Weapons

FN Reflex

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FN was a little late to the Micro Compact 9mm game when they came out with the Reflex. But don’t hold that against them… Because they built the best one. 11+1 capacity with the flush mag, and 15+1 with the extended mag. This smokes the other competitors in terms of Capacity. It has fantastic sights and trigger that feel like a Single Action. There’s a good reason for that trigger feel… Because it is a Single Action trigger. In fact, regardless of the looks, this gun isn’t a Striker Fired gun at all. There is a Hammer in there. An actual, honest to Thor hammer where the striker system normally lives. Hidden Hammer guns are nothing new… Just really rare in today’s market. Because of this, the trigger pull and reset are a little different than other guns in this class. So that might take a bit to get used to. But once you do, it’s no problem at all. Because even though it’s different… It’s a very good trigger.

In the hand, the Reflex is TINY. But it doesn’t shoot like a tiny gun. It is a bit snappy, but not unpleasantly so. You can add the Pinky Wedge floorplate to the flush magazine so your pinky finger doesn’t dangle. If you want. The extended magazine gives you both a full capacity and a full grip, just like everything else in the Micro Compact Class. Unlike the other Micros, the Grip Texture FN uses, while aggressive, really locks the gun in place while shooting.

FN is well known for making absolute shooting MACHINES. This little guy runs like an Engine. A furious little engine powered by 9mm ammunition and anger. The slide is even easy to operate. A lot of Micros have stiff slides that can be a tad bit difficult to run, but the Reflex is easy. It’s also spookily accurate. I found it easy to keep all of my 15 yard shots in the 10 Ring.

Now, HK just released the CC9, which is a slimmed down VP9SK that had some Cosmetic Surgery to turn it from a Sub-Compact 9 into the desired Micro 9. And I don’t say that like it’s a bad thing… Because the FN Reflex looks like it’s a 509 that had the same operation. (But it’s not)

Full Disclosure. I have the VP9SK and it’s a fantastic EDC option. It’s only a little bit bigger than the Reflex. And it shoots amazingly well, as you would expect with anything from HK. The Reflex does carry better, being a bit smaller and a bit lighter… and it shoots almost as good as the HK. And while being smaller and lighter it has more capacity than the VP9SK, and more than new HK CC9. So if you are thinking about the CC9… get the Reflex.

In short, if you are in the market for Micro 9 as an EDC gun… get the Reflex. It’s the astute choice for those that want their cake, and want to eat it as well. You really don’t sacrifice much at all with the FN Reflex. You can get an Optics Ready version, and there are sub-compact lights that will fit on the rail as well. So it has everything you could want. I have no complaints or criticisms about this piece at all. And that’s a first for me. I’ve been examining ALL of the Micro 9s on the market, and I think FN has made the perfect one.

The only downside to the FN Reflex is the same as any gun choice that Zigs and not Zags… and that’s Holster Selection. There are holsters out there for it, but your options are limited. Luckily, the FN Store has those options in stock for you. If you go to your local gun seller, such as Cabella’s, you will a plethora of holster options for the Glocks, Hellcats, M&Ps, and 365s… and nothing for the Reflex. So if you want to get the Reflex, just go ahead and order the holster online that fits your style and get it on the way before you go pick up your Reflex. Because as soon as you do get the Reflex… You are going to want to carry it immediately.

Uncategorized, Weapons

The Misunderstood Scout

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The most misunderstood rifle IN THE WORLD is the Scout Rifle.

Jeff Cooper came up with the concept of a light weight, general purpose rifle, of midrange caliber that’s capable of handling threats and big game and anything else you need a rifle for. Light weight was the most important aspect of the rifle so that you could throw if over your shoulder on the sling and just have it on you. Understand, at the time, Cooper had spent a lifetime in the Marines, Hunting in Africa, and racing Porsches like a Sir. He was a man out of his own time. A throwback to days gone by. But his Scout Rifle concept was actually just as sound then, as it is now.

It’s the rifle you have on you. The rifle that you grab when the horses are spooked and you don’t know what’s out there. It’s the rifle you can defend your homestead with and put meat on the table with. There is nothing about this that is outdated or old fashioned. People get far too hung up on the Long Eye Relief Scope as part of his concept. The purpose of this, was that the rifle could be brought up from a low ready, and get on target in a snap. At the time, there was no a lot of options in the optics world and there was no such thing as the LPVO scope. If Jeff was still with us, his Scout concept would undoubtedly include an LPVO.

