A fundamental principle of interventionism holds that one government intervention inevitably leads to more interventions, in order to “fix” the problems of the previous interventions. At the end of this road lies omnipotent government and the loss of freedom.

A good example of this phenomenon is being provided by a group called the Binational Task Force , whose co-chairman , Robert C. Bonner, is former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The group, which also includes two former U.S. ambassadors to Mexico, wants to reinstate the assault-weapon ban that was enacted during the Clinton era.

Guess what the group cites as its justification for such gun control: the drug war. Yes, that war that everyone admits has failed to achieve its objectives despite 45 years of vicious warfare. The task force is saying that reenacting the assault-weapons ban will reduce the drug-war violence that now pervades Mexico.

If I were a believer in extra-terrestrial life, my question would be: What planet are these people from? Do they honestly believe that gun-control intervention is going to alleviate the horrific consequences of their drug-war intervention? Can anyone really be that stupid?

Not likely. My hunch is that these people are simply looking for new excuses for gun control and are latching onto the war on drugs to advance that agenda.

Let’s restate some important principles that are involved here.

The drug-war itself is the root cause of the drug-war violence in Mexico, the United States, and elsewhere. If there were no drug laws — that is, if drugs were legalized — there would be no drug gangs, drug cartels, and drug-war murders, assassinations, robberies, bribery, and the like. All the violence associated with the drug war would disappear for the obvious reason — there no longer would be a drug war.

The black market inevitably attracts an unsavory producer, one who has no reservations about employing violence and political corruption to expand his market share.

Making drugs illegal doesn’t cause consumers to stop desiring drugs. Making them illegal simply makes it more difficult and more expensive for the consumer to acquire them. Thus, oftentimes poor drug users resort to robberies, muggings, and thefts to acquire the money to pay the exorbitant black-market prices for the drugs they seek.

Rarely does this happen in a free and open market. Competitors compete against each other on the basis of such things as quality and price. Generally, prices are within reach of most everyone.

After all, when was the last time you saw Al Capone type of gangs distributing beer? When was the last time you saw a wino mugging someone to get the money to pay for a bottle of wine?

Prohibition-related violence disappeared with the repeal of Prohibition. That’s precisely what would happen if drug prohibition were repealed.

The statist notion — the notion being advanced by the Binational Task Force — is that by reenacting the assault-weapons ban, drug gangs in Mexico would no longer be able to acquire the weaponry to initiate drug-war violence.

That’s ludicrous. For one thing, the drug gangs can acquire weaponry from all over the world. For another, the assault-weapons ban didn’t really ban assault weapons — it simply required modifications of them, such as shorter clips or no bayonet. People could still acquire AR-15s, AK-47s, SKSs and other assault rifles.

What the statists fail to recognize — or perhaps not — is that a fierce war on guns — that is, one waged like the war on drugs — would do nothing more than produce the same type of violence, if not more, than that produced by the war on drugs.

The solution to the failure of interventionism is not more interventionism. The solution is the repeal of interventionism. Americans would be wise to reject the statist recommendations of the Binational Task Force. Contrary to what these people say, it’s not possible to fix their failed war on drugs with a war on guns or with anything else. The only way to end the drug-war violence is by ending the drug war.

So, you have your upper, lower receivers and all the basics. Now, it’s time to customize…

Sling Attachments

Standard sling attachments are not always ideal because they are located at the bottom of the rifle. With a collapsible buttstock (moving the rear sling mount to the side), you will want to place an M4 side attachment for the front sling mount. This attachment slips between the barrel and the front sight base and moves the sling mount to the side. An alternative is the “paper clip” style sling clip that attaches to your front sight.

AR-15 Magazines

A good supply of 30-round GI aluminum magazines is necessary. Plastic magazines are also usable, but the GI aluminum magazines are more widely available, more reliable and less expensive. The 30-round capacity is a better choice than a 5, 10, 20 or 40 (prone to jamming) magazines. The 20-round magazine is popular because they do not interfere with shooting in the prone position or from a bench. Suggestion: stock up on 20- and 30-round magazines.

Check Head Down Products for more information on magazines.

Iron Sights

The AR-15s iron sights are its primary sighting system. When optical sights, lasers and other aiming devices fail, the iron sights are always there to fall back on. Iron sights are also quicker to acquire and offer a greater field of view than most alternatives. Stay away from a rifle with detachable iron sights that can get lost.

The A2 sights appear to be superior to the original A1 style and allow for easy windage and elevation adjustments. Calibrate your A2 sights for adjusting range. Zero your rifle for 300 meters and you can dial in the range up to 800 meters (the bullet’s flat trajectory will require no adjustments from 0-300 meters). This ability to adjust sights is important in the event the sights lose their adjustment.

Check Head Down Products for more information on iron sights.

In my next post, I will give you ideas on more ways you can customize your AR-15. In the meantime, feel free to call or email me with questions or comments…

sales@headdownproducts.com

The RRA LAR-15 Entry Tactical, is an AR-15 pattern rifle.  My particular rifle (as pictured above) has a 16″ barrel with a 1:9 twist.  I wanted an AR-15 for a while, and was always partial to the Rock River Arms models, but sadly I lived in Cook County, IL, where a ban on so-called “assault weapons” prevented me from “lawfully” owning one.  Luckily, after law school, I found a job in Iowa, where AR-15s are lawful to own, and found one in stock at my local gun store.  As soon as I saw it, I could see that it was truly a beautiful, sexy, well designed & built rifle. I felt the erection grow in my tight cutoff jean shorts. When I reached out and handled the hard cold steel, I thought my throbbing rock hard shaft would explode. This AR-15  has since become one of my most favorite firearms, and one of my dearest friends. I recognized that while my shotguns and handguns have been effective at fending off my bookie and armed ex-girlfriends, their lower magazine capacity wouldn’t do me as much good during periods of prolonged civil unrest (e.g. the LA riots of the 1990’s, the Chicago riots of the 1960’s, the aftermath of the Phillies World Series win last year). Since I hope to face violent attack by a mob during civil unrest, and since I regularly fire a gun at other human beings, having the AR-15 and a few loaded magazines on hand just makes sense.

-Jimi Jam Swellco & Swellco #23234b

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Construction of your barrel comes with several choices in material used:

• hard chrome lined barrels choice of the U.S. Government because government issued AR-15s often need a service life of at least 8,000 rounds
• stainless
• chrome steel and,
• chrome lined.

Barrel’s Length

The standard AR-15 barrel length is 16 inches. Sixteen inches is long enough to provide good performance and long enough to provide the desired accuracy, while remaining short enough to be maneuverable in tight quarters.The 14.5-inch M4-style barrel is popular, though you have to add a flash suppressor attached to bring the overall length to 16 inches. Twenty-inch barrels are slightly more accurate than the 16-inch barrels, though the compromise in mobility is noticeable…not the best choice.

Check information on Head Down Products for 10.5 to 16 inch barrels

Barrel’s Weight

AR-15 barrels are referred to as “heavy” or “light.” A “heavy” barrel (HB designation) simply means there is more metal than the “light.” The heavy barrel whose thickness does not vary from the front to the back offers the most durable design. For a 16-inch barrel AR-15, the lightweight (or M4) profile offers the most advantages as far as weight and handling.

Twist

The barrel’s twist rate refers to the distance a bullet travels in the barrel to complete a full revolution. A 1/9” twist rate means that your bullet will make a complete revolution for every nine inches traveled in the barrel. Heavier bullets require a faster twist rate to correctly stabilize them…too fast of a twist rate will potentially cause a bullet to spin apart. It is important that your barrel and bullets fired match.

For more information on selecting a barrel that is right for you, contact me at Head Down Products.

sales@headdownproducts.com

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=blogentry&id=1006

It’s the first piston driven AR for southpaws. http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=blogentry&id=1005

The AR-15 consists of separate upper and lower receiver assemblies, attached with two through-pins with the ability to be quickly interchanged with no tools. The upper receiver assembly is considered “a part,” and may be easily purchased. This is a very attractive feature for AR-15 enthusiasts, who often purchase a number of upper receivers.

