TriggerTalk Radio

Mention “Gun Show” and what comes to mind? Do you envision a slick Detroit Auto Show style event with glamorous booths lined with glass showcases full of the latest firearms? Perhaps you see a dark seedy hall filled with underworld characters whispering to you while looking around to see if anyone is paying attention. Or do you envision a crowded gymnasium sized room full of tables surrounded with everyday people enjoying a passion they share for firearms and accessories?

The truth is that most guns shows are like the latter, and attended by honest law abiding citizens that work hard for their money. They hope to find a bargain to stretch their shooting dollars or a particular gun to fill out their collection. Think of it as a craft show or garage sale for things that make noise.  I am not making light of a serious subject with items that require great responsibility, but to many shooters the ownership of firearms is both a hobby as well as a source of protection. I prefer the small to medium shows that contain a mix of licensed dealers, collectors, and what can only be described as a bizarre mix of miscellaneous vendors.

Let’s get something straight, a licensed dealer participating in a gun show must follow the same rules they following in their stores. Guns purchased from a dealer require a NICS (FBI Instant background check).  Here in Michigan a person cannot purchase a handgun without  a Permit to Purchase issued by Law Enforcement or be in possession of a Concealed Pistol license (CPL) .

I rarely purchase a gun at a gun show, the reason is that pricing is often the same or more than can be found at a store. I have seen beat up used guns going for more than if purchased new.  A savvy purchaser must know the value of their quest.

At a collector’s table the guns are owned by the person at the table (not a dealer) and usually selling some of their collection. Sometimes they have a specialty like old lever-action Winchesters, or guns from a certain manufacturer. Long guns such as rifles or shotguns are transacted with no background check; current law allows these private person to person sales. A “permit to purchase” or CPL is required for private sales of handguns and then a “Pistol Sales Record” must be turned in to Local law Enforcement and forwarded to the Michigan State Police.

My favorite part of the show is the other stuff you can find, my wife would call this “Junk”.  I have come home with a stack of old gun magazines from the 60’s that I bought for $5, or an old part “needed” like an authentic rifle sling to fit a vintage Russian WWII rifle. There are tables full of gun cleaning tools and supplies, new and old holsters, scopes and for whatever reason medical equipment like forceps, pipettes, dental picks etc…

I sometimes find used reloading equipment and old bullet components from an estate sale, a book or a unique pocket knife. Usually there are tables of passionate people signing up members for the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, or Ducks Unlimited.

Mostly what I see is a group of people enjoying a few hours of enjoyment looking at guns they may have only read about, or finding a part for an old gun in their collection. People are friendly and polite to each other, horseplay and dangerous behavior is not tolerated

I would recommend attending a Gun Show soon (while you still can). For only a few dollars admission, the experience is worth the price. If you happen to find a rear sight spring for a 1942 Czech VZ24, let me know!

The gifts are opened, the eggnog is gone and you don’t have to take down Christmas lights until next week. What you really want to do is go to the range and pull the trigger several hundred times. It is freezing cold outside and you don’t want to go out in the snow, how can you keep your skills sharp in the winter?

There are a several options available: You may be lucky enough to live near one of the indoor ranges in the area. Besides warmth, some of these have the added benefit of gun rentals if you wish to try out a new gun. One local range (the Firing Line) even has a 50 yard rifle range allowing rifle calibers up to 30-06 and shotguns (slugs only), so you can stay practiced with your long guns as well.

I actually enjoy winter outdoor shooting at my local range. Dressed properly an hour shooting session is very manageable. I am usually the only one there when the temperature plunges below freezing so the range time is very efficient and without the distraction of other shooters.

Cold temperature shooting provides an insight into the effects of temperature on both man and machine. Cold fingers do a good job of simulating the loss of small motor function you may experience in a self-defense encounter; I know one instructor that advocates soaking hands in ice water before shooting to replicate the physiological effects of high adrenaline and reduced blood flow to the extremities. Can you still release the safety, pull the slide to clear a malfunction, or reload?

Temperature can affect your equipment as well. Modern ammunition is formulated to be functional at most temperatures. However, that new “Whiz Bang” super grease you got from Uncle Joe might get very thick at low temperature and slow down the slide and action of your gun creating malfunctions.  Better to know these things ahead of time.

Assuming you want to stay warm and dry there are many things you can do inside. First and foremost you need a place that you dedicate to practice that has NO ammunition in it, NO boxed or loose ammo, NO loaded magazines, NO loaded guns period!

Nobody ever had a negligent discharge (notice I said negligent not accidental) with a loaded gun, they all swear they thought it was empty.

Practice pulling your gun from your holster using your weak hand to pull your cover garment aside. Practice in front of a mirror so you can see the motion, making sure you keep the muzzle in a safe direction, never placing a portion of your body such as your arm or hand in front of the gun.

Practice magazine changes or reloading your revolver (using dummy rounds) with a speed loader or speed strip. Cycle your slide using one hand only and your pants pocket or a piece of furniture to simulate running your gun while injured.

 If your gun is equipped with a laser you can place a target on the wall, draw and pull the trigger. This is great practice for point shooting and also helps you improve your trigger control. Take note of the laser movement when pulling the trigger and practice a smooth consistent pull that keeps the laser dot from dancing around the target.

A new product by Laserlyte, the “Laser Trainer” uses technology long used by Law Enforcement and the Military is now available to the public at reasonable cost.

The laser caliber specific laser emitter goes into the chamber of the gun and is triggered by the firing pin. The target records the shot location and displays by aiming at the display sensor. Another sensor resets the device to start again.

Next Month: Gunshows

If there is a shooting enthusiast or gun owner on your Christmas list you are in luck.  We love to get  “Gun Stuff” and there is an endless supply of gifts and stocking stuffers to choose from.

