Newsflash: US Service Members vote against pay cut!

Survey: Nine in 10 Troops Oppose Cuts to Pay, BAH | Military.com.

Hard to believe right?  I have to say it would be a bit obvious that the men and women would prefer to get a better compensation than not.  The poll also reveals that 96% surveyed disagree with Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps in that compensation, benefits and retirement benefits are not on the mind of Marines.  I can’t speak for the individual Marines, but compensation, benefits, and retirement were all part of my decision to become a soldier.  Don’t get me wrong, I felt obligated to pay a societal debt and do my part for the greater good, but earning a living and long term planning were definitely part of the decision.  It amazes me how someone who has made it to that position, could be so ungrounded and assuming that all the men and women below him were cattle going through the motions without any self serving thoughts such as cost of living pay increase, and better long term benefits of spending a lifetime in military service.

 

Authored By Halon330 Remember, I'm not crazy, just extremely sincere!

Appauling view of gun rights activists courtesy of David Frum

Why Gun-Rights Backers Win While Other Conservative Causes Lose – David Frum – The Atlantic.

I read this article after finding it on www.sayuncle.com.  Link to their post here.

I found it difficult to read the entire article.  When reading the article it was as if I could feel my IQ dropping with each sentence that entered my brain.  How dare we use common sense, logic, and facts to backup our political views and the hobbies we participate in.  I feel dumber for having read the article, so please excuse any mistakes in this article as I am writing directly after reading Mr. Frum’s gushing fountain of ignorance.

So biggest message is that pro gun legislation and support is directly related to racism as all gun toting, card carrying, good ole boys are southern Caucasian racists and have found a way to be racist in a semi-acceptable manner.  Since this is typed I won’t repeat it, but I bet you do read it again.

I’m dumbfounded.  I’m not sure how to respond to this article because it is so absurd I’m not sure how to respond in a language that would be understood by the author.  Reading the article makes it clear that facts and logic will not sway his opinion.

Let’s do a quick skim play by play:

  •  Start’s out with a few backhanded compliments.  Lists some major political triumphs, but does so in a way that is offensive.
  • Here we go with all the numbers, of which I can find no reliable source.  Anti-gunners always have tons of these statistics that I take with a grain of salt because I have yet to have one give me the source that isn’t another anti-gunner that is regurgitating what he heard from another.  Never a definitive source of data that provides enough information to validate the results.  I want to see the exact survey or study, who the sample group is and how large, what the controls were, and the method.  If I go to a gun store and conduct a survey, my results would differ from those at a pacifist group hug.  To get accurate results I would need to survey an unbiased sample.  Both the supporters, those against, and those who aren’t neck deep in either view.  Preferably a very large sample, as the larger the sample group, the more accurate the results. End rant!
  • He does link to this Gallup Poll.  Here is an excellent example of skewed reporting.  The poll is from 2005, in which 1012 adults age 18 or higher are the entire sample group.  In 2005 the American population was reported as 295.52 million.  I wanted to find the population of over age 18, but didn’t come up with it in the first few minutes of research,  so we will just use total population.  Let’s do some math, this is where we will lose the anti gunners as this will produce a fact!  1012 out of 295,520,000 people is a sample group of 0.0003% of Americans.  Well, that should accurately reflect the entirety of Americans, Right?  Gallup estimates a possible error rate of ±3%.  Words escape me.  How were the sample group picked.  Were they all business cards from some conference?  Without ensuring an equal diversity in those selected for survey in appropriate ratios to how those diversities align with the population, the results hold much less accuracy than a ±3% error rate.
  • So, using whatever data supports his opinion, gun owners are a tiny portion of Americans that somehow manipulate policy and legislation.  I find it hard to believe that gun ownership is dropping at the indicated rates when gun sales are at an unbelievable  high.  Oh here it is, 6% of Americans own 65% of all firearms in America.  I can’t swallow this one either.  I know there are many shooters that have far superior income than I, and as such have a larger collection of things that boom.  I can’t believe there are so many with personal arsenals of more firepower than a small country, that would make this statement true.
  • Many quotes from LaPierre, while indication how racially neutral the comments are, only to indicate this is what makes them racist.  So by not having the racist overtone that all white Americans must have, he is the secret leader of the racist movement disguised as free Americans seeking to get closer to real freedom, or at least not be further oppressed.  I wonder if Colion Noir is a gun rights activist because he follows LaPierre’s imaginary racist agenda?
  • Microstamping, more of this insane nonsense.  Why would the NRA oppose microstamping that would assist police in tracing ammunition?  Mostly because it is an unrealistic technology that doesn’t work, and is being used to covertly infringe on the rights of Americans.  I’m certain that all criminals in possession of a firearm, that intends to use it in a crime would instantly run and purchase a firing pin that supports microstamping, and register said pin with law enforcement.  More likely, some would figure out that if they go to their local range they can pick up some brass fired by those forced into servitude by an absurd ordinance that have microstamping pistols, and seed the crime seen with said brass.  Can anyone see the benefit of getting the police to focus on someone other than the criminal?

