Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
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Interesting discussion on Facebook
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Guns aren’t the solution…except when they are.
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Opponents of firearms for effective self-defense tell others to run away from danger, to learn martial arts, or to “give the bad guy what he wants”. Not everyone can follow that advice…in fact, almost no one can. Least of all, the kind of people who are visibly vulnerable already, such as pregnant women or the elderly.
Ashley is a beautiful woman. She is currently three weeks away from delivering a child and one of the most fit looking expecting mothers I’ve seen. However fit and athletic she is, has little capability for hand-to-hand combat. It’s difficult to fight while carrying a heavy, fragile load within your own body.
Why might a woman like her have to fight? Pregnant women are easy prey for both human criminals and animal predators, especially dogs. They can’t fight effectively, nor can they flee quickly. Look up news headlines in your area and you will see examples of both kinds of attacks. Some women also face a threat from the future father who is not happy about having to support an unwanted child.
What factors mitigate the risks? Not starting trouble, avoiding known dangerous locations, having a spouse or another capable person available as a bodyguard. Knowledge of martial arts helps mostly through improved coordination for avoiding damage from accidental falls, blocking minor threats. Ashley gained only 15 pounds at three weeks from delivery. Another friend nearly doubled her body weight from 96 to 180, becoming bedridden the last couple of months of the pregnancy. Even though she had considerable martial arts skills, her personal safety depended mostly on her husband and on her own ability with pistol.
Some people say that a pregnant person shouldn’t shoot because noise and lead exposure would harm the child. Compared to falling prey to a dog or getting beaten or gang-raped, the damage from almost non-existent exposure to lead is negligible. Lead-free primers and fully jacketed or lead-free bullets are available, but even with the most conventional cartridges, the exposure from firing several rounds in a defensive situation is close to zero. Likewise with the noise: the amniotic fluid around the fetus attenuates noise very effectively, which is why many ear muffs are filled with liquid. The theoretical problems aren’t significant, while the security provided by being able to stop determined threats is worth having.
The weight of the pistol seems like a problem at first glance, but is it really? Ashley, one of the most efficient pregnant women I’ve seen, is carrying about 15 pounds extra, the equivalent of over half a dozen loaded full-size .45 pistols. One more compact handgun weighing a pound would hardly be noticed, provided a good holster is used. If the waistband doesn’t support a holster or the belly makes such carry uncomfortable, shoulder rigs are always an option. They add the advantage of easier draw when seated. In short, if there’s a will to go armed for self-defense, there’s a way to wear the weapon comfortably.
Those who oppose armed self-defense won’t be happy. Even though pregnant women are almost unknown to become violent criminals, the prohibitionists are against anyone other than the special people— the high-ranking politicians — having the benefit of effective protection. But they shouldn’t dictate how the rest of us take care of our own lives.
While carrying a sidearms while pregnant isn’t a problem, getting trained is much better done in advance. If you plan on having kids, learn how to defend yourself and the child ahead of the actual pregnancy. Handguns work great for wearing full-time, at home long guns are substantially more effective in stopping intruders. Again, the much-maligned intermediate power defensive carbines (called “assault rifles” by our enemies) are a good choice: they have adequate performance without excessive weight or recoil, can be operated with one hand in a pinch.
Writer Julia Chochrane wrote about her experience with self-defense while pregnant:
I’m 5’2″ and after taking martial arts for 3 years (after being raped, as a way of preventing it happening again) I learned that a 5’2″ female martial artist is no match for a 6’2″ male martial artist, and other assorted real limitations of martial arts. So I got a gun and learned to shoot and got my concealed carry permit. And was damned glad to have that gun when a thug tried to follow me up the stairs into my apartment one afternoon when, due to a holiday, I was home early and the place was otherwise deserted. I didn’t have to actually draw on him, confronting him verbally got him to go away, but I was 7 months pregnant and it was a very near thing and as a result of my “delicate condition” martial arts wouldn’t have done me a damned bit of good.
I have no idea if I’d have been less confident in confronting him if I hadn’t known I had a gun concealed but in easy reach for a fast draw if needed. I’m “attracted to guns” because for a little tiny woman like me, my having a gun can mean the difference between my being raped and murdered, or my surviving an attack unscathed to go home to my family that night. Living through a rape was bad enough the first time. I don’t intend to let it happen again.
Gun control is advanced mainly by those who are rapists at heart. They want to force their will upon other people. That conforming to their dictates makes the rest of us more vulnerable to other forms of molestation, including sexual, not only doesn’t bother them, it’s the intended effect. Gun control is advanced by predators who do not care who is hurt by their restrictions or how much government force they have to use to enforce those restrictions. And if you think I am exaggerating, look at how much less time a convicted rapist would serve in New York City compared to a person who merely owns and peaceably carries a sidearm for self-defense there.
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New on AllOutdoor: Selecting the right gun for teaching a new shooter
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
The article focuses on selecting the right firearm for teaching guns safety and marksmanship to kids.
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Better than milspec
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
The common complaint with Army issue guns is that they are made by the lowest bidder. South Korean K5 (P51 in the commercial dress) is no exception. Back when Korean Daewoo P51 pistols became available in the US, I didn’t pick one up. I wasn’t sure what niche it filled and didn’t have a chance to try one out. The guns were milspec (it’s used as the officer sidearm in the South Korean Army) and looked the part. Recently, I discovered that Daewoo is building rather higher-grade variants for Lionheart Industries. They sell three LH9 models, standard, compact and mk2 (with an accessoryy rail). The pistols are Cerakoted, have options of tritium night sights or fiber optics, and generally look worth using.
