Tag: Guns and such

My favorite toy

Gratuitous Gun Pic: Parker VH 410 (.410)

Gratuitous Gun Pics

Okay, here’s one last look at a .410 shotgun at Steve Barnett’s: an old but very lovely Parker:

The price of this piece is on a par with that of most Parkers made in this era:  spendy, but not excessively so.  I have fired many Parker shotguns of all sizes and gauge, and have to agree with everyone else who’s ever fired one, that they’re reliable, quality and rugged guns which are well worth the investment.

Certainly, if I had the funds I would strongly consider snatching up the above because a.) side-by-side barrels and b.) double trigger.  (The rounded pistol grip is a negative, but not a huge one in this case.)

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Righteous Shootings

One more time:

Homicide Unit detectives are investigating a self-defense claim following Saturday’s 3:30 a.m. fatal shooting of DeCarlos Groves, 25, inside the Corner Mart, 2600 Clarksville Pike.

A review of the store’s video surveillance shows Groves producing a handgun during an apparent robbery attempt. Groves then jumped over the counter, landing on top of the store clerk, Peter Fang, 20. Fang retrieved a weapon from his shirt pocket which discharged as Groves landed on him, striking Groves. As the struggle continued, additional shots were fired from Fang’s gun and Groves fell to the floor. Fang called police. Groves died at the scene.

Not to prejudice the thing, of course, but “Guess The Scumbag’s Efnicity” will be a slam-dunk.

Given the clear video evidence of the event, Our Hero will be sent on his way with an attaboy from the po-po.  And from my Readers, too.

Gratuitous Gun Pic: Marlin Model 90 O/U (20ga)

Gratuitous Gun Pics

Following on from our earlier discussion on .410 shotguns, I went a-browsing for more of said things, and found not one but two Marlin Model 90s at Barnett’s:

Okay, this is by no means a “fine” shotgun, but I have to tell you, I kinda like its sleek look and light weight.

And once again, I am astonished by yet another example of a Marlin gun I’d never heard of.

But for those put off by the nosebleed prices of the “fine” .410 guns and are looking for an acceptable entry-level one either for themself or for a kid / grandkid, this might be a good place to start.

That said, I know nothing about the Model 90 — for all I know, Marlin stopped making them not because of low demand, but because they were utter crap.  Somehow, though, I doubt that.

The .410: A Discussion

The Gun Thing

While browsing through Steve Barnett’s foul and tempting website recently, I came across this exquisite little beauty:

…and it triggered, so to speak, this train of thought.

I have to admit that I’ve never understood the appeal of the .410 shotgun cartridge, other than the fact that it’s not a punisher like the 12ga. (For those who are unfamiliar with shotgun cartridges, here’s a good summary.)  Some pics, to illustrate what I’m talking about:

I know that many excellent shotgunners of my acquaintance (like Mr. Free Market) just love the little thing — Mr. FM actually calls .410 shooters “showoffs” because shooting clays with a .410 is akin to shooting at them with a .22LR* — and there is no argument that on terrestrial targets (e.g. rats and snakes) the .410 is absolute murder.  So as a “recreational” cartridge, I can see its appeal.

I have heard people say that the .410 is a fine “starter” cartridge for youngins, to get them into the swing of shotgunning without the recoil owies.

However, while the .410 is less of a shoulder-smasher than the 12ga, it nevertheless imparts recoil similar to that of a .30-30 rifle cartridge, so it’s no feather.

Please understand that this little discourse does not constitute a hit job on the .410 — anything but — but I have never seen much reason for its use other than as a recreational cartridge, like the .177 pellet.

And I am more than willing to be persuaded otherwise, by people who love the thing.

Of course, there is an alternative use for the .410, that of self-defense in a handgun like the Taurus Judge:


…which as an added bonus, can also chamber the wonderful .45 Colt/.45 Long Colt cartridge (for the purposes of this exercise, the .410 and .45 Colt are dimensionally interchangeable). Here’s a video of the Taurus Judge (executive summary:  meh).

Likewise there are “field” options like the Magnum Research BFR, similarly chambered:


…but even with the added muzzle velocity of the longer barrel, I can see little advantage to carrying such a piece out in the wilderness.  So, no.

But as a sporting or birdshooting cartridge out of a shotgun?  I call on my Readers for their input.  Because that Beretta S687 is simply crying out for a good home…

*I should add that Mr. FM’s favorite backyard activity at Free Market Towers is shooting crows with a .410 or .177 pellet gun.

Gratuitous Gun Pic: Ithaca Mod 37 Featherlight (20ga)

Gratuitous Gun Pics

I’ve always liked the Ithaca Featherlight shotguns:  handy, reliable and easy to shoot, they’re just more fun than their heavier Police Riot guns — not that the latter are terrible, of course, as their thousands of users will attest.  Anyway, this one just came in to Steve Barnett’s emporium, and it’s a sweetie (right-click to embiggen):

…and of course, this line will have prettier wood than the Riot guns:

Exquisite.  I could see lots of happy-happy joy-joy bird-hunting with this one in my hands.

Dept. Of Righteous Shootings

Righteous Shootings

Quote of the day:

“It was a robbery that didn’t go well for the robbers.” — San Antonio Police Chief William McManus

Seems as though a man went to draw money from an ATM, whereupon two choirboys approached him to ask him to donate to their church fund*.  Apparently, they used the wrong terminology and body language, because our ATM cardholder shot them both dead on the spot.

*according to their relatives, no doubt.