A second ticket on the filthy Ferris wheel, five extra boxes of lame-ass sparklers, or me — the man who has almost single-handedly guaranteed that never again will you think of a Billy Jack roundhouse kick unironically.
That takes skillz, people. So do choose wisely.
And if you choose me, please give this month til it hurts: Jeff is planning, finally, to arm his entire family. With handguns.
— Except for the baby, of course. He’s just going to have to make do for a bit with the rattle I’ve modified, using gorilla glue and some rusty pushpins I found in an old bulletin board, into a kind of tiny, makeshift mace.
(wee) outlaw!
****
update: Thanks again to all who’ve contributed. I’m about half-way to my goal this month — which, with my pittance from Google ads, means I’m about half-way to the pistol I’ve decided on, the FN FNP 45 Tactical (with a Trijicon dual illumination amber MOA 7 sight). With 15+1 available to me in .45 ACP, the zombie hordes stand little chance making it through my backyard.
And those not zombie hordes with similar ill intent? Well, they’re going to fare even worse, is my guess.
Went to the local gun club yesterday as a guest of my instructor and shot some .22, some .38 (revolver), and some .45 from a nice Springfield. What I found was, though I was most accurate out of the gate with the .22, I had no trouble at all with the kick from the .45 — and by the last of my 4 or so shots with that caliber I had been able to really close the distance on the bull’s eye. The revolver was the worst of my groupings, but then, I haven’t really fired revolvers, and this one didn’t have much of a sight.
Satch and my wife shot the .22, and Satch it a bull’s eye from bench rest on his first shot. He also shot a rifle.
Now that I’ve been certified, I’m starting the paperwork for my CC. For my carry piece, I was looking at a Kimber Carry, but thanks to Silver Whistle, I’m now leaning toward an EAA Witness P-Carry, which is a compact .45 ACP with a polymer frame that holds 10+1. Not only is it supposedly very accurate, but it’s also versatile: the Witness offers easy conversion to both .22 and 9mm (among other calibers), so not only is it a good gun to practice on, but it’s nice to have a semi-auto that can adapt to the type of ammunition that you might find yourself stuck with.
On Independence Day, it’s heartening to think that I’ll soon be taking advantage of one of our true remaining rights and arming myself and my family.
Again, thank you all for your continued support of the site. If you can manage it this month, I’d appreciate the consideration, because this arming the family thing is not cheap, and — despite what Obama might say — I’m not one of the “rich.” I just don’t collect government money. And there used to be a difference…
Okay, off to the parade, where Satch will ride with his Scouts troop, then switch off and man the table for his wrestling club. Couldn’t be prouder of him.
Happy 4th, all!
****
Friday update: Thanks again everyone for contributing. This will be the last update, and I’ll let the fundraiser run it’s course through the weekend. As of right now I’m still about $300 short of arming myself with a zombie killer. Any help any of you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
For the (potentially eaten by zombies, because I didn’t have a zombie gun ready) children.
Thanks to Evan C, BT, and Danger Dave, each of whom sent in a contribution in advance of the fundraiser this month.
Thanks, SDN!
Thanks, sdferr!
Huh, I’d have figured the tyke to be already overarmed with a smile and a giggly goo? To say nothing of the … the … looming odor.
Thanks, serr8d!
Thanks, geoffb!
Thanks, cranky-d!
Thanks, Joe!
Thanks, Fred W!
Thanks, John B!
Gun-wise, I’m leaning toward a FNP 45 Tactical as my zombie time pistol, and for carry either a Kimber ultra carry or maybe a revolver.
My wife really liked the no frills Walther 9mm.
I start my paperwork this week. Heading to the local private club (never been, going as a guest of my instructor, who also happens to be the older boy’s Scout leader) to shoot on Tuesday or Wednesday. Probably won’t have my own gun by then, but maybe, soon, one day…
Thanks, Wayne!
Thanks, bh!
Thanks, TerryH!
I was going to comment on your gun comment earlier today, but it sounds like I have nothing to offer. I happen to have a soft spot for the .45 ACP and I think the 9mm is a good choice for someone who would likely prefer less recoil.
