The Countertop Chronicles

From Nutnfancy

Its coming. And I’ve got some cash burnign a hole in my pocket. I was thinking I might get a handgun, then thought – with black rifle prices HIGH and hunting prices LOW – I might look at getting a Fox or Parker or LC Smith side by side.

But then, I thought maybe a SIG 556.

Anyone have thoughts on them?

The other day, I posted that I had nothing. Well, thanks to the always reliable Ron at Reactuate, I now have something – the always stunning combination of a beautiful woman and a beautiful gun..

Oh boy. Down boy!!!

In both PG-13 and R rated versions.

You can check out more of this beauty over here.

It seems, that in addition to being a guitar god, Eric Clapton also fancies himself something of a gun nut. Luckily for some rich folks, his collection has grown too big and he needs to sell some guns off to make room for others.

Clapton has claimed that his passion has gotten out of hand in much the same way his guitar collection did. “It’s following the same pattern as when I collected guitars, cars and watches. I start out with a fairly broad spectrum, get obsessed and engulfed and finally narrow the collection down. I built a gunroom that can house a certain amount of guns and now I have to clear the decks for the new guns I have on order.”

Oh to have his problems.

And I think this comment, sums it up nicely

O-shit- Clapton is even cooler than I thought.

But enough of that, here’s some pictures (and yes, thats Eric playing guitar in the engraving)

Well, I’ve been carrying the black Kel Tec around with me pretty much constantly (except for when I’m at work in DC) for well over 2 months.

It does its job, fitting pretty easily inside the font pocket of any loose pants I own (ever pair of shorts, most khakis, suits, etc) with less than a barely discernible pattern printed. Can’t complain about that at all, as its my preferred method of carry 90% of the time. However, over the last week, as we were in a high humidity atmosphere (a hurricane dropping 30 inches of water will do that) I did run into a slight problem with rust. I cleaned most of it up last night, but thought I’d post a short update here to highlight those areas where its worn well, where its worn rough, and where it has become, in the words of Phil-Z, a lint trap.

Lots of pics, and more, after the jump.
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So, this weekend and stumbled upon another 1000 rounds – 750 rounds of 40 S&W and 300 rounds of .38 Special.

I can use the .38, but I don’t have a gun in .40. Any thoughts on what I should do (and no, getting a gun in .40 S&W isn’t a viable option).

UPDATE

Here it is

So, as Bitter pointed out yesterday I did my part for the 2nd Amendment, local grassroots politics, and my own pleasure – and did it all for free by volunteering to help Ken Cuccinelli’s campaign out.

Now, with the hunting season fast approaching and a relatively new Kel Tec P11 in my possession I had some things I was on the hunt for and thought the Nation’s Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center might be the best bet locally. Didn’t even mind the high prices, cause each was something I wanted to see and hold and/or cheap enough that to have it shipped would have substantially increased its underlying price.

Imagine my thrill, then, when I saw in the Cuccinelli Compass that they needed workers for their table at the show. Well, thats a no brainer. Ken’s a great guy, and a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and well . . . it was a no brainer.

Here’s a bit of a summary before I get to the heart of the matter

This was the single busiest and biggest and crowded gun show I’ve ever been too. I’ve attended in the past (has it really been 4 years since gun shows returned to Fairfax – what a struggle THAT fight was) but my general disdain for the high prices and lack of selection kept me from going for the last few years.

I had no idea what I was missing. Where those first few shows were largely filled with overpriced crap and lots of filler, little reloading or ammo supplies, a dearth of class III dealers, and paltry crowds, this weekends show had everything a gunnie could want (including plenty of women in revealing clothes!!)

But alas, I didn’t get what I wanted.

I had 4 targets I was shooting for.

1) I was hoping to get a belt clip for the Kel Tec. I found one guy who had one for the little .380 Kel Tec, but no one selling anything for the P11

2) Grips for my S&W Model 66. I actually saw some gorgeous grips there, and had a good discussion with a guy, but he was selling Nill grips and frankly I didn’t have $175 to pay for them (though if I did, I would have). What I wanted was a reasonably priced pair of Hogues, but didn’t find any for a square butt K Framed S&W.

3) Reloading equipment – I wanted a case trimmer. They run, new, somewhere between $60 and $70
online. I also need a tumbler to clean rifle brass. They generally are in the same price range. I was hoping I might find a deal on one or the other, or even a decent used one. What I found was a new Lyman case trimmer for $80 and a beat up trumbler for $60. Looks like I’ll just get them off of midway.

