This article is a submission from our friend, Tony Simon, regarding his experience taking NRA First Steps Rifle with Black Bag Resources, LLC. "Denial" is not just a river in Egypt I grew up shooting. I was on my high school's marksmanship team. I was trained to shoot by PMIs ( Primary Marksmanship Instructors) to be the finest basic trained marksman the Marine Corps could produce. My highest range score was sharpshooter, I missed Expert by one point. So when I got back into shooting I couldn't believe I had gotten so bad at putting rounds on target. At 50 yards I was all over a 31 x 19 inch target with my first 10 rounds while shooting off a bench. I ignored the fact the last time I shot at a range was 20 years ago. I also ignored every marksmanship principle. Gunny Hathcock I was not. After my embarrassing first time out I was determined to improve. I knew that I had to apply the basic marksmanship principles, and I knew them backwards an forwards. I was a Marine after all, I won't need any help. (Denial) In my subsequent trips to the range my “groups” at 50 yards had shrunken to an entire 5 ½ inch Caldwell Bulls eye target. I knew that a Ruger 10/22 would shoot better than minute of dinner plate groups, but for the life of me I couldn't get the groups smaller. I started to justify my groupings as “good enough” for self defense or the zombie apocalypse. (More Denial!) During this time I was also firing my Finnish 1942 Mosin Nagant and the 50 yard “groups” would not shrink in size from the 12 inchers that I was shooting. Now comes the excuses, "It's a 70 year old rifle with 65 year old surplus ammo."and "If I installed a Timney trigger and a good optic I would be shooting tight groups." (Drowning in denial here!) I have a friend (Sean from Black Bag Resources, LLC) that is a NRA marksmanship instructor and he put together a NRA First Steps Rifle class. I decided to take the class in July and get back to the basics of marksmanship, because nothing I did on my own was getting good results at the range. I finally had to admit that shooting is a perishable skill, and I needed to get back to the basics. It was time to come ashore and get out of the river of denial. The class started with introductions and telling each other about our firearms experience. Then we went over the safety rules, parts of rifles, types of ammo and the five rifle shooting fundamentals. There was a lot of good information in the class and it covered the fundamentals of shooting safely and accurately. The NRA provides very informative books and handouts for the class. Sean insisted on everyone being active in the class, and this class was not the “sit and listen” kind. There were no dumb questions- just missed opportunities to learn. We had hands on rifle manipulation with America's rifle, the Ruger 10/22. After going over shooting positions, we went over the safety rules again and then we headed to the range. After completing the course required shooting, we were told we would be shooting from the bench for our NRA/Winchester Basic Practical Qualification.The qualification was to fire 5 three-shot groups into groups no larger than .9 inches from 33 feet. That's a group the size of a quarter! After watching Jill (the only female in class) put 2 rounds through 1 hole with a 10/22 with a Hogue stock and a BSA Sweet 22 scope, I abandoned my iron sighted stock Ruger 10/22 for the rifle she used. I will spare you the drama- I passed the qualification with the scoped rifle, but I had to know if I would've passed with iron sights. So I shot the qualification again with my stock rifle and passed it with that rifle also. I felt GREAT! The 50 yard line: I went back to the range as soon as possible to test myself and my relearned skill set. The target was a 11x16 inch piece of cardboard nailed to a 2 ¼ x ¼ . My range sells targets stapled to these posts and since my groups were on the large size I was reusing these posts over and over. I placed two 5 ½ Caldwell targets vertically and 3 inch targets on each side. I sat my rifle bag on the top of the bench and rested my rifle across the bag. I applied all of the lessons I learned in class and settled behind my stock, iron sight Ruger 10/22 and shot my first 10 shot group from 50 yards. I shot a 1 ¼ 10 shot group on a 3 inch target at 50 yards! This was better than I have shot in recent memory, stock rifle, no shooting vice, no sling. I then proceeded to shoot the rest of my 100 rounds into multiple 10 shot groups. At the end of my time at the range I had cut the 2 ¼ inch post into splinters. Prior to the class, I couldn't do that with my .30 caliber rifle! Conclusion Shooting is a perishable skill. I needed a basic marksmanship class to get me back on track. I was drowning in a river of Denial, thinking that I could teach myself to improve my marksmanship on my own. I shot over 2000 rounds of ammo between my pistol and rifles trying to improve on my own. My money would have been better spent in a formal class that started with the fundamentals. After all, that is how the Marine Corps teaches it to recruits. Please don't be like me. Ammo is expensive and at times hard to come by. Don't let your ego stop you from taking NRA firearms courses. It is a standard course taught by NRA qualified instructors. I took mine from Sean Fisher at BlackBagResources.com. As far as I am concerned he is “The Greatest Firearms Instructor in the World” because I no longer shoot pizza box size groups- they are now a little bigger then a quarter! Since taking the class, Tony has continued to improve his skills by applying and developing the fundamentals he learned in class. He spent weeks studying his manual and practicing his skills. Tony is now shooting competitively, going to the range regularly, and even completed his NRA certification as a Firearms Instructor. Tony currently assists teaching firearms courses with Black Bag Resources, LLC and has a facebook page at www.facebook.com/simonsaystrain dedicated to firearms and related education.
