Concealed Carry in The Cold

January 29, 2014 | 0 Comments

You are never too old to learn, and yesterday I learned a lesson. I found that I was completely unprepared for the unexpected snow that fell leaving thousands (and reportedly hundreds of thousands) stuck on iced over highways. Unprepared, that is, from a concealed carry perspective.

Conceal Carry in Any Situation

Bundling up to withstand the frigid temperature left me with the dilemma of where to carry my pistol that provided easy access. Since I don’t wear thermals, I had to make do with some different winter accessories around my house. it was too cold to leave my coat open. In fact I had to wear two coats, a light one and a heavier one.

I wore sweat pants, plus pants, thick cotton wicking socks with leather hiking boots, a sweat shirt, two coats, and a pair of gloves. I felt like a stuffed duck, and walked about like one. My outer coat pockets wouldn’t hold my pistol. If I wore a belt holster access was delayed by two zipped coats, an ankle holster was out period, my carry isn’t a derringer (though I do have a little .38), and even if it had been, my boots would have prevented the carry.

Insulated coveralls would have kept me warm without all the layers, but I couldn’t conceal a weapon, nor could I carry a rifle around in public view without scaring people to death. My goal was to help stranded motorists, not frighten them. Besides, the zipper had broken on my coveralls. A thigh holster or possibly a shoulder holster would have worked but I have never bought one. This spawned an online investigation of holsters for a winter concealed carry, and a decision to update my winter closet to accommodate an icy Deep South.

Concealed Carry Items For Winter

Concealed Carry Coats-Offer pockets designed with concealed carry pistols in mind and provide easy access. Great solution!
Cargo Pants-These have pockets on the thighs, some of which are very large and deep. The ones my son wears would easily hold a full sized pistol. Most of them easily accommodate a concealed carry pistol. Personally, my arms are too short for fast access to cargo pockets.
Coats with Pocket Sleeves-I can see it being difficult to access but it would be better than no access at all.
Faux Pocket Coats- Coats with a false pocket that allows access to belt or shoulder weapons. Another great solution!
Fanny Packs-Any well-constructed fanny pack will work, but concealed carry fanny packs are made for a weapon and provide ambidextrous access unlike a typical fanny pack. Many that I saw provide storage for extra magazines.
Tactical Vests-Great as long as the coat is open. My Ranger vest would have been fine if it would have fit over my coats. I generally wear it in the woods, under an open coat in the winter. Winters are being redefined for the south this year however, and require some creativity.
Hunters’ Vests- These vests are a potential possibility with their pockets. Years ago I had a hunter’s orange quilted fur lined vest with removable sleeves. Warm with deep pockets and much longer than most. It was oversized enough to wear over a coat.

GrabAGun Helps You Conceal

In my region, snow and ice are rare. We don’t get enough snow plinking to count but we do get cold. Shooting with gloves is definitely an adjustment. If you aren’t used to shooting with gloves, try fingerless gloves to start with. Be cautious of gloves, some cause slippage when trying to handle a gun.

GrabAGun has a large selection of gun holsters, including a great selection of winter options including jackets, IWB holsters, OWB holsters, and much more for your concealed carry pistol needs. We offer one of the largest inventories of guns for sale online, optics, and much more. Give us a call, we will be happy to assist you.

An Alternative to Hunting Guns – Hunting Bows

January 28, 2014 | 0 Comments

Archery for Hunting, Pleasure, and Self Defense

While it is true that an arrow has little chance against a bullet, don’t discount the hunting bow as an unworthy weapon. Proficiency in archery played a vital role in mankind’s survival for thousands of years. The skill of archers often determined the fate of kingdoms, societies, and countries. Ancient man even depended upon the bow for food and protection. As a sport, target archery is very popular and has had a place in the Olympic Games since 1972. Many hunters have taken to hunting bows in place of their usual hunting shotguns or hunting rifles.

History of the Compound Bow

The invention of the compound bow in 1966 by the late H. Wilbur Allen of Missouri created a more efficient bow for hunting. It is very popular due to its being easier to handle at full draw as well as providing a greater velocity arrow, which results in better penetration than recurve or long bows are capable of.

As a defense weapon, a great number of ‘preppers’ have bows in their arsenal. Not only is it useful in hunting and fishing, but it provides an almost silent weapon. Under cover, an archer can strike without the smoke and noise of guns. Today’s graphite and alloy arrows do not bend and are shatter resistant. They also attain a higher velocity and flatter trajectory than older arrows.

