Sometimes what we see and hear is not what is actually there.  In all parts of nature, there are imposters.   Beware.

We received this from Ruger today:

RUGER® SR9™ PRODUCT SAFETY WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE
DO NOT USE YOUR RUGER SR9 PISTOL

We have determined that some Ruger SR9 pistols manufactured between October 2007 and April 2008 can, under certain conditions, fire if dropped with their manual safeties in the “off” or “fire” position. The pistols will not fire if the manual safety is in the “on” or “safe” position.

We would like to retrofit all Ruger SR9 pistols starting with serial number prefix “330” (330-xxxxx) with these new parts at no charge to our customers.

In order to ensure correct fitting, this new part must be installed at our Ruger factory in Prescott, Arizona. We will remove the old parts and install the new group promptly, at no charge, and will return the pistol to you. The old parts will not be returned.

Step 1 - Contact us and provide your name, address, telephone number and SR9 serial number.

Step 2 - When we are ready to retrofit your SR9, we will send you a shipping label and shipping box with instructions so you can return your pistol to us FREE of charge.

Step 3 - We will install the new trigger group in your SR9 and return it to you FREE of charge. When we do, we also will send you a FREE extra magazine as a “thank you” for your patience and cooperation. We will make every effort to return your pistol within one week, so we will not ask you to send it to us until we are ready to receive it. We expect to begin sending shipping labels and boxes in mid-May.

Do not load or fire your pistol until it has been factory retrofitted with these new parts! If you must fire your pistol, be sure to keep the manual safety in the “on” or “safe” position except when you are actually firing.

Thank you,
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

If your serial number falls into the affected range, please contact Ruger to have it fixed.  If you have any questions about this or any other pistol, please give us a call at 307-234-6722, or email us through our site at www.bpcustomshop.com/store.

It seems as though I spend a great deal of time either on the phone, returning emails, or otherwise not being productive, to talk to people about the “best concealed carry gun.”  It’s as though people think that I possess some secret knowledge about what is truly the best carry gun on the planet.  That is just silly.  What works for one person will not work for another.  I have, however, determined a way to steer my customers toward making the decision for themselves so that their selection works for them, not for the latest piece of firearms marketing they have seen.  Here is how to do it:

When determining which pistol to buy for a defensive carry gun you must consider four things:

1.  What is my goal for carrying this or any pistol?

2.  Does this pistol fit me?  Does it feel good in my hand?

3.  Is it reliable and safe?

4.  Can I shoot it accurately?

To take each point in turn….

1.  People have laughed when I asked them what their goal was in carrying a concealed weapon.  Obviously, a part of your personal goal is self-protection.  There are other aspects of your goal to consider with respect to how a particular weapon will work for you.  Have you considered your basic style of dress and how deeply you will need to conceal your weapon?  If not, part of your goal needs to be “to be able to maintain weapon concealment without outer clothing, such as a coat, or to maintain weapon concealment while wearing a light coat, etc.”  Or if you live in a very warm climate, you may want something like “to be able to carry a pistol concealed and comfortably while wearing my swim trunks…and the pistol should not be overly bothered by occasional salt water exposure.”

Another aspect of your goal to consider is knockdown power.  If your goal is to be able to use a pistol to distract or wound (or possibly kill) an attacker, a .22 LR will do the job nicely.  If your goal is to make sure an assailant is instantly stopped in their tracks, a larger caliber will be needed.

So first define your goal.  Mine would read “to carry a light weight, moderately powerful, absolutely reliable handgun in all carry circumstances, with minimal need for open carry due to weather conditions or clothing restrictions.”

Are you trying to defend your life at your high-risk convenience store job?  Or is the pistol for your nightstand safe?  Try to imagine every permutation of how, where, when, and why you will carry this pistol. This goal statement will give you a good idea as to the probable size and caliber of your weapon, as well as any special durability needs you may require of it.

