Excellent 1911 Handgun Operation Animation

Here's a very informative animation that shows how a .45 caliber Model 1911 handgun operates:

http://animagraffs.com/how-a-handgun-works-1911-45/


And another:

Does Your Child Know What To Do?

Walther PPS 9mm: My Everyday Carry

I carried a Smith & Wesson M&P Compact 9mm for several years, but the double-stack magazine design made it a bit bulky, especially compared to more recent designs, such as the S&W Shield.

While I love shooting my Sig Sauer P229 9mm, it's rather heavy and large for an everyday carry gun (for me), so I started looking at the new crop of slightly smaller firearms that have come onto the market.

My requirements were:

• 9mm (I decided a few years ago to standardize on 9mm for handguns. In my case, the 9mm reduces the cost of shooting, ensures an abundant ammo supply, reduces likelihood of wrong ammo loads, and reduces complexity for other family members that shoot). 
• Less than 20 ounces empty
• Thin (therefore single stack) 
• At least 6 round capacity 
• High quality manufacturer
• Trigger safety only (this eliminated the Sig 238 and Ruger LC9) 
• Not a Glock or Springfield XD (they just don't fit my hand well) 
• Available in less than 60 days 
• Under $600 

This set of requirements made for a fairly short list: the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield or the Walther PPS.

I've been very happy with the M&Pc - it shoots well, has enough heft to control recoil, carries enough ammo, and just works (very rare FTF).

Anyone else that shoots it finds they like it. It really is a great carry handgun.

The M&P Shield is a slimmed-down version of the M&Pc. You can find Shields without the external safety -- but availability of this variant is limited.

Walther PPS

The Walther PPK is still the iconic small handgun and the Walther name had been repaired after a dalliance with Smith & Wesson co-marketing.

Walther PPS 9 mm with extended magazine

The Walther PPS is available in 9 mm and .40.

NOTE: A newer variant -- the PPS M2 -- is available which rounds some of the angles.

I decided on the Walther -- it looked like the handgun I wanted to carry. I ordered one through Charlie Smithgall and about 10 days later he had it in stock.

We had a massive snowstorm that paralyzed Lancaster and I had to wait until the streets were cleared to finally pick it up.

First Impressions

After filling out the ridiculously long and pointless Firearms purchase form, I paid the very reasonable, way-below-MSRP price and took it home.

My first reaction was, "Wow, that's small!"
The PPS ships in a plastic carry box that contains two interchangeable backstraps, two magazines (a medium for 7 rounds, and a large for 8 rounds), a fired casing, a cheapo lock, an empty chamber indicator, and owner's manual (also available online here: http://www.waltherarms.com/wp-content/uploads/Instruction-Manual-PPS.pdf)

The dimensions are decent for a small size carry 9 mm:

Finish Color	Tenifer™ Black
Barrel Length	3.2"
Trigger Pull	6.1 lbs
Trigger Travel	0.2"
Capacity	7/8 Rds
Overall Length	6.3"
Height	4.4/4.9/5.3"
Width	1"
Safety	Trigger
Weight (mag empty)	21.5 oz

I pulled it out, tried to rack the slide and realized this thing is TIGHT.

Down to the basement for some takedown, scrubbing, cleaning, re-lubing, and re-assembly.

Not so fast.
The PPS comes in two variants -- with and without magazine interlock. Apparently mine has it so I have to remove the plastic backstrap each time I want to field strip.

This, I don't like.

Over on the Walther forum I learned I do not need to remove the back strap. 

Tried it, and now that the gun is looser after few hundred fired rounds, it can be field stripped without removing the back strap. So this is good.

I'm spoiled by my Sig 229 that only needs the slide to the rear, twist of the takedown lever, and pull the slide off the frame for field strip.

Done.

Anyway, some reading and re-reading of the manual, and then perusing YouTube let me field strip the PPS.

Differences

The backstraps are a nice touch, but the small doesn't work for me so it sits in the box.

The magazine release is a paddle at the bottom of the trigger guard. This takes practice, but once you get it, is no issue.

