Value-Reducing Gun Modifications

The great thing about your firearm is that you can modify it to your liking. However, there are a few "custom pieces" that you should probably avoid when thinking about modifying your gun.

• Hydro Dipping - While hydro dipping is a very cool and inexpensive way to completely change the appearance of your gun, there are a couple things that should probably be avoided. Camouflage shouldn't be applied to handguns. To me, it seems a little disgraceful to take a beautiful Ruger revolver or a full metal Smith & Wesson and dip it in Mossy Oak. It's kinda like painting a Ferrari pink - it's unnecessary and does nothing but ruin the look of a beautiful firearm. On the other hand, I have seen some incredible work done to grips. A quality hydro dipped pistol grip can really create a unique piece.

• "Tactical" attachments - This is especially true of older WWII weapons like the M1 Garand and Mosin Nagant. I see people removing the solid wood stocks and replacing them with a black, adjustable polymer ones. While this can look pretty cool, it doesn't make much sense and it reduces the appeal of the weapon. While you may have invested $300 into your Mosin, you'll have a hard time getting people to buy it from you for that.

• Restoration - This should be a no-brainer but it has to be said. If you have a collectors piece that is 1 of 10 ever made from the 1800's, DO NOT try to make it look better by "restoring" it yourself. While it may look better to you afterward, a collector will think the opposite. This can sometimes reduce gun value by 50%.

• Engraving - Don't have a pistol or rifle engraved unless you never plan on selling or gifting your gun. Many people have a name for their weapons, and that's fine, but it doesn't help to have that name etched in the slide when you are wanting to sell it. What if you wanted to purchase a pre-owned weapon and the one that you find has "Deathpunch" engraved on the side? You'll probably move on.

However, if you still want to customize your piece, don't despair! Here are some customization items that won't impact a gun's value:

• Custom Grips (pistol primarily) - If you have the ability to change the grips on your gun, try experimenting with different options. You may find a look that is completely unique to you. And if you ever decided to sell that weapon, just put the original grips back on. If you don't have removable grips, you can add a Hogue grip to your pistol to better your hand position. This can also be removed easily if needed.

• Optics - It's a pretty safe move to upgrade the optics on a weapon (aside from older guns). If you take a shotgun and replace it's standard bead sights with fiber-optics, the value of that gun shouldn't change much. If you add night sights to your pistol, it will most likely increase it's value.

• Magazine Base Plate - It's just a piece of small, easily replaceable, plastic or metal. If you want to paint it a different color, go right ahead!

• Polymer Frame Pattern - If you have polymer framed guns such as a Glock or M&P, you can get a pattern engraved on the frame to your liking. This isn't a cheap thing to do, and you may need to by another factory frame if you want to sell it, but it's much cheaper to replace the frame than the other components.

The Walther PP

There's a noise that old pistols make. It's distinctive, metallic "ka-chink" sound that newly-designed guns no longer make. It must have something to do with the all-metal, semi-heavy design of the gun frame and slide. The Walther PP is one of those few weapons that has not changed since it was introduced. Sure, you've got different models (PPK, PPK/S, etc) but all in all, they have remained the same. The PPK that you can buy today is the same one that was on the shelf in the 1930s. And yes, it still makes that glorious sound when fired.

The Walther PPK is a very recognizable weapon. I can honestly say that it's one of my favorite-looking guns. It feels very good in the hand and it's all-metal design makes you feel like you're holding a high-quality item that you can depend on. Of course, being a metal gun makes the PPK heavier that other sub-compact pistols on the market, but the weight soaks up the recoil of the .380 round very nicely and follow-up shots are quick and accurate. The only big question you have to ask when buying a Walther PPK, is whether to get the stainless or blued steel.

