Firearms

More Muzzle Flash

I usually take a couple of videos when we go to the range, and Sunday was no exception. Damsel loaded seven .357 magnum rounds into the S&W 686 and emptied the revolver in bursts averaging one per second. The unique thing about this video is that all seven rounds produced prominent muzzle flashes.

When I want to capture a muzzle flash, I usually have to single-step through the video to a frame with the nice flash. I generally get a nice bright plume every few rounds and can make a still picture out of a selected frame. The thing missing from a still, however, is the nice, dynamic nature of the real thing.

Click  >  to see this visually pleasing pyrotechnic display.

Striking Down Gun & Ammo Laws – Wishful Thinking

scales-of-justiceIt would be nice if we could add the draconian California micro-stamping and lead ban laws along with the pending insane ammunition bill to Connecticut’s list as suggested by the following opinion from the Republican American (Waterbury, CT). The article contends that “guidance” offered by the Court will prove to be contentious for years to come.

Unfortunately, the SCOTUS case will only decide on the individual ownership issue without regard to whacko laws that over regulate our legally-owned weapons and tax us to death with fees. Any guidance given will likely be ignored by states and local governments.

State Gun Bills Should Be Spiked

When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy says the Bill of Rights guarantees Americans’ “general right to bear arms,” chances are very good the tone and direction of the long national debate over gun laws is about to change radically.

. . .

It’s good that justices finally will rule the Second Amendment guarantees the individual right to bear arms, but their desire to offer guidance on what constitutes “reasonable” and “common-sense” gun restrictions may prove problematic for legislatures, lower courts and law-abiding citizens for years to come. What a sportsman would consider common sense, for example, no doubt would seem unreasonable to a gun-controller.

With the gun debate changing so dramatically, it makes sense for Connecticut lawmakers to shelve the two unreasonable gun-control bills under consideration. The first would mandate serial numbers on bullets, the second, firing pins that stamp a code on the shell cartridge.

In theory, these measures would enable police to trace the bullets to their owner. But in the real world, the serial number would be obliterated the instant the bullet strikes an object less malleable than lead. Meanwhile, the stamping technology is in its infancy, is easily defeated, would not be required on the types of guns favored by criminals, and would require gun companies to retool their manufacturing and assembly processes; most have said it would be more economical to move their operations and high-paying jobs to other states. Finally, both bills would impose expensive unfunded costs on state and local police without guaranteeing any improvement in public safety.

Lawmakers should be in no hurry to enact gun-control laws that justices likely will vaporize when they strike down the D.C. gun ban in June.

I added the emphasis.

California Contemplating Ammunition Sales Restrictions

ammo.gifThis is just some more California craziness, not to mention another tax on legitimate gun owners and sportsmen. Just like all other gun-prohibitive laws, this one will be ignored by criminals and will punish honest law-abiding firearms enthusiasts and those seeking self-defense in their homes.

No rational person will fail to see that the target of this legislation is me and other firearms enthusiasts. However, gangstas, hoods, sickos and perps of all descriptions will add this to the list of the insane gun laws of California that they ignore.

Next Wednesday, March 25, the Assembly Public Safety Committee will consider legislation that would require gun owners to obtain a “permit-to-purchase” before buying handgun ammunition.

Introduced by State Assembly Member Kevin De Leon (D-45), Assembly Bill 2062 puts ammunition sales in the crosshairs. AB2062 would require that law-abiding gun owners obtain a permit to buy handgun ammunition and would impose severe restrictions on the private transfers of handgun ammunition. Applicants for a “permit-to-purchase” would be required to submit to a background check, pay a $35 fee, and wait as long as 30 days to receive the permit.

Under AB2062, it would be unlawful to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a “handgun ammunition vendor” in the Department of Justice’s database. Ammunition retailers would have to be licensed and store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers. The bill would also require vendors to keep a record of the transaction including the ammunition buyer’s name, driver’s license, the quantity, caliber and type of ammunition purchased, and right thumbprint, which would be submitted to the Department of Justice or the number of his handgun ammunition purchase permit. Vendors would be required to contact the purchase permit database, to verify the validity of a permit before completing a sale. All ammunition sales in the State of California would be subject to a $3 per transaction tax. Lastly, mail order ammunition sales would be prohibited. Any violator of AB2062 would be subject to civil fines.

The whole NRA-ILA article is here.

If you’re in California you can contact the committee members. The contact list is below.

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Shotgun Barrel

Recently, we started using a popular product called Strike Hold, a cleaner, lubricant and protectant (CLP) for metallic items, weapons in particular. Since we have been using it, cleaning the firearms after a session at the range is quicker and easier.

before-after.jpg

This is the before and after shot of my 20 gauge shotgun barrel before and after spritzing the product in the barrel and running a couple of patches through it. It replaces both the solvent and oil products previously used.