I thought it would be good to remind all of you that there are many good options right now that will allow you to keep shooting while ammo prices are rising.  If you don’t own a good 22 LR pistol, check out Smith and Wesson’s 22A or any of the Ruger pistols.  If you have a Glock, 1911, or Beretta, you can buy a conversion kit from Ciener.  They offer a wide variety of top ends. 

Rifles are easy to come buy in many configurations from lever action, bolt action or even uppers for your AR’s.  If you need a 22 LR upper check out DPMS.  With 223 ammo scarce, it is nice to run to Walmart to buy your ammo.  After all, what good is a gun with no ammo.

By the way, any of these guns make great gifts for your boss or loved one because they are on average very economical.  Most of all they are fun to shoot and allow you continue your training.  Just remember to keep all your fundamentals in tact while training with a 22.  Otherwise, you run the risk of wasting more money and most importantly time.

Today I did some test work for another shop on a S&W 645 that was in for a detail clean and strip and for a function test.  The owner complained of inconsistent primer strikes causing the gun to malfunction.  Upon further inspection it was determined that the mainspring had been trimmed to lighten the trigger.  This is one of the most common mistakes the home enthusiast makes.  When you start cutting coils from springs you run the risk of losing the reliability of the gun.  This is especially prevalent in S&W J frame models. 

If you want a trigger job done on your favorite gun, you should have it done by a competent gunsmith.  There is more to a trigger job than semi-chrome polish and cutting mainsprings.  You always have to change relationships of other parts.  Unless someone has walked you through this process before, you will run the risk of butchering your gun.  Be careful and leave the gunsmithing to people with the know how. 

By the way, if you have a dremel tool at home you should also have a license to run that tool.  Otherwise you may end up with a great gun that is ruined.  Be warned.

So no doubt a few of you will have gone hunting and taken your own bird for the family meal.  If you did, you are for real, and the rest of us are in admiration.  Hopefully many of you are going to get some time to rest this week and maybe do some of the things that you really enjoy.

One thing that I hope all of you do is to take the time to think about why you are really thankful.  Here is the task; come up with a few unique things that God has blessed you with during this holiday season.  Don’t go lame and say things that everyone could say immediately without any thought like family or work.  What about your family are you thankful for this year?  Remember that being thankful is normally not that natural for anyone so you need to work at it this week.

I’ll start us off.  I am thankful that my grandmother, who is starting to show major signs of dimensia, is still happy and never discouraged that she can’t remember all the things she once knew.  When I saw her this week she was smiling and grateful for our time together.  When I look at her life, I see a legacy of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who have been shaped by her kindness.  Just the other day in the midst of her own life change she was moved by the Lord’s prayer to remind us that God is good.  I echo that today, and I’m grateful for that blessing.

What about you?

I recently had the opportunity to advise a customer on a question that comes up a lot for any of us that collect guns.  He had purchased a great revolver, new in the box, for his son as a Christmas present.  As we were admiring the revolver he asked me whether or not I would shoot the gun if it was mine.  My response to this question is always the same; yes, with a provision.

I do not own any guns that have not been fired.  I am not a collector that buys guns for the intrinsic value of a piece that will add to the overall worth of my collection.  In fact, you would be hard pressed to call the guns that I personally own a collection.

When I first started buying guns I had a mentor who really exposed me to the love of shooting.  He is a wonderful firearms engraver (more on that in another post) who specializes in Colt Single Action revolvers.  Most of the guns in his very extensive collection are more than 100 years old, and he shoots them all regularly in different cowboy competitions.  In a way I guess it is ingrained in my mind that guns are meant to be shot.  I own a Colt 1911 decorated with his work that is beautiful, and I shoot it regularly.  As a matter of fact, I qualified with it several years ago for off duty carry while serving in the sheriff’s office.  The only provision I have to this rule is that if you come across a piece that has never been fired, and doing so would ruin the value, don’t shoot it.  Sell it and buy another example of that piece that you can actually take out and enjoy.

Obviously if you are a real collector not firing your guns will appeal to you more than others who would rather shoot for their enjoyment.  Guns mean different things to all of us.  Just remember our baseball analogy and you probably won’t make any decisions that you will regret later.  Either way you will have a great hobby that allows you to meet some interesting people.

The gun business is ever changing and hardly predictable, but I thought I would share some of the things that are hot in our shop right now.

1. Anything AR.  If you can get your hands on it, people will stand in line to buy it.  Optics, accessories, mags, ammo, uppers and lowers are all in demand.
2. Glock light rails for early generation Glocks.  Unfortunately they don’t fit the large framed 20 and 21 models.  We get inquires about these every day.
3. The SM-1.  This is the most popular custom package that we offer.

