Cracking Popular AR-15 Myths after Vegas

*I have updated this article in a more recent post* "Debunking ALL AR-15 Myths" Click Here!

Some will say that this post came too late. But I wanted to make sure that I have all the facts before writing about the events of last week. As you probably know, there was a shooting last Sunday in Las Vegas at a country music concert. A deranged individual shot at a crowd of thousands from the window of a hotel. As of right now, 58 people were killed in the attack, with over 400 injured. The man was able to shoot hundreds of rounds very quickly because he used a device called a "bump stock" that was fitted on several of his rifles. This sparked yet another gun control debate, but more specifically, a debate whether or not these kinds of accessories, that significantly increase a firearm's rate of fire, be legal to own. I have my own opinion about bump stocks, which can be found at the bottom of this article.

That being said, since the shooting, I'm seeing A LOT of false information on social media and the news. Some of this is intentional to push an agenda, but I'm also seeing a lot of people sharing fake information about AR-15's due to their lack of knowledge on the subject. So that's why I'm writing this. In a world where people get their political information from memes on Facebook, I will do my best to bring you the truth about AR-15's. 

Here are some of the most popular myths about the AR-15 rifle:

• AR-15's are automatic weapons: False
• Despite what the media "talking heads" are saying, an AR-15 is a semi-automatic firearm. One trigger pull = one bullet. This is the same action used on most handguns, but you don't hear about "fully-automatic pistols" after a gang shooting. AR-15 are perceived to be fully-automatic because of their military twin, the M4 carbine.

• Fully-automatic weapons are easy to obtain: False
• Fully-automatic firearms are very highly-regulated. It requires a long and tedious background check, expensive fees, a long wait time, and you must present a good reason for owning these guns. Plus, if you manage to survive this process and obtain your Class 3 weapons license, you still have to purchase the fully-automatic guns, which can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $200,000 each.

• A "bump stock" converts a semi-automatic gun into "fully-automatic": False
• A bump stock provides a way to fire a semi-automatic rifle very quickly. It still doesn't match the rate-of-fire of a fully-automatic weapon, nor does it change the internal components of an AR-15. The gun is still technically a semi-auto firearm that's firing very fast. My full opinion on bump stocks can be found at the end of this article.

• Bump-stock regulation would've prevented deaths in Las Vegas: Unknown
• This one is tricky. First off, most people didn't know the bump stock was even a thing until the shooting, so it's not likely regulation would have existed in the first place. The people that did know about bump stocks were firearm enthusiasts that saw these stocks as range toys with no real purpose other than wasting expensive ammo quickly. I stand by what I've always said about these kinds of things: Just because you regulate something, doesn't mean criminals won't obtain it.

• A suppressor would've made the shooter invisible to police/bystanders: False
• Ugh...the evil suppressor debate. Say it with me: "SUPPRESSORS DO NOT MAKE THE GUN SILENT"- despite what you hear in the media or see in Hollywood movies. Unless a shooter uses a .22 Long Rifle with sub-sonic ammunition, the weapons still makes a very loud noise even with the suppressor attached ESPECIALLY using a .223 caliber AR-15. This is a terrible argument that Democrats in Congress are making in a desperate attempt to prevent the Hearing Protection Act from passing.

• A large magazine ban would've reduced the injury count in Las Vegas: Unproven
• Probably not. Again, banning large magazines would not prevent the shooter from illegally purchasing larger ones. I've always seen the "large magazine" ban as being nothing more than a "feel good" law that never really reduces crime. Just ask Chicago.

• The Trump Admin. made it easier for mentally-ill people to get guns: False
• This is nonsense. The Trump administration rolled-back an Obama-era decision to strip gun rights from people who let someone else handle their finances. Yes, you read that correctly. If you let someone handle your finances (due to inability such as age), you lose your 2nd Amendment rights. This was a sad, last-ditch effort by Obama to remove guns from households. And it's a little offensive to consider someone who may need financial assistance due to age as "mentally-ill."
• "But he wants people on the TERROR WATCH LIST to own guns!" - again, you are mistaken. The legislation that would've prevented people who are on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms was blocked by the Republicans because there was no due process clause in the bill to remove your name if you were accidentally put on this list. Americans have the right to due process. No bill should ever pass without it. 

• Nobody uses an AR-15 for hunting: Very False
• As stated in a previous post, AR-15s are one of the most common hunting rifles in the nation. Used by millions of hunters every year for many different animals including:
• Deer 
• Wild boar
• Coyote
• Jackrabbit/Hare
• Coypu/Nutria
• Feral goats (yes these are real)
• Fox
• Raccoon
• Tyrannical governments
• and more! 
• Read more about the AR-15s hunting uses HERE.

• Gun Shows allow criminals to avoid background checks: False
• Why do people still believe this? I've already covered this in length here. In short, the "Gun Show loophole" is a myth. Most of the sellers at gun shows are certified dealers who have to run a background check on every firearm purchase. If you are selling a gun as an individual to an individual, no background check is needed, but that kind of selling is not what's happening at gun shows and it's not how gangs are acquiring their weaponry, despite what Obama said in his Town Hall speech. 

