Wednesday, December 14, 2011

What Is A Good First Rifle?

Ah yes, the .22 Rimfire family. How many hours of my time have you occupied? Even the master marksmen started with these babies. Whether you can afford to shoot "better" calibers or not, no one is above the .22 rimfire. Not only are they cheap to shoot... But they are also extremely fun, especially when you're with friends! A .22 rifle teaches essential shooting fundamentals and should be the first caliber that you master. Good practice is worth more than any attachment on your fancy new AR-15 or AK-47, so shoot it up! When you make every shot count, shooting a .22 is practically free!

I just want to say that this article is completely unsponsored and is based entirely off my opinions and a fair amount of research. No harm is intended. I cannot make your final choice for you. When you find something you like, make sure you research. Look at the pros and cons and make sure you want to buy what you chose!

There are a few I could recommend right off the bat. They aren't too expensive, so you wouldn't be breaking the bank. Another reminder. Make sure to buy a few different bulk packs to find the ammo your gun likes best. They are not all the same!
The Marlin Model 795

Semi-auto.

1. Marlin Model 795 - MSRP $125 with $25 mail in rebate. There arent many things you can do to this gun, but there are a few things available. You can get a dragunov stock, bullpup stock, etc off the top of my head. If you really dont care about customization too much, you cant go wrong. Out of the box, the 795 is considerably more accurate than a stock Ruger 10/22. As nutnfancy puts it, it is "The 4.5 lb .22 Sharpshooter". The Marlin 795 also serves as a great hunting rifle due to its superior accuracy. This has to be one of the best budget guns ever manufactured. Comes with a 10 round magazine. As for pre-ban mags, sadly I can't help :'(

2. Mossberg 702 Plinkster - MSRP $162 (Cheapest Model). Also a pretty cheap option. I really don't know much about it, but it seems to be a good, accurate rifle. Check it out. You're gonna 
be in the middle to high $100's. Comes with a 10 round magazine.

Ruger 10/22 Carbine
3. Ruger 10/22 - MSRP $277 (Cheapest Model). This isn't the most accurate gun out of the box, but it will be fantastic for most people. You can customize it to no end, there is just so many stocks, aftermarket sights, triggers and all that good stuff. The only problem is that many (including me) cannot get their hands on extended magazines, living in heavily regulated states and all... No mags bigger than 10 for us, but I beleive you can get pre ban mags. No idea where. They are available though, this is an old gun. At my local shop, a basic model seems to go for about 200-230 bucks. It can be kind of expensive if you're really strapped for cash, but it is a good rifle, no doubt about that!

Bolt-action.
1. Mossberg 802 Plinkster - MSRP $162 (Cheapest Model) This is the bolt-action version of the 702 plinkster. I've honestly heard nothing bad about this rifle. Seems like a good option at a great price.
Mossberg 802 Plinkster
 2. Marlin XT-22 - Probably one of the best bolt-action .22's on the market, even when competing with the best. It seems to be extremely reliable when it comes to accuracy. For more information, check out nutnfancy's XT-22 video on youtube. It's worth the watch. I'll be picking one up myself soon. Looks fantastic and performs as well as it looks. My local shop has it for $225. The only thing I thought twice about was a somewhat stiff bolt. I worked it a bit in the shop, but it seems like it will loosen up quickly. A few hundred strokes before even shooting should do the job. Not that bad of a task. Looks like a good deal for a great modern looking rifle. Comes with a 7 round magazine.
3. Savage Mark II F (The basic Mark II Model) - MSRP $214. The new models have the accutrigger, which seems promising, but to a veteran shooter, it wont make a difference. You can find a non-accu-trigger model for something like $130-$150. I would recommend the accutrigger model, simply because it's all around better. The Savage Mark II is a veteran in the rimfire world. It seems to be a good option and I don't think it will do you wrong. Was my original choice for a bolt until I found out about the XT-22. Comes with a 5 round magazine.












Savage Mark II
Lever-action?
Well, in all honesty, I would never recommend a Lever-action as a first gun. Wanna know why? THE PRICE! Anyway, here are a couple of honorable mentions. :)

1. Henry Golden Boy - MSRP $515. I have never heard of a problem with one of these. It's one of the most popular .22 lever-actions on the market and it has to be doing something right.

Henry Golden Boy


2. Marlin Golden 39A - MSRP $599. The longest continuously produced rifle in history. The Golden 39A proves itself as a veteran in the shooting community. It is supposedly a fantastic rifle. I can't argue with that, considering that it never went out of productions, not even for a short time. And hey, I love Marlin!

