Something To Consider

Many of you do not like to admit it; or just refuse to notice, but times are a changing. They are changing quickly , too. We no longer live in our parents or grand-parents world. Things are getting worse; everyday.

Do you carry a firearm when you are enjoying your outdoor pursuits? You should. I'm not talking about hunting; either. I am talking about berry-picking, bird watching, camping, hiking and everything else you can imagine.

Why ? You are now asking. The bottom line is that you never know what you are going to stumble upon, when you are outdoors. We are not just dealing with Cheech & Chong anymore. You may very easily walk right into someone dumping a body or engaged in a drug deal. Anywhere. Yes, right down at the end of your lane; maybe at the wide spot in the road where you berry pick. You never know.

One other thing that you may not be aware of is the fact that West Virginia is an open-carry state. You may carry a properly holstered firearm; unconcealed in most locations. (Be sure to read and interpret the laws on your own). The process for obtaining a concealed carry permit is pretty painless; you can do it.

Self defense handguns have evolved greatly in the past decade. There is something out there for everyone. I have pretty much settled on a Ruger SR 40. I went through several models; before I found something that felt good and I could shoot well. It is just a personal preference thing. I settled on the .40 S & W cartridge, for the simple reason that it will do anything that I would possibly need a handgun to do. The weight and balance of the Ruger suits me well.

If you have been thinking about carrying a firearm; now is the time. Your life may depend upon it. Always remember that law enforcement is an hour away; when you only have seconds.

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors             Photos By High Virginia Images   (c) all rights reserved 2011

Bad Things Happen, For A Good Reason (Sometimes)

Last Friday, I intended to buy a used Ruger LCP.  The price on the one that I found was really reasonable.  Well; someone messed up somewhere and I didn't get paid last week; so the plan was put on hold.  My luck usually runs the other direction, but yesterday Ruger announced the LC9.  The LC9 is to begin shipment on Feb 1.  The .380 has never appealed to me, but the size of the LCP is just right.  The LC9 is not supposed to be over an inch longer or wider, so it should make a nice carry gun.  I do not see the reccomendations for ammo; but I really hope the new model has +P capabilities.  I can wait for a month for a good dependable 9mm; with a reasonable price and USA made.

This is the press release from Ruger:

Introducing the LC9™, a lightweight, compact 9mm pistol for discreet carry by law abiding citizens, or a full-power, no-compromise backup for off-duty law enforcement officers. This highly requested pistol was developed through Ruger's Voice of the Customer program and incorporates the features and rugged reliability desired by Ruger customers.




"On the heels of the overwhelming and on-going success of the LCP®, customers repeatedly requested a lightweight, compact 9mm pistol. Frankly, they wanted an LCP chambered in 9mm" said Ruger CEO Michael Fifer. "Delivering an American-made, compact 9mm that provides the same legendary Ruger reliability as the award-winning LCP, LCR® and SR9® became our focus. Meeting customer expectations is our goal and key to Ruger's continuing success," Fifer continued.



The LC9 is a double-action-only, hammer-fired, locked-breech pistol with a smooth trigger pull. Control and confident handling of the Ruger LC9 are accomplished through reduced recoil and aggressive frame checkering for a positive grip in all conditions. The Ruger LC9 features smooth "melted" edges for ease of holstering, carrying and drawing.

New Ruger SR 40

I am now a proud owner of one of the new Ruger SR 40 pistols.  First impressions were of a nice looking gun, good feel and nice pointing.  The feel of the trigger was bad and all of the silly forums I read said the same thing. Horrible Trigger.. Not True. The trigger really sucks; if you are sitting around dry firing the gun.  In actual use the trigger is fine and the gun shoots well.  I only had time to run about 25 rounds through the gun yesterday and everything felt and worked fine.  Maybe some of the forum people should actually try a product; before condemnation.  The gun seemed to be shooting low and I intended to take it out today for sighting in and further testing, but the rains set in before I had time to go.  Look for a better and more detailed report, later in the week.  But for now, so far so good.  I like the gun.

Ruger SR 40

I just put down a deposit for a new Ruger SR 40. I am now anxious to get the gun.  I was considering the SR 9, but wanted a little more power and all of a sudden the 40 was announced.

I will have a complete review posted here soon.