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SHOT Show Pre-Release: Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander

January 7, 2015 by 4 Comments

With the start of the SHOT Show being less than two weeks away, a number of new products are being released to the public. As these releases become public, I’ll be doing a series of pre-release posts on these new products. I should point out that I haven’t been made privy to any of the new products by their manufacturers before their release and have signed no non-disclosure agreement. So if someone slips up and the word gets out early, I’ll try to report it.

In that vein, Ruger will be releasing a new version of their SR1911 pistol. It will be a Lightweight Commander that will feature an aluminum alloy frame. According to the post on it by Richard Johnson at Guns, Holsters, and Gear, the pistol will weigh a mere 29.3 ounces. This is a reduction of over 6 ounces from the original steel-framed SR1911 Commander.

The MSRP for the new pistol is $899. This should mean the street price could be as much as $100 less. More details on the features can be found at the link above.

Ruger, itself, has not posted anything about the pistol on its website. Given they are a public company, announcements on new products are usually made there as it would be material information. I’m guessing this is one that slipped out a little early.

Ruger will be one of the exhibitors at Media Day at the Range so hopefully I’ll get a chance to shoot this one.

UPDATE: Ruger has now officially released the SR1911 Lightweight Commander. A list of its features is below: The titanium feed ramp mentioned below is to facilitate feeding of hollow-point bullets.

Features:

  • Classic, original 1911 Series 70 design.
  • Lightweight, anodized aluminum frame.
  • Polished titanium feed ramp.
  • Precision CNC-controlled machining process results in a superior slide-to-frame fit and smooth slide travel.
  • The stainless steel barrel and bushing are produced from the same bar stock, on the same machine, for improved accuracy.
  • Positive barrel lock-up allows for superior accuracy out of the box.
  • Oversized ejection port and extended magazine release enhance competition performance.
  • Thin hardwood grip panels, checkered backstrap and front strap serrations.
  • Lightweight, aluminum, skeletonized trigger features an adjustable over-travel stop and provides a very crisp, no creep, light trigger pull with a quick, positive reset.
  • Skeletonized hammer is lightweight and provides faster cycling.
  • Dovetailed, high-visibility 3-dot sight system features a Novak® LoMount Carry, windage adjustable rear and standard front sights that combine optimal target acquisition and an ideal carry configuration.
  • Oversized beavertail grip safety provides positive function and reliability.
  • Extended thumb safety and slide stop lever for improved, positive manipulation.
  • Integral plunger tube for slide stop and thumb safety is not staked and will never come loose.
  • Features a standard recoil guide system and flat mainspring housing.
  • Visual inspection port allows for visual confirmation of a loaded or empty chamber.
  • Rear slide serrations allow for positive grip.
  • Accepts all standard, aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories.
  • Also Includes: swaged link pin; titanium firing pin; two stainless steel magazines; bushing wrench; soft case.
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Chaffetz Renews Project Gunwalker Subpoena

January 7, 2015 by

In his first move as the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Operations Committee, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) renewed the subpoena issued to Attorney General Eric Holder.

Subpoenas die at the end of a session of Congress and thus need to be renewed. However, as Mike Vanderboegh notes, he doubts this will really go anywhere.

Sadly, I must agree with him. To the media, this is yesterday’s story no matter that people are still being killed and will be killed with the walked AKs for a long time to come. Moreover, with Holder leaving office as soon as Loretta Lynch is confirmed as Attorney General, the impetus to go after him will diminish.

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It Arrived!

January 6, 2015 by

I have been waiting for my SHOT Show credentials to arrive and my badge came today! I am official.

Sorry for the lack of blogging but I’ve been dealing with the upper/lower respiratory junk that has been going around. I have less than two weeks to get better as I really don’t want the thrill of SHOT to be dampened by a cold. I’ve been taking my Vitamin C, etc. I’ve also found that Wild Turkey’s American Honey (a honey bourbon liqueur) makes a dandy cough suppressant.

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Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Washington State’s I-594 On Vagueness Grounds

December 31, 2014 by 6 Comments

The Second Amendment Foundation has filed suit in Federal court against portions of Washington State’s Initiative 594. The suit charges that the new law infringes on the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the US Constitution as well as on portions of the Washington State Constitution.

They also allege that the new law is so vague that, “a person of ordinary intelligence cannot understand its scope, which renders it subject to arbitrary enforcement.” They go on to add, “The agencies of the State of Washington have so far either disclaimed the responsibility to interpret I-594 or provided interpretations that are so far removed from the language as to be useless.”