Marlin Golden 39A
Verdict? 
So, you want something relatively inexpensive? I would recommend the 795 simply because it's cheap and right now, I just dont feel like I want too much customiztion. When I do, a 10/22 will probably be purchased. when you are first starting out, I would recommend the cheapest thing you can get. Now here, cheap doesn't mean a lack of quality. The 795 is a great rifle, not only for the "price", but as an overall solid gun. 


You can also see Nutnfancy's video about it on youtube. He hit the nail on the head with that review. As for ammo, my 795 like Federal Bulk (Value pack version) the one you can see at walmart (the red box). Again, the 795 can't shoot hyper velocity. I believe a plastic recoil buffer is to blame. I guess they cut corners somewhere, right? Either way, not a huge problem. As for a bolt-action, I plan on getting the XT-22, but if I didn't, I'd go with savage. If you could spend a total of $400, you could buy two of these guns and also end up with a couple thousand rounds of ammo depending on how expensive the guns you buy end up being. Remember, you need to try different stuff. Simply doing it from the beginning will save the frustration of trying to figure out what's wrong with your gun, when really, you're using ammo that your gun doesn't like!

I just hope I pointed you guys in the general direction of something you may want to buy. Anyway, good luck. Most importantly, have fun! 

Malicious Activity? No Way!

It has come to my attention that when visiting this blog, a warning about malicious content may appear. I dont know what the problem is, however this site has not been hacked, intercepted, or otherwise.

Google says that this site contains suspicious content from Ammoland.com, which I know is not true. However, it is true that Ammoland has been showing suspicious activity lately, with users' computers contracting trojans, adware, etc. I don't know what their story is, but it would appear that they've been hacked, because I have never gotten a virus from their site, or from the few times I've visited it. It would seem that this is a recent issue that has started in the last few days or weeks.

To confirm that my blog contained no malware, etc, I loaded every page multiple times and then scanned my computer with multiple anti-virus programs. Both reports came up clean. I think the problem may have been related to a specific ad that may have been showing up here. Pay no attention to this, there is no problem. I have done my best to infect my computer through my blog, but there was no virus to be infected by.

Thanks for your understanding. Also, good luck to Ammoland.com in fixing this whole malware issue.


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Why I love Pyramid Air and Why You Should Check Them Out

Hey guys, quick post... I've mentioned them in many of my reviews, but I want to tell you just why I love Pyramid Air. This article is not sponsored and is my honest opinion about an honest company.  So here goes.

Pyramid Air has amazing prices. I'm not going to lie to you and say that they have the best prices on every item they sell, because they definitely don't. However, they offer a huge variety of products and you'd be cheating yourself by not going over to their website, PyramidAir.com to check out their items. Pyramid Air has something for everyone there.

Pyramid Air has great features. This would include their "Bullseye Bucks" program. When you buy things, you will earn that amount in Bullseye Bucks. With these, you can purchase other items. They aren't pf much value, but if you're a frequent buyer, they can really add up. They also feature a 10 for $10 program. You pay $10 and they will fire 10 shots out of the gun you ordered to make sure it is in 100% working order. It's actually a good deal, simply because most faulty guns fail on the first few shots. You can save yourself extra shipping and possible loss of dicount by losing the packaging simply by getting the 10 for $10 service.

And finally,Pyramid Air has amazing customer service. On my last order, I bought a Crosman 1377c  (review up soon on Youtube with an embed here) and a few different types of ammo. There was an error with my transaction since my bank account was on hold. They called me up, asked me about and I explained it to them. They were cool about it. I told them I'd call them up as soon as my account would go through. I called them a couple days later at 10:00am and told them to take out the money. The order was shipped that day as they ship your order if it was purchased before 12:00pm eastern time.

Last but not least, they have an honest return policy, 30 days from the time your item was delivered. I actually had a problem with one of my guns and they exchanged it with no problems, which goes back to the whole customer service thing.

Overall, I think that even hardcore firearm enthusiasts (like myself) should treat themselves to an airgun. Maybe I'm just weird, but I love airguns like I do firearms and I always will! Check out Pyramid Air, you'll be glad you did!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Tasco Red Dot Sight Review

You know, I've never really wanted to buy any of these "tacticool" attachments for my guns. I figured they didn't have much a point... The Tasco Red Dot always seemed to fall in that category, but who knows? Maybe they can change my mind! I was over at The Sports Authority, which is my normal place for department store shopping when I'm looking for things air gun or firearm related. I normally kill two birds with one bullet when I'm there. The Sports Authority was running a sale on the Red Dot at only $24.99, when it was normally around $40.00. I'd definitely heard of it, and really wanted it. The problem was, I didn't have enough money on me. I was already buying a bunch of other things which couldn't wait! A guy I know there held it for me behind the ammo in the back! I came back the next week and decided to buy some pellets and of course the Tasco Red Dot. When I got home, I was eager to open this baby up and I was happy with what I got. Now, what does it include and how does it perform?

