SS KRESGEE MODEL 151 SHOTGUN

Yes Johnny, you could buy guns at K-Mart when I was a kid.

My first shotgun.  I bought this little gem at a gun show around 2000 for $60.  I did not own a shotgun at the time and the price was attractive so I decided what the heck.

These were sold in K-Marts back in the day.  SS Kresgee was the founder of K Mart, so it only makes sense.  Just as JC Higgins guns were sold through Sears and Western field were Monkey Wards.

These guns were made in Brazil  by Boito and marked with the Kresgee name, much like many Jc Higgins guns were re badged High Standards, Marlins, etc.  I have always been impressed by the quality of the metal and wood in these guns.  They are not high end by any means.  But they have good blue and the wood is decent.  The plastic parts are not that great and some of them on my gun have broken. What can I say?  It's a cheap gun that is 30 years old.

I like the way that the gun functions very much.  It opens very smoothly and easily.  I need only pull on the release and it falls open and ejects any empty shell well to the rear.  Lock up is still plenty tight and I have not had any issues with it digesting any ammo I put in there.  Trigger weight and take up are nice.  I love the way the gun is taken down as well.  There is no screw to remove from the forearm.  It is held tight by a spring mechanism.  To remove it, you need only grasp the front and pull down smartly.  The forearm pops off and the barrel can be removed by opening the action at that point.  I think it is a superior design to the screw retained arm on the NEF Pardners.

These guns were offered in 12 and 20 gauge, as well as .410 bore.  I have seen them all for sale and none of them command much money.  That is a reflection on the low cost of the guns initially, but also the fact that most people don't know anything about them.  I like the NEF guns, but I would choose the Kresgee over them.  It's just smoother.

My gun came with a fixed full choke.  It disintegrated clays, but was a bit hard to hit with at short ranges.  You had to be very accurate, while others on the range could nick the target with their improved cylinder and modified chokes and score points.  I removed about 1 inch of the barrel to open the choke to approximately modified.  It seems to hit more easily now.  I did not pattern the gun before, so I guess I really don't know if my work did much good. But hey, it's a $60 shotgun, I'm not getting too technical.

My only complaint, other than the broken plastic, is the hammer.  It is a low profile design that is somewhat hard to get a grip on if you are trying to lower it on a live shell.  Coupled with the very strong hammer spring, it makes for some interesting de-cocking.  My thumb slipped off the hammer once and the gun blew a hole in the ground in front of me.  I had it pointed in a safe direction, so no harm was done, but it was embarrassing and a bit scary.  The gun has a transfer bar, but that doesn't help if your thumb slips off the hammer.  I have debated cutting deeper groves into the hammer to prevent a reoccurrence.  I do not like accidental discharges.

SAVAGE STEVEN'S MODEL 62, 64f

Around the year 2000, my Nephew and I were looking for a low cost, semi auto "critter-getter".  We both had experience with the Ruger 10-22 and loved it, but they were too pricey for our budget.  So, we headed to Wally World to check out the selection of cheap rifles.  We ended up coming home with a Savage - Stevens Model 62 in .22lr and a Simmons 3x9x40 scope.  Newer guns are marked as Savage model 64f.  As far as I can tell the guns are the same.  http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/

There is nothing too special about these little rifles.  They have a slender steel receiver with standard models wearing a generic looking tapered barrel.  Sights are your standard crappy leaf sight with an adjustable ramp at the rear and a fairly nice steel bead front sight. Both are fitted into 3/8 inch dovetails that are cut into the barrel.  The rifle is fed by a detachable box magazine that is made of aluminium and holds 10 rounds in a staggered stack arrangement.  I do not like the magazine or its release.  They are around $30 each and there are no larger capacity models available.  Basically, the release is counter intuitive.  After 10 plus years of ownership, I have learned to get the mag out quickly, but it should be easier to use.

I do like the safety and its position right where you can reach up and click it off with your trigger finger.  Savage offers different models with different stocks and even a heavy barrel.  Mine has a plastic stock that allows the barrel to float, lending to accuracy.  The rifle is far more accurate than I am, so I can't complain there.


Our initial shooting impression back in 2000 was not too favorable.  We had several failures to feed and failures to eject.  We cursed the gun for a while until we learned that all cheap .22 rifles need a little work to function smoothly.  Once I cleaned up the feed ramp and the magazine lips, she fed fine.  Lesson learned.  It rarely fails today, so long as it's kept clean and fed a diet of decent ammo.  Powder fouling in the bolt will cause jams if it is allowed to build up.

We originally mounted the scope on a set of see-through rings so that we could use iron sights up close or go to the scope for distance.  This arrangement was very effective until the scope was cannibalized for the Mauser.  The rifle currently wears a $6 tasco scope from Wal-Mart.  Woo HOO!  I am in the process of finding a decent set of sights for it.  Truglo or fireights or perhaps a red dot?


I have found the gun to be very accurate, though the trigger is not the best in the world.  I have done some work on the sear to get the weight of pull down.  It's not terrible, but it is not as smooth as I would like.

My main complaint with this rifle is that it is a pain in the ass to clean.  You can hold the bolt open in the recess and just clean the bore, but to really clean it there is more involved.   An Allen wrench will get the stock separated from the action, but to really clean the action, you must remove the trigger group, mag well, and barrel.  It's not technically challenging, just a pain. The trigger group and mag well are secured with screws.  One is a large flat blade, the other two Phillips with scar washers underneath.  Once you have that accomplished, you will need a wrench to remove the large nut/screw that holds the barrel on via a clamp.  Yank the barrel out of the receiver, pull the charging handle out and the bolt drops out.  If it's really dirty, a 20 gauge bore brush and patches may be needed to scrub out the inside.  The bolt gets dirty very quickly, as .22 rifles tend to do.  I have become pretty good at this operation, but it seems like a lot to go through, just to clean a gun.  Especially a  .22.

The action broken down for cleaning

Despite having thousands upon thousands of rounds sent through the barrel, it runs as well today as it ever did.  Accuracy has not suffered either.  Reliability is great as long as it is kept fairly clean and decent ammo is used.  Federal copper plated hollow points and Remington thunderbolts work well for me.  CCI is great stuff too.  These days you shoot what you can find.

 

Would I buy it again?  At the right price, sure.  I would not pay over $125 for it.  And yes, I would still rather have the 10-22.  The great thing about the 10-22 is the fact that everyone makes everything for it and everyone has been there, done that when it comes to customization.  The Savage is a great, accurate little rimfire rifle, but it is not a 10-22, so you are on your own with modifications.

Vintage Winchester 1892 Mfg. 1901

This Winchester 1892 has an interesting history.  It belongs to my Brother, who bought it from his Father in law.  The story goes that the rifle was in the possession of an Aunt in Detroit.  It made it's way into the hands of the Father in law, who proceeded to "clean it up" using a scouring pad.  Ouch.  Needless to say, the gun was in less than ideal condition when my Brother bought it from him.

Normally it's taboo to redo an old Winchester like this.  Collectors typically want the gun untouched.  In this case though, the metal was too far gone and the wood basically had no varnish remaining.  While that might have wrecked the collector value, it did offer my Brother the chance to get a Winchester exactly how he wanted it.

We debated doing a cold blue job.  But, the rifle was purchased at a reasonable price and it would have been a shame to half ass a piece of history.

A local gun smith did a wonderful job on the metal.  The rear sight was replaced with an original type and the loading gate was replaced with a new part.

For the wood, he decided to go with Tru Oil.  Many many coats were applied to get the finish you see here.

This rifle does get shot on occasion. Though the 38-40 round is hard to come by and really expensive.  We may load for the cartridge at some point, which would make it more affordable to shoot.   The 38-40 is a bit of a misnomer.  It is not a 38 caliber, but a 40 caliber.  In fact, the 10mm and .40 S&W cartridges have made the 40 caliber bullet rather popular, so bullet selection is really good.  It takes small pistol primers and pistol powders.  So, other than the cartridge being obsolete, it should be economical to load.

