Gun Loving John

Cossatot 1000 XL USB Rechargeable Duty Light.

Tactical Flashlights

 

COSSATOT 1000 XL-USB RECHARGEABLE DUTY LIGHT 

 

 

John Abbott

 

The Cossatot 1000 XL USB Rechargeable Duty light by FACTOR Equipment arrived with everything needed to test the light. The cord, the case, the battery extra O-rings. Everything but the time. I had everything planned out to run the light through the ringer. Take it to a night shoot, Use it on a spring camping trip. I was even going to use it with a red light adapter and play around with a little coyote spotting. Ok, if this were a movie, about right now is when the sound effect guy would insert the sound of a phonograph needle skipping and scratching the records. That is not what happened.

What did happen was “THE BIG MOVE. A completely unexpected cross country move of both my business and my family from Ohio to Arizona. That move and subsequent re-settlement has provided a better real test for any flashlight than I could have contrived. For the last 4 months the Cossatot 1000 has been in and out of my EDC bag and has become my go to flashlight. The Tests I had planned would in no way challenge this light as much as lifes big curveball. Leaving some lights in the quite full backpack has sometimes resulted in those lights being accidentally switchted on. This was not the case with the Cossatot 1000 XL USB. The Selector switch was easy to manipulate while protected. Another plus is that the 1000 stays in the pre-selected mode regardless of how many times you may push it when the light is off.  This will come in handy when I do get to take in a night shoot. 

Next was the Real life test: Load the house and inspect the new place . Everything a person could ask a flashlight to do the Cossatot 1000 xl has done.

The brightness test. Hang a flashlight inside a 26 foot Uhaul, turn it on and load the truck with the Cossatot as your only light. Absolutely brilliant, and yes, the pun was intended. It worked much harder than I did. And while I had a beer to celebrate the end of the day, even though the light was not as run down as I. I still chose to put it on the USB micro charger anyway. Speaking of run down, the Factor battery seems to hold a bit more of a charge than some other batteries in the class. A good pairing, like a finely tuned sports car running better on premium. But at less than $100.00 for the complete setup it is a lot of light without denting the wallet.

Other test the light has performed, dropped from top of stairs (accidentally of course)  and after bouncing like a discarded slinky, end over end, it still worked, and the Beam served as a rescue beacon made it easy to recover from beneath the stairs.  The fall scratched the light a little but scars are signs of a life well lived.

There is no better recommendation I can give any item than I would send it with my wife on a trip to China, I have, twice.  

Now it is safe back in my pocket   and I shall get her one of her own.

Trees at 75 yards

 

Where the Cossatot 1000 XL  resides with his close EDC friends. 

Add One Magazine, Recipe for Disappointment and Failure.

I've been teaching CCW and Firearms safety in some capacity for over 10 years. One issue I often run across is the person that has an absolute great gun, but only one magazine.  That is a recipe for failure.  I have seen a ton of Colt Woodsman Pistols. Beautiful gun, Owner has One magazine.  Old Ruger Standards, One Magazine. Browning Buckmarks, One Magazine.  Browning High Power, One Magazine.... I could go on and on.  News Flash, MAGAZINES CAN FAIL.  Period.  Whether it is dirt, Or rust, or metal fatigue.  Magazines Fail, and when they do, a Semi Auto becomes a crappy single shot, If the firearm has a Magazine disconnect, it becomes a really crappy Single shot.  

Sometimes these owners have an acceptable excuse, "I cannot find any for this gun that I inherited." Ok that is the only acceptable excuse.  

If you have a SEMI AUTO MAGAZINE FED FIREARM, GET more Magazines.  Try Brownells, Try Numrich, But get magazines for that gun.  Most Failures to Feed in my experience as an Instructor can be cured by a different Magazine. If you only have one magazine, that is not an option.

When I carry Concealed, which is ALWAYS, I always have another magazine on me.  FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE REASONS.  I carry it in its own carrier to protect it from losing rounds and pocket crap.

 

 

Glock G43

If you know me you know I like Glocks because they work. In my experience they work better than any other handgun I've ever owned.  My G34 served me well in IDPA, my G17, G19, and G26 have all functioned well, reliably and they are what I carry and trust to get me home if a bad guy wants to stop me from that mission.  I don't carry them all at once,  but am never far away from at least 2 of them when I am anywhere legal to do so. Then the G43 came out.  I have had one since April 14th, and other than when i have been where it is absolutely illegal to do so, (post office, airports, and other off-limits places I have been forced to go)  It has been in my pocket. I have carried it in a HAWGHolsters.com custom Pocket Holster and weak side magazine carrier.  Everywhere I go.  It is comfortable and shoots well.

1200 plus rds so far, no malfunctions, ease of carry, I never forget it is there, but it is the easiest Glock I've ever carried.  