The rail mount is a nice feature but useless -- who's mounting a light to this diminutive handgun?

The gun is VERY flat, which I like. It makes concealment very easy.

The trigger is very good for a striker-fired production handgun. Trigger pull is 6 lbs with very little takeup. The trigger safety works.

Range

I finally had time to visit the range. I was expecting the aggressive checking to tear up my non-calloused hands.

No problem.

The gun is actually fun to shoot. A lightweight 9 mm should be a chore after 50 rounds, but not this one. This is a take-it-to-the-range-to-shoot gun.

Sights were dead on.

Mag swaps take some getting used to -- with my hands it was somewhat easy to get pinched. I changed my grip a bit and that helped.

The geometry worked for me -- I felt like I could really get my hand behind the firearm and keep it there consistently.

The only ammo the PPS didn't like was MagTech Round lead nose (required in our indoor range). The Magtech's work fine in my Sig 229.

It may be that the PPS is so new the edge of the case catches. Oh well, not a deal breaker.

Carrying

After firing enough rounds to trust the PPS, I started carrying it daily.

It's light, doesn't print, and I can shoot it well.

It's important to be very comfortable handling your firearm and follow set procedures.

The PPS has a very nice feature -- a cocking indicator on the BACK of the slide. I place my thumb on this as I am holstering. If the trigger gets pushed at all the indicator will start to protrude. It's also painted red but I use the tactile feel and think this is a fantastic feature. Excellent job, Walther!!

Nit Picks

My only issues were the requirement to remove the backstrap to field strip and the gaps between the backstrap and the magazine. The glamour shots on the Walther site (see below) don't show gaps, but mine has a 3-5 mm gap between edges.

Holsters are available for the PPS, and this is a concealed carry gun, so I don't need lots of accessories, so accessory availability isn't an issue for me.

Bottom Line

I've been very happy with the overall build quality, ergonomics, and features of this firearm. The price is very competitive for a gun from a higher-end brand.

If you're in the market for a small concealed carry auto pistol, consider a Walther PPS or the new PPS M2. The Walther build quality is excellent, with reliability equal to my Sig 229, excellent concealability but also an excellent shooter.

Islamic Hegemony: The World's Curse

Yet another event today --

No, it wasn't a music festival.

Nope, not a circus.

No, not food supplies for starving victims of famine.

No, it was the same old story -- suicide bombers in public venues.

This time it was Brussels.

Cue the predictable "Pray for Brussels," "We Stand United" flags and posters, the furrowed brows of world "leaders" (too cowardly to identify the enemy except by veiled, euphemistic references to extremism and terror), piles of flowers and teddy bears at the scene of the crime, and the eventual release of suspects, one of which will be named "Mohammed."

Next up are the woeful fears of an "Islamophobic backlash" that perpetually worries the New York Times.

When will the West have enough? When will we wake up from our slumber and attack the root of the problem and its well-heeled financiers in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and UAE?

It will be a cold day in Qatar....

It Will Get Better...

When Islam-inspired domination dreams disappear (and it will, Thank God), we will be spared thousands of violent deaths, Christians will be freed from dhimmitude in nations (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, and others) that impose second-class status on all non-muslims, millions will have access to water, food, education, and health care.

We will be spared from this maniacal political movement that enslaves millions with emotional, mental, and spiritual darkness.

But It's Only A Small Percentage!

If 10% of Southern Baptists supported Westboro "Baptist" Church (not really a church but that's another discussion), how do you think that would be handled?

Can you imagine any media talking head saying: "Well, it's only a small percentage... it really doesn't represent the view of most Southern Baptists..."

Outline of the Study

Here's the draft outline for the book. Comments and suggestions appreciated!

