Answerin' The Mail...

Reader Daniel has a couple product questions for us:

Hi Jay,

You review a lot of stuff, and I've come to like your no-bullshit style. Here are two items you may have come across, and if you have, I'd like to hear what you think --

- clipdraw.com -- ever used them?

- MagnaTrigger, done by Tarnhelm.com in NH -- Massad Ayoob seems to think highly of it, but I've seen precious little mention of it elsewhere. (My wife is very nervous indeed about keeping a gun in the house, but she was intrigued by this.)

Heh. "No-bullshit style". I like that. I try really hard to review items that I receive in "real world" conditions as best as I can. If I'm testing out a holster, for example, I'll wear it out and about for a few weeks before drawing any conclusions. When testing a new firearm, I'll try to get it to the range on multiple days, quite often using a variety of ammunition.

As for the Clipdraw, I've never had direct experience with them. I'm not a fan of the concept in general, but that's specific to me - I'm a sweaty Italian guy, and if I had a pistol pressed against my body my sweat would eat the finish right off of just about any gun that's out there, stainless or not. I also prefer a holster to keep lint, dust, and other detritus (don't salute!) out of the action and/or barrel. If I were going to get a Clipdraw, I'd want it for my P3AT or the soon-to-be-acquired S&W Bodyguard 380, nothing bigger.

As for the Magna-Trigger, it's got two strikes against it from the get-go. First off, it needlessly complicates something that should not be complicated - the interaction between the firearm and the user's hand. Secondly, it's $350 and requires shipping the gun to them for modification and then shipping it back to you. $350 will buy you one hell of a nice biometric pistol safe...

I'm always willing to hear otherwise, so if anyone has experience with either item, please chime in!

That is all.

And if anyone from Clipdraw would like to send a unit for review, well, I can be reached through the blog e-mail... :)

Ask Professor Know-It-All: MA Gun Laws...

Friend and Northeast bloggershoot attending MedicMatthew e-mails with a question regarding MA gun laws (and, really, Federal gun laws):

Dear Penthouse Forum, I never thought…

Wait, wrong email.

Jay,

Since you are the official unofficial guru on the asshattery that is Massachusetts gun law I thought I’d write to you and ask this question:

Is it kosher for me, a non-resident, to do a face to facesale of a firearm to a resident of Massafuckingchusetts? Or do we need to go to an FFL, have the sale blessed by both a Rabbi and a Catholic priest and sacrifice four goats and a duck?

I would be selling my Glock 22 along with three 15 round magazines, the buyer is a buddy of mine who was just hired by [city], Mass PD and has to provide his own duty weapon that is a full frame size in a caliber of .40 or larger. He currently does not own any weapons that meet that requirement and so he is quite interested in purchasing my G22, since it is more or less a safe queen that hasn’t seen the light of day in close to a year and seriously, a fucking Glock should NOT be a safe queen.

Thoughts?

-MedicMatthew

Note1: Dear Penthouse forum... heh.
Note2: In the interest of saving time, the answer to any question that starts with "Is it legal in MA to..." regarding firearms is always "No".
Note3: Must refrain from commenting on queen...

But seriously, this is an excellent question for two reasons: there are Federal issues in the interstate transfer of firearms; and there are state issues in the "Approved Firearms Roster".

My quick response:

Good morning Matthew,

The quick answer is that private transfer of handguns cannot occur across state lines. End of story - that was the Gun Control Act of 1968's work. At least one FFL will have to be involved, possibly two. If you can find an FFL to make the transfer, you might be able to bring the gun to them and they will transfer it to your friend from you with only one transfer needed.

You may be in luck in this case - since your friend is a police officer, you may be able to find an FFL willing to make the transfer of a NON-APPROVED (ZOMG) handgun - LEOs can buy guns that we mere mortals cannot. Apparently those unsafe Glocks that our esteemed Attorney General will not allow us to purchase because of their general unsafe construction magically become safer in the hands of OnlyOnes...

More information on the interstate transfer of handguns can be found here, particularly:

Sales Between Individuals

An individual who does not possess a federal firearms license may not sell a firearm to a resident of another state without first transferring the firearm to a dealer in the purchaser`s state. Firearms received by bequest or intestate succession are exempt from those sections of the law which forbid the transfer, sale, delivery or transportation of firearms into a state other than the transferor`s state of residence.

Person-to-person sales of firearms are verboten across state lines per Federal law. At least one FFL must be involved (on the receiving end). As for the Approved Firearms Roster, what I feared might happen (the MA FFL refusing the transfer) actually happened:

Okay, I don't have a problem involving an FFL, in fact as soon as I got your email I called my buddy to see if he could find an FFL to take care of the transfer and they told him that it would have had to have been manufactured before a certain date, which I don't understand because the Glock 22 is in fact on the Approved Firearms Roster.

Why yes, yes it is on the Approved Firearms Roster:

Glock 22 .40 S&W

However, Glocks cannot be sold by an FFL in MA as per the AG's secondary rules (which are unpublished and known only to the MA AG). See this letter from Glock explaining to their dealers in MA that they cannot sell new Glocks in MA. No, it doesn't make any sense. Glock jumped through all the hoops they were supposed to jump through in order to sell handguns in MA (which I outlined as part of my interview with the President of Charter Arms at the NRA convention), yet still cannot sell any new pistols. Because the MA market is so small, they have decided not to sell in MA, period (except, of course, to Law Enforcement, who are exempt from the AG's regulations, natch).

Which is why a used and abused G26 will sell for $700+ in MA even though you can buy a new one for about $200 less in Free America, but I digress... As for the "made before a certain date", that's October of 1998 when the Gun Control Act of 1998 was passed making the Attorney General's office responsible for determining which handguns were suitable for sale to us peons civilians. You see, a Glock made on October 20th, 1998 is fine and safe for a non-LEO to own, whereas a Glock made the next day is not. And, to further muddy the waters, police officers are exempt from the regulations - in other words, those guns that are too unsafe for us regular yutzes to own magically become safe when owned by cops...

Madness? THIS IS MASSACHUSETTS!

Anyway, the story has a happy ending for Matthew and his friend:

Okay, it has all been sorted out. I have confirmed with the FFL and the local popo that I can in fact sell him the G22 since he is a law enforcement officer. Sorry for the multiple emails, he and I both had a moment of panic this morning because he needs the weapon soon and well, prison bitch isn't a title that I want to add to my resume any time soon.

Thanks for your help!
-Matt

Heh. Glad everything worked out; wish it didn't have to be so damned complicated.

That is all.

There's Still Hope...

A reader e-mailed me the following story full of hope from right here in the Volksrepublik:

Jay,

I am privileged enough to have been elected in an alumni mentorship role at my fraternity in [city], Massachusetts. The house is [fraternity], [chapter], chartered at [university] in 1891.

The rock has been part of the house tradition for decades, and the brothers and pledges use it to paint welcoming signs for alumni on homecoming, holiday themes, go Patriots, etc. This year they did something different. I couldn't have been more proud. The rock is in public view on [name] Street.

Another tradition of the house is the two flags, the American flag and the Fraternity flag. They are put out by 8AM and taken in at sundown everyday, weather permitting. They are folded daily per their respective traditions. This year, they added two more flags on 9/11. A little bit of hope for the future on this dreary Monday...

Anon

(names redacted per anon's request. Suffice to say, it's a well-known engineering-type college in Massachusetts).

Here are the pictures in question:

The Rock

Flags

Outstanding. Simply outstanding. It's heartening to know that all is not lost; that at least some portion of today's youth get it; that not every twenty-something is a self-absorbed nitwit... They've even got the flags in the proper order... I've got two of the four and really need to get the "Come and take it" flag for the front porch...

All is not lost, not even in the Volksrepublik of MA.

That is all.

Interesting Question...

Got an interesting question in e-mail yesterday. Reader Chris writes:

Heya Jay,

Since your obviously become such an internationally well known Blogger About Town (and I respect your opinion as they generally match mine!) what are your thoughts on on-weapon lights for pistols?

I'm considering adding a flashlight to my XD(m) for bedside use (in addition to the 20g Mossberg 500 mounted with a flashlight).

Maybe some nice manufacturer will send you some review units :)

Heh. First of all, flattery will get you everywhere. Even a post... (and thanks, seriously).

Secondly, there's two schools of thought when it comes to lights on weapons. One school says that anything that helps you better identify your target is a good thing, and having a light attached to your weapon makes it more likely you'll have - and use - a light in dark situations. The other school of thought is that putting a light on your weapon gives the bad guy something bright to shoot at.

Both have their strong points and not-so-strong points. It *is* imperative to properly identify your target should you need to shoot; having a light mounted on your defensive arm gives you one less thing to look for when things go pear-shaped and puts everything you need in one place. There's a lot to be said for that. The downside is that it's another thing to remember to maintain - batteries and bulbs (although LEDs make that pretty much a moot point these days) - as well as train with (i.e. make sure you train with the light on the gun, as even a seemingly small amount of weight can make a difference lugging the gun around and acquiring follow-up shots if needed).

And yes, coming out with a bright light does give a goblin a target to shoot at, that's something to consider. I put this in pretty much the same category as "racking your shotgun to chamber a round will give away your position" - while it is true, in the most technical of senses, it's also on the far end of the bell curve. Your average B&E guy isn't going to stick around when he sees you come out of the bedroom with a shotgun and a forend light, he's going to make like Robert Bannister breaking the four minute mile. A goblin who doesn't beat feet when he sees an armed homeowner is either a psychopath who's going to shoot you with or without the light or a hardened killer, in which case you've got to hope your training is better than his.

