Weapons

The HCAR head scratcher.

9 Comments

I want to like the HCAR.  I took a look at one earlier today and first reaction is hey, this is cool.  But then I got thinking about it, and things started to bug me.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m a fan of the Browning BAR.  It’s awesome American History, and I’d LOVE to own one of Semi-Autos.  But to modernize the BAR and make it something different just doesn’t do anything for me… and really it kinda irritates me.
It’s an expensive gun.  And if you wanted something firing a .30 cal projectile, and save a little money, and get what is going to ultimately be a better rifle for the application of tactics… a SCAR 17.
“Oh but, Ogre, these are .30-06’s!”
Uh huh… So?  Can you still buy cases of cheap .30-06 ammo?  Not really.  Which means you are going to be buying them in little boxes of 20 like regular hunting cartridges, and most likely paying a premium for them now.
The difference between .30-06 and .308, outside of case dimensions… is about only about 100 FPS.   Let’s grab two comparable loads from Hornady.
Here’s the .308.  And here’s the .30-06 loaded with the same bullet.
The difference is negligible.  Feel free to go through Hornady’s online catalog and compare rounds with the same bullets and see for yourself.
Anything you shoot with them, aint feeling the difference.  The .30-06 is not giving you any practical advantage that you could utilize in a tactical situation.  In fact, it’s going to be a disadvantage because with the .30-06 you are dealing with a longer case, requiring a longer box magazine, which means more bulk in your kit, which means maybe you can’t carry as many mags.  Small difference in length could mean big difference in load out.  Maybe.  Say… Does anyone make a chest rig that can carry .30-06 magazines?  Molly Pouches?  Huh.
If I want the nostalgia of packing a BAR – oh and I do – I’d pack the classic version.

Now what these cats should do if they want to take the BAR and make it “Tactical”.  Make it “Retro Tactical”.  Ahem… allow me to fire up my awesome Photoshop Skills… and… Presto!
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Here you go… A BAR Carbine.  Recognizable as a BAR, but in a handier format for tactical applications… Lighter, Usable, and Classic Cool.  And if they wanted to really make it handier – make it in .308.
THAT is what the HCAR should be.  Not that Tan Pistol-Gripped, AR stocked monstrosity.   EDIT:  Thanks to Leon for reminding me!  I just re-invented the Colt Monitor.
That’s what they should be making… Colt Monitor Replicas.

Weapons

PSA’s KS-47 has impressed me.

25 Comments

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Normally I’m ambivalent to Palmetto State Armory.   I know who they are and what they are about and I’ve just never really been impressed with them.  That changed today.   Take a look at the KS-47 Hybrid.  It’s an AR that is chambered for 7.62x39mm and runs AK type mags.  20160415_114105

Yes, this is something that’s been done before.  But this is now something that is done well.  And it’s from PSA.  This is coming from PSA for about 850 Retail, with free-floating keymod handguards, a wide mag release that can be used with your trigger finger, right or left handed, or you can to the AK Mag Snap move.   20160415_114118

You can swap the furniture out with any common AR swag you want.  I’d put an Ergo grip on it and a Battlelink minimalist stock.  A set of Magpul Pro sights… and a Battlecomp muzzle break.   Done.
This gun is well made.  Tight fitting between the upper and lower, and it’s well thought out.  The parts are all fit well.  Nothing is sloppy and nothing feels cheap or poorly done.  It’s solid.  It’s a solid rifle.
I’m truly impressed.
PSA – You done well.
I am strongly considering trading something in on this.  No, I’ve not shot it.  It’s a new gun and we don’t shoot new guns at the store.   But I really want to.   Really bad.  I could trade something for this.  I really could.   Maybe I will.

Weapons

FN M249 SAW

10 Comments

FN has done something completely awesome.  They have made available the M249 SAW for Civilian sales.  That’s right, you can buy and have an M249 SAW.  And I got a chance to play with one.

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You might be asking – “How?”  Because it’s SEMI AUTO.  This is, according to the Law, a 5.56mm Rifle.  It is NOT a machine gun.   It will only fire once per trigger pull.    Now you are probably asking “Why?” 20160408_123243

Because a lot of Americans have served their nation and have used the M249 SAW during that service.  Those of us who have used it, we all loved it.  It’s accurate.  It’s easy to work with and lighter compared to other weapon systems… such as “The Hog”, M-60. 20160408_123314

 