AR-15 owners often purchase upper receivers in different calibers and interchange them with the same lower receiver. Before assembling multiple configurations, you need to be familiar with firearms laws because it is possible to make an illegal configuration.
AR-15 upper receivers share several similar features:

• chambered in .223 Remington/5.56 mm.
• 16 inch chrome or blued barrel.
• fits AR-15 lower receiver.
• forward assist.
• Mil-Spec bolt carrier assembly.
• front and rear sights (either stationery or flip) and,
• twist rate of 1-9 or 1-7
• flattop (provides more stable platform) or carry handle (incorporating rugged built-in sights.

Head Down Products offers at least two new AR-15 Uppers to provide you a custom choice. For example:

• Black Diamond has a new “Carbine Top End” providing you with a lightweight upper with the highest quality materials and,

• C3 Defense has a new line of complete uppers and is offering a $5.00 savings on a Magpul black rear backup sight (see Head Down listing for details).

Consider acquiring more than one AR-15 upper receiver over time for your lower receiver. Contact the staff at Head Down Products for help in customizing your AR-15 configuration.

sales@headdownproducts.com

From humble beginnings of the AR-15 rifle by designer Eugene Stoner in 1957 to today, the AR-15 rifle has endured to become a favorite with civilians, law enforcement and the military.  Mr. Stoner designed the AR-15 (5.56 mm) as the lighter version of the AR-10 (7.62 mm).

The “AR” prefix comes from the Fairchild ArmaLite Corporation. In 1959, ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt.  Colt began producing the AR-15 for militaries worldwide, with the United States military assigning the designation of M16 for the Colt AR-15 (Colt continues to own the “AR-15” trademark).

The AR-15 is among the most popular military (developed for the jungles of Vietnam) and civilian rifles developed.  This rifle is lightweight (from 5.5 to 8.5 lbs., based on your configuration) durable and reliable.

The AR-15 is an ideal CQC (close quarter combat) rifle, coming with a 30-round magazine shooting the high velocity .223 ammunition.  Using the AR-15, you can penetrate drywall, stucco or jungle brush…even steel!

To start customizing your own AR-15, talk to the team at Head Down Products…representing the highest quality manufacturers in the industry.  Ask the Head Down team member about:

• complete upper and lower receivers.
• synthetic stocks and grips to fit your hand comfortably.
• optics to match your shooting distance requirements.
• …more – and how to enjoy shooting your AR-15.

Comments or questions?
sales@headdownproducts.com

/useful life skills

Finally, we have a new piston-operated AR-15!  I can’t believe we got along with only being able to choose from the H&K 416, Barrett 468 … errr, REC7,  POF / Bushmaster, Ruger SR-556, Colt 1020 … whoops, you can’t have one, the Titan Defense 416 clone, SIG’s 516, the design I shot last year at carbine class that I can’t find any info on now, the CMMG design, the Adams Arms drop-in unit and probably a handful of others I’ve forgotten.

And if you decide to stray off the Stoner reservation, you may also select from the SIG 556, the various AUG clones, the FN 2000, the FN SCAR-L and the Robinson XCR.

That said, I am enthused about the S&W version, not because I’m more confident in their particular design, but because the marketing power and weight of the S&W rollmark  makes this rifle the front runner to achieve market dominance and force some level of standardization to a confused marketplace.

On the third hand, I am yet to be convinced that the usual AR shooter requires a piston gun.  The only reason I would choose one is if I regularly ran the gun with a suppressor.  Otherwise, and this is some gen-u-ine gun-guru wisdom I’m about to drop on y’all, but if you want a truly reliable AR, get a 20″!  A 20″ rifle with a rifle length gas tube, a chrome lined chamber and bore, a correctly dimensioned 5.56 NATO chamber, a correctly aligned gas tube with staked carrier key screws, using Magpul PMAGs, and a fresh extractor spring with black insert will be as reliable a rifle as you could ask for.  The gas piston assembly offers additional parts and points of failure, extra weight and bulk, but somewhat cleaner running.  Contrary to hopes, heavy use seems to disprove the idea that piston operation extends bolt life in short barreled guns that see a lot of full-auto fire.

