Amy and I will combine our shows to create a 3-hour Christmas special on Friday, 19 December. This show will start at 3pm Central time and end at 6pm.
The next 2 shows will start at my regular time, 4pm Central.
Clint Beyer of Beyer's Barrels will be on with me LIVE on Monday, 26 December. Clint makes some fantastic barrels for Ruger 10/22's and Ar-15's among others things.
One the 28th, Mike Vanderboegh of Fast and Furious fame will be on with me. Mike
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
21 December 2011
18 December 2011
Accountability
I posted a new video called "Accountability" up on YouTube this morning and it probably bears a little explanation.
I sincerely believe that our constitution and this country CAN still be saved peacefully, without bloodshed. Do I think it WILL? No, I don't, but I think it can. Some say that the opposition has already fired the first shot in an effort to justify their feelings of frustration. I suppose that they have if you get right down to it but you'd better be damned sure before you make that next move. There will be no turning back. It is imperative, if possible, that we all try to work on the same side here because we have more that just one fish to fry.
In order for that to take place, a few things are going to have to happen...
First and foremost, the people of this country are going to have to become educated on the constitution and their rights. If you don't know what your rights are, you don't have any.
Second, they are going to have to be willing to make a some sacrifices as far as time, money and effort to help educate others and to get involved and make their voices heard.
Thirdly, our law enforcement officers and military are going to need to re-read their oath and decide if they are going to abide by it or not. If not, they automatically switch sides. If they are not with us, they are against us and this is where things get complicated. None of us want to this thing get out of hand and become violent. Not them, not us. If you do, you're an idiot. One the one hand, it may take violence to resolve the issues but on the other, if it does, it will be the very worst thing that has ever happened to this country. To ANY country! To that end, we simply MUST exhaust all possibilities of peaceful resolution.
Constitutional sheriffs are the answer to this dilemma. We need to elect and support men and women that we KNOW will support and defend the Constitution of the United States! If we can do that, and we must try, we can still pull this off peacefully. I have extreme hopes that this can happen.... but little expectation.
Whatever happens, whenever it happens, I continue to pray that everyone involved will use good judgement and think about the consequences to all before any rash decisions are made.
Watch the video.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
I sincerely believe that our constitution and this country CAN still be saved peacefully, without bloodshed. Do I think it WILL? No, I don't, but I think it can. Some say that the opposition has already fired the first shot in an effort to justify their feelings of frustration. I suppose that they have if you get right down to it but you'd better be damned sure before you make that next move. There will be no turning back. It is imperative, if possible, that we all try to work on the same side here because we have more that just one fish to fry.
In order for that to take place, a few things are going to have to happen...
First and foremost, the people of this country are going to have to become educated on the constitution and their rights. If you don't know what your rights are, you don't have any.
Second, they are going to have to be willing to make a some sacrifices as far as time, money and effort to help educate others and to get involved and make their voices heard.
Thirdly, our law enforcement officers and military are going to need to re-read their oath and decide if they are going to abide by it or not. If not, they automatically switch sides. If they are not with us, they are against us and this is where things get complicated. None of us want to this thing get out of hand and become violent. Not them, not us. If you do, you're an idiot. One the one hand, it may take violence to resolve the issues but on the other, if it does, it will be the very worst thing that has ever happened to this country. To ANY country! To that end, we simply MUST exhaust all possibilities of peaceful resolution.
Constitutional sheriffs are the answer to this dilemma. We need to elect and support men and women that we KNOW will support and defend the Constitution of the United States! If we can do that, and we must try, we can still pull this off peacefully. I have extreme hopes that this can happen.... but little expectation.
Whatever happens, whenever it happens, I continue to pray that everyone involved will use good judgement and think about the consequences to all before any rash decisions are made.
Watch the video.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
02 December 2011
Hardening your home against small arms fire and engaging moving targets
Well, I had planned to talk about something else tonight on the PM Edition of The Shooting Bench but some things came up that caused me to change course.
Can you shoot a drone out of the air? How hard is and what is it going to cost to "bulletproof" your home?
The PM Edition is always 100% gun-related discussion. You can find tonight's show here: TSB PM Edition
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Can you shoot a drone out of the air? How hard is and what is it going to cost to "bulletproof" your home?
The PM Edition is always 100% gun-related discussion. You can find tonight's show here: TSB PM Edition
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
30 November 2011
Pending Legislation
Folks, as we have been warned, the Constitution of the united States has been diluted, convoluted, misinterpreted and violated to a point that it now, truly, is hanging by a thread. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, Congress is filled with men and women that generally have no idea what the constitution says or don't care because they certainly don't refer to it or support it at all unless it somehow furthers their agenda.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
The TSB Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Legislation is being considered as you read this that would expand the military’s power to pursue any "suspected" terrorist anywhere in the world including within the United States and confine them indefinitely without trial or charges. This bill is so broad that unsuspecting, innocent American citizens could be included as well.
Of course, I'm talking about S. 1867. Apparently, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012" bill, as it is known, was sneaked in under the radar by Senators Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and John McCain (R-Arizona) and passed for cloture yesterday.
This bill is very disconcerting and is causing great concerns on both sides. Amendments introduced to weaken S. 1867 failed.
This bill has even angered officials in the executive branch who see it as a usurpation of power by the military and Obama has even threatened to veto it.. Unbelievably, FBI Director Robert Mueller wrote a letter to members of Congress raising his own concerns and stating that “The legislation ... will inhibit our ability to convince covered arrestees to cooperate immediately, and provide critical intelligence.” Most surprising of all,
There's much more on this bill and more bills being considered that are just as dangerous but this should serve as your final warning that we are about to be thrust into a whole new way of life. A world full of violence and corruption, immorality and deception. Some will say that we are already there...stick around, you ain't seen NOTHIN' yet!
Now then, the purpose of this post is not as much to inform you of dangers of this legislation as it is to inform you that if you have not prepared for the desperate times that this country has ever seen, if you have made plans for a variety of scenarios, if you have prepared yourself mentally, physically and spiritually then you better get with the program because your time is just about up.
We'll talk more about this later...
Now then, the purpose of this post is not as much to inform you of dangers of this legislation as it is to inform you that if you have not prepared for the desperate times that this country has ever seen, if you have made plans for a variety of scenarios, if you have prepared yourself mentally, physically and spiritually then you better get with the program because your time is just about up.
We'll talk more about this later...
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
The TSB Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
11 November 2011
Veterans Day!
Today's show was dedicated almost entirely to the men and women that have served in the various branches of the Armed Forces. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. We appreciate your service more than we can show. Please accept our heart-felt appreciation for a job well done from all of us at SWSA and The Shooting Bench.
Listen to today's show here: http://jumbofiles.com/jzdvegayjonh
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Listen to today's show here: http://jumbofiles.com/jzdvegayjonh
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
23 October 2011
Do you trust guns more than God?
I was asked this question, no, let me re-phrase that...I was accused of this by one of my listeners last week. A new, unknowledgeable listener, but a listener none-the-less. So I wanted to address this accusation, not so much to prove anything to him but maybe just a little reality check for me. Do I trust guns too much? Do I not think of God enough? Do I not believe that God can and will protect me and keep me safe if I live righteously?
Actually, I think I got it figured out and my mind is at ease. Listen to "God and Guns Re-visited" and see what you think!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Actually, I think I got it figured out and my mind is at ease. Listen to "God and Guns Re-visited" and see what you think!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
17 October 2011
Not for the weak of heart
You know, there are 4 universal, safe gun handling rules that just can't really be improved upon. There have been a number of minor variations and word changes over the years but the rules are basically unchanged. Please allow me to post those rules here for you to review:
1.Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. (Some will say 'ALL weapons are always loaded'. They are not. A gun is either loaded or it's not but they should be treated the same either way)
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is in line with your target.
These rules are all equally important but it seems to me that the first 3 really go hand-in-hand as they are directly related to handling of the weapon. The 4th rule being more related to actual shooting. The picture below is the result of all three of the "handling" rules being violated.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
1.Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. (Some will say 'ALL weapons are always loaded'. They are not. A gun is either loaded or it's not but they should be treated the same either way)
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is in line with your target.
These rules are all equally important but it seems to me that the first 3 really go hand-in-hand as they are directly related to handling of the weapon. The 4th rule being more related to actual shooting. The picture below is the result of all three of the "handling" rules being violated.
The owner of the knee in the pic (or at least the leg where a knee used to be) was retrieving a .223 rifle from the car and pounded a round into his knee at point-blank range.
Lots to learn here like don't have a round chambered in any firearm when it is in the car unless it is your HOLSTERED sidearm. Obeying any ONE of the first 3 rules may have prevented this horrible accident. Obeying all 3 of them certainly would have.
This young man is in his mid-twenties and will almost certainly have to have the remainder of his leg amputated. The complete knee and the end of the femur where it attaches to the knee is completely gone. Not badly damaged...GONE!
You can only imagine what this young man's thoughts are now. Folks, let me see if I can word this in such a way as to make it sink in. Gun safety is not a part-time activity. DO NOT try to rationalize when you should be safe with guns. Just do it, ALL THE TIME!! All the time like every time you TOUCH a gun regardless of whether you are alone or with someone. Regardless of what condition you THINK the gun may be in. If you are drinking or using controlled substances of any kind, your guns are off limits! PERIOD! If you are depressed or angry or, for whatever reason, you don't have your mind in the game. your guns are off-limits! There are no second chances, no "overs", no 'I didn't mean to'. Gunshot wounds are forever. A few folks get to live to tell about it and others don't.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET) On Thursday nights at 9pm Mountain, listen to The Shooting Bench PM Edition. 100% gun talk!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
12 September 2011
3-Day Personal Defense Handgun training
We will be conducting a 3-day Personal Defense Handgun class near Vancouver, WA on 7, 8 and 9 October. This class includes a night shoot and some Force-on-Force training on the 3rd day.
Location will be just east of Vancouver. All details will sent in your welcome packet
Cost: $795 and 800 rounds of ammo.
You will also have the option of taking just the first 2 days for $395.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Location will be just east of Vancouver. All details will sent in your welcome packet
Cost: $795 and 800 rounds of ammo.
You will also have the option of taking just the first 2 days for $395.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
04 September 2011
Another ATF invasion
This one hit a little closer to home. These folks are friends of mine and I feel that they are innocent of the trumped-up charges that they are facing. They have already been tried and convicted in the Court of Public Opinion.
The jack-booted thug conducts another invasion.
So, as we keep getting run over and violated by the jack-booted thug, they keep getting bolder and bolder. Someday, somewhere, they will push on the wrong group of people and a terrible thing will begin in America.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
The jack-booted thug conducts another invasion.
So, as we keep getting run over and violated by the jack-booted thug, they keep getting bolder and bolder. Someday, somewhere, they will push on the wrong group of people and a terrible thing will begin in America.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
29 August 2011
PEARCE ATTENDING EMERGENCY TREE CUTTING IN LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST | Congressman Steve Pearce
Our wonderful Senator said he would cut the first tree down in defiance of the USFS's orders. We will be there to back him up!
PEARCE ATTENDING EMERGENCY TREE CUTTING IN LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST | Congressman Steve Pearce
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
PEARCE ATTENDING EMERGENCY TREE CUTTING IN LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST | Congressman Steve Pearce
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
26 August 2011
LIVE from Quartzsite, AZ!
"The Shooting Bench" is brought to you live from the Oathkeepers' Liberty Fest in Quartzsite, AZ!
I interviewed Mike Frye of Oathkeepers and Jennifer "Jade" Jones today. You have GOT listen to this show! Just click on the title of this post!
We will be broadcasting live all day on Saturday, 27 August starting at 0830 or so.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
I interviewed Mike Frye of Oathkeepers and Jennifer "Jade" Jones today. You have GOT listen to this show! Just click on the title of this post!
We will be broadcasting live all day on Saturday, 27 August starting at 0830 or so.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
18 August 2011
Quartzsite Liberty Festival
Please join the staff of SWSA on 27 August in Quartzsite, AZ for the Freedom Fest!
