7.62 x39mm SHTF Rfiles

With Pedophile Joe banning the import of surplus ammo in the states, we have seen a significant drop on the cost of 7.62x39mm ammo.  What was averaging $450 a few weeks ago has dropped to $400 per crate.  Basically prices have been rolled back to 2019 levels.

There are a lot of rifles in this caliber but I am going to focus on the ones that are Canadian legal (at the time of this article), not collector items or rare (eg VZ52/57, Hakim, SKS-D etc), semi-automatic and are readily available.  Except for the SKS, my test samples are all the latest generation so past issues are not going to be a factor (bent barrels, weak carrier groups, poor heat treating etc).

That narrows the playing field down to 5 contenders.

The Type 81-S

The M10X

The SKS (early production)

The SKS (late production)

The WS-MCR

M10X notes:  The M10X has no iron sights.  I added a x1 scope called the Specter Arms Ascension. I did this because it is unusable without some type of sighting system and that weight is included.  I also picked the Ascension because it has a low centerline height and requires no batteries making it ideal for this rifle and SHTF.  I would of preferred iron sights to keep everything fair but they sit too high on the M10X.

Type 81-S notes:  I have a fixed stock version.  There is no provision for an optic.

SKS(early production) notes: I have a Russian 1952 SKS.  It is unmodified.

SKS(late production) notes: I don’t have a late production SKS anymore for a side by side comparison.  This will be done from memory.

The MCR has no iron sights.  They work well with back up irons.  To try to keep things fair, mine is sporting polymer back up sights. 

Weight:

The WS-MCR is the lightest by only a few grams.

The Type 81-S is the second lightest at 3.4kg.

The M10X is slightly heavier than the Type 81-S.  If you go online you will see the M10X weighs 50g less than the Type 81-S but you need to add an optic so this is deceptive.  The M10X is more accurately placed as #3

The SKS is the heaviest.  It is based on 1940s technology before aluminum and plastic replaced a lot of wood and steel.

Balance:

The Type 81-S has its balance point slightly behind its center point making it the fastest to swing around obstacles and bring to bear on target.

The M10X has its balance point at roughly center.

The WS-MCR is front heavy with the balance point front of center.  It comes with an unnecessarily long handguard which I think contributes to its balance problem.  Its light weight helps to hide this problem.

Both SKS are front heavy with balance point front of center.  They have the longest barrels.  Some companies have taken to cutting the barrels down to 18.5” to improve balance but that is outside the scope of my evaluation.

Sighting:

The WS-MCR  rifles require an optic.  This makes its sighting system superior. Its comb and its sight plane are on the same level making use of 1.5” centerline optics ideal.  There is a wealth of optical options limited only by imagination.  The included handguard can have MLock rails added to it for lights and lasers.

The M10X requires an optic.  This makes its sighting system superior.  A x1 Prism scope does the job of the red dot without using batteries but unlike all the options below, you can add a scope (+ weight) or MLock rails for lasers.  The mounting plane is higher than the comb making 1.5” centerline optics (the sporting optic standard) too high.  It limits a lot of options but at least it has options.

The SKS (both versions) have uncluttered iron sights.  The SKS uses an adjustable leaf sight with a longer sight radius than the Type 81-S.  The iron sights are easier for casual shooters to use,

The Type 81-S have short sight radius which lends itself to close quarter snap shooting but hurts its ability to shoot farther.  When you consider that the average WW2 battle was fought at 73 meters, this is not a big deal.  For professionally trained people who lean into the gun, the sights come up easily and naturally.  It should be noted, that casual shooters find the sights to be too low to be usable.  The sights are also cluttered.  Instead of looking at an open notch the user looks through a T shape cut out.  

Cost:

It is better to have and not need then need and not have.  You can’t always afford the latest and greatest but it is better to buy once and cry once.  A lot of people will buy a SKS and spend a thousand dollars to make it a poor imitation of an AK, I suggest that if an AK-like rifle is your goal, spend the money and get a Type 81-S.

