Gun & Prepping News #96

 Some links that may be of interest: 

• When you don't trust your students or trainees to carry a loaded gun: "Carrying with an Empty Chamber"--Recoil Magazine. The article delves into the origins of this strange practice:

    There’s a reason why carrying with an empty chamber is also called “Israeli Carry.” This form of carry has been a standard in Israel for so long that many instructors don’t even know why they initially started doing it. A goodly portion is due to the fact the Israeli military has always had a smattering of different pistols. This continues into the 21st century, to say nothing of when the nation was founded so many years ago.

    There are modern American pistols that aren’t as drop-safe as we’ve been led to believe, so imagine what the wide world of pistols looked like at the end of the 1940s. If you’re carrying a pistol that can potentially pop off if you drop it, and you have one in the chamber and you drop it … what then? Carrying on an empty chamber effectively negates that risk.

    Furthermore, different pistols have different manual safety mechanisms located in different places, and so for a fighting force with a mishmash of pistols, “rack the slide, then shoot” can be a universal answer, with the other safeties (if they even exist) staying disengaged.

    Another issue aside from the pistols themselves were the holsters. Available holsters ranged from homemade affairs, coat pockets, and those adapted from other platforms. Modern Safarilands they were not.

    Coming along for the ride of this tapestry of equipment was an early and persistent problem of gun grabs at checkpoints. Sometimes those that were stopped would take their chances, lunging for the gun of a guard to use it against them. The chamber being empty added an extra step, giving the checkpoint worker an additional ounce of reaction time in the event of an attack.

    Finally, the level of training always comes into play. A young conscript army may still be quite motivated, but the general level of proficiency will be lower than a fully professional force. This means less experience and more accidents.

• Some historical fiction for those of you that like that sort of thing: "Packing a Punch: A History of the M14"--The Firearm Blog. Rather than focus on what is wrong with the author's "history", including skipping entirely some of the shenanigans that led to the adoption of the M14, I want to focus on one point which is accurate:

The post-war era saw the U.S. military looking for a new rifle that could replace not only the M1 Garand but also the M1 Carbine, the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the Thompson submachine gun.

[snip] 

The development of the M14 began with the search for a weapon that could fulfil multiple roles: as a standard battle rifle, a light machine gun, and a replacement for several existing firearms. This led to the concept of a "universal rifle," which would be capable of firing in both semi-automatic and fully-automatic modes. ...

And there lies the problem with the M14 from the onset: it was intended to fill too many roles. The Garand was a primary battle rifle. The M1 carbine was a light weight weapon intended to supplant the handgun as a weapon for support troops--not as big or heavy as a rifle but offering better fighting capabilities over a handgun. The BAR and Thompson (and M3 "grease gun") provided weapons capable of full automatic suppressive fire in an era where the primary cartridge used by troops was too powerful to use in a light weight automatic weapon. So how did the M14 do? It was a fine replacement for the Garand, but too heavy a weapon for support troops, and used too powerful of a cartridge for automatic fire from that light of a weapon. Something had to give, and that was the selection of a smaller, lighter cartridge with substantially less recoil, which gave us the M16.

As a side note, I would note that Italy was able to successfully convert the M1 Garand to use box magazines and added select fire, resulting in the BM59 rifle.

• "G3 vs World: Trials of Modern Battle Rifles in Pakistan"--The Firearm Blog.  The author was involved in a weapon trial conducted by Pakistan to replace the locally produced G3 rifles and Chinese AK rifles. And although the test were supposed to be only among the weapons that Pakistan was considering as replacements, at the last minute they decided to include the G3 to act as a "baseline" to compare against. The G3 compared very well against the modern battle rifle offerings from various arms manufacturers. The author's conclusion:

    What can we learn from this experience? Nobody is claiming that the G3 is better than any modern battle rifle, but if we look at the core of the firearm, what matters is the cartridge, barrel length, and action. You cannot expect a drastic difference between two rifles chambered for the same cartridge with similar barrel length.

    If a rifle is reliable and can be used with modern sighting systems, it doesn't matter whether it was invented in 1959 or two years ago. When it comes to the G3, there is a lot of room for improvement, but with proper modernisation, the G3 certainly fits the formula of ‘old, but not obsolete’.  

• "PSA Olcan Review: Why the 300 Blackout Bullpup Actually Makes Sense"--Ammo Land. The Olcan takes the upper from PSA's JAKL and marries it to a bullpup lower. Thus, it has a long-stroke gas piston system, side-charging handle, and adjustable gas system. The barrel is 14.5" with a pinned and welded muzzle device that appears ready to accept a sound suppressor. It cannot switch ejection from the right to the left, however. 
• "Is the H&R Retro M16A1 the Most Authentic Colt M16 Clone?"--Shooting Times.  From the article:

    NoDak Spud is one of the most recognizable names in the retro rifle game, and it plays a role in the H&R rifles. Like the H&R brand, NoDak Spud was also acquired by Palmetto State Armory’s parent company, and they made NoDak’s founder, Mike Wettleland, H&R’s CEO. To say the company was in good hands would be an understatement.