The jack-booted thug has over-stepped his authority in Quartzsite, effectively making it just like 1938 Germany. THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE! It will spread faster around the country, just like any other form of cancer unless it's it nipped in the bud NOW! If you can't make it now, you're gonna have a hard time convincing me that you will be there for us later! This is the real deal. It is CRITICAL that we make a showing down there.
This will be an open carry rally. All that is asked of you is that you obey the laws of the state of AZ.
The Shooting Bench will broadcast LIVE all day on the 27th from Quartzsite! We will probably do our Friday show from there as well. Listen to www.justmeasuresradio.com
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
The jack-booted thug has over-stepped his authority in Quartzsite, effectively making it just like 1938 Germany. THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE! It will spread faster around the country, just like any other form of cancer unless it's it nipped in the bud NOW! If you can't make it now, you're gonna have a hard time convincing me that you will be there for us later! This is the real deal. It is CRITICAL that we make a showing down there.
This will be an open carry rally. All that is asked of you is that you obey the laws of the state of AZ.
The Shooting Bench will broadcast LIVE all day on the 27th from Quartzsite! We will probably do our Friday show from there as well. Listen to www.justmeasuresradio.com
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
13 August 2011
Special Sunday Edition of TSB and SWSA out of business!
Important information to share tomorrow, Sunday, 14 August 2011! Come sit with me for an hour at 7pm CT!
Stay tuned to TSB over the next 3 days for important info about the jack-booted thug take-over of Quartzsite, AZ. Monday on TSB will be an in-depth discussion of the popular "militia" calibers and Tuesday we will talk about the most inspirational rebellion training video ever!
And now, the really important news.
Southwest Shooting Authority is no more, kaput, gone the way of the do-do. Out of business.
However! A new company has emerged from the ashes of SWSA! Southwest Weapons and Security Associates (SWSA). The main things will remain the same but there will be a few changes that will become apparent over the next few weeks. Our online store is going to be bigger and better, more on-the-road training and we are going to take on a little bit of fishing, black powder and archery accessories.
The new website is www.topglocksmith.com The old address will work for about a year but it will eventually die.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and YouTube at Desertscout1
Facebook is under my name right now but a new SWSA page will be up soon!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Stay tuned to TSB over the next 3 days for important info about the jack-booted thug take-over of Quartzsite, AZ. Monday on TSB will be an in-depth discussion of the popular "militia" calibers and Tuesday we will talk about the most inspirational rebellion training video ever!
And now, the really important news.
Southwest Shooting Authority is no more, kaput, gone the way of the do-do. Out of business.
However! A new company has emerged from the ashes of SWSA! Southwest Weapons and Security Associates (SWSA). The main things will remain the same but there will be a few changes that will become apparent over the next few weeks. Our online store is going to be bigger and better, more on-the-road training and we are going to take on a little bit of fishing, black powder and archery accessories.
The new website is www.topglocksmith.com The old address will work for about a year but it will eventually die.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and YouTube at Desertscout1
Facebook is under my name right now but a new SWSA page will be up soon!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Weapons and Security Associates
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3 to 5pm MT! (5 to 7pm ET)
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
11 August 2011
Archive for 11 August 2011
The archive from today's show is up!
Got some news about SWSA that will be of interest to all of you but I will put it in a different post tonight or tomorrow
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Got some news about SWSA that will be of interest to all of you but I will put it in a different post tonight or tomorrow
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
23 July 2011
Joint effort on The Shooting Bench!
DON'T MISS "THE SHOOTING BENCH" on 1 August 2011!!
One the most interesting guests ever to appear on JMR will be on TSB, 1 August 2011. This will be a joint show with Amy and I and we will interview Sam Luce, an oldtime wilderness doctor. This man will keep listeners glued to the show for the full 2 hours. The stories he has about the things he has done are nothing short of astounding! We were going to put him on Amy's show but decided to do mine because we felt we needed longer than 1 hour...MUCH longer!
This man has actually performed minor brain surgery in the woods! The patient not only lived to verify the story but is still alive today!
He scaled a cliff with a 1200' vertical face near-by multiple times to treat and rescue climbers that attempted the climb and were injured in the process.
The truths and tragedies that Mr. Luce will share about modern medicine will amaze you as well!
There was a book written about him called Maverick Doc. It sold about 2500 copies and is now out of print. I secured one recently and will review it as well.
DON'T MISS IT! Go to http://www.justmeasuresradio.com/ at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific on 1 August for this incredible interview!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
One the most interesting guests ever to appear on JMR will be on TSB, 1 August 2011. This will be a joint show with Amy and I and we will interview Sam Luce, an oldtime wilderness doctor. This man will keep listeners glued to the show for the full 2 hours. The stories he has about the things he has done are nothing short of astounding! We were going to put him on Amy's show but decided to do mine because we felt we needed longer than 1 hour...MUCH longer!
This man has actually performed minor brain surgery in the woods! The patient not only lived to verify the story but is still alive today!
He scaled a cliff with a 1200' vertical face near-by multiple times to treat and rescue climbers that attempted the climb and were injured in the process.
The truths and tragedies that Mr. Luce will share about modern medicine will amaze you as well!
There was a book written about him called Maverick Doc. It sold about 2500 copies and is now out of print. I secured one recently and will review it as well.
DON'T MISS IT! Go to http://www.justmeasuresradio.com/ at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific on 1 August for this incredible interview!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
09 July 2011
Multi-State CCW class near Albuquerque, NM
A former student that has moved to the Albuquerque area has asked that we come up there and conduct a Multi-State CCW class somewhere on the east side of Alb. He is trying to find enough folks to make it worthwhile for us to go up there and spend 2 days. If any of you know someone that would like to participate in this class, we would appreciate you letting them know about it to help us get enough students. If anyone is interested, please give them our toll-free number (866-886-8753) or my e-mail at:
training@southwestshootingauthority.com to get registered. The classroom portion of the class and the shooting will both be in the Edgewood/Moriarity area. Your help in this matter would be greatly
appreciated!
The cost will be $150.00 per person and we will furnish all paperwork, forms, applications, fingerprint cards and we will provide fingerprinting at no extra charge for those that want us to do it. We MIGHT be able to provide a notary as well.
Experience the difference in PROFESSIONAL training and "hobby" training!
See our website for details on what you need to provide for the class.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
training@southwestshootingauthority.com to get registered. The classroom portion of the class and the shooting will both be in the Edgewood/Moriarity area. Your help in this matter would be greatly
appreciated!
The cost will be $150.00 per person and we will furnish all paperwork, forms, applications, fingerprint cards and we will provide fingerprinting at no extra charge for those that want us to do it. We MIGHT be able to provide a notary as well.
Experience the difference in PROFESSIONAL training and "hobby" training!
See our website for details on what you need to provide for the class.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
07 July 2011
Latest archives of The Shooting Bench!
The latest archives of the show are HERE!
Don't forget that the all firearms related show is changing names and will now simply be The Shooting Bench PM Edition. I have started the Cartridge of the Week feature again too!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Don't forget that the all firearms related show is changing names and will now simply be The Shooting Bench PM Edition. I have started the Cartridge of the Week feature again too!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
05 July 2011
3-day Personal Defense Handgun in Ohio
We are looking at the possibility of doing a 3-day class on a private range near DeGraff, Ohio on 5,6 and 7 August. We have a few people committed to attending already but we need a few more to make it happen. This class includes a night shoot at the end of the 2nd day. Your certificate for the successful completion of this class will also provide the documentation required to obtain CCW permits in several states including NM, FL, WY, CO and others.
More information on this particular class can be found here: 3-day PDH
If you compare prices, you'll find this class a real bargain! Some places charge more for less training time AND you have to go to them, pay for lodging and eating out. At today's prices of fuel, lodging and food, you can save quite a bit having us come to you.
Pre-registration is required and registration will be open until 22 July. Price is $795 and you will need 800 rounds of ammunition. Please consider that you may also take the first 2 days of the class at a reduced cost. The first 2 days would be the same as taking our PDH I here at SWSA. The cost is $400 and you may choose to sign up and take the remainder of the class at the end of the 2nd day if you wish.
All further information including what you will need to bring with you, range location, hotels, etc. will be included in your welcome packet upon registration.
We hope to see you in Ohio!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
More information on this particular class can be found here: 3-day PDH
If you compare prices, you'll find this class a real bargain! Some places charge more for less training time AND you have to go to them, pay for lodging and eating out. At today's prices of fuel, lodging and food, you can save quite a bit having us come to you.
Pre-registration is required and registration will be open until 22 July. Price is $795 and you will need 800 rounds of ammunition. Please consider that you may also take the first 2 days of the class at a reduced cost. The first 2 days would be the same as taking our PDH I here at SWSA. The cost is $400 and you may choose to sign up and take the remainder of the class at the end of the 2nd day if you wish.
All further information including what you will need to bring with you, range location, hotels, etc. will be included in your welcome packet upon registration.
We hope to see you in Ohio!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
26 June 2011
Getting closer!
The fire hasn't changed anything! The rally will continue as planned and it it just keeps getting better! It has been confirmed that Congressman Steve Pearce, Senator Bill Sharer, Chuck Thompson and myself will all speak.
The live music has been confirmed for Saturday night.
Several shooting contests demonstrations will be performed throughout the weekend! Cash prizes, gun give-away!
Concessions will be available for ALL meals throughout the weekend!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends. GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
The live music has been confirmed for Saturday night.
Several shooting contests demonstrations will be performed throughout the weekend! Cash prizes, gun give-away!
Concessions will be available for ALL meals throughout the weekend!
Get your priorities in order and join us in making this the largest gathering of armed American civilians EVER!!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends. GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
16 June 2011
Cartridge Reloading
I apologize for not keeping you better informed but for those that are interested, I have started a series on reloading on The Shooting Bench.
The first one is HERE. There is also an interesting interview with a Forest Service Public Information Officer on this show.
The second in the reloading series is HERE There is some commentary on suicide and the hunt for the "former militia leader" in Montana.
The 3rd in the series is HERE. This series will likely go into next week and you can stay caught up by going to my ARCHIVES or listen live through the Shooting Bench link below.
Don't forget our rally on Independence Day! Congressman Steve Pearce will be speaking about noon plus we have some other good speakers. Reduced price training is happening on the 2nd and 3rd. Handgun all day on the 2nd and a half day rifle, half day shotgun on the 3rd. These classes are filling fast if you are interested. Thanks for your support!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
The first one is HERE. There is also an interesting interview with a Forest Service Public Information Officer on this show.
The second in the reloading series is HERE There is some commentary on suicide and the hunt for the "former militia leader" in Montana.
The 3rd in the series is HERE. This series will likely go into next week and you can stay caught up by going to my ARCHIVES or listen live through the Shooting Bench link below.
Don't forget our rally on Independence Day! Congressman Steve Pearce will be speaking about noon plus we have some other good speakers. Reduced price training is happening on the 2nd and 3rd. Handgun all day on the 2nd and a half day rifle, half day shotgun on the 3rd. These classes are filling fast if you are interested. Thanks for your support!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
12 June 2011
Independence Day? Not so much anymore!
Time is short! What better time to have a "Restore the Constitution Rally" than Independence Day? That day still holds the same historic value that it always has but it doesn't apply to our current life nearly as much.
The Founding Fathers would be ashamed of us if they could see what we have done to their country!
Get your priorities in order. This Independence Day will not be the time for fishing and picnicing. We need to show numbers! We need to let the tyrant know that we are serious about restoring the values and liberties that we once had.
Time: July 4, 2011 from 9am to 3pm
Location: Luna, NM
Street: 217 Tallhouse Ln.
City/Town: Luna
Website or Map: http://www.southwestshootinga…
Phone: 575-547-AK47
Location: Luna, NM
Street: 217 Tallhouse Ln.
City/Town: Luna
Website or Map: http://www.southwestshootinga…
Phone: 575-547-AK47
Event Description
The 4th of July, 2011 will bring you the 2nd Annual Open-Carry, Restore the Constitution Rally at Southwest Shooting Authority in Luna, NM. The event itself will be held on Monday the 4th from 9:00am to around 3:00pm.
Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights. Local musicians will be pickin' and grinnin' on Saturday night.
Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights. Local musicians will be pickin' and grinnin' on Saturday night.
Cope Reynolds will be the keynote speaker followed by former Catron County Sheriff candidate Chuck Thompson. We are delighted to announce the privilege of having NM 2nd District Congressman Steve Pearce attend our rally and speak to us at noon. Other speakers are to be announced
Here's some other particulars:
Weapons are welcome! However, there are rules that must be followed. Common sense safety rules will be strictly adhered to. Loaded or unloaded, handguns will remain holstered at all times. Long guns will remain unchambered and slung at all times. If you need to do something to your gun or want to show someone something about it that requires it being handled, there will be range personnel and a safe area for that reason.
THERE WILL BE NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME! THIS IS A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED!
Primitive camping is 3 miles away. This campground has toilets but no hook-ups.
Motels and nice RV parks are 14 miles away. A couple of them will offer small discounts for those attending. It's not much but with gas being so high, anything helps.
There is a small RV park with full and partial hook-ups right next door. They only have a few spaces so first-come, first-served.
For those that want to come early and enjoy the comraderie of like-minded folks and the beautiful country here, there will be some very reduced-price defensive firearms training available on Friday and Saturday. Friday will be handgun training and Saturday will be 1/2 day rifle and 1/2 day shotgun. Contact us via e-mail or call 575-547-2547 for more info. Pre-registration is required
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout) Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Shooting Bench Mon thru Fri, 3pm to 5pm Mountain time! (5 to 7pm Eastern) Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends. GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
11 June 2011
New radio network, podcasts and fires
Thanks to all of you for your concern and prayers. We have been busier than a cat covering up poop on a marble floor lately with our very long (and largely unproductive) trip, the fall of the Watchmen.fm and this damn fire.
Amy and I just drove over 4000 miles to do a couple of seminars and visit family along the way. Almost immediately after we arrived in Washington, Doc, at the Watchmen, had a major malfunction which ultimately led to his arrest and his child being taken by Child Protective Services. He claims to have fired a couple of the hosts but that was said after we all quit due to his behavior. A few us have a burning to desire to continue to educate folks and learn from others and immediately went to work building a new station so we could get back on the air. This resulted in Doc claiming we stole his station which was NOT true as we bought and paid for everything brand-new and didn't use anything related to the old station. His technical guru did, however, take down all that was related to the Watchmen.fm because HE owned the domain name and built everything that Doc had. He also paid for most of it so he simply retained what was his. I don't approve of the way he did it but he was still within his rights. Lots of hard feelings and personal attacks but I suppose that will all go away in time.
Our new station can be found at Just Measures Radio This link takes you to the temporary page on John Galt's web site. Our official site will be up and running in the near future. Archives are located at JMR Archives Officially, we started last Monday, 6 June but this has been kind of a test so we should have everything going well this next week. We have 5-6 hosts right now and more on the way. Listener numbers are VERY high for no longer than we have been on.
The next thing that has disrupted our lives (and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future) is the huge fire in eastern AZ. As I type this, the fire is 5 miles from the shop and Luna has been issued a preliminary evacuation warning but we are not going anywhere. 7 towns in AZ have already been evacuated. All the particulars for the fire are posted below and were current as of 9pm last night. It promises to be the largest fire in AZ's history and will certainly spread into NM today or tomorrow. This has brought our business to a 100% stand-still. Except for the heavy smoke, we are 100% safe where we are at but things are not looking good for any of us here. Southwest Shooting Authority is not the only in danger of failing. Grazing land is being destroyed which effects the ranchers terribly. The drought was already hard on these cows and now they are being herded from place to place ahead of the fire. Those that are dependent on tourism in the area will be devastated this year and I have no doubt that some will go under. It will affect hunting in the area this year, especially on the AZ side. It is yet to be seen how bad it will affect NM.
This fire has burned over 400,000 acres and there is another fire 100 miles south of that has burned about 90,000 acres.
Date Started: 5/29/2011
Number of Personnel: Approximately 4,422
Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona
Including 26 hotshot crews and 76 hand crews
Cause: Human - under investigation
Equipment:28 dozers, 263 engines, 69 water tenders
Size: 408,887ac based on last night's infrared data
Aircraft: 15 helicopters
Percent Contained: 6%
Injuries to Date: 3
Residences: 2,714 threatened; 29 destroyed 5 damaged
Structures other than homes: 35 destroyed
Other: 1 truck destroyed
And so it begins. Natural disasters of biblical proportions, the U.S. economy in the tank, our military forces spread thin around the world, wide-open borders allowing a constant flow of illegals into our country, our society has completely dismissed their moral values; a Muslim, socialist president that is doing everything in his power to bring us to our knees and more than a dozen government agencies whose only mission in life seems to be to strip us of our rights and destroy the Constitution. In spite of all of this, there are still those among us that refuse to see. They dismiss any suggestion that much harder times are to come. It is inevitable. We have reached the point of no return. However, it is survivable if we simply accept it for what it is and prepare as best we can.
More on this later
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Amy and I just drove over 4000 miles to do a couple of seminars and visit family along the way. Almost immediately after we arrived in Washington, Doc, at the Watchmen, had a major malfunction which ultimately led to his arrest and his child being taken by Child Protective Services. He claims to have fired a couple of the hosts but that was said after we all quit due to his behavior. A few us have a burning to desire to continue to educate folks and learn from others and immediately went to work building a new station so we could get back on the air. This resulted in Doc claiming we stole his station which was NOT true as we bought and paid for everything brand-new and didn't use anything related to the old station. His technical guru did, however, take down all that was related to the Watchmen.fm because HE owned the domain name and built everything that Doc had. He also paid for most of it so he simply retained what was his. I don't approve of the way he did it but he was still within his rights. Lots of hard feelings and personal attacks but I suppose that will all go away in time.
Our new station can be found at Just Measures Radio This link takes you to the temporary page on John Galt's web site. Our official site will be up and running in the near future. Archives are located at JMR Archives Officially, we started last Monday, 6 June but this has been kind of a test so we should have everything going well this next week. We have 5-6 hosts right now and more on the way. Listener numbers are VERY high for no longer than we have been on.
The next thing that has disrupted our lives (and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future) is the huge fire in eastern AZ. As I type this, the fire is 5 miles from the shop and Luna has been issued a preliminary evacuation warning but we are not going anywhere. 7 towns in AZ have already been evacuated. All the particulars for the fire are posted below and were current as of 9pm last night. It promises to be the largest fire in AZ's history and will certainly spread into NM today or tomorrow. This has brought our business to a 100% stand-still. Except for the heavy smoke, we are 100% safe where we are at but things are not looking good for any of us here. Southwest Shooting Authority is not the only in danger of failing. Grazing land is being destroyed which effects the ranchers terribly. The drought was already hard on these cows and now they are being herded from place to place ahead of the fire. Those that are dependent on tourism in the area will be devastated this year and I have no doubt that some will go under. It will affect hunting in the area this year, especially on the AZ side. It is yet to be seen how bad it will affect NM.
This fire has burned over 400,000 acres and there is another fire 100 miles south of that has burned about 90,000 acres.
Date Started: 5/29/2011
Number of Personnel: Approximately 4,422
Location: south and west of Alpine, Arizona
Including 26 hotshot crews and 76 hand crews
Cause: Human - under investigation
Equipment:28 dozers, 263 engines, 69 water tenders
Size: 408,887ac based on last night's infrared data
Aircraft: 15 helicopters
Percent Contained: 6%
Injuries to Date: 3
Residences: 2,714 threatened; 29 destroyed 5 damaged
Structures other than homes: 35 destroyed
Other: 1 truck destroyed
And so it begins. Natural disasters of biblical proportions, the U.S. economy in the tank, our military forces spread thin around the world, wide-open borders allowing a constant flow of illegals into our country, our society has completely dismissed their moral values; a Muslim, socialist president that is doing everything in his power to bring us to our knees and more than a dozen government agencies whose only mission in life seems to be to strip us of our rights and destroy the Constitution. In spite of all of this, there are still those among us that refuse to see. They dismiss any suggestion that much harder times are to come. It is inevitable. We have reached the point of no return. However, it is survivable if we simply accept it for what it is and prepare as best we can.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
31 May 2011
New venue for The Shooting Bench!
Ok folks, The Watchmen.fm had a total administrative breakdown! It is no more. ALL of the hosts quit but most of us will joining back up in just a few days on a new network. The new station will be bigger, better and much more professional. I will provide all the relevant info here on theshootingbench.info the minute it is available
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
23 May 2011
FREE Disaster Preparedness Seminar-Lincoln, CA!
Okie doke, we are currently in Vancouver, WA and just finished up a seminar yesterday. It went well and we have just decided to do one in Lincoln, CA on 4 June. This is carved in stone but the location is being negotiated. I will post the location in the next day or so on here, Facebook, Twitter and on our website as soon as it is determined.
If you think you would like to attend, please call or e-mail and let us know and we'll save you a seat!
Call 575-547-AK47 (2547 or e-mail at training@southwestshootingauthority.com
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
If you think you would like to attend, please call or e-mail and let us know and we'll save you a seat!
Call 575-547-AK47 (2547 or e-mail at training@southwestshootingauthority.com
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
And so it continues, NM joins the ranks of the anti-Constitutional
http://www.artesianews.com/ap-news/new-mexico-ap-news/court-expands-police-right-to-take-guns-from-cars/
It was only this morning on my radio show that I was bragging about the gun laws here in NM. Some of the best in the nation...until today!
The state Supreme Court ruled today that LE has the right to TAKE your gun...IF they can see it, when they stop you for any reason, no reason or just to be snots. We now join Indiana, Kentucky and others in ignoring the 4th amendment
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
It was only this morning on my radio show that I was bragging about the gun laws here in NM. Some of the best in the nation...until today!
The state Supreme Court ruled today that LE has the right to TAKE your gun...IF they can see it, when they stop you for any reason, no reason or just to be snots. We now join Indiana, Kentucky and others in ignoring the 4th amendment
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
23 April 2011
FREE Disaster Preparedness Seminar-Vancouver, WA!
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
18 April 2011
Catron County, Open-Carry, Restore the Constitution Rally
Event Details
Time: July 4, 2011 from 9am to 3pm
Location: Luna, NM
Street: 217 Tallhouse Ln.
City/Town: Luna
Website or Map: http://www.southwestshootinga…
Phone: 575-547-AK47
Location: Luna, NM
Street: 217 Tallhouse Ln.
City/Town: Luna
Website or Map: http://www.southwestshootinga…
Phone: 575-547-AK47
Event Description
The 4th of July,2011 will bring you the 2nd Annual Open-Carry, Restore the Constitution Rally at Southwest Shooting Authority in Luna, NM. The event itself will be held on Monday the 4th from 9:00am to around 3:00pm.
Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights. Local musicians will be pickin' and grinnin' on Saturday night.
Here's some particulars:
Weapons are welcome! However, there are rules that must be followed. Commonsense safety rules will be strictly adhered to. Loaded or unloaded, handguns will remain holstered at all times. Log guns will remain unchambered and slung at all times. If you need to do something to your gun or want to show someone something about it that requires it being handled, there will be range personnel and a safe area for that reason.
THERE WILL BE NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME! THIS IS A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED!
Primitive camping is 3 miles away. This campground has toilets but no hook-ups.
Motels and nice RV parks are 14 miles away. A couple of them will offer small discounts for those attending. It's not much but with gas being so high, anything helps.
There is a small RV park with full and partial hook-ups right next door. They only have a few spaces so first-come, first-serve.
For those that want to come early and enjoy the comraderie of like-minded folks and the beautiful country here, there will be some very reduced-price defensive firearms training available on Friday and Saturday. Friday will be handgun training and Saturday will be 1/2 day rifle and 1/2 day shotgun. Contact us via e-mail or call 575-547-2547 for more info. Pre-registration is required
Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights. Local musicians will be pickin' and grinnin' on Saturday night.
