Midwest Industries' AKSM Scope Rail Mount

The Kalashnikov rifle has been in the field of battle, and in the hands of people from every walk of life for over 60 years, and I do not see it slowing down any time soon. It's simple design and ease of use is one of it's benefits, yet it is somewhat backwards compared to many of today's battle rifles. One of the drawbacks of the AK is it's lack of being able to mount modern optics.

To counter-act this,Midwest Industries has introduced their advanced scope mount that attaches to the AK's receiver side rails.

Military Arms Channel takes a look at this must have for all the AK owners out there:

The Leatherman Crater C55bx: An EDC Blade With a Little Extra

Leatherman has been long known for their innovations in the world of multi-tools. Since 1983 the company has been putting quality multi-tools in the hands of serious end-users.

I have long been impressed by their Charge and Wave models, and more recently their MUT multi-tool which is geared toward the Military end user. ( although it has found a following among civilian users due to it's integrated AR-15 tools) For nearly 3 decades, multi-tools have been their
bread and butter , but I have found that their knives deserve a good look as well.
And that's where the Crater C55bx comes in.

The C55bx: A EDC knife with a little extra thrown in.

The C55bx belongs to the Crater family of knives, and there are multiple models under this banner. The C55bx functions as a basic everyday carry knife, but with a couple of goodies hidden inside. A few details of the C55bx: The blade is a 420HC (high carbon) steel
with a black oxide finish (on my particular model) and comes in at just over 3 inches long. My model has a partially serrated blade, and I know that some people do not like serrations, but I have found that they do come in handy every now and then.There is a thumb stud for

quick open operation. Out of the package,this knife is crazy nasty sharp, seriously. Don't play around with knives in general, but seriously don't play with this one....YOU WILL BLEED.

Having access to a screwdriver as quickly as a knife has come in handy.

The knife is a lockback, which can be a bit slow on the close, but on an EDC knife not that big of a deal. The handle material is a glass filled nylon, and I like how it feels in my hand,It's got enough material so that it fills one's hand, but not too bulky. It features a pocket clip, but like so many knives I have dealt with recently, it cannot be reversed or changed in it's position. It's counter intuitive to how I would like to draw the knife and open it; (I prefer to carry tip up). The secondary function of this knife is the Phillips #1-2 and Screwdriver 3/16" Bit. The only downside I see to this is that the bit may become lost if one is not careful. I have used this function considerably in the last month of testing, and it has been quite beneficial. In the end of the knife's handle there is a carabiner/ bottle opener stowed away. I can't say I have used this for either function, but it's a interesting addition I suppose, especially the carabiner; if can be hung from field gear on MOLLE webbing, for quick access.

The carabiner/ bottle opener may be useful to some, but it doesn't make or break this blade for me. Although I do think the space could have been better utilized. Such is the case.

Sometimes carrying a full size multi-tool can be a little impractical, and having a basic knife and a screwdriver is all you may need. I would have preferred it if they had incorporated a small mini plier set in the handle instead of the carabiner/bottle opener: I would use a plier set long before I ever use either one of those functions.

This C55bx weighs in at just shy of 5.5oz, about average for a knife it's size. I don't notice it's weight all that much. Closed length is 4 1/2 in., not too bad.

In all, I like the C55bx. I think it somewhat bridges the gap between standard knife and multi-tool....although the I could take or leave the bottle opener/carabiner tool. I think that space in the handle would have been better used for something else. Some people may find it highly useful, and that's just cool. Everyone has different needs and applications.

This is by no means a tactical knife, and that's ok. Not every knife needs to be. This is an EDC knife plain and simple.

I have found them in the ballpark of around $45-65, depending on the distributor.

Shop around and see what you find.

Thanks for reading and I hope this might be helpful.

Have a great week, and be safe.

The 9mm: A Sootch00 Video Review

If you're anything like me, you've probably got at least one 9mm handgun in your safe.

Many people have poo-pooed the 9mm for it supposedly anemic knockdown power, but with the right load, this round is without a doubt a widowmaker. 9mm is relatively inexpensive to stock up on, and there are multiple options when it comes to this round.

Sootch00 gives us a rundown of the 9mm, and the variants of this caliber. Be sure to subscribe to Sootch's Youtube channel!

Food Poisoning and an All Around Crappy Weekend

Well, so much for my weekend filled with testing and reviewing. I apparently had something to eat that carried some nasty little organisms on it, and these pesky little monsters set up shop in my gut and intestines. My 2 days off have been filled with multiple trips to the bathroom, cold chills, and generally feeling like crap. I did manage to pull myself off the couch for about an hour this afternoon to test a couple magazines-full of the Chiappa Arms .22LR AR magazine.

I found these at the local gun shop (Carolina Guns and Gold, they are the go-to guys here in central NC for all guns tactical) and after looking them over, I decided to give one a try in my CMMG .22 upper. The Chiappa Arms upper never really impressed me, but after looking at their mags, I found that the size of the body and the feed lips were identical to the CMMG and Black Dog Machine .22 AR magazines. The one added pro to this: It has a a thumb stud on the mag follower which allows the shooter to load the mag with greater ease , much like the thumb studs on the side of the Ruger MKIII and Browning Buckmark mags.

While it's long term durability remains to be seen, it's overall function has been good, only one hangup during the session, and that was probably due to me loading it improperly.

More to come on that.

Here's wishing you a good week, I hope my food poisoning will have subsided by tomorrow.

Oh and if I don't make another post before, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Seriously, BE THANKFUL for what you have. It's times like these that we need to take inventory of our blessings.

Have a good one, and keep your powder dry.

Guns Are Good

That's not an opinion, it's a fact of life. I'm puzzled by those who fail to understand that.

The anti-gun mentality is so alien and foreign to me, it's ridiculous.

Let's face fact, people. Guns save lives. A gun is no more deadly than a hammer, a car, a tractor, or Miley Cyrus. ( I tell you now, if there was anything I believed should be regulated and stifled, it's Miley Cyrus) A gun is only as deadly as the hand that wields it. If good people arm themselves, the wicked of this world will not succeed. That's just how it is.

Conservative filmmaker and activist Molotov Mitchell presents his "For The Record" segment about guns. Molotov is a voice of youthful conservatism, and one of our "all around interesting people".

Are You Freakin' Kidding me? The ATF Classifies Chore Boy Scrubbing Pads As a Silencer

Really? Are you serious? I mean.....Come On!

If the ATF were your grandfather, they would have committed him for dementia by now.

Sending guns to the cartels in Mexico, then trying to blame it on American gun owners, years of prior screwups, now....this?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at an agency that classified a shoestring as a machine gun.

This little golden nugget comes courtesy of David Codrea of the Gun Rights Examiner.

ATF classifies Chore Boy pot scrubber pads NFA firearms

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/atf-classifies-chore-boy-pot-scrubber-pads-nfa-firearms

Chore Boy, the most trusted name in unregistered firearms.

You're Defense Minded, but is Your Spouse?

Maybe I'm getting old before my time and just feel like hanging around the house. Maybe it's my paranoia level. I don't know. I simply don't like to leave home for long periods of time now.

But there are times when I can't help it. A man has to make a living, and unless you're lucky enough to work out of the home, you have be away. And that means that many times the people you love have to be by themselves.

I'm not crazy about that idea, but it's unavoidable. But you can give yourself some peace of mind by helping the ones you love prepare themselves if, God forbid, something bad happens.

My wife is pretty squared away emotionally, and is pretty cool under pressure, but she's never been in that sort of situation before. I have faith that she can deal with it accordingly, but I like think I have given her every upper hand I can. First thing I did when she and I got serious, I started taking her out to the range and teaching her to shoot.

My wife was never opposed to guns, but had almost zero experience with them. Her first firearm experience was with a 12 gauge shotgun, which nearly soured her on the whole damn thing. ( I can thank my brother in law for that). I took her out to my range and let her watch me shooting Ruger 10/22 rifle and a Walther P22 pistol. She got accustomed to that, and then she began to shoot these herself. She had gotten quite good with the P22, and while she was less thrilled with the rifle, she did gain a measure of control of it as well. A little more time, and she was ready for my Ruger P95 in 9mm. I taught her the function of the pistol, the operation of the slide, the de-cocking feature, how to load the magazine, how to load the mag into the pistol, every little detail of how the pistol worked. She knows that gun intimately now.

Whenever I go out of town, I always make sure she has quick access to the pistol, within just a few steps. She knows the procedures that we've gone over about how to handle a potentially deadly situation.

But being prepared in a home situation isn't just about being able to shoot. It's the subtle things that matter. Like always make sure the exterior lights of your home work ; motion sensing light fixtures are a good idea. Keep the doors locked and dead bolted. If it's feasible, have a gate put up at the end of the drive. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something to keep a stranger from driving right up into the middle of your yard. If possible, have all your vehicles at home. It gives the illusion everyone is home. If you can afford an alarm system, by all means get one. While they are not the end all be all of home security, it's definitely another layer of protection. 911? Well, with all due respect to our law enforcement, they can't be everywhere at once, and like the saying goes: "When SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away."

I certainly am not trying to be paranoid, and I don't think anyone should sit around terrified of the world around them, but this is a nasty world we live in....and it's getting worse.

I'd also like to point out that I be no means doubt the fortitude and resolve of women, I certainly don't think that they need a man to constantly provide them with protection. On the contrary, these things I've talked about are for giving them more self defense independence. And honestly, there may be some women who might read this and realized THEY need to apply this to their HUSBANDS. In todays' world, sometimes the women are the sheepdogs of the family. Which speaks very poorly on today's American male....but that's a post for another time.

If you think that the world is a dangerous place now, You ain't seen nothing yet. That's why a few things like these could give you a little peace of mind, and allow you to enjoy life, not be afraid of it.

Ruger's BX-25 Magazine For The 10/22: A Long Time Coming.

Hello mi amigos. How was your Monday? Hopefully not as absurd as mine.

Well, Sturm, Ruger and Co. has finally come to their senses and realized that we in the shooting sports community actually like hi-capacity magazines in our semi autos. Apparently the ghost of Bill Ruger has thankfully been exorcised from the corporation. (Old Mr. Ruger became infamous for his pathetic, sickening support of the Clinton Assualt Weapons Ban, and this little nugget of dialogue:

"No law abiding citizen needs more than 10 rounds in his weapon." )

Ruger is now offering hi cap magazines for their Mini 14 rifles, and their Ruger 10/22, which has become a favorite of mine. The BX-25 is the official designation of their 10/22 mag, and I picked one up awhile back to see if the wait was worth it.

The Bx-25 fits snug in the mag well of the 10/22. No sloppin' around.

The BX-25 has a very well built body, it features two set screws that allow you to disassemble the mag for cleaning, anti-tilt follower and a constant force spring in the mechanism.

It fits snug in the mag well, and doesn't slop around like I have seen in some Butler Creek mags, or others of lesser quality. It's at a decent price point: I think Midway has them for about 24 bucks each plus shipping. That's on par with several of the other brands. Why buy them when you can have the Ruger factory brand?

Since purchase I've put about 1500 rounds through this mag, and I have yet to have a hangup.

That, right there, is pretty awesome. If you have a 10/22 and want a good, durable, and cleanable hi-cap mag, give one of the BX-25s a spin.

Thoughts and Ramblings on AR-15s

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. It's Sunday evening and tomorrow work starts all over for many of us. I spent a portion of yesterday afternoon, plinking and adjusting some things on my rifles, particularly my main home defense carbine, my AR. I was not always sold on the AR, having listened early on in my shooting life to many of the gun snobs who tell you that the AR is inadequate when it comes to firepower, it's too finicky for serious work, or that it was prone to malfunction and damage. Many of the concerns were based on problem inherent in older design as well as isolated incidences that were blown far out of proportion. I have become a true believer in the AR-15, and while it is not always the right gun for everyone, it is the top dog around my little piece of heaven.

The AR-15 family of rifle is the number one choice of weaponry in America not only for military and law enforcement, but is also the top dog amongst the civilian population looking for a tactical rifle.

Now, I could go on a long diatribe about how amazing and wonderful the AR 15 is compared to all the other options out there, but that would be a waste of good article space. And when it comes to choice in rifle, a great deal of it depends on personal choice. An AR might be the right rifle for me, but the next guy may prefer the AK, or the FAL, or even a Mini 14. And you know something, that’s perfectly OK. The deciding factors on purchasing a defense rifle many times are cost, availability, and personal choice. And many of the other options to the AR will be covered here in time. We’ll focus on the AR today, without getting into the rivalries amongst many of the gun snob fan boys.

Eugene Stoner developed the AR in 1957 while working for Armalite Corp., it was an updated version of the company’s 7.62mm AR-10. Armalite started having some money issues, and in 1959 they sold the design the Colt . Colt saw the design for its possibilities and began to work on marketing it to the US military. Surprisingly, the first AR rifles to be fielded to a military force were not to the US army, but to Malaysia. Eventually the US Army picked up the AR and gave it the military designation M-16.

Early on, there were complaints about the operation and function of the rifle, but in time these issues have been improved and overcome. The rifle’s DGI (direct gas impingement) has been one of the issues of contention amongst gun enthusiasts for many years. In the DGI operation system, Gas is trapped from the barrel as the bullet moves past a gas port located above the rifle's front sight base. The gas rushes into the port and down a gas tube, located above the barrel, which runs from the front sight base into the AR’s upper receiver. Here, the gas tube protrudes into a “gas key” which accepts the gas and funnels it into the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier cycles back into the buffer tube of the stock, and the process begins again. The main complaint about this is the rifle “poops where it eats”, sending carbon and gas residue back into the receiver. If you properly clean your rifle and maintain it, this is not going to be an issue. I know, I can hear the AK purists saying “Well, an AK doesn’t have to be cleaned like that! Maybe you should dump the AR and get a man’s rifle!” I’m not even going to address that kind of nonsense. You want something that will smash through a wall, quick and brutal, you use a sledgehammer, you want something that will cut smooth and precise you use a razor. That is the difference.

A basic, no-frills carbine. No bells, or whistles, just good old fashioned American design

Notice the standard "bird cage" style flash hider. Standard front sight base, and no optics other than irons. While I do have an Aimpoint CompM4 as well as the Bushnell TRS-25 micro red dot, this particular rifle runs light and simple. Sporting a somewhat rare Mag-Pul EMag, smooth side 30 rounder, originally made for export.