Black Bag Resources offers NRA Certified Firearms Instruction for Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun. NRA courses provide education on safe handling and storage of firearms, proper use of firearms, and marksmanship skills. Each class includes both classroom instruction and live fire practical exercises. Certificates are awarded upon completion and every class with Black Bag Resources includes qualifying for the NRA/Winchester Basic Practical rocker. We have velcro backings put on all Basic Practical rockers, so when you are awarded the rocker, you can immediately attach it to your gear, jacket, pack, or case. I know it's been a month since my last post, and I apologize. I have been focused recently on improving my skill set and obtaining some certifications.
You will be pleased to know that I am now an NRA certified Firearms Instructor and Range Safety Officer. I am currently certified to teach rifle, and I will complete my pistol and shotgun Instructor certifications in May. Marksmanship and safety courses from BBR will be coming soon! I feel this is a critical time to get involved. With the latest political moves currently in play, there are roughly 7 million first time gun owners this year and more making the choice everyday to get training in the safe handling and use of firearms. Those of us who have experience are obligated to ensure that our new friends receive the best training and education possible. As the saying goes, "A little knowledge is dangerous." This is especially true when it comes to firearms. There are too many self proclaimed experts out there filling folks heads with bad information. My current favorite was a caller to NJ 101.5 radio yesterday, who told the host he could answer any question out there. The caller then proceeded to lecture on the subject of "magazine-clips." (There's no such animal!) It's up to some of us "old heads" to make sure the facts are presented in an educational and non-frightening manner, without exaggeration to the capability of the firearm, ammunition, or person using them. If you are new, I encourage you to take a class from a NRA certified Instructor, whether it's myself or someone else. The NRA is the largest nationally recognized safety and education organization, and a NRA certified Instructor will impart the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude you need to become a safe and proficient marksman. If you have been involved for a while, I encourage you to become a NRA certified Instructor so you may pass your knowledge to these new marksmen coming up. It's up to us to teach them right, before Hollywood, the media, and those who would remove our Second Amendment rights teach them wrong. Please read the following article in a full-blown screaming rage voice... I am so sick and tired of this argument, I can't even explain. It hurts my head every time I see another Youtube video, blog post, or Facebook discussion dedicated to "finally ending the debate" as to which of these two firearms is better. STOP IT! Here's the bottom line: There is a reason BOTH of these rifles still exist! There is a reason both of these guns are sold by the millions worldwide! Stop arguing the "combat effectiveness" of either of these rifles! Any AK sold in the US has been modified to be 922R compliant- it is no longer genuine surplus! Stop arguing that the AR has "been proven" by the US Military- they don't use semi-autos! (I see you in the back- you go ahead and tell me the Air Force does. Then go choke yourself!) Here is the only single true fact in this entire debate- Whether you choose an AR or whether you choose an AK, YOU ARE DOING IT BASED SOLELY ON YOUR OPINION!!! And you know what? That's OK. It's ok to have an opinion based on nothing more than your preference. So do us all a favor and just admit that you like one better and that's why you chose it. Because, so help me, the next time I see this debate I am posting a link to this article! This week's blog post is a submission which comes from our good friend, supporter, and contributing writer, Mr. Matt Bell. A Rifle In Every Home This is an article on just what the title says, why Americans should have a rifle in their home and my humble suggestions for what they should be. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ~Amendment II to the United States Constitution Let me explain exactly what this amendment to the Constitution means. This does not guarantee our ability to hunt, or to participate in shooting sports. This was penned in order provide a restraint on our newly formed Government, a restraint on the formation of tyranny. Our founders had personal experience with tyranny and (it is my belief) wanted to prevent such a thing from ever occurring to the system of Government that was newly established. Our founders sought to guarantee the ability of the Citizens to dismantle the government if need be. ”A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” ~George Washington The right to bear arms was not given to us by our government: the right to bear arms for the protection of one’s life, liberty, and property is a rule of nature’s law not man’s. ”Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate; we are all qualified, entitled, and morally obliged to evaluate the conduct of our rulers. This political judgment, moreover, is not simply or primarily a right, but like self-preservation, a duty to God. As such it is a judgment that men cannot part with according to the God