Category: Tacticool

February 6, 2020 – ‘Tacticool’ Thursday

February 6, 2020 /

Maybe I am obsessive/compulsive but some things I just cant let go. I like to think that there is a good reason for it, but maybe I am just trying to justify my behavior.

I am talking about cleaning firearms after each use. I just cant put them away dirty. My reasons are

  • My storage environment is less than ideal. So getting the crud off and getting a layer of protective oil on helps prevent corrosion.
  • A clean firearm is likely a better running firearm as long as you are not gumming it up with excessive solvents or oils.
  • Cleaning each time eliminates the heavy duty cleaning sessions that are sometimes required.
  • It builds familiarity with your firearms, how to take them apart and keeps an eye on wear items.
  • I like to do it.
Have a dedicated cleaning space

I have heard the various points to justify less cleaning. These include causing excessive wear on your barrel or cleaning can change a bullets point of impact. But, I have been a victim of dirty firearm function and corrosion in the past so I don’t buy into those arguments.

In this article, I am not going to tell you how to do this or what products to use. The reason is I just don’t know. I have been using one solvent for my whole life, and I don’t think it works that well. I have tried other products and sort of feel the same way. Internet warriors will swear by one company or another and I guess that I am just skeptical based on my own experiences.

Here are some things that work for me

  • I have three rods so that I don’t have to switch tips for the various parts of the process
  • I have a dedicated space and tools that allow me to take my time, not run around and find supplies and spread out.
  • I have an inventory of cleaning supplies so that I don’t feel like I don’t have what I need to do the job when I want to do it.
  • The more I age, the more I value adequate lighting. I have a shoplight over my bench, a bore light for inspection and flashlight for small things that may get dropped.
  • Do you have old cotton around? I makes the best rags for cleaning and wipe down. I hate to throw away old towels, t-shirts when they can have one more life as a rag (as long as it is 100% cotton).

There are lots of YouTube videos out there on how to do this if you need an idea. Most of the ones I have seen I would categorize as OK and the information is reasonably accurate. Some firearms are easier to take apart than others, so refer to your manual or a video. Be careful with springs and small parts, especially if it is your first time. Most of all, be safe. Triple check chambers and magazines and keep your ammunition away from your firearms while handling.

January 23, 2020 – Tacticool Thursday

January 23, 2020 /

I thought that I would talk about belts today and some of the things that I have learned through the years.

Three different belts

The top one is a casual belt that I have worn for years. The bottom two are advertised a pistol belts. Hopefully the picture captures the thickness differences between the three belts. That increased thickness is an attempt to influence the stiffness of the belt. The theory is that increased stiffness keeps the pants and the firearm in place.

Belts held horizontally

The number of options available in gun belts are something to consider. The typical thickness are 1 1/2 – 2″. If you wear khakis or more dress pants beware of the belt width, thicker belts tend to not fit into more formal dress.

Then there is color. Again, if you are trying to coordinate your dress, consider having multiple belt option like black and brown. A tip here is that the holster hardware is often black, so black belts conceal Inside the Waist Band (IWB) type hardware better. I have more brown shoes and I think brown is more informal, so I tend to lean toward that color.

Belt length is subjective to your waist size. Many manufacturers offer measurement instructions so that you get a proper fitting belt. Depending on how you wear the pistol, you may need more length to carry IWB versus Outside the Waistband (OWB). My first belt I bought was at my peak of fitness and now no longer fits. Consider your weight trends when buying a belt, ideally you would be in the center of the belt holes when wearing your handgun in the preferred method. If you use a normal belt to measure your waist, be aware that those belts may stretch while you are cinching them up and give you a smaller waist size that you want. Hence, my first belt I ordered had little adjustment remaining (to get fat!).

These belts can be pretty pricy. I think my first one was $65. Since I was looking to replace my belt recently, I ran across a screaming deal from Midway USA. Normal price for the belts were $50, but I got special birthday pricing and paid $26 per belt. I just got them last week, so don’t know how well they hold up, but so far so good. Remind me and I will update after a year of wear.

January 16, 2020 – ‘Tacticool’ Thursday

January 16, 2020 /

Well, not exactly. But as I started thinking about blog/podcast segments and what I am interested in, I think that Thursday is a great day to talk about things you might do this weekend like shooting, hunting and the outdoors.

A few months ago, my son joined a school sponsored trap team. That team is hosted by the local Elk’s lodge. One thing lead to another and I am now involved with the Elks and running the local gun range. One of the things that trap team is doing is putting on Hunter’s Safety this weekend.

Back when I was kid, I took hunter’s safety. It was a summer pursuit where my brother and I attended class for half a day for about a week at the local Boy’s and Girls club. Now, with the advent of the internet and online learning, you can largely complete the course with an on-line learning experience. That being said, most states (including mine) do not consider the online experience complete without a ‘field’ day. So that is what we are going to do this weekend.

This event is a bit self-serving because safety training is required to participate in the upcoming trap season. But, there are a lot of reasons to take Hunter’s Safety.

  • Hunting – Youths under the age of 18 are required to present a Hunter’s Safety certificate to obtain a license (in my state). Some states require adults to pass a state specific hunters safety course to get an out of state license.
  • Safety – The class covers many aspects of hunting equipment including basics of firearms and archery tackle. Knowing how the specifics operate and fundamental firearms rules makes a person more well rounded and aware of potential dangers. This event will use live fire in a supervised environment to hone those skills.
  • Ethics – Hunting is rooted in tradition. It is a fun and rewarding pursuit that brings a meal to the table with a story and a memory. But to have a positive outcome the when and where are important.

Even if you are not a hunter or a gun person, I still highly recommend these skills as a well rounded person because there are more than 200 million guns in this country and you never know when you might run into one. The NRA offers a free course for a number of states https://nra.yourlearningportal.com/Course/HuntersEdActivityInfoPage and links to your state if not currently approved.

Right now is the tail end of waterfowl and small game season, we will be getting into spring bear and turkey within a few months and the big game season is looming this fall, especially if you are wanting to put in for lottery type tags. Happy hunting and building memories.