Riots

Sick of seeing Rioters run amok destroying cities
Here’s what makes me angry about these. They can be stopped. They used to be stopped.
You know what stops them?
Shotguns.
Shotguns and the demonstration of the will to use them.  The Texas Rangers had a saying about this.  “One Riot, One Ranger.”  You know how one Ranger could quell a riot?  Because he wasn’t afraid to use his shotgun.  Riots ended real quick when a Texas Ranger showed up.

Such will is not long in existence in the USA. So Rioters have no fear. There will be no repercussions. There’s no reason for them to stop rioting. Why would they? In a Riot, they have all the power and control and cops can just back away. No because of fear of the Rioters… but because of Fear of Liability and Prosecution.

In the mean time, it serves as great entertainment for those that are entertained by it.   It gives the Media something to do other than dodge owning up to their lack of coverage on Hilary and Obama scandals.   And they act so shocked when they themselves get attacked and robbed.  Too funny.

Pistol Needs

1. Ruger GP100, 4″.
2. SIG M11a1.
3. Ruger SP101 2.5″.
4. Chiapa Rhino 4″.
5. STI Texican.
6. Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag, 5″.

The Texican is really the only STI gun I really lust over. The Rhino is a strange but persistent fascination. The Redhawk is just for shear power.
The SIG is because its just about ideal for me. And the other two Rugers… would become my EDC guns.

Harley Davidson’s 48 Breakout

Yeah, I’ve come around.   See, I’ll be real frank here… I used to seriously  dislike Harley’s.  Just like a really disliked Ruger.  But when I sat back and was honest and objective about what Ruger was doing these days… I had to admit that I liked what they were doing, where they were heading and pretty soon I had to admit that I liked Ruger.  I’m a Ruger fan now.  My opinion can and has changed before, so this is no shock.  I reserve the right to change my opinion when new information comes to light or the situation has changed.  Ruger changed, and thus so did my opinion.
Harley has done the same thing to me.  For some time I’ve admitted that I really dig the looks of the Iron 883 and the Forty Eights.  In fact, I snapped this photo on my phone and have kept it for about a year now.  This bike speaks to me, visually.  IMG_20150417_212500

This is a simple, stock, Harley Forty Eight.  As basic as a bike that Harley builds.  It’s basically a stripped 1200 Sportster, forward foot controls and dropped mirrors.  That works for me.  I’d take that and put Drag Bars on it, saddle leather seat, and maybe have that tank painted a different color… Maybe Cerakoted in Burnt Bronze…

The other Harley I am digging… The Breakout.

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This is Harley’s factory bad boy… Fattest rear tire they’ve ever put on a production bike.  Stretched out forks, big front wheel, chopped fenders… it’s a low, lean, angry looking bike.  I like that.  And I normally don’t dig the Low and Lean look on bikes like this.  But here, I just love it.

Why did I change my tune on Harley’s?  Maybe it was the Project Livewire test ride I took.  That opened my eyes on what Harley Davidson is truly capable of and it was as shocking to me as an Ice Bucket Challenge.   Everything I thought I knew about HD was suddenly ripped away and replaced with an understanding that I knew nothing, John Snow.  Since then, I’ve been looking, and learning, and have come to an understanding.

The other thing that changed my opinion… Harley Davidson of Charlotte.    Super cool people there.  Gun people, so I can relate… But they were all friendly, genuine, good people.  Typical of most Motorcycle people I know… typical of folks from The South… So that Southern Rider vibe you could call it.  I’ll call it that.  Honestly, it’s one of the very few Motorcycle Dealerships that I’ve ever felt at home at.

Let’s put it this way – if I could afford to buy a motorcycle right now, it would be a Harley, and it would be from Harley of Charlotte.  The only problem though is which one would I get?   Man, I love that Breakout.  But that simple “48” just does it for me.   Now, if I could get that “48” with the 103 Engine… THAT would be it.   Well, really the only downside to the 48 is the 2 gallon fuel tank.  If they made a tank that looked just like that Peanut Tank, but held 4 gallons… There we go.  With that 103…. 4 gallons and a 103… that would be my ticket.

 

 

The best of the best of the best optics, Sir.

If I could have my pick from the magic bag of glass carried by the Optics Fairy, I’d have to pick ELCAN.  No question.  These guys are the Swarovskis of fighting optical gunsights.

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Super clear, super bright… Everything you want in a high quality scope, all wrapped up in a super strong Combat Optic.  Wide field of view with no distortion.  Longer eye relief than competitors… wider eye box.  And a reticle that allows for extreme shooting precision.  It really doesn’t get any better than this.

