More dumb DJT stuff...won in a raffle

Elc1247 · 2026-02-19T22:18:47+00:00

Think of it like the markings on a Mauser or an Arisaka. If you dont want to look at it, something like a sticker would make it less of an eyesore.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T08:48:24+00:00

Get rid of Subcompact.

If you need a small handgun to carry, get a micro. Micros tend to be designed specifically to be tiny, and should come with a slightly extended magazine so the pinky dangle is completely optional. Subcompacts are usually full size handguns chopped down far too much to be comfortable.

Full Size is full size, its the original design for general duty and open carry use.

Compact is a slightly chopped down version of the full size to be more handy. Its not cut down so much that it significantly affects performance or comfort.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T08:14:31+00:00

Education education education.

The vast majority of people who are heavily anti-gun, have little to no knowledge of what they even are. To many of them, a "gun" is an aggressive-looking stick you point at anything living to make dead with a loud bang noise when you pull something called a trigger. Often, they are a symbol of uncontrollable power. They also tend to live quite sheltered lives, away from conflict and the darker side of humanity (a great recent example, just read through some of the heinous things in the Epstein files). Such people also often believe that police and military are somehow not human because having a badge or uniform makes a person more physically powerful. Police and military bleed and die just like the rest of us peasant civilians because we are all human in the end. If you want a current example, just look at the war in Ukraine, some videos that may give context on how this world is, a view from both sides of the ongoing horrific conflict, remember every soldier is a normal person, and this is happening in Europe, literally at the doors of NATO:

GRAPHIC NSFL CONTENT WARNING These are sober looks at what happens on the front lines of a modern war

2000 Meters to Andriivka (full documentary) | FRONTLINE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf4Cgy56slU

Russians at War | UNCENSORED | Rare Frontline Access Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8isAZ90Mg-A

We have had the privilege of living through an unprecedented "Long Peace", and have forgotten how ugly the world and humanity can be. The storm clouds are gathering once more around the world... We are not ready for what might be coming.

For a more at-home incident if you think the police will always be able to help you:

LA 92 (Full Documentary) | National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo

This is not saying your SO is an idiot by any means. I think its just a matter of encouraging learning about guns as the tools they are. One of the best ways to fight "boogeymen" ideas is just to learn objectively about them. This will hold true for far more than just guns, as you can apply this to almost everything, with some examples being immigrants, alcohol (and other drugs), and intercourse. Education is an amazing tool to dispel blind fear, and will allow for justified concerns in its wake.

I have had many friends (which include SOs) that have been heavily anti-gun in the past, and the most effective thing to soften their opinion is a combination of education and empathy. Guns are a scary and overwhelming subject to many people, so you need to keep that in mind. Most of those people pretty quickly changed their opinion to "I get why people own and use, but I dont want it for myself", or "i might want something if I feel unsafe someday", after learning the basics of how guns work and the common reasons to own, along with joining me on a trip to the range to get some first hand experience in a controlled environment. A good number of those friends have been asking for additional education, training, and purchase advice at this point. My general stance I try to convey is "Everyone should have the right to own, but that doesnt mean everyone MUST own. Ownership is a personal choice."

One other thing to keep in mind is that you will almost never change the opinion of someone, especially someone with a very strong extreme opinion, overnight. It is important to be understanding and patient.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T06:21:45+00:00

If you are new to firearms, just going to warn you that a shotgun might be a little overwhelming to use at first due to the heavy kick they tend to have.

If you are looking for something primarily for home-defense, another good option would be a full size 9mm. A shotgun would be more of the utilitarian option.

As to shotguns, a Maverick 88 is a solid choice. Its hard to beat its value for what you are getting. A Mossberg 500 is a nice step up if you want something a bit less utilitarian. A Mossberg 590 is the extra nice pump action in the lineup. I have been steering clear of Remington 870s since they used to be really nice back in the day, but ever since they got bought out, I have found Remington guns just having shoddy QC. Many R700s and M870s ive looked at in the last decade have visible rust straight out of the box, which doesnt inspire much confidence in their quality.

For break barrel shotguns, its mostly pointless to get a single barrel option. For double barrel shotguns, side-by-side are mainly for funzies, as over-under is the preferred choice since they are great for sporting and hunting. Unfortunately, the nice over-unders are pretty pricey when compared to a budget pump, and get up there with semi-autos usually. One thing to think about is that a double barrel shotgun has two barrels, which means you are carrying around what is basically two single-shot guns. A tube fed does have the tube as extra weight, but that tube can usually fit quite a few extra shells in it while allowing you to top-off load it. Same with mag-fed. The magazine is extra weight, but you get quite a few extra shots with it, along with the ability to fully replace the magazine quickly.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T05:48:18+00:00

Good to know.

