10-22 Weekend Upgrades

After Appleseed I realized that our 10-22s needed work. Heather's needed a trigger job, and mine needed good iron sights. So, I hit up Midway and ordered the necessary parts. I didn't expect things to show up until next week or the week after, but even with the el-cheapo shipping, I was happy to find that the items arrived today!

So, today I put a Volquartsen hammer, auto-bolt release, and upgraded ejector into Heather's 10-22. Her trigger was so heavy that at Appleseed she was using two fingers to pull it by the end of the day (and still shooting Rifleman scores! hrm... Note to self: next time I do an upgrade, I should mix some sand and loctite into her trigger to slow her down...). I don't have a scale to weigh the trigger, but I think it would be fair to say that it was 8 lbs+ prior to the upgrade and now it is half that or better. I also threw an extended mag release onto the rifle. It was also a good chance to spray down the innards with CLP and give the rifle a good scrubbing while everything was stripped down.

My 10-22 got a set of nice TechSight TSR100 aperture sights with a dollop of loc-tite. I have an extractor to put into it as well but haven't done so yet. It already has a Volquartsen hammer, auto bolt release, and the extended mag release so that was all good to go. I have another Blackhawk Axiom Stock on the way so that both rifles will have identical adjustable stocks allowing us to switch and use either one... That way we have one scoped and one with irons.

Both rifles are going to the range tomorrow to verify functioning and to get the new sights zeroed.

Appleseed: What Rifle to Bring

Heather and I recently attended an Appleseed which we both just reviewed. I also wanted to include a quick run down from the gear and preparation side.

I ran an AR-15 on day 1. My AR is rigged out somewhat for CQB: short 16.1" barrel, vertical foregrip (I usually just use it to index my hand up close to the mag well, but it is handy in very tight spaces too), large aperture zeroed for 50/200 yards, light attached. It is a great setup for a home defense rifle. I figured any trigger time on my AR was good time.

Luckily, on day 2 I was able to borrow Sean's 10-22. I would not suggest bringing a centerfire rifle for day one of Appleseed. You are turning money into noise. I shot well with the AR but you don't need to shoot centerfire. Furthermore, the use of the shooting sling precludes most "CQB" oriented AR weapon handling techniques.

So, instead, I would suggest bringing a Liberty Training Rifle: get a 10-22, put an aftermarket hammer and bolt release into it, throw tech sights or a low powered optic, and add 1.25" sling swivels. Done.

We are doing some upgrades to our 10-22s so that we will have a pair of appropriate rifles for our next event.

If I were to build an AR for Appleseed it would look a lot different from my "CQB" rifle. I would use a longer barrel for better sight radius and velocity -- say, 18" or so. I'd also suggest no vertical foregrips or accessories on there. Finally, a low powered optic of some sort (no more than 4x) would be appropriate too.

Appleseed

Last weekend we attended an Appleseed rifle marksmanship event in Ramseur. I'll follow my normal flow to review the event from my perspective.

ADMIN

The range was great. They had covered firing ports, a 500 meter full-length range (with steel and paper options) as well as a 100 yard range. There's also a "clubhouse" building. Facilities are limited, with two port-a-johns, but its adequate.

SHOOTING INSTRUCTION

Appleseed teaches early 20th century marksmanship techniques. They err more on the "target shooting" side of the house. To someone who has only received "CQB" and "poor" rifle instruction in the past, this was a major technique change. At some point I'll have to do a post comparing my perspective on the CQB vs. Target techniques. For now, I'll just say that I fully embraced the new style as a learning experience, will use it as a "tool in my toolbox," and saw my shooting improve.

The instruction is very good, but fast paced. There were very cogent discussions of:

• Shooting fundamentals (sight picture, sight alignment, breath control, trigger control/follow through, etc)
• Prone, sitting, and standing positions
• Use of the sling
• Natural Point of Aim
• Zeroing -- MOA, inches, clicks, etc
• Long distance target identification, ranging, and adjustment factors

There were also clinics with the Garand and 10/22 maintenance. I skipped those to sleep in a bit and have breakfast with Sean Sorrentino.

Hands-on instruction on the range was great. I didn't count but I'd say there was a ratio of 1:3 line coaches to students, plus a range boss and 2xRSOs. All of the line coaches were excellent. Two in particular really helped me out: Jeremy (aka Goliath from their forums) and Patrick (aka Sam Adams). They had a good mix of older and younger coaches and found a great balance between sticking with you for a few strings to track your progress/trend items as well as rotating to get a fresh set of eyes on your issues.

The line was very safe. We never felt unsafe. We have been to good and bad ranges and know what safe and unsafe lines are. There was one point towards the end of the first day where the RSOs were getting a bit lax and the range boss immediately cleared the line, dealt with the situation, and then they debriefed to the issue after class.

HISTORY

Another big part of Appleseed is the history. They tell the story of Paul Revere's ride and the ensuing British march from Boston to Concord and back again.

I'm a history guy. I studied it in college and really enjoy the topic. Appleseed's history is based on Paul Revere's Ride. The author of this book has written another which is on the US Army's professional reading list. I've read the source material. I feel that Appleseed did a credible job of presenting the story with accuracy. It is really a rather remarkable story and needs little exaggeration, anyways.

POLITICS/CLIMATE

I was a bit worried about this aspect of Appleseed. It is clear that the leaders in the program feel that the country is on the wrong track and headed in the wrong direction (a fairly mainstream view, apparently, given that 72% of Americans agree!). However, Appleseed keeps things carefully non-partisan. Furthermore, they emphasize civic engagement and voting as appropriate ways to effect change.

As for other stereotypes -- we had a good number of women on the line (maybe a fifth or a quarter) and the attendees were from all walks of life. One of the range bosses was an Iranian-American. Instructors and attendees ranged from 13 to more mature ages.

We had a unique opportunity because "Fred" (the pen name of founder Jack Dailey) attended on the second day and said a few words. While a bit long winded, nothing was extremist or crazy-talk.

