My First Big Bore, the Sig P245

Well, things finally worked out, and I am now the proud owner of a used but still minty, Sig-Sauer P245. This .45 ACP is has a compact 3.9inch barrel but a nearly subcompact grip. It disappears OWB or IWB. It uses 6 round magazines normally, but this one came with three 8rd magazines with grip extensions. I'll be carrying with the 6rd mags but keep the 8rd mags for reload.

This particular Sig is special, as I know and have been friends with the original owner, Alan, from SnarkyBytes for several years now. It has even spend time on the range with the world's most dangerous librarian. It is a most welcome addition to the household arsenal, and I look forward to hitting the range with it.

I picked up a simple Don Hume 721, thumb break holster for CC and OC. It also works well with my Zurich Sig 225. While not fitting as tightly, the thumb break keeps it nicely secure. However, I am considering some nice leather for this one.

Walmart is Testing the Waters with EBRs

I managed to find out from a manager that the Sigs and Bushmasters are not part of our replenishable inventory. They were apparently bought in bulk and are currently going out to stores to test the waters to see if such rifles will generate enough sales to become regular inventory. As such, the stores cannot order additional rifles. Instead, stores can put in a request for the rifles but with no assurance that they can actually get one. If you see one and the price is right, grab it. There's no telling when and if we will see the rifles become a normal item in the inventory. However, my store has sold every Sig m400 and 522 we've had in, though the Bushmaster has been untouched. I think that we will see EBRs as part of the regular inventory. Just can't say when.

More Intel on Walmart Evil Black Rifles

Talked to the manager over sporting goods. According to him, there is no order catalog for the Sigs and Bushmasters that have been showing up. As they sell, replacements are automatically ordered by the perpetual inventory system and sent to the store. I've asked him about finding out more. However, it being the holiday season, this might take a while.

SIG 522 sighted at Walmart!

A SIG-Sauer 522, the .22lr 556 lookalike, was waiting for someone to buy it in the guncase at work. It had the iron sights included and was priced at $487. I've been wanting one for a long while. If I wasn't getting the Sig 245, I would have most likely bought it today. Nevertheless, this is the second true evil black rifle to be seen on Walmart shelves recently. Hopefuly, we will see lots more and be able to order them.

I'm working on using my employee status to get some concrete details on what all will be listed for special order. So far, I have found out that Walmarts are supplyed by South Sports, which is a major distributor that sells just about everything out there. There are instructions for ordering a catalog, but I'm still hunting for the new one we should either have already or be getting soonish.

UPDATE ON ORDERING

MWUAHA! We Win Again!

Whilst slaving away for my dark corporate masters( and the lesser bovine overseer) last night, I saw something that brought quite the smile and euphoria. A Remington AR-15! This is beyond good news and not just because I get 10% on it! It means a major victory for the pro-gun side. That mighty Walmart, which tries hard to avoid controversy and stay politically correct, finds that the profit of selling Evil Black Rifles trumps any possible negative press or political reactions.

I think they're even selling them with full capacity magazines too. Double score!

I seriously hope that they're going to offer a lot more interesting rifles and shotguns from now on. Getting that 590a1 or Sig 522 will be a lot easier with 10% off the top!

Too bad that damn bovine overseer had to ruin my natural high. Grr.

Friday Wishlist: Clean out the Ruger p345

I've looked around a lot of .45 acp handguns. One that I have considered often is the inexpensive Ruger p345. It's a solid polymer framed single stack 45 featuring a very conventional DA/SA trigger. The p345 is pretty slim, has a great feel on the grip, and is neither too heavy nor too light. However, the safety systems are the main problem here. It features a magazine safety, a weird external safety lever, piles of warnings, loaded chamber indicator, and a locking system. The magazine safety actually is so poorly designed that dry firing can shatter the firing pin. I've heard a lot of good things about this gun. And even more after the mag safety is removed. I'd like to see a version that might not sell in CA or Mass, but will make us shooters in the more gun-friendly states start buying these boys up fast. Ruger try taking out the mag safety, redesign the safety or remove it entirely, and take some of the other PC garbage off your otherwise solid design!

After Six Days and No Posts, Sig-madness is upon me!