Everyone who’s fired the FN FNP/X 45 Tac is surprised at the manageability of the recoil. Not bad at all, supposedly. And very nicely balanced.
The fact that I can fit it with a nice red dot fiber optic full-time scope out of the box (and a silencer, should I ever have reason to) is a big plus for me. That, and 16 rounds of 45 ACP available in a clip (one in the chamber; you can cock and lock with this particular pistol, and have it act as a single action) is also a plus.
Gun guy I trust ranked it over the HK 45 — and that was just the base model FN 45, not the tac.
Thanks, SilverWhistle.
You are on fire, mate. We need to show our appreciation.
If you’re looking at polymer framed, hammer-fired .45s, the FN has a few competitors. There’s the Witness P-Carry, and the Ruger P345PR. No threaded muzzle, though. The Witness runs around $440, which is a lot cheaper than the HK, and on par with the Ruger. No experience personally with polymers.
SW —
If you have the time or inclination, check out some of the YouTube reviews on the FN Tac. I love the construction — it has match grade trigger and other parts — and, most impressively (to me, at least), is that in all the videos I’ve watched, the reviewers note that the thing has never failed. That’s over thousands of rounds.
Plus, I won’t lie. I love the look of the thing.
The Ruger you mention I like; will check out the Wintess P-Carry.
I’ve seen a lot of the FN reviews – looks a great pistol for the money. And they make some of my all time favourite firearms.
One nit to pick, Jeff. If you’re going to be a gunny, don’t call a magazine a clip.
Okay, sorry. What’s the difference? I’m just learning these things. Is a clip like a big magazine for automatic rifles?
Clips go *ping*, I think.
A clip is a piece of metal to which the rounds are attached, then inserted from above the open bolt down into the magazine.
M-1 Garand, clip
Here’s a good pic.
Got it.
Looking at that Witness: very nice, especially at that price point. I do like the 15+1 in the FN Tac, though. If I was going to go with a compact 45 for carry, this might be one I looked at alongside the Kimber.
15+1 = 16 dead zombies. You can’t argue the math.
I just watched a youtube of a suppressed Fn45, and holy shit, I had no idea they could be made so quiet.
Yeah, it’s fucking cool with the suppressor. The vid I saw, the guy was giggling like a school girl.
I gotta say, I’m now kind of intrigued with the Witness as a carry piece, especially for the price.
Thanks, RI Red!
Thanks, Jeff Y!
Thanks, Charles H!
Thanks, di!
I’m kind of besotted with CZs, Jeff, so anything based on them, e.g. the EAA, kind of intrigues me too.
Thanks, William P!
Thanks, LMC!
Thanks, Pablo!
Thanks, Charles W!
Thanks, nr!
Thanks, Darleen! For everything!
Jeff, remember that in the unfortunate event you ever have to use the pistol in defense, you’ll lose it.
Suggest you also look into the Springfield Subcompact in 9mm.
I have their 9mm and the Glock has a much softer feel on the target, which I prefer.
Steel, or polymer, JHo?
Jeff, let me know what you end up with and I’ll contribute to the ammo fund. But definitely get a .22 or a conversion kit. It keeps being a gunnie within normal budgets. Mine has long since quit being normal, cuz I like to shoot everything I have. So you trade off a dinner out and buy a few boxes.
Hi, RI Red —
I’m looking at a FN FNP 45ACP Tac with a fiber optic full-time red dot sight. To kill zombies 15+1 per magazine, should the need arise.
Right now, I’m still about $600 short. So the world may have to hold off devolving into chaos until next month some time.
Thanks, Gary M!
Thanks, Billy H!
Thanks, Patrick C!
That’s a nice piece, the FN tactical. And the Witness convertible. You’ll find that necessary practice with the .22 is cheap and easy. Remember: squeeeeeeeze! the trigger, don’t yank and flinch!
Don’t blame me when your ammo bill runs to three figures a month. Oh, and whatever you buy, post a video review!
