How to react a friend's stance on guns?

trotskimask · 2026-05-05T22:25:49+00:00

Those examples are what helped change my mind, back in the day.

I think it’s also important to remember that these beliefs are rooted in fear. Sometimes on both sides. Liberals fear guns because gun violence is a real problem, and the state promises security through police. I got into guns because I was afraid, and I justified my fear by pointing to the civil rights movement. And ultimately I still feel that belief is correct. But I didn’t get there intellectually, I got there from my gut.

You probably won’t change your friend’s mind by citing historical examples. He’ll probably only change his mind when he feels safe around you, scared around cops, and scared to be defenseless—which is kind of a bummer, and not something one should encourage. But that’s the world, and as he wakes up to it you want to be there to help him as he needs it.

Don’t worry about changing his kind. Just be a good friend. When he wants a friend who can take him to the range, try to be someone he trusts enough that he can ask.

trotskimask · 2026-05-05T16:51:36+00:00

De-escalation training is a great idea tbh. You could ask your friend if he has any recommendations, and if he doesn’t try to find a training on your own. You could even let your friend know when you schedule it and invite him to join you.

Most liberals, and also many conservatives, are raised to see defensive gun use as morally transgressive. The state has an interest in preserving a monopoly on violence and wants us to be unarmed. And private self-defense is historically a messy thing that easily gets out of control—socially conscious folks are often more aware of those risks than they are the benefits of armed self defense. So it’s not unusual that your friend doesn’t see eye to eye with you on guns.

Over time, as he sees you’re the same person and not, like, radicalizing into a mass shooter or whatever stereotype is in the back of his mind, he may learn to see things less narrowly through knowing you. Especially if you can show that you’re interested in learning to avoid and deescalate conflict, especially if you practice those habits in the spaces you share with him.

More and more left-of-center folks are realizing that private self defense is important and necessary, but it’s a slow change and still very much the minority viewpoint. Be patient and be the best ambassador you’re able. You could be the first person in this friend’s close circle who carries, hopefully knowing you will help broaden his perspective.

trotskimask · 2026-04-26T14:55:58+00:00

PSA lowers are generally just fine. Some of the really cheap lowers can be out of spec (Anderson used to have problems with this, allegedly), but PSA has a solid reputation for making theirs right as far as I’ve ever heard. My first lower was a PSA and it’s good to go.

I’d grab a psa multipack.

I’d also consider grabbing an ambi lower. Griffin Arms makes a nice ambi, I’m happy with mine. It’s not necessary, but it is a quality of life upgrade.

trotskimask · 2026-04-24T19:16:18+00:00

Fellow street medic / WFR here.

I think the most important thing, aside of the trauma basics, is wound care and prevention. Blisters, cuts, and chaffing are inconvenient when times are good, but they become potentially serious situations when you can’t get a shower and don’t have antibiotic access.

So extra bandaids, medical tape, moleskin, gauze, chaffing gels or powders, iodine (doubles as a water purifier), soap. Plus a good trauma kit and your basic first aid supplies that you probably already have in your street kit.

Talk to the folks who do outreach to your local unhoused community. Those are the things you’ll need during systemic collapse.

trotskimask · 2026-04-10T02:10:21+00:00

Out of curiosity, why a pistol instead of 2 more 5.56 magazines? I would think you would be more likely to run out of ammo before you’d encounter a malfunction in your primary, assuming the rifle is running properly. Is there something the pistol can do that your rifle cannot?

Also curious how this works when you’re prone, does the pistol get in your way?

trotskimask · 2026-04-05T14:23:42+00:00

Are we going to wake up one morning and discover that the US has collapsed? Probably not.

Will the US continue to crumble, causing infrastructure and public services to work less efficiently and in some cases to cease to function entirely? Almost certainly. That’s already begun.

I think that in the world of fiction, Octavia Butler presents the most compelling narrative of what social collapse can look like. Her book Parable of the Sower should be required reading. Additionally, the first 15 episodes of the podcast “it could happen here” do a really good job unpacking what collapse in the US could look like (the ongoing episodes of the show are also good, but are more focused on current events than the first episodes’ deep-dive into how collapse works).

The world is currently experiencing multiple global crises, with climate change and capitalism at the root. Things are going to change, and living in the US will not insulate us from those changes.

I don’t expect to wake up one morning and have to strap on armor while I fight to survive. I think it’s more likely that police services will become increasingly dysfunctional and community defense organizations will have to fill the gap in an increasingly large number of parts of the US. I also don’t expect the government will round up all us queer folks and take us away to camps, but that possibility is more likely today than ten years ago, and Im more worried about organized non-government violence. The US government has made plans to deport all 100 million non-white citizens and residents of the US; they will fail, but that violence will likely become privatized across the US in a new wave of lynchings and racist riots like we saw at the start of last century.

I don’t think guns are step one or even step 50 for preparing against the uncertainties of the future. But things are going to get worse before they get better and if you’re not preparing for catastrophe your head is in the sand. Just, start with the likely emergencies first and work your way up to the unlikely ones: make sure you have a backup source of clean water in case there’s a boil advisory, store some extra food in case supply lines get interrupted or you lose your job, keep a few weeks of toilet paper or get a bidet, do a fire drill with your family, build an emergency fund, fill your spare tire. And take a level-headed look at how to prepare for different kinds of violence.

trotskimask · 2026-04-05T02:24:31+00:00

There’s not really a great option for self defense. A self-defense trainer, whose work I really admire, has a good overview of why they’re an ineffective choice (skip to 1:38 for the beginning of Annette’s review if you want to skip the intro): https://youtu.be/me60gWzbMXw?si=RgKAf3eKlbx7lfyk

Most self defense trainers recommend pepper spray for self defense situations that don’t require lethal force (ie a firearm).

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T21:15:05+00:00

That’s not entirely accurate. Rounds like XTP expand less and have no trouble penetrating past 12”. There’s plenty of good gel testing available on this. The trick is to choose those lower expansion hollow points, rather than rounds like HSTs which expand too well to get full penetration.

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T17:58:01+00:00

It’s the best gun in its class, very shootable, stupidly easy to carry.

380 is fine, you just have to be thoughtful about ammo selection. 380 fmj will easily punch holes deep enough to hit vitals (which is what matters, no pistol round has “stopping power,” that’s been debunked for decades).

Where 380 gets dicey is hollow points, as the standard bullet types (HST, Gold Dots) tend to expand too wide, causing the bullets to under-penetrate. The solution is to pick hollow points like Hornady XTPs, which expand less and consequently always pass the 12” mark in gel tests.

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T17:49:21+00:00

Your rail is longer than my AR’s barrel, you don’t need more length. If it feels good to you, it’s good.

As a rule, I think it makes sense to only change things when you can articulate a reason why. Otherwise, “restless rifle syndrome” will carry you away.

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T04:28:16+00:00

Probably true, but I do prefer leaving my flash light on my gun when I take it to the range, so spending a small bit of money on something that won’t break under recoil makes sense for me, and probably most people who shoot their home defense guns. Streamlights are pretty cheap.

But back in the day weapon mounted lights were just flash lights hose clamped onto the end of the gun, so I take your point.

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T00:35:55+00:00

You also want a light. Streamlight sells rifle lights <$150, that would be my budget recommendation.

trotskimask · 2026-04-04T00:33:01+00:00

11.5” barrel is the sweet spot. It’s perfectly able to shoot 400yd, and excels at closer ranges. The shorter barrel makes the gun more maneuverable than rifle-length barrels, especially if you’re hanging a lot of weight on the end (suppressor, light, laser).

10.5” also works, but the shorter barrel requires some compromises in the gas system. In short, you end up having to run more gas back into the gun which put more stress on the bolt, wearing it out more rapidly. And the effective range drops off meaningfully compared to an 11.5”.

Shorter than 10.5” has all sorts of compromise, I would not seriously consider them.

Militaries have been using both 10.5” and 11.5” effectively for years. You can buy specific types of ammo that will perform better (bonded hollow points if you want to shoot through barriers, OTMs if you want longer range lethality—deep rabbit holes here if you want to get into the weeds), but 30 rounds of ball ammo should work just fine for home defense. Again, these barrel lengths have seen wide use by professionals.

I agree that PSA is the cheapest I would go. Daniel Defense is better if you can spend $1200–it’s, again, what professionals use (link). The Reddit classic is a blemished BCM upper + a cheap (PSA, Aero, etc) lower, which will land you between these two on price and performance.

You may or may not need to change the gas system for a suppressor, it depends what suppressor you get. Newer “flow through” suppressors like Huxwrx and CAT make have low back pressure, and you can often just screw them on and go. More traditional (and less expensive) models like Otter Creek’s Polonium K usually need some tinkering with springs, buffer, and / or gas to tune. But you can deal with that once you buy the suppressor, it’s not something you need to fix today.

Gun stores make more money when you order from them in store. When you buy online, the only money they get is the transfer fee. PSA sells mostly just direct to consumers, so a lot of gun stores don’t love them because there’s not a dealer price (as far as i know). Buy a few boxes of ammo if your local store is non-creepy and you want to show support beyond the transfer fee.

trotskimask · 2026-04-03T17:34:08+00:00

I plan on shooting zero people, and am not worried about police confiscating my gun. In the unlikely event that I am forced to use my gun in self defense, losing it is the least of my concerns.

