Over the long weekend we had incredibly nice weather, so you know what that means:  shootin‘! Yes, we at the Cluck-n-Neigh had a range day. Among other things, my cousin came along to try out the pistol she bought for home defense, possibly concealed carry. What did she buy? A Rossi six-shot .357 revolver with a two inch barrel.

Ugh.

To be clean on this, I own a Rossi revolver, a stainless snubbie in .38 special. It is my “tacklebox gun.” The first shot is a rat shot cartridge with the other four being hollowpoints. For the task of snake shooting it is just fine. I wouldn’t feel too bad about using it for everyday carry. It has acceptable sights, is chambered in an acceptable caliber and fits all my snubbie holsters. But, that being said, I am not a tiny woman.

The pistol that my cousin was encouraged to purchase is unacceptable on a number of levels. She is tiny, almost circus freak small. The revolver has, by my estimate, at least a twelve pound trigger pull. She managed it OK, but it was an effort. The gun, even though it is a snub nosed revolver is heavy. To top off my list of complaints, it broke. After firing two cylinders of Winchester white-box ammunition, the revolver’s timing went off, shaving pieces of copper jacket off on the side of the forcing cone and eventually locking the cylinder up tight.

She is going to return it to the dealer from which it was purchased to see what remedy they can offer. never ear. My cousin has a twenty gauge shotgun at home which she will load with buckshot, so she isn’t totally defenseless.

To make the experience suck less, we continued to shoot using the pistols I brought. Bear in mind that the gun sales person told her to her a steel framed snubbie because she was afraid that my cuz’ could not handle a semiautomatic pistol in a major caliber because they were too heavy. I gave her a GLOCK 21, full-sized .45 automatic service pistol to shoot. She agreed that the GLOCK and here .357 were about the same weight. She was a tad concerned about recoil on the big pistol …until she fired it. It was a non-event. She proceeded to ring a steel silhouette from ten yards, ten-for-ten. After a few drills of slow fire, we moved to controlled pairs. She never missed a shot.

Next, we moved form the model 21 to a GLOCK model 30, small frame .45ACP carry gun. My wee cousin never missed a beat. We even moved to failure drills, two shots center mass, one shot to the head. Never, not once, did she flinch, drop a shot or wear out. The only hitch was a could of failures to feed with the 30, which I think was a “limp wrist” induced malfunction thanks to the lower mass of the compact gun and its stiffer recoil springs.

I regret not bringing the model 19 in 9mm which I think would have made my cousin fall in love. Maybe next time.

Back to my original point. Gun shops sales people do this too often. They insist on saddling women, especially the non-Xena types, with small handgun like .38 revolvers when that might not be best solution. A new Kel-Tec PF9 in 9mm is cheaper than a new Rossi .357!

When cost is a major factor, my cousin is a workin’ stiff, recommending a cheap, off-brand, new gun is not a grand idea. Your mileage may vary, but when you buy a Colt, Ruger, Smith & Wesson or GLOCK, you can expect it to work, even if it’s used. A used big name gun could certainly have been had for the same amount as the new Rossi.

So, ladies, before you buy a gun, shoot a bunch first. Go to a range that rents handguns and try a selection or, even better, find a dude like me who has a variety you can try plus a place to shoot them. Don’t just take the word of a guy behind the counter at a gun store. My cousin’s experience demonstrates that they can be full of crap.

Details here:  Knoxnews.com

1. A lot of comments critical of the system, ranging from “My, that looks heavy and rather bulky” to “LOL! FAIL!!!!111″,  start to appear.
2. Howard Kent, VP, RESET-Inc.com, signs up, signs in & defends his new product.

Now I have mentioned RIPR. Will the cycle repeat? I’ll start by commenting that I don’t think I will ever have a need for this device.

It was a very nice experience, though. The temperature got down to 61. I made a pot of chicken & mushroom soup, plus a pot of tea over the campfire. The skies were clear, and a thick fog set in around 9:00 pm. Brought back a lot of fond memories.

Today, I decided to see how I would fare if I donned a light backpack and hit a trail. I got out my day-and-a-half pack and loaded it with five meals worth of trail food, four liters of water, a change of clothes and a three-day emergency kit. That came to fifteen pounds, so I tried it on and found the weight to be acceptable. Previously, I had scouted out a path to and from the farthest point on the farm that came to one mile, so that was my route. The good news was that I completed it in just under an hour and survived intact. The bad news is manifold.

• I have to get new hiking boots with good ankle support. Who is making good ones these days?
• Being unable to feel one’s feet is a great liability when hiking.
• I need to invest in trekking poles, a staff or a combination of both.
• That pack was unsuited to my new figure, but I can put the same load of gear in my internal frame pack and try it on for size.
• The weight I went with is the maximum, so does not include shelter or any camp luxury items. Maybe I can build up a bit by doing the same route more frequently.

All-in-all, I call it a great success.

In the not too distant past, I suffered an acute, life-threatening illness. While I made a recovery from it, I was left with some lingering problems that can and do sometimes affect my day-to-day. Not the least of these is severe, chronic pain.

My doctors tried their best, including a couple of pain specialists but what ails me doesn’t respond to pharmaceutical remedies in doses that allow me to function. As a result, I do my best to compensate using active and passive meditation, with the occasional bout of whining and self-pity as a backup. It generally works well enough that I get by without drawing attention to myself in public. Every now and then, though, it breaks through and I have a very difficult time regaining control. (Yes, I am aware that all control is mere illusion, now STFU, you hippies) That is what’s been going on these last few weeks.

Today was the turning point, and I appear to be back in action.

Thanks for all you do, Dr. Sylvia McLain.

When people hear that I am into disaster planning and preparation the question inevitably arises “What things do you carry with you?” And, if they see me out somewhere they always want to know what is in the bag I carry around. It’s a fair question.

The topic of Every Day Carry is a very subjective, aside from a few basic items. What I deem necessary might be totally absurd to someone else. I freely admit that I take things to an extreme, but it serves me well.

Absent will be discussion of weapons for personal defense. I generally don’t confirm or deny my armed status, and it is such a huge ball of wax that it deserves it’s own post. One word of caution: it is generally unsound to assume someone, especially me, is unarmed.

In my pockets and on my person as I type are the following:

In my wallet

• Identification -driver’s license
• money -and access to more (debit & credit cards)
• emergency contact card
• medical information card

In my pockets

• pocket knife, folding lock-blade
• mutil-tool
• LED flashlight, 1 AA battery model
• cellular phone, Blackberry smart phone

On my belt

• LED flashlight, 2AA model
• 2 keyrings, together with LED flashlight, on a carbiner

Why this stuff? In my home state on Tennessee you have to have ID not just for running afoul of the PO-leece, but to purchase just about anything fun. A lot of retailers are asking for photo ID to use a credit or debit card for purchases, a development that bothers me not at all. I’d rather present both and minimize the chances of some ass hat stealing my card and using it with abandon.

Do I need to tell you why you should carry some money and have access to more? I thought not. You need stuff and things break don’t they. ‘Nuff said.

A paper card, preferably waterproof, containing a list of people to call in an emergency is a great comfort. Those of us who run a higher than average risk of collapsing in a heap on the street need a way for rescuers or authorities to contact a responsible adult. Sure, all that info is in my cell phone, but I have never dropped a scrap of paper and broken it.

The same goes for medical information. I have a complicated history and take a lot of prescription medications, so having a record of this that an emergency department nurse can read can be a life saver. If nothing else, it will save time by explaining why I act like a guy who has a brain injury. I have a nifty USB medic alert bracelet that has a very detailed account of my conditions and treatments, but getting information off that will take time. The wallet card is quicker.

My pocket knife is my second most used item. I open my mail with it, clean my fingernails, lots of stuff. Is it a weapon? Sure, I suppose, but if it gets down to that I am in so much trouble, so very much trouble… Buy a good knife from a reputable company. It’s annoying to have one break on you. Sometimes I carry a Brand X $2 knife just so I can give it to someone who asks to borrow my knife. Ask my wife if I’m lying. She calls me “Johnny Knife Seed.” One day I will be also known as “Johnny Flashlight Seed.”

Multitool. I carry a Gerber Multi-plier. My dad bought it for me when I had lost the use of my right arms, because it can be opened and used one-handed. It’s heavy, but handy, and I have yet to break it. That’s impressive to me, because I am tough on gear. It’s just my nature. Honestly, I never use any functions other than the pliers and the Phillips screwdriver, but by gods if I ever need an awl I will be ready.

