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<title>The Revolver Liberation Alliance</title><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/index.html</link><description>A Blog from www.grantcunningham.com</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2006 Grant Cunningham</dc:rights><dc:date>2008-08-20T07:13:10-07:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:28:12 -0700</lastBuildDate><item><title>Guns are not magic wands.</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Self defense</category><dc:date>2008-08-20T07:13:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/cba68668ee5e1e8fd2c7f72aa0fce302-415.html#unique-entry-id-415</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/cba68668ee5e1e8fd2c7f72aa0fce302-415.html#unique-entry-id-415</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There is a perception amongst a large percentage of the gun-toting public that guns are magic wands: one shot and the bad guy flies backward, landing in an unconscious heap at the bottom of a wall or tree.


...Random samples would tend to support the supposition that the majority of people carrying guns get their information from Hollywood, not Paulden.


...There are, of course, a number of unanswered questions: was the good guy's gun not adequate for effective defense? 

...All we do know is that something went horribly wrong, leaving the good guy six feet under and the bad guy getting three hots and a cot.


...2) Learn how to be aware of your surroundings (it most assuredly does not come naturally to modern man); study and memorize the precursors to violent attacks.


3) Practice drawing and shooting from your holster; don't carry your gun in an unaccessible place, and carry it the same way all the time.


4) Break the habit of just standing and shooting; learn to get off the axis of a violent attack.   (This is not the old "take one step to the side and shoot" exercise - it is far more dynamic.   Love him or hate him, Gabe Suarez has been preaching this for many years, and only now does the concept seem to be gaining traction.) 


5) Understand that one shot is quite unlikely to do the job, and that the old "two shots center of mass, then evaluate" doctrine may just give your opponent the opening he needs. 

...This is a concept that seems to be lost to even the best instructors: luck plays a huge role in survival.   Do everything you can to put as much of it on your side as possible.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Preventing barrel leading</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Revolvers</category><dc:date>2008-08-18T06:58:48-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/15e296c61415e831fecfe8fddcc1dc92-414.html#unique-entry-id-414</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/15e296c61415e831fecfe8fddcc1dc92-414.html#unique-entry-id-414</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It seems that he's been getting indifferent accuracy coupled with severe leading, and would like to know the "secret" to using lead in his gun.


...Smaller bullets won't be as accurate, and will let the erosive combustion gases blow past the bullet causing severe leading around the forcing cone.


...Yet I'll bet that if you looked at the bore of your rifle, you probably won't see much leading - if any at all. 

...A bullet, under great pressure from the expanding gases behind it, grows in size to fit whatever hole (chamber throat, barrel bore) it is being shoved into. 

...In order for a bullet to obturate, the metal used needs to be soft enough to deform easily under the amount of pressure being applied to it.   If the bullet is too hard, it won't obturate and there will be no sealing.


...No, it won't; a bullet that's too soft will also cause leading, as it won't be strong enough to maintain the necessary seal in the bore. 

...A mild .38 Special target load needs a softer bullet than a fire-breathing .357 Magnum in order to obturate; putting a too-hard bullet in a mild cartridge is as much a problem as a too-soft slug in a hot one.


...(Pressure is listed in either CUP or PSI; they are slightly different, but for this particular question either will be close enough to get the answer we need.)


...If I buy bullets of 21 BHN for my Magnum, and use them in the light Special loads, they won't obturate properly and I'm likely to get leading. 


...As I said at the beginning, it doesn't seem logical that softer bullets leave less residue behind - that is, until you understand the physics behind the problem.


...You'll probably find that purveyors of "cowboy" bullets are your best choice to get the alloy hardness that you need to keep the lead where it belongs: on the target, not in your barrel!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FRIDAY SURPRISE: You think you know someone...</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Friday Surprise&#x21;</category><dc:date>2008-08-15T19:45:03-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/82466e7ce2abeacc94a0a45730f34804-413.html#unique-entry-id-413</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/82466e7ce2abeacc94a0a45730f34804-413.html#unique-entry-id-413</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you're over 40, you know the woman in this picture.   Not in the sense of personally knowing her, of course, but you know who she is.


...I'll give you a hint: 1976.


...If you haven't already guessed, that's little Nadia Comaneci - now 46 years old, and married with children.


Her rise to dominate Olympic gymnastics was stunning.   I remember watching the broadcast (back then it was on ABC) and being amazed that this little girl could seemingly come from nowhere and beat our own American athletes.   With perfect scores, no less! 


