Saturday, February 28, 2009

Ammo Mistakes

Refer to information marked on the gun and found in manufacturer specs
for the proper ammunition. (bullet type is a separate subject)

SOME examples of ammo mistakes …....
If gun is 32 S&W . . . don't try 32acp or 32 Colt.
If gun is 32 H&R Mag . . . don't try 32 Long Colt.
If gun is 32-20 Win . . . don't try 32-20 HV.

If 9mLuger(9x19 para) ... don't try 9x19nato or 9x18mak or 380acp(9x17kurz), etc.
If gun is 9x18 . . . don't try 9 Luger(9x19para) or 380acp, etc.

If gun is the old 38acp(9x23sr) . . . don't try 9 Win Mag, etc.
If gun is 380acp . . . . don't try 38acp.
If gun is 38acp . . . . don't try 380acp or 38super.
If gun is 38 S&W . . . don't try 38acp, 38Colt, 38 Special, 357, etc.
If gun is 38 Special . . . don't try 38acp, 38super, 357, or 9 Win Mag.
If gun is 38-40 Win . . . don't try 38-40 HV.

If gun is 22wrf, 22wm, or 22 WinAuto ... don't try .22 S/L/lr.
If gun is 22lr . . . don't try 17m2 (will fit chamber, but not barrel; and too hot)

. . . . . . but . . . . . .
If .357mag is marked on a revolver, you can also use .38 Spl or .38 Spl+p.
If 22LR is marked on a revolver, you can also use 22Long or 22Short.
(these do not apply to auto or semiauto guns)
There are other possible ammo swaps, but you must confirm
the safety and reliability of the swap before you try it.

Firing ammunition not specified on the firearm can cause serious injury or death.
Sometimes this is due to a bullet stuck in the barrel from a weak load, or from
water/debris in the barrel.
If you don't know that a barrel is clear, you should first clear the chamber
before checking the bore for any blockage.

When in doubt, I choose fmj (full jacket) or tmj (total jacket), and no-lead.
Full/total jacket feeds more reliably, and is more likely to reach internal organs
(not such an issue if you are shooting 357 or 9x19).
Speer is one source of tmj, which reduces lead vapor for leo-volume practice.
Tmj or no-lead is best for any indoor shooting.


Thursday, February 19, 2009

SLAMFIRE - 2

Slamfire and dropfire are real risks for pistols if improperly designed,
modified, handled, or maintained. (This includes Glock and others.)
I regularly check the movement of a firing pin using my finger, or a probe,
to sense free movement, and check for a firm spring return.

If I want to make a rough check on my firing pin system, I place a piece
of black tape on the back of a metal snap cap (dummy round), or on a fired
empty cartridge case, then chamber the test item, letting the slide slam shut.
I check the tape for any dent. . A tiny dent "might" be acceptable.

Then I drop the gun three feet onto the muzzle to a firm, not hard, surface.
Then I again check the tape for a dent. Finally, I pull the trigger to check
for a normal-looking dent.

- - - - W A R N I N G - - - -
On some Keltec pistols, the firing pin retaining screw is a headless setscrew
that moves toward the centerline of the pin, and if tightened at all, it can lock
the firing pin in a dangerous forward position.
http://tinyurl.com/be4kjo
It's normal to hold the pin forward as the setscrew is adjusted to retain the pin,
and if free movement of the pin is not then checked, a slamfire can occur,
which can empty the magazine ... while the muzzle rises after each shot.

KTOG.org censored a warning on this hazard. . It was deleted by TxCajun,
who also claimed that a test confirming the hazard was an illegal alteration,
when it was actually just a natural error made possible due to poor KT design.
TxCajun should hope that this hazard does not result in a death or injury.

www.1bad69.com/keltec/droptestresults.htm
www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1157994707
www.e-gunparts.com/forum/readit.asp?qt=84663&cat=7
.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

SLAMFIRE - Post 1

From KTOG.org in the section for KelTec P-11 & P-40 ...
Re: Firing Pin Question ...... 06/13/08 .... by RAT76
Quote from usedbookbrothers .... on 06/12/08:
"The P-11 does not have a free-floating firing pin, right ? ...Well, I had the
slide locked in the
out-of-battery position this evening, and noticed that
when I
bturned the gun muzzle-downward, the firing pin drops down and
protrudes about 5 mm from its well. ..
. Is it supposed to do this?"
.
Response: " Jeremiah, no it is not supposed to do this.
I do believe you have a broken firing pin spring. . It's function is to
hold the firing pin BACK to prevent slam fires & drop fires. …."

------------------------------------------------------
This is one case where the firing pin system became unsafe on its own.
For a detailed article on slamfire, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slamfire

Another example of firing pin risk: a recall notice for a semi pistol
warning about installing the firing pin "upside down". (EAA Witness-style
semi-auto pistol with serial number AE00000 to AE70000)
("immediately field strip the pistol and send the slide assembly to
European American Armory Corp. … will replace the original firing
pin with an upgraded firing pin for your pistol.")
.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

PUBLIC LISTING of CC LICENSE HOLDERS

In some states, information on CC licensees is still public information.
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-24-gunpermitrecords_N.htm

And some editors have felt an urge to publish that information.
If those licensed are made public, then anyone knows who does not
have such a license, making them more at risk of being a target of crime.

Having a license publicized can possibly change attitudes of biased employers
and associates. If a battered wife gets a cc license, then the criminal
husband, or ex, can be more prepared if he intends further criminal harm.

If there is a competent system to screen those granted a CC license,
then there should be no excuse for publication.
If that system is not competent, then that system is the issue.
.

WHY CONCEALEDgun BLOG ?

1. With a need to work in an area with a high crime rate, I
decided to again touch a gun for the first time in 35 years.
I recently received a license to carry a concealed handgun.

2. In my search to identify the right gun to carry daily, and easily,
I reluctantly gravitated toward the KelTec P-32, knowing that it had
issues with quality, reliability, power, and use, particularly by my
frail wife, who also has a license to carry.
(second place turned out to be the stronger 22magnum revolver)

3. We both settled on the P-32, with my modifications, after gradually
eliminating the options; considering ease of carry, our needs, ballistics,
marginal effectiveness, and so on. .The P-32, using .32acp full-jacket
Euro ammo, was a difficult compromise, but won out over options that
included guns in .22mag, .32, .38, and 9mm.

4. The .32acp can deliver just 130-150 ft-lb from a mousegun,
with the faster Euro ammo, and a barrel at least 2.5" long.
For those at high risk, it's not good enough. .They should consider
a 22magnum, 38special, 380 acp fmj, or a 9mm. .They could
choose 357, 40, 45, etc; but these have noise and size issues.

5. I was a member of the Kel-Tec owners group (KTOG.org) for several
months, but I learned that there appeared to be an agenda to promote
products and mindsets, and that I could not rely on the information there,
and that safety hazard information was deleted at least once, followed by
empty explanation.

6. The "ktrange.com" site has little traffic, and some members are also
KTOG members who I learned to mistrust. . I needed this venue to warn of
problems in KT pistols and other small handguns, and related equipment,
and to reveal some things I learned about options, problems, and solutions
for small concealed guns, equipment, methods, and related matters.