Gun Questions for CPT Taggart, Volume 1
What would it feel like to get shot with a 2mm Kolibri?
What would it “feel” like to be shot with the 2.7 Kolibri cartridge? “Feel” is subjective. Let's look at the physics instead and try to reach an objective conclusion.
The Kolibri is much less powerful than a typical American boys BB gun. A 2.7mm (nominal) ( .11 caliber) bullet-shaped projectile has a mass of approximately 0.2 gram (3.1 grains weight or 0.0071 oz.) is projected at approximately 200 meters/second ( 660 feet/second). The projectile weight is approximately 140 to the ounce.
A look at a standard table of size and weight for birdshot pellets gives us an analogue. American shot-size lead #5 duck shot is 168 pellets to the ounce. American lead #4 is 132 to the ounce. So, the Kolibri bullet is equivalent to ONE pellet of approximately #4.5 size traveling at about one-half the expected velocity of a shotgun.
A #4 pellet won't reliably penetrate a mass of duck feathers at 50 meters— it simply does not have the energy. Even at very close range, such a projectile is unlikely to have the energy to penetrate clothing, especially winter clothing— ask lots of duck hunters who have been peppered by a full shell load of #4 at fairly close range and emerged absolutely unscathed. A Kolibri bullet might be able to penetrate through an eye socket and do some physical damage, but the victim would have to be unlucky in the extreme to suffer significant injury.
In short, someone shot at extreme close range will likely feel little from being shot with the tiny toy pistol- it is unlikely to penetrate the skin and certainly won't penetrate normal clothing. He might feel annoyed- I know I would.
What is the best combination of 9mm ammo to carry in two separate magazines for a small, single-stack pistol: hollow-point, ball, or hollow-point in one and ball in the other? If two types of ammo are carried, which should be loaded into the pistol?
There is little reason to mix. If you are not military, don’t use ball unless it’s all you have.
Carry the best hollowpoint Ammo you can.
In 9mm Parabellum, my choice is Federal HST 124 grain. It expands consistently and has a good mix of expansion threshold and the ability to remain intact.
How do you prevent a gun from jamming?
I assume you are referring to an automatic pistol.
Quoting world famous defensive firearms instructor Tom Givens: “Jam is something you put on toast”.
You are actually asking about a malfunction. Malfunctions are inevitable. On the other hand their frequency of occurrence can be reduced:
Use only good quality, good condition, clean magazines. Change the magazine springs every 2500 rounds.
Make SURE your magazine is FULLY seated- listen for the “click”.
When loading and chambering the first round, DO NOT “ride” the slide shut or lower it gently- let it slam shut as designed. This ensures that the extractor claw fully grasps the cartridge rim and the round is completely chambered.
Change the Recoil Springs on a pistol every 3000 rounds (yes even on the “perfection” Glock.)
Keep the Pistol Clean and properly lubricated- again, even on a Glock.
Keep your thumbs OUT OF THE WAY, do not let them drag on the slide as it reciprocates. Slide drag will slow the slide velocity and interfere with proper extraction, this in turn will interfere with proper feeding.
Grasp the pistol FIRMLY in a crush grip. This will prevent “limp wristing”, even with a Glock.
Since malfunctions are inevitable, even with a Glock, practice Immediate Action Drills . Over and over. As an operator you should be able to recognize the problem and rapidly execute an Immediate Action Drill automatically without taking your mind off the tactical problem.
A hint on immediate action? Rather than diagnose or do complicated stuff, simply RELOAD. That cures about 98% of the problems and it is FAST.
You do have a spare magazine?
What are Hydra Shok bullets?
Hydra Shok is a trademark of Federal Ammunition. They are available in various calibers. It is a patented design of a hollow-point bullet with an upright lead “post” in the center of a large hollow-point cavity. The post supposedly directs fluids into the perimeter of the cavity thus enhancing positive expansion, especially when the cavity “clogs” with clothing.
They have been quite popular in the past and have performed very well in actual gunfights. Hydra-Shok is being replaced by Federal’s more modern design, the recently released “HST” which has similar outstanding performances, is more barrier blind and in testing seems to have a lower velocity expansion threshold. HST is rumored to stand for “Hydra Shok Two” although Federal’s VP for Engineering personally denied this to me at the NRA Self-Defense Expo.
I used to carry the 230 grain .45 ACP Hydra-Shok but I have replaced them with the 230 grain HST.
What self-defense maneuver has saved your life?
Sticking a pistol in the face of the leader of a group of men attacking me and a female companion.
The loud “click” as the thumb Safety snapped off was deafening. I started the trigger press on my 5 pound trigger. Fearless Leader decided that he was about to die— He was about 2 pounds trigger press away from a bullet between his eyes. He turned and ran; his posse ran too.
As he ran away, there was a less loud “click” as I snapped the Safety back on.
No one died. No one got shot. We were not robbed. Or worse.
As for that “self-defense maneuver”? The Army calls it “present pistol” – it worked miraculously.
I like to think that possibly, perhaps Fearless Leader changed his ways. He probably didn’t.
What’s the shelf life of modern cartridges if they are stored in a cool, dry place?
Cartridges that stay at normal Room temperature, are not exposed to repetitive high temperatures and do not get wet will last a long time. Perhaps indefinitely. Especially if they are military cartridges.
Several years ago, I saw someone open an original sealed box of US Frankford Arsenal loaded .45 ACP ammunition. The box was from World War I; it was dated 1918. The cartridge collectors in the area were crying. That original sealed box was worth perhaps $100-$150, maybe even more.
The cartridges inside, untouched since 1918, were loaded into a Colt 1911. All 20 rounds fired. They fired just fine. No issues, the gun functioned perfectly with them.
That’s at least an indication.
Is it ethical to concealed carry to another person's home when you know that the homeowner does not want firearms on their property?
Is it ethical?
My first answer was, “Yes”. I am not carrying openly and it is my personal business. I owe him no duty to disclose. My host does not get to decide whether or not I'm wearing underwear or clean socks, has no say about the cross on the chain under my shirt. He doesn't get to weigh in on the fact that my shoes are made of leather or that I have a ham sandwich in my Fred Flintstone lunch box. The presence or absence of my concealed pistol is irrelevant to him because it poses no threat to him either way; it is part of my daily attire. In the final calculus he doesn't know about it— no harm no foul.
I wrote the first part of this answer, and then I examined some other people’s thoughts on the subject, so I thought I would expand and elaborate a bit.
The question made no mention of drinking, wild parties, infantile or unlawful behavior so I included no caveats, or "excepts" in my first paragraph. I behave like an adult in social settings, as do all responsible concealed carriers. To not behave responsibly is usually illegal. No frat boy behavior allowed.
How about comparing concealed carry with smoking?
Carrying is not comparable to smoking- Its rude to blow smoke rings in the non-smokers house because it actually impacts that person. They can discern the smoke and it's unhealthy, it leaves a residue observable for days and it stains the carpet and drapes.
Alcohol?
Bringing alcohol into a tee-total house suggests that you will be imbibing in their living room, perhaps tempting a recovering alcoholic or setting a bad example for an impressionable teenager. Again, it is clearly discernible and thus has an actual effect.
Proper concealed carry, on the other hand, is just that, concealed. It is not discernible. The firearm does not possess a sinister aura casting a strange spell on all within proximity. No evil miasma, either. Guaranteed. Properly done, no one knows— I must point out that that is the whole point of " Concealed Carry". No one knows whether the brand of T-shirt I am wearing is "fair trade cotton" or has the union label, either. Like my concealed carry, it's none of their business.