    The finished result is a really nice looking rifle. Chambered in 5.56 NATO with a 20” chrome-lined pencil barrel, the H&R M16A1 upper receiver is made from NoDak Spud’s proprietary dies, and it has all of the iconic cosmetic features that denote an M16A1. The muzzle device, buttstock, front sight, carry handle, teardrop forward assist, and the triangular handguards with the heat shields are all there – you know exactly what it is upon first glance.

    The finish on the upper and lower receivers is even the correct gray color. Now, I would be remiss not to mention that some people have complained about the color of the small parts. On some guns, the parts are a glossier black and they clash terribly. On the gun I received, the parts are most certainly not glossy black, and they blend in with the rest of the rifle’s coloring. Not sure why there is a difference between some, but I thought that it was worth mentioning.

It also is available with either the period correct 1:12 twist or 1:7 for those who want to shoot heavier bullets. MSRP is right around $1,200. 

• Speaking of retro: "Five of the Best Factory Loads to Try in Your M1 Garand"--Guns & Ammo. The operating system of the M1 Garand cannot handle the hot loads commonly found in .30-06, so some companies have developed and market loads specifically designed for the Garand. This article looks at the following offerings: Creedmoor Sports CMP Load; Federal American Eagle For M1 Garand; Hornady .30-06 M1 Garand Match; Underwood M1 Garand; and Winchester M1 Garand. Of note:

One of the newest of the batch, Winchester undoubtedly did the best job of duplicating the original M2 ball. I write this because, thanks to their control of the Lake City ammunition plant, they were able to recreate the appropriate “LC” marked cases, and the first ones the market has seen in quite some time. Built to be rough and tumble like classic military munitions, they aren’t much to look at. However, they proved to be the spiciest load of the day in each rifle. Consistency was above mil-spec in both rifles, and despite being hotter than the others, I didn’t perceive any additional recoil. This is a terrific load for general target practice, or if you’re looking for a faithful reproduction of issued ammunition. 

Given the cost of .30-06, you might want to consider handloading ammo.  

• "Reloading 101: An Introduction to Loading Your Own Ammo!"--Ammo Land. The author makes his argument for why you should invest in the equipment and learn to reload your own ammo, as well as providing basic instructions. He also explains the different types of reloading presses and other equipment you will need.
• "Handloading .38 Special: Allan Jones' Deep Ballistic Lessons"--Shooting Times. Lessons learned to make handloads more consistent and accurate. 
• "Cross Draw Holsters"--Active Response Training. Greg Ellifritz discusses the pros and cons of the cross draw method of carry: the primary advantages are ease of the draw from a sitting position while the primary issue is a gun grab from the front. He comments:

Although the crossdraw position has some merits, the potential downsides make me hesitant to recommend it.  Almost all the benefits from the crossdraw position can also be found in the appendix draw without having nearly the number of disadvantages.  I only recommend crossdraw to folks who have a shoulder injury that prohibits them from drawing from behind the hip or from the appendix position or for outdoors people who are carrying long barreled revolvers when hiking of hunting in the woods.   

I would go farther than that. If you are sitting a lot, the cross draw is still, IMHO, more comfortable than an appendix carry. Additionally, those with larger guts will find cross-draw carry more usable than appendix carry. And for those suffering from sciatica aggravated by carrying on their strong side, moving the firearm to the opposite side of the body can in some cases be better tolerated.

• "Commerce Dept: There’s No Evidence at All Showing Microstamping is Reliable"--Shooting News Weekly.  Key bit:

    The determination by NIST officials, after reviewing the compendium of data examining microstamping, is that the existing studies show a microstamping cannot produce repeatable and legible codes. That’s for a couple reasons. Even the microstamping patent-holder, Todd Lizotte, got involved in the research that ultimately concluded that “…legitimate questions exist related to both the technical aspects, production costs, and database management associated with microstamping that should be addressed before wide scale implementation is legislatively mandated.”

    ... The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTME) and the New York State Firearms Technical Working Group (TWG) observed that firing pins wear over time.

    That makes sense. Firing pins striking metallic primers naturally wear over time. NIST noted that adding in the fact that firearms produce residue from gunpowder (as any recreational shooter can attest). That gunpowder residue can accumulate in the microscopic laser-engraved microstamp, obscuring the code.

    That doesn’t take into account that different firing pins are used in different firearms. That variation of make and model, metallurgy and even lacquer coatings on ammunition can affect the ability of a legible code to be present on spent cartridges. On top of that, it doesn’t work at all in rimfire ammunition, since there’s an entirely different primer in the rim of the cartridge and not a separate primer. Manufacturers’ branding on the cartridge can affect legibility too.

