5.56, Short Barrels, and Fragmentation.

Every time I see a blog post or forum thread about a SBR/AR pistol in 5.56 in regards to self-defense, there are always the inevitable neighing naysayers who go out of their way to trying to prove to someone, anyone, that a short barreled 5.56 is not a good self-defense solution. They claim this, citing that short barreled 5.56's  (7.5"-12.5") do not generate the velocity needed to reliably cause fragmentation with the two most commonly available brass-cased 5.56 rounds; 55gr FMJ M193 and 62 FMJ M855. 2700 fps (feet per second) is the lowest 'threshold', if you will, at which these offerings are supposed to (meaning, maybe) reliably fragment and cause the desired effect on the target. Anything under that and it may, or may not. A 10.5" 5.56 will reach a MV (Muzzle Velocity) of around 2730-2750 fps with M193 and 2640-2760fps with M855. It then tapers off sharply to under the 'threshold'.

This is all correct information.

Having said that, most people who will be using an SBR/AR pistol for home defense are not subject to the rules that our Military must follow, such as those set after the Hague Convention. So, I ask you, why is this even being discussed? Why would it be considered, using ammunition may or may not work, when lives are at stake? Why would you not use something like Hornady T.A.P., Winchester PDX or Ranger, or Federal Hi-Shok? These are expanding bullets that allow all of their energy to be 'dumped' inside of the target and are designed to expand or 'fragment' at velocities down to 2000 fps and, in some cases, as low as 1700. The most common answers I have seen are:

1.     "I can't afford the self-defense ammo." Bullshit. You can pay the premiums for an SBR/AR pistol, but you can't afford 100-200 rounds of quality ammunition to test and then keep loaded to use when you and your family's lives are on the line?

2.     "I don't want to use hollowpoint/soft point ammo because I will be charged with murder/attempted murder." Regardless of what you shoot an intruder with, a good shoot is a good shoot and a bad one, bad. Only fire if absolutely necessary to prevent death or serious bodily harm, then shut the fuck up until your lawyer arrives.

3.     "Thet thare leetle peashootin' round is only for squirrels. Ain't nothin' better then' ma' .45!" This answer is one that I detest. It reeks of ignorance, and is complete pigeon religion. Here is why.

10.5" 5.56

• Hornady T.A.P 55gr @ 2740 fps generates 917 ft-lbs. kinetic energy. At 10 yds. it has 900 ft-lbs. of kinetic energy.
• 30 rounds available.

5" .45 ACP 

• Hornady Critical Defense 185gr @ 1000fps generates 411 ft-lbs. of kinetic energy. At 10 yds it has 404 ft-lbs. of kinetic energy.
• Assuming that "ma' .45!" is a 1911, most people will be limited to 8-10 rounds. A G21 will get you 3 more, and an FNX-45 will net you 15 total. 

Which would you choose presented with these facts?

Relying on fragmentation is dangerous, as there are other things besides velocity that can affect it. If an SBR/AR pistol is your HD weapon of choice, buy quality ammunition, test it in your lead dispenser, and train with it. Same goes for anything that you will use in life-and-death situation.

Be ready when the time comes, or suffer the consequences of your inaction.



Sources:

Velocity, Barrel Length
http://counterstrikefox.freeservers.com/mv.htm

http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=1093&page=1

Velocity, Fragmentation
http://www.razoreye.net/mirror/ammo-oracle/AR15_com_Ammo_Oracle_Mirror.htm#velocity

Kinetic Energy calculator
http://www.shooterscalculator.com/bullet-kinetic-energy.php

For anyone who cares, here are the wound profiles of M855 and M193.

M855
http://www.firearmstactical.com/images/Wound%20Profiles/M855.jpg

M193
http://www.firearmstactical.com/images/Wound%20Profiles/M193.jpg

Military Wives

I am writing this to you using generalities, and addressing common occurrences, from an enlisted member's point of view. Notice also that I have not addressed this to other dependants or husbands of female military members since they are the minority in the subject. I realize that this will make some of you laugh, but will also hurt a lot of feelings. Know this. I care less about your feelings than I do about the lint between my toes. I care not if you are married an E-1, an E-9, or the CENTCOM Commander. Unless you signed the on the dotted line, and raised your right hand,

You are NOT a service member. You DO NOT RATE any of the customs, courtesies, or respect that your husband has earned throughout his Military Career. You do not rate to be called by his rank, his title, to wear any of his ribbons, medals, uniforms, or awards. They are his alone. There is no 'we'.

That is a FACT.



Now that I have your attention, let me explain why.

You husband, regardless of his branch of service, has signed eight years of his life over to the control of the military and Department of Defense. This is generally a term of 4 years of active service, with 4 years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) if he chooses not re-up (re-enlist) or resigns his commission. This is not a decision that is made lightly, and is usually only made after some time of careful thought and consideration. During these four years of active service he must abide by the stringent and numerous rules and regulations that the military has in place. Every branch abides by the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (U.C.M.J.) and each branch of service also has their own set of rules, regulations and orders that each individual must follow..

He has made the conscious decision to subject himself to a myriad of small torturous acts that civilians never encounter. Minimal hours of sleep. People screaming in his face. Digging holes just to fill them back in hours later. Never-ending formations and standing around. Living in a room with another man that he may or may not hate. Terrible food that prison inmates wouldn’t eat. Sleeping in holes or on rocks. Being told to do something only to be screamed at for doing it. Hiking up mountains only to turn around and hike down again. Being under the charge of people who do not care if he gets paid or goes hungry. Months of grueling training, without knowing who the enemy might be. Years of his life deployed beyond the comforts of home, in places where the people want nothing more than to harm him. He made this decision. You did not. He has experienced all of this and lived with the consequences of his decision.

He may be a combat veteran who has seen things that would cause grown men to faint, throw up, or scream in uncontrollable terror. He may have sat behind the wire with A/C, video games, and hot chow, hearing explosions in the distance and nothing more. He may have never deployed. It does not matter. These are his experiences. He alone earned his rank, title, awards, and the respect that comes with those. This is how he makes his money and supports his family. These are personal achievements that become cheapened when the word 'we' is introduced.

For example,

"WE are re-enlisting."

"WE are getting promoted."

"WE are getting an Award."

No, you are not doing any of those things. Would you enjoy working long hard hours, putting in months of work to graduate college early, only for someone else to take partial credit when they had done nothing to contribute?

Believe it or not, you both have very specific jobs. You are there to cheer him on, build him up, and be his rock. His job is to protect you, support you in your endeavors, and build you up. None of this permits you to waltz through his circle of friends demanding the respect that he has earned. Stop prancing around as if it does. You are entitled to nothing.

Editor: Zach Deloach

HR5344: The Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

This is something that I saw going around the Internet and I felt compelled to comment on it. I own body armor and I see no reason for this bill other than for the Government to once again stick their noses where they don't belong in order to make some politician feel good about himself. I see it as one more step in the incessant march toward a totalitarian regime where the people are little more than drones, or slaves.

With multiple armed assailant break in's becoming more and more commonplace, this bill will do nothing but place the American people in more danger, leaving them without a valuable life saving asset. Many of the people who own and purchase body armor do so for training purposes or to defend themselves from criminals, not to commit crimes. This bill will also do nothing to prevent criminals from possessing or manufacturing armor. We have laws against possessing and manufacturing machine guns, but still we have gang bangers running around with full-auto AKM's and Tech 9's. We have laws against possessing and manufacturing Short Barreled Rifles and Shotguns (SBR and SBS), and we still have criminals with SBR's and SBS's. We have many, many, laws against the manufacture and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and various other schedule 1 narcotics, and yet, we still have millions of people snorting, shooting, and smoking them every day. One more law will not deter those inclined to live outside the law.

As a Marine I wore body armor on a daily basis while in Afghanistan to protect myself from life threatening wounds in the likely event that I would be shot. Peace Officers also wear armor vests in the performance of their daily duties to prevent death or serious bodily harm, while S.W.A.T. team members wear both hard and soft armor to protect themselves and their teammates. Should the American Citizenry  not be afforded the same level of protection in the event of a disaster and/or marital law, when they may be defending themselves against multiple violent criminals who are threatening their lives, the lives of their families? Is the average American's life, that those Officers are sworn to protect and serve, worth any less than the life of a Marine, Soldier, or Peace Officer?

When disaster strikes, and the violent and lawless prey upon the peaceful and law abiding, the American people will need these assets. Denying them the right to own something that has the potential to save their is stripping them of the tools that they need to prevent harm from befalling them or their children.

After all, it's for the children. Right?


Do what you can to stop this.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-hr-5344-banning-responsible-law-abiding-citizens-owning-body-armor/GNrBKFrF

Write your representatives.
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr5344

Those who shout the loudest, often know the least.

"You just stood there screaming
Fearing no one was listening to you
They say the empty can rattles the most
The sound of your voice must soothe you
Hearing only what you want to hear
And knowing only what you've heard
You you're smothered in tragedy
You're out to save the world..."

- My Friend Misery, Metallica

Written over 20 years ago, the opening verse of this song absolutely describes the the entitled, whiny, and ignorant Gun Con- Whoops, I mean, Civilian Disarmament Activists.

Are you listening, Mom's Demand Action? Are you listening, Everytown? Are you listening, Bloomberg? Can you hear it, Feinstein? Brady Campaign? Mayors Against Guns? That opening verse, and a few lines after it, is describing you.

You hear words being spoken, or read them, but you are not listening and understanding the message and meaning, and the reason why is simple.

You do not care.

You are blinded by your agenda, miring in your emotions, unwilling to listen to hard facts. I would post them, but know from experience that they will be ignored while you shout, spittle gleeking from your jowls, something about safety and common sense.

You unabashedly jump into the middle of horrific events (I.E. Sandy Hook), riding the wave of emotion and standing on the backs of dead children, parading grieving parents on national television and social media, spouting emotionally fueled (and rightfully so, their children were murdered) statements about 'Common Sense Gun Control' in order to further your agenda.

Disgusting, vile, horrid, and - dare I say it?- Evil.

If you had any of this common sense that you use as part of your catch-phrase, you would realize your folly.

Notice that I have not once argued against your agenda, as it would be futile to do so. I am merely pointing out how you further your cause, how you prey on the minds of the American people, and surf the emotional tsunami caused by planned mass murder. From experience, I know that arguing this would only be met with violent outbursts of how I should take my own life, that I am an extremist, that I am everything that is wrong with America. How I am probably a fat, rich, white male, who feels the need to own 'Evil Weapons of Mass Murder' to compensate for my minuscule man member. I should be ashamed, and as a result of owning a gun, am contributing to the gun violence in America. I should castrate myself, lest I contaminate the gene pool.

I am none of these things.

I am a Hard-working, Tax-paying American. I believe in the literal translation of the Constitution of The United States of America. I am a young, poor, white male (the only thing that was guessed right, although no great feat), who feels no need to compensate, who is not ashamed, and has never contributed to any sort of illegal gun violence (or any illegal violence for that matter), and have not sanctioned it, ever. I would rather discourage violence, and only use it when all other options are exhausted.

In closing, the only people who I find calling for civilian disarmament are the rich people, hiding behind their high walls and men with guns, people who have no firsthand knowledge of guns, and criminals, who already do not follow the established laws, and will possess guns regardless of bans, searches, lists, taps, licensing, micro-stamping, or anything else that is dreamed up.

Think about that, the next time you see someone shouting about gun control, children, and common sense.