Tag: Guns and such

My favorite toy

Pathetic

Shootin' Time

Lawrence Person asks the important question:

The Secret Service agent that engaged the would-be Trump golf course assassin missed six shots despite being five feet away.

How does that even happen? How can even you even miss from that close?

It’s a really good, and ultimately important question.

I remember that in a long-ago post castigating law enforcement for being terrible shots, one of my Readers commented that while my comments might be true of the average city cop’s shooting skills, it was certainly not true of dedicated officers like those in the Secret Service.

Ha.

Perhaps the answer might lie in this little tidbit, still from Lawrence:

I’m an adequate shot (not a Secret Service agent who presumably visits a shooting range every month), but I don’t think I could miss a human target from that range.

Forget monthly.  How about weekly?  Actually (and I admit to not knowing the truth of this), I might be persuaded to bet that the SS quali sessions are annual, or at best quarterly.

And in my own case, I am no more than an adequate handgun shot (as anyone who has shot with me will attest) but bloody hell, I shoot my carry 1911 about three times a month, and if I can’t put all eight shots from my first mag into a palm-sized group at 15 feet (three times more than the five above), I keep shooting until I get at least four mag loads in a row into that area.  (If I dump the first mag successfully, I might only do a couple more mags, just to be sure.)

Generally speaking, my first magazine’s boolets tend to end up inside a 2″ hole at 15 feet, with a flyer — and this comes as a result of endless, self-critical practice because as I said, I’m only an adequate handgun shot.

Hell, I shoot my 2″ backup S&W Airweight snubby more accurately than that clueless SS agent, and I only practice with it about every other month.  (Which reminds me… I need to shoot it later today — pack a box or two of .38s, Kim, and you might as well do a little with the bedside .357 while you’re there.)

Jeff Cooper would have wanted it that way.

Here’s a thought for whoever’s going to be in charge of the President’s protection detail:  weekly quali sessions, with a very exacting standard for marksmanship (e.g. like mine).  And for anyone who fails to meet that standard, suspension from the detail for a month — said month to be spent on daily range sessions until the marksmanship improves.

This job is too important to be delegated to Barney Fife types — and especially so as Trump has already proven to be a tempting target for assholes.  That hapless agent who missed from five feet should be fired, period.

That I should even have to say all this makes me want to puke.

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Righteous Shootings

Reader Mike L. asks if this qualifies as a Righteous Shooting.  Why yes, yes it does:

Cecil Batiz, 16, died from a gunshot wound during the incident, which unfolded at the 8400 block of the South I-10 Service Road in New Orleans East.  The robbery occurred shortly before 8 p.m. when Batiz and another suspect, 18-year-old Teony Juarez, entered the store armed and demanded cash. 

Surveillance footage revealed the moments leading up to the fatal shooting.

The video shows Batiz brandishing a gun with an extended magazine at the store employee behind the counter. The employee complied, handing over cash, while the suspects stole items. 

As the suspects’ attention shifted, the employee retrieved a firearm and opened fire, striking Batiz, who collapsed to the floor.  The footage also shows Batiz moving slightly on the ground. The employee then fired additional shots. Batiz died at the scene, officials said. 

Juarez was also shot but survived. He was later arrested and booked into Orleans Parish Prison on multiple felony charges, including armed robbery, illegal use of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. 

No charges have been filed against the employee at this time. 

I should bloody well hope not.  Also note that Our Hero did the proper thing by shooting until the threat was ended.

It’s too bad that he didn’t smoke both the choirboys, but let’s not quibble because the wounded asshole is going to face murder charges anyway.

Does Louisiana still have the death penalty?  Asking for a friend.

Reaching Out In Silence

Gratuitous Gun Pics, The Gun Thing

My old pal, the late Airboss once said (pace  the old AT&T ad) that everyone should own at least one rifle that can “reach out and touch” someone.

Here’s my candidate, which has the added benefit of almost utter silence with the proper add-on, the CVA Scout, chambered in the .300 Blackout:

Yes, it’s a single-shot rifle (but that means it’s both quiet and cheap — nothing wrong with that little scenario).  Also, I would venture to suggest that if you do your part, a quick reload should be entirely unnecessary.

