Gun Loving John

NRA Convention

I attended the NRA convention in Phoenix.  The trip was awesome. Met LT Col Oliver North, Wayne LaPierre, and Ted Nugent.  More to come.

My Second Favorite Christmas

 

My Second Favorite Christmas

I am the youngest of nine.  Six girls followed by three boys. Dad was a World War 2 veteran, US Navy South Pacific, USS Alhena.  Google it sometime.

Christmases were always a fun time.  We nine kids understood the meaning of Christmas, no, not the “Spirit of Christmas” crap that is pawned off on the world today.  The Story of the Virgin Birth , of the coming of the Savior of the World.

 Dad always got us gifts for Christmas.  He was a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that did not compromise his principles nor his belief that the Bible was the infallible Word of God. Preachers like that (the ones that will make sure you get to heaven or at least know about each and every pitfall that can stop you) do not get large congregations and work a real job during the week to earn a living.   He worked hard for a living and the earliest Christmases I remember had few gifts for every one of us kids.  They were never expensive, they were what we could afford. But the thought was there.   

The first gift I remember receiving was around the time I was 5 or 6 it was a dart gun. You know with the plastic darts with suction cups I even remember where they bought it and snuck it out to the car, on the square in Marion from Woolworths if I remember correctly.  My first gun was a blue plastic dart gun. 

But my Second Favorite Christmas was the one I’ll never forget.  It was in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 900 miles from where I grew up.  I was in the Marine Corps getting ready to deploy to Operation Desert Shield, which would become Desert Storm. When I say getting “Ready to Deploy” I mean 2-3 days after Christmas I was to be on a plane flying to Killragheadistan.  We were advised a few days before Christmas that we would be given a 36 hour liberty starting around 1200 Christmas Eve to show up back at the Camp by 0000 hours December 26.  I called home and mentioned that I had l a 36 and would be going somewhere with some other Marines. (Probably getting in the Christmas spirits, but I left that detail out.)   I do not know how the plans back home came together so quickly, but my mom and dad decided to drive to Camp Lejeune and spend Christmas with me, Apparently the rest of the family was going to postpone Christmas until they returned. 

One thing a Marine Grunt does not watch is the Weather Channel , or TV, for that matter.  It doesn't;’t matter what the weather is doing, if you are outside it is what it is.  If I had been near a TV, I would have seen the ice storm they would have had to drive through and called and told them some story about my squad’s liberty being yanked and we had to pull duty or something to keep them from braving the ice.  The braved it anyway, and looking back, I am glad they did.

We, the entire battalion, were returning from a 6 mile run, when I saw their car arrive, I ran to change into my civvies, or civilian attire, sign out and go to town.   I ran to meet them.  I told them I had a small list of items I would need before deployment. We went to Kmart and I rounded up the batteries and electric razor and toiletries, I think the bill was around 20 bucks. Dad paid for it and said,” Merry Christmas!”  We then went to a North Carolina local eatery and had dinner.   We had to drive around 40-50 miles to find a hotel.  Dad and mom got a room and they got me my own room.  Shortly after I was in my room, the phone rang, it was the front desk, “Hello, are you the Marine going to Desert Shield?”  I replied in the affirmative, “Well, thank you, and please enjoy any and all movies In the room free of charge. Merry Christmas!”  I stayed awake most of that night watching free movies.

Christmas Morning broke early.  We headed back in to Jacksonville , the car had some small problem and we found a garage that was open.  As we were driving through the Carolina Pines on a sunny Christmas morning we listened to the Charlie Daniels Christmas Special. We stopped and had breakfast somewhere, then went to Saigon Sam’s Surplus Salvage, yes; it was open on Christmas Day.  Dad and Mom bought themselves some team colors  "Chocolate Chip” Desert Camouflage and bumper stickers.  We went back to Camp Lejeune and I checked back in. They started back on their 20 plus hour ice storm laden drive. 

I, the youngest of nine ,  had my parents to myself for one Christmas.  I did not intend to be selfish and keep them to myself, it just happened that year by circumstance.  Thank you to the rest of my family for that Christmas.  