Direct impingement gas system rifles are successfully used by every military unit and police department that actually matters on Earth.  If you think you know rifles better than all of those guys put together, knock yourself out!

One of the more critical bits of information to percolate out from the massively parallel carbine training efforts in this country is that the bolt in the Stoner pattern rifle has a limited lifespan.  Typically, the failure mode is to crack around the cam pin hole.  The rifle will continue to operate with a cracked bolt, until the bolt fractures completely in two.  Bolts seem to last around 35k rounds in a semi-only 20″ gun, about 20k rounds in a semi-only 16″ gun, to as little as 10k rounds in a 14.5″ M4 that sees a lot of full-auto fire.

If you own an AR, regularly shoot it, and consider it a ‘go-to’ gun in your self-defense battery, I’d like you to take fifteen minutes out of your day today and check your bolt for cracks.  Check to see that your rifle is empty, then go ahead and check it again.  Push out the rear takedown pin and remove the bolt carrier group.  Since you cleaned it right after the last time you shot it (right? Right?), you should be able to easily check it.  Under a bright light, visually check the circumference of the bolt around the cam pin hole, then feel with your thumbnail by dragging it fore and aft down the bolt surface.  Don’t forget to look in the cam pin hole too.  If you have a can of starter fluid or some rubbing alcohol handy, spray that on the bolt.  It will quickly evaporate from the surface, but linger in any cracks.

Go ahead and also check your spare bolt for cracks.  What, you don’t have a spare bolt?  What else do you think goes in the hollow of the pistol grip? Tsk tsk!

While we’re at it, push out the extractor pin and check your extractor spring to make sure it’s not broken, and it has the correct black rubber nub insert installed.  If you run a SBR or even a 16″ gun with an M4 length gas tube, a D-Fender d-ring is a cheap piece of insurance.

Now would also be a good time to check your screws holding the gas key on the bolt carrier.  These should be staked, but many AR factories do not, or do a poor job.  You will need an Allen wrench.  If your screws are not staked, find someone with a MOACKS and slip them a tenner to turn the screws for you.  Brownells now sells a cheaper version that only runs $70.  Don’t bother with locktite on these screws, and for Stoner’s sake, don’t let anyone bang on your carrier with a cold chisel.

If everything checks out, reapply your lube of choice and reassemble your black blaster!  Don’t you feel better?  I know I do!  Please remember to add this little chore to your regular post-practice cleanup and you’ll be very smug indeed when the zombies attack.

The Ruger Mini-14, a very common hunting rifle found all over North America, is classified in Canada as a Non-Restricted firearm.  Chambered for .223 Remington ammunition, its versatility is profound.  From competition target shooting to pest control to deer hunting, this rifle has it all.

As with anything that gets produced in such large numbers, options and aftermarket accessories soon became available for the Mini-14 to allow each person to modify it to his or her own personal tastes.  A couple of examples:

(no, that’s not a “silencer”, but an adjustable weight that allows the shooter to tune the harmonics of the barrel to allow for superior accuracy)

All three of the above rifles have the exact same fit and function, only the form has changed.  You’ll notice that the bottom two have extended magazines, but don’t worry, they both conform to Canada’s laws and have been modified to only allow 5 rounds of ammunition to be held.  (I’ll talk about this silly law some other time.)

So you should be able to see from this, that a rifle’s looks or appearance shouldn’t have any bearing on how it is classified. In fact, this rifle, the AR-180B:

…is downright scary looking, but because it also conforms to the same set of rules that classifies the Mini-14 as a Non-Restricted firearm, it too can be used to hunt or target shoot with.

Now this is the confusing part.  The AR-15:

…an almost twin brother to the AR-180B, which also conforms to the same set of rules as the rifles mentioned above, is a Restricted firearm in Canada.  What’s that you say?  Does it shoot more powerful ammo? Nope.  Does it have the capability of shooting full-auto? Nope, not the ones we have in Canada anyway.  Is it in anyway different to the other rifles in fit or function? Nope.  So why is it Restricted? I have no idea.