The Science Behind Bow Hunting

There are many factors to consider when a novice begins with archery. Any novice can do well to take archery instruction. It is easier to learn proper form and habit than to ‘un-learn’ improper habits. Here we will look at just a few of the factors that influence becoming a more accurate archer, and will enable the novice to realize that there is a science behind archery.

To become an accurate archer, spine is something to take into account. Spine is the stiffness of an arrow shaft and must be compatible with the archers bow weight. The reason for this compatibility requirement is a phenomenon called the Archer’s Paradox. When the arrow leaves the bow it does not fly straight toward the target, rather it actually deflects around the bow. A properly released arrow of correct spine will stabilize itself, whereas one that is too stiff or too flexible will create target acquisition problems. The use of improperly spined arrows will cause an inconsistent grouping of arrows. Your individual arrow length and grain, as well as arrow point type and weight, are important factors to be considered as well.

If you do not already know your individual arrow ‘fit’, your best option is to request it at an archery pro shop where professionals can provide the correct arrow. Archery pro shops are not the same as your local sporting goods store which generally will not know the grain of arrows or how to determine your proper length so make sure to find a place that will do fittings.

Types of Hunting Bows

Modern hunting bows include the compound hunting bow, crossbow, long bow, and recurve bow with the compound bow being the most popular. Hunting bows have higher draw weights than target bows. Hunting draw weights are determined by state and wildlife regulation, but generally are established at a minimum of 40 pounds. The crossbow generally has a higher draw weight minimum of 125 pounds. The higher minimum draw weight ensures adequate penetration for taking down game. Most experienced bow hunters will use even greater draw weights. Check your states requirements under bow hunting rules and regulations to ensure your compliance with the rules in your area.

GrabAGun stocks bows, arrows, shafts and points, and archery hunting supplies. Go to GrabAGun.com to check out our extensive stock of guns for sale, gun parts, and hunting accessories.

Preparing a Homemade Survival Kit

January 23, 2014 | 0 Comments

Making a Homemade Survival Kit

Homemade survival kits are easy to make and cheap to put together. Almost everyone has their own list and all have some common items. I use the following when going deep into the smoky mountains where it is easy for a non-native to get lost. There is always the potential to get lost, even when I mark my trail. I also carry my kit when entering deep woods in my native state on extended trips.

My survival kit is not one of the ‘coffee can’ kits many people put together. Mine fits into a small military bag with a shoulder strap that I carry on my shoulder. This kit will also fit into a small backpack. You can adjust it to suit your needs. GrabAGun has many survival kit supplies and already put together survival kits to help you in any situation.

The Basic Survival Kit

Matches in a water proof container, I double up by placing mine in a small ziplock
Space blanket and 2 disposable ponchos (the latter can double up as a water proof cover over a brush shelter)
String (about 15 ft.) wrapped around my mini Maglite or a stick. Useful for brush shelter when willow bark isn’t available and many other uses
Toilet paper
Pocket size fishing kit with fishing line
Pocket size sewing kit
Nylon braided rope-25 ft. loops through attachments on the exterior of my bag
Fire starting blocks (I carry one for an emergency, but make my own fire starting bundles from the wild)
A Good Folding Knife
Duct tape wrapped around a tongue depressor. Great for many things including a shoe whose sole comes loose
Magnesium fire starter for back up
A quality multi-tool that will clip to a belt
Compact mess kit that can hold small items

First Aid & Medical

Scissors (a neat pair of folding mini-scissors to be specific)
Tweezers
Band-Aids, 2 × 2, and 4 × 4 sterile gauze
A good sticky medical tape (this can double up in a pinch to hold the gapping edges of a wound together. NEVER wrap it all the way around a limb if you do not have appropriate medical training)
Triple antibiotic ointment
Aspirin and Tylenol. If you are losing blood aspirin can reduce coagulation factors resulting in increased bleeding. In the case of a bleeding wound use Tylenol
A small travel size bottle of peroxide. If you have ever been injured 3 days back into the woods with a contaminated wound you will appreciate having this
Bring along any medications that you take, including an epi-pen if you are prone to allergic reactions

Food & Nourishment

Instant soup packs, ramen noodles, and small packs of nuts and raisins
Individual servings of instant coffee, tea, and/or single serving tang
A straw or surgical tubing for extracting water
Hard candy to help with dry mouth

Fire-Starting

Good places to look for dry tinder in a wet forest are against tree trunks and rock overhangs. Pine wood, hemlock, and cedar burn easier. Use it for kindling if you can find it. Pine especially gets a fire hot and going quick. Collect ‘twigs’ to feed a new fire, and then graduate to larger and larger wood until the fire is going. Paper is great to start the burn so keep an eye for paper on the ground. Use a bit of the toilet paper if necessary. Keep an eye for paper on the ground. This may indicate a road is nearby, a hunting camp, or depending upon how long it has been on the ground, the presence of other people in the woods. Even if it is wet, it can dry in a pocket and be used for fire starting.