Considering the modular capability of the AR, it has personally become my first choice of rifle. I chose to “roll my own”, in other words, I built my rifle from components rather than purchase one complete. That is not something I would recommend to everyone, but it was right for me. I built mine on a CMMG lower receiver, with a Mag-Pul CTR adjustable stock, Hogue rubberized pistol grip, and a Knight’s Armament quad rail forend on a Del-Ton 16 inch 1:9 twist barrel. It is a basic no-frills rifle, built from good quality parts. The nice part about an AR, is that uppers can be switched in and out without much issue, and this allows for alternatives in calibers in many cases. As referenced in my very first blog post, I purchased one of CMMGs dedicated .22LR uppers which I can swap out, and shoot cheaply, while keeping in practice the battery of arms of the main rifle. I prefer an AR which is chambered properly for both .223 Remington as well as the higher pressure 5.56 NATO, it gives you the options of ammo.

In my personal opinion (take it for what it’s worth) is that the AR in a defensive role in the civilian population is definitely worth consideration. Perhaps in an urban environment, this might not be an optimal choice, due to close proximity of homes to one another, as well as legal factors, but in a rural, farm or ranch environment, it is darn near perfect. Yeah, I’ll go with perfect on that. .223/5.56 NATO is an excellent round for use against predators, such as coyote, as well as 2 legged predators which might see fit to relieve you of some of your personal goods. The .223/5.56 round is very accurate with quality ammunition and with a good optic you can reach out several hundred yards and drop a target. Availability of parts and accessories make it a prime choice as well, with multiple companies carrying spare components. Magazines are plentiful (check your local laws for any restrictions on Mag capacity), and at the moment of my writing this, the ammo itself has dropped back down to a somewhat affordable price.

When shopping for an AR, remember to do your homework. Research the various companies, their track records, history of problems if any, etc. You can get a decent no frills AR-15 in the $750-$900 range if you buy it outright. I built the last one for around $625.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I’m just a guy shootin’ the breeze about things he loves. I am no expert. But I know a good thing when I see it.

A Late Happy Veterans Day

I was having issues with the internet earlier today, and somehow my post honoring our veterans disappeared. Nevertheless, I want to thank each and every man and woman who has put on the uniform of the Republic in Her defense.

We are the Best of us.

God Bless.

Surefire Introduces 60 Round Quad Stack Mags For The AR

Wow, that is a whole lot of weight hanging underneath your rifle. Sure, it gives you more ammunition ready at hand and in the gun, but I'm not sold on this idea just yet.

Going to have to get hold of one of these and play with it.

Our friends over at Military Arms Channel give us a look at this magazine:

Fallout From The H&K Raid

I've had most of the evening to contemplate this whole situation. (see previous post regarding details). And after hours of studying this, I can't help but feel like this is going to be one hell of a mess. It is setting a dangerous precedent. To quote Brad Kozak of "The Truth About Guns" website:

". But if you were to exchange “German Police” for “ATF” and “H&K” with any American weapons manufacturer, imagine what kind of headlines we’d be seeing from this side of the Atlantic. Of course, over here, it’s not the companies that are selling weapons to the narco-terrorists, corrupt police, and even more-corrupt governments."

COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/11/brad-kozak/german-police-raid-hks-hq/

I find it interesting that this German raid is occurring in such close proximity to Fast and Furious.

Am I being paranoid? Maybe. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you.

Berlin Police Storm the Headquarters of German Gunmaker Heckler and Koch

I have a really bad feeling about this. Supposedly the investigation centers around allegations of bribing Mexican officials with wads of cash in connection with arms shipments between the years 2005 and 2010.

A segment from The Blaze's report:

"Prosecutors, who also ordered several apartments to be searched, are investigating whether German officials were also bribed.The company is already under investigation for allegedly providing its G36 assault rifle to Mexican police in the states of Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guerrero and Jalisco, where Germany prohibits such exports over alleged human rights violations.The company, whose headquarters in Oberndorf near Stuttgart was already searched by prosecutors in connection with that investigation in December, denies any wrongdoing.It maintains it did not deliver weapons to those four states, but only to the country’s Mexico City-based central weapons purchasing authority, which is overseen by the Defense Ministry."

I smell UN Gun Control Agenda all over this. I'll will wait until I know more facts, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.......

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE ON THE BLAZE:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/berlin-police-storm-headquarters-of-german-gunmaker-heckler-and-koch/

Kershaw Overdrive OD-2: Big Value In A Little Knife

Seriously, I think my family is going to have to give me an intervention. Every time I see a deal on a knife, I snatch it up. I can't control myself, but really, who can blame me? Knives and guns are my little joys in life, and they have purpose.

I figure it's a lot better than being a drunk or a woman-chaser. ( I'm sure my wife would frown on both those "hobbies").

I have the fortune to work part-time (along with multiple other endeavors) for Mike Politoski of the Saturday Night Knife And Gun Show, which airs nation wide every Saturday night 8PM Eastern on Dish Network's Channel 224, as well as re-airing on their website at www.knifeandgunshow.com .

Mike is a great down to earth guy who also happens to be a fellow Patriot, and supporter of the 2nd Amendment. A country gentleman if there ever was one, Mike is not only a good character on the TV, but he's a good guy in real life.

So by working for him, I find a lot of great deals on knives, since I'm there when they first come in, much to the frustration of my wife, who swears if I clutter our house up any more with blades,firearms, and tactical gear, she's going to move me into the old smokehouse.

Several weeks ago, I got my hands on one of the show specials, the Kershaw Overdrive OD-2 knife. I eyed it for several days before I actually purchased it, not really needing another knife. But the little red suited and horned version of me sitting on my left shoulder won the argument, and I purchased this little blade. I'm glad I did.

The Kershaw OD-2 ( 1770 series, 8Cr13MoV stainless steel ) is a super light, sleek flipper knife designed by Lee Williams. The black handles are a glass filled nylon, and feel appealing in the hand. It's about 5 1/4 inches long when open, and folds into a compact 3 inches,closed.

It's weight is an unnoticeable 1.4 ounces, which is always a plus when looking for an

EDC (every day carry) knife. The pocket clip is removable or can be moved from one side to the other. The 8Cr is a great quality steel for the money, and in previous knives I've always had good experience with it holding a decent edge. The blade mechanism is interesting.

You pull back on the blade protrusion while flicking your wrist and the inertia does the rest. When the blade is fully locked open, the back protrusion folds into a recess in the body, giving the back of the knife a smooth, sleek profile.

The photo gives you a comparative size

I have a bad habit of carrying large blades on me, such as the CRKT Kasper or the Kershaw Tremor, and while they are excellent knives, they can sometime be far too bulky and heavy to carry in certain situations. The OD-2 is a quality blade, that functions in multiple applications, and at approx. $20, it's not going to drain your cash flow too much.

I'm not sure what the current availability Mike has on these right now, but they are still on the website for show special price of $16.99, you cannot beat that with a stick.

So, go over to the website www.knifeandgunshow.com , go to the search engine at the top of the page, and type in "OVERDRIVE", and it will pop right up.

You won't be sorry with your purchase, and you'll be supporting a patriotic small company in the process.

Our First Guest Article: "The State As God" By Ben Stone

As this Republic slips further and further away from individual liberty into a collectivist dystopia, I can't help but look at the monster that the State truly is.