 

FJ Fedderson 10/22 Barrels

 Fred Fedderson of FJ Fedderson likes to talk about his fine product.  He loves to tell how awesome the barrels he makes for 10/22 rifles are.  Fred will quickly tell you of how his barrels are extremely accurate while showing you a target that was shot from a distance.  If you are lucky enough to meet Fred Fedderson he will teach you how to quickly and efficiently shoot the target with the sights he mounts on his barrels.  He doesn't however tell you some of the proprietary secrets that make his barrels the best, Nor should he. I have bought several of FJ Fedderson Barrels, and you notice, I said Fred TALKS about his barrels, he doesn't brag about his products..... It isn't bragging if you can do it. FRED DOES IT AND DOES IT WELL.   FJ Fedderson 10/22 are TACK DRIVERS with every brand of ammunition I have pushed thru them.  Attached is a photo of a Marine shooting the Appleseed Project with a Fedderson 10/22 bull barrel threaded with an SWR Spectre 2 Suppressor attached. 248 out of 250 possible. 

Good job Fred

See you at SHOT 2016

Diamondback 9

Great news. I have just laid eyes on a new and exciting ccw pistol. Diamondback Arms DB9 11oz .80 wide. I have carried a DB 380 for about 8 months. I must say the 9 mm will be replacing the 380. Good news also is the laser that I bought from Crimson Trace for my Diamondback 380 will fit right on the Diamondback DB9 the Pocket Protector in 9mm will make a Police officer or legal CCW carrier of 9mm an exccellent option that will utilize the same ammunition. I have ordered a pistol for testing, but if this firearm works as good as my Diamondback DB380 has I will be recommending an even more concealable 9mm than I have previously encountered. The ergonomics of the DB380 are the best of class in that the small pistols that shoot 380. I am making an educated guess that the size of the DB9 will be making its presence known with a little more umph, but I will be able to judge better after a trip to the range. Looking forward to the most concealable 9mm i have ever encountered. And I forgot.... The one I saw has night sights.

Firearm Attachments Part 1

I worked a gun show this weekend.   I met a lot of good Americans, and I noticed a few things.  Like Firearm Attachments.   There were Lights and Lasers, Grips and Slings, And all manner of Tactical Things.  But those are not the Firearm attachments I am here to talk about.  I am here to talk about the kind of attachments that are often free,  they require a little Do It Yourself elbow grease and time. 

That is the Attachment a person has toward his or her firearm.

Here are the best type of Attachments.  This will be a recurring theme over the next few months.  

Father Attachment.   My Dad/Grandfather had this gun it was passed to me.  That type of attachment works better and lasts longest if the father and son spent time together with the firearm being the glue or reason for the outing.  If the father had the foresight to spend time shooting or refinishing the firearm with the child all the while telling how his father  and he spent time together doing the same the son will want to pass that on for generations.   The firearm does not have to be expensive.  The time together can be priceless.  The firearm passed from generation to generation with that type of emotional investment will not be sold in a yard sale. It will be cherished. 

Next:  The Fun Attachment

Until Then keep your muzzles pointed in a safe direction.

Gun Range Dues

It is that time of year again,  when we have to begin thinking about the payout for a year of dues. Gun Clubs want to be paid for what they provide.   Dues can run the gamut between $50.00 and $250.00 per year.  

What do we get in return?   A place to shoot,  A place to meet friends,  A place to be alone and enjoy the only sport endorsed by our founding fathers.  

Let’s say the dues are $250. That breaks down to $20.84 per month or $4.80 per week or 68.4 cents per day.  A snickers candy bar at Walmart  costs 69 Cents plus whatever ungodly anti sweet tooth tax the do-gooders want to put on the candy.   For less than 1 measly ucandy bar per day you can belong to a gun range. 

Don’t get me going on the cost per month compared to what most of us pay for that Cable/Satellite TV Bill, or how much a round of Golf costs, or some other half-assed entertainment.   This is a Lifelong sport and something that can save your life.

I have absolutely no use for free loaders, None, Zero, Zip, Nadda.  So if you don’t want to join a Gun Club and want to cry on my shoulders get to stepping.  I’ve got no time for you and you will get an earful. 

Another thing I’ve noticed in 2009 is the number of Gun Clubs going to Closed Membership or limiting the number of members.  So if you don’t want to join one or stay a member then don’t,  but don’t try and tag along with me to a range when you find that the places to shoot are disappearing as they surely are. 

Think about the investment in Gun Range Membership.  It  insures our freedom has a place to be exercised.

 

Keep your Muzzles pointed in a Safe Direction.

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.   

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.

Ask The Gunsmith

In the interest of saving firearms (not from anti gunners), but from shooters that have not been taught the nuances of caring for their firearm, I have decided to add a new category to the blog... Ask the Gunsmith.  I will sit down with my gunsmith, ask him a question, he answers, I enter it here.

Question:  When my Glock or other semi-auto pistol is empty with the magazine removed, is there any harm in letting the slide slam forward by simply pushing down on the slide stop lever?

Short answer: Yes.

Long Answer: Absolutely do not do it. When you let the slide slam home with a cartridge in the magazine, that cartridge acts like a shock absorber.  No harm is done. In fact, that is one of the better ways to load a semi-auto.  However, when you let the slide slam on an empty chamber, the slide moves at three times the speed it travels when loading a cartridge.  This action damages your firearm in several ways

1. It is hard on the head-space. 
2. It peens the back of the barrel.
3. It slams lugs.
4. On hammered actions it hits so hard on the hammer that the sear bounces.  This wears the sear over a short time so the hammer will start to fall resulting in an unsafe manner. 
5. It can move forward so hard it can (and has) sheared the slide top on 1911's.

Do not do this to your firearms, they don't deserve it.