Show files are up on the Podcast page!
I have also loaded up the contact information for the Washtenaw Board of Commissioners
Tell them how you feel about them dabbling into gun control, and remind them their job is manage the county, fix the roads and not forward a political agenda!
Show File are up on the Podcast Page!
In the first segment We talked about the up coming NRA Days at the Dundee Michigan Cabelas. The agend for this weekends presentations is attached below:
Cabelas NRA Days September 14th and 15th 2013
In the second segment we talked to David Castlegrant about the the Emergency preparedness EXPO that will take place at the Birch run Convention Center on October 19th.
Emergency Preparedness EXPO at Birch Run October 19 2012
In the Third segment I was honored to talk to Carrie Lightfoot. Carrie is the Founder of “The Well Armed Woman” which is a great resource for information, training, and products related to woman and firearms. Concealed Carry, Home defense, products for the woman shooter. This is the place to go for information.
Carrie will be teaching classes at Michigan State on September 21st and you should plan to attend!
In the fourth Segment, Long time listener and call John from Danville, IL called about a PTR 91 he recently purchased. We ran out of time to talk but John promised to call back to give us a range report!
Safe Shooting!
Dick Cupka
Trigger Talk: A Helpful New Product
With the influx of new shooters into the handgun world, I often see people struggle to operate the slides on their semi-automatic pistols. This is especially true if the person is small, has low upperbody strength, or may have medical issues such as arthritis or other disorders.
Gone are the days when you only found young and middle age men in Concealed Pistol License courses. These days classes represent all ages and are typically 30 – 50% women.
Physical limitations should be considered in your firearm choice. Today there are many small pistols on the market specifically for concealed carry. Unfortunately when these guns are downsized, it often takes a very stout recoil spring to retain proper function.
Some people chose a revolver for this reason because it does not require the functioning of a slide to chamber a round. While this is true, a double action revolver may have a long firm trigger pull that can be very difficult if you have finger strength or joint pain issues. Some of the newest composite revolvers such as the Ruger LCR or Smith and Wesson Bodyguard have newly design trigger control groups to lessen the force required. If you are purchasing a new gun be sure to “Dry Fire” the trigger at the gun counter to check and make sure that you can smoothly pull the trigger through five or six pulls. If you cannot then a revolver is not a good choice for self defense.
Semi-Automatic pistol typically have a much lighter triggerpull than a double action revolver. Many of the striker fired polymer pistols such as Glock, Springfield XD also have some form of a “Safety Design” built into the trigger to help prevent inadvertent discharge of the gun without the trigger being pulled.
This still leaves the shooter having to function the slide to chamber a round. This can be especially difficult on the smaller guns because the recoil spring must be strong to function in the smaller lighter gun. Some techniques for making this chore easier can be practiced: such as holding the slide with your weak hand and pushing forward with your strong arm. This helps because your arm and shoulder muscles are stronger at pushing than they are at pulling. However sometimes the hand is just not strong enough to clamp on the slide.
I recently came across a new product that I think could be a tremendous help to people that struggle to function the slide on their pistol. It is called the “Slide Pull” and is made by a company called “Brass Stacker”. Attached to the back of your slide it provides a ring for you to place you finger through to pull when functioning the slide on your gun.
Installed with a simple allen wrench in minutes, it does not interfere with the function of the gun. The slight additional length of the gun should not be of any concern for a home defense gun. I simulated installing a Slide Pull on one of my carry guns (Glock 26) and I do not think it would interfere very much with concealability.
If you are interested: checkout their website www.brassstacker.com. They current produce“Slide Pulls” for Glocks and Springfield XD’s.Reasonably priced at only $42 it comes in blackor if you prefer it is available in Pink!
Show Files are up on the Podcast Page!
In the first segment we talked about the new Harvard study on gun violence that was published this past week. You likely wont hear about this from the mainstream media because it does not support the position of those pushing for more and stronger Gun Control.