4) Reasonably priced 7mm bullets. Nope. There is no such thing as reasonably priced ammo any more. At least in Northern Virginia. Luckily, I’ll be heading down south next month to the beach and have a decent source for (reasonably priced) ammo in Georgia.

The Good

Lots and lots of class 3 stuff. Huge displays by 3 or 4 different vendors including an attorney, Lenden Eakin from Roanoke who runs a fantastic web page Class 3 Only.com.

In addition, to the class 3 goodness, while I didn’t find a clip for the Kel Tec, I did stop by the booth for the guys at Universal Holsters. They’ve developed an incredible deep concealed carry holster. Very much worth checking out!

The Bad

Well, I’ll just quote from the emails I sent Bitter.

Aaaaaah

Save me from GOA Shall Not Be infringed guy

Ken doesn’t need guys at his table spouting Mike V revolutionary crap

Followed by this

Mr Shall Not Be Infringed started spewing anti GOA stuff, ATTACKING
MCCAIN FOR SUPPORTING RESTRICTIONS ON FELONS POSSESSING GUNS.

When I tried to explain that’s not a good thing to be spewing at the table of a candidate for AG, he threatened that the folks at AR15.com will cut him down if they see him as supporting McCain.

And folks wonder why I get disillusioned with the GAOers.

And The Ugly

WTF. Seriously. Some one has to tell these guys to cut this shit out. They can sell it, if they want, but they don’t have to fucking flaunt it. Showmasters and C&E need to do a better job of communicating and policing the message.

Following up in the string of long overdue range reviews . . . comes the range report of the Kel Tec P-11. As you’ll recall, I purchased a couple (one black, one olive and black – his and hers if you want) as part of the Guns at Cost sale earlier this year in honor of the 2nd Amendment.

Well, I’ve had it now for a little over 2 months and in that time have formed some definite opinions on this little marvel as a day to day summer carry gun. But first, for the range review.

Range Report

The first shots I took, unfortunately at 25 yards, weren’t well recieved. Using 147 grain Hydra Shocks, I sent 10 rounds down range. None . . . I repeat none . . . landed on the target (or target frame for that matter). Now, of course, this is a compact carry gun, and one would presume that your not going to pull it and shoot it at a target 25 yards away, but still.

The Kel Tec Users Group has a whole list of recommended fixes for the gun. I can see how they are necessary. The trigger is stiff stiff stiff. And heavy. Heck, its got to be at least 10 pounds. That combined with my first time shooting it resulted in 10 wasted rounds. Seeing this, and still in shock over the cost of a 20 round box of Hydra shocks ($17.95) I decided to move on to the cheaper generic range ammo (125 (i believe) grain FMJ) at $11.95 for a box of 50. And I moved the target closer . . . to 10 yards, and all the shots landed on the target…not in a pretty cloverleaf or anything . . . . but in about a 5 inch spread. Not great, but it certainly will get the job done.

My brother actually has a theory here that has nothing to do with it being a new gun with a stiff trigger . . . he thinks that the 147 grain Hydrashocks are too heavy for such as small barrel. Any thoughts???????

Of course, the shooting isn’t all bad. I am always surprised at how light the recoil on a 9mm is – but was expecting such a small gun to have just a bit more kick. There was none. No recoil really at all – which makes it very easy for a woman or anyone else to control close range shots and get back on target. But, you better make sure you get the job done. The action/slide is very very stiff. I don’t doubt this thing will eat all sorts of ammo, but if your a small woman, you might want your boyfriend to rack the slide. And don’t bother getting a spare mag. You won’t need it (at least not in a gun fight) as there is simply no way to do quick elegant magazine change.

Carry Report

When I picked the gun up, I was a bit disappointed in that – in a holster – it left a pretty distinguished print on my front pant pocket. The gun itself is small, but its neither featherweight (when loaded) or small enough to disappear in the front pocket holster of a business suit. The solutions, I think, is to add the Kel Tec Clip (ordered, on its way). Once it arrives, I’ll clue you in on that. In the meantime though, I have pretty much carried it every day, every where, outside of work and DC (I work in DC so . . . . ) In a pair of jeans, or cargo shorts/pants, or anything with a heavier durable fabric, the gun itself just disappears.

The one complaint I would have with it, if there were any, is that after a relatively short time of carrying and shooting it (just a few days over 2 months) there is already signs of wear showing. For instrance, look at this slide lock

Now true, it largely a plastic framed gun and this is pretty minor in consequential damage to a part that gets handled perhaps more than any other on the gun. But still, the finish shouldn’t already be rubbing off. Here’s another view, with different lighting so you can clearly see what I mean.

