Gun & Prepping News #58

 Just some gun and prepping related links that I thought interesting or useful:  

• James Reeves at The Firearm Blog has posted a video (16 min.) going over the Glock Gen 6 pistols. At this point it appears that there are three models: the G47 (the replacement for the G17), the G19, and the G45. The reason for the replacement for the G17 is that it will use the shorter recoil rod and spring of the G19. Also, Glock is going back to a single recoil spring rather than the dual captured spring system. All three models appeared to have optic cuts in the slide, which optic cuts are designed to accept various models of optics. Other mechanical changes include changes to the extractor to eliminate potential interference with someone using too long of a screw to mount an optic; and, of course, it is incorporating the changes from the V models which for a day or two prevented someone adding a Glock switch to the weapons. There are substantial changes to the grips, as well, which now are more rounded--they have palm swells--a higher cut behind the slide to allow a higher hold on the weapon, different texturing, and some other changes. 
• "Weaponizing Fire"--Active Response Training. Greg Ellifritz takes a look at incidents where criminals have set victims on fire or tried to do so. He also has some tips on responding to such attacks.
• "Gun Grab Attempt Washington SRO Deputy"--Tactical Professor. The author begins: "Every time a POlice [sic] officer is attacked in a gun grab, it’s a reminder that Open Carry is not necessarily a deterrent. It may be to a rational criminal but many folks are irrational." In fact, he points out, in this case the openly carried gun was seen by the criminal as an opportunity. 
• "Holster Selection"--SP Wenger's Defensive Use of Firearms.  This is undoubtedly the most detailed discussion of this topic I've ever seen.
• "Squib Loads: What Are They?"--Tactical Hyve. From the article:

    A squib load, also known as squib rounds or just a squib, is when there is insufficient force behind a bullet to exit a barrel.

    This type of malfunction can happen for many reasons, such as fouling in the barrel, loading with too light of a charge, i.e., low powder load, or an improperly seated projectile. The most common causes are improper primer ignition or lack of gunpowder.

    A squib round is extremely dangerous. It can cause severe injury to a shooter and catastrophic failure of one’s firearm, so it is important to learn about them. 

• "The Side-by-Side Shotgun"--Guns Magazine.  A history of the side-by-side shotgun--its development, explosion in popularity, and subsequent decline after inexpensive pump-action rifles were introduced. The author writes:

    ... to my knowledge, currently the only production American-made side-by-side shotgun is by Connecticut Shotgun Co. If you want one of their least expensive Christian Hunter 20-gauge with 28” barrels and screw-in chokes, be ready to write a check for about $13,000 plus tax.

    However, if you just want a good quality SxS without worrying about its country of origin, there are a number of currently available SxS from manufacturers such as Weatherby (Orion), CZ (Sharptail, Bobwhite, and others), Tristar (Bristol & Phoenix), and Stoeger (Uplander and Coach Gun). Stoeger also makes the Double Defense “tactical” SxS, which I covet in the worst way. It might not be as practical as my 870 or Mossberg 590 for home intruders, but I’m sure John Wayne would approve. 

• "Fudd Friday: Parker Hale Classic Hunting Rifles"--The Firearm Blog. Back in the day when England still manufactured firearms, Parker Hale was a major producer and exporter of Mauser style bolt action rifles to the United States, even producing them for sale to department stores like J.C. Penny. The article goes over the history of the company, how they got into producing rifles after World War II, the author's experience with hunting rifles from the company. An excerpt:

    Parker Hale’s post-war exports were based on two main product lines: remanufactured military rifles and new-manufacture Mauser-pattern rifles.

    The military rifles were mostly Lee-Enfields, since that’s what the Brits used in the war, although Parker Hale also remanufactured P14 rifles and even used reconditioned Mauser actions as the basis of early sporter builds. They shipped these rifles under various names, and in various grades of refinement, all over the world but particularly to Commonwealth countries like Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

[snip]

     ... While it’s probably best-known for its Lee-Enfield conversions, Parker Hale sold a lot of Mauser-action rifles (built off surplus actions, and then new actions from Zastava or Santa Barbara). These rifles were chambered in then-new .243 and .308 short-action rounds, as well as .30-06, .270 and other long-action calibers. They had options in .300 Magnum, 7mm Magnum and .308 Norma Magnum; they even offered rifles in .375 H&H Magnum, .404 Jeffery and .458 Win Mag for the safari market.

