 Kel-Tec P3AT (.380 ACP) |
 S & W 342PD |
 Kahr PM9 (9mm) |
"This is a REAL and serious threat to law-abiding CCWers even in "good shoots." Fortunately, the NRA-ILA is well aware of it and has been fighting to pass their model Castle Doctrine law in states throughout the nation. Half of the states have passed it so far.When the police show up, just obey orders like everyone else. When they ask "Who shot the BG," raise your hand slowly and say "I was afraid for my life." Don't pull your mousegun out of your pocket until they order you to do so. Do exactly what they tell you to do, right away. Don't argue. Don't say anything except, "I was afraid for my life. That's all I can think about right now." Don't boast about what you did. If you are taken into custody, don't talk with the police about the shooting. Just say, "I was afraid for my life." You should have already called your lawyer, right after the 911 call. If you have a permit to carry a concealed gun, you should also have already found a lawyer who handles firearm self-defense cases; and his card should be in your wallet right now. Don't talk with anyone else about what happened.
"For info on their model law, see: http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=188
"For their successes in passing their model law, see: http://www.nraila.org/maps/cd.jpg
"I encourage you to encourage your readers to join the NRA and help pass this law in more states. If nothing else, please encourage your readers to sign up for the NRA-ILA's free email alerts so they know when to help the NRA pass this, and other pro-RKBA laws, when the time is right. See: https://secure.nraila.org/EmailSignup.aspx"
A Comment from JC..."A
great memorial to Dr. St. John. I am so happy to see this site back up
on its original domain. About 9 months ago, when I saw a Jimenez JA-22
in a local gun store at a really good price, I decided to do a little
research online before buying. Well, that research led me to
Mouseguns.com and I discovered a whole new world of small pistols, and I
had to learn more. I have now become an avid collector of mouse guns
all because of the wonderful reviews and information assembled on the
site by Dr. St. John. Thank you for continuing his work and keeping his
memory alive. I wish I had known him personally, but I almost feel like I
did because of the Mouseguns.com website.
"
A Comment from Del..."It
saddens that such a person should pass so early. I traded mail with him
a few times about our passion to which he dedicated his site and his
time. He will be missed. Thank you to the people continuing his site and
his legacy."
A Comment from MR..."Rest In Peace, Dr. St. John."
A Comment from KJ..."Thanks for continuing the Mousegun site."
A Comment from DH..."May
God give Dr St. Johns soul a well deserved rest. And I hope his family
can know that God has taken him to a better place. Hope you all keep
this site as user friendly as it has been and please keep the bible
verses as well."
June 14, 2011 -- Comparing Five .22 Semi-auto Pistols...First,
I apologize for being slow to post comments I am receiving this week.
But I still have pneumonia, and I'm tired all day long, and just not up
to doing much. But, passing time yesterday before seeing my doctor, I
spent a few minutes at Books-A-Million reading gun magazines. I can't
remember the name of the magazine (maybe it was Guns and Ammo), but
there was one with a very interesting article that compared and reviewed
the Ruger 22/45, the Browning Buckmark, the Walther SP22, the S&W
22A, and the Beretta Neos. The Ruger and Browning came out on top, and
they gave the best marks to the Browning Buckmark. Some time I ago I
was shopping for either the Ruger or Buckmark, and finally bought a
stainless Ruger MkIII. I think now, instead of waiting for the
Diamondback DB9 to show up, I will venture out and get the Buckmark to
add to my collection. I LIKE shooting .22s. They are accurate, and the
ammo is still inexpensive.A Comment from MV..."First
get better and don’t push it too much. Give the Lord the opportunity
to get you well without any additional problems. Second, several folks
at the range I frequent have the .22 pistols and I have shot them,
though I don’t get the thrill that others obviously do. If all you're
looking for is time on the range they certainly serve that purpose and
evidently, with some pleasure. As for myself, I haven't owned a .22
pistol in over 30 years, though I do still have a 50 year old rifle my
brother gave me when I was 12. When considering the cost (I'm told
they start at about $250 and go up) I'd rather concentrate on larger
calibers. I realize it's simply personal choice, and certainly don’t
begrudge anyone their 'particulars.'"
June 13, 2011 -- Replacement Parts from Kel-Tec...Last
week while I was in Virginia, the replacement parts for my P-11
arrived. My trigger spring had been jumping out of its groove in the
trigger bar. Kel-Tec sent me not only a new trigger spring and trigger
bar, but also a new hammer, hammer spring, and a pin. (Click on the
photo for a larger view.) Even though I bought the gun second-hand,
there was no charge from Kel-Tec, and they also paid the shipping, which
was only $1.56. When I feel better, and have time between CT scans and
visits to the doctor for my pneumonia, I will install the new trigger
bar and trigger spring. I don't think there is anything wrong with my
hammer or hammer spring, so I will leave those alone and just save the
parts.A Comment from DH..."I'm
surprised you have issues with yours. I've put about 200-300 rounds
thru mine, and it's a clock. Not one mis-fire, with a variety of gun
food. If I could only grab one gun, it might well be the littlest 9.
(or the S&W 38snubby)."
A Comment from A in Texas..."I look forward to reading your posting each day. Hope you are feeling better soon."
June 12, 2011 -- Still sick but moving on...Sometimes
you just have to make yourself do things, so here goes. I want to make
a few more remarks about the Diamondback DB9. I had corresponded with
DB Firearms quite some time ago, because I wanted a DB9 for testing and
evaluation. They responded that they would put me "on the list." I
have a feeling that I'm waaaay down on the list (and that's OK). Also,
since then there have been some really good and thorough reviews done by
others. Gunblast did a great job, as did MousegunAddict (fantastic photos and thorough range report).
So, I have decided to quit waiting for the DB9 and to spend my gun
money on other things. There's no need for my review. It's already
been reviewed as well as could be wanted. I have also made up my mind
finally that the best gun for front pocket carry is either the Kel-Tec
P-32, or one of the many Kel-Tec P-3AT clones. Notice that I did NOT
say that the P-32 or the P-3AT is the best gun for concealed carry. If
you can carry a GLOCK 19 in your waistband, or a Kimber 1911 in a
shoulder holster, then more power to you, and way to go! For me, front
pocket carry is what works. And as always, these remarks are just my
personal opinions.A Comment from Bob..."Gabe Suarez put out a relatively new dvd called Pocket Pistols
which I just
finished watching. It did not feature GS but one of his instructors who
spent most of the run time trying to convince the viewer that a Glock
26 was really a pocket pistol. The instructor even put the G-26 in his
front pocket (for a second) and said "see". Too bad there isn't some
sort of universal law regarding pocket pistols and concealed carry. If
there were, I'm sure the P-32 would rank much higher than the G-26.A Comment from DJ..."Hope you feel better, if possible you should do the review, after all your speciality is mouse guns."
June 7-11, 2011 -- Going gunless in Virginia...This
morning I will board a US Airways flight for Virginia Beach (Norfolk
International) via Charlotte, NC, and will be in Virginia Beach (at the
Convention Center) this afternoon, home of the giant bronze Neptune
statue. I suppose I could take a gun with me in my luggage, but from
what I read about it, it is just too much of a hassle. So I will be
unarmed except for my trusty ballpoint pen, and whatever is at hand. If
my flight is boarded by Zombies, I will roll up my in-flight US Airways
magazine, and smite them with it. My denomination, the Presbyterian
Church in America holds an annual "General Assembly." We move around
every year, and have met in Dallas, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Atlanta,
Orlando, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, and many other
places. I've only missed one meeting in the past 22 years. We are
strongest in the Southeastern USA, so we orbit around the South,
generally. There will be about 1200 pastors in Virginia Beach. How
would you like to spend four days with 1200 pastors? I will enjoy
myself, though I'm sure it is an acquired taste! I will not be home and
able to "blog" anymore until Saturday morning, so this will be my last
post until then.A Comment from PW..."I
hope you enjoy your General Assembly meeting. While it may be an
acquired taste, it is important to fully participate, so God may use you
to accomplish His purposes. In our denomination, the Presbytery is
tedious, but good things often come from General Assembly. I submit you
are not unarmed (pen and magazine aside), because you have your "wits
about you." One of the things that you bring to the table among gun
enthusiasts on the Internet, is that you include an appropriate amount
of reason and logic to guns as weapons, history, and art. This
perspective makes you a good advocate and champion of handguns,
particularly small guns, that is difficult for detractors to defuse.
Your congregation might think General Assembly will be good for you. I
submit that you might be good for General Assembly."
A Comment from PB..."Too
much of a hassle to take a firearm in checked luggage? What nonsense!!
I've traveled all over the United States with my pistol in checked
airline luggage. Only once (in San Francisco) did I have any problems,
and that time it only was an extra 5 minutes to straighten things out."
June 6, 2011 -- Stephen Camp Has Passed Away...Stephen
Camp was man who loved guns, especially the Browning Hi-Power. He
reviewed scores of guns, and he was always informative and and accurate
in his reviews. I read his website from time to time. He had a lot of
common sense. His website is HERE,
and you should take a look at it before it disappears. Here's some
information about Mr. Camp from the Star-Telegram newspaper (May 30,
2011): Stephen Allen Camp, 59, of Krum passed away on Friday, May 27,
2011. Steve was born on June 18, 1951...Mr. Camp was a Christian, and a
member at Birdville Baptist Church in Haltom City. He retired in 1998
from the Denton (Texas) Police Department after 25 years of service. He
had a passion for guns that was legendary. Target practice was a part of
his daily life, and he was known as the premier expert on the Browning
Hi Power. Read the whole obituary HERE, if you are interested.
June 5, 2011 -- Looking at "The Earl"..."The
Earl" is a five-shot, single action, 1860's- styled mini- revolver
chambered in 22 magnum, and manufactured by NAA (North American Arms).
It is named after the NAA gunsmith who originally developed the product
to resemble the old percussion revolvers. The Earl's loading lever
merely secures the cylinder pin. The Earl is finely crafted of 17-4 pH
stainless steel, and the barrel is four inches long (overall length is
7.75 inches). The gun is only 3 1/8 inches high, and only 7/8 inches
wide, weighing in at 8.6 ounces, with a suggested retail price of
$289.00. The NAA revolvers (and some are smaller than The Earl) are the
most "pocketable" revolvers available. True, the length is a bit long.
However, for pocketability the length is much less crucial than the
other measurements. The Earl will be MUCH easier to carry in a front
pocket than even the lightest Smith and Wesson .22 caliber air weight
revolver. The Earl is safe to carry, even with a round in every
chamber. The .22 magnum cartridge is a respectable self-defense
cartridge, especially from the long four inch barrel. The only drawback
I see with the NAA revolvers is that they are all single-action only.
In other words, you cannot pull the trigger until you first cock the
hammer, and this would be true for all five shots. Gunblast.com did a nice review of this gun. If any of you readers own The Earl, please send me a comment, and let me know your experiences.A Comment from RF..."Just
one point - the 'Earl' (and all NAA revolvers) is NOT safe to carry
with all chambers stoked unless secured to protect the hammer and the
cylinder from turning. The 'safety notches' are anything but. A slight
brush of the hammer will release the cylinder, and it is free to spin
the hammer down on the rim of a live cartridge. Hammer down on an empty
cylinder locks the bolt into the cylinder cut and thus is secure."
June 4, 2011 -- Cheap Guns...Last
week I saw a Jennings/Bryco Model 48 (.380ACP, long slide) for sale at a
local pawn shop. The Bryco Model 48 came with several finishes: black,
shiny nickle plate, and a low shine "stainless steel" finish. This one
was the low shine version. It looked almost new and unused, and I was
sorely tempted to buy it. The price tag was $150; but I see on the
internet that they regularly sell for between $70 and $100. I may go
back next week and offer $100 for it. My personal take on these guns is
that they are good to go, except for the 9mm pistol. I believe that
the straight blow back function, and the zamak material, is less suited
for the more powerful rounds. The history of Jennings, Bryco etc is
interesting. In 1968 Congress passed a "Gun Control Act," banning the
importation of low-cost pocket pistols. The Jennings family stepped in
to meet the demand, starting Raven Arms, Davis Industries, Jennings
Firearms, Inc., CalWestco Inc., Lorcin Engineering, Sundance Industries,
Bryco Arms, Phoenix Arms, and B.L. Jennings, Inc. Bruce Jennings and
his wife started Jennings Firearms, Inc. in 1978 to manufacture and
distribute a pistol called the J-22. They divorced in 1985, and the
corporate assets of Jennings Firearms, Inc. were sold to plant manager
Gene Johnson, who continued to manufacture the J-22 under the name
CalWestco Inc., using the same building, employees and equipment. Bruce
Jennings continued as in-house consultant to CalWestco Inc. By 1990,
Bruce Jennings was manufacturing pistols under the name Bryco Arms, a
Nevada corporation nominally owned by Janice Jennings and his children's
Nevada trusts. Through these various companies Bruce Jennings has
manufactured millions of inexpensive pistols. Bryco Arms went into
bankruptcy in 2003 as a result of losing a lawsuit filed in Oakland,
California which resulted in a jury award of a record $24 million
judgment against it. Bryco's former foreman, Paul Jimenez, bought the
bankrupt Bryco Arms for $510,000 in August 2004, and renamed the company
Jimenez Arms. These guns are not on the same level as a GLOCK. But
you can today buy a Jimenez firearm for less than $150. They come with a
lifetime warranty. Even a poor man or woman can exercise the right to
keep and bear arms.A Comment from PW..."Excellent
history of the infamous 'Saturday Night Special' handguns. I
completely agree with your assessment that these are a low cost means of
self-defense alternatives to going unprotected. I'm not sure that
'cheap' guns is an entirely accurate description. I think they are,
more accurately, 'Inexpensive' guns, well suited to their intended
purpose of arming an individual who cannot afford the price of a higher
quality handgun. (Without invoking the discussion of 'defensive
caliber' or 'what is the value of your life.') I think they are often
maligned more than they deserve, especially in .22 and .25 mouse gun
calibers. I routinely encounter these low cost pistols that are often
50 years old and still fully functional. They do not take abuse well,
and they will not function if not properly cleaned and maintained. When
they are, they are generally better guns than the reputation that often
proceeds them."
A Comment from Bob..."The
J-22 caught my interest because of its small size and light weight; and
it was in my favorite caliber, so I called the Jimenez website phone
number to locate a dealer nearby. I was given another number by a
Spanish accented fellow who seemed surprised that his phone number was
still listed. Before calling the new number I checked out the Bryco,
Jennings, Jimenezarms forum on-line, and read some disturbing posts
about gun reliability and warranty service problems, and decided to pass
on pursuing this gun. I expect Glock reliability but in a smaller
package, and at a more affordable price. So far, my Kel-Tec P-32
appears to meet those standards, but not cheap guns."
A Comment from DJ..."Inexpensive options are good, but dependable cost effective options like Kel-Tec are better."
