New post on CTD blog: off-body carry

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Read more about it on CTD blog.

Posted in holster, pistol | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Navy Annie

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Russian riverboat girls are tough 🙂 This one cleans up pretty well.

Posted in interesting people, rifle | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Overcoming cross-eye dominance: new on CTD

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Another blog post up on using red dot sight.

Posted in training | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Typical feline: cute but with long-range claws

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Browning M1919 on an MG42 tripod: 250 rounds of 30-06 or .308 before a reload…I think this will end the AR15 vs. AK47 debate.

Posted in interesting people, weapon | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Boberg XR9-S again

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Shot it with regular ammo and SBR tracers yesterday. Watching people getting hits on a 50 yard target with a pocket pistol was pretty cool.

Posted in interesting people, pistol | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Boberg XR9-S again

Twin Browning 1919 wallpaper

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Oleg Volk

This rig is an excellent illustration of how guns can make up for lack of number or physical strength. A hundred-pound girl can hold off a mob of hundreds if properly armed, while even a dozen of unarmed strong men would get trampled by the same. Ideally, a machine gunner would be supported by an assistant and a squad of riflemen, but with good placement and the ability to fire one gun while the other cools down or gets fresh ammo, even a single defender can have a strong effect.

Posted in weapon | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

More photos taken through night vision monocular

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Taken with ATN PVS14 and a Panasonic LX3. The camera was used at ISO200, so it added a bit of noise to the image.At base ISO, the exposure would have been 1/6s, going up to 200 allowed 1/15s at f2.5.

Highway lights in the background. Main exposure by moonlight from 7% waxing crescent. Rifle is MSAR STG556 with YNH suppressor, EOTech in front of PVS14 and light/laser.

As you can see, the DOF on the monocular itself is fairly limited up close. Sharpness is quite good, enough to read the ammo box lettering.

Posted in rifle, sound suppressor | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Another 9mm option: Just Right Carbine

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Oleg Volk

JRC was ostensibly designed as a traines for AR15 users. The manual of arms is much too different for that, but it seems quite useable as low-recoil home defense guns and for those who like “cowboy logistics”, the commonality of ammunition between carbine and sidearm. Both ejection and charging handle can be independently switched from right to left. Unfenced magazine release stays on the left. Stock and fire control are pure AR15, so’s the forend.

Top photo shows it in “muddy girl” pattern with YHM folding sights and Viridian X5L light/laser. Center and bottom photos in desert digital camo, with Midwest Industries folding sights and Primary Arms micro red dot on an American Defense QD mount. Insight M3 light completes the set-up. Both shown with 33rd Glock magazines because only the first outfit has room for spares and, in any case, longer magazines aren’t such a handicap for carbines as they are for pistols. And, yes, these are available in plain black.

Model Red McCord

Posted in holster, light/laser, pistol, rifle | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

New post up on CTD blog: Homeboy sights for rifles

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Building on to the glories of Birdman Homie Night sights: now for rifles.

Posted in rifle | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on New post up on CTD blog: Homeboy sights for rifles

What goes bump (or meow) in the dark

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Picture taken with Panasonic LX3 through ATN PVS14 (3rd gen NVG).

Posted in beast, camera and lens, pet | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Any reasons to avoid these cameras? Panasonic GH2, Canon T3i

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Oleg Volk

I am considering getting a “vest pocket” camera. I like my Panasonic LX3 for what it is, but it’s not a viable low-light camera. The one feature I lack now that I want in a travel camera is a variable angle LCD. I am considering either getting a Canon (which adds a second battery type and a second memory type to 5D2 but keeps the same lenses) OR getting a Panasonic GH2 and 20/1.7 and 45/1.8 lens pair. The advantage of the Canon is in the slightly better image quality and the ability to use the same lenses (35/2 and 85/1.8). The down side to the same lenses is the size — Canon doesn’t seem to make fast APS-C primes. GH2 with a 20mm or a 45mm will be close to half the weight of the T3i and 35mm or 85mm lenses. Other than the formidable cost of getting a body AND two lenses for it, is there any reason to prefer the Canon over the Panasonic?

I have not seriously used a camera with an electronic viewfinder or a variable angle — am I going to hate it in low light or when following action? The comparison would be to a porro-prism finder of the T3i, not to the glass prism of the 5D2. Live View on 5D2 is painfully slow. Is it any better on GH2?

Posted in advice requested, camera and lens | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Long range pistol

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Zett with Mauser C96 from Chris Range’s upcoming comic book.

Posted in pistol | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Thompson girl

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Airship engineer character for the upcoming dieselpunk comic book “Zett & Lux” by Chris Range. Auto Ordnance 1927 Thompson with 100rd drum and 20rd stick magazines.

Posted in rifle | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A Scorpion Handler

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Scorpion vz61 machine pistol with an AAC Evolution-9 suppressor

With its rate reducer removed, vz61 can fire the entire 20-round magazine in one second with excellent control over the burst placement. With a sound suppressor, muzzle climb becomes negligible. The 75m and 150m sight markings are wildly optimistic even in semi-auto mode, but 25 is very easy and 50 is still reasonable. 32ACP suppressed extremely well as it is subsonic and has mild muzzle blast anyway.

Posted in sound suppressor, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Bullpups at the range

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Oleg Volk

RFB .308 with YHM suppressor

KSG 12ga

Posted in rifle, shotgun, sound suppressor | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Positive reinforcement: new post up on CTD blog

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Ways to make sure that new shooters enjoy their first range trip.

Posted in training | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Positive reinforcement: new post up on CTD blog

Czech-made revolvers

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Oleg Volk

More options in medium frame revolvers: .38 and .357 Czechpoint models. I haven’t fired them yet but hope to do it by the end of the month. Overall, they look like K-frames with recessed chambers and re-designed ejectors.

Posted in ammunition, pistol | Tagged | 16 Comments

Gremlin at a photo shoot

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Posted in interesting people, pet | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Hunter vs. soldier, new post on CTD blog

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Oleg Volk

Hunter vs. soldier, rifle vs. musket.

Posted in rifle, shotgun | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Pretty is as pretty does

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Oleg Volk

I used to view vz58 as a quaint design roughly analogous to AK47, but uglier. I’ve since become a fan: the rifle is shorter than an M1 carbine and no heavier, while shooting a more potent round with mild recoil. It’s yet another excellent “girlfriend gun” for those who are considering a present for petite lovers or spouses.

Posted in interesting people, rifle | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments