Sorry for the absence, things have been interesting.

As most who follow this blog know, my family lives in the 63136 zip code.  Before August 9th, 2014, the only folks who knew that zip code lived in it or delivered mail/packages in it.  Before then I had to describe where we lived to folks who lived in St Louis most of their adult lives.

Thanks to the actions of both Officer Wilson and Michael Brown at 1:15pm on that date, EVERYONE knows where Ferguson, MO is located.

I've been trying to think about how to blog about what we went through.  At the time, I was posting solely on FaceBook about this.  Today, I've decided to copy all of my #Ferguson posts from FB to this medium.  Here is our story thus far:

August 10 · Ferguson, MO ·

Praying for peace in Ferguson Missouri tonight.  (Night that wholesale looting happened, QT burned, Red's BBQ was damaged and WalMart was looted.  After this point for three weeks, WalMart pushed all of their carts and pallets of water bottles inside their entry foyer to block entry after 9:00pm; the store is open until 11pm everyday...)

Like

August 16 ·

After the message that the St Louis County Police Dept released about the current situation earlier today, it is clear they are willing to let the whole area burn because we are all cop hating looters. Right now they are just staring at the looters hitting Sam's Market.
Castle Rock v Gonzales is the playbook; Serve and Protect is a lie, it is enforce the law at all costs.

Another night of protests, looting in Ferguson

Multiple police agencies were called to Ferguson early Saturday morning following reports of violence.

www.kmov.com

August 16 ·

Had enough, went to the range.

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August 16 ·

Our Time

What are your thoughts on this?

August 16 · Castle Point, MO ·

When police militarize a situation this is how those if us on the citizen side of the Thin Blue Line view them.

Like

August 18 · St. Louis, MO ·

Martial Law declared. Anyone who refers to any of my fellow citizens here as animals or subhumans will not be tolerated. Things have gotten bad here and I am under enough stress already. Fair warning.

August 19 ·

Everything is going to be posted in miles from Ferguson, isn't it?

Police name man who died in officer-involved shooting

A 23-year-old man armed with a knife is dead after two police officers shot him in north St. Louis.

www.ksdk.com

August 20 · Castle Point, MO ·

Why isn't the Militia between the protestors and the cops? Are they afraid of ‪#‎Ferguson‬?

Like

August 27 ·

If Ferg PD won't use their cameras then Ferguson will use theirs.

Cop Block

Ferguson Man Forms an Inspiring Team with Cop Watchers to Hold Police Accountable
http://www.gofundme.com/Copwatching-in-Ferguson
[Video: http://bit.ly/1l8QoAA]
(Jb of www.fb.com/policethepoliceacp)

(Ferg PD got the three cameras they 'were missing funds for' donated by three different businesses and have the cameras on the streets as of Sept 25.)

September 29 at 3:44pm ·

Still being reported as the Ferguson Community Center which is several miles away from the Dellwood Community Center where it took place. I ask again, why was a Ferguson PD officer patrolling an area that is under County policing?

Erik Olsen commented on an article.

So, there was a Ferguson cop checking out the DELLWOOD Community Center and NOT a County cop? WTF?

Suspect wanted for shooting Ferguson officer

St. Louis County police are searching for the suspect who shot a Ferguson police officer Saturday night.

www.ksdk.com

Due to responses on this event, my FB friends list has shrunk.  Several folks advocated burning down my neighborhood due to actions taken by folks from IL, TX, AZ and other parts of MO.  Many used racial epithets describing the looters and lumped the protesters in with that group.  I do not maintain relationships with folks who are racists, life is too short to write off entire groups due to hate.  I also do not maintain relationships with those who wish harm to befall my family.  I am not a 'sheepdog', I am a 'porcupine'.

MOSB613, just a rehash of HB436 from 2013 and why that is NOT a good thing.

http://legiscan.com/MO/text/SB613/2014

The Missouri Senate has ressurectred the Anti-Federal Firearms Law bill that failed it's veto overturn last year by one vote.  It is an interesting bill, seeking to nullify Federal firearms laws inside the confines of Missouri and threatening jail time for any Federal Agent that attempts to enforce those firearms laws (NFA '34, GCA '68 and all since passed Amendments to those laws).  The part that bothers me is that there is NOTHING in the bill as sent to the House that protects firearms owners from the State.

MO Section 571-020 http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000020.HTM states the following:

"
571.020. 1. A person commits a crime if such person knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells: (1) An explosive weapon; (2) An explosive, incendiary or poison substance or material with the purpose to possess, manufacture or sell an explosive weapon; (3) A gas gun; (4) A bullet or projectile which explodes or detonates upon impact because of an independent explosive charge after having been shot from a firearm; or (5) Knuckles; or (6) Any of the following in violation of federal law: (a) A machine gun; (b) A short-barreled rifle or shotgun; (c) A firearm silencer; or (d) A switchblade knife. 2. A person does not commit a crime pursuant to this section if his conduct involved any of the items in subdivisions (1) to (5) of subsection 1, the item was possessed in conformity with any applicable federal law, and the conduct: (1) Was incident to the performance of official duty by the Armed Forces, National Guard, a governmental law enforcement agency, or a penal institution; or (2) Was incident to engaging in a lawful commercial or business transaction with an organization enumerated in subdivision (1) of this section; or (3) Was incident to using an explosive weapon in a manner reasonably related to a lawful industrial or commercial enterprise; or (4) Was incident to displaying the weapon in a public museum or exhibition; or (5) Was incident to using the weapon in a manner reasonably related to a lawful dramatic performance. 3. A crime pursuant to subdivision (1), (2), (3) or (6) of subsection 1 of this section is a class C felony; a crime pursuant to subdivision (4) or (5) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A misdemeanor. "

What this boils down to, is that the State of Missouri is attempting to enact a law where Missouri Jails will house either Federal Agents who attempt to enforce Federal laws or Missouri Residents who operate under the mistaken idea that SB613 protects them for violations of firearms laws.  I do not see this as a good idea.  I have been told that my views on this are 'negative and wrong' and that I am a 'wet blanket' due to not dancing in the streets that the State Senate has passed a law that has ZERO positive impact on gun owners in Missouri.

Update on my dealings with the Southern Poverty Law Center

Got a letter from the Southern Poverty Law Center today. I thought it was the long-awaited answer to the question I posed to them six months ago ("When did I go from being an ally to an enemy just for standing up for everyone's right to bear arms?") but it was not. They want my donation. I just resent my question along with a link to my earlier blog post about asking them in the first place.

I'm not expecting an answer and I hope they dont need my money.

EDIT:  I did get a response after asking why I didn't get a response earlier.  They thought it was odd that I was taking offense at this since they didn't specifically name ME in their article, but didn't say much after I poitned out that I am an RKBA activist, a group they specifically called out and that I felt betrayed by them for this.  They had no repsonse nor appology.  I am done with the SPLC.

AR pistol build is done...for now.

Here's where my long journey has basically finished.  The last things I will add this month are polymer backup sights which I should have by 12/19.  I do have the laser that is mounted on the bottom in front of the MagPul AFG2 sighted in to be 1.5" low at 25 feet.  With luck, I will be able to get to a range to get it properly sighted in over this coming weekend.

Current parts breakdown is as follows:

• Smith & Wesson M&P 15 stripped lower receiver
• CMMG Lower Parts Kit
• MagPul polymer trigger guard
• Pearce Grips 1911 grip frame adaptor and low profile grips
• 'mil spec' sized six position buffer tube with Velcro loops cemented on
• Standard mass Carbine buffer
• Mark's Armory coated Carbine buffer spring
• 1.25" cane tip cemented onto the end of the buffer tube
• CAA Saddle with Velcro hooks cemented on
• Sling attachment secured to end plate
• Aero Precision stripped upper receiver
• Detroit Gun Works bolt carrier group (will get changed out for a better carrier but it works ok)
• Standard charging handle
• S&W M&P labeled 10" free float rail
• 11.5" 5.56 barrel (unmarked) with carbine length gas port
• ICE Arms Carbine gas tube
• Cut-down front sight base gas block (barrel drilled for the tapered pins on this, very sturdy)
• Standard A2 flash hider
• MagPul Angled Forward Grip model 2
• Green laser that runs on C123 batteries (extras stored in Saddle's battery tubes)

At this point, adding a red dot and probably a x3 magnifier will be done at some point this spring.  The barrel had 'rifle cuts' in the barrel extension and the upper had 'M4
 cuts', so I carefully expanded the barrel extension's cuts to meet the upper receiver's.  This has greatly increased the feeding of 'dummy' rounds after the first as the tips are no longer getting hung up.  I will know for sure after I get to shoot live rounds out of it as to whether or not I will still have failures to feed, a problem that occasionally cropped up with the previous upper receiver.

