An Adult Conversation on Guns and Other Subjects

Guns such as this will be a prime target of new regulations            

 

 

 

      Adult Conversation About Guns and Other Subjects

 With the tragic shooting in Newtown Ct we will have a lot of conversation about various aspects of this tragedy. Most of the conversations will do with guns and what to do about them. The reason is they are a high profile target especially for the uninformed.  Even before the bodies were cold there were shouts for gun control and gun bans. These people look for these heinous crimes always look for some incident to further their agenda. They like to wallow in the blood of the victims to further their agenda. The lamestream media are shills for the gun banning politicians and various anti-gun organizations. Their solution is to ban guns and this type of crime will go away. Their ignorance is astounding. One idiot even stated that the Bushmaster in 223 is the world’s most powerful gun. In fact the 223 is in about the bottom 15% in regards to power when compared to most rifle rounds. There are many other stupid statements by the lamestream media but they don’t want to be bothered with facts. They have the intellect of a pissant. They wouldn’t know how to report honestly if it hit them in the face.  The problem is that is nothing but nonsense and there are very few honest reporters out there. What is in the hand isn’t the problem but what is in the heart and mind. There is no evidence what so ever that shows gun laws make our society safer on the contrary areas with draconian gun laws have higher crime rates. Shooters who go into schools, shopping centers, work places and other similar places go there because they know that their victims are helpless. The shooters are cowards like most criminals and don’t want to be shot by a victim. Even the Center for Disease Control who is no friend of gun owners tried to find evidence of gun laws that work and couldn’t find any and had to admit the same. However in spite of that fact they still push more gun laws. Where is the logic.  I predict that we will be saddled with some useless gun laws sooner rather then later. I say this because Obama will sign any law that tramples on our rights. The Senate is controlled by Democrats, need I say more? While the house is controlled by Republicans that are some rinos that will cave in to the pressure to vote for more controls. After all elections come up in 2014 and they want to tell their voters that they did something about the gun problem.   Most politicians have two goals when they get elected. How much can they steal and how many times they can get re-elected? We have very few statesmen and leaders in the government but plenty of leaches. They suck at the public trowel and give little or nothing in return. Term limits would resolve that issue.  When you realize that you will understand why we will have some more gun laws. Never mind that they don’t work as the Clinton gun ban of 1994 which did nothing to make us safer.  It makes office holders feel good.  Yes the NRA and other pro-gun organizations will fight this nonsense but probably to no avail. Semi auto rifles and handguns have been around for over 100 years but school shootings just started in the 1980’s. In generations past both teachers and students brought guns to school but no one ever got shot Hmmmmmmm  !!!  By the way the worst school massacre was done in the 1920’s A handy man rigged up some explosions in the basement and blew up the school. I believe that 38 students and some teachers were killed in this act. Guns played no part in this massacre. If I wanted to get a body count I would bring in a quart or two of gas and throw it around the class. I imagine that I could wipe out the entire class room between the burning and the panic it would cause.     Could there be another reason for these shootings?  There are about 20,000 gun laws of various levels in this country. I ask how many laws do we need?  One form of insanity is trying the same thing over and expecting different results. A good example is the Clinton Gun ban. It was tried and didn’t work but it will be tried again. Millions of responsible shooters own semi-auto guns and are no danger what so ever to the public. They are used for recreational purposes such as hunting and target shooting not to mention self defense. Taking these guns away will do nothing to make us safer.

Glocks will be targeted also

 

 Want to hear a joke?  Obama is going to appoint Biden to be his point man on this issue. He will meet with various cabinet members who are all anti-gun. Guess what input he will get. Like everything else Biden has done it will be a travesty. I doubt that he will consult with any thinking adult.   Obama has made a statement that he believes that no one should be allowed to own any gun.  That is his ultimate goal. When he states that he respects the 2’nd amendment he is telling one of his many lies.   

