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The market for 9mm ARs is booming — literally — since they're cheap to buy and feed, and easier to shoot than traditional AR platforms.
Some 3-Gun competitions now have a 9mm AR division.
It's about time that their growing popularity was recognized.
In the gun world, 9mm ARs are likely the next big thing.
That in mind, The Gun Writer TV co-host Mike Young and I headed to Gun Point in Bradenton, for a primer on what's new in the 9mm AR world from owner Felex Yukhtman.
Felex has always ridden the crest of the wave in terms of new firearms and products.
We were not disappointed.
The "Mad Russian" had the entire table inside his legendary gun vault covered with 9mm AR pistols, carbines, SBRs, rifles and suppressors.
Gun Point's 9mm pistol, which sports an MVB Industries micro buffer, is by far the most balanced and quickest-handling AR pistol I've ever seen.
Many of his SBRs and PDWs were one-ofs — made to a client's specifications.
All were made with the best AR parts, including capture screws — a boon to AR builders.
Gun Point's production gun, Felex said, was recently used in a LEO match in California, where it shot 1 MOA — a 9mm carbine that can shoot 1 MOA!
There were other shockers.
Gun Point is set to release it's own 9mm suppressor with an MSRP of $450. That's an incredible value for a locally made, quality can.
Also, the firm is about six weeks away from releasing a 9mm Glock AR, which all of us agreed would be a real game-changer. To be clear, when the Glock AR becomes available, we will conduct a full review.
Felex has too many options and too many packages available to name them all here, most with MSRPs from $1,600 to $2,000. But if you want a Gun Point AR in any caliber, the best thing to do is call or stop by and talk to Felex and his staff.
Of course his AKs are the best around, but that's another story.
Thanks to Felex and his staff for a great time, and to Mike Lang for putting this video together.
Mike and Lee
The Gun Writer TV episode 18: In which we answer: 'What type of gun should I buy?'
Gun sales are up 30 percent, locally and nationally, since the terrorist murders in Paris.
Demand for firearms classes has also increased markedly.
People are looking to take responsibility for their own safety — a decision we strongly support.
This week, Mike Young and I try to answer the most difficult question I'm often asked: "What type of gun should I buy?"
We talk about long guns, full-sized handguns and concealed-carry handguns.
As always, we hope you enjoy the video as much as we do making them!
Mike and Lee
Breast cancer has touched too many lives, including my own.
There's only one weapon that's proven effective in the fight against it — cold hard cash.
Money can fund more cancer research, raise more awareness and aid cancer survivors and their families.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, five local gun dealers and a couple private donors have donated components to build a very special rifle — an AR that supports finding a cancer cure.
The unique weapon will be raffled off Oct. 31.
Tickets are only $10, and each of these dealers has a stock of them ready to sell:
- Amendment II Armory, 2239 15th St unit D, Sarasota
- Fully Loaded Guns and Ammo/Whisky Tango Firearms, 6026 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
- Gunsmith Gallery, 4333 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
- Quick Draw Defense, 201 U.S. 41, Venice
- Young Guns and Safety, 7119 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
All of the proceeds — 100 percent — will be donated to In the Pink Boutique Inc., a Sarasota nonprofit dedicated to "helping women heal, cope and survive the effects of cancer…physically and emotionally."
In the Pink provides wigs, prosthetics, post-surgery clothes and a host of other products for cancer survivors.
The rifle the guys put together is truly unique — definitely a one-of.
The most striking feature is the weapon's Cerakote paint job created by Ian, the "artist in residence" at Whisky Tango Firearms.
Ian went all out on this gun.
He chose a battle-worn concept, but he incorporated pink accents and ribbons into the design rather than traditional hues.
The result is a stunning tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness month, which still retains enough tactical moxie so that anyone would feel privileged to run this gun. It's certainly wasn't built to be a wall hanger or a safe queen.
The rifle features Anderson upper and lower receivers, a Ballistic Advantage 16-inch barrel, a 15-inch light key-mod rail system and a Mission First Tactical Minimalist stock. Sarasota's Veritas Training Academy has donated six steel magazines to go with the weapon.
The package is made to shoot.
If you want to see the weapon, it's currently on display at Young Guns and Safety.
Every dealer involved in the project deserves kudos, as it will likely raise thousands of dollars for a very worthy local charity.
This level of cooperation among competing FFLs isn't unusual for Sarasota.
It's one of the reasons why the gun business here is thriving — good folks helping each other, which benefits their customers.
— If we don't run into each other at the range, you can reach me at (941) 284-8553, by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or by regular mail, 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. You also can follow me on social media atfacebook.com/TheGunWriter or Twitter.com/ht_gunwriter
Lee's note: This just moved on the Associated Press wire.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart will stop selling the AR-15 rifle and other semi-automatic weapons at its stores because fewer people are buying them, a spokesman said Wednesday.
The AR-15 rifles and other modern sporting rifles were being sold at less than a third of the company's 4,600 U.S. stores. Company spokesman Kory Lundberg said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will remove the remaining inventory as stores transition from summer to fall merchandise, which should take a week or two to complete.
Lundberg said the decision to remove the weapons was not political and that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer made the decision earlier this year.
"It's similar to what we do with any product. Being what it is, it gets a little more attention, but it's the same process for any other product," Lundberg said.
Lundberg said the company had seen a decrease in sales of the particular models of guns, but declined to give specific sales numbers. He said stores would increase inventory of other models of shotguns and rifles popular among hunters.
"We wanted to make sure when customers are coming and looking to purchase those products, they see the products they want. We see more business from hunters and people shooting clay," he said.
Several analysts said the decision was likely based on sales and demand.
"Big retailers don't make decisions on a whim, and it would appear that they are responding to their market," said Jason Maloni, a crisis communications expert at LEVICK. "This seems to be a strategic decision of Wal-Mart to address customer desires."
In recent years, shareholders have placed some pressure on the company to reconsider its sales policies of products such as weapons that hold high-capacity magazines. Bushmaster variations of the semi-automatic AR-15 have been used in such high-profile mass shootings as the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, and the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado.
The historic Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York, which owns stock in Wal-Mart, filed a lawsuit last year after the company declined to allow a shareholder vote on the church's proposal for the board of directors to more closely review policies on sales decisions of products that could "endanger public safety and well-being" or hurt the company's reputation or emphasis on family and community values.
A lower court ruled that the shareholders should be allowed to consider the proposal, but a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge lifted that injunction. The church has not appealed, but officials said they are not ready to drop the lawsuit either.
The Rev. William Lupfer, rector of the church, said in a statement Wednesday that the church was "pleased to hear Wal-Mart will no longer sell the kinds of weapons that have caused such devastation and loss in communities across our country."
"We continue to believe that corporate boards have the responsibility to oversee the creation of policies that will guide decision making on marketing and other issues that could have momentous impact on the safety and well-being of society and to shareholder value," Lupfer wrote.
Wal-Mart scaled back the number of stores that sold guns around 2006, Lundberg said, but has no plans to stop the sale of guns all together.
I've got a big Rubbermaid container chock full of gun parts I've never used.
There are pistol grips, wooden stocks, sights, sling swivels and much more.
They were standard equipment on firearms I've purchased over the years — equipment I replaced with after-market accessories that better suited my tastes and needs.
I can't throw the box out. I paid for the accessories, sort of. They were included in the purchase price of the guns.
Imagine if you could buy a rifle exactly as you wanted, without stock accessories that someone else put on the gun.
Well, if you build your own AR, you get to choose the parts. But for the uninitiated, building an AR is not an easy process.
There are a lot of ways to learn how to build an AR.
YouTube is chock full of video tips and techniques, but try to ask one of these so-called "experts" a question when something doesn't fit right. Or try to get one to function-check your rifle, so it goes bang and not BOOM!
Enter Mike Young, owner of Young Guns and Safety.
Mike's offering what he calls an AR "Build Class," but in actuality, it's much more.
The first thing he does is sit down and interview the prospective customer about their budget and what they're looking for in a rifle. It's concierge, a la carte service, but enough French.
Mike orders all of the parts and components, and schedules the class when they arrive.
Then, Mike or Dave Kreiseder, the shop's armorer/gunsmith, take the student through the entire build process step-by-step.
It's a one-on-one class. It's not a room full of students dropping pins and shooting springs.
It's more of an armorers course than a build class.
The students leave with an extremely thorough understanding of how their rifle operates.
The $70 class has an added benefit — massive savings.
One recent student saved more than $1,000 on his dream rifle, compared to what he would have paid for an off-the-shelf rifle built with similar components.
To be clear, you get to choose exactly what you want on the rifle. You learn to assemble the entire weapon, and you save a heck of a lot of money in the process. You also get to have a great time. After watching a build class last week, my stomach hurt from laughing so hard.
And Mike and Dave throw the jokes in for free.
