What a tale this rusty Colt could tell — this M1911 pistol is more than a vintage military side-arm. It is a symbol of courage, determination, and triumph over adversity. This pistol was carried on a 2,060-mile open-boat ocean crossing from the Philippines to Australia. In May of 1942, the skipper and 17 crewmen of the Minesweeper U.S.S. Quail courageously decided to sail from Manilla to Darwin, Australia rather than surrender to the Japanese. Lt. J.H. Morrill and his crew made that long ocean journey in a 36-foot launch, braving enemy air and sea forces and dangerous ocean conditions.
This pistol is part of the NRA Museum Collection in Fairfax, Virginia. This historic Colt M1911 was a featured “Gun of the Day” on the NRA Museum Facebook Page where you’ll find hundreds of other interesting firearms. We believe the remarkable story of this pistol deserved to be told here…
Colt M1911 Pistol — Escape from Corregidor
The minesweeper U.S.S. Quail was the last operational American naval vessel in the Philippines when Japan began its occupation of the country in May 1942. After his vessel was disabled at the strategically-important island of Corregidor near the entrance to Manilla Bay, Lt. Commander J. H. Morrill scuttled the ship and gave his crew a choice: either surrender to the Japanese or attempt to escape, by sea, to Allied territory thousands of miles away. Rather than surrender, 17 crew members elected to join Morrill on a dangerous passage in a 36-foot open launch/lifeboat. Gear was scavenged including this M1911 recovered from a dead serviceman. With few charts or navigational aids, Morrill and his men successfully completed an epic 58-day 2,060-mile journey to Australia and safety.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. MidwayUSA — Vortex Viper Scope Scale, under $300
⏺ Huge discounts on Vortex Vipers with lifetime warranty
Need a scope for that hunting rifle or varmint rig? Here are two great deals on quality Vortex Viper scopes. For a deer rifle choose the 2.5-10x44mm Viper HS scope priced at just $249.99 — a 39% savings. This scope weighs just 16.5 ounces — that’s important on a hunting rig you’ll carry all day long. For varminting duties, where you need more magnification, there’s a 6.5-20x44mm Vortex Viper on sale for just $299.99, that’s 30% off. Either way you get a good scope with superb Vortex lifetime warranty for under $300.00.
2. Bullet Central — Berger Bullets in Stock
⏺ Good prices on high-demand target bullets from Berger
With concerns over social disorder, reloading components have been harder to find. For you match shooters looking for quality bullets, head over to BulletCentral.com. There you’ll find a large selection of Berger target bullets in stock. Not only does Bullet Central has a large supply of Berger bullets, but the prices are about as low as you can find now. That’s a win-win.
Who doesn’t love a good waterfowl hunt? It’s a great outdoor escape that can put food on the table. Right now Sportsman’s Warehouse is offering a quality waterfowl shotgun at a great price. The Winchester SXP Waterfowl Hybrid Hunter in 12ga or 20ga is on sale now for just $354.99. These well-made, 3-1/2″-shell-capable shotguns feature an ultra-tough Mossy Oak and Permacote protective finish.
⏺ Wireless photos and videos, good controls, USB Charging
In the quest for better borescope performance, manufacturers are improving their electro-optics offerings. At the forefront is Lyman, the company that pioneered the affordable, digital borecam. Lyman has released its new Borecam PRO 24″ wireless borescope. This boasts wireless WiFi operation, 720P resolution for sharp images, and adjustable light intensity. The BoreCam Pro has a 24″ long rod that will fit all .20 caliber and larger-diameter barrels. The Borecam PRO takes photos and video with the push of a button and has easy to use Apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.
5. Amazon — WIREGEAR Gunsmith Punch Set, $39.99
⏺ Versatile punch set performs multiple gun tasks
When working on firearms and removing or assembling component, you definitely need a good set of precision punches to keep from damaging anything. We found this great WIREGEAR Gunsmith Punch Set that even comes with a punch block too. With this punch set you can feel confident that you can remove any pin without harming your finish or damaging holes.
6. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus G2c 9mm Pistol, $299.99
⏺ Good CCW 9mm carry pistol for under $300.00
Right now compact 9mm carry guns are in very high demand. Many gun vendors have limited inventory and have raised prices. Here’s a good little compact carry gun at an attractive price — half what you might pay for a 9mm Glock 19 these days. Palmetto State Armory has the black-on-black Taurus 9mm G2c for just $184.99. This affordable 9mm handgun is a true compact, 6.25″ OAL, and weighing just 21.2 oz. unloaded. Despite its small size, the G2c has a 12-round magazine. We like the fact it has a left-side manual safety (unlike the Glock).
7. Graf & Sons — MTM Promotion FREE Patch Catcher
⏺ Buy $40 of handy MTM containers, get FREE Patch-Catcher
Right now, if you buy at least $40 of MTM products at Grafs.com you can get a FREE MTM Patch Catcher or Hat. The patch catcher is great and allows you to keep all your soiled patches off your bench or table and easily throw them away. Trust us, you’ll find it easy to get your money’s worth for the $40 purchase — MTM makes high quality ammo carriers, range boxes (with cleaning cradles), pistol storage boxes, ammo crates, cleaning rod carriers, bore guides, and compact rests. We use and recommend MTM range boxes and MTM ammo carriers.
⏺ Inexpensive, ultra-lightweight gun support — good for sight-in or ARs
If you’re tired of carrying heavy sandbags to rest your guns, consider a new alternative. The BenchMaster Weapon Rack XBlock Gun Rest costs less than $20 and weighs just 7.1 ounces! Sized 8″ x 6″ x 4″, it can be used in multiple ways to support your firearms. Made from lightweight, high-density foam, this rest is impervious to moisture and mildew. This XBlock is a good inexpensive option for sighting in a deer rifle before your annual hunt. Or keep an XBlock behind your truck seat as an “anytime” rest. BenchMaster also makes an adjustable 3-section Bench Block Gun Rest ($27.99) that works well with ARs.
9. Amazon — Hornady One Shot, $9.99
⏺ Dry-Film Lube — not sticky, easy to apply, used by top shooters
If you’re looking for a mess-free way to lube cases before sizing give Hornady One Shot a try. Get 7 oz. can for $9.99, or 14 oz. can for $13.99. It’s easy to apply and leaves a grease-free, friction-reducing film that works great for full-length case sizing. Here’s a good video that shows application methods with tips to ensure great results with your brass.
One Pistol, Two Barrels, Two Playing Cards — here’s a trick shot we just had to share. The talented Kirsten Joy Weiss does something we’ve never seen before, splitting TWO (2) playing cards with a unique, twin-barreled 1911-style pistol. Watch the video to see Kirsten pull off this double-barreled doozy of a trick, firing two bullets at the same time.
It took a few tries, but Kirsten makes the shot at the 3:14 time-mark:
Kirsten was enthusiastic about this unique trick: “Splitting two cards with two bullets fired at once? The double-barreled 1911 was just begging for a trick shot application. Arsenal Firearm’s 2011 A1 twin-barrel, 1911-style pistol is a heavy monster to wrangle, but a lot of fun to shoot!”
Each day, on Facebook, the NRA National Firearms Museum showcases something special from the Museum collections. A while back the Museum displayed a trio of snakes — three very special Colt Pythons. From bottom to top, these three prized wheelguns are: Colt Python serial number 2, number 3, and number 5. And yes, that is the original box for Python #2 (at bottom). The museum says such low serial number guns were typically produced for a company executive or key members of the gun design team.
Loved for their beautiful finish, nice balance, and great trigger, Colt Pythons have proven to be excellent investments. Since the Colt Python was first introduced in 1955, Python prices have gone through the roof. A pristine, LNIB early-era Colt Python can now command $4000.00 or more. The Museum estimates the price of Pythons has risen 14,300% since 1955. How much did a Python cost in 1955? You could purchase the Royal Blue model for just $125.00! Factory-engraved models started at $245.00, according to this Colt advertisement from June, 1955:
You can see hundreds of other interesting firearms on the National Firearm Museum website, www.NRAMuseum.com. Or, if you’re lucky, you can see the collections in person. The NRA now operates three Museum locations: the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum in Springfield, MO; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest in Raton, NM.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Burris — Eliminator 4-16x50mm III, $999.00
⏺ Save $400 on integrated scope/laser rangefinder
The Burris 4-16x50mm Eliminator III laser range-finding optic is on sale September 1 through December 31, 2020. Burris has dropped Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) by $400 for the balance of the year. Hunters and shooters can take advantage of the limited-time lower $999 price. The Eliminator III scope offers laser ranging out to 1,200 yards with push-button automatic trajectory compensation. You range your target, and the Eliminator III sets a red aiming point. Then just put the red dot on the target and pull the trigger — no drop charts, no knobs to crank. Previous retail price was $1,399. The new MAP is $999. Save $400!
2. Brownells — Labor Day Sale, Sale Items and 10% OFF Codes
⏺ Many items heavily discounted, plus 10% OFF Codes
Brownells is running a big Labor Day Sale with many items discounted, including Optics, Triggers, Barreled Actions, and more. Pluse you can get 10% Off purchases now through 9/30/2020. Use Code VSD to get $50 off $500, Code VSC for $25 off $250, and Code TAG to get $15 off $150. NOTE: There’s a Killer Deal on the Howa Barreled Action in 6mm Creedmoor — just $249.99 including the excellent HACT trigger.
3. Creedmoor Sports — 10% Off Labor Day Sale
⏺ Save 10% on all Creedmoor Sports and MTM brand products
During the Labor Day Weekend, Creedmoor Sports is offering 10% Off all Creedmoor brand products — that way you get significant savings on Creedmoor shooting coats, rifle cases, mats, carts, and much more. In addition, Creedmoor Sports has knocked 10% Off the price of all MTM products and most targets. To get these savings, use CODE LD20 during check-out. The Sale ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, 9/8/2020.
4. Tipton Direct — 30% Off Sale on All Tipton Products
⏺ Save 30% on gun vises, maintenance stands, tools and more
Tipton is running a BIG SALE: “We wanted our loyal customers to have the biggest savings they could before the fall season starts.” Everything on the Tipton website is 30% off — use CODE FALL30 during checkout to save 30%. NOTE: Even with the 30% savings, a few of the listed items might be cheaper at other retailers. Look at Tipton’s listed price, subtract 30% and then check pricing. This deal ends at 11:59 pm on Monday, September 7, 2020 Pacific Time
5. MidwayUSA — Camo Tuesday Hunting Gear Sale, 9/8/2020
⏺ Major 1-day Sale for hunters, plus Giveaways
MidwayUSA’s Camo Tuesday™ only happens once a year. Hunters will find amazing deals plus free shipping on select hunting gear. Everything that hunters use will be heavily discounted — hunting clothing, scopes, shooting rests, binoculars, rangefinders, backpacks, trail cams, GPS units. If you hunt, be sure to visit MidwayUSA on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 to shop the best hunting products at unbeatable prices. In addition to the discounts, you can register for Camo Tuesday™ Prize packages.
6. Brownells — SIG BDX Riflescopes — 50% Off, Save Hundreds
⏺ Save 50% on SIG Sauer BDX “Smart Scopes” — great for hunters
As part of its Labor Day Sale, Brownells is offering huge 50% discounts on SIG BDX riflescopes. The Sierra3 4.5-14X44mm scope is now $299.99, marked down from $599.99. That’s 50% Off! And the Sierra3 3.5-10x42mm scope is $249.99, marked down from $499.99. These are good hunting scopes that work with SIG Sauer’s BDX rangefinders and Ballistic App. After ranging, the DBX scope receives a calculated ballistic solution. Then a dot lights up on the reticle, showing shooters where to hold.
7. Amazon — The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters, $22.99
⏺ NEW 2020 Edition, completely updated — great resource
Readers often ask: “Is there a good, easy-to-comprehend book that can help my wind-reading?” Many of our Forum members have recommended The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters by Linda Miller and Keith Cunningham. Other books cover wind reading in a broader discussion of ballistics or long-range shooting. But the Miller & Cunningham book is ALL about wind reading from cover to cover, and that is its strength. The book focuses on real world skills that can help you accurately gauge wind angle, wind velocity, and wind cycles. Here’s a video review explaining what makes this book so good.
We know a LOT of Americans are looking for 9mm defensive pistols right now. Demand is high and dealers are jacking up prices on their remaining inventory. If you’re looking for an affordable 9mm, consider the Walther Creed. This pistol offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls at a good price — $399.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model at a much lower price. The Creed features a snag-free bobbed hammer. Testers say that, despite the bargain price, the Creed “sacrifices little to nothing in… ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability.”
9. Cabela’s — Catch-All Gear Bag $12.99, Many Colors
⏺ Versatile, good capacity, buy two at this price
This versatile bag holds lots of gear, and you can’t beat the price — just $12.99. At 16″x10″x6″ it’s big enough to hold rifle ammo, muffs, a Kestrel, and other accessories. It can also serve as a general utility bag for car camping trips. Six exterior pockets, including zippered mesh pockets on top and side, provide multiple storage options.Sturdy 1-1⁄2″ nylon web carry straps can be joined by a hand-friendly wrap handle. Cabela’s Catch-All Gear Bag available in a variety of colors including True Timber Camo, 02 Octane Camo, Lt. Gray, Green, Tan, Orange Gold, and Dark Gray.
