A Roundup Of Firearms/Self-Defense Articles (+ A Video)

VIDEO: "M16A2 to 500yds: Practical Accuracy ...was Eugene Stoner wrong? [ USMC experiences in Iraq ]"--9-Hole Reviews (49 min.). If you have watched videos from this channel before, you know that the majority of videos are mostly testing of a firearm at varying ranges out to 500 yards, with typically a minimum of commentary. This one is different because it addresses the criticisms that Stoner had with improved rear sight on the M16A2 over earlier models. (Although, if I remember correctly, it was more than just the sight; Stoner wasn't happy with the increased overall weight due to the heavy barrel). If you don't care about the shooting portion of the video, you should watch the first minute and then skip ahead to the debrief starting at about 9:40 minutes.

•  It's Friday, so be sure to check out Greg Ellifritz's latest Weekend Knowledge Dump. A few notable articles or videos included in his post include: 
• An article from the Revolver Guy on his thoughts on the "snub mindset" (i.e., accepting that a snub revolver, for its many advantages also has significant disadvantages that need to be kept in mind when considering tactics and use of the firearm). I actually was reading through this article earlier this week and would add that even if you don't carry a snub you should read this article because his points concerning Mass Ayoob's list of priorities and recognizing limitations in your application of tactics applies to handguns generally.
• An honest look at the risk of losing your job with concealed carry in the office (i.e., corporate) environment. 
• An article/video on the advantages to shooting a revolver even if you typically (always) carry a semi-auto for self-defense. 
• Although I agree with Ellifritz's opinion that we spend way too much time focusing on getting the most effective caliber or load (i.e., muzzle energy, expansion, etc.), I am nevertheless still drawn to various ammo tests like the video to which he links testing the Federal Punch ammo in .38 Special.
• He included a link to the "The Art of Manliness Podcast #41: The Gentlemen & The Roughs With Dr. Lorien Foote" (there is also a transcript in case you can't or don't want to listen to the podcast) going over how upper and lower classes in an "honor culture" acted and reacted to slights and insults in Union Army during the Civil War. As Ellifritz points out, the "Roughs" discussed in the podcast aren't too different from how certain demographics would react today.
• A post from Kunstler on the Covid coverup and that people will be angry enough to protest (or worse) this summer. There may be protests and riots, but I disagree that it will be about Covid and the government lies about it or the vaccine.
• Finally, because it pertains to the next link, check out the video to which he links showing an off-duty female police officer getting involved in a scuffle with a black male.
• "Men Vs Women's Self Defense. Is there a difference?"--WARRIORS KRAV MAGA. He discusses the differences between how men and women are attacked (including how it is different when the fight goes to the ground), the different weapons, and different reasons for being attacked. That means that the concerns and even tactics are necessarily going to be different between men and women, particularly in unarmed situations. An excerpt:

The Attacks Are Different 

 

    The attacks are different. Outside of prison and the homeless men are rarely attacked and sexually assaulted. In a career spanning forty-plus years of dealing with non-consensual violence, I’m unaware of any guys being beaten up and raped. 

 

    Women on the other hand have to face that liability in the majority of instances when they have to fight off a male attacker. 

 

    I’ve trained a lot of law enforcement, worked with women’s shelters and human trafficking orgs. Women are grabbed and dragged a lot. Usually, it’s by the hair or the arm/wrist. Empirical evidence would suggest that most men don’t get grabbed by those. Their hair doesn’t mostly because the style nowadays is too short to be grabbed. Their body or their head gets wrapped up in chokes, guillotines, and the ubiquitous headlock.

The Ground Attack Is Different Between Men & Women 

 

    The ground is different for both. A woman is going to be pinned or held down, her clothing torn from her, and her mouth covered or neck grabbed to stop her screaming. The attacker will be between her legs and then she’ll be raped. Her male counterpart will have someone sit on his belly or chest and the pummeling will begin. What the MMA crowd calls ground and pound. Alternatively, he’ll have a mob around him taking turns putting the boots in.

