The Redwood Gun Guy

Introduction: When I started this blog just about a year ago, I started it just as a brain dump for all of the accumulated knowledge I had built up around the topics of firearms and shooting. I was in a transitional period of life. I had just graduated college with a degree that didn't really give me any direction. I was entering a job that I tolerated as a way to make money, so I wanted to put some time into something that I actually cared about. I try to take this blog pretty seriously and hold myself to making a weekly post. I don't always accomplish this, but I think I do a decent job at it.  I tried to do my best to emulate something that I would want to read and look at, while having no idea how to make a blog halfway successful. I found it funny when I first started out. When I first started posting links on social media, people thought that my accounts had been hacked and that I was just posting spam. Now, on Mondays people ask me what today's post is about and ask ...

Introduction: I wanted this weeks post to serve as a thank-you supporting my blog thus far. I've been making weekly posts for over half a year now, and this has been a great time for me. My hope is that you have gotten something out of this as well. I try to talk about things that I have a decent understanding of with hopes that I can either teach someone something they didn't know before, or I can spark an interest in someone to look into something further. With that being said, thank you for coming to my blog and thank you for reading! Details: One thing that I did not expect when I started this blog was how far reaching it would become. I am regularly get weekly views from readers in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This was such a surprise to me because I honestly didn't expect my content to reach much further than my state, let-alone my continent. In countries that are much less gun-friendly, I hope that my content helps get someone into the hobby as be...

Introduction: First adopted in the early 60's for use in the United States' new M16 rifle, the 5.56x45mm round, now referred to as 5.56 NATO, has become one of the most prolific cartridges on Earth. Originally developed by Remington as the .223 Remington cartridge, it has been iterated over decades to add the effectiveness and results desired by today's modern militaries. Aside from specialty loadings like tracers, there are three main loadings of 5.56 NATO that are currently in use: M193, M855, and M855A1. Each loading was developed to meet certain requirements for wounding potential and penetration. I'll go into each round and try and highlight some of their unique qualities.  Details: Source: https://magtechammunition.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/556A-cut.jpg We'll start with the simplest round, M193. M193 is just your basic 55 grain, full metal jacket (FMJ) round. The M193 bullet is comprised of a lead slug with a copper jacket. The advanta...

Introduction: There is probably no more recognizable firearm in the United States than the AR-15. Designed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950's, the AR-15 style of rifles remain the most adaptable, dependable rifles in use by governments and civilians alike. The design of the AR lends itself to light recoil, fantastic ergonomics, and a well-sealed system that is resistant to mud and dirt ingress. The AR-15 style of rifle has seen every caliber and barrel length under the sun, and Stoner's system continues to be a base for firearms innovation and experimentation.  Details: The AR-15 is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle with a multi-lug rotating bolt. The multi-lug bolt has clear advantages over two-lug systems such as the AK-47 or M14. First, multiple lugs allow for a more consistent lockup, since there are more engagement surfaces between bolt and trunnion. This increases overall accuracy and consistency of the rifle.  Second, the multiple lugs allow for ...