Generally speaking, it’s a shame we can’t--in the words of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson--take the past decade, pound it into a goddamn bottle, and set it adrift in the China current. But in the world of rifles, by and large, it’s been nothing but good news. Herewith, the most significant developments of 2000-2010, not in order of importance.

1. The transmogrification of the AR-15 into a bona-fide sporting rifle and an industry unto itself.

2. Hornady’s emergence as a major player and a major innovator in the ammunition biz.

3. Ten years ago, I thought that sporting optics had reached a state of perfection beyond which it could not go. Boy, was I wrong.

4. Long-range shooting comes of age. Four hundred yards is the new 300 yards, and 500 is on the way. We have the accuracy, the optical gear, and the ammo. Now all we need are enough ranges where you can  shoot at these distances.

5. The resurgence of the lever-action. Has anyone noticed that Marlin is building lever guns that give away nothing to bolt-actions?

6. Rifle of the Decade—the Marlin XL-7. The best working gun, for the least money, in the history of Western Man.

7. The general level of accuracy in factory rifles. I can name you four, for under $500, that will shoot MOA or better.

8. The Supreme Court’s Keller decision.  Article II lives!

9.  Savage, which is changing from a company that makes inexpensive rifles that shoot very well to a company that makes very sophisticated rifles that will shoot with damn near anything regardless of price.

10. Barack Obama and his coterie of gun haters, who have sold more firearms, ammo, and components than even Bubba Clinton.

Happy New Year!

According to an article by one Alice Schroeder on Bloomberg.com (and reported here on Field Notes last week), Goldman Sachs executives, with an eye toward public rage at the imminent whopper bonuses to descend on GS, are applying for pistol permits. Ms. Schroeder (who does not think much of handguns as protection) called the NYPD to verify, and was informed that some of the bankers she asked about do have permits, although the cops said it will “…be a while before it can name names.” (I will not hold my breath waiting to find out.)

Mayor for Life Bloomberg has made it nearly impossible for an ordinary citizen to get a carry permit in New York City, and the city does not recognize carry permits from anywhere else.  There are seven categories of permits in NYC, including one for people who routinely carry large amounts of cash or have received threats against their lives.

Out of 8 million people, the NYPD has seen fit to issue about 2,200 of these permits. Getting one, for an ordinary person, requires both lots of time and lots of money. I’m told that the cops make it as difficult as they possibly can.  But then Goldman Sachs executives are not ordinary citizens.

In the days of the Manchu dynasty in China, a mandarin was asked if it did not bother him that there were two standards of justice, one for the rich and powerful, and the other for the poor. “Of course not,” he said, “it gives poor people all the more incentive to become rich and powerful.”

A note to all you Gun Nuts: The photo below (and three more, which you can see by clicking here) came into my inbox attached to the following caption:

"For those of you who load your own ammunition...
 
A guy came into our department the other day to ask a favor. He had a Smith & Wesson Model 629 that he wanted to dispose of after a mishap at the range. He said there was a loud bang when he tested his new load and the gun smacked him in the forehead, leaving a nice gash. When the tweety birds cleared, this is what he saw..."

Rather than comment on these photos myself, I decided they were serious enough that they deserved something intelligent said about them, so I sent them to my friend and ace pistolsmith John Blauvelt. Here's what he had to say.  --David Petzal

Begin forwarded message:
From: JC Blauvelt
Date: October 30, 2009 8:09:43 PM EST
To: Dave Petzal

Subject: BANG

Dave, Well you asked for it. I hope you find this useful. Thank you for the opportunity.

A graphic reminder of the art of home pressure testing. What I see here is typical of a vastly over-pressure round fired in a revolver. The in-line round of ammunition blew out the top of the cylinder, both adjoining chambers, and removed the top strap.  Most of the destroyed revolvers I have seen usually have the top strap of the frame still attached at the front, above the barrel, and it is peeled forward. The weakest point of an adjustable sight revolver frame is the back end of the top strap were the rear sight cut is. In this revolver the whole top strap is gone and most of both adjoining chambers. This points to a very strong pressure spike. How did it happen? One clue is the reloader’s quote that he was “testing his new load.” So, it is most likely the reloader's fault. He was either trying to make a “Super Magnum” load beyond the recommended loads or used the wrong powder - i.e.  grabbed a can of 231 instead of 296 or possibly changed powders and forgot to change the settings on the powder measure. A barrel obstruction from a squib round? I do not believe so. I do not see any indication of a bulge in the barrel. Unless it was a bullet from a squib round stuck just forward of the back end of the barrel.  In any case, these are sobering photos. Look at the amount of shrapnel that let loose. It could have caused grave injuries to the shooter and/or bystanders on either side of him. An expensive lesson learned, and fortunately no one was injured.

For all the millions of rounds of ammunition reloaded each year, it is rare to see this happen. That's why it makes news when it does. Always remember to check, double check, then check one more time that the recipe you are using is correct, wear your safety glasses, and ear protection.  Also, in this guy’s case, he likely needed a half of a bottle of aspirin for his headache. 

JC Blauvelt Gunsmith, Inc.
www.JCBgunsmith.com

Now that the news is all Ted, all the time (which at least is a relief from all Michael, all the time) and the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy is on his way to being Saint Teddy, we should remember that he was an implacable enemy of the Second Amendment, and that there never was an anti-gun law he did not like. Kennedy blamed guns for his brothers’ deaths. The reality is a little different.

John Kennedy was killed because the Secret Service, in a city where many people were known to hate him, allowed JFK to ride in an open automobile, and advertised his route in advance.

Bobby Kennedy was killed because, rather than employ professional bodyguards in Los Angeles, he used a former football player named Rosey Grier, plus a few others who were equally well qualified. Grier was an all-pro lineman, but he was not much of a bodyguard.

Condemning guns for a tragedy rather than affixing the blame to arrogance, incredible lapses in judgment, and incompetence saves one a lot of trouble, does it not? After all, how do you legislate against human failings?