The guns have an interesting trigger mechanism — it can be carried cocked and locked, hammer down for double action first shot or in “fast action” mode — with the hammer first cocked, then pushed forward. The trigger pull is then similar to Para Ordnance LDA — long but very light and smooth. The pistol frame is aluminum alloy, so the overall weight is 800g vs. 1kg for Browing Hi-Power (same 105mm barrel length and 13-round magazine capacity).
I have not fired the pistols I have here yet, so a range report is coming later. I like the feel and the balance, like the anti-glare texture on top of the slide and the trigger. It has no magazine disconnector. I am not wild about the way the safety works: it disconnects the trigger, so it can be pulled with no effect. I would have like a CZ/1911 type safety that arrests the trigger motion better for the sake of more obvious tactile feedback. The gun comes in a zip-up soft case with spare magazine, cleaning tools and other accessories: the first impression is very classy. It helps that GCode offers a variety of holsters for LH9: I consider them to be among the best Kydex designs made.
Found a detailed review that you might enjoy reading.
(This blog is going metric. I have had it with variable-base measurement systems!)
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Functional texturing
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Very aggressive texturing on the rubber grip works pretty well for retention and doesn’t dig into the hand. Stippling on top of the slide reduces glare when in ready position.
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Len Savage
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
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Fiddling while Europe burns
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
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Musician
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
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Another music photo
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
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Musician
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
I like how this series is turning out.
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More computer problems. (Update) FIXED.
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
I had my computer re-built and upgraded — new motherboard, processor, case, fans…and it ran great for a little over a week. My house line got improved and I have a dedicated 20amp circuit just for the computer and the massive UPS for it.
For the last week, I’ve had random freeze-ups that seem to be caused by overheating. At least the computer won’t turn on immediately after freezing up, then comes on after a few minutes….usually. I planned to get an extra fan, but today, it’s refusing to come back on at all.
My usual helpers are unavailable. Would anyone nearby be competent and willing to help me troubleshoot it?
Toggling all internal resets fixed it for now.
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New revolver
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
A new revolver arrived recently, along with a very impressive rig from El Paso Saddlery. The new gun is for fun and practice, and comes as a pair with a longer-barreled target counterpart. One major argument for the single action configuration in this caliber is the reliability of extraction even after high-volume shooting. Any guesses as to the caliber and provenance?
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Photo backdrops need. Where to get them?
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
I am looking for several sheets, preferably 4ftx6ft:
- black acrylic
- galvanized metal
- dark, weathered wood or plywood
I need to have them ASAP, no later than Wednesday evening. Not sure where to look for these items, my inquiry at the hardware store were not fruitful. Suggestions are welcome. I am in Hermitage, TN.
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What’s a little rain and hail to a free spirit?
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
One of the recent visitors took advantage of the inclement weather.
The rain warmed up in the end but it started out with hail.
The volume of precipitation was hard enough to darken the skies perceptibly, all the way down to 1/50s exposures at f2.8 and ISO3200!
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Let me play you the song of my people
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Lauren is a professional classical musician. She plays a two hundred year old fiddle. She is very good. While she’s a trained martial artist, she’d rather not fight with bare hands. An injury would damage or end her career. Fortunately, evil dwems invented labor saving devices like the lead broadcaster. If necessary, she can play the song of her people with the volume turned up to 11.
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Book with my cover art: Knowing Guns
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Stu Chisholm just came out with a well-written book for which I supplied the cover art.
You can buy it directly.
It will be available on Amazon and Amazon Europe in 5 – 7 days. He is also preparing the e-book version.
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MMC Tactical 16″ rifle
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Today, I started taking photos for MMC Armory. Their Tactical model is shown here with a 50rd X15 drum and 1-4x Vortex scope. Upgraded parts include polished fire control components, strengthened barrel profile, nickel boron treated bolt barrier group.
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By the sweat of his brow
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Just got back from a photo shoot. The day was hot and humid, so the model’s face had to be wiped dry of the sweat every few minutes.
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My favorite stock SU16
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
I have two SU16E variants, both modified rather extensively. But the original concept of SU16 was the “light rifle”, simple and compact. Enter the new version of SU16A — the same long-stroke piston, 18.5″ barrel for high muzzle velocity and long sight radius, but now with a metal front sight tower. It weighs only five pounds, slightly less than an M1 carbine. It ships with a 10-round magazine, two of which can fit into the hollow stock. It can use all AR-compatible mags and a standard 30-rounder can fit inside the stock. The rifle will fold in half for transport with magazines still in the stock. With a compact X15 50rd drum inserted and a spare 30rd mag in the stock, it allows a substantial amount of ammo to be carried without pouches or add-ons. The split forend becomes a bipod with a press of a button. The gun is reliable, runs cleanly and has mild recoil despite the light weight. It is available in various colors — I personally prefer tan because it doesn’t heat up in the sun as much as black would.
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MA15 and LH9mk2
Originally published at VolkStudio Blog. You can comment here or there.
Ben is carrying MA15, Vortex 4-16x and an offset Razor red dot. LH9mk2 stays close to his side with a G-Code paddle holster.
Same rifle with Vortex 1-4x and a +18 magazine extension. Slap backup sights on it and it would be ready for three-gun.
For serious use, I would prefer the more compact X15 drum holding 50 rounds. It’s small, all-metal and protrudes no lower than a 20-round box magazine.
LH9mk2 in a GCode holster. I like GCode, especially since their holsters easily convert from belt to paddle to IWB to Molle.
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