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?