I had dinner with Col Cooper, with my wife and Jeff’s daughter was there as others. It was an amazing meal and Jeff sat at the head of the table like the Duke of Awesomeness. Absolutely Majestic with his walking stick with the head of a silver Water Buffalo. At the time, the Steyr was still brand new and we discussed at some length the whole Scout Concept. Jeff liked the Steyr “Schtire” Scout well enough, but he acknowledged the shortcomings of the S.S as produced. He had some other ideas about the Scout and some things he would liked to have seen that Steyr didn’t do.

One thing, Jeff insisted that a Scout Rifle would have a Sling and if it didn’t have one, it wasn’t really a Scout. A Scout could have just iron sights, if the Shooter was sharp-eyed enough and skilled on the use of Irons. The Caliber could handle the problems you were likely to encounter, and he considered .308 to be a good choice. Because that round is good enough, and is readily available where Ammunition is sold. Wildcats miss the whole point entirely, he said. (Summation, not quotation)

There’s one other detail that everyone misses because it wasn’t talked about, but Jeff strongly recommended, Controlled Round Feed. So a Mauser, Winchester, Ruger type action and not something like the Remington 700 which doesn’t have a Controlled Round Feed. All in all, the rifle, with a loaded magazine and optic needs to be 7 Pounds or Less. Less is preferable. As light as you can get. That way you don’t leave it in the truck when it should be on your shoulder. Because that’s what the Scout is all about.

Automotive

2024 VW Jetta SE

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Last Thursday I acquired a new Car. A 2024 Jetta SE. My 2007 Audi A4 Avant Quattro has become rather long in the tooth and needs a great deal of replacement parts and repairs… So much so that it’s going to have to be sidelined for awhile. And that saddens me, but I do look forward to the car’s final and ultimate form. In the mean time… this Jetta now my Daily Driver. I’ve always respected the Jetta, but never really personally liked them very much. But the new body style is just too good looking. I love the new grill and headlights. I had other options of course, and I test rode all of them. But none of them felt nearly as good as the Jetta. Just getting in and shutting the door told me that unlike the other cars, this was a real German Sedan. It’s almost as big as the discontinued Passat, and you’re not paying big Audi dollars… but it looks like you did.

It’s powered by a 1.5 Liter Turbo that I was anticipating to be woefully lacking in everything. But paired with the 8 speed Tiptronic transmission… With Gear ratios properly sorted out… the car is both smooth and fast. And since the engine is displacing less than a Harley V-Twin, the fuel consumption is Very Conservative. And by that I mean, I’ve never had a car before that sipped gasoline so delicately. 40 miles per gallon if I drive within the bounds of the law. Cruising at 70, with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, I was still getting 38.5 MPG’s. And that’s a lot of MPG’s compared to what I’m used to. My A4’s consumption can not match at only about 22 MPG’s for the same trip, and while burning Premium.

Android Auto, Apple Car Play, Dual Zone Climate, Defrosting Mirrors with Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane holding assist… it has all the technology I could ever want. I’m not even used to all this. I love the blacked out wheels, dark platinum paint… It just looks fantastic.
Inside the car, there’s actually more space than the A4. And the trunk is pretty much just as big as the Avant’s Wagon rear cargo area, though not as tall. It’s very usable. You could camp in the trunk.
I do think I need to get this car’s Windows tinted, just to complete the look. If you are in the market for an affordable and economical car that’s not just an Eco-Shit Box… The new Jetta is well worth a test ride.

