Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Wednesday Wsidom: 2 September 2026

On May 26, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Corporal Wallace Anderson Miller, missing from the Korean War. Army Corporal Miller entered the service from Pennsylvania and served in Battery C, 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. 

By mid-November 1950, U.S. and Allied forces including the 2nd Infantry Division had advanced to within approximately 60 miles of the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China. On Nov. 25, 1950, approximately 300,000 Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) suddenly and fiercely attacked after crossing the Yalu River.

The 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) was located the farthest north of Allied units at the Chongchon River (southeast of the Yalu) and it could not halt the CCF advance. The Army ordered the 2ID to withdraw to defensive positions at Sunchon. As the division pulled back from Kunu-ri toward Sunchon, it conducted an intense rearguard action while fighting to break through well-defended roadblocks 
CCF infiltrators had erected. The withdrawal was not complete until December 1, 1950 and the 2ID suffered extremely heavy casualties in the process.

On Dec. 1, 1950, the CCF captured Miller during the fighting withdrawal from Kunu-ri. The CCF marched him to prisoner of war Camp 5 in Pyoktong, North Korea, where he reportedly died of pneumonia on Feb. 19, 1951. 

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A New York Engraved & Factory Silver & Gold-Plated 44 Double Action Revolver

A Smith and Wesson Russian revolver with a 6” barrel. According to S&W factory letter, this revolver was shipped in-the-white (i.e. bare steel without bluing) on April 20, 1892 to Hartley & Graham of New York City for in-house engraving. It was returned to Smith & Wesson in May 1892 for finishing in silver and gold. The revolver is extensively embellished in bold New York style with wide flowing foliate scrollwork with punch-dot background shading, light geometric border down the backstrap and fine zigzag wavy lines along sides of barrel. This revolver sold at auction for $8,470.00 including buyer`s premium. Photo and description courtesy of Amoskeag Auction Company.

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The Fidelity Farce: Training Value Happens in the Brain

One of the primary methods used in modern tactical training is placement of the trainee into so-called “high fidelity” scenario-based simulations. These simulations use tools such as role players, video simulators, graphical simulated weapons, virtual and augmented reality. Each of these methods may add value to training programs; however, their impact on students are widely misunderstood, as is the role and value of fidelity in training environments.

Multi-screen video and graphical simulation systems create visually impressive, multi-directional, two-dimensional representations of operational settings. High-definition audio and surround sound enhances the experience. Advanced computing and image generation inspire technological awe. The stimuli these systems produce are combined with the pressure of evaluated performance to create strong emotional responses—leading to significantly elevated levels of stress in the trainee. Is this beneficial from a training perspective?

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I Put a Red Dot on My Colt Grizzly and I Don’t Care What You Think


The reintroduction of wheel guns has given Colt the chance to resurrect some of the rarer or uncommon variants. This includes the Colt Grizzly. The Colt Grizzly revives one of Colt’s less famous revolvers, updating a model with a limited run of only 999 units made by the Colt Custom Shop. The original had a King Cobra frame and a 6-inch Python barrel, but the new version adds 3-inch or 4.25-inch barrel options, making it better suited for backcountry carry.

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Oliver Winchester: The Rifleman’s Rifle Maker

In 1855, Winchester’s business acumen led him to invest in a division of Smith & Wesson firearms. He discovered the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company was struggling financially and falling behind, so he joined other stockholders and gathered venture capital.

He became the company’s largest stockholder and eventually reorganized it as the New Haven Arms Company in 1857. Under his leadership and working with engineers like Nelson King and Benjamin Tyler Henry, the company developed and improved lever-action rifle designs, including the famous Henry rifle.

Winchester improved existing weapons. His most famous firearm was the Winchester repeating rifle, a redesigned Volcanic rifle. Some of his guns appeared in the American Civil War and certain European conflicts.

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The “Reloading Pause” Fallacy 


Since the 1990’s, gun control advocates have insisted that reduced capacity magazines (limited to 10 rounds) were “safer”. The most recent set of talking points relate to active shooter incidents. The claim is that by requiring the active shooter to reload more often, this creates an operational “pause” in which untrained, unarmed people can rush and disarm the shooter.

Hopefully this analysis will help you understand (and explain to others) the time factors involved in the “reloading pause” fallacy. Allowing (and encouraging) armed response, not reducing magazine capacity, is the solution most likely to bring an immediate end to an active shooter’s mass killing. The idea is difficult for those with limited or no experience with firearms or tactics to accept – particularly those that have a confirmation bias toward gun control. The ‘reloading pause’ fallacy comes up as a talking point each time the idea of magazine capacity restrictions is advanced. Perhaps this analysis will be useful for those arguing against those restrictions.

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Justice Department and FBI Seize Platforms China State-Sponsored Hackers Operated and Used to Target U.S. Critical Infrastructure

I suspect that China has figuratively raped the United States electronically for many years while we worried about how many genders there might be. If we ever go to war, we will likely see just how extensive their targeting of our critical infrastructure is.

The Justice Department and FBI announced court-authorized domain seizures today to deny malicious cyber actors access to two complementary hacking platforms known as “QScan” and “QTRouter,” used to target U.S. critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks.

Among the victims of Chinese QTFY computer intrusion activity are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Reserve, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Senate.

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Clyde Barrow’s Browning Auto-5 “Whippet” Was Sold For $1 Million in a Rock Island Auction Company Auction



Among the photographs left behind at Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow’s Joplin hideout was the most iconic image of the pair, featuring Bonnie simulating a holdup with a shotgun, where she is acting out disarming Clyde. The shotgun she is holding in that image is this Browning Auto-5 16-gauge, which Clyde typically carried. 

The most definitive evidence that Bonnie is holding Clyde’s Browning 16-gauge Auto-5 is the lack of a magazine follower/plunger stop screw on the forward right of the frame ahead of the carrier latch, a screw which was found on that side of the Remington Model 11s of the era. In the photo, an un-buckled strap can be seen hanging down from behind Bonnie’s right arm, which is the strap that Clyde attached to the stock of his “Whippet”, which he had fashioned from the inner tube of a car tire. 

The strap allowed him to slide his arm through while putting on his jacket, leaving the shotgun concealed and hanging under his right arm. The strap being un-buckled indicates that either Bonnie or Clyde had quickly un-buckled the strap without removing his jacket so that she could hold the gun for the picture. The material of the strap and Clyde’s mode of carrying the “Whippet” under his arm is mentioned in a later 1968 interview of Barrow Gang member W.D. Jones.

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Poll: Almost Twice as Many General Election Voters Prefer Arresting Repeat Violent Criminals

The Crime Prevention Research Center commissioned a new McLaughlin & Associates survey of 1,000 American general election voters on July 22nd, 2026. Despite frequent claims that the public supports gun control as a way to reduce crime, only 24.9% of voters believe passing additional gun control laws would reduce crime, while an even smaller share (22.6%) believe stricter enforcement of existing gun control laws would do so. Combined, just 47.5% of voters think gun control plays the primary role in reducing crime. By comparison, 44.2% believe the better approach is to arrest criminals and keep them in jail.

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Why Not All .30/06 is Good Ammo for the M1 Garand


 
If you take a deep dive looking for information on the M1 Garand, you’ll quickly see many recommendations on ammo for the M1 Garand and, more importantly, what is unsafe to use. In short, you cannot shoot just any .30/06 ammo through your M1 Garand and ensure that the rifle won’t be damaged. 

The M1 Garand is a gas-operated rifle that’s driven by a piston at the end of the operating rod. It’s chambered for the classic .30/06 cartridge, but the rifle is designed to function within certain pressure parameters. A small port beneath the front sight allows pressurized gas to enter the gas cylinder and drive the operating rod back. If there’s not enough pressure, the gun won’t cycle properly. Too much pressure can cause the operating rod to bend or break, and a bolt and operating rod that are slamming too hard to the rear can damage the receiver.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

Thursday, August 27, 2026

The Emissary Development Plus 1

In February 2026 I attended the SymTac Advanced Shotgun Course. A fellow student, David Cagle had received a sample product for testing from Emissary Development that essentially was a plastic tray that mounted underneath the chamber opening of a pump shotgun. David said he had literally just mounted it on his gun while at his car.

Emissary Development had sent him one for testing with the agreement that he/we would post no photos nor information about it. I ran David’s pump during the class and was astonished at how quickly you could reload while keeping your hand near the pump gun’s forearm. With a little practice, we were doing remarkably fast reloads. A very effective way to reload a pump shotgun. Why didn’t I think of this?

Fast forward several months and we find Emissary Development has completed manufacturing and is now selling their Plus1 for 12 gauge pump shotguns. They have produced two batches of the Plus 1 and both runs sold out immediately—I’m sure they have more in the works.

The Plus1 works on any 12-gauge pump action shotgun with a flat, even surface just below the chamber opening. They provide the Plus 1 with 3M VHB tape. They characterize the VHB tape as an ultra-strong automotive-grade adhesive that is high-temperature and high-impact resistant, waterproof, and extremely durable. My experience with this adhesive on other firearms applications gives me confidence that their claim about its strength and durability is accurate. Emissary provides an extra strip just in case.


The Plus 1 will handle both 2-3/4 inch and 3 inch shells and has a cutout for the shell's rim.

The only caution I would provide is you must ensure that your shotgun’s forend does not extend over the receiver when it is fully to the rear. The Magpul and the standard 870 police forends on my 870’s do not and the Plus 1 mounts with no issue. The WOOX forend on another 870 extends over the receiver when fully to the rear and precludes mounting the Plus 1 (see below). 

I mounted it on one of my Vang Comp-modified 870 and it took it to the range for a test run—it worked well. My shooting partner who is a fan of pump guns expressed envy until I handed him one for his home defense Mossberg 590.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 


Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Wednesday Wsidom: 26 August 2026


For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron 192, embarked in U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Leading a three-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike against two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Captain Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats, and personally neutralized three SAM sites. Although an exploding missile severely damaged his aircraft, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire.

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Gun Advice from the 1930’s Pulp Magazines

The Thrilling Western pulp magazine from January 1937 featured an article by Col. John J. Boniface (1874-1943), of the US Cavalry, on “How to Be A Good Pistol Shot”. That article was part of a series he wrote called “Straight Shooting.”

In the 1930’s, radio, movies, and pulp magazines were the dominant entertainment media, and Westerns were very popular. From the 1930’s to the 1960’s, gun ownership was common and normal, so it made perfect sense for a magazine full of cowboy stories full of shootouts and gunfights to include non-fiction articles about firearms. Western Story magazine’s “Guns and Gunners” column, mostly written by Charles Edward Chapel and Philip Sharpe, was in every weekly issue from 1931-1949.

To transpose this to the modern era, it would be like a major network putting a YouTube video about new guns, shooting skills or other real world gun topics as an insert in a TV action show like S.W.A.T., Navy SEALS, or any other program that included shootouts in every episode.

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A Winchester 1911?


Manufactured c. 1918, this is an extremely scarce example of one of a very small number of the John Browning-designed Model 1911 pistols which were made during the initial tooling up phase of a U.S. Government contract for 500,000 pistols from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. 

The U.S. Government contract with the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. to produce Model 1911 pistols was placed with the Winchester company on 4 March 1918 and the contract was officially signed on 30 March 1918, with Winchester designating the pistols the "Model G19P." The company estimated that they could begin delivering pistols by early December of 1918. As the year progressed however, it became clear that the M1917 rifles that Winchester was also producing were in much higher demand than Model 1911 pistols, leading to the initial contract for half a million pistols being decreased to just 100,000 and ultimately canceled.

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Anthropic Documents AI Agents That Kill Rivals and Evade Their Monitors

Anthropic’s newest risk assessment describes its own AI agents doing things most safety disclosures sanitize: killing rival agents to claim shared resources, disguising restricted network requests as benign ones, and spreading qualms about a task through a shared notebook until every agent on it refused to work. The August 2026 Risk Report, the second the company has published under its Responsible Scaling Policy, also raises its misalignment risk rating from “very low” to “low,” citing what it calls “general increased uncertainty” after recent disclosures about model behavior in cybersecurity evaluations.

Misalignment?

However, in one experiment Anthropic tasked multiple Mythos 5 agents with solving math problems and, by mistake, spawned them in a shared working directory with common files, utilities, and API rate limits. In that competitive environment, the company reports, “many independent Mythos 5 agents kill the agents with which they shared resources and try to avoid being killed themselves.” 

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The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) Guidance on NFA Transfers

Lots of confusion remains, so the NSSF has requested the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issue guidance to the industry so that federal firearms licensees (FFLs) can remain in compliance with the law. In the meantime, NSSF is providing its understanding of the state of play. This is not legal advice.

Who Does the Injunction Apply To?

The bottom line: the scope of the injunction is limited and only extends to the named plaintiffs, their current and future members, and in the case of commercial plaintiffs or commercial members of plaintiff organizations, their current and future customers.

If you are not a named plaintiff, the injunction will only cover your activities if you are a member of Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Texas State Rifle Association (NRA's Texas affiliate), Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms or FPC Action Foundation.

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What Barrel Length Do You Really Need for .223?

Even though velocity data is something rifle shooters frequently ask about, real-world numbers are surprisingly difficult to come by. Ammo manufacturers typically publish the velocity of each load on their websites, or sometimes right on the box. And we usually include this info on our own 223 ammo product pages as well. But that velocity probably came from something like a 26-inch test barrel. It’s enough to give you a relative idea of what kind of velocity a specific load is technically capable of, but it’s rarely a reflection of what it will do out of your personal rifle.

Whether you’re looking for a starting point for optic calibration and ideal zero distance, or researching terminal ballistics and effective range, having real-world velocity data from a given load for multiple barrels can be extremely useful.

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Big Brother is Here: New Flock-style scanners can now record the devices in your car

Flock is continuing to face public ire over the ways that its national network of license plate readers can be used and abused in the US, but there's bad news for anyone worried about their personal privacy and widespread surveillance: technology that's even more concerning is on the way.

That tech is SignalTrace from security company Leonardo, a system that takes the license plate reading approach of Flock and raises the sophistication a notch. SignalTrace scanners can identify the types of devices that are in a car as it passes by, and link them to a person even if the license plate number isn't visible.

For example, a car of interest to the police might have an iPhone, an Audi stereo, and a pair of Bose headphones in it. The next time that specific combination of devices is detected on the SignalTrace network, an alert can be sent to law enforcement showing the vehicle's location.

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The Evolution of the Martial Arts Part II: Why Modern Martial Arts Exist


In part one, Matt Larsen discussed martial systems' evolutionary framework, arguing that one can best understand martial systems through the adaptive problems they evolved to solve rather than through their techniques or historical lineage. That historical perspective remains extremely valuable because it reveals a process that occurred with unusual clarity in Japan. It does not, however, provide a complete framework for understanding the enormous diversity of martial systems that exist today. Modern martial arts no longer differ primarily because of their historical lineage. They differ because they have evolved to solve different problems.

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Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 Suppressor


The Romulus uses DMLS (direct metal laser sintering) commonly called 3D-printed technology. This allows Wolfpack Armory to make heretofore unprecedented designs both possible and affordable. A quick look at the Romulus 556 tells you its a little different. The shapes incorporated in the muzzle are designed to disrupt airflow as it exits the crown. There’s also a series of tiny holes, ports where gas is allowed to exit. These ports shroud the main gas flow from the crown of the suppressor, creating additional disruption. 

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With the MPS 2.0, Steiner Made the MPS Red Dot Better…Much Better

Steiner has released a significant upgrade to its MPS ACRO-footprint red dot sight: the MPS 2.0. Why the upgrade? There was certainly nothing wrong with the original Steiner MPS, one of the best enclosed red dots on the market. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be improved.

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SIG Sauer P365 DH3 AXG Review


Making the P365 larger and heavier. The SIG P365 DH3 AXG is one of the newest evolutions of the wildly successful P365 lineup. This model blends several of the best ideas SIG has introduced across the platform, combining the larger format of the P365 Fuse with the flatter-shooting expansion chamber concept seen on the XMacro and an AXG metal grip module.

