TriggerTalk Radio

 There are many aspects to the shooting sports: self-defense, target shooting, hunting, competition, and hand loading ammunition.  Gun owners often venture into modifications to their firearms. Similar to other hobbies, people often like to add their own custom touch. Some of these modifications may be purely cosmetic while other can affect the function of the gun.

 My advice to you is “Be Careful”, a simple part change may have unintended consequences that can affect your guns reliability or durability. Firearm engineers design the gun to perform reliably under all conditions, changing one parameter without regard for the balance and function of the complete system may not achieve the results you desire.

 There is no shortage of gadgets, devices, or replacement parts offering grandiose claims of greater accuracy, smoother operation, less recoil, better ergonomics or just plain look cool!

 Many upgrades fall within the capabilities of a typical gun owner: Changing the floor-plate on the bottom of a magazine to add a finger extension to improve your grip seems easy enough, but you must make sure the spring and follower are still installed correctly or your gun may not feed correctly. And make sure the little pin that locks the floor-plate is correctly latched or you may drop all your rounds out of the magazine at a critical time.

 People often change grips or add a rubber sleeve with finger grooves to improve the feel or reduce felt recoil. Always check the function of the gun after these types of modifications. I once had a student that was having malfunctions with his magazine. Checking his gun, he had added a grip sleeve over the polymer grip of his handgun and had not installed it correctly. The magazine was prevented from fully seating and rounds would not feed reliably. If this had been a self-defense situation he may have found himself with a gun that wouldn’t fire.

 Changing sights is a common upgrade and within the skill levels of many people, however the correct tools such as a sight press may be necessary to prevent damage to your gun.  You will not be happy with your new Hi-Viz or Night Sights if you now have big scratches on your barrel or slide from using the wrong tool.

One area I frown upon for all but the most experienced people is changing springs in a handgun to purposely affect the function.  I don’t mean routinely replacing a recoil or magazine spring with an exact replacement as preventative maintenance.  I am referring to people that are seeking to reduce trigger pull, or slide efforts. 

The function of a handgun is a balance of forces. When a trigger is pulled the hammer or striker must fall with sufficient force for the primer to ignite the propellant in the cartridge. Installing a lower tension spring or cutting coils off a hammer spring can reduce energy to a level that fails to reliably fire the gun. The last thing you want to hear when you are relying on your self-defense gun to save your life is “Click”.

Installing a lighter  recoil spring to make it easier to operate the slide on a semi-auto pistol may prevent the slide from having sufficient energy to strip a fresh round from the magazine and full seat the round in the chamber. Again the result could be a malfunction when you can least afford it.

An additional concern with modifying your firearms for a lighter trigger pull is the increased chance of an accidental discharge.  In the event you are involved in a defensive shoot you may find yourself explaining your need for a “Hair Trigger” to an overzealous Prosecuting Attorney.  

 Next month: Gun Free Zones

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

It is no coincidence that the mass shootings that have taken place recently happened in so-called “Gun Free Zones”.

The very concept of a “gun free zone” is flawed from the start. If a person with criminal intent plans to kill someone or a mass of people,  there are already a bunch of laws they are going to break.

Is it not enough that murder is already illegal, or that robbing a bank at gun point or for that matter knife-point is illegal? What type of genius does it take to realize that a sign at the door of the theater in Aurora, Colorado was not going to deter the crazed killer that murdered 12 people and injured 58 others?

A look into the facts surround the shooting indicates there were several other movie theaters within a few miles of the shooters home.  Unlike Michigan, Colorado law allows concealed permit holders to carry their firearms into theaters. The theater selected by the shooter was not the closest one showing the film that night, it was however the only theater that voluntarily chose to be a “Gun Free Zone” .

Statistics have shown that concealed permit holders are far more likely to be law abiding than average citizen and likely to obey a gun free zone sign. The Colorado shooter chose a venue where he was not likely encounter an armed citizen that could have put a stop to his plan.

Looking at past mass shootings shows a pattern with this type of cowardly act taking place in schools, theaters, malls, college campuses and churches… All places where law abiding citizens are prevented from defending themselves.  Please note the lack of mass shootings at gun stores, gun ranges, gun shows, and police stations.   

There is also another pattern with these shootings; in all cases it takes someone with a gun to stop the killing. That person may be a Law Enforcement Officer or in many cases an armed private citizen.

There are two types of Gun Free Zones: those mandated by law or ordinance, and those voluntarily designated by groups or businesses. As a gun owner and permit holder there are several ways to deal with these potentially dangerous locations. 

Avoid them when possible, In Michigan I know people that will not go to a theater anymore, relying on the many other home entertainment choices available.  Michigan allows you to carry in a place of worship with the consent of the Pastor, Minister, Priest, Rabbi, etc…talk to them about your concern Use an online stamp program and drop box to avoid U.S. Post Office property. Be prepared and be sure you know and understand the CPL laws.

Businesses that prohibit guns are a completely different story. I make it a point to NOT do business with any store that has posted a “No Guns” sign. I make it a point to tell the owner, (not the kid behind the counter) why I will no longer be spending my money at their store. I carry a supply of cards in my wallet designed by the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners (MCRGO) that explains this is in detail to the store owner.  http://mcrgo.org/mcrgo/d_no_gun_signs.asp

 If you e-mail me, I will forward you a template to print out your own cards.

Next month: When you can’t avoid a “Gun Free Zone”

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

We live in amazing times for new and innovative products for people that use and enjoy firearms.  No matter what area of the shooting sports you are engaged in, there is no shortage of features, materials and accessories competing for your shooting dollar.

These products may satisfy a need: a larger caliber, greater capacity or smaller lighter, and easier to carry. It may be an accessory, optics or sights that enhance your accuracy or help compensate for aging eyes.  And sometimes you just see something and say to yourself “I have to have one of those”!!!

A few such products have caught my eye (and wallet) recently:

One problem many of us face is that our gun safes are too small. Oh sure, at the time we bought it there was plenty of room, but over the years as we expand our interests the space gets tight.  We also realize that a fireproof gun safe is a great place to store other valuables and paperwork, taking up more space.

I came across a product called “Rifle Rods” by Gun Storage Solutions and immediately thought “Why didn’t I think of that?”. Most safes have notched racks for resting rifle barrels; these racks require the gun to be leaned into the notch and alternated or crisscrossed with guns in the opposing rack. With Rifle Rods all the notched racks are removed, a polymer rod with a Velcro cap is inserted in the barrel, the gun is placed in the safe and the rod pulled up and stuck to Velcro cloth on the bottom of the top shelf. With guns placed vertically not leaning or  intertwined with other guns, I was able to get over 50% more rifles into the safe. Their website www.storemoreguns.com  highlights this product as well as several others to help save space in your safe.

Rifle Rods by Gun Storage Solutions expands the capacity of your Gun Safe

LaserLyte has introduced affordable add-on lasers for several handguns including some revolvers. I recently added one to my Ruger LCP. Installation and adjusting Point of Aim was simple and straightforward. The laser is comfortable, easy to activate and after several hundred rounds fired, appears to be rugged and functioning well.  A feature of this style laser is that it fits in your current holster.

Laserlyte mounted on a Ruger LCP

I enjoy using vintage firearms and one of my favorite is the lever action Savage 99. I have developed a fondness for the .300 Savage cartridge, in fact I have begun to collect other styles of rifles chambered in that same round. Many people consider the .300 Savage to be an obsolete round with few choices in ammunition available. I was surprised to find a new factory load for the .300 Savage offered by Hornady. Developed for their SuperPerformance line, these rounds take at advantage of new developments in bullet design and propellant technology to give modern performance to older chambering’s. They have also added several surplus military calibers to their Vintage Match line-up. such as: 6.5 Swiss, 303 British and 8mm Mauser.

One new product that falls into the “I need to get one of those!” category is the Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifle. The 10/22 rifle design is almost 50 years old and available in a variety of styles, and materials. In March Ruger announced a take down version that breaks down into two equal length components in less than 2 seconds. Requiring no tools to disassemble and constructed of stainless steel with a composite stock, it stores in a custom backpack (included) ready for camping, backpacking or hunting in any weather. 

A quick call to my local gun store and one now resides in my gun safe where there is room thanks to my new Rifle Rods (see above).

Next month: The Myth of  “Gun Free Zones”

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

Dick Cupka

There has been a lot of talk in the main stream media lately on self-defense and the use of guns to protect yourself.  We can argue the justifications and merits of a particular case currently in the News, however it is clear that Law Enforcement Officers cannot be everywhere all the time to prevent attacks on people.  The best statement to describe this is “When seconds count, the Police are only minutes away”.

