Not just the guns, but all the stuff that goes with them
This might just be the nicest thing you see all day (right-click to embiggen):
And a close-up of the action:
About its chambering: I wrote about the 9.3x62mm “Wondernine” back here, and make no mistake, it’s an excellent cartridge.
As for the rifle itself… phew. I know it’s spendy — quality custom rifles always are — but oh man, it’s beautiful.
…as the Ukraine government belatedly realizes:
The Ukrainian government will give weapons ” to anyone who wants to defend the country”, it has said, in the aftermath of Russia expanding its war in the country’s eastern territory.
Amid reserve forces being mobilised and sent to fight the expanding Russian occupation of Ukraine’s eastern territories, the Kyiv government is taking steps to dramatically increase the supply of available fighters, promising to hand weapons to anyone willing to take up arms in defence of the nation. Joining the resistance is simple too, the government says — all you need is your passport and a willingness to fight.
Says it all, really. And it’s not even “well regulated”:
Yesterday, Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill considerably liberalising ownership of firearms for civilians and making explicitly clear this change in law was in response to the dangers the country faced. As reported, the bill “establishes the basic rights and responsibilities of individuals”, liberalises ownership, but also “increases the responsibility for their illegal use”.
Yeah, it used to be almost impossible for Ukrainian citizens to legally own guns. Funny how that works, innit?
Ah, jeez… just when I thought I’d seen everything I wanted to see about old guns (thankee Othias/Mae at C&Rsenal, and Ian McCollum on “Forgotten” Weapons), I came across 9-Hole Reviews…
…and good-bye to the rest of my so-called free time.
My favorite so far: the K98 and the K98 mounted with what Gun Jesus calls “the worst German sniper scope of WWII” (or something like that). Of course, in the hands of a decent (!) rifleman with good eyes, it’s pretty damn good. Note how his accuracy improves over iron sights, with a simple 1.5x scope and a German #4 post reticle.
No need to thank me — or curse me, for that matter — it’s all part of the service.
Thanks to Reader Evan M for sending this verified data about bears and handguns:
I engaged in a search for instances where pistols were used to defend against bears. I and my associates have found 37 instances that are fairly easily confirmed. The earliest happened in 1987, the latest mere months ago. The incidents are heavily weighted toward the present, as the ability to publish and search for these incidents has increased, along with increases in bear and human populations, and the carry of pistols.
The 37 cases include one that can fairly be described as a “failure”.
The pistol calibers, when known, range from 9 mm to .454 Casull. The most common are .44 magnums.
I’ve never been in bear country (I dunno if Wisconsin- and Michigan forests count), but if I were ever to visit Montana or Alaska, for example, there’s no way I’d get out of the car or house without one of these puppies :
For those unfamiliar, they’re the Ruger Redhawk (top) and S&W Mod 629, both in .44 Magnum… and inside a chest holster:
…AND my 1911 (loaded with 230gr FMJ boolets) in a waistband holster.
(Heh heh heh… a 1911 as a backup.)
Screw that bear spray bullshit. If the Fishcops want me to use it, they can give me a can beforehand.
I was wandering idly through my Inbox, deleting just about 99% of it as always, when I stumbled across an ad from these guys which featured this thing:
Now, Ruger’s PC-9 has been around with us for a long time, and deservedly so. This particular model (one of many) has been gussied up with a barrel-cooling sleeve and a Picatinny rail, and for under $650 is a pretty decent deal.
If only they made them in .45 ACP, using either 1911 mags or their own 10-round double-stack ones, I’d be seriously tempted. But in the 9mm Europellet? Not so much.
And I’m not the only one.
In the face of L.A. cops being fired for refusing Rona jabs, SDGov Kristi Noem says:
“To LA County law enforcement officers facing potential firing: In South Dakota, you will not be fired for making personal health decisions. We respect law enforcement and everything you do to defend our freedoms. We would love to have you come join us.”
That’s all well and good, Governor, and let’s hope some of them take up your offer and come on up to the Mount Rushmore State.
But please make a few ground rules clear before you send them out to police your citizens, especially in terms of the Second Amendment. While cops generally are quite conservative, I’m not so sure about California cops, because they’ve been enforcing some pretty shitty un-Constitutional anti-gun laws in the Golden Shower State and they’ll probably need a training course in SD gun laws to remind them of the “shall not be infringed” stuff. They’ll also need to become free of the fear of seeing citizens carrying guns openly, never mind concealed.
Just a thought.