.30-06 Springfield Versus .308 Winchester

I admit to being divided on the topic. Looking at my gun collection I have equal numbers of rifles in both calibers. Those in .30-06 are all US military rifles (1903, 1917, and M1 Garand) while the rifles in .308 are a couple of hunting rifles as well as a FAL assembled from a parts kit. I did have a couple of .30-06 hunting rifles but they have been converted into other calibers (9.3×62 and .338-06).

Vortex Optics through their Vortex Nation Podcast did a video comparing the two rounds including testing them on blocks of ballistic gel.

I do have some criticisms of the comparisons. For example, when comparing rounds for penetration they should have used the same grain weight bullets. In their first penetration tests they compared a 180 grain .30-06 to a 150 grain .308. To me, this is an invalid comparison given the 30 grain weight difference.

With regard to accessibility, 96 factory loadings in .308 versus 94 factory loadings in .30-06 is a statistical tie in my book. One loading not mentioned was the Remington Accelerator round in .30-06 which used a plastic sabot to hold a 55 grain bullet. Turns out Remington made these in .30-06, .308, and .30-30. While not currently being manufactured in factory ammo, hand reloaders can still make these cartridges. E. Arthur Brown Company offers the plastic sabots along with a seater die to allow you to load your own. While still kind of a gimmick given their accuracy, there was a thought they could penetrate Level IV body armor. According to this test, it didn’t despite speeds of 3800+ ft/sec.

In the end, there really is so little real difference between the two that you can’t go wrong with either cartridge. I would feel comfortable using them on anything from deer to moose to most African plains game.

Play Stupid Games

I really don’t have much sympathy for protesters who glue their hands to the pavement, block traffic, splash paint on invaluable pieces or art, and the like. I do feel for the public safety workers who have to deal with their nonsense.

Thus, when I saw the video below, I felt bad for the firemen having to chisel the payment from around the protesters’ hands. As for the eco-fanatics, they were lucky the firemen where being so careful. There were times in the past century when German officials might not have been so kind.

Everytown Really Stoops Low

Everytown wants you to know where gun dealers are in your neighbor. They especially want you (and thieves) to know the home addresses of dealers. They even have an interactive map to assist you in this.

Liberty Doll has done an excellent expose’ of the Everytown efforts in a YouTube video published today.

The only class of those with Federal Firearm Licenses not included are those of us with Curios & Relics Licenses. This is because they say we “are not engaged in sales and thus are not included in the analysis in this report.” How nice of them to not put targets on our backs.

You can read the whole so-called report here.

I would encourage you to share Liberty Doll’s YouTube with your friends. As a reminder, some newspapers in the past have published maps and databases containing the name and address of everyone in a state with a CCW. In places where there is registration of either owners such as Illinois or firearms such as with handguns in New York, what is to say that Everytown won’t publish these names under the heading “do you know your neighbor owns a gun!”.

This effort of Everytown reminds me of the “hate group” (sic) map published by the Southern Poverty Law Center which has led some disturbed individuals to attack these groups. Both should be condemned for what they are: an incitement to violence and theft.

Stabbed With A Ghost Knife!

We were watching the CBS Evening News last night when a story came on about Dr. Larry Nassar being stabbed in Federal prison in Florida. Nassar is the disgusting excuse for a medical professional who sexually preyed upon US gymnasts for years until finally brought to justice.

I sincerely doubt Nassar’s attacker obtained a professionally made knife from Amazon. More than likely it was made from an eating utensil, toothbrush, or stolen tool that could be sharpened. Of course, mere possession of such an item is the 4th most severe infraction in this prison according to their handbook.

Here is an example of such a personally made weapon made from a toothbrush. It was confiscated from a prisoner in California.

Photo by James Sime

Given the gun control industry has deemed any personally made firearm a “ghost gun” (sic), then by logical extension the weapon used to stab Larry Nassar must be a “ghost knife”. It had no serial number and it has no markings indicating its manufacturer other than perhaps Oral-B or Colgate.

OMG! It is untraceable.

If the whole concept of a prison shiv or shank being called a “ghost knife” seems ludicrous, so, too is the media hysteria over personally made firearms aka “ghost guns” (sic) and their traceability. When the BATFE runs a trace on a firearm found at a crime scene, they first go the the manufacturer, then to the distributor, thence to the dealer, and finally to the original purchaser. Only very rarely is the original purchaser the one who commits the crime. Much more likely is that the firearm was stolen and has changed hands multiple times after that. Given the national average of “time to crime” or time from purchase until recovered at a crime scene is 6.24 years according to the BATFE, you can just imagine how many times a firearm could have changed hands whether legally or illegally.

So the next time you hear someone pontificating about “ghost guns” (sic) ask them what should be done about “ghost knives”.