The Tasco Red Dot is advertised as being 5 MOA and has a fantastic adjustable red dot. Aside from that, you would zero it just like you would a normal scope using the windage and elevation knobs. It is not a "scope", it is a simple red dot sight. It does not zoom. It also includes a lens cloth for cleaning, and of course, the Tasco Red Dot also comes with lens caps to prevent damage. It uses button cell batteries to power the red dot.  It is very simple to mount. Just unscrew it, place it on your 11mm dovetail mount, adjust it so it is a comfortable distance from your eye, tighten and your done! What makes this convenient is the fact that you can do all of this without any tools. However, you will need some sort of tool to zero it in. I'd prefer a dime, since the slots to turn the knobs are pretty small.


tasco-red-dot-sight-scope-budget-optic-review-amazon-xtremeconditions-xtremeconditioning
A picture of the Tasco Red Dot sight.
Performance (Accuracy)
- So, how does the Tasco Red Dot perform? Very well. The Red Dot is shown as being 5 MOA, so for what it is, you'd expect it to be accurate-and it is! My Marlin 795 along with the Tasco Red Dot shoots way better than I can, but overall, I've seen some really nice groups come out of this thing... At the end of the day, that's what we want out of a tacticool product. Props to Tasco. I'd like post groups here, but thats more up to the gun. Another thing to point out would be that the Tasco Red Dot is more centered towards rimfire and air rifles, but I have heard of people putting these on much larger caliber rifles such as .308, .30-06, and even 12 gauges I don't know how it will stand up to such immense stress, but of course it's up to you if you want to try it. Just a friendly warning that it may not end well for this optic, at all! Something like an AR-15 is more likely to be okay though, I suspect.


Build Quality - The Tasco Red Dot feels nice and sturdy, I dont expect it to break on me anytime soon. I've bumped it into a few things over the months that I've owned it and haven't seen a loss in accuracy, nor have I had to re-zero it. And most importantly of all, It hasn't fallen apart :) Still, It's not something I would go dropping anytime soon. I have it secured nice and tight and it hasn't failed me so far. I should also add that the red dot hasn't lost functionality either, despite taking abuse. The Tasco Red Dot has definitely proved durable in my book, but again, take care before using on anything of higher caliber and high recoil


Sight Clarity - Not really a key point, considering this optic doesn't have any zoom, but just to point this out, I figured I'd add it. I mentioned earlier in the review that you could adjust the dot. For me, I found that an adjustment of 4-6 works the best without being disorienting. I guess for close range, a higher setting might look cooler, but it would serve no real purpose besides wasting battery life. You will save battery life by keeping the dot at low intensity. I haven't used the sight for hours upon hours, but even still, having the sight for 4 months (as of writing this), the battery hasn't run dry yet.

Final Thoughts and Summary - The Tasco Red Dot's looks and quality go hand in hand. It may seem like just another cheap piece of tacticool gear, however it is much more than that. This optic will give you superior accuracy over accessories of the same price. Are there better? Of course, but expect to pay much more of your money. Although the Tasco Red Dot is designed primarily for air guns and/or minimum recoil rifles (generally rimfire), it is known to be used on weapons such as 12 gauge shotguns. I cant say that I would recommend this, but even still, that doesn't mean it cant be done as some people have had success in such experiments. The quality of the Tasco Red Dot is very good and despite being bumped into things for months now, still operates perfectly without a hitch. Still, don't go and drop it! Clarity in this sight is great. Greater still, you can adjust the intensity of the dot however you see fit. Use what works best for you! I would have liked to have a few other features such as changing the shape or color of the dot, but I guess I can let it slide and keep that stuff to those over the top airsoft and paintball sights. The Tasco Red Dot has proved an outstanding accessory in my arsenal and I would recommend it any day of the week to someone looking for something fresh. It works wonders for tricking your gun out as well as quick target acquisition, since you can shoot at the dot no matter which angle you head is at. It will stay on target. I think that anyone can enjoy the Tasco Red Dot, so go and pick one up at your local sporting goods store today! If you'd like to pick this sight up online, here's a link to the 1x30 Red Dot on Amazon. Also, you can find the 1x42mm version of the sight at this link, also on Amazon.com.


Monday, October 17, 2011

Smith And Wesson: Extreme Ops - Knife Review (CK111S)

So I decided to buy my first pocket knife in a long time. It was just meant to be a general purpose tool. Not necessarily for defense, but something I could use every day. The model I purchased was the CK111(S) - for serrated. This knife costs just $15 here at Amazon. So how does this budget pocket knife perform?

