I surprised myself. I didn't even realize I was counting shots, but as he took aim again I thought, "Hey..." And then he turns and says, "I know." Had to laugh.
Excellent Content - To recap: 1. Use less ammo. 2. Do sub-caliber training 3. Dry fire practice 4. Do drills that don’t require live fire 5. Make timely and correct ammunition choices Keep coming back to stay informed!
"buy ammo a year ago" sounds like funny advice until one remembers that this current ammo shortage also happened four years ago and four years before that. There is a trend, and we can see this coming. So, buy a year ago.
I agree with that. I would simply say that when there's plenty of ammo around, that's when you buy. Instead of just buying the bare minimum of what you need for the "immediate now!" in those circumstances. Even i here in Sweden have ammo to keep a soviet infantry charge at work keeping their heads down. One box here and there will wind up becoming a mountain if you keep at it. Toilet paper can always be substituted with a handful of leaves in a dire situation; but a substitute for putting holes in a bad guy crawling through your window, not so much. Point being, spend money wisely on "stuff" of other kinds, so that there will always be ammo-money in the piggy bank. Perhaps black powder is something to consider taking up as well. A shot from a Texas walker ought to work an unsettling effect on an Adidas-clad generation of only knowing smokeless cartridges. Ok i'm getting out of hand here. Good night!
I do the "always leave one box , jar , whatever for the next person" when I shop , if I really want peanut butter and there are three jars left , I buy 2 and leave one for the next person . This is my own personal code of conduct , laugh if you want , but I believe everyone needs a personal code of conduct .
I like your style. It angers me when I go to buy a bottle of shampoo or whatever and there’s none because a couponer came in and bought all 40 bottles to resale on Facebook to make $10 profit. Greed knows no limits for some people.
You can't always rely on manufacturer's recommendations concerning dry fire being acceptable. Case in point....The Ruger Weangler single action .22lr revolver. The Wrangler manual states that the revolver can be dry fired without damaging the firearm. This is very much untrue. While reviewing the Wrangler for my channel I decided to test this and promptly peened every chamber to the point where rounds could not be inserted. Which is exactly what I had always been taught would happen and fully expected. This damage happened very quickly. I then contacted Ruger and they quickly replaced the cylinder at no charge. I then did a video warning Wrangler owners that I had tested and proved the manual incorrect. I did this on purpose as part of the review process. But many first time firearm owners would not know better and would be mislead by the manufacturer's manual.
When Paul went to aim the revolver, all I could think was, "Paul you're our of rounds" to which he answered, "Yes I know" . But then again you should always count the rounds in your gun
I bought a BB gun that is the same as a Beretta 92 and I have used it for training drills. Paul is the only video source for me on You Tube. I’ve watched others to be fair and I get more valuable info from Paul than all others combine.
I work for one of the nation big box sporting goods stores behind the gun counter. Our company’s standard operating procedure is to carry all of those obscure calibers of ammunition so that we never have to tell a customer we don’t have their ammo. (During a non shortage) back in February it was the 9mm that we couldn’t keep in stock (I was quite pleased to still be able to get 45acp). When March came 380, 45, 38, and 357 also disappeared. 10mm and 40 s&w followed suit except for some Winchester train and defend hollow points in caliber 40S&W that I couldn’t give away. (Those took a couple months to leave the building.) An over stock stack of 32ACP and 25ACP that we had been stuck with since 2016 vanished in May. The Russian 9mm as well as the 9mm Kurtz (labeled as such, not as 380) also disappeared around that time. Probably went to new gun people looking for 9x19. 5.56 and any gauge buckshot disappeared back in February with the 9. Middle of August the fudd calibers started to go, and because it’s western Pennsylvania, my hunting ammo is pretty much gone. But to get to the takeaway, yes, the popular calibers sold out first. Then the obscure stuff sold, however I get shipments every week of 9mm, 5.56, and 12 buckshot. 380, 40, 45, 22lr, 7.62x39, and 10mm are recurring characters. 32, 25, 9mm mak, 17 fireball, 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC are just gone. Even some popular cartridges are nearly impossible to get, 300blk, 38spl, 357 mag, 20ga buckshot, 7.62x51 and 5.7x28 are good examples of this. What I am driving at is that yes, early on in the shortage you could get ammo for your obscure gun when others could not. But here we are 9 months into the shortage and only the really popular calibers are being restocked. If you catch us on truck day, you will get some 9mm. If not, you have to wait until the next week. Want some 32 auto? Come see me in 18 months, future events depending.
this will make you think before heading to the range. i always take Pauls advice to be top notch. keep on doing what you do Paul, its something i look forward to watching.
Great stuff explaining the issue with dry-firing. The best solution for any doubts with dry-firing is to get yourself a set of snap caps for each gun that you intend to dry-fire. Get a few spares, because snap caps eventually get worn out from the firing pin impacts. There are sorts of snap caps for rimfire guns, but an often better solution is to save a few dozen fired cases to drop the hammer on instead. The rims will get chewed up pretty quickly, but you can either toss those out after that, or you can rotate the case around to a spot that hasn't been hit by the firing pin for a few more dry-fires.
