18 June 01

I've just completed a Rifle/shotgun Course in Pennsylvania. We had one Colt AR-15 chambered in 7.62X39. The student who brought it had two, five-round magazines. However, he also brought several twenty-round 223 magazines. He indicated that he had loaded the 223 magazines with 7.62.39 ammunition, and they "worked just fine."

This is the fifth AR-15 in 7.62X39 caliber I've had at a course, and the fifth one that did not work. This one would not fire more than three rounds in a row without some kind of feeding problem, with either kind of magazine.

After twenty minutes, in utter frustration, we pulled it off the line, and the student finished the course with a Bushmaster AR-15 in 223. It worked for the rest of the weekend with no problems.

The Soviet 30 caliber ammunition works in Kalashnikov and SKS rifles, but not in the AR-15. Highly not recommended!

/John

19 June 01

This from an LEO friend in the Midwest:

I had to spray someone with my Fox OC tonight. My sister and I were on our way out (still inside the festival grounds) after attending an outdoor music festival, when a pan handler (selling M&Ms) approached us tried to get me to buy some.

I told him politely that we weren't interested and continued walking. He jumped in front of us blocking our path and, in an angry tone, told us that we had better buy some if we knew what was good for us. We tried to walk around him, but he grabbed my sister's arm and started yelling at us incoherently. My OC bottle (Fox) was already in my hand, and I sprayed him in the face.

The effect was dramatic! He dropped to the ground instantly, choking and convulsing. My sister and I then walked away as fast as we could.

Three uniformed officers approached quickly and asked my sister and I if we were okay. They said they saw what happened and told us it was all cool and that we were free to go. They then took the pan handler into custody, and I have no idea what happened to him.

I'll never be without OC! It got us out of an ugly situation with no permanent harm to anyone"

Lesson: OC is a potent fight stopper, particularly the Fox brand. Don't leave home without it!

/John