B5 Systems makes limited runs of specialty stocks throughout the year. Usually its a unique camo pattern or something like that. Just in time for Halloween though they’re bringing back a popular hit from last year: Glow in the Dark stocks. Let’s talk about their limited runs in general first though.
Hydro Dipping and Limited Runs
B5 Systems got set up for hydro dipping last year, which led to the availability of all of the unique patterns that they now do. Hydro dipping is a process that uses chemical reactions to transfer patterns onto an object. It’s a meticulous process, especially if you want it done right, and consistently from piece to piece. B5 has put the time in to master the process to capture both the aesthetic that they want, while retaining the durability of the finish. They hand prep each item, then they’re dipped, individually assessed and hand-touched up to ensure pattern consistency. Once that’s done, a protective clear coating is applied for longevity.
While some of the dipped products, like their Multicam finishes, are available regularly, other’s only show up for limited runs. They did a run of German Flecktarn pattern stocks recently that I’m still kicking myself for not jumping on when they were available. If it’s a limited run, they tend to sell out fast, so it’s best to jump on them when you see them.
The Glow in the Dark (GITD) stocks are a little different in that they’re molded with an actual GITD polymer, rather than being a hydro dipped finish. But the same rules apply when it comes to being a limited run. B5 Systems did a run of these last year, and they sold out within seconds of being released. This years Glow in the Dark stock set is going to be teased on October 24th, and released some time after that. If you want in on it, your best chance of getting one is to sign up for B5’s e-mail list so you learn about the drop time first.
2024 GITD Kit
The 2024 Halloween drop comes as a full kit. The kit features a Bravo Stock, a P-Grip 22, an M-LOK Vertical Grip and a set of Rail Covers. The stocks and rail covers are the same solid build and quality as all of B5’s regular stocks, these ones just glow. There are only going to be 400 sets available, and the kit runs for $119 MSRP.
Night Trials
I was fortunate to get a set to check out early, and they’re pretty fun. Installation is the same as other AR parts. Swapping stocks on one of my SBR’s was quick and easy, and swapping the grip just required the appropriate size Allen key. The front grip is M-LOK and locked easily onto my rail. I’ve come to really like B5 System’s rail covers. They a soft, flexible polymer that pushes into place in the M-LOK slots on your handguard. You don’t need any tools, and they stay in place once installed. They’re conformable to use too, and give a good grip on your otherwise slick handguards.
I tested my set out in the basement before I mounted them on my gun. I hit them with a flashlight and then turned out the lights. The green glow was pretty solid. I didn’t time it, but it seemed to hold the glow for a good while.
After installing them on my rifle, I took it outside to do some pics. When I brought it back in the house, I noticed that natural sunlight seemed to charge the GITD material up even better. I had a nice green glow going even just in the dim, but not dark, lighting inside the house.
Later that night I went out in full dark. I could barely make out the outline of my rifle in the dark but the stocks popped bright green. The camera really caught the glow of the light.
Practical or Tactical?
So, you might ask yourself, why would I want a set of Glow in the Dark stocks for my tactical rifle? Well, if it’s really a tactical rifle then the answer is, you wouldn’t. These things glow like crazy, and they’ll give your position away no questions asked. But I don’t think that’s really their purpose. Even though they’re built just as solid as B5’s more traditional color stocks, they’re just a fun option for your range or maybe even competition gun.
If you aren’t worried about hiding, and in fact might want to have a little bling to draw attention on the range, then these are for you. They’d probably be fun on a night shoot with some tracer rounds too I’d imagine. I know this isn’t everyone’s bag, as I’m sure the comments section will reflect, but I’m willing to bet that B5 System’s finds enough folks in it for the fun that they sell out fast again this year.
If you are interested in the 2024 GITD Kit, or any of the other future more conventional limited release sets from B5 Systems, be sure to sign up for their e-mails on their website.
Back in September 2023 the FBI released the 2022 crimes statistics and reported that violent crime in the nation had dropped by 2.1%. Hurray! The White House took a victory lap and it has been a consistent talking point during this election year. Here’s where the “but” comes in. The FBI quietly, and with no reason nor explanation, revised the data and our nation’s violent crime actually increased by 4.5%. Hmm seems like deja vu all over again. Didn’t this just happen with the Bureau of Labor Statistics over-estimating job growth? Violent crime includes murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults. Thousands of these crimes were not in the FBI’s original data. Why?
A Real Clear Investigations (RCI) spearhead by Dr. John Lott decided to compare the original 2022 stats with the newly released data after the RCI questioned a cryptic reference in the FBI’s “UCR Summary of Crime in the Nation” that stated: “The 2022 violent crime rate has been updated for inclusion in CIUS, 2023.” The FBI report made no further explanation on what the update was. No other media outlets looked into the data content that the FBI had nothing to hide (including apparently David Muir with ABC News who tried to fact-check Donald Trump while he was moderating the debate between Trump and Kamala Harris). But it does. Why the sneaky data swap? RCI, however, did the math by downloading the FBI’s new crime data and comparing it to the file released last year.
According to the RCI: “The actual changes in crimes are extensive. The updated data for 2022 report that there were 80,029 more violent crimes than in 2021. There were an additional 1,699 murders; 7,780 rapes; 33,459 robberies; and 37,091 aggravated assaults. The question naturally arises: Should the FBI’s 2023 numbers be believed?” The skewed data news first broke on Real Clear Investigations and Alpha News on October 16, 2024. These changes in the crime data aren’t statistical blips but dramatic changes.
Let’s take a breath here and think about this for a moment. Reported crime data is always questionable since many crimes are not reported. But how do you fail to add 1,699 murders? A crime category that is reported consistently is auto theft and this is because the crime is linked to insurance claims, but that data, too, was originally under reported. The new data shows some 54,216 more motor vehicle thefts in the “revised” data.
Other sources that corroborated the FBI’s data switch. Carl Moody, a professor at the College of William & Mary who specializes in studying crime, told RCI: “I have checked the data on total violent crime from 2004 to 2022. There were no revisions from 2004 to 2015, and from 2016 to 2020, there were small changes of less than one percentage point. The huge changes in 2021 and 2022, especially without an explanation, make it difficult to trust the FBI data.”
Those of use not living in ivory towers nor under a rock always thought the crime data statistics were fishy. Even after other well-established media outlets were touting the good news, many of us were thinking: Are these people not seeing or hearing what I’m seeing? I watch my local news and there is easily a shooting every week. The original FBI report just didn’t jive with what was happening outside our door. Late last year, a Gallup Survey found that 92% of Republicans and 58% of Democrats thought crime was increasing.
“It is up to the FBI to explain what they have done, and they haven’t explained these large changes,” said Dr. Thomas Marvell, the president of Justec Research, a criminal justice statistical research organization. And as you would expect, the FBI has not commented nor clarified the revision. Nor did they respond to RCI’s repeated requests for comment.
From my standpoint this is a perfect example of the FBI believing they are untouchable and not caring about what is right or wrong nor being held accountable. It harkens back to the days and attitude of under J. Edgar Hoover. A major skew in data like this should have at the very least been highlighted in another press release, but there has been no mea culpa from the FBI. We all make mistakes in our jobs and in our lives, we admit it, apologize, fix it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Was it just sloppy estimation by the FBI to guess unreported crime? The fact is the original data set a tone for the upcoming election, that Biden was on top of crime especially after COVID and the Woke movement, but evidently that is not true according to this new data.
Polls in this election have shown Americans are concerned about crime, yet the FBI and the established media’s lack of attention make it difficult to see true crime rates and changes.
Perhaps David Mustard, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia who researches extensively on crime said it best.
“This FBI report is stunning because it now doesn’t state that violent crime in 2022 was much higher than it had previously reported, nor does it explain why the new rate is so much higher, and it issued no press release about this large revision. This lack of transparency harms the FBI’s credibility,” he said.
Hey Muir, guess Trump was right on crime stats after all! We haven’t heard the apology yet.
“War is the last refuge of the incompetent,” is a quote attributed to the late science fiction writer Isaac Asimov (not a word salad of Kamala Harris’ trying to unburden herself of something in history or the bathroom or whatever) and means incompetent people will always resort to violence as the failure of diplomacy. When it comes to violence in our communities, it could also be said, “gun laws are the last refuge of the incompetent.” Technically, it is more often the first refuge, showing a true one-trick pony level of incompetence. But first or last, you can virtually always count on progressive candidates to scream for more restrictive gun laws that only serve to “burden” legal gun owners, while leaving criminals largely “unburdened.” After all, if laws served as a deterrent that kept them from committing violent acts, then laws against murder, robbery, assault & battery, drug dealing, etc., would be more than sufficient to keep our cities and neighborhoods safe.
“We need more gun laws,” is a common refrain every time the subject of crime comes up. So, it was kind of surprising when the Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal-leaning think tank that bills itself as an “independent, nonpartisan policy institute,” published an article titled “6 Ways Cities and Counties Can Reduce Gun Violence.”
Most readers of TTAG would expect an article from such a source and with such a title would include at least half of those “ways,” if not all of them, to include some recommendations for passing more gun laws. Amazingly, not a single one did.
While citing the surgeon general’s advisory declaring “firearm violence an urgent public health crisis,” (that’s a whole other story), CAP provided some background on the “cost of gun violence” and then offered insight into ways “local leaders across the country are circumventing legislative limitations by leveraging unprecedented federal investments to reduce gun violence…by embracing a wide range of community-led public safety solutions and combining improved accountability with greater investment into prevention…”
CAP outlined six key strategies for cities to reduce gun violence, emphasizing a public health and community-driven approach. Here are the six ways cities can reduce gun violence, as highlighted in the report:
1. Community-based violence interruption: Utilize community-led programs to mediate conflicts and prevent violence, employing credible messengers who engage those most at risk.
2. Improved accountability for serious crime: Focus law enforcement efforts on solving violent crimes and improving clearance rates while reducing ineffective and unethical enforcement practices.
3. Increased support for crime survivors: Expand access to trauma recovery centers and support services to help crime survivors heal physically and emotionally, breaking the cycle of violence.
4. Investments in neglected neighborhoods: Address environmental factors like vacant properties, poor lighting, and blight, and improve housing and public spaces to foster stability and safety.
5. Enhanced data collection and sharing: Improve crime data collection and reporting to target violence hotspots, connect victims with resources, and tailor public health interventions.
6. Building better local infrastructure: Establish Offices of Violence Prevention to coordinate community-based safety efforts, streamline data sharing, and support non-law enforcement initiatives.
While we can argue the cost vs. benefits of state and federal dollars being put toward certain social programs, at least none of these suggestions blatantly trample constitutional rights. In the end, gun owners need to get behind something that doesn’t trample their rights if they don’t want politicians endlessly coming for their guns. It’s one thing to condemn a suggestion someone makes that we don’t agree with in attempting to solve a problem. It’s an entirely other situation to not offer solutions ourselves.
But for an article on this topic to use the words “gun violence” and “firearms violence” throughout and not suggest gun legislation as its first recommended solution has to be some sort of milestone. At the very least it’s noteworthy.
With the Michigan Supreme Court recently declining to hear a case involving firearms on the University of Michigan campus, it seems that two courts in the Great Lakes State are thumbing their noses at the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
On October 18, the state Supreme Court chose to let stand a decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which ruled in the case Wade v. University of Michiganthat the ban on firearms possession was constitutional under the Second Amendment.
In an analysis written for reason.com, Eugene Volokh, a Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, explained how the Court of Appeals ignored the Bruen standards and judged the case on four factors it created itself. That decision prompted two judges on the court—Justice David Viviano and Justice Brian Zahra—to point out in their dissent the arguably improper procedures used.
“The Court of Appeals disregarded the analysis required by the United States Supreme Court for Second Amendment disputes and invented a confusing four-factor test that bears almost no resemblance to the Supreme Court’s test,” Justice Viviano wrote in the dissent.
Under the Bruen standard, when considering a Second Amendment case, courts must first consider whether the Second Amendment protects the conduct at issue. If it does, then the court must consider whether the government has demonstrated that the regulation is consistent with this nation’s historical tradition of firearms regulations.
But as Justice Viviano pointed out in the dissent, the appeals court decided to use four factors of its own in determining the constitutionality of the law. While the first was the same as in the Bruen standard, the second was anything but.
Viviano wrote of the second factor: “If the conduct at issue is presumptively protected, courts must then consider whether the regulation at issue involves a traditional “sensitive place.” If so, then it is settled that a prohibition on arms carrying is consistent with the Second Amendment.
Oops, hold on a minute! I certainly don’t remember that part in the Supreme Court’s Bruen ruling.
