New Weekend Knowledge Dump from Active Response Training

 Greg Elifritz has posted his weekly Weekend Knowledge Dump. Some of the articles and videos that caught my attention this week are:

• The Tactical Professor's thoughts on the SCCY brand of handguns, which were a bit buggy. The most useful part of the article: "Bottom line of the whole exercise is that when purchasing a pistol, shoot at least a box of ammo through it to be sure it works." Of course, I'm old enough to remember when it was standard practice to shoot at least 100 rounds (and sometimes double that) through a new handgun to break it in and make sure it worked reliably--nobody back then expected a new handgun to work flawlessly right out of the box. 
• A look at Norinco and Yugo variants of the SKS. A lot of information, so check it out. The SKS was actually the third rifle I ever purchased--this was back when they were selling new Norinco's for $70. I've left that one in its original configuration. I later inherited another SKS rifle that had already been modified (the bayonet had been removed and the original sight replaced with a peep sight). I replaced that sight with one from Tech Sights, and added a collapsible Tapco stock with a pistol grip, and even tried aftermarket removable magazines (these were terrible and I quickly reinstalled the original). But, frankly, I don't think it is worth the trouble and expense of upgrading these rifles; and I later reinstalled the original wooden stock and gave it to a nephew (along with the collapsible stock in case he wanted to use it instead). In their original configuration you get a sturdy, dependable rifle that would work well as a backup rifle for SHTF or for use around a homestead/farm. But no matter what you do to it, it will never be a modern sporting rifle; and messing with it will only reduce the resale value. 
• An article on the dangers of over-penetrating bullets by Massad Ayoob. Speaking of dangerous over-penetration, check out Tools & Targets' video reviewing 9MM Speer LE DHS Border Patrol loads: "The Border Is COOKED!...9MM Speer LE DHS Border Patrol AMMO Ballistic Gel Test & Review!" Although hollow points, they went through approximately 32 inches of ballistic gel and were still able to ring steel further down the range with authority. Probably would work great as a bear defense load, though. 
• An article on citizen arrests (and Greg's simple advice to just never do it).  
• An article I linked to recently on pepper spray (but it is worth looking at if you haven't yet read it). 
• And a video review of the Kaztac Wrapid Revolver Loader. I've had one of these for a few months and just haven't gotten around to writing about it. Briefly, however, I would have to agree that it is still at the novelty stage or something to use at the range (not for self-defense). The idea behind this product is that the loader can lay flat for easy carry, but when you pull it out of the storage pouch, the spring driven mechanism coils up so that the rounds can be inserted into the cylinder like a regular speed loader. Then you pull on the ring/handle to pull the loader off the end of the rounds which, in theory, should be just as fast as operating the mechanism on the speed loader. I didn't seem to have the issue with lining up the rounds as in the video review when testing it with my Ruger Security Six (it was too small to work with my Python). Rather, the issue I had was that the mechanism would sometimes bind on the last one or two cartridges when trying to pull it free. This didn't happen every time, but enough that I would be worried about using it in a self-defense application. 

Greg links to more stuff as well, so be sure to check it out.