It destroys individual thought, it atrophies Man's ability to sustain himself, it forces humanity into sort of neo-plantation system, it's a rolling machine of destruction and tyranny.

I am very pleased to present to you an article by a friend of mine, Ben Stone.

Ben is the owner and chief editor of Bad Quaker Dot Com, and he is quickly becoming a well heard voice in the libertarian and patriot community. His approach and points may seem shocking at first, but open up your mind and let it settle in. You'll be surprised just how much it makes sense.

Ben is a great guy, and I must say, if you ever get to sit down over a cup of coffee (or a cheeseburger) you will feel like you've known the guy for 20 years.

Be sure to head over to his website where you can read more of his articles as well as listen to his podcasts. They are well worth the time.

The State As God

by Ben Stone

The State is a mystical, nonhuman entity that exists only in the agreed minds of humans. By this I mean to say, you cannot touch the State, you cannot hear the State speak, the State is not an object that you can point to and say, “Look. There’s the State.” People believe in the State therefore people act on behalf of those beliefs and the actions of those people become the actions of the State. Most people don’t think about the State, they simply assume it has always been and will always be. However true believers in the State are fanatical followers willing to do anything, even kill, to perpetuate their cause. In The West, as the power and influence of the clergy diminished, the power and influence of the State stepped in to fill all the services previously provided by the church; that is to say, the scholarly leadership in science, culture, law, and economics. Eventually people began looking to the State to define morals and ethics, allowing the laws and regulations of the State to supersede those of the clergy.Not long ago the State redefined the public view of such things as alcoholic beverages, prostitution, and gambling. Turning their backs on their morals, people allowed the laws of the State to define acceptable and unacceptable social behavior. Rather than depending on a community’s ability to define itself, people allowed the State to sweep in and force all communities to adopt the State’s definition of acceptable morals. This expansion into society continued as the State began to directly compete with charities in supporting the poor and the disadvantaged. However, the State never competes fairly. As is always the case, the State quietly creates a problem. Private citizens defer to the State to solve the problem rather than facing up to their own responsibility, and as the State remedies the issue it created to begin with, it grabs a little bit more power and authority from the people, but in the end the problem is always worse after the State solves it. Currently there’s a push among some very religious folks in the US, demanding the State step in and define marriage. As their confidence shifts from their traditional theology to the theology of State salvation, they enthusiastically abandon the family and the clergy as the guardians of marriage and look to legislators to decide morals. This should be a terrifying thought to anyone who understands the nature of the State, but most terrifying when one realizes that the actions of the State are simply the acts of fanatical individuals with unblinking devotion to a cause and no fear of repercussion.It is becoming increasingly obvious that traditional theology is being supplanted with a State centered religion. Although the thought of the deification of the State should be disturbing to both the religious and the non-religious, it should come as no surprise. The State is or seeks to be god-like in every aspect. It is our Protector, our Guardian, and for many people, our Provider. Information about the State is hidden and secret while the State itself makes every effort to know every bit of information about us and all of our dealings. All learning flows from the State (schools and media), and it assumes ultimate ownership of all things by its authority to tax, regulate, confiscate, and control the movements and exchanges of all goods, services, and property, including people. It assures us that rights are given to us by the State and the State can take those rights away as it sees fit. It changes and shifts history to fool us into believing that the State has always been and will always be. The State feigns omniscience, seeks omnipresence and lusts for omnipotence. The State is alas, a jealous god and ultimately will have no other gods before it! The State, in all its disjointed manifestations around the world, will grow and devour everything including its lesser selves until it becomes One State as god on Earth.When this comes to pass, the atheist will be denied his logical position of skepticism. How will he stand and shout the challenge, “Show me your god!” when the Arm of the State can simply reach out and snatch him away into a reprogramming ward. Then the cry of, “There is no god!” will become, “There is no god but the State.” As Winston Smith admitted in 1984, “Two plus two is five.”
Am I then saying that this is the fate of mankind? Am I prophesying the loss of the individual and the birth of One Assimilated Beast with its many parts denigrated to slavery?
Yes and no.The State has some design flaws.
Consider Ludwig von Mises and his life’s work exposing the endemic failures of socialism. To date, no one has been able to provide an accurate intellectual refutation of his position. Mises went to great pains to carefully dissect socialism and prove that the seeds of its destruction were part of its design. For example, socialism cannot peaceably coexist with a free market and yet socialism entirely depends on a free market because it has no mechanism to determine prices. Without a price mechanism efficient production is impossible. You end up with dramatic over production and shortages at the same time. But what Mises doesn’t clearly point out, although its not very well hidden either, is that his description of socialism is at the same time a description of the State itself, and that the economic structure that the State possesses is in fact socialism. Therefore the State is economically unstable and is much the same as a cathedral of cards, continually falling apart and only standing at all because its worshipers throw their lives into keeping it propped up.
So the State has an economic flaw and is unsustainable.The State has another flaw.
Just as Mises proved the lack of a price mechanism causes economic instability, Lysander Spooner proved the State has no rightful method of continuous authority.
A State exists either by brute force or by contract with its subjects. It should be clear that any State that is founded on brute force alone is a dead State waiting to hit the floor. Assuming no secondary contract based State is supporting it, the brute State will quickly revert to revolution and be replaced by a contract State by its subjects, generally within a generation or two of its inception.
As Spooner so thoroughly proved, any contract authorizing the authority of the State can only legally apply to those in agreement with that contract. The moment the State attempts to enforce its will upon some party not in agreement to that contract, it negates the value of having a contract and begins the slide into a brute State. And the State by its very nature will always break that contract. Additionally since a contract has no legal means of binding future generations the contract based State is a temporary arrangement at best, doomed to become a brute State.
So the State has no long-term legal foundation and is therefore legally unstable.I shall add just one more flaw in the design of the State, however I could go on like this for pages.
The State is entirely lacking a mechanism to determine morality.
I would contend that humans have two mechanisms working hand in hand to produce morality. We have a sense of natural law, a right to property, hard wired into our brains before birth. Some would debate this issue, but at this time in this article I will not. It is a fact almost to obvious to address. In addition to this innate morality in property, we learn moral lessons as we interact on a day-to-day basis with humans through the reward/punishment system.
The State has no natural born appreciation for the right of property because it is not a living being. It can inherit no genetic traits from its parents because it has no biological parents. It is a figment of the imagination. And since its actions are the actions of individual people, when those actions cause harm the State is immune to punishment because only the individuals can be punished or rewarded. The State can feel nothing so it is incapable of learning a single moral lesson.So the State is an imaginary entity made up in the minds of humans, that strives to be not just a god (it is that already) but it desires to be The God. The State lacks a functional economic structure, a legal basis for its existence, and the ability to determine morality.
It is therefore unstable and doomed to collapse of its own weight as soon as it consumes enough of its host.