And in any case, that light shouldn't come on unless you are just about ready to ventilate someone...

UPDATE: Zercool makes an excellent point in comments that's an expansion of this last sentence. The biggest drawback to having a light on your weapon is that in order to use said light, you have to point your firearm at what you're illuminating. You have to be covering something with the muzzle of your firearm to take advantage of the light. This means you need to be ready and willing to shoot whatever you're pointing the light at. If you're just using a light to see where you're going, have a separate light.

As for me, personally, I have a light on my home defense pistol - the LaserLyte WL-1 I reviewed here. It's small, casts a powerful beam, and only adds a little over an ounce to the overall weight of the SW99 it's hung on. It's only marginally less bright than the monster Brinkmann LED light I keep by the bed (the one that takes two lithium batteries and can roast marshmallows after being on a few seconds). I'd love to get one of the SureFire forend lights for the Mossberg 590 or the Bushmaster (Anyone from SureFire reading? *g*), but that's not in the budget at present time. Now, if one of those "nice manufacturer"s out there who makes weapons lights were to offer a unit(s) for testing, I'd be more than happy to try them out... :)

So, what's the consensus on weapons lights - do you view them as a necessary item, a liability, or something else entirely?

That is all.

Worth a Few Ducats...

Got an e-mail from "David" this morning about a worthy cause:

Thought you'd find this interesting. I've been following Jake for a wile, ever since he was a marine sniper out in the field taking out baddies.

Basically he and some chums went down to Haiti of their own accord, with their own dollars, to see what they could do as medics. They're not asking for money, but not turning it down either.

Here's the site for Team Rubicon. They've been blogging their experiences in Haiti helping out in the aftermath of the earthquake (now earthquakes, multiple, as a 6.1 magnitude quake hit earlier today) and it's well-worth a read. These gentlemen are what America is all about. They've got a call asking for more help, and also have a tip jar up if you would like to support what they're doing.

Go, take a look, and drop 'em a few bucks if you can spare it - these guys are on the side of the angels.

That is all.

Letters, We Get Letters...

I have the greatest readers in the gun blogosphere, you know that? I get e-mails like this one from PhillipC:

You might be a gun nut if..

You design your costume around a particular weapon in your possession.

I have an SKS, and it just seemed natural to me to go as a certain young revolutionary. Tell me if you know who I'm supposed to be, as I was surprised at the number of people who didn't.

I'm not responsible for any coffee through the nose, or need for duct tape. :-)

PhillipC

So who did Phillip go as for Halloween?

Guess Who???

Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, tell me that y'all know who Phillip is dressed as?

That is all.

Talkin' About Boolitts...

Reader Alex e-mails with a question about bullet selection:

Jay,
Read your blog about every day, and really enjoy what you have to say. After a tour in Iraq, I really got interested in buying guns and ammo. I recently purchased a taurus .357 with a 6" barrel. Since then I have been stocking up on ammo, focusing on FMJ for plinking and JHP for defense. However, after reading various opinions on various loads, I find myself getting more confused about what type of round to buy, what size, and what brand. Before I go spend all my money and time buying and testing rounds, I was wondering if you could give me any advice on these issues. I was looking at S&B 158g SP, S&B 158g. FMJ, Fiocchi 142. FMJ, Fiocchi 148g SJHP, and Fiocchi 158g JHP w/ xtp bullet. Is there a rule of thumb regarding different size bullets for different applications? This article seemed to be well written, but it raised as many questions as it answered regarding bullet selection.
Thanks for your time.
-Alex

---

I may not be the world's most foremost authority on bullet selection, but I took a shot at it:

Good evenin' Alex,

First off, thank you for your service.

Secondly, my experience with revolvers has been that bullet selection isn't quite as critical as with semi-autos. I'm assuming you know that the lighter the bullet the faster the round travels and the heavier the bullet the more kinetic energy it imparts. A 110 grain .357 Magnum round is going to scream (approx. 1300 FPS out of a 4" barrel IIRC). You lose some of the speed with the heavier bullets, but make up for it with increased muzzle energy - that's why defensive rounds are generally 110 - 125 grains, and hunting rounds are 180+ grains.

My experience with S&B has been that the QC is spotty - it's one of the only manufacturers that consistently has one or two bad rounds in every box. I tend to pick up reloads from a local place I trust, 158 grain .357 Magnum FMJs for practice and 125 grain JHP hydrashoks or Gold dots for self defense. One thing to keep in mind is that the lighter, faster rounds are not recommended for the uber light snubbies (like my venerable S&W model 360PD, the "Snubbie from Hell™) because the extreme pressures tend to rattle that last round loose...

