The Smallest Minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. – Ayn Rand
It’s become a sort of tradition, at least since 2010. Here’s a short list of Arizona bloggers I know of who are still active. If there’s anyone I should add, let me know. Want to meet up at the Elsy Pearson Public Range in Casa Grande on Saturday, 1/24 and throw some lead downrange?
That’s fifteen. Remember, they don’t all have to be gun bloggers, just bloggers who might be interested in going to a shoot. And you don’t have to be a blogger, either, just a reader.
So who wants to go shooting?
We have a Christmas tradition – she always gives me a Dilbert desk calendar for Christmas. This year was no exception on that point, but she also gave me this T-shirt:
I’ll have to wear it to the next Central Arizona blog shoot!
Today in the mail I received two gifts from LuckyGunner.com, plus a nice Christmas card with a handwritten note from Anthony Welch. One gift was this coffee mug:
The other was a gift card.
Wow. The last thing I did with/for Lucky Gunner was review some of the Fiocchi primers they sell back in 2010, and I attended the machine gun shoot they sponsored in 2011. They’ve sponsored the last several Gun Blogger Rendezvous, but I haven’t been deeply involved in that until this year.
Whoever they’ve got doing their internet marketing is not slacking.
Thank you, y’all. And merry Christmas to you and yours.
…which remains the single most popular post ever here at TSM, but it’s still pretty impressive – especially for a handgun:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA9nTNelQ6o?rel=0]
Yeah, I know, I’m really late on this one but I have a (mostly) valid excuse. Immediately upon return to Arizona, I went back to work and busted a** for the next nine days in a row. THEN I got four days off. Sorry, but I didn’t touch the blog the last four days.
So! Gun Blogger Rendezvous #9 is in the record books, and as they go, this was a pretty good one. Attendance was down this year. A lot of regulars couldn’t make it for economic or work- or school-related reasons, but we did have appearances by former attendees who hadn’t made one in a year or six. The former DirtCrashr who now resides at Not Clauswitz made an appearance, though his wife declined to come at the last minute. The not-blogging-much Conservative UAW Guy (and now partner in a gun shop) came and brought his lovely better-half. Namer of the Blogosphere Bill Quick of Daily Pundit put in a repeat appearance, as did Billll of Billll’s Idle Mind. Engineering Johnson, who contributed a refurbished Model 74 Winchester rifle and a custom holster for the Ruger Mk III Hunter also repeated. Unfortunately, his dad True Blue Sam couldn’t join him this year. Mr. Completely and KeeWee, our hosts rounded out the bloggers who came, at least those whose names I got.
This year we had a lot of local attendance, with a repeat by the Wilson family and friends, who somehow managed to take home most of the top prizes (including three of the four guns given away.) And we had a repeat appearance by local manufacturer and Special Occupational Taxpayer Richard Brengman of Special Interest Arms, and his distributor Brian Borg of SilentCarbine.com who brought an assortment of suppressed firearms and a squirt-gun to play with to the Friday range trip followed by the Friday night Show-n-Tell.
I kinda lust after one of their De Lisle carbines. As Billll said about one of his other suppressed weapons, I’ve handled office staplers that were louder. I just need to win the lottery….
Breakfast on Friday was supplied by the National Rifle Association, and their representative spoke to us about current strategy and concerns. They’re quite concerned about Bloomberg and his personal fortune. The NRA isn’t throwing a lot of money at Washington state’s I-594 initiative – at least not what Bloomberg’s throwing. Her argument, condensed, is that the NRA has a more limited war chest and must fight on a broad front. Bloomie can pick and choose, and throw as much money as he wants at something, not that doing so will guarantee him a “win” (see Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke’s victory in the face of $150,000 of Bloomberg’s money – more than both candidates spent in total.) Still, gun-rights supporters in Washington are not pleased by the NRA’s apparent lack of involvement, and the organization was so informed.
As is traditional, we held the raffle on Saturday evening, and we raised, even with light attendance, right at $4,000 for Honored American Veterans Afield. I’d like to thank the manufacturers and their reps, distributors and retailers who contributed to the Rendezvous so that we could raise that money:
I also want to thank the folks at U.S. Firearms Academy for graciously acting as our shipping receiver, the fine folks at the Washoe County Regional Shooting Facility for the reserved range space on Friday and the Western Nevada Pistol League for use of their shooting bays and steel on Saturday, and finally the folks at MiScenarios for the interactive digital range time on Sunday. That was worth hanging around for, and the better part of a dozen of us showed up to try it.
Once again, thanks to the National Shooting Sports Foundation for their sponsorship (they bought our pizza Saturday night).
If I missed anyone, please let me know and I’ll be sure to include you.
And yes, I ended my eight-year drought by winning… the Hi-Point.
I think I’ll steam-punk it.
