John Wall

What type of firearm do you have? Some require heavy loads to work. Take five rounds of each batch, loaded to proper length, and use the barrel as your chamber gauge to make sure they chamber BEFORE you go to the range. Put each batch in a sandwich bag. Go up .2gr for each batch and test your ammo until until your firearm ejects the empty hull several feet, locks open with authority, and has recoil comparable to factory ammo. Put two rounds in the gun for each test. One in the mag, one in the pipe. You are going to need to load near max if you have a Glock or Sig. Titegroup is a very dense powder, and is all too easy to double charge. Use EXTREME caution until you get your loading procedure down pat, or switch to a bulkier powder, such as Unique. Last but not least, it is always better to alter the ammo for the firearm, NOT THE FIREARM FOR THE AMMO. Especially if you have a Glock, do not use a reduced power recoil spring!

The Rabbi Is kindly going to set up a very informal, free reloading orientation soon in East Nashville. Stay tuned, folks!

After many decades of taking notes, and spending a ton of money, the Dept' of Treasury, which manages the alphabet teams, has decided that "bullet placement is more important in winning a gunfight than bullet size." There is no telling how much tax money was spent figuring this out. Don't forget, the largest practical defensive sidearm does not have much more kinetic energy than a well thrown major league fastball. Vital, blood bearing organs must be destroyed, or a nerve trunk must be hit to obtain a reliable stop, and the medulla must be hit for a reliable, IMMEDIATE cessation of hostilities. (precision shots don't happen in a gunfight which will probably occur in the dark, and be OVER in less than 3 seconds!)

Dear Dotsun AA1680 is made for the 7.62 Soviet round, and you will be giving up about three hundred fps on this powder. It is fast enough to be suitable in some magnum handgun loads. Watch for pressure spikes. WSR primers will work well. MAKE SURE your primer pockets are clean and the primers are BELOW FLUSH with the case head. I do prefer the CCI primers and military brass in my Patrol Rifle. As for your 45, if you are using wadcutters and having failures-to-feed, load them so the full diameter edge of the bullet is about .050" out of the case. IIRC, 1.250" will work with most 200 gr bullets. Personally, I have gone to the 45 Colt's 200 gr RNFP Cowboy bullet for my Auto, and crimp just above the lube groove. These bullets will shoot as well as anything out there, and are UTTERLY RELIABLE. If you are having failures-to-chamber, get a Lee Factory Crimp die. As was said above, best thing since sliced bread! If this does not cover your 1911 stoppages, let us know what your critter is not doing. Feeding the 1911 beast is NOT rocket science. LOL

The Lee trimmer can be chucked in a drill, and does a good job. I don't trim once fired brass, but after I load it once, it is time to trim. The 223 is a high pressure load in a tapered hull, and it likes to stretch. Fortunately, the AR platform is easy on brass. It IS, however, hard on loaded ammo. Use canellured bullets, and I have found the Lee Factory Crimp die to be the best for the purpose. The Lee die is very tolerant of differing case lengths. This requires a separate operation, but one can use the Lee turret press. Lee has good setups for reloading. Not everyone needs a progressive press (at first). For longer case life, get a Redding Competition shell holder set and once you find the right shell holder, your brass life will increase and so will accuracy. Continually setting the shoulder back to minimum dimensions will shorten case life and could cause ignition problems, even case separations. Most AR's take the +.004" shell holder. I like Accurate Arms 2230 in the 20" barrel with the 55 gr bullet. Accurate Arms 2015 will give less muzzle flash in the 16" barrel with the same bullet weight. I have found Accurate Arms 2520 King of the Hill with the heavier bullets in the AR. Make sure you have a good understanding of how to safely reload ammo for your Patrol Rifle. Clean primer pockets prevent high primers. High primers are NOT desirable in any auto loading rifle!

Actually, it is pretty simple. Chattanooga Shooter's Supply will deliver to dealers if the order is over $500. After checking dealer prices there, one may be able to get a better price on some calibers at Widener's http://www.wideners.com/ The Civilian market is very low on 223 ammo. Widener's collects Tn Sales Tax, but has military calibers. Chattanooga is OUT of 223 at this time. It is time to reload, especially non military calibers. It seems Rabbi is kindly offering to host a class. I imagine he can get you started. It does not have to cost an arm and leg.