Here's some particulars:
Weapons are welcome! However, there are rules that must be followed. Commonsense safety rules will be strictly adhered to. Loaded or unloaded, handguns will remain holstered at all times. Log guns will remain unchambered and slung at all times. If you need to do something to your gun or want to show someone something about it that requires it being handled, there will be range personnel and a safe area for that reason.
THERE WILL BE NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME! THIS IS A ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED!
Primitive camping is 3 miles away. This campground has toilets but no hook-ups.
Motels and nice RV parks are 14 miles away. A couple of them will offer small discounts for those attending. It's not much but with gas being so high, anything helps.
There is a small RV park with full and partial hook-ups right next door. They only have a few spaces so first-come, first-serve.
For those that want to come early and enjoy the comraderie of like-minded folks and the beautiful country here, there will be some very reduced-price defensive firearms training available on Friday and Saturday. Friday will be handgun training and Saturday will be 1/2 day rifle and 1/2 day shotgun. Contact us via e-mail or call 575-547-2547 for more info. Pre-registration is required
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
12 April 2011
Open Carry Rally and discounted training!
This post will be a little different than my usual. I'd like to announce an open-carry, Restore the Constitution Rally here in Luna, NM on 4 July, 2011. With your help, we're going to shoot for making this the largest armed rally of men and women since they rallied the troops for WWII.
Since the Independence Day will be falling on Monday and most folks will be taking a nice, long weekend to enjoy it, we decided to offer some discount training opportunities as well.
Here's a run-down of what's going to be happening that weekend.
On Saturday, July 2nd, we will be conducting a good, full day of defensive handgun training from 8:00am to 5:00pm. You will need to bring the defensive handgun of your choice, strong-side belt or paddle holster, brimmed hat or cap, eye and ear protection and 250 rounds of new, commercial ammunition. No reloads!
Some rental guns and equipment are available.
Cost: $199.
Sunday the 3rd will begin with defensive rifle training at 8:00am and go to noon. Your rifle must have a sling attached and you will need 100 rounds of ammo in addition to the same safety equipment listed above.
Cost: $89.
Defensive shotgun training will begin at 1:00pm and go to 5:00pm. You will need a shotgun of any action type, sling, safety equipment, 50 rounds of birdshot (whatever is cheap), 20 rounds of 00 buckshot and 10 slugs.
Cost: $89
The cost for both days will be $377 which is already $18 less than our normal 2-day classes but if you take all three classes and sign up by 15 June, you will pay only $350! Savings to you? About $50 off of what we normally charge for a 2-day class. You can use that savings to buy ammo!
Tuition is non-refundable but can be applied to another class at a later date. Our normal 2-day classes run from $395 to $450, depending on the level of training so this is a pretty good savings either way.
Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and space is limited! Call 575-547-AK47 or e-mail training@southwestshootingAuthority.com for more info.
The 4th of July is the Open-Carry, Restore the Constitution Rally from 9:00am to around 3:00pm. Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights.
NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY PERIOD! NO EXCEPTIONS, NO WARNINGS! YOU WILL BE GONE!
Primitive camping is as close as 3 miles to the range and RV parks and motels are only 14 miles away. Call us before you arrive. There are some discounts available but we will need to give you a code.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
Since the Independence Day will be falling on Monday and most folks will be taking a nice, long weekend to enjoy it, we decided to offer some discount training opportunities as well.
Here's a run-down of what's going to be happening that weekend.
On Saturday, July 2nd, we will be conducting a good, full day of defensive handgun training from 8:00am to 5:00pm. You will need to bring the defensive handgun of your choice, strong-side belt or paddle holster, brimmed hat or cap, eye and ear protection and 250 rounds of new, commercial ammunition. No reloads!
Some rental guns and equipment are available.
Cost: $199.
Sunday the 3rd will begin with defensive rifle training at 8:00am and go to noon. Your rifle must have a sling attached and you will need 100 rounds of ammo in addition to the same safety equipment listed above.
Cost: $89.
Defensive shotgun training will begin at 1:00pm and go to 5:00pm. You will need a shotgun of any action type, sling, safety equipment, 50 rounds of birdshot (whatever is cheap), 20 rounds of 00 buckshot and 10 slugs.
Cost: $89
The cost for both days will be $377 which is already $18 less than our normal 2-day classes but if you take all three classes and sign up by 15 June, you will pay only $350! Savings to you? About $50 off of what we normally charge for a 2-day class. You can use that savings to buy ammo!
Tuition is non-refundable but can be applied to another class at a later date. Our normal 2-day classes run from $395 to $450, depending on the level of training so this is a pretty good savings either way.
Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and space is limited! Call 575-547-AK47 or e-mail training@southwestshootingAuthority.com for more info.
These are mildly intense classes. It should be very warm but here in the mountains, temperatures may go from one extreme to the other with little notice so bring any additional items of personal comfort that you may need such as a jacket or raincoat, sunscreen, lawn chair, etc. It would also be to your benefit to take notes.
You will need to bring a lunch and/or snacks. We will take numerous breaks and stop for 1 hour for lunch.
The 4th of July is the Open-Carry, Restore the Constitution Rally from 9:00am to around 3:00pm. Speakers, music, contests and lots of fun will be here for the having. Friday and Saturday nights will be used for socializing and solving the world's problems. Food and drink will be available both nights.
NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY PERIOD! NO EXCEPTIONS, NO WARNINGS! YOU WILL BE GONE!
Primitive camping is as close as 3 miles to the range and RV parks and motels are only 14 miles away. Call us before you arrive. There are some discounts available but we will need to give you a code.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
09 April 2011
Practical Survival Firearms Pt 3 of 3
A FEW WORDS ABOUT SHOTGUNS
For personal protection, the shotgun has no peer. It is a graphically devastating weapon. For most of the purposes considered in this article, a pump-action 12 gauge is hard to beat. Although the 20 gauge is a very comfortable and effective gun to shoot, it’s best reserved for hunting. This is because you’ll have a hard time finding either buckshot or slugs for the 20. Wal-Mart, for example, rarely even carries the heavier 20 gauge stuff, simply because there’s not enough demand for it. And it’s hard to get them to special order things sometimes. A lot of men buy a 20 gauge for their kids or wives, but they mostly use them to hunt birds or rabbits, so most stores don’t see a need to carry anything but the smaller shot. There just aren’t very many people who hunt deer with a 20 gauge, or use it for defense.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the 20 gauge; we have two of them. But for a survival situation, the 12 gauge is a much better choice, simply because of ammo availability. Police, military, other survivalists, militia members, ranchers, etc., all use the 12. If you do insist on using the 20 gauge, and plan on storing a bunch of shells to make up for non-availability, what happens if you have to “bug-out”? You can only carry so much, and leaving the gun behind shouldn't be an option, as I think a shotgun is mandatory. When you use up what you can carry, you’ll just be out. You can’t carry all that reloading stuff with you, either. I personally am not really stocking up on any reloading supplies. Of course, I have a bunch anyway, just because it’s a serious hobby of mine, but I figure when things go bad, I would rather have all those components already assembled into something that I can use.
Something else to consider is power. While the velocities of the 20 gauge are comparable to the 12 gauge, the weight of any given shot charge or slug is much more with the 12. Granted, this generates a little more recoil, but my 5’5”, 140-lb. wife can handle a 12 just fine. (She also prefers a .44 mag to hunt with. It’s all in the training.) The 20 gauge usually shoots a slug that either weighs 273 grains or 328 grains. And I have one “recipe” for a 341-gr. slug. Compare that to a 12 gauge that shoots slugs weighing anywhere from 437 grs. to 575 grs. That’s a hell of an increase in delivered energy, which translates to penetration and longer range. Twelve gauge slugs are also good medicine for “hard” targets; i.e., cars, block or brick walls, and so on. Not as good as a .308 or 30.06 in some cases, but still very good.
As far as buckshot goes, #3 buck is the by far the most common for the 20 gauge. If you get much bigger than that, the 20’s little shell just doesn’t hold enough pellets to do any good. If the 12 gauge only holds between nine and 12 double-ought buckshot pellets (depending on manufacturer and type of wad used), you can safely assume that the 20 would hold only five to six of the same pellets. While you can put eight pellets of #1 buck in a 20 gauge shell, most 12 gauge loads will hold 16. In any case, you’re not looking at a very dense pattern from the 20 for defensive purposes.
A couple of the best choices for defensive shotguns are the Mossberg 590 or 500, and the Remington 870. While some will tell you that the 590 is far and away better than the 870, it really comes down to what you like. I’ll admit that the 590 has a slight edge over the 870, simply because it was designed solely as a combat shotgun. It really has no sporting purpose. There are plenty of after-market accessories available for both the Mossberg and the Remington. Also, Winchester makes a couple of suitable defensive-type shotguns, but I have no personal experience with them.
LONG-TERM GUN STORAGE
A question I get asked frequently is, “How do you suggest I store firearms and ammunition in such a way that I would not lose them in the event my house burned down or was broken into or Uncle Sugar wanted to come get them for one reason or another?”
One way is to buy one of the waterproof containers available almost everywhere (and cost too much), slide your gun into a rust-proof storage bag, put it in the container, then bury it somewhere. The method I recommend, however, works just as well and will protect your guns indefinitely.
Buy as much 8-inch PVC pipe as you need from a water/sewer materials distributor. Eight inches in diameter is larger than you will find at any hardware store. Get the kind of pipe designed for handling sewer water rather than fresh water (ask for SDR35). The water pipe works fine, but is unnecessarily heavy and expensive. There are three kinds of caps you can get to seal the ends. One kind is glued on and is permanent, but if you’ve never installed pipe before, it’s easy to miss a spot with your glue and thus allow for leakage. Another kind of cap is rubber gasketed. To use these, bevel the pipe back about 3/4 of an inch with a rasp or grinder, smear an even coat of lubricant on the pipe end (any kind of liquid soap will work), then slip the cap on. If done correctly, the seal will be absolutely 100% air and water tight. The third kind of cap uses a glue-on adaptor with a screw-type plug. You just glue the adaptor to the pipe end and the plug screws in to it. But these are unnecessarily expensive and just about impossible to remove without a BIG wrench. In my opinion, the gasketed caps are the best choice because to remove them, you can hold the pipe between your legs and kick them off or use a rock. No tools are required. To put them back on the pipe, just use a little liquid soap as you did the first time. You should have room for two long guns, a couple of handguns, and a little ammo for each in a 4-foot section of 8-inch pipe. Since scoped rifles, rifles with fixed mags, and even some open-sighted rifles with a lot of drop in the stock may not fit into a 6-inch pipe, spend just a little more and buy the bigger 8-inch stuff.
Now that you have your pipe prepared, clean your guns as you normally would, leaving a very light film of oil on them. Forget cosmoline or heavy grease; Break-Free is my preference. Slip each gun into a breathable case, then put it into your pipe. To make an effective dessicant, put some crushed sheetrock or kitty litter on a cookie sheet and bake it at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes. Fill a sock half full with your homemade dessicant, tie it off, and put it in the pipe. (If you don’t like the homemade method, you can always go spend a bunch of money on special dessicants that some people say you just can’t live without.) Before sealing, keep the pipe in the house for a day or two to make absolutely sure that the interior is as dry as it can be. This is especially important if you live in a humid climate.
Bury the sealed pipe somewhere away from your house, preferably half a mile or more depending on the population close at hand. If possible, bury it vertically in order to present a smaller target for metal detectors and ground penetrating radar. If you must bury it close to your home, try to place it parallel to metal pipelines, under the edge of a metal-reinforced concrete slab, under a fence post, etc.
SOUND ADVICE
In closing, I would like to offer my suggestions for a practical arsenal. For the individual that is solely concerned with wilderness survival and personal defense, I would suggest, at the very least, a .22 handgun and rifle, a centerfire handgun, and a shotgun. The .22s provide you with the means to practice a lot for the price of peanuts. As I noted at the beginning of this article, a .22 will do 90% percent of whatever needs done. The centerfire handgun or the shotgun will provide you with all the defensive capabilities that you’ll need for any dangerous game or bad guys you’re likely to run across in the woods.
