearm offers you the means to protect yourself and others, but it affords an equal share of destructive potential, in the physical sense, but also in the political one. Foolish behavior with a firearm serves as further evidence that firearms themselves are simply too dangerous for the public at large. As our politicians sit in their Washington D.C. offices, surrounded by armed security and blissfully ignorant of the challenges and risks facing actual human beings, it’s easy to think no one needs a gun. When they think gun, they think murder – not shooting the massive possums that keep coming after my poor little dog in the back woods of Georgia (which account for my only confirmed kills in the winter of 2017).

These things get aggressive in the winter months, and when you wake up to the sound of a possum going after your cat, you’ll hope you have a gun to take out into the darkness with you.

So, unfair as it seems, remember that your firearm makes you a part of something larger than yourself. When you carry, you’re representing gun owners all across the country, and your behavior could potentially result in legislative changes that affect all of us. Worse, you could take a parent away from their kids, a loving spouse away from their husband or wife, and that’s assuming you hit the person you’re aiming for. Taking a life is an awfully permanent thing to dispense over some jacked lawn equipment.

So unless someone’s life is in danger… keep your pistols holstered.

Feature image courtesy of Ibropalic (pixabay.com)

Gun control: The case of the ‘smart gun’

Could so-called smart guns be the solution to gun control and fewer mass shooting incidents? A new study finds that while there is widespread support for smart guns, the considerable additional cost and questionable efficacy demotivates people from purchasing such weapons.

According to the study by Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, smart guns hold considerable potential but have yet to proselytize large numbers of American gun owners.

With respect to the research method, in 2016, the team conducted an online, nationwide survey of American gun owners, inquiring about their concerns on smart gun technology, costs and the possibility of buying such a weapon. In 2018, the team analyzed the results to determine which attributes were linked to people who were more likely to buy a smart gun.

The results are revealing. The Johns Hopkins team found 48% of gun owners were — to varying degrees — familiar with smart guns and that 79% believed firearms shops should be selling both traditional and smart guns. However, only 5% were likely and 13% very likely to purchase a personalized gun with features that added about $300 to the price tag. Furthermore, 70% questioned the efficacy of the technology, and 56% believed that the price was too high. Finally, those who reported they safely stored their current firearms were 50% more likely to purchase a smart gun.

Smart guns, also known as personalized guns, are safer because of their personalized design, which is specifically tailored to the user. For example, a smart gun’s pistol grip — utilizing biometric sensors — would only recognize the person for whom the gun was manufactured, thereby making it harder for other people to purposely or accidentally discharge the firearm.

Another popular technology is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID connects a weapon to a small wearable device (for instance, a ring, bracelet, watch, or necklace) and allows only the wearer to fire the gun.

Smart guns, however, have a number of disadvantages. To begin with, they are more expensive given their tailored nature. Second, they can’t be resold to other gun owners. Third, they can’t be used by other people in case of an emergency. This point might seem counterintuitive but consider the case where an intruder has stormed a house in which the smart gun’s owner is absent or incapacitated. The personalized nature of the gun wouldn’t allow other members of the family to defend themselves with it.

The team concluded: “Current gun owners expressed modest interest in purchasing personalized guns with radio frequency identification technology. Because gun owners interested in personalized guns appear more safety conscious, the potential benefit of personalized guns in these homes may be limited.”

Feature image: A prototype of a smart gun that NJIT spent more than a decade developing. The gun uses sensors to measure a user’s hand grip so only authorized users can fire. Courtesy of the New Jersey Institute of Technology

This article was written by Stavros Atlamazoglou at NEWSREP

Yeti Rambler Lowball: The best campfire companion a man can ask for

The quarrel between Yeti and the NRA made the news roundup several months ago and spurred quite an outcry from the pro-gun community. It began when the Yeti revoked their discounting program for the NRA. The NRA publicly denounced Yeti’s business decision and some NRA supporters proceeded to shoot or blow up their Yeti coolers in protest. Both organizations have offered conflicting official statements regarding the situation.