Been a busy several days! I've been busy wheeling and deal. Several very unused pieces of my firearm and accessory collection have been sold off in this past week. Buying and selling guns is actually a lot of fun. However, I find that it is dangerous to do this in that once you have money in hand, it starts to slowly evaporate. Soon the nickles and dimes add up and there's nothing left! I'm trying to not let that happen! I plan on spending as much on a new gun, as a I made on selling old ones.

Originally, I planned to snag a nice Mossberg 590a1 and some more pocket guns, but the siren call of the .45 acp is beckoning... And handguns are just more fun than shotguns damn it. I stumbled upon a steal for a Sig 220, but alas, I stumbled minutes too late. Sigs are easily one of my favorite pistols. I have an excellent little Swiss Sig 225, an excellent single stack 9mm, and I've long wanted a Sig 228. However, I'm currently fixated upon the 220 series. After a few days spent hitting the refresh in a vain attempt to beat someone to a deal at SigForum, I finally have a line a Sig 245 owned by a friend of mine. A discontinued but interesting variation of the well proven 220 series specialized for carry.

UPDATE: this is the particular 245 that I am working hard to acquire. I was surprised to learn it was a coveted duo tone! Sweet!

Late-Friday Wishlist: Modern .7.62x25mm Handgun

We got some tiny weirdo micro rifle/pistol hybrids these days like the 5.7 FN and that uber tiny 4.6mm H&K, but the good ol 7.62x25mm Tokarov is still a speedy powerful round that can still defeat some modern soft armor through velocity alone. Plus with modern ammunition this .30 cal gets a boost in effectiveness and still has a lot of weight in comparison to the sub-rifle rounds. So lets see a modern double stack polymer frame handgun in 7.62 Tok. Even if its not necessarily practical, I think that the this old school fire-breather would be just AWESOME to shoot!

More Thoughts on Pistol Caliber Carbines Options

This week GunBlogger Conspiracy regular, veteran Vicious Circler, & part-time rock & roll clown, Weerd, discussed pistol carbines and their virtues and deficiencies. I seriously do agree with most of his post. I have long held that pistol caliber carbines make excellent defensive tools. Accuracy, stability, low recoil, inexpensive practice, and sharing your handguns caliber. He also mentions

(tho technically you gain a bit of muzzle energy from that same pistol ammo, tho the end result is mostly academic) and the stopping power of a rifle or a shotgun)

This is actually only partially true. For most of the your semiautomatic pistol cartridges, it is correct. Perhaps a 100 or 150 fps can be added with the addition of a 16 inch barrel. This is due to the fact most all semi-auto carts are loaded with fast burning powders. They very quickly burn up the powder and if the barrel cannot go much past 16 inches before velocity begins to degrade. However, if you look at revolver cartridges, something magical happens. Most revolver cartridges are loaded with slow burning powder. Where fast burning powders have already reached their full kinetic force, slow powders are still building up.

Buffalo Bore provides an excellent example of this with their heavy(not +P) 125grain .357 magnum load. From a 4inch revolver this spicy load dishes out muzzle velocity of 1603fps. That's about 150 over the more classic hot anti-personnel 125grain loading. However, in 18.5inch barreled Marlin lever action, this load has an incredible 2298fps. It is firmly in the realm of the 30-30 and the classic 7.62x39 soviet rifle loads in speed and kinetic energy delivery.

It is a similar tale with other calibers such as the .45 colt and .44 magnum. Another example is Buffalo Bore's .44 magnum 180grain Anti-Personnel which exits a 18.5 inch barrel at 1987fps which is 570fps over the same round from a 4inch revolver.

I've known this for some time, but Weerd's comment made me think about this fact a bit more closely. I think decided to hit up Google and see if anyone has any slow burning loads for automatic pistol cartridges. While, I found no commercial loadings, I did find the results of an experiment one fine gentleman had loaded for himself to try out with a hi-point 9mm carbine. The results, if correct, are very impressive. He used Wolf 9mm and bulk Winchester white box as control groups, both using 115grain projectiles. They averaged at about 1250fps and 1300fps respectively. Then he used 3 loadings of his slow powder each with 115 grain projectiles. One load was near the maximum pressure for 9x19 using Blue Dot powder. It gave out an amazing average of 1700fps! WWB has an average speed of about 1150fps from a handgun. That is fairly normal for a non-+P 9x19 load. 1700fps out of the same cartridge in a 16inch barrel is not just academic. It's a game changer. Concealable class II bullet resistant vests could not be trusted to stop that sort of velocity. It adds a lot to the platform.