• The Founding Fathers didn't foresee guns like the AR-15: VERY, VERY False
• The Founding Father's weren't that stupid to think that technology, especially wartime technology, wouldn't change throughout the years. This is why the Freedom of Speech carries over to modern technology like your smartphone.
• Believe it or not, weapons with a high round capacity and rate of fire existed at the time the 2nd Amendment was ratified. Here are some names to Google: Giradoni rifle, Belton flintlock rifle, pepperbox revolver, the Puckle gun. ALL of these weapons had high ammo capacity and could fire in quick succession, similar a modern-day semi-auto rifle. To top it off, our Founding Fathers were fans of these guns, wanting to arm troops with them. Unfortunately, they were just too expensive.

• Nobody uses an AR-15 for home defense: False
• If you just listen to the news you know that this is false. While it may not be reported often, the AR-15 is actually a very popular home defense weapon - especially with women. The recoil is lighter than a shotgun and the gun can be maneuvered easier than other long guns. It also has better sight options that a normal handgun. Picture this: You wake up to a crashing sound downstairs. Do you know how many intruders there are? Will you be holding a flashlight with your pistol? These questions are important and an AR-15 is a perfect answer for this. Regardless, I would always recommend training before using a gun like this for home defense. Safe storage of an AR, just like any gun, is most important of all.

• The media knows what they're talking about: VERY False
• I'm very upset by what I'm seeing in the news about guns and gun control. Almost every story or article that I read about guns is filled to the brim with inaccuracies and false information. Here are just a couple examples of where the media gets it VERY wrong.
• CNN recently made an animation titled "How Does A Bump Stock Work?". First off, a bump stock wasn't even included on the gun in the animation. Also, the 3D-modeled gun in the video had a grenade launcher attached to it - which is VERY illegal. Watch the video here.
  
  
  
• NBC made a video in which a person shoots a watermelon and it explodes. As the watermelon is being shot, you can here the reporter saying, "Now lets take a look at this video where we shoot a watermelon with an AR-15." The only problem was the gun used in the video was a 12-gauge shotgun, not an AR-15.
  
  Watch the video here.
  
  
  
  
  
• It's difficult for me to tell if the media is intentionally reporting false information, but the more I listen to them, the more I think they're legitimately misinformed.

How do I feel about bump stocks?

I don't really care about bump stocks. Most people didn't even know what a bump stock was until the events in Las Vegas. I've never used one myself, and the closest I've ever come to one was the guy next to me at the range.

- He was obnoxious -

When I go to the range, I focus on accuracy, as do most shooters. So while bump stocks might be entertaining, they aren't good for accuracy, they're annoying to people around you, and many times the person that owns the bump stock brings people to the range who lack gun safety training. So if these are taken off the market, it wouldn't really bother me.

The problem is that politicians won't just move to ONLY ban bump stocks. They'll also try to remove large magazines, modified triggers, and other popular accessories for AR-15's. It's a "If you give an inch, they take a mile" kind of scenario. Nancy Pelosi even said that she "hopes" that bump stock regulation will cause a "slippery slope" and lead to more gun control bills. That's NOT how you get support for a bill.

So my opinion in a nutshell is this: It wouldn't bother me if a law is passed to end the production of bump stocks, but it would have to include ONLY bump stocks - not a ban on all rate of fire accessories (because that includes custom triggers). A ban on any other gun accessory would be too much.

CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park

The CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama is the Rolls Royce of shooting ranges. Before you even start shooting, you're welcomed to the park with the nicest clubhouse you'll ever see. Once checked-in you can relax in one of the many leather chairs, or you can walk out to the patio that overlooks the 600-yard rifle range.

Forget your targets at home? What about ammo? What about your gun? Not a problem! They sell EVERYTHING you need at the gun store that's housed in the main complex. The CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program also hosts a number of gun safety classes at many of the conference facilities there.

The entire complex sits on 500 acres in the beautiful Talladega National Forest. The facility consists of a 600-yard range for long-range shooting, a 100-yard range, a 50-yard range,  a 50-foot range for handgun and small caliber shooting, trap/skeet/5-stand facilities, and an action pistol training range. Wow. Not only are these facilities open to the public (for a small fee), but they're also incredibly well taken care of. Each range (aside from shotgun) is covered and has a safety officer.

The best part, however, is the technology that's found on the ranges 50 yards and longer. Instead of going out and placing paper targets, the CMP not only provides their own pop-up targets, but they also have a video screen at every shooting station that tells you EXACTLY where your bullet hit. No need to set up boxes or fragile wire targets. Your screen can be cleared and reset if you're sighting in different firearms.

I've been to the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park twice now, and it's easy to get spoiled by all of the amenities offered there. No doubt it's going to feel a little weird shooting at my local range from now on.

