Rifle ID Bleg

Can anyone identify the rifle in these photos?  Click to embiggen.

Several active and former military/sniper/Camp-Perry friends have weighed in with their opinions, but unfortunately no two of them seem to agree.

Thanks!

Philosophical Question

I have a Colt Combat Commander Model 70 in electroless nickel. It's a 9mm and was my first "training wheels" 1911 back when I was still intimidated by .45 ACP. It was quite inexpensive as Colt 1911's go, and I know it's not truly a collectible.

It has the classic teensy safety, vestigial sights, and hand-ripping tang, and so is not particularly pleasant to shoot. I only actually shot it a few times before making the leap to .45's, and it's just been sitting in the safe ever since.

My question is, should I send it in to be reworked and refinished as a shooter or keep it an all-original safe queen?

Opinions?

Mr. Wilson's Coming Home!

Wilson Combat notified me that they shipped my gun back to my FFL yesterday with a scheduled delivery date of Monday. I can hardly wait!

They said the mechanical work was completely within the lifetime warranty, so my only cost will be for the new sights. They also said they would credit me for the overnight shipping to Berryville, so my out-of-pocket for the whole thing should be negligible.

Their first shipment of production Ultimate Speed Sights isn't coming in until January, so they offered to install a set of their prototypes instead. I said sure, so it will be interesting to see how they turn out.

All in all, Wilson Combat's customer service is second to none.

I'm so glad I won't have to carry the Government CQB any more. It's a great gun, but a (literal) pain when you're 5'4" and carry appendix IWB. And I'll say it again, an Ed Brown Bobtail is the greatest single improvement to 1911 concealability ever devised.

Stay tuned for a review of the Ultimate Speed Sights. I have an Advanced Pistol Level III class next weekend including low-light work, night fighting, and trauma care. Should be a good one.

Mr. Wilson Goes To The Doctor

My custom Wilson Combat Elite Professional is on its way back to Berryville for repairs.

When it stopped locking open on an empty mag, my first thought was pilot error. I had several respected friends including two professional gunsmiths look it over, and they all agreed wear on the slide stop and slide were the true culprits. So I called Wilson and made the appointment.

What I found interesting was everyone agreed they'd never seen anyone with a custom Wilson actually shoot it as much as I do. I can't imagine having a gun built expressly to your shooting and carrying preferences and then not shooting and carrying it. There is plenty of wear visible on the gun, outside and inside. Honorable scars, just as with working dogs and horses. I hope they'll consider them honorable scars.

Until it comes back, I'm carrying my Government-size Wilson CQB. It's a major pain to switch to a longer barrel, especially when you carry appendix IWB.

I'm also sufficiently bummed that I'm considering picking up a Dan Wesson VBOB with the black "duty finish" as a spare carry gun. I seriously considered their CBOB before I ordered my bobtail Commander from Wilson, but the CBOB only came in stainless. I have to do too many stealth transitions between holster and lockbox to ever want to carry anything other than an all-black gun. Nothing has driven home the value of a bobtail frame for carry like having to go back to a standard frame.

As long as it's in the shop, I'm having the rear sight switched out for one of these. I've wanted a rear sight with a cocking ledge for easier one-handed gun manipulations for a long time.

Oh well, they told me it should be back in a week. It's gonna be a looooong week.

Latest New Arrival

Last November, I ordered a precision rifle. After agonizing over accessorizing it properly, ordering said accessories, and waiting for it to be built and then assembled, I finally picked it up today.


Sorry about the crappy cellphone picture. As usual, the "real" camera's batteries were dead.

It's a Kimber 8400 Advanced Tactical in .308 Winchester with the McMillan A5 adjustable stock, Leupold Mark 4 10x40 LR/T M1 scope, Warne Tactical medium-height rings, and Harris HBL-S swivel bipod.

Now I'll really have to get my butt out to the gun club where they have a 650-yard range.

Ordered A Rifle

When I got my first paycheck from the new job, I almost fainted. Recovering quickly, I decided it was absolutely time to get that precision rifle.

So I did my homework, talked to lots of people, fondled a bunch of very nice guns, and ended up ordering one of these:

Now I need information to help me select an appropriate scope. Any suggestions?

Fun With Machine Guns 2009

The 2009 Heritage of Freedom Jeff Wells Memorial Fun & Freedom Shoot in Kearney, Nebraska, on August 14-16 was, if you'll pardon the pun, an absolute blast.

There was a full complement of folks who brought lots of cool toys for spectators to learn about and shoot.

Most guns could be "rented" for the cost of the ammo used. The price of admission for spectators was $20 if unarmed, $10 if open-carrying (legal in Nebraska without any permit), and $5 if you had your CHP.

Full auto hardware included everything from mini-Uzi's to belt-fed machine guns.

Last year I came as a spectator. This year I got a shooting position of my own. Okay, my table wasn't nearly as impressive as some.

The AR is my Smith & Wesson M&P15T with bipod, ACOG, and a new snap-on cheek rest that does a wonderful job of letting me get a good cheek weld with the optic mounted on the carry handle. The other rifle is a Savage .270 Win with their Accu-Trigger that I borrowed from a friend.

This was the first chance I've had to get my AR out on a really long range. I had zeroed my ACOG for 200 indoors and was surprised the math had held up. Once I found out at what distances the targets were really set, I got my holdover straightened out and was getting good hits out to 400+ yards with both the AR and the bolt-action.

Nebraska's own Gunscribe, aka Tim Tyrrell Sr., with his BOHICA Arms .50 BMG upper on a DPMS AR-15 lower. 'Scribe is one of the original Second Amendment movers-and-shakers in this area, and laid the groundwork for what has now become the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association.

Yes, I shot Gunscribe's .50 BMG. Between that and a few hundred other rifle rounds I fired, I have a bruise on my shoulder today.

The thing that really blew my mind was people coming up to me and telling me they actually read my blog. I was honored to hear their compliments, and I humbly thank them -- and you others out there -- for your support.

I'm looking forward to next year's Fun And Freedom shoot already. It's tentatively scheduled for August 13-15 of 2010. Friday evening is for arrival and early setup, Saturday is an all-day affair, and Sunday finishes up by noon. So mark your calendar, come on out and play. That Tannerite isn't going to blow itself up.

The Machine Guns Of August

Just a friendly reminder for the 2009 Heritage of Freedom Jeff Wells Memorial Fun & Freedom Shoot this weekend in Kearney, Nebraska.

August 15 & 16, 2009

Hours: Saturday 10:00 am to 5:40 pm, Sunday 8:00 am to 12 Noon

Spectators: Unarmed - $20.00, Armed - $10.00, CCW Holder - $5.00
Children under 12 - Free with Adult

Directions: I-80 Exit #272 - 5 miles south to Road S, 1 mile west and 1 mile north to the range

For more information, contact Walt Kamp II at (308) 236-7854. Leave your name and phone number if you get voice mail.

New "Megan Magnum" Holster

My custom-made Kellogg Custom Megan Magnum holster arrived today!

I had it shipped to my office instead of home, because I have a perimeter fence and a locked gate. Delivery drivers usually just leave parcels on the ground, where they instantly beacon a "steal me" signal to the local miscreants.

Based on a quick test-fit in the ladies' room (just to see how it fits me, not my gun -- I work in a defenseless-victim zone), this should be the most awesome concealment holster for my Wilson 1911 evah!

I like to carry in the appendix position with a strong muzzle-forward rake. Every holster Kellogg makes is a full-custom hand build, so accommodating uncommon preferences is no problem for them. Pictures of course will follow.

Many, many thanks to Isaiah and Megan Kellogg of Kellogg Custom Leather. You folks rock!

Chicago Gun Rights Examiner

Don Gwinn is the new Chicago Gun Rights Examiner.

Don has moderated The Firing Line and The High Road forums and serves as a Director of Illinois Carry, the only Illinois gun-rights organization dedicated to winning shall-issue right-to-carry for Illinois. Don also blogs at The Armed School Teacher and answers all email sent to dongwinn@thefiringline.com.

Welcome to the blogroll, Don.

Vanishing Act

Now you see it.

Now you don't.

Cool.

I Never Would Have Guessed

Going through the manuals that came with some of my guns, I found this gem in a care-and-feeding booklet from Kimber:

Gee, ya think?

Learning Curve

The adventure of learning the snubby continues. Before I even picked up the gun from the dealer, I got a copy of Ed Lovette's book, "The Snubby Revolver: The ECQ, Backup, and Concealed Carry Standard" as a general reference. The book was invaluable in preparing me to approach this new tool from an informed perspective.

I got a Hogue Monogrip for the gun, and keep swapping between it and the factory grips. There's no question the Monogrip is easier to shoot, but the factory grips are much easier to conceal. Even tucked in a jeans pocket, the gun just disappears. I'm thinking I'll start out shooting the Monogrip and then switch back to the factory grips as I become more proficient.

I still can't seem to find a hold that feels natural and secure. I shoot high-thumb on semiautos, and obviously that can't work on a wheelgun. At least my hands are small enough to keep my thumbs away from the cylinder gap when habit takes over.

