Archive for the 'Guns' Category

Via WRSA, this piece at SOFREP is presented.

But the paper is just about the so-called “rifleman’s rule.”  In other words, multiply the inclined distance by the Cosine of the angle to get the horizontal distance, and adjust your holdover to the horizontal distance.  Cos(θ) × Hypotenuse = Adjacent.

Simple enough.  But it doesn’t work for large angles of inclination or declination.  It doesn’t matter what sniper wherever he is has told you to do that.  It’s wrong according to physics.  Here is a pretty good layman’s explanation (but somewhat pedestrian).

The recommendation is to multiple Cos(θ) × Holdovers for a better approximation.

Gravity doesn’t act perpendicular to the bullet when it’s travelling at an angle.

A close cousin to the Beretta we recently reviewed.

Beretta has worked hard to deliver pistols to the U.S. military, but it has come to an end.

The first week of September closed a chapter on small arms for the United States military. Beretta USA marked the occasion with a simple note on its Facebook page with little fanfare, no press release scheduled and characteristic modesty when asked for more details.

“Last week marked an end of an era for Beretta USA,” the company posted on Sept. 7. “The Beretta USA team in Gallatin, TN, packed and shipped the last Beretta M9 pistol for the U.S. Armed Forces contract. Thank you to every Beretta USA team member who, over the last 36 years, has proudly manufactured the M9, and especially to all our brave servicewomen and men who have carried the M9 in their service to the United States of America.”

Unlike some manufacturers, rather than continuing to seek DoD contracts, Beretta has repackaged the M9 into the M9A4.

Beretta USA has announced the new M9A4, the latest model in the M9 series of pistols. As such, the M9A4 boasts new features such as a red-dot ready slide, an enhanced short reset Xtreme Trigger System, along with a higher capacity magazine.

Says Beretta: “Built to exceed the standards of even the most demanding tactical shooters, the M9A4 blends the proven design of the M9 with modern features such as a red-dot optic compatible slide and dovetailed tritium night sights for optimal sight options, an enhanced short reset Xtreme Trigger System, an 18-round magazine, and a Beretta Vertec frame with included aggressively textured Vertec-style thin grips that ensure a more natural fit for all shooters.”

The red-dot ready M9A4 includes integral slide cuts to allow for the mounting of different optic plate styles. Beretta will provide a free optic plate when buyers register their purchased firearms, or they can purchase an aftermarket one. Shipping with blanking covers, there are five different plates available for the M9A4 to mount the most popular optics.

The M9A4 also sports a removable front sight for shooters with distinct preferences in terms of sight picture. In addition, a variety of accessory options are possible thanks to the Picatinny rail located in front of the trigger guard.

As for magazines, the M9A4 has ones with 10- and 15-round capacities, plus a new 18-round magazine.

MSRP is $1,099. Built in the U.S., the Beretta M9A4 available for purchase now in a wear-resistant FDE finish.

It has a nice look and a decent price point.  It appears to be the companion of what Langdon Tactical does to this firearm (without a few features).  The slide looks like it has been lightened (no doubt to compensate for the weight of the optic), it is optics ready, and they apparently are selling this in FDE.  I think Ernest Langdon partnered with them on this.

But then, I like hammer fired guns and classic safeties.

Ernest Langdon does a complete video of the Langdon Tactical 1301 field stripping, cleaning and lubrication.

This is the video I needed to see.  I’m glad Ernest finally released it.

This version of the 1301 has the Magpul Zhukov forend, Magpul stock, tube magazine extension, Aridus Industries adapters to make it all work and fit, and the Aridus Industries mount for the Trijicon RMR on top.  It’s all 922r compliant.

I know.  922r is stupid, as all gun control laws are.

Anyway, as I said, this is the video I needed to see.

I do have a question for gunsmiths and/or materials engineers.  Ernest prefers mineral spirits.  Why?  What’s the difference between mineral spirits and the gun cleaning solvent normally used to remove fouling?

Ideas in the comments please.  Thank you.

These are slightly different manifestations of the same gun, the same action.  One is tactical, the other is comp.  For that matter, it’s the same action as the A400. These are recent videos.

I have a special interest in the Beretta 1301.

That’s pretty good shooting in the wind.  Heck, that would be good shooting without wind.

These are both lengthy videos which could have been shortened a bit and the points still communicated.

First up, John Lovell and his chief trainer debate, compare and contrast.

I find that I don’t go quite as far forward on the top of the frame with my left hand thumb as John does in his grip, so I concur more with his trainer.  Pushing my thumb as far forward as John does torques my left wrist in a kinetically odd and uncomfortable way.  I like his pistol doctrine of “equilateral arm extension” while presenting because I use an isosceles stance.

Next up, Mike Glover just happens to do a lengthy video on handgun fighting and proper grip technique.

I concur with his statement “The grip comes from vicing the top of the frame” with your opposing thumb.

He puts it through the paces.  Interesting review.  The gun probably isn’t for me, but it’s certainly an interesting gun and cartridge.

Of course, I agree with one fellow in the comments.  Firearms are only as good as the person who owns them.  If they’re never intended to be used as a guarantee against tyranny, you may as well not have them.

ARFCOM: He missed the boat on N.C. pistol repeal bill, which has already been vetoed by the Goober of N.C., Roy Cooper.

This goes along with an article I read a day or two ago (via WiscoDave).

The man selling me the pistol puts his finger on a number in a box in the top upper left corner. That number is 2,657. It is 12:30 PM on a Tuesday.

“That’s the number of pistols sold and sent for background checks so far today in California.”

“Two thousand six hundred and fifty-seven guns sold today in California? Really?”

“It’ll be at least 5,000 by midnight tonight.”

“Really?”

“Really. We’ve been seeing between 5,000 and 6,000 a day since January. In California. Seven days a week.”

Ponder that one again.  5000 guns per day in California.  Tens or hundreds of thousands more across this land.  The gun control horse left the barn a very long time ago.  They’ll never get it back in.