Gun & Prepping News #16

With Shot Show 2025 this past week, you've probably had your fill of firearm news and announcements. But just in case you are not, here are some links:

• First up, if you haven't already done so, check out Greg Ellifritz's Weekend Knowledge Dump from this past week. As always, there are links to many good articles and videos. But one that I want to specifically mention is an article from the Armory Life on moving and shooting. The gist of the article is that it is possible to make hits on a target while moving, and there are circumstances where you might (according to the author) need to both move and shoot at the same time (he gives the example of dealing with a close up threat while seeking cover). Greg notes: "The longer I stay in this game, the more I’m in favor of either moving or shooting…not doing both at the same time." Greg's view is probably the better take on the subject if the following video is any indication:

VIDEO: "A Super Scientific Shooting and Moving Study"
SHEPDEV (12 min.)

The findings of this video was that at the tested distances (3 and 7 yards), you had a good chance of striking a target while moving (unless moving rapidly), but the converse was also true. Which meant that if you were reacting to a threat, you were more likely to get struck first even if you were moving and shooting. The conclusion was that if you needed to move, you needed to move at speed to avoid being shot; but if you moved that fast, you were also unlikely to be able to land a shot on an assailant. So, the better options were to move fast or shoot, not move and shoot.

•  While you are Greg's website, you might also want to check out his articles on flying with a firearm which he posted last week ("Airport Arming Procedures" and "The Definitive Guide To Flying With Guns").
• "N.C. DoorDash Incident Serves as Warning to Gunowners About Limits of Self-Defense"--The Truth About Guns. In this incident, the DoorDash driver shot and killed a teenager attempting to steal the driver's car. The driver, as you would expect, was charged with the teen's death because (repeat after me) you can't use lethal force merely to protect property. 
• "Have Gun — Can Still Lose" by Ken Hackathorn, American Handgunner. He discusses the very real scenario of drawing (but not firing) a weapon to ward off a potential robbery, but then having the erstwhile robbers call the police to report that someone pulled a gun on them. The author advises: "If you have to show your sidearm to defend yourself, make sure you are the first person to call the police, or ask someone else to report the fact you had been threatened and you had to defend yourself. Make sure the complaint to the police comes from you and not someone watching or the cretins who just tried to rob or intimidate you."
  
• "Jacksonville Cop Fired After Shooting Motorist With His Own Gun"--Shooting News. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Deputy Mindy Cardwell pulled over a driver for running a red light. The driver informed her that he was armed. Rather than just write the ticket, she had the driver exit the car and then attempted to fish his concealed carry pistol from an IWB holster. In attempting to get the weapon free, she squeezed the trigger, shooting the man through the thigh. She has been fired and the Sheriff's Office has clarified to its deputies that "[t]he mere fact that a person is carrying a concealed firearm does not automatically mean that a person poses a threat or is ineligible to carry a concealed firearm."
• "Marlin Model 60 vs. Ruger 10/22 – Battle for the Best 22 Rifle"--Ammo Land. I've owned both (as well as a Marlin Model 70). If you want to customize or accessorize, the Ruger is the better choice. Ditto if you value the ability to quickly switch magazines. But I think the Marlin is a slimmer, handier rifle. 
• "A Defense of the Revolver"--Revolver Guy.  A few of the main points that he raises: (i) that while high ammo capacity is nice, he personally is not aware of any civilian incidents where the civilian defender needed more than the capacity of his or her revolver; (ii) the reputation for greater reliability of a revolver is well deserved (as he relates what he saw at a recent state mandated pistol recertification class); and (iii) snub nosed revolvers are often easier to conceal and pack around than even many compact semi-auto pistols.
• "How to Install a Red Dot on J-Frames: Shield Arms ROC"--The Firearm Blog. This product is apparently only for the "hammerless" models of J-frame revolvers, but allows you to mount a red-dot to the weapon (at the cost of greatly increased bulk). 
• "Six Reasons That NFA Items Have Become Much More Popular"--Shooting News. The primary reason listed is that, thanks to inflation, the $200 tax stamp has become a much lower barrier to entry. As the article notes, when the NFA was passed, that $200 was the equivalent to $4,700 today.
  
• "Random Bushcraft Tip"--Raconteur Report. Using common 18 gauge floral wire for snares (including diagrams). 
• "Four Survival Myths That Could Get You Killed"--Field & Stream (via Get Pocket). 

1. You Can Survive Solely off Natural Survival Foods
2. You Can Complete Survival Projects at a Normal Pace (in other words, it is going to take you much longer to complete the projects)
3. If You Kill a Big-Game Animal, You’re Set for Food (discussing protein poisoning from when you don't get enough fats to digest the protein)
4. Practicing Survival Skills Is the Same as Practicing Survival
   

• "Be Prepared: What To Put in a Go Bag"--The Truth About Guns. The author prefaces his opinions with the following explanation:

    When I think of a go bag, I’m thinking of the bag I grab every day, whether to the local coffee shop to work or a short two- to three-day work trip.

    My go bag is not packed out to go all Red Dawn during a foreign invasion but to support my daily needs with a few extras to support any unexpected emergencies.

Thus, his list includes a few electronics items, medical kit (with tourniquet), a compact rain jacket, a multi-tool, water bottle, field note book and pen, and extra cash.

• "Prepping Mistakes To Avoid"--Modern Survival Blog. The first one mentioned by the author is the failure to adequately prepare for storing and purifying water. Others include not planning for long term grid-down conditions, overestimating your food storage (i.e., you haven't stored enough), and not putting enough thought and preps into security (although I suspect that many preppers spend too much money and effort on this).
• "Here’s What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Car"--Motor Trend. Like most things in life, the answer is "it depends". As the article relates:

Every year, lightning strikes many vehicles around the world. In some cases, it results in a simple burn mark on the roof, but blown-out electrical systems and vehicles burning all the way to the ground can happen, too. Why do some strikes result inn [sic] a burn mark with a cool story and others a totaled car? Both the type of lightning and the type of car are to blame.

But an oil or fuel leak will make it more likely that a fire will result.

• "How to Make a Sourdough Starter From Scratch"--Better Housekeeping (via Get Pocket). It appears to be a fairly complete article covering the basic recipe, instructions for getting it going and feeding it down the road, how to tell if it has gone bad, and a link to a site with recipes for using your sourdough starter.