--------------------------------------------------

Ben Stone is a Bad Quaker, and he knows it. Even though he is a Bad Quaker, he's definitely a good man. His website is updated on a regular basis, and you can reach him at

badquaker.com

The Browning Buckmark .22LR Pistol

As an avid shooter who has been sending lead downrange since I was strong enough to lift a weapon, .22's have always held a special place for me. I began with .22s, specifically a Winchester single shot rifle. It taught me to focus my skills and technique, and as I grew older I was able to apply this to my centerfire rifles.
.22s have always had a special place in my heart because I have many great memories of childhood associated with them. And with the economy being as it is, and my cash being scarce like so many of us, .22s have returned to the forefront of my shooting hobbies, due to price of ammo, and just for the happiness and nostalgia they bring me.

As of late, I had been considering a larger framed .22 pistol to add to my collection. I have had a Walther P22 for several years, and while it has been an enjoyable piece to shoot, it's frame is rather small for my larger hands. I have had quite a bit of experience with the Ruger MKIII Hunter, which my brother in law owns, and it has been an excellent weapon, and it was in contention for purchase.
The drawback for me, was the complicated process of breaking down the MKIII for cleaning.

My brother in law, has simply stopped taking his apart, and only does a basic cleanup.

With enough practice and the proper information, I'm sure that it becomes easier to disassemble, but in a situation where I may have to hand it off to someone who has less experience in it's operation, it could be a problem.

So, in looking for an alternative, I turned to The Browning Buckmark.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this excellent design, here is a brief run down.
The Buckmark's production began in 1985 when it replaced Browning's older .22LR pistol designs, the Challenger and the International.

It is a simple blowback action, with a ten round magazine capacity just like the Ruger MKIII. It is available in various configurations, from bull barrels, to models with scope rails which allow for the mounting of red dot optics (which can be added very easily),wooden grips, rubber grips, standard iron sights, or in my case front fiber optic sights.
After weighing in my options, I decided that the Buckmark was right for me.
So, after selling a Draco AK pistol that was completely useless to me, I went to see a local dealer that I had struck a good re pore with. And for $325 and some change, I walked out the door with a new Browning BuckMark Camper model with front fiber optic sight (green version).

I stopped by Wal-Mart and picked up a box of the Winchester 333 bulk .22, just to break it in. This is cheap ammo, and I had no expectations of its quality, and having shot it through my Walther P22 and having a shooting session full of jams, FTFs, and all manner of issues, I had very little hope of it feeding well in the new Browning.

Much to my surprise, the Browning ate every single round of the 333 box without one hiccup.
I was pleasantly surprised by this. The rubber grips felt like they were made for my hand. I found the controls to be very intuitive, easy to access, the magazine is a breeze to load, and as a guy who is learning to shoot left handed due to some recently developed eyesight issues, I found shooting left handed and switching was good as well. The green fiber optic on the front was great for quick acquisition, and the weight of the weapon felt meaty, but not overly bulky.
That afternoon, a buddy of mine came over for some .22 shooting and I decided to try some of the Federal Value Pack .22, which is the cheap, 36 grain bulk ammo...similar to the Winchester I had shot earlier in the week. At 35 yards my groups were perfectly acceptable to me, considering the cheapness of the ammo I was using. This was a quick acquisition group, drawing the weapon, acquiring the target; the one flier out to the side was due to me pulling it.

We started ringing my steel plate at about 50 yards and it was a true joy to shoot.

After about round 600 or 650 she gave me the first hiccup, but a quick field cleaning, with some Hoppes got her through the rest of the session without a hitch. The Walther was getting very jealous of the Browning, I can assure you.
Along with a Ruger 10/22, this Browning Buckmark is quickly becoming my go-to gun for practice and fun plinking. As far as a precision test of the Browning, I hope to pick up some CCI ammo this week, to just see what this little firecracker can do with some high end ammunition through it.
I give the Browning Buckmark high marks for it's ergonomics, it's accuracy, it's size and weight, and decent price. It is an excellent target pistol, great for plinking, small game hunting if paired with a good optic, and fantastic for introducing new shooters to pistols.
Downsides? Well, it would have been nice if it had came with 2 magazines instead of 1. But that is becoming par for the course with most manufacturers these days.
Happy shooting.

It's The 8th of November

Hello everyone, hope your Tuesday has been a tolerable one.

On November 8th 1965, during Operation Hump in Warzone "D"
in Vietnam, the 173rd Airborne division was ambushed by over 1200 Viet Cong soldiers.
48 American soldiers died during this incident, and for some reason every year I think about this on the exact day.
Lawrence Joel, who happened to be the first African American to recieve the Medal Of Honor since the Spanish American War, is actually from my home state of North Carolina.
This is an excerpt from Wikipedia about Joel's heroism that day:

"On November 8, 1965 then-Specialist Five Lawrence Joel and his battalion of paratroopers were sent on a patrol for Viet Cong soldiers near Bien Hoa in the heart of Vietnam, conducting Operation Hump. Joel and his battalion shortly found themselves in a Viet Cong ambush, outnumbered six to one. Under heavy gunfire, Joel did his duty as a medical aidman (medic), administering first aid to his wounded fellow soldiers. Joel defied orders to stay to the ground and risked his life to help the many wounded soldiers; nearly every soldier in the lead squad was either wounded or killed in the battle. Even after being shot twice (once in the right thigh and once in the right calf), Joel continued to do his job; he bandaged his wounds and continued to help the wounded in not only his unit, but in the nearby company as well. When his medical supplies were depleted, he hobbled around the battlefield for more, using a makeshift crutch. Joel attended to thirteen troops and saved the life of one soldier who suffered from a severe chest wound by improvising and placing a plastic bag over the soldier's chest in order to congeal the wound until the supplies were refreshed. After the firefight which lasted over twenty four hours, Joel was hospitalized and shipped to locations including Saigon, Vietnam and Tokyo, Japan to recover. Shortly after, he received the Silver Star for his activities on November 8, 1965."

Country music duo Big and Rich composed this song as a tribute to the men who fought and died that day.

We are better people becuase of the men of Warzone D.

Thoughts on Concealed Carry Pistols

Well, ladies and gentlemen. Another week has begun, and I'm sure all you folks were oh so happy that you were headed back to work this morning. Seriously....those of us who actually have a job should drop down on our knees and thank God Almighty that we are gainfully employed.

The economy is in the crapper, and with signs everywhere that it's getting worse, don't expect a true upswing anytime soon.

Greece and Europe are on the edge of the precipice, with almost zero confidence in their financial systems, leading some to speculate that an eminent breakdown of the EU is very likely.

The Occupy Wall Street goons are still at it, using kids as human shields and attacking conservatives over the weekend. Their hate speech is spreading like a virus; swastikas and anti Semitic graffiti were found on NYC library branches and at a synagogue .

Reports from Israel today, are hinting to military action against Iran "very soon."

Oh it's warm fuzzies all around!

With all this happening around us, now more than ever it is important that we prepare to defend ourselves. Since you just never know what and when something is going to happen, you have a duty to yourself and your family to be willing to use force to defend yourselves, and since we can't live in a bunker curled up in the fetal position with our rifles all the time, we have to go out into the world and live our lives. And that, my friends is when the Concealed Weapons Permit comes into the picture. I have been a CCW permit holder for 5 years now, and this whole time, I have been carrying a full size sidearm. A Ruger P95, a M1911 full size, or a Glock 17. And while this is perfectly fine is some scenarios where you have a way to conceal a full size gun (such as winter, when they can be hidden under a jacket), many times these firearms have just been too heavy and bulky, making you far more prone to being "made" by someone with a keen eye. Now is the time to keep a low profile, and with that in mind, I finally picked up a Kel-Tec PF9 this weekend. Incredibly light, slim, and super easy to conceal, my initial impressions are quite good. I literally just shot it for the first time about 45 minutes ago, and while it's a little jumpy with the recoil ( unavoidable when it's so lightweight) once you learn to control it, it's pretty easy to keep on your target. Just some brief points I want to bring up:

*It's Super light; this little puppy comes in at just under 13 ounces.

