I love these things, so you are gonna see more of them .
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A ghoulish post on pistol effectiveness
There is an incredible amount of back and forth nonsense about which pistol caliber is the best .The correct answer is: The one you shoot the other guy to death with.
Take a look at the photo above. It shows depth of penetration and permanent wound cavity in ballistic gelatin from the some of the top self defense loads. 12 inches of penetration is the FBI standard for a cartridge loading to be considered effective to immediately incapacitate or kill a combatant. Notice that all the loads meet this requirement and several exceed it.
The caliber of the pistol is not the most important factor in its effectiveness. The user's ability to correctly place their shot on target is. I find the . 40 S&W difficult to shoot in pistols with less than a 4.5" barrel and I prefer either the 9mm or . 45 ACP to it. Others think that the .40 S&W is the best cartridge on the market. Police forces across the nation are obtaining .40 caliber sidearms to replace their 9mms at amazing rates. But that won't help them if the officer fires at an armed suspect and misses every shot. When choosing a pistol, especially for concealed carry use, the most important characteristic is reliability. Then comfort and ease of use (that includes concealment and carry), then accuracy, then stopping power.
Seem backwards to you? Here is my reasoning:
- Reliability is king, your gun must work every time.
- Comfort and ease of use: If you left your gun at home or in the car because its too heavy, it is useless to you. If you can't use the weapon effectively, it is worse than useless, its dangerous to you and those around you.
- Accuracy is extremely important because shot placement is the key to ending the encounter quickly and without injury to you or other bystanders.
- Lastly, the stopping power. Why last? Well, because its the last thing to happen. If any one of the other things is lacking or fails, then it does not matter if you are carrying a cannon with grapeshot.
People survive horrendous wounds all the time and other people are killed by a single stray .22 from down the block. The most important factor in surviving a gunfight is shot placement. That being the case, note that all the above bullets are jacketed hollow points, which are the best choice for any personal defense or duty handgun. ( Do take your nice new expensive JHPs to the range and make sure your weapon will function reliably with them however.)
A few final words for those who say the 9mm is underpowered:
- There are many thousands of people who would argue the above point with you, but they can't because they were shot to death with a 9mm.
- Look at these expanded hollow points and tell me whether or not they look deadly to you.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Guns I Wish I Had (part2) Mauser C96 "Red Nine"
The Mauser C96 or "Broomhandle Mauser" was first produced in 1896 and was one of the first reliable and effective semi automatic pistols. The C96 was designed with a wooden holster that can be attached to the butt of the pistol and used as a shoulder stock , greatly increasing the accuracy and effective range of the weapon. It was fed from top down with 10 round stripper clips into a internal spring loaded box magazine, and the magazine also functioned as a makeshift foregrip. The first models were chambered in 7.62x25 Mauser cartridge, which was very high velocity, especially in the relatively long barrel of the C96. The .30 Mauser, as it is also known, was not exceeded in velocity as a pistol cartridge until the .357 Magnum was released in 1935.
In WWI, the Imperial German Army made an order for 150,000 C96s chambered in their standard 9mm Parabellum cartridge. To avoid ammunition mix ups with C96s already in service, a large red 9 was burned and painted onto both sides of the grip, hence the popular appellation (oooooh SAT words) of "red nine".
The C96 was used widely in conflicts all around the world in the first half of the twentieth century, including the Second Boer War, The Spanish Civil War, The Russian Revolution, WWI, WWII, and numerous Chinese conflicts. (often in select fire, chambered in .45 ACP with a detachable, larger magazine)
The C96 was also famously endorsed by Winston Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia and Han Solo.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Gun is Civilization
Something I ran across a couple of years ago, I thought that I would share it with you.
