I’m starting to lean Mossberg…

I’ve been an 870 fan for a long time.  Preferring them over the Mossbergs, even though I’ve used 590’s as my Patrol Shotgun for some time… 870’s just seemed more rugged and smoother.   Mossbergs have never been known for being smooth operators.   But they do slick up nicely with a little work and use.

20160128_121331Today I put a lot of use into one.  With the intent of purposefully abusing it, and my shoulder, to see which would break first.
I fired at least a hundred shells, all high brass, mixed of Buck, Slug, and various birdshots most of that being #5 and #6 hunting loads.  I grabbed the shells blind and loaded them in no order.  Just a random mix, with no purpose, other than to find any failure in the gun.

20160128_120135What I found instead was an even greater respect of the Mossberg design, and the design of the Magpul stock.   After so much abuse, my shoulder and my shotgun remain just fine.  The recoil absorption of the stock is amazing.  It made the session quite tolerable.   I really do like the Mossberg’s shell lifting mechanism over that of the Remington.  Much easier to load and unload.  This is a clear advantage over the 870 mechanism.  And with the Magpul stock, a clear advantage in the position of the safety as well.

The Most Interesting thing from SHOT SHOW 2016

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This is something I don’t think anyone saw coming… the most interesting thing at the 2016 SHOT Show was a snub-nose revolver.  I don’t think a new snubby has been the most most interesting new gun for the year since maybe the 60’s.  Or when the SP101 came out.
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The Kimber K6 is a pleasant surprise though.  It’s the same size and weight as a S&W 640.  Yet it has a 6 round cylinder.  That’s a significant upgrade.  But that’s really not the point.

The question is if a little revolver is still a viable self defense option.  If the answer is yes, then this is certainly the most viable option.   So… to the question.  Is a revolver viable?
The round we’re working with here is the .357 Magnum.  A cartridge that was the most significant advancement in handgunning since the 9mm Luger.   And speaking of the 9mm Luger, it is the chief self defense cartridge choice these days and the most over rated at that.  Comparing most 9mm self defense pistols to .357 Mag options it’s hard to find an apples to apples.   Generally speaking though, the .357 Magnum will hit about 100 to 200 FPS faster and harder with similar bullet weights out of similar barrel lengths.   This is a big advantage in exterior and terminal ballistics for a handgun.  And you want as much of that as possible.  The biggest advantage though comes in the heavier Magnum loadings with bullets that can weight almost twice that of some of new hottness 9mm loads.
Now combine the flexibility of a wide variety of ammunition for your selection.  Now mix that in with a firing platform that is inherently reliable and accurate.   You trade some capacity in exchange for greater power, accuracy, and reliability.   But is that really a big deal?  kimber-k6s-cylinder-1
Most self defense shootings are between 1.2 and 1.8 rounds, depending on the source of the stats.  What do they have in common?  The 1.  Generally the one who hits first wins.   That being the case, that 1 hit needs to be as big of a hit as you can make it.  So yes, indeed, .357 Magnum is a great option for self defense.
In the realm of small snub nose .357 Magnum revolvers, the K6 is going to be a great choice.  And it’s not just because it’s a +1.  It’s a premium quality revolver that’s priced less than something from S&W’s Performance Center, yet is reported to be smoother.   And the K6 is cool looking.  Solid stainless construction, no MIM, and all made in the USA… and it’s a plus one… Yeah, I really like it.

The Ideal Pump Action Shotgun

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For some reason I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the best pump action shotgun.  Well, here’s the deal… There is no best pump action shotgun.  There’s no ideal pump action shotgun.  It doesn’t exist.  There is no such thing.  Even my beloved 870 is not the ideal shotgun.  It’s not perfect.
c36337ff606aca242fd4fdf763a9f8c8My top Pump Action Picks are as follows:
1.  Remington 870.
2.  Mossberg 500/590.
3.  Benelli Super Nova.
And that’s it.  Those 3.  In that order.  And really, the Benelli if you want the option for 3.5″ shells.  Which is nice, but unnecessary.  But I do like the stocks and the sights.  But not much else.

My ideal pump action shotgun, which doesn’t exist, would be a hybrid of the 870 and the 500/590.
I like the Steel Receiver and the Bolt of the 870.  But I like the Shell Lifter and Safety on the 500.  If I could have an 870 fitted with a Mossberg Safety and a Mossberg Shell Lifter – and use the Magpul shotgun stock – That would be just about damn near as ideal as it could get.   Let’s add good Rifle Sights to it, and interchangeable choke tubes.  That would do it, pretty much.
The Magpul stock on a Mossberg is probably the ideal set up.  Or at least the most ideal set up I’ve handled.  It’s very ergonomic and feels great… keeping the felt recoil under control and keeping the safety right there where you need it.

Rest in Peace, Zachary.

168024_1747442679284_1674515_nMy little Brother, Zachary Hill passed away suddenly and unexpectedly this morning. He leaves behind his sweet young bride, Mackenzie Hadlow Hill.
Please pray for her.
Zack is a gentile soul with big heart, an Artist, and was a two tour Combat Veteran. A true Warrior Poet… that always sought Peace. He loved to play games and chill with his family and friends. And he was a prolific writer.
Zack was also a Traveler… He adventured in other countries… Through Mexico, Japan, and Italy. Now he’s gone to the Undiscovered Country.
While he’s away from us for the time being, we know we will see him again.
This is a time of great faith and pain for the Hill Family. Zachary Hill is already sorely missed. We’ve wept for him ever since we got the terrible news. I have never wept so much or felt heartache so much. I’ve wept till I was sick and am still weeping. Zach wasn’t just a brother, he was also a dear friend.
Here’s something about us Mormons though… We believe that families are eternal. And our circles of friends are too. Those relationships we have on Earth will be the possessions we will always keep.
Humans do not have Souls, we ARE Souls and what we have are bodies. And while Zach left his body, he is still and will always be Zach. And one day we will see him again. He is still my Brother. And he always will be. While we are grieving, Deveni Hill and I believe that he too is grieving for having to leave behind his friends, his family and his new bride, Mackenzie Hadlow Hill. He would not have wanted to leave her now. But he had to… Our Father in Heaven has a plan for Zach, as he does for all of us. But things happen for a reason and it’s our struggle to make sense of it in this mortal world… through our limited and narrow optics that are full of confusion, distraction, and pain.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ… When you look at all of it in total… What is it all for? Just so we can one day kneel at his throne? No… That’s not what it is all about. It’s all about Love. It’s all about Family. It’s all about our personal relationships with those we love and how we can be together forever. I truly believe that. And it gives me comfort. Though I still grieve painfully… Zach always has been, and always will be, my brother.

We miss you, Zach.  We love you.

Paul Genesse has set up a GOFUNDME for Zach’s Widow.   She needs all the support she can get in this painful time.

Four of my Favorite Folding Blades +1

To me, my Carry Knife is just as important, if not more so, than my Carry Gun.  Because I USE my carry knife for all kinds of things… even things in a manner not recommended by the manufacturer.

Here’s four of my favorites.  More importantly, these knives are the ones that are most special to me.

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