Dear Mike You saw, you learned, and you walked away from these events. The first is the reason I tell my students that unless you are on the job, do NOT get involved. Be a good witness. Getting involved in a chase by plainclothes folks is extremely hazardous for all involved. Many cops working undercover or getting involved off duty are injured or killed by uniformed officers responding to this incident. Quick energetic moves, and failure to IMMEDIATELY obey orders from a cop when you are armed will get you SHOT. If you see a guy and gal fighting, and the gal is losing, it is nature to step in. You must realize there is every chance if you engage the guy to stop beating on the gal, you will have BOTH of them to contend with! If she cries for help, that is a different matter, but you should still be prapared to defend yourself from an attack by the gal. If a domestic situation, there is NO rational action taking place. If an attack on an uninvolved bystander, you are putting yourself in harm's way. If it does not directly involve you, a loved one, a child, or an obviously uninvolved bystander, let it go, unless you are on the job. Even then, be prepared to deal with an escalation of resistance and your response to it. At home, in your castle, you should have a defensive tool at hand. I prefer a firearm over anything else to defend myself in my home, simply because State law is on my side. One does not want to bring a baseball bat to a gunfight in his castle.

Since the chest thumping and belittling others has died down, I will submit that one must have the passion, the drive, the accredited (court defensible) and recent training to be more than one who takes your money and shows you how to load your gun and shoot at paper. Luke is right about classes. Beginner classes do not teach a student to be proficient. They teach a student precision trigger techniqes and sight picture. Also how to safely upload, download, reload, handle and discharge their firearm, reduce stoppages, access from and recover to the holster, and clean their firearm without shooting themselves or others. A poor sight picture with correct trigger technique will get a hit near the point of aim. A flawless sight picture with a horrid jerk of a trigger pull will likely result in a miss. Often, beginners will discover they have purchased a firearm that is totally unsuitable for their level of grip strength, willingness to train, and motivation. A good trainer will know before the student when this happens. Some firearms are simply unsuitable for any defensive chores. Most beginners do not have the arm and grip strength to fire hundreds of rounds. Many can barely fire the required 50 rounds for their Carry Permit. High round count classes are to make a proficient person smoother and more proficient. Folks wanting more, after they have their permit, should fire, perhaps 200 rounds in a class. They should know what is to be expected of them before the class. Advanced classes for Operators should fire 4-500 rounds daily, if a two day class. These folks should know up front and be physically and mentally prepared to perform the needed shooting, moving and training. The Instructor should be physically and mentally prepared to demonstrate and explain techniques being trained, to anwer questions and educate their students.

What Luke said. Speaking as a Tactical Shotgun Instructor, Luke is right about the shotgun. It is fantastic AT PISTOL RANGES. Forget the 100 yard shot with the average shotgun with average slugs. Buck is out of gas at 25 yards. If your rifle is to be kept for emergency times, consider that a hard to find caliber is not a good idea. You want to have what will be easiest to find. If times get hard enough, you may have to replenish ammo from others who no longer need theirs, if you get my drift. In a perfect world, I like the idea of a 6.8mm AR-15. Right now, ammo is sparse. If Ruger ever makes their bolt action All Weather rifle in this caliber, I will have to indulge myself. The 223 is a great round, until the target is behind cover. The 308 is a great round, until you have to hoof it with half a case of the stuff. These calibers are both used not only by our troops, but by all NATO forces. (HINT) The 7.62X39 is a great round, until you need to replenish. If we are put under martial law, regardless of the nationality of the defenders, they will NOT have this caliber. The prepper who has bugged out will likely not be willing to share. Commercial hunting calibers will quickly be cleaned, or looted off store shelves, depending on how desparate times get. I am not a doomer, and have an optimistic outlook on life, but a truck strike, interruption of oil transportation from overseas ports, or natural disaster could turn our world upside down. Check out the website below, but be warned, it is not good news. The author researched how different societies reacted when they were faced with famine, pestilence, war and revolution. http://www.grandpappy.info/bmanand.htm

