A Monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov

He certainly had an impact on the entire world. Russia Unveils Monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov, Designer of Iconic AK-47 Rifle – NBC News

The Автомат Калашникова (Avtomat Kalashnikova) or Automatic Kalashnikov was designed for a 1946 competition, and was first produced in 1947, hence AK-47.

Every fifth firearm in the world is a Kalashnikov and more than 70 million of the assault rifles have been produced over the past 60 years, the Kalashnikov concern said on its website. Kalashnikovs are in service in 50 foreign armies, it said.

Military experts say the AK-47 has killed more people than all other types of modern weapons taken together.

Kalashnikov, who died aged 94, had repeatedly said that pride in his invention was mixed with the pain of seeing it used by criminals and child soldiers.

So is there a memorial to John Moses Browning?

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Black Women and Armed Self-Defense

US News wakes up to the fact that people in danger of becoming victims of crime might not want to become victims of crime. Black Women Picking up Firearms for Self-Defense | Political News | US News

It is a well-written article on an important topic. Well worth a minute of 3 of your time.

Marchelle Tigner is on a mission: to train at least 1 million women how to shoot a firearm. She had spent no time around guns before joining the National Guard. Now, as a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, she wants to give other women of color the training she hadn’t had.

“It’s important, especially for black women, to learn how to shoot,” Tigner said, noting that black women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence. “We need to learn how to defend ourselves.”

The US News is disturbed that “It’s hard to find definitive statistics on gun ownership,” but it is a lesson long in the learning. If someone taking a survey asks you if you own a gun, you say, “No.” Also applies to anyone in the medical profession, or any other busybody not in law enforcement.

“The Federal Bureau of Incompetence.”

So an FBI agent (unnamed) left his vehicle running while he pumped gas. What could go wrong? Second City Cop: Four More Guns on West Side

About 12:10 a.m., a 32-year-old man left his vehicle “momentarily unattended with the engine running” in the 300 block of South Morgan, according to Chicago Police

Seriously? I have to guess he was a suburbanite who had never been in the big city. Any big city. (I guess he thought he was in Mayberry, or perhaps he thought the FBI aura prevented crimes.)

thanks to a dumb-ass FBI agent, the offender now has a Chevy Equinox, a M4, a Glock 17, a Glock 22, a Glock 27, 2 vests, full tank of gas…

That last is from 2nd City Cop. He knows more about the FBI than I do, and the papers aren’t mentioning the guns. Wouldn’t want to scare the citizens, or make it a question when they call for more gun control. (The title of the post is borrowed from one of the comments.)

(Update: They have recovered the vehicle and some of the equipment, but still no mention of the guns. Second City Cop: No Word on the Guns)

I Love Florida Sheriffs

While a couple of them are crazy, most are 100% behind armed, law-abiding citizens.Fla. Sheriff: ‘If You Need to Shoot Somebody, Shoot Them a Lot’

Given radical Islamic terrorist attacks and people’s concern about safety, Florida’s Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd advised that people who are not afraid of a gun should get one, “and if you need to shoot somebody, shoot them a lot.”

Also, get a concealed carry permit.

Polk County is located between Tampa and Orlando. It isn’t exactly rural, and it isn’t exactly urban.

Canadian sniper makes record-breaking kill shot

This is quite a record. Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq – The Globe and Mail

A sniper with Canada’s elite special forces in Iraq has shattered the world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in military history at a staggering distance of 3,540 metres.

That’s 2.2 miles, for you metrically challenged types.

I was in a “discussion” on social media with someone who couldn’t understand that a Canadian held this record, and not someone from the USA.

I tried to explain, that Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia actually give their snipers rifles designed for long distance work.

As best I can determine, the US Marines and the US Army use sniper rifles (that would be the M40A5 and M24 respectively) based on the 7.62X51 NATO cartridge. Both rifles have a barrel length of 24 inches. PALMA (long-distance competition) rifles in 7.62 NATO come off-the-shelf with 28 inch barrels, and custom rifles are often 30 inches or a bit longer, because that cartridge benefits tremendously from the extra barrel length. Even then, it isn’t 3000 meter capable. If I am wrong about what weapons the US military is using, please note it in the comments. I understand that the Marines have been looking for a replacement, but the .338 Lapua rifle I saw mentioned as under consideration had also been cut down to 24 inches. Someone with more experience in that caliber will have to say if that makes sense or not. I’m sure the 24 inch rule is out of deference to some US military doctrine, but not everyone agrees with it.

The Canadian special forces soldier used a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle, that shoots the BMG .50 caliber round, with a barrel of 29 inches. That is another round, built around relatively slow-burning powder that benefits from increased barrel length. [Photo of Tac-50 via Wikimedia Commons and User MathKnight]

A recent record holder, Craig Harrison, formerly a Corporal of Horse in the Blues and Royals cavalry regiment of the British Army, used an Accuracy International L115A3 chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, which sported a 27 inch barrel. [Photo of L115A3 rifle via Wikimedia Commons and user Andrew Linnett]

Click either image for a larger view of the weapons used.

The Australians provide their snipers with Barrett 50 caliber rifles. I have no direct evidence, except the 2800+ meter shot they made a few years back, but I expect they are using the 29 inch barrels for that weapon.

All that said, the current record is quite a feat, with whatever weapon is used.

Choice of Shotgun and Ammo Make a Difference

On the surface, this story is amazing. Felon Shoots Cop In Face With Shotgun. Annoyed Cop Fires Back.

But then you find the shotgun was loaded with birdshot, not buckshot. That makes a tremendous difference.

If you’re going to shoot at two-legged predators, I strongly recommend buckshot. My personal preference is Federal LE 132 1B or Federal LE 127 00 ((based on how those load pattern out of my Mossberg 590). I aim it like a rifle, and at my longest possible in-home straight-line shot, it leaves a single golf-ball sized hole (the tear to the left is the Flite Control wadding, the tiny holes are plastic buffer material almost as ineffective as birdshot).

2.75 inch buckshot is perfectly fine.

I live in a single family home on 5 acres, and the house has brick walls. I don’t have to worry about “over penetration.”

The would-be bad guy in this case got captured.

More African Americans Gun Owners – This is a Good Thing

A reasoned article that isn’t all doom about the increase in gun sales to minorities? More African Americans look to purchase guns

Oliver saw a slight bounce in sales after the November election. He also saw his minority clientele increase as several of those customers signed up for his concealed weapons permit classes

People are buying guns (which is good) and getting training (which is even better).

New link has been added to the 2nd Amendment Organization list on the sidebar. The National African America Gun Association. Do I wish they would join the NRA? Sure. But I recognize their right to free association.