Friday, July 18, 2014

ATF: A Great Loss

How does a .22 caliber 70 grain bullet rolling at about 3100 fps sound?  In case you're keeping track that's hotter than a .223.  What I'm talking about of course is the 5.6x52mmR... otherwise known as the Savage .22 Hi Power... or .22 Imp.  I don't know about you but it sounds pretty damned nice to me.

This round was developed by Savage in 1912, and believe it or not initially became extremely popular among soft skinned dangerous game hunters...  you know... lions and tigers and such.  Looking back that probably wasn't a good idea...  I do believe several folks died because they only wounded the critters.

Still... this has a lot going for it.  It is an extremely accurate round... and its over the magic 3000fps mark.

It fell out of favor here in the US ...  but its still popular in europe I believe.  Anyway.. I dunno about you but I'd like to have one.

A: Woodford Reserve.  Just because.  Dammit.

T:  Gurkha.  As usual.

F:  Hrm...  I figure I better go with the Tracker seven shot .357.  Its been that kind of week around here.

How about you?

Ignorance and Inconsistency

Normally I don't have time for metaphysics and such...  but today I'm making an exception.  So buckle up.

We're told by the learned scientific types that only observable things are real.  For it to be real we must be able to see it... touch it... measure it.  This they say is nature and nature is what can be observed.  If it cannot be observed its imaginary.

Now that sounds reasonable enough.  Except its entirely subjective.  Wait...  you say...  how can that be subjective?  Its observable reality!  

Well lets look at it.  And lets start with matter.  You know what matter is right?  Its material...  its stuff.  It is what the Learned Scientists call "real".  There is a problem with that.  The problem is...  Matter is actually energy.  

You need to understand that.  Matter isn't matter.  Matter is energy.  The particles vibrate slower than energy in other forms and thus appear solid or liquid or even gas to us.  But it still never the less all energy.  And all of this is determined by the frequency the energy is vibrating. 

What this means is... the fact that a different form of energy may be vibrating at a different frequency and is therefore not easily detected by our limited abilities.  The Learned Scientist must therefore conclude that it does not exist.  That's why the position of the Learned Scientist is subjective.  They've take a small subset of energy that happens to behave a certain way and suggested that it is the only energy in existence.

Well...  Except they make an exception for Dark Energy.   Dark Energy is energy that they believe should exist because math says so... but they can't observe it so they accept it as true anyway because arguing with math is never a good option.  

So...  Only matter matters and all matter is energy but the only energy that matters is matter or measurable except for dark energy which matters even though it isn't matter or measurable.

Got it?

Consider this.  You are a being made up of pure energy.  Energy cannot be destroyed.  It can only change forms.  You are literally eternal.  You are a child of eternity.  You observe and interact with other energy that is vibrating in a similar way to you... and therefore appears to make up your reality... but do not make the arrogant mistake of the Learned Scientist.  Do not ever assume that what you can observe is all that exists.  We see and experience only a small slice.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Wanna Go to Bessemer?

Check it out!  Steyr Arms US Headquarters is opening their showroom to the public this friday and saturday.  Normally this is appointment only.  They are selling weapons at big discounts so if you're looking for a road trip... well... this is as good an excuse as any.

Hit the link for all the pertinents and details and such.

I'm not sure I can make it up there but if I can... I will be take some pics and let y'all know how it went.


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Options Unexplored

So there is a lot of talk about the new Service Pistol contract and the web is all abuzz with opinions about what is going to be picked and what not.  I thought I'd take an objective look at what the Army actually said it wanted... and with an open mind... offer an answer.  What I came up with was off beat to say the least.

Let's go back to the criteria.  They said they wanted: simple, user friendly, modern, and more powerful.

So here is something I have been kicking around...  what if they went with something like... this...


Yep.  That's a Smith and Wesson M&P R8.  8 shots of .357 magnum out of a 5 inch barrel.  It even has a rail so you can mall cop it up if you want.  Now I know you're thinking I've lost my damned mind but think about it...  what's more simple than a revolver?  Ever had a wheel gun fail on ya?  I know I haven't.  Think this fella will have a problem with dirt and sand gumming up the works?  I sure don't.  And I certainly don't think anyone is going to argue that you can't put a hurt on someone with a .357 magnum.

That said... if I was designing it from the ground up.. it would be a .41 magnum or a 45 long colt instead. And it would get grips like the taurus tracker series.. which are by far the best grips on the planet when it comes to felt recoil reduction.  Either of those are going to ruin your day.  Even if armor will stop the shot you're not going to be in any condition to do much fighting afterwards.

I submit that this weapon meets all of the criteria and then some... and in a purely objective sense... it is the best answer to the Service Pistol question.  Its easy to use.  Its ultimately reliable.  It is a hammer.  The only advantage the autos have is speed of reloading.  Which I will argue isn't particularly important... since military context a pistol is only there to keep you alive until you can find a rifle.

Do I think this is what they'll choose?   No.  I don't think anyone will even consider a revolver for a second.

But that doesn't mean they shouldn't.


Monday, July 14, 2014

Capacity vs Power

Trigger pullers frequently point out that a sidearm is something you only use when things have gone terribly wrong and you can't get to your rifle.  Pistols suck they smugly say.  They say there is no difference between 9mm and .45acp because inadequate is inadequate.  They may even prefer the 9mm... because if its inadequate... you mas as well have lots of chances to make it work.

