Tactical vs. Practical

In the world of firearms, there exists more add-on’s and accessories for our toys than for our wives wardrobe.  The 1911 and AR-15 are perfect examples of two of the most highly accessorized (or customized, if you prefer) firearms on the planet.  There are literally THOUSANDS of items available for both platforms that can transform your weapon from that boring, out-of-the-box plinker, into a massive, hulking, purveyor of doom.  Many upgrades do make the gun shoot better and more accurately, like match grade barrels and triggers, while others aid in target acquisition.  However, when does it become too much?  When does the ‘Coolness Factor’ overtake the practicality of the accessory?  I’m all for making your weapon shoot as well as you can make it, but do you really need that third laser/light combo on your battle rifle? 

Remember, the more things you put on a weapon, the more things you have to remember and think about.  Plus, that’s more things that can go wrong with the very thing that may be called upon to save your life.  Batteries die, but iron sights will always work.  Even after an EMP. 

Just food for thought.

When is a Springfield not a Springfield?

In January of 1776, Henry Knox, Chief of Artillery for the Continental Army, passed through Springfield, MA on his way to deliver heavy cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga to General George Washington for use in the siege of Boston.  During his short visit, Knox was impressed with the town’s strategic location for America’s War for Independence.  A year later, Springfield became the location for the principal arsenal for the northern states during the war.  The site was used for everything from the assembly and repair of small arms, to the manufacture of wagons, saddles, fuses and cartridges, as well as a storehouse for powder and other instruments of war.  Eleven years later, in 1794, the National Armory at Springfield was established by President George Washington.

For the next 192 years, the Springfield Arsenal would be the birthplace of such famous weapons like the 1903 Springfield and the M1 Garand, as well as machinery like the Blanchard Lathe which allowed for faster production of wooden stocks.  However, in 1968, amid controversy, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara closed the armory that was established by our country’s first President for all time.  Not another firearm would ever come from its hallowed halls, and none have come forth since.

That same year, Elmer C. Balance registered the trademark “Springfield Armory” for his new company that made civilian versions of the venerable M14 in San Antonio, TX.  Shortly thereafter, he sold his company to the Reese family.  The new owners expanded the line into handguns, particularly the M1911 with tremendous success.  The company was eventually moved to Genesco, IL where it resides today.  It has no association or connection to the original Springfield Armory other than the name.

Although their M1A rifles are manufactured at the Illinois facility, all of Springfield Armory’s handguns are all manufactured by different companies in other countries in accordance to Springfield Armory’s high standards.  Their M1911 derivative pistols are manufactured by IMBEL in Brazil, and the XD series pistols are Springfield Armory stamped HS2000’s manufactured in Croatia.  Springfield Armory also boasts on of the finest 1911 custom shops on the planet.

So, when Springfield Armory says that they’re “The First Name in American Firearms”, that is true.  But what’s in a name?  In this case it’s history, tradition, and good old American ingenuity.  Fortunately, Springfield, Inc. seems to be continuing that tradition just fine.

Don’t you think?

Our Friend B.O.B

You are awakened in the middle of the night from a sound sleep by the wailing of sirens blaring through the stillness of the cold night air.  You glance outside your window and see mayhem in the streets as people scramble to gather whatever belongings they can quickly shove into their waiting vehicles.

In a panic, you huddle your family together and order them to collect anything they can carry and meet you at the minivan in two minutes.  You rummage through your closet and find an old gym bag buried behind your pile of dirty underwear.  You empty the sweat stained socks and rancid shorts that have been stagnating in it for weeks, and make a dash to the kitchen.  You quickly fill the bag with whatever you can find and run to your waiting family. 

You drive off for destinations unknown, and after a while, you stop to try to gather your senses.  You assess the situation by first determining what supplies you were able to scrounge together.  Your daughter managed to grab her favorite hairbrush and her iPod.  Your son had the presence of mind to put on a dirty t-shirt, and your wife grabbed her purse and an extra pair of shoes.  You rip open your bag and see that you've equipped your family with a butter knife, a dead flashlight, and a can of green beans.  On top of that, you HATE canned green beans.  Anxiety and despair begins to envelop you as you see the terrified look on your family's faces.