While some may be scratching their heads about the perceived plight, I find myself indifferent. I am a big fan of Yeti products because of their performance and own several of their Ramblers in different sizes. I picked up their Rambler Lowball before a camping trip last year and it has since become my best campfire companion. I use my Lowball for just all of my beverages while outdoors. The Lowball is the perfect size for hot coffee in the morning and either a cold beer or bourbon on the rocks at night.

Specifications

–Dimensions: 4.125” × 3.5″
–Weight: 9.5 oz
–Material: 18/8 stainless steel

The Rambler Lowball is a double-wall vacuum insulated drinking cup. What that means is the Lowball will keep your hot beverages hot and your cold beverages cold for a longer period of time. It also means your drink won’t sweat on the outside nor feel hot or cold to the touch. A quick rinse of the stainless steel cup ensures that it won’t collect any unwanted tastes in-between uses until you can give it a proper wash at home. These features alone make the Lowball the perfect drinkware. A 10 oz cup might be too small to be used as a travel mug (although you could use it for one), but it does live up to its hype as the perfect drinking companion for the campfire. If I had to force myself to find a con, the only gripe I might have is the standard lid for the Lowball is an open lid, however, Yeti does offer a closeable lid you can buy separately (see the MagSlider). At the time of writing this article, the Yeti Rambler Lowball has an MSRP of $19.99 and comes in a variety of different colors.

All photos courtesy of the author, Matt Jin

Put Purpose Back Into Your Practice with Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards

The Problem?

As shooters, we don’t always have the opportunity to have an instructor at our side. Using technology such as the MantisX and lesson plans made by professionals that focus your time and energy, like that by Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards, can make all the difference. Don’t waste your ammunition, your time, your money, but instead invest in it with Live Fire Drill Cards.

As a firearms instructor, I spend a great deal of time studying where my students need to improve, developing lesson plans that address those needs, and creating courses that engage the students while addressing those needs. Often, I turn to courses of fire that I’ve previously created, borrowed, or learned from instructors that I both admire and respect. Coming up with interesting courses of fire can sometimes be a challenge as I don’t want it to be a game but still make it competitive, challenging, and rewarding.

When you don’t have an instructor doing those things for you, it can be difficult to head out to the range and spend quality time training and not just putting rounds down range.

What’s the solution?

In order to prevent yourself from falling into the same repetitive sequence of punching holes in the paper, consider investing in the lesson plans, documentation forms, and courses of fire that come to you when you purchase the Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards.

The Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards are a selection of great drills from great trainers and a practice system that puts you to work on the range without spending time researching like I have to do as an instructor!

Go find a quality, reputable instructor and establish proper safety and technique. Consider a course such as those sponsored through the NRA like the Basic Pistol Course. Once you’ve done that, head out to the range with your manual.

Establish your baseline performance using the guide and document where you are at. Pick a drill out of the book and start working on the skills. Go back and check your baseline performance after investing your time working on the drills. Document your improvements and continue working through the book.

Put Purpose back into your Practice

If carrying a pistol for personal defense you owe it to yourself to train with a purpose and train like your life depends on it. Put purpose back into your practice.

As the documents from LFDC say, “Shoot, Measure, Improve.” “Never leave the range again wondering if you’ve improved.”

Take a look at Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website.

If you’re looking for private instruction in the SW Washington area, come check us out at Willapa Firearms Training and we’ll get you started.

How to Sight-In a Scope: Turrets and Reticles

by Tom McHale

Fact: There are some proven ways to zero your scope in only one shot. Those methods will get you close, but you won’t attain the full accuracy potential of your rifle. Why? Every rifle and ammo combination has a little bit of imprecision. No matter how carefully you perform a series of shots, you’ll always see a grouping of bullet holes downrange.

For example, using an AR-type rifle and a 100-yard target, you may see a group of shots measuring 2 inches in diameter, give or take. If you choose one single hole as your basis for zeroing the scope, you could end up with a rifle/scope/ammo combo that’s a couple of inches off.

The best way to account for this variability is to carefully shoot three-shot groups and then use the center as your official measurement point for zeroing. Let’s take a look at how to get a perfect zero.

Whether you use a rest or bipod, make sure you shoot from a stable position when setting your zero.

Get on Paper

If you’re mounting a scope on your rifle for the first time, you need to make sure your shots are in the general vicinity of the crosshairs before putting a target far downrange. Called “getting on paper,” this process makes it easier to identify the initial relationship between the crosshairs and the actual point of impact. If you start with a target 100 yards away, and the scope is way off, the shot might not even land on the paper, and you’ll have no idea what adjustments to make to the scope.

By placing a target at 25 yards and aiming at the center of a small bullseye, the shot will almost certainly impact the paper somewhere, and you can make some initial rough scope adjustments before completing the zeroing process at longer range. Read on, and we’ll talk about how to make those adjustments the right way.

Even with a super-accurate ammo and rifle combination, it’s best to fire a group when zeroing and then use the average center point.

Fire a Group at Your Zero Range

As an example, let’s assume you’re zeroing your rifle at 100 yards. After you have your target set up, fire three shots with extreme care, focusing on perfect stability and technique. Use sandbags or another type of solid rest, watch your breathing, and concentrate on perfect trigger manipulation with each shot.

Next, find the approximate center of this three-shot group. We’ll use that as the official point of impact to determine how much adjustment we need to make to the scope.

Targets like this one make zeroing easy. The 1-inch grid pattern helps you calculate exact turret adjustments to get on the bullseye.

Math, Good. Random Scope Dial Spinning, Bad

When zeroing, I like to use targets with a 1-inch grid pattern. That makes it really easy to calculate scope turret adjustments because you can quickly see, even through your scope or a spotting scope, how many inches of adjustment need to be made.

Here’s where the math comes in. (Don’t stress – I promise there will be no algebra.) Let’s assume that the center of our three-shot group is 5 inches below and 3 inches to the right of the bullseye. To think of the adjustment required in scope terms, that means you need to move the bullet impact point up 5 inches and left 3 inches. Always think in terms of moving the bullet’s impact point because that’s how the scope dials are marked.

Now, rather than using trial and error and randomly spinning the elevation (up and down adjustment) and windage (side to side) dials and then shooting again, we’re going to calculate exactly how many clicks on each dial are going to get us on the bullseye. That way, our next group will be a verification that we got it right rather than another experiment.

Every scope dial has a fixed calibration. Most will have something like “1/4 MOA” or “1/4-inch at 100 yards” printed on the dials or caps. What that means is that each click of a dial will move the bullet’s point of impact 1/4 of a minute of angle. As you might have guessed, 1/4 of a minute of angle (MOA) is 1/4 of an inch at 100 yards. So, if you adjust the elevation dial one click up, then the bullet will impact 1/4 of an inch higher on the target at 100 yards.

You’ll also notice that most scope turrets are marked with an “Up” indicator on the elevation dial and a “Right” indicator on the windage dial. These marks show you the direction to turn the dial to move the impact point. Easy, right?

Now, let’s get back to our 5 inches low and 3 inches to the right initial impact example. Because the target is 100 yards away, four clicks will move the point of impact a full inch. Rotate the elevation dial 20 clicks in the “Up” direction to move the bullet impact up 5 inches. Then rotate the windage dial 12 clicks in the “Left” direction. If you counted clicks correctly, and your scope is of reasonable quality, then you should be right on the bullseye.

Fire another careful three-shot group to verify that you made the correct scope adjustments. If you’re still a little off, repeat the adjustment process and fire another verification group.

Remember that close 25-yard target we used earlier to get on paper? You can use the same math with that one, too. Since you’re shooting at one-fourth of the distance of 100 yards, each click will move the bullet impact only one-fourth of one-fourth of an inch, or 1/16th of an inch. In other words, if you’re 1 inch off at 25 yards, then 16 clicks on a dial will move the impact point 1 full inch at this range.

Most scopes use a 1/4-inch per click adjustment.

Different Scopes and Dials

While most scopes are calibrated with 1/4 MOA elevation and windage turrets, you’ll see others. Some will move the point of impact 1/2 inch or even 1 full inch with each click. If the calibration is not printed on the turrets or caps, just check your owner’s manual.

Here’s an example of a scope that uses 1/2-inch per click adjustments.

You also might find a scope with turrets calibrated in mils (milliradians). A milliradian translates to 36 inches at 1,000 yards, so at 100 yards, a mil is 3.6 inches. Most scopes of this type will move have a .1 mil calibration, so each click moves the point of impact .36 inches. The process to zero is identical.

Turrets and Reticles

There are two basic approaches to scope adjustments, and depending on which type you have, you might do things a bit differently. Most traditional hunting scopes have adjustment dials covered with protective caps. When zeroing the scope, you remove the caps, make the adjustments, then replace the caps. The idea is that tinkering with the adjustment dials is a one-time thing – at least one time for each particular load you might use. With these scopes, you make “on the fly” distance compensation while shooting using marks on the reticle. It wouldn’t be practical to take off the caps and make adjustments for each shot.

Note the arrow that indicates which way to turn the elevation dial to move the point of impact up or down. Similarly, the windage dial arrow indicates how to move the point of impact left or right.

Exposed turrets, sometimes called tactical turrets (photo above), are always visible and intended to be adjusted with your fingers. The idea with these is that you adjust turrets each time you want to make a shot at different distances. However, you still have to establish the initial zero by making some adjustment. When you do this, the “0” on the turrets may not be at the “0” starting position. These types of turrets allow you to adjust for zero, then re-calibrate the caps so zero on the dial corresponds with your actual zero position. It’s kind of like calibrating a bathroom scale. If the dial on your scale reads 3 pounds when you’re not standing on it, you need to adjust the scale so it reads zero when not being used. Different scope models handle this in different ways. Some have a release screw to disconnect the turret, while others allow you to pull out on the turret and move it to the correct position.

Tricks for Different Zero Distances

Sometimes you may need to zero your rifle for a longer range than you have available. For example, you might want a 200-yard zero, but you only have a 50- or 100-yard range in which to make your adjustments. No worries, you can use some basic ballistic math to solve this problem, too. If all you care about is “close enough,” then you can use the fact that many common calibers such as .223 Rem. or .308 Win. have nearly the same zero at 50 yards and 200 yards. That means that if you make your adjustments so the crosshairs and point of impact align at 50 yards, then you’ll be pretty close at 200 yards as well.

If you want or need more precision, you can use a free ballistics calculator to look at the trajectory of your specific cartridge. For example, you can use the online ballistics calculator by Federal Premium (below) to see exactly how your .30-06 round will fly. Enter a few pieces of information and you’ll get a ballistics chart like the one shown below. As you can see, if you set your scope to impact .8 inches high at 50 yards, it will be right on target at 200.

The good thing about optics is that everything is predictable. If you have a top-notch scope, a solid mount, and take care with your zeroing groups, it’s quick and easy to get a precise and repeatable zero.

Images by Tom McHale

How to Legally Avoid Registration of AR & AK Rifles and Pistols in California

The California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) together with the NRA, recently produced a webinar to explain the new California laws regarding “assault weapons.”

CRPA also explained how to avoid registration by converting your rifle to make it California compliant or featureless. Gunguy has boiled down the webinar to the bare facts for you in this video.

CRPA Webinars: http://crpa.org/webinars/

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