All these guys and gall want to have something they used… that’s an American Tradition with Veterans.  Well, with vets around the world, really.    There’s a lot of guys that like to have a good Collection of weapons for various reasons, History being one of them.   And the SAW has been a big part of American History for the last 25 years now?  How long?    Well, now anyone that really wants one can get one.
Now you are going to ask “How Much?”   Well, this is one of those, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it sort of things.  There are a great many brand new motorcycles on showroom floors that are priced the same or less.  They are almost 10 Large.   Not cheap, no… But its there and you can get it if you have the means.
ImLvaHD

 

Weapons

I’m now a S&W Certified Armorer

5 Comments

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As of today, add S&W M&P series to my Armorer’s Belt.
S&W M&P
Glock
Colt AR-15
Bushmaster AR-15
SIG P220, P226, P228, P229, P239.
Yes… Bow down to my intimate and detailed firearms knowledge!
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Much like an A+ Certification in computers, it pretty much just means I can swap parts and clean it without pooching your factory warranty.  But at least I got that going for me.  Which is nice.
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Weapons

SIG P220 Combat

14 Comments

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The P220 Combat is designed to meet, and exceed, rigorous military standards. The P220 Combat performs like no other .45ACP available. Each pistol features the military’s Flat Dark Earth finish on its alloy frame and SIG’s Nitron® over a stainless slide. Internal parts and controls are phosphated for extreme corrosion resistance and reduced friction while the threaded barrel is hard chromed and finished in Nitron® which easily passes the military’s accuracy requirements – even after 20,000 rounds. The P220 Combat also passes the military’s 240-hour salt spray corrosion test. Outfitted with a true M1913 Picatinny rail, vertical front strap serrations and SIGLITE® night sights.

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Weapons

I’m going to have to swing back to SIG after today.

10 Comments

I don’t know why I left SIG in the first place.  Pretty much I left SIG for Glock because sometimes I go into Retard Mode or something.   I should never have left.  I love SIG’s and I love .45’s and flirting with smaller guns that don’t even have hammers – a mistake I shall never make again.

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We’ve had this lightly used SIG 227 sitting in the gun counter for about 6 months now… I had 15 rounds of .45 Auto PMC Bronze on my desk for about that same period of time.
Well, today I put them to work.  HOLY CRAP!  The 227 is absolutely one of the nicest shooting .45’s I’ve ever fired.   It’s smooth, super soft recoil, and dang is it accurate.   That is 15 rounds at 25 feet.  No… seriously… 15 rounds.  I put 10 rounds in the mag, ran the target to 25 feet, fired 10 rounds, reloaded with the last 5, fired them and brought the target back in.  HOLE-LEE-CRAP.
I’m an okay shot – but not this good!  That’s the GUN.  The only other gun that’s on par with this is the CZ 97B… or $1800+ 1911’s.

This made me just fall in love with SIG’s all over again.  So much…  There’s a used SIG 220 Carry that I’ve been very tempted about.  This might be pushing me over the edge.

Weapons

Bond Arms Derringers

14 Comments

I was driving to work yesterday, sitting in a traffic jam on I-77 really… and listing to Glenn Beck on the Patriot XM.  And I heard an advertisement for Bond Arms Derringers.

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Then last night I was with my wife at Cabela’s and she pointed out the Bond Arms and was basically “Oh look, Shiny!”
Here’s the thing about Bond Arms.  They do make the best Derringers on the market.   They are built with high quality standards, good materials, and with an excellent fit and finish.  I’ve never seen a bad one.

But I’ve also never seen one I’d actually carry for Self Defense.  They are thick and they are heavy.  They are solid chunks of steel weight with two holes drills through them.  They are as thick as a Double Whopper With Cheese.   And for all that size and weight, you only get two shots.  Now, I understand the reason for all that beef… Because you can change barrels and change calibers… tons of options for that.  But every option leaves you with just two shots.

Two from a gun with horrible sights and a horrible trigger, that has to be manually cocked.  How you get a terrible trigger pull from a Single Action Trigger is beyond me.    Combine bad sights and a bad trigger with only 2 shoots and you get something that’s very much Less than Ideal for actual self defense use.    Put that in a package that’s so thick and heavy – you will not be carrying it very often.

Bond Arms looks Old School Cool.  And they are.  Just don’t be buying them for actual self defense use.

Gear, Training, Weapons

A Fisking

23 Comments

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The Havok Journal posted a whine about the gun industry that required some gentle fisking.   I’ve not heard of it before… but it bounced around my Social Medias a bit and caught my attention.

“Since around 2008, the firearm industry has taken a dramatic turn.  It hasn’t exploded like some predicted after the presidential elections.”

Actually, yes.  It did.  Retail Firearm Sales went through the roof.  So much so that dealers and distributors were emptied of product for years.   To this day, supply of some products has still not caught back up to demand.  Such as .22 Long Rifle ammunition.

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