So today we ran out to the Washoe County public range and shot what everybody brought. A local vendor brought his toys to display and demonstrate, Special Interest Arms. Here’s some of what he brought to play with:
(From the top:) Thureon Defense 9mm, integrally suppressed
Thureon Defense .45ACP integrally suppressed
.45 Enfield with suppressor (“Stubby”)
Full-auto AK-47 (not suppressed)
AR-15 9mm integrally suppressed
De Lisle .45ACP integrally suppressed carbine. Bloody silent.
Here’s a .300 Blackout in use. And yes, the wind noise is louder than the rifle:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b35pZGPlsGU?rel=0]
And here’s the Thureon .45 in action:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzFSEeMKLlo?rel=0]
Here’s some of the other things that shooters brought:
Bill Quick‘s .22 race gun
DC’s Sako Mosin
Ishapore Enfield in .303 British
The world’s only wood-furnitured Hi-Point carbine that belongs to Billll
An assortment of handguns.
Ms. Vast Right Wing Conspiracy’s Remington 700 in .308.
There was a lot more, but that’s all I got photos of. More later!
So at lunch today I ran by my favorite Merchant O’Death’s place of work and picked up some powder. They’d just gotten in a shipment of about a hundred pounds of various types (still no Unique – which at this point should just be renamed “Unavailable”), and I’d had him set me aside a bit: three pounds of H110 and one of Accurate 4064.
Remember when powder was around $20 a pound? Yeah, so do I. Four pounds of powder set me back a little over $116 including tax.
Ouch.
A few years ago, I did a post on the basics of reloading with a list of recommended materials. I thought this would be a good time to review that and see just how much things have changed.
Originally I recommended the Lee Anniversary Kit, which consisted of their Challenger “O”-press, powder measure, powder scale, reloading manual, priming tool and (most) shell holders. It was $89.99. That particular kit is no longer available, but the current one is the Challenger Breech Lock Anniversary Kit, which at $126.99 contains:
Next up came dies, and I again recommended an all-Lee lineup:
Carbide .38/357 4-die set: $30.99 $41.99
Carbide .45ACP 4-die set: $21.99 $41.99
Steel .30 Luger 3-die set: $20.99 $30.49
.22-250 3-die set: $24.99 $30.99
.243 Winchester 3-die set: $24.99 $30.99
.308 Winchester 3-die set: $24.99 $30.99
.30-06 3-die set: $24.99 $30.99
.30 Carbine carbide 3-die set: $30.79 $38.49
Next up was lube. The Lee kit above has their lube, but I recommended a can of Hornady’s One Shot spray lube. For the sake of economy, I’ll leave it off this list.
I recommended a steel dial caliper micrometer: Still $25.99
I recommended a Hornady universal reloading tray: $4.79 $8.99
In the article I stated that a minimum of TWO reloading manuals should be on hand. The Lee Anniversary kit had one in it originally, but not now. The Speer manual at that time cost $26.99. Now it’s $29.99, and the Lee manual is another $21.99
Then there was powder and primers for all the calibers we were buying dies for. Powder is per pound, primer pricing is per thousand.
IMR 4064: $18.99 $25.87 (out of stock)
Winchester 296: $17.99 $21.60 (out of stock)
Winchester 231: $17.49 $21.04 (and also out of stock)
CCI Small Pistol: $21.99 $26.99
CCI Large Pistol: $21.49 $31.49
CCI Small Rifle: $22.49 $31.49
CCI Large Rifle: $22.99 $31.49
And then there was case prep, cleaning & miscellaneous:
Iosso Case Cleaning Kit: $14.99 $16.79
I suggested a primer pocket cleaner and chamfer and deburring tool, but those are now included in the Lee Anniversary kit.
Safety Glasses: $8.99 $4.49 – that’s the only item to reduce in price.
So in 2007 all the materials you’d need to start reloading for eight different calibers, with the exception of projectiles, was $542.76. Today it would be $702.12, an increase of 29.4%. Powder has gone up almost a third on average, if you can find it. Primers have gone up almost 50%.
I’m glad I didn’t record bullet pricing back then. I don’t think I want to know how much THAT’S gone up.
OK, we’re just one week away from the Ninth Annual Gun Blogger Rendezvous. Have you made your hotel reservations? Mailed in your registration? Here’s the schedule thus far:
Wednesday, September 3rd
6:15 PM. For those arriving on Wednesday, dinner at the El Dorado Buffet Restaurant. The El Dorado is part of the same giant casino complex as the Silver Legacy and the Circus Circus. The El Dorado Buffet is at one end of the complex. The Silver Legacy is in the middle, and the Circus Circus is on the opposite end.
Thursday, September 4th
8:30 AM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality Room for one of the restaurants for breakfast.
1:15 PM. Leave the Hospitality Room to car pool to Scheels.
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM. Guided tour of Scheels Sporting Goods and browsing/shopping. Buy ammo? Pick up munchies and soft drinks on way back to hotel.
6:00 PM. Leave the Hospitality Room to go to dinner. Location to be determined later.
