Semi Automatic Failure

Merda! or in English, Shit! A semi-automatic failure might be annoying down the range  but in close combat it’s a life or death situation. Fortunately it’s completely avoidable. The only failure I’ve ever had have been deliberate.

The three most common failures with a semi-auto pistol are failure to feed, failure to extract, and failure to eject. The first one, failure to feed, is the most common. Basically, the bullet doesn’t travel from magazine to chamber and the slide only close partially aka “out of battery”,  there are three main reason for this: riding the slide, short sliding and muzzle contact with the target. Riding the slide is simply holding on to the slide as it travels forward, so it doesn’t travel with enough velocity to properly feed the bullet into the chamber. Short sliding is not pulling the slide back far enough, which means it doesn’t have the full range of motion necessary to chamber the round, and muzzle contact with the target has the same effect. All of these are easily avoidable — DON’T FUCKING DO IT!

The other reasons for a failure to feed are a dirty chamber, which doesn’t really apply to modern semi autos, or a damaged magazine. But modern semi auto are designed to be twat proof, so if you have any sort of failure the chances are that pulling the trigger again will resolve the problem.  The other two problems: failure to extract i.e.  the bullet fired, but the extractor didn’t pull the fired case from the chamber and you get a  “double-feed” or another round in the chamber; and failure to eject, which is similar, the fired case is caught in the chamber, which causes the slide to lock, called  “stovepiping”.  these failures can again be linked to a dirty chamber but in all reality you can pretty much guarantee the cause was “limp-wristing” (not holding the pistol firmly enough). Again the solution – DON’T FUCKING DO IT!

So having established that these failures are completely avoidable, why do they happen? Generally speaking, I’d say it was incompetence with the exception of riding the slide and short sliding, which can be the result of poor training. Not everyone is strong enough to pull the slide back with one hand, which is why I advocate the pull and punch method. I’ve yet to meet an able bodied adult who is not strong enough to do this, and in a real life situation when you want to shoot someone it’s all too easy to short slide which is why I advocate carrying Condition One, with the gun all ready cocked.

American Semi Automatic Pistols

According to ATF statistics, 1, 219, 664 semi automatic pistols were manufactured in America in 2007, which is over 3x more than the number of revolvers for the same year. Over 25% of US manufactured pistols were made by American owned companies. Smith & Wesson alone made 302 633 pistols, which is more than Sig Sauer, Beretta USA, Glock, FNH USA and CZ USA put together, and the second largest US pistol manufacturer in 2007 was Strum, Ruger & Co. But neither of these American companies produce competitive semi automatic pistols. Smith & Wesson’s idea of innovation was to bring out a substandard and unlicensed version of the Glock in 1994 — 12 years after the original came out in Austria — and to add insult to injury they called it a Sig! SIGma — a stroke of genius!

The S&W M&P series would have been cutting edge thirty odd years ago, but in 2005 they’re just another Glock wannabe, as is their new SD range they brought out for the civilian market this year. Ruger are even worse. The SR9 they brought out in 2007 can be best summed up as a piece of crap and the 2008 Ruger LCP is a 6+1 round capacity 9mm Corto, which is one round less than the Beretta 3032 Tomcat, but that came out 14-years ago! Whereas the Beretta Px4 Storm subcompact has a 13+1 round capacity in 9mm and shoots as accurately as a full sized pistol and with barely any recoil. There’s just no comparison.

Colt 1911

And the only pistols that Colt, America’s most famous handgun manufacturer, are currently making are more variations of their famous 1911.Their Colt 2000, which came out in 1992 and was supposed to be their pistol for the new millennium wasn’t even still in production in 2000. In fact, the Colt 1911 was the last truly competitive American semi automatic pistol. That’s part of the problem because nearly every American pistol manufacturer makes a version of the Colt 1911. If they were only being made for nostalgia or sport that would be fair enough, I own a couple myself, but the problem is that is still being made and sold as defensive pistol.

I know a lot of Americans thinks that the Colt 1911 is the best semi automatic pistol ever made, and to be fair, when it was first commissioned as a service pistol by the US army in 1911, it was an innovative, greatly admired and often imitated pistol. But now, just shy of a century later: a heavy, overbuilt, single action, 7×1 round capacity full sized pistol is an antique. To be honest it was really starting to show its age before WWII. Even in 1911, it wasn’t the most accurate firearm on the market: the Luger P08, Glisenti Model 1910, and Bergmann Bayard M1910 Mars were all more accurate, even if they were less durable.

The Colt 1911A1, which came out in 1924, and was designated the M1911A1 by the US military was a barely improved 1911. The only differences were a shorter trigger, indents in the frame behind the trigger, no “Double Diamond” on the grip, arched mainspring housing, longer grip safety spur, wider front sight and a shorter spur on the hammer. The working parts of the weapon were unchanged. The Pistola Campo-Giro de 9mm Modelo 1913-16, Astra 1921, Astra Model 900  (1927), Walther PP and PPK  (1929), Tokarev TT-33, Beretta M1934, FN 9mm Hi-Power 1935 and Walther P38, which were all better pistols than the M1911A1 were in production before the outbreak of WWII.

The reason that the M1911A1 was in service from 1924 until it was replaced on the 14 January 1985, by the Beretta 92FS had nothing to do with combat performance; it was because it was over-procured. During WWII the US military procured 1.9 million M1911A1 and didn’t purchase any after 1945 because they had more pistols than men. Although the US military adopted the Beretta 92FS in 1985, the Italian army adopted it in 1980 as a replacement for the Beretta M1951. The Beretta 92FS is was one of the original wonder nines and came out back in 1972 and its proved itself to be far more accurate and reliable.

The US military are looking Now they are looking to replace the Beretta 92FS but after 65-years in the wilderness, manufacturing revolvers, I can’t see Colt getting the contract with a double stacked 1911. If the rumours are right, the US Army want a .45 ACP calibre polymer pistol. So Smith & Wesson better start looking at ripping off the Beretta Px4 Storm SD.

Česká Zbrojovka CZ 2075 RAMI P

Calibre	9 mm Luger; .40 S&W; 9 mm P.A. Rubber
Magazine Capacity	10(14); 8(10); 10
Trigger mechanism operation	SA/DA
Sights	fixed, snag free
Overall length	168 mm
Barrel length	74,6 mm
Height	120 mm
Width	33 mm
Weight	665 g
Barrel	hammer forged
Surface treatment	black polycoat
Safety features	manual safety hammer safety notch firing pin block

In 1975, Česká zbrojovka based in Uherský Brod, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) introduced it’s now famous the CZ 75 9mm semi automatic pistol, which is still in production and is still one of them most popular semi autos in the world today. The CZ 2075 RAMI is their subcompact offering which came out circa 2007. The CZ 2075 RAMI P is the polymer version of the aluminium alloy 2075 RAMI and is 30 g lighter, other than that it’s the same gun. I had the opportunity to try out the CZ 2075 RAMI P 9x21mm this week. Don’t worry it comes in 9×19 mm, but that calibre is illegal for civilian use in Italy.

The first thing I noticed was high light it was. At 665 g this has to be the lightest subcompact I’ve ever fired. By contrast, the H&K P2000 SK 680 g and the Beretta PX4 Storm SubCompact is 740 g, although the CZ 2075 RAMI P is actually 5mm longer, 3mm taller and 0.5mm thicker than the P2000 SK, and 10 mm longer than the Px4 Storm Subcompact. So it’s really not a smaller gun — no more concealable – but it has a 10 +1 round capacity in 9mm, whereas the P2000 SK and Px4 Storm Subcompact have a 13 +1 round capacity.

The only problem I had with shooting it is that the trigger is uncomfortable and bites my finger. The ergonomics aren’t as good as the P2000 SK and Px4 Storm Subcompact, but it still was a good fit for my petite hand. Rob finds all subcompacts too small and the RAMI is no exception.

Shooting wise, it is a fantastic gun. I fired 300 rounds with no failures and that was with no cleaning or lube. The gun is designed to be accurate to 50m and it is. But what really interests me is rate of fire, recoil and accuracy over 10m in a dark room. The CZ 2075 RAMI P does all of those things well: it has illuminated titanium three-dot sights and it’s sleek shape is great for point shooting and there is very little  recoil. However, despite being a great little female friendly gun. I still prefer the P2000 SK and Px4 Storm Subcompact, so I didn’t buy it.

Say Hello To My Little Friend

Over the weekend we went tactical shooting testing out new handguns we bought. I fired over a 1,000 rounds!!!

I tried the Taurus 856 out with some tactical shooting drills… I hate it. The recoil isn’t too bad shooting two handed, but I really noticed it shooting one handed especially shooting with my off-hand. Six rounds isn’t enough and it’s not as smooth or fast as my semi autos. So I gave it to my little sister and I’m now the proud owner of a H&K P2000 SK. I tried and liked the Sig Sauer Pro 2022 but the P2000 SK  is such a sexy gun, it feels better in the hand, performs as well as the SP 2022 and is a better concealed carry option. It’s 9×21 IMI like my other two defensive firearms, the Beretta Px4 storm and Beretta Px4 storm subcompact.

Amica replaced her Glock 17 with a Bersa Thunder 9, which is a very accurate firearm and she kept her Glock 26, and got the Taurus PT 709 Slim, which really is slim. It also very accurate for such a small gun. You can easily wear it inside your skirt.

Rob already recently bought the Caracal C Quick Sight, and he’s not ready to replace that yet although I don’t like it. But he bought the H&K P30, as a carry weapon, which I love. Neither of us have owned H&K before, but they’re worth the money, unlike SIGs, which I feel are overpriced. Rob chose the incredibly reasonably priced Tanfoglio Force 10 Carry as his third defensive weapon. It’s a 10 mm AUTO, which is usually a target calibre but Tanfoglio seem to offer all their defensive guns in that calibre as well as the standard calibres. The Force Carry 10 might be known by a different name in America, but it’s a great polymer concealed carry gun, the Force series are based on the ČZUB CZ 75 frame.

We’re also all allowed to register 6 sporting firearms each. I’ve got a Beretta 87 Target .22LR, a Tanfoglio Combat Sport 1o in 10mm Auto, and Taurus PT 1911 in .45 ACP. Amica has a Tanfoglio Force 99 Sport and Taurus PT 24/7 in 9×21 IMI, and Rob has an Astra Daytona and Tanfoglio Witness 1911 Custom in .45ACP, and Beretta Stampede Deluxe .357 Mag revolver. We also got 6 shotguns in the house the Benelli M4 Super 90, Beretta Tx4 storm and Franchi SPAS-15 for defence and tactical shooting, and the Benelli M2 Comfortech Camo, Beretta Xtrema2 AP and Beretta AL 391 Urika 2 Camo MAX4 for hunting.

Some people might think we have to many firearms, but I’d rather have too many firearms than not enough because what good is a right of self-defence if you don’t have the means to defend yourself?

Condor Pipe Dagger

Condor Pipe Dagger

When I first saw the Pipe Dagger, I thought Condor were taking liberties charging $ 79.98 for a sharpened piece of pipe, because that’s what it is it is. To be fair it’s a 16 3/4″ and 1/8″ thick piece 1075 high carbon spring steel (HRC 55) hollow pipe, weighing 0.75 lbs, with an anti-rust black satin powder finish, and an 11″ blade cut at an angle from the handle to the tip, sharpened to a fine point on both edges. It’s got a rubber stopper on the end, which you can remove and it looks better if you do. So you’re probably asking why I bought this knife and why my  favourite Ecuadorian knife manufacturer made it?

Arlan D. Lothe the designer came across some head-hunters in the Borneo jungle saw their bone daggers, and asked them whether they registered the patent. They said, “course we’re ain’t, we’re cannibals, we’re going to eat you, what you going on about?”  So to cut a long story short, he escaped and nicked the design off them. Alright I’m making that up — but he did copy them off the Borneo head-hunters’ ceremonial bone dagger.

I bought it just for the novelty, but it’s actually a decent fighting knife and hog-sticker. I’ve used it on a few pigs — just don’t tell the farmer. Condor say that if you rotate the blade on the thrust it will cut a hold double its width, which is true, but what I found  is that if you do that, you tend to rotate it on the way out as well. That gives you a cut over three times the size. And you can also thrust in and just keep twisting, which will chew up flesh.  It also double slashes and because it’s tapered it draws into a V shape, which is going to be very difficult to stitch up.

There are two screw holes under the butt cap so you can attach it to a spear shaft. It also comes with a black hand made leather sheath, and like all Condor knives, with a limited life time warranty. Although this dagger is long, it’s not that wide so you can conceal it on your person if you wanted. Personally, I think I’ll probably just end up using it as a spear.