of Nature. It is the first and foremost of our inalienable rights without which we can preserve no other.” ~John Locke Thankfully the founders were wise enough to put in place a system of Government for our Republic to hopefully never have to see this outcome as a legitimate possibility. And while they did not agree with each other on a vast amount of issues (as much as today) on this they agreed, that over time, even our form of Government could easily wander down the path to tyranny. And the loss of individual liberty could be perpetrated by those elected to lead. “Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation” ~James Madison Given the current charged political landscape regarding firearm control due to the recent Aurora CO theater shooting, and the renewed outcries for the Government to come along with the ban stick in relation to firearms, I wanted to write an article based on what this (should) mean(s) to all Americans. And to that end, select a few firearms that I feel should be in every American household. ”To prohibit a citizen from wearing or carrying a war arm . . . is an unwarranted restriction upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of constitutional privilege.” ~Wilson v. State First: Why do I feel that there should be a firearm in every household? I will not begin to bore you all with useless statistics that can simply be altered to prove the viewpoint of the individuals involved. Protection from Government, and protection of self. These two ideals are quite unpopular at the moment, if you believe everything that is ‘reported’ by the various news agencies. Regarding protection from Government let me say; I feel that at no other time in recent memory has there been more of an air of popular "statist" views prevalent in these United States. The Idea that the Government will protect and keep safe its population is rampant and a far cry from an individual’s responsibility for one’s own safety. The thought of individual responsibility has slowly been eroded away. The reasoning for this is a subject for much debate and postulating. The result is that collectively we have forgotten the individual's will to succeed- as well as valuing and protecting what has been earned through blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice. Regarding Protection of self; I feel that the law enforcement community is unable to protect us from criminal intent. They, for the most part, work at prevention, prosecution, and punishment of criminal actions. As such a firearm in every household should be necessary, to prevent criminal action on the basis of not presenting an easy target. ”The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will lose.” ~James Earl Jones When we are talking about the American Rifleman, we are referring to a long and storied history that is largely forgotten and fading fast. We are a country founded on our ability to shoot. Given that we are currently living in an increasingly hostile society, it is imperative in my mind that every citizen be able to properly operate a firearm safely and proficiently, thus the reasoning behind my argument for a rifle in every home. ”By calling attention to ‘a well regulated militia,’ ‘the security of the nation,’ and the right of each citizen ‘to keep and bear arms,’ our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy… The Second Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.” ~John F. Kennedy Among firearms owners there is currently a large discrepancy in the amount of firearms per capita versus the amount of individually owned firearms. If you are a ‘gun nut’ then you are going to have more firearms than the average citizen. This article is not intended solely for the ‘gun nut’ it is intended for the average citizen. This is not designed to be an end all be all to the best firearms that have ever been created- on the contrary, my two choices are neither new nor fancy nor even the most accurate gun(s) ever created. They are not (currently) intended to be a frontline, go-to-war weapon. Yet, both of these rifles have the ability to be pressed into such duty. That being said I humbly submit the two rifles that I feel every American should own. Mosin-Nagant 1891 Allow me to introduce the Mosin-Nagant (1891) SKS (Russian) And the SKS (1945) These two weapons are largely considered strictly Russian firearms. However, this is not the case. These two weapons have been manufactured across the world- including the United States in the case of the Mosin (Remington Arms produced 750,000 of these rifles). Statistics Mosin-Nagant: Cartridge - 7.62×54mmR Action - Bolt-action Muzzle velocity - Light ball, ~ 865 m/s (2,838 ft/s) Effective range - 500 m (550 yards), 800+ m (with optics) Feed system - 5-round non-detachable magazine, loaded individually or with five-round stripper clips. Sights Rear: ladder, graduated from 100 m to 2,000 m SKS: Cartridge - 7.62×39mm Action - Short stroke gas piston, tilting bolt, self-loading Rate of fire - Semi-automatic Muzzle velocity - 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) Effective range - 500 m (550 yd) Feed system - 10 round stripper clip-fed or individual round loading. Sights Hooded post front sight, tangent notch rear sight graduated from 100 to 1,000 meters I would like to expound on the reasoning for my two choices. I am sure that there are those out there already dismissing my notions for these to ‘antiquated firearms’. There are 4 pillars here that I feel hold up this