Carnival of Cordite #35
It's that time of the week once again... gather 'round for the 35th Carnival of Cordite! It's a weekly hodgepodge of posts from around the blogosphere dedicated to guns, shooting, hunting, defense, and the law and politics of the Second Amendment. It's also a great way to find new blogs for your reading pleasure.
And now...
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Starting off with matters political and philosophical:
Of course, the big news this week is the passage of the lawsuit immunity bill. The Ten Ring got off to an early start with a healthy fisking of the NYT. More from Countertop.
Uncle is optimistic about gun legislation.
Xavier joins the immunity discussion.
Posse Incitatus cautions that a bill to cut down on lawsuits will result in another lawsuit.
Newcomer Different River realizes that lawsuits are just a different means to a (non) legislative end.
Of Arms and the Law has more.
In other political and legal news:
The CEO of Brady quit. Speaking of Brady, Michelle Malkin says we need to keep our eyes on Mike Wallace.
Wadcutter has important information for Colorado voters on what might happen to background checks.
Eric grumbles about the meaning of the Second Amendment:
In fact, Patrick Henry, Richard Lee, and most other Revolutionary leaders knew full well that their revolution against British tyranny would have been impossible without the arms that nearly every colonist kept in their homes. The Second Amendment is our last, final defense against tyranny.
You mean it ain't about duck hunting?
Well, it looks like no one on the Senate Judiciary Committe cares what Harriet Miers thinks about the Second Amendment.
And Mr. Completely demonstrates why we need to protect ourselves against... not government, but governmentium. OK, so maybe it isn't quite what Thomas Jefferson had in mind...
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Continuing to follow up on the New Orleans debacle, new contributor Ronocracy weighs in with thoughts on FEMA's gun bans and the Massachusetts Department of Public "Safety."
Meanwhile, Coyote Killer informs us that, due to Hurricane Katrina, gun ownership is going up:
It's funny that most journalistic organs oppose private gun ownership, but can't resist sensationalizing crime in ways that encourage people to be armed.
Indeed.
And remember New Orleans! I think that in years to come, that phrase will rank right up there with "from my cold, dead hands!"
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Things that go BOOM!
ROFASix links to some killer videos of the latest high tech boomtastic goodies. I was particularly interested in the CheyTac .408, so I searched and found more info here.
Speaking of videos: explosions are always appreciated!
Here's one peace symbol I like:
New contributor Raving Conservative offers up some advice on the best boomsticks for a variety of uses, such as varmint hunting, personal defense, etc. Pay attention; he says he's running for President someday!
Xavier is back with more helpful hints on getting a good deal, this time when shopping for a used 1911.
Heartless Libertarian ponders the assault rifle that never was:
That's the Avtomat Korobov TKB-517. And we should consider ourselves lucky that it never caught on and ended up in the hands of our many enemies!
This is not an incomplete weapon:
Hell in a Handbasket informs us that this is a new light-weight, low-recoil, .45 ACP submachine gun!
Speaking of .45 ACP, here is the obligatory 1911 post.
New contributor The Judicator has decided to buy a Springfield Commander "Loaded" 1911:
For all you gun-ignorant people out there, that is a standard 1911-style handgun in .45 caliber, with a 4" barrel and a single-stack magazine, along with a truckload of common custom options most people want added to their 1911 pistols.
Good choice! Much better than falling for propaganda of the corrupt Glock loving dogs:
Irons in the Fire reviews a classic:
That's the #4 Mk I Lee Enfield. As for the elaborate sight:
This is one of the earlier models, screw-adjustable from 200 yards to way-to-hell-out-there (less technically known as 1300 yards). Shooting at an individual target at that range was mostly hope even for a fine rifleman, but if you had a squad firing aimed volleys... I believe this was a holdover from the WWI days, when sights were graduated out to over 2000 yards for aimed volley fire; that was before a lot of people believed/understood that machine guns would take over that job.
I could never hit anything at way-the-hell-out-there ranges, but I have to admit it would be fun to get together with a few dozen friends, all armed with these, dial-in the range, then open fire in volleys on a big target (maybe the carboard box from a new large appliance) and see what we can do!
More on sights, of the red dot type, here.
Uncle says to check out Coal Creek Armory. OK.
More fron Ronocracy: the wonders of the Czech Republic!
and
Other than the obviously high-quality of the guns (and beer!), why buy Czech? As Ronocracy puts it:
I am happy that I have had the opportunity to put food on the table and clothes on the backs of freedom loving families halfway across the world.
When considering that next purchase and you have a choice between a product made in a totalitarian state which has a history of crushing freedom or a product made in a country which has thrown off the shackles of despots I ask that you support freedom with one of the most powerful incentives you can bring to bear: Cold, hard cash.
Amen!
Women Warriors!
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On to matters of crime and punishment...
Confederate Yankee is bothered by the latest Brady Campaign lawsuit, this one alleging a pawn shop was negligent for selling a firearm to someone who later used it illegally:
This is less of a legitimate legal case than it is a cynical attempt by the Brady Center to use the grief of a widow to try to generate self-serving P.R. and raise funds. Consider me less than impressed, and more than a little disgusted with their tactics.
My heart goes out to Patricia Tucker for the loss of her husband. I hope she finds peace, but this is a case that she should not win. If she does, we all lose.