10. Amazon — Jialitte Scope Bubble Level, $10.99
⏺ Effective and affordable — works for both 30mm and 1″ tubes
All serious rifle shooters need a scope level. This nicely designed Jialitte Scope Bubble Level features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes — that dual-diameter versatility is a nice feature. We also like the way the unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. Price is just $10.99 with free shipping. User reviews have been very positive. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level.
In these trying times, with violence in our cities, and the Democratic Presidential candidate calling for the outright banning of mag-fed, semi-auto rifles, we know that many readers are seeking to purchase defensive firearms (while a citizen still can). If you are looking for a black rifle and/or a defensive pistol, check out Palmetto State Armory (PSA). This company, one of American’s largest Black Rifle retailers, maintains a large inventory of complete ARs, AR lowers, AR uppers, and handguns — all at very competitive prices. PSA also sells triggers and optics. And yes, PSA has ammunition in stock at fair prices.
Right now PSA is running a big Labor Day Sale. The sale has started, so you can enjoy significant savings for the next few days.
Black Rifles and Rifle Components on Sale
Whether you want a complete AR-platform rifle, a complete upper, or components for uppers and lowers, PSA has what you need. PSA also carries aftermarket triggers, sights, magazines, and other Black Rifle accessories. Here are some of the complete rifles, uppers, and lowers currently on sale at PSA. CLICK HERE for AR-Platform rifles, components, and accessories
Handguns on SALE at PSA
With the record-breaking volume of gun sales in recent months, many smaller gunshops have very limited inventory of handguns, particulary compact pistols suitable for CCW. However, PSA has a large supply of pistols, including popular carry guns from S&W, Ruger, Springfield Armory and other leading brands. Here’s a small sample of handguns in stock today at PSA.
PSA Ammunition on SALE
This is a small sample of the ammunition available now. This is in-stock now, ready to ship. Go to PSA’s Ammo Page to find other cartridge types on sale, including .40 SW, .357 Magnum, .308 Win, and .22 LR.
Range photo from Athena Gun Club in Houston, TX. Athena has 26-lane indoor shooting range.
A Girl & A Gun (AG&AG) is a club by women shooters for women shooters. With a network of instructors and affiliated ranges, AG&AG operates training clinics and competition events throughout the country. AG&AG recently sponsored a nationwide survey of 6000 club members. This survey revealed interesting trends in gun purchases by females. By way of background, a previous survey by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) estimated that about 40% of 2020 gun sales are to first-time buyers, and that roughly 40% of those first-time gun buyers were women.
AG&AG did a follow-up survey of club members who were first-time gun buyers. This showed that the leading motivator in gun acquisition were concerns over riots and civil unrest. This was followed by worries over the upcoming election and possible future gun bans.
There were some very interesting comments by AG&AG members, who expressed their personal reasons for buying guns and seeking firearms training:
Kathryn in Texas: “I’m a trauma surgeon and have treated a fair share of gunshot victims in Chicago and Houston. I have been pretty ‘anti-gun’ as a result up until COVID. At that point, I figured I might as well get comfortable with at least handling firearms in case I had to use one.”
Theresa in Nevada: “I’ve never felt the need to own a gun or want a one. However, with the extreme levels of crime, every individual should learn to protect themselves. With our political leaders allowing the police to be torn apart, this made me feel the need to step up and take measures for my protection.”
Jan in Michigan: “As a history teacher with 35 years of teaching experience I know that the first thing revolutionaries and tyrants do upon seizing power is to take away the public’s guns. As a child my family lived in inner city Detroit in the heart of the 1967 riots….More recently, the rioters came down my street after their burning and looting rampage downtown in my city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. I decided that I have to defend myself and not allow myself to be a sitting duck. “
Anonymous in Connecticut: “I [was] interested in joining A Girl & A Gun Club for a while and in the wake of the protests and defunding of police I thought this was extremely important. Being from the Northeast it is difficult to find others with the same ideals so I thought this would be the best place to start.”
About A Girl & A Gun
AG&AG is now moving into its 10th year of educating women on the safe use and storage of firearms, and promoting women’s interest and participation in training and competitive and recreational shooting sports. The club’s mission is especially relevant today and the organization is stronger than ever.