*It's chambered in a potent caliber. I don't care what those doushebag gun snobs say, 9mm is not something I want to get shot with. I don't want to get shot at all!

*With it's sleek lines it doesn't print through your clothing like others will.

It's got some downsides, like some rough edges that need to be smoothed out, and only 7+1 capacity, but that's the sacrifice you make for a small package.

I will have a far more in depth review on this in the future. But I just wanted to drop that seed into your mind about a good decent "pocket" pistol.

Things aren't getting any nicer out there in the world, and we need to have some situational awareness about our surroundings. A good concealed weapon, used responsibly, will give you an advantage in a bad situation, and I think the PF9 make be that weapon.

More to come later. Stay Tuned.

And....Here We Go. Feinstein Using "Gunwalker" To Advance Gun Control

This woman is ridiculous. Dianne Feinstein never misses a chance to attack gun owners and the 2nd Amendment.

We talked about this earlier, and here you go.

The "New American" shows us just how clueless this woman is.

Feinstein Favors Firearms Registration Here is an excerpt from the article: "Operation “Fast and Furious” — the scandalous sale of thousands of weapons to Mexican drug lords with the complicity of President Obama’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (still known as ATF) — is now being used as an excuse for further governmental interference in the rights of American citizens to keep and bear arms. Rather than blaming the ineptitude of a federal agency run amok, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.) declares that the fundamental problem exposed by the “Fast and Furious” debacle is, in fact, that “anyone can walk in and buy anything” when it comes to firearms. " Read the whole article at the link below. http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/9645-feinstein-favors-firearms-registration

Upcoming Articles & Various Nonsense

I hope every one is having a good weekend. Remember that we run the clocks back 1 hour so we will gain a bit more sleep (and after today, I need it).

I am helping a friend work the Concord NC gun show, and if the crowd's level of spending is any indicator about our current national economic situation, then we are FUBARed.

With the weekend pretty much in the can with work, I haven't had much time to write anything of any substance, although some may argue that very little I have ever written was of much substance to begin with.

I do have some items I plan to cover within the next week or two. I plan to give a review on the Slide Fire Solutions SSAR15 stock for the AR-15.

This item will give you the closest thing to full auto fire you can get without a lot of paperwork, about $15,000, or maybe even a prison sentence.

Another review I plan to bring you is of the Browning Buckmark pistol, a personal favorite of mine. Continuing with the .22LR theme, a look at the Sig 522 rifle, an almost perfect representation of the Sig 550 series of centerfire rifles, but in the much more affordable .22LR.

In the world of knives, we'll pick up and fondle the Cold Steel G.I. Tanto fixed blade knife, as well as the Kershaw Overdrive.

So, hang on, my furry little friends. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Of Things Kalashnikov Related....

I broke out the Saiga 7.62x39 tonight and did some serious scrubbing. Not that an AK needs it, but it's the principle of the thing. The Saiga is a gun that doesn't get nearly enough range time with me, but it's a well put together weapon once you "de-sporterize" it.

When I have a question about anything AK related, the guy I go to is TheAK47nut.

I've known this guy personally since we were literally still on the playground, and AK's aren't just his hobby, they are his passion. His to-the-point, no nonsense Youtube Channel has good info, and I don't mind giving him a little promo. Swing over there and subscribe to his channel.

The Gunwalker Scandal: A Major "F" Up By the Administration

It's cold and rainy here in central North Carolina today, and I'm perfectly happy with that. I enjoy nasty weather every now and then.
Since it's so nasty today, business is a little slow, and I have a little time to catch up on some of the articles that have been piling up. Nothing like a nice cup of coffee, a comfortable chair, and several news articles highlighting the current administration's incompetence and corruption to
make you feel just warm and fuzzy inside.
The Gunwalker" scandal, more commonly known as Operation: Fast & Furious is the icing of a 7 layer turd cake, which the ATF, Eric Holder, and most likely the President himself have all had their grubby little fingers in, licking the batter.
I really shouldn't be surprised at the antics of these people, considering their histories, but even in the furthest reaches of my imagination, I cannot fathom how they would have conceived that this was a good idea.
For those of you who might not be familiar with this, Operation Fast & Furious was a sting operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, & Explosives with direct ties to US Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, to supposedly permit otherwise-suspected straw purchasers to complete firearms purchases and transit to Mexico, in order to build a bigger case against Mexican criminal organizations suspected of being the ultimate buyer. My opinion: Complete nonsense.
They actually had gun shops cooperate with them in this ridiculous plan to "walk" guns over the border into Mexico, and when some of the guns in question was used to kill several US agents, it all blew up in their face.
What is the first thing they do? They blame the gun culture of America, the gun shops who were complicit in their plan, and even the NRA.
What do you do when a stupid plan goes to hell, and gets decent people killed? Blame everyone else, even though you're the one with the smoking gun in your hand, quite literally this time.
I had pondered this entire fiasco, and I think this was a multi layered plan, with the ultimate goal being more anti gun legislation and new gun bans. The Left is so far out of touch with reality, they actually think that the few remaining thinking Americans will buy into the idea that they were breaking their own laws for the greater good.
It's insulting to say the least. USAG Holder knows exactly what he did, and in my opinion, he needs to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter at the very least. And considering the Obama Administration's hostile view of gun owners, I'd bet my grandfather's Case XX that he knew exactly what was occurring in real time. Unfortunately, the current state of this once Republic tells me that absolutely nothing will come of this in the end. Some pencil pushing agents will take the fall for this, since we all know that shit rolls downhill.
There's really no need for me to expound on this any further. There's far better educated people who have picked this apart over the last few months, and I am just a blogging country boy with too much time on his hands.
Time for another cup of coffee.

By the way, if you want to read more on this big mess, check out the Sipsey Street Irregulars.
They were basically the ones who broke this scandal when no one in the mainstream would pay any attention to it.
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/

The S&W M1917 Revolver: A Unique Piece Of American History

I have always found something fascinating about the M1917 revolver. I would love to add one of these to my own collection one day.

My friend Sootch00 gives us a rundown on this piece of WWI history in the following video.

If you are not subscribing to Sootch's youtube channel, you should be.

Kel-Tec Sub 2000: A Pistol Caliber Carbine For Multiple Applications

Kel-Tec has always been known as a company with an unique and innovative approach to firearms and their production. Kel-Tec's founder George Kellgren has a passion for firearms that is rivaled by few, and his designs have been the subject of much discussion of the last few years.Based out of Cocoa Beach Florida, Kel-Tec is the third largest handgun manufacturer in the US, and they have been providing the American public with low cost, dependable quality pistols for self defense since 1995. But their pistols are not what I want to talk about today. Today is all about the Kel-Tec Sub 2000.