For folks who are concerned with the state of the nation and the rough waters that lie ahead, I would suggest all the above, along with a centerfire rifle in one of the configurations we discussed earlier. Remember, you can’t have too much ammo. I would recommend you have a minimum of 1,000 rounds for each centerfire rifle, and 500 to 1,000 rounds for the shotgun, with about half of that being birdshot (such as #6 or #4) and the rest in heavy buckshot and slugs. The birdshot is just as deadly at close range as the bigger stuff and is also suitable for small game hunting. I’d also suggest 500 rounds for each centerfire handgun, and as many .22 shells as you have room to store. I truly believe that .22 ammunition may be the standard by which barter with, at least for a time. I think the time will come when a box of .22 shells will buy you a chicken or two or a set of flashlight batteries.
See that every person in your home who is old enough to shoot is properly trained in the use of all these guns, and that eye and ear protection is available.
There are many other things concerning the troubled times that await us that I’d like to share with you, but that’s another story.
Copyright 1999 by Cope Reynolds
This article may be freely copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, as long as it remains unedited as to content (which includes the title, the author’s name, and copyright information), and this notice is attached.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
For personal protection, the shotgun has no peer. It is a graphically devastating weapon. For most of the purposes considered in this article, a pump-action 12 gauge is hard to beat. Although the 20 gauge is a very comfortable and effective gun to shoot, it’s best reserved for hunting. This is because you’ll have a hard time finding either buckshot or slugs for the 20. Wal-Mart, for example, rarely even carries the heavier 20 gauge stuff, simply because there’s not enough demand for it. And it’s hard to get them to special order things sometimes. A lot of men buy a 20 gauge for their kids or wives, but they mostly use them to hunt birds or rabbits, so most stores don’t see a need to carry anything but the smaller shot. There just aren’t very many people who hunt deer with a 20 gauge, or use it for defense.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the 20 gauge; we have two of them. But for a survival situation, the 12 gauge is a much better choice, simply because of ammo availability. Police, military, other survivalists, militia members, ranchers, etc., all use the 12. If you do insist on using the 20 gauge, and plan on storing a bunch of shells to make up for non-availability, what happens if you have to “bug-out”? You can only carry so much, and leaving the gun behind shouldn't be an option, as I think a shotgun is mandatory. When you use up what you can carry, you’ll just be out. You can’t carry all that reloading stuff with you, either. I personally am not really stocking up on any reloading supplies. Of course, I have a bunch anyway, just because it’s a serious hobby of mine, but I figure when things go bad, I would rather have all those components already assembled into something that I can use.
Something else to consider is power. While the velocities of the 20 gauge are comparable to the 12 gauge, the weight of any given shot charge or slug is much more with the 12. Granted, this generates a little more recoil, but my 5’5”, 140-lb. wife can handle a 12 just fine. (She also prefers a .44 mag to hunt with. It’s all in the training.) The 20 gauge usually shoots a slug that either weighs 273 grains or 328 grains. And I have one “recipe” for a 341-gr. slug. Compare that to a 12 gauge that shoots slugs weighing anywhere from 437 grs. to 575 grs. That’s a hell of an increase in delivered energy, which translates to penetration and longer range. Twelve gauge slugs are also good medicine for “hard” targets; i.e., cars, block or brick walls, and so on. Not as good as a .308 or 30.06 in some cases, but still very good.
As far as buckshot goes, #3 buck is the by far the most common for the 20 gauge. If you get much bigger than that, the 20’s little shell just doesn’t hold enough pellets to do any good. If the 12 gauge only holds between nine and 12 double-ought buckshot pellets (depending on manufacturer and type of wad used), you can safely assume that the 20 would hold only five to six of the same pellets. While you can put eight pellets of #1 buck in a 20 gauge shell, most 12 gauge loads will hold 16. In any case, you’re not looking at a very dense pattern from the 20 for defensive purposes.
A couple of the best choices for defensive shotguns are the Mossberg 590 or 500, and the Remington 870. While some will tell you that the 590 is far and away better than the 870, it really comes down to what you like. I’ll admit that the 590 has a slight edge over the 870, simply because it was designed solely as a combat shotgun. It really has no sporting purpose. There are plenty of after-market accessories available for both the Mossberg and the Remington. Also, Winchester makes a couple of suitable defensive-type shotguns, but I have no personal experience with them.
LONG-TERM GUN STORAGE
A question I get asked frequently is, “How do you suggest I store firearms and ammunition in such a way that I would not lose them in the event my house burned down or was broken into or Uncle Sugar wanted to come get them for one reason or another?”
One way is to buy one of the waterproof containers available almost everywhere (and cost too much), slide your gun into a rust-proof storage bag, put it in the container, then bury it somewhere. The method I recommend, however, works just as well and will protect your guns indefinitely.
Buy as much 8-inch PVC pipe as you need from a water/sewer materials distributor. Eight inches in diameter is larger than you will find at any hardware store. Get the kind of pipe designed for handling sewer water rather than fresh water (ask for SDR35). The water pipe works fine, but is unnecessarily heavy and expensive. There are three kinds of caps you can get to seal the ends. One kind is glued on and is permanent, but if you’ve never installed pipe before, it’s easy to miss a spot with your glue and thus allow for leakage. Another kind of cap is rubber gasketed. To use these, bevel the pipe back about 3/4 of an inch with a rasp or grinder, smear an even coat of lubricant on the pipe end (any kind of liquid soap will work), then slip the cap on. If done correctly, the seal will be absolutely 100% air and water tight. The third kind of cap uses a glue-on adaptor with a screw-type plug. You just glue the adaptor to the pipe end and the plug screws in to it. But these are unnecessarily expensive and just about impossible to remove without a BIG wrench. In my opinion, the gasketed caps are the best choice because to remove them, you can hold the pipe between your legs and kick them off or use a rock. No tools are required. To put them back on the pipe, just use a little liquid soap as you did the first time. You should have room for two long guns, a couple of handguns, and a little ammo for each in a 4-foot section of 8-inch pipe. Since scoped rifles, rifles with fixed mags, and even some open-sighted rifles with a lot of drop in the stock may not fit into a 6-inch pipe, spend just a little more and buy the bigger 8-inch stuff.
Now that you have your pipe prepared, clean your guns as you normally would, leaving a very light film of oil on them. Forget cosmoline or heavy grease; Break-Free is my preference. Slip each gun into a breathable case, then put it into your pipe. To make an effective dessicant, put some crushed sheetrock or kitty litter on a cookie sheet and bake it at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes. Fill a sock half full with your homemade dessicant, tie it off, and put it in the pipe. (If you don’t like the homemade method, you can always go spend a bunch of money on special dessicants that some people say you just can’t live without.) Before sealing, keep the pipe in the house for a day or two to make absolutely sure that the interior is as dry as it can be. This is especially important if you live in a humid climate.
Bury the sealed pipe somewhere away from your house, preferably half a mile or more depending on the population close at hand. If possible, bury it vertically in order to present a smaller target for metal detectors and ground penetrating radar. If you must bury it close to your home, try to place it parallel to metal pipelines, under the edge of a metal-reinforced concrete slab, under a fence post, etc.
SOUND ADVICE
In closing, I would like to offer my suggestions for a practical arsenal. For the individual that is solely concerned with wilderness survival and personal defense, I would suggest, at the very least, a .22 handgun and rifle, a centerfire handgun, and a shotgun. The .22s provide you with the means to practice a lot for the price of peanuts. As I noted at the beginning of this article, a .22 will do 90% percent of whatever needs done. The centerfire handgun or the shotgun will provide you with all the defensive capabilities that you’ll need for any dangerous game or bad guys you’re likely to run across in the woods.
For folks who are concerned with the state of the nation and the rough waters that lie ahead, I would suggest all the above, along with a centerfire rifle in one of the configurations we discussed earlier. Remember, you can’t have too much ammo. I would recommend you have a minimum of 1,000 rounds for each centerfire rifle, and 500 to 1,000 rounds for the shotgun, with about half of that being birdshot (such as #6 or #4) and the rest in heavy buckshot and slugs. The birdshot is just as deadly at close range as the bigger stuff and is also suitable for small game hunting. I’d also suggest 500 rounds for each centerfire handgun, and as many .22 shells as you have room to store. I truly believe that .22 ammunition may be the standard by which barter with, at least for a time. I think the time will come when a box of .22 shells will buy you a chicken or two or a set of flashlight batteries.
See that every person in your home who is old enough to shoot is properly trained in the use of all these guns, and that eye and ear protection is available.
There are many other things concerning the troubled times that await us that I’d like to share with you, but that’s another story.
Copyright 1999 by Cope Reynolds
This article may be freely copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, as long as it remains unedited as to content (which includes the title, the author’s name, and copyright information), and this notice is attached.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
04 April 2011
Practical Survival Firearms Pt 2 of 3
The second installment of three. This one concerning handguns. Also, I will be discussing long-term fiream storage on my show tomorrow due to popular request. I know it hasn't been too long since we discussed it but it IS a timely topic under the circumstances.
HANDGUNS
Handguns provide yet another platform for some very heated discussions as to what’s best for what purposes: revolver versus semi-auto; single-action or double-action; stainless steel or blued; short barrel versus long barrel; 9mm, .40, .45, .38, or .357. There are also arguments over whether it should be carried “strong side” (i.e., on the side corresponding to your predominant hand) versus “crossdraw,” and the shoulder holster versus the tactical (hip or thigh) holster. And there’s always the night sights issue. It seems the things people find to argue about are practically endless. Let’s try to address a few of them.
Whether you should carry a wheelgun (revolver) or a self-feeder (semi-auto) is a matter of personal preference. Both have their good and bad points. The revolver is somewhat slower to reload and, in most cases, has fewer shots to offer. But there are no magazines to lose and they are mechanically fairly simple. Another thing to consider is that revolvers are offered in much more powerful calibers than are most self-feeders, if that is of concern to you.
In order to reload the double-action revolver with any degree of rapidity, one must use speedloaders. These are nifty little cartridge-holding devices that can release a full load of cartridges into the cylinder of your double-action with the twist of a knob or the push of a button. They are not quite as fast as changing magazines in a semi-auto, but run a very close second with practice. The best speedloaders on the market, in my opinion, are those manufactured by HKS. They are incredibly rugged and reliable. In contrast, reloading the single-action revolver requires removing and replacing cartridges one at a time. An alternative to this would be to have another cylinder or two fitted at the factory for your gun. This will allow you to change cylinders for a more rapid reload, but is not really cost effective. When buying revolvers, stick with top name brands such as Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Colt, and Taurus. My personal favorite is Ruger. Their revolvers are extremely rugged, moderately priced, and more than adequately accurate.
Modern manufacturing techniques, advanced metallurgy, and the advent of space-age polymers have made the semi-auto pistol every bit as reliable as the revolver, and in many cases just as accurate. Modern semi’s are available in a number of different finishes, such as stainless steel, electroless nickel, Parkerized, and, of course, blued. Stay away from nickel or chrome plated guns. They are pretty durable, but once the plating chips, the chip increases in size until the gun must eventually be refinished. The last decade or two has also brought us pistols built on a polymer frame. The most notable of these is the Glock. The Glock was the one of the first of the “plastic” guns, and is virtually indestructible. The polymer that Glock uses is 17% stronger than steel and 83% lighter. In the standard Glock, there are a total of 36 parts, including the magazine, base plate and follower, 3 pins, and no screws. The Tennifer finish on the metal parts is more durable than stainless steel and nearly as hard as diamonds. Needless to say, Glock is also one of my personal favorites.
The debate over which handgun caliber is best is as old as the calibers themselves. The bottom line is shot placement. If you don’t hit your target in the right place, it doesn’t matter what you use. Two of the most popular calibers are 9mm and .45. The 9mm has more penetration than the .45, but the .45 has more energy. My personal favorite is the .40 S&W, as I think it has the attributes of both. But none of these has quite the power of the .357 magnum, let alone the .41 mag or .44 mag.