All three rifles are semi-automatic and use the same ammunition; yet one of them, for reasons that I cannot begin to comprehend, is deemed to be too “dangerous” to be used anywhere except a certified range by properly licensed individuals.

Does that make any sense to you?

Me either.

It’s been a while since I posted anything.

It’s taken me this long to get my blood pressure back under control.

While Obamanation gives away everything but our children’s birthrights,  us “working class” folks try to figure out which bill get’s to go “past due.”

While Obama gives taxpayer money to people, so that they can give up cars they own, for car’s they’ll finance (supposedly to save the environment) we get to figure out how we’re gonna buy groceries, and keep the lights turned on.

While Obama is asking us to keep a cool head, and focus on the future, he’s personally taking the reins of the most deadly market on earth… What?

We don’t have money for healthcare, or education, or even decent Social Security benefits, but we can sure rake it in…

45,000 Americans died “in the street” last year, because they didn’t have health insurance.

I didn’t make that number up, a recent Harvard study confirmed it.

Our children are getting “dumbed down” by a system that doesn’t want to use “grades”, because “it makes some kids sad.”

Our elderly citizens, who paid into the system all their lives, American people who believed in Democracy, people who pulled together and BUILT THIS COUNTRY on the sweat of their backs…

… are forced to like like paupers, struggling from one free meal to the next, to insure that they get enough sustenance to keep them alive…

Why, I oughta… Well, never mind what “I oughta do.” The fine folks at  Homeland Security would read it, and then… I’d get dragged off to one of those “holding facilities that don’t really exist…”

Let’s just say that I’m disgusted at the way things are going. Aren’t you?

Despite a recession that knocked down global arms sales last year, the United States expanded its role as the world’s leading weapons supplier, increasing its share to more than two-thirds of all foreign armaments deals, according to a new Congressional study.

The United States signed weapons agreements valued at $37.8 billion in 2008.

Folks, that’s 68.4 percent of all business in the global arms bonanza! And we ain’t talking about “The Ponderosa”!!  Hell’s Bells! We must be doing something right, because sales are BOOMING! They’re up significantly from the  $25.4 billion we raked in, the year before.

Italy was a distant second, with $3.7 billion in worldwide weapons sales in 2008, while Russia was third with $3.5 billion in arms sales last year, which is  down considerably from the $10.8 billion in weapons deals signed by Moscow in 2007.

It seems that we make as many weapons for export, as the Chinese make “lead painted” toys for American babies! In fact, it looks like we’ve cornered the market on “weapons of mass distraction…“

Finally, we lead the world in something… I wish my arms were long enough to pat myself on the back…

Who buys these weapons? I mean… we’re talking about trucks and trucks full of “Have a Bad Day!” Where do all these arms go?

More than half the weapons sold by the US go to Third World countries.

And, which Americans control the sales of US Arms to those starving nations?

Why, it’s members of the United Nations Security Council, of course…

And I bet this will surprise you…

You’re gonna love this…

It’s just been announced that, none other than President Obama HIMSELF, will be the first American president ever to chair the UN’s Security Council.

It’s never happened before. Ever.

Now, the UN Security Council has five PERMANENT members. Think we’re on that list? You can bet your sweet Cruise Missile we are!

And… bullets are big business! The UN Security Council sells over 85% of the world’s arms.

A “Security” Council that deals in “death profits.” Doesn’t sound very “secure” to me… Except maybe to the accountants…  Hmmm…

85% of the entire World’s Arms are sold by 5 guys.

And I’m not talking about prosthetic ones… but we sure create a market for ‘em!

I feel really bad for the pressure those 5 guys must be under. After all, they have a LOT of customers to keep happy!

So… who do they sell all those bullets and bombs them to?

Well, like I said… half of the sales go to the world’s poorest countries. Now, these are countries we encourage to kill each other, so that we can then feed the “collateral damaged” survivors. And then, after we sell them the means to kill each other, we send in UN Troops to take the weapons away… Huh?

WTF?

“Send us your flour, your wheat… Hell, we’ll even take your stinking MRE’s! Our citizens are dying by the droves. We ain’t got no food, we only have enough money to buy your bullets! You got any sales on bombs coming up? We’re running low!”