 Part 1: The Problem of Violence

1.1.     A Real and Proximate Evil

1.2.     Christian Self Defense: Not Just War

1.2.1.  Falwell and Piper

1.2.2.  Threats and Response

1.3.     Access and Opportunity: Should I carry?

1.3.1.  Supreme Court’s Heller Decision

1.3.2.  Castle Doctrine

1.4.     The Varieties and Sources of Violence

1.4.1.  Evil: From Large to Small

1.4.2.  National, Corporate, Family, and individual

1.5.     What can we do? What should we do?

 Part 2: The Response

2.1.     The King’s Sword

2.2.     Historical Christian Approaches

2.2.1.  Pacifism

2.2.1.1.  Variants

2.2.1.2.  Nonviolence

2.2.2.  Just War

2.2.2.1.  Augustine

2.2.2.2.  Aquinas

2.2.2.3.  Modern variants

2.2.3.  Nationalist

2.2.3.1.  Statist

2.2.3.2.  Jingoist

2.2.3.3.  Aggressive

2.2.4.  Libertarian

2.2.4.1.  Hobbes and The State of Nature

2.2.4.2.  Anarchist

2.3.     Church Positions

2.3.1.  Puritan

2.3.2.  Anglican

2.3.3.  Presbyterian

2.3.4.  Baptist

2.3.5.  Quaker

2.3.6.  Mennonite

2.3.7.  Brethren

2.3.8.  Evangelical

2.3.9.  Popular Positions

 Part 3: Taking a Stand: Biblical, Moral, and Practical Considerations

3.1.     Biblical

3.1.1.  Rules and intent

3.1.2.  Salt and Light: In not Of

3.1.3.  Commanded to Act: Human Agency

3.1.4.  Called to act: Gifts, talents, abilities

3.2.     Moral

3.2.1.  Conscience

3.2.2.  Society

3.2.3.  Law

3.3.     Practical

3.3.1.  Ability

3.3.2.  Access and Opportunity

3.3.3.  Commitment

Part 4: Deciding to Defend: A Christian Position on Self Defense

4.1.     Am I Gifted?

4.2.     Am I Capable?

4.3.     Am I Mindful?

4.4.     What Should I do?

4.4.1.  Deliberation

4.4.2.  Commitment

4.4.3.  Preparation

4.4.3.1.  Practicalities

4.4.3.2.  Locations

4.4.3.3.  Situations

4.5.     Dedication

 Part 5: The Christian Defender

5.1.1.  Conditions

5.1.2.  Possibilities

5.1.3.  Results

5.1.4.  Morality and Law

 Further Reading

Reference

Sig P229 DA/SA: An Old Favorite

I bought a Sig P229 9mm DA/SA in 2009. I liked the weight, the balance, and overall build quality.

The bore axis is a bit high so muzzle flip is a bit more pronounced than it probably should be in a 9mm semi-auto.

But no matter how much I tried to love the Sig I just never shot it well. My grip seemed slightly different each time, and my shots invariably ended up low and left.

I tried compensating but that's a never-ending downward vortex of badness.

So I'd shoot it, shoot poorly, put it away, and shoot the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm compact instead.

Until this December, when I finally decided to do something about it.

I ordered Trijicon night sights and Hogue Aluminum grips.

After a quick sight install by a local gunsmith (Thanks Kinsey's Outdoor Store in Elizabethtown, PA!) the grips arrived. Replacing the stock grips was easy and the new grips lined up perfectly (it looks as if it's one solid piece of aluminum).

A few days of dry-fire in the basement and I started to have some confidence in the new setup.

Finally I had some time to shoot at the indoor range. After a few shots from the Browning Buck Mark, I lined up the Sig with Magtech lead-nosed 9mm ammo (required for our indoor range).

What a difference....

I feel like the gun is welded to my arm, rapid re-sighting is a breeze, and sight alignment is spot-on.

This is now my favorite shooter.

While it's a bit heavy for everyday concealed, it works well as a house and open-carry woods gun.

I'm also a fan of the DA/SA action, as it permits frequent dry-fire practice (no need to rack the slide after each trigger pull as with a DA-only striker fired pistol).

-------------------------UPDATE-------------------------------

I wrote this review a while ago and have added a few new pistols to the fleet. My current favorite all-around (carry and range) is my Commander-size Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite 1911 in .45ACP. It conceals well with winter clothing, shots great, has been flawless shooting reloads and factory ammo after about a 500 round break-in period, and breaks down easily for cleanup (now that I know the peculiarities of this setup).