The fact that some countries have very few firearms has not reduced the rate of violent crimes. In fact, according to the study, “Homicide results suggest that where guns are scarce other weapons are substituted in killings.”
Researchers Don B. Kates and Gary Mauser reviewed the gun laws in several European countries to see if banning firearms would decrease murders and suicides. They found that countries with higher firearm ownership had lower murder rates.
The fact that some countries have very few firearms has not reduced the rate of violent crimes. In fact, according to the study, “Homicide results suggest that where guns are scarce other weapons are substituted in killings.”
Additionally, the study looked at violence compared to firearm ownership and found there is “a negative correlation.”
“(Where) firearms are most dense violent crime rates are lowest, and where guns are least dense violent crime rates are highest.”
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf
In the second segment John Howell joined us talk about a great fundraiser to support the Boys Scouts of America. The “Autumn Adventure” is a day ovf hunting and shooting for a good cause. John is looking for corporate sponsors and this could be opportunity for you take your clients to a sporting event they actually participate in while supporting the Boy Scouts. The brochure is attached below:
2013_Autumn_Adventure_Invitation[1]
In the third segment Maggie Dolezal was my guest and she is the Founding leader and Coach of the Dundee High School Trap Club. Maggie described the fun and interest they have had with the club experience phenomenal growth. The club is now entering it’s fourth year and has been competing in regional competitions.
The Club has been aided by Beretta Firearms through their support for Exhibition Shooter Travis Mears to hold shooting clinics and exhibitions in support of the youthful shooters.
Travis Mears Beretta Exhibition Shooter
One challenge the club faces is there are few other High Schools nearby fielding a team so it is difficult to set up meets.
I sent out a challenge to listeners to initiate discussions with High Schools in their area to potentially start Trap clubs or Teams at their local High School.
At the end of September there is a Shotguns Coaches Class being offered in Lenox, MI by the NRA for those of you interested in becoming a coach.
NRA Coaches Class – September 28-29 2013
If you would like to learn more about hoe to set up a Club at your High School, Please contact Maggie by email at: mdole7691@charter.net
Other Show Topics included the ineffectiveness of the Starbuck’s boycott by “Mom’s Demanding Action” and the absurdity of the new Obama Gun Control Executive order’s and how banning the importation of Antique Firearms is in no way related to reducing gun violence by thugs and street criminals.
Show files are up on the Podcast Page!
In the second segment Brad Bachelder called in from Grand Rapids, MI to talk about his company (Bachelder Master Gunmakers) that specializes in the restoration and service of fine vintage guns.
Brad talked about the special attention they put into each restoration to ensure the materials, color of finish, Case Hardening pattern and wood finish match the way the original firearm was manufactured.
Watch the video done by WZZM Channel 13 in Grand Rapids on Bachelder Master GunMakers
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/264886/315/Made-in-Michigan-Bachelder-Gunmakers
In addition to restorations Bachelder Master Gunmakers offers service on modern firearms as well. Brad has an extraordinary amount of experience in gunsmithing , including time spent at each of the major manufacturers and promises to come back on TriggerTalk in the future to talk about his experience.
In the third segment longtime listener and caller John From Danville , IL calls in to talk about his experience with Class 3 firearms “Back in the Day”.
In the 70’s and 80’s a Class 3 Dealer could purchase fully automatic “Dealer Samples” for a very low price, with German MG34’s costing approx. $450 and Thompson’s, Greaseguns and others going for a fraction of what they cost today. it was fun time in the gun collector world.
Isn’t it interesting that we had greater access to firearms, including fully automatic firearms and yet, we didn’t have the problems we see today with the current culture.
I wonder what has changed? It certainly isn’t the firearms collector, we still have the same respect for peoples rights and the safety required when handling firearms that we have always had.
I wonder what is different now? Could it be other influences on Society that people are unwilling to address? Hmm I wonder?
Safe Shooting!
Dick Cupka
August 17th show files are up on the Podcast page!