• "Homestead security for women" by Donna Insco, Backwoods Home Magazine. This article was recommended by Massad Ayood for women living alone in rural areas. The author delves, in some detail I would add, into such points as making your place unattractive to criminals, keeping dogs, becoming involved in feuds with or between locals, be armed, discussing security with your kids, and, for the single, warning signs to look for in men who want to insert themselves into your life.
• "One-Handed Practice"--Shooting Illustrated. The article discusses the importance of practicing one-handed shooting in the case of injury or having one hand involved in something else (pushing off an attacker, carrying something or someone, etc.), while also mentioning that one-handed shooting used to be common among silhouette shooters (it was actually the norm among the majority of shooters well into the 1960s and '70s). This article caught my attention because I recently watched an Active Self Protection video of an encounter where a criminal shot someone, one handed, in the head at probably 20 or 25 yards and John Correia made a comment about it being a lucky shot. It wasn't. Gun people used to shoot pistols that and much farther distances using just one hand in the regular course of competition, practice and plinking. 
• Don't get cocky: "In Self-Defense: Armed Citizens Are Fighting Back" by Dave Workman, Guns Magazine. Workman begins:

    There are now 25 states with so-called “Constitutional carry” and Florida appears to be approaching permitless carry, which translates to more citizens soon being able to carry defensive firearms without having to jump through the hoops of a licensing process.

    There is another translation: Criminals, be careful … be very careful. In fact, now might be a good time to reconsider your career choices and see if the hardware store is hiring.

He goes on to mention the record number of CCL holders in Washington state, and summarizes a handful of recent encounters where the criminal was killed by victims who turned out to be armed. But, in my opinion, the most important change required is going to need to be in the law and public perception to make using armed defense more acceptable. 

• "300 Blackout: A Self-Defense Weapon?" - The Mag Life. The article raises some good points on why the .300 BLK is a viable defense cartridge for the home (i.e., CQB ranges) but doesn't go into specific recommendations as to a good defensive round or load. What I would like to see is someone with the access to ballistic gelatin and a good range do a comparison of the terminal ballistics of various bullets or rounds. I settled on the 110 grain V-Max from Hornady after looking at the exterior ballistics, applying my limited ballistic acumen, a couple ballistic gel tests on YouTube (which was all I could find), and my experience shooting water jugs out to 100 yards. It looks good on paper and the performed well in the ballistic tests, but it was intended as a varmint bullet for the .308 so I still worry about it having sufficient penetration against an attacker even if I'm shooting it at much lower velocities. I may have to bite the bullet and order some ballistic gel.
• "The 5.56x45mm SS109 Cartridge" – Scattered Shots. The author has posted an article Chuck Taylor and published in the September 1984 of SWAT magazine which discusses penetration and accuracy results for the SS109 cartridge that was in the process of being adopted at that time versus the older standard ball cartridge. The rounds were fired from various weapons (of differing barrel lengths) against various steel targets. I'll warn you that Taylor has a rather obvious contempt for the M16 and the 5.56 cartridge, although I noticed he didn't try to see if the 7.62 ball did any better. The main takeaway, however, is that 5.56 is terrible for penetrating hardened steel plate at 100 yards (it just doesn't quite have the velocity--you really need a .243 or faster), and the SS109 has poor accuracy out of 1:10 and 1:12 twist barrels, but was fine out of 1:7. So, in short, nothing that most of us don't already know. But the pure venom dripping from the author's pen sure shows how different were the attitudes toward the cartridge back then versus today.
• While we are on the topic of the AR15 and 5.56 NATO: "AR-15 Mags: Why So Many Capacity Options?" - The Mag Life. The author discusses why and when you might want a 5, 10, or 20-round magazine over the standard 30-round magazine. 
• Carlos Hathcock would weep: "The Marine Corps is getting rid of Scout Snipers" - Task & Purpose. 

    The Marine Corps is getting rid of its Scout Sniper Platoons as part of massive force structure changes, but Marine reconnaissance and special operations units will continue to have their own school-trained snipers, a Marine Corps spokesman said.

    Scout Snipers, who operate in pairs of spotters and shooters, go through extensive training to learn how to move without being detected and either kill a target from a distance or report an enemy’s position to headquarters. They provide forward reconnaissance and observation for infantry battalions and, on occasion, also protect U.S. military installations and embassies abroad.

    However, Marine Corps wargames found that the Corps’ newly-redesigned infantry battalions did not have enough all-weather capabilities to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, spokesman Capt Ryan Bruce told Task & Purpose on Monday.

It appears that the sniper part will be removed from the Scout Sniper role and they will become, instead, reconnaissance specialists for the battalions they serve. However, the article also says that reconnaissance units and special forces will have their own school trained snipers. And, per the article, "[i]nfantry battalions will continue to have sniper rifles in their armories because Marines in infantry military occupational specialties will receive enough training to know how to use them even without going through the Scout Sniper course". So, if I understand this correctly, the Marines will have scout units and those scout units will have snipers, but not every scout will be a sniper.