For carry, I prefer a crossdraw holster for my hunting revolvers, and a beltslide for my daily carry gun, which is a Glock. The crossdraw allows easy access to the gun when driving or riding a horse. The lighter, shorter semi-auto in the beltslide is not even noticeable and I can wear it in any situation.
Tritium night sights are definitely a plus in low-light operations. They offer a very clear, precise sight picture even in total darkness. Tritium is a radioactive substance that generates light--but don’t worry, you would have to ingest something like 30,000 sets of them in order receive as much radiation as one dental X-ray. Most of these sights offer a 12-year half-life, which means that they will be half as bright in 12 years as they were when they were manufactured.
The handgun’s role in the survival arsenal depends a lot on how proficient you are with it. Although a handgun shouldn’t be considered your primary weapon, you should be competent enough with yours that if it was all you had, you’d still be able to feed and/or defend yourself. Generally speaking, the average effective range of most handguns is about 50 yards. That being said, depending on caliber and type of gun, you can easily stretch that distance out past 100 yards with practice. A good, accurate .22LR handgun, such as the Ruger MK II or Single-Six, is indispensable for small game hunting. Most handgun calibers are also suitable for deer-sized game if you are close enough and place your shot well. I am not, however, advocating that an inexperienced handgunner go after deer, except in an emergency. Also, you would be well advised to buy a handgun with some kind of protective finish, or (with respect to self-loaders) a polymer frame.
Whatever sidearm you choose, use the right ammunition for the job. For defense from most animals (including two-legged varmints), and also for hunting medium-sized game, a good hollowpoint is the most effective--although there is considerable evidence that some of the flat-nosed, hard cast bullets are also very effective in the hunting field. For larger dangerous game, and for smaller edible game, a solid bullet such as some FMJ’s, and most hard cast bullets, are the better choice. They’re better for dangerous game because they offer more penetration, and for small game because they don’t destroy as much meat as a hollowpoint.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
HANDGUNS
Handguns provide yet another platform for some very heated discussions as to what’s best for what purposes: revolver versus semi-auto; single-action or double-action; stainless steel or blued; short barrel versus long barrel; 9mm, .40, .45, .38, or .357. There are also arguments over whether it should be carried “strong side” (i.e., on the side corresponding to your predominant hand) versus “crossdraw,” and the shoulder holster versus the tactical (hip or thigh) holster. And there’s always the night sights issue. It seems the things people find to argue about are practically endless. Let’s try to address a few of them.
Whether you should carry a wheelgun (revolver) or a self-feeder (semi-auto) is a matter of personal preference. Both have their good and bad points. The revolver is somewhat slower to reload and, in most cases, has fewer shots to offer. But there are no magazines to lose and they are mechanically fairly simple. Another thing to consider is that revolvers are offered in much more powerful calibers than are most self-feeders, if that is of concern to you.
In order to reload the double-action revolver with any degree of rapidity, one must use speedloaders. These are nifty little cartridge-holding devices that can release a full load of cartridges into the cylinder of your double-action with the twist of a knob or the push of a button. They are not quite as fast as changing magazines in a semi-auto, but run a very close second with practice. The best speedloaders on the market, in my opinion, are those manufactured by HKS. They are incredibly rugged and reliable. In contrast, reloading the single-action revolver requires removing and replacing cartridges one at a time. An alternative to this would be to have another cylinder or two fitted at the factory for your gun. This will allow you to change cylinders for a more rapid reload, but is not really cost effective. When buying revolvers, stick with top name brands such as Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Colt, and Taurus. My personal favorite is Ruger. Their revolvers are extremely rugged, moderately priced, and more than adequately accurate.
Modern manufacturing techniques, advanced metallurgy, and the advent of space-age polymers have made the semi-auto pistol every bit as reliable as the revolver, and in many cases just as accurate. Modern semi’s are available in a number of different finishes, such as stainless steel, electroless nickel, Parkerized, and, of course, blued. Stay away from nickel or chrome plated guns. They are pretty durable, but once the plating chips, the chip increases in size until the gun must eventually be refinished. The last decade or two has also brought us pistols built on a polymer frame. The most notable of these is the Glock. The Glock was the one of the first of the “plastic” guns, and is virtually indestructible. The polymer that Glock uses is 17% stronger than steel and 83% lighter. In the standard Glock, there are a total of 36 parts, including the magazine, base plate and follower, 3 pins, and no screws. The Tennifer finish on the metal parts is more durable than stainless steel and nearly as hard as diamonds. Needless to say, Glock is also one of my personal favorites.
The debate over which handgun caliber is best is as old as the calibers themselves. The bottom line is shot placement. If you don’t hit your target in the right place, it doesn’t matter what you use. Two of the most popular calibers are 9mm and .45. The 9mm has more penetration than the .45, but the .45 has more energy. My personal favorite is the .40 S&W, as I think it has the attributes of both. But none of these has quite the power of the .357 magnum, let alone the .41 mag or .44 mag.
For carry, I prefer a crossdraw holster for my hunting revolvers, and a beltslide for my daily carry gun, which is a Glock. The crossdraw allows easy access to the gun when driving or riding a horse. The lighter, shorter semi-auto in the beltslide is not even noticeable and I can wear it in any situation.
Tritium night sights are definitely a plus in low-light operations. They offer a very clear, precise sight picture even in total darkness. Tritium is a radioactive substance that generates light--but don’t worry, you would have to ingest something like 30,000 sets of them in order receive as much radiation as one dental X-ray. Most of these sights offer a 12-year half-life, which means that they will be half as bright in 12 years as they were when they were manufactured.
The handgun’s role in the survival arsenal depends a lot on how proficient you are with it. Although a handgun shouldn’t be considered your primary weapon, you should be competent enough with yours that if it was all you had, you’d still be able to feed and/or defend yourself. Generally speaking, the average effective range of most handguns is about 50 yards. That being said, depending on caliber and type of gun, you can easily stretch that distance out past 100 yards with practice. A good, accurate .22LR handgun, such as the Ruger MK II or Single-Six, is indispensable for small game hunting. Most handgun calibers are also suitable for deer-sized game if you are close enough and place your shot well. I am not, however, advocating that an inexperienced handgunner go after deer, except in an emergency. Also, you would be well advised to buy a handgun with some kind of protective finish, or (with respect to self-loaders) a polymer frame.
Whatever sidearm you choose, use the right ammunition for the job. For defense from most animals (including two-legged varmints), and also for hunting medium-sized game, a good hollowpoint is the most effective--although there is considerable evidence that some of the flat-nosed, hard cast bullets are also very effective in the hunting field. For larger dangerous game, and for smaller edible game, a solid bullet such as some FMJ’s, and most hard cast bullets, are the better choice. They’re better for dangerous game because they offer more penetration, and for small game because they don’t destroy as much meat as a hollowpoint.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
29 March 2011
Practical Survival Firearms Pt 1 of 3
This is the first of a 3-part series from a section of my book, "Dying is Not an Option!" It is information that I think should be shared now, at the threshold of the most desperate times this country has ever known.
PRACTICAL SURVIVAL FIREARMS Pt. 1
By Cope Reynolds
In today’s troubled world, and with the threat of things becoming even more troubled, the subject of what firearms are best for particular situations comes up with monotonous regularity. In this article I will weigh the pros and cons of different weapons, ammunition, sighting devices, storage techniques, and a few miscellaneous subjects. This is not intended to be all-inclusive, or the “word of law.” My opinions and methods of doing things come from listening with an open mind, experimenting without fear of failure, and the experience of over 50 years of hunting, plinking, competition shooting, reloading, and living in the Southwest--where it is possible to do these things whenever the mood strikes. I hope to be able to save the new shooter/survivalist the expense and inconvenience of learning things the hard way, and maybe offer the experienced shooter an idea or two he hasn’t thought of.
WHAT IS SURVIVAL?
The subject of what is the best survival weapon has created some intense debates over the years, often resulting in fist fights, best friends splitting up, divorces, sabotage, or relocation. It really doesn’t have to be that way. One of the problems is that everyone has a different definition of “survival.” To some, it means an end-of-the-world scenario (as in the movie “Mad Max”) where things just can’t get any worse. For such an unlikely event, one would want to choose a gun that never needs repairs or spare parts, and for which there is an unlimited supply of ammo available. For others, survival means constant foraging for food while having to battle foreign troops of the New World Order on a regular basis. In such a case, one would want a gun of the same caliber and type as one’s opponents. This would make it easier to “liberate” needed ammo and magazines. Still others feel that survival entails avoiding detection, gathering food, and repelling unwanted guests.
The “Mad Max” scenario is unlikely (though not impossible) in our lifetime. And by the time we get to that point, you’d probably not have the same weapon you started with anyway. The “New World Order” scenario has less to do with survival than combat. A true survival situation would, in my opinion, require a somewhat different kind of rifle than that which would be used primarily for combat. The “avoiding/foraging/repelling” scenario is not only the most likely, but is already a way of life for some.
What I’d consider to be a true survival situation might be caused by such things as getting lost or injured in the wild, car wrecks or plane crashes in remote areas, or a social and/or financial collapse that forces us to hunt for food and protect our families from predators and looters. For purposes of this article, let’s assume that these possibilities are what we’re primarily concerned with.
RIFLES AND AMMUNITION
There’s no way we can discuss every scenario that may arise, but let’s try to cover some that are most likely, and the rifles and ammunition combinations that are best suited to them.
When someone has to survive an unscheduled stay in the wild, the three most important things that a rifle can accomplish for him (or her) are signaling, defense, and harvesting small-to-medium game for food. For food, you need to consider the areas you’ll most likely be traveling in, and what kind of game is around. A rifle chambered for the .22LR will probably do 90% of anything you will need to do in the U.S. This caliber has taken--and will continue to take--deer, though for this purpose it is a very poor choice. However, the lowly .22 is a fine choice for small game, requiring lightweight, inexpensive ammo and causing minimal damage to the meat. The sharp crack and high decibel level of the .22 also makes it fairly good for signaling.
While not the best choice for defense, the .22 makes a formidable weapon in the hands of a calm, cool, collected marksman. If you’re traveling and not really expecting trouble, but want to have something available “just in case,” you might consider one of the take-down models such as the Marlin 70SS, or a copy of the old Charter AR-7. They’re light, compact, and relatively inexpensive. Ruger, Marlin, Remington, and others all make fine .22 rifles in semi-auto, bolt, pump, lever, and single-shot actions. Another good choice that offers something for big and small game and defense is the Savage 24-F or 24-V. This combination gun offers the shooter the versatility of having a rifle and a shotgun in the same easy-to-carry package. The rifle barrel is on top and is either currently, or has been, offered in a number of different calibers, including .22LR, .22 Magnum, .22 Hornet, .222, .223 and .30-30. Depending on the model, the shotgun portion can be had in .410, 20, or 12 gauge. The newer 12 gauge version offers interchangeable choke tubes.
Another popular combination is the carbine and handgun that use the same cartridge. This is particularly appealing to those who carry both a sidearm and a rifle and wish to avoid the weight and confusion of carrying two kinds of ammunition. The semi-auto rifle versions that shoot 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP do not offer much of an advantage over their handgun counterparts in terms of velocity or energy, but do provide a longer sight radius, thus improving accuracy. However, the survivalist who is armed with one of the lever action carbines chambered for the .357, .41, or .44 Magnum, or the .45LC cartridges, paired with one of their handgun counterparts, is indeed very well armed and prepared for most anything he may get himself into. In my opinion, the .357 is the best option given the scenarios we’re considering here (unless you happen to be in big bear country) due to ammo availability, light recoil, and fairly mild muzzle blast--though a .357 Mag handgun still has an earcrushing blast. Since the .357 carbine will shoot most anything that the .357 revolver will, including .38 Special, you should never have any ammo-feed problems.
