Virginia Tech Families Lobby For Infringements: Omar Samaha wore a suit to talk to state lawmakers yesterday. It was the same suit he wore to his younger sister Reema's funeral in April after she and 31 other students and teachers at Virginia Tech were shot and killed by Seung Hui Cho...Across from Samaha, sitting on the dais, was his state senator, Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax). Cuccinelli, a strong supporter of gun rights, had just come from the firing range where his daughters practice archery, not far from where he shoots skeet. Cuccinelli has helped defeat the very gun legislation that Samaha and other victims' family members came to ask lawmakers to approve. He, like the other lawmakers, listened in silence. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/05/AR2008010502541.html --- Good Enough For The Army, Not NYPD: On the day after he completed a one-year sentence at the Rikers Island jail, Osvaldo Hernandez walked into an Army recruiting office in Elmhurst, Queens. He was a felon with a plan to change his life. It was late in 2003. Mr. Hernandez had been convicted of possessing an unregistered pistol the year before. The Army, struggling to meet its recruiting goals, granted him an enlistment waiver for the crime and soon swore him in..."Basically they told me, word for word, 'You're good enough for the Army, but you aren't good enough to be a police officer,'" Specialist Hernandez said, describing an exchange with a police recruiter on the department's recruitment hot line. "They said, 'You need more moral stature to be a police officer.'" (In most of the country, his offense would not have been a felony.) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/nyregion/06soldier.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=nyregion&pagewanted=all --- From John Farnam: 31 Dec 07 Good lessons relearned. From a friend and Instructor: "I participated in a 'tactical' rifle match down South Saturday. Yes, they're a bunch of cold-range gun-apologists, but it still gives me the opportunity to shoot under pressure on a course I didn't design. I used my Robinson Arms XCR (223) with a forward-mounted EOTech, flip-up iron sights by Yankee Hill, and a Vickers two-point sling. It's set up exactly like yours, per your recommendation. Rifle, optic, and sling ran perfectly, and I discovered that I can easily and quickly achieve good hits on human targets from contact to two-hundred meters with this set up while avoiding the clutches of tunnel vision. But, there were challenges: At the first stage, I had a sun-glare problem, as the rising sun was just a few degrees directly over my target. I could not find the red dot in my EOTech. I dithered around trying to adjust the brightness of the reticle. No joy! After a few seconds, I just used the red doughnut as a giant 'ghost ring.' I managed to make marginal hits on the 25-meter silhouette with this method. Afterwards, during a 'V-8 Experience,' I realized I could have just flipped-up my iron sights and engaged the target precisely. I'd heard about this 'sun-glare phenomenon,' but I have to admit, the whole episode made me feel like a dunce! I ran the rest of the stages with the EOTech but with the front iron-sight post up (rear iron sight down), and that is, from now on, the default condition for my rifle. I had no other difficulties with my EOTech. At another stage, I was making a magazine change while running, and I neglected to seat the magazine fully. Sure enough, seconds later as my target came into view, I experienced the classic bang-'click' syndrome, as I unhappily discovered I had a chamber full of thin air! When I hastily attempted to strike the bottom of the magazine, I, of course, discovered the magazine was not there, but was rather on the deck ten meters behind me. It had jettisoned itself without my notice. When administratively loading the rifle, I always briskly insert the magazine, push up until it seats and locks, and then pull down on it in order to assure that it is properly locked in place. Why don't I adhere to the same procedure when tactically reloading? Another embarrassing lesson learned! The exercise allowed me to confirm that my current setup works, and works well. What I need to practice was blatantly brought to my attention, and my attention it shall get. I found what I need to improve and what I need to practice in order to maintain. I'll go back in the spring and reevaluate my practice regimen. Maybe I'll do the whole thing with iron sights!" Comment: Serious rifles need to be run and run hard! That is the only we can enjoy at least some confidence that they are going to serve us well at the critical time. Faults, when discovered, should be cause for rejoicing! When important lessons are firmly learned, and the only price we have to pay is a little personal embarrassment, it is a grand day indeed! "I am a free man, regardless of what set of 'rules' surround me. When I find them tolerable, I