You can reach them at (941) 706-2604.
I spent Independence Day shooting off some real fireworks, with friends at a private range in Manatee County. For me, that's real freedom.
Thanks for the hospitality Pete, Dave, John and of course Caroline.
Lee's note: Felex Yukhtman, owner of Gun Point, hosted one of his famous machine gun shoots Sunday at the Manatee Gun and Archery Club.
I feel privileged to have been invited.
His shoots are truly spectacular events. However, when you talk to Felex, you quickly realize that what he's sharing with his customers, family and friends is much more than just an opportunity to shoot some exotic weapons.
Here's the story I wrote for the newspaper.
Immigrant on target with his American Dream
Published: Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 6:43 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 6:43 p.m.
MYAKKA CITY – Felex Yukhtman has achieved his American Dream.
Yukhtman and his family immigrated from the former Soviet Union during
the 1970s. His father had only $70 in his pocket.
"We were among the first wave of Jewish immigrants to escape the communist bloc," he said. "We left because of religious persecution, but also because my parents didn't want me to end up in Afghanistan fighting in the Soviet Army."
Despite humble beginnings, Yukhtman is now a successful businessman and a multi-millionaire, which he credits to "sheer hard work, determination and never taking 'no' for an answer."
He's also got an immigrant's patriotic fervor.
"I'm not a Russian. I'm of Russian descent," he said. "I'm proud to say I'm an American."
The 54-year-old first made his name in California in the custom car business — classic Chevrolets — and he still considers himself a "car guy," even though he's achieved tremendous success and earned a national reputation with another product.
"I'm still a car guy, but I'm a car guy who got side-tracked by guns," he said Sunday.
Yukhtman's firm Gun Point, which is located on Lena Road in Bradenton, specializes in exotic firearms — machine guns, short-barrel rifles and suppressors — the rarer, the more arcane, the better.
He describes Gun Point, which is usually open by appointment only, as the "Ferrari" or "Lamborghini" dealer of gun shops.
Nearly all of his transactions are online, dealer-to-dealer sales. And Gunbroker.com, the world's largest online firearms auction site, recently named him one of its Top 100 sellers.
Yukhtman has been organizing "machine gun shoots" for customers, family and friends for more than a decade. He only recently began charging for ammunition.
At one of these shoots held Sunday at Manatee Gun and Archery Club's "Area 51," the line between customer and friend was blurred.
"We treat all our customers as family," he admitted.
Yukhtman and his staff brought out some rare, exotic and historical wares for the shooters to try, including:
•A Thompson submachine Gun made in 1943, which saw service overseas.
"If this gun could talk," Yukhtman said of the "Tommy Gun."
• A Beretta Model 70 .22 pistol with a threaded barrel, which was likely owned by the Mossad — the Israeli intelligence service.
"They would have used a pistol such as this after the Munich massacre," he said.
• A Mini-Uzi submachine gun that fires from a closed bolt — a requirement of the U.S. Secret Service, whose agents carried the weapon while guarding presidents.
• An FN M240B — the belt-fed medium machine gun used by all branches of the U.S. military.
Neither Anthony Schweiger nor his sister Chelsea — both in their early 20s — had ever fired a fully-automatic, belt-fed machine gun before Sunday.
Each sent quick, precise bursts downrange from the M240B into a unique target — an old truck that had been drained of fluids and stripped of its tires.
"It was a tremendous experience," Anthony Schweiger said. "I'm so glad I got to do it."
"I thought it would be hard to shoot, but the kick's not bad at all," his sister said of the M240B.
Yukhtman worked nonstop throughout the event: loading magazines, replacing targets, acting as a range safety officer, answering dozens of questions, smiling a lot and toting weapons to and from the firing line.
"I'm full-throttle all the time," he said.
After some prodding, he acknowledged he would make a pretty good motivational speaker, and he offered some advice to those seeking their own version of the American Dream.
Said Yukhtman: "You can make it. You can succeed, but you must visualize your success. Even if you fail, you cannot give up. God bless this country for giving us the opportunity to be what we want to be. We have the best country in the world, and it's worth fighting for. I really believe in what this country has to offer."
Lee's note: Here's a great guest column from longtime reader Rick Miller. Rick writes about a recent trip to the range, where he fired an AR for the first time.
Thanks, Rick!
It's a great read.
Guns & Sensibility–The AR-15 controversy:
Many of my friends have read, ignored, or argued against my reasoned and thoughtful pro-2nd Amendment stances in person or in writing occasionally on social media, usually after some national tragedy where a nutcase goes wild with a firearm against innocent civilians.
I'm basically a shotgunner– a sportsman who enjoys the rigors and challenges of hunting fast, wily upland birds such as quail, pheasant, and grouse, and occasionally waterfowl with a big ol' 12-gauge scatter-gun like your dear old grandpappy did.
IF you come from a typical New England or southern family with a hunting tradition, your dad or gramps probably also hunted deer with a rifle such as a .30-06 or .308. These also deliver a big, lethal blow to the target, in fairly rapid fire too, in semi-automatic mode, just like many shotguns do, as long as you keep repeatedly squeezing the trigger.
People don't seem offended by these because we don't hear about violent crimes much using shotguns and deer rifles. Those don't stir up emotions and grab headlines. We think of Grandpa, the untamed Wild West, and Teddy Roosevelt in a hunting lodge. But they are big, high-caliber, dangerous firearms, which function just exactly like a much maligned (and misnamed) "assault rifle" such as an AR-15 that the public and anti-gun activists make such a stink over.
This past holiday I had the experience of handling and firing an AR-15 for the first time. Do you know what? Aside from the militaristic appearance of blackened metal and plastic parts, it's just a rifle. It functions just like grandpa's deer rifle and his duck gun–one trigger pull delivers one bang. It's quite heavy. You have to carefully aim it, peering down the sights. One shot at a time. It isn't even as big a bullet as the deer rifles fire. And it doesn't deliver the shoulder-punishing recoil, thunderous report, and wall-collapsing punch of a 12-gauge shotgun either.
It's not a machine gun like Rambo or any number of militaristic Hollywood action heroes would use to deliver an onslaught in a hail of lead upon its targets, with spent rounds flying out in an arcing rainbow of tinkling brass cartridges all over the ground. It's none of those things. It's literally just a rifle.
Sure, it looks "mean". But those things are mere cosmetics. If it were clad in a handsome burled wood stock and fore end with traditional woodsy engravings like shotguns and deer rifles often have, it would be the same. It's just a well made rifle that looks mean because of the imagery associating the AR-15 with Hollywood's and the media's portrayal as a machine gun, which it is not.
It is legally manufactured for ordinary civilians who fancy a rugged, practical rifle, for sport shooting or defense, which is more like a "Jeep" in appearance than a "Cadillac". Simple hardware functionality is chosen over flashy aesthetics. That's all it is. Here are an AR-15, which fires a .223 caliber bullet, and a .30-06 rifle which fires a much bigger bullet, but otherwise the same type of rifle. One is the simple Jeep, the other the flashy Cadillac. One made of dull black metal and plastic, the other of polished steel and handsome hardwood, maybe walnut. Same thing.
So, hey, mainstream media, get real and get it straight. Neither is a so-called "assault rifle". These are just "rifles". Firing the AR-15 on the target range was a really fun time, too! For the anti-gun naysayers out there, I recommend you have a friend take you to the range and try one out for the experience of it and become a better-informed person.
Are you afraid you might enjoy it?
-R. Miller, Sarasota
Rick Miller Bio: Professional biologist and naturalist, husband, father, and grandfather, and an avid upland bird hunter and amateur firearms and gun dog enthusiast. I am a lifelong New Englander recently relocated to Sarasota, and am also a working blues musician enjoying the music and culture of the warm Suncoast of southwest Florida with my wife who is my best friend. I've had a fun career as a published biomedical scientist in the laboratory of a major Massachusetts research hospital, an educator in academia, and most recently as a marine scientist and naturalist on the rugged coast of Maine. Born at the tail end of the '50s, I marvel at the changes in American culture and occasionally do freelance writing to social media for my own enjoyment from the perspective of a reasonable, open-minded, regular joe on subjects that interest me, from biology and medicine, politics, religion, culture, and family, to guns and the 2nd Amendment, cars, sports, dogs, guitars, and rock & roll. In short—the human experience in America. Follow me from time to time on Twitter @BlueMiller59
Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 1:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 2:11 p.m.
Meet the Aegis15.
It is the first locally designed and locally made AR to hit the market.
The new rifle is the product of a partnership between Aegis Tactical, a tactical
training firm and firearms retailer in Bradenton and Armorit, an engineering, design and manufacturing firm in Sarasota.
The MSRP for the Aegis15 is $859, and for that low price you get a lot of gun.
In fact, I did not expect nearly that much gun for the money.
