clint smith thunder ranch 22 long rifle pistol
Most are probably thinking of the zombie apocalypse where the ammo wont be used if you get bitten. 2002-2023 Buckeye Firearms Association, PO Box 87, Blue Creek, OH 45616. Especially if he has fallen prey to the fallacy that somehow just because of patent claims, somehow Stoners AR/M platform is not, by definition, direct impingement. You dont know who made them, what their tolerance is, and ability to perform after long term storage. Jim Smith of Spartan Tactical Carries a Sphinx, a CZ clone. I did one deployment to Afghanistan and my second was on apart of 31st MEU. He was also a vegetarian and hated tobacco, so all you vegetarians & anti-smokers are nazis, mmmmmk? If its in the house, its in the family. +1 on building an AR. The stainless barrel bushing on a blued barrel/slide/frame Im not so sure about the visual appearance of that Im going to go off and think about that. Clint Smith is the Director of Thunder Ranch 1 in Oregon, where he teaches firearm tactics, self-defense and freely gives his opinions on a variety of topics. Thanks you enjoyed this post, hit that like button, share it a friend, and subscribe. They arent Wankels, waves, or any of the dozens of other engine designs out there theyre just a standard ICE piston engine with some small modifications, and fully fit the definition of piston engine despite their minor digression from the accepted norm. The pistol can be ordered and fitted with one of 4 different muzzles devices: Forward Controls KeyMo Flash Hider, Huxwrx QD Flash Hider, Dead Air KeyMo Flash Hider or Muzzle Break, SilencerCo ASR Flash Hider or Muzzle Break. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I say keep to the caliber your rifle is chambered for as long as you can! so some of his advice is geared that way . Fudds and Fud advice everywhere in this comment section. I want to teach a class a week after Im dead. WebM4E1 TR EDITION. I carry a revolver. Third, it only matters how much ammo is lying around if youre planning on being PART OF the SHTF, i.e., youre planning on getting into fire fights on a daily basis. In law enforcement, people only attend training because they are required too, but [Gunsite] was the first environment where I saw people that really did want to learn. a 9mm will defeat cover just as well as .45 and 9mm has just as much kinetic energy as a .45 when you compare modern 9mm ammo to modern .45 ammo. And its educational. We respect your privacy and your email address will be kept confidential. WebClint Smith began teaching his Urban Rifle doctrine, using the AR carbine for self-defense and law enforcement situations in the early 80s. As it is, buying a high end firearm that just goes up in value, makes a lot more sense than many people that buy a new automobile or truck that loses most of its value within 5 to 7 years. So then we were allowed to carry 1911s. Gun Jesus had a very good explanation of it a while back. One day Clint will come out of his shell and we will know what he really thinks. I have no idea why/when gun jesus became his handle in the community, but suffice to say, I would readily debate him if this is, in fact, his espoused position. The bonus being, unlike a burro or lama, you can feed them your enemies. What an excellent thing to get in a chest pounding match over, bravo! Building my second ar and whats wrong with magpul? That's ridiculous. Those include jams due to case expansion. I time my screws regularly my average is around 33 minutes, but my record is still 4 hours and YOU MUST BE ", "You can say 'stop' or 'alto' or use any other word you think will work but I've found that a large bore muzzle pointed at someone's head is pretty much the universal language. So we basically stayed in a village and worked with the Vietnamese soldiers. A hurricane is a your EDC pistol will do just fine scenario, not a Im going to expend tens of thousands of rounds of ammo scenario. My first real pistol, in Vietnam, was a 1911. No do overs, indeed. ", "You cannot save the planet. I was in 2nd BN 4th Marines, 5th Marine Reg, 1st Mar Div. So with the 1911, I dont feel behind the curve with that gun, and I have a couple Glocks, Glock 17s in 9 mm. Clints a character. Smith & Wesson sells the PERFORMANCE CENTER Model 325 Thunder Ranch: a matte black .45-caliber Scandium-framed revolver, complete with a gold bead sight and undersnout picatinny rail (not shown for some reason). That bad boy msrps at an eye-watering $1,329.00. As for the price of Mr. Smiths carry gun, if you have to ask you cant afford it. And while youre assembling your family armory, you may as well throw in a lot of loaded mags. Hace an DOD ID card. Lucky for me, my sister bought me one for Christmas a few years ago. Gosh. No matter how many mags, they should all be loaded though. Thats what your bolt carrier is. The .