Beretta APX

Up until lately, the Beretta APX had been almost been classified as an urban legend in the firearms community. A couple years ago, a prototype of Beretta's brand new polymer/striker-fire pistol had been made, pictures released, and even some reviews of this pistol had been posted. But the gun's release date for the general public was never announced. The release information was withheld for so long, in fact, that the firearms community lost interest (and awareness) in the mythical APX. Conversations went from, "Hey - Beretta announced it's first polymer/striker-fired pistol! That's awesome!" to "Hey - what was the name of that Beretta pistol that they announced? Did they ever release that?"

It's difficult for me to say "all my patience has paid off" because I lost interest in the gun myself, but luckily a friend of mine didn't and he picked one up as soon as they hit store shelves. BEHOLD!

The APX is now available nationwide and it's been given lots of praise since released. Originally designed for the Modular Handgun System competition to replace the M9, the APX meets the qualifications laid out by that contest. One of the biggest differences between the APX and other Beretta pistols is, obviously, the striker. While they made a Px4 Storm model (Type C) with a constant action trigger, it wasn't quite what Beretta needed to compete with the likings of Glock, Smith & Wesson, and others that dominate the striker-fire industry.

My good friend, Adam, leant me his brand-new APX 9mm for my review. You may notice that this particular pistol looks different from the ones you see in official pictures. Adam replaced the lower of the gun with a lighter grey frame than what it originally came with - along with mixing and matching items like backstraps and mag plates. This is a good sign that Beretta is building towards an aftermarket community similar to other striker guns.

Only in the last few years has Beretta catered to the "tactical" market. I think it's fair to say that this is the most aggressive-looking duty gun Beretta has ever made. All Beretta pistols have a distinct look - the 92 has a classic look that has been copied time and time again, and the Px4 Storm looks as if it was developed in Area 51. The APX, however, looks like it's been battle hardened by allowing itself to get run over by a Humvee....while being yelled at by a drill sergeant.

The APX weighs around 1.7 pounds and fits my hand pretty well. That being said, it's a beefy gun. The trigger guard and the trigger feel oversized, the finger grooves on the grip are wide and the backstrap stippling is very aggressive. All these features make the gun easier to operate when wearing gloves. However, I don't normally wear gloves when shooting, so the average consumer might find these features a little too bulky.

Check out that recoil spring. Even it's oversized!

Once at the range, the APX performed just as well as I had hoped. No malfunctions were reported between everyone shooting. Right from the start, I was able to make a nice grouping from 15 yards on a paper target and hit steel targets consecutively from 20 yards. The 3-dot white sights are large and make it easy to quickly acquire the target. The trigger is fantastic - much better than the standard Glock or M&P trigger - but I'm sure an aftermarket trigger will be available soon if desired.

The backstrap stippling is just too aggressive for my liking. After just 30 rounds, I had a nice red mark on the palm of my hand. Other than the stippling and the aesthetics of some of the oversized features. I had no other complaints. The APX gets an "A" at the range.

Beretta needs to stay competitive in the American police market, an area where Glocks and Smith's rule the land, and the APX is a fantastic response. Be on the lookout for APX's in the holsters of many police forces in the future. Excellent work Beretta!

Will Californians Break the Law?

Beginning July 1 in California, it will be illegal to possess firearm magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.  The law states that if you are a California resident and you own a "high-capacity" magazine, you either need to destroy it, turn it in to the police, or ship it out of state. The penalty for not complying with the law is jail time. Interestingly enough, this bill is seen as a response to the San Bernardino and Fresno shootings - neither of which utilized a so-called "high capacity magazine."

So, how many Californians will comply with this law? That answer changes depending on where you are in the state.

Right now, there are millions of gun owners in the California, and while we don't have numbers on how many of them own magazines that hold over 10 rounds, you could probably make the assumption that a large percentage of these people would technically be breaking the law after July 1. Several police forces in the more conservative areas of the Golden State, have not seen any lines forming to turn in their magazines, and that's not really a surprise. This law, like many other ones proposed by the state, makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens overnight.

We're already seeing some push-back from the public. Several Sheriffs in California say that they have no intention on forcing citizens to comply with such a law, and lawsuits are in the process of being filed. Perhaps the Supreme Court could get involved...

Remington 11-87 Sportsman

When you hear people call a firearm a "workhorse" gun, what does that mean to you? For me, the term "workhorse" means something that can perform reliably, regardless of the task at hand. A "workhorse" gun usually isn't pretty - it's a tool, not a work of art.

So if you want a reliable semi-automatic shotgun that can be used for hunting and and occasional game of sporting clays, many people recommended the Remington 11-87. While the famous Remington 1100 is the signature semi-auto of the company, the 11-87 is the no-nonsense brother that delivers the same exceptional performance, but at a lower cost due to the lack of extra finish on the firearm. Let's be honest, you wouldn't want to take your shiny 1100 out shooting in the mud would you? The 11-87 even has the ability to fire up to 3" shells - and there's even a SuperMag model that will chamber 3.5" shells! That's a lot of power from a semi-auto shotgun.