For AR-15 owners with .223/5.56 barrels, I highly recommend the CMMG .22LR conversion kit. Just swap out the BCG and use the .22LR mags that come with the kit. With new mags, only load them to 15 rounds to avoid feeding issues. Once your springs break in after a while, you can start increasing the capacity until you're running 25 rounds with little to no feeding issues. Kit was about $270 when I bought mine in 2019 (.22LR BCG + 3x 25rnd mags). I think I ordered mine through Brownells. Great piece of kit to have, especially for small game hunting. You may want that .223/5.56 for the coyote, but let's say you see some forest grouse or pheasant and you're legal to take 'em, you can convert to .22LR in about 10-15 seconds and rather than carrying another rifle or a .22LR pistol, you have effectively a second rifle in the space of one pocket holding a BCG and mag. Last time I checked, a .22LR BCG and one .22LR mag weighs a whole lot less than a .22LR rifle, so yeah, it's a must-have bit of kit for AR-15 owners.
Late to the ballgame after finally getting out of NYS, I got my first 9mm two weeks after the ammo ran out. Friends gave me some, I returned the favor in 12 gauge and .223. What goes around comes around.
Great suggestions! As long as I’ve had high cap semi auto pistols, I only load 5 or 10 at most on the range. No need to burn up all of your ammo in a couple mag changes. Work on your reloads, and still plenty of shots for accuracy tests. Also, it’s plenty for those 2 round, double action to single action drills.
I love how you pulled the pellet gun out. It's not perfectly analogous like you said, but it absolutely can serve a purpose. Growing up my dad taught me firearm safety and the basics on how to zero in iron sights and a hunting scope with our .177 pellet gun. Cheap and plentiful ammo, no brass to pick up, and was something we could safely do in our backyard without annoying the neighbors. I still have that thing and take it out in the backyard from time to time just to plink cans or kill unsuspecting cardboard boxes.
@@victorwaddell6530 Use 4-6-8 x 7/8 plastic wall anchors as snap caps for .22LR. They cost about $5 per box of 100. They eject in my .22 revolver and I can load them in the magazine on my 10/22 and they cycle manually just fine. Each one gives you multiple dry-fire reps before the 'rims' get too chewed up, especially in a revolver where you can easily spin the rim to where it hasn't been struck by the firing pin.
@@cristianespinal9917 Thanks ! I have a couple 22LR rifles , one bolt action , one semiauto. I have a semiauto 22LR pistol and a 17HMR bolt actoin rifle . Any help with dry firing my rimfire guns is appreciated. Keep your powder dry , my friend !
I'm so glad you had some heavy equipment operating in the background. That back up beeper reminded me of the day's of the training facility in the background
All good tips. Thanks. One fortuitous choice years ago was a .357 LCR. I rarely actually shoot .357 from it, but I wanted a strong platform for .38 +P. What is fortuitous is that when ammo went dry, a local guy was still supplying my local range/gun store with wadcutter .38 reloads. Now, I really like wadcutters for self defense, and I was able to buy 100 reloads at 1/2 the store price for new .38 spcl. The lower recoil makes the light LCR a delight to shoot.
A year ago my words where. (I'll never buy a 22, i have no use for them) I own 2 now. So happy im still training, and sitting on my larger calibers. Smith and wesson makes the AR 22. It's great for staying up on the AR platform.
Same here. I always overlooked the 22 and never even thought about owning one. Now I have 3. It is the most fun I've had on the range, and my mom can join in because the non existent recoil doesn't bother her bad shoulder, so that's an added benefit
I can't speak for the other .22s, but the Ruger 10/22 (and the Ruger Mk pistols as far as I'm aware) were designed to be dry fire safe. There's a stop pin inside the bolt that prevents the firing pin from traveling far forward enough to strike the breech face. User manual for the 10/22 states it can be done for practice, also explicitly recommends dry firing to get used to the trigger on the target model. When I got my 10/22 years ago, I contacted their customer service to confirm that first hand before doing it with mine.
CMMG .22 LR Conversion kit for the AR-15 has been amazing for training with my AR-15's at 50 meters and below. It's surprisingly reliable and accurate enough within 50 meters for most drills.
Wanted to take a moment to let you know that having watched a number of your videos over the years I've come to believe that you are one of the better presentations generally and obviously at the top rung of the legion of those posting firearms related materials. It's difficult to satisfy all consumers and I'm sure that you have your detractors but you can't please everyone. I also appreciate your taking the time to announce the distances that you are demonstrating from. While shooting skills vary its always good to know the distance at which the shooter obtained the shot grouping they obtained so that some comparison can be made. Ditto with your explanations about what equipment you might be using such as when you are comparing bullet velocities and measuring the relative fps or other ballistic dynamics. Keep up the good work. Finally, have you ever considered a segment(s) on reloading and the experiences you've had?
Excellent advice. I employee all these techniques, so it was nice to see Mr Harrell demonstrating them. LOVED to see the air rifles. Currently sending alot of .22 down range. Also spending a fair amount of time on the deck firing air rifles (.177 .22). New .22LR arrived so that should be fun. Beep beep beep beep. Happy Thanksgiving.
@@Caligari87 This means.... Those Spongebob PJs may be what Paul sleeps in. It would suck to break in to Paul's house. Can you imagine the last thing you see in this life being a pissed off Paul Harrell wearing Spongebob sleep pants while putting a perfect group in to your torso?
Was looking for 00 for a while for home defense to compliment my .40. Saw your video on the subject and figure 7 1/2 will work. Stay safe and all the best from the Bay Area. MK
I got cold just watching this so had to go put on socks to finish watching. Here in coastal SC that strange white stuff and howling wind are rare as ammo for every damn thing I own.
A year and a half ago I came across a small town Walmart selling 12ga and 20ga REM Nitro Turkey loads for $1.88 a box of 10rnd. I said to myself "These aren't the rounds I shoot when Turkey hunting so even though they're cheap I don't need them" Then I turned around and bought a whole case of each. I figured I could use them to help me and my daughter train to shoot actual Turkey loads from all different position and not "flinch" every time we pull the trigger as $5 flew down range. Now I'm even happier that I have 12ga and 20ga ammo on the shelf.
The airsoft gas blowback replicas are great for training at home. Feel and weight is very similar to real steel. The manual of arms is the same, recoil is like a 22, slide locks back on an empty mag (extras available), loud enough to use with a shot timer, and perfectly safe in the garage or basement - Might even work with your kydex. I've been doing the Lenny McGill Gun Fit drills on 3 cardboard box/hockey jersey/paper target bb traps and a free shot timer phone app. Ammo's about $30 for 10,000 biodegradable rounds, plus co2, that's exactly, um, pretty cheap. And way more fun than a laser (or standing out in the woods with a break barrel pellet gun). Also, being indoors makes it easy, although slightly embarrassing in my case, to video yourself and see just what you actually do under pressure when the timer beeps.
I started reloading over 20 years ago. Not for ammo shortages, but so I could shoot more. As a side benefit, I am not nearly as affected by these swings in the market. Wheel weights and scrap lead don't seem less available and I have more than enough brass to last the rest of my life. I do notice that primers are hard to come by right now but I have a few years worth of those as well. During the last .22 shortage, I was shooting .38 with home cast cheaper, and more importantly, easier to get, than .22 fodder. Icing on the cake is that I find reloading a fulfilling hobby in and of itself.
Hi Paul, thanks for the presentation, just a quick warning from someone who spends a lot of time with air rifles: When loading a break barrel like that Gamo, it's a decent idea to keep one hand on the barrel and tuck the stock under your arm, so that if the latch should let go you don't end up short some fingertips. For anyone else, be careful scoping these rifles, the unique way spring-piston air rifles recoil will break many optics, including expensive options. Etched reticles are the way to go!
Dry firing - seems like there are so many rules, and so many exceptions to those rules, that we might as well not have any rules about it - other than "check the manual to see if it is OK". I think my Ruger Bearcat manual says it is OK for example. And I've never (till now) heard dry firing hunting rifles is a bad idea! Every time I bring one to the bench, the first trigger pull is a dry fire, just to re-acquaint myself with the gun. My general rule with rimfires is to put a fired case in the chamber and dry fire it like that, at least when putting it back in the safe with relaxed springs, always a good idea.
It has been a challenge. Although it is frustrating, I do like the increase in first time gun owners, I just hope they get training and range time so they arent walking hazards. I did purchase a Ruger MK4 just so I could practice with .22 during these times.
I have .22lr conversion kits for most of my semi auto's and .22lr versions of most of my rifles making live fire practice less expensive. I also do drills from a pocket, IWB, OWB and table pick up with quick target acquisition. I also train with double and triple shots, reloading, magazine drops and revolver speed loader practice. Off hand shooting is also practiced as is one hand slide racking. It's all about repetitive motion and muscle memory.
great stuff as usual. not to say i told ya so, but i saw this ammo shortage coming 2 cycles ago.. it is a pattern. rather than buying up ammo in the "in between" time, i taught myself to reload and build up a supply of components. i also had about a month between when the store made ammo dried up and when components dried up.
Also, look out for crappy ammo - a local firing range dropped a skid of 9 mm in the middle of their store, and people were grabbing what ever they could carry (at $.80/round). Later I was out shooting with my buddy, trying out my new Canik TP9 Elite, and got 5 jams in the first two 15 rnd mags. My buddy had Winchester 9mm, so to test we switched ammo. Turns out he had 5 jams in his Sig P365 with my crappy stuff, and with the Winchester ammo I had none.
Nothing wrong with shooting pellet guns. He’s rite about it helps with trigger control sight alignment and breathing. I have a Hatsan tact model25 has some recoil. Plus pellets are cheap you can shoot all day. Shooters will shoot anything even a rubber band gun and still gain some type of training off it.
Right now most shot shells are out of supply, that said so are the components like primers, powder, shot and metallic cartridge primers and bullets are difficult or impossible to find.
RE- 10/22 Dry Fire Paul - My 10/22 manual (B 8/16 R29 edition) says on page 18 that it can be safely dry-fired if pointed down range. Check the manuals - or ask the manufacturer. My 1973 S&W Model 14 manual recommends it.
I enjoy archery practice as much as shooting my guns. Sometimes I rather take my recurve bow out and practice. I also own break barrel pellet guns. They are fun to plink with also. I might get another muzzle loader to save ammo.
While I do agree with this and like the quote, I have to throw out it's counterpoint: "Beware the man who only owns one gun. He probably set it in a drawer for 20 years and has no clue how to use it."
Or he inherited it from grandpa slowfire & now he posts all over the internet about how he's a gunowner who grew up shooting when in reality gramps let him shoot a couple rounds once
@@Bearclaw_Jake one beats none...not everybody going on the attack if SHTF...we own more than 2,and we don't plan to assault city hall...like many folks, just leave us the hell alone is our sentiment...
Good video-covered a lot of waterfront. I envisioned drooling ongoing with the deliberate engagement sequence....Ammo and component shortages (for reloading) were a big problem starting in 2009--and the problem is back but much worse now after a period of somewhat largesse these past several years-exacerbated by the cancellation of things like regional gun shows (like the Dulles Va Show.) Some of the auction houses (PROXIBID...) have decent prices even with shipping and "fee" (particularly SKS, bulk 22, 357 SIG-although I would try to buy from your area so you can go pick the ammo up.) A good time to buy somewhat of a compromise weapon until the "storm passes." The .177 a great option (for marksmanship training)--Benjamin model comes with a decent IR scope...pellets are plentiful... Thanks!