Specs:

  • Overall length:7.3"(18.5cm)
  • Handle Length:4.2"(10.7cm)
  • Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops CK111S "serrated" variation.
  • Blade length:3.1"(7.8cm)
Quality - The Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops is more than you would expect from a knife in the $15-$20 price range. It has a nice metal handle and stainless steel blade with a Teflon coating. The material of the blade isn't 440C Stainless, but it is an OK steel for a simple folding knife. The CK111S fit my taste perfectly with the blue handle! I might also add that although this series of knives are under the Smith and Wesson name, they are manufactured by Taylor Brands LLC. Don't expect legendary Smith and Wesson quality from a $15 pocket knife! If you have a problem with yours, don't blame S&W!

Durability and Performance - My family has actually been in the process of moving for a few months now. Yeah, we're kind of junk collectors, not necessarily hoarders, but we have a lot of useless stuff in our house. Over that time, I have had to cut a lot of rope, boxes and much, much more. I even "sawed" through a plastic pen. Don't ask me why I was doing that because it was stupid. Even though it took quite a while to saw through the plastic, the knife seemed unaffected. Better yet, I didn't cut myself! The knife seemed to stand up to everyday uses, which is what you would expect from a knife in this price range.

Durability (Continued) - I had one problem with this knife. The pivot screw came loose after cutting rope for a couple of days. I needed a Torx screwdriver to tighten it back up. I dont know the exact size, but I have a Husky Torx Screwdriver. It has various sizes and they fold out. Odd I cant find a link for you guys. Anyway, it probably wasn't a "problem", but here's the thing. If the screw is too tight, the blade is hard to "flip open" with the studs on the side. Too loose and the blade seems to "shift" it's position around in the handle. This is noticeable when the knife is closed. Is this a problem? I don't know. Even still, it's a cheap knife and I didn't want it to fall apart. If you can, spend $10 in The Home Depot for a Torx set. A lot of knives use them, so it's a purchase you wont need to make in the future.

Edge Retention - When I received the knife in the mail, it had a devastatingly sharp edge! As I've mentioned above, it cut everything that I needed it to cut and very efficiently. Even now, owning the knife for 4 months when writing this article, the knife still has a decent edge. In fact, I have never needed to sharpen it yet. Maybe I don't see the purpose of a perfectly sharp edge, but the knife still cuts great and I think that's what counts. 

Uses - Defense and everyday use. Despite what some might say, this knife is fine for defense, although something of higher quality is preferred, there is no reason why someone on a budget couldn't use this knife. As I have mentioned above, the knife excels in everyday use. Although I have used it "heavily", remember that it is just a cheap pocket knife.

Final Verdict and Summary - For a $15 pocket knife, the Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops really shines. It exceeds the expectations one would have for such a cheap knife. It has stood up to heavy use and it's only drawback is the fact that the pivot screw is loosened easily. This can be easily fixed with a torx screwdriver of the appropriate size. The Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops also has an excellent edge retention and so far, has retained an edge for 4 months despite moderate to heavy use. It is truly a great budget pocket knife and I highly recommend it if your on a low budget like me! As I have mentioned at the top of the article, the knife can be purchased here at Amazon.com. I have bought multiple items from them and they seem to be a good choice for knife shopping. They also sell more "novelty" items like throwing knives, shurikens etc. If you want the normal-edged "CK111", click here. Also, if you are interested in other variations in the Extreme Ops line, click here! In fact, there were so many variations, it was hard for me to choose. That link is over at Knife Depot, and they're a little more expensive than others, but they have a better selection for knives than any site I can think of, so it's worth a look! Anyway guys, thanks for reading! Be safe!

Here is the video review that goes with this written review, or I guess you can just watch that if you're too lazy to read this article :)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Beeman Sportsman RS2 Review - A Dual-Caliber Air Rifle!?

This article features a Beeman Sportsman RS2 review, based on my own shooting with several hundred pellets through the rifle. Enjoy! 

So I decided it was time to opt for a .22 air rifle. A couple of weeks back, I was in Walmart looking around the sporting goods section. I actually had wanted to buy some .22lr ammo however, I was actually quite surprised that they didn't carry any, as my local Walmart had an abundant supply of every common ammunition in a few brands each. I looked at a Red Ryder, which I was interested in,  as well as a couple of knives, nothing special. Then, I spotted the Beeman Sportsman RS2 Dual Caliber Air Rifle, which came with a .177 barrel, a .22 barrel and a scope! It seemed interesting, and at just under 100 bucks, what a deal! I remembered a few days later that I had some gift cards that I never used. I wound up getting the rifle for just $16! Without further ado, here is the actual review.