    How the firing pin strikes the primer can affect legibility too. Repeated strikes and drag marks can mar the microscopic microstamping code. 

• I like the idea of a safari, but my wallet can't afford one. This article explores another option: planning a hunt in Texas: "How to Plan a Domestic Safari: Hunting Exotic Species in the US"--Shooting Times. The author writes:

Many Americans have hunted a lot in the Northeast, the Great Plains, and some of the other areas of the country and would like to go on “safari,” but various constraints prevent that. However, a hunting trip to Texas can be accomplished within most of our budgets of time and money. It is one of the most accessible and varied hunting venues available to us. It is within driving distance for most of the country, and driving to Texas avoids being at the mercy of the haphazard air traffic control system. In Texas, both native and exotic game species abound, and they are accessible through many means. So, let us consider planning a Texas safari. First of all, make a checklist of what to take, preparations to make, and such. 

•  "Best Emergency Food to Keep in Your Car Year-Round"--Modern Survival Blog. The author begins by laying out the issue:

    For a true year-round vehicle stash, I would use a two-layer system: one heat-tolerant emergency ration that stays in the vehicle, plus a small supply of normal snacks that you rotate and actually like to eat.

    This general two-layer method has been my approach for many years and has proven reliable.

    One problem is heat. A snack that lasts a year in your pantry may not hold up nearly as well inside a parked vehicle. Cold creates its own problems too, especially with water and canned food.

    That gives you dependable backup calories without turning your vehicle into a rolling pantry. It also avoids relying on ordinary granola bars, nuts, jerky, or canned food for years at a time. 

For a heat stable emergency ration, he recommends S.O.S. Rations 3600-Calorie Emergency Food Bars. This (or something similar) is what I also used for an emergency food supply in my car kit back in my college days when I was frequently traveling long distances in winter. The author additionally discusses what other snacks to have and carrying water. Interestingly, his selection of water pouches is also similar to my choice long ago. Basically, what I did was look at food and water packets that were primarily intended for small water craft and life boats. 

•  And another from Modern Survival Blog: "How to Check If a Product Has Been Recalled." Unfortunately, there is no single website or government agency to check--it depends on the type of product. But the author details what information to look for on a product and several different sources to check. 
• "American Heirloom Project: How would you rebuild it all?"--Tilting At Windmills. The author begins with a thought experiment: what skills would you need to rebuild society and survive if all our technology--the grid, long distance trade, etc.--disappear. He encourages readers to learn a skill, as a hobby, that would be valuable in such circumstances; preferably one that can be done without power tools.

     I don’t use hand tools because I’m too pure for power tools. It’s just a preference for me. I don’t like the noise or the health risk. I might still bleed from a chisel being rammed into my thumb, but I’m not likely to lose a finger to the table saw.

    That’s where you can come in.

    Find yourself a niche. Learn to fill it. Even just growing your own vegetables or herbs is something. You’re building resiliency that might save lives or, at a minimum, put a really nice tomato on your burger; one you can’t get at the grocery store because you are the one who grows that particular kind.

    We need to stop trusting a system to keep us safe when that system actually doesn’t care about you, the person. Governments don’t have to protect you as a person, just society as a general concept, and if we’ve learned anything since 2020, it’s how little we should probably trust that.

    I remember the empty grocery store shelves in the early days of COVID, after all. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather not depend on just-in-time delivery systems that can’t always deliver just in time. I’d rather not go to get meat for dinner and have the clerk tell me I can’t have it all because there’s rationing.

    I experienced it all, as did many of you, and it sucked.

    Building the skills so, at least in part, you won’t have to is good. Doing it so someone else doesn’t have to is better.

    Raise chickens.

    Spin fibers into thread.

    Turn it into fabric.

    Make pots and fire them in the backyard using a method that is cool as hell, and completely irrelevant.

    Find your craft. Find your apocalyptic profession. Find your thing.

    You may have already. You might be sitting there thinking, “I’ve been knitting since I was 12,” and I’ll say, “Dope. You were already there,” and move on.

•  In a similar vein: "The Manual for Civilization Begins"--Long Now. The author writes: "We have named this collection the Manual for Civilization, and it will include the roughly 3500 books most essential to sustain or rebuild civilization. Using this as an curatorial principle is helping us assemble a very interesting collection of books." The article then links to lists people have compiled of supposedly useful books. Unfortunately, many of the lists seem more about what academics think is necessary rather than what is necessary. I haven't gone through all the lists, but they seem heavy on fiction and social sciences over practical guides to machining and manufacturing. I didn't even see a single reference to the classic set of books, How Things Work, which provides brief descriptions of so many machines and how they work. So while the concept is sound, they seem to be compiling lists from the wrong sorts of people.