Justice Viviano wrote of the third factor used in the case: “If the regulation does not involve a traditional “sensitive place,” courts can use historical analogies to determine whether the regulation prohibits the carry of firearms in a new and analogous “sensitive place.” If the regulation involves a new “sensitive place,” then the regulation does not violate the Second Amendment.”
Again, that factor is not included in the Bruen ruling, thus is inappropriate to be used by a court when considering a Second Amendment case.
In his dissent, Justice Viviano then explained the fourth factor used by the appeals court.
“If the regulation does not involve a sensitive place, then courts must consider whether the government has demonstrated that the regulation is consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearms regulations,” the factor stated. “This inquiry will often involve reasoning by analogy to consider whether regulations are relevantly similar under the Second Amendment. If the case involves “unprecedented societal concerns or dramatic technological changes,” then a “more nuanced approach” may be required.
Of course, none of that hogwash was included in the simple Bruen standard. Yet the Michigan Court of Appeals chose to ignore a critical ruling by the highest court in the land on how Second Amendment cases must be considered.
In the end, Justice Viviano wrote in his dissent that he can’t see how the ruling can be justified under the Bruen standard.
“It seems doubtful that after establishing a text-and-tradition approach to the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court would uphold total bans on firearms in locations that historically never had such prohibitions,” he concluded. “Indeed, such a regulation would not be supported by text or tradition, so what reasoning could support it? A rationale grounded in the pragmatic balancing of interests was rejected in Bruen, as discussed above. I therefore struggle to see how the Court of Appeals’ framework here, which eschews text and tradition altogether, can be justified under the Supreme Court’s precedent.”
A gunpowder shortage is here, but it hasn’t affected the supply of popular ammo like 9mm and 5.56 NATO, yet. There is still plenty of popular ammo on dealers’ shelves both in brick-and-mortar retail stores and online. But the gunpowder shortage is here and coming at us like a slow-moving hurricane. We know it is coming, just not sure when it will hit.
The problem when covering news like a gunpowder shortage is that it is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy causing a run on ammo supplies. I tend to be skeptical and not cynical, but I am suspicious. I have no crystal ball, but I do know people in the ammunition making and selling industries. Is it a grand marketing scheme to sell ammo? Or is it real? From those I’ve spoken to, the shortage is real, but it is not all gloom and doom. Some call it a typical manufacturing cycle. Others call it economics 101 and a simple case of supply and demand. There are other added factors, too, like a war in Europe and conflict in the Middle East, that play into the shortage.
It’s called the FUD factor: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. We have had a lot of fear, uncertainty and doubt in past years. Good reasons to buy ammo. Lots of ammo. The mere hint of a lack of supply causes a run on products. It’s a vicious circle.
What Caused Past Ammo Shortages?
The first ammo shortage coincided with Obama’s second term. When Democrats in office turn up the gun control rhetoric, that causes consumers—you and me—to buy guns and ammo for fear of not being able to get either. Legislation can be a significant factor in most ammo shortages.
The most recent ammo shortage, however, was a combination of a pandemic and national instability, causing a near perfect storm. Covid hit us with a sucker punch in 2020, and we didn’t know what was going to happen. Not that buying ammo would treat Covid, but there was that uncertainty over the supply of all goods. Remember people hoarding toilet paper? Ammo was on that list of supplies, maybe below masks and hand sanitizer, but it was on the list.
The national instability came with the fallout from George Floyd’s death while being taken into police custody in 2020. Call them protests or riots, people were in fear. Respect for law and order had evaporated throughout the country. Cancel culture became the mantra of mobs on the street as statues were pulled down in attempts to rewrite history. Law enforcement was at times helpless to stop the rampage or as was most often the case, hand-tied by left leaning public officials who were either afraid to raise the ire of the mobs or in some instances, saw a political opportunity in allowing rioters to run amuck under the guise of “peaceful protests.” Businesses were destroyed, and we vividly remember home owners standing their ground in their front yard brandishing AR-15s and handguns. We all wondered if the mob was going to come to our neighborhood next. Ammo flew of the shelves as gun purchases also skyrocketed. Safety and self-rescue were our only options during that period. The social contract had been broken.
The New Ammo Shortage
The cause of this new ammo shortage is different. Global instability with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine is draining the market of gunpowder. Artillery shells use copious amounts of gunpowder—not the exact kind in your 308 Winchester cartridge—but it all comes from nitrocellulose, the key material in producing gunpowder and other munitions propellants. Nitrocellulose is not just used in producing gunpowder, but is also used to manufacture paints, ink and other finishes. Nitrocellulose is an agricultural product with Thailand, China and India the largest producers. The U.S. is a major importer. According to the Washington Times, members of Congress approached the Biden administration on getting ahead of the shortage back in April of this year. The intent of the Ammunition Supply Chain Act was to require the Biden administration to submit a report to Congress about the current state of the domestic supply of necessary components for smokeless gunpowder. No such report, however, has been provided by the Biden administration.
Players In The Ammo Space
The only domestic gunpowder manufacturer is St. Marks in Florida, a division of General Dynamics. St. Marks produces a broad spectrum of ball powder propellants for rimfire and magnum rifle cartridges to 20mm munitions and pistol cartridges.
“With the Ukraine-Russia war and the fighting around Israel, gunpowder production has shifted to military needs,” says Peter Foss, CEO of Shell Tech ammunition. “We secured powder for our production knowing the shortage was on the horizon.” Shell Tech is a nimble ammunition manufacturer that produces high-quality ammo loaded in a two-piece proprietary shell case designed to outperform brass and nickel-plated brass for the same price as brass. Small manufactures can be fast to react while the big players—Remington, Hornady, Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi, and others—are large corporations that cannot easily turn on a dime. There is a board of directors they report to.
I contacted numerous large ammo manufacturers for comment, but all I got was crickets. I get it. It does them no good to comment. At best. large ammunition manufactures can run a third shift, but they can’t stockpile powder since security and storage space costs is not in the budget. The big ammo players have also seen this cycle of supply and demand before and by the time they gear up the supply will be back to normal. This doesn’t mean the big players have not prepared. They have produced plenty of popular ammo like 9mm, 5.56 NATO, .308 Winchester, .30-30 and the like. It’s the less popular calibers like .44-40 Winchester, 6.5 Swede and others that become hard to find.
You may have already seen the impact of a coming gunpowder shortage.
“Some magnum rifle calibers are being loaded with different powders,” says Steve Fox COO of Shell Tech. “You may notice that your magnum rifle caliber doesn’t have the velocity it should. That’s because the powder for those calibers is not available and an alternative powder is being used.” Foss and Fox also mention that brass is available but large primers—another product imported from oversea into the U.S.—have become harder to find.