The whole event was darned near unbelievable.   It seemed that her life was charmed; that she was on top of the world. 


...Romania in the late '70s was far from a paradise; Nicolas Ceaucescu ruled the country with an iron fist, and that included Nadia and her career.   I won't give away the rest of the story, but it's a tale I knew nothing about until I read this article in London's Daily Mail.


(Thanks to Kim du Toit for the heads up.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>On Taylor Throating</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Revolvers</category><dc:date>2008-08-12T20:22:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/c5f2ab48855cf4d62d3f8c67333d27b7-412.html#unique-entry-id-412</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/c5f2ab48855cf4d62d3f8c67333d27b7-412.html#unique-entry-id-412</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I recently received an email asking my thoughts on Taylor Throating - the procedure where a reamer removes the rifling for roughly a half-inch past the forcing cone, and the edges of the lands are chamfered to match. 

...Taylor Throating is somewhat controversial, with some holding it to be the greatest thing since peanut butter, while others claim that it is pure snake oil.   In the interest of full disclosure, I don't offer the service - even though I've invested in the equipment - simply because I remain agnostic regarding its value.


...The glowing reports tend to be from those who had a lot of other work done at the same time, including timing and forcing cone changes.   It's hard to say if the positive reports are in fact due to the throating, to other work, or to something subconscious on the part of the shooter doing the testing.


I've experimented with Taylor Throating on a properly maintained Dan Wesson .357, using several 6" barrels, and shot by two different people (one of whom was your author); the results were inconclusive.   When a barrel with just the throating was tested, there was a slight increase in accuracy - but it was not consistent, nor large, enough to rule out normal shooter performance variation.   A barrel prepped with a proper crown and an 11 degree forcing cone (as pioneered by Ron Power) achieved a definite positive result, roughly equal to what is said to be expected by some Taylor advocates. 


My preliminary opinion, based on my admittedly limited experience with the technique, is that a proper forcing cone and a perfect crown still produce the most noticeable accuracy improvement. 

...There are a couple of specific conditions where Taylor Throating might prove useful as a salvage technique: when the barrel/cylinder alignment is just a hair off in the vertical axis, or where there is a noticeable constriction in the area where the barrel screws into the frame. ...  There are also some indications that it may extend the useful life of a severely worn barrel, where replacement is difficult or economically unwarranted.


...If the throated area is even a tiny amount bigger than the chamber throats (or the bullet diameter), lead bullets will suffer "blow by" and gas cutting - severely leading the barrel, and definitely decreasing accuracy.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Monday Meanderings</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Self defense</category><dc:date>2008-08-10T22:17:17-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/0b849f1c71f6ad1fb6b494e4166e2929-411.html#unique-entry-id-411</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/0b849f1c71f6ad1fb6b494e4166e2929-411.html#unique-entry-id-411</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Marko over at the munchkin wrangler (who, for all of his talent, still hasn't figured out what the caps key is for) has penned another winner: "tales from a gun-free society."    It's a personal look at the societal effects of wide scale disarmament.   (My general rule is that if Marko wrote it, it must be worth reading. 

...If the name "Gecko45" means nothing to you, then you've missed out on one of the funniest things on the 'net - the rise of the Mall Ninja.   Sadly, the original postings on GlockTalk that led to the coining of the term are long gone, and the mallninja.com site is no more; luckily for us, someone recognized the historical importance of Gecko45. 


...whole posts - along with some good background and explanations - can now be found at Lonely Machines.   If you're new to the Mall Ninja phenomenon, it's a must-read.   If you remember the original, it's a hilarious blast from the past. 

...It's hard to beat such comedic genius, and how many people can lay claim to inspiring a new term?   Well,  Larry Correia's got a candidate of his own: the original "HK: because you suck. ...  You can read it - along with his hilarious followup - at this link.   (If you're a rabid HK fan, it's guaranteed to raise your blood pressure. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FRIDAY SURPRISE: Up&#x2c; up and away&#x21;</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Friday Surprise&#x21;</category><dc:date>2008-08-07T22:04:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/3649f46f6de72cc81fdd641b56b53e50-410.html#unique-entry-id-410</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/3649f46f6de72cc81fdd641b56b53e50-410.html#unique-entry-id-410</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've previously mentioned my appreciation for the work that NASA has done over it's 50-year history.   NASA grew up right along with me - or me with it - and NASA was always doing the exciting stuff boys of that era were smitten by: Astronauts. 

...(It wasn't just spectacle, though; NASA was the catalyst for technological progress that continues to be felt today.   A surprising number of the things we now take for granted can be traced directly back to some NASA project.)