One observation I’ve made is that I’ve always always always been able to find .40 S&W. Maybe not the cheap stuff, but when you couldn’t find anything else, there was defensive .40 almost everywhere.
Another good training aid is an Airsoft version of your common carry or defense gun. No it doesn't shoot exactly like the real thing, but it's close enough that you can do presentation drills and practicing things like drawing and firing from cover, often from the comfort of your own home (especially handy during these "lockdown" times).
I got into a habit of buying 2 or 3 boxes of ammo every month. No matter what. Even if I didn't "need" it. It's never really enough but I feel like I can sit back and not panic about it right now. Airguns, airsoft, & archery are fun times right now too.
OK, you made me smile with the novice imitations. We have all looked like that at one time or another. Also liked that you 'opened' with the 38 revolver (my carry). We are all likely to need our ammo sometime in the next 8 weeks. Particularly if you live in a swing state or DC
If you haven't yet get into reloading. Hoarding your used brass is easy. Stocking up on primers and powder are less easy but still doable. Bullets are another thing. Stock up on bullets you can use and try bullet casting. I'm not just talking about pistol rounds. Rifles need the same things but normally in smaller quantities. The exceptions being .22 bullets and .30 bullets. Buy them in bulk when you can.
Another very good reason to practice presentation, stance, and aim/fire with .17 cal air rifle/pistol is that one can do so indoors from the comfort of one's basement or garage in most jurisdictions w/o committing a felony or misdemeanor. As always, I am not providing advice, just an opinion of what works for me!
Doing all those drills that don't require ammunition are also a good idea when ammunition becomes plentiful. Not important training involves a moving projectiel.
I was buying the 100 round boxes for $18. It's good stuff and I have a lot of it. They also had 100 round boxes of JHP's for $32, and I have quite a few of those too. It's also really good stuff.
Tip number 6: bayonet drill.
*laughs in SKS and M44 Mosin*
I just duct tape a katana to the end of my Taurus PT22!
@@EricRedbear 😂😂😂 i like your thinking
BANZAI
Oh lordy, I remember those drills, waaay back when.
My thought: “You’re empty there, Paul.”
Paul: “Yes, I know.” 😂
He always knows
He really covers all the bases! All of them!
I surprised myself. I didn't even realize I was counting shots, but as he took aim again I thought, "Hey..." And then he turns and says, "I know." Had to laugh.
Excellent Content - To recap:
1. Use less ammo.
2. Do sub-caliber training
3. Dry fire practice
4. Do drills that don’t require live fire
5. Make timely and correct ammunition choices
Keep coming back to stay informed!
"buy ammo a year ago" sounds like funny advice until one remembers that this current ammo shortage also happened four years ago and four years before that. There is a trend, and we can see this coming. So, buy a year ago.
Redlock ...OK anything else you want me to get when I’m there?
I agree with that. I would simply say that when there's plenty of ammo around, that's when you buy. Instead of just buying the bare minimum of what you need for the "immediate now!" in those circumstances. Even i here in Sweden have ammo to keep a soviet infantry charge at work keeping their heads down. One box here and there will wind up becoming a mountain if you keep at it. Toilet paper can always be substituted with a handful of leaves in a dire situation; but a substitute for putting holes in a bad guy crawling through your window, not so much. Point being, spend money wisely on "stuff" of other kinds, so that there will always be ammo-money in the piggy bank.
Perhaps black powder is something to consider taking up as well. A shot from a Texas walker ought to work an unsettling effect on an Adidas-clad generation of only knowing smokeless cartridges.
Ok i'm getting out of hand here. Good night!
@@peterloftus6259 Old friends.
This year's ammo shortage is the worst since 2008. And I think it's worse than the 08 Ammo Famine.
@@peterloftus6259 🧐
We've collectively gone from playing Doom to playing Resident Evil in terms of ammo availability.
most people are too dumb to get what you did there.
@@robslams2324 Eh, it'll be worth it for the few gamers who get it.
IDKFA was the unlimited ammo code in Doom, if I remember right lol
@@foreignperception2593 doom eternal is masculine as fuck. on the last lever of ancient gods 1. git gud
Joke's on you. I haven't shot a firearm yet, so I'm still playing Outlast, lol.
I do the "always leave one box , jar , whatever for the next person" when I shop , if I really want peanut butter and there are three jars left , I buy 2 and leave one for the next person . This is my own personal code of conduct , laugh if you want , but I believe everyone needs a personal code of conduct .
I like your style. It angers me when I go to buy a bottle of shampoo or whatever and there’s none because a couponer came in and bought all 40 bottles to resale on Facebook to make $10 profit. Greed knows no limits for some people.
I do the same brother. Good job.
if there is 4 i wont take more than 2 ... so tired of the hoarders ....
Thanks for not being greedy .
"take some and leave some" said a wise person!
Can you imagine being the poor fella that has to write Paul a letter saying his ammo order is delayed? 😩
Yeah for real, Paul’s killed like 3 civilian people
You can't always rely on manufacturer's recommendations concerning dry fire being acceptable. Case in point....The Ruger Weangler single action .22lr revolver. The Wrangler manual states that the revolver can be dry fired without damaging the firearm. This is very much untrue. While reviewing the Wrangler for my channel I decided to test this and promptly peened every chamber to the point where rounds could not be inserted. Which is exactly what I had always been taught would happen and fully expected. This damage happened very quickly. I then contacted Ruger and they quickly replaced the cylinder at no charge. I then did a video warning Wrangler owners that I had tested and proved the manual incorrect. I did this on purpose as part of the review process. But many first time firearm owners would not know better and would be mislead by the manufacturer's manual.