Despite scary, dark media articles to the contrary, Appleseed is not about extremism or militia training--this was specifically disclaimed and discouraged ("We do not do the 'm'-word here"). Appleseed (A) teaches basic marksmanship skills appropriate to a wide variety of uses, (B) tells the story of April 19th as researched and documented by David Fischer, a Pulitzer-prize winning university professor whose work is endorsed by mainstream groups like the US Army, and (C) encourages people to vote and get involved in civic life with an awareness of the dignity and power of the individual.

I would, however, suggest that Appleseed consider two small changes to the history they tell. First, it should be mentioned that Paul Revere was a great joiner, active in many social and political civic organizations. After all, the whole point of the event is to motivate people to get active in their communities and to vote.

An indicator of his importance, and a clue to the much-misunderstood structure of the revolutionary movement, may be found in a comparison of seven groups of Boston Whigs (Appendix D). Altogether they included 255 men. The great majority (82%) were on only one list. Nobody appeared on all seven of them, or even six. Two men, and only two, were on as many as five. One was Joseph Warren. The other was Paul Revere.

Fischer, David Hackett (1995). Paul Revere's Ride (pp. 197-198). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.

Next, Appleseed needs to include a story about patriot females. They have the three big stories about Lexington, Concord, and the march to Boston; they also cover a significant act of marksmanship and a "dangerous old man" and a "dangerous old woman." However, there were plenty of women who played important roles. With a quarter of the audience being women, I think it makes sense to emphasize that it wasn't just men in the field that made the difference on April 19th.

WRAPUP

Heather and I have agreed that of all the problems facing our communities, the solution is usually education. I also believe that lack of civic engagement is a crippling disease hollowing out many aspects of our culture (check out "Bowling Alone," which I had to read for a master's class, for more on that topic). However, the media, public schools, and other institutions of public life seem ill-equipped and/or undisposed to address the issue of civic engagement.

Appleseed takes that challenge head-on. The program features a potent mix of very empowering shooting with a powerful and authentic story from an important day in this country's history. What a winning combination to boost people's feeling of self worth, motivate them, and push them to get off the couch and vote, volunteer, or otherwise get engaged!

As for shooting results, everyone in the group improved their shooting. They do a quick assessment test at the start and end of the day and improvement is dramatic. At the start of the day, around half the group wasn't even on target at simulated 100 yards. By the end of the day, ~95% are on target at 100. Substantial percentages improve well beyond that. I personally went from being consistent to 200 yards to being consistent at 300 with good results at 400. I took my AR over to the known distance range and pinged steel at 425 or so on the second round from a field position.

For the AQT (their qualification test), I improved my score from the mid to low 100s to 209 -- one point short of the coveted "rifleman" qual. So, I had to buy dinner on the way home. Still, I was very happy with my groups. My biggest issues were (A) fighting with the somewhat unfamiliar 10/22 rifle and dealing with malfunctions and (B) sight picture. I was shooting with irons and had difficulty finding a good six o'clock hold on the sim 400 yard targets; I had nice tight little groups that were a bit too high, which cost a ton of points.

The instructors have dinner after class on Saturday and all are invited to attend. As the instructors say, "there are no secrets at Appleseed." We went, and I was really impressed by the manner in which they debriefed. Successful organizations identify problems and fixes to document lessons learned. Appleseed does this.

Overall, I was impressed and I will be back to another event. Whether you want to improve your marksmanship (for any reason) or just have a good weekend with your friends and family, Appleseed is a very cost-effective way to get to the range and enjoy a positive, safe experience with a motivational message.

Emergency Bags: First Aid Supplies Part Deux

A few days ago I wrote about the dilemma I had for first aid supplies in the emergency bags.

I have at least temporarily solved it. For now, each bag has:

• $0.99 mini-first aid kit from the department store, supplemented with...
• Extra bandaids (multiple sizes)
• Moleskin
• Gauze for dressings

The extra supplies cost a few bucks when bought in bulk and then farmed out through the kits. Total cost, maybe, say, another buck per kit.

In addition to that, I got the more robust $20 kits for each vehicle. This was a good compromise between having appropriate gear on hand but mitigating the cost of $20+ kits multiplied by five.

NPR Promotes Emergency Preparedness

I'm an NPR listener and supporter. I even wrote a check to KSKA, the Anchorage NPR station, but enclosed a note adding that I appreciated that they did not air anti-2A propaganda pieces. That might surprise some readers, but frankly, if you want decent news on the radio then NPR is the way to go. Obviously there is a slant but the content surpasses that available on other sources in both quantity and quality. KSKA is a particularly good NPR station as far as programming goes, even going so far as to air pro-hunting pieces as well as important coverage of local and native news.

Anyways, over the last few days, NPR has aired a few vignettes talking about the importance of emergency preparedness kits. This only reinforces my discussion over the last few days -- it is smart, sound, and mainstream to be prepared for reasonable, likely emergencies in your local area.

• Car Emergency Kits
• Emergency Preparedness Plans
• Emergency Preparedness Kits

Preparing for an emergency is mainstream and approved across the political and social spectrum. If you don't take reasonable preparations for you and your family in an emergency you are outside the mainstream (and irresponsible!).

Appleseed

Well, we got back late last night from a weekend at Appleseed, shooting with a bunch of bloggers and other folks.  Chris and I had an absolute blast!  I've never had any formal rifle training myself, and I went into the weekend not even confident in my ability to shoot 100 yards.  By the end of the weekend I was hitting gongs out past the 400 yard line on the long distance range.  It was awesome!  I am very proud to have earned my Rifleman badge as well.

Even though it was rainy on Saturday, the range was covered so we stayed nice and comfy.  We started out by shooting the red coat target prior to any instruction to establish a baseline.  The red coat target consisted of simulated 100, 200, 300, and 400 man-sized targets as well as a simulated 250 yard head shot.  You had three shots for each target plus one for the head.  On my first red coat target I wasn't even able to get off all of my shots, thanks to some operator error and an old magazine that wouldn't feed.  I did manage to get my three shots in the 100 yard target, but completely missed the 200 yard target.