I try my best to remain non-biased, so here are few things that you need to know about the PPK before picking one up. These aren't really negatives, just some things that could be a deal breaker for a few individuals. First item on the list is the stiff slide. This has been a constant thing with all of the PPKs that I've handled. While the stiff slide isn't really a problem, it could keep those with delicate hands from choosing this as their carry gun. You might be thinking, "well, it'll loosen up after a few hundred rounds." I thought that too - but two of the PPK pistols that I shot were both over 10 years old and both of them still had VERY stiff slides. This might be able to be fixed with a softer recoil spring, but then you might compromise the Walther's reliability. Another item that needs to be taken into consideration is the take down of the weapon. It isn't easy. If you don't look up a "how-to" video on YouTube, you'll probably be lost. The third item on the list is the magazine baseplate. For me, shooting this gun without the extended pinky baseplate would be uncomfortable. But using the magazine with the extended baseplate give you an additional round of ammunition, so, win-win.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Walther PPK. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid and dependable carry gun, that wouldn't mind taking the time to get used to it's little quirks.

Please let me know your opinion of the Walther PP!

What is Remington?

If you are just getting in to guns or you're an enthusiast, you might notice that Remington Arms either has an impeccable reputation, or one that has dissolved over the years. Some have a wonderful experience with Remington firearms, while others never want to hear that name again. So are Remington's glory days over? Or is this company just not getting the respect it deserves?

I think it's a little of both.

Remington, unlike companies like Browning and Beretta, market do a different crowd. Remington's goal is to cater to your average, every-day sportsman/hunter. Whether that be a new shooter looking to purchase their first gun or an experienced hunter looking to buy the most modern high end rifle. But the characteristic that seemingly remains unchanged between all of their products, is quality. Of course there are always some exceptions, but most of what Remington produces, is something you can rely on*.

*With the exception of the first generation R51 subcompact pistol that was introduced recently. Remington made quite a lemon with that piece. Which is a shame because it was one of the few subcompact guns I was looking forward to getting my hands on.

Like I said in my previous post, my inexpensive Remington 770 works like a charm and I don't have to worry about it getting banged up. Same for my 887 Nitro Mag shotgun. These weapons are bargain-priced, but serve the same purpose and function as their super high-end counterparts. Yes, they might not be the best looking weapons on the market, nor are they made of the best materials, but I couldn't ask more of them. Obviously, if you did want a hunting rifle or shotgun that is made of the best materials possible, Remington can serve you as well. The Remington 700 rifle and 870 Wingmaster shotgun are possibly two of the most famous firearms in history. It's not unusual to find an 870 Wingmaster in like-new condition that is almost 40 years old and functions flawlessly. Both have earned the trust of millions of hunters and hundreds of thousands of military personnel worldwide.

I think that the negative perception about Remington stems from it's legacy. Remington is the oldest gun manufacturer in America, so that leads people to believe that it's glory days are all in the past. I can't blame them for thinking that. Remington has not done a great job of producing groundbreaking new products, and when they tried, they made the R51. Yes, you could argue that they've produced several truly amazing weapons recently, such as the Versa Max shotgun and the R1 1911 pistol. But again, Remington needs more than that. They need another 700 or 870 to come along to restore customer's confidence in the Remington Arms name. They NEEDED the R51 to work.

But it didn't work. And now Remington has been slapped again with the "unreliable" sticker and they're left with trying to find a new way to build back up. It will take some doing. No matter how many truly amazing firearms they make, people will remember the failures. The firearms industry today is pretty brutal. You cannot afford to have a product fail to live up to expectations, because then that "unreliable" sticker will spread to your other products, including the ones that are flawless.

And that right there really sums up Remington Arms as a company. Remington is a firearms manufacturer from old America that still produces great products, but is struggling to to meet the needs of modern America.

But there's still something about a Remington. Something that you can't quite explain. Holding and firing a 700 or 870 shotgun feels like shooting your father's rifle as a child. Even the name "Remington" fills you with a sense of confidence, knowing that you own a legendary piece of equipment that will never let you down.

Hopefully I didn't deter you. Remington is still a brand-name manufacturer in the firearms industry. It's products are easily up there with some of the firearm greats. If you are looking for a gun that is reliable, built to last, has great customer service, and is made right here in the U.S.A., Remington Arms is definitely worth a look.

YOUR Hunting Rifle

Just food for thought...