In the distance, a mushroom cloud blossoms...

Granted, this is a worst case scenario, and a B.O.B would definitely come in very handy.  However, things don't need to get this bad for a B.O.B to be very useful.  While the concept isn't new, the recent political climate has caused more and more people to put one together, or at least strongly consider doing it.

Now, there are plenty of paranoid gloom and doomers that are preparing for the end of civilization as we know it, but paranoia and the belief in instant annihilation are not requirements to have a B.O.B.  Floods, hurricane warnings, tornado warnings (though, you should really stay in your house for that one), and power outages are just a few of the more mundane reasons to have some sort of bug out bag at the ready, especially if you live in a more remote area devoid of neighborly support. 

So, the question remains.  If you do have a B.O.B., does that mean that you are some sort of extremist freak that’s expecting the imminent end of the world?  Not at all.  In fact, if you do a search on YouTube for “bug out bag”, you’ll end up with over 3,000 results of videos on how to put together your own B.O.B.  There you will find everything from those that have already purchased land in some remote area to those that have nothing more than a first aid kit and a good flashlight.  Whatever your thoughts are on SHTF and WROL, it’s not a bad idea to have some basic supplies ready to go in case of an emergency, whether natural, or not so natural.

So, it looks like B.O.B. is our friend after all, because a true friend is always there when we need them the most.

The M9 vs. the M1911

Back on March 29, 1911, the United Stated officially adopted the John Moses Browning designed, .45ACP self-loading pistol.  By the late 70’s, due to political pressure from NATO, the search was begun for a replacement not only for the venerable M1911, but also the proven .45ACP cartridge.  The US Air Force started a Joint Service Small Arms Program to find a pistol chambered in the NATO-standard 9x19mm cartridge.  Through a series of events and mishaps, a 1984 joint military pistol trial was conducted where candidate pistols from Beretta, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, FN, and H&K were submitted.  The Beretta 92F was officially adopted as the Military M9 in 1985.  The Sig Sauer P226 actually passed the trials, but lost out in the final bidding process.  As a result, we have a service sidearm built by the lowest bidder.

There are numerous arguments over the benefits of switching to the Beretta including the standardized cartridge, higher capacity, and easier operation (so they say).  However, there are also reports of breakage, reliability issues, and ineffectiveness of the 9mm FMJ cartridge.  Now, the Beretta 92 series of pistols are great guns.  I mean, Mel Gibson featured one in all of the Lethal Weapon movies.  The coolness factor alone is worth, at least, SOME of the pistols shortcomings.  Isn’t it?  Forget the fact that there have been numerous reliability issues with the magazines made by Check-mate industries that are still being issued on a limited basis today.  We’re talking about the gun that saved the Nakatomi Plaza!  Singlehandedly! 

Of course, we cannot ignore the ineffectiveness of the 9mm round itself.  Before all of you pro-9mm folks crawl out of the woodwork, remember that The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 (not the Geneva Convention) prohibited the use of all expanding ammunition in conventional warfare.  We’re talking FMJ rounds, and 9mm hardball passes through a target while leaving a very small wound channel.  The .45 ACP hardball round will still deliver a substantial knockdown punch and significant wound channel.

Finally, why award a contract to an Italian-owned company that is only required to have 50% of the parts manufactured in the USA, including assembly?  ALL M1911 and M1911A1’s were manufactured by American companies using 100% US manufactured parts.  They included Colt and Springfield Armory (the REAL one) in WWI, and Colt, Remington Rand, Ithaca, Union Switch and Signal, and Singer (yes, the sewing machine manufacturer that also made M1 Garand receivers) during WWII.  Would it have stayed that way?  Who’s to say?  But I tell you this much, it’s an American designed and built weapon that will always be recognized as being a symbol of American ingenuity and strength.

I doubt the M9 will ever be thought of that way.