Test

09 Aug 09 Testing... /John

After-market Glock Barrels

09 Aug 09 On aftermarket pistol barrels, from my Pistolsmith: "One of the few articulable reasons for purchasing an aftermarket barrel for your Glock pistol is so that you'll have a barrel with traditional, cut rifling. That will make shooting unjacketed, lead bullets slightly less messy! Storm Lake, Wilson, Bar-Sto, Jarvis, Lone Wolf, et al all make these barrels. I've found accuracy is almost always compromised, relative to Glock's OEM barrel, but not in any practical sense.

I don't recommend shooting any species of unjacketed bullets through any pistol, particularly autoloaders, and particularly Glocks. In short order, you'll end up with a greasy, gummy mess! However, in light of current shortages and looming anti-gun/anti-ammunition legislation, we may all be melting wheel weights and lead pipe before long! Storm Lake offers the widest variety of replacement barrels for Glocks. They make extended, threaded, ported and even conversion barrels, that allow you to shoot 9mm ammo out of 40S&W guns. Their barrels do, however, have ' fully-supported' chambers. There is not much of a feed-ramp, a 'feature' which may generate feeding issues with some ammunition. By contrast, OEM Glock barrels have an ample feed-ramp, which makes for reliable feeding, but sometimes they eject bulged cases, particularly in 40S&W and 357SIG. This, however, is of scant concern to all but hobby-reloaders." Comment: I love this Country! When an OEM manufacturer declines to make a particular accessory, you can bet someone else will, for better or worse! Ultimately, most quality guns run fine, as they come from the factory. Think long and hard before "accessorizing!" Most after-market accessories, even well-made ones, do little to extend the life-span or their owners! /John

My Right to be Armed

09 Aug 09 TWO THINGS Two things move under this night sky: that Thing that came to murder, and I He, released from prison to roam, and I, peaceably headed home He carries a knife and drug-addled sense, seeing prey, without defense I detect movement, intuitive fear and put my hand to pistol near Worried, alone in that gloomy blight above the fear, I prepare to fight He sees my pistol and makes no sound, fleeing to hunt less risky ground No predator dares go hunting for me for I am armed, and that makes me free I holster my pistol and slowly stand down heading, once-again, towards home in my dark, sleeping town For there are two things that, this night, shall not die: my Right to be Armed, and I! Anon "A nation of sheep will beget a government of ravenous wolves, cynically masquerading as 'shepards!'" /John