I was fortunate enough to receive this shotgun as a gift last Christmas, and I just got around to putting a few hundred rounds through it. Why did I wait so long to do this? Well, the answer is a little complicated. First, before I put one round through it, I noticed a few abnormalities out-of-the-box. First, the collar (the ring under the barrel that connects to the tube magazine) was deformed, making break-down almost impossible without tools. Second, the hammer spring seemed to be broken. This was really upsetting to me since the gun was BRAND NEW. I took it back to the dealer and they sent it to Remington for me. Several weeks pass and I get my 11-87 back. After a 50-round break-in period, it's functioning as it should. I don't know what could have caused all of these issues, but my best guess would be that something happened to it in the retail store where I bought it - mishandled, dropped, run over, etc. Either way, I'm glad that the issues seem to have been resolved.

When I was able to finally take it out and shoot it, it was love at first trigger-pull. The 11-87 pointed naturally and went *BANG* every time. It's not the lightest shotgun out there, but the extra weight makes it very comfortable to shoot. Those extra pounds would also be helpful when shooting the heavier, duck loads. The trigger is excellent considering how inexpensive the gun is to begin with. I can't say that I love the Remington semi-auto loading port, but it doesn't take long to get used to and soon you'll be loading it just as quickly as any other shotgun.

Overall the Remington 11-87 is an excellent "workhorse" shotgun. Reliable, inexpensive, and durable. Just like with any semi-auto shotgun, be sure to clean it regularly to ensure consistent performance. If done right, you can expect to get a lifetime of good use out of this firearm.

The Gun Show Loophole Theory

If you've been paying attention to politics lately, there's a good chance you've heard about the infamous "Gun Show Loophole," which is the ability to sell a gun to someone at gun show without having to perform a background check. To the average person this sounds like a serious problem. Even President Obama claimed that the gun violence epidemic in his hometown of Chicago was due to the fact that criminals were going across the border into Indiana, purchasing firearms without background checks, and bringing them back into the city - where guns are highly restricted. I believe he even used the phrase:

"They drive to Indiana where they have fewer laws, 

load up a van with guns and bring them back... to.....sell....to kids... and gang...s."

              *I wrote this quote like he says it. Obama is so uneducated on this topic and it shows.

To anyone who regularly attends gun shows, this claim by the former President is utter nonsense. If you've been to a gun show, or done any research on how gun shows work, you will know that a VAST MAJORITY of dealers at these shows are traveling licensed dealers. Licensed dealers must abide by the laws of the state in which the gun show is located. While it is true that a state like Indiana has far fewer restrictions on guns than Illinois, anyone that purchases a gun at an Indiana gun show MUST pass a background check before a sale is made (just like every other gun show in America). It was even proven that if you're from Illinois and you attempt to legally purchase a firearm from an Indiana gun show, you will most likely be denied because these dealers don't want to accidentally break some obscure Illinois gun law.

Some politicians that are a little more educated on the topic will point out that you can conduct what is called a "private sale" - which is a gun sale between two individuals - without any background check. This is a legal practice as long as the person that is selling the firearm is unaware of the buyer's criminal history.

For example: 

• Bob wants to sell his shotgun to his close friend Jim. This transaction can occur without any background check. This is perfectly legal.

• Bob wants to sell his shotgun to his close friend Jim. Bob is aware that Jim has a felony on his record, but decides to sell the gun to him regardless. This is illegal. 

• Bob wants to sell his shotgun to some dude name Jeff. While the transaction is occurring, Jeff lets it slip that he "probably couldn't pass a background check" and Bob hears this. Bob can no longer privately sell that shotgun to Jeff legally unless Jeff were to take a background check and confirm that he can legally possess firearms. If Bob decides he "didn't hear that," and continues to sells the gun to Jeff, he is breaking the law.

Most sellers at gun shows don't want to be on the hook for illegally selling firearms to people that shouldn't have them in the first place. If there's a private seller at a gun show, good luck trying to make a purchase without going through the paperwork - or better yet - good luck finding a private seller in the first place. Like I said, a VAST MAJORITY of sellers at gun shows are registered and licensed FFL dealers and they're not going to risk jail time by avoiding the paperwork.

Log Your Firearms!

It's time for...

!! SILVERBULLET's TIP OF THE WEEK !!

Do you have a log of all the serial numbers for your firearms? What would you do if you looked in your gun safe one day only to find that your guns have been stolen? What information would you give the police to help them find your stolen property? These are the things you need to think about!

My advice to every gun owner is to make an excel document (Google Drive works well) and record the serial numbers for each and every gun you own. Have a short description of the firearm, including color, accessories, and maybe even a picture. The more details you provide, the better! 