Anyone familiar with the P365 knows how much the platform has changed since its introduction. What started as a trend-setting micro-compact, high-capacity concealed-carry pistol has grown into a modular family of handguns that can fill everything from deep concealment roles to larger defensive and duty-style applications.

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The Thompson Submachine Gun

Developed for the trenches of the First World War, but as it arrived too late, the Auto-Ordnance Corporation marketed the Thompson submachine gun for police and private citizen use. US and Allied soldiers used it extensively in World War II. The range where I do most of my teaching has full auto arms for rent including an M1928A1 similar to the subguns the Prime Minister and Gen Eisenhower are shooting in the picture above. I worked out a deal where any shooter in my Short Range Match could fire a Thompson at a discount. What a hoot! 

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Winchester Model 1876 History and Legacy


2026 celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Winchester Model 1876. Often overshadowed by the more famous 1873, 1886, or 1894 models, the 1876 occupies a singular place in the story of American firearms.

It was the first true “big-game” lever-action from the Winchester factory, a rifle that stretched the toggle-link action first perfected on the Henry Rifle, and a firearm that captured the spirit of a nation celebrating its Centennial.

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Powder Selection: Why Clean-Burning Isn't Just Marketing


 
If you've been shooting long enough, you've noticed that some ammunition leaves your gun looking like it spent the day in a coal mine, while other brands leave significantly less fouling. The ammunition industry loves to tout "clean-burning powder" as a premium feature, but is it actually meaningful, or just clever marketing?
 
The answer: it's one of the most underrated factors affecting your firearm's long-term performance and your maintenance schedule. Here's what's really happening inside your gun, and why powder quality merits more attention.
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Direct Impingement vs Piston Driven Systems

While we are on the topic of clean powders. The oft-asked question regarding Direct Impingement vs Piston Driven systems is: Which one is better? There are many semi-auto platforms using either the Direct Impingement system or the Piston-Driven system. The one that really seems to garner the most controversy is the AR-15 with the Direct Impingement system.

The AR-15’s gas system uses a gas port in its barrel that siphons away a portion of the gas expended when a round is fired. The gas travels through the gas block and down the gas tube until it reaches the bolt carrier group. The gas reaches the gas key that’s mounted on top of the bolt carrier group. When the gas hits the gas key, the bolt is unlocked, pushed to the rear, and the spent casing from the round is ejected. It’s a reliable but dirty system.

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How to Clean a 3D-printed and Traditional Suppressor

Suppressors are great tools to cut down on the sound output from your firearm. They not only catch the sound and some of the recoil energy from every shot, but also the residue from the actual explosion of gunpowder. This means that routine cleaning should be part of your regular maintenance. With traditional suppressors, this means disassembling and user serviceability, but what about the suppressor models that are constructed using additive manufacturing processes? You still need to clean a 3D printed suppressor. Here’s how you do it.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed. 

 

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Beretta 1301 Shotgun Tips and Tricks

This article is a summary of some of the tips and tricks that I have learned in using the Beretta 1301. The 1301 is my home defense shotgun and the weapon I would choose in a short range fight. My 1301 is fast, reliable, extremely accurate, and with Federal LE133 buckshot it has an effective buckshot range of 30 yards with all pellets striking within an eight-inch circle.

The Pins

One of the most important tips I have learned concerning using a Beretta 1301 is courtesy of George A Curry, II who I met at a SymTac Advanced Shotgun course. George and I discussed a malfunction that he had with his Beretta 1301 during a different class. The Magazine Cutoff Spring Pin on his Beretta 1301 shotgun began to work its way out of the receiver. This tiny but crucial roll pin is horizontally oriented and serves to hold the Cartridge Latch/Magazine Cutoff Pin in place, 90° vertically above it. The Cartridge Latch/Magazine Cutoff Pin secures the cartridge latch and the magazine cut-off in place in the shotgun receiver. When the Magazine Cutoff Spring Pin slipped out far enough, the Cartridge Latch/Magazine Cutoff Pin came out. This allowed the Cartridge Latch Assembly to move inward and jam against the Shell Carrier (preventing it from moving upward) thereby rendering the shotgun inoperable. George suspected that the Magazine Cutoff Spring Pin diameter was undersized causing it to slip out.


I personally have not had this happen with my 1301 shotguns; however, now I always check this pin to ensure it is not protruding from the receiver. The pins are cheap and Midwest Gunworks sells them (part numbers C97038 and C92168 respectively). The shipping costs more than the pins.

A Light and Laser

I have been teaching low light classes and running low light competitive matches (as the Match Director) since 2014 and have learned a few things. Having a light and laser on your home defense shotgun is very helpful. The light helps you identify targets (you can point the muzzle down and still get enough light for identification without violating firearms rule #3). The laser allows you to engage targets with your head held a bit higher on the stock rather than looking at a dot or fixed sights on the gun. You look at the target and the laser on the target. This improves your visual awareness concerning what the target is doing as well as what is around and behind the target. If you look closely at the target in the picture below, you can see the green laser dot on the target at thirty yards--even with the light on. The sun had just gone down when this picture was taken.


Zeroing a laser is not as straight forward as zeroing a scope or red dot. Rather than elevation and windage, lasers (at least in my experience) tend to move on an “X” and “Y” axis. This is somewhat counter intuitive for most of us and is exacerbated if the laser sight is mounted on the side or under the shotgun’s forearm—sometimes a bit of tinkering is involved. Zero with slugs and then check the zero with your buckshot.

My first light/laser combo was the Olight Baldr Pro R rechargeable light with a green laser. I needed a light for my home defense shotgun to replace a SureFire® light that was on the gun that had a fragile plastic latch that frequently failed due to (I suspect) the light’s inability to handle the shotgun’s recoil. Although SureFire® replaced the plastic latch, they only sent one at a time so no spares on hand. The light was down until it arrived.

The Baldr Pro R had a remote switch and worked great until it didn’t. The light failed and would not take a charge after several sessions with the shotgun. I then tried the Fenix GL23R which worked just fine; however, it does not have a remote switch. Activating/deactivating this light with my thumb while engaging targets during training or a competition proved very problematic. I finally settled on a SureFire® X400UH with a green laser. A much more expensive option; however, my experience with SureFire® products is that they generally are very rugged and reliable.

Cable Management

Cable management with the Baldr Pro R was easy since it was a flat cable and, due to the design, the switch did not come off the light during firing. When I installed the SureFire® X400UH, cable management became more of an issue due to its design. The remote cable was too long for my application, so I purchased a pressure switch cable management kit for the M-LOK/Picatinny Rail on Amazon.* I installed it and was satisfied with the result until I went to the range. The small M-LOK cable guide shifted under recoil and literally pulled the remote switch connector from the X400UH. Not good. I adjusted the cable routing and moved the cable guide fully forward in the M-LOK slot so when the shotgun recoils, the M-LOK cannot move.

 
The 1301 Gas Valve

The 1301’s gas system diverts some of the propellant gases to cycle the action and the ingenious design bleeds excess gas out of the gas cylinder which compresses the gas valve spring, thereby dissipating excess energy. The Beretta gas system spreads part of the recoil impulse over a longer period instead of delivering it all at once. Compared with pump or semi-automatic inertia-operated shotguns, many shooters perceive the Beretta as having a smoother recoil pulse. Beretta's gas system cycles very quickly and reliably and functions across a wide range of ammunition. The only load that I have personally encountered that does not function in the 1301 is the Winchester AA Low Recoil/Low Noise target round at 980 feet per second with a 0.917 ounce shot payload—this is an extremely light load.

The 1301 Gas System

Beretta’s position on the 1301’s gas cylinder is that it is self-cleaning—mine are not. I noticed that some of the exhaust holes in my 1301’s gas cylinder were blocked (see red arrows below) and set out to clean them. Scraping the holes with a dental pick did remove some of the lead buildup, but by no means all of it.


I did some research and discovered a video on the practical-shotgun.com website demonstrating how to strip and clean the gas valve assembly. I tried to replicate the device the practical-shotgun video demonstrated. My device compressed the spring; however, I realized that recompressing the spring was going to be very challenging if not impossible with the tools I have so I did not remove the spring. The practical-shotgun video shows disassembly, but it does not show how to put it back together. It turns out that the gas valve spring is extremely heavy and very difficult to recompress as you reassemble the gas valve system.

I had my device modified (see picture above) and with some extreme care I was able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the gas valve. Feel free to comment if you have thoughts about cleaning the gas valve assembly.  
 
Safety note: As stated above, this spring is extremely heavy. My first disassembly attempt resulting in the spring departing the gas valve assembly in an uncontrolled manner. I strongly suggest you do not try this. If you do, you do so at your own risk. Do not allow ANY part of your body to be in front of the spring during disassembly or reassembly. Always wear eye protection. If this spring hits you in the eye it WILL result in serious injury.

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If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.If you enjoy reading these articles, please follow/subscribe. The link is on the upper right side of the page. All that will happen is that you will receive an e-mail when I post an article. Your information will never be distributed.

* Cable management: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVFSPYZL?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Wednesday Wisdom: 19 August 2026


U.S. Army Corporal Orestus M. Stewart of Magnolia Springs, Texas, was killed in action during the Korean War but his remains were not recoverable. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency fulfilled our nation's promise and identified Corporal Stewart on November 26, 2025.  CPL Stewart returned home and was buried on May 24, 2026, in his hometown.
 
In the summer of 1950, Stewart was a member of Medical Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was reportedly killed in action on Aug. 11 in the vicinity of Kyong-ju, Republic of Korea (South Korea) when his unit was ordered to seize control of Yonil Airfield in the eastern sector of the Pusan Perimeter. His remains were not recovered following the battle and on January 16, 1956, Stewart was declared nonrecoverable. 

Separately, in April 1954 U.S. Army personnel and South Korean citizens recovered a set of remains, later designated X-5495 Tanggok, from a shallow grave near Pugni-dong, South Korea. The Central Identification Unit in Kokura, Japan, compared X-5495 to all unresolved U.S. casualties from the general area of recovery; however, the remains could not be associated with Stewart at the time. They were transported to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl in Honolulu, where they were interred as an Unknown.

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The Lifetime Likelihood of Needing a Gun for Self-Defense

A few months ago, a burglar confronted John Correia of Active Self Protection in his home. The man fled, no shot was fired, and Correia walked away thinking about a question many armed citizens eventually ask. Realistically, what are the odds I will ever need my gun? In a video on his channel, he ran the numbers from two major firearms surveys and arrived at a startlingly large lifetime probability. This article borrows his framework and pushes further into the underlying data.

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Review: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard


Lipsey’s has teamed up with Smith & Wesson to revive a pair of short-lived, but highly sought after, Night Guard revolvers. The L-frame options include the Model 386, a seven-shot .357 Mag. and the Model 396, which is a five-shot .44 Special. These re-introduced double-action revolvers incorporate up-to-date enhancements while sticking closely to the classic lightweight design. The revolver reviewed here is the Lipsey’s exclusive Model 386 Night Guard in .357 Magnum (comment: S&W has exhibited a serious quality problem recently in my experience. Perhaps they do better with the Lipsey’s exclusives.)

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To Shop or Not to Shop—That is the Question: Ignoring the No Guns Sign is the Weakest Option

You know the sticker. Small pistol in a red circle, diagonal slash through it, mounted at eye level on a door you were about to walk through. Ask around in most concealed carry circles about what to do next and you will get one of three answers. The sign isn't law, so ignore it (of course that depends on your state of residence). What they don't know can't hurt them. Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six. All three are answers to the wrong question.

The argument we keep having is whether to carry past the sign or disarm and shop anyway. There's a third option nobody spends much time on: don't give them your business at all. This isn't a compliance lecture. The question is why that store is getting your money in the first place.

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It is Better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape, than One Innocent Suffer

Flock cameras are much upon the public mind lately, and with good reason. For those who have been living under a rock, “Flock cameras” are the Automatic License Plate Readers marketed and owned by the private corporation Flock Safety. They are solar cell powered and use Artificial Intelligence to capture vehicle data, license plates, and unique vehicle details like make, model, color, and bumper stickers — together with location and time — and store all these details for (allegedly) 30 days.

Since Flock Safety is not a governmental entity, they claim this practice does not violate the Constitution. The issue that arises is that any law enforcement officer working for an agency that contracts with Flock Safety has unfettered access to any of the camera data collected anywhere. A deputy sheriff in Bugscuffle County, Texas is able to look for a license plate registered to Los Angeles, California; or New York City, New York; or Toadstomp, Montana — with no Constitutional protections for the owners of that plate whatsoever.

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Flock Camera Captures Woman Driving With Her Phone on Her Lap (Face Down), Georgia Mailed Her a $1251.00 “Public Safety” Ticket

A woman drives with both hands on the wheel. Her phone sits face-down on her lap. No officer pulls her over. No lights flash. Weeks later, a $1,251.00 ticket arrives in the mail. The evidence: a single frame from a Flock Safety surveillance app. The charge: phone use while driving.

Flock Safety markets its devices as automated license plate readers — tools for catching stolen cars, flagging warrants, and aiding serious investigations. The company has publicly stated its ALPR system "is not used to enforce traffic violations," according to documentation 
the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted. What police departments are actually doing with the cameras is a different story entirely.

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The Model 1892 May Be One of the Most Underappreciated Hunting Rifles in America

When John Moses Browning designed the Model 1892 for Winchester, he wasn’t trying to create a novelty rifle or a theatrical prop. He was improving upon the aging toggle-link system of the earlier lever guns with a stronger, smoother, and more compact action designed around the popular revolver cartridges of the day.

The result was one of Browning’s most graceful designs. Strong enough to inspire confidence, trim enough to carry effortlessly, and fast enough to cycle almost as quickly as thought itself, the Model 1892 became exactly the sort of rifle a working outdoorsman needed.

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The Evolution of the Martial Arts Part I: From Predator and Prey to the Warrior

The term martial art is commonly used as though it describes a single category of human activity. Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, military Combatives, civilian self-defense, judo, mixed martial arts, and even competitive shooting are consequently discussed as different expressions of essentially the same endeavor: learning how to fight. They certainly share techniques, training methods, and historical influences, but treating them as equivalent obscures a more important distinction. They do not exist to solve the same problem.

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General Naglee's Colt 1860 Army Revolvers

Around November 1861, Samuel Colt presented several cased sets containing his latest revolver models to a group of leading figures within the Union Army and federal government. These presentations are generally believed to have been part of Colt's efforts to ensure lucrative government arms contracts for his company, but they also demonstrated good faith and support for the Union after recent reports of Colt selling arms to the Confederacy, rumors that he remained a southern sympathizer, and arms deals that appeared to take advantage of American taxpayers.

Naglee’s Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers feature German silver blade front sights, the one-line "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" barrel addresses, small "COLTS/PATENT" markings on the left side of the frames which are cut for using a shoulder stock and have the slightly protruding "fourth-screws", "44 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guards, the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene on the distinctive rebated cylinders, "Genl Henry M. Naglee" neatly inscribed down the back straps, and all matching serial numbers including the wedges ("6" struck over "0" on the B wedge) along with the factory dot marking designating special finishing. The grips are deluxe walnut with a high gloss varnish finish.

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SureFire SOCOM556-MINI4 Review

Suppressors have come a long way. Technology, materials, and manufacturing capabilities have all advanced, but some of the biggest changes have come from understanding the needs of the end-users for modern cans. Between the lessons learned from global conflicts and the testing abilities we now have, suppressors have slowly been tuned over time to be some of the most technically advanced pieces of gear you’ll pick out. SureFire has been one of the leading suppressor brands you could get your hands on and that legacy continues today.

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Auto-Ordnance Introduces Classic Thompson Short-Barreled Rifle

Auto-Ordnance is proud to introduce the model T1SB50DH Short Barreled Rifle (SBR), crafted entirely in the United States. Combining historical Prohibition-era styling with modern precision engineering, this new Thompson variant delivers the authentic look and feel of the legendary "Tommy Gun" in a compact semi-automatic platform.

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