Thanks for reading!

---

Now, I know there's some reloaders out there that might be able to chime in with a better answer, so have at it!

That is all.

CCW Conundrum

Reader PISSED (and yes, he's a gun owner in MA, so the moniker is well-deserved), writes in with the following questions:

Good morning Jay,

Thanks for taking your time to read this : )

I fairly new to concealed carry and gun ownership in MA.

I appreciate your blog and also have followed some of the links to others like Bruce's.

My question if you dont mind is, who do you recommend as a good instructor for
CC?

Also what would you recommend for a good gun to carry in an ankle holster?

I have purchased from Four Seasons Firearms in the past.

I live on the north shore as well.

regards, PISSED

Naturally, I had to respond (note: Saying good things about my humble poo flinging scribblings is a great way to get a response):

Thanks for reading MArooned, and thanks for your questions. As always, I'd like to use this as a post, as I think others may have good answers to your questions (I typically will leave off last names; if you're really concerned you can simply be "a reader").

As for who to go to for CCW training, really, in MA, there's no better place to go than GOAL (Gun Owner's Action League - you *are* a member, right?). GOAL offers numerous classes pertaining to MA gun laws; the best course for what you're looking for is the "Art of Concealed Carry" class. It's taught by Jon Green and Darius Arbabi, two very knowledgeable and personable gentlemen who are true assets to 2A community here in MA. There are some more specialized courses available such as the Secrets of the Concealed Snub Revolver course offered by Michael de
Bethencourt.

As to your second question, I happen to have two of the guns I'd recommend, and can and have carried one of them in an ankle holster for significant periods of time. While you can find ankle holsters for guns up to the subcompact Glocks and S&W M&Ps, I wouldn't recommend it due to the weight and bulk. I've carried my S&W AirLite model 360PD in an ankle holster, and at 13.9 ounces loaded it's really the heaviest I'd want to carry in an ankle holster. The AirWeight Model 637 would also be a good choice, only a few ounces heavier. I'd recommend getting a revolver with an exposed hammer and an ankle holster with a retention strap for security.

Since you're in MA, the other options are harder to come by - the Kel-Tec P3AT or the Ruger LCP. Both are lighter than the S&W J-frame and more compact, so they're both less obtrusive in the holster and lighter at the end of your leg... However, since the powers-that-be have determined them to not be safe enough for us peons, they're rather hard to find and will come at a premium (expect to pay $400 - $500 for a P3AT, which retails for under $300 new...)

As for ankle carry in general, a lot of folks don't care for it, and with valid reason. It's limiting to small, less-powerful guns that take practice to shoot well; it's much less accessible than IWB carry; it's more prone to accidental dislodging of the firearm under physical activity. The pluses are that it is pretty deep cover and that, most importantly, it allows you to obey the first rule of gunfighting: Have a gun. It's also good for carrying a back-up gun if you choose to do so.

The one thing I'd mention is that the guns I've suggested for ankle carry are also well-suited for pocket carry. I carry both the S&W 360 and the P3AT in DeSantis Nemesis holsters and find it to be a superior method of carrying IMHO. I've posted the methods of carry in this post. Carrying in your pocket allows for a much faster draw than from an ankle holster (did a video on drawing from the pocket here).

Thanks for writing, and I'll offer that if you would like to try either a S&W J-frame or a P3AT, give a holler and we'll figure something out.

Best regards,

Jay G.
MArooned

---

Anyone got any better suggestions for either training (local to the Northeast, or around the country) or a gun for ankle-carry?

That is all.

Tough Questions...

Got an interesting letter from a reader (who has asked to remain anonymous) with a couple of thought questions. He's debating getting a permit to carry, and has asked my opinion on his situation. There's a few twists, turns, and other assorted bumps in the road that, well, I'll let our reader explain:

Dear Jay,

I am a reader of your blog, and I was wondering what you thought about a certain issue. I am an avid shooter (mostly shotgun, but sometimes pistol) who is turning 21 shortly. I am an NJ resident and I am considering applying for a FL CCW so that I would be able to carry a pistol in most of the states I visit outside of NJ. I figure that having the permit may benefit me sometime within the next 7 years of my life.

1. Do you think it is worth the time, money, and effort to do this?
2. I am a student at a college in CT. (I'd rather have the FL permit than CT because it is accepted in more places and I don't anticipate ever bringing a gun up here anyway.) When I apply to graduate school, do you think that the school will be able to see that I have a permit when they do a background check on me? In other words, I am worried about being denied admission for political reasons. (If this is the case I may have problems anyway because I have an NJ FID card).

If you don't have time to address this, don't worry about it. But if you should decide to publish anything about this, please leave my name out of it.

Well, I left the gentleman's name out, but decided to respond in the open here because he poses some interesting questions, and questions that I think others might have a better answer for.