Unlike other firearms, your hunting rifle has a special place in your heart. Yes, you love and take care of your pistols and shotguns, but your rifle gets special treatment. Most people reading this remember their first rifle and it still sits in your gun safe today. It's more than just an inanimate object made of wood, polymer and metal, it's a member of the family. It will be passed down through your family because you feel like they deserve to experience the happiness that comes with that first trigger pull. 

My first hunting rifle is an inexpensive, polymer bolt-action Remington in .308 Win. It's bolt was a little stiff at first, but now it cycles rounds like a dream. I took down my first deer with this rifle, and that right there created a feeling that almost can't be explained. It's kinda like your family vehicle that you grew up with. It wasn't the nicest car, but it is filled with wonderful memories and experiences that will never be forgotten.

You make a connection with your first rifle that is difficult to replicate in ones that you own later. I see people on Facebook gun selling groups that, in a time of misfortune, sold their hunting rifle that was their first or it had been in the family for a long time, and they are trying to find it again. This upsets me knowing that most of them won't succeed. 

You only have one first rifle. And if at any point during your ownership of that weapon you feel a sense of pride when firing it, I urge you to never get rid of that rifle. You may one day regret it.

Modular Handgun System

The Beretta 92/M9 was adopted as the standard issue sidearm of the United States military in 1985, and 30 years later, it is still trusted with keeping our soldiers safe overseas. But the military has stated that the time has come that we look for another weapon to carry the burden.

The 92 was, and still is, a uniquely designed pistol. It's open-slide design is easily distinguishable from any other gun. This design keeps the gun from feeling top heavy and gives a great sight picture when aimed. In my personal opinion, it is one of the best looking and feeling weapons on the market. The 92 is notorious for lasting forever. It was designed to last thousands of rounds beyond its designated service live.
But this piece has had it's fair share of criticisms as well. Many women in the military don't favor this weapon due to its large size. It lacks several ergonomic features that newer weapons now come with. Another complaint is capacity. It's 15 round 9mm magazine is considered a tad low compared to some of the newer ones that are out that hold 17 to 19 rounds for 9mm. The 92 is also hammer-fired, which some believe to be a nuisance.
Arguably the biggest complaint with the 92 is it's slide-mounted safety. This seems to be a Beretta trademark for their full-sized guns. What was intended to be a way to rack the slide with one arm, has been a thorn in the weapon's side since it was adopted. Soldiers complain that they accidentally engage the safety when they rack the slide and it gets in the way when using gloves.
Many complaints come from the 9mm ball round itself. Some say it's too small and they would rather give up capacity in exchange for a larger round.

So after taking these complaints into consideration, what do we want to replace the 92? Do we want to up the size of the cartridge? Here are some of the candidates that I believe have a shot at replacing the famous 92:

*There is no particular order to this list. I will not pick favorites*

• Springfield XD - While I love a good all-metal design, I feel like the next generation pistol will favor polymer, mainly due to weight, ergonomics, and ease of production. The XD is similar to a Glock because of it's cult following. Not so easy on the eyes, but it offers many different models and calibers to choose from and includes an added safety feature that the Glocks don't have. I personally am not a huge fan of the XD, but it meets the specified requirements - all without breaking the military budget.

• Smith and Wesson M&P - Again, another pistol with adaptable ergonomics and slender frame. Comes in a variety of calibers and models. you can get these pistols with or without the frame-mounted safety. Either way, it is a very small safety that won't get in the way. Trusted by police forces all throughout the nation.

• Beretta Px4 Storm - In the early 2000's, Beretta released their second full-sized pistol. Primarily for the purpose of becoming the next military sidearm for the now-defunct Joint Combat Pistol program. With it's polymer frame, interchangeable back straps, accessory rail, and adoption by numerous police forces in the U.S., the Px4 is building a solid reputation as a great all-around gun. It is a little thick, but its large, beefy external safety is not a mandatory option.

• Glock - I cannot give an exact model that would be used, but I still believe that the military would value the capacity of the 9mm over a 45. So maybe a Glock 17 or 19? A valued feature of the Glock would be how flush the gun sits. It is a very "snag-proof" design. And now the 4th generation pistols have the ability to swap out the back straps. The biggest issue with the Glock is that soldiers will not have the ability to tinker with the gun to make it "perfect," therefore I feel like many military Glock fans would be upset with this.