Cheaper Than Dirt (CTD), a Texas-based gun product retailer, has compiled a great resource that can benefit gun owners. CTD has created a “BANNED LIST” which catalogs firearms, ammo, and gun-related products (such as magazines) that are banned in particular states. This Overview of Restricted Guns, Ammo and Parts in Each State is searchable by state, so you can quickly identify the guns, ammo, and gun-related products banned in your location.
Wilburn Roberts, CTD Blog editor, explains: “You must be aware of local laws. I have authored more than 6,000 firearm-related articles, written 14 books on the topic of firearms and served as a peace officer and security professional for decades. I’m still learning new things related to laws every day.
Why read up on this topic? For starters, some things you would never have guessed are illegal. As an example, did you know that some states ban ‘wallet holsters?’ These are holsters that allow you to carry a handgun like a Beretta .25 ACP (or sometimes a small revolver) in the back pocket.
Be careful, as many things you are able to purchase easily online could be illegal in your home state. Some are patently illegal, others are illegal only if you carry them.
That being said, this is a report on certain items that are banned in one state or another. Feel free to use it as a reference for your own research. It contains pertinent gun laws nationwide and is separated on a state-by-state basis. It is ultimately your responsibility to study your own state laws and those of the states you travel in. Lawws might be … more complex than they first appear. Double-check the laws for your state. Also, remember that these laws are subject to change. At the end of the day, you should never order anything that is illegal in your state.”
DISCLAIMER: This is not intended to be a comprehensive or complete list of gun laws. The information provided is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law. For any particular situation, it is highly recommended that a licensed local attorney be consulted for an accurate interpretation. The opinions and statements expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily represent Cheaper Than Dirt, nor is the company at fault for any gun-related legal decisions you make.
Here’s a cool new product from Hogue: Wrapter Adhesive Firearm Grips. Utilizing the same precision fit standards as Hogue’s OverMolded® rubber grips, Hogue has engineered a remarkably thin grip solution for polymer frame pistols. In order to improve the feel and “grippiness” of polymer frames, many shooters have resorted to custom stippling. That could work, but stippling can compromise the firearm’s factory frame and hurt resale value. The Hogue Wrapter Adhesive Grip System provides superior grip and hold while preserving the pistol’s original polymer surface integrity.
This video explains how to install Hogue Wrapter grips on your pistol frame:
Wrapters Are Precisely Cut, Comfortable, and Removable
Wrapter Adhesive Grips are made with a soft rubber material that emulates the renowned Hogue rubber feel. Wrapter grips, using multi-segment designs, conform to the exact contours and features of popular polymer frame pistols. These stick-on Wrapters provide optimal coverage with minimal added thickness. The Wrapters feel good in the hand and the rubber-type material is both sweat-resistant and skin-friendly. The adhesive is designed to create a long-lasting bond when activated by heat, but can also be removed without leaving a sticky residue behind.
Hogue Wrapter Grips sell for $14.95 MSRP. These grips are available now for nine Glock models plus SIG P320s. Wrapters for other pistol types will be available soon. There is also a $9.95 Do-It-Yourself Kit for installation on any firearm — pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Heavy grit options will also be available for those seeking a more aggressive grip texture.
With good factory rifle ammo costing $1.00 per round — a Laser BoreSighter could pay for itself in just a couple range sessions.
Laser BoreSighters — fitted to your chamber — help you get on target more quickly, particularly with factory firearms. Just activate the unit, slip it into the chamber and look for the red dot on the target. The laser dot is about 2″ in diameter at 100 yards, and is visible even in full sunlight. Right now you can get HQ Issue BoreSighters starting at $15.99 at Sportsman’s Guide (member price is $14.39). These units have a durable brass metal body and the battery will run an hour.
Boresighters are offered for many popular rifle cartridge types including: .223 Rem, .22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win family, and .30-06 (full list below). Sportsman’s Guide also offers Pistol Laser BoreSighters for $17.99 (member price): .38 SPL/.357 Mag, .40 SW, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP.
In-chamber BoreSighters are much safer than the kind that you insert in the end of the barrel (or attach to muzzle). If you forget your laser bore-sight placed in the end of the barrel, and then fire a round, you can blow up your barrel and/or suffer serious injury — it HAS happened.
This video shows how to use in-chamber Sightmark laser boresighters. The HQ Issue boresighters work the same way:
Wrapters Are Precisely Cut, Comfortable, and Removable
