Archive for August, 2009

Aug
24

2009 Gun Rights Policy Conference

Posted by: Richard | Comments (0)

The 2009 Gun Rights Policy Conference is coming up quickly.  The event, sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), is scheduled for September 25-27, 2009 in St. Louis, MO.

The 2009 Gun Rights Policy Conference is the 24th annual conference sponsored by the SAF.  The conference allows grassroots activists to “network and get an insider look and plan pro-gun rights strategies for the coming year.”

There is no cost to attend the conference.  The SAF provides food and a lot of Second Amendment books and other materials for free.  Your only cost is in getting there.

This year’s speakers have not yet been announced, but previous presenters have included: Alan M. Gottlieb, Wayne LaPierre, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Reagan, Larry Elder, Ken Hamblin, John Lott, Sandy Froman,  Alan Gura, Massad Ayoob, and Tom Gresham.

If you are interested in attending, registration is done at the SAF website.

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Aug
24

Thompson/Center Venture Rifle

Posted by: Richard | Comments (6)

tc_venture_01aThompson/Center (T/C) introduced the new Venture rifle at the 2009 SHOT Show. The Venture is designed to be an affordable rifle at only $499 MSRP (street price less), yet it offers the same T/C quality enthusiasts have found in their other firearms.

The Venture is available in four popular calibers: .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, and .300 Win Mag.

The T/C Venture has an externally adjustable trigger, allowing the user to tweak the pull to 3-5 lbs. A factory tool is included with the rifle so the user can adjust the pull. Read More→

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Aug
23

Vets and Celebs Shoot in Atlanta

Posted by: Richard | Comments (0)

Celebrities like Phil Niekro and Vince Dooley got out this weekend with wounded war veterans to shoot skeet.  Held at the Tom Lowe Trap and Skeet Range in Atlanta, the event paired celebrities with veterans for an afternoon of shooting.  For photos of the event, follow this link.

Categories : General Information
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Massad Ayoob has a blog over at Backwoods Home Magazine.  Recently he posted about the latest Smith & Wesson offerings, including the new M&P15-22 rifle, classic line of revolvers and the T/C rifles.  Strangely enough, I was just looking at the new T/C Venture in 30-06, which appears to be a great value at less than $500.

If you don’t already read Ayoob’s blog, click over there and check it out.

Categories : General Information
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bane_01Long time gun writer and TV personality Michael Bane publishes a weekly podcast called Down Range Radio.  The show is a general firearms program that covers Second Amendment issues, product reviews, shooting, competition, Bane’s TV programs, and other bits of random things that may relate to music, outdoors, extreme sports, or even gang-bangers in Tampa, FL.

Each program is about an hour, and comes out on Wednesdays.

Podcasts, if you aren’t aware, are audio or video recordings published on the Internet in a fashion similar to syndicated radio or TV shows.  Most podcasts are free, and many are produced by the average guy or by a small business.  If you have a computer with an Internet connection, you can download and listen to podcasts. Read More→

Categories : Podcasts
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From Ruger:

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) is proud to announce a free jacket promotion that combines two great American companies with reputations for building rugged and reliable products. Between August 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009, customers who purchase any new Ruger® bolt-action rifle will receive a free Ruger-branded Carhartt® jacket. Read More→

Categories : Misc Gear, Rifles
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Aug
21

Walther PK380 Pistol

Posted by: Richard | Comments (27)

walther_pk380_01Walther has introduced the PK380 pistol:  a new .380 ACP handgun based on their very popular Walther P22.

The polymer framed PK380 is not a micro-gun like the Ruger LCP or Sig Sauer P380.  Rather, it is a polymer framed compact handgun offering 8+1 rounds of the mild-shooting, but reasonably useful .380 ACP.  Weight is under 20 ounces (unloaded), and it sports a 3 2/3″ barrel.