@Xray Paul The cheapest .22 snap caps are .22 once fired brass. They're free at the gun club, just have to pick them up. I like the shiny ones best!
The truck had the time to go in reverse TWICE during that first training session.
We're out in the woods today, so please bear with the sounds of construction in the background.
The truck was going up the hill, saw Paul... *HARD REVERSE HARD REVERSE GO GO GO !!!!*
Now Paul will have to have a standard apology for any heavy equipment we hear in the background. :)
I admit it. That first training session is me. Except I save the brass.
Shot at while doing construction work in the hills FULL STORY
When Paul went to aim the revolver, all I could think was, "Paul you're our of rounds" to which he answered, "Yes I know" .
But then again you should always count the rounds in your gun
I bought a BB gun that is the same as a Beretta 92 and I have used it for training drills. Paul is the only video source for me on You Tube. I’ve watched others to be fair and I get more valuable info from Paul than all others combine.
Paul Harrell makes a 30 minute video feel like 5 minutes. I dunno how he does it, but these videos are extremely helpful AND entertaining
I work for one of the nation big box sporting goods stores behind the gun counter. Our company’s standard operating procedure is to carry all of those obscure calibers of ammunition so that we never have to tell a customer we don’t have their ammo. (During a non shortage) back in February it was the 9mm that we couldn’t keep in stock (I was quite pleased to still be able to get 45acp). When March came 380, 45, 38, and 357 also disappeared. 10mm and 40 s&w followed suit except for some Winchester train and defend hollow points in caliber 40S&W that I couldn’t give away. (Those took a couple months to leave the building.) An over stock stack of 32ACP and 25ACP that we had been stuck with since 2016 vanished in May. The Russian 9mm as well as the 9mm Kurtz (labeled as such, not as 380) also disappeared around that time. Probably went to new gun people looking for 9x19. 5.56 and any gauge buckshot disappeared back in February with the 9. Middle of August the fudd calibers started to go, and because it’s western Pennsylvania, my hunting ammo is pretty much gone. But to get to the takeaway, yes, the popular calibers sold out first. Then the obscure stuff sold, however I get shipments every week of 9mm, 5.56, and 12 buckshot. 380, 40, 45, 22lr, 7.62x39, and 10mm are recurring characters. 32, 25, 9mm mak, 17 fireball, 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC are just gone. Even some popular cartridges are nearly impossible to get, 300blk, 38spl, 357 mag, 20ga buckshot, 7.62x51 and 5.7x28 are good examples of this. What I am driving at is that yes, early on in the shortage you could get ammo for your obscure gun when others could not. But here we are 9 months into the shortage and only the really popular calibers are being restocked. If you catch us on truck day, you will get some 9mm. If not, you have to wait until the next week. Want some 32 auto? Come see me in 18 months, future events depending.
this will make you think before heading to the range. i always take Pauls advice to be top notch. keep on doing what you do Paul, its something i look forward to watching.
Great stuff explaining the issue with dry-firing.
The best solution for any doubts with dry-firing is to get yourself a set of snap caps for each gun that you intend to dry-fire.
Get a few spares, because snap caps eventually get worn out from the firing pin impacts.
There are sorts of snap caps for rimfire guns, but an often better solution is to save a few dozen fired cases to drop the hammer on instead.
The rims will get chewed up pretty quickly, but you can either toss those out after that, or you can rotate the case around to a spot that hasn't been hit by the firing pin for a few more dry-fires.
For AR-15 owners with .223/5.56 barrels, I highly recommend the CMMG .22LR conversion kit. Just swap out the BCG and use the .22LR mags that come with the kit.
With new mags, only load them to 15 rounds to avoid feeding issues. Once your springs break in after a while, you can start increasing the capacity until you're running 25 rounds with little to no feeding issues. Kit was about $270 when I bought mine in 2019 (.22LR BCG + 3x 25rnd mags). I think I ordered mine through Brownells.
Great piece of kit to have, especially for small game hunting. You may want that .223/5.56 for the coyote, but let's say you see some forest grouse or pheasant and you're legal to take 'em, you can convert to .22LR in about 10-15 seconds and rather than carrying another rifle or a .22LR pistol, you have effectively a second rifle in the space of one pocket holding a BCG and mag. Last time I checked, a .22LR BCG and one .22LR mag weighs a whole lot less than a .22LR rifle, so yeah, it's a must-have bit of kit for AR-15 owners.
In
On
Late to the ballgame after finally getting out of NYS, I got my first 9mm two weeks after the ammo ran out. Friends gave me some, I returned the favor in 12 gauge and .223. What goes around comes around.
Great suggestions! As long as I’ve had high cap semi auto pistols, I only load 5 or 10 at most on the range. No need to burn up all of your ammo in a couple mag changes. Work on your reloads, and still plenty of shots for accuracy tests. Also, it’s plenty for those 2 round, double action to single action drills.
Smartly on point, and one of the best "non advisory" instructional videos I have ever seen.... Good job Paul!
I love how you pulled the pellet gun out. It's not perfectly analogous like you said, but it absolutely can serve a purpose. Growing up my dad taught me firearm safety and the basics on how to zero in iron sights and a hunting scope with our .177 pellet gun. Cheap and plentiful ammo, no brass to pick up, and was something we could safely do in our backyard without annoying the neighbors.