There are blue jobs and then there are blue jobs.  The quality of workmanship is superb.

This example has an unusually long barrel.  I doubt it ever saw use on horseback.

Color case hardening was used throughout the gun.

BAUER 25 AUTOMATIC

Once upon a time pocket guns were commonplace in America.  They were the great equalizer.  A small piece of security that kept society in check.  Never big on firepower, they did put a measure of protection in easy reach.  One of the undisputed greats of the class was (and is) the Baby Browning.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Browning

After several assassinations during the 1960's, the United States passed the gun control act of 1968.  Included in the misguided act was a ban on the importation of certain small pistols.  Unfortunately, the Baby Browning was one of these pistols.  The market for pocket pistols, which had been flooded with imports good and bad, was now without much supply.  The act had banned the import of such pistols, but said nothing about domestic production.  Apparently it's fine to shoot someone so long as you use a domestic product?

Looking to fill the need for a high quality pocket gun, production of the Bauer automatic began in Fraser Michigan in 1972.  It was a near identical copy of the Baby Browning rendered in stainless steel.  As far as I know, the only real difference is that the barrel is rotated clockwise for removal, rather than counterclockwise on the FN.  There may be a difference in springs as well, but many FN parts will interchange.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauer_Automatic

Overall, the pistol exudes quality.  The quality of the machine work is very good.  Parts fit together well and the gun has a good quality feel.  This is NOT your run of the mill Saturday night special .25.  It is a well made piece of jewelry that you can shoot.

Now, I know that the .25 ACP is the most maligned cartridge ever.  And I understand why it has it's detractors.  It is no man stopper.  But, it is a gun, and it will kill you.  And really, people miss the whole point of the .25.  It is not the gun you pull to take control of a situation.  It is a gun you use to get out of a situation.  And there is no denying the concealability.  Sometimes even a small gun is too big.  In that case, you carry a .25.

Cleaning this pistol is more like cleaning a watch than a gun.  The small parts are really small and somewhat fragile.  This is not the gun you tear apart in a muddy ditch.  Most people consider the safety to be flimsy, but I have the opposite opinion.  My gun's safety is very positive and takes conscious effort to move.  

Handling a gun this size is not exactly second nature.  It is really tiny and it takes concentration to grip it correctly.  Accurate shooting can also be affected by the small size.  It's just hard to keep a 4 inch gun on target as you pull the trigger.  That said, this is not a target pistol.  It is a "get off me" gun that hopefully gets an attacker off of you in order that you can get out of Dodge.  Yes, you can buy a Kel Tec p3at and get a more powerful round in a a really small gun, but it is still not as tiny as the baby.

416 stainless steel investment castings were hand fitted.  These people knew what they were doing too.

Baby Brownings are still in production here in the USA.  Precision small arms out of Colorado makes some truly awesome pistols.  I believe they are licensed by FN, whereas Bauer never was.  The prices on their guns can easily reach $600-$800.  I paid $200 for the pistol in this article.  It has less than 100 rounds through it since it was purchased new the the 80's.  

http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Baby/baby.html
http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/PSP-25/psp-25.html

THE GREAT CALIBER DEBATE

It seems like there are more opinions about the caliber of one's gun than just about anything else.  You have no doubt heard it all.  "I'll never carry anything less than a .45."  "Shot placement is key."  "Hydro-static shock"  Buzz words fly as fast as the expletives in this argument because everyone has an opinion and hardly any of us have first hand experience.  While it's good that most of us have never had to shoot someone, it does leave a data vacuum into which all sorts of opinion enters.

Here are some facts and a little opinion from my point of view:

Fact: Most pistol calibers are sub-standard when compared to rifle and shot shell ballistics.  I won't quote figures here.  Just search out the numbers if you don't believe me.