Ask me about flashlights. I dare you. See, back in my college days I went to a movie theatre during a thunderstorm. The power went out and all but one of the emergency lights failed. That was terrifying even to a stone killer like me. The dark wasn’t the scary part. It was the panicked crowd of movie goers. When I finally got out of that auditorium I went to the mall next door and bought a mini Maglight, which went immediately into my pocket. I have never, ever, EVARH left my house without a working light source again. My grandma never did and I should have learned that earlier.

Now I am a bit of a flashlight snob. I buy good gear. For me, Light Emitting Diode flashlights have entirely replaced those with incandescent bulbs. The LED lights last significantly longer and throw a more effective beam. They can also have some nifty functions. My primary light is a tactical model that uses two AA batteries and produces about 110 lumens. That’s enough to blind someone for a few seconds. It also has a rapid strobe function that will wreck night vision and depth perception when shined in someone’s eyes. That’s nice for self defense. In full power it will run about an hour, but you can adjust the brightness and make it last 40 hours on a single set of batteries.

You’ve probably heard the saying “Two is one and one is none.” That means that any single piece of inportant gear is going to break when you need it most. Blee dat, yo. Since flashlights are important, I carry a backup. I have a very similar light to my primary, but it uses a single AA, has all the features, just isn’t as bright nor will it last as long. On my key ring I have a tiny LED disposable light that might not blind an assailant, but will definitely help me get my house key in the lock. I like flashlights. A lot.

Cellular phones have changed the world. I resisted for a long time but work finally required me to get one, and I drank the Kool-Aid. I love my phone. Being able to call for help in an emergency is a massive comfort. I can also stay in touch with my decrepit family and be instantly aware of the latest health crisis. It also seems to comfort my mom to know that she can call me any time of day to say that she sent me an email.

Text messaging was designed with me in mind. I hate chatting on the phone, but if I can send a 140 direct question or answer I’m golden. Plus, text messages (SMS) often work in a crisis situation even if the cellular voice network is overloaded.

My phone is web enabled and serves as a camera, video/voice recorder, media player and storage device. How cool is it to be able to check active discussions on the Zombie Squad forum while I’m sitting on the tractor out in a pasture? I keep audio books and video games on the thing for those times I am stuck in a hospital waiting room for hours on end.

Key rings. Yes, I said ringS, plural. I keep my house and vehicle keys separate, so I can, for example, leave the car running while I unlock the door to the house. Also, if I lose one I might retain the other. I wear my keys on a carabiner hooked to a belt loop for easy access and because I have to carry such a stupidly large number of keys that they would wear out a pocket in a single day. Also on my key ring is the aforementioned flashlight and a knife plus slotted/Phillips screwdriver tool that looks like a key. How cool is that? My wife got it for me. She knows me too well.

I might at times carry hearing protection in the form of earplugs. I work around loud equipment, so that has it’s hazards, but if there is shooting going on around me maintaining good hearing will aid situational awareness and protect a sense you will miss if it is gone. Also, I am big on sunglasses. I have to wear corrective lenses to see at all, and my eyes are very light sensitive, so this counts as personal protective equipment. My sunglasses are worn over my eyeglasses, are made of polycarbonate and provide wrap-around protection from light as well as debris. Glasses like these have literally saved my vision on more than one occasion.

Yes, I carry a lot of crap around with me all the time, and this totally skips the contents of the bag I teased you with. I will go over the mysterious contents of that magic sack next time, I promise. Why mention it at all? Because, instead of coming home and dumping my EDC gear in a box or on a nightstand, I put in in that bag. That way if a emergency arises while I am sleeping or sitting around in my underwear I can get dressed, grab that bag and hit the bricks. Snazzy!

Somewhere between my house and Millington there is a GLOCK 21 magazine with eleven rounds of Remington’s finest 230 grain JHP in it. It somehow became dislodged from the GLOCK single spare mag carrier I had on my belt, and I have yet to locate it. The carrier still seems to have plenty of friction retention force, so it’s a mystery to me how this happened. What really sucks is that the ammo contained in the magazine will cost almost as much to replace as the magazine itself! I truly hope the thing is resting behind the seat of my truck or something.

Never fear, I will soon answer the burning question of what I keep in my Go-Bag, but there may be a delay as, once again, the line that connects our house to Teh Intarnets has been severed. I gots to fix that first thing.