The earliest incarnation of the Sub2K can be traced back to the late 90's in the form of the Sub 9, which was extremely similar to the current Sub2K, with the exception of some function issues as well as some differences in materials. Kel-Tec had some complaints about the issues, and in 2001, they released a semi-redesigned version of the Sub9, which is the Sub2K that we know today.

The frame is made of glass reinforced Zytel, with a 4130 Ordnance steel barrel wrapped in a polymer handguard. The stock tube is steel, and the bolt and spring of the action operate within this tube. The charging handle is situated on the bottom of the tube, and I can understand why some people would have difficulty operating the handle in that position. I would say that it is simply a learning curve.

The sights are absolutely rudimentary, the front sight being a polymer unit, and is fully adjustable, while the rear sight is part of the central hinge that allows the rifle to fold in half (more on that in a few) so there is no way to adjust it. I have not found this to be an issue, as mine has been acceptably accurate since it's purchase.

The carbine can be folded in half, at the base of the barrel, allowing the owner to store the carbine within a smaller area, such as the back of a truck, or in a backpack for camping.

This is a major selling point of this carbine, since it can fill the position of a utility gun in this fashion.Folding is accomplished by pulling down on the trigger guard and swinging the barrel assembly back over the top of the rifle. A latch in the buttstock secures to the front sight housing, and the gun can be locked with a key in the folded position for added safety, if you are concerned about that. Also,the gun cannot be fired when folded. In it's folded form, this baby comes in at 16 inches in length. Some shooters might find the length of pull a little short, but Kel-Tec does offer a stock extension that adds about an inch to it, and I have done so. It does seem to help.

As far as weight is concerned, it's very light. 4lbs.....another selling point. For a pack gun, lighter is better.

You can find the Sub2K in a variety of magazine configurations, Glock, Beretta, or S&W magazines, as well as either 9mm or .40S&W. From what I understand, the Beretta and the S&W versions can easily be changed to except either mags, but the Glocks stay Glock. No modifying that one.

I have been eyeballing the 9mm Glock version for quite sometime, and when the opportunity arose to purchase one, I jumped right on it. The great thing about the Glock model is that they will accept the 33 round hi capacity magazines, and with a few of those, and a Glock 17 pistol as a companion piece, you've got a formidable package for a camper's bag, or in a SHTF situation a decent "fight your way to a bigger gun" package. At a distance closer than 50 yards, a 9mm bullet approaches the muzzle velocity of a .357 Magnum. That is nothing to sneeze at in a defensive situation.

The Kel-Tec Sub2K with 33 round Glock magazine, notice it's little brother the Glock 17 above it.

I was thoroughly surprised at the accuracy of this little carbine. At about 50 yards, I had decent groups, all center of mass, all within 4 inches of each other. It functioned well with all the ammo I fed it, with the exception of the CCI Blazer aluminum cased ammo. It did not like that one bit. The manufacturer will tell you right up front not to shoot aluminum or steel cased ammo, but a boy has to try. In a situation where ammo is scarce, all you might be able to find is steel or aluminum cased ammo, so it might not be an option.

The appeal of this carbine reaches over various demographics. Police and other LEO have become fond of the Sub2K because it utilizes the same magazine as their service pistols, and this will simplify logistics.

As I stated before, I think this carbine would be phenomenal in the civilian market as a utility gun; toss it behind the truck seat, whether you're on a farm, in a rough neighborhood, or stow it in your backpack when you go on a camping trip, for varmits such as coyotes or even the critters of the 2 legged variety. This carbine has somewhat taken up the mantle of the now-discontinued Marlin Camp Carbines and the Ruger PC series of pistol caliber carbines as a go to for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a light, handy carbine for basic work.

In a SHTF case, while it wouldn't be my first choice, it would definitely hold it's own until you get to a larger center-fire rifle.

Overall, I am a sold believer in this carbine. It's light, it's compact, it's versatile in multiple ways, and it's compatible with my primary handgun.

But there are a few downsides. One is the location of the charging handle.Although I have adapted to it, some people, may find this cumbersome, but due to the design KT really didn't have much of a choice of location for it. One glaring downside, is the general lack of availability on these units. Kel-Tec is so far on back orders, it's not even funny. So if you find one...BUY IT. NOW.

I hope to get some more range time in with this Sub2K within the next few weeks, and I will give you a more in depth review of it's capabilities. Maybe even a video or 2.

If you would like more information on the Kel-Tec Sub 2000, go to Kel-Tec's home page HERE:

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/rifles/sub-2000/

The Truth About Wolf Ammo

I have always been somewhat hesitant to use Wolf brand ammo in my AR. There's been so many negative stories floating on the internet about people who have suffered stuck cases, damage to their chambers, etc. Some of these are simply myths. I admit that I am not as concerned about using Wolf now that I have done more research

Our friends over at Military Arms Channel help dispel some of these misconceptions in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ZB3UfG960

The CRKT Kasper: A Whole Lot of Knife For $20

THE CRKT KASPER: A WHOLE LOT OF KNIFE FOR $20

My wife is going to have to hide my money from me. Between guns and knives, I am going to be sleeping in a van down by the river before it is all said and done. But I could not turn this little baby down. I've always been a fan of Columbia River Knife and Tool. They provide good quality knives at an inexpensive price.I found this particular knife for approx. $20.00, and it is worth every penny. Called the Kasper, this blade compares on the level of the Kershaw Tremor in size and weight. Weighing in at about 7 and a half oz., it's got a little bit of weight to it, but it's not excessive for carrying, or it hasn't been for me.It's got the quality heft of knives that are 30 bucks more.The handle is a black zytel material, and has a non textured semi smooth feel. It's not slick, but it has not true textured gripping. I can't say that's really a downside, it just is what it is. I like the shape of the handle, it fills your hand, and the back of the body has good jimping. Blade material is AUS 6M , 55-57 HRC, coming in at about 3 7/8" in length. It has a standard liner lock, and I find it pretty easy to manipulate. Dual thumbs studs on either side of the blade make it simple to actuate. I don't like that the pocket clip cannot be changed, but that tends to be on a lot of knives these days. Some people poo-poo this blade due to the fact that it is made in China,I'm not crazy about that either. But it's getting harder and harder these days to find anything made in the US. Yes, Benchmade's are still made in America, but if I lose a $100 Benchmade in the woods, I might just break into tears. If I lose a $20 CRKT in the woods, yes...I will still be annoyed but not heartbroken. CRKT makes a good product at an affordable price, and this is a great knife for the money. Grab one up if you can.

So What Do You Do When The Zombies Come? For One Don't Use Sunscreen That Smells Like Coconut

Prepping Isn't Just About Zombies

"Is that Dueling Banjos I hear?"

It will come as no surprise to much of anyone that I am a fan of zombie fiction.

Huge fan. Zombies have been my favorite movie monsters since as long as I can remember.

I saw "Night of the Living Dead" when I was about 10 years old, and brother, I was sold.

The dead rising, walking around, and pretty much making the living into a all you can eat buffet.

Most zombie films (and more recently, television shows; with the popularity of The Walking Dead) follow a standard framework: A virus or some manner of cataclysm sweeps the earth, causing the recently dead to reanimate, get up, walk around and attack the living, thereby infecting more bodies. Eventually civilization breaks downs, and the apocalypse is full swing. Usually a small group of survivors band together and usually try to make their way to somewhere that they feel will be safe....and most of the time half or more of them end up becoming some reeking carcass's tasty morsel. Most of the time, the group is armed with a variety of weapons; firearms, blades, blunt objects, even musical instruments (thank you "Zombieland) . Along with supplies of food and survival gear, the groups usually scavenge for additional essentials, all while trying to survive the onslaught of the undead.