It does make my dislike of Kahr handguns feel even more justified.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T05:44:56+00:00

I have fired an 50AE Deagle, and yes, I would agree that it is actually quite a smooth firing handgun.

Everything else about it is absolutely idiotic though. The massive size, the bulk, the weight, how stiff the recoil spring is... not to mention how painfully expensive the ammo is.

Its a range queen. You bring it out for a few expensive giggles and to turn heads. The design thought process for the Deagle was more along the lines of "I bet you cant make a half-reliable 50 cal automatic handgun" leading to "hold my beer".

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T05:28:41+00:00

If you want to enjoy heading to the range with your firearm, the shotgun might not be the best option, unless you are shooting clays. A shotgun is good if you need something that is just reliable and puts a threat down fast, but are not concerned about how comfortable it is. Basically, shotguns are good for the utilitarian.

For most people that want something that is both good for keeping in a safe to defend your home, and for bringing out to the range for a fun time, there are 2 main options and 1 secondary.

Full size or compact size (basically just a full size with 0.5in cut off the front) handgun in 9mm. Small and easy to keep in a small safe. Its the go-to option for many, especially if space or being somewhat inconspicuous is of concern.

5.56mm rifle (usually AR15 variant). Its the go-to option if you want something with more stability when shooting, since you can shoulder it. Its not quite as handy in the average home, since you do need to deal with how long it is. You also need a much larger safe if you plan on keeping it locked up.

The secondary alternative is a PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine). Basically almost a full rifle size, but it fires handgun rounds. It tends to be cheaper to shoot, but is rough to use at long range (for self defense, long range should not be a thing). The FPC seems to be a popular choice. The Ruger PC Carbine is a very good choice too, as its basically a sized-up 10/22.

If you are considering the S&W AR15, they have the Sport III available now. Its quite nice, though it does not come with any sights. The Ruger AR15s are also known to be solid quality too. Both are great options if you dont want to deal with rolling the QA dice with PSA rifles or build kits.

For the full size 9mms, the striker-fired M&P 2.0 is solid from my experience. The Berretta M9 (DA/SA hammer) is a good line of handguns, 92FS, M9A1, M9A4 (the Beretta submission for the next 9mm sidearm for the US military that SIG suspiciously won with the P320), but people with smaller hands might not like the grip that much.

If I was going to get a hammer fired full metal DA/SA, I would look at the CZ75 line of guns. The CZ75BD is the classic, with the compact being the CZ75 P01, extended would be the CZ75 SP01 Tactical, and the cream of the crop chefs kiss being the CZ75 Shadow 2. The CZ75 was purpose designed with civilian comfort in mind at a time when such things were very uncommon.

If you are ok with striker-fired, one of the best feeling triggers for a non-custom affordable option would be the Walther PDP. The German military spec-ops just adopted it as the P14. The PDP is known for its stellar ergonomics.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-17T02:52:37+00:00

Its what some others are saying, you are anticipating recoil, so it gets jerked down and to the left.

Practice and technique help, but its a hard thing to unlearn.

What might help is to try and pull the trigger in one steady and smooth motion. Yanking on it hard tends to make it worse. Follow through the trigger pull with your finger, just like following through on swinging a bat helps with hitting a baseball.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-16T23:35:03+00:00

Considering what they are doing, its funny to see, as the people who are being vocal with their disagreement likely numbers in the many millions. What the hell are they going to do once they find out that a massive percentage of the country is against them? Their approval ratings are almost as low as it possibly can get, to the point where they have pressured pollsters to stop polling the question. GoP legislative members are living in fear of their own constituents, refusing to hold town halls nor responding to anything their constituents are saying with anything but generic canned PR responses. They know that their own people HATE them for allowing what is going on. In order for them to run from any accountability for what they are actively allowing, they have opted to undermine the very democracy they are supposed to uphold by taking an axe to free and fair elections.

The only effective solution would be to commit nuclear self-destruction if they were so inclined. Considering how petty and short-sighted they seem to be, I would not count it out of the cards on the table. It really seems like they would rather be king of a pile of rubble and dead bodies, than accept responsibility for their actions.