Asheville Gun Show AAR

This was a decent gun show in terms of both attendance and the traffic at the Grass Roots North Carolina booth. We had asked to move the location and the promoter graciously agreed to let us move. Given he donates the booth space as a way to support gun rights, this was not a given. Our new location was along the side wall with one of the main aisles ending right in front of the booth.

We definitely were more visible. Unlike the last show, we picked up a few new members. We also handed out a number of brochures as well as answered questions about the state of constitutional carry in North Carolina. HB 189 is alive but could use some help.

Given it was a nice day in July and people had other things to do, attendance was not what you might find in one of the winter shows. Still it was decent on both days.

I didn’t buy any new firearms but I did buy a couple of canisters of smokeless powder. I picked it up from the Redeye Reloading booth at a price that was lower than Sportsman’s Warehouse. I was really pleased to both find it and to get a good price on it. I have dealt with Redeye both online and at the show. They are a good company.

It is always interesting to see what people bring to the show to sell privately. This show it seemed to be heavy on the lever action rifles. I saw a lot of Marlins and Winchesters along with one or two Henrys. The only Savage 99s for sale were at the dealer’s tables. All in all, I would say the lever actions actually outnumbered the bolt actions this time.

Finally, if you are a North Carolinian who believes in gun rights you need to belong to Grass Roots North Carolina. We are the ones who get stuff done in Raleigh most of the time. To join, go to this website.

Asheville Gun Show!

If you live in western North Carolina or are visiting the area this weekend, stop by the Asheville Gun Show. It is being held Saturday and Sunday in the Davis Event Center at the WNC Ag Center. For those attending from out of town, it is at the corner of Fanning Bridge Road and Airport Road in Fletcher just across from the Asheville Regional Airport.

It open at 9am on Saturday and runs until 5pm. On Sunday, it opens at 10am and runs until 4pm. If you got to the promoter’s website, you can get a coupon for $1 off the $10 admission. With 400 tables, it is one of the larger gun shows in the region.

If you do come to the show, stop by the Grass Roots North Carolina booth and say hello. I should be there most of the weekend. We will be in a new location that should give us more visibility.

More importantly, if you are not a member, take advantage of the gun show discount and join! We are still pushing hard on getting HB 189 – Freedom to Carry NC – through this session of the General Assembly. With enough pressure Tim Moore and Phil Berger plus the Republican supermajority in both houses, it is doable. More members means more pressure on those two.

I hope to see you there!

Band Beach?

Today I learned something new. We’ve always known there were five beaches on D-Day in Normandy: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword, and Juno. However, there was a planned sixth beach called Band that was a contingency to protect the eastern flank from the German shore batteries.

Jim aka Old NFO has more on it here.

The NRA Needs Its Own Independence Day

The National Rifle Association filed their own challenge to the BATFE pistol brace ban yesterday. This was after their attempt to intervene in SAF et al v. BATFE was denied as not timely among other reasons.

The NRA has and has had many excellent Second Amendment attorneys at their disposal. These include scholars such as Stephen Halbrook and David Kopel, appellate attorneys such as Paul Clement and Erin Murphy, and others such as Chuck Michel, David Jensen, and Dan Schmutter. In the past I would have also included the attorneys from Cooper and Kirk but they were considered “disloyal” by Wayne and Company and purged.

So who did they choose to handle their own challenge to the BATFE pistol brace ban? It had to be someone other than the attorney who just lost their motion to intervene, right?

Sadly, they went with William Brewer III again. Instead of going with a strong 2A attorney, they went with the attorney whose primary purpose seems to be to keep Wayne out of jail while getting as rich as possible in the process.

Why I don’t know and no one is saying. Even former 1st VP Willes Lee who has gone from stalwart Friend of Wayne to outspoken critic of the old guard is asking why.

Brewer seems to have the same insidious influence on Wayne and the Board as Rasputin did on Nicholas II and Alexandra. We all know how that ended for the Romanov Dynasty.

The NRA needs to declare its independence from Bill Brewer before he does any more damage to the organization – and the Second Amendment. Unfortunately, as things stand now, I see Brewer riding off into the sunset richer than ever and the NRA in shambles.

“In Congress, July 4, 1776” (Updated)

This is a document that I think every American should read at least once a year. As I said when I first started posting in the first year of this blog, it explains why we are citizens and not subjects. I have posted this every year since this blog was founded in 2010.

This year as I re-read it I am struck by how some of the offenses listed by Jefferson could almost be said of today’s US and state governments. For example, Illinois is trying to restrict the counties in which suits can be brought against it to Cook (Chicago) and Sangammon (Springfield). Likewise, the phrase “sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance” could apply to everything from the IRS to BATFE to virtually any Federal agency with regulatory powers.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:


For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton