Rants and Raves
In this section: the good and bad - on products and what's happening in the industry.... tips and techniques...
Taurus Judge - why a standard .38 +P may be more sensible
Novel? Yes. Interesting? Yes. Good for snake country and dealing with rodent pests on a ranch? Yes.
Practical and THE answer for what advertisers/sales-pitchers claim too loosely in defense talk? Maybe not.
Still talked-up and talked-about; the Taurus Judge. Many commercial articles and ads claim greatness.
Versatility, defensive revolver prowess, impressive imagery from Taurus' own color advertisements...
Even 'tacticool' gadgetry like Crimson Trace lasergrips and certain model's ability to use .410 slugs as well...
Limited reality checks and gullibility by firearms-for-defense purchasers have distracted many from sensibility.
Come on now - would you really depend on such vulnerable wiring and batteries within halves of grip panels?
And only in Hollywood films and darkened smoke-filled rooms do the laser beams look so darn good...
First shots and tests with various shotshells at 9 to 10 yards. It's true, the patterns are weak at this distance.
Average amount of muzzle lift firing .410 shotgun loads from the Taurus Judge. Target distance 5 to 6 yards.
Federal's Game-Shok regular .410 #6 shot. Shown on white paper above and below is result of two shells fired.
Taurus' ads look neat but uses bright green Shoot-N-C targets "fired at 6 feet" on their fine print disclaimer.
This load for standard .410 shotguns prints better concentrated patterns than Federal's specialty load below.
Federal's Premium "just-for-Judge .410 Handgun" #4 shot. Sparse pattern. $15 for 20 rounds. (75c per round)
Remember, these tests are being conducted at very realistic and likely 5 - 6 yards. You don't want wide-open
patterns like these at such distances. Too many say 'it oughta discourage them...' Ok - want to bet on birdshot
if an attack occurs and a determined, aggressive individual rushes you - and all you do is pepper them with shot?
What if they have a firearm / blade / impact weapon and close the distance with momentum in three strides?
How's about .45 Colt (often referred as 'long colt') - it does have more muzzle lift, but more convincing power.
This is the budget friendly CCI 200gr Hollow Point, about $40 per box of 50 rounds. (80 cents per round)...
So for picture-proof answers to "what if?" more .410 birdshot on the target... fired two more on each paper.
Left: 4 shells game load Federal number 6 shot .410 Right: 4 shells 'special' Federal number 4 shot .410
All the shot peppered the paper even more, but proof on paper that the 'special' Fed #4 is too sparse a pattern.
Most place-of-sojourn defense distances would be greater than six feet...and even if close - will you absolutely
feel comfortable in birdshot's possibility to 'stop the threat'? I'd choose two to four rounds of .45 Colt instead!
And then for practicality: availability, economy, controllability - .38 special or .38+P - might be more sensible!
Ruger's winner of a revolver - the LCR
Ruger's lightweight compact revolver is controllable and still lightweight. Here's coverage of what was
discovered in a straightforward test including a rightfully popular counterpart, the Smith & Wesson 642.
The LCR by Ruger is 13.5 ounces, has an aluminum frame around the stainless cylinder and barrel, yet
the grip housing, trigger guard and entire back portion is polymer. Grip has a cushioned web by Hogue.
The 642 by Smith & Wesson is 15 ounces and other than the stainless cylinder and barrel, is traditional
lightweight aluminum. Grip on the S&W 642 has an exposed web backstrap style from Uncle Mike's.
As a quick and non-scientific test, three shooters tried 130gr to 158gr loads from various manufacturers in
the LCR and 642. Results were obvious - both had recoil, but Ruger's LCR had less abrupt muzzle rise and
was clearly easier to control . (Medium framed 4" on right is the proven steel S&W 66. Even more control.)
The polymer frame and air pocket backstrap of Hogue grip on the Ruger LCR added to its control.
Amazing, though not surprising. There will be more firearms moving toward polymer construction.
As an aside, a reminder is due on how much easier it is to eject spent cases from larger revolvers.
With a longer ejector rod on medium (3 to 4" barrel) revolvers, punching fired cases from the cylinder
is more positive than shorter 2" barreled revolvers. There simply isn't enough excursion to the rod.
