15Sept06

Spot-on comments on rifle selection, from a friend in the Phillippines. Some truths resurface continually!

"In the early 90s, a Russian delegation came over here to demonstrat e various Kalashnikov platforms to Philippine Military and LE agencies. By t his time, reserve stocks of serviceable M16 rifles were running low, and the US State Department was dragging its heels over export permits. The Russians saw an

opportunity for a big sale!

The weapons, as you noted, functioned well. Yes, sights are crude, and the selector is anything but handy. Still, they offered to sell our government AK rifles at an extremely attractive price. Equally attractive, the Russians would also ship manufacturing equipment so that the rifles could be made in-country. This would allow us to use mass production to remedy issues wit h sights and selectors. The offer to bring in equipment and components to loc ally manufacture ammunition was also made. Apparently, after the Cold War, 75% o f these machines were idle and so giving them away was an easy way to sweeten the offer.

But, the deal didn't go through. In the end, the Philippine military wante d to look like their US counterparts, even if that meant having to make do with weapons that were worn out. Today, military and LE units are equippe d with a mixture of rifles. Many are Frankenguns. cobbled together from an assortment of spare parts. In retrospect, we should have taken the Russian s up on their offer!

The lesson here is this: WE CANNOT FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR GUNS. Something that works now is far better than what we want, but cannot have. Musashi learned to fight with any sword, even wooden ones, and still won! =80 Battlefield pickup" drills are incorporated into DTI classes precisely to stres s this point. I see why! We need to be taught to rise to the situation, not wait for perfect solutions to magically appear!"

Comment: Put another way, WE NEED TO SPEND OUR TIME FINDING A WAY TO WIN, NOT LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO LOSE. We see examples of this truth everywher e!

/John

15Sept06

223 performance, from a friend who owns a large ranch:

"I shot fifteen wild pigs over the last two years with a 223 rifle. As I field-dress them, I have the opportunity to observe the extent of tissue destruction, in addition to observing the animal's reaction to being shot. All pigs were shot through the shoulder, with the intent of striking both lungs. Pi gs varied in weight from 100 pounds to 250 pounds. I will restrict my comment s to animals that weighed at least 150 pounds.

Rounds used:

WW 55-grain JSP Black Hills 68-grain OTM Black Hills 75-grain OTM Black Hills 77-grain OTM Federal 55-grain TBBC Cor-Bon 53gr DPX (Barnes "Triple-Shok" bullet)

55-grain JSP killed the pig to be sure, but the bullet broke up on ribs. Questionable stuff.

BH 68-77gr rounds either anchored the pig on the spot, or knocked it down.

It ran as far as twenty yards before collapsing. The onside lung was great ly damaged, but offside lung showed few signs of harm.

Federal 55gr TBBC anchored pigs. Onside lung was moderately damaged. Offside lung showed some trauma.

Cor-Bon 53gr DPX: All pigs anchored! Onside lung exceedingly damaged. Offside lung significantly damaged also. The bullets exited two of the pig s, leaving one-inch exit wounds. Best performance of all rounds tested. My c hoice (for anything but entries) now."

Comment: The foregoing mirrors my experience. Cor-Bon's DPX is the top choice among serious, 223 rounds. To be sure, DPX does not magically conve rt the 223 into a 308, but it does significantly address the (1) penetration and (2) internal-tissue-destruction issues that have haunted the 223 from the beginning. It is what I routinely carry in my XCR/car gun.

/John