2.  Does this pistol fit me?  Does it feel good in my hand?  I do not know, nor do I have any way to measure that.  Try many different pistols.  Take your time.  Try different sizes of the same model.  Do not forget about revolvers.  Try EVERYTHING.  When it fits you, you’ll know it.  The sights will align easily.  The balance will feel perfect.  The grip will be the perfect size.  It will feel like an extension of your body.  When that type of fit happens, you will know exactly what I mean.  If you have tried every handgun on the market and have yet to find one that fits, I cannot help you.  Keep trying, or switch to pepper spray.

3.  Is it reliable and safe?

In my opinion, most brand name pistols are  adequately reliable for a self-defense pistol.  If it’s a $139 super-value Jennings or Hi-Point, you should probably pass.  Any major brand of pistol will meet basic reliability and safety standards.  Just make sure you are familiar with the type of firearm you are buying and that you pay at least $300 for a new one.  That limitation will weed out pretty much all the low quality cheapies.

4.  Can you shoot it effectively?

It does not matter what Guns and Ammo writes about the newest, most reliable, most accurate pistol that has just hit the market.  If you cannot shoot it accurately and effectively, it is nothing more than a moderately interesting paperweight.  You must be able to hit your target.  If you cannot shoot accurately and safely, please do not carry a pistol.

So given our 4 questions, let’s look at how they apply to some theoretical customers:

A.  John came into the shop and asked for a .40 S&W pistol recommendation for a carry gun.  He is fairly large, has been in the military, and has been shooting for most of his life.  He works as a stock broker and is rarely caught without a shirt, tie, and coat.  He wants it to be fairly small and light.   What’s the recommendation?

This is the easiest one - anything.  Due to his familiarity with firearms, he will be  (or should be) capable of safely carrying pretty much anything.  Since he wants it to be fairly small, that limits the choices.  He wound up purchasing a Glock 23.

B.  Susie came in with her husband Buford.  Buford wanted his little honey to be protected so he wanted to buy her a 4″ .357 Magnum.  Susie has refused to shoot a gun after being forced to fire Buford’s .300 Win Mag at the range.  She’s small and petite, and really does not want to carry a gun, but will get one just to placate her husband.  She left with a .22 double action revolver.

C.  Bob came in with the latest copy of “Guns and Weapons for Law Enforcement” tucked under his arm.  He wanted the latest H&K USP SOCOM that was written about in the magazine.  He’s had some firearm experience, but equates the needs of a police SWAT team to his own personal protection needs.  He has plenty of money and wants to be able to talk about what he has purchased at the range with his buddies to show that he’s “in the know.”  Despite my best efforts, he left after ordering an H&K USP (not the SOCOM, though…had to have enough $ to afford the tactical light and laser sight).

D.  Diane came without a clear idea of what she wanted, and asked for some suggestions.  She needed a pistol she could carry on road trips and occasionally in her purse.  She thought a 9mm would be a good weapon, based on what she has read.  She has basic firearms proficiency.  She wound up getting a Sig P230 .380 ACP.

Everyone is different when it comes to pistols.  Many people have no idea what they need, or what they can handle.  Some people buy a particular pistol simply because it is new and different.  Whatever your reason for seeking a new pistol, ask yourself the four questions listed above.  Listen to your answers and let them guide you in the selection process.  Do not worry about which caliber has better “stopping power” or “terminal ballistics.”  If you cannot get off a few well aimed shots, it won’t matter what the stopping power is.  Do not worry about tactical lights, laser sights, or customization.  All the tricked out gadgets are great, but they are not the core attributes you should consider. Will the pistol fit your goal?  Can you conceal it properly?  Is it going to be comfortable to carry under your Long John Silver’s uniform?  CAN YOU SHOOT IT ACCURATELY?

So now that you have carefully considered your four questions and you have a clear goal statement, give me a call and we’ll talk specifics!

And I KNOW that despite what I have written, I will still be asked for some specific weapon recommendations, so I’ve listed mine here.  These are the weapons that I either own or would like to own:

.45 ACP

1.  Sig P220, old style, stock configuration, no night sights.  7 rnd capacity, shooting Federal Hydra-Shok.

9mm

1.  Glock 19, stock, fixed sights, no night sights, shooting Federal Hydra-Shok

2.  Glock 26, stock, fixed sights, no night sights, shooting Federal Hydra-Shok

.38/.357

1.  S&W 642 Airweight, DAO, SS, .38 SPL, shooting Federal Hydra-Shok

2.  Taurus 669 .357 Mag, ported,  Nickel, Stock, shooting Federal Hydra-Shok

.380 ACP

1.  Sig P230, stock, no night sights

2.  Walther PPK/S

.22 LR

1.  Walther P22

2. Beretta 21 Tomcat

I opened an email from the NRA tonight that included the following:

• Perhaps it is a rich, velvety Pinot Noir… hand-crafted by a fiercely independent winemaster along a remote section of California’s Russian River Valley. It’ll pair perfectly with a tender sirloin steak on the grill.

• Or possibly it is an elegant Chardonnay… showcasing bright notes of pear and peach with a toasty oak finish that lasts for days. It’s an ideal way to unwind after a long day at work.

As a Preferred Member of the NRA Wine Club, …

It was one of the NRA’s well known solicitations for financial support via product sales. It’s a time proven strategy. Give the supporter a gift in exchange for their financial support, and the “profit” or a percentage thereof becomes income for the NRA. They’ve done it with anything from golf shirts to novel weapons. Why should wine be any different, you ask?

Simple. I believe the NRA has been moving purposefully along a path toward becoming a “gun based high-end retailer” instead of America’s voice for 2nd Amendment protection. To test my theory, I conducted a very basic, non-statistically valid poll in my gun shop today. Here are the results:

Q: When you hear the name of NRA, what do you immediately think of?

A: Among many responses, the most common were variations on this theme: A group of people that want your money and have forgotten how to effectively fight for gun rights.

Q: What has NRA done recently to protect your 2nd Amendment rights?

A: ——– (not one respondent could name a program or legislative action NRA achieved).

Q: What is your favorite NRA merchandise?

A: I had all kinds of answers, from ball caps to range bags, from key chains to guns.

Q: Are you a member of NRA?

A: 75% yes, 25% no

Q: (for the ‘no’s’ Will you join NRA today?

A: No…why should I? What do I get for my dues? etc.

So what conclusions can we draw from my non-scientific study? Most people, in fact most members in my small corner of the world, do not think the NRA is an actively effective pro-gun lobbying group. They are more interested in the gifts and merchandise they can get (not to mention the cheap magazine - yes, the NRA’s magazines are pretty good).

So listen up NRA - skip the wine club for gun owners. Most gun owners cannot tell the difference between a good shiraz and the most peppery gamay noir. Put OUR money where it belongs - bribing the crooks in Congress to keep guns an American RIGHT.

The prices shown here are the wholesale cost to us. Add approximately $50.00 for a regular delivered price, and about $30 for a member delivered price. Please contact us for more information or to order any of these great weapons.The prices shown here are the wholesale cost to us. Add approximately $50.00 for a regular delivered price, and about $30 for a member delivered price. Please contact us for more information or to order any of these great weapons.

The following article appeared in the international Herald Tribune:

“By Allison Smale

PARIS: Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister of France and a longtime humanitarian, diplomatic and political activist on the international scene, says that whoever succeeds President George W. Bush may restore something of the United States’ battered image and standing overseas, but that “the magic is over.”

In a wide-ranging conversation with Roger Cohen of the International Herald Tribune at the launch of a Forum for New Diplomacy in Paris, Kouchner on Tuesday also held out the hope of talking with Hamas, the Palestinian faction that rules the Gaza Strip but has been ostracized by the West and by its Palestinian rival, Fatah, because it opposes peace talks with Israel and denies that Israel has a right to exist.

Asked whether the United States could repair the damage it has suffered to its reputation during the Bush presidency and especially since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kouchner replied, “It will never be as it was before.”

“I think the magic is over,” he continued, in what amounted to a sober assessment from one of the strongest supporters in France of the United States.

U.S. military supremacy endures, Kouchner noted, and the new president “will decide what to do - there are many means to re-establish the image.” But even that, he predicted, “will take time.”"

The above article is not quoted in its entirety.

I have issues with this:

1.  Since when does the U.S. need foreign approval of anything?

2.  The socialists in France have come a long way since the  Vichy days.  Amazing how the same people who almost lost their nation twice in the last century find it so easy to criticize and bite the hand that saved them.  When these hand-wringing “New World” advocates start whining for more diplomacy it should be pointed out to them how miserably diplomacy failed in the 1930’s and other pre-war periods.

3.  What do you expect from a country that has allowed itself to become one of the largest havens for ex-pat radical Muslims?

So Frogs, tend to your own country and butt out.  There is no “new world” as you claim (read the entire article for more on this).  Anyone who thinks otherwise and wants to come over here for a round of diplomacy is welcome to do so - Wyoming style.  Of course they will have a hard time telling me how wrong and bad America and our freedoms are while spitting out their teeth.  I’m going to bet on western diplomacy, thank you, and the French can go to hell (or the Middle East - same difference).

We are proud to announce that we have acquired a dealership for Cheytac performance rifles and ammunition. This is the same rifle that holds the 2km world accuracy record! If you want the ultimate in hard hitting, long range, accuracy, get a Cheytac! It makes the Barrett’s and other .50’s look like the rough workhorses of yesteryear that they are. For more information, give us a call at 307-234-6722, or check out our site. Since the Cheytac .408 Intervention system is not your basic hunting rifle, we require that all purchases of this weapon system be handled over the phone to iron out the details on the myriad options that are available with this rifle. We’ll look forward to hearing from you.

We are now renting out gunsmith tools to the general public.  If you need to install some night sights on your Glock, or HK USP, or whatever, we have the tool to get the job done quickly, easily, and most importantly, properly.  Go to our site and rent the tool you need to complete your work.  PLEASE NOTE:  WE RECOMMEND THAT ALL SIGHTS MODIFICATIONS TO SPRINGFIELD XD PISTOLS BE PERFORMED BY A COMPETENT GUNSMITH.  PLEASE CONTACT US FOR PRICING ON THIS SERVICE.  Almost all other brands are easily serviced by the user.   If you do not see the tool you need, please contact us.  It is entirely likely that we have it but have not had the time to get it on the site.

We are happy to announce the addition of Cold Steel knives to our line of great products. To celebrate, we are offering our customers phenomenal pricing on all Cold Steel products. Please see our site at www.bpcustomshop.com/store for more details. Not all the products are on the site yet, so if you cannot find a Cold Steel product you want, just contact us for a quote.

Here is an example of the available pricing:

Cold Steel Ti-Lite: Regularly found in stores for $140.00+

You can get this same great knife from us for $88.99!

These prices will not last! Get them while you can!

Due to overwhelming demand for quotes and orders, we have launched a web site that will allow you to order firearms and accessories from the comfort of your home. Our old website is still there, though in much less of a robust form. Most of the links we have scattered around the internet will not work, and people have been complaining about broken links. The benefits of launching this site, however, far outweigh the problems associated with the change.

Check out the new site. You can start at www.bpcustomshop.com, the portal for our old site, or you can go directly to the store at www.bpcustomshop.com/store. Please give us your feedback. (And do not tell us we need more product - we have over 10,000 products to enter into the database. It will take some time.)

Thanks for making our little gun shop into the small distributor we are today! Keep supporting us and we will keep getting you the nation’s best deals on firearms!