That is the story of my Second Favorite Christmas, “What is your Most Favorite Christmas?” you ask.

That’s easy; I wasn’t there. My favorite Christmas is the First Christmas, The Birth of my Dear Savior, when He was deployed to save the world from an evil tyrant.

Movies

Movies that I recommend in no particular order.

1. Felon

2. Boondock Saints

3. Shooter

4. Second Hand Lions

5. Alamo-the original not the new remake Politically correct BS

6. American Carrol

7. Breakheart Pass

Sorry it's been a while.

It has been a while since I blogged. A lot has happenedsince I last blogged in, some good, some not so good. So I can get this out of the way I made a list of what has happened in cchronological order. 

1. Planned to go to Michigan State IDPA Championship September 14th with 4 friends and my wife AKA PRETTY PISTOLERA. 

2. Was teaching a Class on September 10th near Percy Illinois. At the beginning of the class my cell phone rang. My father in law's 3 plus year fight with cancer was taking a turn for the worse. Finished the class somewhat distracted, took off to the hospital after the class was dismissed.

3. My lovely and STRONG bride insisted that I attend the aforementioned Match.  Bob was in bad shape so I checked availability of flights returning from Michigan just in case. I attended the match knowing that Bob was going to be around for at least a few more days.

4. I shot what had to be my best match to date.  I finished first place Stock Service Pistol Sharpshooter Class and was "bumped" up to Expert Stock Service Pistol. I also was the most accurate shooter in the match with only 24 points down the entire match. More on that later.

5. I returned home on Sunday night.  Bob fought hard but he mercifully escaped the suffering of cancer on the following Thursday evening. He went to be with Jesus and for that we are thankful. Tuesday the 23rd was the day of the funeral.  

6. I have been getting ready to go to the IDPA National Championship. I am shooting ESP Marksman.  My Special double triple quadruple checked ammunition arrived in Allentown PA on Friday Thanks to some good friends delivering it. Thad and Duck took it to Larry, Larry took it to Dan, Steve and Dan shipped it to Allentown with the proper ORMD specs on the box.    I am shooting the local practice night Tuesday and will fly out early Wednesday morning to Philly.

Stay tuned for more blogs.

I intend to blog from Philadelphia as I am going to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, And Benjamin Franklin's final resting place.

As much as I love American and our Founding Fathers, I wish I had more time to spend in New England.  But that will have to come later.   

Picture is worth a thousand words, Especially when it is backed by history.

Wow, I breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his Veep Choice.  She is a breath of fresh air to the Grand Old Party.  She believes in Gun Rights, including, GASP, the right to own So-Called Assault weapons.   Sarah the moose hunter, Sarah the Pro- Gun has arrived. I think those "Namby Pamby" Chicago/Delaware Simpering Wussies of the Loonie Left are going to be put in their unelected place by a lady from the North.  HOOORAY FOR SARAH PALIN. 

Here is the video that shows Governor Palin with an AR and an Aimpoint.

Criminals prefer Defenseless Victims

Watch this video. 

Barack Hussein Obama's Ten point Plan to "Change" the 2nd Amendment

1. Ban use Of Firearms for Home Defense.

2. Pass Federal laws eliminating your Right-to-Carry.

3. Ban the Manufacture, Sale, and Possession of all Handguns.

4. Close down 90% of the gun shops in America.

5. BanRifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.

6. Increase Federal taxes on guns and ammunition by 500 percent.

7. Restoring voting rights for 5,000,000 Criminals including those who have been convicted of using a gun to commit a violent crime.

8. Expand The Clinton semi-auto ban to include millions more firearms.

9. Mandate a government-issued license to purchase a firearm.

10. Appoint Judges to the US Supreme Court and Federal Judiciary who share his views on the Second Amendment.

Smarten up

I run into some strange ducks at gun-shows, and even stranger ones on the Internet.  The worst by far are know-it-alls that find out something they did not previously know.  They quickly apply the, "I know it all, I did not know this, so therefore this (insert whatever factual concept) cannot be true!" These no talent ass-clowns are as annoying as cockle-burrs in a jockstrap. 