45 are not liked by anti-gunners

 How about violent movies and videos?  There will be some lip service paid to them but nothing else. The problem is most of the people in this industry support the Democrats and give millions to the Democratic party so they are off limits in regards to regulations. Keep in mind that most of these producers and actors that make these violent movies are anti-gun. Is there any hypocrisy there?  I don’t know if video games cause violence but someone who plays these games all of the time could possibly be at risk to commit a violent crime. Moderation probably does no harm.

 It seems that most of these mass murders have some mental health problems. However society doesn’t do enough to address this. There is already a law against mentally disabled people owning guns. People who are crazy in many cases are very clever and can plan their crimes in detail. A mentally retarded person has a low IQ and can’t think things through and would be unable to do much planning. Some good examples of retarded people are Joe Biden and some members of congress, they can’t think of a logical solution to various problems facing our country. They are not crazy just stupid. There needs to be a better system to dealing with and helping crazy people. Locking them in prison with no treatment doesn’t solve the problem.

These handguns might be an endangered species

 OK what is the solution? Nothing is simple but we have to get rid of the gun free zones. That is where the bleeding is.  That is one of the worst ideas ever thought of. That is an invitation for mass murders who are cowards and look for soft targets. I think that we can learn a lot from Israel. They have no airplane hijackings and very few school shootings. Guess why! Everyone is armed and trained to protect themselves and school children. Teachers carry guns and anyone who is foolish enough to try and shoot up a school will be cut down in short order. To those who might be mentally challenged the meaning is that saves innocent lives.   Do we have the will to arm and train teachers and others to have guns and training on the job. Sadly I doubt it. As long as we have gutless politicians and others we will suffer these shootings and try more of the same ideas that don’t work. I wonder how many more shootings we will have before the general public wakes up?  

A sensless crime

Radio Show

As a note Kate Krugers Gun Talk Radio show is on every Sunday from 12 noon to 2 PM Arizona time. Sunday DEc 16'th there is going to be a special on handloading with my self and two giants in the industry. There will be an oppertunity  to call in and ask questions. A great show don't miss. to access the link is http://katekruegertalkingguns.com/

Bob Shell


A Sensless Crime

Responsible Gun Use: the gap between crime and weapons

 

By Eve Pearce

 

December 1^st, a provocative debate has emerged once again over the availability and use of guns in the United States. Jovan Belcher, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, fatally shot his girlfriend in their family home early Saturday morning before driving to the Chief’s practice field, when he committed suicide in the presence of his General Manager and Coach. While few lawmakers have yet to weigh in on the event, on Sunday night, NBC sportscaster Bob Costas ignited a national news frenzy when he read a portion of Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock’s article on gun use that stated that the 2^nd Amendment was a threat to liberty.

Speaking out against what he labeled as an overly liberal policy, Costas enraged many people by implying that the tragic murder and suicide was only possible because Belcher has access to a gun. His comments have sparked international attention as well as further commentary by political activists such as Wayne LaPierre, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Rifle Association. LaPierre was heavily critical of Costas’ remarks and accused him of attempting to, “piggyback his social agenda on the back of a tragedy.” What’s more, his comments failed to make light of the many other issues that played into the event, leading many to determine that while a gun may have played a part in the death of two young people, it was the hand the pulled the trigger that should be blamed.

A Tragic Crime

Over the past several years, political activists and politicians alike have tended to use murders and accidents involving guns to publically declare their political opinion against the legality of such. Tragedies such as the Milwaukee shooting of August 5^th had very similar political results as the one we saw just this week: within hours, gun control activists had made public statements atoning the crime to be a direct result of the availability of guns. These statements were made before the police had time to gather evidence, before the families of those involved could be properly interviewed, and long before the victims were even buried.