Survival Kits at GrabAGun

Whether you decide to make a homeade survival kit or just buy one, make sure that you adjust it to suit your needs. On camping trips and when hunting, a Ranger vest, for example, can provide a lot of handy pockets and can be used as a supplement to a survival kit. GrabAGun offers a variety of survival kits, easy food packs, and guns for sale in popular brands such as Ruger, Mossberg, and Smith and Wesson that will make any survival situation that much easier.

Ethical Hunting Habits

January 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

Gun Shops

Hunting with Drones and Hunting Ethics

A new trend in hunting is using drones to locate game. Apparently drones are a fast growing product on the market and are raising feathers and hackles nationwide in hunting country.

My first thought was, “are you kidding me?” Apparently not, and wildlife managers are really drawing a bead on this trend. Idaho has already outlawed it; Colorado is considering banning drones and other states are likely not far behind.

It seems that many outfitters are already using drones to locate game, shortening the time their paying clients spend hoofing it on the trail.

Opponents state it provides the hunter with an unfair advantage and are calling for a ban, especially during hunting season. Many cite fair chase and fair opportunity are being denied, while wildlife management declare the drones distract game from eating, but add they will continue to use drones themselves for game surveys. I don’t believe game is going to know the difference between who is behind the drones when their lunch is distracted.

As most hunters already know other technology has already been banned in some areas of the country such as some electronic callers, lights and laser lights for example. A good rule of thumb is to check hunting rules and regulations in any area you plan to hunt as an informed hunter breaks no laws mistakenly.

When we speak of drones what comes to mind are those such as the military use, correct? In the initial investigation of drones-used-for-hunting those apparently in use are of the size you can buy your child in any hobby or toy outlet. They are called remote controlled aircraft. So no, we aren’t speaking of drones armed with sniper rifles.

Besides the mischievous kid next door who loves buzzing you with his remote controlled aircraft planes, most remote controlled aircraft owners are hobbyists. A small number of ‘preppers’ have them for property surveillance. With their very limited flying time (a recent shopping trip found only one drone capable of flying anywhere near an hour. The remainder was limited to 7- 30 minutes) I don’t even see how hunters are using them to accomplish very much game location but apparently it is being done.

So really what is the objection to using remote aircraft to locate game? It’s all about hunter’s ethics.

Most hunters feel skill and experience should be earned. Traditional hunters learn to look for scat, hair, broken twigs, gouged bark and tracks. They follow ‘sign’ to the source, or freeze their buns off sitting in a blind. Hunters ethics guide almost all hunters, and most of them feel that drones violate those ethics.

Another reason to keep drones out of hunting lands is safety. At first thought I can envision a hunter crossing a wooded trail just as a low flying remote aircraft smacks him in the head. That is because the tree canopy will dictate the height of flying in wooded areas. The next hazard I can foresee is a crashed aircraft initiating a forest fire when batteries spark. The third hazard that comes to mind are other hunters getting angry when remote aircraft disturbs game in their sights. There are no guarantees a hunter with an aircraft won’t aggravate a fellow hunter just for fun and it can result in dire consequences.

I can’t speak for you, but I don’t aggravate anyone with a gun. You have to stop and think before you act, and unfortunately many people today don’t.

American methods of traditional hunting are to a large extent unchanged from their grandfather’s day. A hunter takes pride in bringing home the meat. Many hunters (especially in the south) actually eat the meat they earn. Nationwide, those who do not predominately donate it to food banks, jails, homeless shelters and needy families.

To the American hunter game are the masters of the wild and are respected as such. The hunter’s ethics require a person to take responsibility and fairness to heart. The most likely scenario regarding the use of drones/remote aircraft to locate game will be banning from the hunt nationwide. As to those hunters who use drones, I suspect they will find their circle of hunting buddies narrowed.