I still have that thing and take it out in the backyard from time to time just to plink cans or kill unsuspecting cardboard boxes.
30 min video and I did not want it to end. Love watching Paul and the advice he gives us.
Snap caps are still available and inexpensive for dry fire practice.
There are snap caps for rimfire guns made of red plastic , but the rims get chewed up after a few shots .
@@victorwaddell6530 Use 4-6-8 x 7/8 plastic wall anchors as snap caps for .22LR. They cost about $5 per box of 100. They eject in my .22 revolver and I can load them in the magazine on my 10/22 and they cycle manually just fine. Each one gives you multiple dry-fire reps before the 'rims' get too chewed up, especially in a revolver where you can easily spin the rim to where it hasn't been struck by the firing pin.
@@cristianespinal9917 Thanks ! I have a couple 22LR rifles , one bolt action , one semiauto. I have a semiauto 22LR pistol and a 17HMR bolt actoin rifle . Any help with dry firing my rimfire guns is appreciated. Keep your powder dry , my friend !
@@victorwaddell6530 I have metal snap caps for my .22LR even, look for A-Zoom brand.
Thanks for including a break barrel. I use them for backyard targeting
I'm so glad you had some heavy equipment operating in the background. That back up beeper reminded me of the day's of the training facility in the background
All good tips. Thanks.
One fortuitous choice years ago was a .357 LCR. I rarely actually shoot .357 from it, but I wanted a strong platform for .38 +P.
What is fortuitous is that when ammo went dry, a local guy was still supplying my local range/gun store with wadcutter .38 reloads. Now, I really like wadcutters for self defense, and I was able to buy 100 reloads at 1/2 the store price for new .38 spcl. The lower recoil makes the light LCR a delight to shoot.
Paul has the answers no one ask for but need
A year ago my words where. (I'll never buy a 22, i have no use for them) I own 2 now. So happy im still training, and sitting on my larger calibers. Smith and wesson makes the AR 22. It's great for staying up on the AR platform.
Same here. I always overlooked the 22 and never even thought about owning one. Now I have 3.
It is the most fun I've had on the range, and my mom can join in because the non existent recoil doesn't bother her bad shoulder, so that's an added benefit
I can't speak for the other .22s, but the Ruger 10/22 (and the Ruger Mk pistols as far as I'm aware) were designed to be dry fire safe. There's a stop pin inside the bolt that prevents the firing pin from traveling far forward enough to strike the breech face. User manual for the 10/22 states it can be done for practice, also explicitly recommends dry firing to get used to the trigger on the target model. When I got my 10/22 years ago, I contacted their customer service to confirm that first hand before doing it with mine.
CMMG .22 LR Conversion kit for the AR-15 has been amazing for training with my AR-15's at 50 meters and below. It's surprisingly reliable and accurate enough within 50 meters for most drills.
The truck beeping made me wonder if my ex-girlfriend was backing up
Wanted to take a moment to let you know that having watched a number of your videos over the years I've come to believe that you are one of the better presentations generally and obviously at the top rung of the legion of those posting firearms related materials. It's difficult to satisfy all consumers and I'm sure that you have your detractors but you can't please everyone. I also appreciate your taking the time to announce the distances that you are demonstrating from. While shooting skills vary its always good to know the distance at which the shooter obtained the shot grouping they obtained so that some comparison can be made. Ditto with your explanations about what equipment you might be using such as when you are comparing bullet velocities and measuring the relative fps or other ballistic dynamics. Keep up the good work. Finally, have you ever considered a segment(s) on reloading and the experiences you've had?
Thanks.
I do some reloading, but I don't consider myself an expert on the subject.
Every time I buy a gun I end up on a Harrell binge . I like humor and dry humor nears the top ... and Paul is a master .
I love it when Paul gives us just the tip.
Great job as always, Paul. Love your channel and all your insights.
I greatly appreciate the nuanced approach Paul takes. Life is rarely as “clean” as we would hope. Mind the caveats and make good choices.
This is the video I have always wanted to see from you! I can’t thank you enough. You continue to be a great role model of mine, sir!
my cousin would put spent 22LR casings in his revolver instead of having it empty for practicing... even applies the idea to his bolt action...
Did anyone else just smile watching him shoot the gamo?
One of the best person in 2A community, thank you Paul.
Excellent advice. I employee all these techniques, so it was nice to see Mr Harrell demonstrating them. LOVED to see the air rifles. Currently sending alot of .22 down range. Also spending a fair amount of time on the deck firing air rifles (.177 .22). New .22LR arrived so that should be fun. Beep beep beep beep. Happy Thanksgiving.
We're out hunting trucks today, so please bear with any beeping you hear in the background.
I smiled real big on the inside when Paul dropped that covert spongebob reference.
He's done it before on occasion, I love it every time.
Even been in Spongebob PJ pants to show a shooting in bed drill
@MrCevant At 15:10 when he does the "who knew this guy" bit
See this video for the original ref: th-cam.com/video/FEVaXyu0lWc/w-d-xo.html
@@Caligari87 This means....
Those Spongebob PJs may be what Paul sleeps in.
It would suck to break in to Paul's house.
Can you imagine the last thing you see in this life being a pissed off Paul Harrell wearing Spongebob sleep pants while putting a perfect group in to your torso?
I’ve just been dry firing in my parents basement like I always have
Please tell me you're using good snap caps?
🤦🏼♂️
when pulling ur "gun", wouldnt every "shot" out of it be a wet fire?
Dry fire at home, dry fire at work, dry fire during sex. That's the motto every man should live by.
