Gun & Prepping News #92

 Some links that may be of interest: 

• "Hero armed citizen opened fire on Idaho In-N-Out gunman, tried to stop shooting that left 2 dead, 7 wounded: harrowing video"--The New York Post.  
• "The Case Against FliteControl" by Travis Pike, The Truth About Guns. The author, who admits to using the 8-pellet Winchester buckshot with the FliteControl wad in his self-defense shotgun, writes:

For me, the biggest argument against FliteControl is the same argument for FliteControl: the pattern is tight. When dealing with typical home defense ranges, every shotgun load is firing a fairly tight pattern due to the limited range. A standard shotgun pattern is tight enough that the likelihood of an errant pellet is quite low.

When we reduce the pattern to a hole slightly larger than a 12-gauge slug, we are losing out on a big benefit to throwing multiple pellets per trigger pull. The little bit of spread we are getting at home defense ranges can help us put pellets where it matters.   

What I believe he is getting at is that you just don't need it for self defense inside the home because the distances are so short.  

• "August 2026 Rangemaster Drill of the Month: 3 Seconds Standard, Vers. 2.0"--The Tactical Wire. Revisiting a point made in the Weekend Reading column:

“The DEA in 2007 had 44 incidents in which shots were fired against criminals. The average engagement distance was 14.6 feet. The typical American sedan is 16 feet long, so we could just say, about a car length. 

“In the case of our students who had to shoot in self-defense, the distances involved were: 

Contact distance 4% 

3-7 yards 91% 

Beyond 7 yards 4%

“The 3 shootings beyond 7 yards were at 15,17 and 22 yards, so some work at that sort of distance is needed, but not a lot. 

“So, we put the vast majority of our effort in class on fast, reliable vital zone hits at the 3,5, and 7 yard lines, with a heavy emphasis on 3-5 yards. Three yards could be classified as conversational distance” and is the zone in which we normally talk to strangers. Five yards is essentially one car length. 7 yards is across a large room. If you think in those terms, the reason 91% of our shootings took place at from 3 to 7 yards makes a lot of sense. Keep this in mind when structuring your practice sessions.” 

• Conversely: "The Long Line – Practice for Precision"--Tactical Wire.  

If you want to be able to shoot at all well at 25 yards, you train at fifty yards. That’s the take from a bullseye shooter – at least one and likely many more. It’s also the take of Pat McNamara, a name familiar to those interested in the tactical/personal protection aspect of firearms. 

• "Civilian Marksmanship Program Announces Sale of M14s"--Bearing Arms. No details on prices or availability. In its announcement, "the CMP revealed that the rifles will be modified to be 'permanently and irreversibly semi-automatic rifles,' and will be 'fully compliant with CMP enabling legislation authorizing the transfer and sale of military surplus .30 caliber rifles.'" My guess--and it is only a guess--is that this means that they will be shipping them with new receivers.
• This looks interesting: Sightmark has released a red dot they are calling the G-Shot. What makes it unique is that the red dot is incorporated into a chassis or frame that is designed to fit over the rear of a standard Gen 3, 4, or 5 Glock slide with no modifications to the slide or need to remove the rear sights. 
• "Deep Concealment: Shedding Light on Pocket Carry"--Athlon Outdoors.  

    While deep concealment is the most common, pocket carry shines in a backup-gun role. Many armed citizens and law enforcement officers have long relied on small revolvers or compact pistols carried in a pocket as a secondary firearm. This provides access to a weapon if the primary gun becomes unavailable or if one hand is occupied. Carrying a backup gun in the support-side pocket can create additional options during a defensive encounter. While not everyone needs a second firearm, pocket carry remains one of the most practical methods for those who choose to carry one.

    For others, pocket carry may simply be the only realistic option. Physical limitations, work attire, body type, or daily activities may make traditional waistband carry difficult. The best carry method is often the one that a person can realistically maintain every day. The key is being honest about your situation. Carrying a smaller firearm in your pocket is far better than leaving a larger firearm at home. However, that decision should be made thoughtfully and not solely for convenience. 

• "Review: .45 Long Colt — History and Ammo Recommendations"--The Mag Life. This is one of only a small number of cartridges that successfully made the transition from black powder to modern smokeless powder. 
• "Marines Just Added AI That Turns M240 Machine Guns Into Drone Killers"--Military.com. A system that automates the tracking and targeting of the drones. 

    According to specs provided to Military.com, the system relies on passive sensing rather than radar, which helps keep the host platform’s signature low. Pointing accuracy is listed at less than one minute of angle.

    In the M240 configuration, the cyclic rate is 850 rounds per minute, and the company has repeatedly highlighted a cost per kill measured in the low tens of dollars, driven largely by the price of the ammunition itself. 

• "Sawyer Mini Not Flowing After Storage? How to Restore It"--Modern Survival Blog. The author explains:

    If your Sawyer Mini barely flows after months or years in storage, do not assume it is worn out. The hollow fibers may need to be fully re-wetted. Sediment or mineral deposits may also be blocking the small passageways.

    The best first step is to run clean water through the filter in the normal direction. Then backflush it forcefully with the included syringe. A stubborn filter may need a warm-water soak or a separate white-vinegar soak.

    This matters for anyone who keeps a water filter in an emergency kit. A filter that worked when stored may seem almost useless when you suddenly need it.

    That is especially true when the kit has never been opened or tested since the day it was purchased.

The remainder of the article provides more detailed directions and explanations.

• "Boot Care: How to properly care for your boots."--Joint Force Tactical.  Instructions on cleaning, drying, water proofing, and conditioning of the boot material. 
• "Best Hand Saw for Cutting Logs and Firewood"--Modern Survival Blog. The "best" is somewhat a misnomer because what is best depends on what is the size of the wood and whether you have someone to help you or are working alone. But he goes over different saws what where they excel. 
• The inevitable result of a natural disaster: "Looting breaks out in Bordeaux's empty suburbs as wildfire inferno so big it makes its own lightning storms moves to just seven miles from city"--Daily Mail.  
• "Parasite outbreak explodes to more than 10,000 cases in one state as hundreds are hospitalized nationwide"--Daily Mail. The state is Michigan, and the parasites discussed in the article are not Somalis but cyclosporiasis, "a sickness that causes diarrhea and stomach pain."