As new products or advancements go in the world of firearms, the most prevalent will prove to be increased
acceptance of polymers - it only makes sense. As usual, there will be many who continue to doubt plastics...
As the question prevails: what are the prices of these? Using suggested retail as a consistent standard:
Ruger's LCR retails for $525. Smith & Wesson's 642 retails for $616. S&W's stainless models top $900.
Industry stupidity - and again Sig disappoints
A Sig handgun as it is unpacked and I check serial numbers, log it in... but wait! what's that extra sticker?!?
"One Mag Included" ?? Holy hell, that is reminiscent of the year after 1994's Crime Bill when companies
started removing one mag from the standard two magazines issued with most semiauto handguns, claiming
'not enough to go around'. Anyone remember that? So why are they doing that now? No bill has even passed!
.
Just getting two more unpacked, these arrived in an even bigger waste-of-space carry case, NO box sticker
proclaiming "One Mag Included" - and of course, inside there was only ONE magazine. Phone messages and
email requests to Sig for clarification about this ridiculousness has yielded nothing, and no lower pricing either.
Is this temporary? Will consumers receive a second mag later? Sig can't supply two mags for defensive guns?
So is the cost of this firearm going to be lower to reflect this minus-one-magazine? - all what I asked in msgs.
As of March 30: No reply. No responses to two emails and two attempted calls in the past 3 weeks.
To the many faithful consumers who heard me remark about Sig policy and antics before; see what I mean??
Oh, and you wouldn't want to get me started on how many errors Sig has made in orders since January '09....
--> Update on above antics and true ridiculousness: a letter from Sig <--
(can you believe this bull****? Read the well-crafted text below!)
June 3, 2009
To Our Valued SIGnificant Dealers:
In an effort to continue an uninterrupted supply of handguns for your shelves, SIG SAUER, Inc. has instituted a program to ship our Classic pistols with one magazine. Your response has been overwhelmingly positive. Most dealers have thanked us for enabling them to better satisfy their customer's needs in a more timely manner, SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to help deliver profitability to your stores whenever possible.
The market demand has remained high; however, SIG SAUER, Inc. has found ways to increase magazine production. We are pleased to announce that Classic guns manufactured after June 3, 2009 will ship with two magazines once again. Inventory manufactured prior to June 3, 2009 (date is on the box label) will continue to ship with one magazine. Dealers existing inventories will not be adjusted.
Thank you for your support during these unusual and challenging times. We look forward to serving you throughout the remainder of 2009 and wish you continued success.
Sincerely,
|
Don't you just love the VERY well-written letter? Think of a dealer's standpoint as well.
How's that line 'Most dealers have thanked us for enabling them to better satisfy their customer's needs in a
more timely manner...' and what - have to explain to people that there is only one magazine?
has everyone forgotten what a spare Sig factory magazine costs / lists for!? we still pay same gun price!
*** And then that ultimatum line of 'Dealers existing inventories will not be adjusted.'
What the heck? Well SIG, demand has always been high for other companies, too - and none of them found
excuses to pull out of somewhere in apparent insulting of the dealers (so now we either add in a second mag
at OUR cost to make sure existing inventories sell, or suffer languishing stock as consumers wait for inventory
manufactured after June 3, 2009 that, as stated above, will be "shipped with two magazines once again.")
Since January 09, though there has been a major increase in demand for all in the gun industry, and even being different companies; operating systems and manual of arms - Glock, S&W, Beretta, Springfield, HK -
none of them ever altered their issuance of two mags per handgun if it already was standard issue.
Folks, when a braggingly large company sells hundreds of pistols in a few months AT THE SAME COST,
omit one magazine, expect dealers to sales-pitch the gun (and gun's value), not supply make-up magazines,
and then find some claimed way to "increase magazine production" - they are making $$$.
Latest item received from Sig - was on backorder for 4+ months...
Here is one of the recent Sigs received - P226 Elite Dark. Box stickers: Date: July 31 2009. Two mags.
The Elite Dark and several 'new releases' have a short trigger. Due to different shape, geometry and leverage,
the thinner "short trigger" (rt pic) has a heavier percieved trigger pull than the standard trigger. Very sad.
Just because a handgun like the Elite retails for $1,200 doesn't mean it is necessarily 'all that'.
Two good points on the Elite series is that the trigger reset distance is short and the aluminum grips are slim!
However, if one is not aware of mag seating pinch hazard, this is what happens with overhanging grip panels...
imagine this happening when briskly slamming home a magazine into the P226's mag opening. Ouch is right.
Quirks of Springfield XDs - showing clear: mag out, lock slide to rear
The grip safety in the XD design must be depressed in order to allow the slide to run fully rearward,
while a strong push upward on slide stop with thumb will lock slide to the rear.
(while being conscious of muzzle direction and keeping finger off of the trigger!)
Recoil spring tension in XD is heavy; this requires one to get used to the recoil spring's resistance
when locking XD slides to rear. Springfield Armory claims this grip safety makes this gun 'safer'.
Shouldn't the operator be the ultimate answer to safe firearm handling??
The truth is, the XD trigger has a rather light resistance to being pressed, of which
without the grip safety function, could result in inertial firing of the gun if it was dropped.
Therefore, XD pistols had to have this so-called 'safety feature'. It was a must, not design ingenuity.
Techniques that make the difference...
Loading and chambering ammunition in a semiauto handgun
* loading sequence: index finger points the way to insert mag into magwell, palm will seat mag positively, support hand thumb decisively presses down slide release, complete proper two handed grip of handgun.
Even if the strong hand thumb has a percieved reach to slide release, a positive 'first time, every time'
release can be accomplished by support hand thumb, especially when having to deal with various pistols.
Different pistols' slide releases may have varying locations fore or aft for the slide release (and some don't have any at all).
>Do not let yourself or anyone else complete a two handed grip with support hand thumb ending up behind slide of auto!!
Another reason why using the support hand thumb to decisively press the slide release works well - give it something to do
and position alongside the frame, and not wrap it behind the slide where the outcome could be bad (slide striking thumb).
If slide stop is too small or out of reach, a simple insert of mag and tug of the slide will send the slide forward successfully -
better than trying to swipe the slide stop repeatedly or trying to maintain a firing grip AND hit the slide stop with right thumb.
'Positive insert and rack' movements are the same as what is needed to clear 'failure to feed' or 'failure to extract' malfunctions.
Abuse tests of an AR-15 and a tough magazine
Dirt and sand purposely poured into top of Cammenga magazines...
... even dragged across ground and scooped right into top opening...
Sand and particulates drain right out of the opening on bottom of Cammenga magazine.
They all fired fine, no stoppages. Their website has more video tests of this amazing magazine.
2 days of June Shooting Sports Fair through weekends of accumulated firing, plus some in Suarez course:
No cleaning, easily 600+ rounds of gray steel cased Wolf, green steel laquer cased Brown Bear, and
300+ rounds mixed brass cased ammo, no malfuntions on extraction or feeding into the chamber.
Dirt, debris, laquer and carbon - it still cycled fine. I had no malfunctions, no catastrophic problems -
just a dirty dusty rifle. Bolt and carrier group took same amount of time to clean whether 100 or 1000 rounds.
Gas piston rifles and the truth on carbon fouling
FN-FAL
Above: where gas piston rifles still get dirty! not as much in the chamber yet carbon has to go somewhere!
FN-FAL type rifles have an exit for carbon gases right under the handguards. Piston and plug gets carbon.
POF-USA
POF-USA's rifles still have carbon that builds up in the front sight base assembly; system is much like FAL.
POF-USA's awesome NP3 and nickel surfaces reveal very little fouling, just some carbon on bolt face, lugs.
This rifle was also brought out to the Shooting Sports Fair and for 2 days had 400+ mixed rounds thru it!
LWRC
LWRC's piston system blows carbon gases right under and thru these aluminum handguards. Still gotta clean!
Their piston system is a series of sections and still need to clean them and this area; if not, rust will develop!
This is after approximately 500+ rounds of steel cased Wolf, Brown Bear, and some brass cased ammo.
Proves that there still will be crud if you fire these guns! Little less at the chamber area, but still gotta clean!
Great fact though, is I put out this LWRC at the Shooting Sports Fair from Sat AM to Sun PM (2 days)
and no cleaning, no malfunctions. I did not even do a customary initial cleaning or prelube of the rifle...