That’s all of it I can stand to review.  Feel free to read the article, but prepare for brain numbing idiocy.

Authored By Halon330 Remember, I'm not crazy, just extremely sincere!

War of the Rails

Magpul has launched a new attachment system at the NRA annual meeting.

I first learned of it from Soldier Systems.  Link to source here.

So it seems KeyMod now has some competition.  Here is a little history of each:

Picatinny Rail has been around for quite some time.  Also known as MIL-STD-1913.  Picatinny is often but not accurately interchanged with Weaver rail.  Picatinny rails are attached to using Weaver style mounts, but the Picatinny adopted a slightly different standard that is adhered to due to the MIL-STD use.  The only difference I know of between Weaver and Picatinny are the slot width is smaller on Weaver, and the spacing between slots is not standardized.  Many mounts however, are designed to work with either rail type.
1913 1913 spec

KeyMod was developed by VLTOR, first released by Noveske, and named by Eric Kincel.  The name having come from Key for the shape of the attachment point, and Mod to reflect the trend at VLTOR of naming accessories using Mod for Modular.  It was then released to public domain for use by the industry.  Since becoming a public standard that any manufacturer can use without licensing, many manufactures have started adopting the KeyMod standard.  I have a couple rifles that use this platform on the handguard rather than the bulky Picatinny rails.
Keymod Example keymod spec

M-LOK, the contender.  Magpul has just announced the M-Lok is being released to public domain.  It addresses the negatives of Picatinny in similar fashion to KeyMod.  They both reduce weight, bulk, and the cheese grater effect some sharply machined rails have on hands.  However Magpul took it a few steps further in simplicity.  M-Lock requires less effort in machining, and also less tooling.  Theoretically reducing costs.  Per the Magpul PDF attached to this article, also allowing use with polymer manufacturing where KeyMod is implied to have disadvantages.
m-lok diagram m-lok spacing Magpul M-LOK

My thoughts are simple.  All will work, all will allow attachment of all the things people desire to add to their weapons system.  I believe what it will boil down to is cost and availability.  There will be that crowd that always jumps on every trend first, while cost may not be worth it to me.  So far what I see most Average Joe’s doing with KeyMod, is using it to attach Picatinny rails where they want to attach an accessory.

All of my accessories are designed for Picatinny Rail, and I see no reason to go and replace all my goodies because it is the hot new thing.  As more accessories are made to use KeyMod and M-LOK I may start acquiring them, but for me to maintain compatibility between all of my accessories, and all of my platforms, 1913 Picatinny is the only common factor, and I can add 1913 in varying lengths, angles, and colors to KeyMod or M-LOK platforms.

Adding 1913 rail as needed allows me flexibility, weight savings, slimmer grip area, and nothing tearing flesh from my hands.  I see this being the route 99% take for years to come.  I can’t justify the cost of throwing out free floats and accessories I have hoarded through the years, just to have the newest platform.  I seem to focus on practicality, and interchangeability is higher priority than tacticool for me.

Additional Information:
Notes and FAQ from Magpul: M-LOK_Release_FAQs
Details on Magpul Site

Authored By Halon330 Remember, I'm not crazy, just extremely sincere!

Texas Dept. of Public Safety suspends transition to M&P 9mm.

Link to source:  http://www.texastribune.org/2014/04/17/dps-suspends-use-new-handgun-over-concerns/

Looks like Texas DPS isn’t satisfied with the Smith and Wesson M&P.  They are reporting accuracy and reliability.  The accuracy complaint appears to be that that they saw some minor movement in the sights.  The reliability is stated as “Feeding and Ejection” issues.  I would like to learn more about the issues they are having.

Either way, the issues were significant enough that they are issuing the class Sig pistols rather than the S&W.  Personally I’m not a raging fan of the M&P line.  No specific complaints.  I only have limited trigger time with them and what M&P’s I have had the opportunity to shoot, didn’t seem to reveal anything special.  I suppose I should get my hands on a few and do a full review.  Until then stay posted, If anyone has more detailed information than that in the linked article please post up in the comments.

 

Authored By Halon330 Remember, I'm not crazy, just extremely sincere!