Beeman Sportsman RS2 Review Dual Caliber Barrel Air Rifle


First, the specs (from Pyramid Air):
  • Loudness: 3-Medium
  • Weight: 6.90 lbs
  • Overall Length: 45.50"
  • Capacity: 1 round(s)
  • Cocking Effort:31 lbs
  • Barrel: Rifled
  • Front Sight: Fiber Optic
  • Rear Sight: Fiber Optic
  • Scopeable: 11mm dovetail
  • Trigger adj.: Two-stage non-adjustable
  • Apprx. Trigger Pull: 3.50 lbs
  • Buttpad: Rubber
  • Suggested for: Small game hunting/plinking
  • Action: Break barrel
  • Powerplant: Spring-piston
  • Safety: Automatic
  • Repeater: Single-shot
  • Body: Rifle


Looks and Impressions - I must say, the Beeman RS2 is a very nice looking rifle. It wears a beautiful stock which looks and feels as if it should be on a much more expensive gun. The sights "look" nice with Truglo sights. I put that in quotations for a reason. I'll explain it in a bit. When the scope is put on and the entire package comes together, the Beeman RS2 looks like a very stylish, classy rifle.

Accuracy - I suppose accuracy leaves something to be desired. In the previous segment, I mentioned that the sights only "looked good". They didn't perform well. I shot and shot and found the proper hold, adjusted the sights and shot some more, but I just couldn't get any sort of grouping. I just couldn't get the sights on target. It's really unfortunate. Maybe my sights are defective, who knows? The thing is, they didn't appear to move no matter how much I adjusted them. I cant just say that all of the sights on these guns are defective, but mine sure seemed to be. Buyer Beware!! 

Accuracy (continued) And problems - After I got the scope set up, accuracy wasn't bad. I was getting approximately a .75-1 inch group at about 20 yards (after a lot of fine tuning). A lot is an understatement, I was trying to get the thing zeroed for 30 mins! I guess that not so bad for what the gun is. After a few shooting sessions, I had a problem. The rings seemed to have come loose. The scope started slipping back. But then, I noticed something strange, I could now see the sights through the scope, which is something I've never experienced before. I finally tried to fix the scope, but shortly after doing so, I continued to have the same problem and let me tell you, I tightened those rings more than I should have to try and fix it. I haven't shot the rifle in a while now, but I seem to need new rings and a new scope. Have you guys had problems like these? I never had this problem on the Crosman Phantom, however this gun seems to recoil more. This leads me to believe that more strain is put on the scope and these rings and scope just aren't good enough for this rifle. Leave input in the comments if you've had this experience. Definitely helps.

Power - The Sportsman Series RS2 is no pushover when it comes to power. I haven't tried hunting with this rifle as of yet, however, it absolutely rips through cans and bottles. Using .22 caliber pellets, this rifle is quite powerful for a 1000fps spring rifle. It seems to perform better than other rifles that claim to be "1000fps". Now I haven't done extensive pellet testing with this rifle as it was already accurate enough for me  when using Crosman Premier pellets. Yeah, for cheap pellets, they shoot really well. Beeman claims to get 1000fps with .177 pellets and 800fps with .22 pellets. I honestly think that with the 14.3 grain Premiers pellets, you might be getting 700-750fps. That's quite good as companies normally use ultra-lightweight pellets when testing velocities. When those .22 pellets make contact with a filled 2 liter bottle, the RS2's power is clear. I guess .177 is good too, but I would only use them if .22 was really too much. For me, no such occasion has occurred.

Weight and Durability - This rifle is pretty heavy if you plan on shooting it all day. Weighing in at a whopping 6.90 pounds, it's probably not something you'll be shooting for many hours. Your arm will probably kill you, but if you're able to, more power to you! The rifle seems to be pretty durable, but I wouldn't go into the woods with it. There's just something about it that seems unstable. I believe it is the piston shaking inside and I cant say I like that. I definitely wouldn't want to drop this gun. Not to mention the wood stock would get ruined.

Uses - Plain and simple, this is an all-purpose gun. It's a great backyard rifle and an OK hunting rifle too. It will be great for pest control especially given the fact that it's so cheap. I wouldn't reccomend this as a child's first air rifle. The recoil and perfection needed to use it effectively (finding the right hold, etc) will just be too overwhelming for a young kid. Not to mention the effort to actually cock the rifle. If you are looking for a great starter gun, look at the Daisy Powerline 901. Check out my review of it here. It may be a little powerful as a starter with up to 750fps and even though it's a better investment when they'll want something more powerful, you could play it safe and start off with Daisy's 703 Grizzly (also formerly known as the 804 / 840) which is a single pump rifle. You could also try Daisy's legendary Red Ryder. Both rifles can be purchased without reaching the $100 mark. I own the Grizzly and it is a great starting rifle. I couldn't recommend the Red Ryder as I have no experience with it. If you are interested in any of those guns, click those link! I'm no sellout, but Pyramid Air is a great company with prices that are generally lower than any other site.