Most searched items this month on our site:

1. Glock Trigger Job
2. Taurus 1911
3. Winchester 190

There are several items that we expect to get hot at Christmas, but as mentioned before it is hard to predict.

1. Lights.  Tactical lights are growing in popularity.  We love them, and more and more of our customer base is interested.
2. Lasers.  As prices continue to drop on this technology they are in higher demand.
3. Knives.  We are getting more and more calls about Kershaw’s Ken Onion designs.  With Christmas coming these will make great stocking stuffers.

If you are looking for Christmas gifts any of the above would be sure to please the shooter in your life.  Hope this helps.

GunsAmerica sent out the following email to one of the MCC readers.  Now be warned; they are not trying to play into your fears, but they are simply doing their civic duty by informing gun owners of plans that are “almost definitely” going to happen.  I didn’t know anything could be almost definitely.  That is a new one.  Word to the wise.  You can’t change anything that will or won’t happen, so stop panicking like the sky is falling.  Use common sense about whether to buy or sell, and don’t buy from anyone that tells you if you don’t the coming anti-gun Apocalypse will sweep you away.  If it sounds like self interest, it is.

Hi Everyone,

Not really to not take the alarmist, scare tactic route but we feel compelled to email the hundreds of thousands of casual gun people who come here every month (in addition to the hundreds of thousands of gun nuts) that the election of Barack Obama is almost definitely going to bring changes to the gun laws in the form of new taxes and hoops for gun dealers to jump through, as well as permanent bans on individuals selling firearms themselves.

The days of being able to bring grandpa’s old guns to a gun show and sell them off in an afternoon are probably going to be gone within a short amount of time after President Elect Obama gets into office.

Most likely the entire American tradition of the gunshow will disappear.

There is a lot of media attention today about people in a frenzy to BUY GUNS, because they are afraid that they won’t be able to get them.

But for those of us with closets full of guns we don’t and most likely will never shoot, guns that we’ve procrastinated selling, there is a genuine danger to our ability to be to SELL THOSE GUNS OURSELVES in the future.

So if you don’t want to end up losing 30% of their value because you have to transfer the gun out through a gun dealer, get moving and sell them now.

The DEMAND FOR GUNS IS HUGE. We have record traffic on GunsAmerica, and the gunshows are a zoo.

Take the time and sell your guns now, at a gunshow, on GunsAmerica, or any other legal venue.

And remember, if you ship a gun to someone, it has to be sent to a transfer FFL dealer in their state. There is no legal way to ship a gun to an individual, unless they personally are a Curio & Relic FFL holder, which only applies to old and collectible guns that are specifically on the list at the ATF website.

Some states have restrictions on individuals shipping out guns themselves as well. Ask a dealer in your state. We do not give legal advice. It is your responsability to ship guns out legally.

Also consider buying ammunition for the guns you have. There will almost definitely be a new tax coming on ammo.

That’s all for now. We felt compelled to send something letting those detached from the problem know what is almost definately coming.

-ga

Do you have a plan for a malfunction?  Do you ever consider that your primary weapon might be taken away?  Neither of these scenarios are fun to be in, but you can prepare as much as it depends on you to stay ready for all situations.  When I served with a local sheriff’s office, I constantly thought about these things.  If you are a LE you have no excuse anymore to not carry a BUG (back up gun) unless your department prohibits it.  BUG’s are lighter and easier to conceal with more options than ever before.

S&W 642

I carried this 642 for several years as a pocket gun and then as a BUG.  It was lightweight, shot a 38 special, and streamlined so it wouldn’t snag.  My preferred method of carry on duty was on the ankle.  S&W makes many variations of this gun in scandium and other calibers, but you don’t need any more than this.  Trust me, you won’t enjoy shooting a gun this size at the range all day in 357 magnum.  This is all you need.  Remember, you are not using this as a primary.

One thing to consider though; these guns are extremely difficult to shoot well.  Spend some time shooting before your qualification day or you may not get to carry it.  The trigger takes a little while to feel normal, but you can shoot very accurately with these guns.  Most people don’t, but then again most people don’t shoot well with anything because they never practice.

Another good option that many officers use is the vest gun.  Many vests have pockets that can hold a small gun like the Kel-Tec P-3AT shown below.

Kel-Tec 380

These guns are very small, but they handle well.  They do shoot the 380 which is not as effective as a 38 special, but you won’t comfortably get a 38 special in your vest pocket.