 Based on sales and ownership data, it appears women have embraced the concept that one must be able to defend themselves.  “USA TODAY Snapshots” reports that in 2011, 23% of all gun owners are women, up from 13% in 2009.  Calculating from the number of gun owners in the U.S. and the number of NICS (Instant Background) checks reported by the FBI that means that over 40% of purchases the past two years were by women.

 I have seen this locally in the Conceal Pistol License classes where I teach. Each month 30%-40% of the students are women, and most have only recently become involved with shooting.

 I recently participated in the annual “Women on Target” event sponsored by our Sportsmen’s Club. This year over half of the 70 women participating had never touched a gun previously and many were anxious when they arrived. They came for many reasons: urging of a spouse, parent, or friends, to try something new and exciting and others because they felt they should know how to take care of themselves in an emergency or dangerous situation.

 Over 19000 rounds later at the conclusion of the day, the room was full of smiles and talk of  additional firearms training and the shooting sports.  One woman shared this story: She had called her friends early that morning to say she wasn’t going to come, she was anxious about the event and “didn’t feel well”. Her friends had signed up as a group and told her “they were already on the way and to be ready in 15 minutes”.  She left the event that day with a list of the firearms she had enjoyed shooting and planned to purchase for herself!

 These women had found out something we men had known for a long time, Shooting is Fun!  It is not just about self-defense, there’s target shooting, clay pigeons (Trap) and hunting too.  I continue to read reports about the increasing numbers of women attending Hunter Safety courses and taking part in hunting trips.

 A demographics review of hunting licenses in several hunting oriented states revealed an 18% – 20% increase in women hunters over the past two years. This increase is good for the advancement of all shooting sports. And jokes about the male bastion of testosterone known as “Deer Camp” aside, If you teach a man to hunt and he goes hunting. If you teach a woman to hunt, the entire family goes hunting.

 Women are increasingly active in competitive shooting events such as the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), Skeet and Sporting Clays. This summer women shooters will participate in the summer Olympic Games. Ironically due to gun control laws, pistols are illegal in England, Wales and Scotland and the UK Government had to give special dispensation to allow the events to take place. 

 I have read of college students that have received rifle team scholarships,  and last year at the NCAA championships an all-women’s rifle team from TCU took down an all men’s team from Fairbanks Alaska.

 Homework Assignment:

Men                   Take a woman to the Range

Ladies               Keep up the good work!

Next month: New Products

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

As summer approaches and you plan a trip or vacation, you may consider taking your firearms. Many people combine vacations with shooting opportunities such as hunting, training or competition matches.

 First let’s talk about motor vehicles: If you are staying in your home state you simply need to comply with your state’s laws, just as you do the rest of the year. When taking multi-state trips, National Firearms Laws provide a foundation that protects all U.S. Gun owners the right to transport their guns:

 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

Title 18 – Part I – Chapter 44 – § 926a  

Interstate Transportation of Firearms

 “Any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:

 However individual state gun laws may vary and it is your responsibility to understand changing requirements and abide by the storage and firearm laws when passing through each state.

 It is important to know that some states do not recognize Non- Resident Carry permits or licenses.  What this means is that if you are the holder of a Non-Resident permit from a state such as Utah or Florida, but reside in Michigan it will may not be honored in all states.

 States that do not support your right to carry do not take these rules lightly and I urge you to be compliant to the laws. There have been several well publicized cases recently in New York and Illinois where people are no facing serious jail time for not understanding the law.

 A good source for this information is www.handgunlaw.us . The site is very easy to navigate and contains links to very helpful information. A similar map on the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners Site (www.mcrgo.org/mcrgo/d_ccwrec.asp) also provides a hot link to each state’s online current gun laws.  Below is an example for Michigan:

I print out a hardcopy of the current laws for each state I will be passing through and keep it with me in the vehicle. .

If you plan to travel by air, more planning and preparation is required, TSA publishes their guideline on their website: www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

Make sure your handgun is unloaded and inside a locked hard sided  case. You must declare the firearm at the ticket counter where you will fill out an unloaded firearms  form. The gun then needs to secured in the case and padlocked with a lock that TSA cannot open.  The case is then placed inside your checked luggage with the TSA form taped to the outside of locked case inside your luggage. It is very important to use a high security lock that cannot be easily picked and that TSA cannot open with master keys. It is required by the law that only you can open the locked case.  A good lock such as those made by “Abloy” will cost approximately $75, but is a small fraction of gun replacement cost.

One additional method of getting your gun cross country is that Federal Law allows you to ship a gun to Yourself. You must meet certain shipping requirements, but it allows you to avoid the hassles of checking a gun at the airport and possible loss by theft during airport baggage handling.

Next month: Women & Guns

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

When transporting a gun in your vehicle several things must be considered.  If you are merely taking the firearm to the range, between homes, or to the store, gunsmith etc…. then you will need to comply with the gun laws in your state. Most rules include storing the firearm unloaded in a case made for gun storage, separate from the ammunition and inaccessible to the driver or passengers. If you are in a Pick-Up truck or Sports Utility Vehicle these vehicles may have different requirements due to the lack of a trunk. This is true for handguns as well as long guns.  These laws vary from state to state so if you are on a trip it is your responsibility to understand requirements for your home state as well as other states you may enter.

 Carrying a gun in your vehicle is a completely different matter; you must consider ease of access, concealment, security in a crash, and safety/security when you leave the vehicle. It will likely take more than one solution to make sure you have covered all the bases.

 The holster that you wear outside of your vehicle may be almost completely inaccessible once you sit down and buckle up. Inside the waistband holsters will likely dig into your thigh when seated, Pancake and outside the waistband belt holsters will likely be blocked by the seat belt buckle, and pocket holsters are typically not accessible when seated. Ladies if your gun is in your purse, harsh braking or turns may send your gun out of reach when you need it most.

 A friend recently lamented this challenge while showing me his attempts at putting a firearm in the map pocket of his door and even trying to Velcro a holster to the console.  None of these solutions gave him quick access nor would it ensure the firearm stays secure.  A loaded gun weighs from 15 to over 30 ounces and can come loose and launch itself around the passenger compartment in a crash or rollover accident. 

 The best solutions that I have seen for both security and access when driving are marketed as “Car Seat holsters”  One of the designs uses a strap that goes around and under the seat cushion placing the gun on the vertical surface between your legs at the front of the seat. It incorporates a snap or strap to hold the gun securely in place until you reach for it and release the retainer.  A similar design straps around the seat back and places the gun at the junction of the seat back and cushion. It can be placed on either side for right or left handed people.  Again a retention device prevents the gun from coming loose and becoming a projectile.

 Several recent cases involving children gaining access to guns with tragic results is a reminder that we are responsible for our guns even when we are not present. When you leave the car if you cannot take your handgun with you, it must be secure from curious occupants and potential theft. 

Storing your gun in the console or glove compartment is not adequate even if equipped with a lock.  A typical interior lock will not stop a determined thief.  Small gun containment safes are available that can be bolted or cabled to the floor or seat frames of the vehicle.  Some have biometric readers so you can just swipe a finger print while others have combinations or keys.  This method of storage will be secure when you leave the vehicle but may not allow the instant access you need in an emergency.

 Next month: Traveling with your gun.

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

When you are a gun owner you are taking on a lot of responsibility.  I am not just talking about safe gun handling at the range or while hunting, I also mean the safe storage of your firearms. Whether you have just one gun or a whole collection you are responsible for your guns 24 hours a day.

 Safe gun storage can be accomplished several ways, and often depends on your life situation. If you have young children or teenagers in the home you may store guns differently than if you live alone or only with adults.

 Children are always curious, you may think your five year old can’t reach that top closet shelf, but they seem to find a way. Even if you have raised your children to be comfortable with guns and are well trained in gun safety you need to plan for visitors both invited and uninvited. 

 A locking device such as a trigger housing lock or a cable lock through the guns action on an unloaded gun will likely prevent a young child from having a negligent discharge, but will do nothing to prevent the theft of your guns. Never install a trigger housing lock on a loaded gun as most of these devices have a bar that passes near the trigger and if it is manipulated strongly may depress the trigger.

 Additionally a trade-off between security and quick access needs to be made if your firearms are for home defense. Storing your handgun in the nightstand is never a good idea, it WILL be found by a child and is the first place a burglar will look.