Fact:  It's hard to stuff a rifle in your pants pocket.  That's why they make hand guns.

Fact:  A bird in the hand is worth more than ........Well you get the picture.

It comes down to compromises.  Size vs. effectiveness is always the name of the game.  In this game, even a .44 magnum is a compromise.  People choose to carry hand guns because they are portable and concealable, not because they are the most effective thing in a fire fight.



Now, I submit to you this statement:  The reason most people don't carry a 12 gauge shotgun under their winter coat is the same reason I don't want to carry a 1911 in my shorts pocket in July.  It's too damn big.  You have to ask yourself, "Do I want to dress around a gun"?  If the answer is no, you have a choice to make.  Carry a really small gun or don't carry one at all.

Small

Really small

Once you've decided to carry a really small gun,  a choice is upon you.  How small is small enough?  And, how much power am I willing to give up to get the size down?

It used to be that any gun under 6 inches long was a .25, or .22, but times have changed.  The age of the pocket .380 is upon us in all of it's polymer glory.  Kel-Tec, Taurus, and Ruger are all big players in this market, though they are certainly not alone.  These little automatics take the .380 acp cartridge and put it in a package that is roughly 5 inches long, weighing in at 8-10 ounces.  That is very light.  The fact that .380 firepower is available in a true pocket gun is an incredible feat of engineering.

But, even these new wonder guns have drawbacks.  Greatest of all is recoil.  When you put a .380 cartridge into something that light, there will be recoil.  Some of us are more sensitive to it than others, but recoil does affect all shooters in some way.  Mainly it's the timing of follow up shots or simply the ability to keep a hold on a gun the size of an I phone 5 under recoil.

And, as small as they are, they are not the smallest pistols ever made.

The world's gun makers did a brisk business in pocket pistols throughout the first half of the 20th century.  These guns were generally chambered in .22 rimfire, .25 ACP, or .32 ACP.  None of these cartridges are man stoppers, but all were carried.  Apparently deep concealment was of great importance.  And, if you want a 4 inch long gun, it will not be chambered in .45 ACP.

Perhaps the smallest gun you will ever hold is one of the NAA mini revolvers.  Made by North American Arms, these little single action revolvers are offered in a number of configurations.  Calibers range from .22 short to .22 mag.  They offer 5 shots, but are single action.

So, It's all up to you and the weather.  In 30 degrees, sure, I'll take that 1911 under a coat.  In 95 degrees, give me the pocket gun, a pair of shorts, and a T shirt.

WALTHER MODEL 9

north american mini revolver

Gun Violence

"We need to stop gun violence"  You hear it all the time.  I even hear it from gun enthusiasts.  And it might seem like a good thing to say, until you really think about it.

Of course, no one wants to see people get shot.  But, to specify gun violence as worse than other forms of violence is just silly to me.  This week we saw 2 teachers killed by their students.  One was shot with a handgun.  The other was stabbed or slashed with a box cutter.  Both killings are terrible.  Both teachers are dead. So, why are people like that old hag Diane Feinstein so quick to point their finger at violence committed with a firearm, but not the box cutter.  A tool which any kid can pick up off a shelf at Wal-Mart.

Why do we need bill boards telling people that if they commit a crime with a gun that they will go to jail for a longer period than if they use a knife or a brick?  Why do Chicago politicians want mandatory sentences for people caught with a gun in the wrong place?  Why does the city of Peoria Illinois need to pay big bucks for a program that's called "Don't shoot"?

It seems to me that violence is violence.  As gun owners, we need to be ever vigilant to threats on our 2nd amendment rights.  And, that means not buying into the "Gun violence" phrase.  We need to point out the hypocrisy of that phrase whenever the opportunity arises.  Not because we don't care that a nice young teacher was stabbed to death, but because putting violence with a firearms above other violent acts is just silly and perpetuates the false belief that guns are bad.