An Ammo Retailer’s Perspective
Dan Wolgin, CEO of Ammunition Depot, has weathered the ammo shortage before. He did a quick back of the envelope calculation using the amount of munitions going to help Ukraine and Israel and quickly determined about 27 million pounds—give or take—was being diverted. That amount of powder equates to about 40 billion 9mm rounds.
“During COVID, 9mm was more impacted than any other caliber,” Wolgin says. “With the military need, 5.56 NATO sees an impact.” Regardless of the factors, .22 LR goes first, typically because it cost less and is perhaps viewed more in this situation as a survival round. Wolgin believes in being nimble so he has stockpiled ammo and other supplies, so he can provide both availability and good prices. Understand it costs money to hold and store inventory and some retailers just can’t manage the numbers.
“It really comes down to supply and demand,” says Wolgin, “and having good relationships with suppliers and customers.” The demand for gunpowder has risen and there is only so much supply.
At the present there is plenty of ammo available at good prices. A quick online search found 9mm rounds going from $.21 to $.24 per round; 5.56 NATO is $.50 to $.62 per round depending on the quantity being purchased.
2024 Gunpowder Shortage: What To Do
Today, less than a month prior to the 2024 election there are rumors that another ammunition shortage is pending due to the shortage of gunpowder. Get ahead of the curve and buy when prices are low so your guns aren’t running on fumes. Or you can wait and cry about the higher prices. Either way, the storm is coming. This is your chance to be prepared.
An M45A1 pistol is laid out on top of a Force Reconnaissance Marine’s loadout prior to a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Philippine Sea, Feb. 2, 2022. VBSS training reinforces the Marine Corps’ presence within the weapons engagement zone by having a team ready to act in a moment’s notice. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cesar Ronaldo Alarcon)
Choosing the right caliber for self-defense can be daunting, especially with so many options available. One round that consistently stands out is the .45 ACP. Trusted for over a century by military personnel, law enforcement and civilians, the .45 ACP has earned its reputation for delivering powerful stopping power in critical moments. But is it the best option for protecting yourself and your loved ones?
Let’s break down the key advantages of the .45 ACP for self-defense, addressing common concerns like capacity and recoil, while highlighting why it remains a go-to choice for many experts. Whether new to firearms or a seasoned shooter, you’ll learn how this trusted round can enhance your personal protection.
The History of the .45 ACP
The .45 ACP has a rich and compelling history that adds to its appeal as a self-defense round. Developed in 1905 by the legendary firearms designer John Moses Browning, the .45 ACP was created to meet the U.S. military’s need for a more powerful sidearm. The result was a round providing significantly more stopping power than its predecessors. This led to adopting the M1911, a .45 ACP handgun, which became a staple for the U.S. military from World War I through Vietnam and beyond.
The National Match M1911 .45 caliber service pistol is used during the individual pistol portion of the 2014 Marine Corps Championships from April 14-16 aboard the Weapons Training Battalion ranges at Stone Bay. The individual pistol match is shot at the 25-yard line and 50-yard line, and must be shot one-handed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alicia R. Leaders/Released)
The .45 ACP’s battlefield performance solidified its reputation as a hard-hitting, reliable round that could neutralize threats with minimal shots. Its larger, slower-moving bullet made it particularly effective at close range, where self-defense situations often occur. Despite the rise of smaller, higher-velocity rounds like the 9mm, the .45 ACP has maintained popularity due to its historical success in real-world combat scenarios.
Stopping Power: The Main Advantage of the 45 ACP
When discussing self-defense calibers, the term “stopping power” is often a key consideration, and the .45 ACP is renowned for its ability to stop threats quickly. The cartridge typically fires a larger and heavier bullet weighing 185 to 230 grains, which transfers significant energy upon impact. This energy transfer can incapacitate an assailant more effectively than smaller, faster rounds. This stopping power can be critical in life-threatening situations where the goal is to neutralize the threat as quickly as possible.
(Photo: HOP Munitions – 230 grain JHP)
The .45 ACP’s larger diameter also creates a wider wound channel, causing more tissue damage. This often leads to faster incapacitation, even if only one or two rounds are fired. Many proponents of the .45 ACP argue that it requires fewer shots to stop a threat than smaller calibers like the 9mm, making it a strong candidate for personal defense.
Moreover, modern ammunition advancements, such as jacketed hollow points (JHP), have further enhanced the stopping power of the .45 ACP. These rounds are designed to expand upon impact, reducing the risk of over-penetration and increasing the likelihood of the round staying within the target—an important factor in self-defense to avoid unintended harm.
Accuracy and Controllability
While the .45 ACP is known for its stopping power, it also offers a surprising level of accuracy and controllability, making it a solid choice for self-defense. One might assume that a larger, heavier round would produce excessive recoil, but this isn’t always true. The .45 ACP operates at a relatively low muzzle velocity (typically around 830 feet per second for a 230-grain bullet), which helps manage recoil and makes it easier for the shooter to stay on target.
Army Reserve Cpl. Anton Shekhalevich, 412th Theater Engineer Command, fires a Colt 1911 pistol during a CIOR pistol practice event at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Vermont on July 21, 2022. The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers Military Competition (CIOR MILCOMP) is a three-day team competition consisting of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations in Europe. It has been around since 1957. The competition is open to all reserve components for both NCO and officer. It is now run on a volunteer basis and funded by former competitors through an alumni association. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Calvin Reimold)
For many shooters, especially those with experience, the .45 ACP can feel more controllable compared to smaller, faster rounds like the 9mm. The slower recoil impulse allows for better follow-up shots, a critical factor in self-defense scenarios where accuracy and quick reaction times are essential.
Additionally, many .45 ACP pistols are built with ergonomics and weight distribution in mind, further aiding in recoil control. Guns like the 1911, a popular platform for the .45 ACP, are often praised for their balance, which can help shooters maintain precision even under stressful situations.
While novice shooters may initially find the .45 ACP’s recoil more challenging, proper training can mitigate this concern. Once a shooter is accustomed to the feel of the .45 ACP, they often appreciate its manageable recoil and accuracy at close to medium distances, the most common ranges for self-defense encounters.
Reliability: Trusted for Self-Defense
Reliability is one of the most critical factors when choosing a self-defense caliber, and the .45 ACP shines. Whether used in military, law enforcement, or civilian applications, the .45 ACP has a proven track record of dependable performance. In high-stress, life-or-death situations, the last thing you want is a firearm malfunction, and the .45 ACP’s reputation for reliability makes it a trustworthy choice.