In many cases, it is clear why these comments are made – those that hold true to their opinions against the 2^nd Amendment see fatal shootings as a unnecessary incident, convinced that if guns are illegal, violent crime will cease. However, what they fail to note are the statistics on violent crimes with alternative weapons, or even recent studies that have conclusively pointed to evidence that higher rates of gun ownership could actually reduce crime. Furthermore, the comments are typically made radically soon after the incident takes place, resulting in media injustice and calls of guilt before the police are able to adequately examine the full scope of the evidence. Unfortunately, such has been the case with the story of Belcher.

A Case of Substance Abuse?

What many have failed to note in the latest gun crime to make international headlines is that while to many Belcher appeared to be a happy, successful NFL player and loving boyfriend, there may have been other issues at play in his home life. For starters, recent research has begun to shift media attention towards the issue of head injuries within the infamously dangerous sport. Because concussions sustained during intensive physical interaction has been known to have a severe impact on mental health (a key issue at play in any sudden murder, and certainly in all cases of suicide), Belcher’s role as linebacker for the Chiefs is one that some are pointing to as a possible cause of the crime. Furthermore, while he was unknown to have an extensive history of concussions, professional football players are often known to hide head injuries from coaches in a ploy to keep themselves off the bench and on the field.

Second, there have been some suggestions that substance abuse, including prescriptions painkillers and alcohol, could have played a role in the senseless crime that was committed seemingly out of the blue. In fact, those that knew Belcher best claim that this was something far from expected, citing his tendency to give back to the community and his warm and loving attitude towards his friends and family. These suggestions can only lead to the suggestion that if Belcher’s mental capacity or reliance on controlled substances had been properly monitored, perhaps the crime may have been avoided. Perhaps the key to ending crimes such as these would be in offering better sources of http://drugabuse.com/usa/drug-abuse/new-york/ (Belcher’s home state) for those at risk of turning to violence, rather than continuously debating the legality of a tool that our constitution permits.

A promising career cut short by personal issues.

Editor's note.

Rather then blame guns or the NFL let's try something new. Blame the shooter. He chose the lifestyle he was living and knew right from wrong. Also sports figures are put on a pedestal by their fans and bad behavior is often overlooked. Such mentality leads to these tragic incidents.

The New 45 Colt

                           Shooting the 45 Colt with black powder loads

 

      Colt 45

 The day before the SHOT show starts there is a media shoot which gives us an opportunity to handle and shoot new guns. I stop at Colt to see what they had on hand. Immediately I saw an attractive single action in 45 Colt, which is one of my favorites. Upon examining it and some shooting, I know that I had to have one to evaluate and write about. It is that nice. So I put my request in to receive one.  I have tested other Colt products including a Delta Elite in 10 mm and they always performed well, if a bit pricey.

 One thing that I want to mention is the sensgard hearing protection.  I have been using them for some years and they are my favorites. They are light and convenient plus cost is very reasonable. I would highly reccomend them. For info you can go to http://www.sensgard.com/ 

 Sometime later, it finally arrived. Upon opening, I was reminded on why I liked it so much. It is an attractive gun with a case hardened receiver while the rest of the metal parts are blue. The wood grips have the Colt medallion in gold color. The fit and finish are of high quality, which you would expect of a gun in this price range. It is a typical Colt single action with a couple of upgrades. The sights are adjustable and it has the safety to avoid one going off in case it is dropped. It holds 6 rounds of 45 Colt ammo with a 4 &  5/8 inch barrel on my sample.  Colt made the New Frontier from 1890 to 1981 so this is a reintroduction of that model. It is also known as the flat top model and is also available in 44 special and 44-40 though that might change.  According to my gauge the trigger broke at 3 Lbs. and was consistent. There was virtually no creep or mush in the trigger which is a major aid in accurate shooting. It is one of the better triggers I have encountered in a single action revolver.   There are four positions that the hammer can be placed in. The first notch locks the cylinder and may be some sort of safety second notch rotates the cylinder. Colt came out with the revolver as we know it in 1836 with the cap and ball model. It was improved until 1873 when the 45 came out in their single action which is still being produced today and is essentially the same. It is one of the most recognizable handguns ever produced.  My gun shows a patent date of 1873 in spite of it being new.