Weapons

SHOT SHOW 2024

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There’s been some interesting new releases that debuted at SHOT Show 2024, and within the last little while. I’ve not talked about the Industry in awhile so let me knock some rust off here.
Springfield Armory: They are doing great over there and are continuing to crank out rock solid 1911’s. They remain one of my top choices. Huge fan of their Operator, TRP, and Ronin series. They just released a new line called the Garrison, which to me seems just like the Loaded series, but without forward slide serrations. I’m not really a fan of their other 1911’s so much. I don’t need my 1911 to try to look like a ZEV Glock.
Their new Echelon pistol looks great and feels even better in the hand to me. As long as you don’t bother with the Extended Magazines, the guns are running great.
Remington: Following Mossberg now, they just released an 870 with a detachable box magazine. Which I think is a retarded idea that needs to go away.
Industry Wide there is a major flood of Double Stacked 1911’s. So many from all corners… but mostly from Turkey. We’ve never seen so many Double Stacked 1911s. Proof positive that the 1911 design is still as viable and popular as ever. They have a 9mm double stacked 1911 that runs Glock mags now. So, there’s that. Speaking of which…
Glock: They have FINALLY made a commercial version of what everyone has been doing all along, cutting down the frames to make shorter and more concealable grips. But really I found the Glock Model 45 to be just about perfect, once you upgrade the Sights.
Daniel Defense: They purchased the Hudson H9 pistol design and then spent the time, energy, and resources to actually make it work. This is a groovy thing, but the H9 is a pistol that just FEELS SO GOOD in the hand. I have wanted to like them… but now that DD is making them, maybe I can. Word has it that only 1 part is interchangeable between the two versions, so that’s a sign that a LOT of engineering had to be done. Makes me wonder why DD spent the money on Hudson design when they could have probably just done their own from the ground up.
Looks like Mossberg is still making their little pistol to everyone’s dismay. Has anyone actually seen one in a Gun Dealer’s Pistol Case? I haven’t. And I’ve been looking. Dealers response to inquiries have been a universal, “we can get one in if you want it.”
Buck knives released a new knife… the Buckmaster Diver Pro. Looks like a Kingon knife from Star Trek for $899. Which makes me think “WHAT THE FUQQ ARE THEY THINKING?”
Okay, the biggest shocker and smile maker of SHOT 2024 is S&W with their new 1854 Lever Action. I’m interested. Even if it looks exactly like a HENRY. And even if it is over 1200 bucks. Those I trust have reported great reliability and accuracy. Will I buy one? Maybe.

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Doris seems nice

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It’s been some time since I got a Hate Post on MadOgre.com. This one made me laugh. Shame people like this never use their real info when they do this. I’d really like to have a reasonable conversation. But I can just imagine the bright green, half-shaved hair and horn-rimmed glasses… so… Being able to be reasonable on any level is probably not something he can do. This is the only kind of discourse the Letists are only capable of these days.

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Ruger SFAR a .308 AR-15?

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Ruger SFAR .308, topped with the Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism. It’s hard to really wrap your head around just what the SFAR is. It’s an AR-15… It’s the size of an AR-15, and it’s the weight of an AR-15. But it’s not really an AR-15, because it’s chambered in .308. And as everyone knows, that would make this an AR-10. But it’s not an AR-10. At all. It’s a solid two POUNDS lighter than an AR-10. It’s smaller than an AR-10… it’s NOT – at all – an AR-10. So what is this thing? It’s the SFAR. *shrug* it is what it is… A .308 AR-15.

How did Ruger do this? Most all the small parts are all AR-15 parts. The difference is that you have the longer Magwell to fit AR-10 Magazines… Slightly longer receiver. And the BCG is bigger… About halfway between a 15’s BCG and a 10’s… It’s the only real unique parts group.

Even fully loaded, you can feel that the rifle is much lighter, and balances much better than any AR-10. Now, that would normally mean you are going to suffer from ferocious recoil. But thankfully, shooting the SFAR is actually pleasant if you are at an outdoor range. This is thanks to the extremely effective Muzzle Brake. It looks like it’s right off a WWII Hellcat Tank Destroyer… And if you are standing to the side of one being fired – it’s going to feel like that. But to the shooter, it’s just fun.

Everything on the SFAR is selected and designed to be light. The highly skeletonized handguards up front, and the Magpul SL stock at the back. Everything on it feels good, and I feel no need to change anything. The MOE grip even feels great, though it’s not my first choice. I’d rather have the Ergo rubberized grip, but not enough to bother spending the bucks and swapping it out. Anything else would probably just add weight and not add any tangibly better results. To complement the Light Weight and Simple approach to things that this rifle offers, the Optic I selected was the Primary Arms SLx 3x Micro Prism optic. It’s a very solid, compact little scope with a modest 3 Power magnification, etched reticle, with battery power illumination when needed. When I looked through it for the first time, I was highly impressed with the quality that exceeds the price. Think of it like a Compact and Light Weight ACOG for a fraction of the price. I had initially been thinking of doing a LPVO, but to get a good one, the price would have been at least 3 times the price of this one. And it would have added bulk and weight without advantages enough to offset those liabilities.

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Ruger SFAR, a 308 AR-15

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Yeah, I’m the guy that wrote “Why I hate the AR-15” a long long long time ago. I was part of Crusader Weaponry. So I’ve been on both far ends of the spectrum when it comes to AR’s. I’ve been jaded as hell about AR’s since as long as I’ve been shooting them (Enlisted in ’87) and few have impressed me. Even fewer still have actually knocked my socks off.

Then earlier this year, Ruger launches the new SFAR. It’s in .308 but it’s NOT an AR-10. Don’t call it an AR-10. The size and weight is that of an AR-15. The rifle in 16″ form (also available in 20″) weighs in at only 6 pounds, 8 ounces. When I heard about it, I ran down to the Nichol’s Store in Rock Hill, South Carolina to take a look at one in person. They had one in stock and I asked to check it out… The guy handed it to me… and INSTANTLY I knew this was some next level stuff right here. It felt like an AR-15. It handled like an AR-15. But the bigger mag-well showed that, yeah, it really was a .308 rifle.
“Put a fuqqing Bow on it, because I’m taking it.”

It’s the only AR that has truly knocked my socks off. How Ruger made this is truly impressive. The metallurgy and design engineering is fantastic. I didn’t expect to get a rifle that day. I didn’t even know I wanted a rifle that day. Honestly, I think I’d rather have snagged an M1A Springfield… but the SFAR just blindsided me. It impressed me that much. Which hasn’t happened in a decade.

I’ll do a detailed review on the rifle once I get an Optic on it so I can speak to the accuracy. Right now, it’s topped with the Magpul MBUS3 flip-up sights. These are rather new, and have the features of the MBUS PRO’s but are made of plastic. They are a little bulky like the regular MBUSs we all know and love.

I’d rather have gone with the Pros but the LGS only had the Front and not the Rear in stock. They did have the Offset versions of the Pros but maybe I’ll update to those after I get the Optical Gun Sight situation sorted out.

I don’t have any “Good” ammo for it either, just 150gr SP Federal Blue Box stuff, which is fine for any purpose I could have for the rifle here in The South. Out West, I’d want to get some 168 Match type rounds. But even that might be rather ambitious for a 16″ Light Weight AR.

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Scene from “silvershot”

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When you can’t sleep… Write. Here is the scene from SILVERSHOT where our protagonist meets Mohtahe Okohke, aka Plague of Crows. She’s a Skinwalker, which according to Native American Lore in the Ute Tribe, is an evil shaman that haunts them, and causes sickness, death, and terror. Plague of Crows is all of that and more. Take a look:

Sleep must have taken me because I knew I had to be dreaming. I was once again standing in front of the mountain cabin. The snow on the cabin and around the area was completely gone and the ground was barren and muddy. I looked around with a distinct sense of both the familiar and a new strangeness. The once bright glass of the windows was coated in filth, broken, and some had rough boards hammered over the empty frames. Dim light seeped through where there should have been bright, warm light.

I walked up to the door with a couple rabbits that I had shot… good sized fat ones. Or at least they were in previous versions of this dream. I looked down at them they were no longer fat and juicy, but desiccated, with holes through the hide in patches that showed old rot, bones, and maggoty corruption. I dropped the rabbits.

When I pushed open the door, I expected to see the fun looking redhead from the strip. Instead, there was an Indian woman standing here. She was thin, with long, straight, black hair that had black crow feathers tied into some braids. She wore a tan buckskin dress with tribal decorations I’ve not seen around here before.

As she walked over to me, slowly, I realized that I was unable to move. Not even to flinch when she raised her hands and held my face. She had dark eyes and dark lips. She could have been beautiful… but something about her was off, and that made her unattractive. I felt a coldness in her hands. She pulled me down to her and gave me a kiss. Her lips were cold and dry and hard.

For just a moment, her presence felt familiar. Like I had seen her before. But I couldn’t place her. And then I remembered the church building in Dragon and seeing her up on the ridge after I came out of that perverse church building. Suddenly she bit my lip, too hard, too sharp, and the pain snapped me back to the moment and I pulled away from her.

One half of her face was young, almost beautiful but stark and angry. The other half of her face was bare skull, old and dead with no eye in the socket, The teeth on the skull side had a smear of blood that streaked down the bare bone of her chin.

She laughed at me and pushed me away, so hard I was sent half thrown, half stumbling across the room where I collided with the chair.

Darkness started swirling around her, like smoke. It pulled the light out of the single lit oil lamp left in the room and it grew dimmer and dimmer until the flame was barely a spark. The only other light was the orange glow coming from that empty eye socket. The swirling darkness started to fill the room, and I tried to back away from it, tumbling over the chair in front of the fireplace. But there was nowhere to go and the darkness reached me.

When it touched my hand, there was pain as if the fingers in my hand were broken. I looked at my hand and could see it and my arm shriveling and drying up. I could feel it in my boots, then up to my knees. I could feel my very life being pulled out of me, into that vortex of darkness. All I could see now was a pinpoint of orange light, coming from that eye socket, which was getting closer. I didn’t know if it was coming to me, or I was going to it. The very air in the cabin was a howling wind that carried my scream with it.

I was still screaming when I suddenly woke up with my chest aching, breathing hard, and my heart beat thumping like crazy.

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