Father's Day

I'm struggling for words to express what is in my mind this Father's day.

It is the first Father's day after my Dad has passed away. While we were reconciled these last three years, it wasn't always like that. Dad was "cantankerous" to say the least and for many years we didn't really talk or know each other.

I think a person's legacy is truly in the way people remember them, if that is the case I'll remember my father as he was in the last 3 years. I won't go into the details, those really are just family business but he changed and grew.

I was glad my kids had a chance to get to know him and learn a little about him. We didn't get to spend enough time with him as a family, I don't know if there is ever enough time for that.

Dad left many legacies, mostly memories -good and bad but few possessions as legacies. Some computer equipment that will last a few years at most, some records and stereo equipment from decades ago, some photographs that need to be scanned and a couple of firearms. Out of all those, the firearms are going to last the longest. The firearms will be something that years from now that I can use to tell my kids, and my kids can tell theirs and on.

To honor my father today...here is one of those lasting legacies.


Ruger GP-100 with a 3 inch barrel

(click to enlarge)

It was through this firearm that I learned how Dad spent some of his time. When he moved to Mississippi, he took up hunting again. I learned how he enjoyed spending time with several of my cousins, I learned about them while listening to his hunting stories.

Through this firearm, I came to know more about my father; his joys, his family, his stories, his passion.....not a bad legacy is it?

Dad, we miss you.

To all the Fathers out there, I hope that you enjoy the day and especially your family.

June Range Report

Okay, finally made it back out to the range. Good news, I can hit a target with the Taurus, bad news I'm not as accurate as I would like to be.

And as I know that no post would be complete without pictures, here we go. (click to enlarge all pics)

 

This is the view from the 7 yard line. The range has been certified by the Department of Public Safety for CHL testing so we have permanent 3, 7, & 15 yard lines. 

I arrived at the clubat 9 am, there were already a dozen people on the various ranges, by the time I had left there were probably 40 people out there. That is the most I've seen in a long while on a week day.

Many folks were trying to get some practice in before it got too hot. By 10 it was already 90 degrees.

Here is the first group - 30 rounds of Winchester white box 

One shot at the edge of the target; everything else at least was on the black. Shooting  extremely low and left...probably jerking the trigger for the left. But the sights are the problem for low. Have to figure out what is going on with that.

I am still not sure about the Heinie sights on the PT-145....wondering if I should keep them or replace them. Probably will keep them for a while. Anyone have any experience with them or the Millennium Pro PT-145s?

After taking a break to hydrate (very important in the Texas sun...even if the firing line was shaded and covered) changing targets..I ran another 2 magazines through.

Still low left mostly but getting better. Actually had 1 in the X Ring  :)


Currently, my supply isn't as high as I would like so I'm trying to balance expending rounds, getting enough practice and shooting enough to give me an idea of what I'm doing wrong.

Luckily, I have great in-laws. My Texas Father In Law has loaned me a couple of 22s, a revolver and a semi to extend my practice time.

I did better with the "traditional" sites on the Browning Buckmark that I used to today. I probably ran about 150-160 rounds through it. This set of pictures is typical of the shooting I was able to do with the Browning

Again the range was 7 yards using a standard B7 target. Still slightly left, jerking the trigger, right?

 

The range provides targets for those that don't bring their own. That is an 8.5" by 11" sheet, standard copy paper size. I believe the center square is 1 inch.

I was a good day; put some lead down range, getting better with the Taurus, proved I can hit something and meet some other club members.

Please leave a comment,

Defensive Gun Uses - Reasonableness Test

One of the issues I often encounter online is people not believing how many times firearms are used defensively to stop crime.

So, thinking about it I decided to see if it was reasonable or not to believe the numbers.

Dr. Gary Kleck's survey determined that as many as 2,500,000 times a year someone uses a firearms to stop or prevent a crime....is that number outrageous as some people claim?

Let's examine it and see.

There are an estimated 80,000,000 gun owners in America. Let's assume that each defensive gun use is done by a different person.

2,500,000 divided by 365 days equals 6,850 uses per day.

Sounds like a lot until you consider that 80 million people own firearms.

(6,850 divided by 80,000,000)*100 = 0.0085625%


Okay, so is it reasonable to say that less then 0.01% of gun owners each day use their firearms to stop or prevent a crime? I think it is.