The 338 Lapua can push a 250 gr bullet about as fast as a 300 Win Mag can push a 180 grainer. It has almost 5000 ft/lb ME (OUCH). These guns are for Long range anti personnel targets, and lightly armored vehicles. They are at a level where recoil can be injurious to the shooter. A heavy firearm is required and a muzzle brake is NOT a luxury. Those who have shot it say recoil is "brisk" and NOT to shoot it without a brake. One must use correct shooting fundamentals to avoid developing a flinch. It has close to the same energy at 400 yards that the 300 has at the MUZZLE. At 1000 yards, it still has about 3/4 ton of remaining energy. A huge plus is, ranges banning the big 50 allow these rifles. I would be discreet around range owners, board members and range officers, and just say it is a "long range Elk rifle". They DO make hunting ammo for it. The below is pasted from Lapuas' site. "• Flat trajectory means longer effective range and reduces range estimation errors • Higher down-range velocity means less sensitivity to crosswind • Most versatile bullet selection for best results • Best in its class in long-range shooting 600-1500m • Best choice for sniper competitions"

Many of our athletes can only prepare for this event once in their life. The average cost of taking a young athlete from the first day of training to a Gold Medal averages 1.2 MILLION $$$$. Our nation does not provide financial support and this must come from private and non profit sources. Let the athletes go over there and bring back hardware!! Let the governments play their games. They knew China was a backed up septic tank BEFORE they picked the location of the Olympics. We went to Germany in 1936, where a Madman ruled. We kicked butt. A BLACK American beat out their best German athlete. Hitler almost had a stroke.

Firearms, and firearms training. About 20 hours weekly in the gym, and about a month annually in firearms Instructor classes so I can train better. Reloading, so I can shoot firearms more. Coaching Trap and Skeet, so I can keep my firearms training skills fresh. Shooting Intl' Bunker so I can make the young lions mad. Training in Tactical Firearms techniques so I can make young Warriors mad. There is a fine line between a passion and an obsession.

If you alter the magazine tube on your Remington, you will void any warranty. Used 870 Police shotguns are readily available. I will bet Rabbi or Hero Gear can hook you up.

2 Ruger All Weather MK II's, with identical Leupold Vari X III 4 1/2-14X40 scopes. One in 308, one in 30/06. 2 identical Glock 17's, with Meprolights and identical Simunitions conversion kits. 2 identical S&W M14-6 Full Lug K-38's. 2 S&W Power Port Revolvers, one 686, one 629. 2 Browning A-Bolt II Varmint BOSS Heavy Barrel rifles, with identical Leupold Benchrest 24X scopes, one in 223/5.56, one in 308.

Dear Jason The extractor is a simple fix. It is held in by spring pressure acting on a plunger. Why don't you call Ruger and order the parts? Extractor, Extractor Spring and Plunger. Have the pistol at hand to give them the serial no so they may send the correct parts. If you don't feel comfortable putting them in, and ever get near the Nashville area, mail me and I will put them in for you gratis. If you don't get around these parts, you can send me the bolt assy' with the new parts. Sending just the bolt assy' is like sending any other machined part through Fed Ex. With the bolt out of the firearm, make sure you don't lose the firing pin stop. It is a pin towards the front of the bolt that protects the firing pin and chamber during dry firing, and may slip out of the gun. Taping around this part will keep it in place. Also tape around the recoil spring to keep it in place. I have some experience with these fine firearms.

Dear Rabbi I have a million of them. Like this one? LOL "Owning a handgun doesn’t make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician."

Since I am old, and train folks younger than I, staying in shape to demonstrate techniques without fatigue is cardinal. I spend close to 20 hours a week in the gym. I have worked out since High School Football. Anyhow, I recently retained a MMA and Fitness Trainer to get me to the next level with my fitness program, and to get a new regimen. Although I am in good shape for an old guy, I know how Dixie Girl feels!

Failure to Train is Training to Fail. ANY QUESTIONS?

