Wish List... The Long Guns

I've been thinking lately my handgun collection is getting to a point where I have everything I "need" from a practical perspective and I'm starting to branch into the "it'd be cool to have..." realm with CZs and my 1911 project gun. Technically speaking, I'm still pining over a 10" AR pistol build that may one day happen because "yeah... pistol... *snork*"

I have also realized there are a handful of rifles which are starting to sending siren notes across the sea and into my helpless ears. Particularly, a magnum-caliber bolt rifle, a .308 Win AR, an AK (why not??), and to rework my existing AR into something a little different than it sits today.

Right now, the Remington 700 Long Range in .300 Win Mag topped with a Vortex PST 5-20x scope is a front-runner for a "budget" magnum-caliber thousand-yarder with the punch one could need to take big game at distance. I love running and gunning with pistols but I recently realized how much I really do miss sending one bullet at a time down range. Yeah, I know the .308 is perfectly capable of ringing steel at a grand and had dropped plenty of deer, coyote, elk, and angry bipeds, but there's a bit more allure to the "Win Mag" and jumping straight to .338 Lapua is almost obscene.

Which leads me back to the .308. I have nothing against this venerable and proven cartridge at all. Given the quality of rifles and parts suitable for a quality custom build being readily available, I'm thinking that a relatively lightweight .308 AR with an 18" barrel and good mid-range optic would be an absolute hoot to shoot and satisfy that "gotta have a .308" itch I think most shooters will go through at some point.

And yes, I would look into having the Win Mag barrel threaded for a brake and adding a big-bore suppressor at some point. I would also look into a system which would let me mount it to the .308 platform gun as well. Because... well... sometimes it's polite to not raise your voice.

And an AK?? Why?? Well... I ain't gonna lie... Magpul's new AK furniture makes that craptastic stamped commieblaster something I'd actually consider shouldering. That there are also a few American companies building AK receivers that don't look like they were milled out of the head covers off Great-Uncle Vanya's tractor and engraved with a rock by a guy who probably wears a football helmet to bed is a plus.


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First Few Hours with Raven's New Eidolon Holster

My first first reactions to the new Eidolon from Raven Concealment Systems... it's:

Beautifully constructed.
Ridiculously fast.
Infinitely customizable.

And shipped with more nuts than you'll find in the Whole Foods booth the DNC.

I spent the better part of 3 hours playing "tactical Lego" with the mounting kit options that ship with the new Eidolon system. I set the holster up at least 4 or 5 different ways with the various extensions, angles, mounting components, and gadgets that ship with the Eidolon.

I wound up setting the rig up to wear at the 3:30-4:00 position - a basic strong-side configuration. I ordered the soft loops and struts, and set just a hint of forward angle.

First impressions are very good indeed... now for some gratuitous Raven gear pr0n:










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Magpul Drops More Win in 9mm and .22

I got a couple emails this week that set my gun-loving heart all aflutter...

Magpul pistol magazines for the Glock 19 and an inexpensive drop-in stock for the Ruger 10/22.

As Clarkson would put it, SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!

Check the deets:



New 15-round Glock PMAGs




Hunter X-22 Stock for the Ruger 10/22

The Raven Has Landed (Updated)

>>2nd UPDATE<<
Mrs. Normal just confirmed the Raven has landed and I will in fact, have the chance to get my gun gear nerd on after my 12-hour day in the orifice comes to a close.

>>UPDATE<<
Thankfully, customer service folks at RCS are on the ball and quickly confirmed the package did ship as requested and has been delivered. Once I'm done with my 2nd of 3 12-hour work days I will hopefully be monkeying around in the workshop with some new kit tonight!

I had hoped to give a first impression of Raven Concealment's new Eidolon holster system but - as with other orders - it seems like there's a shipping issue.

A full week after receiving shipping notice for my order it is still showing as not having been picked up. Hmm... I wish I could say this is the first time I've run into issues with their fulfillment but it's actually my third order and my third wonky delivery notice.

Their gear is excellent. Getting it into your hands can be a bit of a pain...


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I Didn't Choose the Glock Life...

The Glock life chose me.

Yes, I'm an unapologetic M&P fan (who's proven a shooter can clear the Triple Nickel with a bone-stock duty gun).

Yes, I'm developing a potentially-unhealthy attraction to a handful of CZs.

And oh HELL YES I will forever love John Browning's masterpiece of small arms design, the 1911.

But if the feces should ever meet the fan blade, the first gun I'm grabbing will probably be my Glock 19. It isn't the best at any one thing, but it does just about everything well.

After shooting darn near every major pistol platform in the marketplace, it's not the pistol I'll use to make it to the USPSA Nationals one day, but it'll be the one I'll put on when I start the drive home.