Sorry about the paucity of posts today, but I was busier than a $5 whore during Fleet Week yesterday, only not engaged in any sexual congress, of course. (New Wife is out of town, and I’m just too damn old for such shenanigans.)
Anyway…
What kept me busy yesterday was that after seeing the news for the past few days (Bondi Beach Escapades, Brown University Learning Experience, Turtle Island Liberation Fun & Games, etc.), I decided that it was time to up my game.
Now should any trouble come to my door, so to speak, I am reasonably confident that I could give a good account of myself in the sense of repelling boarders. (Cue the Son&Heir: “Pity the fool.” )
But even though I don’t leave the house to drive around that often, the fact is that I do occasionally have to venture out Where The Wild Things Are. And if the past week has shown us anything, it’s that The Wild Things can be just about anywhere. I mean, if the International Asshole Set is going to sprinkle bullets around Bondi fucking Beach, FFS…
…so I decided to fortify the old Tiguan (just went over the 140,000-mile mark, it did) with something a little more than my 1911 and backup trunk gun. Ergo:
Yup, if I’m going to have to own a damn Mattel gun chambered in 5.56 poodleshooter, then what better location for it than as a replacement for Ye Olde Trunke Gunne (of ancient vintage and slow rate of fire)?
One would think that I would have in my possession the proper-sized gun bag to hold the poodleshooter, but this proved not to be the case [sic] when I went rummaging around in the Gun Accoutrement Closet — don’t ask — because all I had on hand was a collection of gun bags suitable for scoped bolt-action rifles and shotguns, which were all hopelessly too long.
So… off I went to find a suitable carrier, dimensions: 36″x12″. (I know, I could have just ordered one online, but I prefer to shop for stuff like this in a store so I can handle the thing and check it out for durability, defects, etc.)
Oy.
One thing I knew for sure is that I do not want to look like some tacticool G.I. Joe:
…because apart from making me look like an idiot, those things are a.) too damn expensive, b.) too heavy and c.) too easily visible through the car windows, tinted though they are.
What I wanted, therefore, was something akin to the above, but smaller and black. But “hen’s teeth” and “honest politician” are the mots justes when it comes to those size/color specs.
So what did I end up getting? This, a Ruger 10/22 “Flagstaff”:
It’s actually 40″ long, but what that does is allow me to stow the first (of several) spare mags in the toe of the thing, which makes the loaded bag more balanced to carry.
All I have to do is apply some matte black spray paint over the red bits, and I should be good to go.
So to speak.
(For those interested in such minutiae, my “load out” is 100 rounds, i.e. what you see there plus three other 20-round mags in the bag’s pockets. Way I see it, if I were to need more than a hundred rounds — plus whatever I carry on me for the 1911 — then I won’t have been doing my job properly and deserve to die.)
For “camouflage” I’ve often thought that a tennis racquet or squash racket bag would be good. Max size for a tennis racquet is 29″. For a squash racquet 27″. That sort of bag looks *nothing* like a gun bag.
I thought about that, but sadly, the poodleshooter is 32″ long as pictured.
The bags are always longer than the racquet. Probably as much as 32″. But now moot: you bought a bag!
Kim,
If your new “pistol” is in 5.56, I’d strongly suggest 62gr Speer Gold Dot for feeding it. Due to the velocity reduction, it’s better out of a short barrel than 55gr FMJ.
As for carrying cases, I have an 8 inch barreled 300 Blackout, which fits nicely into a “FatMax” toolbox. Hardcase, watertight (it has a gasket), and lockable.
Damn, Kim.
Next thing we’ll be hearing is that you have a profile on Grindr.
I have no idea what you’re talking about. And you misspelled “grinder”.
Well done. If your position is ever overrun, at least they will have to struggle over two piles—the first one of bodies and the second one of hot brass.
Am curious. If you need to shift position, how do you intend to carry spare mags on your person? My solution is three 30 round mags in a surplus Vietnam era cloth bandoleer. Also agree, if that is not enough to win the argument, I’m going home.
I have a “shoot-me-first” vest in the car. Spare mags go there, assuming I have a few seconds to get them out and stow them in the pockets.
Speaking of vests, this is my choice (Yeah I know, monster Amazon link)–
https://www.amazon.com/SDS-Official-Military-Fighting-Tactical/dp/B004IURGGY?crid=3U4GNXCKGFYQU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nF8AB1hMnMJSwkMkrIO_AJFEtqFxWjuehqhe0XuQ1sCwgW8Sja1ZAUS8EvYxIGl_7QOwMovTQNcbHzr_TvqvTT9-uAUAF-p_aKED0ZXK9o79_0-RlWTCpF8yw_Edu5lvQ0_5IjTKP_sg5UBrLToAcptbL816yE6J4x3ag6jp5xfindjf9OyPqIbmEkqy8n7zPMSs65vBcyZs2Q4ukquhvdHEdwF5aH0vCizMUHlMBEnCv4_Ob9cpSctKNTU20ytZmFcu4CNcfXuBEGGLpfvouwG-H-NKLrogGi8OIK27kF8.eZh7jOFwoh5OiJjzhBf6H5MpFQ_mpR7uzne8lOz40cY&dib_tag=se&keywords=molle+ii+fighting+load+carrier+flc+vest&qid=1765919991&sprefix=flc+ii%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor
Can’t beat the price. Yes, you will need to spend a bit more for mag pouches and such, but it beats the hell out of a lot of the over priced Chinese made crap out there. This is just an example. There are multiple listings on Amazon. Also multiple videos on YouTube on fit adjustment and load out set up.
This is a vest/chest rig. As noted in some reviews, height adjustment is limited. If you lengthen the back straps too far, then pull the front down to level it, the cross piece/drag handle will ride up on the back of your neck. At first I found this annoying, and considered modifying mine as it rides around my midriff, the bottom edge just above my belt line (the cross piece not riding on the back of my neck). I’ve come to realize that the one big plus of this is it allows me to sit in and operate a vehicle if necessary.
Amazon links have a lot of garbage in them. You can shorten them to everything before the first ?:
https://www.amazon.com/SDS-Official-Military-Fighting-Tactical/dp/B004IURGGY gives the same thing.
Did not know that. Thanks.
Nice kit, my friend.
Those of us who have to contend with proximity to hostile, enemy held territory need to be aware of the “Single use container” exemption to the 4th amendment.
https://lawreview.uchicago.edu/print-archive/you-can-judge-container-its-cover-single-purpose-container-exception-and-fourth
Tactical, gun shaped, or branded containers are best avoided.
Hey, back when you were a real blogger you had a post about the capabilities of a US Nuclear Aircraft carrier that was done shortly after the Indonesian tsunami.
Do you know of that exists anywhere on the web? I’ve got an acquaintance (young woman) who is a fan of all things air power and has a professor who doesn’t get Naval Power, and I’d like to show her that.
“Hey, back when you were a real blogger…”
Nice start to try to get me to do something for you. Have you considered a career in Sales?
I wasn’t referring to you, I was referring to geekWithA.45.
HE wrote a long blog post about US Aircraft Carrier capabilities regarding relief operations back after the Indonesian tsunami.
I think I know what blog post you mean – From Varifrank on Jan 3, 2005. He called it “Today I was unprofessional”
You can find it at the internet archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20050112051243/http://www.varifrank.com/
Just scroll down.
I hope it’s the one you meant. I saved it to my computer way back when, because I thought it was so good.
My “Truck Gun” is a Sig556 (not r) that lives folded up in a skateboard bag that isn’t long enough for a normal sized AR. However it looks NOTHING like a gun bag, and has extra capacity in the bag for related stuff. I have an old sneakybag in there with a Glock 19 and a small handful of spare mags. If I need more than 100 rounds of 5.56 and 3 mags of 9mm, well either I didn’t do my job, or THEY brought enough friends.
This is what I have https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASPC26M
This seems similar, but might be more expensive than you want: https://www.amazon.com/Athletico-Hockey-Duffle-Bag-Equipment/dp/B08HJR5W9W/
The advantage this has–especially in an SUV–is that it looks nothing like a gun bag, and you can put the extra stuff (vest or whatever you’re using to hold extra mags and blowout gear) in the same bag, making it easier and faster to move to another vehicle or take out of he car if you need to.
That’s not a bad idea. Now that it is winter season, I should probably throw a couple extra mags in my jacket pocket. The 30/30 I have is a Marlin knockoff. The model is Whatever department store marlin made rifles for. It groups well high and right but it’s off of point of aim by about 4-5 inches and I haven’t had a chance to dial it in before the cold weather moved in.
Maybe the phrase ought to be “If it can’t be done with ‘999’ rounds, perhaps it can’t be done.”
Back in Ye Olde days on the old forum, there was discussion of using a generic tool box to store an M-4gery in a break down (upper and lower separated) configuration. Does not look like a gun box at all and room for spare mags etc. Slower to get into action (but it doesn’t take all that long to slap them together) but it doesn’t attract undue attention sitting in your car trunk.
Just another idea.
Problem nowadays is that a tool box is as likely to be stolen as a gun bag.
You know that the AR platform can be chambered in some definitely non-poodle shooter calibers? Such as 375 Socom, and 458 Socom. You do give up significant magazine capacity, but the increase in “thump: is considerable.
Arg, double post, please delete this one.
You know that the AR platform can be chambered in some definitely non-poodle shooter calibers? Such as 375 Socom, and 458 Socom. You do give up significant magazine capacity, but the increase in “thump” is considerable.
I’m a little late to this party … apologies for being tardy.
@Kim, you just planted a seed in my warped Hebrew brain .. time to take the “Russian Blunderbuss” (Mosin Nagant M44 carbine) out of deep storage and abuse my shoulder. As an added bonus, the flame from shooting that sucker can also warm up our cold Midwest winters a bit.
@Termite – what you said .. chamber the AR platform in something with a bit more oomph than .223/5.56 .. 300 blackout, 6.8 SPC and others come to mind. Heavy 300 blackout (220 grain, subsonic) at short range would do thmpin’ for certain.
Go for some camouflage; put some stickers on your car for Bernie, “I’m with Her”, Harris/Walz , “Vegans for Harris” etc no one would suspect there was a gun in the car.
Just drugs and weed. 😉
5 or 6 years ago I bought a Civilian Lab Battle Axe guitar-shaped padded case. Has strap downs inside and external pockets for mags, etc. It was pretty cheap back then but their stuff has gone through the roof now. They also make one that looks like a racquet bag, but again pretty pricey.
One time at the range there was a man with a guitar shaped padded case that he transported his rifle in. He said when he bought it the salesman kept asking him what brand of guitar he had.