Are legions of the undead going to overrun the planet? No. Ain't gonna happen.

But within the fantasy horror there may lie an ounce of truth.

There is another kind of zombie you might have to actually worry about.

There is, in fact, the thinking walking living zombie that permeates our culture today.

They watch reality TV, they listen to Lady Gaga, they shop at Abercrombie, they do something called the Dougie ( i have no clue), and they are so completely clueless about how to be self sufficient, that if...or should I say when..the defecation hits the oscillation, they are either going to starve out, or they are going to come and consume what you have.

The State has designed a system that makes modern Man dependent upon it. You want food? Go to the store and buy it. You want heat? You turn up the thermostat. Hear something go bump in the night? Call 911. Can't get a job and therefor have no money? Go to the Welfare Dept.

Man's ability to provide for himself has atrophied under the control of the State.

What happens when that system goes away? Man has no way to substitute it.

With the looming economic collapse ( and believe me, it's coming), civil unrest brewing all over the US, and just the over all aura of "pissed off " that seems to be everywhere these days, who knows how this will play out in the next few months or years?

Man gets hungry. Man gets desperate. Man becomes Thinking Zombie. Thinking Zombie finds Self Sufficient Man.

Thinking Zombie tries to take food from Self Sufficient Man. Self Sufficient Man ventilates Thinking Zombie with half a mag of 5.56NATO.

You as an individual cannot look to the State or the system as your salvation. Not to get all preachy or Bible-thumpy, but Jesus can save your soul, but only you can save your own hide.

How do you do this? Well for one thing, get yourself out of debt. Debt is the shackles that enslave so many of us today. Don't owe anyone anymore than you can help.

If you can, make your self energy independent, or at least partially. Don't pay more in energy bills than you need to. Learn how to raise your own food, because Mickey Dee's might not be there to feed your fat ass tomorrow. While I'm on that subject, get yourself in shape. You don't have to look like that freak on Jersey Shore, but lose some of that extra lard you've been shuffling around for the last few years. Store some food away as well. There's plenty of sources for long term storable food. Hey, if it sounds extreme or loony, don't do it. But if you do it, and don't use it, cycle it out in your regular meals. It'll save you some cash instead of eating out at a restaurant all the time....besides you know that waiter is just spitting on your Southwestern eggrolls anyway.

Learn how to shoot, get proficient with your firearms, teach your kids and your loved ones how to shoot as well. The police might not always be there to save your ass. Just ask the folks who endured Katrina.

Hey, this may sound kooky, but it wasn't always so. If you asked your grandparents or great-grandparents who went through the Depression, they'd say it was prudent planning. And they probably don't know what the hell a zombie is.

So the next time you plop down on the couch and watch The Walking Dead, just remember.... not all the zombies stagger around like a punch drunk boxer and smell like Mickey Rourke on a 5 day bender.

CMMG's .22LR Dedicated Upper Receiver: A Helluva Lot Cheaper Than Blasting 5.56NATO All Saturday Afternoon

I have been waiting with much anticipation the last several weeks for my new CMMG .22 upper receiver to arrive. Yesterday I got the call that it had come in.

I did not have time to test it out yesterday so I figured this morning would be as good a time as any to do so. after about 3 mags of just plinking to test function, I broke it down into it's components to see what make this little number tick. The first thing you notice when you handle this upper, is that it has almost the same weight as a standard upper. I honestly could not tell the difference in weight between it, and my standard 5.56 NATO upper. Milled just like a standard upper, not made of polymer like some of the imported uppers are. (i.e. Chiappa Arms)

It comes with no rear sight, so I added a Matech 200-600M flip up sight that I had laying around. Something else will take it's place in the near future. It has a non functioning foward assist, which is there for aesthetics only. A brass deflector adorns the back of the ejection port along with a modified dust cover that is a tad shorter than a standard cover, as so to accommodate the deflector. I like the addition of the deflector; I have used the .22 conversion kits in the standard uppers in the past, and with them having no deflection, the brass and debris has a way of getting in your face.

a basic look at the upper:

The handguards are a standard M4- style , even complete with heat shields.

Not that you will need heatshields on a .22, but it adds to the realism of the weapon.

The barrel is a 16 1/4 " , 1:16" twist W.A.S.P. carbon steel barrel, cut in the M4 profile. It has a standard birscage style flash hider topping off a mil-spec 1/2x28 threaded muzzle.

What I LOVE about this is that the ratio is optimal for .22LR accuracy, and that it's a solid barrel, not a polymer body with a steel sleeve, like I have seen in lesser quality products.

The bolt assembly is almost identical to the CMMG .22 conversion kit bolt, minus the chamber adapter that is used on the conversions.

Looking at the inside of the upper, you will notice the absence of the standard AR chamber, and an adapted .22 chamber in its place.

On the downside, I do NOT like the fact that the charging handle is a polymer material.

I may never have a problem with it, but I don't like it. I will be investing in a standard metal charging handle which should interchange without a hitch.

I used my standard lower, which happens to be a CMMG itself, to test the upper. ( Almost any standard AR 15 lower will work, so that won't be an issue.)

The magazine is made to simulate the feel of a standard 5.56 NATO magazine, and honestly once you have it fully loaded this big chunk of polymer is almost as heavy as a standard mag....I said ALMOST. Not quite totally simulating the weight....but definitely getting there.

After picking through this upper, I decided to tack up some targets and really see what it could do. I broke out a box of Wal-Mart purchased Winchester 333 36 grain HP, 1280FPS. and loaded up the magazine.

At 25 yards, I was very surprised at the performance, I used one of the M16 adjusted 25 meter targets which have simulated distances on the multiple targets. The 150M target, I made decent holes in it. Not what I would call a consistent group, but I had not adjusted the sights, and I was honestly, half-assing it a bit.

But, then I squared myself away, good breathing control, and with slow smooth shots, I did this to the 200M target:

I was thoroughly happy with this; at 25 yards, I was able to keep a 5 shot group all with the ring.

I cannot wait to try this upper out with some high quality .22 ammo.

After this I broke out the silhouette target and did some fast acquisition shots for about a half an hour.....just for fun.

I will add that during the entire shoot, I shot approximately 400 rounds, and had no failures to feed, or any malfunctions. I doubt everyone would have that experience, but I certainly am impressed by this.

The CMMG .22 upper has sold itself. I am officially a fan.

I love the inexpensiveness, the quality of the material, the accuracy. the reliablity and the hours of fun and training this will give me.

Does it have some downsides? Yes.

I don't like the fact that that magazine is an extra charge. I would've liked to had it come with at least one free magazine.

And the only other glaring issue with it, is that without purchasing an extra item called the bolt hold open adapter, the carrier will not lock back on the last shot.

But that is easily remedied with the purchase of the adapter. It's the nature of the beast.

I would not hesitate to suggest this upper to anyone who wants to shoot their AR, but doesn't want to take out a small loan to purchase .223/5.56 ammo to just blow away.