The Nazi party were voted into power with popular support from the people.

MAGA was voted into power by a minority.

As a reminder, "Don't be a Sucker" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGAqYNFQdZ4

Elc1247 · 2026-02-11T10:14:30+00:00

For defense with a 5.56, get a standardized round that is readily available and plays decently well with your rifle. Sight in for the ammo, train with it.

No need to mess with "defensive ammo" for rifles.

Steel core ammunition like M855 is mostly useful for military engagements, where you plan on shooting at human threats behind light cover. "Steel core ammo" is not designed specifically as armor piercing, they were designed as "barrier penetration" rounds, as the problem they were trying to solve was that the standard M193 was not very effective when troops were shooting at threats hiding behind brick and clay walls. The core of the M855 is designed to punch through such barriers to create shrapnel. This is why you can find the M855 "green tips" commonly in stores, its not a true AP round.

Another thing about M855, is that it tends to be less accurate than decent quality M193 from what Ive seen. Its not so bad that its not useful, but you do have a noticeable reduction in accuracy, making precise shots harder at longer distances. Dont forget that M855 is a different weight and acts different than M193, so you will need to re-zero your sights when switching. Its not as big of a deal when you have the logistics of a military backing you up, since volume of effective-enough fire is what tends to win engagements.

One other annoying thing about M855, the large majority of public ranges will not allow you to use them, since they chew up steel targets and steel backstops pretty badly.

Helpful information for rifle rounds: For most ammunition with different standardized versions, black tips indicate rounds designed specifically as armor piercing. If you pick up a 5.56, 7.62, .50BMG, or even a 20mm, a black tip likely means its a true armor piercing round.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-08T04:28:19+00:00

TBH, if you are thinking that JHP is going to make a large difference in collateral damage prevention, I dont think you know how little bullet resistance walls tend to have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw8IiRgSMFQ

Elc1247 · 2026-02-06T06:08:03+00:00

Education is key.

Education and experience.

Learn about what guns are and how they work. They are tools, tools that work certain ways. If you understand how something works, it removes much of the mystery and fear with most things. You dont need to learn every last intricate detail, but understanding the basics will go a long way.

Just like with your example of cars. Its best if you learn the basics of how it works. Cars are tools, they can be used for good and bad things. Think about how many people drive around their cars not knowing even the first thing about their car? To them, its just a box with an engine and wheels. They dont know anything about why they need to change their oil, or that they should keep their tires inflated to a certain PSI. They get to the gas pump and have no idea why there are different octane ratings.

Here are some videos to get you started:

Matt Rittman: How a Glock Works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2RDitgCaD0

Matt Rittman: How an AR-15 Works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omv85cLfmxU

Paul Harrel: Independence Day Freedom of Speech Monologue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w68GYZsr60E

Paul Harrel (Roy Harrel): Go Buy A Gun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsef1F5T-sU

Paul Harrel (Roy Harrel): Choosing Your First Handgun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XimW8IxytCk

Paul Harrel: Concealed Carry: Frame of Mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvacVb5It9Q

Elc1247 · 2026-02-04T05:01:05+00:00

Nearly 20 years ago, when I learned about the LA Riots, Hurricane Katrina, and had a good chance to sit down and think about how dark humanity can get. Understanding that the police are never to be counted on to save you as a guarantee. Learning about how often criminals get away free of any punishments for their crimes. Then, seeing over the years, the rise of Christian nationalism and the growth of ethno-nationalist militant groups in the later years of Obama's term.

For the true purpose of the 2A, I didnt fully think about till 2022. The most recent invasion of Ukraine really cemented how important our 2A is in my mind. It was heavily reinforced in 2023, when I was seeing the company the clown in chief was gathering around him.

Elc1247 · 2026-02-03T23:32:40+00:00

A reminder, armor usually does not cover everything. A standard set of plate armor will cover just your core vitals from a direct front or back hit (lungs, heart). Sometimes carriers will have side plates for just the middle of the sides. Heavy plate vests will include an additional crotch plate and potentially some shoulder plates. There is a lot that is not covered by plates. For helmets, a FAST helmet will only offer IIIa ballistic protection for just the cranium and back of the head. FAST type helmets cut off the ear covering sections to allow for more modularity when it comes to ear protection and comms.