After the red coat target, we started in on the instruction.  The shooting basics (sight alignment, picture, etc) didn't do much for me since I have such a strong background in handgun.  On the other hand, the different shooting postures and sling use were all new to me and I found them to be incredibly useful.  They advocate the use of a GI sling, and I agree that the GI sling is great (I shot with it on Sunday), but also teach a method using a regular sling which is nearly as effective.  They also gave the best explanation of natural point of aim that I have ever heard.  We were familiar with the concept before, but not how to put it into practice.

Interspersed through the day were little history lessons and stories.  I'll let Chris talk more about those since he's the resident history buff, but I do know that the book they used as source material is one that Chris has read and approved of.

In the afternoon, we started in on the AQT.  One thing I think they didn't emphasize enough is that you didn't have to shoot the AQT if you weren't ready - you could continue working with the sighting-in target or practice your positions.  They did make that a lot more clear on Sunday.  Anyway, we ran the practice AQT, then two scored AQTs.  I started at a 125ish and rapidly improved to a 180, hampered by the fact that I hadn't done any work on my 10/22 - specifically, I hadn't improved the trigger.  If you're going to run this course with a 10/22, I highly recommend a trigger job!  In all honesty, that heavy stock trigger wore me out so much that I was using two fingers on the trigger by the fourth stage of the AQT.  In fact, Chris is putting in a Midway order as we speak so that I can correct this!

That pretty much finished up Saturday.  They ran a 4-minute AQT which I didn't bother shooting, and another Red Coat target to show how you'd progressed over just a day.  I started off the day clearing only the 100 yard target.  At the end of the day, I cleared 100, 200 and 300 yards plus I got the head shot.  I only missed clearing the 400 yard target by 1 shot, too!  Then we packed up and headed out to dinner with the instructors and some of the other shooters.  At dinner, the instructors ran a debrief, highlighting some areas that they need to improve on and asking for our input.  I really liked seeing that - a hallmark of a good organization.  On Sunday they very clearly addressed all the issues they'd discussed Saturday at dinner.

One big downer is that Ramseur has an agreement with some local churches not to start shooting until noon on Sunday.  At 9 am they did a class on cleaning the 10/22 which really wasn't of much interest to us.  At about 10 or so though we headed up to the long distance range and talked about target acquisition, windage, and all sorts of factors to take into account when shooting at a distance.  I found the lecture to be very interesting and we will definitely be putting the information to good use (or trying to, at least) on the Kodiak trip.

We didn't get started shooting until 12:30 or so.  I was a bit disappointed by that.  If it were me, I'd have had everyone starting the prep period at 11:57 and calling the fire command at exactly noon, so I did feel like there was some wasted time on Sunday morning.  We ran a third Red Coat and many people backslid (though some people were using different guns, which accounted for some of that), but I cleared the 400 yard target... missed the head shot though.  Then it was back into AQTs or black boxes to work on fundamentals as each person needed.  Chris and I scored a 209 and a 208 respectively on the first AQT, which was pretty funny (even if it was a bit annoying at the time!).  I made Rifleman on the next shoot with a 217 but Chris had some mechanical problems.  By then they were letting us move up to the long distance range if we wanted so I broke out my 30.06.  I've really only shot this gun once or twice before and was uncomfortable with the recoil and not at all confident out at one hundred yards.  But the Appleseed training was a huge help - I started at 200 yards, using sandbags instead of a sling, and by my second round of shots I had a nice tight group dead center.  After that I moved out to 400 and started pinging the gongs they had set out.  Unfortunately, they weren't able to get the pop-up targets running.  That was all with reduced recoil loads.  I then switched to my full-power hunting ammo, figuring to sight in for Kodiak.  My groups opened up a few inches, but stayed nice and centered - I'm feeling very comfortable with that gun now!  It's amazing what a good shooting position can do!

I want to emphasize that one ought not necessarily come to an Appleseed expecting to shoot Rifleman the first time.  In fact, I think that focusing on the AQT score is detrimental.  It takes your focus away from actually learning what they are teaching if you are stressing yourself out over qualifying.  There isn't a whole lot of time to practice new techniques if you just want to run AQTs, but the folks I saw who chose to work with the black square targets instead of AQTs were making really great improvements.  Some of the instructors said that it took them nearly a year to shoot Rifleman - do keep that in mind.  As my first firearms instructor said, there's no such thing as a bad day at the range!  And given that Appleseed will let you continue to shoot for free for a year or until you make Rifleman, there's nothing wrong with coming out and learning the new skills, taking them home and practicing, and coming back in a month or two!

I think the bottom line on Appleseed is that it is great training for a pretty unbeatable price.  You just need to know what you are getting into.  This is not self-defense training.  It's not close quarters combat.  It's long distance shooting.  The two are completely different animals and what works for one may not work for the other.  As the instructors said, it's different tools in your toolbox and you can never have too many tools!  We aren't going to be using this training for home defense but we certainly will be using it on our hunting trips and for target shooting!  Remember to do what you need to do and not to get blinded by the scoring or frustrated if someone is progressing faster than you are.  It will help a lot of you bring an appropriate firearm - you can't go wrong with a 10/22 (just get the trigger job done first!), and the training does require a certain amount of physical ability - though they certainly work with you to provide alternatives when needed!

Anyway, as I said at the beginning, we had a blast!  I've been typing a lot and I just looked over to see that Chris has a post he's working on about Appleseed too, so I'm going to hit enter and sneak mine in before he gets done.

Emergency Bags: First Aid Supplies

The Bail Out Bags we use have a good trauma kit for serious life threatening injuries. The rucksacks should have something oriented more towards follow-up care and non-critical injuries. Stuff like bandaids for cuts, preventing infections, treating heat injuries, and so on.

Whatever option I choose, I'm augmenting with moleskin. Happy feet = happy campers and moleskin is essential. Cost: $1.

I will also be augmenting with extra gloves -- I have a ton out in the garage, so that is easy.

The cheapest option is to go with these Assured First Aid Kits. I already have a few laying around the house and could pick up a few more for $4 each. They have the standard assortment of bandaids, alcohol pads, and gauze you'd expect in a small kit. Cost: $~2 per bag after factoring in the ones I have.