We learned about the exploits of the engineers, technicians and astronauts through NASA-supplied pictures in the magazines of the day.   My early interest in science was kindled by those pictures, and some of them I still remember. 


...A large percentage of their images were never seen by the general public because the media was understandably reluctant to publish anything of interest only to nerds.   Through the magic of the internet, however, we now have ready access to some of those great pictures.


...You can search or browse and download your selected pictures, drawings, and illustrations - some of them of quite high resolution.   You'll find lots of astronomical images, of course, but you'll find all kinds of other things too. 


...If you're a science buff like me, you can spend large amounts of time on their site.   I recommend that you not try this a) at work, or b) when your significant other expects you to be paying attention to him/her/the kids/household chores/your dinner guests. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;The Rest of the Story&#x22;</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Techniques &#x26; Training</category><dc:date>2008-08-06T08:03:48-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/22663211c8a48563ee1978f379bd773e-409.html#unique-entry-id-409</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/22663211c8a48563ee1978f379bd773e-409.html#unique-entry-id-409</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A couple of weeks ago, I linked to the story of a thug who showed no remorse about killing a couple of musicians.


Well, it seems that there was more to the story, and Jim Jacobe (www.jimjacobe.com) sent me a link to an article on the U.S.   Concealed Carry Association website.   It's the "other side" of the incident - the mother and the instructor of one of the victims. 


It is a must-read.   (You'll have to scroll down their page just a bit for the article, titled "No Safe Places", by Don Myers.   It's worth the effort.)


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>REVOLVER ALERT: Non-lock S&#x26;W revolvers for sale&#x21;</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Revolvers</category><dc:date>2008-08-04T06:26:30-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/fff63056e85fa77958f52fd44ae8781c-408.html#unique-entry-id-408</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/fff63056e85fa77958f52fd44ae8781c-408.html#unique-entry-id-408</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Regular readers know that I'm not a fan of the internal locks on current Smith & Wessons, and I refuse to personally carry a gun so equipped.   I've documented far too many cases of spontaneous lock activation, which renders the gun inoperable in the middle of a string of fire, to ever feel confident in that mechanism for self-defense applications.


If you have the same opinion, you'll be excited to learn that Smith & Wesson has released a very limited run of Model 642 Airweight Centennials without the internal locking system!   These are new production guns made with "leftover" non-lock frames, according to S&W.   In addition, these guns have the traditional screwed-in barrels, as opposed to the sleeved liner type that the company is now using. 


They were able to put together approximately 4,000 of them, and there will be no more.


The unexpected availability of these guns makes it possible for the person who wants a "non-lock" gun to get one new in the box, as opposed to hunting gun stores and gun shows for an example in decent shape.   I urge anyone interested in an Airweight Centennial to pick one of these up. 


RSR Group is the exclusive distributor of these revolvers.   Their stock number is SW103810FC, and as of this morning they had 1,136 left in stock.


RSR Group is a distributor, not a retailer, and require an FFL and a dealer account with them to order a gun.   Ask your local dealer to contact RSR and order one in for you - chances are that there will be more than yours in the package, as the dealer will probably want one for personal use too!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FRIDAY SURPRISE: The pitter-patter of little feet. LOTS of little feet.</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Friday Surprise&#x21;</category><dc:date>2008-08-01T07:54:09-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/530c347e26e68d88659b7b5d2647d745-407.html#unique-entry-id-407</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/530c347e26e68d88659b7b5d2647d745-407.html#unique-entry-id-407</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Let's say you have a million dollars or so to spend, and want a home in an exclusive neighborhood.   You'd expect a certain level of amenities in the house, with good restaurants and shopping close by.


Oh, and neighbors whose properties were as pristine and aseptic as yours.


Right?


Not in Pacific Palisades, California.


Yuck.


-=[ Grant ]=-
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I do not think it means what they think it means.</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Current Events</category><dc:date>2008-08-01T07:49:57-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/87dcbd676d2c1307ce5424c3f864e474-406.html#unique-entry-id-406</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/87dcbd676d2c1307ce5424c3f864e474-406.html#unique-entry-id-406</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I wasn't going to comment on the story about the decapitation on the Canadian bus, but something bothers me about the whole incident.


A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesperson characterized the actions of the passengers - who ran screaming from the horrific scene - as "brave".


Now do not misunderstand me here: running away from danger is a normal, human reaction.   Saving oneself is a perfectly legitimate response to a life-threatening situation, and is nothing to be ashamed of.