Unlike many of the micro .380′s, the Walther PK380 has very usable sights in a three-dot configuration.  The sight radius is a respectable 5.4″.  Also, the sights are steel, not plastic. Read More→

Categories : Concealed Carry, Pistols
Comments (27)
Aug
20

Sig Sauer P238 Recall

Posted by: Richard | Comments (1)

Sig Sauer has initiated a recall of some P238 pistols after discovering that the safety levers were not properly engaging. Not all P238 pistols are affected, so owners should call Sig Sauer at (866) 446-1914 to determine if your pistol needs to be returned.

sig_p238_02The Sig Sauer P238 is a .380 ACP pistol that was introduced at the 2009 SHOT Show.  I liked the gun when I got to handle one, and a lot of positive comments have come in from new owners since then.

From Sig Sauer:

SIG SAUER, Inc. has initiated a Mandatory Safety Upgrade pertaining to our new Model P238™ pistols. We have determined that a small number of P238 pistols may have safety levers that are not manufactured to factory specifications. Under certain conditions, it may be possible for the lever not to be completely engaged in the safe position. In this condition, the gun will not fire when the trigger is pulled. However, when the safety lever is moved to the off position, the hammer may fall, with the remote possibility that the gun could fire unintentionally, thus creating a risk of injury or death. Read More→

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Pistols
Comments (1)

bianchi_shadow_02aThe Bianchi Model 7 Shadow II is a belt holster made of soft leather with a thumb snap. The Shadow has several belt slots to allow the user to wear the holster with the handgun straight up, with a forward cant or even cross-draw. This Bianchi holster is made for a wide range of popular handguns, including compact and full-sized pistols and revolvers.  Reasonably priced, the Model 7 promises a quality holster at a reasonable price. But, does Bianchi deliver? With a single caveat, I believe it does.

I’ve owned a Model 7 for several years, and have worn it on an occasional basis. Generally, my attire is more suited to an inside-the-waistband holster, but during colder months and for the occasional open carry event the Bianchi did get more frequent use.  Additionally, on long car trips I would tend to wear this holster rather than an IWB for comfort reasons. Read More→

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champion_glassesChampion Eyes and Ears has expanded their line of eye and ear protection to include new molded foam plugs (MSRP: $1.95/6 pair – $27.95/100 pair) and a variety of new shooting glasses (MSRP: $10.95 – $20.49). Designed to provide protection at the range and in the field, Champion’s new eye and ear protection is currently available to shooters of all disciplines.

When it comes to a day of shooting, safety never takes a day off. And that includes eye and ear protection. Champion expands their line of protection with a new series of shooting glasses that provide exceptional comfort and wrap-around safety. Each pair of glasses is OSHA compliant (ANSI Z87.1 safety rating) and feature scratch resistant lenses that deliver sharp images with no distortion. These new glasses are available in a variety of frame configurations as well as frame and lens colors. Choose between fixed or interchangeable lenses options. Read More→

Categories : Misc Gear
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remington_logoRemington Arms Co. has announced a major rifle recall, and a serious warning on .17 HMR ammunition.  Remington is immediately recalling all of the Model 597 rifles chambered for the .17 HMR.  Remington is not offering any repairs, rather they are issuing coupons of $200-250 for a replacement Remington rifle and refunding the shipping costs of sending the rifle back.

Additionally, Remington announced that their .17 HMR ammunition is not to be used in semi-auto firearms.  Stating that the use of Remington .17 HMR ammunition in a semi-auto firearm “…could result in property damage or serious personal injury.”  People wanting to return the ammo will be issued $10 coupons for each box of 50 they return. Read More→

Categories : Ammunition, Rifles
Comments (8)
Aug
17

Americans Support Right-to-Carry

Posted by: Richard | Comments (4)

According to a recent Zogby poll, 83% of Americans support Right to Carry laws. I am guessing that you didn’t see that reported in your local paper or on the national news. I did not, but maybe I just missed it.

When asked  “Currently, 39 states have laws that allow residents to carry firearms to protect themselves, only if they pass a background check and pay a fee to cover administrative costs. Most of those states also require applicants to have firearms safety training. Do you support or oppose this law?”, 83% responded they support these laws, while only 11% indicated they opposed them.

Of course, that kind of common sense thinking has no place in the media.  Instead, the media preferred to report on the defeat of the Thune-Vitter amendment, an amendment that received a majority vote in favor of it, but failed to pass the “super majority” required by Senate Democrats. Read More→

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