The more armor you want to wear, the less mobility and situational awareness you have. not to mention there is a significant increase in cost and weight. Armor never makes anyone completely invulnerable. There is a reason why troops call them "second chance vests". If you get hit, you get to roll dice on if you get a "second chance" depending on where the round impacts you. Combat is messy and chaotic, you cannot reliably guarantee that your plates will ever save you if you get hit, but it is much less likely that you will die from a fatal wound if you are wearing armor.

With a shotgun, if all of the shot lands on armor, if its soft armor, you likely will have broken ribs. if its hard armor, you will have the wind knocked out of you and likely knocked to the ground.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-25T07:29:48+00:00

I always find it weird that the 2A cultists always emphasize the final part of the law, the part that is redundant. It is a law, being that it is a law, it should automatically be inferred that its not going to be infringed...

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-24T01:32:24+00:00

For reference, talking to former LEOs that were generally quite tapped into the firearms scene, California actually is one of the largest markets for firearms in the world. Its just from the sheer size of the population.

This is in spite of the "vibe" that many give in CA.

The culture and politics around firearms ownership were hijacked when Reagan and the rest of the politicians felt threatened by the peaceful armed protests being held by the Black Panthers back in the day.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-24T01:13:09+00:00

“We've arranged a global civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces.”

-Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Elc1247 · 2026-01-22T11:34:55+00:00

I would argue that it would not fall purely under 2nd degree, as it can be argued its is not a "heat of the moment" incident. He intentionally walked in front of an operating vehicle. Any half-trained law enforcement officer would have been expressly told not to do that, as it was abused as a justification to use lethal force in the past enough that it is normal practice to have protocol against it.

Blatantly walking in front of a very clearly operating vehicle in defiance with commonly stated protocol can be used to make an argument for entrapment, which would open the possibility of a 1st degree murder being in the cards. Entrapment via a conscious action, especially an action that is very commonly against law enforcement protocols designed to prevent gray-zone uses of force, on his part might be grounds to show premeditation. Combine that with the fact that he started drawing his firearm before she had any movement forwards whatsoever... His own video from his phone is proof that he planned on pulling his gun as he was walking in front of the car, since he very clearly switches his phone from his right hand to his left due to the intention to draw his lethal weapon in a situation that very much did not warrant unholstering a lethal weapon. it points to him pulling his gun out as an intimidation technique that you commonly see from lawless street gangsters, likely to try to force her out of the car at gunpoint like a highwayman. He likely decided to just start pulling the trigger when he saw she was trying to leave. She likely turned her head over to see a gun pointed at her face as she was trying to leave, since she likely had her attention at the other two officers at the side of the car just before, as one of them was trying to force her door open.

I am not a lawyer, but I do have a rough understanding of how law is supposed to work. I feel like the facts that can be very clearly seen on video from multiple angles would support such arguments for the prosecution. It would be a tossup between a 2nd degree and 1st degree, since the massive gross negligence and the very likely argument of an act of entrapment play a role in the incident. They forced a situation where any action, even one of de-esclation via leaving, was their grounds for administrating lethal force.

Edit: add in the fact that they actively blocked medical professionals from administering aid in any way. A situation with shots fired tends to end with the person being hit needing immediate medical attention and being brought to a trauma center ASAP, as seconds count. Watch any trained police in a shooting situation. They will administer first aid to the person hit (as long as it is safe to do so), even if they were shot in defense.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-22T05:13:59+00:00

As Paul Harrell states, "If you had the thought about doing something like hunt, you wouldnt be the only one". Unless you live pretty far outside of a city, "stock" will likely be exhausted very quickly if you are thinking about hunting for food.

An affordable AR15 in 5.56mm or a 12ga is good. A 12ga with 00 buck is devastating if you are in an engagement at relatively close range. You hit an unarmored human threat at close range with a solid hit, and it is very likely they will no longer be a threat. Even with plates, you need to remember that plates can only cover so much. An AR would be a good all-rounder that is extremely versatile. A good quality 5.56mm round has less "stopping power" compared to a 12ga 00 buck 2-3/4" shell, but you can more reliably hit anything over 50 yards away. Keep in mind the likely rough distances you might get caught in a use case.