I use Google Drive as a backup just in case something happens to my computer hard drive. Plus, this allows me to access my list anywhere from my mobile phone. Some feel like uploading their information to a cloud-based server is vulnerable to hackers. So if you feel this way, then write all of your information down on a piece of paper and put it in a safe deposit box. There are literally hundreds of ways you can safely store this information. If you have excellent documentation of your firearms, the chances of them being found and returned is increased drastically. Hopefully you never have to deal with this, but it never hurts to be prepared.

"Nobody Needs an 'Assault Rifle' for Hunting"

It's a quote used by anti-gunners and extremest animal-rights activists for years. All it does is prove that when it comes to Modular Sporting Rifles (MSRs), they know absolutely nothing. When people say, "Nobody needs an 'assault rifle' for hunting," they're envisioning an overall-clad redneck, rapid-firing 30 rounds as fast as possible into a helpless creature. This couldn't be further from the truth.

As a side note: most states have a 3-round limit when hunting deer - and since a vast majority of gun owners in the U.S. are law-abiding citizens, we comply with this law.

Not only are modern sporting rifles used to hunt deer in all areas of the country, but here's a list of all the other animals you can hunt with them:

• Wild boar
• Coyote
• Jackrabbit/Hare
• Coypu/Nutria
• Feral goats (yes these are real)
• Fox
• Raccoon
• Tyrannical governments
• Squirrel 
• Any other rodent or small game that didn't make the list

*People who own a large amount of land for farming need to keep their fields clear from pests and other creatures that could negatively affect their crops or livestock. There is no better weapon for this problem than a .223 caliber AR-15. Creatures such as wild hogs could easily ruin entire crops and cost farmers thousands of dollars in profit if they are not disposed of.*

And this is just assuming that you are talking about the traditional AR-15 that fires the 5.56//223 round. Modular sporting rifles come in MANY different calibers - and they look equally "dangerous."
For example, if your MSR fires .308 rounds, this list of things you can hunt will grow exponentially.

Do I NEED an AR-15 for hunting, no. But is it the best tool for the job? Possibly. But saying that "nobody needs an assault rifle for hunting" is as stupid as saying "nobody needs a sports car because we have speed limits." It's an argument that holds no weight whatsoever.

Best Zombie Defense Guns

Yeah I know, this sounds a little immature for a lot of you looking for more serious content. But there's no reason we couldn't have a little fun sprinkled in to our "what if" scenarios.

When you search the internet for "Best Zombie Defense Guns" you'll get one of three articles:
Article One is written by a guy that thinks that everyone has immediate access to the most powerful and expensive weapons on the planet (flamethrower, Barrett 50, grenade launcher, and a mini gun). Article Two written by the guy that is just a Glock or Springfield XD fanboy who just lists different models of similar pistols (Glock 17 & 19). Article Three is written by the guy who doesn't realize that the zombie apocalypse will involve walking and thinks that an all wood and steel Mosin Nagant with attached bayonet is a great choice.
I've had enough! Now I'm going to try to do this the right way. I'll be listing off items that you can actually purchase easily and will adequately protect you if the dead do indeed begin to rise.
Here are the important traits I'm looking for in my zombie firearm guide:

1. Reliability
2. Capacity
3. Firearm Availability & availability of spare parts
4. Weight

First, let me lay out the type of zombie that we're up against. In usual undead fashion, the zombies are...well... dead. Which means that hitting them in the torso is just a waste of time since the only thing that seems to be functioning are basic motor skills. You have to aim for the head. These "realistic" zombies will be slow moving and attracted to noises. If you've seen the Walking Dead, I'm going for that style zombie.

As for the firearm choices; nobody expects you to have each one of the ones that I list. This is just a compilation of some of what I think are the most useful firearms in the event of a zombie apocalypse.

Rifles

Ruger 10/22 Takedown - .22 Long Rifle
You need a .22 Long Rifle weapon. While dangerous, the undead are very frail creatures.
A one-shot stop can be achieved with the smallest and most common of rounds. And .22 ammo is easy to find and almost any outdoor store. You NEED a 10/22.  It's an extremely popular and lightweight rifle. Spare parts can be found everywhere. Plus, you can get a magazine to hold at least 30 rounds of .22 LR. With a Ruger 10/22 Takedown, you can field-strip it in a matter of seconds if you have a problem. Some people usually add the Marlin Survival Rifle to this list because it can be folded up in to one easy-to-carry package, but I disagree. Why would you need to fold up your rifle in a zombie apocalypse? Keep it out and ready at all times!

Remington 700 - .308 or larger caliber
Some people concentrate on ONLY the killing of zombies when making their survival weapon list, and standard bolt-action rifles rarely make the cut. But a Remington 700 in a large caliber will be a

necessity if you want to harvest food. The 700 is known worldwide as one of the most reliable bolt-actions available and can be acquired without too much hassle. Not only do you need to have a good rifle, but you need it in a large caliber. The last thing you want is to hit a deer with a .243 and have it run for a mile in the woods before it dies. Odds of survival are slim in the woods and there is a chance that the undead will find your kill before you do. Keep a .308 or larger on hand when hunting. Deer are good at avoiding trouble (except for cars) so you can count on there being plenty of them around during a zombie apocalypse.