 If quick access is desired there are many gun vault type devices for handguns and long guns that will allow you access to the gun in a hurry.  Trying to find a key in the middle of the night or punching in a combination when your adrenaline is high and your heart is beating a mile a minute in little or low light is very difficult. Many newer (and more expensive) gun vaults have a simple touch pattern, or a biometric device to read fingerprints of one or more persons in the home.  

 When I first began acquiring firearms I purchased a gun storage cabinet. These thin walled steel cabinets can be purchased for $90 to $150 and can be effective storage to prevent access by young children; however adolescents or a determined thief will have no problem prying open the door. While a beautiful wood gun cabinet with a locking glass door is a great looking piece of furniture, it provides no deterrent to someone that wants to steal your guns. It may actually invite theft or misuse by highlighting the presence of guns in your home.

 There is no substitute for a REAL gun safe, available in many sizes depending on the number of firearms you need to store. These safes have doors like a bank vault with multiple moving locking pins at least an inch in diameter.  Made of very thick steel these safes are extremely heavy, ranging from 500 lbs. to well over 1500 lbs. Obviously careful thought must be taken with a device this heavy so check the load bearing capability of your floors.

 A good safe will have a fire protection rating in minutes of protection for a given temperature and are good for more than just guns. Many people also use them for their valuable paperwork, jewelry and computer back-up storage. If you are placing your safe where it may be humid, remember to purchase a safe dehumidifier to protect your guns from rust.

 Next month: Gun storage in your vehicle.

 Until then …….Safe Shooting!

Once the shooting bug has bitten and you begin sending a large number of rounds down range you soon realize you are spending a lot of money on ammunition.   Short term measures may include buying ammo in bulk , on sale, or shooting less expensive ammo.  Often people consider handloading their own ammunition.

Reusing the brass case eliminates the largest expense in a round of ammunition, reducing costs between 50% – 60% on your practice ammunition and 30% – 50% on premium self-defense and hunting ammunition.  

Handloaders often joke they do not save any money; they just get to shoot twice as much. That is a good thing, as there is no substitute for practice.

In addition to reducing the cost of the ammunition, Handloading allows you to tailor ammunition to a specific need.  Most factory practice ammunition is “middle of the road” for ballistic performance. Competitive shooters may want to produce lower power rounds to re-acquire the target more quickly. Increasing the power of practice ammo to replicate the recoil and point of aim performance of Premium self-defense ammunition will allow more realistic practice sessions.

Rifles shooters know their guns seem to “like” certain ammunition to be most accurate. This can be a factor of barrel length, rate of twist on the rifling, chamber length and a slew of other variables.  Shooters that do not handload normally have to buy several types and brands of ammunition in different bullet weights and styles to find the most accurate round for a specific gun.  Handloaders can adjust their powder charge and projectile depth to “tune” the round for maximum accuracy.

Projectiles are selected based on the intended purpose: low cost for practice, high accuracy for target shooting, and expansion, penetration and weight retention for hunting.  Powder is selected for a certain characteristic such as price, burn rate, and volume. Even the brand of primer can effect the accuracy and performance of the finished round.

If this all sounds complicated, it is. However, handloading can be as easy or complicated as you care to make it.

Bullet and powder manufactures offer reloading manuals and on-line “recipes” for virtually every caliber.  These sources will list safe loads for different bullet weights and types and commonly available powders. Often a combination for the most accurate load is highlighted. Once a shooter finds a load they like, many never stray from that recipe.  Others use the recommendations as a starting point and then experiments with minor variations in powder loads or bullet seating depth to further increase accuracy.

To understand the process, new loaders often learn from friends or fellow shooters. If you do not know someone that handloads, instructional videos are available from the equipment manufactures as well as on-line sources.

An initial investment is necessary to get started with manufacturers such as:RCBS, Lee, Hornady, andReddingall offering starter kits ranging from approx. $125 – $400. For that you get a basic single stage press, powder scale, powder measure and other equipment necessary to get started.  You will also need to separately purchase the dies and shell holder for the specific caliber you intend to load. 

The single stage press while slower offers a great learning experience in each step: reforming, priming, charging, seating, and crimping. There are faster ways to reload with systems called “Progressive” loaders that perform multiple functions with each pull of the lever; however I suggest you start slow and learn the basics before accelerating. Many people use single stage presses for rifles and pistol all there life and consider crafting their own ammunition as much of a hobby as shooting.

Next month we’ll talk about safe gun storage.

Until then …….Safe Shooting!