Upcoming Michigan CCW class

Posted by Greybeard on Nov 20th, 2010 in News and weather, Shootist | Comments Off

Today I wrote this note for my friends and relations who are considering taking a CCW class.

Hi,
I was thinking a bit about you all thinking about taking the CCW class and came up with this info:
 
First off  Henry Reyna  (989-213-4026)
is our club instructor,  and his next class is Dec. 4th.
His web site is,  http://www.securesolution.org/  ,  lots of good info there.
 
I believe the class is $110 dollars,  and he say’s you need to bring your gun,  200 rd’s of ammo,  and an outside the waistband holster amd a bag lunch.
 
Gun:   To purchase a handgun,  you first have to pick one out,  then go to the sheriffs office and get a purchase permint.  Then go back to the store with the permint and purchase the gun.   Next,  you have 15 days, to take the gun in for a “safety inspection”  and have it transferred into your name.
 
Now you own a gun. **
 
A cheap outside the waistband holster,  good for class,  not good for concealed carry,  will cost around $15.
To transport the gun without a CCW permit,  you must be moving to or from a shooting range,  and it must be locked up out of your reach,  say,  in your trunk,  or in an SUV at the farthest point away from the persons in the SUV,  and of course unloaded and separated from the ammunition.   (A small lock box,  makes it easier to transport an unpermitted handgun)
 
Now you’re ready for class.  Show up a little before 9am,  with your unloaded gun.   Leave your ammo in the car for now.  Henry will instruct the class and let you know when to get your ammo and report to the firing line.
 
Pay close attention in class,  there is A LOT to learn.  (and Henry is a cop!)
 
After class,  is the  true time to decide if you really want a CCW permit,  (you’ll learn more about this in class) .
If you decide to get the permit,  pick up an application at the county building,  I believe ours came from the County Clerk.
The permit will cost about $110 and be good for 5 years.   You fill out the permit,  get finger printed, (a separate operation set up by them)
then turn in you permit application,  CCW class certificate,  finger prints record,  and cash.   It takes a couple of weeks for the CCW review board to review your application and hopefully approve it.  (there will be info in your packet talking about the various reasons that they could deny you)
 
Once the permit is approved you go back to the county building and pick up your CCW permit.  In about 4.5 years,  start the process again,  (hopefully you won’t need to be fingerprinted again)
 
The Gun:   This is a personal decision,  I’d talk with one or more current CCW holders or cops (if you have that option).   In my opinion,  it should be something for which the ammo is not to expensive and fairly easy to get.  Calibers:   .380  is marginally,  the bottom end for protective carry.   The 9mm’s have come a long way in their loads,  and the ammo is reasonably priced and easy to find.   The 9’s are often very easy to conceal.   If your interested in a revolver,  a .38/357 fits the bill nicely.   Personally I like big bores.  .40,  .45,  and 10mm,  are all good big bore carry rounds,  with .45 usually being the most accesable.
Go to to couple of stores and check out a variety of guns,  expect to spend between $350 and $1000 for a good carry pieace.
 
The carry holster is almost as important as the gun,  it must be comfortable to wear,  and easy to conceal,  (your gun MUST be concealed at all times,  by Michigan Law).   Leather and Kydex are the most common materials,  I find metal reinforced leather to be easier to conceal.   My holster is custom made by Andrews Leather,  and I like it a lot. 
Important holster points:  It should protect the gun and the trigger assemble.  It should be impossible to pull the trigger with the gun in the holster.   It should hold the gun tightly,  either mechanically or by compression.  A safety strap isn’t a bad thing,  if it’s implemented properly.  The last thing you want to happen is to loose your gun,  say in a scuffle,  or something as simple as slipping and falling.   The gun should stay in the holster until you want it in your hand.
 
NOTE:  If your unsure about actually wanting to carry a gun,  consider that the CCW permit makes it much easier to move the gun outside of your home,  and also makes it easier to buy another handgun.  If your really unsure,  ( and I believe that even folks who never intend to buy a gun,  would benefit from the class),  you could possible save some money by renting a gun from Henry.  It’s $20 for the class time.
NOTE 2:  You cannot borrow a gun,  because it would be illegal for you to transport it there, (unless the gun’s owner delivered it,  and took it home at day’s end).
 