The Final Verdict - The Beeman Sportsman Series RS2 is a great deal at just under $100 at Walmart. It looks great and     it shoots pretty well, but accuracy is far from stellar. I can't say anything good about the sights on the gun, but once you get the scope adjusted properly, it's pretty accurate. It's only hitch in accuracy is the low quality scope and scope mounts. Power is great and will pretty much take any small game and would work even better for pests such as rats. I'm not exactly sure about the larger game like raccoon, but I would confidently go for squirrel, rabbit, rats, etc with this rifle. It's a heavy rifle and not something you'll want to shoot all day, but it shouldnt be too much of a problem for a teen or adult with average strength. If you're looking for a cheap, high quality gun (remember that you get what you pay for), the Beeman Sportsman Series RS2 should be a great air rifle for you. Thanks for reading. Remember to be safe and have fun!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Daisy Powerline 901 Review – An Awesome Pellet/BB Rifle!

This article features a Daisy Powerline 901 review. I think you'll find it to be an awesome air rifle. Enjoy!

Hey there air rifle enthusiasts! Today I’ll be giving a quick overview and review of the Daisy Powerline 901 Pneumatic Air Rifle. First of all let me just say it ISNT the most stylish gun you’ll ever see. But with 750 FPS, small game hunting wont be a huge problem. Here are all of the guns “stats.”


WEIGHT:3.70 lbs
ACTION:Multi-pump pneumatic
SIGHTS:Fiber-optic front, adjustable rear
SAFETY:Crossbolt trigger block
MAX. MUZZLE VELOCITY:750 fps. (BB)
OVERALL LENGTH:37.5 inches
CALIBER:.177 (4.5 mm) BB or Pellet
STOCK/FOREARM/GRIP:Advanced composite
BARREL:Rifled steel
MAX. SHOOTING DISTANCE:286 yards (262 meters)
CAPACITY:50 shot BB, single shot pellet
RECEIVER:Advanced composite with dovetail mounts for optics
PRICE:$ 99.99 (Daisy.com!?) Buy it HERE at Pyramid Air for MUCH cheaper! $62.55 for the rifle or $79.99 with scope/target combo.

Get it here. Pyramid Air is a great company with honest prices. I've bought a few things from them, they're great! Actually, I dont know why Daisy charges $99.99 for it... Damn thieves... I love Daisy, but still, what the hell?!

Now, let me give my opinion about the gun. First off, let me tell you, it isn’t some pushover air rifle. It’ll take down your squirrels, raccoon, pheasant and for pest control, it’ll easily take down rats, and etc. Of course like any pellet rifle (and bb of course) you’ll need a headshot for a clean kill. The scope that comes with the rifle is sufficient for a kill from… say a good 50 feet. The powerline 901 is a good gun and is definitely worth that small $62.55 or $79.99  for such a good quality air rifle! 

Monday, September 12, 2011

Umarex H&K P30 Electric Blowback (w/ Spare Magazine) – Airsoft Gun Review

Hey everyone, after buying this airsoft pistol, I just had to do a review on  it. Here’s a couple of reasons why! Well first off, this gun is very cheap. The gun only costs a little over $30 and comes with a spare magazine! That in itself is a good deal, but no, Umarex went further on this one! The gun uses .12g bb’s. The first time I shot it, I was completely speechless. Accuracy in an airsoft gun? Not UNcommon… But this accuracy was unreal! Never had I shot such an accurate airsoft gun! The gun feels amazing, your fingers fit into the grip nicely. I have a fairly large hand so I like how comfortable it was. The gun features semi-auto and full-auto. Firing full-auto sometimes causes the gun to jam, just stick to semi, you get the same fire rate. Overall, this gun is a valuable companion in any battle and with its unreal accuracy, you can plan on doing pretty well. The gun isn’t very powerful, but it doesn’t need to be. Heres a pic of the gun.

Airsoft ShortyUSA (c)
Picture supplied by ShortyUSA. You can pick up the P30 at just about any website that sells airsoft guns. You can also pick them up at your local sporting good stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goodsor The Sports Authority. Ordering it online will get you the full black finish. Unfortunately, buying the P30 (or any other airsoft gun) in stores will get you the crappy clear version where you can see all of the mechanisms inside. I bought mine at the store, even though I shouldn’t have. If you can, definitely order it. This way, your P30 will look more badass :)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Sixteen Big Reasons Why You Should Own a Gun

Here are a few good reasons why you should buy a rifle or handgun. Politicians will tell you that they are dangerous... that they will harm your children and that they are just not a good idea. Look at the facts. Guns aren't dangerous, the people who misuse them certainly are. If you hide a gun, your child (if you have one) will definitely find it and if they have no knowledge of it, they will misuse it. You must teach your loved ones to shoot and be proficient with a weapon. If you don't feel comfortable with that, at least show them what to do if they find a gun (even your gun). Instruct them to set it down gently and get them familiar with the main parts. This will ensure that they don't blow a hole in the wall, or worse... Themself or another person. You can refer to NutnFancy's "Children of the Gun" series on Youtube. It is a good series and is a good guide to integrating a gun or other weapon into your home like anything else. Guns don't have to be a taboo, but for people who don't know what they really are, it seems to be just that. Finally, here are the the sixteen reasons you should buy a gun.

1. Recreation/fun! - On a less serious note, why not? To tell you the truth, I go to the range a couple times a month as a stress reliever. It's a very soothing experience for me. It's also a way to socialize a little bit. Ask about people's guns, ask if you could try it out, as well as let them try yours out if they are interested. If you just wanna shoot cheap, why not bring a .22? I think everyone should have a .22 and at least another gun anyway :)

2. Home defense - The most basic reason. Buying a gun for home defense however, is a good idea. People will say "oh, why do you really need a gun for home defense?" Well, the reason is that when some wannabe thief tries to rob your home while in possession of a deadly weapon, guess who's prepared? Do you think the police can save you? If a person is breaking into into your home, they will probably run when they see you, however some will stick around if they've got the "heat" to protect themselves. So, this armed criminal breaks into your house. You hear them. You pick up the phone, call the police. Draw me a sketch of how the police will get to your home before this criminal finds you in your house. They wont, plain and simple. Your life is in danger and this is self defense. Remember, if you want a handgun you will need a pistol permit in some states.

3. Carry - A concealed carry permit is one of the best things you can have. If you have no felonies and have lead a completely clean life, a concealed carry permit could be you best friend. You can also carry other weapons, but check your laws. Here is a scenario, your in a McDonald's and some nut job walks in and pulls out a gun. He opens fire and shoots someone. What can you do to stop him? You wan't to help others when you don't even have a weapon to help yourself. A concealed carry permit can not only save your life, but the lives of others as well, and statistically, they do.

4. Some sort of collapse (S.H.T.F.) - I'm no crackpot, but the world is troubled right now. What if some sort of attack were to befall the United states? There are statistics that show that around 2013, there could be solar flares. People may not necessarily DIE, but the EMP (electromagnetic pulse) given off by the sun could shut down the power grid. (this is what is given off by an atomic bomb). Power could be down for months or even a year. There could be chaos if it isn't handled properly. Why take a chance and not be armed? Buy at least a .22lr rifle for survival. Guns like the Henry AR-7 are optimal but a gun like the Marlin 795 or Ruger 10/22 will do and none of these are expensive. It is always good to prepare for the worst even if nothing bad is coming. Buy some bulk packs of ammo and store then away if there is ever an emergency.

14 MORE, submitted by Anonymous.


5. Because You Own a Fire Extinguisher. Bad things happen. You can still call 911, but when seconds count, you need to act quickly to save your life and the life of those you love.

6. Because Shooting Is An Olympic Sport. Shooting is an Olympic sport and the United States holds more gold medals than any other nation.

7. Because Most Americans Own Guns. You’ll be in good company as a gun owner; nearly fifty percent of households in the U.S. own a firearm.

8. Because You Respect The U.S. Constitution. Sometimes you won’t like it when people exercise fundamental freedoms protected by the Constitution, such as freedom of speech. But that simply doesn’t matter: The Supreme Court ruled that every person has a constitutional right to own guns. So respecting the Constitution means respecting the right of others to exercise those constitutional rights.

9. Because You Are More Likely to Die By Falling. There were 613 fatal firearms accidents in 2007, one-half of one percent of all fatal accidents. You’re more likely to die by driving, poisoning, drowning or falling than by a gun accident.

10. Because Guns Stop Burglars. Last year, the CDC estimated that Americans used guns about 498,000 times to frighten away intruders attempting to break into homes.

11. Because Gun Bans Increase Murder Rates. After D.C. banned handguns in 1984, the average murder rate jumped 73 percent while the U.S. murder rate fell 11 percent.

12. Because Guns Don’t Cause Murder. A New York Times study of 1,662 murders in the city found that 90 percent of the killers had criminal records. Murderers are not ordinary, law abiding adults. Instead, virtually all murderers are extremely aberrant individuals with life histories of violence, psychopatholoy, and substance abuse.