The Gun is Civilization
by Major L. Caudill, USMC (Ret)
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another:
reason and force. If you want me to do something for you,
you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or
force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every
human interaction falls into one of those two categories,
without exception. Reason or force, that's it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively
interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid
method of social interaction, and the only thing that
removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as
paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You
have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have
a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound
woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year
old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang
banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a
carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes
the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers
between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the
source of bad force equations. These are the people who
think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed
from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a
[armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only
true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed
either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no
validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are
armed.
People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic
rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's
the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even
an armed one, can only make a successful living in a
society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.
Then there's the argument that the gun makes
confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in
injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways.
Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the
physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury
on the loser.
People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't
constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people
take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at
worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier
works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the
stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.
The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands
of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight
lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force
equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.
When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for
a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun
at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded.
I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it
enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of
those who would interact with me through reason, only the
actions of those who would do so by force. It removes
force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is
a civilized act.
By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)
I don't have anything to add because the Major said it all.
All credit to Maj. Caudill, of course.
The Gun is Civilization
by Major L. Caudill, USMC (Ret)
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another:
reason and force. If you want me to do something for you,
you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or
force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every
human interaction falls into one of those two categories,
without exception. Reason or force, that's it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively
interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid
method of social interaction, and the only thing that
removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as
paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You
have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have
a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound
woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year
old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang
banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a
carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes
the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers
between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the
source of bad force equations. These are the people who
think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed
from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a
[armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only
true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed
either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no
validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are
armed.
People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic
rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's
the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even
an armed one, can only make a successful living in a
society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.
Then there's the argument that the gun makes
confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in
injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways.
Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the
physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury
on the loser.
People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't
constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people
take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at
worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier
works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the
stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.
The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands
of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight
lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force
equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.
When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for
a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun
at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded.
I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it
enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of
those who would interact with me through reason, only the
actions of those who would do so by force. It removes
force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is
a civilized act.
By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)
I don't have anything to add because the Major said it all.
All credit to Maj. Caudill, of course.
When regular explosions just won't cut it
Well now. How about this, the M388 Davy Crockett, the nuclear mortar. Yes, you just read that right. This is not some absurd fantasy of mine. It reportedly had a range of 3 miles and a fallout cloud half a mile wide. Luckily for our boys this was never used, after being developed in the 50s to blast Ivan back out of Germany. Its aiming system was simple and rudimentary, probably because you were firing a nuclear bomb, i.e. the horseshoes and hand grenades argument.
We live in one hell of a country.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tomorrow's war today
Well teleportation we might not have, but look at this pic from Greece last summer.Here we have a "protester" (misunderstood youth with a lack of job opportunities and government representation, not a communist hooligan burning his own city. Get it straight.)
using a green laser to attack the eyes of Greek riot police. These lasers were recently outlawed in Australia because of suspected Islamic militants were shining them at the cockpits of jets as they came in for landing. This could very easily blind the pilot and cause the plane to crash. Exposure of lasers to the eyes is also thought to cause ocular cancers. So this is not some cute peacenik trick to play on police, like chaining yourself to a fence. This is an attack, with a dangerous weapon.
Lasers and other energy weapons are becoming increasing important and will play a larger role in missile and air defense as the technologies, and more importantly the power sources are
advanced. The military has been working on a gigantic airborne laser for a long time now, but are still having problems with it, not the least of which is that most lasers that are for more than exercising the cat need huge tanks of expensive, corrosive chemicals to work.
One other note, protesting is a fine way to show your dissent, and I believe that free peoples have the right to protest. But the second that you wear a mask, throw a stone, tip a car, or shine a laser at some one's eyes, you are no longer a protester. You are a asshole rioter. And the response to a riot is commensurate with the size of the riot. 40 idiots protesting the G8 in St. Simons= stern looks from overly well-equipped police. 25,000 masked hooligans burning the city to protest whatever is upsetting them=National Guard in APCs with live ammo. Police have a duty to end a riot with as little loss of life as possible, but some people on the extreme left like to think that they can use methods against "the system" that they would consider war crimes if they were used in war. Like, um, I dunno, intentionally blinding people.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Iconic Guns - Part 1 - SMLE
Superbly accurate, with high power, and unquestionable reliability, and a high rate of fire make this one of the finest military arms to ever see combat.