The more expensive option is to get a standard office-type kit. There's some on Amazon for ten bucks or so like this one: Medique 40061 First Aid Kit, 61-Piece

Finally, the nicer option is to go with a CDN kit, starting at $20.

I'd like to put some medications in there (basics -- ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea, allergy meds, that sort of stuff) but I am concerned with kids having access to the bags.

Emergency Bags: Morale Items

In an emergency it will be important to keep people's spirits up. There is also likely to be a long period of time with nothing going on which will be pretty boring. No power = no TV. Having some entertainment will be welcome.

• Games: I went to a department store and got a set of playing cards and dice for each bag. Cost: $1.50.
• Book: We have a million paperbacks in the house, so I just tossed one into each bag. Cost: Free.
• Pen & Paper: As already mentioned in a previous post, I included pen and paper which can be used for all sorts of games and diversions.
• Stickers: Kids love stickers. They are cheap, compact, and an easy way to reward kids or keep them distracted. So, I tossed a few sheets of stickers in each bag. Cost: <$0.50.
• Hard Candy: Hard candy doesn't melt, is compact, and is also a good way to reward kids. Having a piece of candy is also a good morale booster for adults. Cost: $1.

Total Cost: $3.

Emergency Bags: "Plus" Items

There are some things I consider "essentials" that don't make the cut for the "ten essentials." So, I've added them to the list and worked out the cost.

• Rope: Rope is pretty important for a lot of things. The cheapest, best way to do this is with paracord. I can get 300' for $20 at CDN then just cut it up into 50' pieces for each ruck. Cost: $4/bag.
• Signal Device: I threw a basic coghlan's tin whistle into each bag. Cost: $2. The orange bandanas can double in this role too, visually at least.
• Rain Gear: When it rains, it pours. So, 2xponchos into each bag. Cost: $2.
• Shelter: I want to throw in a USGI Poncho with poncho liners but they are a bit pricey. Likewise, the Coghlan's emergency tube tent costs $7, which adds up when multiplied out across five packs. So, I'm settling for mylar space blankets and the ponchos (Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets (Pack of 10)
  ). Cost: $1.
• Insect Repellent: I consider this to be on par with sunscreen. The most compact way I've ever found to bring a lot of bug juice is with Uncle Ben's 100% DEET formula (Tender Ben's 100 Max Pump Spray, 1.25 Ounce Bottle). It will take the paint off a car but it sure keeps the bugs away. Cost: $4
• Water: As mentioned, I'm tossing a $10 2-qt canteen into each kit. I am also getting a spare 1-qt canteen to ride in the pack itself ($3). Finally, bottles of portable aqua cost $6 each (Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets). Cost: Another $9 on top of the 2-qt already included at the ruck stage.
• Sanitation: If this is a potential overnight bag if I get stranded somewhere, I want to keep clean and be presentable. So, I threw in a toothbrush with travel tube of toothpaste ($1) and a travel bottle of soap ($1). I also picked up mini rolls of toilet paper (<$1). Finally, I tossed in some disposable razors. I'll throw in some handwipes/hand sanitizer that I already have around the house. Cost: $2.50.
• Office supplies: It is always handy to be able to write stuff down. So I threw in a pocket folder ($0.30), a mini note pad ($0.50), a few pens (free--had 'em around the house), and a sharpy marker (same).

Total Cost for "Plus" Items: $22.50.

Emergency Bags: Ten Essentials

I want to have the "ten essentials" in the backpack. I've done a lot of camping and hiking and the ten essentials really are essential. So, here is the classic list of essentials and how I'm filling the role:

1. Map: I will print a GoogleMap from work to a point near our house and throw it in a ziplock bag. I also have USGS topo maps of the area around the house and I can photocopy the relevant portion and toss it in there. Cost: Free (pennies for the ziplock bag and printer paper).
2. Compass: I tossed in some coghlan brand cheapies I found at a big box store. CTD has some for $2.75. Is it a great compass? No. Will it find north? Probably. Cost: $2.
3. Sunglasses and Sunscreen: I picked up bottles of SPF 50 in travel size for <$1 each. Amazon has tinted safety glasses (Pyramex Alair Safety Eyewear) for $2.50 with free shipping. Cost: $3.50.
4. Extra Clothing: I went through the closet and pulled out some old clothes. Each ruck will have two pairs of boot socks, two pairs of gym socks, and two undershirts/tshirts. The bad thing is that most of this gear is cotton. Cotton is bad. The good thing is that it was free, because I needed to clear the old stuff out of my closets anyways. I would also like to add some underoos in there but just cleared out the dresser, so those will have to wait. I threw in a ball cap for each bag too -- I have a bunch laying around. Cost: Free.
   4+: I also tossed in two orange bandanas (Bandanas by the Dozen (12 units per pack, 100% cotton) for about $1 each. Bandanas are super useful for lots of things, and the bright orange color is good in an emergency to draw attention. Cost: $2
   4++: I threw in a pair of wool glove liners for each bag. Wool is good as it is non-flammable and warm. The bail out bags have leather work gloves, so you could use the liners to double up for extra warmth. Cost: $1.50.
   4+++: Finally, a sturdy belt is not something we always wear but is something that has many uses. I shelled out for a new, basic rigger's belt for each bag. Cost: $2.50.
5. Headlamp/Flashlight: The Bailout Bags have good minimags and/or surefires. So, for the ruck, I am throwing in a handful of lightsticks (Cyalume SnapLight Industrial Grade Chemical Light Sticks, White, 6" Long, 8 Hour Duration (Pack of 10)). They cost about a buck each. I am including 2xwhite, 2xgreen, and 2xred. I am also tossing in a mini-GI style light ($2.89). Cost: $9.
6. First Aid Supplies: This one is the pricey item. Our bail out bags have trauma kits modeled on the IFAK to deal with severe ABCs (airway/breathing/circulation & bleeding) issues. The ruck should have a more general purpose kit. But, I don't want to break the bank. So, more on this later.
7. Firestarter: I am including 2xemergency candles. Cost: <$1.
8. Matches: I tossed in a box of matches. Cost: About $0.30 per box.
9. Knife: The bail out bags have decent multitools in them. Furthermore, I am hesitant to include sharp objects in the rucks as they will be left unsupervised around kids. So, for the rucks, I'm including a set of blunt tip kid scissors. I found them online for $7.50 with shipping but I think I can find them locally for under $1 each. Cost: $1.
10. Extra Food: We have a box of MREs so I'll toss 1-2 MREs in each ruck. I'll also throw in some granola bars and instant oatmeal packets. Cost: Free, I have all this in the pantry already.

Total Cost of Ten Essentials: $22.50. I could shave off $2.50 of that by leaving the sunglasses out. I could also cut down the lighting.

Clearly, firearm sales are dropping

Sturm Ruger can't keep up with demand and has suspended new orders for two months until the end of May.

Emergency Bags: The Bag

The bag I have chosen for our five emergency ruck sacks is the East German Day Pack from Cheaper than Dirt. I selected this pack for one overriding reason: it is really cheap. Like, $4 cheap. The straps look feeble and I don't want to load it too full or carry a heavy load in it. That's ok though -- this is going to spend most of its life in the trunk or corner of an office. The other disadvantage is that it is small: like, 500 cubic inches small. That's a tenth the size of my backpacking ruck and actually a bit smaller than an LAPG bail out bag.

However, did I mention they cost $4?

In order to mitigate the very limited storage space, I am using milsurp 2-qt canteens with shoulder strap for water. They are a bit pricier than 1qt canteens without shoulder strap (I can find those for ~$2.50) but have the advantage of being able to be carried outside the ruck or by a second person. That way the large water container doesn't tie up space inside the pack itself.

Finally, I'm going to cut up an army surplus foam pad I got for $5 into squares to use inside the pack. This gives soft packs a bit of rigidity which helps them carry loads better. Plus, a square of foam is really handy for lots of things (sit on it, use as pillow, clean surface to work on stuff, etc).

Cost:

• Ruck: $4
• 2-qt canteen with shoulder strap: $10
• Square of foam pad: $1

Total Cost Thus Far: $15

Op-Ed From Florida Castle Doctrine law drafter

Interesting perspective on the Zimmerman/Martin shooting from the legislator who sponsored Florida's Castle Doctrine law.

Emergency Bags: Intro

I divide the emergency gear up into a few categories:

• EDC: Stuff on your person all the time.
• Bail Out Bag: Stuff you can grab in <60 seconds. For example, in the cars we have readily accessible kits with first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment (gloves/mask/safety glasses), lightsticks/flashlight/road flare etc. Basically all the stuff to deal with a car wreck.
• The Ruck: Stuff for that 60 second to 48 hour timespan. Basically, all the stuff that is not super time critical but is nice to have, especially if you have an unexpected overnight somewhere.
• Totes for Vehicle Transport: What to pile into the car when you're leaving before the hurricane arrives.

We're good on EDC and Bail Out Bags. I put nice stuff into those bags because (A) I don't need many of them and (B) in time critical situations you need fairly nice stuff in a hurry. However, with Heather starting work and us in a new place we looked at a gap in our plan for the rucks. In Alaska we had a bunch of cold weather clothes and some MREs in the trunk and called it good. That worked because we both worked in urban areas within walking distance of home and our workplaces were very well equipped with emergency gear.

Here, we work in a more rural environment, further from home, and with less robust emergency plans at work. So, we're putting together some ruck sacks. We decided to do five packs: one for each car, plus one for each office (Heather commutes between two places every day). Making five packs means that there is an incentive to economize, because the cost of each item is multiplied by five. However, the good thing is that we have redundancy -- that means that we can give them away to friends and coworkers if need be or have gear for a longer duration emergency.

In the next posts I'll outline what is going into the bags and why. We'll see how cheaply I can do it, too!

Why does the Brady Campaign want to disarm military spouses?

An appeals court case regarding concealed weapons permits, Peterson v. Garcia et al, has been making the blog rounds. The case involves a gay man who is a resident of Washington state. He apparently spends a substantial amount of time in Colorado. Colorado does not honor his WA permit but does not issue permits to non-residents.

Of course, the Brady Campaign strongly opposes any effort to allow gay men to defend themselves from violent predators.

It occurred to me that another group of people that fall into this category are military members and spouses. As some readers may know, the Soldiers & Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) allows active duty military members to retain residency in a state they've previously lived. So, if a soldier is stationed in, say, Texas, then moves to another state, they can retain their Texas residency (and driver's license, car registration, voter registration, tax status, and so on).

This is an older piece of law so folks are fairly familiar with it. It can pose problems for active duty soldiers who are a resident of State A but who physically reside in State B. However, many states will grant "pseudo-Resident" status to soldiers who are stationed there and allow them to get resident permits. For example, Colorado law allows:

A person, who is a member of the Armed Forces and is stationed pursuant to permanent duty station orders at a military installation in this state, and a member of the person’s immediate family living in Colorado, shall be deemed to be a legal resident of the State of Colorado.

In 2009, Congress passed the Military Spouse's Residency Relief Act. This law is similar to but not identical to the SSCRA. It allows spouses to retain a previous domicile after their servicemember is transferred for some purposes including taxation and voter registration, but not all like the SSCRA does.

Residency law is tricky. The most important factor is where you reside and intend to remain indefinitely. That intent is then demonstrated through several subjective factors such as where you are registered to vote, where you pay taxes, where you register your cars/property, where you own real estate, where you get your driver's license, and so on. However, voting and real estate are two very important factors. MSRRA allows spouses to retain residency in State A even when the family is transferred to State B.

Colorado hooks "immediate family members" like spouses up with the general military exemption. However, not all states do. For example, South Carolina does not honor non-resident permits and they also do not extend "pseudo-resident" status to military spouses. North Carolina, which has the slogan "North Carolina - the most military-friendly state in the nation," does not seem to extend the courtesy to military members or their spouses.

So, if you're a military spouse and you're from a state which does issue resident permits, like Alaska, and you have one, and there's reciprocity, you're good. If you're from a state that doesn't issue permits like Illinois or California, then you need to change residency (which may be undesirable, for example, if you're paying tuition to get an advanced degree).

Of course, this would be rectified to a large degree with nation-wide reciprocity. What would be even better would be nationwide reciprocity including non-resident permits, so that spouses could pick up, say, a Florida non-resident permit and be good to go.

Disarmed Again.

With the new job comes the legal necessity of disarming myself for the majority of the day. I work in a gun free zone. I grocery shop in a gun free zone. Even my rehearsal time is in a gun free zone. I don't like it. I did take some time with Chris yesterday to go over my "worst-case scenario" plans for both of my work locations, which helped a bit. Need to make up emergency bags for both places as well.

I really don't understand why more people don't think about these things. Putting the firearms topic completely aside, even, when you are responsible for the safety of others (particularly those who cannot take care of themselves) as everyone in my profession is, you'd darned well better be thinking about emergency procedures, back up options, and more. I just cannot comprehend people who don't think that way. In Alaska, all of my work locations provided us with basic emergency kits in a backpack. Here, the best we get is a handful of band-aids every month. Maybe Alaska's remoteness was a factor in that, but quite frankly there are just as many potential natural disasters here, even if they are different ones and likely to be short-term in nature. Among other things, apparently weather.com has the state ranked in the top ten in the nation for tornadoes and I know for a fact that just a few years ago a twister rolled down the street that both of my work locations are on (side note: I'm terrified of tornadoes. Way moreso than any other natural disasters). Given that, you'd think people might find it necessary to, you know, plan what they might do in the event of a tornado. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

Doomsday Preppers

"It's one of those malfunctions where my thumb went in front of the barrel." Says the prepper who just shot himself in the hand.

Never heard of that malfunction before.  Must be a new one, the type 4, otherwise known as "I'm a moron."

Putting any body part in front of the barrel is not a malfunction.  You are being an idiot.

And that's just the best of them.  There were a whole lot of rules violations going on during this one episode.

Cleaning Day

I had a few spare hours tonight while Heather was out so I sat down to clean the "duty guns." With the move and all it has been rather hectic and I just now got all my supplies set up and organized in the "man cave"/gun room.

The S&W M&Ps were in surprisingly good shape. I'd estimate that Heather has 1500+ rounds through hers since the last cleaning, and I have probably 750+. There wasn't much carbon build up at all, and what little there was cleaned right up. The barrels were good after one wet patch, some light scrubbing, one more wet patch, and about three dry patches. The slides and other surfaces pretty much wiped down. I was impressed. We've been shooting a mix of cheaper American target ammo (Federal and the like) as well as a few mags of carry ammo (to rotate our supply), so nothing unusual.

My AR also got a cleaning. I'd wager it has probably close to a thousand rounds through it. There was a ton of carbon build up on the bolt; it was filthy. Still, I've cleaned a lot of AR-type platforms so it was a pretty quick process.

Of note, none of these firearms have had any sorts of malfunctions despite being run for quite awhile without being cleaned. The M&Ps continue to impress with their reliability (although the triggers are as mushy as ever!). The AR was also running like a champ -- the BCM upper and LMT bolt carrier group seem to have been worth the premium for quality gear.

I've also switched over to CLP. In the past I'd been using a mix of Hoppes and other gun oils/lubes/greases/etc. With the move, I pitched all of my other random oils/lubes so I just bought a big jug of CLP for use on everything. Its simple, its cheap, it works in all temperatures, and I've had good experience with it in the past, so why not go with a proven champ? I eventually want to try out the Miltech I got from Linoge's contest but that is heat activated so I want to put it on right before shooting at the range. I figure in the meantime CLP should be effective at stripping the old gunk as well as lubricating as needed.

CWP Training: Useful or Not?

I recently took an NRA basic pistol class as a step on my road towards catching up with Heather and getting certified as an instructor and/or Range Safety Officer. Part of the class included a CWP certification for two states. I don't need another permit as my Alaska permit has great reciprocity but it made me think about mandatory training.

One of the strangest findings from John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime" (linked below) book which studies the impact of CCW laws was the data showing that more training requirements for CCW permits had no salutory impact. Lott writes:

"The presence or length of the training periods typically show no effect on crime, and although the effects are significant for robbery, the size of the effect is very small. "

John R. Lott Jr.. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition (Kindle Locations 960-961). Kindle Edition.

And requiring five hours of training (rather than none) reduces the number of permits by about two-thirds of a percentage point. In a typical state without any fees or training requirements, the percentage of the population with permits would grow from about 3 percent to a little less than 6 percent after a decade.

John R. Lott Jr.. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition (Kindle Locations 1970-1971). Kindle Edition.

"Longer training requirements imply a larger reduction in crime from right-to-carry laws, but the effect drops off at a diminishing rate. There also seems to be an increase in crime when the length of the training requirement is greater than eight hours. Requiring people to train for more than eight hours means that they must attend training for more than one day, and that greatly reduces the number of people who get a permit.

John R. Lott Jr.. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition (Kindle Locations 3029-3031). Kindle Edition.

There are both costs and benefits to training. Yet the question is ultimately an empirical one. Training requirements improve the deterrence effect for concealed-handgun laws, but the effects are small. What I do find is that longer training periods reduce the number of people obtaining permits, and the net effect of increased training is clearly to reduce the deterrent effect of adopting right-to-carry laws.

John R. Lott Jr.. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition (Kindle Locations 2555-2557). Kindle Edition.

I am a big fan of training and education. However, Lott's data seems to show that there longer training periods have basically no impact on crime levels, other than reducing the number of CCW permit holders (which increases the crime rate).

A recent report from Wisconsin has similar findings.

Opponents of shall-issue legislation in Wisconsin would undoubtedly argue that the two-thirds of shall-issue states with no training requirement, or a one-time requirement, have made a terrible, dangerous mistake. There is no evidence to support such a claim. In fact, as will be shown below, states that have passed shall-issue laws in recent years have reported few problems. For the moment, though, let us take seriously opponents’ concerns about inadequate training. Inadequately trained bearers of concealed weapons might be prone to two kinds of problems: a) accidental shootings, or b) unwitting commission of criminal acts involving a firearm. Unfortunately, we do not have data on either accidental shootings or unwitting commission of gun crimes by concealed weapon permit holders. What we do have, though, are data on permit revocations and suspensions in some of the shall-issue states that have training requirements similar to those proposed in Wisconsin.

