16 Nov 07
Earlier this week, I shot a four-hundred-pound Red Deer Stag during a
hunting trip in the Midwest. Range was thirty meters, and I had a profile shot.
He was hit, as is my habit, on the point of the shoulder. He took two steps
and precipitously collapsed. Beautiful animal!
I used my DSA/FAL/Congo with a forward-mounted Micro-Aimpoint and equipped
with a Blue-Force-Gear/Vickers sling. Ammunition was Cor-Bon 168gr DPX.
The opportunity was sudden. We saw the animal standing there, appearing, as
it were, out of nowhere, and I was compelled to mount and fire immediately,
as the window was closing fast. The FAL/Aimpoint combination is formidable!
Fast and deadly, I was on him in an instant. When my shot broke, I caught
the link immediately as I stayed in the sight, but decided against taking a
second shot. It was my judgement that another hit was unnecessary.
With the Micro/Aimpoint forward-mounted, I can shoot with both eyes open and
thus stay in the sight longer than would be the case if I were using open
sights or if the optic were mounted close to my eye. It is the set-up I
recommend.
The single DPX bullet did not exit, and we never recovered it, but, judging
from the behavior of the deer, I have no doubt it performed well, as all
Barnes bullets do!
Vicki shot a running ram at one-hundred meters with her M1-Carbine, also
using Cor-Bon DPX ammunition. Spectacular shot! One shot, and he was down for
the count. Bullet went through-and-through, penetrating twelve inches of
tissue. Iron sights still work just fine!
As an Urban/Fighting Rifle, the FAL/Congo is hard to beat! Fast, handy, and
relatively light, one can drive it to target in the wink of an eye,
particularly when it is equipped with the Vickers sling.
The M1-Carbine is an ideal car-gun. Short and light, with mild recoil and
muzzle blast, it still packs a wallop! DPX ammunition has made it a
legitimate weapon for both hunting and fighting. No point in using anything else!
Great day!
/John
16 Nov 07
Comments on the History Channel Iwo Jima Presentation, from a Korean War veteran:
"This is disgusting! While stationed in Korea in the 1950s, I was always armed wherever I went, inside or outside the wire. Indeed, our regimental commander had standing orders that anyone, no matter his rank, observed going about without their weapon and basic-load of ammunition was subject to disciplinary action by him personally.
In my company, most of us also had personal weapons, sent from home or acquired locally, to augment our Garands, M1-Carbines, BARs, and 1911s. In those days, personal weapons, pistols and blades, were not a problem. In fact, we were encouraged to have and carry them.
One spring day we had a new lieutenant join us. This new lieutenant noticed a PFC carrying a 1928 Thompson, slung over his shoulder. Apparently wanting to mark his territory, the lieutenant informed the PFC that his Tommy Gun was 'unauthorized' and that he needed to turn it in. The lieutenant also wanted to know where he got it. The PFC replied proudly and confidently that his father bought it for him and that he knew how to use it and had, in fact, used it, with great effect, only a few days previous. Our captain, a real warrior who always lead from the front, got involved and countermanded the lieutenant's order, explaining to him, in no uncertain terms, that the PFC in question was a good man who didn't need to be screwed with! We never saw that lieutenant again.
I never heard of any 'withdrawal of ammunition' Even after the 'cease-fire ' of 27 July 1953 we remained armed, and that included everyone.
Of course, we did have a few NDs, and a suicide or two, but considering all those continuously-loaded guns, accidents were extremely rare.
Unlike today, our Colonel had no fear of his men, regularly showing up in the lines, even personally inspecting our remotest of outposts, with only one other man with him. I only met him once in-Country, and he was carrying a personally-owned 357Mg revolver.
Forty plus years later we were to meet again. Same man, steadfast and steady, even in old age. The Marine/Warrior spirit and bearing was still there, in spades. Unmistakable!"
Comment: We've come a "long way" since then, eh?
/John
16 Nov 07
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, it is revealed "home-invasion" burglaries are on the rise in the USA, particularly in high-rent districts. Along with kidnappings, such home-invasions have been common in Mexico for years. We're just now catching up!
The vast majority of burglary suspects will not break into any building they believe to be occupied, wanting no confrontation with anyone who might be in there. However, "home-invaders" are a much more dangerous breed, who actually seek confrontation with, and control of, residents of homes, so that they can steal cars, wallets, and compel householders to withdraw cash from banks, while holding other family members hostage.
The article goes on to give the usual, tired advice: Lower your personal profile. Keep your mug off TV and out of newspapers. Install electronic security in you home, and use it. Don't open your door to people you don't know.
All good advice, but like professing "journalists" everywhere, the author doesn't even mention the only strategy that is going to provide any speciesof real protection: Householders need to be continuously armed and eminently ready to repel criminal violence, with gunfire, at all times. The rest is just window dressing!
In fact, arming oneself is referred to in the article as an "extreme measure" that should only be attempted with "proper licensing and training." Well, if any of these "journalists" ever set foot west of the Delaware, they might discover that in Colorado, for example, we don't have "licensing," except to carry concealed, and one may legally own any number of guns, even military rifles, without "permission" from any government agency. In Colorado, extreme risks thus attach to "home-invasion!"
Once again, East-Coast elitists who author this rubbish are little more than frightened VBCs, who, like most of their readers, cannot imagine themselves ever taking decisive action in defending their homes and families. Instead of making necessary lifestyle changes, they prefer to remain apprehensive little cowards, huddling together in some Northeast metro area, deluding themselves into believing someone else will protect them.
... and they call themselves "experts!"
/John
Copyright © 2007 by DTI, Inc. All rights reserved.
created on Friday November 16, 2007 23:59:1 MST