Just in Time for Christmas – Turn Your SIG Into a Christmas Tree

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September 22, 2011

Look what the e-mailman dragged in the other day. For the low, low package price of only $259.95, you can now turn a well-balanced, top quality production pistol into a five pound muzzle-heavy un-carryable block of customized multi-tasking glory. It’ll make your SIG SAUER Classic ™ gun even more Classic-er. Even if you’re not a competitive shooter or tactical operator, can’t you just hear the admiring comments from your buds down at the range? OK, so you won’t be able to buy a holster for it. Don’t worry. It’s only a matter of time before I get another email from the fine folks at SIG letting me know they have a sling available for this thing. And I’m sure there’s a spot to put a star on top of that red dot. Somewhere.

TASER XREP Shotgun Round Cleared in Moat Suicide. Ish.

By

Robert Farago

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September 22, 2011

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFywtLdjQvE&feature=related

Here’s the scene, via independent.co.uk: “The ex-doorman was sitting in Rothbury, Northumberland, with a sawn-off shotgun pointing at his temple when the Taser hit him. Moments later he fired, blowing a hole straight through his brain.” At the time, Raoul Moat had just murdered his wife’s boyfriend and blinded a police officer. The cops had him cornered. They were about 10m away. A policeman shot him with a TASER X-12 shotgun firing an XREP round–despite the fact that none of the officers involved had training in the weapon’s use. The incident has become the subject of much gruesome speculation . . .

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Hollywood Trigger Discipline Triggers Newbie’s Tribulations

By

Eric

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September 22, 2011

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I went to the movies with the wife last night to watch Seven Days in Utopia. While in the lobby, I counted ten depictions of actors with guns in the various billboard advertisements. One had finger on the trigger in the process of shooting. Eight had a finger on the trigger in various manners while handling/holding the gun. One of these had a finger on the trigger while racking the slide . . . what could possibly go wrong? Killer Elite? I don’t think so. One of the bad boys had proper trigger discipline; kudos to Robert De Niro. I have only noticed guns in the media the last few months. But I have to say, overall the depictions sadden me greatly; both in their glorification/excitation of the tool and their depictions of its mis-handling. Is this part of becoming a gun guy? Sigh.

ATF Death Watch 86: NOW Do You Believe Me?

By

Robert Farago

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September 22, 2011

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For months, I’ve asserted that Operation Fast and Furious had nothing to do with catching “the big fish” swimming in the “Iron River” of U.S. gun store guns allegedly flowing to Mexican drug thugs. The ATF’s supposed “botched sting” was actually part of a wider U.S. government effort to destroy the Mexican drug cartel known as Los Zetas. In fact, Fast and Furious (and Operation Castaway) was specifically designed to arm the Sinaloas and their pals against the Zetas, who threaten to take control of the drug corridor leading into the United States. And now there’s new evidence linking the ATF to Uncle Sam’s covert anti-Zetas campaign. But first, a quick recap . . .

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Question of the Day: How Well Are You Insured?

By

Dan Zimmerman

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September 21, 2011

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RF’s said it a hundred times if he’s said it once. Use your gun, call your lawyer. And prepare to open your wallet. Successfully defending yourself against an attack is the the whole point of carrying a gun. What people don’t always consider is that you could then have to defend yourself in court.

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TTAG To Cover Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot

By

Foghorn

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September 21, 2011

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Every shooter has a bucket list of things they want to do. For me, my list was pretty simple. Hit a target at 1,000 yards. Fire something in .50 BMG. Try not to get hit in the face by a Desert Eagle. Fire a machine gun. Go to SHOT. Most of those things I’ve done (or will do in January), but there’s one big thing left on my list: Attend the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. I just got the word that RF is making that particular dream come true, and you’re all coming with me.

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The Guns of Top Shot, Season Three Episode Seven: Smith & Wesson 686, Volquartsen I-Fluted Rimfire Rifle and “Pinkerton” Schofield

By

Robert Farago

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September 21, 2011

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Regular readers will know that competitor Dustin Ellermann [above] reacted to a post-elimination interview with Paul Marinaccio by blacklisting TTAG from Top Shot. Quite what that means is anybody’s guess. One thing’s for sure: our telephone interview with Top Shot host Colby Donaldson will have to wait until the Survivor survivor realizes that the Truth will set you free. So, forever, then. But this truth we hold to be self-evident: the Smith and Wesson 686 is the finest revolver ever made . . .

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Chart Porn: US Firearms Manufacturing by Firearm Type 1998 – 2010

By

Foghorn

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September 21, 2011

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Earlier this morning Magoo challenged me to prove that firearms ownership has increased over the last few years. Luckily, the ATF keeps a record of how many firearms and of what type are produced each year. So here, Magoo, is your proof (note: the ATF breaks out handguns into “pistols,” probably meaning semi-autos, and “revolvers”). Combine this with the NICS statistics we posted the other day and the answer seems pretty “common sense…”

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Latest Threat to Your Gun Rights: The Late Night Munchies

By

Dan Zimmerman

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September 21, 2011

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A burger without ketchup. A hot dog with no mustard. Breakfast without O.J. (it’s like a day without sunshine). They’re all virtually unthinkable. You get your mouth all set for something delicious, something that will hit the spot just perfectly, and the lack of the appropriate condiment can ruin the whole experience. Think about that for a minute. Now you know how Jeremy Combs felt…

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NSSF: It’s a Modern Sporting Rifle Dammit

By

Robert Farago

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September 21, 2011

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The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is the American firearms industry’s lobby group. And a damn fine job it does too. Only sometimes not so much. Two years ago, the NSSF launched a campaign to “re-brand” assault rifles as “modern sporting rifles.” Yes, well, anyone remember the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act of 1993? No? How about “The Federal Assault Weapons Ban”? Well exactly. Still, when Eric at Gunmart Blog wrote an essay entitled I Dont like the Term “Modern Sporting Rifle,” the NSSF felt obliged to defend their failed attempt at Orwellian language modification and accuse our pal of sedition . . .

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Macon, GA Fire Chief: We Will Punish Gun Pranksters

By

Robert Farago

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September 21, 2011

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Oh yeah, that was a good idea. Not. After the media seized on this YouTube mayhem, an “appalled” Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins declared that he would discuss it with the union steward. I mean, slap the offender on the wrist. I mean, take disciplinary action against the seven firefighters seen in a “prank” video, perpetrated against two rookies. Here’s an interesting question. What if one of the rookies had been armed? [Note: watch it while you can. Odds are this one’s gonna disappear down the memory hole right quick.]

Gear Review: Model 53 Cozy Partner Ankle Holster

By

Eric

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September 21, 2011

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I’ve been considering ankle carry as a possible solution to the concealment challenges posed by my workplace Dockers/button-down attire. As a medical professional, I’m extremely mobile; I sit and walk constantly and have up-close-and-personal interactions with dozens of people each day. Tuckable holsters work well, but they’re uncomfortable and I’m extremely reluctant to change my entire wardrobe to accomodate a pistol. Pocket carry works—until I sit down. So I ordered up a Model 53 Thumb Break Ankle Holster from Renegade. The telephone-only customer service was excellent. The holster arrived in two days. The price was right ($57.95). Saying that . . .

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