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This version has a simple 1x to 4x switch.  Zoom, or No Zoom.  So the mechanism is very sturdy.    So much so it makes a Leupold seem fragile.  One of the reasons it’s so strong is that the elevation and windage adjustments are outside of the tube, and internal like most scopes…. Even the mighty Trijicon ACOG.

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Illumination is a big fat dial that fast and easy to use.  And you can see there, it’s got a set of iron sights on top.  This is probably the finest magnified combat optic you can get.

Elcan offers a bunch of variants  1-4, 1-6, yada yada yada  all good… all awesome.  There’s even a 5-20 coming out – but you gotta be Delta Mega Force to get it right now.   The only downside to these optics – is price.  They are expensive.  By expensive, I mean they are the cost of a couple really decent AR-15 rifles.   But there really and truly is nothing better to put on top of your AR-15 rifle.  But is it worth it?
If you can afford it, absolutely.  One thing I’ve learned… good optics are a force multiplier.  They can make or break your success in the field.  I’ve seen it hunting… I’ve seen it in force on force operations.  If you can see your adversary before he sees you, you win.  If you can aim precisely at a target you can see clearly, ID that target and place your shot, you win.  Good glass is critical.  I’ve tried to use cheap class.  I can see the target with naked eyes or with my binos – but can’t see the target in the scope.  It’s happened.  I’ve also seen great glass in the field and on the range go belly up because the scope just wasn’t strong enough to handle the mission.  (Swarovski Optics)  ELCAN has the optical quality and the strength.   Seriously, this is business right here.  Nothing’s better.  If you can afford it.

 

Ruger SR9C

This gun has been on my mind lately.  Packing a full sized 1911 and a full sized 92FS poses difficulty when entering areas where you really don’t want your concealed gun to be made.

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It’s a good looking gun. Short, small, and I can reload with a full sized mag.

At some undisclosed point in the past, at some undisclosed location, I was carrying concealed in a place that had it surfaced that I was packing concealed… would have been bad.  Not technically illegal, but it would not have been a happy situation.

While I knew my gun was lawfully concealed, I felt distracted and self conscience  because this was a less tolerant place.

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Unlike past Ruger center-fire autos, the SR series is well sculpted and suitable for concealed carry.

Normally I operate and a Total ZFG situation when it comes to this sort of thing.   I just don’t care what others think… But when others could take actions that, while wrong, would… how should I say… hinder my calm.  I’ve not decided, but am thinking about getting something that is a bit more concealable.  I don’t want to go IWB, but I’d consider it.

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The only double stacked gun I can remember that is narrow like the SR series, is the Browning BDM.

So I’m thinking a gun that’s shorter and as reasonably narrow and still be comfortable.   Now, I’m not wanting to go Single Stack… Because while I am not all that concerned with a high capacity, I like even more the idea of my reload giving me a boost… because if I Go Loud, I probably need a lot more ammo.  Especially if I’m using something as anemic as 9mm.  Which I consider Fine, but I’d like Finer.  I love my Beretta and shoot it quite well… and carry it often… but it has a lot of rounds.  Going down to a single digit round count for concealed carry – I’d rather have my reload give me as much as it can.

The Ruger SR9C gives me all of the above wants.
Of course, a Ruger SP101 would serve just as well.

*sigh*

I am conflicted.  Maybe we can chalk this up to New Gun Itch.  (The GP100 is still happening – eventually)

Going to the Gun Show in Charlotte, NC tomorrow.

I’ve not been to a good gun show in YEARS. In 2013 I went to a gun show in Wilmington, NC that was the saddest little gathering I’ve ever seen in my life. The last good one I went to was a Crossroads of the West in SLC… well, actually far south of SLC, but never mind… That was a gunshow where Crusader Weaponry had a booth and it was good… had fun.  Nothing since then.  Wilmington doesn’t even count as a Gun Show.
Now, I hear that these gun shows in Charlotte are big deals. We shall see. Evidence that it’s a big deal is that I tried to get a table for Point Blank Range and was told that they sold out last Feb. So that’s a good sign that this will be a lively event.
I’m going to be there, and I’ll be handing out some coupons for free gun rentals… So if you see me – make sure get that coupon.
I may take something with me to sell or trade as well. Bartering is the fun part for me at these events. Finding those killer deals, leveraging them and flipping them and leaving the show with more money in my pocket than when I arrived. If the show is fluid enough. So we will see… we will see.