"We have it priced for the mom or dad who want to get into shooting," Aegis' owner Joe Krawtschenko said. "I know we could charge more."
Availability too is not an issue.
"I have 400 of them ready to go," he said.
The Aegis15 comes loaded with extras, like a full-auto rated bolt carrier group, ambidextrous single-point sling adapter, milled-out mag well, an upgraded trigger and a custom finish that's chock-full of Teflon, which improves performance and maintenance.
"You can spend a weekend shooting with the kids and you won't have to spend a day cleaning it," Krawtschenko said.
Aegis has also civilized the rifle purchasing process.
Potential buyers can sit at the "AR Bar," while Mike Pires, Aegis' master gunsmith, discusses furniture and accessory options.
Once you make your choices, he will assemble the rifle while you wait, while you watch, or teach you how to do it yourself in one of his build classes. In my humble opinion, Mike is one of the best AR builders on the planet.
While they have always sold ARs, the introduction of their own rifle charts a
new direction for Aegis Tactical — a move spawned in part by the rush on black rifles over the past couple of years, and the exorbitant prices it produced.
"We saw so many people getting ripped off — guys paying $1,500 for an $800 gun and a few accessories they didn't want," Krawtschenko said.
"Rather, we start with a blank sheet of paper and then make it the way you want it. It's like Legos for adults."
Floyd Asbury, Armorit's president, founded the firm in 2004, which for years did highly specialized work for the Defense Department until the government contracts began to wane during the recession.
Asbury, an Air Force vet and competitive shooter, says his 17 employees did the engineering while Aegis' team did the validation — the shooting and testing.
The results of the partnership are impressive.
"It's all about reliability and quality — someone being able to depend on it," Asbury said.
"We went through validation and development for over a year. I think it's affordable and dependable," he said.
Armorit has other firearms in development, Asbury said.
The Aegis15 is solid, with zero play between the upper and lower receivers.
The trigger's crisp and resets quickly.
Fit and finish are outstanding.
It shoots like a dream.
There is another important factor.
"Not only did we want everything made in America, but we wanted as much as we possibly could get made in Sarasota and Manatee counties," Krawtschenko said.
If we don't run into each other at the range, you can reach me at (941) 361-4975, by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or by regular mail, 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. You can also follow me on social media at www.facebook.com/TheGunWriter or www.Twitter.com/ht_gunwriter.
Published: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 1:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 1:32 p.m.
Just when I thought the battle was over, it started again.
I was standing in line at a grocery store when I saw it — a special "AR vs. AK" publication from a national gun magazine.
One is the most-produced weapon in the world. The other has become "America's Rifle."
Which one is better?
Long a guaranteed argument-starter among mall ninjas and chairborne commandos — ask anyone with any real operational experience which weapon is better and they'll likely reply: "better for what?"
If you have to teach basic rifle marksmanship in a foreign land to a company of indigenous fighters; or if you have to operate sterile without leaving American brass laying around; or if you want an extremely reliable weapon that's a bit dated but built like a tank — pick the AK.
For nearly everything else, grab the AR.
There. That was easy.
I think AK/AR comparisons are false analogies, like denouncing an apple for not being a good orange. We don't compare the Ruger 10-22 to the Hirtenberger 60mm Commando Mortar, do we? Although that would make for some interesting research.
Several of my AR-loving shooting buddies saw the magazine, too, and told me I needed to climb down off my AK soapbox and write my own comparison. After all, the AK and the AR are the two most-used firearms by the world's militaries. Their semi-auto cousins are the most-popular modern sporting rifles in the country, so a comparison should not be too far off base, should it?
I begrudgingly agreed, but only if I could ignore the hackneyed "accuracy vs. reliability" comparison.
On that score, the AR is much more reliable than its critics will ever admit, while the AK is much more accurate than it's given credit for, especially by AR guys.
Instead, let's look at the weapons' strengths.
For the AR it's an easy choice: flexibility.
The AR's Picatinny rails, coupled with its ability to switch upper receivers — and calibers — is unprecedented.
Need a shorty carbine for CQB? There's nothing better than an AR with an 11-inch barrel, a suppressor, an Eotech sight and a white light. It's the industry standard.
Need a Designated Marksman Rifle capable of 800 meter hits? An AR in 7.62x51mm NATO with a free-floating barrel is perfect, and offers better ergonomics than an M-14.
An AR in 6.8mm or .308 Winchester makes a perfect deer rifle.
AR pistols fill a niche, I think, and, of course, there are ARs in .22 LR that can drastically reduce training costs, just as soon as .22 LR becomes widely available again.
The AK's strength: Simplicity.
The Avtomat Kalashnikova has eight moving parts, most of which can be replaced in the field. It takes only a couple hours to teach a new AK shooter how to run the gun.
Its simplicity equates to an unprecedented ease of mass production. It's estimated that more than 100 million AKs have been produced.
The assembly line at Russia's Concern Kalashnikov can turn out nearly 100 rifles per hour. Low production costs means low prices.
A bargain-basement AK can cost as little as $400. That's still several hundred dollars cheaper than the cheapest AR. They're a bargain and perfect for the range or self-defense.
As to which one is better — if I was stranded on a desert island, if the Zombies rise, if I could only have one gun, it would be an AK … or maybe an AR.
If we don't run into each other at the range, you can reach me at (941) 361-4975, by email at email@example.com or by regular mail, 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. You can also follow me on social media at www.facebook.com/TheGunWriter or www.Twitter.com/
Lee's note: Here's one of the best stories ever on the AR, from the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
The thing I like most about the story — it puts the country's most popular rifle into context. As most shooters know, the AR is the most flexible platform ever designed. It's perfect for hunting, home defense, plinking, competition, and just about any other task.
Demystifying the Modern Sporting Rifle
Rifles are incredible tools. From a distance, a hunter can take a large animal that will put food in the freezer to feed your family for the year. A farmer can stop a predator or nuisance animal from destroying crops and livestock. And anyone, from homeowner to serious competitor to weekend plinker, can hone their skills with practice and gain proficiency to shoot over distances of a 1,000 yards or more.
The term "modern sporting rifle" has only recently become a more regular part of our lexicon, but every era has something that's modern to it. After the Civil War, the "modern" sporting rifle was the lever-action rifle. And so, like many things that have changed over time, so has the long gun to become what we now call the modern sporting rifle. (Here's a timeline of the MSR and how it has changed over the years.
The MSR gets a bad rap in many news outlets. Why? Because it looks a lot like the military-style rifles built on the AR-15 platform. (Trivia! Contrary to popular belief, AR does not stand for "assault rifle." It stands for Armalite rifle; Armalite, upon hiring gun designer Eugene Stoner, developed the first rifles of this kind in the 1950s.) In reality, today's modern sporting rifle shares a single important feature with your grandpa's bolt-action rifle: they both fire just one round with each pull of the trigger. Sure, the features and accessories on a current-day MSR are a lot cooler than those on grandpa's gun, but, in the end, it's still just a rifle—no matter how modern.
Working at a daily newspaper surrounded by 50 journalists, I'm reasonably certain I hear more firearms myths on a daily basis than any other gun writer.
Here's my Top 10:
10. Silencers are illegal: I heard this one from a colleague just this week while reporting a story about a new SilencerCo product. Silencers, which are more correctly known as suppressors, are in fact legal in 39 states. Purchasing one is not an arduous process, but it is time consuming. It requires a BATF Form 4, a signature from a Chief of Police or Sheriff, or the creation of an NFA Trust, a $200 federal tax stamp and months of wait time. Suppressors are surging in popularity nationwide. Last year, more than 500,000 were sold. Some states now allow hunters to use them.
9. Hollow-point ammunition is dangerous and nefarious: Hollow point ammunition, which is more correctly known as controlled-expansion ammunition, is safe – period. Not everyone gets that. New Jersey, for example restricts hollow-point ammunition to "a place of target practice, dwelling, premises or land possessed by a person, even if one has a valid permit to carry a handgun, except when being transported directly to and from these places." The Garden State does not allow controlled-expansion ammunition to be used by concealed-carry licensees, which makes no sense and could get innocent people hurt. Controlled-expansion rounds mushroom, leaving their energy in the target, unlike full-metal jacketed rounds. FMJs bore clean holes, exit at high speed and continue on their flight path, possibly toward an unintended target. That's why police carry controlled-expansion rounds – so they don't shoot through the bad guy and into an innocent bystander.
8. Full-auto fire is effective: On semi-auto, even a novice shooter can hit a man-size silhouette at 25 yards with an M4, 30 out of 30 times, especially with an electronic sight. Flip the switch to full-auto, however, and even experienced shooters have problems keeping the rounds on target. At 50 or 100 yards, the difficulty increases exponentially. Full-auto fire is effective at keeping heads down. It's great for a counter ambush or at very close range. It's not nearly as effective as it is shown in the movies, but then what is. At the range, however, it's a helluva lot of fun, especially if someone else is paying for the ammo.
7. 'Assault weapons' are favored by criminals: 'Assault weapons,' which are more correctly known as modern sporting rifles, such as ARs, M4s and AKs, are not the favored weapon of street thugs. The bad guys prefer small autos and poorly made revolvers — anything that's cheap. They want something they can hide in a pocket. I'm okay with that. I like the fact they're arming up with Ravens, Jennings and Jimenez click-click-bang guns. It gives home owners armed with Glocks, S&Ws and Remington 870s a distinct advantage.
6. Magazine restrictions are effective: How many rounds will you need to win a gunfight? Well, if you live in California, the state legislature says you'll need no more than 10 rounds. In New York, you would have needed only seven rounds, until a federal court struck down the restriction. Now you can have 10. Maybe federal judges know more about gunfighting than California politicians. My point is this, magazine restrictions are capricious and silly. In fact they're worse than nothing. The recent spate of magazine restrictions has turned some gun owners who didn't divest themselves of their legally-purchased magazines into instant criminals.
5. ARs are unreliable and prone to jam: Today's modern sporting rifle has changed drastically since the M-16s issued during the Vietnam war. The former are setting new standards for reliability, ergonomics and accuracy. The latter were issued without cleaning gear, and with ammo that had the wrong type of powder, which fouled the chamber. Today's AR/M4 is a reliable weapon, well suited for hunting, target shooting or home defense.
4. Glocks and other polymer pistols are maintenance free: This myth crops up occasionally. In fact, I saw this just the other day. Every firearm requires proper maintenance, whether it's been fired or stored. Some require less than others. Glocks and AKs function very reliably even after hundreds of rounds, but they still require maintenance.
3. Stopping power is important: If you're taking a firearms class and the instructor starts talking about "stopping power" or "knock-down power," demand your money back and leave. It's a myth. The fact is, shot placement is infinitely more important than the size of the round. Sure, some calibers are far more effective than others. A .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum has a greater capacity to incapacitate than a .22 long rifle, but I wouldn't want to carry one. With most handguns the point is moot. Compared to any rifle round, they're anemic. Carry the largest caliber handgun you're able to control and shoot accurately.
2. Firearms need to be licensed: In most states, firearms don't need to be "registered" or "licensed." Once the weapon is purchased, the government's involvement ends. If you're living in a state where you have to register your weapons, or where you need a state-issued ID card to simply possess a firearm, like in Illinois or Massachusetts, move!
1. AKs aren't accurate: An M-14, an AR or an M1 Garand are all more accurate at distance than an AK. It's a given. In my opinion, the biggest hindrance to accurate fire is the AK's short sight radius. For me, however, the AK is plenty accurate, especially with an optic. Besides, more than 100,000,000 AKs have been produced, which tells me Gen. Kalashnikov must have gotten something right.
One of the things I enjoy most about the National Shooting Sports Foundation is their ability to conduct industry-wide research.
In the May 2014 issue of AR Guns & Hunting there's a story by NSSF's research and analysis director Jim Curcuroto titled: "Many Uses, Many Sales Lead To Many Questions."
The author discusses the popularity of the Modern Sporting Rifle, (MSR), and describes the average owner.
From the report:
More than 4.8 million people own a MSR.
MSR's account for 20 percent of all sales for most FFLs.
The average MSR owner is 35, married and has some college education
One-third of MSR owners have either a law enforcement or military background.
The main reason most respondents gave for buying an MSR is for recreational shooting. Home defense was the second most-cited reason.
Great research!
Mr. Curcuroto needs to write more.
Mike Young, owner of Young Guns & Safety, isn't known for being over excitable.
However, when we talked last week, he was definitely chock-full of excitement, something about "ultimate AR trigger" and "game-changer."
Turns out he was 100% correct.
We stopped at his shop Friday — one of my favorite places — and he showed off Black Rain Ordnance's new single-stage drop-in trigger, which he'd installed on a nice Colt build.
The DIT has a 3.5 pound pull and the shortest reset I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, I started giggling after dry firing and resetting the trigger. There's barely any travel at all before it resets.
Warning – don't dry-fire one unless there's $199 in your wallet.
You will definitely want one.
Mike's got them in stock, and he can get more.
By the way, it certainly is a game-changer!
Lee's note: Imagine hitting a target 500 yards away with an AR from the standing position.
That's possible with TrackingPoints new 500 series ARs.
They are going to be a game changer – especially the 7.62 NATO model – which is destined to be the ultimate DMR.
Here' the info from TrackingPoint:
TrackingPoint's 500 Series ARs enable fast and accurate shots on moving targets out to five football fields away. With its TTX (Tag Track Xact) technology, the Smart AR is able to effectively engage long range targets with semi-automatic speed. The three PGF rifles, offered in 7.62, .300 BLK and 5.56 calibers, incorporate stabilized target selection, target tracking and guided firing.
For the modern hunter, police, tactical forces, Military or special ops., the Smart AR provides a 500 yard effective range, even from difficult firing positions, such as kneeling, standing or even lying beneath an automobile.
With the exception of S&W's venerable "Ladysmith," most attempts by the firearms industry to market a product to women have be dismal failures and a bit sexist.
Female shooters are not one homogenous buying bloc.
My wife prefers AKs and her HK 45. She looks at pink-stocked 10-22s with disdain.
Southwick Associates, Inc., of Fernandina Beach, an outdoor recreation statistical analysis firm, has released their Women in the Outdoors-2012: "A study of women's activities, perceptions, purchases, and related media consumption related to fishing, shooting and hunting."
The data was culled through the firm's AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com, and its online consumer surveys.
The report should be titled: "MANDATORY READING FOR ALL GUN SHOP OWNERS."
It's chock-full of interesting factoids and trends, that can help increase sales to female shooters, who are the shooting industry's fastest growing group.
Here are a few noteworthy examples:
The main reason – 85% – women went shooting or hunting in 2012 was to spend time outdoors.
Of the women who reported shooting in 2012, most – 65% – shot rifles.
Of the women who hunted in 2012, most – 71% – hunted deer.
Therefore, an enterprising dealer seeking to cater to female hunters should stock his racks with lightweight ARs in 6.8 or .308, rather than .22s in digital pink camouflage.
Unfortunately, when women seek information related to shooting or hunting, most are still reading magazines. Shooting-related websites came in second, followed by television, newspapers, social media and books.
I'll work on changing this trend myself.
Contrary to popular thought, purchasing a fully-automatic weapon, suppressor or a short-barrel rifle or shotgun is a simple process – something that takes only around 15 minutes – according to Felex Yukhtman, owner of Gun Point, a Class III-licensed firearms dealer and manufacturer located on the south side of Manatee County.
Waiting for ATF approval, however, can take six to nine months.
Another myth: those who own Title II weapons have somehow given tacit approval to random home inspections by armed agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"You don't give up your rights of any kind," Yukhtman said. "The ATF do not make social calls. The only time the ATF will come to you is if you've done something wrong."
Yukhtman was one of the presenters during a free Class III, NFA Trust seminar held Saturday at Aegis Tactical.
Aegis Owner Joe Krawtschenko wanted his customers to know more about the process of owning machine guns, suppressors and other Title II firearms.
Yukhtman busted myth after myth.
"Suppressors, fully-automatic rifles and short-barrel rifles have never been illegal," he said. "They're just highly regulated. Some states have made them illegal."
The most popular method of acquiring a Title II firearm, Yukhtman said, was by establishing an NFA trust.
"We really recommend an NFA trust to our customers," he said. "It's just like buying a car and getting it registered."
Sarasota attorney Lauren Przybyla, another presenter, specializes in creating NFA trusts for gun owners. She usually charges $350 per trust, although Saturday she offered a special
$250 rate.
The main benefit of an NFA trust is that the gun owner does not need a signature from a CLEO – a chief law enforcement officer, usually a sheriff of chief of police – before they purchase a Title II weapon or accessory.
"An NFA trust allows a more flexible way to preserve your family arsenal," Przybyla said. "The number one benefit is privacy. The weapons are registered with the ATF, but you don't have to notify law enforcement of the firearms."
Neither are the documents public record or filed with the state, she said.
The trust is a living document that can be easily updated. New trustees can be added. Beneficiaries can be changed, and Przybyla said, "You can add as many weapons as you want to your trust."
Unlike the "individual" method of purchasing a Title II firearm, which requires the applicant to complete an ATF Form 4 and submit their fingerprints, an NFA trust requires no fingerprints or background check. Although the current administration has discussed a background check requirement – something that could become mandatory through an executive order – no action has yet been taken.
Any NFA-regulated firearm – short-barrel rifles, short-barrel shotguns, machine guns, suppressors, AOWs and DDs can be placed into a trust. However, Przybyla said many of her clients place their non-NFA firearms into the trust. In the event of their death, their family will not have to go through probate to obtain legal ownership of the firearms if they have a valid trust.
The process is simple: after the trust is established by an attorney, the gun owner mails copies to the ATF, alone with a Form 4 – without the CLEO's signature – and a check made out to the ATF for $200.
Once the trust is accepted by the ATF, the applicant can purchase Title II firearms from a licensed dealer.
Anyone not qualified to own a standard firearm would be barred from creating a trust: those currently under indictment, convicted felons, fugitives, drug users or those adjudicated as "mentally defective."
Most of the customers purchasing Title II weapons have a trust, Yukhtman said.
He pointed out that many of the fully-automatic weapons he sells are "investment grade" firearms and perform better than any stocks or bonds.
"An M-16 sold for $12,000 five years ago," he said. "Today they're selling for $35,000.
Text and photos by Peter Burlingame
So, you're putting together your survival kit. It might be a Bug Out Bag, it might be a Get Home Bag. You've got shelter, food, water, fire, first aid, even a couple of snivel/comfort items. But what about a gun? Does a gun have a place in your survival preparations? If so, what type?
A firearm can provide security and put food on the table. When the SHTF, the only 'law' is that which you are willing and capable of enforcing yourself. I've lived through a category 5 hurricane and a couple of cat 1s and 2s. In my view, the lawlessness in the aftermath of a natural disaster can be just as dangerous as the storm itself. Having a firearm for protection can give you the means to keep yourself safe in the absence of regular law enforcement.
Additionally, when disaster strikes, regular food supplies will be disrupted. You many need to harvest game from your area to put protein in your belly.
Now the question is what type of firearm should you have in your survival kit? Rifle, shotgun, or pistol? Rifles tend to be powerful, accurate, and capable of making hits at long ranges. Shotguns are powerful and versatile. There are many types of ammunition available for shotguns that let them perform many different functions.
I believe your most important firearm is a pistol. While it is not as powerful as the shotgun, nor as capable of long range hits as the rifle, the main thing, the most important thing, is that the pistol is easily portable. It is easy to ALWAYS have it on you. It will be there when you need it,not leaning against a tree, or propped in the corner. It is comfortable to carry and you can perform your everyday duties with it on your side. A pistol, in a good holster, is also quicker to be brought into action than a long gun even if the long gun is slung in front of you on a 'tactical sling'.
Now we have to ask ourselves: "which pistol"? There are many good, reliable, accurate pistols on the market. We are truly blessed in our choices, which allow us to pick those that best fit our needs. In the role of 'survival gun', the best choice is the Glock 23. Here's why:
Glocks are utterly reliable out of the box. And they stay reliable. Feed them reasonably good quality ammo and they will always go bang. They aren't fussy about being kept clean or lubricated. They resist the elements extremely well. I was always dealing with rust on my stainless Colt Commander. Not so the Glock that I've been carrying every day for the last 12 years. Of course the plastic frame isn't going to rust, and the Tennifer finish that they use on the slide has resisted all attacks by the tropical elements that I live in.
Glocks are incredibly simple to operate. Load a magazine, shove it in the magazine well, rack the slide, and you are good to go. No extraneous controls. One consistent trigger pull. It has simple construction with only 28 parts. Spare parts are readily available and easily replaced. Aftermarket parts and accessories are also widely available.
The 23 is light and compact enough to be easily carried, whether openly or concealed.
Based on my own experience, as well as watching the civil unrest after Katrina and the Rodney King verdict, I really, really, like pistols that hold a whole bunch of ammo. Standard capacity for the Glock 23 in .40S&W is 13 rounds, but it will accept the 15 rounders of the G22. 28 round magazines are also being made.
The reason for picking the Model 23 over all the other Glock models is this: Survival is about being adaptable and versatile and there is no more adaptable and versatile pistol that the Glock 23.
The .40S&W round is one of the better cartridges for defensive use. The 23 can be easily converted to fire 9mm or .357 Sig simply by changing the barrel. This gives you much more versatility. 9mm ammo under normal situations is widely available and less expensive than .40 and has less recoil, easing the strain of practice on you and your wallet.
My personal experience with replacement barrels are with those from Storm Lake. My 23 gets used as a personal training gun as well as a frequent loaner for students. All of this shooting is done in 9mm with the Storm Lake barrel. It has multiple 10's of thousands of rounds of 9mm through it, with all of the reliability that you expect from a Glock.
While you can use a .40 magazine to shoot 9mm butI have experienced a few failures to feed. Not many, and it tends to be towards the bottom of the magazine, but it is enough that I recommend having a few dedicated 9mm magazines on hand.
Ceiner and Advantage Arms both make .22LR conversion kits for this size Glock. My preference is the one form Advantage Arms. These give you even more versatility. Shooting .22LR from your Glock provides even less expensive practice than shooting 9mm. It is easy to carry lots of .22 ammunition in your Bug Out Bag, allowing the ability to easily put meat in the pot. Low power rounds like the CCI CB cap and Aquila's Colibres are very quiet, which can be a virtue in a number of circumstances.
The Colibres are a light weight bullet pushed only by the primer of the cartridge. Fired from a pistol it makes about as much noise as a high powered air rifle. It is absolute death on rats, and has enough power to take squirrels and rabbits. The downside is there isn't enough power to cycle the slide, so you have to do that manually for every shot.
You can take the versatility one step further by getting a MechTech Carbine Conversion Unit. The CCU mates the frame of your Glock to an 'upper' barrel/receiver/stock unit. This turns your pistol into a very accurate carbine capable of quick hits out to a bit beyond 150 yards.
Despite claims of "Glock Perfection", there are a couple of weak points. The first are the sights. The standard model comes with sights made from the same plastic as the frame. Change the sights! The plastic sights will get dinged up or knocked off. My absolute number one choice for replacement sights are Tru-Glo's Tritium Fiber Optics (TFO). They are bright in any type of light, from sun, shade, to full darkness. I tend to stay away from adjustable sights on practical pistols. If you have good quality fixed sights and know where your pistol/ammo combination shoots, you can make torso hits out to 100 yards with little problem.
The second 'flaw' is the grip. It is a little boxy and the angle is slightly off from what is natural for most people. Most Glock owners learn to adapt to the angle and just become accustomed to it. If you are in the least bit handy you can perform a grip reduction on the pistol. A great step by step tutorial on this is located here. Be warned however that doing this work will void the warranty. I have done this work on all three of my Glocks, a 19, 23 and a 26. These three pistols have a combined total of close to 200,000 rounds through them with no signs of problems with the work on the grips. However, there are millions of Glock owners that are perfectly happy with the grip as it is.
So we can see that a Glock 23 in a good holster, several spare magazines, a 9mm and .357Sig barrel, .22 conversion kit gives you the versatility to shoot 4 different calibers out of the same gun. You now have a pistol that can fill a wide variety of roles from inexpensive and low recoil training, quiet shooting of small animals for food or pest elimination, hunting of medium sized game as well as self defense.
In the last several years we have seen normal ammunition supplies become unpredictable and unreliable. Having a pistol that can chamber 4 different popular calibers means you are more likely to be able to keep it fed in these uncertain times. An important consideration in a survival gun.
Disciplina renumenor fidelis!
Peter Burlingame is a nationally recognized instructor in the dynamic use of firearms. In addition to running his own school, The Self Defense Initiative, based on St Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, he also volunteers his services providing instructor development classes for the International Association of Firearms Instructors and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. You may contact him at via email.
The Bullet Hole, Florida's oldest gun shop, has moved to a spacious standalone building at 330 S. Orange Avenue.
The well-known firm has been family owned and operated since 1947.
At 4,000 square feet, its new location is twice the size of its former Main Street site, and there's plenty of parking.
Owner Fran Misantone finally has more room to display the store's stunning amount of products.
"Business is brisk," he said Thursday.
He celebrated the store's grand reopening last Saturday – a catered event shared with 250 friends.
"We're now the state's oldest-newest gun shop, or maybe we're the newest-oldest," he said.
The Bullet Hole has racks full of ARs, a few AKs and hundreds of handguns, shotguns and sporting arms.
He has .22 long rifle, which has been scarce.
The store has a full line of Magpul products, which Fran says he had at the Main Street store, but could not display due to space issues.
Shelves are well-stocked with everything tactical, including the most sought-after Trijicon and Eotech products.
There's even a play area for the kids.
"Parents love it," he said. "The kids can watch TV and play with toys while their parents shop."
Steve Sanetti has been CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation – the trade association of the firearms industry – since 2008.
Unlike NRA presidents who are limited to two, one-year terms, Sanetti can serve as long as he desires. He has no plans to leave.
A former Army captain, VMI grad, and former president of Sturm Ruger & Co. – one of his last acts at the firm was to introduce the LCP – Sanetti is a leader within the firearms community.