One reason for this reliability is the round’s low-pressure design, which helps reduce wear and tear on firearms. Many pistols chambered in .45 ACP, such as the iconic 1911, or modern polymer-frame handguns like the Glock 21, are designed to be durable. These handguns are tested rigorously to ensure they function consistently, even in harsh conditions. This is why many law enforcement officers and military personnel have relied on .45 ACP pistols for decades.
Additionally, the wide variety of ammunition types available for the .45 ACP adds to its reliability. Whether using full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds for practice or jacketed hollow points (JHP) for personal defense, you can find a reliable load that functions well in your firearm. Modern ammunition manufacturers have optimized .45 ACP rounds to ensure smooth feeding, reduced misfires, and enhanced performance, making them a round you can count on when it matters most.
Addressing Common Criticisms: Capacity and Recoil
While the .45 ACP offers many benefits, a few common criticisms are often raised when discussing its suitability for self-defense—primarily its lower capacity and higher recoil compared to smaller calibers like the 9mm.
Magazine Capacity
One of the main trade-offs of carrying a .45 ACP handgun is its reduced magazine capacity. Due to the larger size of the .45 ACP round, most handguns chambered for it hold fewer rounds per magazine. For example, a standard 9mm pistol might hold 15 to 17 rounds, while a .45 ACP pistol typically holds between 7 and 10 rounds.
However, it’s important to note that the need for high capacity can be mitigated with proper training and practice. In many self-defense situations, accuracy and shot placement are far more important than the number of rounds. With the stopping power of the .45 ACP, fewer rounds may be needed to neutralize a threat. Many modern pistols, like the Glock 21, offer extended magazines, bridging the capacity gap between .45 ACP and 9mm handguns.
Recoil
Recoil is another factor that often deters some shooters from using the .45 ACP. The larger round produces more felt recoil than a 9mm, which can be intimidating for novice shooters. However, this disadvantage can be overcome with training. Many experienced shooters find the recoil of the .45 ACP to be manageable, especially when using pistols designed with recoil mitigation features.
The relatively slow velocity of the .45 ACP, combined with modern advancements in handgun design, has made it easier for shooters to maintain control and fire accurate follow-up shots. Guns with recoil springs, weight distribution and ergonomic grips help manage the recoil and keep the firearm on target.
Shooters Weigh in on using .45 ACP for Self Defense
The .45 ACP has been a popular self-defense round for decades, but opinions on its effectiveness and practicality vary widely. Here’s a look at what experienced shooters and firearms enthusiasts think about using the .45 ACP for self-defense, based on real-world feedback.
Training and Familiarity Matter More Than Caliber
One consistent theme among users is that your proficiency with a firearm is more important than the caliber. As one person put it, “If you can shoot it often enough to get good with it, then caliber becomes less important as training and skill increase.” This sentiment underscores that practice and familiarity with your chosen firearm will have a greater impact on self-defense outcomes than whether you’re using a .45 ACP or a 9mm.
Capacity and Ammunition Availability
While .45 ACP is seen as effective, many users highlight its limitations in capacity compared to 9mm. A .45 ACP handgun typically holds fewer rounds, which can be a concern in high-stress self-defense scenarios. As one user noted, “You’ll have less ammo in the mag than a similarly sized 9mm, and ammo to train with will be more expensive”. This makes it a less economical choice for frequent practice.
Magazines of .45-Caliber rounds are layed out as they are loaded during an exercise for Special Reaction Team, Provost Marshal’s Office, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 21. The exercise was intended to familiarize the Marines of the team with the M45 1911 A1 pistol as they transition over from the standard issue Beretta M9A1 pistol.
Ballistics and “Bigger Holes”
One of the selling points of the .45 ACP is its ability to create larger wounds due to its larger diameter bullet. However, modern advancements in ballistics have narrowed the gap between the effectiveness of different calibers. One experienced user explained, “I used to be way into .45 ACP because, as people like to say, ‘it makes bigger holes.’ But most modern handgun cartridges have very similar ballistics“. Even when using premium ammunition, the difference between a 9mm and a .45 ACP may not be significant enough to matter in most defensive encounters.
The Role of Overpenetration
Concerns about overpenetration are common in home defense. One shooter remarked that the .45 ACP’s slower velocity could make it less likely to penetrate walls or other barriers, making it a safer choice in some situations. However, others point out proper shot placement and ammunition selection will mitigate overpenetration risks regardless of caliber.
Suppression and Recoil Considerations
The naturally subsonic nature of .45 ACP rounds makes them a popular choice for suppressed firearms, with some users specifically mentioning their preference for .45 ACP in home defense setups that include a suppressor. However, recoil remains a concern, as it is generally more pronounced with .45 ACP than 9mm, which could impact follow-up shot accuracy in high-stress situations.
Heckler & Koch Mark 23 .45 cal SOCOM pistol (Photo: Creative Commons)
Overall, the .45 ACP is still considered a viable self-defense option, especially for those familiar with and confident in using the caliber. However, for many, the higher capacity, lower recoil, and cheaper training costs of 9mm handguns make them the preferred choice for everyday carry and home defense. As one user put it, “Regardless of which is actually better, how well it’s used is going to be vastly more important“.
It remains a solid self-defense option for those comfortable with the .45 ACP and willing to practice regularly. However, modern 9mm offerings provide capacity, recoil management, and affordability advantages, making them a more well-rounded choice for most situations.
Why the 45 ACP Is a Strong Choice for Self-Defense
When it comes to self-defense, choosing the right caliber is essential, and the .45 ACP makes a strong case for itself. Its combination of historical reliability, stopping power and accuracy makes it one of the most trusted rounds for personal protection. While the criticisms regarding magazine capacity and recoil are valid, they are manageable with the right training and firearm selection. For those prioritizing a proven round that can quickly stop a threat, the .45 ACP remains a top contender.
Ultimately, the best self-defense round is the one you feel most comfortable and confident with, but the .45 ACP offers a balance of power and performance that few other calibers can match. With modern advancements in ammunition and firearm design, the .45 ACP continues to evolve, making it an even more formidable option for those looking to protect themselves and their loved ones.
An 11-year-old boy is recovering after authorities say he was shot on the afternoon of October 14 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Officers report the shooting took place at a residence on Divison Avenue where nine children were left completely unsupervised. Sure, what could go wrong?