That being said, the SKS is the least expensive.  The most common manufactures are Russia and China.  There are some Yugoslav SKS rifles in Canada as well but they are entry level collector items.  What separates the SKS into early and late production is the change in how the barrel is mated to the receiver.  At some point during the 70s, Chinese factories started to pin barrels instead of threading them in.  Chinese SKS rifles do not share the same reputation as the Russians for this reason, but a 1950s or 1960s Chinese SKS will work just as good as a Russian one.

Because most people can’t determine late and early SKS rifles, they tend to be priced the same.

The WS-MCR rifle is available and affordable.  On the used market they cost less than the Type 81-S, new, they cost the same.

The Type 81 was un-affordable for a long time, as price speculators would buy them up and re-sell them at double the price.  With the newest batch being imported (and more on the way), the Type 81 is seeing a price correction with units selling around $1400.

The M10X is the most expensive.  American built.  Basically the M10X is a modernized AK with a Sig gas system.  In addition to the $2000 price tag, you MUST buy an optic for it.  Cheap back up iron sights are not going to work very well because the top rail is already above the comb.  You need to fork out at least $150 more to get this gun to a usable point.  It is the most expensive option.

Feeding:

With magazines pinned, the legal 10 round LAR magazines make the WS-MCR the winner.  Faster to change mags and double the capacity.  

But… If we are in a situation where mag capacity is not an issue, the winner is the M10X with Magpul Pmags.  The Pmags are lighter and feed well.  The Type 81-S is nearly a dead match to the M10X with Pmags.  I gave it to the M10X over the Type 81-S only because of weight, availability and cost of magazines

The Type 81-S is second only because the mags are heavier and not common.  But because all the magazines are purpose built for this firearm alone, they always work.  There are no variations like AR or AK mags.

Next, the SKS.  Unmodified, 10 round stripper clips can not keep up with 30 round magazines.  But, feeding is dead reliable and it always cycles.

Near the bottom is the WS-MCR rifle.  Most people run 10 round LAR magazines.  Those are reliable.  But all the 30 round AR magazines in 7.62x39 just don’t seem to work well.

And strangely enough, the M10X is also at the bottom of this list (as well as the top).  With magazines other than Pmags, the M10X works… but not as reliably.  A reliable feeding gun is critical.

Maintenance

The SKS wins easily.  There are no magazines to lose.  The cleaning kit is built into the gun.  It can be taken apart easily into large, hard to lose components that are unbreakable.

The Type 81-S strips easily like the SKS.  It also takes apart into large hard to lose components and my fixed stock version has a cleaning kit built in.  But the dust cover is thin gauge stamped steel.  Separate from the gun, it is fragile component that is easily bent.

The MCR is easy to take apart but it does have a lot of small parts.  Cam pin, cocking handle.  Having a carbine length gas port puts the mechanism under unnecessary stress leading to premature parts wear and breakage.

The M10X is not intuitive to strip.  A secret button opens the top from the bottom and the design makes it so the charging handle (a small component) needs to be removed to strip it.  A cleaning kit needs to be purchased and carried separately.

Accuracy:

This is why I split the SKS into early and late production.  Late production SKS rifles have pinned barrels as opposed to the more expensive to produce threaded barrels.  I have found that pinned barrels, when done right, are ok.  These are not done ok.  I have had samples that were 12MOA guns.  That means that where the bullet lands can be 12” away from what you are aiming at 100 meters.    

I can find no difference in accuracy with the final 4.  This could be because the 7.62x39mm round burns up almost all of its powder by 16” and they all have barrels 18.5-20”.  I was also shooting at a distance of 50meters.  I suspect the M10X or the MCR with its lighter trigger may translate into better results at longer distance.  With crappy ammo expect 6MOA.  With good ammo expect 3MOA.  Both are acceptable for a battle rifle.  I only tested with Czech, Russian and Chinese surplus. 