Despite these impressive findings, I am still a bit concerned with a few questions. Would it cause problems to the firearm being that its slow powder? Will it overheat faster? Can the barrel take the velocity? Will it cycle properly?

I shall try to remain optimistic about this. After all, the slow powder experiment was carried out successfully with a Hi-Point 995, which means I think ANY 9mm carbine in good condition could to it too. 9mm AR-15s are becoming more and more popular as time goes on and ammo prices mount. Some of these are going to be dedicated platforms too. They may be earmarked for younger or weaker family members in case of disaster. Uzi carbines, kel-tec sub-2000s, Beretta Storms, and a smattering of others are also available and would also be solid choices for a 2nd line defensive carbine or a primary depending on the user. A few magazines of higher velocity carbine loads would certainly go a very long way for the normally low power of the caliber. If viable, 9x19mm carbine specific loads might be something we see ammunition makers, big and small, work on next.

Japan: Gun Cultures in Worlds of Oppression

No big secret that I'm a big fan of Japanese animation and comics. I came to it in my teenage years after never seeming to find the kinds of visual science fiction that I desired. In the 18 years since, I've learned a lot about the culture and people of Japan in conjunction with this hobby.

One thing I learned was of the Gun and Sword Act. Since the 1600's, the common people have been effectively banned from owning weapons in Japan. This was quickly placed into effect by the Tokugawa Shogunate to cement their dominate position for the next 250 years. Even today, the Japanese have one of the lowest numbers of firearms in the world. It is almost 99.9% true that only the cops and criminals have guns in Japan. Despite this, I have discovered that there is indeed a firearms culture still struggling inside of Japan. Only has to look in their art to see the carefully drawn images of Glocks, m4s, Smith & Wesson both revolvers & semiautomatics. If it didn't matter, they wouldn't be so lovingly and exactingly depicted on the pages of comics and digital animation cells. They study them. They spend hours researching from some of the very same pictures we take of our own rifles, shotguns, and handguns just to show off. For these artists, this is gold.

Airsoft is popular there. Folks of all ages go play commando with what they legally can. Some save up to go on shooting parties in other countries. In their own country it is illegal for them to even touch a gun without a license. Yet, they're still there. Multitudes of common people, just like us, that want to go shoot a gun just for the joy of doing it. They talk like we do in gun shops and internet forums, but sadly most of them have no actually experience. They play the same video games that are getting our younger gunnie generation the urge to get out and shoot! But no one will ever be there to let them try out a Sig or an AK for their first time out to the range.

It's heartbreaking when you realize there are decent folks that honestly have no chance of changing things in their own country. Japan is more a police state than even many third world nations. We have comrades there and in many other countries all over the world. Put a few extra rounds down range for them. As long as we can keep owning and shooting, maybe we can give them a little hope.

Friday Wishlist: Bayonet Ready Mossberg 590a1 18.5 with 6rd tube

The excellent Mossberg 590a1 is a military issue pump action shotgun in use by the US military and various law enforcement agencies across the US. Despite the many versions with differing sights, finishes, stocks, and accessories offered, there are only two primary size/capacity versions available. The 20inch barrel version which features a 8rd magazine and the 18.5 inch barrel type with a 5 round magazine. The 20inch versions often feature a bayonet lug, while the 18.5 inch version's magazine is considerably shorter than the barrel making a bayonet attachment impossible. Shorter shotguns are easier to wield in close spaces. My 870 wears a 18.5 and a short stock and is only an inch over a yard long for that very reason! However, mine has a 6rd magazine tube that is virtually flush with the muzzle. Unfortunately, the design of the shorter 590a1 means that it is always limited to 5rds. No extension is possible. Also that eliminates something I'd also like on static defensive shotgun. 8inches of sharp steel. Good for a phalanx against goblins and rioting chavs during reload.

Mossberg. You make a very beloved shotgun. One that the infamous JayG loves for its stabbity goodness. However, I, and I'm certain lots of other people, would love to see a bayonet ready, 6rd magazine version of your 18.5 590a1. Guys, it would SELL. Remington would not be happy. I would not have an 870 right now. I'd have an 590a1.

Oh yeah, I'd have one of these sweet ass Ontario USMC bayonets on it. 8inches of carbon steel stabbolicious.

Friday Wishlist: S&W 6shot j-frame

Not too long ago, Taurus put out a new version of one of their better regarded products, the Taurus 85 j-frame size revolver. This new version, the 856 was available in a new weird but light magnesium frame and a classic steel frame, but the biggest difference was that it was a 6shooter instead of a 5. I had the opportunity to handle one and even briefly drop it into my own 638's Mika Pocket Holster. It fit perfectly despite being slightly larger. This was very tempting. It wasn't a concealed or bobbed hammer design, but it still was an extra round for not much more weight and a virtually unnoticeable increase in size. Smith & Wesson... Why have you not done this? Offer this for about 100 to 150 more in alloy, scandium, and steel. If you did this with a concealed hammer, tritium sight, and perhaps a 20oz scandium frame, it would literally be the perfect CCW revolver. A 4inch version with longer grip, full steel frame, and a slicked up trigger would be a wonderful first gun for a lot of people with smaller hands. If you make it. They will buy!

Friday WishList: Ruger Redhawk .45 colt/.45 acp

In the last few years Ruger made a new 4inch version of their classic Redhawk large bore revolver in .44 magnum and .45 Colt. After seeing the new S&W Governor which is .410, 45colt, and cut for .45 acp moon clips, I am suddenly wondering why it wouldn't be good for Ruger to offer a version of the Redhawk .45 Colt thats cut for moonclips too. The Redhawk can take the powerful magnum level .45 colt +Ps and will both serve as a hunting revolver and a bear defense gun. For home defense, good loads for .45 colt are rare and expensive, but not so with .45 ACP! With piles of choices for plinking and defensive loads, .45acp is also generally available everywhere ammo is solid. The moon clips would make for faster reloads while administering 'social services'. You'd have me sold. I'm really considering a Governor for its excellent price point and extremely versatility of a gun in functional calibers. But a Redhawk can go full house magnum power, the S&W cannot. If you're reading this Ruger, please consider this!

Former Tools of the State

Here, I have two former government weapons reformed into a private security role. The stock Ruger GP-100 3inch .357 mag was used by the Canadian police but later re-imported to the US. Currently, Ruger only sells the 3inch GP with a full underlug.


This 12 gauge 870mag did light prison duty starting back in the 80's. Back then, they built them with all metal parts making it equivalent if not better than the modern 870police. It's wearing a short 12inch Hogue stock and a solid tri-rail system forearm. The weapon light is the excellent Streamlight TLR-1 LED. The magazine extension is the proven Wilson Tactical +2. The entire package is only just over 36inches long.


The .357 magnum and the 12 gauge shotgun shell are venerable partners in service to governments and civilians alike. They'll both be still doing their jobs long after we're all gone.

The Desert Turkey

I'm really sick of seeing Desert Eagles in the movies, on TV, in video games, and in books. How many kids have wanted a 'Deagle' so they can pwn zombies or counter terrorists and look awesome doing it? I do not really want to know. It would depress the hell out of me.

The truth is the Desert Eagle is one of the LAST 'weapons' I would want to own for impending zombie hordes, civil unrest, home defense, every day carry, concealed carry, and/or nazis. It should be one of the last ones YOU want either!

The Desert Eagle is a semi-automatic gas operated pistol designed by Magnum Research. Its Wikipedia article is available if anyone is interested in specifics. It is designed to fire high caliber and magnum cartridges. It can be found in .357 Remington Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Remington Magnum, and .50 Action Express.

First off, most of these calibers are rimmed. The .357,.41, and .44 were all designed around use in a revolver rather than a semi-automatic. The protruding rims are not designed for use in a vertical magazine. They have done very well in horizontal magazines such as on lever action rifles. However, inside a vertical magazine there is the possibility for the rims to catch on one other, causing a rimlock jam. The .50 Action Express is rimless as most automatic cartridges.