The business plaintiffs include the Northwest School of Safety, Puget Sound Security, Inc., Pacific Northwest Association of Investors, and the Firearms Academy of Seattle. The individual plaintiffs include SAF’s Alan Gottlieb, CalGun’s Gene Hoffman, the Gottlieb Revocable Family Living Trust, Andrew Gottlieb, Daryl Lee, CCRKBA’s legislative director Joe Waldron, and Xee Del Real. SAF is also a party to the suit.

The suit names Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, the Attorney General’s Office, and the head of the Washington State Patrol as the defendants. The suit seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction against the enforcement of I-594’s amendments to RCW 9.41 as it relates to:

non-commercial transfers of firearms to private citizens who are otherwise qualified
to possess firearms, or otherwise enforcing any policies, rules, or procedures prohibiting or
otherwise restricting the non-commercial transfer of firearms to private citizens who are
otherwise qualified to possess firearms.

 The suit entitled Northwest School of Security el al v Ferguson et al is being brought in US District Court for the Western District of Washington. A copy of the complaint can be found here.

The release from SAF is below:

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation today filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Tacoma, seeking a permanent injunction against enforcement of portions of Initiative 594, the 18-page gun control measure that took effect Dec. 4, alleging that “portions of I-594…are so vague that a person of ordinary intelligence cannot understand their scope,” and that other parts violate the Second Amendment outright.

Joining SAF in this action are the Northwest School of Safety, Puget Sound Security, Inc., the Pacific Northwest Association of Investors, the Firearms Academy of Seattle, six individual citizens including SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb and the Gottlieb Family Trust. They are represented by Seattle attorneys Steven Fogg and David Edwards, and Bellevue attorney Miko Tempski.

Named as defendants are Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, in their official capacities.

“We took this action due to the confusing and arbitrary language and nature of I-594,” Gottlieb explained. “Three of our plaintiffs, including my son, are residents of other states and cannot legally borrow handguns for personal protection while traveling in Washington. Under I-594, all transfers must be done through federally-licensed firearms dealers, but under federal law, dealers cannot legally transfer handguns to residents of other states. I-594 also essentially prohibits our non-resident plaintiffs from storing their own firearms here.

“This measure effectively infringes upon, if not outright prohibits, the exercise of their constitutionally-protected right to bear arms under the Second Amendment,” he added.

Gottlieb pointed to a recent directive from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to its volunteer hunter education instructors regarding firearms transfers in class that amount to “straw-man transfers.” The lawsuit also notes that the State Patrol said it could not prove that a change of possession not covered by an I-594 exemption was a “transfer,” making enforcement of the new law “difficult if not impossible.”

“We’re not trying to stop background checks,” Gottlieb said. “We’re taking action against a poorly-written and unconstitutionally vague measure that criminalizes activities that are perfectly legal anywhere else in the country, thus striking at the very heart of a constitutionally-protected, fundamental civil right.”

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I Don’t Think ABC’s David Muir Will Be Visiting These Folks In Georgia

December 30, 2014 by 3 Comments

ABC News’ anchor David Muir has been in charge of a series called “Made in America”. I’m guessing it has run for at least the last couple of years. I will give credit where credit is due – it has focused attention on the plight of US manufacturing and especially the small manufacturer. For example, after they pointed out the US Olympic Team that was outfitted with clothing made in China, the embarrassment brought some changes.

In the search for stuff that is still “Made in America”, I’ve always thought that they should do a story on that quintessential product that is still made on our shores – the firearm. However on second thought, given it is David Muir, perhaps we can skip that.

I came across a video this morning from a Georgia company called Armageddon Gear. They manufacture everything from slings to rifle cases to chest rigs for the AK. The promo video discusses how they make their products and then how they take the time to make sure their employees understand how the gear is used.

I just don’t see the well-coifed David Muir in his skinny jeans going down to Buena Vista, Georgia to go shooting with this group of bad-ass grannys.

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#ImBlockedByShannonWatts

December 29, 2014 by 5 Comments

There is a new Twitter hashtag that is gaining currency thanks to the thin skins of the gun prohibitionists. It is #ImBlockedByShannonWatts. It got started after Shannon Watts tweeted that she was blocked by the National Rifle Association. You can see one of the many retweets of it below.

It turns out that Shannon Watts and her fellow gun prohibitionists are not so pristine when it comes to blocking opponents. Over the past few years, I found myself blocked first by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (sic) and then by Sarah Brady as you can see below.

I had been following Shannon Watts for a number of months now. It helps to keep an eye on the opposition and she (or some minion) seems to be quite active on Twitter. After seeing the #ImBlockedByShannonWatts hashtag on a tweet by Bob Owens of Bearing Arms, I got curious. Lo and behold I have made the esteemed company of those blocked by Shannon Watts! As a mere blogger I find this extremely gratifying.