A good rifleman should rarely feel undergunned with a lever action in a firefight. It’s a very fast-handling weapon, and there are no magazines or stripper clips to lose or damage. The venerable .30-30, for example, is an outstanding rifle, though keep in mind that there is no conventional handgun chambered for that round. Unlike any of the military-style weapons, the levergun can be loaded without taking the gun out of battery. In other words, when there’s a lull in the action, or while you’re moving to another position, it’s simple to stuff more shells into the tubular magazine. If while doing this the enemy catches you by surprise, you simply drop the rounds still in your hand and resume firing. There’s no chance of dropping the magazine you were loading--thus being left with an $800 single shot.
For those of the military persuasion, or who are preparing for TEOTWAWKI, a whole new set of rules comes into play. Quite naturally, we’d still like a rifle that is easy to handle, but we also might want to consider a semi-auto built for sustained fire. The military (or military look-alike) weapons are the ones that really fill the bill. When it comes to these, there are a couple of things you need to consider before your purchase. First, of course, is ammo availability. Can you afford enough ammunition to last the duration of the hardships that may befall you? Also, if you’re forced out of your home and away from your supply cache, for whatever reason, you really don’t want to be shooting a “bastard caliber” (i.e., one that is rare and thus difficult to replenish). While you may not like to think about harming others, you need to consider choosing a caliber that is likely to be used by either looters or foreign troops. That way, you can more easily acquire additional ammo should you be fortunate enough to be the victor in a skirmish.
Another thing to think about with regard to military-style rifles is the detachable/fixed magazine dilemma. Sure, the detachable mags are faster to reload, but how many can you carry at once? Are you sure you’ll make it back to base tonight where there are more magazines awaiting you? And did you stash enough magazines to begin with to last you indefinitely in the event that manufacturing is disrupted? Also, what makes you think that, due to the stress and confusion of a real live gunfight, you’ll remember (or have time) to pick up your discarded mags? You are not in the military. There’s no resupply waiting in the rear. No air drops. This is one of the reasons I prefer the SKS over the AR-15. I know, I know. The AR-15 is what we’re all used to . . . and many of the parts will interchange with the M-16 . . . and it’s a NATO round . . . and yada, yada, yada.. But the .223 does not have the energy of the 7.62x39, the AR is not as reliable as the SKS, and although the Ruger Mini 14 is a very reliable weapon, it lacks a little in the accuracy department. The .223 runs out of energy at 300 meters or so, and the 7.62x39 generally runs out of accuracy at about the same distance. Each has virtually the same effective range. However, the 7.62x39 does have substantially more energy at longer ranges.
But back to the magazine debate. I prefer the fixed magazine of the SKS because I can't lose it. And I can also single-load it through the ejection port if I run out of stripper clips. As to size, I prefer the 20-round fixed mag over the ten-round. Now, I don't use the 20-round mag because it holds 20 rounds; I use it because it holds more than ten. That may sound stupid, but let me explain. With the standard ten-rounder, if you fire less than ten rounds, you will have a partially full mag that cannot be refilled except by loading one round at a time. This means you're either going to have a partially loaded gun, or a half-full stripper clip rattling around in your gear losing shells, or you'll have to take time to top off the mag by hand. Circumstance may only allow you to get one stripper load in the 20-round magazine to start with. If you start out with either ten or 20 rounds, you can then shoot anywhere from two to 11 rounds and still be able to easily insert a full stripper clip into it. (It is quite difficult to insert a ten-round stripper in a 20-round mag that already has ten rounds in it; they call it a 20-round magazine, but it works best with 18 or 19.) Since you will not be able to lock your bolt back to insert a stripper clip in an SKS with a partially loaded magazine, here is the procedure that works for me: place the butt of the rifle in the groin area, just below the opening of your right hand trouser pocket. Then reach across the top of the rifle with your left hand and pull the bolt handle fully to the rear. This will eject a live round out that you can either let fall or catch with your right hand (if you have time). Now let the bolt slide slightly forward to accept the clip and insert a loaded stripper clip with your right hand. Now grasp the rifle's forearm with your right hand and release the bolt handle with your left hand and you’re ready for action.
Ideally, we would all like to have either an M1A or FN-FAL (my personal favorite is the AK-47)and a couple hundred 20-round magazines, but for those who just recently started preparing, or who can’t afford the expense, that’s only a dream. Any good rifle chambered for the .30-06, .308 (7.62x51 NATO), the .223 (5.56 NATO), or the 7.62x39 will suffice. But do take the aforementioned suggestions into consideration before buying. Yet another consideration is the ability of your rifle to resist corrosion and weathering. It’s advisable to try to find a rifle with a protective finish, or that is made of stainless steel, and has either a laminated wood or synthetic stock.
There are a number of different sighting options for the survival rifle, all of which have their own calling in life. The open, iron sights that come on most commercial hunting rifles are suitable for most purposes, but are fragile and useless in low-light situations. A good quality scope, on the other hand, is no more fragile than open sights and offers far superior accuracy and low-light capabilities. A good compromise between the two is the aperture, or peep, sight. This sight is used on almost all military-style rifles and is rugged, easy to use, and highly accurate. Aperture sights are also significantly better than open sights in low light. The aperture sight is operated by centering the uppermost part of the front sight in a small aperture in the rear sight, while also holding the front sight on your target. Your eye naturally places the front sight in the center of the aperture with little or no conscious effort on your part. The rear aperture appears as a cloudy ring and is not distracting at all. Just focus on your front sight (which you should also do with open sights, of course, but it’s easier with peep sights), place it on your target, and shoot. These are also sometimes called “ghost ring” sights.
Copyright 1999 by Cope Reynolds
This article may be freely copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, as long as it remains unedited as to content (which includes the title, the author’s name, and copyright information), and this notice is attached.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
PRACTICAL SURVIVAL FIREARMS Pt. 1
By Cope Reynolds
In today’s troubled world, and with the threat of things becoming even more troubled, the subject of what firearms are best for particular situations comes up with monotonous regularity. In this article I will weigh the pros and cons of different weapons, ammunition, sighting devices, storage techniques, and a few miscellaneous subjects. This is not intended to be all-inclusive, or the “word of law.” My opinions and methods of doing things come from listening with an open mind, experimenting without fear of failure, and the experience of over 50 years of hunting, plinking, competition shooting, reloading, and living in the Southwest--where it is possible to do these things whenever the mood strikes. I hope to be able to save the new shooter/survivalist the expense and inconvenience of learning things the hard way, and maybe offer the experienced shooter an idea or two he hasn’t thought of.
WHAT IS SURVIVAL?
The subject of what is the best survival weapon has created some intense debates over the years, often resulting in fist fights, best friends splitting up, divorces, sabotage, or relocation. It really doesn’t have to be that way. One of the problems is that everyone has a different definition of “survival.” To some, it means an end-of-the-world scenario (as in the movie “Mad Max”) where things just can’t get any worse. For such an unlikely event, one would want to choose a gun that never needs repairs or spare parts, and for which there is an unlimited supply of ammo available. For others, survival means constant foraging for food while having to battle foreign troops of the New World Order on a regular basis. In such a case, one would want a gun of the same caliber and type as one’s opponents. This would make it easier to “liberate” needed ammo and magazines. Still others feel that survival entails avoiding detection, gathering food, and repelling unwanted guests.
The “Mad Max” scenario is unlikely (though not impossible) in our lifetime. And by the time we get to that point, you’d probably not have the same weapon you started with anyway. The “New World Order” scenario has less to do with survival than combat. A true survival situation would, in my opinion, require a somewhat different kind of rifle than that which would be used primarily for combat. The “avoiding/foraging/repelling” scenario is not only the most likely, but is already a way of life for some.
What I’d consider to be a true survival situation might be caused by such things as getting lost or injured in the wild, car wrecks or plane crashes in remote areas, or a social and/or financial collapse that forces us to hunt for food and protect our families from predators and looters. For purposes of this article, let’s assume that these possibilities are what we’re primarily concerned with.
RIFLES AND AMMUNITION
There’s no way we can discuss every scenario that may arise, but let’s try to cover some that are most likely, and the rifles and ammunition combinations that are best suited to them.
When someone has to survive an unscheduled stay in the wild, the three most important things that a rifle can accomplish for him (or her) are signaling, defense, and harvesting small-to-medium game for food. For food, you need to consider the areas you’ll most likely be traveling in, and what kind of game is around. A rifle chambered for the .22LR will probably do 90% of anything you will need to do in the U.S. This caliber has taken--and will continue to take--deer, though for this purpose it is a very poor choice. However, the lowly .22 is a fine choice for small game, requiring lightweight, inexpensive ammo and causing minimal damage to the meat. The sharp crack and high decibel level of the .22 also makes it fairly good for signaling.
While not the best choice for defense, the .22 makes a formidable weapon in the hands of a calm, cool, collected marksman. If you’re traveling and not really expecting trouble, but want to have something available “just in case,” you might consider one of the take-down models such as the Marlin 70SS, or a copy of the old Charter AR-7. They’re light, compact, and relatively inexpensive. Ruger, Marlin, Remington, and others all make fine .22 rifles in semi-auto, bolt, pump, lever, and single-shot actions. Another good choice that offers something for big and small game and defense is the Savage 24-F or 24-V. This combination gun offers the shooter the versatility of having a rifle and a shotgun in the same easy-to-carry package. The rifle barrel is on top and is either currently, or has been, offered in a number of different calibers, including .22LR, .22 Magnum, .22 Hornet, .222, .223 and .30-30. Depending on the model, the shotgun portion can be had in .410, 20, or 12 gauge. The newer 12 gauge version offers interchangeable choke tubes.
Another popular combination is the carbine and handgun that use the same cartridge. This is particularly appealing to those who carry both a sidearm and a rifle and wish to avoid the weight and confusion of carrying two kinds of ammunition. The semi-auto rifle versions that shoot 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP do not offer much of an advantage over their handgun counterparts in terms of velocity or energy, but do provide a longer sight radius, thus improving accuracy. However, the survivalist who is armed with one of the lever action carbines chambered for the .357, .41, or .44 Magnum, or the .45LC cartridges, paired with one of their handgun counterparts, is indeed very well armed and prepared for most anything he may get himself into. In my opinion, the .357 is the best option given the scenarios we’re considering here (unless you happen to be in big bear country) due to ammo availability, light recoil, and fairly mild muzzle blast--though a .357 Mag handgun still has an earcrushing blast. Since the .357 carbine will shoot most anything that the .357 revolver will, including .38 Special, you should never have any ammo-feed problems.
A good rifleman should rarely feel undergunned with a lever action in a firefight. It’s a very fast-handling weapon, and there are no magazines or stripper clips to lose or damage. The venerable .30-30, for example, is an outstanding rifle, though keep in mind that there is no conventional handgun chambered for that round. Unlike any of the military-style weapons, the levergun can be loaded without taking the gun out of battery. In other words, when there’s a lull in the action, or while you’re moving to another position, it’s simple to stuff more shells into the tubular magazine. If while doing this the enemy catches you by surprise, you simply drop the rounds still in your hand and resume firing. There’s no chance of dropping the magazine you were loading--thus being left with an $800 single shot.
For those of the military persuasion, or who are preparing for TEOTWAWKI, a whole new set of rules comes into play. Quite naturally, we’d still like a rifle that is easy to handle, but we also might want to consider a semi-auto built for sustained fire. The military (or military look-alike) weapons are the ones that really fill the bill. When it comes to these, there are a couple of things you need to consider before your purchase. First, of course, is ammo availability. Can you afford enough ammunition to last the duration of the hardships that may befall you? Also, if you’re forced out of your home and away from your supply cache, for whatever reason, you really don’t want to be shooting a “bastard caliber” (i.e., one that is rare and thus difficult to replenish). While you may not like to think about harming others, you need to consider choosing a caliber that is likely to be used by either looters or foreign troops. That way, you can more easily acquire additional ammo should you be fortunate enough to be the victor in a skirmish.