His first question is the more contentious in my opinion. Is it worth it for him to get the FL non-resident permit that will allow him to carry a firearm (outside of his home state)? My initial response is that this is a deeply personal question that, really, only he can answer. The permit costs $117 ($75 for permit and $42 for fingerprinting), which may be onerous to some and vaguely irksome to others. It doesn't appear to be terrifically involved otherwise, so the first, most basic question - is it worth it - depends on whether you've got $120 or so to spare.

Now...

I'm leery of carrying a concealed firearm in a state where I am neither a resident nor possess a non-resident permit from that state. While you may very well be 100% legal, it's entirely possible that the nice officer with the gun to your head doesn't know that... Gun laws are so confusing, overlapping, and convoluted that under normal circumstances (carrying in your own state) you're likely to encounter difficulties. Having an out-of-state non-resident permit opens you up to unnecessary risks, IMHO. And while you may eventually walk away scot-free, it doesn't mean a whole helluva lot when you're proned out on the asphalt in 90º heat...

This came up when I was grousing about the NH non-resident permit fee skyrocketing to $100 from the previously reasonable $20. It was suggested that the $117 FLA non-resident permit was a better value, as it was recognized in more states than the NH non-res. Since I'm in NH fairly often, I'd rather have the NH permit - if I get stopped in NH while carrying and I have to show a gun permit, I'd rather it be an official State of NH Non-Resident Firearms Permit than a FL non-resident. I don't want to run the risk of getting Skippy the taser-happy statie deciding that my permit may or may not be valid and playing whackamole with my testicles...

But that's just me...

The second question is, IMHO, a little easier. I applied to the University of New Hampshire while possessing a MA FID card, and at no point in the process was it ever mentioned. I don't know for certain if a college would be able to access that information - I certainly hope not - but it shouldn't matter to them whether you have a permit or not. Given that most states require concealed permit holders to be 21, I'd hazard that it's a metric most colleges don't bother to collect...

And if anyone has evidence or anecdotes to the contrary, we'd love to hear them!

That is all.

Letters, We Get Letters...

...and sometimes, those letters put a smile on my face that can't be taken off even by watching the news and hearing of the latest vote-buying dumbassery coming out of Washington...

Today's e-mail is from lurker Nancy, who writes:

Jay,

Do you know of anything out there for a new, young shooter that’s smaller than a Cricket?

My husband and I took our daughter to the range this past March thinking she’d be bored out of her mind, but she enjoyed watched us grownups shoot. Even better, with plenty of supervision, she got to shoot a neighbor kid’s BB gun.

The next day she asked for her own gun for her birthday. And the next. And the next. After a week of this, I suggested she tell her daddy what she had in mind.

“I want a gun for my next birthday.”

{My husband’s chest puffs out with pride and he got a stupid grin on his face.}

“I want a handgun like Mommy’s!”

{Husband has a look of glee combined with a look of “OMG … what have we done?!?!} “Hmm. Maybe we can find a toy gun that will fit your hands …”

“NO Daddy! I want a real gun that puts holes in paper!”

“But honey – your hands aren’t big enough. Wait. I’ll show you.”

{Husband trots down to the gun closet, gets out the Glock Airsoft, checks to see it’s unloaded and hands it to our daughter.} “See honey? You can’t possibly hold …”

::: CLICK :::

{Husband mutters to self “What in the world mumble mumble must have been a fluke mumble mumble ...” Checks pistol, hands it back to daughter}

::: CLICK :::

So. They’ve been practicing with the Airsoft hitting a pie tin hanging from her rocking horse. She clears the range: “Weady on the weft! Weady on the wight! Weady in the center! The wange is weady!” With her daddy supervising all hans-on time and helping with the aiming process, they plink away at the pie tin. When the magazine is empty, she calls for a cease fire, picks up all the pellets she can find, and they start over. She has a good grasp of the 4 rules, and understands the difference btween a tool and a toy.

Her birthday is coming up in a few weeks and she still wants a gun, although she now wants a “long gun”. We took her to Gander to Mountain this past weekend to see what was available, and everything was still a big too long for her to get her shoulder behind.

Oh. Did I mention she’s going to be four?

Yeah.

You bring this up with anyone that’s not a gun nut and they look at you like you’re teaching your kid to torture puppies and drown kittens. You bring it up with a gun nut who doesn’t know you, and they think you’re one of *those* people – the kind that’s waiting for “Red Dawn” to happen for real. But with government agents instead of Soviets.

Thanks in advance for any help you can send this way,

Nancy R., humble lurker

First off, if that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't want to know you. Nancy's daughter - at the tender age of (almost) four, has a better grasp on firearms and their place (tool) than 90% of the nitwits in Congress. I'd almost guarantee she doesn't think a barrel shroud is the "shoulder thing that goes up", that's for damned sure...