My G-17's have Night Sights, stainless steel guide rods and heavier recoil springs. Thats all. I use the Glock exclusively for training, either giving or taking. They are hard to beat for an experienced defender. They are easy for a new shooter to learn and become competent with. Periodic courses by trainers knowledgable in Glock techniques, snap cap stoppage reduction drills and range time makes one proficient. Proper service, ammo and training make the Glock as close to foolproof as any firearm on the market. Only if one does not have the arm and hand strength to manipulate the Glock will I recommend a revolver. Often that same person will have difficulty pulling the trigger on the revolver. Although I am proficient with the revolver, if one is willing to commit to master the Glock, it is the superior firearm.

Don't forget that the State has a training program they give to all State Certified Handgun Instructors. It is a "recommended" program, but if you vary from it, you MUST send in your lesson plan and have it approved. This makes me wonder about court defensability if one does stray from the State course. If the course was boring, it was because you are not a new shooter. The lesson plan starts with the assumption you have NO firearms skills or experience. I have creds and experience to train Advanced Operators in High Risk Operations, but in the Carry Class, I stick to the "recommended" program. LOL

They may have grandfathered in a policy they changed over the years, or you might just talk to your agent, NOT the folks answering the phone. If they no longer add firearms, write Diana Crawford at Ace Insurance Services in KY. http://www.aceinsuranceservices.com/index.html

Try Tennessee Farm Bureau. I have been a member for around 30 years. They have $1500 firearms insurance without asking on your homeowners, more if you want it. Great insurance co. Diana Crawford runs Ace Insurance Services in Ky. Look her up on the Web. She is a shooter, and is one of us. I have my Firearms Trainer insurance through her. She has really good rates for your working guns and a great deal for Safe Queens.

IIRC, West Va does NOT honor the Tn permit. I took a week long training course in Va last spring, and my permit covered me on the way there and there, but since I do not drink, and the LEOS and trainers I was with do not either, we did not go to serving establishments. We went to places the local PD goes to. No, we did NOT go to donut shops. LOL You can probably go to the state website and look up their laws.

As an old head at this, you are simply talking about two different rounds. Varmint rifles are best when not too hot, and not too cold. For example, the 22 Hornet is a great round, and can be shot all day without overheating the barrel, but is out of gas at 150 yards. The 22/250 is fantastic out to long range, but heats up the barrel quickly. If you talk to folks who regularly trek out west to shoot prairie dogs (which are VERY destructive to habitat), they generally take a couple of 223 heavy barrel rifles, and oodles of ammo. They are good to 300+ yards, 400+ on a calm day. Many powders and bullets have been made specifically for the 223. For target shooting at up to 500 yards, the 308 is going to be hard to beat. It is a standard for competition up to 600 yards, and has been for a generation or so. Some of the most accurate bullets and the best powders have been made just for the 308. You may notice both of these rounds fit your bill of not being exotic. They are also military rounds. They have the overpowering advantage of available components, especially once fired brass, and of being outstanding cartridges that are not picky as to powder and bullet. They are fast enough to do the job, but are not overly hard on barrels. Realize that successful shooting at 500 yards is a whole new world, and requires precision ammo loaded by someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder! LOL It also requires a solid benchrest technique, which one is NOT born with. It is hard to play Golf with one club, and for what you specified, I believe these two great rounds will fill the bill. A matched pair of Remington heavy barreled 700's and good scopes, along with a little trigger work will get you in the winner's circle, and without breaking the bank. If your budget is tight, Savage makes a dandy heavy barrel rifle with a good trigger. If you insist on one rifle for both chores, the 243 or 6mm Remington is a little much for most varmints, and very susceptible to wind for long range target shooting. It is also more expensive to shoot than either of the military rounds. New commercial brass is very expensive. Although many folks malign military brass, it is held to tighter weight variation than commercial brass. The best way to cut your groups in half is to segregate the brass by weight as well as headstamp. I generally prefer military brass for most shooting. I segregate to +- 1/2 gr for the 223, and up to 300 yards, +- 1 grain for the 308. Over 300 but not over 600, +- 1/2 gr. This is where military brass will shine. You will likely have two batches of brass, with very few discards.

I am easy to please. A pair of "N" frame Smiths, 5" Full Lug bbls, Hammer Mounted Firing Pins, 625 type with unfluted cylinders in 38 Spl, and 44 Spl, out of the Custom shop with tuned double actions. That's all.