ICE Arms will be where I source my next bolt carrier from and quite probably my next barrel for a rifle build.  Please check them out here via my affiliate link.

This build has always followed the answers I received back in July of 2012 from the ATF Tech Department Chief.  Feel free to ask any questions on any part of my build. 

Update on AR Pistol build

No major updates, but I did manage to carefully remove the AK-74-style brake that made the barrel 16"+.  I cleaned up the weld point and recoated the barrel with flat black 1000 degree F grill paint.  Cut down the front sight base to allow it to fit under a free-float hand guard and mounted the KX3 muzzle device. 

<<I have sold off the Noveske KX3 and have installed an A2 in it's place.  Pics of the build will be updated after I get the rail I traded it for>>

The rails I have on in the picture are just some of the 'Made in the US' repalcements from Leapers and are hand guard replacements.  I hope to get a 12" keymod hand guard from one of the more reputable manufacturers as I now have a green laser that I plan on mounting and it isn't overly light weight.  <<10" S&W branded Troy rails are en route to me.  Yeah, Troy...but I diodn't pay anything for them and they are used.  ;)  >>

I did get a SureFire M900A weapon light in the trade along with the rails shown above.  My build's OAL is over 26" so in theory based upon my Tech Letter it would be legal to mount but some buddies checked in with their ATF contacts and were told it was illegal.  They did not seem to know about the Franklin XO-26 which the Tech Dept called a 'firearm' as opposed to an AOW.  To cut out the possibility to run afoul of the NFA '34 and GCA '68 I am going to sell off the VFG and install the AFG2 that everyone agrees is 100% legal since it has a steeper angle than 90.

The plan almost changed to have this become a rifle.  I think that I'll build a rifle seperate from this one.  I will get a 300BLK barrel at some point for this one.

Also, thanks to ICE Arms for the quick shipping on the replacement gas line.  I'll be doing more business with them soon!

Ice Arms link here

Q4 2013 update

I am a horrible blogger.  Mental note, need to post up far more often...

Just a couple updates.

All of the financial documents have been filed with the State of Missouri and several manufacturers and distributors of VERY good equipment have a copy of our license.  Many have some decent initial buy-ins, typically $500.

First order as a company was placed with Ace Cases (www.acecase.com) who are purveyers of VERY nice bags and holsters.  It was a fund raiser for the Liberal Gun Club (www.theliberalgunclub.org) and $90 was raised for the club via Pro Range Bag purchases.  These bags are made here in Missouri, are VERY high quality and feature three pistol 'rugs' and a removable magazine holding shooting pad.  All seams are double stitched, all velcro is industrial quality and all zippers are reenforced.

Another great company is Unique AR's, (www.unique-ars.com) who make freefloat handguards for AR-platform firearms.  Their design is very good, they use a proprietary barrel nut that is easy to install and the handguards are all made of high-strength aluminum with custom cut outs.  If you buy one through my link or because you saw it recommended here, please do me a favor and let them know that "Olsen Training Group" sent you.

Maxpedition (http://www.maxpedition.com) is another company that we will be selling.  Their high end gear bags and morale patches will be available soon and I will post here as soon as they become available as well as what we will be stocking.  I can get them for less than MSRP.

For survival supplies, we will be a stocking Thrive merchant.  More info on that, my lovely wife will be running that portion of the business.

As well as running firearms safety/CCW training I will be building AR uppers for sale and will be selling black powder cap-and-ball pistols.   AR uppers will be built around Aero Precision/Surplus Ammo stripped uppers, barrels from a few different sources (Alpha Shooting Sports, Black Hole Products, SSE Machining) and Midwest Industries handguards.  The Cap-n-ball pistols will be Armi San Marcos gift sets and single pistols.

Exciting stuff is coming!

Olsen training Group is GO!

We got our paperwork back from the State, Olsen training Group is moving ahead now.

Along with running classes for CCW in several states (Missouri and Illinois to start, Tennessee and Arkansas coming soon!), we will also be dealers for several quality companies that fit with our goals and interests.

Maxpedition, makers of very good bags and storage gear

Offhand Gear, women's clothing and other gear

Elzetta Lights - high-end flashlights that are tougher than nails and nearly indestructible

Deer Creek Products - black powder and antique  pistols and rifles

Thrive - survival and long term storage solutions.



Classes will be starting up in October, 2013.