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2/28/2013

2/27/2013

Ok Joe, I'll get a Shot gun

By Gabby

Since my last post was on the topic of shotguns, I thought I’d comment on the Vice President's Parent’s Magazine interview from 7 days ago, which also addressed their use. In the interview he was asked about a ban on “assault weapons” and how one would defend themselves without them.
His solution was to “get a shotgun,” and “fire two blasts into the air”.
First, I’d like to comment on his concept as a whole: Typical of politicians, with this statement, I believe he avoided answering the question. The question was about defense. How is firing into the air, a form of defense? Do the secret service fire warning shots into the air?

2/25/2013

Shotgunning : Skeet Adventure

By Gabby

#My friend BJ and I went skeet shooting a few weeks ago. Neither of us knew much about it, but he'd just bought a new shotgun and we were up for an adventure. BJ called the day before from a certain big box retailer, to say that he was picking up shells. You will recall from our Shotgun discussion, that you can get shells filled with different types of loads.

Shot that is made for sporting clays has a number of specific features. It does send out fragments like hunting loads but unlike hunting shells, these fragments are not lead. The lack of lead makes this sport surprisingly environmentally friendly. To that point, the Tom Lowe Shooting Grounds, that BJ and I visited is actually part of a state park.

Skeet Shooting AdventureWe got to the park early and were quickly out on the skeet field*, attempting to appear knowledgeable. Our puller, Jay, seemed brusk but I soon re-assessed him as verbally-efficient. He pointed out the low house and the high house*1 and how we would start at one house and move in a semicircle around the field. At each box*2, we would shoot 2-4 rounds at clays flying from either high or low (openings) in the two houses on either end of the field. When we got to the other house we would have attempted a total of 25 targets.

2/24/2013

Gun Control FAQ Part II

By Gabby

Gun Control FAQsPreviously, we covered questions like, "Why are you against gun-control?" and, "Who really need an automatic weapon?"
Here are a few more of the frequently asked questions I hear from non-gun people, and the responses I chose to give:

2/23/2013

Advice: Cleaning

When was the last time you cleaned your gun? (don't look at your hubby for the answer) It doesn't need to be done after every range visit, but it needs to be done regularly. Not knowing how is no excuse! I've combed YouTube for the best cleaning and field strip videos for some of the most common pistols around. Here is the growing collection in an ArmedCandy video playlist. Enjoy!

2/21/2013

Review: All Copper Hollow Point Ammo

By Gabby


Magtech First DefenseI recently had the opportunity to test some defensive ammo that intrigued me. Lead projectiles and firearms, go together like peanut butter and jelly, but Magtech's First Defense rounds with 100% copper bullets, turn that equation upside-down. The concept of an all copper bullet appeals to the Greenie in me, but if I ever need my defensive rounds for actual defense, I won't feel any different about shooting a bad guy and sparing him potential lead poisoning. There is a reason for the use of these bullets over those with a lead core.

2/20/2013

Press

Gabby's New Adventure

Bloggers Teaming Up
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More content for you!

ArmedCandy's Gabby Marcuus  hired by Gun Nuts Media

"... "I’m thrilled to have Gabby on board as another paid writer here at Gun Nuts” said Caleb Giddings, President of Gun Nuts Media. ..." [read more]
Gun Nuts Hires ArmedCandy's Gabby Marcuus


Get Gabby's Gun Nuts Posts by Email

2/19/2013

Wrong about .380 ?

Conflicting Opinions in ArmedCandy-Land ArmedCandy has no intention of sounding like any kind of expert. We like to tell you about what has worked for us and let you decide for yourself. Sometimes we hear opinions with which we personally, disagree, but as long as it's safe, we feel, the more the merrier! A loyal fan disagreed with an opinion I shared last week, and he's written a rebuttal piece. I'm so grateful for this input, I've decided to post it. Maybe, if we offer him lots of encouragement, he'll write some more, and even, join the ArmedCandy team!

2/18/2013

Gun Control's FAQ

By Gabby

#
Do you ever feel as though you are repeating yourself, A LOT. Lately, I feel like I am having the same conversation every time I open my mouth. Many of these conversations are happening with those who know very little about guns and really want answers to their questions, without an argument.

I do my best to answer them, without sounding like a broken record, because I believe that if these people are enlightened, they may associate guns with sane, open-minded Americans, and not criminals and crazies.

Here are a few of the frequently asked questions I hear, and the responses I chose to give:

2/17/2013

Concealable 9mm Pistols IV

By Gabby

CZ ProTek 9mm Concealed Carry handgunThe number one reason that firearms are a part of my life is because shooting brings me so much pleasure. Not only do I feel good when I shoot well, but knowing that I have this hobby and set of skills, makes me walk taller almost all the time. The case has been made to me that a conceal carry gun isn't a firearm that is enjoyable to shoot, but this concept bothers me. I don't want to own a gun that I don't like to shoot. I won't want to carry such a gun and I won't want to to pull it out and use it, if a need arises.