argument and apply to both the weapon itself and the ammunition, for one without the other is useless. They are Availability, Capacity, Cost, and Ease of use. Availability: Both the Mosin-Nagant and the SKS have been so widely produced they are not difficult to find. The Mosin-Nagant had approximately 37,000,000 produced between 1891 and 1965. The SKS has been produced in numbers upward of 19,000,000 between 1949 and 1971. As such these rifles are readily available on the surplus market and grace the shelves of most gun stores you may browse. Capacity: The Mosin-Nagant has a round capacity of 5 rounds. The SKS has a capacity of 10 rounds (with larger aftermarkets magazines available). While these rifles do not have the latest and greatest magazine capacity, remember this article is about the rifles that should be in the average American home. Remember detachable magazines are a consumable and do need to be replaced eventually. They do not last forever and without them, a detachable magazine fed weapon will be about as useful as a tree branch fashioned into a club. Cost: Currently the Mosin-Nagant can be picked up for around $99.00. The SKS can be picked up for $300.00. Compared to a modern battle rifle with detachable magazines this is a minimal investment. Ammunition is also affordable being able to be picked in surplus lots. 7.62x54r can be obtained for an average of 19¢ -20¢ per round. 7.62x39 can be obtained at 23¢ - 28¢ per round. In comparison the standard AR type ammunition the .223, 5.56x45 NATO, and .223 Wylde ammunition costs an average of 42¢ - 51¢ per round. 30 caliber .308 ammunition will cost you between $1.00 - $1.45 per round. Overall, the two rifles I have chosen here will work for the budget minded individual, in initial cost as well as upkeep and feeding costs. Ease of use: The Mosin-Nagant is a bolt action rifle that has a five round capacity as these can be loaded individually or with practice the use of stripper clips. While this method is not as fast as swapping a detachable magazine, it is worthy to note that sufficient speed can be maintained reloading this rifle with practice. The SKS is a Semi-Automatic rifle that is also fed via three methods. Ammunition can be loaded individually with the bolt in the open position, via 10 round stripper clips (also in the bolt open position), or by opening the magazine and loading from underneath in a bolt closed position. By far the stripper clip method is the fastest method with practice. Once used and a comfort level is achieved, both rifles are easy to use and dare I say fun to operate. I hope that this article has been informative and perhaps even a bit useful. Regards, Matt ”The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military. The hired servants of our rulers. Only the government-and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws.” ~Edward Abbey Cleaning and maintenance are critical to the proper function of your firearm. It doesn't matter if you're a recreational shooter or a professional who counts on a weapon to defend lives, you need to service that equipment. There are tons of products available to clean and care for your firearm. Here are some of my favorites: (Click on the photos for more info!) Hoppe's Boresnake or Viper: These are the fastest way I've found to clean the bore of a rifle, shotgun, or pistol. They are caliber specific, so make sure you get the right size. To keep them in service after several uses, I wash mine with dish soap and let them air dry completely. Break Free CLP: The CLP stands for "Clean, Lubricate, Protect" which is exactly what the product does. It covers all three needs with one product and is safe to use on all finishes including: stainless steel, parkerized, blued, chrome, etc. (Available at WalMart) Otis Technologies Cleaning Kits: Simply the best field expedient cleaning kits available, Otis has several models to suit your needs. For overall versatility, I recommend the FG-750 Tactical Cleaning System. Most kits now include an orange chamber flag. It's made of acrylic so it can also direct light into the bore. Otis Cleaning Patches: There are lots of patches out there, but I like these for use with or without an Otis kit. If the 3" patch is too big, just cut it down. Cabela's Pistol Cleaning Kit: It's a handy set of rods and brushes that store in the handle. There's no excuse for going without one in the range bag. (Cabela's exclusive) TAPCO Chamber Flags: In addition to being a chamber flag, it works as a pin pusher. It also has a small, flat blade for adjusting scopes. I have several and they always prove handy. Available for rifle, pistol (also fits .22 rifles), and shotgun models. Wheeler Hammer and Punch set: The set includes various brass, steel, and plastic punches as well as a small hammer. This set is ideal for working on firearms of all types, and will make your next project easier. TAPCO Intrafuse AR Armorer's Tool: TAPCO's version of the AR combo wrench is the best one I've found, and it's handy for working on all your long guns, not just your AR. TAPCO Handguard Removal Tool: This one is AR specific, but it makes short work of removing your handguards. Once you use it, you'll wonder why they don't include on with the rifle. Cosmoline is a heavy duty rust preventative commonly used to protect firearms during long term storage. Usually antique and military surplus firearms will come covered in the thick, brown jelly. It can be a pain to remove, but here's one solution...