I enjoy shooting my full-size 1911 but the slight difference in length makes the RO Elite a bit easier to conceal and carry.

I still carry the Walther PPS when I need deep concealment.

The Smith & Wesson M&P 9c (compact) is still a great gun, I just carry it less frequently. It's thicker than the 1911s or PPS, so doesn't conceal well (for me). The S&W M&P 9mm 5" is a great shooting handgun, but it and the Sig 320 XFive are too big for concealment.

So the Sig 229 remains a nightstand pistol. I shoot it enough to remain proficient but it's starting to show it's age relative to how much progress has been made in striker-fired pistols since 2009.

My Struggle with Deadly Force

I have had to struggle with this issue over my lifetime and just when I think I’ve reached a defensible, solid conclusion something presents which challenges or reveals and cause me to reassess.

I faced this after ten years in the US Air Force, when I transferred to US Army to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). In the Air Force Strategic Air Command, death and destruction was far off, seen only through scopes, screens, and target lists. I was a nuclear weapons technician, charged with maintaining the most destructive weapons ever devised. Their awesome power made their employment a very remote possibility. 

Yet it still became real from time to time when we responded to alert sirens, or waited to see if the B-52s took off (if they did, it meant nuclear war, if not, we were good for another day).

We did some training with handheld firearms (shotguns and M16s) to provide “interior security,” but the threat was nebulous and remote, the targets were paper bullseyes, and we had plenty of USAF security police with automatic weapons prowling the Weapons Storage Area.

I entered Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) as an E-5, but knew next to nothing about the Army. I had a smart battle buddy who got me up to speed quickly, though, and soon I was a component candidate, honor graduate, and commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

The Program of Instruction (POI) was Infantry-focused. The Army believed that every leader should understand Infantry tactics, tools, and techniques in order to support the Army’s basic mission.

This was further reinforced by the OCS school commandant who had served as a Ranger in Vietnam. He insisted we learn to shoot, move, and communicate under stress and in all sorts of conditions. So every candidate -- including those destined to be logisticians and administrators -- had to carry a ruck, man a M60 machine gun, and toss grenades. 

Towards the end of the course I heard the field training described as “mini Ranger school.” Given that the majority of cadre were, in fact, Ranger qualified, it was probably true.

As much as I learned about modern warfare, the US Army, and tactics and leadership, the gnawing questions that haunted me during this time was one I had not considered in the previous ten years: Can I take a life? Would I shoot to kill? Could I order others to kill?

I realized it was important to decide this ahead of time. This is not a question that should be answered under duress: a moment’s hesitation could have fatal consequences for me and for others.

This question was amplified by our location. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is home to many Mennonite and Amish. Both groups share a long history as pacifists. As a believer, it’s hard not to be consider the opposing view when so many friends and neighbors hold this deeply-held conviction. Can they all be wrong? Was I just accepting the pro-war position though inertia?

This became a problem for me. I had to answer the question “Can Christians kill?” satisfactorily and unequivocally. It could not be a mere passing thought or preference -- I had to answer and then take the appropriate actions under that conviction. It would be dishonest to serve as an officer in United States Armed Forces and be ambivalent.

This is a question with no possible compromise. All modern weapons are lethal. Fire an M9 pistol, M4 or M16 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, TOW missile, .50 caliber machine gun, or M1A1 tank main gun round and you know what’s going to happen if you have a person in the sights. Setup a Claymore mine, wrap det cord, or call for artillery fire and it’s going to be violent. At Armor School at Fort Knox we learned that an M1 tank had 5 weapons: 120mm Main Gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, Commander’s .50 caliber machine gun, Loader’s 7.62 machine gun – and the treads.

While various “non-lethal” weapons are useful in some unique circumstances, those circumstances are rare. Non-lethal effectiveness is often compromised by various conditions. Therefore even those employing non-lethals depend on lethal weapons as backup, in case the non-lethals are ineffective.

This is not an easy answer and I question the sincerity of someone who thinks otherwise. Either they have not considered all the implications or have no imagination.