 Far from being a chore, most of us like to clean our firearms almost as much as shooting them. Not only does proper maintenance provide for the durability and reliability of our guns, but taking them apart, cleaning and reassembly helps the shooter better understand the inner workings of the firearm.

  A cleaning mat will help protect guns from scratches, soaks up any dribbled solvent and keeps small pieces from rolling away. It also will protect the kitchen table from scratches if you do not have a separate work bench.

Securely holding the firearm is important and can be difficult if the gun is a rifle or shotgun.  A very versatile device is a gun vise. These bench tools come with clamps, pads and adapters to securely hold virtually any gun. They also have accessories that can be added such as magazine adapters to hold AR-15’s,  allowing the vise to be upgraded  as new or different firearms are added.

A must have for any shooter is a “Bore Snake” This is a braided cloth “rope” that is pulled through the barrel of the gun. It has copper bristles imbedded to clean powder or lead fouling, and solvent/oil can be applied with one device. They are available in various calibers and gauges so you can select one, or purchase them as a kit with all the popular calibers. Bore Snakes come in both pistol and rifle lengths.

A relatively recent newcomer to the gun cleaning scene is the OTIS cleaning system. This kit uses a flexible cable that is pulled through the bore from the breech end to keep debris out of the action of the gun. A kit includes a set of brushes and patch holders for cleaning and lubricating the barrel. It is stored in a small pouch and is very portable to take to the range or field if needed. This same system is now the standard used by our military in combat zones.

A steady rest to stabilize the firearm is important for sighting in a rifle and for target shooting.  A sandbag is a great addition to your range equipment. Available in many sizes, shapes and materials they are essential equipment for many shooters.

To help keep guns safe on trips to and from the range or when traveling there is a wide variety of cases, these range from inexpensive soft cases and pistol rugs to hard sided lockable rifle cases for travel on airlines. If your shooter into tactical rifles there are special cases to support their needs.

Hearing protection is critical for all shooters and there are many choices. ranging from foam ear plugs to custom fit hearing aids My favorite type is the amplified noise attenuating muffs made by Peltor. Equipped with electronic microphones these muffs allow normal conversation, but cut-off sound as soon as high sound pressure levels are detected. As an added benefit when hunting in a dark woods you can hear every twig snap, acorn crunch, and rack being rubbed on a tree.

Certain smells are often associated with fun activities: cookies baking, apple pie in the oven, freshly cut grass. When I smell gun cleaning solvent and gun oil it takes me back several decades to cleaning guns with my grandfather. That smell is Hoppe’s #9 solvent and generations of shooters recognize it. Hoppe’s now offers air fresheners (the kind you hang in your car) in that wonderful fragrance. If you want to bring a smile to every gun person’s face, there is no better fun gift than one of these air fresheners. Now if we can only get them to make it in perfume or cologne we’d be all setHave a Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year!

Next month: Keeping your shooting skills sharp in the Winter

Last month we talked about avoiding “Gun Free Zones” and letting store owners know the economic impact of their decision to make you un-welcome in their stores. But what can you do to protect yourself when you can’t avoid a gun free zone.

First, in Gun Free Zones  mandated by law, you must follow the rules. The State or Federal Government is not forgiving of what you may see as an infringement on your rights. The consequences both monetarily as well as limiting your future right to own and/or carry guns is not worth it. Find another way to get your business accomplished without risking a potential felony gun possession charge.

There are some common sense ways to help keep yourself safe:

• Don’t go places you suspect as being dangerous; such as known drug or solicitation neighborhoods, or poorly lit streets or alleys. This is not just an issue in big cities, small and medium sized towns have crime prone areas as well.
• Be aware of your surroundings, Keep your head on a swivel and take the headphones off when you walk or run so you can hear someone approaching.
• Cross the street if you are approaching a group of people loitering in the sidewalk.
• Distance from an attacker is your friend.  If someone approaches you in a manner that makes you feel threatened, Loudly yell  “Stop!  Do Not Come Any Closer!” it is much better to be slightly embarrassed than to let them get too close and risk assault.
• Carry one of the new high strength pepper sprays with a belt clip, you will not have time to fumble in your pockets or purse to get to it.
• Sit near an exit, with your back to a wall so you can see all entrances to the room and no threats can come at you from behind.
• If you are going to be in a darkened area such as a theater, or auditorium, carry a high intensity flashlight. Small powerful lights with 150 – 200 lumens can temporarily blind an assailant especially if equipped with a strobe function. There are several choices that are small enough to fit in your pocket from companies such as Fenix, Surefire, and Streamlight.

Remember, to someone with criminal intent you are “Prey”, just as the lion goes after the slowest gazelle, the criminal is looking for an easy target. If you display awareness to potential threats and appear prepared they may just decide to wait for an easier target. 

Private property such as stores or other venues is another matter and many people feel that concealed means concealed.  If you enter a store that displays a “No Guns” sign either accidently or intentionally and the proprietor suspects you are carrying, leave if requested. Failure to leave could result in a trespassing charge if Law Enforcement is called.

I once heard the story of a Law Enforcement Officer attending a public social event in uniform.  A patron questioned him on wearing his sidearm and was asked “If he was expecting trouble that night”? His reply was “No Maam, if I was EXPECTING trouble I would have brought my rifle”.   

The point is that we never know when trouble may present itself. As a private citizen the decision to carry a firearm is a personal one and carries great responsibility. The reason you carry is for your own safety or that of another. Simple precautions to prevent a confrontation and avoid a situation that requires the use of your firearm is the best outcome of all.

Next month: Christmas ideas for the Shooter in your life.

Until then …….Safe Shooting!

 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!