tolerate them. When I find them obnoxious, I ignore them. I remain free, because I know and understand that I alone bear full responsibility for everything I do, or chose not to do." R Heinlein /John 1 Jan 08 A point to consider, from a friend and Operator currently deployed overseas: "Over here, we regularly use both Aimpoints and EOTechs, to great effect! We like 1X optics, because they are fast, and we can see so much around the aiming point. However, I teach all my teammates with optic-equipped rifles, to still keep their backup-up iron sights (BUIS), both front and rear, up and deployed all the time! In fact, we have little use here for any species of fold-down sights. They will always be folded down and unusable when you desperately need them. With iron sights always deployed, when the illuminated reticle on your optic goes south, all you have to do is drop your eye a quarter of an inch, pick up your iron sights, and continue to engage as if nothing had happened. The transition requires no hand motion, and can be accomplished instantly. The move, of course, needs to be practiced regularly. I submit that 'full-time' iron-sights, as a complement to your 1X optic, is the best way to go!" Comment: My friend's comments are, as always, founded on extensive operational experience. However, with rifles other than the AR-15/M-4, flip-up iron sights may be the only BUIS available. And, when they are always up (deployed), they are in danger of being broken off. They are far more durable when folded down and out of the way. The issue of the "clutter" contributed by always-deployed BUIS is one that I suspect is highly individual. As one who is poor at multi-tasking, I don't like clutter in my optic. Stadia lines, range-estimation aids, stock-quotations, and everything else incorporated into rifle optics these days are counter-productive, as least for me, when I'm trying to concentrate only on my aiming point. Based on my friend's advice, I'm going to drill both ways. Depending upon the equipment we're using, we will all have to be well practiced in instantly switching from electronic reticle to deployed BUIS. We may also have to be adept of instantly deploying flip-up sights that are normally folded down! /John (It's been nearly years since I've handled any of these newfangled sighting devices. The last time that I did, I was still concerned about the signatures they project downrange, also know as "target indicators" for your assailant. I'm willing to be updated if this is no longer an issue.) 2 Jan 08 Glock issue. This is old news to many of us, but it is still critical for every Glock owner: "John, I had a disconcerting moment at the range today. I attempted to fire my G19, which I just acquired, used, from another LEO. It went "click," but it wouldn't fire! I bought the gun several days ago used and, at that time, it appeared to function normally. Not today! Today, it was a good deal colder than when I first test-fired the pistol, and that should have been a hint! When examining the recalcitrant rounds, I noticed that the striker was leaving only shallow and unconvincing dents on the primers. I have seen this problem before, and, in every case, the culprit was a striker-channel and spring that are gummed up with green-colored gunk. This is usually caused by owners who generously (and repeatedly) 'lubricate' the striker-channel, spring, and striker itself, in direct contradiction to Glock's literature which advises to keep the channel bone-dry. When our armorer broke the weapon down all the way, that is exactly what we found! Shame on me for not asking our armorer to break it down and inspect it first thing. Once the striker-channel, striker, and spring were all clean and dry, the pistol fired normally, even in the cold, with nary a hiccup." Comment: Advice to used-gun buyers: Spend the time and money to have a armorer/gunsmith detail dissemble your new acquisition and inspect/clean/adjust/replace parts, as necessary, BEFORE putting the weapon into serious service. Glocks are normally extremely reliable, but even they have issues, as we see. "'Luck' is merely probability, taken personally." /John 3 Jan 08 Comments on 1X optics: I am persuaded that a military rifle, equipped with 1X optics, forward mounted, makes an excellent compromise for the independent rifleman and general, defensive purposes. That is the way most of my serious rifles are now set up. Specialized purposes may be served by magnifying optics, but seeing "a-lot-of-a-little" comes at a price! I find EOTechs and Aimpoints to both be acceptable, but neither is perfect. Here are some "imperfections" that are curable, and a few that are probably not, from my own experience and contributed by a host of colleagues and friends: (1) Loose mounts: Legion are complaints about optics coming loose and falling off rifles upon which they were thought to be securely mounted. Best to have a gunsmith install the optic and lock-tight it down. Even that