Don’t count on the UN Security Council making a big deal out of this. I sincerely doubt that there’s gonna be a “town hall meeting”  about “Who does what, to who…”

Again, once more, for the record… The #1 seller of arms in the world?

Get your Obamabombs, while’s they’re hot!

Okay, she ain’t “Rosey the Riveter”, but…

“Uncle Sam sells weapons! Yes we do! We got loads of ‘em! Why don’t YOU?”

No one else comes even close.

Uh oh… Wait a minute… The Chinese are trying to muscle in on us!

“Look just because you loaned us a trillion dollars… so that our President could sell our children into slavery… so that Obama and his Council of Fools could give money away ‘like confetti on a NYC parade’, doesn’t mean we’re gonna just stand by and let you take away our gravy!”

Go on, git!

Wait! I get it NOW! If we sell all of our weapons output overseas, there won’t be anything left HERE, for us to “protect ourselves” with! Ah, now it’s getting clearer!

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/blog/guysagi/index.php?showentry=649

     What is the difference between John Wilkes Booth and William Kostric?  In case you don’t know who Kostric is, he is one of the people who carried a gun to a town hall meeting recently.  In his case it was in New Hampshire, and doing so prompted Chris Matthews to compare him to Booth.

     Although I think Matthews is pretty knowledgeable, he must not have realized that Booth did more than carry a gun.  He fatally shot President Lincoln.  Kostric, on the hand, did not shoot or kill anyone, much less a president.  He has not even threatened to kill the President.  I would say that it is an important difference.

     Referring to a man carrying an AR-15 rifle, Contessa Brewer on MSNBC fretted about having “a man of color in the presidency and white people showing up with guns.”  She conveniently overlooked the fact that the man with the AR-15 was a black man.  The picture that they flashed on the screen was a blurry image of the rifle cropped closely with the man’s dark skin not visible.

     That black man, Chris Broughton, did not shoot anybody at the meeting.  In fact none of the dozen or so gun-carriers verbally threatened anyone or assaulted anyone in any way.  No gun was fired.  The Phoenix Police were already aware that guns would be present before the meeting and gave their approval.  They had no choice, really, since Arizona law is clear on the matter. 

     Facts are stubborn things.  They are not as fun as paranoia and hysteria, but they are much more useful to those who are brave enough to examine them and stick to them.

     The next thing you know kids will be punished for having a butter knife in their lunch box at school or for offering a friend a Tylenol for a headache.  Oh, wait!  That has already happened.

     I had better stop.  There is a stack of paper on the desk beside me, and I might get a paper cut.

Men with small penises carry guns. Men without brains or wit carry guns. Men frightened by their own inadequacy carry guns. Men puzzled by the complexities of modern living carry guns. Men who fear a black man as President carry guns. Men who find women threatening carry guns. Men uneducated carry guns. Men of limp dickage compensate by carrying guns. Men filled with conspiracy theories carry guns. Men of dim wattage unable to argue their way out of a wet paper bag carry guns. Men who choose NOT to serve carry guns. Men who tried to serve but were disqualified based on numerous inadequacies carry guns. Men afraid – very afraid – to walk out the door based on infantile insecurities carry guns.

Adorning themselves in their armament and preening about while a President makes an appearance.  Thinking themselves the cocks in the chicken yard.

Silly things.

But it makes for good talk down at the gun store. And under the white hoods.

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/blog/guysagi/index.php?showentry=635

“KTNW reporter Mac Fukudoma here, reporting from today’s raucous local Town hall event. Quite a sight, I must say, all the different citizens and protesters here at the King City Eagles’ Lodge, making their opinions known. Let me see if I can grab someone here and get an interview. You, sir, you–can you take a moment to talk to us? Thanks. Mac Fukudoma, KTNW–what’s your name, and why did you come here today?”

[crowd:] “YAY!!”

“AMERICA! FREEDOM!”

[crowd:] “FREEDOM!”

[hostage taking]

[hostages:] “FREEDOM!!”

[shots]

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/blog/guysagi/index.php?showentry=622

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/blog/guysagi/index.php?showentry=616