On Wednesday, the West Palm Beach Police Department released a 911 recording where it was the victim’s brother who pleaded with dispatchers for help.
“Somebody was playing with a gun and he got grazed…He’s okay. He’s just bleeding. He got grazed, nothing major he just needs an ambulance please,” said the caller.
Officers were dispatched immediately by the 911 operator who was stunned to hear the victim was only 11 years old.
Some neighbors were shocked to find out the incident not only occurred in a home where so many children were left with no adult supervision but that it was sparked by a 12-year-old who had brought a pair of guns to the home that day with the intent to sell them to two other boys. Other neighbors were not so alarmed.
“No it don’t surprise me because I was raised up around here,” a neighbor told WPEC.
West Palm Beach Police Spokesperson, Mike Jachles, reported that officers arrested the 12-year-old who brought the two guns to the house, adding that neither he nor the two other boys were the shooter, nor were they residents of the home where the shooting occurred.
“The moral of the story here is—kids and guns; a dangerous combination,” said Jachles.
The 11-year-old was transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his leg. The West Palm Beach Police Department was able to recover one gun, which was found at the 12-year-old boy’s home.
According to police, the 12-year-old is the only person charged at this time. He is facing two counts of possession of a concealed weapon and has been transferred to a Juvenile Assessment Center. The case is being presented to the State Attorney. Since I know the issue of adult culpability is likely on your minds as well, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is currently investigating.
This incident highlights just how much can go wrong when children, lack of supervision and firearms mix, even though it should go without saying. There have been 19 unintentional shootings involving children, which have resulted in eight deaths across Florida this year. Nationwide, there have been 200 accidental child-related shootings causing 74 deaths and 128 injuries, including this one in West Palm Beach. It is important to note that many of these incidents occur in areas where crime is highly prevalent and people are already generally up to no good.
Governors in 17 different states have taken decisive action to protect the Constitutional rights of their citizens from flawed and troublesome gun control schemes aimed at tracking the spending habits of law-abiding Americans through a shady firearm-specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) at guns stores. The concept is a ruse hatched up a few years ago and has now become popular among some of the most strident gun control activists around.
Not surprisingly, California Gov. Gavin Newsom became the first governor in the country to enact the MCC firearm credit card code. After all, he’s eyeing his own presidential run in the future and has never met a gun control idea he didn’t favor, no matter how ludicrous. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis followed suit as well, enacting the gun retailer tracking code in August.
Not to be left out, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joined in by becoming the third state to enact the firearm retail store MCC. She signed a package of gun control bills into law last week in front of media while touting her gun control efforts and mocking law-abiding New Yorkers along the way. Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords was in attendance, as were members of Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and March for Our Lives.
The move by Gov. Hochul, coupled with previous statements made by the major credit card companies, demonstrates again why Congress needs to pass NSSF-backed federal legislation to prohibit the use of the firearm retailer-specific credit card code. The makeup of Congress in 2025 following the Nov. 5 election in less than three weeks will be determinative of whether that can happen.
Monitoring and Watching
Gov. Hochul announced with much fanfare her efforts to implement more gun control in a state that already has among the nation’s strictest laws. She put in place some of the strictest gun control laws in recent memory and when the U.S. Supreme Court struck them down in NYSRPA v. Bruen, she doubled down and enacted even more. The recent laws included six bills, none of which had anything to do with holding criminals accountable for committing crimes.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to a safer New York, a continuation of our nonstop efforts to ensure we live in a place where people can be free from gun violence,” the governor proclaimed.
Apparently, that “commitment to safety” includes looking in New Yorkers’ wallets. Included in the package was a new statute to institute the MCC for firearm retailers that tracks when law-abiding New Yorkers make completely lawful purchases at firearm retail stores using their credit cards. The gun control scheme was cooked up a few years ago by New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin and pushed by Amalgamated Bank President and CEO Priscilla Sims Brown. Amalgamated Bank is known as the Left’s private banking institution. At an event where she discussed the tracking code with Sorkin, Brown asserted “We’re at the very early stages of this.”
Apparently, Gov. Hochul agrees.
“We’re also going to require credit and debit card companies to track purchases at gun dealerships, and make it in turn for us to monitor the sale of guns and ammunition,” the governor told the audience at her bill signing. “So we know if someone’s stockpiling ammo, not a good sign.”
The governor continued by mocking law-abiding hunters in New York right as hunting season is kicking off.
“There’s a lot of deer in our state, but I kind of know some signs that you’re not deer hunting this fall, right? So let’s see if there’s someone who’s stockpiling again, sending up a red flag.”
Banks Disagree
The MCC scheme Gov. Hochul celebrated won’t do anything to reduce crime in New York. Don’t just take the word of the firearm industry – though there’s plenty to support our concerns – but listen to the credit card companies and the banks. Even some media cast doubt on the effectiveness of the firearm MCC.
Bloomberg News reported after the Sorkin-Sims Brown discussion that the code would have little meaning.
“The payment network and its banking partners would have no idea if a gun-store customer is purchasing a [firearm] or safety equipment,” Bloomberg News reported.
Sims Brown, Sorkin and now Gov. Hochul all suggest they can flag “suspicious” purchasing behavior, but the banks haven’t defined what that would even mean. They say a particular “suspicious” purchase would prompt a bank to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Does a single low-cost purchase, like a single box of ammunition, count? What about buying several boxes of shotgun shells to go with a new shotgun, waders, decoys and a hunting license at a local retailer? The entire purchase would be flagged with the MCC. Visa CEO Al Kelly even stated this scenario while casting doubt on the MCC idea.
While the MCC code was being considered, Kelly admitted flat out the code doesn’t work as gun control activists dream it would. “If [Visa’s Chief Communications Officer] K.C. Kavanagh goes into a gun store and buys three thermoses and a tent, and you go in and buy a rifle and five rounds of ammunition, all I know is you both went to the same gun store… But I don’t know what you bought.”
Put The Brakes On It
Even though the governor promoted the new MCC law in New York as one more “effort” to fight firearm crime, the credit card companies have already “paused” implementing the newly created code due to differing state laws. That’s where the quick, proactive efforts from pro-Second Amendment governors have really played a positive role. Because state laws now vary as to whether the firearm MCC is implemented or not, credit card companies have delayed implementing the code to their respective payment networks.
“There are bills advancing in several states related to the use of this new code,” Mastercard said in a statement in March 2023. “It’s for that reason that we have decided to pause work on the implementation of the firearms-specific MCC.” Discover, Visa and American Express all offered similar remarks at the time.