All it takes is hot water! I got this tip from an antiques dealer in Gettysburg, PA. They specialize in Civil War era firearms and told me they simply give the entire disassembled firearm a bath in boiling water. They said they leave the components, including the wood stock, in the water only for a minute- just long enough for the cosmoline to liquify and run off. Here's my application: I recently purchased a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 and it was covered in cosmoline as you'd expect. I wiped the bulk of the cosmoline off the rifle with a rag before disassembling it. The small parts were washed off in the kitchen sink and larger parts in the bath tub. I boiled several pots of water and poured them over the parts until they were clean. I used a pan to prop up the breach end of the barrel and poured hot water down the bore. Using tongs and mitts to handle the hot metal parts, I turned each and repeated the process. Personally, I couldn't bring myself to risk messing up the wood with the hot water, so I mixed some dish soap and warm water and wiped the stock down until it felt clean and dry to the touch. After the parts cooled, I went over everything with Break Free CLP to clean and lubricate as well as prevent any rust. Cleaning the bore only took 5 or 6 passes before I was getting a clean patch. The entire process took just under an hour. It's a simple process that takes a lot less time and effort than some others I've heard about. Before: The original magazine release on a 1960's production 10/22. There's no arguing the joys of owning the Ruger 10/22. Chances are you learned to shoot with one, own one, or know someone who owns one. There's also a good chance that after a day of shooting you've had a pain in your thumb from using the original magazine release. The original release works well enough with factory magazines, but longer high capacity (no more than 15 rounds for NJ residents) or aftermarket mags can be difficult to change. Changing mags with the original release is also a slow, deliberate process not well suited to certain environments and situations. The solution to all these issues is an extended magazine release. Extended magazine releases have been around for a while, and they are so popular that, on certain models, Ruger started installing them at the factory a few years back. ProMag Extended Release If you have an older 10/22 with the original release, you can easily upgrade to the extended version in 5 minutes with a few tools. You'll need a flat head screw driver, a good set of punches, and the extended magazine release. We used one from ProMag because it's long, metal, and reasonably priced. This pins holds the release in place. Perform your safety check, and disassemble the rifle as you would for normal cleaning. Once you've removed the trigger group, use a 3/32 punch to tap out the pin holding the magazine release in place. This will require more force than removing the take down pins but should not be difficult. Next, press the magazine latch (also called the magazine plunger) and pull down on the magazine release to remove it. Take note of the release's direction. Before installing the extended release, test fit the pin to make sure there are no burs that will prevent easy installation. Press the magazine latch and slide the extended release into place. Use your 3/32 punch to make sure the parts all line up, and tap the pin back into position. Check to make sure the release moves and resets well, and reassemble the rifle. After: The ProMag Extended Release installed. Once installed, you will notice the extended magazine release is similar to "paddle" type releases like those found on the M14, M1A, Mini 14 and 30, various HK's and clones, and AK variants. Pushing the paddle forward releases the mag, and it can be done quickly with a fresh mag in the same hand to facilitate faster reloads. It works equally well for left and right handed users, and allows the magazine to drop free from the rifle. Most importantly, you can save your sore thumbs for loading all those magazines! Here in NJ, civilians generally don't have collapsible stocks on their AR-type rifles. Because of New Jersey's "assault weapons ban," shooters must not exceed a certain number of features to maintain compliance with the law: conspicuous pistol grip, flash hider, bayonet lug, detachable magazine, collapsible stock, etc. Most of us keep the pistol grip and the detachable magazine. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you try to run a single point sling- there's no proper place to mount a sling swivel on a fixed stock. TROY Industries has an interesting solution. The M16A4 Sling Mount Adapter comes with the adapter, a quick release swivel, buffer tube spacer, and a buffer tube/stock screw. Installation: Simply remove the top screw from your fixed stock and slide the stock off. Slide the adapter over the buffer tube all the way to the receiver, being careful not to damage the small detent spring. Place the included buffer tube spacer on the end of the buffer tube with the original spacer- don't remove the old one. Slide the stock back into place and use the new screw to secure it in position. Tighten the screw fully, and you're done! You now have ambidextrous sling mounts directly behind the receiver, perfect for utilizing a single point sling. Larger shooters will be pleased to note that the adapter adds about 1/4 inch to the length of the stock. |
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