Another thing to think about with regard to military-style rifles is the detachable/fixed magazine dilemma. Sure, the detachable mags are faster to reload, but how many can you carry at once? Are you sure you’ll make it back to base tonight where there are more magazines awaiting you? And did you stash enough magazines to begin with to last you indefinitely in the event that manufacturing is disrupted? Also, what makes you think that, due to the stress and confusion of a real live gunfight, you’ll remember (or have time) to pick up your discarded mags? You are not in the military. There’s no resupply waiting in the rear. No air drops. This is one of the reasons I prefer the SKS over the AR-15. I know, I know. The AR-15 is what we’re all used to . . . and many of the parts will interchange with the M-16 . . . and it’s a NATO round . . . and yada, yada, yada.. But the .223 does not have the energy of the 7.62x39, the AR is not as reliable as the SKS, and although the Ruger Mini 14 is a very reliable weapon, it lacks a little in the accuracy department. The .223 runs out of energy at 300 meters or so, and the 7.62x39 generally runs out of accuracy at about the same distance. Each has virtually the same effective range. However, the 7.62x39 does have substantially more energy at longer ranges.
But back to the magazine debate. I prefer the fixed magazine of the SKS because I can't lose it. And I can also single-load it through the ejection port if I run out of stripper clips. As to size, I prefer the 20-round fixed mag over the ten-round. Now, I don't use the 20-round mag because it holds 20 rounds; I use it because it holds more than ten. That may sound stupid, but let me explain. With the standard ten-rounder, if you fire less than ten rounds, you will have a partially full mag that cannot be refilled except by loading one round at a time. This means you're either going to have a partially loaded gun, or a half-full stripper clip rattling around in your gear losing shells, or you'll have to take time to top off the mag by hand. Circumstance may only allow you to get one stripper load in the 20-round magazine to start with. If you start out with either ten or 20 rounds, you can then shoot anywhere from two to 11 rounds and still be able to easily insert a full stripper clip into it. (It is quite difficult to insert a ten-round stripper in a 20-round mag that already has ten rounds in it; they call it a 20-round magazine, but it works best with 18 or 19.) Since you will not be able to lock your bolt back to insert a stripper clip in an SKS with a partially loaded magazine, here is the procedure that works for me: place the butt of the rifle in the groin area, just below the opening of your right hand trouser pocket. Then reach across the top of the rifle with your left hand and pull the bolt handle fully to the rear. This will eject a live round out that you can either let fall or catch with your right hand (if you have time). Now let the bolt slide slightly forward to accept the clip and insert a loaded stripper clip with your right hand. Now grasp the rifle's forearm with your right hand and release the bolt handle with your left hand and you’re ready for action.
Ideally, we would all like to have either an M1A or FN-FAL (my personal favorite is the AK-47)and a couple hundred 20-round magazines, but for those who just recently started preparing, or who can’t afford the expense, that’s only a dream. Any good rifle chambered for the .30-06, .308 (7.62x51 NATO), the .223 (5.56 NATO), or the 7.62x39 will suffice. But do take the aforementioned suggestions into consideration before buying. Yet another consideration is the ability of your rifle to resist corrosion and weathering. It’s advisable to try to find a rifle with a protective finish, or that is made of stainless steel, and has either a laminated wood or synthetic stock.
There are a number of different sighting options for the survival rifle, all of which have their own calling in life. The open, iron sights that come on most commercial hunting rifles are suitable for most purposes, but are fragile and useless in low-light situations. A good quality scope, on the other hand, is no more fragile than open sights and offers far superior accuracy and low-light capabilities. A good compromise between the two is the aperture, or peep, sight. This sight is used on almost all military-style rifles and is rugged, easy to use, and highly accurate. Aperture sights are also significantly better than open sights in low light. The aperture sight is operated by centering the uppermost part of the front sight in a small aperture in the rear sight, while also holding the front sight on your target. Your eye naturally places the front sight in the center of the aperture with little or no conscious effort on your part. The rear aperture appears as a cloudy ring and is not distracting at all. Just focus on your front sight (which you should also do with open sights, of course, but it’s easier with peep sights), place it on your target, and shoot. These are also sometimes called “ghost ring” sights.
Copyright 1999 by Cope Reynolds
This article may be freely copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, as long as it remains unedited as to content (which includes the title, the author’s name, and copyright information), and this notice is attached.
Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
Podcast: The Shooting Bench
Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
GLOCKS are what you show your enemies!
25 March 2011
The merits of the SKS
My personal favorite for fighting gun is now, and probably always will be, an AK-47 but I once thought pretty highly of the SKS. I reckon I still do, I just like the AK better. I wrote this several years ago concerning the merits of the SKS compared to the AR-15. I don't think that the SKS is the "best ever" combat rifle but like I have said many times, I think it is certainly one of the best for individual or militia purposes. If one is successful in any firefights that may occur, they can trade rifles later.
Logistically, the AR-15 may be a better choice due to the fact that it is a NATO round. Ballistically, the SKS is better in most categories. It doesn't shoot as flat as the .223 but it has much more energy at any given range. Here's a breakdown of the two: The difference in the 'power' of the two cartridges is described below.
The energies listed in any reloading manual that carries both calibers will show that the 7.62x39 delivers more punch at any range.
Example:
The 7x39 with 123 gr bullet at 2400 fps has 1573 fpe at the muzzle and 660 fpe at 300 yds. The .223 has with a 55 gr bullet at 3200 fps has 1250 fpe at the muzzle and 519 fpe at 300 yds. fpe is obtained by multiplying the velocity in fps squared by the weight in grains and dividing by 450,250. This last number varies depending on what source you get it from but the result is so close that it's not relevant.
Example:
The 7x39 with 123 gr bullet at 2400 fps has 1573 fpe at the muzzle and 660 fpe at 300 yds. The .223 has with a 55 gr bullet at 3200 fps has 1250 fpe at the muzzle and 519 fpe at 300 yds. fpe is obtained by multiplying the velocity in fps squared by the weight in grains and dividing by 450,250. This last number varies depending on what source you get it from but the result is so close that it's not relevant.
However, if you forget the trumped up BS in the manuals that are mostly used for selling points and use a more realistic means to compare these 2 cartridges, you will find that 7x39 vastly exceeds the power levels of the .223. Granted the .223 is fast, flat shooting and accurate. Their bullets are light and expand violently but that doesn't mean that they have any (I hate to use this term) knockdown power.
The formula that we use for a better comparison is the Taylor Factor. The Taylor factor uses the speed, weight AND diameter of the projectile to get it's answer.
You multiply the weight in grains x velocity in fps x diameter in thousandths of an inch and divide by 7000. The result is not in pounds or anything else. It's just a relative number.
By using this formula, you will find that the .223 using the load listed above will come up with 5.6 for it's TKO at the muzzle and 3.6 at 300 yds.
The 7.62x39 arrives at 13.1 at the muzzle and 8.5 at 300 yds.
That is a substantial difference when you consider that a 158 gr. .357 mag is a 10.5 at the muzzle and 6.9 at 300 and a 165 gr. .30-06 is 21.0 at the muzzle and 16.6 at 300.
The 7.62x39 arrives at 13.1 at the muzzle and 8.5 at 300 yds.
That is a substantial difference when you consider that a 158 gr. .357 mag is a 10.5 at the muzzle and 6.9 at 300 and a 165 gr. .30-06 is 21.0 at the muzzle and 16.6 at 300.
Either formula that you use, the 7.62x39 significantly beats the .223. The only thing (in my opinion) that the .223 has going for it is that it's a NATO round and generally easily obtainable and it's light so that you can carry lots of them (because you'll need to). I think that it is at it's best as a prairie dog cartridge.
Of course the 7x39 is also plentiful and still much lighter than the .308. My personal opinion is that the 7.62x39 is the perfect compromise between the power of the .308 and the light weight of the .223.
While it may be easier to hit distant targets with the AR, little penetration or tissue damage can be expected. Of course, the .308 is by far the best choice for battle but for militia purposes, I have ruled it out, at least for now, because of weight and cost of weapons and weight and bulk of ammo. There will be plenty of choices available in the future after a routine is worked out and we kind of see how things are going to go. There are countless thousands of SKS's and AK's in the US today and literally hundreds of millions of rounds of ammo. Availability will NOT be a problem for a few years after TSHTF and probably not in our lifetimes.
Like I've said before, you can get an SKS in excellent condition and 1000 rds of ammo for around $600. THAT'S the best way for a group to get well armed fast.
The 20-round non-detachable magazine is also my choice for the SKS IF you have taken the time to ensure it's reliability.
In a high stress situation, I would never attempt to put more than one stripper clip in the 20 rounder. The reason I got the 20 rounder to start with is to make it easier to insert the a 10 round stripper and to ensure that I would not have to shoot the weapon completely "dry" to make inserting a full clip possible. With the 20 rd. mag, I can shoot several shots and still be able to load a full clip in it if I get a break in the action without having partially loaded clips or loose rounds in my pocket. Naturally, I always start with 18-19 rounds in it to have the most that I can available and then keep it as close to that number as I can after that as opportunity presents itself.
I'm not a big fan of scopes on combat rifles (except bolt-guns, of course). If I put one on an SKS, I would remove the gas piston and make a manual repeater out of it for accuracy purposes. I surely don't like "see-thru" scope mounts, I think they will get you killed in a fight and help you to miss your deer during hunting season. IMO, once you get used to a scope or open sights, either one, on the same rifle, THAT is the sight that you will go to in stressful situation, whether in combat or hunting. If you're more used to the scope and your target appears at close range and/or in dense cover, you will go to the scope first and have to consciously make the change after realizing that it was the wrong choice. However fast you make the change, it won't be fast enough. The height of those mounts also puts your scope in position that is not conducive to a good cheek weld on the stock. They just do not allow for a natural position.
I'm not a big fan of scopes on combat rifles (except bolt-guns, of course). If I put one on an SKS, I would remove the gas piston and make a manual repeater out of it for accuracy purposes. I surely don't like "see-thru" scope mounts, I think they will get you killed in a fight and help you to miss your deer during hunting season. IMO, once you get used to a scope or open sights, either one, on the same rifle, THAT is the sight that you will go to in stressful situation, whether in combat or hunting. If you're more used to the scope and your target appears at close range and/or in dense cover, you will go to the scope first and have to consciously make the change after realizing that it was the wrong choice. However fast you make the change, it won't be fast enough. The height of those mounts also puts your scope in position that is not conducive to a good cheek weld on the stock. They just do not allow for a natural position.
I have adjustable Tech Sights on 2 of my SKS's. They are fast, rugged and accurate. I drilled the aperture out to about .125" to make it a "ghost-ring".
I had 2 different stock configurations that I once used. A collapsible T-6 on my Paratrooper and a Dragunov on my main gun which I still have. The stocks and sights that I use make my SKS's viable options for ANY scenario that I can imagine except long-range precision shots. With my Tech Sights and Dragunov stock, I can ring a torso-sized gong at 500 meters damn near every time.
I have absolutely NO desire to have an AR of any configuration. The AR-15 feels cheap to me and I have found them to be way to finicky for me to trust the life of family and myself to when conditions are at their worst. If I change my mind later, they will be a dime a dozen after TSHTF.
The statement below is an excerpt from Al-Qa'ida Body Counts, by Odin Crowe, SOF Magazine, May 2002 issue, pg. 51
Another drawback is that the .5.56mm round isn't stopping the enemy as effectively as hoped. The returning U.S. operators are reporting that while the body counts are high, they are having to shoot the Al-Qa'ida and Taliban terrorist up to four and five times in order to kill the enemy. Now, while the M4 and M16 weapons systems are not meant to be a one-shot, one-kill weapons, having to engage the target four and five times in order to kill them is ludicrous. Neither of these two points is late-breaking news. However, they are being looked at again by the U.S. military. It could be that we have forgotten, being that we have not been involved in a major war or conflict in quite some time, or it could be that the .223 round needs to be re-evaluated. Whatever the case, it is very clear that we are sending many more of them to meet God via the .223 round than we thought we would {as opposed to heavy weapons systems like arty and airpower}. Praise be to Allah.
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Cope Reynolds (Desertscout)
Southwest Shooting Authority
Listen to Cope live on The Watchmen.fm Mon thru Fri, 10am to noon Mountain time!
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Colts and Kimbers are what you show your friends.
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