1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.

2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.

3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)

6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.

7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only 
remember who lived.

8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.

9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

10. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel pees in the flintlock of your musket."

11. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

12. Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

13. Have a plan.

14. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.

15. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The visible target should be in FRONT of your gun.

16. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

17. Don't drop your guard.

18. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.

19. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).

20. Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough.

21. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

22. Be polite. Be professional. BUT have a plan to off everyone you meet. 

23. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

24. Your number one option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

25. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun the caliber of which does not start with a "4".

A few days ago I taught myself how to stipple plastic. My first 'real' project is the handle from a Cold Steel Panga machete. I chose the machete handle first because it's too slick for real world use, secondly because I didn't want to screw up the grip on one of my nice pistols.

A screenshot reveals Cheaper Than Dirt is still price gouging.

In its most basic sense, stippling is the creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots. Well, that's the artist definition.


In firearm speak, stippling is the creation of a non-skid surface, generally on the grip areas of a firearm. Many modern firearms now have composite grips to save weight and money.


I've seen gun shops charge $60+ for stippling on pistol grips. Since I'm always about saving money for ammo, I decided to tackle this project myself. 

To create the 'dots' all you need is heat, but it needs to be constant and not too hot. During my research I read that much luck was had with electric wood burning tools as opposed to soldering irons, which can get too hot.

I picked up this wood detailer from Michael's for $9 after a 50% off coupon. Michael's routinely has 40% off coupons online and in their ads. 

Additional tips can be used for different effects. Looks like another trip with another coupon!

The wood detailer tip is rounded much like a ball point pen tip. 

My test subject was a standard piece of ABS plastic, 1/8" thickness.

Using a standard pencil hold grip I placed many, many dots on the plastic. 

Not bad for a beginner. At least I didn't fudge it up too badly.

My first 'real' project will be the polyurethane handle of a panga machete which is notoriously slick. Until then enjoy the video I took during my first stippling.

Finding ammo has been almost impossible since the elections. Let alone finding any deals online. This past Sunday I was browsing SGAmmo's site when I found some 9mm Golden Sabers for sale and in-stock at normal pricing.

A few online sellers like Cheaper Than Dirt, LuckyGunner, and BulkAmmo, to name a few, have been charging obscene amounts for ammo. By obscene I mean $70 for a 50 round box of Tula 9mm FMJ ammo. Tula ammo is also sold by WalMart for $8.99/box. But with the severe ammo shortage those sellers can and do charge whatever they want. They call it supply & demand, I call it a rip-off.


I have been patient, watching for in-stock online ammo and hitting WalMart whenever I can. 

Finally my patience paid off. My favorite online ammo seller, SGAmmo, recently had Remington 9mm Golden Sabers in stock. Normally Golden Sabers sell for $30-35 per box of 25, but SGAmmo had them for $15.95. That's like getting 2 boxes for the price of one. When I ordered there was 1,042 boxes on hand. Within hours the word got out and they were gone. You have to be quick and prepared to jump at a moments notice.

My conservative order was for 10 boxes. I ordered on Sunday (5/26) and recieved them today (5/31). Excellent service and shipping all the way from Oklahoma.

This was my 8th order with SGAmmo with no issues. My order is always packed well and shipped quickly. While the popular handgun calibers are usually out of stock, SGAmmo has plenty of shotgun ammo. Their prices on 12 gauge ammo is inline with WalMart, except they don't have a 3 box limit.

Many online sellers have raised their ammo prices into the stratosphere. SGAmmo is one of the few holdouts. I commend Sam & Lala Gabbert for still offering decent prices on ammo when it is in stock.  By being above board they are sure to have many long term customers such as myself. 

Poetry by Michelle R. Christman
USMC from 8791, Desert Storm Veteran.

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.

Fox35 out of Orlando, Florida reports that Eddie Colosimo, who runs Holy Hill’s Bikers for First Amendments Rights restaurant and bar, a non-profit that helps support military veterans, has been ordered to remove his Military flags as they are in violation of a city ordinance. Although the city ordinance was just passed in March, and he has been flying his flags for over two years.

Colosimo, a wounded Marine Corps vet, is passionate about United States Armed Forces.  His granddaughter, grandson, and son-in-law are all serving in different branches of the military.  So, Colosimo decided to fly military flags representing all our servicemen and women in front of his the restaurant.

“These flags represent our men and women all over the world for us today!” he said.

These flags have been here every weekend for two years, but just this week, Colosimo received a letter from the city informing him that flying the flags violates a new city code passed in March.

“The fines will start today (Friday) for every day the flags fly,” he told us.  “Please don’t try to tell me my Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force flags are flutter signs, and compare them to beer signs. That doesn’t fly!”

The new law requires businesses to apply for a permit to display a temporary sign or banner on their property; however, the American, POW, and state flags are allowed.

Now, Colosimo is being fined $300 a day by the City of Holly Hill.  Officials just announced that they will hold a special hearing in two weeks to discuss the matter.  For now, Colosimo says these flags aren’t going anywhere.

“You’re gonna tell me that I can’t honor them… show respect for them? I’m sorry. Bring your handcuffs. I’ll go to jail. I don’t care.” Courtesy MyFoxTampa

Seems Mr. Colosimo is in the right here in my opinion, he has been doing this for several years before this new law. I think the city should make an exception, it’s not like he is displaying anything offensive.

I know we will catch flak from some because “it’s the law”, but I believe this Marine is standing for what he believes in!  And I love his comment ”You’re gonna tell me that I can’t honor them… show respect for them? I’m sorry. Bring your handcuffs. I’ll go to jail. I don’t care.”

Surplus Ammo has Sellier & Bellot 9mm 115gr FMJ ammo in stock for $49.99 for 50 rounds.

Yes, you heard me right, $50 for 50 rounds. But it gets better.

I could understand the pricing if this was some type of exotic hollow point ammo, but it's your basic FMJ ammo used mostly for target practice and plinking. 


Cheaper Than Dirt is even better @ $1.59 each for 50 rounds of PMC 115gr FMJ ammo.

I understand the principles of supply and demand, but this is a outright rip off. Hopefully most gun owners are savvy enough to realize that this is not a deal by any means. 

Be patient, the ammo market is predicted to settle down at years end.