I personally prefer the revolver to the auto because of simplicity, but the revolver does not conceal as well.  In addition I like the gun available without trying to get into my shirt and in a vest pocket, but you must decide what works for you through trial and error.  The main thing is to take every opportunity you have to be prepared, especially if your department allows BUGs.

It is amazing how the election of leaders can change an industry.  Two weeks before the election you could get any AR that you wanted.  One distributor we regularly deal with had over 1,200 lowers in stock.  Now lowers are like gold.  People are selling their pets and houses to be able to get them.  In fact, most distributors have been wiped out with the rush to buy before President Elect Obama is sworn into office.  So the country is in a recession, but the gun industry is booming.

Last week at the Nashville gun show the line was 100 deep to get in.  The TN Criminal Instant Check System reported its 2nd highest day of activity since inception.  The week of the election over 8,000 checks were done in TN.  People are starting to get ready for what they believe will be the end of an era in American gun ownership.  Because we have had so many questions about what to do during these uncertain times we have put together a few thoughts to get you through.

1. If you are interested in buying an AR, you might want to go ahead and get your lower.  These are seen to be targets of the any type of ban that may come down the pike.  If history was to repeat itself you would be covered by having a pre-ban lower.  If you never have to use it you are only out $150.  You can build it out or sell it later.
2. Think about getting a few more high capacity magazines.  These were also regulated during the Clinton Crime ban.
3. If you are in an industry, like the auto industry, that is affected by the economy the answer is not a stimulus package or government bailout.  Just let the president start talking about banning cars.  Sales go through the roof and everyone is happy.

Other than the two real things and the one economic insight, just don’t worry.  Do not be motivated by fear to buy out your local gun store.  If you cover your bases with some small purchases you should be fine.

This week a friend of mine returned to his home after running errands at about 10:40 A.M. to find three burglars still looting his home.  When he entered the home he noticed things weren’t right, and announced for them to leave while the still had a chance.  He called police and went outside the home when he was advised by dispatch that the car in his driveway was carjacked at gunpoint the day before.

While outside he notice two men walking down the street away from his home.  A third man confronted him in his yard asking what the problem was.  These were not men that fit the neighborhood, and so he knew they were the thieves.  The third man had returned for the vehicle.  After a brief conversation the man jumped in the vehicle and side swiped my friend’s car leaving the premises.  He picked up the other two thieves, who evidently had gone back into the house while my friend was distracted by the third thief and picked up some of their loot.

Now that things have settled down I want to reflect on this situation becuase you could learn a lot from this.

1. First, God blessed my friend because this is the type of scenario where people are hurt, and he was not injured.
2. My friend got it right.  He didn’t confront anyone, and he left the home following the dispatcher’s instructions.  If you ever find a door or window open, do not enter.  This especially needs to be communicated to wives and children.  Go to a neighbor’s house and call the police.
3. Before you say he should have gone on into the home to confront, recognize that they were in a back room with his guns and ammo.  Where do you keep yours?  Is it where you could not reach it upon returning home?  If you have a CCW permit  you would still have one in your car.  Again, this does not mean you clear the house, but remember the thief returned in broad daylight to confront my friend and get their vehicle.  With a CCW  you would at least have the option to defend yourself in a weird scenario like this.
4. If you had a CCW , could you have engaged the gentleman that returned?  A gray area, but when I asked a supervisor about this in the police department I was told that in TN the castle doctrine does not carry over outside.  You would have to be able to articulate that he had the ability and intention of causing you major bodily harm.
5. Always, always remember it is just stuff.  This is why you pay insurance.  Nothing is worth that.
6. Good reminder for all of our gun owners to get a safe and join the NRA.  The NRA will provide you with up to $10,000 in coverage for your firearms.  His insurance covers $2,500 which thankfully will cover what was stolen.

Again, with the odd nature of this incident, my friend is blessed, but he was smart.  He got it right, and was able to identify one of thieves that was picked up later that night.  It looks like most of his stuff will be recovered.  When you are confronted with a tough situation, keep your head and survive.

Yesterday a police officer asked me to find him an AR because it looked like the new president would not look favorably on the gun industry.  I checked with our distributors and there are NONE!  All makes and models are sold out.

Quite obviously this has been fueld by panic buying as people think about the former Clinton Crime Bill.  So, if you have been waiting to buy, you may be waiting a little longer.  What this signals is that the industry listened when Obama said he would like to remove the so called assualt weapons.  I’ll keep you posted as things move along so you can purcahse wisely if you decide to do so.