Customization/Mission Optimization:

The MCR is the clear winner.  It has provision to add MLock rails to mount any light, laser, forgrip or flare launcher you could want.  Most people change the unnecessarily long handguard to a stupidly long handguard giving another level of customization.  (If I keep this gun, I will be going in the opposite direction to take some weight off).  AR buttstocks offer another level of change and non-beavertail grips work great.  The trigger can be replaced with some light clean breaking triggers

The M10X comes in second.  It has provision to add MLock rails to mount any light, laser, forgrip or flare launcher you could want.  The muzzle is threaded and the muzzle device can be changed with moderate effort.

The SKS (early production) is the next most customizable.  It has been on the market a long time and there are a lot of good (and bad) accessories for it.  The only change I like to make to the SKS is a railed gas tube to add a light.  But there are detachable magazine kits, top rails for scopes (only use Magwedge, the other methods suck) and stock kits.

The SKS (late production) is a close third.  As the SKS started being made in more and more factories, deviance in tolerances started to pop up.  The guns were usable but these tolerance changes sometimes render after market accessories as a tight or impossible fit.

The Type 81-S has no easy customization except for a AK style optic side mount.  Changing the stock is not a task for the average person and heavy fitting is required to change out handguards as they are retrofits for other models of gun.  This is not a tinkerers gun.

Trigger:

The M10X and the MCR triggers are not amazing but it is the best of the rifles sampled.  Those who are used to standard AR-15 triggers will find it familiar.

The SKS and the Type 81-S have heavy gritty triggers. 

Safety:

The M10X safety is useable and in a position that allows it to be manipulated by the thumb.  It is ambidextrous.  The safety is stiffer than the others.  I like the reduced 45 degree throw angle.

The WS-MCR uses a standard safety.  It is in a position that allows it to be manipulated by the thumb.  .  It is ambidextrous.  The throw angle is a normal 90 degrees.

The SKS trigger is in an awkward position but it is easy to activate and de-activate.  The lever is not lefty friendly and requires the user to take his hand off the gun to manipulate it.

The Type 81-S safety is in a position that can be reached by the thumb but can’t really be de-activated by it.  The safety needs an agonizingly long 180 degree rotation.  It is not ambidextrous.  

Portability:

The SKS comes with a sling and sling mounting points.  It can be carried on the back and because of its slim design with no long protruding magazine, it can be carried unobtrusively in a scabbard loaded and ready for use.  The short stock makes it usable with heavy winter coats, assault vests and body armor.

The M10X has a folding stock that makes it ideal for vehicle carry.  It does not come with sling mounts or a sling and is yet another item you need to buy if you want to use a sling.  The stock telescopes but you can’t get it as short as the SKS wood stock.  Still, its length makes it ok (for 6” tall me) using body armor.

The Type 81-S has a sling mounting point on the base of the buttstock and the forend.  It does not come with a sling.  The stock is a fixed length limiting body type and equipment.  Some versions fold; my sample does not.

The WS-MCR does not come with full sling mounts.  There are quick detach (QD) mounting points at the rear of its buttstock but no swivel is included.  The stock telescopes to fit different body types.  QD sling loops are available from Specter Arms.  

Field Use:

The SKS wins.  It is indestructible.  It is a closed system meaning that dirt and junk can’t fall into the mechanism when not in use.  It is overgassed meaning it works, muddy or frozen.  But the gas tube is prone to rapid corrosion if not cleaned regularly.  All SKS failures, I have diagnosed, gave been seized gas tubes/pistons.

Next up is the Type 81-S.  It is a sturdy rifle.  It is a closed system meaning that dirt and junk can’t fall into the mechanism when not in use.  If it starts to get dirty, the gas port size can be increased by adjusting the gas block to ensure it continues to run, even when fouled.

The WS-MCR is third.  Its open side where the charging handle reciprocates makes it an open system.  Dust, sand, dirt… they can all get into the mechanism.  The MCR uses an AR trigger mechanism which is very sensitive to dirt and debris.  Its carbine length gas system unlocks at too high of pressure putting unnecessary wear on parts.

The M10X is fourth.  Its open sides where the charging handle reciprocates makes it an open system.  Dust, sand, dirt… they can all get into the mechanism.  The M10X uses an AK trigger which is more robust than an AR one but it is still vulnerable to debris.