As a gun owner, I know that guns are neither good nor bad.  If you think the same way, I invite you to stand up and point that fact out to the less learned.

Hillbilly brass tumbler

So you want a brass tumbler but you have no money for such luxuries.  No problem.  Here's what I did.  

After searching for the right motor, a pal at work handed me this power window motor.  You see, the tumbler must turn very slowly, otherwise the brass and media will just cling to the side from centrifugal  force.  The window motor has a worm gear that reduces the speed dramatically.  Perfect for tumbling.

To attach the drum to the motor I used a 12 gauge shell, cut it to the right length and ran a long bolt through the primer pocket.  The shell fit tight over the window motor's gear and I just used a hose clamp to retain it.

Bungee cord keeps the drum from falling out of the wood.

12 gauge "coupler"

The "drum" is actually just a hand cleaner bucket.  To prevent the bolt from cracking the plastic, I used fender washers inside and out.  Inside the drum you must place some kind of agitators.  Just like the inside of a dryer, something needs to scoop the brass and media up and get them tumbling.  Otherwise, the stuff will just sit at the bottom and never get clean.  I use lengths of vinyl tubing glued to the drum. I had initially thought of just leaving the lid end of the drum hang out in the open, but the drum was just too floppy.  So, I ran a bolt through the lid and used it as an axle, supported by wood.  The wood on the lid end is hinged so that the lid can be removed.  I simply put the unit on it's end and scoop out the brass.  Does it look stupid? Yes.  Does it polish brass?  Yes.  Cost me $0.00 Good enough!

I run my tumbler either off of an old car battery or usually a battery charger.

I use walnut media, aka lizard litter, as my media.  I also add brass chips from the key cutter at work.  They increase the shine and decrease the time necessary to polish the brass dramatically.  I would suggest something metallic in the media.  In my experience, plain walnut media just won't remove carbon deposits from brass and it takes forever.

Be aware that window motors are not used to running for long periods of time.  They will get a little hot, so I only run mine for about an hour at a time.  You can certainly run the whole thing off of a timer so that it cycles on and off with rest periods in between.  I've never felt that the motor was getting so hot that it was going to catch fire, but just the same.

Brass chips from the key cutter.  The sharp edges really clean up the brass cases well.

drum in motion

New England Firearms Pardner / Handi Rifle Single Shots

The NEF Pardner single shot is probably the most popular of the single shot guns out there.  The same basic design is manufactured and sold by H&R, and New England.  The NEF and H&R are really the same gun made in the same place, but with different names.

There really isn't much to one of these.  The standard shotgun receiver will accept barrels from .410 to 12 gauge.  The only thing that changes is the barrel and maybe the forearm.  That makes one of these little gems one of the most cost effective guns you can buy.  The barrel program from NEF requires that you send your receiver to them for fitting. However, I was able to fit an older H&R barrel to my NEF with no issues whatsoever.









There is also the handi rifle.  These are same receiver, but hollowed out and with a different firing pin arrangement.  Rifles can accept shot shell barrels, but not vice versa.  (Rim fire guns will only accept rim fire barrels for obvious reasons.)  I have fired Handi rifles in .223 and .17hmr.  Both were very slick guns.  Outfitted with a good scope, these things are tack drivers.  The 17hmr was particularly nice, with a barrel diameter of a 12 gauge it was a heavy beast.

There are a myriad of different configurations available to suit every need.  The thing I like most about them is that they put a well built rifle or shotgun of various calibers within reach of most shooters.  The lack of a follow up shot may or may not be a problem for you, but there is no arguing with their accuracy, dependability, or affordability.

Tactical stock set

Shotgun only frame on left.  Rifle on right

http://www.hr1871.com/support/accessoryprogram.asp

MAKAROV PM

IJ-70 Makarov in .380 acp with target sight and pierce grip.  One need only change the barrel to make it 9x18

The Makarov PM, commonly know as the Makarov or Mak, was the cold war counterpart to our 1911.  It was introduced in the early 1950s as a replacement for the Tokarev pistol and Nagant revolver.  It is a simple, straight blow back, design that borrows heavily from the Walther pp and ppk.  While Nikolai Makarov borrowed much from the Walthers, he did not produce a copy.  The Makarov PM is it's own animal.

For clarification purposes you must know that there are several other pistols chambered for the 9x18 Makarov round.  They may or may not be similar to the PM, but they are not Makarov pistols.

I could go on and on about the history and inner workings of this little pistol, but that may be reinventing the wheel.  Wikipedia does a good job of outlining the gun's history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makarov_pistol

My Makarov experience started in 2002 when I bought my Baikal IJ-70.  The IJ-70 is simply a standard Makarov PM with the fixed rear sight removed and replaced by an adjustable "target" sight.  The reason for this is the stupidity of gun laws in the United States.  To import newly manufactured pistols into our country the gun had to have a "sporting" purpose.  Hence the target sight.  I say stupid because the screw that holds the sight on has very small threads and is easily backed out under the Mak's strong recoil. Once backed out, I have often found that it is stripped.  To remedy the situation I installed a fixed replacement sight from Gun parts warehouse http://www.gunpartswarehouse.com/pistol-parts/makarov-pistol/ij-70-fixed-rear-sight.html. Unfortunately, this did not stop the screw from backing out and stripping.  (They sell new screws too).  Red locktite is the best thing I've found, but they still come loose.  All because the feds think a gun is less deadly if it has a target sight on it.  If I ever find a standard slide at a decent price, I'll replace it.  Surplus Maks have a standard sight dovetailed into the slide as the designer intended.  I have since re installed the target sight. 

Other than the federally mandated problem, I love my Mak.  It is unbelievably reliable, accurate, and a ton of fun.  The recoil is snappy to say the least.  There is really no discernible difference between the recoil of the Mak and that of a standard size .45 ACP.  Yes, this little gun has bite.  A pearce  grip is worth it's weight in gold and really changes the feel of the gun for the better.  I highly recommend them.

Some of the IJ-70s came chambered in.380 acp, while the good ones :) are chambered in 9x18 Makarov. The only difference is the barrel. 9x18 ammo is generally available at smaller gun shops or through mail order.  No, Wal-Mart does not carry it.  The Russian brown bear and silver bear are pretty hot loads with steel cases.  Many manufacturers have a listing for it, but  availability can be spotty and American makers want an arm and a leg for the stuff.

I started to hand load for 9x18 within a year of buying the gun.  I use 9mm luger brass that I pick up off the range.  I simply trim 1 millimeter off the length and run it through the dies.  No big deal.  I was loading Hornady's xtp hollow points years back.  Awesome bullets, but a little hard to find right now.  I'm currently loading 95 grain hard cast lead from Rim Rock Bullets.  Also very good quality and much cheaper. In general, hard cast is a good way to go for target and plinking.  

The best upgrades are the grips, a Wolf recoil spring, and perhaps an East German main spring.  I have added all these to mine and think each one has it's advantages.        

Shown cocked.  The single action trigger is crisp and relatively light at 5.5 pounds, the double action not so much.

An open letter to potential concealed carry instructors

As a resident of one of the most gun restrictive states in the union, I have been anxiously awaiting the day when I can legally carry a pistol outside the home for protection.  As all of us in Illinois know, the state has resisted allowing citizens to carry concealed or otherwise for years.  The new carry law that was passed is far from ideal.  Probably the biggest example of that is the 16 hour training requirement.  That's far beyond what is required in other states and has been heavily criticized as overly burdensome.

The State Police have been charged with setting up the training and have now started the process of approving people who want to offer the 16 hour course.  My fear is two fold.  Number one, that these classes will be so full and so few and far between that people will have a very difficult time getting into a class.  And second, that there will be significant price gouging by some who qualify to teach these classes.  The state is already charging $150 for the privilege of the card.  Then we have to pay someone for the class.  Now, I have no problem with a charge for these classes.  I mean the paper costs something and the lights have to be turned on.  But, when people start talking hundreds of dollars for a class that takes 2 days it starts to make me think that people are wanting to take advantage of the situation.  So, please everyone, if you are qualified to teach the class, don't charge more than is reasonable.  Doing otherwise just denies a large part of the population the right to defend themselves.  Sound good?