I'll follow up this post with a few more, but wanted to use this as a scene setter before I look more into the idea of training for CWPs and why it is or is not effective.

Only Ones Shenanigansin: Use of Force

While dealing with the hassle of checking my weapon into this secure storage facility so I could attend my meetings I asked a few detailed questions so that I could figure out exactly how they wanted me to transport the weapon off-premises later that day and back on the next. There was no written policy or signage with procedures so I wanted to be crystal clear, especially as some places want the weapon in a locked case, some want it in the open so they can see it is clear, etc.

One of the Only Ones in the area mentioned that if he saw someone openly carrying a firearm he'd "F---ing draw down and take the sucker out." Yes, with profanity. I demurred at first because I just wanted to do my business and move on but Mr. Macho Only One kept spouting off on the same theme.

I just played dumb and asked a few questions as the socratic method. "How do you know that's a threat and not a plainclothes officer finishing his shift?" "Did you know open carry of firearms is legal for civilians in this area?" So on. Of course no answers. What shitty use of force training and/or excessive bravado. What an attitude. This sort of clown is going to frat out his partner and take out a friendly cop or citizen some day if he doesn't mature a bit.

It Sparkles in the Sunlight!

But it is definitely not a vampire.  I am officially ready for Appleseed!

Only Ones Shenanigans: Rule 3

This is a follow up to posts over the last few days documenting a rule three violation I witnessed.

For some reason, the Only Ones checking sidearms into this storage facility hang the weapon around a finger in the trigger guard once it is "clear." This technically isn't a violation of "keep your finger off the trigger." However, I think we can all agree that playing "twirl those sixguns" with the booger hook inside the bang-switch cage is probably not the best SOP. I don't flipping care if the gun is "unloaded."

Getting Closer...

On the dog front, the breeder worked some things out so that we should be getting a pup from a litter due on April 1.

We've had some scheduling woes with me unexpectedly getting this new job so soon as far as Kodiak goes, but we worked it out and have a schedule that should allow us 11-12 days hunting.  We've made reservations and put in down payments on things and everything is coming together nicely!  

I'm really really excited about both of these things!

Only Ones Shenanigans: Rule 2

As I previously mentioned in yesterday's post, I had to check a weapon in and out of a secure storage area before attending some meetings in a victim disarmement zone. Today's awful anecdote deals with firearms safety rule #2: never let the muzzle cover anything you aren't willing to destroy.

This organization has terrible muzzle discipline. Once the gun is "unloaded" then they swing it around all over the place. Long guns over the shoulder pointed backwards, sidearms carried by a fingertip, guns on the counter being spun like bottles in a kissing game, etc. It makes me really nervous. One guy had his longgun setting vertically with the toe of the stock down by his feet and the barrel going straight up; he was holding the weapon with his hand right over the muzzle. Eh. I said something and was scoffed.

I winced every time the clerk spun my weapon around (of course, without checking first to see if it was really clear or letting me touch it to lock the slide to the rear -- I guess he trusted me that much). I had to eventually ask the guy to stop muzzling me because I don't like having firearms -- even "unloaded" ones -- pointed in my direction.

The guy was actually really understanding. "We're around guns so much we don't think about flagging folks," he said. "We probably should do better." No shit. At some level I don't care if you blow your own hand off after I mention it to you and you decide that your Only One status protects you from negligent discharges, but when you're going to muzzle me then I take it personally.

What are the odds...

So I was hoping to spam you all with cute adorable puppy pictures around now - the litter dropped just recently, seven pups.

All female.

Pretty sad, honestly, this litter was going to be perfect timing for us.  Still waiting to hear back about the timeline for a future litter or if we'll have to figure something else out.

Only Ones Shenanigans: Rule 1

I have been commuting into a location which is a victim disarmament zone for some meetings. Luckily, they follow the three S rule (kind of): Secure storage, signed clearly, and security (this last one is a bit weak but they're trying).

At the secure storage window I have seen all sorts of shenanigans with the weapons custodian and the "only ones" (uniformed LE types) who are turning in weapons at the ends of shifts. I plan on posting a few of the more disturbing anecdotes here. Really, I have been shocked and/or appalled. I'm not saying all LE types are this bad. This particular facility just has some terrible practices that may get someone hurt.

I figured why not start with the rules of gun safety: "All guns are always loaded" is first, right?

So when I checked my sidearm out today, they wanted me to take it right out to the car in its little locked box. I instead wanted to go to the clearing area and immediately verify its status. "Why would you need to do that?" says the storage clerk. "We haven't loaded it!" I politely demurr and go check to verify that it is indeed clear.

Meanwhile, while I'm locking my slide back and probulating the chamber with a finger, an Only One has been waiting to check in his weapon at shift change. He turns it in and when the clerk racked the slide to verify that it was clear, out popped a round. Oops! Remember, for those reading at home: to unload a semiauto, drop the mag, then rack the slide.

Indeed. That is why I check the status of any weapon I come across, and when I think it is unloaded, I triple check with two senses (look and feel!) and rack that slide one more time just to be sure. Repeat after me: All Guns Are Always Loaded.

Reminder!

Appleseed is coming up very quickly!  I really need to get my 10/22 rigged, but the new job is kicking my butt, so I'm hoping Chris might have gotten me a few things for my upcoming birthday...

Alaska Supreme Court considers Protection in Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

The Alaska Supreme Court just heard arguments in the Rayco case, where a felon walked out of a Juneau gun store with a 10/22 and then committed a murder. The Brady Bunch filed a lawsuit. Rayco is trying to have it dismissed under PLCAA.

Generally a good article except for a dig at the end. The anti-gun folks seem to be on a state's rights bandwagon these days.

Check Your Lead

There's a good article up at Gun Nuts Media describing the issues with lead contamination. Luckily, our first instructor, Steve, the owner of Alaska Tactical (highly recommended!), highlighted this issue for us. He mentioned that he has his lead level tested annually.