Fortunately, federal legislation, which NSSF supports, is in the works to block these efforts. The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), would ban the use of a firearm retailer-specific MCC and would protect the Second Amendment privacy of firearm and ammunition purchasers from financial service and payment card providers compiling purchase history that has already proven to be exploited by the federal government for political purposes. Rep. Stefanik’s bill has 122 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and companion legislation in the U.S. Senate introduced by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) has 22 cosponsors.
All law-abiding Americans should be concerned with this sort of government-sponsored financial monitoring celebrated by Gov. Hochul. It’s imperative for all Second Amendment supporters and those who revere the U.S. Constitution to #GUNVOTE on Nov. 5 so they don’t risk their rights. A majority that respects Second Amendment rights in Congress, both chambers, and a president that does the same likely means the MCC firearm retailer code is blocked for good.
If you thought anti-gun Illinois lawmakers had already passed just about every restrictive gun law they could think of, well, you thought wrong.
According to a report at sj-r.com, Illinois legislators are now pushing two different schemes. Senate Bill 3971 and House Bill 5891 would prohibit the possession of a firearm outside its owner’s “immediate possession or control” and increases the age to 18 from 13 where “safe storage” in homes are required.
The legislation’s language states that the measure: “Provides that a firearm owner shall not store or keep any firearm in any premises where the firearm owner knows or reasonably should know a minor without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, properly engaged so as to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.”
According to the legislation, if an “unauthorized” person gains access to a firearm, the gun’s owner faces penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 per violation. If a minor, “at-risk” person or person prohibited from owning a firearm gains access to the gun and uses it to injure or cause the death of another person, un firearms owners could receive penalties of up to $10,000.
While there is obviously nothing wrong with prudent firearms storage, mandating how citizens store their firearms runs afoul of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. In the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court made clear that the Second Amendment includes the right to keep “any lawful firearm in the home operable for the purpose of immediate self-defense.”
The other proposal, contained within Senate Bill 3973 and House Bill 5888, would further victimize unfortunate gun owners who are the victims of property crime by potentially revoking their Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) if they don’t report the theft within 48 hours.
“If a law enforcement official determines that a person has failed to report a lost or stolen firearm as required by Section 24-4.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012, then the law enforcement officer shall, within 24 hours of making the determination, notify the Illinois State Police that the person has failed to report a lost or stolen firearm,” the measure states. “The law enforcement official shall notify the Illinois State Police in a form and manner prescribed by the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police shall determine whether to revoke the person’s Firearm Owner’s Identification Card under Section 8 of this act. Any information disclosed under this subsection shall remain privileged and confidential, and shall not be redisclosed, except as required under Section (e) of Section 3.1 of this Act, nor used for any other purpose.”
In the aftermath of a burglary or robbery, victims are occupied with a host of concerns, the first being the safety of their loved ones and themselves. It is unacceptable to place an additional burden on individuals during this time of hardship, and laws that do so are simply criminalizing gun owners for the illegal activity of criminals preying upon those gun owners. Additionally, a 2018 survey of firearms studies conducted by the Rand Corporation found no research demonstrating lost or stolen reporting laws produce any desirable outcomes.
These measures could be heard by the state legislature as soon as the six-day veto session set for Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 14-19.
A set of proposals moved forward during a Tuesday, October 15 City Council committee meeting that may cause law-abiding registered gun owners in Sacramento to pay a “harm reduction fee” and face additional restrictions. The measure is said to have surfaced after a recent spike in shootings, with supporters parading out their foolishness by claiming the fees and restrictions would somehow reduce gun violence.
Council clowns Lisa Kaplan and Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced the proposals a week prior, which include banning minors from entering gun stores and prohibiting the sale of firearms at home-based businesses. These halfwitted measures do absolutely nothing to reduce gun violence as a child entering a gun store can not purchase a firearm, and a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) is required to conduct identical paperwork and background checks with all the same regulations whether they are a home-based business or a brick and mortar.
The city is also considering charging gun owners harm reduction fees, requiring a $25 annual tax per every firearm owned, an absurd and frankly unconstitutional measure. Dan Reid, managing director of State & Local Affairs at the National Rifle Association is based in Sacramento and oversees the organization’s lobbying efforts. Ried aptly points out that charging a $25 annual fee for each gun owned would quickly add up for hunters, recreational shooters and collectors, making firearm ownership and related hobbies cost-prohibitive. For far-left extremists, however, I’m pretty sure that’s the point.
“They’re going to be tasked with this annual punitive tax, essentially, for exercising a constitutional right,” Reid said.
Sacramento is also talking about requiring gun owners to maintain liability insurance to “cover accidents,” another measure that Reid correctly points out will not prevent gun violence and only serves to cause a financial burden upon residents who follow existing laws. There is zero connection between this requirement and actually preventing criminals from illegally obtaining firearms for nefarious activity.
“People that are engaging in violent activities are never gonna have this insurance…And even if they did have this type of insurance, it would never cover that type of activity, right? It’s gonna be outside the mark,” Reid said in an interview.
San Jose passed similar insurance and harm reduction fee policies two years ago. While a federal court dismissed lawsuits from the National Association for Gun Rights and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association arguing the policy violates the Second Amendment, the court ruled procedurally, saying they could sue again once the city actually charges the harm reduction fees. Such rulings do not consider the passing of the law itself as a violation, instead waiting for the real breach that occurs with implementation.
The city’s law and legislation committee instructed staff to bring the proposals to the full council for consideration rather than bringing them back for review first. This fast-tracking occurred at the behest of family members of those killed in the 2022 mass shooting on K Street who pushed the committee to move quickly.
Stop reading here if you’re the sensitive type because I’m going to lay out some brutal truth. This is The Truth About Guns after all.
Deborah Grimes, whose son Greg Najee Grimes was killed in a 2022 Fourth of July shooting, told the committee she has met many other families who have lost loved ones in shootings and that she believes the proposals will save lives.
“The throughline is that all of these murders are senseless gun violence,” said Grimes during the meeting.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news Deborah, but these proposals would have done absolutely nothing to save your son’s life. Greg Najee Grimes, an assistant football coach at Inderkum High School, was tragically murdered by a multi-time offender, Tahje Michael, who was finally brought to justice after an appearance on America’s Most Wanted. Below is a photo of Michael. You judge for yourself if this looks like the type of guy who carries liability insurance on his guns.