Coyote Killer points out a recent column by John Stossel on the danger of gun myths.
Meanwhile, the ever witty Frank J. of IMAO has a demented take on the decline in murder rates.
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From crime to protection...
New contributor South Park Pundit has a meaty post on his defensive weapons of choice, plus some good information on tactical lighting.
Sleepless in Midland found an old article on airlines and security that puts a lot of our post 9/11 procedures into perspective.
The Civilian Gun Self Defense Blog says that you should never bring a stun-gun, knife, pepper spray, baton, brass knuckles and handcuffs to a gun fight. More here.
Want to prevent another Columbine? The Judicator says arm the teachers.
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Off to the range!
More from South Park Pundit, who went out to test his 10/22 race gun with different ammo and optics.
If you are going to the range, you'll need ammo. PawPaw reminds us that we are rapidly approaching National Ammo Day! And based on his observations on ammo purchases and criminal investigations, I wonder if the various law enforcement agencies will notice the large ammo sales when Ammo Day is here? More from Countertop.
Speaking of ammo, PawPaw also wants us all to think about slugs:
That is three of the Remington standard slug load as fired through a smoothbore barrel, offhand, at 50 yards. I'm sure that with a little practice, I could put them all in the bull. That group measures just 4.4 inches.
There's just something wonderful about putting 3/4" holes in a piece of paper from hunks of lead that weigh in around 3 times more than the average .30-'06 round...
Of course, some people around here might think you need slugs to shoot, well, slugs:
Ummm... back to ammo...
Tip from Shakey Pete: if you are a handloader and you accidentally buy the wrong powder, a little research might uncover a wonderful new load!
Blog Idaho asked me to point out Evil Roy, a source for cowboy action boomy schoolin' 'n' stuff:
Attending their shooting school has helped us win medals at the World Senior Games and Gold Medals at the Nevada Senior Olympics. Evil Roy won 5 Gold Medals at the World Senior Games himself in 2004.
Can't get a better recommendation than that!
Next time you go to the range, why not take along a youngster who has never been?
Once again, if you are anywhere near Whidbey Island, clear your calendar for next weekend! I'm tempted, but that's like an 8 hour drive, plus a boat trip...
While there, ask Mr. Completely about the steel challenge:
The really fast shooters hit five targets, including drawing from a holster, in under two seconds!
As he says: wow!
Jerry the Geek has some videos from recent IPSC competition.
And forget about video games, go play outside! But wait, this time it's not the kids we're talking about! Seriously, why are the older folks suddenly getting into violent video games? I thought the old timers were the last ones still going out to the range, and it was the kids we had to recruit into shooting?
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We're coming to the end, and that means Blog of the Week time. This time, instead of using this award to single out one good blogger for the week, I am issuing a special message to a special contributor:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIT!
Kit and her wonderful photography have probably done more to help attract and retain Carnival of Cordite readers than anyone else, that dang Puppy Blendin' Instapundit included. So everyone go wish Kit a happy birthday. And if you have a lot of extra cash lying around, she'd like a Remington LTR .308, and maybe a nice scope to go with it.
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Discussion question:
Keeping along the lines of the Blog of the Week...
What gun or shooting-related product do you wish you could get for your next birthday?
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That's it for this week, folks! You can catch up on previous carnivals and find out about submissions at our main page. And find out about all the other assorted carnivals with the ubercarnival.
See you next week. Until then, keep your powder dry!
I'm almost self-actualized in the gun stuff department, but I'm celebrating Xmas early when I visit the folks back home in November. Since I don't really need ammo either, I'll take my brother to Walmart on National Ammo Day, where we'll buy each other a buttload of ammo.
Posted by: Cowboy Blob | Friday, 21 October 2005 at 06:11 PM
And a Leupold 2.5-8! I've been a really good girl this year, honest!
Thanks Gully. ;)
Posted by: Kit | Friday, 21 October 2005 at 06:46 PM
"What gun or shooting-related product do you wish you could get for your next birthday?"
Abolition of FedGov.
A big wish, but what the heck. Screw Washington DC. America's biggest hemmeroid!
How is that gun related? For the same reason Lexington and Concord happened.
Posted by: anonymous | Friday, 21 October 2005 at 07:27 PM
Easy question! With money from the next income tax refund, which will come right around my birthday, I'm going to get a lever-action rifle in .357 magnum, probably a Winchester.
Posted by: AlanDP | Friday, 21 October 2005 at 08:07 PM
I want a 20mm Lahti. And 10,000 rounds for it.
Posted by: Jay Kominek | Saturday, 22 October 2005 at 07:38 AM
What gun or shooting-related product do you wish you could get for your next birthday?
Reloading gear, so I don't have to pay over $2/rd for decent .45-70 or .30-40.
Posted by: Josh | Saturday, 22 October 2005 at 08:43 AM
Barrett M82A1
'nuff said
Posted by: Karl | Sunday, 23 October 2005 at 06:35 PM
I'm always teaching a class for my charity firearm course. Ammo is the biggest expense.
If anyone actually remembered my birthday, I would hope that they'd present me with a nice chiny case of ammunition.
James
Posted by: James R. Rummel | Sunday, 23 October 2005 at 10:45 PM