Finally,  after getting your permit,  and shooting your gun a bit for practice,  considered taking a Advanced CCW class,  (see Henry).  Carrying a weapon is a big step,  and you can’t get “to much” instruction.

Shopping again

Posted by Greybeard on Nov 18th, 2010 in Shootist | Comments Off

I’ve been wanting a light upland game gun for a couple of years now,  and have started shopping again.   I started out looking on “gunbroker” for lightweight double barrells, and pretty much decided I couldn’t afford one that I’d actually want to own and shoot.   My next thought was a lightweight 2oga. pump.   I find some of them a little more affordable.   The Benelli Nova is my current choice.   I’m going to stop in and look one over this weekend.  The pricing is $379   in 20 gauge,  26 in. barrell, real tree camo, with 3 screw in chokes.   I found one on Gunbroker for $350,  but I would have had to pay shipping and a FFL to take delivery.

Update:  I just found a 20 ga. Remington synthetic 870 combo express on gunbroker,  currently bidded at $287 ,   21 inch RC barrel and 20 in slug barrel.  I guessing this might also turn out in my price range.

Eastern Arenac Sportsmens Club Gun Raffle

Posted by Greybeard on Jul 21st, 2010 in Local, Shootist | 5 comments

Well it’s that time of year again at the Eastern Arenac Sportsmens Club .   Tickets are available again for their annual gun raffle.   700 tickets,  10 new long guns as prizes.     Check the link for more info.

I’ll be buying some tickets,  but unfortunately they’re not offerring the lightweight 20 gauge double barrell I’ve been lusting after, as a prize this year.   Maybe if I win a gun,  I can trade it for the double?   And then there’s that SpringFeild Armory .45 XDm  that’s not on the prize list either.     Oh well,   maybe I’ll win one of those big NRA gun raffles.  (a maybe one in 5 million chance)

It looks like I missed out on the drawing for the Michigan State Muzzleloading Associations Rifle Raffle.  It was a beautiful  little .32 Cal. North Carolina Flintlock.   The drawing was July 11th,  and I haven’t had a call yet.

Just sayin’

Posted by Greybeard on May 24th, 2010 in News and weather, Political, Shootist | Comments Off

LATEST FBI CRIME DATA CONTINUES TO REFUTE ANTI-GUN RHETORIC, SAYS CCRKBA

BELLEVUE, WA – For the third year in a row, violent crime has declined in the United States while increasing numbers of American citizens own firearms and are licensed to carry, a trend that belies predictions of anti-gunners that more guns will result in more crime, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Grey’s Anatomy

Posted by Greybeard on May 21st, 2010 in Political, Shootist | Comments Off

Grey’s Anatomy is not a series I normally watch.  (In recent years I’ve developed an aversion to casual interactions with hospitals).   Last night I decided to sit with the wife and watch the 2 hour year’s finale .   It turns out that it was a show built around a disturbed man, seeking vengance for his wife’s death in the hospital.    His method of vengance was to walk around the hospital,  shooting doctors and nurses that were involved with treating his wife.   After an hour or so of fearful and intense seek and shoot,  the man decided to talk with one of his intended victims.   This is when the entire 2 hours went sour,  a five minute politically minded speach,  maligning gun ownership and the second ammendment.   Quote:   “I’ve never owned a gun before,  but 5 day’s ago I walked into a mega-mart,  and bought this 9 mm handgun and all the ammo I could carry”.

My question for the writers:   And on which planet did this happen?    Come to Michigan and try to buy a handgun at a mega-mart, or find one that sells them.   And if you’re looking for ammo,  better have 2 pieces of I.D.,  and a clean record,  not to mention,  leave your name, S.S. number,  and current address.

Bottom line,  the writer’s of the show used five minutes of the program to express their twisted mind set about gun ownership.   Likely the entire program was designed to support the lie of  how dangerous the second ammendment makes our country.   The flaw of their logic,  is that like almost all shooters and terrorists,  the shooter in this story,  decided to go to a location marked with the politically correct,  “NO GUNS” sign,  where he could walk around freely and shoot people at will.

I’m so tired of being told I’m endangering my life by owning a gun.   Note to television and movie moguls, to anti-gunners and politicos :  Your hidden symbolism,  and preaching propaganda,  and lies are not working.   In fact it’s just the opposite,  the more  you press your unconstituional agenda,  the more Americans wake up  and see the light of this great Nation!