Experimenting around the house with an empty gun and an Ace bandage, I've found the alternative carry positions possible with little guns aren't as impractical as they seemed. With the right pants, ankle carry is perfectly doable using Massad Ayoob's big-drop-step-off-the-X draw. That method works so well that I wonder why anyone still says you have to take a knee or stand on one leg like a flamingo to draw a gun on your ankle. I don't wear dresses or skirts unless absolutely unavoidable, but discovered I could do a thigh rig if I had to. Worn not too far above the knee, it's acceptably comfortable and accessible, and sure beats not having a gun at all.

Several people have suggested Crimson Trace Lasergrips, either for defensive use or as a training aid. I have Lasergrips to fit my Hi-Powers and shelved them after using them for something over a year. Strange as it sounds, I found they slowed my shooting. I try to train for unconscious competence and anything that disrupts conditioned behavior chains tends to slow them down by breaking the pattern. I have a multi-caliber laser boresighter that is placed in the chamber, and will see if I can get a .38 Special adapter for it.

The trigger job smoothed things out beautifully while not significantly lightening the pull, so repeated dry practice is like physical therapy for my damaged trigger finger.

All in all, with the snubby, the journey is proving as valuable as the destination.

Love BUG

The more I work with my S&W Airweight J-frame, the more I think this little gun is one of the best investments I could have made in my shooting skill set.

Oh, I'm not producing any targets yet worth keeping or posting online. For every live round I fire, I probably execute fifty or more hopefully-perfect dry trigger presses. Most of the time, I can keep a dime balanced on top of the gun while dry practicing.

So what's the value of all this "non-productive" busywork? Besides ammo savings, I mean.

My shooting with the snubby ain't there yet, but my 1911 shooting is getting WAY better.

The Close Quarters class I had on April 18 showed me that my old tendency to jerk the trigger still returns under pressure. Watching my groups straggle off toward the lower left was frustrating and discouraging. So I decided to buckle down and confront my problem head-on by concentrating on the little, lightweight, jumpy gun as a means to get better with the big, heavy, stable one.

And it works.

But targets with such little tiny holes sure look funny. They'll look a lot less funny when all the little holes come together to make one big ragged one.

It'll get there.

Picked Up My Snubby

Well, I really wanted to pick up my new snubby on Buy A Gun Day, but I was so disgusted by the steaming pile last night that was ABC's 20/20: If I Only Had A Gun that I went and got it today.

It already has an appointment with the gunsmith to have the internals polished to smooth out the trigger. In the mean time, I plan to do a lot of dry practice with it to thoroughly familiarize myself with this new and different manual of arms.

Of course I had to start accessorizing right away. We have a Hogue Monogrip, an HKS speed loader, a couple of speed strips, some snap caps, and a pocket holster. Sorry I don't have any pictures yet.

As far as the ABC 20/20 program goes, I can honestly say I have never before seen so much contrived caca in one place. At least the comments on their website are overwhelmingly pro-gun and anti-false-reporting. I am greatly encouraged that so many people are seeing through the smoke-and-mirrors of flagrant media bias.

If you want to see the program, you'll have to find it on your own. I refuse to link to fecal matter. I will, however, happily link to John Longnecker's decisive deconstruction of this waste of air time.

Range Bag Meme*

Q: What's in your range bag?

A: Way too much crap.

Here's the actual inventory:

Target tapers
Snap caps and dummy rounds
IDPA rule book
1" sticky dots
2" sticky targets
Extra batteries for range ears
Magazines, all preloaded on range day to save time
Lens wipes and cloths
Band-aids
Spare Shok-Buffs for the full-size Wilson CQB
Clothespins for paper targets at the indoor range
Heavy-duty pumice hand soap and scrubber
Bore-Snakes
Bushing wrench
Driver handle with bits
P7 tool with scraper and brush
Allen wrench for two-piece guide rods
Kimber take-down paperclips
Hobby clamp for changing Kimber recoil springs
Bootlace for guns that don't capture the recoil spring
Spare extractors, firing pin stops, slide stops, gun springs
Microfiber cloths
Prescription shooting glasses
Electronic range ears
Custom molded earplugs
Magazine cleaning brushes
Patches and pocket cleaning kit
UPLULA
Spray cleaner/lube, needle oiler, grease
Practice hardball and carry ammo

The photo doesn't even include the stuff I found in there that needed to be thrown away.

And it really all fits . . .

In a surprisingly compact package.

If I can't handle it with this, it probably needs a gunsmith.

* Yeah, I think it qualifies as a meme. Thanks, Brigid, Sebastian, Gun Nuts Media, Uncle, JayG, Kevin, et al.

Boston Gun Rights Examiner

Ron Bokleman, the new Boston Gun Rights Examiner, is an avid salt water angler, boater, hunter (turkey, pheasant), firearms enthusiast, political & civil rights activist. He has memberships with the National Rifle Association, the Gun Owners' Action League, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Woburn Sportsmen's Association, and NSA. Ron enjoys writing and will attempt to inspire you to action in these otherwise challenging times.

Welcome to the blogroll, Ron.

Snub As A BUG In A Rug

I don't like revolvers. They don't balance right in my hands, they don't point naturally for me, and when I shot them I didn't enjoy the experience. The only ones I've had the opportunity to try had rudimentary sights at best and truly horrendous triggers compared to a good single-action semiauto.

So why did I just plop a hundred bucks down on one of these?

Photo © Smith & Wesson

As a firm believer in "two is one, one is none," I've been thinking about a BUG for a long time. A nice, small no-excuses gun that can be concealed when a Commander 1911 is just too big. I'd considered a Springfield EMP on the theory that it's a good idea to stay with guns that have a similar manual of arms. I had a chance to fondle one but not shoot it, and I'm reluctant to spend over a thousand dollars without test-driving one first. I've heard nothing but good things about the EMP, but it just seems like going that small with a quasi-1911-pattern semiauto is maybe pushing the limits of the technology a bit too close.

Then there's the idea of a pocket gun, one that can be fired from within the pocket if absolutely necessary, or can make a contact shot in extremis without fear of being forced out of battery. A last-ditch "oh sh!t" gun.

My thoughts kept going back to the small size and light weight of the alloy J-frame. I like to try rental guns in the model I'm considering, if available. Rentals are dirty and heavily used, and if they work favorably in that condition a new one meticulously maintained will surely be even better.

Sure enough, my favorite range had a Smith & Wesson 442 for rent. With no small amount of trepidation I took the little gun and a box of standard pressure .38 Special out to my assigned lane, along with a couple of IPSC targets.

I dry-fired it several times to get a feel for the trigger. Okay, I dry-fired it several times to convince myself that I could operate the trigger without having to apply a mechanical advantage. The first shot was unpleasant but manageable. I proceeded to plod my way through the whole 50-round box. By the time I was done, my hands were very unhappy with me. An injury about ten or so years ago left me with reduced strength and range of motion in my dominant hand index finger, and it was never more obvious.

Nonetheless, for a first attempt at a snubby, my shots were all well inside the IPSC "A" zone. I wouldn't go so far as to call them groups. I think working to develop expertise with this gun will make me a better shooter overall, though. Shooting the rental gun, I'd get my sight picture and alignment but would pull the shot off my orange sticky dot when operating the heavy trigger. If I can learn to shoot this thing well, I'll be able to shoot anything.

Now I leave it to you wheelgun aficionados out there to recommend aftermarket grips, holsters, and helpful hints.

Hey, every geek needs a pocket protector, right?

Brand Recognition

I wonder how much Kimber paid for their product placement on last night's CSI: Miami?

Creative Improvisation

I carry at home, including in the house. Since my usual at-home wear is sweats or t-shirts with loose-fitting athletic shorts (aka "chore grubs") I always used to wear my SmartCarry. But wearing loose-fitting clothing made me uncomfortable with the SmartCarry's ability to retain my gun during strenuous activity, or if I fell asleep watching TV.

Then I happened across an inexpensive ambidextrous nylon pancake holster.

It had an adjustable thumb break, and the wheels started turning. I bought the holster and took out the stitching holding the gun in position and setting its cant. I put my Commander-size 1911 in the holster backwards and adjusted the thumb break tension. With the gun in Condition 1-and-Only, the angle of the backwards retention strap not only blocks the hammer but puts upward pressure against the bottom of the thumb safety, ensuring it cannot disengage.

So far so good, but now how to wear it? Sweatpants and athletic shorts don't have belt loops, and I prefer IWB anyway. I dug out a Wilderness Instructor Belt I've had for years but usually wear only for gun school and put the holster on it from the back.

Et voila! Worn appendix-carry under clothing at the natural waist, the gun cants neutral-to-slightly-muzzle-forward. The pressure of the belt holding the holster against my body makes the stiff, reinforced nylon material mold itself to the gun, keeping the gun from moving around inside the holster. I torture-tested it for several days with an unloaded gun and the retention never failed, nor did the safety disengage. Drawing speed is comparable to the SmartCarry, or any other deep concealment method. I can slide the rig around in case it digs in while bending or reaching.

It probably looks like it would be uncomfortable, but it isn't at all. I've worn it shoveling snow, working on the car, pooper-scooping, doing dishes, carrying a struggling 70-pound Greyhound down the steps who didn't wanna go to the vet, and lying on the couch, all without any problems. We'll have to wait and see how it fares in hot weather.

Yes, it does print, but the only time I'm ever "outside the wire" in chore grubs is to go to the mailbox or put out the garbage. It doesn't have room for a spare mag, but if I need more than nine rounds of Hornady TAP at home, I'm reaching for my shotgun, not a handgun reload.

All in all, not bad for less than $20.