First introduced in 1902 as the SMLE MkI , it was still in production in Ishapore, India until 1974.
Obviously, this makes it one of the longest serving modern military firearms. It was the main British arm throughout WWI, WWII, and has been used in countless conflicts in former British colonies and around the world since WWII. It was developed from the older MLE and MLM rifles and was intended to be a short (for the time) length rifle that would be suitable for all types of troops rather than issuing different weapons to the artillerymen, cavalry, and support troops.
The Lee bolt action design, with its rear locking lugs and with a bolt that cocked on closing, was extremely fast and easy to use. Another design feature that helped to make the SMLE a hardy and reliable weapon was the chamber, which had a slightly greater than needed dimension to help in preventing jams caused by fouling or expanded cartridge cases. The receiver was also fitted with a stripper clip guide to facilitate fast reloads. The magazine itself was rarely removed except for maintenance, freeing the soldier from the weight of multiple steel magazines.
.303 British The classic SMLE, chambered in .303 British, is operated with a short bolt action, and has a 10 round detachable magazine, allowing the trained user a very high rate of fire, higher than any other bolt action weapon of its time. The Mauser 98, the SMLE's main adversary, held only 5 rounds. The .303 cartridge itself was a rimmed design, and it was capable of hitting targets beyond 1000 yards. The average bullet weight is 174 grains and the average muzzle velocity was around 2440 fps, combined with a copper-nickel jacketed spitzer bullet made a round that was just as effective as the German 8mm or American .30-06.
The original SMLE MkI featured a magazine cut off, which officers felt would force their troops to conserve ammunition by firing and loading single shots. It also was fitted with "volley sights". These were intended to be used in the following manner. A group of British soldiers would get into a tight formation, aim their rifles at another tight formation of enemies that were between 1500-3000 yards away and a squad of soldiers would act like a giant shotgun, raining fire down on those sausage-eaters. As you might guess, this was wishful thinking at its worst.
Both these features were removed from later versions, because they were stupid.
No1. Mk4 (WWII version of SMLE)In WWII, with British and Commonwealth troops in action in India, Burma, and the Pacific theater, military planners felt that a lighter and shorter weapon was needed for jungle operations. The result was the No. 5 " jungle carbine" which featured a shorter barrel, a much reduced stock and a flash hider.
The No.5 was not very well received and troops usually preferred a weapon like the Thompson submachine gun. The No. 5s are also dogged by the accusation that they have a "wandering zero" meaning that the point of bullet impact is not always were you think it should be and might not be the same from shot to shot. I have no firsthand experience firing the No.5, so can only pass on what I have read and been told, but were it true, it would certainly be a reason to stay away from the No. 5.
SMLE No. 5 "Jungle Carbine"Very few other modern firearms have seen as much action as the SMLE. From Britain's many Colonial conflicts, to the trenches of WWI, to the worldwide conflagration of WWII and beyond, the Enfield did its job. I have seen recent pics (2003) of Indian Territorial Guard troops armed with the Ishapore 2A in 7.62 NATO, guarding temples and mosques, fighting the War on Terror. Pretty impressive for a weapon older than real cars or powered flight.
Ishapore 2A in 7.62 NATOAs with any weapon with such a long service length, the Enfield has been modified to fit many different niches. In addition to all the variants above, the SMLE was re purposed to serve as a cadet's .22 rimfire, single shot training rifle. It was also modified to be a single shot .410 British shotgun. A target model with an optical sight was produced for snipers and following WWII, a dedicated 7.62NATO sniper rifle was built on SMLE actions.
They have remained popular in private hands, many being cut-down or "sporterized". If you have an SMLE, DO NOT DO THIS. You might lose some accuracy and all historical value. And people will think you are an asshole. And they will be right.
OK. Sorry 'bout that. But I am serious.
The .303 ammo is still available, although usually only from specialty companies. Surplus .303 is pretty hard to find, and might be of the age were performance and even reliability could be questionable. Enfields are fairly common and are quite inexpensive, well used specimens going for as little as $130 at gun shows. For a piece of military history that might have been to more continents than you have, that can still hit targets at 800m, whether they be a white-tailed deer or Nazi infantryman, that is one hell of a good deal.
No. 4 Mk 1*(T) -- Sniper's Rifle
Monday, June 15, 2009
Emergency Preparedness
yes, it is a bit dramatic I like to think of myself as a survivalist, but don't often use that term due to most people conjuring images of me eating SPAM in a basement with a gas mask around my neck, sitting on a crate of ammo. And that would be wrong.
I don't even HAVE a basement.
But I try to impress on people the good sense of being prepared for trouble. That will mean a great deal of different things to different people. But I think one would be pretty spot on with a prediction that something bad is likely to happen. You know, sometime. That does not mean that you should move to the Mosquito Coast, dig a bomb shelter, or invest your 401k in gold coins and AKs
(well, not all of it at least)
[Seriously, leave your retirement alone unless you can't pay rent. And now is a bad time to buy gold. That's why they are advertising it]
Anyway...
It is a good idea to be prepared. There are all sorts of things that can go wrong.
(terrorist attack, riot, hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, virulent pandemic, flood, zombies, global economic meltdown, tornado, solar flares, zombies, meteorite strike, cat uprising, nuclear war, conventional war, civil war and zombies.)
See? and that's just off the top of my head.
So some things I think everyone needs: (very basic)
- 12 gauge Shotgun (if someone kills you, all other plans are moot)
- Water (you need way more than you think)
- Non perishable foods
- Cash
- Flashlights
- First aid kits
- Hammer
- Duct tape
- Multi tool
- Insurance and a good lawyer (OK, so that is at least two things. It is my list)
Obviously, the above items do not in any way guarantee that you will survive the apocalypse, or even at the championship weekend of your local sports team. This list is woefully inadequate. But it is a start, and I can't give away all my secrets now, I want you to keep reading.
I believe everyone must take steps to ensure the security and health of their persons, families, and property. Those who fail to do so run the risk of fleeing down the highway, starving with no shoes on, wondering why the government won't save them.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Guns I Wish I Had (part1)-Steyr M9A1
Steyr M9A1
The second most famous pistol from Austria, the Steyr M series. A quick look might lead to you believe that the M9 is another plastic Glock clone, unworthy of attention. You would be wrong.
A great many small details have gone into the making of this fine weapon.
Upon first seeing the M9A1 I immediately noticed the grip, it is raked back at an angle,(111 degrees) even more so than the 1911, almost as much as the P08 Luger. Combined with a low barrel to hand axis, this gives the pistol superior balance and pointing ability.
Also it has what were fairly unique sights at the time of its introduction, the "trapezoidal sights" consist of a high visibility triangle shaped front sight and a trapezoid rear sight. To me, the shape of the front sight allows it to function like the mouse pointer on a PC, as the point of impact for the bullet is right at the top of the triangle's apex. I found it very instinctual and easy to use.
The A1 is an improvement of the earlier design, adding an under barrel accessory rail for the attachment of lights or lasers. The slide is covered in the Tenifer finish, like the Glock, which I believe to be the most scratch, rust and ding resistant finish available, at least from the factory.
The operation is a double action only, striker fired and hammerless design called the " Reset Action trigger". The M9A1 also uses John Browning's locking breech/short recoil method of operation that is so common in semi autos.
Chambered in 9mm NATO, it has a 14 rd steel magazine with a polymer follower and floorplate.