In fact, it’s difficult to imagine a better gun for pig-hunting, where the sound of the shot from a regular rifle makes the other pigs scatter like flies.  With silence comes an excellent chance for a further pop, or three…

I also like that the Scout can also come with a short barrel (ribbed  threaded for your pleasure).

I have also said in the past that hunting with a single-shot rifle is not o be sneered at, because nothing concentrates the mind better than knowing that one shot is all you’ll get.  And I’m all over that one, with my own peerless Browning High Wall:

…but I must say that the CVA does make the old trigger-finger itch a little, because of its utter stripped-down utility and scope-ready rail (which the Browning does not have).

Worth some consideration, yes?

An Old Favorite

Gratuitous Gun Pics

What with one thing and another, I haven’t been keeping up with the adventures of Othias and Mae’s C&Rsenal, so when I stumbled on this one talking about an old friend, I opened the video toot sweet, and you should too.

Let it be known — as I’ve said several times before — that I have always loved the Commie SKS, and Othias is definitely on my side on this one.

I know, I know:  the thing has been (unfairly) overshadowed by its successor, the AK-47.

And yes, the SKS holds only 10 rounds in its semi-concealed mag compared to 20-30 in the AK’s banana-like appendage.  Don’t care.  Also, the AK can be modified as above (albeit with some difficulty), while the SKS cannot (not even ULTiMAK makes the proper rail mounts).  Don’t care about that either.

The fact is that the SKS is actually a better design, and is way more comfortable to shoot than the AK.  I have owned both, fired literally thousands of rounds through each, and on this I will accept no argument.

Of course, I don’t own either of them ever since that tragic accident on the Brazos River all those years ago;  but lemme tell you, watching Mae and Othias shoot and fondle the SKS respectively made me itch in all the wrong places.

Gratuitous Gun Pic: Pietta King Trio

Gratuitous Gun Pics

Loyal Reader Mike S. (thankee) sends me this lovely pic of a gun (or a pic of a lovely gun, whatever):

Note the extra cylinders.  These will be explained later.  But first, a close-up:

I don’t care who you are, that’s a purty lil’ thang right there, yessirree.

“But Kim… what’s it chambered in?”

According to the article Reader Mike so thoughtfully provided:

A close copy clone of a Colt Single Action Army (SAA), the King Trio comes with three cylinders, making it capable of shooting four different cartridges, earning King status on versatility for six-shooters.

And the boolets?

First up is the .38 Super. The .38 Super came out in the late 1920s and is a favorite cartridge for Mexicans. Being illegal to own firearms capable of shooting cartridges of war like 9mm and .45 ACP, the .38 Super is a popular choice by having the power to take care of business in the famous 1911 platform.  Having a cylinder for .38 Super adds to the versatility of the King Trio revolver while upping the cool factor by 10!

Next is the .357 Magnum/.38 Special cylinder. Who doesn’t love the power of the .357 Magnum? Capable of taking deer-sized game, as well as being a proven one-shot man stopper, the .357 may be our most balanced and practical cartridge for everyday chores.

That .38 Special can be fired in the same cylinder, making it doubly good!  Usually abundant and cheaper than most ammunition, the mild loads are great for practice, small game and teaching youth how to shoot without all the nasty muzzle-blast the .357 Magnum is known for.

Lastly, we have the 9mm. For plain plinking fun and varmints, the 9mm is hard to beat.

As any fule kno, I’m not a huge fan of the last-mentioned.  But the ammo is cheaper than almost anything except .22 LR, and I bet it’s great fun to shoot those teeny lil’ Europellets out of a honking big revolver like the Trio.

Can you say “Governor’s BBQ Gun”, children?

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Righteous Shootings

Several Readers sent me this happy little tale (and thankee, one and all).  Seems as though this goblin invaded a home armed with a butane torch, motive unknown but I think we can all make a good guess.  Anyway, his mistake was in threatening Our Hero’s grandchildren, whereupon said goblin received  a quick bullet to the vitals and expired shortly after.  (That’s the reason they’re called “the vitals” — destroy them and you’re dead.)

This lovely story, however, also contains a Quote Of The Day nugget from an attorney:

“The law doesn’t require someone to gamble on the intentions of an intruder.”

Which is why, even in the People’s Soviet of California, Our Hero is unlikely to face charges.

Also, it seems inadvisable to bring a butane torch to a gunfight.  Lesson learned, alas too late for the goblin.