The size of the cartridges causes another set of problems. The cartridges are all very long. At 33mm for the .357 and only slightly under that for the rest, these cartridges' cases are longer than a loaded 10mm auto or a .45 acp. Having been designed for use in a revolver's cylinder, length was not so much issue. However, in a grip magazine its longer than most people can comfortably can hold.

The next problem is ergonomic. All of these calibers of Desert Eagle are single stack magazines. The capacity is limited to single digits. A mere 7rds for the .50AE version. Despite this, the grips are still massive. They are as wide as many double stack automatics and considerably longer. Considering the problems folks with smaller hands have with Berettas and Glocks, the Desert Eagle is downright unfriendly. Next, the weight of a Desert Eagle is monstrous. At 4lbs 2.5 oz. its heavy enough to break open doors or crush small children. Well, at least its nearly as heavy as the classic m1-carbine! It weights 50% more than a classic steel framed 1911 and nearly double the weight of many modern alloy and polymer framed handguns.

Reliability is going to be a major issue. Care must be taken to select the proper ammunition if the rimmed cartridge versions are used. Revolvers can take just about any shape of bullet and fire reliably. Lead, semi-wadcutter, full metal jacket, jacketed soft point, hollow point or whatever will fit in the hole will work. Automatics are not so forgiving. They must smoothly slide from magazine into the chamber. Anything that might hang is a risk even in the best of autos. If that wasn't enough, the rounds must be powerful enough to engage the slide to go fully back. Revolvers never had to worry about this, so some .44 mag you find in some drawer might be a light load, when your Desert Eagle needs a full house load! The gas system is also unusual and will need watching. Its complex, and will need cleaning.

Cost is another issue that demands attention. The DE starts out at $1,300 USD for any model. Depending on options, it can escalate beyond $2,000. Wait, it gets worse! I think anyone wanting a combat pistol, needs to think about having at least 50rds in magazines and or speed loaders(including in side the pistol) rounding up. For the .357's 9rd mags thats 6 magazines. .41 and .44 mag get 8rd mags so 7. The .50 AE needs 8 magazines to be ready to go. CDNNInvestments has these magazines for any caliber marked for $38.99. We can deduct one from the count for the single magazine that would come with these monsters. $233.94, $272.93, and $311.92 plus shipping! And ammunition? Good lord.

For a minimum of 100rds of quality defensive ammunition we hit up AmmoEngine. For the .50 AE its Hornady HPs, for $1.26 at shot. So $126.00 for quality ammo. Well how about for training? $1.25 per round.

The .44 magnum is much more reasonable. Its only 56 cents per round for the cheap Jacketed Hollow Point. If it works out for you. If you want better like the Speer Gold Dot, expect around $25 a box of 20. For training its FMJ, its .56 cents a round again from Magtech.

The .41 magnum doesn't have a big following, nor do I think they actually make the DE in this caliber anymore, but its still out there. Winchester silvertips will run you $1.14 per shot. Making the 100rds rounds of HPs pricey. The cheapest load for plinking with this semi-auto might be another JHP from Ammo direct for only 63 cents a round.

.357 magnum really has the advantage here. Its less expensive than the others as its wildly used still for self-defense. At a mere .38 cents per round of training ammo its much cheaper to shoot more. Quality defensive rounds are less than double that per round. And theres a lot to choose from! Sadly, the DE cannot take .38special like a .357 revolver can.

The Desert Eagle is not a military weapon, its a big loud TOY. It has a niche in sport shooting, and some utility in hunting. If you want a powerful fighting handgun, either go with a tradition double action revolver or a semi-automatic in one of the more common higher powered automatic calibers such as 10mm auto or .45 super.

The .357 version would be the 'best' choice the shortbus group due to its larger magazine size and the commonness of .357mag. But is it worth it? Why not spend less on the gun, and more on the ammunition and equipment? Why not a nice revolver? Like the 8shot Smith & Wesson 627 line! The subject of my next post.

Edit: I think Turkey is a better word than sparrow.