Wish List 2017

I think the last time I posted a wish list was 2014. I figured it was time to revisit and determine what I’m currently dreaming about.

• Ruger Precision – 6.5 Creedmoor (18008)
• Marlin 336C – .30-30 (specifically with white trim on the stock)
• Radom Vis 35 – 9mm
• Uberti Buntline – .44-40
• SAA – .44-40
• Ruger Red Label – 12 gauge

Much of the list appears similar to what I published in 2014. The Ruger Precision in 6.5 has proven illusive at an affordable price. It can be had regularly for a few hundred more than I want to spend so I’ll patiently wait until I locate it at the right price. I can then apply that savings to the optics and other attachments.

A Marlin 336C has always been something I have wanted. I love a lever gun, but never had one growing up. The 336C was a rifle I often saw in magazines and the appearance spoke to me and it still does. Of course it isn’t any old 336, it has to have that white trim on the stock and especially in the grip area. I’m not well versed on the firearm so it’s an I’ll know it when I see it kind of purchase.

I’ve had my eye on the Radom Vis 35 for some time, but it is a firearm most people do not want to sell. With the American Rifleman feature last year I figure the prices are going to rise and make them even more difficult to find at an affordable price.

I need a buntline like I need another hole in the head. The ridiculously long barrel just speaks to me for some reason.

Everyone needs a SAA to go with their lever action rifles and as I said in 2014, I just haven’t found the right one yet.

I like the look of the Ruger Red Label, but the price gives me pause. They brought it back a year or two ago, but currently it appears to be out of production. If I don’t even run into one it won’t break my heart, but it still remains on my wish list.

Upcoming Fifth Anniversary

On February 12 the blog will turn five. We generate about 1,000 new views per month and 135 people following our mindless banter. Every comment is considered and we appreciate you taking the time to read about whatever happens to come to mind that day. We may decide to post less frequent and with more focus after the 12th because some days it is difficult to find an interesting topic while other days it is difficult to stop typing. So if you start to see less posts do not become alarmed, we’ll post when we have something to say as opposed to saying something daily.

NRA Facebook Change

I received a notification of change for the National Rifle Association Facebook page. It is now the NRA Institute for Legislative Action and I must say I despise the change. I hated it when I would get all sorts of political notifications from the NRA before I opted out and in the American Rifleman magazine I skip all the political articles to read about firearms, ammo, etc. I’m not sure why the NRA has decided to make their Facebook presence all or nothing, but if I’m someone looking for Refuse To Be A Victim I would be turned off when I get directed to a Legislative Action page instead. Bad move NRA, don’t make everything political when so much good comes from training and programs.

Drug Test For Firearm Purchase?

The meme below popped up today and while the initial reaction is exactly no, it is not because of the last line of the meme, it is because the test is not instantaneous. In NC to purchase a handgun you have to get a pistol purchase permit from your county sherriff. That PPP requires a background check. At the point of sale for long guns there is also a NICS background check. The PPP has a maximum waiting period for the permit to be approved or denied and the NICS check is instant. So how do you implement a program to drug test people purchasing guns where the results are instant. Also how do you pay for such a test? Most would say the person purchasing the firearm should pay, but the equation pointed out by the meme was for governmental programs so the taxpayers bear the burden. There are 12 panel test strips for less than $10, but someone has to watch the process, adminster the test, and report the results. That drives up the cost to average $42 according to a quick Google search. So $42 each to be paid by the government because it would be an undue burden on the person purchasing a firearm. In December 2015 Time published the number of NICS checks performed through that point in the year and it was 19,827,376. So $42 x 19,827,376 = overflow of my calculator, let’s punch that into the computer to yeild: $832,749,792 or almost 1 BILLION DOLLARS!!! I can already tell you I do not want to pay for that either as a taxpayer or as someone who may purchase a firearm. Most of the drugs tested on a 12 panel test only remain in the system for a up 7 days, a few go beyond that point, but it is pretty useless in the grand scheme of things. I believe where welfare recipients have been tested the vast majority have passed the test so even a testing program for those on govermental programs has limited benefit. Better IMO would be to have random drug testing for governmental programs. That would save money and still do what the program was desiged to do which is ensure money from the government is not funding a drug habit. Now the final piece of the puzzle is what do you do in areas where marijuana is legal? The Feds say illegal and adminster the NICS check so I assume any drug use would be a disqualification, but if something is legal where you are it seems to me it should be allowed to be in your system. I’m heading to Denver in a few weeks and while I do not do drugs or smoke marijuana, I might find myself near an area downtown where someone is legally smoking dope. If I get second hand smoke from that exposure would I test positive on a drug screen? I don’t know, but ultimately any drug testing burden should be shouldered by the government and I am against needless governmental spending so I would oppose testing for firearm purchases because of the costs involved and because it imposes an undue burden on the populace.

Another Like Us On Facebook Request

We have 131 people following the blog via email, but only a handful of folks who receive it in their Facebook feed. If you are on Facebook, please take a minute to LIKE the page, not a single blog post, but the Facebook page. Thank you for your support, it is appreciated!

Please “Like” Bangers and Mash on Facebook

We’ve had quite a bit of traffic lately, please take a second and give our Facebook page a like. We get quite a bit of traffic and several people with email subscriptions, but by liking our page on Facebook it should appear in your feed. It’s simple, just click the “Like” button on our page. Thanks so much for reading the blog!

Facebook – (Please “Like” The Page)

Most people must subscribe to the blog since we have 125 people receiving it on a daily basis. If you are reading this, swing over to Facebook and like our page there and you can receive the content in your feed.

2016 Instructor Discounts

I noticed the NRA Instructor Discounts are starting to populate at remat457, but for some reason he has not yet included the Ruger Program I sent him. Ruger has two full pages this year, but sadly no Precision Rifle in the list. Anyway, if you are an instructor, also check the NRA portal, there are a few others there including Beretta, Daniel Defense, FNH, and Crimson Trace.

What Does It Take To Shoot 1,000 Yards?

Ever since Ruger came out with the Precision Rifle I have had the question what would be needed to shoot 1,000 yards running around in the back of my brain. I know practically nothing about how to shoot long-range so I decided to do a little research into the topic. Even after some cursory research I still see I have much to learn on the topic.

If you to are interested here are a few links to check out:

Field & Stream

ITS Tactical

Shooting Illustrated

RifleShooter

Photo Updates – (Like Us On Facebook)

Recently it became clear the links to many of our photos are broken. It is a cumbersome process to go back through all the posts over the past three years to fix the issues. In some cases it may not be possible, but many of the photos are mine and I just need to revise each post. If you find a broken photo link, feel free to post a comment and I will get to it. I’ve gotten about half way through both 2014 and 2012 and will continue to work on it with the goal to have the photo links restored where possible in the next two months.

If you feel so inclined, please like our Facebook page. The button is at the bottom right of the cover photo which is the same photo as on the blog.