Quote - None of the provisions such as Red Flag and enhanced background checks, which went into effect as Dyrdahl was making the illegal purchases for Gooden, had any deterrent effect on Gooden or Dyrdahl.
The nice folk at C&Arsenal ( YouTube etc ) Just released their history on the SKS.
I'm a SKS fan of sorts, it's a solid, reliable, and Steampunk carbine.
I had a Chinese version with a great trigger and I mounted a Scout scope ( wanted to try the sighting system, & it's easy and reasonable cheap way ) & it's pretty accurate. Not tiny group bragging rights, but great plinking shooter. (1)
Otoh I found a mint Yugoslavian SKS at a gun show, without bayonet, but with grenade launcher, for a buddy's wife. Unfortunately he says it sucks for accuracy. His Russian one is fine.
I consider that normal, to have variation in an industrial, pre computer era mass production military gun.
( assume here a long dissertationrant on Quality Control evolution from a pro who went through the changes )
Functionally, the Cartridge is a decent, intermediate cartridge, and a very early one. You can say it's based on the German 8mm Kurtz developed for the Sturmgewehr program. But it's not a copy! It's a case of capturing German rifles and ammo, and figuratively slapping your forehead and "Doh! So Obvious! Just adapt our existing designs." And the Russians had "a thing" for using the same caliber ammo, since you can use the same tooling for barrels, the most expensive in time & machining precision costs. Plus use/cut down rejected rifle barrels, for pistols and submachine guns.
Feel free to argue that the NATO 5.56 is superior, or a modern AR round like .300 Blackout. They are also years younger.
The SKS is overshadowed by It's replacement, the AK-47, but that's a Post War design, paradigm shift, weapon. The SKS is a 1930s design that is contemporary with the M1 Garand, so consider it a WW2 gun, just delayed into service by the War. And it's the Soviet era lead in adopting the Intermediate Cartridge philosophy. ( The Sturmgewehr's concept & development ended in '45 )
Plus, as a pre war, wood stocked, machined receiver and parts style design, ( before stamped sheet metal era ) the look, is a mix of old school rifles from the 19th century and industrial steam age esthetic, exposed tubes and cylinders. Really funky and Steampunk to a modern eye used to polymer and sheet metal or cast/forged aluminum.
Typically the biggest complaint about the SKS is the magazine system. Which is a conservative design choice for It's day. Replaceable, interchangeable, magazines were either expensive, fragile, or not very interchangeable pre war.
So, while I'd rather have an AK ( or AR, FAL, etc. ) in a Zombie apocalypse, the stripper clip system isn't that bad, and faster than a tube magazine.
Good video. I learned stuff!
Note (1) Plinking is my favorite shooting sport. And the "coke can" long my favorite target, with heavy rationalization as to why.
A pop can is small enough that it's a satisfying long range target. And a practical hunting target, being roughly deer heart size, ( so smaller than required ) or a well fed squirrel. And if you're good, or close, enough that it's not a challenging enough target, aim for individual graphics on the can, like the letter "O".
Since there's a drug addict and gun felon ( case pending & he says he's clean. Sure! ) in residence at the White House, it should be a gun free red flagged location.
Herr grupenfuhrer Hogg didn't learn anything, he's just angry because he didn't get complete praise and deference to his privilege. He wasn't obliterated, or humiliated. Just pi$$ed and defensive.
Don't buy the hype.
But absolutely cheer the heroine here. Lilly Tang rocks.
Because the Left practices Fundamental Dishonesty and Induced Mental Illness to mind-f#$% it's minions, they never get humiliated. Just thwarted and furious. See 1984. Seriously.
Regarding the New Orleans shooting, that Kirkpatrick sure hit it over the fence urging that the area become a gun-free zone! Maybe it could even be declared a murder-free zone, with big signs?
MD State Police sent an email to me "because you are registered as owner of a restricted firearm" (handgun). Looks like we now have red flag laws in MD - yay. I don't have it in front of me but something along the lines of "MSP has paired with MD Dept of Health to help ensure gun safety for all MD residents, and help identify potential problems", yadda yadda.
And I'm sure you figured out all on your own that a Turkey load, designed for tight patterns at longer range, is better for the job than the bargain box skeet loads.
I'm pretty sure the InRange crew was planning to pot shot a few drones, but he's right that it's illegal, as it is illegal to drop anything from a drone.
The FAA paperwork for any Demo or filming of a stunt, like dropping a toilet paper roll for drones or ultralights to cut in flight, is multiple pages, and in New York, you need NYSDOT approval for it too. That's just obviously harmless, ( If potentially risky ) fun.
Getting cleared for skeet shooting a drone? On video? Good luck getting that signed off on. Technically I could do it, but I'd bet a steak dinner ( Texas Roadhouse, early bird ) The FAA would say no to me in New York. Might get permission for Hollywood big shots, and it's Possible that you could get someone in Arizona to sign off on it, but not likely.
That said, it does sound like a fun practice to shoot drones, albeit quite a bit more expensive than clays. You'd want a ABC fire extinguisher handy, a big one, and a bucket of sand to smother a burning lithium battery, just in case. Definitely not a Fire Season activity in the West.
Agree, but the video chose what was probably locally available. Plus the Turkey hunters are willing to spend the big bucks for the few shots they get. And there's been more money put into research.
I'm particularly fond theoretically and anecdotally, of the load that originally used candy. Molten sugar poured into the shot column that hardened into a solid mass, that shatters on firing and kept the shot tightly grouped. Iirc the commercial version uses a polymer, which is probably both safer to automate and has other advantages.
Otoh... Goose loads are well proven and often not lead containing. The early Steel shot was rough on old guns, and loses velocity quickly. I remember the Ithaca 10 ga. Auto developed to use Steel shot, magnum velocity and larger load of shot.
The modern rareite loads are probably best, Tungsten is really pricy, but for life or death? Worth every penny.
Plus, Turkey loads, the best ones, actually don't spread "enough" for wing shooting. Not as bad as a single bullet, but the Purpose is a really really tight pattern for head shots and the density of pattern to hit the CNS. ( central nervous system.... a really really small target On turkeys. )
I do not recommend the 1.3, ( got mine free in a package deal ) it takes a lot of wind to stay up and is too fast for beginners. ( the 1.3 uses the same weight material and lines as the bigger kite, hence needs more wind. )
The 2.2 is a great first kite, For Adults! ( or supervised kids ) It can pull you right off your feet, and is a lot of fun.
I also have the Hydra 420, which can get a canoe going pretty fast. Right about the upper end of size on a kite not connected to a harness with quick release. It's a 3 line, and you can back it up off the ground after a crash. It's got the mesh covered air intakes with "one way valve" to stay inflated. It really will yank you off the ground, so I suggest it as a second, not first! trainer kite.
The Rush Pro School 300 is a full control depower kite that lets you change AOA in flight, and is suitable for snow board or ski use, but not for water. ( no one way valves )
All too expensive for me to want to shoot at, except the 1.3 maybe, and it's so quick it'd be a real challenge.