Mossy Creek Custom

Recently, in a Chattanooga, TN courtroom, Judge Bob Moon told a victim of a home invasion that she was responsible for her own security, and that she should arm herself.  This is certainly a departure from how those in the legal system are normally characterized when it comes to gun rights, but it backs up what we say all the time.  You alone are responsible for your security.   You can read the full article here.

Armor Case

If you liked the iPod case pictured in the last post about using your iPod for bullet calculations, you can purchase them from Otter Box.  They offer several tough cases that will protect your iPod from the elements.  All you need to do is decide how much protection you need.  They offer several different levels of protection for all your needs.  The case compatible for shooting is the Armor Case.  If you are going to carry your iPod in the field, go ahead and invest the money (about $50) to keep it in good working order.  You can find them on the web, or we can get them for you.

Recently my iPod screen decided to quit working, and rather than pay too much to get it fixed, I decided to upgrade since my old one was about 2 years old.  After a lot of deliberation I finally settled on the iPod Touch.

iPod Touch

The iPod touch is really designed to fill the niche for those of us who are not ready for the iPhone.  Because I don’t use AT&T for my cell service, it is not pratical for me to switch to the iPhone.  The iPod Touch has the same features and capabilities, except for the cell service and Internet, but I can still use the Touch on wireless networks.  I took the Touch out on the road this past week, and I am really impressed.  The wi-fi capability came in very useful, and the screen is so much better than I could have imagined.

In addition to that are the wonderful applications (apps) that can be downloaded.  Some are free, but most are a few dollars.  For my trip I downloaded Pac Man and Scrabble to pass the time.  It just takes the iPod to a whole new level.  Every day there are different apps being developed for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  There are games, others for business, language tools, and just about anything else you could think of ever needing.  If you have not made the jump to an iPod I encourage you to check them out.  They are so much more than a new version of the walkman.  But that’s not all. . .

What I am about to share with you is definitely tacticool, but I just can’t pass it up.  When I returned from the trip, I was Stubling! and found Knight’s Armament purely by accident.  They sell the usual AR type weapons, but they have also developed a new app for your iPod Touch or iPhone called Bullet Flight.

Bullet Flight is an app you can download for fast field calculations.  Essentially it is a way to make your shooting experience rock.  Can you imagine being able to throw away your old charts, and rely on an instant computer calculation to be able to shoot?  This is definitely awesome as the picture below shows.

Yes, I know you want one, and I do too.  But before you rush out to buy an iPod touch and download this app, recognize that it is in its infancy and users are reporting some quirks.  However, I am sure Knight’s Armament will correct these very shortly.

As we move forward with technology it is going to be amazing to see how we progress in our battlefield tactics.  Just remember that no app or gizmo will replace a well trained soldier.  Even so, this is pretty cool.

One of the places that you should think about protection is church.  I know it seems odd to take a weapon into a peaceful assembly, but with recent shootings a different churches, there seems to be a responsibility to consider the safety of parishioners.

Churches have several options that should be considered.  The easiest is to pay off duty police officers to work inside the buildings and out in the parking lots when services are in session.  By hiring local deputies or officers, you not only protect yourself, but you also add a certain peace of mind to the members of your church whenever they see a uniformed LEO.

Another option is to hire full-time security to work at the church.  This is very costly and gives different levels of satisfaction.  But, when you consider the alternative of no security it is definitely an option.

The final option that no one wants to talk about is CCW’s at church.  Some states do not permit you to carry a CCW while services are in session.  There is also the liability issue for the church.  If you have a CCW you may want to speak with your pastor about his feelings if it is lawful in your state.  While the pastor may not want armed parishioners, he/she may be willing to form a security team that you could coordinate.

Whatever you decide, make sure you look at these options.  If your church currently doesn’t have a plan in place, take it upon yourself to investigate your legal options and bring them to the leadership.  Everyone will be grateful that you did.

Maintenance for your firearms is crucial if you carry them daily.  We have all gotten a little spoiled with Glocks that can withstand thousands of rounds in torture tests without a malfunction, but the reality is if you have to trust a firearm for your profession or CCW, you had better keep them clean.

I was reminded of this because a good friend brought over a Kel-Tec that would not extract a live round.  The slide would only move about 1/4″.  He essentially had two choices at that point; fire the gun or find a good way to safely get the round out.

Firing the gun was not an option because of city ordinances, and getting the live round out was going to be tricky.  After consideration we came up with a viable solution.  We would get the extractor off of the case and try to pry the cartridge out.  What made it a little difficult is that the Kel-Tec doesn’t have a slide lock so it took all four hands that we had.

Once the case was out we took some measurements to see if it was an issue with the particular round, but it wasn’t.  A close look showed lots of pocket lint which caused the malfunction.  Evidently the lint got between the case walls and the chamber.  With a larger gun it probably would have been possible to leverage the slide, but the Kel-Tec’s slide is too small.

The bottom line is that if you are relying on a gun for your life, take the time to clean and lube every other week.  It takes no time compared to a lifetime of could have beens.

Go ahead and get green with envy.  Your i-phone isn’t nearly this cool.

I was recently showing a few of my personal 1911’s to a customer when I mentioned that I am indeed afflicted with a Colt disease.  Some call it Colt blindness because you refuse to see the facts.  Others call it an infatuation gone wrong because I can’t get over it.  Whatever its name it affects many shooters from all generations.  The basic symptoms are that your head confirms better 1911’s exist, but your heart won’t allow you to possess any of them.  For some reason if that little pony isn’t on the slide, it just doesn’t seem right.

Please understand that I am strictly speaking about production 1911’s.  Everyone knows that a 1911 built by a compotent gunsmith is better any day.  You also know that it comes with a very hefty price tag.  All of this is leading to a website you might find interesting if you are Colt addict.

ColtAutos.com is a great website for anyone who loves to read about and see other classic Colt guns.  This sight offers a wealth of information for the collector and it gives readers an opportunity to see some of the finest Colts that have ever been produced.  Of particular in interest is the gun of the month.

Each month a gun is highlighted and described for the reader.  It includes detailed pictures and pertinent information on why the particular gun is indeed special.  This month is a 1908 pocket model that is engraved.  This is an absolutely stunning piece.

Colt 1908 pocket model

These guns are very interesting because in certain circles they are seen a the perfect CCW gun.  They are very slim making them easy to conceal, and they bring a certain sense of pride to the owner that you can’t get from buying one off the rack.  We actually worked over one of these for a police officer who carried it as his off duty gun.  If you are interested in a little something more, check out Sams Custom Gunworks version of this pistol for modern CCW.

By the way a quick check of Gun Broker shows these available from $300-$1,500.

The other day we had the opportunity to speak with Hamilton Bowen of Bowen Classic Arms (BCA), one of the top 100 pistolsmiths according to American Handgunner magazine.  His company specializes in all things revolver and offers some amazing packages for your Smith and Wesson or Ruger revolvers.  One of the things that you will appreciate is his friendly staff.  They simply treat you like you are a real person.

Since wheelguns have become a little lost in the background of a hi-capacity generation it has become hard to find people that do quality work.  Obviously this is now a speciality of its own.  If you are looking for a gunsmith to turn your revolver into an instant classic, you won’t go wrong with their many options.

Rob Leatham, also known as “The Great One” (TGO) has a series of videos on his website that will make you be a better competitive shooter.  You can check them out here.  This video shows an IDPA stage being shot.

As a follow up to yesterday’s post, I wanted to mention what we use in the shop.  For general purposes we use Break Free CLP.  It can be used as a cleaner, lube and protector.  We find it to be mild smelling and does a great job.  If you are thinking about something to have that does it all, try the break free.

For storage purposes and the like we always have some Rem Oil

around.  It can be sprayed on and the excess wiped off with a soft cloth.  We find that it does a good job keeping the guns lubed up and free from rust.  You can easily make a gun cloth by spraying some Rem Oil on a soft cloth that you keep in a zip lock bag.  As it dries out apply more Rem Oil.

Either of these will get the job done, and they are both available locally.  As you know there are a plethora of different lubes that everyone will tell you are the best.  We won’t go that far, but we will tell you these work fine.