Not only has Shannon blocked me but so has Moms Demand Action.

The background for the Moms Demand Action Twitter page happens to be from their little (and I do mean little) gathering in Indianapolis during the NRA Annual Meeting. That is when she refused to talk with Dana Loesch about derogatory remarks made against Dana by her. This is when she was also seen with “men in black” hired guns provided by Bloomberg.

I’m also blocked by Everytown Moms for Illegal Mayors.

Not wanting to feel left out, the Brady Campaign has also blocked me.

About the only other major, and I use that term loosely, gun prohibitionist organization that hasn’t blocked me is the Violence Policy Center. Not that I’ll ever agree with them but at least they have the courage of their convictions and don’t block their opponents.

I think the NRA made a mistake by blocking Shannon Watts. The move reinforces her aura of being “just a stay-at-home mom” working for “gun safety”. She is neither just a stay-at-home mom nor working for gun safety. She is the corporate shill for a meddling billionaire politician who wants to abrogate our constitutional rights.

I would encourage any gun rights activist who is active on Twitter to check to see if he or she is blocked by Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) or any of the gun prohibitionists organizations. If so, let the world know it by using the hashtag above. What Watts will call “bullying”, I would call the truth.

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It Feels Right

December 27, 2014 by 2 Comments

Chris Muir at Day by Day Cartoon, as per usual, nails it. He calls out lefty filmmaker (and gun law violator) Rajina Sincic and Americans for Responsible Solutions as well as those SJW* who continue to perpetuate the U.Va. rape hoax story.

Courtesy of Chris Muir

After reading this cartoon, I have this running through my head! Listen at your own risk.

*SJW = Social Justice Warrior – I had to look up this acronym a few weeks ago after seeing it used frequently on Facebook. Those darn kids and their newfangled acronyms!

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Panteao Productions Added As New Sponsor

December 23, 2014 by

When I first started this blog in 2010, I was very reluctant to add any advertising. Over time my thinking changed. I saw that by adding selected sponsors I could raise money for pro-Second Amendment groups. I started with Lucky Gunner and have since added When the Balloon Goes Up and Amazon. While the money raised hasn’t been overwhelming, it has resulted in significant donations towards pro-Second Amendment work.

Today I am adding Panteao Productions. They produce some of the best firearms training DVDs around. I have bought several of their Make Ready with the Experts DVDs over the last few years. Recently, they have added a subscription service to streaming videos as well as have expanded to Make Ready to Survive which emphasizes preparedness.

You can see the link below the Blog Archive.

Remember, it costs you nothing extra to purchase a Panteao DVD or subscription through this blog. However, each time you do purchase something, that means a not insignificant portion of your dollar goes to supporting the Second Amendment.

Panteao is currently offering many of their Make Ready with Experts DVDS at 30-50% off. Moreover, they are discounting their annual subscriptions by 25%. This gives you access to ALL of their videos.

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What Would Milo Think?

December 20, 2014 by 5 Comments

My best friend was a Cuban-American.

I first met Emilio Rodriguez in grad school at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1979. We were both students in the political science doctoral program. He in International Relations and me in Public Administration and Public Policy. He went on to get his PhD from Carolina while I got a wife and no degree. In fact, he was the one who introduced me to my late first wife Rosanne.

Milo went on to teach at the University of South Alabama, the American College of Switzerland, and finally at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland where he made an indelible mark on his students. He was leading a semester trip abroad in 2008 to Ireland  when he passed away from complications related to his kidney and pancreas transplant. Even now as I write this I am getting a lump in my throat and my eyes are moist.

Milo with his wife Amy, son John, and daughter in law Michelle.

While Milo was born in New Orleans to a Cuban dad and American mom, he spent much of his youth before the Cuban Revolution living in Havana. He had no love for Castro and the Communists.

Photo by Burt Glinn, Magnum Photos

I will always remember the stories Milo told about what it was like when the Communists came to power. The story that always resonated with me was about how they took his toy trains when he was an eight year old. They took them because Milo’s family wasn’t part of the proletariat.

What kind of people take a kid’s toy trains in the name of La Revolución.


Now that Barack Obama has unilaterally re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba, I wonder what Milo would think. Milo was a pro-military, pro-gun kinda-liberal college professor who grew up in Miami and Madrid. He enjoyed Duke basketball, good cigars, good Scotch and cognac, military re-enacting, and girl watching. He may have said it was time or he may have said, “hell, no!”. And frankly, I’ll never know. As for me, I’m trending towards the “hell, no!” response so long as any Castro is alive and in power.