Just a heads-up for those of you not on the Wilson Combat email list: they have started a Youtube Channeland have posted a bunch of free gunsmithing videos on their 1911 model pistols. Of course this info is pretty much the same for any 1911. So if you’re a new 1911 owner or you were just wondering how “that part” comes out, they’re pretty good, and free!
Back in February, I posted this. Today, I had a situation reaffirm what I discussed in that post.
This morning was bad shortly after I woke up. I got up late, had cat mess to clean up, was distracted, left the pepper spray and belt knife upstairs.
By the time I hit the highway, I realized I wouldn’t just be late…I would be RIDICULOUSLY late. Highway was backed up for at least a couple of miles. Insert groan here.
By the time I neared work, I realized I’d forgotten to pack food…so I stopped at the grocery store nearest my office. I have done this so many times before it’s nearly second nature – pull in, grab food, pay, go. It usually takes me 5 minutes, tops.
Today, however, something was definitely off. Someone was following me around the store. He was a white male, about 6’2″ tall, maybe 200 lbs. He apparently decided I was interesting, and decided to follow me around the store. The guy didn’t look at anything or anyone but me. By the time I was midway through the store, I was fed up – screamed at him to get the hell away from me. He took off running, and I completed my shopping. Turns out, the guy was waiting for me on his scooter outside the door. He waited until I exited the store to start his scooter. I screamed at him again and called the police – fortunately, at that point he took off.
So, in summation: idiot decides I’m a tasty morsel of cowflesh. I prevent him from doing anything. I’m safe and at work, and he’s…who-knows-where. The police never showed up (which isn’t surprising, really, in this town) and no one in the store reacted. I’m angry with myself for leaving home the two things I own for situations just like this, but I’ll be more vigilant tomorrow. At least I HAVE a tomorrow. At least I know that if someone tries to sneak up on me, it’s like sneaking up on a goose – I’ll be noisy and defensive, even when I’m not quite awake. Hooray for gut reactions actually being appropriate.
At least I’m alright. If the guy had a gun and decided to use it, however, I wouldn’t be…and because the police didn’t bother to show, I lack any sort of real record of this incident. Not that it would be enough to get me a carry permit anyway…
One of the things we were hoping to get at the Meeting was a can or two of Tactical Bacon from the folks at CMMG. Turns out they decided to leave the bacon at home because it weighs a crap-ton, so I can’t really blame them. They did, however, deliver something equally awesome and amusing:
I give you the Tactical Sammich.
Chris bought a few, mostly for the giggle factor, and I assumed it would just be something for the Meeting. Well, to my surprise, the crazy monkeys at ThinkGeek are ALSO selling it. AND they have a video. It seems to be edible, so woo for that…and the guy in the video uses proper firearm handling (on what is likely a toy), so double woo.
Anyway, with a 2 year shelf life the sammiches make a fun/silly gift for the prepper in your family/circle of friends.
As I interviewed the various reps from gun manufacturers I found some were reluctant to talk and some had definite things to say, but no one wanted to be directly quoted. I also got the impression that manufacturers don’t get a lot of direct questions about the actual business aspect of their companies. I explained to them that I wasn’t doing a hit piece, or trying to malign the cartridge, I just wanted to see what was going on with its popularity, and that seemed to ease the tension a bit.
Let’s start with the company whose name the caliber bears, Sig Sauer. The person that I spoke to in their booth seemed to know a bit about their marketing and he seemed very concerned about the companies image as it relates to this topic. I could see he was choosing his words very carefully. He said, I think it’s very popular with the “informed consumer”. By that he means people that research what they buy, and are concerned with getting the most from their handgun. He went on to say that he thinks the caliber is gaining popularity with law enforcement as they realize it’s benefits, and they were currently working with several law enforcement agencies to schedule try outs. I asked, What did he think about some of the other companies dropping their .357 SIG models this year, and how was it doing for them? He stated that he was sorry to see them dropping it, but with a little bit of SIG pride, seemed to indicate they weren’t major sales competition for them normally. He continued and said for SIG it’s been selling OK initally, but as commenter Alan observed, SIG is selling lots of conversion kits. In fact they are going to concentrate on sales of conversion kits, especially marketing them as a way to inexpensively update to something better for some law enforcement agencies and “informed consumers”. I got the impression from the way he said this, that they may have just had a recent marketing meeting about it. Overall he was a nice guy to talk to, a little wary, but I got the impression SIG is going to try and push more sales in the upcoming months. We must remember like any other company, gun manufacturers are trying to make a profit. If they have something new or different of course they will sell it. Especially if that thing has part of their name on it regardless of who manufactured it.
I don’t think .357 SIG is going anywhere. That wasn’t my intention writing about it. I was just interested in why we aren’t seeing more of it, and in fact if SIG decides to push it hard this year we may. Up next, what the manufacturers that are dropping it said.
Have a few more post-NRAAM posts to write. Haven’t forgotten to post them, have merely been busy with real-life stuff. Will be back to it shortly.
MikeW shared his opinions of the intolerance the anti-gun crowd shows those with limited/reduced mobility:
If you only have one leg how the hell are you supposed to run away? If you’re wheelchair bound how are you supposed to duke it out with someone ablebodied? Anti-gunners don’t care. In their world perhaps Americans with physical impediments don’t exist or don’t matter, but in the real world those people are frequently victimized.
Read the whole thing.
Since we would have all the major players in one place I decided to actually do some investigative reporting while we were at the NRA Annual Meeting. I decided to find out what the story was with the .357 Sig handgun cartridge. I’ll spare you all the details about it, but since this cartridge was developed in 1994 I’ve been hearing it’s quite good. A serious up and comer, adopted by many law enforcement units with more looking into its benefits. Usually, when this happens to a particular caliber there is more acceptance into the mainstream, yet the .357 SIG seems to be dropping in popularity. So much so I caught wind of some reports that several major manufacturers were dropping their firearms chambered for it. Are we seeing a new 10mm, destined to the same obscure fate, or is it’s adoption slow and steady with a hardcore group of supporters? What do you think?
I’ll be posting what the manufacturers had to say in parts as some of them were quite long winded, but feel free to give your opinion at any time.
If you are unaware, Coonan produces precision machined, investment casting, Type 3 upper receivers and ejector blocks for FAL pattern rifles. They call the two parts precision fitted together the FAL Receiver Type 1C . Starting this week the Type 1C receivers will be available with authentic markings and, in addition they will match the serial number to your lower receiver. MSRP is $435. This is great news for collectors trying to put together an authentic, numbers-matching rifle!
Photos of Coonan’s offerings past the cut:
falnfenix