@@YeeLeeHaw I just dry fired right now!!
As always...you are an outstanding instructor Paul
Great video. Thanks for sharing your experience, training, and education with us in such a thoughtful direct way.
2:30 I never met Paul so I'm somewhat puzzled he has my range routine down to a T 🤣🤣
Well said, and as always, very well presented. Thank you.
the outdoor shots in this video are great.
Was looking for 00 for a while for home defense to compliment my .40. Saw your video on the subject and figure 7 1/2 will work.
Stay safe and all the best from the Bay Area.
MK
Thank you for your experienced and intelligent insights. Always informative, often also entertaining.
Appreciate all your vids. Thanks Paul.
I got cold just watching this so had to go put on socks to finish watching. Here in coastal SC that strange white stuff and howling wind are rare as ammo for every damn thing I own.
It doesn't count as snow until it is at least ankle deep.
Wisconsin says hello.
Great video ! Love my Gamo Whisper, although I wouldn't consider it quiet. lol Thanks for all the tips on training !
Great ideas!!! Love this channel brother!!!
Wise words at a very difficult time. Thank you, Mr. Harrell!
Best teacher ever ,thank you Sir.
A year and a half ago I came across a small town Walmart selling 12ga and 20ga REM Nitro Turkey loads for $1.88 a box of 10rnd.
I said to myself "These aren't the rounds I shoot when Turkey hunting so even though they're cheap I don't need them"
Then I turned around and bought a whole case of each. I figured I could use them to help me and my daughter train to shoot actual Turkey loads from all different position and not "flinch" every time we pull the trigger as $5 flew down range.
Now I'm even happier that I have 12ga and 20ga ammo on the shelf.
The airsoft gas blowback replicas are great for training at home. Feel and weight is very similar to real steel. The manual of arms is the same, recoil is like a 22, slide locks back on an empty mag (extras available), loud enough to use with a shot timer, and perfectly safe in the garage or basement - Might even work with your kydex. I've been doing the Lenny McGill Gun Fit drills on 3 cardboard box/hockey jersey/paper target bb traps and a free shot timer phone app. Ammo's about $30 for 10,000 biodegradable rounds, plus co2, that's exactly, um, pretty cheap. And way more fun than a laser (or standing out in the woods with a break barrel pellet gun). Also, being indoors makes it easy, although slightly embarrassing in my case, to video yourself and see just what you actually do under pressure when the timer beeps.
14:00 never a video has startled me this much
Weather dose not effect this man. Thanks Paul!
l just point my finger and say "pew pew." I can shoot all day long.
Cannonball666 if you put a band aid on the tip,of that finger you can pretend it’s a sound suppressor then you wouldn’t even have to say.
“Pew-pew”.
It worked for Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino🤣
I started reloading over 20 years ago. Not for ammo shortages, but so I could shoot more. As a side benefit, I am not nearly as affected by these swings in the market. Wheel weights and scrap lead don't seem less available and I have more than enough brass to last the rest of my life. I do notice that primers are hard to come by right now but I have a few years worth of those as well. During the last .22 shortage, I was shooting .38 with home cast cheaper, and more importantly, easier to get, than .22 fodder. Icing on the cake is that I find reloading a fulfilling hobby in and of itself.
Hi Paul, thanks for the presentation, just a quick warning from someone who spends a lot of time with air rifles: When loading a break barrel like that Gamo, it's a decent idea to keep one hand on the barrel and tuck the stock under your arm, so that if the latch should let go you don't end up short some fingertips. For anyone else, be careful scoping these rifles, the unique way spring-piston air rifles recoil will break many optics, including expensive options. Etched reticles are the way to go!
Dry firing - seems like there are so many rules, and so many exceptions to those rules, that we might as well not have any rules about it - other than "check the manual to see if it is OK". I think my Ruger Bearcat manual says it is OK for example. And I've never (till now) heard dry firing hunting rifles is a bad idea! Every time I bring one to the bench, the first trigger pull is a dry fire, just to re-acquaint myself with the gun.
My general rule with rimfires is to put a fired case in the chamber and dry fire it like that, at least when putting it back in the safe with relaxed springs, always a good idea.
It has been a challenge. Although it is frustrating, I do like the increase in first time gun owners, I just hope they get training and range time so they arent walking hazards. I did purchase a Ruger MK4 just so I could practice with .22 during these times.
I would only say, on the subject of dry fire, that the owner's manual for each firearm should be consulted, at least as a starting point.
People during this crisis: "My caliber is nowhere to be found!! Oh no!"
My ass, who collects .38 Super pistols: "First time?"
About the only worse would be .44 automag lol
45 GAP
Usually I get your vids in my recommend but now i had to search this up.
I have .22lr conversion kits for most of my semi auto's and .22lr versions of most of my rifles making live fire practice less expensive. I also do drills from a pocket, IWB, OWB and table pick up with quick target acquisition. I also train with double and triple shots, reloading, magazine drops and revolver speed loader practice. Off hand shooting is also practiced as is one hand slide racking.
It's all about repetitive motion and muscle memory.
great stuff as usual.
not to say i told ya so, but i saw this ammo shortage coming 2 cycles ago.. it is a pattern. rather than buying up ammo in the "in between" time, i taught myself to reload and build up a supply of components. i also had about a month between when the store made ammo dried up and when components dried up.
I need to go to bed for work tomorrow, why can I not stop watching Paul’s videos lmao
All excellent points! Thanks for giving us some solid advice for these challenges 👍
Also, look out for crappy ammo - a local firing range dropped a skid of 9 mm in the middle of their store, and people were grabbing what ever they could carry (at $.80/round).