is no guarantee, but "finger-tight" screws will not stay tight for long! (2) Be able to get rid of the optic, fast: Optics are best mounted on quick-release bases, so that you can get them off your rifle and out of your life in an instant. When your optic cracks or frosts-over, you need to be able quickly get it off your rifle, so you can default to your BUIS. Mark LaRue makes, by far, the best quick-release mounts. Highly recommended, but Mark's bases need to be firmly affixed, or they'll come loose just like any other! (3) Battery life: Aimpoint has an advantage here, as it consumes only a minuscule fraction of the power required by EOTech. Aimpoint users should replace batteries once a year, just to play it safe, but it is probably not necessary any more frequently than every five years. The aiming dot is always "on." In fact, turning it off is contra-indicated. It just stays "on," and will be there when you need it. EOTech's power supply needs to be much more closely monitored, and batteries replaced much more often. The illuminated reticle turns itself off automatically after four or eight hours, to conserve power. That feature is both good and bad. Battery life is extended, but the unit may turn itself off at an inconvenient moment! My advice to students is to adjust reticle brightness no less often than once per hour when in the field. That will reset the turn-off clock and keep the system "on" while the rifle is being carried. The practice constantly assures the active Operator that his EOTech is "on." Springs in EOTech's battery compartment can fall out without you noticing. A hint will be intermittent power! Fortunately, newer EOTech versions have now largely eliminated this issue. (4) Too much clutter, too bright: EOTech's 65MOA circle and central aiming dot (four dots on some models) is difficult to see past when brightness is set too high. Aimpoints and some models of EOTech have only one, central aiming dot, and that is what I prefer. That way, when reticle brightness is set too high, the optic is still useable, and you find yourself adjusting brightness a good deal less often. (5) Anti-Reflection Device (ARD): This is a cover that fits over the objective lens in order to cut down on the optic's downrange glare signature. However, with a copy installed, it is extremely difficult to pick up your front sight, rendering your BUIS all but unusable. (6) Forward-mounting: Get the optic out of our face! Neither Aimpoint nor EOTech are eye-relief critical, and my preference is to mount the optic well forward on the rifle's forend, giving me a minimum of thirty centimeters of eye-relief. That way, when the rifle is mounted, I can, of course, sight through the optic, but I can also SEE AROUND it! With close eye-relief, the optic becomes your whole world. Not recommended! 1X illuminated optics are here to stay, and offer serious riflemen significant advantages. Keep the foregoing in mind, and your optic will serve you well. /John (Note comment on "ARD's.") 4 Jan 08 Another ND! Damage limited by Safe Direction: "John, very glad you introduced me to Safe Direction pads! My father, retired from the USAF as an E-8 in 1974, was handling my Taurus 1911 yesterday. I had given him a Safe Direction pad and instructed him in its use, and I insisted he use it! Good thing! He was checking the Taurus before going to the range. Assuming it was unloaded, he put the muzzle against the Safe Direction pad, and pulled the trigger in order to 'confirm' the pistol's condition. He was eminently successful! The pistol discharged once, and he was so startled that he pressed the trigger a second time. The pistol, once again, functioned normally! Ammunition was Hornady 230gr JHP+P TAP. After the two NDs, he finally got control of himself and unloaded the pistol. Total damage: Startled and unhappy wife! Ears ringing! However, no damage to home, furniture, nor neighborhood. No police involvement. Safe Direction pad functioned as advertised! Both bullets, completely flattened, were stopped and contained therein. Dad is today being recalibrated on 'assumptions' and guns, and we have a new Safe Direction pad on order!" Comment: We've all heard about these unhappy episodes. They happen every day! The cause is always the confluence of (1) Exhaustion, (2) Distraction, and (3) Poor Procedure. We are also reminded by the foregoing that the time you are most likely to experience an ND is within two seconds of your last ND! NDs tend to come in pairs, sometimes in multiples. Safe Direction pads are an integral part of every professional gunman's ensemble. They are, in fact, highly recommended for every gun owner, professional or otherwise. I know many of us naively believe we would never be "that stupid." Dream on! /John (We are creatures of habit. The military makes habit of using "clearing barrels," filled with sand, for troops to verify that they have cleared firing chambers.) -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .