Demooning

One of the less-fun things of a .45 ACP revolver is dealing with moon clips. They are necessary because automatic cartridges don't have rims and the ejection stars on a revolver won't lift out the cartridges. They were developed when the Army needed more guns in the Great War than Colt could make 1911s. But both Smith & Wesson and Colt had large-framed revolvers that chambered .45 Long Colt cartridges and, well, needs must.

Supposedly the cartridges headspace on a step in the cylinder, which they definately do in a single-action revolver chambered in .45 ACP or 9mm. The moon clips function for loading and unloading double action revolvers.

The Army used half-moon clips.

They, like Garand clips, came loaded and were considered to be single-use items on the battlefield.

For civilian use, full-moon clips are more popular, as there is less handling in reloading,

Removing cartridges from one of these clips is hard on fingers. You can grab them with a pair of needle-nose pliers, but if you want to reload the cartridges, that risks damaging them. It's also easy to twist the moon clips. Bent moon clips with cartridges can jam the fuck out of a revolver.

The remedy is a simple demooning tool.

You insert a cartridge on a clip into the open end, slide it in until the clip touches the lower shoulder, and then twist it right off. The cartridge falls down the hole of the tool and out the bottom.

Itch, Scratched

A newish S&W Model 22 in .45 ACP:

It seems to shoot OK with a euro-hold. I wanted a M1917, but this is more practical with a 4" barrel. The chambers headspace the cartridges, but you need to poke the empties out with a stick or a gimme ballpoint pen if they're not on moon-clips. Or you can find auto-rim cartridges, which are not cheap if you don't reload.

I also took a scoped Savage Mk.II to the range. It has been years since I shot a rifle, let alone a scoped rifle. Good reminder on the importance of breath control.

So Many Emails

I'm trying to trim down my mailing lists, as I end up missing important stuff.

But anyway, from TFB, here's a story about a .30-06 Thompson (like why??) and a .45-70 story that's a bit eerie.

Thanks that my email program allows me to sort by sender. And comments here get diverted into their own folder.

Now for a bit of a secret: If you never see your comments, you're on the Banhammer List. Not many are there, but a few serious asswipes. I delete them right away, I don't read them, they just go into the Eternal Bit Bucket.

Crickets From the Right

On Sunday, news broke out of Michigan that a lone gunman crashed his vehicle into a Mormon church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze—another horrific act of violence in a country where such scenes have become all too common. Almost immediately, speculation swirled on Twitter, with far-right voices rushing to blame a Muslim or a “transgender leftist,” their favored scapegoats after mass shootings. But early images told a different story: the truck rammed into the church flew two large American flags and bore an Iraq War veteran plate. The shooter was no Muslim, no trans person. He was a Trump-supporting combat veteran—a cisgender white man who fit the profile of so many American mass shooters.

Just like that, the story faded from the political radar. There were no calls in the aftermath to investigate Trump supporters as potential terrorists. No national conversations about the violent capacity of cisgender men. No discussions about whether white people who fly massive American flags on the backs of their trucks should have their guns taken away. No presidential proclamations casting suspicion on the identity of this mass shooter. Cisgender combat veterans will not spend the days after this tragedy fearing that their rights will be stripped away because of the actions of one man.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, another mass shooting by a combat vet. No calls from the Trump Administration to declare white male combat veterans as being mentally ill or some other machination to strip them of their rights.

The far Right is a hate group. They always have been, since they began lynching former slaves 160 years ago.

Bangity

A new S&W .44 Mountain Gun:

First target with mid-power Magnum rounds at 25':

I have wanted a 4" .44 Special for awhile, but they seem to be scarce or really costly. This'll do.

I had talked to the LGS owner months ago about one. He told me that he'd keep an eye out. His distributor notified him that they had one, he ordered it and gave me first dibs. I jumped at it. Glad I did.

Next up is a set of Hogue Tamers and some .44 Specials.

The Silence of the ACLU

I've not found any statement by the ACLU about Trump's proposed transgendered gun ban.