13. Because Gun Owners Win Political Battles. Gun rights groups have donated $22 million in political campaigns over the last decade, while gun control groups gave $1.8 million.

14. Because Ignorance is Dangerous. At current homicide rates, 1 in 240 Americans will be murdered this year. You need to know how to operate a tool that will immediately stop a threat and save your life and the life of those in your household.

15. Because Guns Don’t Make Countries More Dangerous. Switzerland has one of the world’s highest gun ownership rates and also one of the lowest homicide rates. In contrast, the countries with the world’s worst homicide rates—South Africa, Columbia, Brazil, Mexico, Filipines, Taiwain—also prohibit law-abiding citizens from owning guns. Compare the 20 per 100,000 homicide rate in Russia, which bans guns, with the 2 per 100,000 rate in neighboring Poland. Compare gun-free Luxembourg’s 9 per 100,000 murder rate with Germany and France with rates of 0.93 and 1.65.

16. Because Gun Control Laws Don’t Increase Safety. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences failed to identify even one gun control measure that had a statistically significant reduction in violent crime, suicide, or gun accidents. The Center for Disease Control reached the same conclusion in 2003


I know I may sound a bit TOO open-minded but trust, I've done my research. These are a few solid, basic reasons you should buy a gun and at least a .22lr rifle at that. Thanks for reading my crazy article and I hope you have a nice day. If you do want to buy a gun, make sure you find one you will like. Go to the shop, try it "on". And most of all, have fun and be safe. Good luck.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Is a .22 rifle good enough for SHTF?

It's a common question that I see pretty often. Is a .22 enough for an SHTF scenario? Well, I cant give a 100% confident yes, because of certain situations you could find yourself in.


For hunting, the .22lr is extremely versatile. It will take anything from squirrel to deer. This is why a .22 rifle would be invaluable in an urban, suburban and rural environment. You can even try rounds that fire off only the primer for silent kills (Aguila Super Colibris are the best). Rural falls into the realm of "maybe" because there are larger animals around and I wouldn't want a .22 to fend off a bear. I'm sure that you can probably kill a black bear with a .22 rifle, but you would be in a predicament if it were a brown bear. I'd suggest perhaps a .308, .30-30, .30-06 or at the very least, a .357 or .44 magnum carbine that is light. This will ensure you can carry multiple weapons and supplies. A nice rifle in the calibers mentioned above is the Ruger model 77/357 and the model 77/44. They're not exactly carbines, being bolt-action and having a little weight to them, but if I were going to use it for the purposes listed above, I'd probably want the 77/44 as shown in the picture below. Of course ammo prices need to be considered, but buying a bunch of ammo and saving it will have good value anyway.


As for self defense, if you are a good marksman, you will be able to fight off any human target so long as they are not wearing armor. Even still, you can cripple them pretty easily. I guess something along the lines of an SKS or Mosin Nagant would be a good defense rifle, but if you are truly on a budget when buying all that expensive ammo, no one ever said CCI Stingers tickled. I would buy surplus. It's proven to stop a person one way or another. That's the problem with an SKS or a Mosin Nagant. There wont be an abundant supply of ammo besides what you've bought. Even still, if you stockpile a couple of crates, it could last you years. This however, is where rifles like the Ruger 10/22 come in. I'm not advertising for Ruger, as I don't even own one, but there aren't many bad things to say about a Ruger, except maybe that they aren't the most accurate .22 out of the box. That would be the reason why I prefer my Marlin model 795. It's one of the most accurate .22 rifles on the market along with being one of the cheapest. You may even pick one up for yourself! The accuracy isn't significantly less in the Ruger, so if you want a rifle that you could truly make yours, I'd say go with Ruger! There are many aftermarket products available for the 10/22 line. These products include 20, 30, and even 50 round magazines. Bulky, but hey, they do their job. Who do you know that would volunteer to be shot by a .22lr rifle? I think that it's safe to assume that you don't know anyone that crazy! Just make sure you know how to use your gun and you're pretty much set.

Are there any other convincing reasons regarding why a .22 is enough? Yes! .22's are light, easy to keep on target, as well as having light ammunition. You could easily carry 550 rounds of .22lr ammunition and only be weighed down a couple of pounds. This is important if you want to carry a utilty knife, machete, first aid kid, and anything else you'd want when going out for food. It's a long list. Keep it light!

I honestly can say that I've ever seen a round as versatile as the .22 with so many loads available such as primer fired, subsonic, supersonic, hypersonic, etc. The .22 family truly will be the ultimate survival tool in your arsenal and that is why everyone should own at least a .22 rifle.