Secondly, I think in the firearm world the Crickett is about the smallest rifle they're going to find. I know that, under NFA regulations, the barrel length of a rifle must be 16" or more, and the overall length must be 26.5" or more. The Crickett has a 16.125" barrel (1/8" for good measure I guess) and an OAL of 30". Really not going to get too much smaller.

I recommend that Nancy buy her daughter a sweet pink laminate stock Crickett with stainless barrel (because that's the gun that BabyGirl G. wants, and if Mrs. G. felt the way Nancy did, BabyGirl G. would already have that gun...). Let her daughter get used to it, dry fire it (with snap caps or spent casing), etc. Kids grow damned fast at that age - the winter my son turned six, he grew nearly four inches from September to April! She'll be big enough to handle the Crickett before you know it.

Nancy, thanks for writing (and lurking). If someone out there in blogland knows of a smaller rifle than the Crickett, I'm certain they'll leave that information in comments. For now, keep on teaching your daughter right and bringing her up as a good citizen, not a subject. Buy her a gun, an actual firearm - make Sarah Brady cry and an angel get its wings.

And most important of all, keep us posted on your daughter's progress - I have a feeling we're seeing the next Julie Golosky here...

That is all.

Give Me A Lever and a Place to Stand...

...and I will move the world. Archimedes spoke these words over two thousand years before the invention of the lever-action rifle. Prophetic, because with the proper lever gun, it is possible to remove the center of a target or the heart of a deer...

So, Jay, what prompted this astute observation, you ask?

Well, reader "merlin" recently e-mailed me with a question about lever-action rifles:

Hey JayG.

I've been reading your blog for a while, but I very rarely comment. I think I got introduced to you via Law Dog, but I honestly don't remember now.

Anyways, on to my question. I'm starting to get the itch again. You know the one I'm talking about. It's usually located somewhere near the tip of your index finger, and it seems it can only be scratched by sweetly caressing a slightly curved piece of metal, usually black, chrome, or blued in hue.

I've pretty much decided to start with a Buckmark just to get back in the game. I'm also being "gifted" a Model 28 N-Frame HighwayPatrolman in .357 with a 4" barrel from my dear old dad. He is also holding on to my Ruger 10/22 long gun for me, which I will repatriate at an appropriate time.

I feel like I'm fairly well set on the hand cannon side of things, at least for getting back into things, but I'm looking at rifles now, trying to decide what I want. At some point I'll probably end up with a .243 or a .308, but for now I want something in .22 LR, just because it's cheap and easy, and I'm broke.

So, I guess this is the long way of getting around to an ad I saw in the local rag yesterday for Henry Repeating Arms. I vaguely remember hearing the name, but don't know much about them and was curious if you had an opinion. The ad featured a nice looking rifle with an octagonal barrel, lever-action and chambered in .22LR. Looked very reminiscent of the old saddle guns of yore. I'll admit most of my interest is just for the looks alone, but that's almost reason enough, isn't it?

I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have on it, and feel free to turn this into a blog posting if you'd care to.-- Merlin

Heh. "...wondering if you had an opinion". Merlin, I've got an opinion on everything gun related... *g*

---

Far be it from me to tarry ere a gun-buying decision be made, I replied post-haste:

Hi Merlin,

Believe me, I know that itch extremely well. I'm trying to ignore it for another couple of weeks right now as it is, at least until Buy A Gun Day on April 15th... The Buckmark is an excellent choice, and I am positively green with envy over the Model 28... A 10/22 is on my short list of guns to get, and I might even get one this year.

As for the Henry, let's put it simply: You could do a whole lot worse, and spend a whole lot more, than a Henry lever-action rifle. They're great looking guns that shoot extremely well, have a great balance and heft, and a slick-as-snot lever action that you can, with little practice, work just as fast as a semi-auto. For the money, they're one of the greatest deals around. You get a lever-action rifle, which is about as American as you can get; you get an inexpensive shooter - you can shoot bulk .22LR all day long and not worry about jams or misfeeds like in a semi-auto; and you get this:

There's even a large lever loop available for it. How can you possibly go wrong?

I own a Marlin model 39A Golden .22LR lever action gun, which I positively stole a few years back. My buddy Bruce (No Looking Backwards) has a Henry. We've shot 'em side-by-side at the range, and I've got to say, that little Henry shoots every bit as good as my Marlin. The lever on the Henry's even a little slicker - although to be fair I don't think my Marlin is quite broken in yet. Accuracy's about the same between the two; the Marlin has a 4-round edge in the tubular mag (long barrel, longer magazine); other than that, they're evenly matched.

And with an MSRP of $325 (which means you should be able to take one home for ~ $250 or so), it's not going to break the bank. And it comes with a lifetime warranty. How can you argue with that?