Hunters are overall a special breed who takes their ethics seriously in the effort to protect the future of hunting. Perhaps already the folly of using drones is becoming apparent. In talking with a fellow hunter of the trend towards drones he cracked a big smile and told me a story. A few weeks ago his brother-in-law (let’s call him Bob) from another state came to visit and went hunting with some friends. While they sat in tree stands Bob climbed down, and bragged he would find the game. He ventured down a trail and out of site with his new $2,500 hunting gun with him.

An hour passed and Bob had not returned. Another half-hour passed and still no Bob. They all agreed big city Bob was likely lost in the woods. Cell service was actually fairly decent and they called Bob on his cell, fearing he was injured and unable to call them.

Bob answered right away, “No, I’m not lost. But I have lost my gun and can’t find it.”

Bob knew where he had been standing when he flew his aircraft (candy wrappers, a coke bottle all confirmed it as well as his lack of hunters ethics). There were boot tracks on a trail leading right up to where he had propped his gun to fly his aircraft. While he concentrated on flying, someone had walked right up and took his new gun.

Arriving at their trucks lying across the hood was Bob’s gun and a note under the wipers that read, “Any geek with a chopper used to cheat game from a chance has no business with a gun. Let this be a lesson to you.”

Remote aircraft are not yet a staple in any gun shops online or not. There are undoubtedly a few hunters who will embrace their use, but overall hunters appear to be on the side of wildlife management. I can almost guarantee you the game are rooting for the game wardens opinion.

Shop GrabAGun’s site for guns for sale and check out our new arrivals!

Great AR-15 Optics for Customization

January 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

Personalizing the Ar-15

Any gun owner’s list of things to do should include plenty of shooting, cleaning your gun, and familiarizing yourself with your gun. Knowing your weapon from the inside out provides you with a better understanding of how it works. Many AR-15 owners learn their guns’ ins and outs by upgrading it or even building an AR 15 from scratch.

Tricking out an AR 15 for sale means using AR-15 accessories to enhance its form or function. The sheer amount of compatible and aftermarket parts make the AR 15 one of the most easily customized guns available. It is truly a firearm you can personalize and make your own to the exact degree that you desire.

Optics and Scopes for the AR-15

One of the most common accessories AR-15 owners will want is optics such as rifle scopes or sights. With so many choices available, making a choice can be intimidating and there simply isn’t a “one scope fits all needs” option out there. A good guide to choosing optics is by making a selection according to how you will use it. Let’s look at a few of the most popular AR-15 optics for sale.

Leupold Mark 4 HAMR

leupold mark 4 hamr ar15 scope
The tough, compact and combat-ready Leupold Mark 4 HAMR is designed for precise mid-range distance and rapid target acquisition in bright daylight, low light, and at night. Leupold is a great brand with many optics options available depending on what you are looking for. GrabAGun’s great price is well below retail.

Leupold Mark AR 3-9×40

Another popular Leupold scope is the Leupold Mark AR 3-9×40. 2-9x. This scope is a great choice when you need a bit more magnification at the upper end and don’t expect close range firing. It is ideal for hunting or plinking at medium ranges. GrabAGun has great savings on all kinds of optics and scopes!

Laser Sights

If you have ever had to climb a tree because a wild boar is after you or get on top of a car while the bumper is being tore off by the dynamite porky, you will learn to appreciate lasers in low-lighting conditions as an assist in the take down of boar before they get out of the darkening woods. You can’t hunt after dark in many states, not even the vermin. Yet hogs and coyote often come no sooner than late afternoon and disappear just after the sun rises in many locations, providing a very narrow window of opportunity with wooded areas already darkening.

With so many great optics available, applying your intended use and considering your budget is the best guide for choosing optics. Tactical lights are also a great product useful for vermin control, and you will find the laser a great assist in low light conditions. Many people may prefer just having a red dot sight for easy-to-use fast acquisition as well.

AR-15 Accessories at GrabAGun

GrabAGun stocks picatinny rails, AR trigger assemblies, mounts, AR-15 upper receivers, lower receivers, and gun magazines. Browse our site often as new stock arrives several times a week, and feel free to give us a call for questions or inquiries into an item not shown. If you are looking for specific guns for sale or a specific brand of AR-15 for sale, but don’t find it listed on our site, give us a call. That is one of the GrabAGun advantages, our stock isn’t limited to what we carry. If the desired firearm is available, we will find it and apply the GrabAGun discount for you.