I enjoy shooting firearms, maybe too much if that is possible.  I also enjoy learning.  I have yet to teach a class that I myself do not learn something new.  I love to glean information that expands my knowledge.  I try to learn something from everyone I meet. Some teach me how to shoot, others teach me how to react to certain situations.  Still others teach me how not to be.

Sometimes some of the biggest anti-gun people are actually gun-owners.  They are the discouragers that make up 1%.  They concentrate on what you cannot do rather than what you can do.  These people try to ignore the facts that Illinois citizens can get a Florida Concealed Weapons permit.  They argue that the permit is no good in Illinois. My reply to that  has always been, "You cannot consummate a marriage at the altar,  but that did not stop you from getting married there." 

If you are one of these discouraging "know it alls"  shut up until you have time to smarten up.  Start being a winner instead of a whiner.  Then again they are not reading this...afraid they might learn something.

To all you good gun owners out there keep up the shooting and recruiting.  If we do not encourage others into our sport then firearm use is doomed.

Ask the Gunsmith 9MM VS 38 Special

A graduate of gunlovingjohn.com's Florida CCW Class asked a great question last night.

What is the difference in power between a Snub-nose .38 Special and a Glock 26 9mm?

Answer: Power Factor referred to henceforth as PF is a number that is the Velocity times the weight of the projectile.  So a 115 grain 9mm with a velocity of  1175 fps = PF of 135,125. The .38 Special has a power factor of 105,000 out of a 4" barrel.  It loses some velocity out of the shorter barrel of a Snub-nose .38. 

So lets break it down numerically.

These numbers are for Winchester White box

Snub-nose 5 Shot .38 Special.  5 shots  x 105,000 =Total PF 525,000 

Glock 26  10 Shot  9mm      10 shots x135.125 = Total PF 1,351250

9mm has  over 25% more power per round of Winchester white box over 38 special white box  

Hornady TAP Ammo has the following differences

.38 Special 158 Grain TAP  has 199 ft-lbs x 5 = combined 995 ft-lbs

147 grain has 310 Ft-lbs x 10  = combined   3100 ft-lbs    

Per round the 9mm TAP has 55% more power than the 38 special TAP ammunition. 

Looking at power factor combined with capacity the Glock 26 has 200% more power than the 5 Shot Snub-nose .38 with both firearms loaded with premium ammunition.

            

Kel-Tec PLR 22 Review

Sometimes you see a new gun and it is a must have.  I saw such a firearm at the Kel-Tec booth at 2008 SHOT Show.  It was the PLR 22. A politically incorrect plinker with a 27 round magazine.  I wasted no time and as I work for an licensed dealer I called our distributor from the floor of SHOT Show and Informed him of what as coming down the pike and asked to be placed on the waiting list. 

Well, last week it came in. I filled out a 4473, which if you accidentally type it in with the shift key depressed  is a $$&#.  Monday I picked the plinker up.  I shot it a little on Monday evening  and found that it did not function at all with Remington Golden Bullets Bulk Pack From Wally World.  It seemed to function pretty well with Federal Bulk pack.  The firearm is accurate, fun and as it comes threaded 1/2 by 28. I am sure that some of those Gun-lovers in states that allow the polite shooting of firearms will take advantage of this bargain and pair it off with a nice sound suppressor.

While the PLR 22 does not automatically stay locked back on the last round, it has a very usable button located on the bottom just behind the magazine.  

The Kel-Tec PLR 22 disassembles rather easily  using any small diameter tool that can push out a single pin.  The rest of disassembly and reassembly require no tools at all. I cannot wait for the rifle version to arrive.   As for videos of the gun in action, I let my lovely bride, Tracy, aka Pretty Pistolera, shoot the Kel-Tec PLR 22. 

  

Until next time keep your muzzles pointed in a safe direction.