(Oh, a mini-review. The highly-touted .22 mag with the 30-round clip, the KelTec PMR30? accuracy is not up to my standards, but I’ve not shot enough (necessary?) break-in rounds as of yet. It does put out much lead at fast runout, but not pleasantly grouped: see the head of that target I linked above. Below, fast runout with my SigPro .40 groups much better!)
serr8d, I hope that window wasn’t your backstop . . .
Thanks, zamoose!
K Jeff, I’ll help out with the new arsenal. Expect something in 3-7 days.
My contribution weapon wise is this: A gun to an armed citizen is as a hammer to a carpenter. A dope can pound on anything with a hammer for better or worse, a carpenter can build a house with a rock for a hammer. Also, a dope thinks if he has a hammer in his hands, he’s a carpenter. A carpenter learns something new in his craft every day.
Get the basic tool kit, which you can expand as your knowledge and skills grow. As they always should. The real weapon is the heart and mind behind the tool.
Thanks, Michael Y!
Jeff, a little something on its way for the armory fund.
Thanks so much, RI Red!
Somebody told me yesterday that that the best time to buy ammo is Black Friday. True?
Yep, lots of deals. Unfortunately, you’ll soon find out that you can’t wait that long. Best time for me is either “Saturday ” or the day my Cheaper Than Dirt catalog arrives.
Thanks, Benedick!
Wow.. You got that gun bug bad….
And what would be outside my garage when I got home tonight? Courtesy of CTD, a Box-O-Boollitts(TM).
Yeah, the FN X45 Tactical has a LOT of nifty features for the price and its very well made.
Thanks, Weslee!
Thanks again, Evan C!
SG Ammo has some great deals too.
SG Ammo has some great deals too.
That’s about what I pay to handload the round over here. You lucky bums.
Thanks, Squid!
http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?gid=FNG001&fid=FNF062&mid=FNM0173
Palaeomerus: does that mean it’s finally available?
The guy at McBride’s told me that some people are getting them. I assume that means it’s shipping.
Sweet! I was all set to say fuck it and get the FNP. Now I’ll hold off a week or so and see if my local gun store can get one for me.
Thanks, motionview!
Zombie problem huh?
In the 60’s and early 70’s you couldn’t have zombies in comics because they corrupted young minds so they invented zuvembies and living dead to take their place. A rose by any other name…becomes perfectly acceptable!
my donation to your armory was sent out yesterday
geoffb, ain’t this a great country? You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant, including zombie boollitts.
And damned if CDH didn’t deliver two more boxes today. Looks like a range day tomorrow. Must be Saturday.
A case of this makes a soul more comfortable. Sorry if I hogged it all.
Thanks, Michael S!
Range day today. Sunny, dry, 73, winds 10 kts from 10:00 o’clock; whole range to myself for two hours.
Pablo scarfed all the .45, so I had to shoot .40 Short & Weak. But all on the paper at 20 yds; two-hand, strong-hand and weak-hand. Take that, Zombies.
Broke out the Garand and made the gong toll at 300 yds. Very satisfying.
Pablo didn’t get it all. I got the last three boxes, then bought some other +p 45 apc to try: Winchester Ranger and Remington Golden Saber.
Now I just need to get the gun.
The guy who owns the new gun shop down the street called all his suppliers and none of them received any of the FN FNX 45 tacticals yet; I’m torn between waiting on that (with no set release date, just a lot of rumor and speculation) and overpaying for one of the discontinued model FNP 45 tacs (same gun, slight modification to the magazine on the new model to accommodate cheaper non-spec ammo).
Seriously: I have the dual illuminated optical sight, the tac light, the ammo, the cleaning supplies, the electronic muffs, the glasses, a universal speed loader… but still no gun, save for my Dad’s old Belgian-made Browning 9mm, which is probably a collector’s item, so I don’t want to shoot it.
Oh. And the SIRT laser training gun, which doesn’t go boom.
It’s frustrating as hell.
Thanks, guins!
Thanks, Tim H!