Leniency for multi-time offenders and liberal district attorneys, judges, parole boards and legislators giving free passes to violent criminals are to blame for Grimes’ murder, not the law-abiding gun owners whom you wish to punish Ms. Grimes. I’m terribly sorry for the loss of your son who, by all accounts, will be sorely missed and was a beloved member of the community, however, tragedy is no excuse for ignorance, both of which are now your burden to bear.
The K Street murders were the result of a gang-related shooting between rival gangs. The abject idiocy that goes into thinking these gangs may reconsider their violent ways because they don’t want their Bloods and Crips insurance premiums to go up is too much to comprehend. Are human beings really this stupid? I’m choosing to believe that they just can’t let a tragedy go to waste when it comes to their disarmament agenda, assuming the general public is too dumb to notice.
If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know that on occasion it won’t use the box. If you’re careless about cleaning it or don’t have a sufficient number of boxes, cats will often find someplace else to do their business. But, what you’d never consider doing after finding a misplaced poop is torture and kill the animal. Sadly, that’s true for all of us but Douglas Hamlin, the new head of the National Rifle Association.
According to media reports, which are based on court records, Hamlin’s fraternity had a cat named BK living in the frat house. After the cat refused to use the box a number of times, fraternity members took the cat out, cut off his paws, strung him up, and then burned him to death. One of the fraternity members felt guilty afterwards and confessed to friends, who then reported the incident to police, who charged them all with animal cruelty (a misdemeanor in 1979-80). Other reporting and a purported internal NRA e-mail indicates that Hamlin was not directly involved in the torture and killing, but was charged after the fact for participating in an effort to cover the crime up.
While a judge had harsh words for Hamlin, who was the leader of the fraternity, for not stopping the torture and killing and then covering for the killers, even calling it an “unconscionable and heinous” act, the young men had the crimes expunged from their records after performing 200 hours of animal-related community service. Since 1980, animal torture and extreme cruelty have been elevated to felony-level crimes in a growing number of states, so this slap on the wrist would likely not happen today.
But, my goal in writing this article isn’t to take Hamlin to task. He got the punishment the law demanded after committing the crime (or covering up for it if that’s how it really went), and now his career is likely to be threatened if not ended by this disgusting crime coming to light. People who thought they knew him are probably not going to look at him the same way now, and this will have severe social and financial costs in the long run. Nothing I could do here would make his situation any worse than it already is, nor do I want to pile on.
What should concern us is the effect it has on the overall gun rights community. To illustrate that, let’s look a little more at the media reporting on the subject. As is normal practice, writers with The Guardian looked at old newspapers (probably on microfiche) to see who might be able to tell them more. Shelagh Abbs Winter was named in one of these articles as the person who told the police what she had heard.
Today, though, she had no idea that the person she had reported on went on to lead the NRA. When The Guardian contacted her, she said, ”You don’t know how amazing this is to me, because I am a member of Moms Demand Action.” and later added, “Once a creep, always a creep.”
Obviously anti-gun groups are all piling on now that this has come to light. The general idea that gun rights activists are “heartless” gets some support in the public imagination. After all, they say, if we don’t care about the deaths of children, they shouldn’t be surprised that our “leader” would cover for the gruesome killing of a pet. All you have to do now is search for “NRA Cat” on social media to see all of the popular voices making the connection here.
On top of this, many people assume that gun rights is a strictly conservative position. There certainly are more conservatives into guns than independents and “liberals”, so despite the many exceptions people tend to focus on the rule. Because the wider public thinks guns=conservatives or even guns=MAGA, this makes the wider conservative movement look hypocritical after all of the noise about alleged dog and cat eating going on in Ohio.
While I know there are certainly people who think hurting animals is no big deal, or who want to talk about how this happened decades ago, this isn’t the time to defend “our” side. We have to keep in mind that the NRA has had serious problems for decades and has largely dropped the ball on gun rights while other organizations have picked it up.
The NRA’s bad habit of choosing problem leaders isn’t something we’re obligated to reflexively defend. The gun rights movement and the wider conservative world doesn’t owe the NRA a duty to go down with the ship (again). Instead, we should be reminding people that the NRA isn’t us, and doesn’t represent anybody but their members who are a small fraction of gun owners. We should also speak out against evil things like animal cruelty instead of trying to minimize and defend it.
Hot on the heels of Winchester announcing the new 21 Sharp rimfire cartridge, Savage has already got rifles chambered for it. They’re offering four models to start with. So far they’re all bolt actions, and they’re all reasonably priced. Models start at just $269 with the Mark II F. The most expensive model is the Mark II Minimalist at an MSRP of $389. If you’re wanting to check out what the 21 Sharp has to offer, at least you can jump into it at a decent price.
Savage already has a robust line of rimfire rifles, so it makes sense for them to be at the forefront of 21 Sharps development. The new rifles will let shooters take advantage of the 21’s performance in proven, existing rifle platforms.
Cost is always a concern with new firearms cartridges but Savage notes that the 21 Sharp is pretty affordable even being brand new. It’s priced between the .22 LR and the .22 Magnum. Being that it gives ballistic performance between those two rounds that makes sense. It should offer superior accuracy to either as well from what Winchester is saying.
Savage is inititally offering the 21 Sharp in three MARK II models and one B Series model. All four models are bolt actions to start, although I’m curious how the round will work in a semi automatic as well. For whatever reason I’d be curious what something like a Beretta Model 21A Bobcat would be like in 21 Sharp. But we’re talking Savage right now, so let’s look at the models offered.
The B Series F rifle is geared towards target shooters. It has a button-rifled barrel for precision shooting coupled with an ergonomic stock. It wil be available in both left and right-hand models as well.
Variations of the Mark II make up Savage’s other 21 Sharp offerings. All of them feature the excellent Savage AccuTrigger. The Mark II F is a workhorse with its rugged synthetic stock. The Mark II F Minimalist Green is a slick compact and lightweight option that should be popular with hunters and youth shooters. The Mark II FV-SR has a shorter 16.5-inch threaded barrel and an optics-ready rail. Between the B series and the various MK II models folks interested in the new 21 Sharp will have a lot of affordable options to choose from if they want to check out the round right away.
Part No. / Description / MSRP
26741 / MARK II F 21 Sharp / $269
28741 / MARK II FV-SR 21 Sharp / $309
26743 / MARK II Minimalist Green 21 Sharp / $389
70242 / B21 F 21 Sharp / $329
For more information about Savage Arms and its extensive line of leading firearms, visit savagearms.com.