Thursday Evening until midnight: Refreshments and conversation at the Silver Legacy Hospitality room. Bring your own refreshments and munchies.
Friday, September 5th
8:00 AM. NRA Sponsored breakfast in our Hospitality room. Catherine Mortensen of the NRA will address the group, bringing us up to speed on what’s going on, and what’s on the horizon concerning the NRA and our 2nd. Amendment rights.
9:00 AM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality room to car pool up and head out to the Washoe County Shooting Facility, the Pyramid range for rifle and pistol target shooting out to 900 yards.
9:45 AM – 2:00 PM. At the range.
4:00 PM – 5:45 PM. Show-N-Tell at the Silver Legacy Hospitality room. Manufacturers and show new stuff, and attendees show neat things too!
6:00 PM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality room to go to Dos Gecko’s Mexican Restaurant for dinner. A 3 minute walk from Hospitality Room.
7:15 PM. (Approx) Brian Ciyou from Gunlawsbystate.com, will talk to us, and other industry, shooting sports, and legal aspect folks will follow.
Friday Evening until midnight: Refreshments and conversation at the Silver Legacy Hospitality room. Bring your own refreshments and munchies.
Saturday, September 6th
8:00 AM. Lucky Gunner sponsored Breakfast in the Silver Legacy Hospitality room.
9:00 AM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality room to car pool up and head out to the Washoe County Shooting Facility, Western Nevada Pistol League Action Pistol bays at the Pyramid range for an introduction to International Steel Shooting Association Action Pistol shooting, and more.
9:45 AM – 2:00 PM. At the range.
5:00 PM – 6 PM. Short presentation by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. possible other short presentations, and information on the Honored American Veterans Afield Charity.
6:00 PM. NSSF all you can eat pizza feed at the Silver Legacy Hospitality room. After dinner will be the fund raiser raffle for HAVA and the drawings for the door prizes.
Saturday Evening until Midnight: Refreshments and conversation at the Silver Legacy Hospitality room. Bring your own refreshments and munchies.
Sunday, September 7th
8:00 AM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality room for one of the restaurants for breakfast.
9:15 AM. Leave the Silver Legacy Hospitality room to car pool up and head out to the U.S. Firearms Academy for some digital live scenario shooting fun. We will also visit Reno Guns, and BattleBorn, which are next door.
9:45 AM– NOON. Digital scenario shooting and shoot house.
Hope to see you there!
In keeping with tradition, MKS Supply / Hi-Point is donating a 9mm Carbine to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous. This will be the ninth year of their support, in from the very beginning!
While perhaps not the most aesthetically pleasing, these things have a reputation for WORKING. Bill Llewellen, who is attending again this year, has a .40 S&W version that (being a mechanical engineer and inveterate tinkerer) he has extensively modified. Capitalist Pig, also attending again this year, has the 9mm version that he has torture-tested. A thousand-plus rounds without cleaning!
So what does the title of this post mean? Well, in addition to the Hi-Point carbine, we’re giving away a Ruger Mk III Hunter, a SIG 1911-22, and Engineering Johnson is donating a Winchester Model 74. If I don’t go home with a new (to me) gun THIS year, I’ll give up! And, of course there’s all the OTHER great stuff you can win! So, go get registered and make your hotel reservations! It’s only two weeks away!
This year Redfield is donating a Battlezone 6-18x44mm scope to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous!
From the press release:
Redfield® is expanding on its popular Battlezone™ riflescope line with a new 6-18x44mm model. Designed for the AR, modern sporting or precision bolt-action rifle, the Battlezone delivers all the tactical utility demanding marksmen require at an economical price.
The Battlezone 6-18x44mm features fully multicoated lenses, Bullet Drop Compensation System (BDC) and TAC-MOA™ reticle. Pop-up, resettable 1/4-MOA finger adjustments offer tactile/audible clicks.
The Bullet Drop Compensation System comes with two adjustment dials calibrated in two of the most popular calibers for tactical rifles. The .223/5.56mm NATO dial is set up for 55gr bullets at 3,100 fps. The second dial is calibrated for 168gr .308/7.62mm NATO bullets at 2,650 fps. Each dial is marked in 50-yard increments.
The TAC-MOA reticle features stadia lines on the horizontal and vertical crosshairs set at one minute of angle (MOA) increments. This allows the marksman to quickly holdover for wind or elevation, and can be used for range estimation on objects of known size.
A fast-focus eyepiece helps shooters get on target and easily adapt to changing conditions. Like all Redfield riflescopes, the Battlezone is built to withstand the elements. 100% waterproof, nitrogen-filled maintubes prevent fogging and freezing, and are guaranteed to stay sealed for the life of the scope. The Battlezone is covered by Redfield’s “No Excuses™” lifetime warranty.
This is a 1″ tube scope. Here’s what it looks like:
But you must be present to win! Get your reservations made and your registration sent in NOW!