That said, it is a pretty good gun and one I feel very comfortable carrying . . . especially now after having shot a few rounds through it and gotten a feel for how it shoots.

WHen I posted about it last time, there were some questions, so maybe I can try to respond them further here.

Phil-Z asked

I’m thinking about buying one, but the gap between the “frame” and the slide, visible in the pic above, kinda puts me off. Anyone have any thoughts on how bad that might be? I’m thinking it’s a lint trap, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.

Yes, the space is real. As this picture demonstrates . . . but I haven’t noticed it being a lint trap. Rather, I’ve had much bigger problems with dirt getting stuck on the back sight.

Roland had this to say

Is that actually a gap, or just some weird reflection? It can’t be seen in the close-up or the back lit photo in front of the window. It does look like bunny fur though.

I actually responded that it was my flash. I was wrong.

Yes, you can see right through the gun under the barrel, though so far that hasn’t caused any problems or accumulated much lint.

All in all, I think its a great little gun that you can manage to take with you everywhere. In this day and age of increased personal security awareness, I’d say its as vital as your Amex card. Don’t leave home with out it.

under the fold (VVNSFW)

Compliments of American Drumslinger (NSFW)

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About three weeks ago, I promised to post some range reviews. In fact, those promises started well before, but things have been swamped at work, at home, and with life in general. And so, I’ve just never gotten around to it.

Well, the posts are done, and while I am pretty swamped this week (and will be traveling a lot the rest of the summer) you can expect to see them rolling out here . . . one each day.

I know some of you are itching for Kel Tec P11 Part II – now almost two moths over due. Well, hold your horses, its coming . . . but in the meantime, I have a review thats much more over due. Almost two years. Whats more, this is a review of a historically important gun . . . at least as far as the gun blogsphere goes. And since the Dead treated us to some Monday Morning Gunning with Me & My Uncle earlier today, I figured that would be the ideal place to start With Me and My Uncles gun.

Now Me and My Uncles gun, actually has a bit of prehistory to it, so I guess the place to start this story is way back, a long long time ago, in the early years . . . and by early years, I mean pre blogging (well, pre Countertop Chronicles blogging years – as I’d argue I had what is essentially a political blog – with a CNN link taboot – back in late 1995/early 1996) Glock Talk / Firing Line time wasting days.

It was back then when I first got the inkling to get myself something other than the .22s and bolt actions and shotguns I grew up with. And the internet being the internet, and shall not be infringed meaning shall not be infringed, and me moving to Virginia after having grown up in Jersey . . . well that meant a homeland security weapon. . . .and not a P.C. black one either – but rather the peoples weapon. And so, I picked up a SAR-1. And it was a fine and lovely gun (though it had some hiccups with quick magazine exchanges – and would never be mistaken for a Holland & Holland in build quality) . . . and scared the be-jesus off my neighbor when I cleaned it on the porch. And all was good.

But then one day, for some reason, I grew bored with it. . . . and stumbled upon what I thought was then (and still think is now) a great deal – a guy in Virginia looking to trade a gorgeous Ruger Accusport Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt for a SAR. Boom. I’ll take that deal (especially since the SAR only cost $200 back then).

Now, this is a great gun . . . and I still enjoy shooting it as much as any gun I own, but over the intervening couple of years the empty space in my gun closet started calling . . . but the SAR supply had dried up and well, lets just say I hadn’t heard great things about the WASR’s which came out to replace them. But I continued to keep an open mind until one day . . . . Says Uncle let me know he was looking to get rid of WASR – his WASR, the custom WASR, the Ultimac WASR; and well the price was right.

Now, here of course, is where this became a famous gun . . . and you can still go to Uncles page follow its transition from plan old WASR to upgraded WASR with the Ultimak rail mount and Tacpoint scope and evil black folding stock. He even threw in the the single point sling plus a ton of ammo.

Folks, I can think of few people who are better to deal with than Says Uncle.

So what do I do to repay him (besides waiting almost 2 years to actually get around to posting a range report – Bad Countertop, Bad Countertop) . . . well, I pay him . . . and well, I stuck a note to myself in the memo area . . . . and well . . . paypal would rather have you disarmed, bent over, and deeply probed by their monkeys than honor your 2nd amendment rights.

Well, now that you know the backstory . . . on to the range report!

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You could do worse than to pick this beauty up

This auction is for a Star Model PD 45 Caliber Revolver. NEW in the box condition, with original box and paperwork. I purchased it new nearly thirty three years ago.

Never fired since leaving the factory. It comes from the factory with a polished feed ramp. You can buy up to 10 round clips. This pistol has the owner’s manual, original warranty card and all the paper work that came in box (with the box) from the factory. No rust, nicks or scratches. No rub marks. No dry firing. Never carried or in a holster. It’s never been to a gun show. The only time the trigger has been pulled was to let the hammer softly down. Again, no dry fire.

If I didn’t have an exorbitant vacation to pay for – and a kid likely to be headed back to private school (and a stay at home wife) I’d pick it up in a second.

Seriously,

Virginia Arms in Manassas Virginia

Good guys, and they love the 2nd Amendment!

The Homeland Defense Wall

CZ .22s Gorgeous!!

pics taken via crackberry

Route 27 – Just outside the Chickamauga Battlefield

God Bless America

Ya’ll will recall that upon that memorable Bag Day I alluded to something thats long escaped my collection

but then . . . . stumbled on something else which I don’t want to disclose yet . . . . for fear it will pass me by before I can grab it as mine. more on that later.

At the time, I posted simply a bit about its caliber

In my opinion the 280 Remington has all the advantages of the 270 Winchester and the 30-06 Springfield, incorporating the flat trajectory of the 270 with the power of the 30-06. Being 7mm not only gives the 280 Remington more bullet choices than the 25-06 Remington or the 270 Winchester, but greater range in weights of bullets plus a larger frontal diameter. Which lends to better performance on game larger and heavier than the White-tailed deer. It is also kinder to the shoulder than the 30-06 or 7mm Remington Magnum when fired in a comparable weight rifle. The 280’s real world performance is equal to that of the 7mm Remington Magnum (with 140 to 150-grain bullets).

Indeed, no less an authority than David Petzal wrote fondly of his Mountain Rifle in .280 Remington

Name games aside, the .280 is one of the top cartridges for North American hunting. It ranks right alongside the .30/06 in general usefulness. If you have one, you can take anything except the big bears, and do it handily. One of the two or three biggest elk I’ve ever seen–a true 1,000-pound monster–was killed dead in his tracks by one shot from a .280. You can think of it as a 7mm magnum but without the added powder, recoil, and muzzle blast.

Craig Boddington published a pretty extensive and hearty approval of it, when he included it in his batch of Sensible Sevens

.280 Remington
While the 7mm-08 is a perfect fit in a short action, its big brother, the .280 Remington, is a perfect fit in a standard-length action. Based on the .30-06 case (with the shoulder moved forward, not a simple necking-down), the .280 is actually an old-timer, going all the way back to 1957.

Although it has a small but outspoken following that borders on cult status (led by none other than Outdoor Life’s Jim Carmichel), I can’t for the life of me figure out why it isn’t more popular than it is. Arguably, it’s a better cartridge than either the .270 Winchester or .30-06, combining the flat trajectory of the former with the heavier bullets of the latter;all aided by the inherent advantages of .284 bullets.

I reckon it a better cartridge than the much more popular 7mm Remington Magnum. Factory loads are almost as fast, with 140-grain loads from 2,990 to 3,110 fps and 160-grain loads at 2,890 fps. With handloads, it will give the 7mm Remington Magnum a run for its money, and it’ll burn less powder and eat up a lot less space in the magazine box.

Part of the problem with the .280, I think, is its checkered history. Originally designed for the Model 742 Remington semiauto, its original loads were mild. In 1979 Remington had the brainstorm of reenergizing it with faster loads and renaming it the 7mm Express. This confused everyone so much that after a short time it became the good old .280 Remington again. There are plenty of factory loads today, but it’s another cartridge that can benefit from hand loading.

I have owned only one .280 Remington, so as much as I admire it, I guess I’m not a real fan. I used it for pronghorn, deer and sheep, and, of course, it worked wonderfully. Come to think of it, I haven’t owned but a small handful of all three of these light sevens together. But they’ve accounted for a pile of game.

What sealed the deal, though it took some time to actually get it, was Kim du Toit’s recommendation to me

The .280 Rem is an absolute peach, the only knock being that it’s less common (and therefore more spendy) than the 270 Win.

I saw a video of a guy shooting a moose with one, at about 350 yards. First shot anchored the thing, second one took it straight down. When they looked at the hide, the two bullet holes were within an inch of each other. The guide admitted that he thought the shooter had missed with the first one, but the shooter said: “Nope — I saw the dust fly off the hide.”

In other words, little enough recoil that he could re-acquire the target in the scope before the bullet struck.

But what I didn’t reveal was the firearm itself