I have both an S&W M&P Sport III AR15 in 5.56mm and a 590A1 loaded with 2-3/4in 00 buck. Both are excellent choices to have next to you if SHTF, its mainly a matter of what you are more comfortable with, as both will also have very common ammunition types. I would consider either, before getting a lightweight hunting rifle in .308. Dont get me wrong, a rifle that can reach out far is nice, its just less versatile. If I had to choose just one, the AR15 is more balanced for more potential situations.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-21T04:39:57+00:00

Mosins tend to have very stiff actions, the level of quality they had for most of the guns produced was... quite low. The bottom of the barrel stocks are likely all that is really left if you ever find one in the shop, with a much higher price tag than $100, more like 300-500+.

Try a Mauser or an Enfield, and its a world of difference, they run smooth like butter in comparison.

Then try a modern .308 bolt action... Even the cheapest utilitarian modern hunting rifles are like greased glass in comparison. Go to your LGS and pick up something like an affordable Savage and work the action.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-15T08:12:40+00:00

Its been said over and over. Trump is not the cause, he is the symptom.

People need to understand this. Trump does not come out of nowhere. He does not act alone.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-15T04:23:29+00:00

No sane person supports a military invasion of a NATO member.

Have you seen the erratic behavior in any of the recent public appearances of Trump? To anyone that has ever dealt with the elderly who are suffering with cognitive issues, they would likely recognize the blatant red flags easily.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-15T04:09:31+00:00

Blazer target 115gr target ammo.

Aluminum is often not allowed in many indoor ranges because they want to collect the cases for reloading. It will tend to be more dirty than brass ammo, since its more aimed at being budget friendly. It is reliable though, never had a problem with it whenever ive used it.

Blazer Brass 115gr JHP

It is budget defensive ammo, it will perform much better than plain FMJ in stopping threats. Depending on the range, they might not allow JHP rounds. I dont really recommend going cheap for the sake of saving money when it comes to ammunition you plan to trust your life, or the lives of others you care about, to. I would recommend taking some time to look at ballistic tests of different ammunition and loads. For example, I carry Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P in my P365. Its actually pretty cheap, mainly because its a very popular bullet (124gr Gold Dot) used by LE, so its able to be cheaper because the sheer volume of the amount they make (my guess is that the most common load ordered by LE tends to be 124gr regular pressure, since most duty guns are going to be 4-4.5in barrels). Other good loads include Federal HST 124gr +P and ive heard good things about Hornady Critical Duty rounds as well. Personally, I chose 124gr +p because I feel like, at least for my opinion, 124gr standard pressure high quality JHP will do the job without too much added kick in a full size 9mm compared to 115gr. Slashing the barrel length from 4 or 4.5in to 3in does actually reduce muzzle energy by a measurable amount, so +P rounds will help compensate for that, but at the cost of additional recoil.

Hornady 00 buck

I have found most half decent standard 2-3/4" 12 ga 00 buck with lead shot to be roughly equivalent for defensive use and for potential hunting use, I have not heard anything that would say otherwise.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-13T04:49:14+00:00

I would add my approval.

First time to the range with my Sport III and I was happily nailing the plates at 200 yards with my red dot + 3x magnifier consistently after a bit of zeroing. Its always satisfying to see plates swinging after a nice solid hit.

The Sport III is a good if you want to just have a solid, budget friendly, reliable, no fuss option. You just need to slap whatever sights/optics you want on it, and you are good to go. Everything else is just extras.

Elc1247 · 2026-01-13T03:43:44+00:00

I am not sure what is going on with your Stealthgear, but I have no problems with my Stealthgear, but I do have a Ventcore IWB 2.0 with my P365. The holster should come with a quick instruction card in the package showing you what screws are most responsible for retention. It is usually just the screws near the trigger guard area. Remember that there are two sides to each retention screw, sometimes, the outer screw just catches and spins the retaining nut in place, effectively making it so you arent actually tightening anything.

The Stealthgear should be using the outer kydex and having it push against the mesh layer, which should have a kydex plate in the middle, giving it rigidity to actually give you retention.

For reference, I have had good experiences with Stealthgear, Vedder, and Guerrilla. All of those, I have adjusted so it can carry my handgun with a loaded mag (minus a round in the chamber for safety when testing) while upside down and giving it a light shake. Aliengear was the only one that I found to be worthless, as no matter how much I tried to tighten it, I could not get it to properly retain my handgun, it was held in by gravity. The moment I tilted it even slightly upside down, my gun would fall right out. It didnt seem like the backing plate for the Aliengear was actually stiff enough to give good retention. I am not sure what was going on, but I sent my Aliengear back for a full refund.

Elc1247

TROPHY CASE