Everyone's concealed carry gun circa 1900

With concealed carry a reality in nearly every jurisdiction in the USA today, it's easy to forget that our 2nd amendment rights were denied for many many years.  Back in 1900, however, things were different.  In those days, carrying a pistol for self protection was a no-brainer for many of America's citizens.  Not that America was more dangerous then than it is now, probably less so overall, but the right of personal protection just wasn't questioned as it is today.

The Iver Johnson "safety automatic" at left is a perfect example of a gun anyone and everyone might have carried on their person.  There were no background checks, no waiting periods.  You simply walked into any hardware store, plunked down $6, and walked out with one.

The safety part of these revolvers had to do with two things.  First, the trigger pull is sooooo stiff there is little chance of discharging the weapon unintentionally.  And second is the transfer bar safety system.  Now commonplace, it was a real selling point for Iver Johnson, due to the fact that many of their competitors guns had no such system and could discharge with a simple blow to the hammer.  Thus the ads asking you to "Hammer the hammer".

The gun shown in this blog happens to belong to my Dad.  The serial number under the grips place it's manufacture between 1914 and 1924.  We gave it to him for Father's day this year after acquiring it in a private sale.  It is a 3rd model gun, which is capable of firing smokeless powder loads safely.  It's size and weight make it ideal for concealed carry.  The .32 S&W short cartridge is no man stopper, but it beats a .22 any day.  The small size and safe action make it a viable CCW gun even today.  Revolver reliability is also a great confidence builder.  Oddly enough, this little gun is capable of some accuracy IF you can manage that trigger.  We started out using Magtech's round nose loading, which was fairly hot for this little breaktop.  We have since started to reload the Magtech brass with Rim Rock hard cast bullets and Unique powder.

When I hold this little gem I think what it must have been like to live in the America of old.  A time when President Roosevelt kept an FN 1900 in the white house for his protection instead of trying to ban every gun under the sun.  At least most of us have at least some ability to legally carry a gun for protection, though it's not always as the founders intended.  Little guns like this are pretty cool weather you intend to carry them or not.

Then and now

Consider, if you will, how the United States' attitude towards guns has changed in the past 40-50 years.  While I'm generally glad to live in the 21st century, I do lament the loss of a different way of life.  Consider the ad below.  I found this on the Huffington post as an example of gun ads that were supposed to make me wince.  Well, this doesn't make me wince, it makes me long to be out there taking target practice with that boy and his Dad.  You truly cannot have more fun than plinking with an old .22 rimfire.  There is nothing harmful here.  No one is doing a drive-by.  It's just a young boy with his Dad and dog having fun in nature.  Today, gun owners are made to feel like criminals for doing what was a natural, all-American thing 50 years ago.  And you know why?  Ignorance.  It's ignorance that feeds hate right?  Well, hatred of guns is fed by ignorance too.  Ask most anti-gunners if they have ever owned or even fired a gun and I'll bet you they have not.  See, it's easy to hate or mistrust something that you have no experience with.  Couple that with the fact that media is full of guns used in negative ways and there is a significant portion of the population who has had no positive exposure to firearms at all.  So, if you happen to find yourself in a discussion with someone who is anti-gun, perhaps you should invite them to go shooting with you.  A little positive exposure can't hurt.  Who knows, they might want to do it again.

Welcome

Welcome to another gun blog.  Yes, another gun blog.  I will try to avoid the same endless diatribe that characterizes so much of the firearms world.

I'll try to review guns and ammo that I have actual experience with and offer my take on current gun related news.

I'm not a conservative, nor am I a liberal, I'm just me.