• H&K 45c - Already used by several branches of the military. This has everything you could want in a new pistol design, including the long sought-after 45 caliber bullet. However, the price tag will be this weapon's downfall. I'm sure it'll be less under military contract, but I can't imagine the military paying close to $1,100 per handgun.

• FN Five-Seven - I am adding this to the list only because it was designed to not only meet the requirements of the new military sidearm, but also be an alternative to the 9x19 NATO round. I feel like if the gun didn't cost an arm or leg to buy, our soldiers would already be carrying this weapon. The Five-Seven uses a unique cartridge, the 5.7x28 mm. It is a long and skinny round, designed to act like a rifle caliber, but for a pistol. It holds 20 rounds and has greater effective range and stopping power than a 9x19 NATO round. After holding this weapon, you can tell that this gun was built around ergonomics, it's possibly one of the most comfortable pistols I have ever felt.

• Beretta APX - Beretta has finally done it. After years of criticism of not making a striker-fire pistol, they finally have an answer. The Beretta APX. This pistol falls right into the "no external safety, split trigger, polymer, striker-fire" category. Price hasn't been announced yet but we could probably expect that it falls around the $600 mark. It's a little late to the game, but maybe it'll get some military consideration. Only time will tell.

• FN FNP - The FNP is right there with the H&K 45c when talking about look and feel. But it's a little more reasonable when it comes to price. And talk about options! This pistol comes in about as many configurations as you can imagine. I feel like the military could have a field day just building what they want. This is one of the few pistols that have replaceable frame rails that allow it to be rebuilt after extensive use. This will drastically increase the gun's service life and end up saving money. 

Opinion on caliber - I think that the military would be hard pressed to move up to a larger round such as the .45 ACP. I believe that we will continue to favor a lighter, faster rounds over a one that makes a larger hole. Magazine capacity cannot be overlooked, and the 9x19 still tops the market in light, high-capacity pistols.

There is no way we will go back to the 1911. So get that thought out of your mind. I love the gun as much as the next person, but let's be realistic.

Did I make good predictions? Did I leave out a pistol that you think should be included? Please leave a comment and explain what gun you think should be the next military sidearm and why.

Firearm Education (Pet Peeves)

I've wanted to rant about this for a long time. I am a member of multiple gun trading and selling groups on Facebook, I read firearm related forums and I've extensively read news articles that are all centered around guns (for better or worse). So after years of looking at these, here are my greatest pet peeves in the gun community:

• The most common communication error amongst gun owners. The box with the ammunition inside is called a MAGAZINE, NOT a CLIP. No it doesn't sound 'cool' to say the wrong thing. Magazines are the modern tool used to load ammunition into the action of the weapon. They usually feed from the bottom of the gun and use a spring to push the round in to the receiver when the action is worked. Clips serve the same purpose. However, very few, if any, modern firearms use clips to feed ammunition. A clip is a thin piece of metal that attach to the base of the cartridges and hold them together in a row. This fully loaded clip is then pressed into the built-in (and non-removable) magazines of older guns, such as the M1 Garand and will feed the rounds when the action is cycled. 

• This is more of a personal point, but to me, there is no such thing as an "AR pistol." Look it up if you don't know what I'm talking about. I know that the definition of a 'pistol' varies, but for me, a pistol is a weapon that is designed to comfortably be shot with one hand, uses pistol calibers, and can be concealed easily for easy mobility. A weapon that is only called a 'pistol' because it has a short barrel and has a chopped off shoulder stock REALLY drives me up the wall. I've even had someone say to me that they have a .308 'pistol'. No - you camo wearing neck-beard - you don't. You've only cut off the ends of your AR and made it harder to use. Yes, you have mobility, but would you cut off a shotgun to pistol-length and call it a 'pistol'? I think not.