Caracal C

Caracal C

As Stefi said in her previous post we’re limited on the number of defensive firearms we own. So you might think I’ve not had much range time with other semi-automatics. Well I have. I’ve had a lot of range time with the Astra A-80, Beretta Px4 storm SD, Beretta Px4 storm, Beretta Px4 storm compact, Beretta Px4 storm subcompact, Beretta 90two, Beretta 98 FS, Beretta 8045 Cougar, Beretta 8045 Mini Cougar, Beretta 9000 F40, Beretta 3032 Tomcat, Beretta 21 A Bobcat, Bersa Thunder 9 Pro HC, Glock 17, Tanfoglio witness 1911, Taurus PT92, and Zastava CZ 999 Scorpion, and I’ve had limited time with some other semi-autos as well.

The latest, the Caracal C (Quick Sight) – a gift from my beautiful wife —  has to be one of the finest semi-automatics I’ve fired. Which is a bit of a surprise because Caracal are a recently established United Arab Emirates arms manufacturer with their production in Abu Dhabi, but distributed by Tanfoglio.

The Caracal semi automatic were designed Willy Bubits, a former weapon designer for Glock, Walther and Slayer, so he knows what he’s about. The Caracal pistols have been adopted by the U.A.E. police force but as far as I’m aware not by anybody decent but they have passed all the NATO and the German military and police test. They were also tested by shooters from the Italian NOCS, GIS, 17º Stormo Incursori, Col Moschin and the Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Città del Vaticano at the Futura Club last October, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they start getting picked up by western special forces and police tactical units soon because they really are that good.

The Caracal C is selling for €590 ($770) and the Caracal C Quick Sight for €620 ($810). It comes in 9×19 NATO, 9x21mm IMI, .357 SIG, and .40 S&W — mine’s the 9x21mm IMI caliber, which has a 13 round capacity — and weighs 750 g (26.4oz), has a total length of 186 mm (7.3″) and barrel length of 90 mm (3.5″). It’s a Double Action and has an ambidextrous magazine catch and great ergonomics. It very accurate, virtually no recoil and ultra reliable. The Caracal C is the compact version and easily small enough for concealed carry. It’s an excellent defensive gun.

Taurus 856

Italian firearms law is complicated but essentially all citizens are allowed to possess 3 ”armi comuni da sparo” (common firearms), which are usually handguns, 6 “armi sportive” (sports firearms), 8 antique firearms designed before 1891, and an unlimited amount of ”armi da caccia” (hunting firearms),but we’re not allowed to own any “armi da guerra” (military firearms). All firearms in Italy are designated into those categories usually by calibre and in the case of sports firearms by purpose. What this means is that when I buy a new handgun I have to give up one of my existing firearms, or at least get it registered in someone else’s name.

Until last week my 3 common firearms were a Beretta Px4 storm, Beretta Px4 storm subcompact and Beretta 21 A Bobcat. I used to have a Beretta 8045 Mini Cougar which I had to give up, i.e. pass on to my sister, when I bought my. Px4 storm subcompact. After a lot of persuading from Rob, I decided to replace my Beretta 21 A Bobcat — or pussycat as Rob calls it — because it only fires 22LR rounds and just isn’t a manstopper. So last weekend I bought a replacement: the Taurus 856 .38 Special +P in Blue Stainless Steel. It’s apparently the gun issued to the Singapore Police Force, which is strange because most police forces issue semi-automatic pistols.

Taurus 856 .38 Special +P Steel

I chose to go with a revolver instead of another semi-automatic pistol because of I never fired a revolver and the .38 Special +P has nearly as much stopping power as a 9mm semi-auto and a lot more than a 22LR semi-auto. The Taurus 856 is 629 g (22.2 oz), 165mm (6.5″) in length, with a 51mm (2″) barrel.  Like the 21 A Bobcat it’s a DA/SA. It has a reasonably comfortable rubber gripped handle and it’s a 6-shooter. The 21A Bobcat 22LR only took 7 rounds although it was a much smaller gun. One of the reasons I chose the Taurus 856 is that I’m petite — 160cm (5′ 3″) and 49 kg (108 lbs) — and it’s supposed to have less recoil than some other snubnose revolvers but it still has more recoil than my Px4 Storm and a slower firing rate between rounds.

At $441 dollars it’s reasonably priced and is overall a much better defensive choice than the Beretta 21A Bobcat 22LR. Still, I don’t think I’ll be keeping it long: I’m a semi auto girl.

Fighting Machetes

This will probably come as no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, but in my opinion you can never have too many weapons. You might not get the chance to use them all but its better to have them there than not. Lets have it right, a machete isn’t a gardening tool, hunting knife, butchers knife, or razor to shave your Mrs’ legs with —  granted, you could do all those things with a machete, but what it’s really for is hacking body parts off people you don’t much care for. I’ve got ten of the things, and trust me, I didn’t buy any of them to go camping in the Amazon with.

Fox Machio

My cheapest machete is a Tramontina, with an 18″ carbon steel blade and wooden handle, which is about $15, and my most expensive is a Fox Machio Machete, with a 14.2″ 425 Stainless Steel blade and ABS handle, which costs $86. The Fox Machio is made out of a better steel, which isn’t that important in a machete because they could both lop off a head easy enough, but the Fox Machio would feel better in your hand when you did it because it’s got a nicer handle and better balance. But you don’t need to spend $86 to get a decent machete.

I’ve got the 21″ and 24″ blade Cold Steel Latin Machetes, which are both 2mm (0.08″) thick and made out of 1055 Carbon Steel with a black anti-rust matte coating, which is fine for a machete, especially as they both only cost $18 each. They also have decent polypropylene handles. Although they’re Latin machetes they’re actually made in South Africa and personally sharpened by Nelson Mandela (alright, I made up that last bit). Cold Steel also make Bolo, Panga, Kukri and a heavy machetes, but their best fighting design is their Latin machetes. You can buy sheaths for them for $8 if you want, but I’m a Catholic and the Pope doesn’t like sheaths.

I also have six Condor machetes. The Condor Tool & Knives Company is a great firm from El Salvador. No surprise that a firm from El Salvador makes good fighting machetes. They’re a seriously good firm that have some brilliant designs. The quality are their knives and machetes are pretty good as well and they’re also cheap, which is always a bonus. As well as the machetes I’ve also got the Condor Bush knife, Rodan knife, Borneo Headhunter Pipe knife and Bush Cutlass – love them all.

El Salvador Machete

Condor have range of carbon steel and range of stainless steel machetes. The only Condor carbon steel machete I have is the 18″ El Salvador Machete, which is a lot like the Cold Steel latin machetes in quality and design. The blade is coated in epoxy black powder, it has a polypropylene handle and costs $25.  The rest of my Condor machetes are made out of 420 HC Stainless Steel, which isn’t much different from the 425 Stainless Steel that my Fox Machio is made of.

Condor Combat Machete

The Condor Combat Machete has only got a 13″  blade but it’s 3mm (1/8″) thick, double-edged and spear pointed. It’s also got a really comfortable Ergonomic “PoszeGrip” Santoprene handle. I’ve got it in the Mystic Camo but you can get it in blasted satin or black . It costs $65 and comes with a sheath.

Condor Outback Machete

My biggest Condor machete is the 20″ Outback machete. It’s 2 mm (0.08″) thick like the Cold Steel Latin machetes. Black coating, comes with a sheath and has a high impact polypropylene handle. It’s $75 which is pricey for a machete but this is made out of 420 HC Stainless Steel, so it’s more durable and will last you longer. That said, the Cold Steel machete could still take a head off.

Condor Jungle Saber Machete

Condor Hog Sticker Machete

I’ve also got two Condor machetes with knuckle guards: the 18″ Jungle Saber and 18″ Hog Sticker. My Jungle Saber in Mystic Cammo and Hog Sticker in black. Again, both 2 mm (0.08″) thick and have high impact polypropylene knuckle guard handles. They both cost $70 and come with sheaths. The knuckle guard is a good feature for combat because it offers hand protection and doubles up as a knuckle duster, which is still a valid sabre fencing technique.

Condor Puerto Rican Machete

Lastly, my favourite Condor machete, the 14 1/2″ Puerto Rican machete, 2 mm (0.08″) thick with a hardwood handle and comes with a sheath and black blade. It also costs $70. The reason I like this the best is that it’s similar to the Italian roncola, I can use the curved top edge for hooking and slicing the opponents limbs.