Bushmaster Carbon 15 - 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington
Since the world has turned upside down in this theoretical zombie-infested hellscape, there are no laws that anyone needs to follow. You need to be ready for ANY threat, living or not. That's where

the AR-15 comes in. It is a solution to most problems that you may encounter. It can be used for hunting or self-defense. Ammo and parts are inexpensive and abundant. One overlooked feature of the AR-15 is that you can teach anyone to use it. It's lightweight and low-recoil nature is perfect for someone who wants maximum defense, but is recoil sensitive; someone small in stature or possibly even injured. I'm going to use my own AR-15, the Bushmaster Carbon 15, as a good example. Since the upper and lower are made from a carbon composite, it weights a mere 5 pounds.

Pistols

Ruger 22/45 Lite - .22 Long Rifle
I don't think there's another pistol out there that is more perfect for a zombie apocalypse than the Ruger 22/45 Lite. As stated in the name, this gun weighs-in at around 22oz and can hold 10 or more
rounds of .22LR depending on the magazine. This low weight can be attributed to the polymer frame and lightweight aluminum upper receiver. Some variants of the 22/45 comes with rear adjustable target sights and a HiViz optic front sight. You can also add a Picatinny rail to the top if you want to have an additional pistol optic. However, the most important feature is that you can get it with a threaded barrel to accommodate a suppressor. Could it possibly get any better than that??

Walther PPQ - 9mm
There will be a time when you need self-defense at a moment's notice. When you're taken by surprise with your back against the wall, you need a weapon you can count on. You need a light, reliable, hi-capacity, 9mm pistol to keep with you at all times. That's when the PPQ comes in.

You can bet that after 17+1 rounds of zombie headshots, you'll be able to clear your way out of most situations. So why the Walther PPQ as opposed to a Glock or other polymer pistol? Mostly because of ergonomics. You might lack the ability to find an abundance of spare parts, but the PPQ is known for having the best feel of any polymer pistol on the market. Because of this, it can be picked up by someone with little experience and used effectively. It doesn't have an external safety to worry about, just that one on the trigger to prevent accidental discharges if dropped. I chose a polymer gun purely because of weight. However, if you happen to have a Glock already or come across one in the post-apocalyptic world, get it! Police stations can be a great place to find some spare parts if needed.

Glock fanboy: "But Glocks are invincible and you shouldn't need any spare parts!" - Shut up.   

Why 9mm? Capacity primarily, but also because .22LR is a rimfire cartridge that isn't always reliable. There's no denying that .45 ACP is a good round, but as stated earlier, zombies are frail creatures. You don't need to put a large hole in your target if a small one will do the same job. When it comes down to human self-defense, I'll still choose 9mm over .45 ACP - but I've already written about that in another post.

*Optional - Pocket Pistol - 9mm or .380 ACP
It can't hurt to have a small backup pistol inside your waistband or on your ankle in case you need to drop everything and run. If all your other weapons are out of reach, your little pocket pistol is at your service. Again, caliber is not too important as long as you have reliability and the highest capacity possible. Gun pictured is a Sig Sauer P238 Rosewood model in .380 ACP.

Shotguns

*Shotguns are not ideal for a zombie apocalypse. They're usually large, heavy, and loud with low capacity magazines. But shotguns are relatively inexpensive firearms and their shells are some of the easiest to come by, so I'm including one. They also can serve as wonderful hunting tools.

Mossberg 500 - 12 Gauge
After walking a day in ZombieLand, you find a great abandoned house to stay the night. But before you can relax, you need to sweep the area. A reliable pump-action shotgun is the perfect tool to clear a building. The Mossberg 500 is a great and inexpensive choice for this. Be sure to get one with an extended magazine! *electronic earmuffs are recommended, especially if using it inside.*

Revolvers

None.
Of course any firearm is better than nothing, but unless you have a tiny revolver as your *optional* pocket gun, I would advise you to stay away from revolvers if possible. They might be reliable, but they're usually very heavy, very loud, have low capacity, and they take longer to reload than the average semi-automatic pistol. That being said, if a revolver is your only weapon, then by all means have it with you. But be warned, ammo will be more scarce and you will really need to choose your shots carefully. 

Honorable Mentions

Beretta Cx4 Storm - 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP
Here's one I REALLY wanted to add to my zombie gun list. Just like most other pistol caliber carbines, the Cx4 can accept magazines from the pistol in the family lineup, the Px4 Storm. I didn't add the Px4 to the list because I feel that a striker is a quicker responder in an emergency situation, but if you happen to have both weapons, you've got a great setup. Throw a magazine into the carbine and you have a super accurate, shoulder-mounted zombie destroyer that won't eat up all of your precious high-powered ammo and it weighs less than most other Modular Sporting Rifles. Only reason it was omitted from the list is because spare parts will be very tricky to find. Also, if you happen to be running only one magazine (bad idea to only have one) between your carbine and pistol, and you accidentally break the mag, you're automatically down two weapons instead of just one. Too many variables to add to my list.