Thanks for okaying the posting - I think this is an excellent question and I'm happy to give the MArooned Seal of Approval to the Henry Lever-action .22LR.

And yes, "because it looks cool" is an absolutely good reason to buy a gun. Of course!!!

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the e-mail!

Best regards,

Jay G.
MArooned

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Personally, no armory is complete without at least one .22LR rifle in it. It's best to have a semi-automatic rifle (I recommend the Ruger 10/22, even though I don't own one - yet) and one manually operated one - bolt, slide, or lever-action. One could do a heckuva lot worse than a Henry repeating .22 rimfire rifle, and not at heckuva lot better. Oh, sure, I like my Marlin just fine, but if I hadn't come across that deal, I'd have bought a Henry, no question about it.

So, as a parting thought question... What's your favorite .22LR rifle?

That is all.

Yes, Even More Letters!

Today's letter comes to us from "Ryan", a student attending college right here in lovely MA:

Hi there,

I just stumbled upon your blog after seeing "My Cousin Vinnie" on TV and Googling ".357 magnum" to see what one looked like. I'm sorry if you don't like people e-mailing you, but I figured this would be a better way to achieve contact than commenting on a post with a comment that didn't have much to do with the actual topic.

I'm a student, currently 20 years old, living a little while outside of Boston. I'm looking forward to two things next year: legal alcohol consumption and the possibility of purchasing a firearm. I don't really have any questions about the first situation, but lots about the second. First being, it is 21 that is the legal age for the purchase of a handgun, right?

Mostly I just want to know about what it's like to own a gun. Particularly I'd like to know from you, as you seem to own quite a collection. What's the fascination? What does it change about your life? Have you noticed any change in yourself, for the better or worse? What's it like owning a gun in MA? I'm a registered independent that typically leans left (yeah, I rooted for Obama, haha), so what do you think this would mean for me? Does moving affect anything?

Lastly, do you have any recommendations for a first time buyer?

I'm still not entirely sure I want to buy... I'd prefer to take up a martial art, but at the moment I don't have the resources. I'm also not entirely sure how often I'd need one for anything but recreational shooting, being a soft white kid from the suburbs. I've always had a fascination with weapons, though, ever since I was a little kid, and yeah, I play lots of first-person shooters. For some reason guns, swords, bows, etc. appeal to me. I guess it's the testosterone? On top of that, the prospect of being able to protect my (future) family with more than a baseball bat is reassuring, although
I can also imagine a gun causing things to escalate...

If you choose to answer, thanks. If not, I don't blame you. :P

Thanks for your time!

Ryan

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Of course I chose to answer. I try to answer my e-mail whenever possible (although I've had a handful of, well, odd messages come through from time to time that I've chosen not to respond to) - basically, a genial, polite message will get some sort of response. Call me an ass and tell me I should drop dead for owning guns, yeah, I'm going to ignore you. Respectfully disagree and I'll talk your ear off about why I feel the way I do...

So here's my response to Ryan's questions:

Good afternoon Ryan,

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you - it's been a pretty busy weekend on my end, otherwise I'd have gotten in touch sooner. I enjoy it when people e-mail me - heck, I'm shocked that anyone reads my scribblings most days. I'll address your points individually, as you ask some excellent questions that I'll take a stab at
answering.

(With your permission, I'd like to post your questions and my response on the blog; I'd be happy to omit your name - either all or just last - as well as location if you would prefer).

*First being, it is 21 that is the legal age for the purchase of a handgun, right?

Certainly in MA - you must be 21 to obtain a Class A or B LTC, which would permit you to purchase a handgun. I believe Federal law puts the age of purchase at 21 as well, but the age at which one can own a handgun varies from state to state, with some states setting it 18 and others lower (15?) IIRC.

*What's the fascination?

Hmmm. That's a damn good question. I think there's two distinct factors at work here. The first is a lifelong fascination with all things mechanical - Legos, Erector sets, etc. I've always enjoyed tinkering, building, making things work (even if I can't work on my car to save my life!). Firearms are intriguing from an engineering standpoint - you're talking about a vessel capable of containing explosive forces, and it's got moving parts too!

The other aspect is the historical side. I own firearms that are over 100 years old, and I still take those to the range and shoot them from time to time. The majority of my collection is older than I am (and by your standards, I'm probably ancient...) :) What other machines that contain explosions last decades to centuries under even light use? Additionally, a good number of the firearms in my collection were guns I inherited from my grandfather, my namesake. When I hold the Colt .38 Special that he carried as a town police officer, I'm holding a tangible piece of my family history. I can imagine my grandfather shooting this same gun some 60 years prior, although most likely at the town dump or sand pits rather than a range...

*What does it change about your life?