Let's assume that most gun owners never have to use their firearms, or the presence of their firearms never stops a crime...if only 10% of the gun owners use their firearms
(6,850 divided by 8,000,000)*100 = 0.085625%

- that is still less than a tenth of a percent of gun owners per day -- at 2.5 million DGUs. Is it reasonable to say that 0.1% of gun owners might use their firearms to stop a crime each day? I think it is?



I think most people will readily recognize the reality behind the situation. It will be a typical bell curve, most people never use their firearms to stop a crime, some people will use them once or twice, others will use them multiple times a year.

So, is it reasonable to say there might be 2,500,000 defensive gun uses a year?
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Sore Subject

Alternate Title - Bob's attempt at justifying spending money on more guns or equipment.

Okay folks, a lesson that has been said many times by many people. If you can't carry comfortably, you probably won't carry. This was brought home to me in a very real way due to my recent appendectomy.

My normal carry piece is my Taurus Millennium Pro PT-145 using an Ace Case Inside the Waist Tuckable Holster. My abdomen could not have supported the weight of the PT-145 for very long in comfort. Nor would it have advisable to have that much weight pulling on the incisions. Incisions that were only closed by medical glue, no sutures involved.



I would like to have several different options to carry the PT-145 instead of just IWB. Ankle holsters wouldn't have worked because of the extreme difficulty in bending over but a shoulder holster rig should have acceptable.

Or I could get something that wouldn't weigh heavily and still be able to carry IWB; something like the Kel-Tec P3AT. I saw a couple of those at the Gun Show and was amazed at how light, thin and concealable they were.


So, the importance of not relaying on one system became very apparent. Luckily, I have a mouse gun that I can carry as a back up. It's puny caliber (.25) is not one I want to rely on every day, but it is my "when I can't carry a gun" gun. I pocket carry it and the weight is nearly negligible.


Folks, for those who are married and have to convince the comptroller that spending money on firearms or holsters is a good thing, please use this as an example. Should our safety be jeopardized due to temporary physical limitations or should we have alternate methods of safety available.

Bleg - shotgun round suggestion

Okay folks, once again I get to show off how much of a newbie I am.

I'm looking for some assistance in determining what to consider when selecting a round for my shot gun.

I currently have a Beretta White Wing Over/Under 12 gauge shotgun that is my back up home defense weapon. It is chambered for 2 &3/4 or 3 inch shells (hope I have that right).

My problem is the construction of my house. Below is my very feeble attempt at being an architect. The roundish unmarked area is the enclosed sun room. The bedrooms across from each other have sliding glass doors and their is a door near the garage. The rest of the room is all windows (subject for another day).


(drawing not to scale or entirely accurate but concept and arrangement is accurate)

So, I'm concerned about over penetration definitely.

I have been looking for an acceptable home defense load for the shotgun, any suggestions?

I've read a little bit and I'm leaning toward something like #4 shot but honestly don't know enough to know if I'm in the right ball park.


Since I don't believe in having a firearms without ammunition, I picked up a couple 5 round boxes of double 00 buck shot.


One of the great things about this community of our is the willingness of others to help and teach others...I never forget how much every person is willing to share with the newbies like me.

Any advice or suggestions welcomed and appreciated

BAG Day Purchase

Welcome,

For my inaugural post, I thought I would start off right.

Here is my Buy A Gun Day purchase. Circumstances allowed it to be purchased a little early but with the PT-145 being rather scarce I didn't want to wait around.






A Taurus Millennium Pro PT-145

Model:	145BP
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Capacity:	10+1
Barrel Length:	3.25"
Action:	DA/SA
Finish:	Blue Steel
Grips:	Checkered Polymer
Weight:	22.2 oz
Construction:	Polymer/Steel
Frame:	Compact
Front Sight:	Heinie
Rear Sight:	Straight-8
Trigger Type:	Smooth
Length:	6.125"
Width:	1.25"
Height:	5.125"
Rate of Twist:	1:16"
Grooves:	6
Safety:	Firing Pin Block,Manual Safety,Manual Safety,Trigger Block

I want to thank everyone for stopping by and those who have encouraged me to start my own blog.

We'll see how this goes and if I can keep this up.