Quick Gun Reviews Vol. 1

I'm attempting something new with this post. I'm going to go down a short list of four or five guns that I have experience with and will just give a brief summary of my thoughts.

It's all about pistols this week! Here we go:

• Beretta 96A1 - I like the gun as a whole. The heavier weight offsets the snappy 40 caliber round. Made by Beretta so you know that the fit and finish are of very high quality. Not completely sure if the grip was any larger to accommodate the larger round, but it would be something to look at if I were thinking about purchasing it. Great alternative to the 92fs if you want something a little more potent but want to keep that legendary design.

• H&K 45c - Great ergonomics and shooting feel. This weapon takes a 45 ACP and makes it feel like a heavy 9mm. Great accuracy and comes with night sights. The downside is the price. With tax included, you'll be paying over $1,000 for a new one (ballpark $1,200) and sadly, you just don't get enough for your money. The gun is polymer, which is perfectly fine, but it feels especially cheap and clunky. I noticed that when pulling back the hammer felt like handling a toy. I'm unable to put my finger on what it is that makes it feel this way, but when a friend let me look at his, the question that kept going through my head was: "You paid how much for this?" Overall, its a great pistol that can be easily replaced by another that's $500 cheaper. 

• Glock 22 Gen 2 - Anyone reading my posts will know that I'm not a GLOCK fan, but I try to be as non-biased as possible when doing gun reviews. For a while, my family owned a Gen 2 Glock 22 so my comments will be on that particular pistol. No such thing as ergonomics with this pistol. It felt like crap in the hand and the .40 S&W round made it feel even worse when shooting. Unlike all the "Glockoholics" out there, I actually thought the trigger was pretty good. Being a Gen 2, there weren't too many features. No rail, night sights, grip modifications, aesthetics, etc. I often take this pistol and think, "how did this catch on?" But then I remember, that it works and it's cheap. Police approved! 

• Taurus Judge - How can you not like the concept? A revolver that can shoot .45 Colt AND .410 shotshells - count me in! I am not a revolver marksman, so my accuracy with the piece wasn't great when shooting the .45 Colt, but you don't need to be Bob Munden when shooting the .410. It was a blast. Overall, the gun felt very solid and good in the hand. The guy that let me shoot his had owned it for quite some time and didn't have any major complaints. He said that he might look to get some better sights installed, but overall he is very happy with his purchase. Size is a factor. The piece is rather large and would be difficult to use for a concealed-carry piece. 

• Glock 30s Gen 4 - A close friend of mine picked up one of these and I finally got a chance to shoot it. I think the 4th generation Glock feels much better than the previous ones, there are still a couple things I would change, but overall it's a solid design. The .45 ACP was very snappy in the compact frame (as to be expected with any concealable piece). This wouldn't bother me if the baseplate pinky extension on the magazine didn't keep pinching me with every shot. Other than that, accuracy was good and it ran without any hiccup. Definitely worth considering if you are looking for a concealable piece that will leave a big hole in it's target.

That's all I've got for now! I'd like to do many more of these quickie reviews once I get some range time with other weapons. In the future I'll add some variety to the type of weapons - recently I've had a lot of exposure with pistols. If you have a gun that you would like some more information on, please leave me a comment and I'll be happy to tell you what I can. 

Mosin-Nagant 91/30

This weapon is a beast. Yeah, yeah it's cheap, but in this circumstance, "cheap" doesn't mean "poorly made." Some would argue that being made in the midst of the second world war, this gun was crudely made. Well you know what? They're right. The Mosin does have some rough edges. The finish isn't fantastic, there are hammer marks all down the receiver, and many of them have been repaired using other rifles so it may not fit together as nicely as your brand-new Remington 700. But this gun will run. The Mosin-Nagant is a tank of a rifle that will outlive it's 3 owners. The reason that it's so tough is because of it consists of only a few parts. The bolt, the stock, the built-in magazine, and the barrel.

Not many guns age as well as the Mosin-Nagant. The reason that many are around today is because after the war, all of the surplus rifles were stored and preserved in a jelly-like substance called cosmoline. The boxes of rifles were then shipped to the U.S. due to growing demand. You can actually pick up one of these surplus rifles for less than $200. And the ammo to go with it is also cheap. So this makes the Mosin a prime candidate for those just wanting a rifle to go to the range with.

The model 91/30 was built for a soldier. What I mean by that is, this gun requires a strong individual to operate. The 7.62x54r cartridge is powerful and can leave a nasty bruise on your shoulder if you don't handle it properly. The gun itself is large and heavy. Operating the bolt can also be a challenge, especially when it's used for the first time since the war ended. The iron sights are basic and can be adjusted for shots over 100 yards. Operating the safety (yeah, they all have one. Look it up) is just not worth doing because of the amount of effort required. Firing this weapon will definitely put hair on your chest. And the good part about it is... you can waste ammo without burning a hole in your wallet! As stated before, the ammo for this gun is relatively inexpensive for what you get. You're basically getting a rifle that fires a round similar to the size of a 30-06, but at a fraction of the cost. The box magazine is built-in to the gun and can hold 5 rounds and can be unloaded without cycling the bold by opening the latch on the magazine base plate.

And that's all there is to it!

Don't let all of this talk convince you that all Mosins are equal. There are a few things to look out for when purchasing a Mosin.

• First off, you need to decide which model you want. There are MANY different variants to chose from. But for this article, I will talk about the main infantry rifle for the Russian soldiers - the full-size model 91/30.
• Second, decide what year gun you wish to purchase. This is important because most of the time, the year determines the fit and finish of the gun. My personal Mosin-Nagant was produced in 1943 which was in the heat of Russia's involvement in the war. Therefore my rifle is pretty battle worn. If you purchase a gun a couple years before the war, your rifle may have a different shaped (higher quality) receiver along with better fit and finish.
• Next is the place of origin. Many collectors will swear that a Mosin made in _____ country will perform better than the ones made in _____ country. Honestly, I feel that this is just a preference. Sure, there might be some differences between the guns, but they are mostly the same rifle.
• Something that many people don't think about when buying a Mosin-Nagant is the barrel wear. A gun that has been fired often and not cleaned properly will have pitting in the barrel. The powder used in the 1940s was corrosive unlike the powder used today. Be sure to use a light to inspect a barrel before you buy. Also, many of the guns during the war were used so much that the rifling was shot out of the barrel. To correct this, they used a drilling tool to re-cut some of the rifling to the business-end of the barrel. This is called "counterbore." While this did improve the accuracy of a gun that had the rifling shot out, this method is crude and still did not give the gun 100% accuracy. Ideally, you want to look for a Mosin that hasn't been counterbored AND still retains it's rifling. These will be the most accurate. This is what sold me on the one that I currently own.
• When you buy your gun, make sure you ask the gun dealer if it comes with "everything." He/she should know what you are talking about. Most Mosin-Nagant rifles are shipped with a sling, a bayonet, a cleaning rod (attached to the gun), and an oil can(s) with pouch.
• All of these rifles will probably be drenched with cosmoline. This is normal, but will take several hours to completely remove from the firearm. When you shoot it, more of the cosmoline will seep out of the the gun's seams due to the liquid heating up. This is perfectly normal. Just be sure you bring a couple of shop towels to the range to clean up the mess.
• Last, be wary of the store in which you purchase the rifle. These can be purchased online and shipped to your local FFL dealer. This is risky because you cannot inspect the gun beforehand.

After you've familiarized yourself with the gun you wish to purchase, the only thing you have left to do is decide what type of wood and color you want.

Open-Carry Smartasses

I am pro open-carry. That being said, I believe that you should open carry because you have a reason to, not just because you desire attention. Let me explain...

I hear incidents all over the news about these open carry groups causing a fuss because a group of 12 people got together and decided to go to a farmer's market with M4s and AKs strapped to their backs. While what they are doing is perfectly legal (unless they have a felony charge), their only reason for doing this is to get a reaction from the people around them. Of course police are called. Many people don't know that you CAN walk around with rifles strapped to you. Once the they arrive, the police do exactly what they're supposed to - ask questions. Rarely are the police in these situations excessively forceful or angry. But once the officers are within talking distance of the carriers, then the organization's real purpose of open carrying begins to show.

They will stand there with a video camera and question the police officer's every word.

"Why do you need to see my ID?"
"Are you detaining me?"
"What felony have I committed?"
"Do you suspect me of being a felon?"
"Are you aware of this law?"
"What trouble am I causing?"

The list goes on and on...

THESE people, are the open-carry smartasses. Don't you dare try to test their political knowledge on the subject of open carry, because they can recite the laws and paragraph numbers in their sleep. They are born to troll the police.

It upsets me when I hear good comments about these people. These people aren't "protecting themselves" or their rights by recording these actions. They know damn well that they are likely to be stopped and only want to make some unfortunate police officer look like a fool on YouTube. Yes - I agree that more police officers should be informed of the open carry laws in their state, but that's no reason to cause public hysteria by walking down a neighborhood street dressed in black with tactical gear and an AK-47.

On the other hand, I do believe in open carry if you know are entering a dangerous environment. Whether it's a bad neighborhood or a dense forest, having easy access to protection is important. Open carrying also comes with the need for responsibility. Not only should you know the Ten Commandments of Gun Safety, you should live them every day. When open carrying, you should dress and act like the responsible gun owner you are and be aware of where you go. You can't just walk in to a school or bank with an open firearm and expect people to go about their normal business. That's absurd.

Do me a favor, if you see or hear someone talking about open carrying their AR-15 around the town "just because they can," maybe ask them if they have a good reason. If not, smack them on the back of the head, call them an asshole, and tell them to do something productive with their time.

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.