Gunsmith 'r' Us. 

2015 is a change for us at Patriot Aims.  We closed the store in August (2014) because we could not compete with the online stores that were selling firearms at or below our cost. We turned into a transfer station, and an ammo depot (when it was available). At the end of the day, it was hard to justify paying the rent, utilities, etc. to bring in guns for customers who ordered them from somewhere else in the country. 

So now, we open as a gunsmithing operation. 

Check out the new website    www.patriotaims.com 

Thanks for your support. 

Fire Starter

Cotton balls saturated with petroleum jelly (don't need a name brand).  Can store it in a plastic bottle with a screw top.  Easy to store and carry.  Lights every time. 

Internet Firearms Purchases and the Demise of Local Gun Stores.

Today I learned about a local gun store (a competitor?) going out of business. Everybody's first response is "yippie!".  One less shark in the tank.  Right?  

Personally, I would like to have MORE gun stores and competitors so I can actively strive to be the best gun store in town. Best service, best prices, etc. Actually, I am more concerned about that store's demise because it is proof that more people are choosing to buy on the internet than at their local gun store. 

So what's wrong with that?  

Let me explain the purchasing protocol (at least in North Carolina). 

When you purchase a firearm, you are required to complete a form 4473 (ATF) that formally documents the sale. If you buy a firearm in our store (or order one in our store), the 4473 transfer is included in the price.  When you buy the firearm online, you still have to complete the 4473. but now we charge you a "transfer fee" because we are liable for the transaction information.   

We currently charge a small transfer fee. It's really as a convenience for our customer base.  We don't always have the right firearm at the right time or price and customers find them someplace else. That's great! And we're happy to accommodate the customers who find the firearm they are searching for. 

But the trend is that more and more customers are buying their firearms from internet sources and using the local stores as the document clearing house. 

I can understand locating a hard to find firearm that the local store doesn't have in stock. Buy it and ship it to your local gun store. On the other hand, why buy a gun that the gun store has in stock or can order?  Sure, you may save a few dollars because you didn't have to pay sales tax. 

But when the local stores all fold because of loss of sales to the internet giants, who is going to be around to handle the required ATF transfers?  If I am the only guy in town, my transfer fee is going to go from $20 (current)  to $150.  Why not?  I have a brick and mortar store, bills to pay and no sales to support it.

With the current environment, I suppose that traditional gun stores are going to eventually (maybe sooner than you think) fade away.  Anti-gun legislation makes it harder to make a gun transaction every day. It is an inexorable push to make it harder and harder for citizens to own firearms.  We are trying to help facilitate that process. "Progress" is working against us. 

Please. Support your local gun store. Support the 2nd amendment.

Is that a Mosin?

Recently, I made the decision to add a large caliber rifle to my collection and after some deliberation and research, chose the .308 as the caliber of choice. The decision was helped when I started to look at the various rifles available that shoot that caliber. One of the originals - the Mosin Nagant 91/30 - a Russian battle rifle that has a long history of solid and reliable performance. 

Here's a picture of the rifle I bought (after clean-up).

The 91/30 is a simple design, bolt-action rifle, with an internal 5-round magazine. It actually shoots a 7.62mm x 54R round, which is the equivalent of the modern .308Win round. There were millions of 91/30's manufactured and it has been used in almost every major battle worldwide. While prices are beginning to head north, the basic 91/30 can still be purchased for under $200. Two drawbacks - 1) the rifle is very heavy (> 8lbs.) and is very long (48"). 

Another deciding factor - cost and availability of ammunition.  There is an abundance of war surplus ammo stored virtually all over Europe and Russia. Much of it was packed in the 1970's and has remained untouched since it went into the storage cans. The good news is that the 7.62x54R cartridge can be purchased for less than $.30/round. In today's crazy ammo market, that's less than most pistol ammo.  And certainly less than .308 ammo.  

This is what the ammo looks like in the "spam" can.   

Each can contains 440 rounds.  You open it like you would a sardine can with the opener (seen at the front right of the crate).

For reference, this is how the 7.62x54R compares to other common calibers:

From left:  .22LR, .380ACP, 9mm, 5.56, and 7.62x54R

I took the Mosin when I went deer hunting this past season. Didn't shoot anything but we did put some holes in a paper target.  At 50 yds. I was putting shots into a 2" circle with iron sights. 

All in all, I'm happy with my decision to buy a Mosin. It's simple, clean looking, and solid. I planned to leave it as I bought it, although I am contemplating adding a scope. 

Then I saw the ProMag Archangel stock for the Mosin Nagant at a gun show. One look and I knew I had to have it.  You can see why. 

The Archangel stock is lighter (polymer), stronger (fiber reinforced); has an adjustable cheek rest and butt pad (pull length), and provides a removable magazine. To finalize the set-up, I added a bipod and a Witt Machine muzzle brake.

The gun now looks very modern, is lighter, and has a full free-floating barrel.  

Can't wait to go hunting with this baby. 

And now...

This is the gun that Anna Built.