• "Everything You Need to Know About Gun Protection Accessories"--The Range 702. A look at hearing and eye protection. 
• "Testing Gideon Optics: Affordable Glass That Performs"--The Truth About Guns. I've started seeing favorable reviews of Chinese optics. Reminds me of when Holosun first came out--good products for a low price because most shooters assumed they would be junk. Not the case anymore. Perhaps these telescopic sights will take the same course. 
• "Beretta 20X vs 21A Bobcat: The Tip Up Showdown"--Guns America. As you may know, the 21A Bobcat was a DA/SA pocket .22 pistol produced by Beretta for ages. But like a lot of other Beretta designs dating back to the 1970s and '80s, Beretta has updated this design--a firearm they are calling the 20X. This article compares the two against each other. While the 20X has better sights and was more reliable than the older model, it is also larger (thicker). Making a pocket pistol larger is a bold strategy--we'll see if it pays off. 
• "Reloading the .223 Rem.: Great .223 Handloads for Bolt and Gas Guns"--Shooting Times. A long discussion about the cartridge--the history, twist rates and bullet weights, primers, different bullets for different uses, etc.--and then some tables with different loading data. I use Accurate 2230 powder, but strangely did not see it listed. However, Hodgdon, which manufactures the powder, has an online "Reloading Center" with reloading data for their powders. I wish the author had gone a bit into case preparation. I will note that the two biggest things to note with .223/5.56 is to make sure about your case length as the neck seems to be longer on 5.56 than on .223; and check for cracks at the base of the neck. 
• "Shooting Practice: How to Train for Hunting"--Rifle Shooter Magazine. We are all generally familiar with practical shooting for handguns and tactical shooting, but this article discusses tips on practical training/practice for hunting. This is particularly important for hunters in the West that involve a lot of stalking (some states--Idaho for instance--ban any type of feeding to lure in deer or using blinds). 

... Western hunters are more accustomed to moving, glassing and stalking. Out there, shots at game are often dictated by terrain, so it’s essential to be versatile. You make do with what you have, from natural rests to carry-along shooting aids to the good old basic NRA shooting positions.

• "Tactical First Aid Skills Every Armed Citizen Needs"--Gun Digest. Lessons from a tactical first aid class taught by Greg Ellifritz. It discusses the MARCH protocol and five things to keep in your trauma kit. The "M" stands for "massive bleeding." The article explains:

 Why begin with bleeding? Battlefield data reveals that hemorrhage from extremity wounds causes 60 percent of preventable deaths, far more than airway issues. Blood loss kills faster than almost anything else.

• This is the type of thing that will lead to vigilantism: "Portland jury clears black man of assault because white man he stabbed had said the n-word"--The Daily Mail. The leftist fetishizing of blacks goes to a whole new level. In this case, a black homeless man knifed a white guy and then claimed he did so out of "self-defense" because the victim supposedly used the "n-word"--not before the attack, but after the attack! Not only does calling someone a name not justify using lethal force, but the alleged slur wasn't even the motivation for the knifing coming, as it did, after the attack. 
• "SELCO: The Truth About SNIPERS and How to Survive Them"--The Organic Prepper. He's not talking about the military sniper looking to take out a high value target, but harassing fire at civilians for the purpose of causing fear and hopelessness. An excerpt:

 Untrained people got shot from snipers mostly because :

•  They failed to understand how urban environment works in the fields of vision for snipers
•  They failed to understand how urban environment CHANGED because of SHTF
•  They failed to appreciate the difference between cover and concealment.

• "How to Escape a Sinking Car: A Step-by-Step Survival Guide"--Survival Life. Good advice here. As the author notes, "[y]ou have under one minute to escape a sinking car. In fact, most vehicles stay afloat for only 30 to 60 seconds before water pressure locks the doors and shuts down the power. Every second counts, and every move you make determines your chances of survival." 
• "Mother Nature’s Best Home Remedies"--Homesteading. Discusses the 10 best medicinal plants to grow including Great Burdock, Marsh Mallow, and Aloe Vera; 10 common "weeds" that have medicinal uses; and a few essential oils that can be used for medicinal purposes. 
• You might want to print these up: "Common Knife Sharpening Angles Chart (From Major Knife Manufacturers)"--Modern Survival Blog. An excerpt:

The best knife sharpening angle depends on the knife’s purpose, but most blades fall between 15° and 22° per side (DPS).

• 15–16° DPS → razor-sharp, thinner edges (Asian kitchen knives, fillet knives)
• 18–20° DPS → balanced sharpness and durability (most pocket and everyday carry knives)
• 20–22° DPS → stronger working edges (hunting, outdoor, and Western kitchen knives)
• 25–30° DPS → heavy-duty or tactical blades that prioritize toughness over razor sharpness

If you’re unsure of your knife’s factory angle, match the existing bevel. Maintaining the original geometry gives the best combination of sharpness, durability, and edge life.