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed in 1898, rocked the handgun realm with its ballistic performance making it a cartridge for the history books. For the mere mortals, I can get away with a gun less than a thousand. That was my first pistol. And that the author didnt know about the Baer guns. However i have seen the real need for more than 8+1 even if it is a .45 When I was there we started doing double classes, which was really good for growth from an organizational standpoint: How does this range work? +1 Thinking one is going to live through thousands of rounds of gun fighting (unless one is on the big side of an extremely asymetrical match) is indeed arrogance and idiocy. I really dont get a ten grand handgun of any stripe, barring the extraordinarily rare or the extremely enhanced/decorated, in which case youre paying for the engravers painstaking time and skill. Q:On your journey in firearms training, was there anyone in particular who left a lasting impression on you?A:There are two. Its simple. The pistol grip comes with various options to include a TangoDown BG-AK, Magpul MOE or Magpul K2 AK grips. Hes not saying 55gn 5.56 is ballistically the best, but that its just fine within its ample limitations and is orders-of-magnitude more common than heavier or bigger loads. Yeah a hundred + mags?! Theres a reason there are only a few ways air superiority fighters look: aerodynamics dictate the form. The AR may be more prone to breakdown than your precious AK, but at least my rifle can actually hit the target. I served six years in the Marines Corps as an 0311. High end firearms are like project cars. white grips, custom checkering, $10k tag. Both the AR and the AK work extremely well for their intended role. Love em all. Throw a couple spare part kits in the BOB, and your golden. Standard length magazine release Therell be bucket loads of that laying around too. And not only in our government? Posted: 12/20/2008 7:12:11 PM EDT. I guess you must be smarter than a 2 min Google search. this is, in fact, my shocked face. Would a slower acceleration down the barrel of the heavier slug change the feel of the recoil impulse? In 83 I started my own business, ITC, International Training Consultants, and worked on the road from 1983 to 1993, and the only exception was in 1986 worked for one year setting up the training division for HK America. Practice, practice. Mainstream preppers have action movies, video games, and zombies in mind. Clint Smith , President and Director of Thunder Ranch , is a Marine Corps veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam.His experience includes seven years as a police officer during which he served as head of the Firearms Training Division as well as being a S.W.A.T. If it doesnt exist, create it. Learning different guns is a good idea. WebClint Smith, a Marine Corps veteran and President & Director of Thunder Ranch, began his relationship with Smith & Wesson in the mid-70s, carrying a Smith & Wesson Model 19 as Im not saying that war is great, but it was a common enemy at that time. Jews dont conspire with eagles in nest building. That makes you a moron and certainly soon to be dead shortly after the SHTF. Knowledge such as this cant help but draw to conclusions so when it was time to have a new 1911 crafted the configuration was an easy choice; an all steel 5 Government Model chambered in 45ACP. Neither the chinese nor russians use 7.6239.. You are right i guess the AK 15 the possible replacement for the AK 103 (7.6239) for the Russians and the Type 56, 81 for the Chinese dont exist. ", "You have the rest of your life to solve your problems. I live in a largish and fairly homogeneous town; rioting is extremely unlikely. Kart match grade barrel with stainless barrel bushing Exceptionally good advice. Some families, you know, dont have guns. It makes clearing the chamber of stuck rounds that much easier. Novice to deadly competent with good training in under 1,000 rounds. Lanyard loop During the summer I had the opportunity to visit Clint and Heidi Smith at their Thunder Ranch training facility in Oregon for the unveiling of the Nighthawk Custom/Thunder Ranch Combat Special pistol. Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). We could communicate and get the job done. That being said, I still prefer something bigger and badder thats still very common. Hey, build it, buy it, just get it! Expensive yes, but far cheaper than any of the custom revolvers out there. That said, I prefer 7.62 NATO over 5.56, simply because I shoot better with it. The Thunder Ranch AK pistol also comes with an RD custom SLR Rifleworks 9 M-LOK handguard. It sucks at everything except punching through a sheet steel helmet at 600 meters, which is what it was actually designed to do. You can reliably hunt most big game animals in North America. Im with Idaho Boy on this one. On the drive home he said this (semi-automatic pistols) is what were going to do. Thats what makes it part of a well rounded hobby. Rifle Dynamics and Thunder Ranch are teaming up again to bring another Limited Edition build brought to you by the legendary Clint Smith. Wildfires and earthquakes are possibilities Im willing to live with. Eagle meat is never kosher because of the arrangement of the talons. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. I think were providing a responsible service to responsible people. Might as well live somewhere interesting while youre here. I remember thinking I was being ripped off at $89 per 1000, but I still bought it. The lightning bolt is offense, as required. My home built rifles, including one from an 80% lower, run just as well as the M&P 15s I own. .40SW is just hype. Again, Im going by what I see. Just because Stoner made a claim of novelty for his patent, does not mean that it actually is outside the definition of the term direct impingement. Clint Smith, President and Director of Thunder Ranch, is a Marine Corps veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam. When the apocalypse the be TEN f*ckload of 7.6239 lying around. I can train a novice to shoot well with a heavy steel 9mm (or .38 revolver), in FAR fewer rounds than a polymer auto, ESPECIALLY if the poly auto a .40 or .45.. Great Source. You put 5 time as much into it then what it cost new (in this case, closer to 7) and you are lucky if you get half the money back when you go sell it. Here are a few of his observations on tactics, firearms, self defense and life as we know it in the civilized world. Just doesnt. ALL of Clints advice is based on Murphys law, and therefore its all GOOD ADVICE. It still shoots sweet! The last bit here is pretty sound advice, but Id still rather have more. $10K for a pistol??? Those gentlemen have my respect more than Clint, given the more recent tenure both had in active combat zones, and they have the most extreme level of military special ops training, and i m even from Oregon, so nothing against Thunder Ranch. If its the apocalypse we concerned with, in the event of an actual apocalypse you will be forced to scavenge and scrounge parts to replace pieces that are worn out on your rifle. If you want to fantasize about seeing a need to engage at distances longer than 100 yards, be my guest. Compared to the .357 Magnum, its an exceeding low pressure cartridge, even in .45 ACP +P loadings. And if it does, a primitive pimple on the ass of your attackers wont be enough. How to disassemble the bolt carrier to change out an extractor or firing pin, how to change a broken spring in the trigger group, how to properly torque and headspace a barrel, you name it. I started that class, by that name, in 1983. Until then, I have a spare bolt in my grip. oh, wait you meant um.. nevermind then. I think you underestimate just how much truly cheap surplus x39 is still hanging around in garages and closets. The AR15 has a bunch of quirks, too. Thin-line VZ Diamondback stock panels (ivory stocks optional). To stay up to date with the website, hit that subscribe button. Very entertaining to see that the same Im an operator advice is still making these YouTube goobers money. So, an old curmudgeonly gun guy with an abrasive attitude and no shortages of opinions carries a 1911. But the issue is that, even with todays great prices, buying three gets to be an expensive proposition. Then again, it might be simpler just to screw-up Kermits voice box, give him an AR or three, and a hundred loaded magazines. The pilot must be in a certain position to be able to see whats going on. If you have a stockpile, good enough. After reminding his acolytes that they need to be able to pick up and run firearms discarded on the battlefield, Mr. Smith goes there. Another is the 1911. I'd choose a rifle, a shotgun, an RPG or an atomic bomb instead. Staff G.A. In 2004 we moved here to Oregon. I dont need people to shoot fast, I need them to shoot well. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. For .308/7.62 fans, I suggest keeping one rifle chambered that way all the time. Current lead time is 4-6 weeks. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him 'Why do you carry a 45?' (Think $10k and up.) ", "Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way. Last I heard at the start of the whole Syria fiasco the Ruskies are runnin 5.45 so are the Chinese and the North Koreans. New bosssame as the old boss. WebClint Smith, President, and Director of Thunder Ranch is a Marine Corps veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam. not so much. Fuck me right? Also, if you like dogs youre probably a nazi. At my age, they way I do things isnt likely to change either. (Yeah, I contemplate weird things after 10 pm). People have been farming, trading, running shops, and manufacturing for thousands of years for profit. And that a simpler, less ambitious design should break less. Aimed to achieve Clint Smiths ideal purpose built Ultimate Everyone knows that certain conditions require different loads! He must piss off a lot of people. Most people will have a hard time moving with 3000 rounds of 5.55 in magazines hanging off of them. Second, I agree on the idea of three rifles of the same brand and model. I will post content once a week at minimum or more often if time allows. Clowns who say use .223 because there will be tons lying around after TEOTWAWKI are idiots. Building the poodle-shooter is most of the fun. Rifle Dynamics & Thunder Ranch Team Up For The Thunder Ranch RD700 Pistol. Yes, I know the gun wasnt loaded, but Im not too much on the way he kept moving his fingers in front of the barrel, with the hammer cocked. He did the 80% and I did the hammering of the tiny parts. Its a SHTF situation where you and your family will need to defend yourselves. Sergei, Those people who would be surprised that an AR is somehow not a true DI gun would include everyone from firearms designers to gunsmiths, and firearms historians. Again, the AR is a good platform, but it isnt the be all and end all. Even in Wild West, there was more cooperation than combat. Clints advice is sound, and I believe well intentioned. Just buy an ak and be done with it. 100 magazines loaded? Go to a gun show, and see the multiple tables of parts for the AR. Yes! Ironically enough given the popularity of a certain Austrian handgun Mr. Burtons company is dedicated to perfection. He probably knows how to use it! Are there perfect niche calibers for specific situations? Just layin around? The Thunder Ranch AK pistol also comes standard with RD LBE Unlimited G3 AK Trigger. He suggested a Remington Model 700 action in .308 Winchester, with a 20- to 24-inch barrel. With over 40 years of teaching people to stay alive in a harsh world Clint Smith, director of Thunder Ranch, Inc. and International Training Consultants, has seen allot of guns come though his schools. To quote George Carlin, Fuck me? Fuck me? It doesnt group well, its very vulnerable to wind drift, it doesnt tumble inside soft tissue and basically just icepicks .22 caliber holes. I would start with an 80% lower, no registration required, and work up from there. I will probably never need to make a 300 yard shot with my AK, just as the vast majority of AR owners will also never need to make a 300 yard shot. A tactical tiger with a load bearing rig can handily carry all your extra ammo, spare minigun barrels, and beer. Its a Remington 700, 3.5X10 Leupold scope, Hunter stock and mags. and that was before all the news about negligent discharge Tried the Walther P-99 in 40, liked it but could not shoot it to high competency, ditto for the Browning Hi Power, really wanted to like it, but could not shoot it well. Q:To the best of your memory, what was your first experience with firearms?A:I actually had my first firearm when I was 12 years old. Q:How did you go from a Marine in a CAP unit in Vietnam to founding Thunder Ranch?A:OK, so long story short, I came back from the Marine Corps and went into law enforcement. Yeah, well thats just like, your opinion, man. You have entered an incorrect email address! Heres where Im breaking with Clint. It can be upgraded to the Krebs Custom enhanced safety lever or a lever with Rifle Dynamics safety stud. My CAP unit was 2-4-3. The 1911 is still viable as a self defense tool. In which case markets, farming, commerce and industry will still exist, albeit perhaps degraded. I built my M4orgery. Hes a colonel of Marines, and that was box or a niche that I fit nicely into being a corporal of Marines. Not that they couldnt, just that they will probably never need to. Hand-cut 30lpi checkering front and rear See how this works? From there it can be mounted with an SB Tactical SBA3 brace, Midwest Industries folding buffer tube, or a Gear Head Works Tailhook brace with a MI folding strut. In this excerpt from arguably the best shotgun course in the country, TFBTV - Combat Shotgun Basics with Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch I dont mean it like I lifted every spoonful of dirt, but I was allowed to grow and be exposed to people who really wanted to be there. All of my shotguns are 12 gauge, for the same reason. I believe he has good advice but it is still advice. And again, I got to grow, I was allowed to grow inside a box. Personally I dont see an issue with cartridges like 7.9257 or 300 Blackout for the reasons you mentioned. The Ranger responded, 'Because they don't make a 46. Uncle Adolf commanded his Riech from a castle nicknamed the Eagles nest a top a mountain in Bavaria for much of The War. And management comes through practice, practice, practice. Building an AR isnt exactly difficult, unless you start with an 80% lower. Ive never had a problem with my builds except the staked Anderson BCG gas key loosening on my 300 blk. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. As for his assertion not to build an AR15, its good advice for most people because most people dont know what theyre doing with tools or bother to research parts based on compatibility and reliability. But they are very different in design philosophy, even tho both work towards the same goal. Having lived through big ole hurricanes when I lived in Florida, and now living on the edge of Harveys footprint in Texas, it says to me, a couple days of flooding and bad weather, a couple weeks of scarcity of common goods, and several months or years of rebuilding while normal life goes on. Im talking about kits to repair the guns. (In fact, I started with an 80% polymer lower, of a design now banned by the ATF, with a hand drill and a dremel because I dont own a drill press. Here are the specs: Colt Commercial style thumb safety I am familiar with Ian, and (some of) his work. Yes, there are a lot of you that prefer 9 mm. Q:Any advice for new shooters?A:Its actually three words: practice, practice, practice. Hell, I left the Marine Corps with a deep abiding hatred of the DI M16A2 and even I am following my own advice. His experience includes seven But weapons wont make a difference. Read the headline too quickly. The sight is the last visual control over the projectile, the trigger is the last physical control. Comments? Centuries old, so believe it. If Clint says it works, Ill take his word for it. These pistols are further enhanced with modifications such as a weld-up frame and slide fit, flattened and serrated slide top with 3-point curved arrow pattern, detailed frame and slide with all lines straighten and trued, rear slide serrations, best quality trigger job, and bordered slide amongst many others. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Shortlengthsolidaluminumtrigger . Life is risky. But we do know that the AK platform is not the most accurate when accuracy counts. This is 1978-79, and remember revolvers are still king until, like, 1985. Guns and ammo are for the less-than-total collapse. Back in 2020, Rifle Dynamics and Thunder Ranch brought us the Thunder Ranch AK, built under the design specifications of Clint Smith. ), "Beware the man who only has one gun. Heres a hint: in an apocalyptic scenario, the preppers (they used to call themselves survivalists) will be dead, too. But i do shoot a Kimber 1911 very well. Mookie said much the same thing, you either build guns or you use them you dont hear a lot about Samurais hammering out their own katanas back in feudal Japan. And I was far from the only one. Carbines (whether AR or AK, or any of the other types) work, if you can keep putting rounds where they need to go, but the shotgun is, for the average person, a one-shot stopper. These pistols are further enhanced with modifications such as a weld-up frame and slide fit, flattened and serrated slide top with 3-point curved arrow pattern, detailed frame and slide with all lines straighten and trued, rear slide serrations, best quality trigger job, and bordered slide amongst many others. And, Im positive, the vast majority of ARs do. 1. Heidis mom lives in Bend, so that brought Heidi back a little closer to home. Building an AR-15 is not hard. The entire package retails for less than $1,200. I believe this concept was pioneered by Chuck Norris. Patrick Sweeney reviews the Nighthawk Custom Combat Special designed by Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. This is the sort of buzz phrase no one bothers to think through because theyre too biased for their favorite whatever. WebThanks mainly to Clint Smith, Mike Venturino and American Handgunner, the 4 Military .44 Special was reborn as the Thunder Ranch Special. Heirloom Precision Gold Line front sight Its readily available, even during the post SH craze 7.6239 was always on the shelf where as .223/556 was never there. However, his short videos are gold when he talks about the mind set necessary to survive when a sociopath is trying to kill you.