Lever-Action rifles
I love lever-action rifles. They're usually not too heavy and they can hold a decent amount of ammo in the tube magazine. I excluded them from the lineup because there are simply better options. Why choose a Golden Boy if you can pick an AR-15 with a 30 round magazine? Ammo can also be tricky to find. Heck, it took me several months to find .45 Long Colt ammo where I live, and the apocalypse hasn't even happened yet! Lever-action rifles are a Jack-of-all trades, master of none. That being said, if you ONLY have a lever-action and a decent ammo supply when a zombie apocalypse occurs, then I'd say you're pretty well off.

Of course nothing can truly prepare us for a hypothetical situation like a zombie apocalypse, but this is something that comes up in firearm message boards pretty frequently. And let's be honest with ourselves, it's not like it hasn't crossed our minds at some point.

Sig P320 - The Army's New Pistol

Well it's finally happened. After years of testing about a dozen possible contestants, the U.S. Military has chosen a new sidearm to replace the famous Beretta M9. Congratulations are in order to Sig Sauer and their new P320!

The Sig P320 has been given some of the best reviews I've seen for a pistol. It's not too expensive, has a great trigger, ambidextrous options, and Sig's incredible track record for reliability. I have no doubt that the P320 will be an excellent sidearm for our troops. Here's to another 20+ years of service!

*By the way; did anyone notice, what I said about this pistol in a past post? "I love this gun, I could see this winning easily." 

Called it.

SHOT Show 2017: The Remainder

Since keeping up with SHOT Show and working a full-time job is difficult, I'm going to let the experts at Shooting Illustrated to finish out the remaining products from the show. Check out this link to see how the show wrapped up!

http://bit.ly/2jgOU8o

SHOT Show 2017: Day 2

The products keep coming, and I'll keep listing. Let's continue with the big news from Day 2!

Remington RP9

The RP9 was announced just a few weeks ago and now, at SHOT Show, people are getting some hands on time with Remington's newest pistol. It's a full-size, polymer-framed striker designed 9mm handgun. Capacity is a whopping 18+1 rounds in a double-stack magazine. Ambidextrous slide lock, flat surface on rear-sight for one-hand operation, and adjustable sights. Looks promising!




                                                                                    
                                                                                    Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0
The M&P is getting an upgrade! With a new look, new feel, and better trigger, the new M&P is bound to get your attention - and possibly the attention of some of those Glock fans. Not many reviews out on this pistol, but I'm sure that we'll get some more info after SHOT Show.











IWI US - DAN 338 Tactical Precision Rifle

You may have noticed, precision rifles are becoming a 'thing.' I mean, they've always been around, but always out of reach for the frugal shooter. Since Ruger took the industry by storm last year with the Ruger Precision Rifle, more and more companies want in on the action. The DAN 338 looks like it'll be quite a competitor in this new market. More information to come.

Full Conceal M1 and M2 Carry Systems
Have you ever looked at your Glock and wondered, "I wish I had something just a little smaller and easier to carry." Well Full Conceal can help! They will cut down your polymer framed pistol and make it so the magazine and gun can fit comfortably in your pocket, without the obvious printing. I'm excited to see more on this when it becomes available.

SHOT Show 2017: Day 1

It's noon on Day 1 of the 2017 SHOT Show and the number of new products being introduced is overwhelming. I will be giving a brief introduction of each item and a little information. I'll continue to add more information to this post as needed. Pictures will most likely come at the end of each day.


Colt Cobra
It's been quite a while since Colt's last double action revolver. The Colt Cobra is a compact, .38 special six-shot revolver with a 2-inch barrel. The frame is stainless steel and it comes with Hogue over-molded grips. The trigger is designed to "avoid stacking," making for a smooth and consistent trigger pull.  Some more great news: you can own a legendary snake from Colt for around $699 MSRP.

Walther Creed
I'm not sure of the statement that Walther is trying to make with their newest handgun, the Creed. Besides having a name of a has-been rock band, it doesn't appear to be aesthetically pleasing, nor does it seem to offer any advantage over current pistols in the Walther lineup.

It is, however, a very serious gun. Walther has stripped everything that isn't necessary and produced a product that is strictly business.
The Creed is a 9mm, constant action, polymer pistol that keeps the same overall styling as it's other Walther predecessors. Look for it in stores for around $399 MSRP.




Taurus Spectrum
A very unique looking addition to the Taurus handgun lineup. The Spectrum is a brand-new
subcompact pistol in .380 ACP. Best news is, you can own this futuristic pocket pistol for $289. More information to come.