We've been discussing 9mm conceal carry pistols that are changing the way we think about carry guns, but how about we take it one step further? How would you like a concealable 9mm that would be the first out of your range bag when it's time to practice; A gun that, in a pinch, you might even use for competition...?

2/15/2013

Concealable 9mm Pistols III

By Gabby

Beretta Nano with White Frame Leave it to the Italians to bring us a pistol whose color we can change, as often as we change our shoes! At $50 per frame, a fashionista could collect all her favorite flavors and be stylish AND tactical. In the summer, her gauzy peasant top and white cropped skinny jeans, won't have trouble hiding a white framed gun.

2/14/2013

Concealable 9mm Pistols II

By Gabby

Gabby & XDs at SHOTShow  Media Day 2013Yep, I was giddy when I saw that sign. The XDs 9mm was within my grasp! Since shooting the XDs .45 I had been saying,
"I am gonna love that gun in a 9,"
so I went into the Springfield tent with high hopes.
XDs 9mm Walther PPS
To be clear, I already own a Walther PPS, which I am very happy with, but if I were in the market, I'd have a tough time deciding.
In the side by side comparison, it's hard to tell these two apart:

2/13/2013

Arm Yourself with Fun

By Gabby

Super Mario loves an M-16 I get very worried when I hear people say,
  "I need a gun, for my safety."
We have established many times that a gun is an inanimate object, a tool, so how will this purchase create safety? I'd like every person out shopping for a gun to ponder these questions. What will you do once you are a gun owner? Will you take a class? Will you visit the range often? Will you conceal carry? Just as owning an oven doesn't make you a baker, and owning a saw doesn't make you a carpenter, owning a gun does not automatically instill the ability to defend.

2/12/2013

Concealable 9mm Pistols I

By Gabby

Concealed Carry of a 9mm is possibleManufacturers have been slow to bring out real conceal carry options for us gals. Yes, there have been small .380s out there for a while but I refuse to consider this round as an option for 3 reasons:
1.It lacks stopping power
2.It's often built into small guns causing the shooter to feel all of the recoil and lengthening the time to regain one's sight picture and fire a second round.
3.It tends to be a less available round and therefor more expensive, than the more affective 9mm

So, this led me on the hunt for a conceal carry 9mm. After shooting the LC9 by Ruger, I quickly ruled it out.
If you are a new shooter please do not assume that the purchase of a gun is a one step process that leads to safety.[tweet this]
I want you to practice, A LOT. If your first gun purchase is your CCW, and you purchase a gun based solely on the fact that it is small, light and concealable, you will most like likely find, that it is uncomfortable to shoot. That was my experience with the LC9. And two years ago, that was one of the few options available.

2/11/2013

CZ's New Pistol & Other Guns You'll Love

By Gabby

CZ-USA P-09 If I had my way, every new pistol shooter would start out with a 22lr target plinker. Maybe a Browning Buckmark, or a Ruger Mark III. They would spend a few weeks getting really good with that and feeling very comfortable, and then we would proceed to a larger caliber. Again, in this fantasy of mine, my gun selection would be very specific. I would make a beeline for the CZ 75 platform in 9mm, and for a woman, chose the SP-01, for a guy, the new P-09 Duty.

2/09/2013

Advice: 1st gun shopping

New shooters/shoppers may not want to start off shooting the gun that they are planning to buy. Start small, work your way up slowly and practice your fundamentals. Don't rush yourself just because there's a sale going on or inventory is low. It'll cost you more in the long run. - ArmedCandy

2/08/2013

Defined: trigger weight

Trigger weight : How hard it is to pull a trigger back. This can be changed to make a gun easier to fire, or more difficult, for safety.

2/07/2013

And the winner is...

By Gabby

January ContestEver since the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut, we, in the gun world, have been living under a microscope. Yes, it's inconvenient and misdirected. None of my readers are criminals (I assume). We shouldn't have to apologize for the evil acts of one individual! However, when I take a step back and look at whole story of Adam Lanza, the shooter... and his mother, Nancy Lanza, I fear that my previous statements, may not be entirely true.

Read top contest entries below

2/06/2013

Defined: Double action, Single action

DA / SA or DAO / SAO
Ever see these designations in an ad for a firearm? This isn't gibberish. Those letters stand for something, and they can be the difference between weather you can pull a trigger, or not.  
Single Action : The trigger only does one thing, release the hammer to fire the gun. A gun designated as Single Action Only will always need to have it's hammer cocked, before the trigger is pulled. If not cocked, the gun will not fire.
Double Action : The Trigger must pull the hammer back AND release it on the firing pin. This trigger will be heavy and hard to pull. If the gun is Double Action Only, you will not be able to first pull a hammer back, in order to lessen the weight of the pull. 
Some pistols that have a standard type of trigger are...
1911 : SAO
Hammerless Revolver : DAO

2/05/2013

Guns & The UK

By Gabby

British oppinions toward guns On my trip to England, month before last, I was surprised to find myself having some very pleasant conversations about firearms. One young gentleman, who had been on his high school rifle team, went into great detail about the type of completions in which he was involved, the types of bolt action rifles he had handled and the permitting process for buying a firearm.