The problem with this of course... is it isn't true.

Let me demonstrate...

A 9mm (9x19 parabellum to be specific) is going to hit with say... 420 pounds of energy.  That's for a 115 grain fmj.. and its being generous.

Now lets compare that to a .41 magnum wheel gun.

We'll give the 9mm pistol a capacity of say... 17.  Fair enough?   And we'll give the .41 magnum a perfectly modern capacity of 7.

17 to 7!  Obviously the 9mm is the better choice right?

Well... a 170 grain bullet out of that .41 magnum is rolling out at over 1800 fps.  That's more than 500 fps faster than what that pathetic little 9 is throwing that little 115 grain bullet.  The .41 is producing over 1300 foot pounds of force.

So... looking at the 9mm... 17 shots X 420 pounds of energy... equals 7140 pounds of potential energy.

But 7 shots from the 41... at 1320 each... well that equals 9240 pounds of energy.  2,100 pounds more that the pathetic 9.  In fact even at 21 rounds you're still around 1000 pounds less than what 7 shots of a .41 mag produces.

Something else to consider...  people think of the 9mm as a small fast bullet.  But please notice.. the .41 mag isn't just a much bigger bullet... its a much bigger bullet.. going much faster.  Same with the .45acp.  People thing its a big slow bullet.  In reality a 185 grain bullet rolls out of a .45 at over 1200 fps... meaning its faster than a 124 grain 9mm.  In terms of energy the .45 is hitting at over 600 pounds... so its no where close to the .41 mag above... but the ammo capacity is greater.  13 rounds in the case of a Springfield XD-M.  So lets do the math again..

13 rounds times 616 foot pounds equals... 7969 pounds of potential energy.  Again...  several hundred pounds more potential energy available than the 9mm in spite of lower capacity.

Sure...  if you have 21 paper targets threatening your life... I'm sure your 21 separate bullets will suffice to deal with it.  You can punch a hole in each one of them.

In real life though you're more likely to face one or two... three at most attackers... and in that case... you better have a big hitter on your hip... not some glorified pellet gun.



Sunday, July 13, 2014

Replacing the M9

So the US Army is looking to replace the M9.  Apparently they are finally owning up to the mistake that was the 9mm.... and the Beretta 92.   And its not that I really have a lot against the 92f.  I mean I have a couple of them.  There is a lot about the design I like.  But lets face it... when Taurus's clone blew the original out of the water... well... that should tell you something.  The 92F should've had a decocker.  The 92f should've been significantly beefed up.

But that's all water under the bridge now.  The Army wants a new sidearm.  It says it wants a simple, modern, ergonomic weapon with more knock down power.

Hear that ladies?  The US Army is admitting the 9mm doesn't do the job.  I will be interested to hear your lamentations and crying.  or not.  I really don't care.  If you carry a 9 you're deluding yourself.  As it is it looks like they will be looking for either a .40 or a .45. I am thinking they'll go with something in .40.

Anyway I thought I'd compile a list of the folks that already have duty pistols in the pipeline that will no doubt be in the competition.  If I leave anything out be sure to mention it in the comments.  Based on what I've seen I expect them to be looking for a DAO striker fired pistol.  So lets take a look...

FN Herstal FNS:  This is the striker version of the FNX.  It should be a serious contender and some think its the favorite.

Springfield XD:  If they are going by quality...  the XD is going to be in it till the end.

SIG P320:  We thought it was blasphemous when saw this pistol announced... but now I think the guys at SIG knew something the rest of us didn't.

Glock: Obviously.  Lots of folks are just assuming Glock will get the contract.  I think that's foolish.  The Army was clear that ergonomics were important... so Glock can be eliminated right there.

Ruger SR40:  This is a real dark horse in my opinion.  There is every reason in the world to give the SR a long look.

Smith and Wesson M&P40:  Like the Ruger... this one has to get a look but I don't think it is a contender.

Taurus 24-7:  I don't think it has a chance... but it will still be entered into the competition.

I don't think Steyr will enter the M40A-1 into the competition.  But I would obviously love to see them do so.

No doubt we'll also see some new designs entered... but for now these are the ones I expect to see duking it out.  Personally I think the Springfield or the SIG are the weapons to beat.





Friday, July 11, 2014

ATF: No I'm Not Dead

hey kids...   any of you still stopping by after all this time.  Sorry.   Lots going on.  I mean... lots.  I may be the only guy on the planet busier than Vox right now.  Its nuts.  And no.. I can't really talk to you about it.  So sorry.  Deal with it.


A: umm.. God what is this swill?  UGH...  Sam Adams... I hate Sam Adams.  Yankee bastard... UGH.

T:  None tonight...  Havocs and Ghurkas tomorrow though.

F:  Mauser 24/47.   7.92 X 57mm Mauser.  Old school.  Custom stock...  the works.  Yes...it rocks... And no... I don't care about your Enfield.  Enfields are gay.  We know they are gay because gay limeys used them.  So shut up about your gay limey rifle.  I also don't care about your Mosin Nagant... or the box you live in under the bridge.