Mini-14s with 20-Round Magazines

Click here to see the spec page for the NRA Mini-14 Rifle

I saw the announcements for these rifles in the NRA magazines. I was shocked. Ruger hasn't sold 20-Round Mini-14 magazines (directly) to civilians in more than a decade. For $205 over the retail price of base model (wood stock, blued finish) Mini-14, you get two 20-Round magazines, a Hogue Overmolded stock, a 16 1/8" barrel, and a limited edition serial number. A portion of the purchase price goes toward the NRA.

I'm not sure what the street price will be. Retail price on the standard Mini is $830, and I can get them locally for $614.

I was excited to see this at first, but I though the Minis were a lot cheaper. For just a little bit more than a standard Mini, I could build an AR-15 Carbine.

Still no sign of post-2004 Ruger Minis with factory folding stocks.

Reloading Disclaimer

Reloading can be dangerous even when following published load data. All reloading and firing of reloaded ammunition is done at your own risk. The load data published on this blog is intended for use by experienced reloaders only.

Do not attempt to reload until you have read and understand at least one printed reloading manual. Always wear safety glasses when reloading. Do not smoke while reloading. Keep primers and powder away from heat and open flames. Keep primers and powder where they cannot be accessed by children. Work up your loads following the standard procedures described in printed load manuals.

Firing reloaded ammunition will almost always void firearm manufacturers warranties. The author assumes no responsibility for damages done to firearms while shooting reloaded ammunition.

Although every effort has been made to provide accurate data, the author assumes no responsibility for injuries, deaths, or damages due to typographical errors in the data, or any other mistake on the blog or made by the individual reloaders.

To reiterate, all reloading and firing of reloaded ammunition is done at your own risk, the author(s) of this blog assume no liability for death, injuries, or damage due to the use of this, or any other load data.

The New SuperTuck IWB Belt Loops

I attacked a sheet of Kydex with a heat gun and a Dremel until I had a belt loop made from a double thickness of .09" thick Kydex.

Broke one of the first, one of the 2nd, and the third one is mine. Although it might be a bit bulky if you're going to actually tuck the holster, it'll work for me. The monster loop is made specifically for my belt, and should stay in place better.

New Season of Top Gear Starts Tonight

I probably should have posted a bit earlier, but I just plum forgot.

The latest season of the British car magazine TV show starts today on BBC America. If you get the channel, and are at all interested in cars, be sure to check it out. They test out all the latest supercars (and some not-so-super cars), and in every episode, the hosts have some crazy project to do, and hilarity ensues. There is some bashing of America and American cars, though.

The show is on 8 p.m., and then again at 11 p.m. EST, and several times during the weekend.

Crossbreed Super-Tuck Part 3

I first wrote of the Super-Tuck in Some Random Concealment Holster Reviews.
Then there was, Crossbreed Super-Tuck Part 2 after my first Super-Tuck cracked, was returned, and Crossbreed sent me a new one.

And Now for the New Business
I broke another belt loop. This one came with the new holster, and was made from 0.09" thick Kydex, which is about as thick as you can get it, really.

I'll try making my own loops from 0.09" thick Kydex folded over for a double thickness. If one of those breaks, then Kydex belt loops are completely hopeless and I'll have to start experimenting with other holsters.

Oh, and the SnapLok belt clips? They work pretty well. However, any untucked cover garment will likely get caught on them, which is why I went back to using the belt loops.

UPDATE
New belt loops are made. They are even beefier than I had imagined. I don't think I'm going to break one of these suckers. As an added benefit, the tighter fitting loops don't let the holster slide backwards.

Concealed Carry in Schools Poll

http://www.khq.com/global/story.asp?s=7879641

Same deal, copy and paste into your browser.

Funny how this one is going so much better than the WGN poll.

WGN Radio Poll: NIU Shootings and CCW

Please vote!! We are taking a beating in this one, somehow.

http://wgnradio.com/

The poll is part way down on the left side.

Cut and paste the URL into your browser, so they don't know where you linked from.

1911s for Duty. Eeek!

I happened to come upon this article on the 10-8 Performance website: 'Choosing a 1911 for Duty Use'

My experience with 1911 type pistols is pretty limited. I owned an STI 2011, a double-stack pistol, for a few months. It ran okay for a while, and then I started to have feed failures. I didn't like the way the grip felt anyway, so I sold it off (at a substantial loss).

Dad's Colt Defender ran okay for a little while, and then started to choke about once per magazine. Several different recoil springs and magazines were tried, but it still continued to puke. It was traded for a Kimber, which I can't vouch for one way or the other.

After reading this article, I think I am now completely scared of trying to keep a 1911-pattern pistol running, and I'll probably just stick to more modern designs.

Be sure to check it out. I had no idea that there was so much involved in keeping a 1911 running properly.

Weapon Lights and Pistol+Light Holster Review

I stumbled upon an article on PoliceOne.com about weapons lights and brief reviews of holsters for pistols with mounted lights.

Click Here to jump to the article.

Weird! Another Colt Official Police Review.

I just found another review of a Colt Official Police revolver at The Gun Zone. Less than a year ago, Guns magazine ran a review of the Official Police. A few months later I found another review on the Shooting Times website.

Why is that weird? The Official Police was first introduced in the late 20's.

I've got one of these that was my Dad's, and probably served as a Police duty pistol before that. It was probably his first centerfire, and as best as I can remember, it was the first centerfire that I ever shot. Dad fitted Pachmayer grips, and I fitted a nickel plated Python trigger*. The one that I've got is more accurate than the one fired in the The Gun Zone review. I take it out now and then when I get the itch to shoot something different. . . or I'm running low on 9mm ammo. I guess it's another pistol that I need to take a picture of.

* - The Python trigger is more comfortable than the full serrated Official Police trigger.

2008 Glock Annual is Out, G30SF coming soon

I hear that the 2008 Glock Annual magazines are out. The Glock Annual is a magazine with articles on Glock pistols in military and police service, competition, and civilian self-defense. There are lots of Glock ads, and there's obviously a bias, but if you can get one for free, it's not a bad deal.

There is usually a Mossad Ayoob article in the Annual. Ayoob writes for American Handgunner magazine, Guns magazine, Guns and Weapons for Military and Law Enforcement, and probably a few others. Ayoob invented the Stressfire shooting techniques. He owns/runs the Lethal Force shooting/self-defense academy.

Click here to go to the Annual catalog request page at the Team Glock website.

Oh, by the way. Glock has announced that there will be a G30SF coming out this year. Like the 21SF and 20SF, the 30SF will have a smaller grip than the regular model 30.