How will the lead ammo ban affect you?

In October of 2013 the state of California passed a ban on hunting with lead ammunition http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/lead-free/ . While more states are looking at the same alternative to traditional hunting, I am looking for ammunition alternatives myself. Not everyone has a friend that works overnight in the Sporting Goods dept at the local big box retailer that can text them in the middle of the night to let them know that they got in 6 boxes of .380 (or whatever).

The Washington Times reported that the only smelter left in the U.S. that produced lead for ammunition closing will have absolutely no effect on the availability or cost of ammunition http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/2/obamas-epa-smelter-closing-will-not-affect-ammunit/?page=all . Most major ammunition manufacturers began making "green" ammo by 2008 when the lead ammo debates intensified. If you do a cost comparison between the two, non-lead ammo is not the same cost as traditional lead ammo.

It makes me wonder if the $11 core charge on a car battery is worth it, or is that something that I should save along with the lead I pick out of the hillside at the shooting range. I have been saving my brass for years. Why not save the lead as well? Many people are making their own bullets http://www.ehow.com/how_2212846_make-ammunition.html and have been for some time. As a child I can remember my father casting .54 caliber balls for his muzzleloader.

As more states are looking at alternatives to lead bullets I will keep collecting lead (and storing it safely) for my personal use. http://ehs.whoi.edu/ehs/occsafety/leadweightsafety.pdf . If it gets to the point where you need to make your own bullets, it will be too late to start collecting lead.

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Dons testimony to the state opposing SB347

Annola DeJong 
Judiciary Office Coordinator 
503-986-1512 
annola.dejong@state.or.us



Ms. DeJong works as the judiciary officer for the state of Oregon



Dear Ms. DeJong:

Please see that the following testimony is provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the hearing and work session tomorrow in these matters: SB347, 699, 700, 796

Dear Judiciary Committee:

I write in total opposition to SB347, 699, 700, 758, and 796; what have become known as this Legislature's Gun Control bills.

There is no compromise form or change of these bills that can meet constitutional muster other than their total rejection. They are in violation of our constitutional rights here in Oregon by operation of our Bill of Rights under Article I, Section 27. It is my belief if you all continue in these actions you will be making yourselves personal targets of those who reject slavery, love freedom and liberty, and have reserved unto themselves the power to insure they will stay free from the tyranny of governments, including our own. From my understanding of history today you have the choice to build your own personal Concord Bridge. If you do you will become the "Red Coats." Only this time the coats you wear will be stained with the blood of patriots you dishonor and reject. If it is to be, then so be it and may God have mercy on you.

As I reflect on these words, three American flags hang on my wall from those who served in time of war. Each was a Veteran of WWII and other places. One has a posthumous purple heart. If you proceed in any direction other than to kill these bills, you will spitting on the graves of these Americans and all others who have served at their peril as surely as if you were personally standing on those graves engaged in that act.

To let these bills get to this point you collectively have shown a lack of integrity as oath givers and a willingness to consider compromise of those fundamental rights guaranteeing our freedoms. I can think of nothing more degrading to you collectively, or personally.

More sincerely than you can begin to possibly understand

Don W. Leach

84058 N. Pacific Highway

Creswell, Oregon 97426

Ruby Ridge, Waco, I see the similarities

Reflecting on Dorner

What will happen if and when this nation has to face not a whack job, but millions of constitutionalists who at their core believe the Bill of Rights and the 2nd Amendment that flows from that sacred document have been attacked. Those who will and do believe the 2nd Amendment is anchored in religious freedom, free speech, and the right to protect themselves from the tyranny of government and lawless elements. Those who are prepared to defend themselves, their neighbors from the lawless intrusions of government trying to limit their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

I speculated as I watched a little "news" yesterday. The massive enforcement turn out, the probable death of that Dorner nut job. The fire. I could not think my way through the musings. So many people for 1 wacko who had no meaningful support.

Friends at Ruby Ridge called me with firsthand accounts not seen through the eyes of the media, calls from people wanting to know what their legal rights were. Government at Ruby Ridge were outnumbered more than 10 to 1 by people calling themselves patriots. Guns ready for the defense of the Weavers, trunks full of both guns and ammunition.

I speculate. If there are those who also speculate on possible outcomes of a people united in the defense of their nation, and have some thoughts they can share, I am sure I could learn from the discussion.

Reloading vs. buying ammo during Obama rule.

 Like everybody, I am not having the easiest time finding ammo for the AR-15 (.223), or for the .308

 I ordered a Dillon 650 multistage reloader, but it will not come for 8-12 weeks. Even then, reloading only saves money if you do not overspend on your supplies. I have been shopping for ammunition like crazy. Having a hard time finding it. And going crazy.

 Most of the .223 ammunition I have found is between .75 cents and $1 a round. On bulk ammo .com a thousand rounds was going for $905. At small gun stores I found boxes of twenty  for $15.95. At the gun show a box of 500 was going for $435 (and it was selling like crazy). People are showing up to the gun shows with handcarts hoping to find almost anything. (I saw people buying Wolf ammo for $10 a box). This is in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon.

  And then there is me. I am just as hungry for ammo as everyone else but I'll be damned if I am going to pay to the gougers just because they think they can profit from the needy. Don't get me wrong. I believe in supply and demand, but the ammunition manufacturers have not seemed to raise their prices to the dealers. Over the last four weeks I have only been able to get my hands on about 1700 rounds, but I have only paid .30-.40 cents a round.

  DILIGENCE and PERSEVERANCE.

  I have been calling box stores and gun stores and checking online. This is a pain in the ass for some, but it pays off. Today I got 100 rounds for 27.78

  Two days ago 160 rounds for 64.00

  The most I have paid for ammo in the last month and a half is $90 for 200 rounds at the NEW Tannerite store in Eugene.

  Places to check:

Wal-Mart

Bi-Mart

Big 5

Check the manufacturer websites.

  Anybody want to trade ammo for your concealed handgun class?

What other good ideas do you have?

Where is a good place to get ammo?

Emergency Preparedness in the North West Part 2

 I get asked....

    "Are you a Mormon?"
       "Conspiracy theorist?"
           "Are you some kind of Hippie or something?"

   Without sounding too radical, I am a little bit of all of these (kind of), and you should be too if you really want to be prepared. I am not saying that you need to really subscribe wholeheartedly to these practices but they all have areas that they prepare more than others.

Be a BoyScout, Be prepared.

  Hippies (not all of them of course) believe in the end of the world/society and plan on living off the land. Some of them are getting ready for that.
  Conspiracy theorists are getting ready for a revolution or civil war. Some of them are getting ready for that.
   Mormons (and a lot of others), believe in being ready for something. Listen to them. Whether they share your belief system or not, they are more ready than most. You can go to a lot of different sites and blogs where they tell you how to get ready. My brother (talk about Mormon) is starting a preparedness website to order ALL the things you might need.
.  Food
   Water
   Supplies.....   Tip of the iceburg.

 I think I will put an (Occasional) blog out about how and what to prepare, but for the most part this blog in general is about conceal carry, handguns, practice, and safety. How does that go along with emergency preparedness?

Guns. And lots of AMMO.

 You can prepare your whole life. Have all the food storage you need. If you think everyone is gonna group hug and share everything you are crazy. People will have guns. People will be mean. Those who have not prepared themselves will do what they feel they need to survive. People will steal and kill for food for themselves and their families.
  Prepare for your family and prepare to defend your family.
  Do you have somewhere to go that you can protect?


 I will touch on this subject every once and a while. But for now, Buy ammo for the guns you have. Store it in a cool dry place. Add to it when you can.

  Add this blog to your reading list.