Fun with "journalists"

This is called getting the photo op of your choosing.  I thought it was absolutely hilarious that he decides to show the semi-auto hunting rifle as an example for the story to a journalist.  I can hear it now:  "Isn't this what you mean?  It's semi-auto AND a rifle."  Note: all of the "EBR"s* on the wall, but the guy picks this one for the shot.  Nice play, my friend.  Nice play. 

To the journalist: kudos on getting the other side of the story and reporting it, but in the gun community we know we don't get to review the article before it is published.  Better safe than sorry.

Here's the article.  The photog looks like she snapped her own shot for the EBR portion of the article.

In the end, a reasonably balanced article.  Color me surprised.  This is the exception lately.

*for those not indoctrinated to the phrases used by those that wish to take away the 2nd Amendment, EBR stands for "Evil Black Rifle".  It is used in a sarcastic manner by firearm enthusiasts.

Bad Milk Pancakes

Or, as they are usually called, "Buttermilk Pancakes".  My grandmother and mother drink the stuff *gag*.  I find it fantastic for cooking and soaking chicken for frying and that's just about as much as I can stand it. 

These are pretty darn good pancakes.  I have been using this recipe for special occasion breakfasts for a while now.  I really dig them for the right time (or any time).  I have a regular pancake recipe that I'll post in the future, but these are just too good to pass up.

Prep: About 15 - 20 minutes
Cook:  About 4 minutes per batch

Some hints:  Get a reasonable electric griddle if you can.  I got one on sale for about $30 and it has been a great purchase.  Pans are rough for cooking pancakes unless they are more like a flat griddle.  If you're fortunate enough to have a griddle for your stove-top, even better.  Also, a nice wide spatula for flipping pancakes.  If you don't make the pancakes crazy big it's not a disaster with a normal one, but a good spatula makes all the difference in the world.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm, butter

The stuff:

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, or 1 cup plain yogurt plus 1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted (use butter)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
vegetable oil or butter for brushing pan or griddle

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Use whisk to quickly blend dry ingredients.  I also usually break the egg into the buttermilk in the measuring cup and whisk it together.  It saves dirty dishes and makes mom happy.  You want to stir the batter as little as possible to avoid tough pancakes, thus the pre-beating of the egg.   Add buttermilk, melted butter, and egg.  Stir with whisk until flour is moistened.

Do not freak about lumps, just make sure there is not visible dry ingredients and it is pretty well incorporated.  Let the batter stand for a few minutes while griddle/pan is heating.

Soooooo close

Heat griddle or 12-inch skillet over medium heat until drop of water sizzles; brush lightly with oil (or butter, I've also found this to be optional if you have a good non-stick surface).  Pour batter by scant 1/4 cups onto hot griddle (a ladle helps here), making a few pancakes at a time.  Cook until tops are bubbly, some bubbles burst, and edges look dry.  With wide spatula, turn and cook until underside is golden.  Transfer to platter; keep warm.  Pancakes can be "held" in oven on lowest setting with towel covering pancakes.

Repeat with remaining batter, brushing griddle with more oil/butter if necessary.

Makes 3 servings.

Slather with butter and drizzle with favorite pancake eatin' juice (syrup).  Bacon is, of course, generally required with pancakes.

Rules violations are rules violations, no excuses

While I love to have people on our side in the law making process, this kind of thing is not what we need.  A state senator from Arizona playing show and tell in a room full of people doesn't make the gun community look good and it doesn't make proponents of carry happy.  Your gun goes in your holster at the beginning of the day and out at the end.  Unless you have a specific reason to handle it in the middle at some point, then don't touch.  Show and tell is not a good reason.  That is for private time in a controlled environment.

If a laser sight is pointed at someone, then the gun is pointed at them.  That person is in danger regardless of if you are touching a trigger.  You've violated one or more of the major rules.  What happened is that you handled your firearm in an environment that you cannot control.  Someone walking in front of your muzzle in this situation is still your fault.  This is how tragedy occurs and just imagine what you have given gun control proponents if something happens.  That's a gift wrapped gun control law waiting to happen.

Newark, New Jersey: A lesson in how to defy logic

Making the "unpossible" possible.  That should be the new slogan for Newark, New Jersey.  You see, Newark is in New Jersey.  New Jersey has some of the strictest firearms laws in the country.  So, this is one of those states where they have decided that "guns are bad, mmmkay?".  The blame is laid entirely at the feet of the tool and the people that actually care enough about the law to follow it.  Enter: Newark.  Newark has decided that guns are the ANSWER to the crime problem.  I know, I know but just follow me on this.  They are actually wanting to force business owners to pay armed security guards to protect their businesses.  This is because the city can't control crime even though this is a utopian place where unicorns regularly graze.  I mean, they are one of the strictest in the country for gun control laws.  Heck, they even restrict the type of ammunition you can own.  I can hear the city officials now, "How is gun crime even possible here?"  They are called criminals, ya jackwad.  Their career is built around breaking your laws, meanwhile the poor law-abiding citizens in your state are effectively neutered when it comes to protecting themselves.  Well, that is until they are mandated to pay out of pocket for something they should be allowed under the 2nd Amendment to do anyway.

Perspective with a side of humility

Sometimes, we lose sight of the most important things in life.  You know, the big things like spending time with family, keeping up with friends, really interacting with our loved ones.  I have made a concerted effort to spend as much time as possible with my kids.  This is the time you cannot get back.  I will not be someone that wakes up one day regretting that he missed spending time with his kids and now they are teenagers or adults with their own families.  Then along comes a story like this.  Perspective can really slap you in the face sometimes.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t have passion about other things.  I certainly do.  It’s just that some things are so much more important in life.  This sweet little girl is the purest example of why you should cherish what you have.  She is a gift for however long she is in the lives of her loved ones, and I wish them the very best.  Go spend time with your kids.  They are only little for a short while.

Video of Bomb Squad Officer in explosion (Thailand)

It didn't happen in the U.S., but how long will it be before we're dealing with this kind of thing on a regular basis?  They were dealing with three separate incidents when this one happened.  Thank goodness for the suit and thank goodness it sounds like he is ok.  I'm sure this was followed by "oof", "ow", and a string of things I can't repeat here.

Kel Tec P3AT Range Report

So the general consensus is that I'm very happy with the new P3AT and so is Mrs. 45er.  The recoil was manageable but I would not call it light.  Mostly, it is the lack of much grip on the gun that makes it feel a little snappy.  With a proper and firm grip, it is just fine.  With the magazine/grip extension it was much nicer to handle.
Also, I guess the adage from Clint Smith: "Two is one and one is none" applies to cameras as well.  I was getting all prepared this morning and charging batteries, then failed to put the battery back in the fancy camera.  Luckily, I brought the back up for video in front of the muzzle so it took place as primary.

Ammo specs:

Blazer 95 gr TMJ (total metal jacket), aluminum case.  The cheap stuff.
Independence 95 gr FMJ (full metal jacket), brass case (still Blazer).  Medium quality stuff.
Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX (bullet trademarked name, Flex Tip)

Gun stats (as weighed on digital scale):

gun unloaded, no mag - 7.90 oz
gun unloaded with empy 6 round mag - 9.10 oz
gun with loaded 6 round mag + 1 in chamber - 11.35 oz
gun with unloaded 9 round mag - 9.55 oz
gun with loaded 9 round mag + 1 in chamber - 13.00 oz

For comparison to some things we recognize:

12 oz can of soda - 13.55 oz
standard bottle of tobasco sauce (2oz) - 5.00 oz

So, on to the good stuff:

Just a little handful

In the DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster

Bang

I'm not going to make this post as wordy as some of my other diatribes that I've submitted you to because I have a TON of pictures and a video that I think tell the story.  Above is me taking the first shots using the 9 round extended mag.  I really like the grip extension.  If I'm not pocket carrying, that will be in the gun. Speaking of pocket carry, the DeSantis holster did great.  I've drawn both fast and slow and it hasn't pulled from my pocket in loose shorts, dress pants or blue jeans.





Front sight focus, if you can find it.

Yeah, the sights aren't huge.  However...



 Not bad.  We were shooting at about 6 yards, which is what I would consider medium-ish range with a pocket pistol.  That is 10 shots, so I'm pretty happy.  I also wasn't "bullseye" shooting.  I'm thrilled.  Then, along comes Mrs. 45er:



Do ya feel lucky, punk?

 She was very happy with controllability.  Of course, the 9 rounder with the grip extension felt much better for her.  She still did great with the 6 rounder.  As a matter of fact...

Well, do ya?

...she royally handed me my rear end.  She put a round or two in the center of mass square and wasn't happy that she couldn't track her shots in the group, so she decided to switch to the head square.  Show off.

So, here are some specifics.  I was using two types of plinking ammunition.  One (Blazer) is bottom of the barrel.  I probably won't buy it again, but thought testing with the cheapest would give me an idea of the worst that could happen.  I had 3 jams in about 25 rounds with the cheapest ammo and an unfired gun.  For now, that's fine.  I'll keep an eye on that if it doesn't improve.

The Blazer aluminum case ammunition is gone and isn't coming back.  The Independence did just fine (about 25 rounds fired).  The Hornady did fantastic.  The FTX bullet design has more of a rubber insert, the "Flex Tip" as opposed to the normal polymer insert you're used to seeing.  The bullet performance was pretty impressive.

I really liked the hydrostatic performance.  Yes, it didn't blow the thing in half like a 230 grain Hydrashok from a .45 ACP, but this is what I was hoping to see from good defense ammunition in a .380.  Now, the aftermath.

Ow

The bullet on the right penetrated through one jug of water and into a second but didn't exit.  The bullet on the left penetrated one jug of water and stopped against a phone book, hence the slight flattening at the front.  The bullet to the rear still has a date with destiny.  The red things are the rubber inserts (flex tip) in the FTX bullet.

Nice form, sir.

So, the final analysis is that I'm really happy with the gun.  I'm also satisfied with the performance of the Critical Defense.  This is what I want to see a defense round look like when it does its job.  The Hornady was flawless in function in the gun as well.  I'll be happy to carry this for defense.

For my initial thoughts when we first got the P3AT and more pics, you can see them here.

EDIT:  I wanted to add a video of the gun so you could judge recoil and a picture of the extended magazine with the new paint job.