Armscor/Rock Island Armory Baby Rock
This little .380 1911 was released last year, but remains difficult to find in stores. Don't worry,
Because Rock Island Armory announced that they are ramping up production. Expect to see more of these on store shelves soon!









Nosler Ammunition
Yesterday, Nosler surprised the firearm community by announcing their new "22 Nosler" cartridge - designed to make any AR-15 faster and more accurate - all with minimal modification. With just a switch of the upper, you can be shooting a bullet that's almost 300 fps faster than a .223 Remington/5.56 NATO round.

*Tune in tomorrow for more!

Sources include Shooting Illustrated, The Truth About Guns, and various other blogs and online news sources. I'll post a list of sources once today's event concludes.

Shot Show 2017

It's that time again! Shot Show 2017 is this week and gun manufacturers are already giving us some sneak peaks of their new products.I'm excited and I know that every other gun enthusiast is as well. Unlike last year, I will keep my word and provide daily reports on everything that goes on during the show (or as much as I can). I've got several trustworthy news sources ready to go and I'll be relaying content directly to this blog page.

There's no way I'll be able to cover EVERYTHING announced at Shot Show, I'll do my best to bring you the biggest announcements from the event. New gun releases will be my primary focus, with ammo and accessories coming second. If I don't report on something you think is important, please let me know in the comments of the post. I'll do my best to do some research and for you. I'll most likely make one post daily and continue to lengthen it with material as needed. I'll start a second post for Day 2 and so on...

I'm looking forward to the show!

My Shooting Range is Still Closed!

Behold, my beloved shooting range. This is my place of peace in a crazy world. This is where I can come and all my stress and worries melt away with every pull of the trigger. This is where I learned to shoot, and it's where I have introduced many to the world of firearms. My perfect Saturday begins with an early trip to the range, alone or with friends. And damn, I miss it. 

As you may have heard in national news a few months ago, there was a very large gas spill (and later a gas explosion) in the state of Alabama. Well guess what? All of this happened less than a mile away from my local shooting range. While I can't determine if the range itself was directly affected by the spill or blast, it remains closed until further notice. What gets me the most was that it had JUST closed for renovations before the gas incident. 

It's been closed for about 3 months and I don't have any knowledge on when it may reopen - if ever. This is the reason for my lack of gun review posts lately. I have things I want to shoot! Even got a long box under my Christmas tree this year! But unfortunately, until this opens back up, I'll just have to wait. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for news about gun politics, opinions, and new releases. Shot Show is right around the corner and new products are starting to emerge. I'll try to stay up-to-date as best I can on all of this. 

The Purpose of Hi-Point

*Let me start by saying that I do not actually own a Hi-Point firearm. This post will cover observations from the community on the guns, more specifically the pistols, made by Hi-Point.

*This photo is from The Truth About Guns review of the Hi-Point C9 pistol

I've noticed that Hi-Points get a bit of a bad rap in the firearm community. Is all the criticism valid? Possibly, but the purpose of these firearms is often overlooked. For those of you who don't know, Hi-Point Firearms makes very inexpensive pistols and carbines. As for the pistols, you can find them at most retailers for a super-low price of around $200 or less new. If they are previously owned guns, you can pick one up for about $50-$100. To the untrained eye, this looks like a deal that's too good to pass up.

"A real firearm for the cost of a pair of decent tennis shoes?? What's the catch?"

The catch is that these guns have a record of being very unreliable (when compared to most other manufacturers). You may occasionally read a story online of a Hi-Point that has run 1,000 rounds and not malfunctioned once, but for every positive experience with a Hi-Point, there's about 50 negative ones. You indeed get what you pay for, and many times, you're paying for a heavy, ugly piece of plastic and metal that might fire when you manage to pull back the 20 pound trigger. People in the firearms community (myself included) will make jokes about Hi-Point until the end of time. But there's something that is overlooked when discussing budget guns like these. Why do they even exist if they're getting so much hate?

Well, the reason is not so that violent street gangs can get their hands on inexpensive killing machines. I believe what Hi-Point wants to do is offer some kind of protection to those on an extremely tight budget. While it may not be the most reliable form of protection, it's still better to have a Hi-Point C9 on you than the nearest kitchen knife...even if it was only able to fire just once before jamming. Many people in poorer communities need to be able to defend themselves, and that's the market that Hi-Point is after.

One positive thing that everyone can agree on, the Hi-Point warranty is one of the best in the business. It's an "unlimited lifetime warranty." Not only is every one of their products covered for as long as you own it, it's also protected for whoever owns it in the future. That means that when you pay $50 for a second-hand Hi-Point firearm, you are covered for as long as you have the gun. That's pretty incredible customer service if you ask me. Does that mean I'm endorsing Hi-Point? Absolutely not, but I'm glad they're out there. While I'm fortunate enough to be able to purchase a more reliable weapon for protection, that doesn't mean that gun manufacturers shouldn't provide options to others on a tight budget.