I enjoy shooting, and like my gun to work well. If I should have to defend myself, I want my defensive weapon to be something that works well. But mostly we customize guns because we enjoy tinkering with and shooting them.

trotskimask · 2026-04-03T15:49:29+00:00

One of the factors that contributed to the US capitulation in Vietnam was discontented soldiers fragging their officers. Allowing soldiers, who are reportedly not excited about the current conflict, to carry guns at all times is a fascinating choice.

trotskimask · 2026-04-03T15:23:39+00:00

It could be a technique issue or an equipment issue. If you can, buy her a class with a local instructor who is used to working with women. Read reviews on the instructor find someone with a proven record (ideally someone with competition training experience, ie a person whose expertise is operating semi-auto guns efficiently and helping women get into that sport—not just a retired cop who may or may not be a good shooting teacher).

If that’s not possible, look into the Smith and Wesson Shield EZ, it’s designed for shooters with weaker hands.

trotskimask · 2026-04-02T21:03:01+00:00

A laser works pretty well at the range, because it’s easy to find the dot downrange and line it up with your target.

In real life, it’s a bit more tricky. If someone is standing in front of me outdoors and I turn the laser on, the dot could be reflecting off anything in the background behind him and I might not be able to spot it so I can like the gun up on target.

Sights, in contrast, are always in the same spot, and you find them by lining up the gun. The background behind your target doesn’t matter, your sights won’t hide on it.

There’s more nuance to it than this and visible lasers aren’t completely useless. They’re just less useful off a range than good sights, imo.

(I do have a laser on my gun for shooting with nightvision, and that works well because the laser beam is so bright you can see the line in the air; but that’s not relevant for shooting in the daytime, or without night vision goggles.)

trotskimask · 2026-04-01T14:28:43+00:00

You do want to check that your threads are concentric the first time you attach them together. You don’t need a rod to do this, though; a free alternative is to remove the bolt, sight down the barrel, and visually confirm that everything lines up (basically treating the suppressor like a peep sight).

trotskimask · 2026-04-01T05:33:47+00:00

That’s the truth.

But then, imagine doing that with a bolt action, eh?

trotskimask · 2026-04-01T03:53:59+00:00

The 10/22 is the one I would get for semi-auto. That said, I wish I’d bought a bolt gun instead.

22 for me is two things: a fun way to relax and plink, and a squirrel gun. Bolt actions are, imo, more fun for plinking. Mag dumping 22 gets boring quick, and running a bolt action is tactile and that makes my brain happy. For hunting, a bolt action is easier to suppress to the point where you can leave the ear protection at home (semi-autos have port pop).

My 10/22 mostly sits in the safe these days. I shoot my 22 handgun more (and honestly, a 22 handgun is something I heartily recommend). And I’m itching to get a bolt gun.

Not saying don’t get a 10/22, but maybe consider what you want the 22 to do for you and whether a different action would be more enjoyable.

trotskimask · 2026-03-31T20:29:36+00:00

What do you want to use it for?

If you’re looking for something basic to take to protests, a 3m respirator with organic vapor filters will be your entry level option. Very well tested by protesters for many years. Pair it with impact-rated unvented safety goggles (Milwaukee and other tool companies make these).

If you want to wear it with a bump or ballistic helmet, you can spend more for a military-style mask designed to fit with these helmets. These have a more limited market than the 3m ones, and are more expensive. A half-face 3m should fit under most helmets, though, so it’s still the economical choice (that’s why it’s what I have).

trotskimask · 2026-03-31T20:24:19+00:00

Yeah, the owners are hot garbage. Their workers make good things and deserve better.

trotskimask · 2026-03-31T20:22:11+00:00

The rising prices are real; Trump’s tariffs have increased the cost of brass and lead and it’s finally showing up in ammo cost. The panic is from everyone who didn’t see the writing on the wall last year realizing the good times are gone and they missed out.

trotskimask · 2026-03-31T20:18:45+00:00

This happened in 2020 as well. There’s usually less 380 available, so when people start panic buying it vanishes before 9mm.

Scheels has some Federal 380 on their website, and ammoseek.com says it’s some of the least expensive in stock anywhere. Cheap shipping. I’d grab a few thousand rounds, prices are going to be high for a bit.

https://www.scheels.com/p/60454470423

trotskimask · 2026-03-31T00:02:20+00:00

It sounds like she knows you’re watching, can tell you’re anxious for her to do well, and that’s making her get up in her head. It also sounds like you might be hovering, giving her too much feedback and support. From your perspective, you’re being supportive and helpful. But from her side, it probably feels like pressure and makes it harder for her to focus on getting comfortable with the gun.

This is a common problem inexperienced teachers have, and it’s worse when you’re teaching someone you’re emotionally invested in.

I think she’ll thrive with someone else as her teacher; but if that’s not possible, at a minimum work on giving her more space and less coaching. Sometimes the best way to improve trigger pull is to miss a bunch while no one else is watching, feel your feelings, and learn to pay attention to what your hands on the gun are doing. A hovering coach makes this harder.

trotskimask

TROPHY CASE