This Saturday in the second segment we will talk about an upcoming shooting event to support the Boy Scouts of America. The “Autumn Adventure” is a great way to raise money for the BSA and provides a great time for your team to enjoy a fun and safe shooting event.
2013_Autumn_Adventure_Invitation[1]
If you like Sporting Clays and Pheasant hunting this could be a great time for you while helping to support a great American Institution!
In the third and forth segments we will talk to Mike Darter Co-Founder and CEO of CCW Safe. CCW is a company that provides a paid service to represent you in the event of a self Defense shooting.
Please prepare your questions for Mike and call in at 734-822-1600
Show Files are up on the podcast page!
Erich Knowka called in to discuss pending legislation on H.B. 4262 that will will severely restrict our ability to carry knifes that are useful for both Sporting and Self-Defense usage.
We talked about a new product to check out if you have difficulty pulling back the slide on a Glock or Springfield XD. The Brass Stacker “Slide Pull” may have a device to help you. Attached to the back of the slide, this ring could be just the ticket if you do not have sufficient strength to grasp the slide and pule at the same time. This could be a real help to those with arthritis or other loss of function. See Below:
Last week we talk briefly about new legislation in Lansing that would severely restrict our knife rights. This bill will affect many of the knives we now carry in our pockets, not just for self-defense but also for sporting purposes.
This week (Aug. 10th) Erich Nowka will join me at 11:15 to discuss what this bill means to you and how to stop this bad legislation.
You can’t take it with you!
Firearm owners come in all ages and experience levels, I am targeting this article at those of you that are very experienced and may own many firearms. I am part of the “You can never have too many guns” crowd. Over the years there have been so many improvements and innovations in firearms,that I often say “Ohh, I need to get one of those” and my collection grows.
I have always been a sucker for a good .22 rifle and have picked up quite few over the years. Some are collectible and those I will keep, but several are just basic bolt action or semi-auto plinkers. The single shot bolt action rifle for years has been an entry level gun and can often be found at garage, estate and farm sales for very low prices and I must admit a few have found their way into my safe.
The Shooting Sports is one of the few activities that allows you participate from a very young age of 5 or 6 up to the age of 70, 80 and beyond. The result is that by the time you are a “senior shooter”, your safe may contain multiples of the same type of gun.
I have often written about the need to pass our love of the Shooting Sports on to the next generation. I personally feel the need to “prime the pump” for the next generation and in fact that is the reason I became an instructor. I have always been the “ Gun Uncle” in our family. I was also the “Airplane”, “Model Rocket”, “Camera” and “Fireworks” Uncle but those are stories for a different day.
Family gatherings often resulted in shooting sessions and long discussions on firearms. As they got older my nieces and nephews began to get involved in shooting on their own and it was then I decided to help them on their way.
My 12 year old niece in Indiana began shooting on her 4H rifle team, but did not have a suitable rifle. I felt she could benefit from her own rifle and talked to her parents asking if they felt she was mature enough for the responsibility under their supervision. Now a 60 year old Winchester 67A is helping her hone her skills and I get to see her enjoy it and grow in her new sport.
Ever since he was little, my nephew Sean loved to shoot and as soon as he got his driver’s license, would often call to see if he could come out to shoot. He graduated from high shool last year and with permission from his parents, a Savage 64 semi-auto .22 rifle that I picked up is now his pride and joy. His parents support was important because when he is away at college it is stored safely at their house. Again the enjoyment I get from seeing him use it is far more than I felt when it was just sitting in my safe for years.
Why am I telling you these stories? Because I want you to consider how you can help get the next generation of shooters started down the same path we have taken. Previously my planning for the future was basically a list of all my firearms, serial #’s, images, etc… and who they will go to when I am no longer around. I recently realized that it would be much more fun to move some of these entry levels guns to young people that would appreciate them now. I also get to show them how to shoot, and teach them proper gun safety.
I am very much enjoying this new strategy and I like to think my guns are happier too!