But it's not "brave."


"Brave" would have been tackling the murderer and beating him senseless; "brave" would have been hopping on the lunatic's back and holding him from stabbing while someone else pulled the victim to safety.


Running away?   Not so much.


I'm not sure just when our society lost track of the true meaning of words like "brave" and "hero", but I for one am tired of the trend.


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Special Detective Special</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Recent work</category><dc:date>2008-07-30T06:52:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/2f0fcbc61c1a28875e2a399d8c8f5f29-405.html#unique-entry-id-405</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/2f0fcbc61c1a28875e2a399d8c8f5f29-405.html#unique-entry-id-405</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Here's a quick pic of a Detective Special I did a little while back.   It has the "full Monty": Master Action Tune, Front Sight Mod, Black Pearl finish, polished trigger face, chamfered chambers, dehorning, custom Herrett's stocks - plus a neat "extra" that you can't see in this picture.


I hate to sound like a "secret squirrel", but I'm not at liberty to say more at this point.   No intrigue, black ops or anything like that - simply that someone else has the rights to talk about it first.   You'll see more of it in a couple of months; stay tuned.


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Housekeeping...</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Blog stuff</category><dc:date>2008-07-30T06:51:53-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/296afa71b3a60fa5fea449af0ae9b789-404.html#unique-entry-id-404</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/296afa71b3a60fa5fea449af0ae9b789-404.html#unique-entry-id-404</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've streamlined the tags (to the left) for the blog entries.   Having a gazillion different tags was neat, but it was a pain just to remember which tags I had, let alone how to actually categorize any one article!   The consolidation, I hope, will leave everyone a bit less confused.


I've also alphabetized the tags, with the exception of the first two, for easier scanning.   That's something I should have done a long time ago, and thanks to the reader who pointed out the issue.


Also, another reader suggested that I put pictures of recent work in the blog.   I do have a page for "Recent Projects" on the site, but it's a pretty formal page and updating it takes considerable time and effort.   A blog, on the other hand, is supposed to be sort of a "right now" affair, and it makes sense to put some quick pics and notes about recent projects here.   Why I didn't make that connection myself will remain a mystery, but thanks for spurring me to action!


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Light blogging today&#x2c; but take a look at these BIG guns&#x21;</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Blog stuff</category><dc:date>2008-07-28T08:46:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/ef1a52e5e7508a20d96cb2d4d2048e57-403.html#unique-entry-id-403</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/ef1a52e5e7508a20d96cb2d4d2048e57-403.html#unique-entry-id-403</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Somewhere out there, someone is disappointed that the title does not refer to scandalous pictures!


I had a long weekend, working as an assistant instructor in a rifle class.   A very small class compared to others, but it still occupied a couple days of productive time.   I'm back in the office today to catch up on a ton of paperwork.


Not to worry, though, because I've got a great link to a Dark Roasted Blend story.   Normally we see their content in the FRIDAY SURPRISE, but today they've provided something that is more-or-less on topic: guns.   Really big guns.   Guns where the powder is measured in barrels, not grains.


Have a look.


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FRIDAY SURPRISE: Fighting fire with fire</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Friday Surprise&#x21;</category><dc:date>2008-07-25T07:37:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/becd8dc6eb8ca04d0c6799dc7675e234-402.html#unique-entry-id-402</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/becd8dc6eb8ca04d0c6799dc7675e234-402.html#unique-entry-id-402</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[You hate telemarketers.   I hate telemarketers.   Everyone hates telemarketers.   (If you're a telemarketer, I'm sorry - I just can't work up any sympathy for you.   Yes, I realize you need that job to buy diapers - but life's tough enough without getting your phone calls in the middle of my dinner!)


The hapless victims of telemarketers are finally starting to fight back.   Take a look at this collection of tips about turning the tables on those who interrupt your life to sell you cheaper long distance.   (Courtesy of Dark Roasted Blend.)


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;You&#x27;re gonna need a bigger holster&#x22;</title><dc:creator>www.grantcunningham.com</dc:creator><category>Revolvers</category><dc:date>2008-07-22T22:00:13-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/34beb2b14efbfa69e45710be3dac0e55-401.html#unique-entry-id-401</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/34beb2b14efbfa69e45710be3dac0e55-401.html#unique-entry-id-401</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A reader emailed me this link to a rather unusual bar-b-que setup. 


Me want.   (If you have one, don't ask me for an action job!)


-=[ Grant ]=-]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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