The Steyr M9A1 can be bought for something in the 600-800 range, making it a worthy choice among the Glocks, SIGs, Walthers and HKs.
Steyr M9A1-Series Pistol Specifications
| Caliber | 9x19mm |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 7.05 inches |
| Height | 5.03 inches |
| Width | 1.18 inches |
| Weight, empty | 28 oz. |
| Magazine capacity | 14 |
| Trigger system | Reset Action System |
| Trigger pull | 5.5 lbs. |
| Trigger travel | 1/8 inches |
| Safeties | Three user-selectable conditions |
| Sights | Triangle/trapezoid profile |
So if anyone wants to get me something for my birthday...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Few Words on Gun Violence in America
These are the top ten firearms recovered in murder/shooting investigations in the United States, according to the FBI. Lets look at them and see what we can determine.The first thing I noticed was that HALF (the top two and bottom three on the right)of the guns in the picture are from Bryco/Jennings/Jimenez/Raven Arms. This is a gun company that has changed names and owners so often you (and the Courts) can't keep up, but keeps on making the worst guns you will ever touch. No reputable gun shop will sell or service these guns because they are made so amazingly poor. They are frankly very dangerous to have around, and if you happen to own one, I suggest you very carefully unload it, fill it with concrete and throw it in the fucking river. I know a guy who once gently set down a Bryco .380 and it fired into his alarm clock, although the FMJ .380 did not fully penetrate or exit from the tiny, plastic alarm clock. These weapons can be bought for as little as $70.
Rounding out the list,a Ruger P series automatic is the second from the right on the top, it is most likely on the list due to the fact it is one of the least expensive pistols to be found, averaging $200-300 less than most other guns.
The largest and most dangerous of the firearms is a 12 gauge pump shotgun, one of the most common guns across the world, and it is a legitimate hunting weapon as well.
Three of the guns are Smith and Wessons, the Model 10 M&P .38 and its .357 Magnum cousin, along with the old style automatic in 9mm. Again, all relatively inexpensive and common weapons. Also, the revolvers are of a type that has been made for about 75 years so we have had quite some time to stock up on them.
Notice the complete lack of so-called "assault weapons" or .50 caliber rifles. So why would these weapons be banned? The most common gun murder in America is between two young men, with violent records, over gang or drug disputes. That is why, a cheap, throw away, low quality pistol is their preferred weapon. Most gun owners do not want any further restrictions on their Constitutional Rights, but if Government and Private organizations want to do something about gun violence in America, they need to focus their efforts on the real problems, like dirt cheap guns that fire even when they are not supposed to in the hands of gangsters, felons, and undocumented, illegal alien gangsters living under false names.
Gun violence is overwhelmingly caused by professional criminals with illegal or stolen guns. Not by the type of guy who buys a 5 foot long, $7,000, 30lb rifle that shoots $5 bullets that can be heard 5 miles away. I have not seen ANY report of a .50 caliber rifle used in a crime in America.
(However, giving them to the Mexican Army was a good idea wasn't it? We might have just saved time and money and threw them over the fence in Tijuana if we wanted the Cartels to have a new toy.)
"Assault Weapons" or semi auto firearms with detachable magazines as they are known to people who are not idiots, are used in less than 1% of gun crimes in America, while one "Saturday Night Special" manufacturer makes, distributes, and markets 5 guns of the top ten used in shootings in the country.
So, gun haters, try to focus on the guns that are killing people on the street every day instead of the ones that you think look scary.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Top Ten Most Influential Weapons (throughout history)
Welcome to the first post of the Homemade Defense blog.
I will not be telling you how to construct IEDs and zipguns in your garage. That is illegal, ill-advised, and all that info can be found in your local library anyway.
Anyways...
I watched a show last night on the top ten weapons of all time and I thought I would make a list of my choices for everyone to deride. So in somewhat historical order,
1-Javelin
2-Long bow
3-Katana
4-Kentucky Rifle
5-Henry Rifle
6-1911
7-M2 Browning HMG
8-AK series
9-JDAM
10-MQ-9 Reaper
Javelin
Mankind's first distance weapon, which allowed us to eat things other than frogs and rats and was the beginning of weapon design, after all, it's all about hurting the other guy when and where he can't hurt you. If you don't believe that is the first rule of warfare, then I suggest that you go get in a knife fight. Nice knowing you.
Longbow
If you thought javelins were fun, wait 'till you see the longbow. With a range of hundreds of yards and power enough to go through a steel breastplate, it shows that it outclasses every distance weapon known to man at the time of its invention. A trained warrior throwing a javelin could probably only hit a man sized target from less than 50 yards away, (and if you think you could do better, I invite you to sharpen a stick and go out in your yard and try. Just watch out for the cat) While bows had been around for centuries the longbow was invented for maximum range and power. Firearms could not be beat it in range and rate of fire until about the 1850's. The power of the English longbow was enough to destroy the cream of French Cavalry at Crecy in 1346, heralding the long decline of cavalry as the most important arm of the military.
Katana
For at least a thousand years, the sword was the symbol of war and a warrior's favored weapon.
The Katana is without a doubt the finest sword ever made. The fact that the perfect Katana was only perfected just before the time that the muzzleloading firearms were becoming really effective only shows how hard it is to get something right.
Kentucky Rifle
The TV show picked the arquebus as its early gun entry, but I have to strongly disagree. I'll wait for everyone to tell me of all the battles and wars where the arquebus made the difference.
Yup. I thought so.
The Kentucky rifle was one of the first truly effective firearms. It could be considered reasonably reliable, it had plenty of firepower with a .50 or .45 caliber round lead ball and unlike the smoothbore muskets of its day, could actually be counted on to hit what it was aimed at.
Also, it was instrumental in defeating the British in the American Revolution, showing that marching in lines in a bright coat is an awfully good way to get your ass shot.
Henry Rifle
The Henry lever action rifle represented a huge leap in technology, enabling a single soldier to increase his rate of fire from 3 rounds a minute with a muzzleloader or maybe 10 rounds a minute with a single shot breachloader to almost 30 rounds per minute. In the Civil War, that means your opponent might be able to get off 10 aimed shots to your 1. This would be very bad for you and I think clearly demonstrates the importance of the Henry rifle.
1911
Ahhhh... a classic. The weapon was descended from John Browning's earlier pistols, and was the standard sidearm of the American Armed Forces from WWI to Grenada. If you ask anyone who knows pistols, most of them would pick it ahead of any other (hand) gun in the world.
Reliable, Heavy enough to smash a dude's face in, more powerful than any other semi-automatic pistol of its day.
A few minor tweaks have taken was is essentially a 19th Century design into the 21st. If you hold a 1911 in your hand you can see that Browning understood ergonomics and human factors design before the words were even invented. Also, the tilted barrel/ locking breach mechanism has become the standard of most medium and full sized semi autos. I expect it will be used for many years to come.
M2 Browning HMG
The Browning M2 Heavy Barrel, .50 caliber, Heavy Machine Gun, the Ma Deuce, invented by the master, John Browning, too late for WWI, it has made up for that by serving in every war since then, a couple of minor tweaks and it is still better than the weapon they are seeking to replace it with. It has served as everything from an anti-aircraft weapon to a sniper rifle. Its 709 grain bullet can smash through walls, armor and engine blocks. Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors will not let this superior weapon be taken from them. As a ground weapon, mounted on a Jeep, Humvee, Tank, APC, Helicopter, Fighter, or Bomber it has performed in all environments and conditions, saving our servicemen and women and making some other poor bastard die for his country.
AK Series
There are more AK series rifles on the planet than any other weapon system. That fact alone would probably earn it a spot on this list, but the fact that it really works makes it even more important. The "riflemen" out there are most likely spitting and cussing about the ugly, relatively inaccurate, commie gun being the only modern rifle on the list, but thems the breaks.
In 100 years, the AK will still be killing people on the battlefield. It is one of the most reliable self loading rifles ever made and when actually held in the proper position and aimed, accurate to a good 300 meters, which, is farther than most soldiers who use it can shoot.
JDAM
Joint Direct Attack Munition
Take a 500lb, 1000lb, or 2000lb "dumb" gravity bomb, bolt on a tailfin assembly and a seeker head for about 30 grand and suddenly, what took 1000 bombers, 10,000 men, and dozens or hundreds of casualties in WWII can be done with a single plane. All weather capability, amazing accuracy, and comparative low cost make this the first 21st century superweapon.
MQ-9 Reaper
When Julius Caesar decided he wanted to kill Vercingetorix, the King of the Gauls (someone who lived far away), he had a long process to attend to. He had to call his slaves, get his army together, get some grain, a bunch of javelins, sling stones, etc and march all the way across France and then fight a whole bunch of battles, then go home have this big parade and have him strangled to death in front of the mob.
Today, diplomacy is a much simpler affair. We can direct an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly around, too high to be seen or heard for the most part, look for your house and then drop a Hellfire missile on it, most likely killing everyone there. Instead of four or five legions, the auxiliaries and camp followers wandering around for years killing and burning, 55 Air Force or CIA personnel, including the 2 operators, work about as hard as I would playing Wii for an afternoon and have about the same destructive effect as Caesar on the command and control of armies of hairy, bearded, smelly guys.
Man, that is progress.
And so ends my first post, I hope you liked it, but since this is the Internet and all, feel free to tell me how stupid I am and attempt to recruit me to your inane ideas and misguided social policies.
More to come.
I will not be telling you how to construct IEDs and zipguns in your garage. That is illegal, ill-advised, and all that info can be found in your local library anyway.
Anyways...
I watched a show last night on the top ten weapons of all time and I thought I would make a list of my choices for everyone to deride. So in somewhat historical order,
1-Javelin
2-Long bow
3-Katana
4-Kentucky Rifle
5-Henry Rifle
6-1911
7-M2 Browning HMG
8-AK series
9-JDAM
10-MQ-9 Reaper
Javelin
Mankind's first distance weapon, which allowed us to eat things other than frogs and rats and was the beginning of weapon design, after all, it's all about hurting the other guy when and where he can't hurt you. If you don't believe that is the first rule of warfare, then I suggest that you go get in a knife fight. Nice knowing you.
Longbow
If you thought javelins were fun, wait 'till you see the longbow. With a range of hundreds of yards and power enough to go through a steel breastplate, it shows that it outclasses every distance weapon known to man at the time of its invention. A trained warrior throwing a javelin could probably only hit a man sized target from less than 50 yards away, (and if you think you could do better, I invite you to sharpen a stick and go out in your yard and try. Just watch out for the cat) While bows had been around for centuries the longbow was invented for maximum range and power. Firearms could not be beat it in range and rate of fire until about the 1850's. The power of the English longbow was enough to destroy the cream of French Cavalry at Crecy in 1346, heralding the long decline of cavalry as the most important arm of the military.Katana
For at least a thousand years, the sword was the symbol of war and a warrior's favored weapon.
The Katana is without a doubt the finest sword ever made. The fact that the perfect Katana was only perfected just before the time that the muzzleloading firearms were becoming really effective only shows how hard it is to get something right.
Kentucky Rifle
The TV show picked the arquebus as its early gun entry, but I have to strongly disagree. I'll wait for everyone to tell me of all the battles and wars where the arquebus made the difference.
Yup. I thought so.
The Kentucky rifle was one of the first truly effective firearms. It could be considered reasonably reliable, it had plenty of firepower with a .50 or .45 caliber round lead ball and unlike the smoothbore muskets of its day, could actually be counted on to hit what it was aimed at.
Also, it was instrumental in defeating the British in the American Revolution, showing that marching in lines in a bright coat is an awfully good way to get your ass shot.
Henry Rifle
The Henry lever action rifle represented a huge leap in technology, enabling a single soldier to increase his rate of fire from 3 rounds a minute with a muzzleloader or maybe 10 rounds a minute with a single shot breachloader to almost 30 rounds per minute. In the Civil War, that means your opponent might be able to get off 10 aimed shots to your 1. This would be very bad for you and I think clearly demonstrates the importance of the Henry rifle.1911
Ahhhh... a classic. The weapon was descended from John Browning's earlier pistols, and was the standard sidearm of the American Armed Forces from WWI to Grenada. If you ask anyone who knows pistols, most of them would pick it ahead of any other (hand) gun in the world.
Reliable, Heavy enough to smash a dude's face in, more powerful than any other semi-automatic pistol of its day.
A few minor tweaks have taken was is essentially a 19th Century design into the 21st. If you hold a 1911 in your hand you can see that Browning understood ergonomics and human factors design before the words were even invented. Also, the tilted barrel/ locking breach mechanism has become the standard of most medium and full sized semi autos. I expect it will be used for many years to come.
M2 Browning HMG
The Browning M2 Heavy Barrel, .50 caliber, Heavy Machine Gun, the Ma Deuce, invented by the master, John Browning, too late for WWI, it has made up for that by serving in every war since then, a couple of minor tweaks and it is still better than the weapon they are seeking to replace it with. It has served as everything from an anti-aircraft weapon to a sniper rifle. Its 709 grain bullet can smash through walls, armor and engine blocks. Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors will not let this superior weapon be taken from them. As a ground weapon, mounted on a Jeep, Humvee, Tank, APC, Helicopter, Fighter, or Bomber it has performed in all environments and conditions, saving our servicemen and women and making some other poor bastard die for his country.
AK Series
There are more AK series rifles on the planet than any other weapon system. That fact alone would probably earn it a spot on this list, but the fact that it really works makes it even more important. The "riflemen" out there are most likely spitting and cussing about the ugly, relatively inaccurate, commie gun being the only modern rifle on the list, but thems the breaks.
In 100 years, the AK will still be killing people on the battlefield. It is one of the most reliable self loading rifles ever made and when actually held in the proper position and aimed, accurate to a good 300 meters, which, is farther than most soldiers who use it can shoot.
JDAM
Joint Direct Attack Munition
Take a 500lb, 1000lb, or 2000lb "dumb" gravity bomb, bolt on a tailfin assembly and a seeker head for about 30 grand and suddenly, what took 1000 bombers, 10,000 men, and dozens or hundreds of casualties in WWII can be done with a single plane. All weather capability, amazing accuracy, and comparative low cost make this the first 21st century superweapon.
MQ-9 Reaper
When Julius Caesar decided he wanted to kill Vercingetorix, the King of the Gauls (someone who lived far away), he had a long process to attend to. He had to call his slaves, get his army together, get some grain, a bunch of javelins, sling stones, etc and march all the way across France and then fight a whole bunch of battles, then go home have this big parade and have him strangled to death in front of the mob.
Today, diplomacy is a much simpler affair. We can direct an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly around, too high to be seen or heard for the most part, look for your house and then drop a Hellfire missile on it, most likely killing everyone there. Instead of four or five legions, the auxiliaries and camp followers wandering around for years killing and burning, 55 Air Force or CIA personnel, including the 2 operators, work about as hard as I would playing Wii for an afternoon and have about the same destructive effect as Caesar on the command and control of armies of hairy, bearded, smelly guys.
Man, that is progress.
And so ends my first post, I hope you liked it, but since this is the Internet and all, feel free to tell me how stupid I am and attempt to recruit me to your inane ideas and misguided social policies.
More to come.
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