Later I was out shooting with my buddy, trying out my new Canik TP9 Elite, and got 5 jams in the first two 15 rnd mags. My buddy had Winchester 9mm, so to test we switched ammo.
Turns out he had 5 jams in his Sig P365 with my crappy stuff, and with the Winchester ammo I had none.
Snap caps are a good training aid as well
I do have to admit the place you shot the pelet gun looks amazing
You know times are bad when paul is shooting a pellet gun.
Nothing wrong with shooting pellet guns. He’s rite about it helps with trigger control sight alignment and breathing. I have a Hatsan tact model25 has some recoil. Plus pellets are cheap you can shoot all day. Shooters will shoot anything even a rubber band gun and still gain some type of training off it.
Right now most shot shells are out of supply, that said so are the components like primers, powder, shot and metallic cartridge primers and bullets are difficult or impossible to find.
This is almost exactly what I’ve been telling people. Glad Paul would agree with me.
RE- 10/22 Dry Fire
Paul - My 10/22 manual (B 8/16 R29 edition) says on page 18 that it can be safely dry-fired if pointed down range. Check the manuals - or ask the manufacturer. My 1973 S&W Model 14 manual recommends it.
I enjoy archery practice as much as shooting my guns. Sometimes I rather take my recurve bow out and practice. I also own break barrel pellet guns. They are fun to plink with also. I might get another muzzle loader to save ammo.
Beware of the man who owns one gun. He probably knows how to use it.
While I do agree with this and like the quote, I have to throw out it's counterpoint: "Beware the man who only owns one gun. He probably set it in a drawer for 20 years and has no clue how to use it."
Or he inherited it from grandpa slowfire & now he posts all over the internet about how he's a gunowner who grew up shooting when in reality gramps let him shoot a couple rounds once
Imagine living in today's political climate and only owning one gun.
@@Bearclaw_Jake Imagine thinking that a gun helps your political arguments
@@Bearclaw_Jake one beats none...not everybody going on the attack if SHTF...we own more than 2,and we don't plan to assault city hall...like many folks, just leave us the hell alone is our sentiment...
Thanks, Paul.
The first three minutes, funnier than the Paul Harrell Action Figure video? You be the judge.
My tip. Don't run your supply down to zero. Resupply when down to X amount. Store in it ideal conditions.
Good video-covered a lot of waterfront. I envisioned drooling ongoing with the deliberate engagement sequence....Ammo and component shortages (for reloading) were a big problem starting in 2009--and the problem is back but much worse now after a period of somewhat largesse these past several years-exacerbated by the cancellation of things like regional gun shows (like the Dulles Va Show.) Some of the auction houses (PROXIBID...) have decent prices even with shipping and "fee" (particularly SKS, bulk 22, 357 SIG-although I would try to buy from your area so you can go pick the ammo up.) A good time to buy somewhat of a compromise weapon until the "storm passes." The .177 a great option (for marksmanship training)--Benjamin model comes with a decent IR scope...pellets are plentiful... Thanks!
One observation I’ve made is that I’ve always always always been able to find .40 S&W. Maybe not the cheap stuff, but when you couldn’t find anything else, there was defensive .40 almost everywhere.
Another good training aid is an Airsoft version of your common carry or defense gun. No it doesn't shoot exactly like the real thing, but it's close enough that you can do presentation drills and practicing things like drawing and firing from cover, often from the comfort of your own home (especially handy during these "lockdown" times).
I got into a habit of buying 2 or 3 boxes of ammo every month. No matter what. Even if I didn't "need" it. It's never really enough but I feel like I can sit back and not panic about it right now.
Airguns, airsoft, & archery are fun times right now too.
dont forget about latex propelled (slingshot) plenty of ammo laying around on ground
the TopShot show did a segment on the slingshot
OK, you made me smile with the novice imitations. We have all looked like that at one time or another. Also liked that you 'opened' with the 38 revolver (my carry). We are all likely to need our ammo sometime in the next 8 weeks. Particularly if you live in a swing state or DC
I'm still waiting for those green Paul Harrell's T shirts.
Man I can't believe it's come to this. Paul has been reduced to shooting a red ryder.
At this time of year? He'll shoot his eye out.
If you haven't yet get into reloading. Hoarding your used brass is easy. Stocking up on primers and powder are less easy but still doable. Bullets are another thing. Stock up on bullets you can use and try bullet casting. I'm not just talking about pistol rounds. Rifles need the same things but normally in smaller quantities. The exceptions being .22 bullets and .30 bullets. Buy them in bulk when you can.
In times like this what about recommending proper storage please. Thanks Paul
19:35 if contacting the manufacturet doesnt work out, just use an empty case or dummy round as a buffer for dry firing.
Good stuff, Paul.. thank you..
Another very good reason to practice presentation, stance, and aim/fire with .17 cal air rifle/pistol is that one can do so indoors from the comfort of one's basement or garage in most jurisdictions w/o committing a felony or misdemeanor. As always, I am not providing advice, just an opinion of what works for me!
I know you're in Oregon, but I'd swear by the wind you're in the Artic!!!
Doing all those drills that don't require ammunition are also a good idea when ammunition becomes plentiful. Not important training involves a moving projectiel.
7 months ago Walmart was selling Remington 9mm green and white box of 50 for 8.50
I was buying the 100 round boxes for $18. It's good stuff and I have a lot of it. They also had 100 round boxes of JHP's for $32, and I have quite a few of those too. It's also really good stuff.