• There are such things as good, inexpensive guns. Don't feel like you need to spend over $500 to buy a quality firearm. As a proud owner of several sub-$450 weapons, I support the bargain priced firearms. My first gun was a Remington 887 pump shotgun. It cost around $300-$350. I can't begin to tell you of all the negative reviews this gun received. All of the bad reviews were from people who never shot the gun and are only judging it by price or, if they have shot it, it didn't feel as nice as their $2,500 Benelli. I wouldn't trade my Remington for the world. It shoots straight, the action is crisp, and it hasn't ever given me any problems. If someone were to try to bash this gun in front of me, I will happily challenge them to a clay-shooting competition. I will win. This is not the only example of a quality firearm with a low price sticker. Not long ago I saw a Bersa Thunder .380 Compact on a shelf for mid-$200's. This might be the best example of a semi-auto handgun bargain. I know for a fact that this pistol has a great reputation for reliability and performance. 

• If you are wanting to sell your firearm on a website, don't ask what you've paid for it. Guns hold their value very well, but not that well. Regardless if you've shot less than 50 rounds through it. Your gun, like a car, will depreciate in value once used (unless you own a collector's piece). I can't tell you how many people attempt to sell their used Glock for the EXACT price that they paid for it new. The only reason that anyone would buy that gun from you is if they are a felon and can't buy it legally from a store.

• This is a topic for another article. Open carry. In the United States, I believe that a law abiding citizen should be able to open carry for their own protection. That being said, when activists open carry AK-47s and expect police to believe you when you say that you are "just out for a stroll," you are just seeking attention. There is absolutely no need to carry your M16 to go grocery shopping. Yes, if North Korea decides to attack us, you will be prepared, but other than that, you just look like a punk. If I was concealed carrying my pistol and some guy came in my local Winn-Dixie wielding an AK-47, I would probably be thinking about what action I should take in case this guy decides to make a move. I don't know your intention, and neither do police. 

Before I make too many eyes roll, I'll leave it at that. I promise the next post will be about an actual firearm instead of gun culture.

Leave me a comment about what bothers you about gun community.

To Hoard or Not To Hoard

The title says it all. Gun owners are just like the people that go out and buy milk and bread right before they’re snowed in. It’s never a bad idea to be prepared in case things take a turn for the worse, but it is possible that we go a little overboard. As we all know, we currently have a president that doesn’t like guns. He has taken it upon himself to drastically limit what kinds of firearms that people can lay their hands on. But this is America. Our right to bear arms cannot simply be scrubbed away by some strong-willed politician. Well, not without starting a war at least. And even our gun-hating president doesn’t want that (if you feel differently, please leave your comment below). So people, I ask that you take a deep breath, take a step back, and analyze the situation. Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

• Do I need to spend my paycheck on every last box of .22 ammo I can find?
• Do I need to buy out the store of green-tip .223/5.56 and create even more chaos for the people that come in after me looking for some?
• Do I need to postpone my child’s college education in order to buy an AR-15 before they are banned?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, I have this to say to you:

CALM YOURSELF!

There are people working night and day that make sure unconstitutional firearm bans remain only a myth. Luckily for us gun enthusiasts, we have the strongest political group on our side, the NRA. These people are well-read, strong willed, and heavily funded. Primarily by you though annual membership fees. If you feel you need to do your part to keep ridiculous laws from passing, become a member. Try to refrain from getting on social media and shouting; “Hey dems’ government get my guns!”- paired with a picture of outdated self-defense statistics. Quite honestly, it isn’t helping either side. There is nothing that you could say to congress that the NRA hasn’t thought of already.

* Note: I live in Alabama so I’m allowed to make fun of people that talk like this ^.

What I am trying to say here is this: If a shooting tragedy occurs or if a ban is proposed and you feel like you need to grab some extra ammo for your firearm, that is perfectly acceptable, but I ask that you buy only what you need. The panic only sets in when items fly off the shelves.

Top Tip – An event can occur at any moment that can limit your ability to purchase weapons or ammo. It is a good idea to remain stocked with everything you need BEFORE one of these events happen. Don’t find yourself getting pulled in to the frenzy. Buy the things you need when supply is plentiful, not when it is rare.