11/13/2022 - BLOG COMMENTS are again allowed and are moderated to exclude only the bots, advertisements, racial / ethnic pejoratives, and embedded links. I'll attempt to honor Chicago's historical "Bughouse Square" concept of free-speech and open debate --- spanning the curve from the far-left to the far-right. /JZ
Blogging to you from the Northeastern Badlands of The County of Lake, in the state currently known as Fatmanistan, DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP inside the heartland of the Banana Republic formerly known as the USA, WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! WARNING! ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE ADDICTIVE; EXCESSIVE USE MAY LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, REDUCED JOB PRODUCTIVITY, INSOMNIA, SOCIAL ALIENATION, GENITAL ULCERS, BLINDNESS, POLITICAL EROTICISM, AND / OR DEVIANT FUNAMBULISM. NOTICE: NO GUNS OR AMMUNITION ARE FOR SALE VIA THIS BLOG. (No, I will not trade my Colt Python for some lubricious adventures with your trophy wife and a future first-round draft pick.) CAVEAT: This blog is not suitable for viewing while at work, while inside a public library, while inside any public or private school, or while inside any public or private restroom. Do not view this blog while driving a motor vehicle or while piloting an aircraft. Viewing this blog may be illegal inside the EU, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and other parts of the Third World. THIS BLOG CONTAINS (albeit often very childish) ADULT-CONTENT. DISCLAIMER: This blog is a hobby, it is not a livelihood. Even though much of what I blog about relates to firearms collecting and recreational shooting, I am not an expert (by any measure) on any facet of guns, shooting, hunting, or personal defense. Entries at this blog are akin to good old-fashioned campfire chats or post hunt bourbon-fueled barroom-bluster; I offer no opinion on what you should or should not purchase, or what you should be using or doing. What does or does not work for me could be rugged-country-miles away from your tastes and your needs. All products, places, and miscellany that I review for this blog are purchased / rented / leased at retail price by me. I do not accept payment, gifts, discounts, freebies, products on loan, distilled spirits, recreational pharmaceuticals, plea-bargains, probation, parole, Papal Blessings, Presidential Pardons, or sexual favors for doing any review or blog post. TRACKING COOKIES: Google et al stick tracking cookies on everybody. If you are online, you are being spied on via one method or another, for one reason or another; 'nuff said. You may be able to minimize your online DNA residue by using Tor and Duck Duck Go. Vive la liberté! Vive all y'all! Ante omnia armari. To each of you, thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, June 29, 2017

HOLSTER REVIEW: Frontline 2202 IWB Holster for Beretta 84 FS Cheetah .380


It does not sit too high and it does not sit too low.  This holster seems to have been designed with some creative input from folks that actually carry the Cheetah for serious business.  I've used this holster often for EDC and I give it high marks.  IMHO, it is probably as good an IWB holster as I am ever going to buy "off the shelf" for the Beretta 84 FS Cheetah.  Besides, not many custom holster makers seem to have this pistol in their library and, to be honest, I just don't feel like taking a chance and investing a couple of hundred dollars into having a custom holster made that may turn out to just plain suck.  For somewhere around $45 out of my pocket, this holster turned out to be a very good value.

CLICK HERE to read about a holster that I was enamored with but ultimately DID NOT WORK OUT at all for me with the Cheetah.

(PHOTO ABOVE) The snaps on the belt loops on this Frontline IWB are not the "directional snaps" that I prefer but they are good quality and are secure enough;  I've been pretty animated while carrying this IWB and I do not recall a snap ever popping unexpectedly.  The holster rides well, hides well, and the pistol stays secure.  I like it.  It works for me.  The holster belt loops are for an 1.5'' belt; belt shown is a MAGPUL Tejas El Original 1.5'' belt.





(PHOTO ABOVE) The leather is good quality and stitching is very decent.  
The extra band of leather at the mouth of the holster is both a sweat-shield and a hold-open that actually works.  Re-holstering the pistol is smooth and instinctive. 




(PHOTO ABOVE) For IWB, my preference is for leather holsters like this with leather straps and quality snaps.
Synthetics just don't work for me.  





(THE TWO PHOTOS ABOVE) Whenever I need to carry the Cheetah in my pants pocket, I simply improvise by using this Frontline IWB holster as a pocket holster.  It fits okay.






Sunday, June 25, 2017

The new roof took only a day. High-fives all around to the owner and the crew-members of Lake County Roofs, Inc.

The (original) ~20-year-old roof came off and the new roof went on in a single workday.  It was a hot day but luckily for the crew it was also overcast and breezy.  We are on a small cul de sac and it was a challenge to not block some of the neighbors' driveways during a project like this.

We didn't try to get our insurance company to pay for any part of the job, although many of our neighbors have done so this year and over the many years prior.   If there had been catastrophic storm damage to the roof, oh you can bet that I would have brought in the adjuster, but this roof was just showing age.  I did notify my insurance company that I expected some sort of rate reduction for being a righteous guy about all of this, else I will be soliciting quotes for our Auto-Home Policy from competing insurance companies after the first of the new year.

For this roofing job, I secured three competitive quotes from properly insured and licensed roofing companies (vetting is a pain but it is worth the time and effort).  The contractor that we used was the smallest outfit of the three bidders and his quote was substantially less than those from the big outfits.


Another project off the list; now on to other pressing matters ...







Tuesday, June 13, 2017

How many victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre died with guns in their hands? How many of them at least had a chance?

How many victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre died with guns in their hands? How many died with guns in their holsters, pockets, or purses? How many rounds of ammunition were fired by the victims in self-defense? Anyone ... ?



Sunday, June 4, 2017

Self-defense in Great Britain is now down to to Run! Hide! Tell!

Great Britain is governed by elitist FOOLS! Restore the RIGHT of SELF-DEFENSE to your people, and stop trying to spread your insanity internationally. CLICK on the target below and read some wisdom from 2015.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

June 1, 2017 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: 5 Star Firearms offers a shooting league for new shooters from in and around Lake County, Illinois and Kenosha County, Wisconsin



5 Star Gallery Shooting League:
This league is designed for new and entry level shooters, all are welcome.  A new and different shooting course will be set up for each event date.   Required:  Semi-auto pistol (larger than .22 caliber), outside the waistband holster, 3 mags, 50 rounds of ammo minimum.

No optics will be allowed.

June 14th & 28th, July 12th & 26th, August 9th & 23rd.  Prizes for the top 3 shooters at each event.  All events start at 7 PM. Entry Fee is $18.00 per event.  (Pay as you go; there is no requirement that participants must attend each date)


5 STAR FIREARMS
41666 N. SHERIDAN ROAD
ZION, IL 60099
847-731-7898


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