I met him at a press conference Tuesday, while reporting a story for my newspaper about NSSF's Project ChildSafe. He graciously consented to an interview.
Q: How would you characterize the health of the country's firearms industry?
A: It's doing very well, coming off of four years of growth in production volume. It's really unprecedented. The hunting, shooting and outdoor industry contribute $3 billion annually and hundreds of thousands of jobs, even during the recession. Even though we came off of four years of record growth, crime with firearms is down. That's counter-intuitive to a lot of people, but it's a fact. Gun sales are up. Hunting is up. Shooting is up, but crime is down.
Q: What's the biggest risk factor for the nation's firearms owners?
A: Political as always. Depending on the results of various elections – local, state or federal – we can have a person with respect for the right to keep and bear arms or, unfortunately after some sort of tragedy, with more pressure for restriction, whether or not they have anything to do with any specific incident.
Q: Have firearms prices stabilized?
A: Firearms prices are stable, but one area that is still going up is ammo. Ammunition is in short supply. People in the hunting and shooting community – these people are so accustomed to the ammunition shortage – they buy it if they see it on the shelves, whether they plan to use it immediately or not. It contributes to the shortage.
Q: Do you, like NRA Executive VP and CEO Wayne LaPierre, attribute the recent mass shooting at the Navy Yard to a breakdown in the mental health system?
A: Definitely. This man had a secret security clearance and a history of mental health issues involving firearms. I think before there's any discussion about expanding background checks, we need to fix the system we have right now. NSSF has put forth a program Fix Nics. We've got four states to begin inputting their mental health records into the federal system, but the system is woefully deficient. The main resistance comes from the mental health community.
Q: The AR-15/M4 platform is the most popular firearm in the United States, yet it's constantly vilified as the weapon of choice for mass shooters and other malcontents. Why is this?
A: The looks of the AR platform, combined with public misconception of semi-auto – it's easy to vilify. People who don't know firearms look at the thing and in their minds, it's a machine gun. We've been trying to educate the public to stop using the term 'assault rifle,' which refers to a machine gun. The AR-15 platform is the firearm of choice for millions of shooters. We're call it the modern sporting rifle. That's what it is.
Q: As a former president Sturm Ruger and Co., I assume you're pleased with how the firm has performed recently?
A: It's doing very well. Mr. Ruger would be proud.
Two federal officials say Aaron Alexis had an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a handgun that he took from a police officer at the scene. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a pending investigation.
Sep. 17 12:52 AM EDT
Law enforcement officials say gunman Aaron Alexis carried three weapons at the Navy Yard: an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a handgun he took from an officer at the scene.
Sep. 17 1:19 PM EDT
Law enforcement officials initially told the AP Monday that the Navy building gunman, Aaron Alexis, had carried an AR-15 at the scene of the shooting among other weapons. The authorities have confirmed today although the AR-15 assault weapon was found at the scene it was neither carried nor used by the gunman.
Separately, law enforcement officials said Tuesday that the shooter was armed with a shotgun and two handguns. There are conflicting reports from authorities about whether Alexis had one or two handguns.
We are investigating further on the handguns and will and will expedite clarification in our stories.
The AP
Sep. 17 3:28 PM EDT
The FBI says Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis had a shotgun when he entered a building and got a handgun inside after he started firing.
Valerie Parlave, head of the FBI's field office in Washington, said Tuesday they don't have any information that he had an AR-15 assault rifle in his possession.
There has been conflicting information about the weapons Alexis used. Previously, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the gunman had two handguns he took from officers.
Lee's note: This was sent from a friend. The author is unknown. Enjoy.
AK vs. AR vs. Mosin-Nagant
AK – It works though you have never cleaned it. Ever.
AR – You have $9 per ounce special non-detergent synthetic Teflon infused oil for cleaning.
Mosin – It was last cleaned in Berlin in 1945.
AK – You are able to hit the broad side of a barn from inside.
AR – You are able to hit the broad side of a barn from 600 meters.
Mosin – You can hit the farm from two counties over.
AK – Cheap mags are fun to buy.
AR – Cheap mags melt.
Mosin – What's a mag?
AK – Your safety can be heard from 300 meters away.
AR – You can silently flip off the safety with your finger on the trigger.
Mosin – What's a safety?
AK – Your rifle comes with a cheap nylon sling.
AR – Your rifle has a 9-point stealth tactical suspension system.
Mosin – Your rifle has dog collars.
AK – Your bayonet makes a good wire cutter.
AR – Your bayonet is actually a pretty good steak knife.
Mosin – Your bayonet is longer than your leg.
AK – You can put a .30″ hole through 12″ of oak.
AR – You can put one hole in a paper target at 100 meters with 30 rounds.
Mosin – You can knock down everyone else's target with the shock wave of your bullet going downrange.
AK – When out of ammo, your rifle will nominally pass as a club.
AR – When out of ammo, your rifle makes a great wiffle bat.
Mosin – When out of ammo, your rifle makes a supreme war club, pike, boat oar, tent pole, or firewood.
AK – Recoil is manageable, even fun.
AR – What's recoil?
Mosin – Recoil is often used to fix shoulders dislocated by the previous shot.
AK – Your sight adjustment goes to 10, and you've never bothered moving it.
AR – Your sight adjustment is incremented in fractions of minute of angle.
Mosin – Your sight adjustment goes to 12 miles, and you've actually tried it.
AK – Your rifle can be used by any two-bit nation's most illiterate conscripts to fight elite forces worldwide.
AR – Your rifle is used by elite forces worldwide to fight two-bit nations' most illiterate conscripts.
Mosin – Your rifle has fought against itself – and won every time.
AK – Your rifle won some revolutions.
AR – Your rifle drove Saddam out of Kuwait.
Mosin – Your rifle won a pole vault event.
AK – You paid $350.
AR – You paid $900.
Mosin – You paid $59.95.
AK – You buy cheap ammo by the case.
AR – You lovingly reload precision crafted rounds one by one.
Mosin – You dig your ammo out of a farmer's field in Ukraine and it works just fine.
AK – You can intimidate your foe with the bayonet mounted.
AR – Your foes laugh when you mount your bayonet.
Mosin – You can bayonet your foe on the other side of the river without leaving the comfort of your hole.
AK – Service life, 50 years.
AR – Service life, 40 years.
Mosin – Service life, 100 years, and counting.
AK – It's easier to buy a new rifle when you want to change cartridge sizes.
AR -You can change cartridge sizes with the push of a couple of pins and a new upper.
Mosin – You believe no real man would dare risk the ridicule of his friends by suggesting there is anything but 7.62x54r.
AK – You can repair your rifle with a big hammer and a swift kick.
AR – You can repair your rifle by taking it to a certified gunsmith, it's under warranty!
Mosin – If your rifle breaks, you buy a new one.
AK – You consider it a badge of honor when you get your handguards to burst into flames.
AR – You consider it a badge of honor when you shoot a sub-MOA 5 shot group.
Mosin – You consider it a badge of honor when you cycle 5 rounds without the aid of a 2×4.
AK – After a long day the range, you relax by watching Red Dawn.
AR – After a long day at the range, you relax by watching Black Hawk Down.
Mosin – After a long day at the range, you relax by visiting the chiropractor.
AK – After cleaning your rifle you have a strong urge for a stiff shot of vodka.
AR – After cleaning your rifle you have a strong urge for hot dogs and apple pie.
Mosin – After cleaning your rifle you have a strong urge for shishkabob.
AK – You can accessorize you rifle with a new muzzle brake or a nice stock set.
AR – Your rifle's accessories are eight times more valuable than your rifle.
Mosin -Your rifle's accessory is a small tin can with a funny lid, but it's buried under an apartment building somewhere in Budapest.
AK – Your rifle's finish is varnish and paint.
AR – Your rifle's finish is Teflon and high-tech polymers.
Mosin – Your rifle's finish is low-grade shellac, cosmoline, and Olga's toe nails.
AK – Your wife tolerates your autographed framed picture of Mikhail Kalashnikov.
AR – Your wife tolerates your autographed framed picture of Eugene Stoner.
Mosin – You're not sure there were cameras to photograph Sergei Mosin.
AK- Late at night you sometimes have to fight the urge to hold your rifle over your head and shout "Wolverines!"
AR- Late at night you sometimes have to fight the urge to clear your house, slicing the pie from room to room.
Mosin – Late at night, you sometimes have to fight the urge to dig a fighting trench in the yard to sleep in.
The surge in firearm sales that began in January is nearly over.
Although sales figures are still slightly higher than last year, the binge is ending, according to data provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Gun sales for May were down more than 50 percent from January of this year.
FDLE tracks the number of requests for background checks as part of its Firearm Purchase Program. While the data does not include private sales between individuals, the numbers are a good indicator for statewide firearms-sales trends.
Anecdotal evidence from retailers indicates that ARs are becoming easier to stock, but AKs remain illusive.
Ammunition, especially in the popular tactical calibers, continues to be in short supply and overpriced, and .22 long rifle is still nonexistent.
Here are the numbers:
UPDATE: May 30, 4:51 a.m. – Read a follow-up to this story here.
For Guy Lemakos, owner of 2 Guys Gun Show Promotions, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri's plan to enforce the seldom-used county ordinance requiring background checks for private sales was "much ado about very little."
No arrests were made either Saturday or Sunday at the 125-table Largo gun show, Lemakos said.
"There was nothing – a normal gun show weekend," Lemakos said. "We did two background checks for private sales. There were no arrests – no issues. It was much ado about very little."
Cristen Rensel, spokeswoman for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, confirmed the lack of enforcement.
"We did not have any arrests or citations issued this weekend at the gun show," Rensel said.
"Maybe now Sheriff Gualtieri and the County Commission understand that their big attack on gun shows is viewed as political posturing," said Florida NRA chief Marion Hammer. "Rather than being spun by a reporter, maybe Sheriff Gualtieri should have asked the Commission to suspend the ordinance until someone can prove it's needed. Political eye-wash is expensive for taxpayers."
In an earlier story, Sheriff Gualtieri vowed to start enforcing the little-used county ordinance that requires background checks at local gun shows for all private sales.
Lemakos' Largo show was the first one scheduled after the sheriff came up with his plan.
The Pinellas County ordinance has gathered dust since it was enacted in 1998. Violators face misdemeanor charges.
Gualtieri said last week he "naively" assumed the ordinance was being enforced, until contacted by a reporter, and that unless his deputies start cracking down, a "ludicrous and ridiculous situation will result."
"We've got this situation where federal law comes into play, and state law – they don't take care of all of the scenarios," he said last Thursday. "The Pinellas County Commission acted years ago to close the loop hole. It makes sense."
Gualtieri said his deputies would "monitor" sales at an upcoming gun show, but added that this monitoring would also involve undercover operations.
"I'm sure they were there," Lemakos said Tuesday. "But unless they liked guns, I'm sure the deputies were bored as hell."
Lemakos pointed out that he contacted Gualtieri after stories appeared about the ordinance in the media.
"He [Gualtieri] didn't know anything about the ordinance until the articles came out," Lemakos said. "Then, you'd swear they were talking about gun shows skirting the law. I never had any intention of skirting anything. As a promoter, the last thing you want is your vendors getting into trouble, so I contacted them."
Lemakos estimates he had between 10-15 conversations with the sheriff's office about how to comply with the ordinance in the weeks leading up to the show.
"All of a sudden it broke in the media up here – this huge firestorm – and people started pointing fingers," Lemakos said. "The sheriff himself was acting like we never had a single conversation. It was bizarre."
Other than concerns about undercover deputies arresting a vendor, Lemakos said he had a good show. ARs are becoming more available and dropping in price.
"We had a spike that was unsustainable – panic buying," he said. "Anyone who didn't have one ran out to get one. It's getting better now."
Ammunition – including .223 – is showing up in "drips and drabs," Lemakos said, adding that "the price is still stupid."
He said .22 long rifle remains "completely nonexistent."


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How did I get here? The Long and Short of it
Monday, February 27, 2012
I was born in the mid 50's. A great time to be born but on the fringes of social enlightenment and growth. My family was not large: three children and the requisite Mom and Dad. Our lives growing up were great. And there were momentous technological changes for one color TV. We were one of the last families on the block to get one. Everyone back then thought if your dad worked for General Motors you were rich. Maybe so for some but when one's father has an eighth grade education, not so good.
I was the eldest child. It wasn't always easy. I was the guinea pig when it came to lessons and discipline.
I had a hard beginning. I was just five pounds when born but quickly lost weight and was designated a "preemie". I had to stay at the hospital while mom got to go home. Maybe that was the deciding factor; feeling abandoned at birth. Who knows?
Later I was able to go home but I was colicy and couldn't keep much down. I was switched from breast milk to a variety of formulas but the colic still visited daily for hours on end. As a last resort the doctors tried a soy based formula. Voila! life clicked and I started to thrive. Life became easier for mom. Later all the pictures of me on the wall as a very chubby big cheeked infant with a wide toothless grin.
As the years passed I continued to gain weight. The pictures on the wall became not so cute. I was a very solid chunky second grade student with a big gap toothed grin in a horrid blue green plaid jumper and white blouse, hair twisting hither and yon from a botched home perm and tortisesheel rimmed "cat's eye" slanted glasses perched on my nose and crossed eyes. Yuk!
Eventually I was the recipient of one the first ever tried eye surgeries to correct my crossed eyes. By the time I had the surgery I was nearly legally blind. Then I was admonished to never take off my glasses else my crossed eyes would return.
As I continued through grade school my weight climbed. Nobody wanted me on their team. Every year we had field day and I hated it. I couldn't run, I couldn't do the short jump let alone the long jump. They announced our weight when we were weighed and I was always the heaviest girl in my class. I was bullied terribly in school and my mother never believed it. She always sternly told me I had to stand up for myself and not let others treat me that way.
By the time 6th grade rolled around I had breasts but only because of my weight. There was a girl in my class that was slim and trim and was impressively endowed. The boys flocked around her all the time. Me, I was studious and got good grades and heard the oft lamented "If I would only lose weight I would be so pretty". At home mother noticed that I was noticing the boys and would use the "Boys want pretty and slim wives. You'll never get a boyfriend if you don't lose weight". She would then plop me on another weight loss plan. I would see the rest of my family eat meatloaf and mashed potatoes with chocolate pudding for desert while I got a poached in lemon salmon steak meticulously weighed and measured with 2 stalks of asparagus and boiled spinach. Gag!
MIddle school rolled around as I swished through the hallways in new thigh high stockings and garter belt that bit my middle in two. My thighs rubbed together and I would often be bleeding from severe chafe. I was noticed by the boys as I became one of the most picked on people in school. The popular girls found me too and set me up meeting the popular boys. They would promise to get them to meet me if I would do their homework or write an essay for them. It was humiliating but I would do it so I could say a boy talked to me.
I was picked on because my clothes were all homemade and because I always had a runny nose and eyes from severe allergies. I endured.
High school rolled along. My home town made it through rioting and racial conflicts. Integration of the schools was the banner cry and bussing was looming. My home town had a natural demarcation of West Side versus East Side of the city due a the river running through it. The West side was predominately white and the East predominately African American. Many fights broke out.
I was still a geek playing the violin in the orchestra, secretly lusting after the cute guys. My mom's efforts finally were rewarded and even though I didn't weight 128 I was a curvy 145. On a five foot frame it wasn't too bad but it wasn't my mom's ideal.
In my junior year I met my future husband. I thought he was all that and a bag of chips. But eventually he bacame my destruction. More to come.
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text: Posted December 8, 2008 Thanks everyone. I was nervous as hell! I wanted to make sure I plugged the Huddle, time was running out and I had to do something. Really cool experience, I hope I represented well? See you at the tailgate tomorrow! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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May 29, 2016
Former Michigan Governor James Blanchard is getting into the race for Democratic National Committee chairman.
Blanchard has been added to the lineup of six other DNC hopefuls who plan to address the Association of State Party Chairs conference Saturday in Orlando, Florida.
Each of the prospective candidates hoping to replace outgoing Chairman Terry McAuliffe will get five minutes to speak to the more than 100 state party leaders attending the convention.
The party leaders then will question the candidates, and may offer an endorsement at the meeting's end.
Blanchard couldn't immediately be reached for comment. He said last week that he'd been getting calls from Democrats urging him to run.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Voices of Liberty have not been silenced.
The vocal group was slated to be a simmer attraction at Disneyland Park and end its run on Sept. 16.
But the run has been extended into January, according to ushers at the Main Street Opera House.
The Voices of Liberty performs sets of patriotic music there before presentations of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
They are scheduled to perform Monday and Tuesday this week.


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Our Philosophy
School Summary
Ages: 6 Weeks-12 Years Old
Open: Monday-Friday
Hours: 6:30am-6:00pm
At Kidz Play, we provide a safe and stimulating environment that promotes the well being of the whole child. We are a Christ-centered, family oriented center that desires to have an intimate feel in a large facility. Children who attend here at Kidz Play will experience quality early childhood education, as well as a loving environment.
School Summary
Ages: 6 Weeks-12 Years Old
Open: Monday-Friday
Hours: 6:30am-6:00pm
About Us
- Transportation for school-age children to Frederick Douglass Elementary School
- Part-time childcare available
- Nutritious snacks provided
- Large indoor play area
- Developmentally appropriate curriculum
- Weekly chapel
Programs Offered
- Infant Programs
- Toddler and 2 Year Old Programs
- Preschool (ages 3-4)
- Before and After school care (ages 5-12 after school program)
- Summer Camp
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Finding the perfect preschool and childcare can be a bit overwhelming. If you're looking for a safe, loving environment and exciting way for your infant – school age children to learn, Kidz Play in Winchester, VA is the answer.
Learn more and sign up today!


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are in danger of settling permanently into three distinct professions, oblivious of one another's aims. A Society is wanted to restore their former union with one another with a programme of cohesion such as the Royal Academy hardly now suggests, and which the Institute of British Architects has deliberately rejected. (Massé, 8)It was a popular call, and by early 1884 numerous other arts and craftsmen were keen to join up, including Sedding, Simonds, and Day from the Fifteen. From the architectural profession, Somers Clarke (18411926) and his partner J. T. Micklethwaite were joined by W. C. Marshall (18491918) and by his old employer Basil Champneys, who had also taught W. A. S. Benson when he had trained as an architect. The painters Herbert Schmalz (18561935), Alfred Parsons, J. McLure Hamilton (18531936), and W. R. Symonds (18511934) were likewise persuaded to join, along with the etcher T. Blake Wirgman (18481925).
H. J. L. J. Massé, The Art-Workers' Guild, 18841934 (1935) · W. Crane, An artist's reminiscences (1907) · H. Holiday, Reminiscences of my life (1914) · T. G. Jackson, Recollections: the life and travels of a Victorian architect, ed. N. Jackson (2003) · R. Blomfield, Memoirs of an architect (1932) · [Art-Workers' Guild], Beauty's awakening: a masque of winter and of spring (1899) · Dir. Brit. archs. · J. Johnson and A. Greutzner, The dictionary of British artists, 18801940 (1976), vol. 5 of Dictionary of British art · J. Brandon-Jones, Architects and the Art-Workers' Guild, Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, 121 (19723), 192206 · J. Brandon-Jones, William Lethaby and the Art-Workers' Guild, W. R. Lethaby, 18571931: architecture, design and education, ed. S. Backemayer and T. Gronberg (1984), 2431 · W. Whyte, Oxford Jackson: architecture, education, status, and style, 18351924 (2006) · W. G. Newton, The work of Ernest Newton, RA (1925) · J. Ward, Mervyn Edmund Macartney, architect, 18531932 (1998) · A. Saint, Richard Norman Shaw (1976) · P. Davey, Arts and crafts architecture (1995) · G. Naylor, The arts and crafts movement: a study of its sources, ideals and influence on design theory (1971) · T. J. Cobden-Sanderson, The arts and crafts movement (1905) · M. Swenarton, Artisans and architects: the Ruskinian tradition in architectural thought (1989) · C. Frayling, The Royal College of Art: one hundred and fifty years of art and design (1987) · T. Harrod, The crafts in Britain in the 20th century (1999)
|© Oxford University Press 2004–16
All rights reserved: see legal notice
William Whyte, Founder members of the Art-Workers' Guild (act. 18841899), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 07c; online edn, Jan 2016 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/96545, accessed ]
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Combat Tournament Legends date added 2012-1-31 3:33:43
Beat, Double Action, Stick, Violence
Game Description:Fight AI stickmen in the platform arenas.Stay alive as you grab help and watch out for explosions.
Game Controls:A to attack S to super. Space bar to jump. D to dodge. Arrow keys to move. 2 player modde: Player 1 WASD to move. G to attack. H to use super. J to dodge. Player 2 Arrow keys to move. L to attack. ; to super. ' to dodge.
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ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Prices of petrol and CNG are likely to be increased on Sunday by Rs3.04 per litre and Rs2.50 per kilogram for the next week.
However, the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) may be reduced by Rs2.70.
According to a summary moved by the Petroleum Ministry to the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, kerosene and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) are also expected to become costlier.
The calculations made by the Pakistan State Oil suggest that the price of petrol be raised from Rs102.45 per litre to Rs105.49.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has suggested to the federal government to keep the price of petrol unchanged by adjusting the hike in petroleum levy to provide relief to consumers.


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Story of Classic Band Told in The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream
* Additional fees apply. No coupon or promo codes necessary to enjoy the displayed discount price.
The last date listed for The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream was Saturday June 22, 2013 / 8:00pm.
Currently at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Sinbad: Top Comic Comes to Atlanta
- Full Price:
- $37.50
- Our Price:
- $20.25
Sinbad doesn't tell jokes so much as regale the crowd with hilarious stories about his childhood… More
Venue Details
Reviews & Ratings
Featured review from KrupnickRed Velvet
view more less of this review
Really enjoyed the performance from this old time Long Island band.
star this review starred report as inappropriate
I expected it to be more documentary and not as much concert.
Quotes & Highlights
Watch the video for The Rascals' Good Lovin'.
About the Ticket Supplier: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
The mission of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is to operate as a world-class facility, creating diverse cultural, educational and entertainment experiences that will promote accessibility to the arts; foster community partnerships that unify the region in support of the arts; fulfill the highest expectations of patrons, performers and employees; stimulate quality economic growth; and inspire individuals to continually increase their knowledge, patronage and financial support of the arts.


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Comfort Inn Goldfields, Stawell
- Free parking
Main amenities
- 23 smoke-free guestrooms
- Restaurant and bar/lounge
- Breakfast available
- Seasonal outdoor pool
- Air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping
- Conference space
- Picnic area
- Barbecue grills
- Limited hour front desk
What's around
- Heart of Stawell
- Stawell Visitor Centre (0.3 mi / 0.5 km)
- Old Lake Oval (0.3 mi / 0.5 km)
- Stawell Racecourse (0.5 mi / 0.8 km)
- Arboretum (1.5 mi / 2.4 km)
- Red Rock Olive Estate (14.6 mi / 23.5 km)
Comfort Inn Goldfields, Stawell
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $74
- Executive Room
- Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed
- Standard Room, Multiple Beds
- Standard Room
- Deluxe Room
- Suite, Multiple Beds
- Executive Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchenette
Also popular with travelers from the USA
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 23 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 1 floor
- Check-in time 2 PM-10 PM
- Check-out time is 10 AM
Guests arriving outside these hours should use the night bell/telephone for access.
Required at check in
- Credit card deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- One child (18 years old and younger) stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- Pets not allowed
- Free self parking
- RV/bus/truck parking
Other information
- Smoke-free property
Nearby Three Star Stawell hotels
In the hotel
- Breakfast (surcharge)
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Room service (during limited hours)
- Barbeque grills
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Golfing nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Conference space
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Picnic area
In the room
- Air conditioning
- Coffee/tea maker
- Iron/ironing board
- Sleep Number by Select Comfort mattress
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Premium TV channels
- Desk
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Microwave (on request)
- Daily housekeeping
- Access via exterior corridors
Top Stawell hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Stawell
- Econo Lodge Statesman AraratFrom
"Room was comfortable and the service was very good."Jan 1, 2016
- The ApartmentFrom
"The apartment was as expected good value for money with pleasant hosts. Hotels.com gave us the wrong phone number and address and caused us to travel an extra 100Km and try to…"Mar 11, 2015
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Special features
DiningGoldfields - This restaurant serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available. Reservations are required. Open select days.
Comfort Inn Goldfields, Stawell's small print
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


text:
Sanford police are trying to identify a man whose body was found behind a Bank of America branch.
A man found the body about 1:40 p.m. behind the bank at 3094 S. Orlando Ave., at Airport Boulevard, police said.
Investigators hope to know the cause of death after an autopsy scheduled for Thursday, said Sgt. David Morgenstern, a department spokesman.
There were no obvious signs of foul play, Morgenstern said.


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(mee-ah-chee) Myachi is an exciting sport for the new millennium. It combines the fluid motions of Martial Arts with the fun and excitment of old school foot-bag. The game is played on the back of the hands and works with hand eye cooridnation and reflexes. It comes in the form of a small sack filled with "secret sauce" and is about 3.75"x1.5".
I got tired of video games so I decided to play Myachi instead.
by Grey Jedi July 05, 2006
Top Definition
really cool ghetto sack
that myachi was off the hizzak
by Louis October 14, 2004


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Nature Inspiration #37: Exotic Birds & The Little Black Dress #87: Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Zip Detail Dress
Italian Style #72: Salvatore Ferragamo Natural and Gold Bubina Sandals and WE ALL NEED FASHION #66: FASHIONABLE SHORTS
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EmilyLynn 4 years 49 weeks
I would love for you to join!!! I've always wondered why there isn't a group like this already...so I just decided to start it. xoxo
thissideofgaudy 4 years 49 weeks
Hi, EmilyLynn! If you don't mind, I'm going to join this group. It looks like fun.