The NRA, GOA and others are not.

Breitbart headlines it as "blatantly unconstitutional".

The ACLU, though, while standing up for constitutional rights, seems to have a massive blindspot for any constitional amendment between I and IV.

Department of War? (and more)

So we're going to spend billions of dollars to change all the names, the signs, publications, and everything else to "the Department of War", all to assuage the wounded egos of Cadet Bone Spurs the Draft Dodger and Secretary Kegstand? And it's not even legal, Cabinet Departments and their names are doen by legislation.

Meanwhile, the Asset is cutting security assistance to those countries that would be the first to be invaded by his boss should Russia start another war of conquest. In this, he is clearly doing Putin's bidding. Putin's getting a lot for his inveestment.

One would think with President Demento, Discount Goebbels and the Puppy-Slayer deporting undocumented workers, that there would be more jobs available. But guess not. DLS reported the worst jobs report since the first time we were inflicted with the Fuhrer of Orange as President. The plain truth is that, given the constant uncertainty of what the Tangerine Mental Case is doing on a day-to-day basis, companies are loath to hire people they may have to lay off after they're eligible to collect unemployment.

Also, this is an argument for the first thing we should do is take guns away from straight white men:

Because you guys are clearly the ones who are the most dangerous.

And don't forget:

1-Adam-12, 1-Adam-12, 459, Silent Alarm, Suspect There Now

I took a Model 14 and a Model 15 to the range today.

The show used Model 14s for the first three seasons and Model 15s for the last four. These don't have custom grips.

On a sad note, I finally burned through the last of the Winchester White Box .38s that I bought when Walmart was running clearance sales before ceasing the sale of pistol ammunition.

Do You Carry a Sig P320?

If you do, convert it into being a range toy, and one that is not carried in a holster for matches.

This is what I've gleaned: The sear striker safety can move a bit out of alignment if the gun is shaken, which can happen when running around. Then, if the gun is bumped, it can fire.

If you are fine with a striker-fired gun not having a manual safety, get yourself a Glock or a S&W M&P/Shield. If you want the safety, then S&W.

Hey, Colt, Get a Clue

Guys, this isn't hard to do, in concept:

Step One: Take a Cobra.

Step Two: Put a 2.5" vented barrel on it, like the old Diamondback.

Step Three: Market it with photos of this guy:

Step Four: Watch the gunternet go nuts and spike demand for years to come.

But, because that may make some kind of sense, Colt won't do it.

Masked Goons With Guns

One of these is from this country, one is not:

Are we being conditioned to accept that anyone riding around in an unmarked van, fully masked up, wearing a plate carrier, a helmet, and a Batman belt, with no visible identification and carrying a gun is a cop of some kind?

What happens when the criminals recognize this and begin acting accordingly? How do you know that the unmarked goon invading yur home is a cop or a criminal? Anyone can shout "police" and the bad guys do.

Beyond that, are we setting ourselves up for having private militias and death squads roaming around unhindered?

Third, if the bad guys, however you define them, are wearing plate carriers, then shooting for the center-of-mass is a waste of ammunition. So start training for hitting the suprasternal notch (or the center of the nose, if you're that good).

Magnum Force, Abated

I recently shot my .44 Magnum while wearing anti-vibration gloves. They work. If you're shooting heavy magnums or pistol-grip shotguns, you might want to give them a try. You could also search for gloves for jackhammer operators.

Deal Alert, 1911

A $300 1911 in God's own caliber.

You might have to tinker with it, maybe replace the recoil spring and the sear spring. But those aren't expensive. If you're slightly handy with tools, it's not hard to do a minor tuneup. It may not run with hollowpoints, or maybe it will. But .452" holes tend to slow bad guys down a tad, if you hit them in a decent spot. (The suprasternal notch is a good place to aim for, for a few reasons.)

In this day and age, having a serviceable .45 for not a lot of money may be a wise idea.

Trump Tells the World: American Weapons are Not Reliable

All it takes is for one demented Russian agent or a ketamine-infused wealthy psychopath to have a snit and every American weapon with a computer system might be disabled. It's already happening in Ukraine.