Conclusions:

SKS (late production):

Role: I can not think of any role where a late production SKS would be a good fit.  It is only accurate enough for CQB but its design, balance and length make it a terrible choice for CQB. 

Best  Improvement: Cut the barrel down.  At least improve its use for CQB.

SKS (early production)

Role: For the average survivialist, the SKS (early) really is the winner.  The gun is usable for all people: novices, cash poor short and tall.  Requires no extra magazines or equipment to use.  For a general survivalist rifle, it is ideal.  It can hunt, it can fight and it is not aggressive in appearance allowing easier interpersonal interactions with strangers.

Best Improvement: Add a red light or laser.  The sights are unusable at night and red lights and lasers are less disruptive to your natural night vision.

M10X

Role: The M10X is great in a lot of ways.  But it is not well suited as a survivalist rifle.  It is best suited for someone who is expecting a fight and plans to decisively crush those who oppose him.

Best Improvement: Get a cleaning kit and cotton swabs to keep the internal mechanisms clean.  Use right hand charging and seal the left side.

Type 81-S

Role: This is a fighting rifle designed for dirty environments.  It is aggressive looking and is often mistaken for a AK-47.  It is suited equally well as a survival or a fighting rifle striking a balance between the two.

Best Improvement: Get professional firearm training.  This is not a novice friendly gun.

WS-MCR

Role: This is not suitable as a survival rifle.  Unlike the M10X, it is not even a suitable fighting/hard use rifle.  The gas system is flawed and prone to breakage.  It can be fixed but at a cost.

Best Improvement: Buy a mid-length AR-15 barrel and a mid-length gas piston from Third Echelon Design.  The lower unlock pressure will let your rifle fire softer with less force and not wear your parts as quickly.  In SHTF you are not going to be able to source replacement parts.

Help Picking a Scope/Sight

I get asked what sight should a person buy for their particular gun.  Specter Arms sells a lot of optics and it can be daunting trying to pick the perfect item.

When I get asked this question, I think how this topic is so fantastically complex requiring a plethora of details to answer well. So I have set about imprinting my wisdom onto a webpage.

Now this does not cover pistols; only shoulder fired guns such as shotguns, carbines, rifles etc.

It will ask you questions and you just need to click on the answers until the web page can make a suggestion.

Here is the link you can copy into your browser.

www.specterarms.ca/scopehelp.htm

SHTF Battery Powered Do-Dads.

I like to find opinions that are contrary to my own.  In doing so, I can critically look at the premises and biases that influence my views.  So today, I find myself abandoning an idea I used to hold.

I have always been under the opinion that battery powered force multipliers like lasers and lights on a firearm are of limited use in a SHTF situation because eventually the batteries will die.

But then it occurred to me:  while the batteries ARE still good, everyone will have these force multipliers… except for me.

Why am I handicapping myself in the present?  Yes, my battery powered do-dad may be nothing more than a paperweight a year down the road, but in the short term, it gives me a hell of an advantage.  My night vision paired with my IR laser lets me operate in secrecy.  My red flashlight lets me search places and read documents without giving myself away at distance.  My visible laser intimidates and has the potential to make confrontations less violent.  My radios let me talk to teammates and co-ordinate our actions when out of line of sight, get news and be situationally aware.

Those who have not given those things up will have an advantage over me; perhaps a lethal one.  Imagine where all my other preps like food and shelter fall to someone who had better weapon systems and could take from me by force.

Lights, lasers, radios, GPS, night vision are all force multipliers. Having thought about it, I would rather have them for a little while at the start of SHTF, then not at all.

SHTF Reflex Sights

Some concerned survivalists have asked me about how viable a red dot or reflex sight is during SHTF knowing my advocacy for these types of sights.  

My argument for these types of sights are their speed for engaging targets.   They are accurate enough for small targets out to 100 meters.  They have a wider margin of error for alignment over iron sights and they have no set eye relief meaning anyone can pick up a gun with a reflex sight and use it.

Before I go on, I would like to talk about the magic 100 meter mark.  I use it as a benchmark for maximum effective range for a Pistol Caliber Carbine, a reflex sight and a practical fighting distance.  The average battle in WW2 was fought at 73 meters and according to the NTOA, the average police “Sniper” engages at 76m.  If you plan to survive in an urban or forested area, consider how far you will be shooting.  That is why I am an advocate of the reflex sight.  But there are alternatives and that's why I am going to keep this article focused on things capable of close quarters shooting because that is ultimately what reflex sights are for.  

Firstly, there is no perfect optic, you must give something up to gain something else.  For survivalists, my two biggest complaints are battery reliance or resistance to EMP.  I have several solutions a person can consider but it involves surrendering one benefit for another.  

Lets start by talking about the benefits to a reflex sight:

1) 33% faster target acquisition time

2) Forgiving margin of error for alignment over scopes and iron sights

3) No set eye relief

4) Effortlessly keeping both eyes open to maintain situational awareness

5) Light and short profile

Here are the 3 disadvantages

1) Battery use

2) Not practical for shooting past 100 meters

3) Vulnerability to EMP

(Note: Vulnerability to water is not listed as a disadvantage.  When you buy reflex sights from Specter Arms, they are all at least IPX6 water resistant)

With some reflex sights such as the Vector Optics Maverick, the battery lasts for such a long time that battery use ceases to be a real concern.

Battery use and vulnerability to EMP are essentially the same problems; they are electronic  If you are looking for 2 eye open, close quarter shooting, consider a one power scope.  As odd as it sounds, such a thing exists and was pioneered by the Soviet PK-AS and Rakurs.  The Specter Arms Ascension sight is actually a one power prism scope  As a one power scope it allows you to effortlessly keep both eyes open when shooting.  But you give up the forgiving margin of error.  A reflex sight can be brought up and sighted in off axis by as much as 30 degrees with the Viper Reflex sight but the Ascension requires you to be on axis; much like a regular scope, looking through it off-angle creates a black opaque ring.  The Ascension has very forgiving eye relief of about 1.5” to about 12” but it is not the unlimited viewing area that a reflex gives you.  It remains small and light and is often mistaken as a tube style red dot.

Another consideration is a 1-6 power variable scope.  This optic attempts to correct all 3 of the disadvantages of a reflex sight.  The variable allows you to shoot both eyes open when the sight is set to 1 power but the eye relief is typical of a regular scope with a narrow operating range.  It needs to be on-axis to use.  The reticles may illuminate but they are glass etched meaning that a power loss would only stop the illumination of the reticle not using the scope itself.  Finally turning the magnification up allows for longer shots to be taken.  But it is a scope.  People looking at reflex sights are usually interested in something small and light and once you enter the realm of the LPVO, it stops being that.    These scopes can be found at all price points but for the best ratio between cost and quality, the Victoptics S6 is the way to go.  It can compete (and match) in terms of features and optical quality with scopes that are twice its price.

So there is no perfect sight.  Everything that exists has trade offs for various features.  Size, weight, battery, viewing angle, eye relief.

Depending on your philosophy of use you need to pick what works best for you.

Post Election Comments

Justin won this election because of gun control.  I know it and he knows it.  As despair rises there will be an uptake in crime.  Instead of putting the blame where it belongs – failed economic policy leading to dire inflation… he will blame guns like he always does.  He will want to use his winning tactic to try for that elusive majority.

For those who are biting their nails about the guns, Trudeau's immediate goal will not be guns.  Trudeau will try with another censorship bill.  With Covid lockdowns and meetings in person banned, he needs to control the internet to close the last avenue for getting non-government sanctioned propaganda.  He needs to do this to hide news about the collapsing economy and run-away inflation.

In 12-14 months time, expect more OICs and gun laws with an election being called in 18 months as he seeks to try again in gaining absolute, despotic power.  The 14 month timing will be just right to keep this in the news cycle and re-use this non-issue again.

Most people are stupid.  All the Canadians that voted for Trudeau and his corruption proved that.  They don’t care to investigate or think critically so if the state controlled media is telling them to think a certain way, they absolutely will.

I maintain that the secret documents that lead to the 2020 OIC (the ones that the liberals classified as secret under the Canada Evidence Act) contain planned enforcement actions post April 2022.  Paranoid?  Consider this.  In the late 90s a gunsmith named Bruce Montague decided to rebel against the firearms act that criminalized possession of all firearms (you read that right) and set up a confiscation registry.  Lots of people did not comply, but Montague was selected as the example as they publicly destroyed his life and jailed him for his “crimes” with no victims.  If Montague had decided to be a child molester rather than opposing the state, he would of got a far more lenient punishment.

I think that old liberal trick is going to be used again.  To those with AR-15s my advice is to comply.  Get rid of them before the April date.  They are going to pick someone interesting that will get the CBC a lot of views, to crack down on.  Don’t let it be you.  Don’t let there be a registration trail that will convince a judge to let the ERT team toss in flashbangs in the middle of the night.  

My advice is to get rid of your registered AR-15s.  Read what I am NOT writing; read it carefully.

To lose a war, you allow the enemy to pick the time and place to fight.  By being on the defensive for so many years, it is not a surprise to see us losing.  Modern military doctrine holds that the defense is a temporary state to allow the transition back into offensive operations.  As a community we have lost sight of that.  I am fond of the CCFR for not being on the defensive and having information campaigns to counter CBC hysteria, lies and black propaganda.

What should you do now?

-Support the CCFR.  They are our only outlet to counter biased, black propaganda.

-Support small, in person gun businesses.  The internet is easy but your biggest asset in the days to come is networking with like minded people.  As the owner of Specter Arms, I have and will actually write back to answer questions, provide unconventional help, meet you face to face for sales, provide advice and a sympathetic ear.  My connections and industry knowledge allow me to link you up with the right people when I can’t help directly.

-C-71 is not in force… if there is a gun you want, buy it now while there is no shadow registry.  Stay non-restricted.  You will not regret having a gun, when you need it.

Liberals Say FU to Court Regarding OICs

You have probably heard that in the Order In Council case, where the government banned thousands of firearms, the government has refused to hand over documents related to their discussions leading up to the ban.  They have classified them as Secret and thus denied the judicial order to produce them.  

Buy why?  Is it a game?  The commonly held theory is that the delays and denials are designed to run out the clock and reach the end of the amnesty before the court can reach a resolution.  In running out of time, with no injunction, everyone loses the banned guns.

But I have a more sinister theory.  I think the documents were made secret under Section 39 CEA not for the purpose of maintaining the gun ban but because those documents hold plans that have not been executed yet.  

I am increasingly convinced these documents hold planned enforcement actions.  I think they have one of the following items in those documents (perhaps more):

-Arrest lists designed to shape the public’s view about “evil gun owners” and punish political rivals.  Can you imagine if those documents had planned raids against Sheldon Claire and Rod Giltaca?  What about gun owning Conservative MPs?  With free speech about to be silenced with bill C-10, many people would simply disappear into a hole and never be heard from again.

-The immediate seizure and auditing of gun businesses who have dealt in the now prohibited goods.  We all know from other government inquiries and fact finding missions, that this process takes years.  How many businesses can be shut down for a few years and survive?  I expect that real political agitators such as K&S Tactical Supplies will somehow… take longer.  And if they really wanted to smash the entire industry in one fell swoop, they could target importers like Korth, North Sylva, IRG and so on… choke everyone off from supply.

-Reconstruction of long gun registry records.  Arrests of last known owners unless they can produce records or names of where the guns went.  Police will level your home with bulldozers and sledgehammers to find what they are looking for.  Ask Bruce Montague. 

Any one of these, would cause an outcry that even CBC would be hard pressed to put a happy spin on.

First and Second Focal Planes, What does it mean for me?

A first focal plane scope (FFP) is an adjustable scope in which the reticle changes size as you adjust your magnification.  That means that no matter the magnification, drop compensators and holdover marks remain proportionally the same.  The downside of FFP scopes is at low magnifications, it is hard to read a lot of the graduations as the reticle has been “zoomed out” as well.

A second focal plane scope (SFP) is an adjustable scope in which the reticle always stays the same size.  They are designed to be easy to read.

A lot of SFP scopes with drop compensators are only accurate at one magnification.  For example the Specter Arms Echelon Combat optic has a 223 drop compensator that only works at x4 magnification.  Alternatively ones that are graded may require the user to multiply the data shown on the reticle with the magnification level to make any sense of holdovers.

FFP scopes are more expensive then SFP scopes of comparative optical quality and magnification.

So what does this all mean?  How does this apply to buying a scope?

My advice is simple, when buying a low power variable optic (LPVO), stick with SFP.  You are less likely to need to use holdover marks as low magnifications are usually paired with low ranges.  You want a reticle that is easier to see.  At the end of the day, the features of a FFP is not worth the additional cost.  

A second focal plane for larger magnification optics is also appropriate for rifles that are for use at shorter ranges where holdovers and bullet drops will not be a factor in shooting.  An example would be a hunting rifle.  They are typically used at ranges of 200m or less.

When looking for a long range or marksman optic, FFP is worth the added expense.  The fixed, proportional distances for holdovers saves you time and effort.  Because of the analog nature of magnification knobs, can you take the chance that your scope might be at x9.9 or x10.05 for calculating holdovers on a SFP when you actually tried to set it to exactly x10?

Check out Specterarms.ca for all your scope needs.  If you need advice we are always an Email away and happy to help.

The Carbon Tax In the Supreme Court: What it means.

The Alberta government, joined by Sask and Ontario recently launched a court challenge attacking the legality of Chairman Trudeau’s federal carbon tax.

You see, according to the Canadian Constitution, certain powers are delegated to the provinces.  Resources, their distribution and taxation are provincial matters while defense and criminal law are federal. (just to name a few)

The supreme court agreed that resources are the domain of the provinces but ruled in favor of the federal carbon tax agreeing that the government’s declaration of a “climate change emergency” gave them the right to override the legal jurisdictions laid out in the Constitution.

That should scare everyone.

Healthcare is also under the provincial jurisdiction.  Under the Covid lockdowns, some places got it really bad like Manitoba declaring what people can and can not buy.  Or even riot police enforcing curfews and home invasion-inspections in Quebec.  

Some places got it light like Alberta.  

There are differences in Covid measures because healthcare is a provincial matter.

No longer.

Despite my personal opinion, Covid is considered a major emergency.  The seemingly unrelated carbon tax challenge has paved the way for the federal government to take direct control of government quarantines including movement, private purchases and rationing.  They will determine what people live and die by choosing essential workers.  As a firearms professional, I know what list Trudeau is putting me in..

Victims of Tactical Fashion

Much like the fashion industry, we too suffer from what is cool and what is not.  Fads and trends.  Often these tends fall away from what is practical or useful.  

The current tactical fashion is unnecessarily long handguards.  You see it with new production rifles, specifically the WS-MCR.  Even with the WK-180C people are in a mad scramble to change the functional handguard to something silly long.

It escapes me how this serves any practical purpose except for the LCF (look cool factor).  Extra weight?  Check.  Lower maneuverability and usability? Check?  Bragging rights like every other mouth-breathing wannabe cool guy? Check.

Perhaps the extra weight helps to reduce the hellish recoil of the 223 rounds?

Maybe they are worried that they might lick the barrel and thus want it covered?

I don’t know.

I had a guy try to justify this trend outside of LCF: he said that people wanted to put flashlights as far forward as possible.  Does his flashlight shine 5” farther than mine?

Another one I hear is: I want to shoot like Magpul tells me!  Navy SEALs do it!  I roll my eyes at this.  You know that Navy SEALs are generally not running around with full length rifles right?  You know that the Magpul method is not used in the real world like you think it is?

I can’t stand lies.  If you are one of these people, just be honest.  Tell me: I do it because that’s the cool thing nowadays.  I’ll respect you for it.

Fury, Disappointment, Sadness.

A mix of emotions today.  The CCFR’s injunction has failed.

Fury

We were our own worst enemy.  I read the decision that was released by the justice.  She said basically there was no loss because we could buy something else.  Or manufacturers could build something else.  This argument presented by the crown was validated by selfish surrender-monkeys in our own industry.  The Neville Chamberlains who gave up the fight and decided to build neutered bolt action AR-15s proved the Liberal’s case for them.  While we all suffer collectively, they are laughing all the way to the bank exploiting this tragedy for their own gain.  I hate them.  I hate them so much.  You can’t rage at the scorpion that stings or the Liberal who steals… that is their nature.  But the betrayal by people who were supposed to be our brothers.  Those who claimed to be with us but were looking out to exploit this tragedy.  I am at a loss for words.

Disappointment

I didn’t expect to win.  I didn’t expect to lose.  But I did expect that, with what was said in court, that the RCMPs rampant re-classifications outside the OIC would be curbed.  I had this tiny bit of faith that despite a legal system that is stacked in favor of tyrants, rapists and thieves that they would be forced to admit this one truth.

Sadness

This is the genocide of our culture as we slip into a dystopian socialist nightmare.  I may be called melodramatic but in every nation that socialism has destroyed, they first came for the guns.  Getting the guns is an uncompromisable, integral part of social engineering.  The trainwreck of poverty that socialism brings is nearly unstoppable now; the plan is going strong and uninterrupted.

Today In Court

For those who may not be in the know, the CCFR (Specter Arms is business member) had their day in court to challenge the OIC.

Although I am cautious about making any sweeping statements, one thing that popped out was the admission by everyone that the FRT is not law.  It was suggested that it was not law but still enforceable as such which drew a legal version of WTF from the judge.

With this in mind, I am confident that the guns banned outside of the OIC (such as the F12 Typhoon, the SLR and the Modern Hunter to name a few) will be saved.  This point alone will echo through the next round of proposed court cases as well as future government legislation.  This should also help ATRS in their lawsuit.  I’ve said it before, I will say it again: I hope Rick from ATRS crushes the government and retires to a tropical island surrounded by beautiful ladies sleeping on pillows full of cash. He deserves it.

I am on the fence about the efficacy of the arguments against the OIC itself.  I can’t find any one argument that fills me with hope or gloom.

A lot was said but I concentrated mostly on what the impact to industry was.

The Crown’s main argument is that manufacturers can make something else therefore they incur no loss.  They also argue that people can seek financial remedies through the legal system, therefore they suffer no risk to finances or livelihood.  Yes, it was brought up that the OIC planned for more bans as industry adapted.  I have always raged against the cowards who invest and develop these straight pull ‘AR-15’ rifles, those guys are the reason the crown’s arguments hold water and those guys will be indirectly responsible if the OIC stands. 

No decision yet.  I will post more when I know more.

Censorship - I Wonder How Long I Have?

 A popular American website, AR-15.com, was kicked off their hosting servers.  The excuse given to the site owners was that it violated their terms of service but would not explain what term was violated or to appeal the decision.  The same people who hosted AR-15.com also host 2 Hezbollah recruiting websites… those apparently don’t violate the terms of service.

This is just another in a long string of assaults on freedom of speech.  A day or two ago, a free speech platform hosted by Amazon was shut down after conservatives started to migrate over after years of censorship and bans.  They want to end any opinion that does not align with their narrow, dystopian view of the world.

This extends into the financial world was well.  Specter Arms has had its credit card processing revoked multiple times for selling the leftist-unfriendly firearms.  I can sell porn, gambling and children and get credit card processing but I can’t sell a shotgun.

It was pointed out to me that they can shut down any website they want but they can’t get rid of child porn.  My response?  They don’t want to.  It takes me 3 seconds to find a Joe Biden video where he is publicly feeling up an uncomfortable 7 year old girl.  This is not conspiracy shit.  Perhaps there is no connection but during the Trump presidency, arrests for human trafficking skyrocketed; would you have me believe this crime didn’t exist during Obama?

Now you have leftist techno-dictators silencing lawful commerce and elected officials.   The purpose of free speech actually serves the purpose of keeping the peace.  When people feel that they have no voice… when they are backed into a wall… they will attack.  This is basic Sun Tzu.

Expect more violence as more voices are made silent.