Shotguns for Sale: The Truth Behind the .410 Shotgun

January 17, 2014 | 0 Comments

The Reputation of the .410 Shotgun

The .410 shotgun is the smallest of the traditional shotguns for sale, but seldom receive the respect it deserves. Known best for the very low recoil, those who consider these shotguns generally think of them as guns suitable for beginning youths or “squirrel guns”. The .410 shotgun also has the reputation of being difficult to hit a moving target.

Neither of these is true. Having used a .410 for over 30 years leads me to believe that the shooter and not the gun is behind the claims of a .410 being difficult to hit moving game. The question of its ability to take down game is directly related to the distance constraint of the .410. The .410 bore is typically patterned for 25 yards. However, some .410s will indeed provide greater distance with a solid accuracy.

Accuracy and Reliability

The shot pattern of a .410 provides great patterns in its range. Being the smallest of shotguns does provides a longer shot string, and therefore the pellets retain less energy in the longer shots when compared to a 20 gauge shotgun for example. The .410 shotgun provides what it is manufactured to perform and often exceeds expectations.

Through the years and the use of two .410s, two things have become apparent. First, the .410 when used appropriately is a reliable and effective firearm that is fun to shoot and has never failed to put meat on the table. Second, 3 ½ inch shells provide significantly greater recoil but the gain in performance is minimal. Due to the increased recoil, recovery for follow up is difficult. Sticking to 3 inch shells will keep you in the game.

The .410 Chambering

The .410 bore shell has resulted in some unique applications. For example, a .410 bore shell will fit into a .45 Colt chamber. Shotguns for sale today have a minimum legal length, yet pistols are not defined as shotguns even though shotgun shells can be chambered in them. This is because a pistol has a rifled barrel, whereas a shotgun has a smooth barrel. Numerous brands of pistols are now available in both derringers and revolvers with extended cylinders.

In addition, shot slugs can increase the firepower in the .410. Brenneke provides the best performance and less deformation of the slug with a 35 yard shot (Magnum 3 inch) and a 50 yard shot (Close Encounter 2 ½ inch) available.

Shop For a .410 at GrabAGun

Overall, any .410 shotgun for sale provides a lot of fun as well as being a very reliable firearm to use. Being light weight and having low recoil allows the youth or the elderly who are intolerant to severe recoil the ability to join shooters and hunters alike. It is also great for a long session of shooting practice without the need for recovery between shots when used with 3 inch shot and has never failed this writer in bringing in geese, pheasant, squirrel, rabbit, and a wild boar down with a slug. The 410 shotgun is great for its intended uses and deserves greater respect than it generally receives.

Shop GrabAGun for quality guns for sale. You will find our extensive inventory includes shotguns, rifles, concealed carry pistols, AR-15s for sale, and AK-47s. We offer the additional service of providing any firearm available on the market even if we don’t carry it in our stock. Just let us know what you are looking for and we will locate it and provide the great GrabAGun price.

Which is Better? The AK47 Vs. The AR15

January 15, 2014 | 0 Comments

AK-47 and AR-15’s | Head to Head

There are fans on both sides of the AK-47 vs. AR-15 debate. Depending upon the intended use, each gun has its advantages. When making the decision as to purchase the AR 15 for sale vs. the AK47 for sale on today’s market there are several factors to be considered. One way of looking at it is that you are comparing the larger 7.62 × 39 caliber to the smaller 5.56 × 45 and .223 caliber.

Caliber is Important

Unlike the 5.56 caliber, the 7.62 caliber is able to penetrate a concrete block, or as much 0.5 inch steel plate, depending upon the ammo used. The 7.62 is going to do more damage.

All 10 bullets of both the AK and the AR 15 penetrated both sides of a truck, but only the 7.62 ammo went completely through two plywood walls of a garage. As for the 5.56 ammo, 7 of 10 shots fired entered the first wall and fragmented after passing through both sides of the trucks metal body. The results of this demonstration was in the fragmentation of the AR15 in the first wall with only three entries of ten into the second, whereas all 10 shots of the AK47 went clean through everything.

Just this past fall I saw on the news that a hunter had killed two deer with one 7.62 shot as the bullet passed through the first and entered a second killing both. Luckily he wasn’t at the end of his seasons bag limit as it was caught on film. Never under estimate the power of these guns, or of any gun for that matter. It is a gun owner’s responsibility to know the proper use and handling of a gun, as well as knowing a guns range.

Applications of the AR-15 Vs. AK-47

For the gun with the tightest grouping, the longest range, one you can trick out to the max, or use in competitive shooting; choose the AR. But if you want a rifle for self-defense and the greatest reliability, choose the AK 47. Practice makes perfect and the more familiar you are with any gun, the greater your accuracy will be. Using a good grade of ammo for sale will also help.

The AK vs. AR debate includes suitability for home defense. I personally would never shoot either inside of my home. They are simply too powerful with the ability to pass through an assailant or the walls. Either could also pass through an exterior wall and into a neighbor’s house. I prefer the AR-15 as a coyote gun and the AK is one of my if-crap-hits-the-fan guns.

Hunter’s use both guns with success and there is no shortage of either in the woods come deer season. Ultimately, my advice is to shoot both weapons before making a decision. Both are great guns and, if you can afford it, purchase one of each. I have seen accurate hunters take a deer in one shot with a .22 rifle. It’s just proof to the old saying that “a good gun can’t make a good hunter out of a bad one.”

Weight of The AK47 vs. AR15

Another factor to consider in the AK-47 vs. AR 15 decision is weight. The heavier AK 47 for sale is manufactured out of steel, whereas most AR’s are manufactured from mostly aluminum. Due to their larger size, the AK-47 ammo will add more carry weight than the AR-15 ammo for sale, another reason that many choose the AR over the AK.

Guns For Sale at GrabAGun

GrabAGun has guns for sale including a wide variety of the AR-15 for sale as well as the AK-47 for sale. We carry a large inventory of gun parts and accessories, conversion kits, slings, fine optics, and other tactical gear.

We work hard to provide you with the guns and gear you want. With the GrabAGun difference we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the gun you want, even if we do not stock it in our regular inventory. Our gun sales include any available gun with the GrabAGun discount price applied.

How to Care For Your Concealed Carry Pistol

January 13, 2014 | 0 Comments

Cleaning Your Concealed Carry Pistol

Providing maintenance and cleaning for concealed carry pistols is not an option but a requirement. Your concealed carry pistol can’t save your life if it won’t fire and a neglected weapon can indeed let you down when you need it most. Far too many gun owners fail to clean their firearms and some never do until there is a problem. That problem can be one that ends up causing injury or even death. Just carrying your weapon can change its condition and reliability, even if you haven’t fired it since it was last cleaned.

Reliability is one of the likely factors that affected your choice in the weapon you carry, but after purchase it is up to you to provide the maintenance that sustains the reliability that you count on.

Sweat

Sweat is one of the factors that adversely affect guns. It is composed of water, ammonia, urea, salts, and sugar. Sweat will, over time cause a firearm to rust. It’s a good idea to provide a spray with a little Rem Oil and a rubdown with a cloth to lubricate and protect. Go light on the oil as it can gum up the action.

Lint

Lint and other debris from a pocket can cause a real problem in your concealed carry pistol’s reliability. The lint is especially bad when carried in a pocket or purse. The contact with the fabric of clothing, pet hair, dust, grime from the oil in your hands, and our own shedding will find its way into every crack and crevice of the weapon. Routine cleaning will keep it at bay. Using gun holsters is the best protection for your firearm. It will reduce lint and other debris, but you still have to clean and maintain your firearm.

Magazines

Those who carry a revolver don’t have to worry about a magazine. It’s amazing how many people neglect to care for the magazine; yet they also tend to accumulate lint, dirt, and dust. When you clean the gun, you should inspect, clean, and lubricate the magazine as well.

The best way to clean a magazine is to disassemble it and wipe it down. There is no universal disassembly for magazines, though many of them have a removable floor plate that allows the spring and follower to be removed. Some gun owners like to lightly rub the spring down with oil, but keep in mind oil attracts dust. I use a tiny amount on a microfiber cloth, and then go back over the spring with a good rub using a clean microfiber cloth to remove excess oil.

Check For Loose, or Damaged Parts

Most modern guns for sale can take the rigors of carry and abuse. The constant motion of carrying, being sat upon, bumped, and dropped can lead to a cracked grip or loose screws and pins. Routine inspection and providing needed maintenance will ensure your concealed carry pistol will be operable when you need it.

Cleaning Safely

The number one safety factor that gun owners must realize when cleaning and inspecting a weapon is to ensure it is unloaded. Keep in mind, even though you remove the magazine a round may still be in the chamber. Look into the chamber to ensure no round remains there. Then look into the barrel from the back side to confirm that there is no lodged round in the barrel. Do NOT look into the barrel from the front. Do not consider a gun unloaded until you have inspected the chamber as well as the barrel.

The number two cleaning safety rule is to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, treat it as if it were still loaded and keep your finger off of the trigger! It’s a sobering fact to realize that more than half of non-intentional gunshot wounds occur during activities such as cleaning, repairing, loading, and unloading guns. Be safe and don’t be a statistic.

Cleaning at GrabAGun

GrabAGun offers an extensive inventory of guns for sale, including concealed carry pistols, concealed carry holsters, and gun cleaning kits for all of your firearm needs.

Camping in RVs vs. Tents

January 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

Gun Sales

RV vs. Tent Camping

Whether you are an RV or tent camper is a matter of personal choice. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. My parents were avid sportsmen and began carrying me along from the age of 2. We never had the luxury of a tent or RV, but roughed it on open ground or the cab and bed of the truck. It is where I learned to love camping under the stars.

Camping out to recharge, as well as in hunting camp has remained a part of my life ever since. Having camped in both tent and travel trailer, I prefer camping in tents. I like being close to the sounds of nature at night, and prefer to leave the rain canopy off where I have a view of the stars through the roof. In the following we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of each based upon my own opinion and 50 plus years of camping under the stars of wild America (and a few state and national parks).

The Advantages of RV Camping

An RV is self-contained with all of the comforts of home. Refrigeration keeps everything cold with no need for frequent trips to buy ice for the cooler.
Provides protection from the weather, including from extreme heat and cold.
No put up or take down time, except to roll in awnings if any.
Increased safety from potentially dangerous wildlife, and humans.

Disadvantages to RV Camping

Park and location is determined by your vehicle, its size and the hookups you use. Parking locations are often denatured and unattractive. The opportunities for wilderness camping are far less than with a tent.
RV camping parks can be expensive ranging from $15 to $60 per night.
Because everything is in the RV you may not spend as much time outside. Sleeping under the stars is limited to a small skylight view if available.
Owning an RV is expensive, you pay separate insurance, tag, maintenance, service and repair. Not to mention operating an RV is expensive. Regardless of if it is a motorhome or a pull-behind the gas bill is going to be a real drain on the checkbook.
Bathrooms are often super crowded, a tub bath may require you to have the skills of a contortionist, but you can soak your feet in the tub, brush your teeth in the sink all while sitting on the toilet. Larger is available-you get what you pay for.
Sewage requires approved site dumping, propane tanks replenishing, if water hookup isn’t available water storage may require refilling for long trips. Don’t haul excess water, the extra weight will increase fuel usage.
You can buy a house for what some motor homes cost.

The Advantages of Tent Camping

The campgrounds are located in a natural and sometimes pleasant environment.
Except for when sleeping you are outside all the time, using a campfire.
Campsites for tents are inexpensive and range from free to about $25 per night.
Traveling is cheap without all of the additional gas an RV requires.
Most campgrounds offer comfort stations with shower, bathroom and laundry facilities. Some campsites offer electricity, enabling you to operate a fan when the weather is hot and humid.
Tents enable wilderness camping and the full nature experience. Small tents can be backpacked for miles into pure nature.

The Disadvantages of Tent Camping

Rain, cold and heat can make tents unpleasant. Be sure your tent has a rain shield to enable windows to be opened when you are stuck inside a hot tent due to rain. Ensure your tent is large enough; a crowded tent can cause occupants to end up against the sides, causing moisture and leakage at the contact point.
Getting dressed can be difficult in a small tent. Choose a tall tent unless it’s for backpacking long distances, in that case smaller is better.
Tents take time to set up and take down. I always first inspect the ground for stones that keep you awake all night. As an added measure I use an earth mat under my sleeping bag.
In wilderness areas you can’t always find the perfect spot. Most tents have tarps for flooring and they allow sleeping bags to slide. If you are set up on an incline due to lack of a more suitable spot you can begin the night on one side of the tent and end up on the other. Rubberized bottoms are available, but usually cost more, the reduced slippage is well worth it.
Safety can potentially be an issue with tents. The material will not prevent aggressors from entering, whether human or animal.
Sparks from a fire can burn a hole in tents. Locate your tent well away from fires and sparks as well as chained dogs.
It is completely unsafe to use heaters in tents. Many campers have died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to the use of a fossil-fueled heater inside the tent. If you can’t handle the cold-stay home or buy/rent an RV.
Food and supplies must be brought in. If the location is a wilderness area miles from the road you may want to limit yourself to dehydrated foods-and what you can catch or hunt. I camp near spring water and carry a small water purifier that filters 99.9% contaminants and can produce a gallon a day. Field tests kits aren’t a bad idea to check the water at a site if you plan to filter all water.

Unless I am in bear or cougar country, my choice is a tent so far into the wilderness that the only two-legged I am likely to see is Sasquatch. With the rain flap off and millions of stars glittering overhead I can sleep as at no other time.

The campfire and the night sounds of the local wildlife lull me into a relaxation that I can obtain nowhere else. This is my down time, my vacation from the sounds, hurry and flurry of society. Nature is my healer and when I enter the wooded mountains I have come home. It doesn’t get any better than this.

GrabAGun provides tents and camping supplies for your next getaway into nature. As America’s fastest growing online gun shop we have new stock arriving daily, and offer pistols for sale, shotguns for sale, rifles including the AR-15 for sale, the AK-47 for sale as well as a huge inventory of other guns for sale. In addition to gun sales we offer gun parts and accessories, gun safes and much more located online for your shopping from pleasure.

The Importance of a Good Gunsmith

January 3, 2014 | 0 Comments

Finding a Good Gunsmith

Finding a good gunsmith can truly be a daunting task. You may find yourself delivering a weapon to a highly recommended gunsmith who turns you away, admitting he doesn’t work on your weapon type. That is an honest gunsmith, ask him what he specializes in and remember him. There are a few things you should look for when getting any modifications or repairs done on your gun.

Reputation

You want a gunsmith with a good reputation. Ask local gun shops and pawnshops who they recommend. They likely send guns out for repairs. You may be able to find gunsmiths pretty quickly once you start asking around.

Firearm Warranty

A very important point to consider is the warranty on your firearm. If it is under warranty you will most likely have to send it back to the manufacturer for covered repairs to avoid a voided warranty.

Firearm Safety

Manufacturers are not likely to recommend particular gunsmiths due to safety reasons. Manufacturers are held to stringent standards and can neither guarantee the quality or safety of work performed by anyone outside of their own plant.

Sending a firearm to the manufacturer for gun repairs or upgrades is entirely possible. In fact, some state laws may require that the factory perform potential upgrades.

Legal Modifications

An example of the wisdom of this goes along these lines: You upgrade a shotgun, adding tactical accessories for a home defense weapon. A couple of armed burglars break into your home and fires a gun at you or a family member. You return fire and strike both men. Your state law allows self-defense under a ‘stand your ground law’. Both men’s families insist to try you for murder and/or attempted murder. Even though you have protection by the state law and are acquitted, the family still sues you in civil court. You go on the stand and the lawyer asks if you bought the shotgun in its current form or if you upgraded it. If it was upgraded, you are then asked if the manufacturer provided the upgrade and you reply no.

The attorney can then claim that you used a substandard gun not at factory specifications. It doesn’t matter what the intent was. What matters is that you had a weapon upgraded by non-manufactured means. Depending on the upgrades performed, the weapon may actually be illegal depending on federal, state, and local laws.

Thus, you need a good gunsmith who is licensed, certified, and cognizant of federal, state, and local laws. Even then you may not stand a chance in civil court, but it certainly won’t hurt your chances if the gunsmith in question fills these requirements to ensure you aren’t guilty of a felony.

Research Your Modifications

The next consideration is that not all states require proof of skill and knowledge to obtain a license to work on firearms depending on type of firearms. The best general advice before you alter a firearm is to contact the ATF and make sure it is legal and what you need to do before hand, when making changes to a weapon.

As to a title 1 firearm with simple upgrades check with state and local laws, there is a good chance you can change out the grips, or add a rail with no problem from the law. If the law says you can do it yourself, then certainly a genuine gunsmith would be able to upgrade and provide gun repairs.

Ask Around

Your best bet for locating a good gunsmith is going to be gun shops, pawn shops, and possibly law enforcement if you personally know an officer. Most officers can’t recommend anyone for such a service, but if you have a friend in law enforcement he may know a favored gunsmith for duty weapons. Do your research, ask for recommendations from gun shops like GrabAGun, and err on the side of caution for the best gunsmith near you.