I expect that other arms makers are going to tout the reliability of their weapons over the perceived political unreliability of American arms. Which won't do wonders for the sales and stock price of American defense companies.

ETA: And this:

So I guess the next brilliant Art of the Deal move from the guy who bankrupted casinos is to give Europe as many reasons as possible not to buy weapons systems from US companies right after the EU announced an intent to spent nearly a trillion more on defense.

S&W’s Gonna Cost Me Money

A no-lock Model 629 Mountain Gun.

Also a 686+ one.

That's now five no-lock hammer guns. and yes, I want some. The 629 looks nice, but to be fair, it would be a .44 Special revolver in my hands. or maybe a mid-range magnum. My days of shooting full charge .44 Magnum loads are over.

Revolver Guys, Time to Put Up or Shut Up

Have you been one of the crowd of gun people who have sworn for the last quarter-century that they wouldn't buy a S&W revolver with the internal lock, A/K/A "the Hillary Hole"? Have you said that if they made a gun without it, you'd buy one.

Well, time to cough up and put your money where your keyboard is.

Model 19, no IL.

Model 10, no IL. It has a button-head ejector rod, last seen almost a century ago, if I'm not mistaken.

Model 36.

I have Model 10s ranging from a century-old M&P to a 10-11, so I'm good, there. But yeah, I'm going to be down with a new Model 19.

What Do You Do When Your Neighboring Country is Run by an Imperialist With Dreams of Empire

In Poland, you teach all of your kids to shoot.

.

In Finland, you expand your firing ranges.

Unsettled by Russia’s expansionism and emboldened by its recent accession to NATO, Finland is rallying to strengthen its national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities.

The popularity of weapons training in the Nordic country has soared in recent months. Few places tell the story of the rise in Finnish affinity for self-defense more than shooting ranges that are riding a boom of interest.
...
Earlier this year, the coalition government announced plans to open more than 300 new ranges — a big jump from the 670 in operation today.

Authorities are encouraging citizens to take up interest in national defense in the country with a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, where firing shots in ice hockey has been more of a pastime than shooting bullets.

The COFF, CouchBoy and the rest of their ilk may say that Russia is a peaceful nation, but Russia's neighbors know that's not the truth.

.32 Renaissance

Now there is a LCR in .32 Magnum.

There are people who like revolvers but don't like the recoil of airweight .38 snubs. Many opt for .22s. The .32 is well worth a look, given the superior teliability of centerfire rounds.

Coming Soon to a Discount Gun Bin Near You

Smith & Wesson's new Model 20. It costs over $300 more than a new Model 27 while offering less (fixed sights vs. adjustable sights). If you wanted rugged sights, you could put a rough duty sight in a Model 27 and still not go over the price difference.

Or you can get a new Python. Or a used S&W Heavy Duty. Both are less expensive. Or you can pay more for a new gun with that stupid internal lock that nobody with a quarter of a functioning brain uses.

Nice Gun, But Still

The Phoenix 1911:

Yes, it seems awfully nice and you can read about it right here.

But still: Five grand for a carry gun? I guess if you love 1911s and such, and you've got the money for one (and a SWMBO who won't mind), knock yerself out. Custom gunsmiths gotta eat, too.

If you're not in the economic stratosphere where you can think about dropping five grand on a carry gun, then click the easy button and get yourself a Glock or a S&W M&P. Frankly, 9mm has been good enough for social work for a long while, now. If you live in a state that bans high-capacity magazines, then sure, look at a .40 or .45. If you can only load ten rounds, make them big ones.

I do like 1911s, though I will concede that one is dealing with a design that is over a century old and yes, the aforementioned guns are better choices. If you want one, you can still pick up a Springfield Armory 1911 for under a grand with a warranty. Or you can roll the dice on a Turkish or Filipino clone, either of which may be fine or they may be a piece-of-shit if you don't mind tinkering on it. Or haunt your local gunshop and keep an eye on the used case.