At our annual checkups this year, both Heather and I asked to have the lab draw blood and check our lead levels. I needed blood work done anyways. In both cases the doc was confused a bit, but then once we explained that we're shooters yada yada yada; the doc understood and put in the lab work.

If this sort of test is covered under your medical plan and you do a lot of shooting it seems to make sense to have it done. I don't plan on having my lead level checked annually like Steve does but it is nice to have a baseline in my medical record, and now I can have it checked every few years to see if there are any significant deviations.

Range Day

Since I got my gorgeous new chimaera holster, I figured I ought to take the Taurus out to the range again.  I wasn't super happy the first time, but figured it just needed to be broken in and cleaned.  With the new job I haven't gotten around to the cleaning part, but I could work on the breaking in part!

The PMC ammunition still fed very poorly.  The Hornady, however, was much better, with only one stovepipe out of the whole box and no failure to fires, so I feel a lot better about carrying the Taurus with that ammunition.  I also ran through another type, Winchester, maybe?  I don't recall.  That fed better than the PMC, but not quite as good as the Hornady.  The RSO also helped me out a bit with some oil - he'd come over to tell me how good I was shooting (I didn't think so, but again, I'm a perfectionist), and we started chatting about the Taurus and how it was new and all, comparing holsters and stuff.  Nice guy.

So, a productive range day!

QOTD: "Can't Believe Everything on the Internet"

I recently took an NRA Basic Pistol class. I didn't anticipate learning much, but it is a necessary stepping stone to getting my NRA Pistol Instructor cert and then Range Safety Officer.

During the class the instructor was explaining the difference between revolvers and semiauto pistols. At one point he digressed a bit and asked the class what they would call a smoothbore pistol. My ears pricked up and I considered an answer. I almost said "a blunderbuss matey, yarr!" but decided to suppress my inner pirate. Instead, I offered up, "an any other weapon regulated under the NFA with tax stamp."

I was then lectured on how the correct answer was a black powder weapon. The instructor also threw a self assured, "you can't believe everything you read on the internet, that's why you need to take more courses like this!"

Alrighty, then.

Go ahead and shoot a smoothbore pistol without your tax stamp. You can call me from Club Fed and I'll tell you, "told you so!"

Preparedness: Bread Edition

Wandering away from the guns for a moment, we've talked previously about storing food for emergency situations.  Staple foods are the most cost-efficient way of doing this, but they will be very useless if you don't know how to use them.  It's a good idea to have a few recipes down, and a better idea to practice them before you need them.

Anyway, I was pondering this Sunday as I was making a loaf of bread.  It struck me that the recipe would be a particularly good one, given that it used only wild yeast, wheat flour (which I ground myself from our staple supply), salt, water, and a heat source.  It doesn't get much simpler than that!  However, working with breads definitely has a learning curve and working with wild yeast has another learning curve.  If you want to be making leavened bread when TSHTF, you should probably start now.  It's a lot easier to build a starter in your nice kitchen, AC going, not worrying about Zombies or whatever, because your first few tries will probably end badly!

If you're interested in learning how to make bread, I highly recommend trying your hand at the Bread Baker's Apprentice challenge.  Basically, you buy the book and work through it front to back, recipe by recipe.  Many of the recipes aren't particularly good as-is for a SHTF scenerio, but you are still learning techniques and skills.  I'm more than 3/4s of the way done and pretty confident in my ability to take some flour, salt, water and wild yeast and come up with a viable bread off the top of my head.

Plus, my husband and coworkers love eating all the bread I make!

It's like Christmas...

...Whenever you get a package from Dragon Leatherworks in your mailbox!

Back in January, I mentioned that I was looking for a fanny-pack style holster.  I got some excellent advice, so I took that advice and ended up going to Dennis.  I asked if he could figure out a way to attach one of his Wyvern holsters into a pack for me.  Dennis, being the awesome guy he is, took that idea and ran with it, coming up with his Chimaera holster, and today my very own Chimaera showed up in the mail.

The detachable wallet flap - blue stingray on the front and the Dragon Leatherworks logo on the back.

Fanny-pack

Plus gun!

I haven't had too much time to play around with it, having opened the box all of thirty minutes ago, but I did try a few draw strokes and the holster releases very smoothly.  I'm really excited - it looks like this will work perfectly for what I need.  The only problem is that it is far too pretty to be hidden away and concealed!  Dennis seems to have that problem with his holsters quite frequently!

Alaska Duty-to-Retreat Bill

NRA alert about a hearing for a bill that removes the duty to retreat anywhere you have a right to be.

I'm a strong supporter of Castle Doctrine in your home. Alaska already strips the duty to retreat in public places if you're accompanied by a minor or member of your household, at work, or at home. Alaska law also allows you to stand in the shoes of a third person if that third person would be justified in using deadly force.

So while this is an ok law and I lukewarmly support it, I don't feel super strongly about it. We don't seem to see many baseless prosecutions for legit self defense cases. I also don't think it is a terrible idea to require civilians to try to withdraw from a situation in a public place if there isn't a loved one in the mix.

When Seconds Count

Both the sheriff's office and Wilson declined to provide further detail of the events that unfolded in the high school cafeteria about 7:45 a.m...

...Around 8:45, the Lake County SWAT team arrived with two large vehicles.

Link

LOL Cat

We have a rather clever cat. We generally focus on a positive reward strategy; it is more effective and less frustrating than punishment. He's even learned some tricks/commands. However, we, like many cat owners, do have a water squirt bottle which can be used to modify undesirable feline behavior if necessary.

Our cat has figured out that if nobody is wielding The Spritz Bottle of Doom, then it cannot squirt him with water. He's started hopping up on the counter (where cats are Not Allowed, and he is well aware that he is Not Allowed there but hops up anyways) and cuddling brazenly right next to the squirt bottle.

As soon as you pick up the spritz bottle, he goes to condition orange. Once it has been pointed at him, he winces and considers relocating.

Its almost like the cat understands ability, opportunity and jeopardy; he can operate in the Cooper Color Code system; he realizes that inanimate objects are generally inert unless operated by someone.

That's pretty impressive considering what you can find on the internets about people.