Other than causing a largish hole in my wallet, not a lot... Well, actually, that's not entirely true. Living in MA, which is decidedly anti-gun, it tends to make one stand out that one is a firearm enthusiast - I've joked about gun owners being ranked somewhere around pedophiles in MA, and while that's certainly hyperbole on my part, it's also not entirely untrue. The looks I get from people when they find out I own guns are overwhelmingly negative - there is a real stigma to it.

*Have you noticed any change in yourself, for the better or worse?

Not from merely owning a firearm. It's a chunk of metal, no different than a golf club or a toaster - without a human to pick it up. I'm the same person whether I own a gun, knife, chainsaw, or nerf bat. I trust myself and those around me, therefore the presence of a gun is immaterial.

When I'm carrying, though, it's a different story. I need to be 100% in charge of my emotions and my demeanor. There's no such thing as "road rage" when I'm armed; I can and have gone well out of my way to avoid people who are looking to cause trouble.

*What's it like owning a gun in MA?

It's like having herpes, only there's no treatment for it. I kid, I kid... It's an awful lot like being a Christian in ancient Rome - I joke that we should be drawing stencils of 1911s in the dirt whenever we suspect someone might be a fellow gun owner.

The climate in MA is decidedly anti-gun. I've heard stories of guys whose kids can't have playdates with their school chums because the father owns firearms (fortunately this hasn't been the case for my kids); there are inquisitive questions from pediatricians; basically, you're viewed as some sort of deviant criminal simply for wanting to exercise your Second Amendment rights. It is decidely uncool...

And that's just owning. We'll avoid the issue of carrying in MA for now...

*I'm a registered independent that typically leans left (yeah, I rooted for Obama, haha), so what do you think this would mean for me?

You're 20 years old. I'd be worried if you didn't lean a little left at this point in your life. You've got decades ahead of you to get cynical and turn rightward... :)

What it means is that you rooted for someone whose short political career has been decidedly anti-gun; someone whose administration picks have also been quite anti-gun; however, not everyone is a rabid 2A supporter such as myself and I'm sure there are other reasons you supported Barack Obama. I've made my point on MArooned why I didn't support him, and believe me when I tell you the single worst thing about Barack Obama IMHO is that his 2A views forced me to hold my nose and vote for John McCain...

*Does moving affect anything?
If you want to own firearms without a ton of hassle, move to NH. If you want to stay in MA, I would recommend checking out the Northeastshooters forum linked in my sidebar (http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/index.php) and look for the thread detailing which towns in MA are 2A friendly (http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=8703). The towns are coded red/green/black, with 2A friendly towns green, somewhat unfriendly as red, and decidedly anti-2A as black. It's good reading, especially if you're thinking of getting into the shooting sports as a MA resident.

*Lastly, do you have any recommendations for a first time buyer?

You cannot go wrong with a 4" barreled .22LR revolver. Smith & Wesson makes a 10 shot, stainless steel revolver, model number 617, that is just about perfect. There's also a six-shot model if you're feeling more traditional.

As an aside, I have a standing offer on my sidebar for people interested in shooting. I'm on the North Shore, so if you're outside of Boston you're not too far away. I'd be more than happy to host you at my gun club and give my "Intro to Shooting 101" spiel - safety lecture, etc. and even do some shooting if you're interested. Let me know if this is something you would like to try.

As for your last paragraph, I've got to point something out:

"On top of that, the prospect of being able to protect my (future) family with more than a baseball bat is reassuring, although I can also imagine a gun causing things to escalate..."

I'm a dad. One of my biggest priorities is keeping my family safe. As a tool-using animal, it only makes sense to use the best tool for the job; right now, as things stand, the best tool for defense is a firearm. The day they perfect the Star Trek phaser that will instantly stun an aggressor without pain to them is the day that I will no longer carry a gun for self defense (I'd still own firearms because I enjoy target shooting).

As for a gun escalating things, well, really, if you've at the point of needing your firearm, there's no further escalation possible IMHO. It should be quite literally the last resort. No sane person wants to have to drop the hammer on another human being. I'll go to my grave a VERY happy man if I NEVER have to fire my gun in self-defense. I pray to G-d that I will never need to harm another person; however, I will also do everything within my power to keep people from harming me or mine. The firearm, at present time, is the best tool for that job. It's a chunk of metal designed for one purpose only, to propel a projectile a certain distance at a certain velocity. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not made to kill, or whatever - that decision is made by the person holding the tool.

I'm no less dangerous with a stout cudgel in my hands, a sharp ax, or a pointed
stick...

I hope I've answered your questions, Ryan. Let me know if there's anything I've missed, anything you would like detailed further, or if you have any other questions...

With best regards,

Jay G.

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Ryan e-mailed me back to say that he'd be interested in the offer to go shooting, but that it would have to wait until a school break. Just let me know, Ryan. I'll make time.

That is all.