Gun & Prepping News #3

Just some articles that caught my attention for one reason or another:

• "The Rimfire Report: Do .22LR Bullet Coatings Matter?"--The Firearm Blog. We know they matter because no commercial manufacturer releases any non-coated bullets. The real issue is whether there is any appreciable difference between the coatings out there. The article discusses the pros and cons of paraffin wax, bees wax, copper washed, and polymer coated .22 bullets. And while the cheaper wax coatings can sometimes cause problems with feeding if the wax coat is not even, there seems to be no appreciable difference between the wax and the copper wash according to the author.
• "Why Are Parts From Federal Agency Guns Turning Up in Crime Scene Weapons?"--Shooting News Weekly. I think the author is making a mountain out of a molehill. The agency guns are supposed to be destroyed when they are done (rather than being sold to the public as is only proper). But destroyed doesn't mean they are melted down--it just means that the frame or receiver is cut or crushed. Individual parts (or even parts kits, I suppose) can then be sold where they can find their way into a home built gun.
• "Editor’s Notebook: What If a Shooter Can’t Point?"--Tactical Wire. An article for instructors or anyone else teaching someone how to shoot. The author recounts an experience at a class where one of his students could not point the handgun at the target. He consulted with an expert on the issue and has condensed some possible reasons and solutions. The problem could be a form of apraxia which could be due to a neural injury or deficit, or show up on stress. For instance, in the latter case:

That said, "normal" individuals tend to display some form of apraxia because of external, or self-imposed pressure to perform. Yet, when the shooter "voluntarily" performs a sequence, all is perfect. So, stress plays a big part in learning psychomotor skills. It also plays a huge part in failing to learn psychomotor skills. Some of it’s behavior; some of it’s physical, and/or a combination of both! Alas, physical education is not a high priority nowadays. The priory, on the other hand, of firearms--where we live--suffers for it.

• "AR-15 for Home Defense: Why It Should Be Your Go-To Choice"--The Truth About Guns. The author's focus seems to be defense against a gaggle of home invaders. And I would agree that it is very good for that scenario: heck, I use that scenario as one of the primary reasons a person needs to have 30-round magazines. But it is the best for home defense overall? Or best for every person? I tend to lean toward the handgun as a general purpose home defense weapon because of its maneuverability, and the fact that I can operate it one-handed (while using a flashlight or opening doors or using the phone with the other). But I also have an AR with a weapon light to fall back on.
  
• "Shotgun Drills For Home Defense"--Shooting Illustrated. The author offers up three drills for the shotgun: the baseball drill (which has you moving while shooting); the cover and clear drill to teach clearance of a malfunction; and know-your-shotgun drill intended to familiarize yourself with your shotgun's pattern and point of impact at different ranges. 
• "Defensive Shotgun: Myth vs Reality"--Tactical Anatomy Systems. The two myths he addresses both have to do with using birdshot: the myth that is is less deadly than buckshot (at short distances, at least); and the myth that it won't go through walls (or it it does, it will be less deadly). Now, I've been a firm believer that one should never choose birdshot for self-defense because of it still being dangerous enough to be deadly, especially to small kids, but lacks the penetration needed for reliable self-defense. But the author of this piece--James Williams--is (or was) an ER doctor and he claims that within 5 yards that birdshot can be just as effective as buckshot:

    So home defense distances are short, and almost always well within the minimum distance at which a birdshot load begins to spread.

    Now, some folks will argue that it’s not the same, and that the birdshot disperses when it hits flesh, causing less damage than a solid slug would do.

    Nice try, but it ain’t true. I’ve seen people shot at close range (inside 5 yards) with birdshot and buckshot loads, and while dispersal does occur more rapidly in the denser medium of flesh, the damage is still catastrophic. And some shotshells have a wad designed to keep the shot charge together (the Federal Flite-Control wad/ammo, as an example) and in these cases the charge may pass through the entire torso of the target, exiting in a nice round hole almost identical to the exit hole. I’ve seen it. Can’t show you the pictures, medical confidentiality and all that, but it’s true. Scouts honor.  

I think I will stick with my buckshot, but it is something important to consider if you think that birdshot is going to be significantly safer to use against an intruder inside your home than other types of loads.

• So HK, USA (Heckler & Koch's U.S. based company) has come out with its first product: a micro-9 pistol called the CC9 and sized (and priced) to compete against the likes of the Sig P365, Glock 48, etc. The biggest selling point, at least to me, seems to be that it has interchangeable backstraps. Seems a tad heavy, though. Here are few first look/reviews:
• "HK-USA CC9 Redefines The Micro Compact Market"--Guns America.
• "NEW H&K CC9 Review: Was the Wait Worth It?"--The Firearm Blog.
• "H&K USA Unveils Its Inaugural Gun: The CC9"--The Firearm Blog.
  
• "Whey Protein Powder For Prepping and Preparedness"--Modern Survival Blog. Key point: 

From a prepping and preparedness point of view, Whey protein powder will complement the carbohydrates that are common in prepper food storage inventories. Storing extra carbohydrate foods is easy. Storing extra protein can be somewhat challenging and expensive. Whey protein powder is a great way to diversify protein food storage (along with vacuum-sealed meat in a freezer, freeze-dried meats, store-canned, and home-canned meats, etc..).

 He also goes into the different types (flavors) and how to use it. I suspect that it is probably better for you than soy based protein powders.

• "Prepper's Hygiene: Cremo Shave Cream for your BOB"--Blue Collar Prepping. This is literally a cream intended for shaving in a squeeze tube--not a foam or a gel. Maybe shaving is not a necessity, but for some people, a morning shave is as important as a morning coffee. (And if you expect to use a mask to seal against smoke or gas, it is generally a necessity to get a good seal). The fact that it is a cream and in a tube makes it ideal for packing. 
• "Survival Medicine – Antibiotics"--Alpha Survivalist. The article discusses the importance of antibiotics (I heard someone once quoting their father, a doctor, as saying: "There were no good times before antibiotics"); general types of antibiotics; a list of survival antibiotics (with links to more information about them); and options for obtaining antibiotics. He also discusses the differences between fish antibiotics and those made for medical use. What he does not cover, unfortunately, is dosing recommendations.
  
• "The SAM Splint"--Blue Collar Prepping. If you are not familiar with the SAM splint, they are flat padded sheets that can be rolled up for storage, or shaped to fit around a limb to act as a splint. This article goes over the use of the SAM splint (including linking to a video and several PDF guides) and different sizes. A good addition to your medical preps. 
• "Best Oil Lamp For Indoor Use – Safety, Quality, Recommendations"--Modern Survival Blog. He discusses how bright are oil lamps (including a handy table); the best types/brands of oil lamps (Vermont Lanterns, Dietz Lanterns, and Feuerhand); best lamp oil for indoor use; different sizes of wicks; and safety issues. While I really like my propane lanterns, oil lamps are probably more sustainable because the fuel can be stored more easily and cheaply.