LOAD                                     BULLET                           VELOCITY                         COMMENT

12 X Herco                           200 grain Raanier       1128                                 accurate    

Ten X      black powder      250 grain lead                674                                   accurate

Ten X     smokeless            200 grain lead                648                                   mild

Winchester                         250 grain lead                796                                  consistent

36 X FFFG                            255 grain Hornady .454   715                                nice

42 X FFFG                           250 grain cast                  702                                  accurate

8 X Unique                         250 grain cast                   744                                accurate

Good accuract at 25 yards offhand Ranier bullets

 Shooting the Colt with these loads proved to be a pleasant experience as recoil was mild and accuracy is good. I shot other loads during the test and everything was accurate that showed good accuracy but they hit to different points on impact. That is in no way a fault as I tried a verity of loads including black powder. The Ten X loads shot well and if you are looking for some good cowboy loads I suggest you give them a try. For info on their line of ammo you can go to http://www.tenxammo.com/ for info. Bullets used were .452 in diameter except the Hornady which is .454. That was the original diameter of the old Colts. I used Goex black powder, which gave good accuracy and consistency, but the velocities were lower than I expected.  With these light loads you can shoot all day comfortably.  Also I shot quite a few Ranier bullets as they are not lead or as expensive as conventional jacketed slugs. As always they shot very well and were accurate. I would suggest that you give them a try and you won’t be sorry. For more info on their fine products you can go to http://www.rainierballistics.com/.  

45 Colt with ammo. A handsome gun

 

  The grip is a bit small for my hand but there are plenty of aftermarket accessories to resolve that problem. With the mild loads I contemplate, shooting larger grips are not needed. If I want more powerful loads I have a Ruger and Freedom Arms to use.  At 15 yards offhand careful shooting will produce groups in the neighborhood of an inch. The action and trigger are very smooth indicating that some time was spent on the action. Everyone who shot it was favorably impressed. Since the action is essentially the same one that came out in 1873 there will no  hot loads used in this test. I have shot a 45 Colt that was made in the 1880’s and it felt very similar to this new one. The only difference was it had a longer barrel and fixed sights.  The Colt has a tendency to point naturally another plus. I would not feel that I was at a disadvantage in a home defense situation. With its point ability and large bullets it should settle an affair rather easily. Keep in mind that a self-defense shooting seldom requires more than a couple of shots. The Colt holds 6.  The original Colt was available in various calibers such as the 32-20 and 38-40 which were also available in the Winchester model 73. The 44-40 also had that option though the 45 didn’t. That is a head scratcher.    

 

Cylinder of 45 Colt

              

Just out of curiosity, I wanted to see what was the size of the holes in front of the cylinder. If the holes are too small they will swage down the bullet before it enters the barrel which will have a negative effect on accuracy. I have seen that with some revolvers and their accuracy, or lack of, showed up. I found that all 6 ports measured .452 which is the correct diameter and one of the reasons for its good accuracy. I compared  the cylinder with a Ruger and a Freedom Arms model. The Colt was the smallest and lightest reinforcing my view that + P loads should be avoided in the Colt. For the life of me I can’t see beating the peacemaker with hot loads.

 I can’t think of any downside to this gun except the price.  Suggested retail starts at $1400 depending on where you buy it. That would be stiff for someone of limited means.   It is also available in 44-40 and 44 special plus different barrel lengths though that might change. I would suggest a model with both cylinders.  If I tested another one, it would be in 44-40, which is a sweet caliber making  more attractive by offering a 44 special cylinder That might not be available in the future, a shame. If you are willing to lay out the bucks, I think that you will be well pleased with this model and based on the listed criteria I would recommend it. It carries on the proud tradition of the single action Colts very well.  For more info on Colt products, you can go to http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtRevolvers.aspx for more info.