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.