David, has anyone done a deep dive into the "non traditional gun community" to the level of a book? You have often touched on it. There are folks like Liberal Gun Owners, Pink Pistols, Operation Blazing Sword, BGOA, NAAGA, Women Gun Owners Assn. of America, etc. It's not just Duck Dynasty and White Guys in the Woods with ARs (recent NY Times piece**) anymore....
Have to say hunting used to be great fun for me, and a chance to spend a lot of time with my former in-laws and their friends. Since I stopped shooting animals and went vegetarian, I am out of that culture although I still admire folks who fill the freezer and still prize my Model 70 Winchester and Ithaca Mod 37. I think trophy hunting is unethical, other than putting up the eight (or whatever) point rack for the venison in the chest freezer.
Maybe if I were to add anything to the list it would be like that New York times article from last week. You know the communities of practice that are working on things beyond just firearms. I hesitate to call them the prepper communities, but you know what I mean. You referenced it as maybe gun culture 2.50 😉
I bought a couple of cheap tools that I regret. A cheap set of gunsmithing tools from somewhere, (roll-pin punch, screwdrivers, brass/plastic hammer, etc.) and cheap torque wrenches from Harbor Freight. I have replaced a bunch of them. Shouldn't have gone dirt cheap to start, though some of them are OK. (I just can't decide if I trust the HF torque wrenched to be accurate.)
YouTube used to have a lot of videos on building an AR, but Alphabet has been killing 2A content. I don't know if those were included, but check Rumble as a lot of 2A content around guns has moved over there.
The M16, basis for the AR-15, was designed to be maintained by high school graduates with minimal tools in the field. You'll do fine.
Good tools are worth the long haul investment. I am still wrenching bicycles, cars, and motorcycles with Craftsman and Park tools I bought literally half a century ago. I recently bought an AR specific tool kit, but the tools are identical to what I'll need for a pistol trigger job I'm planning for tomorrow over morning coffee. But you nailed one problem: springs flying across the room along with other small parts. I plan on clearing the dining room with its wood floor for any serious surgery, to avoid losing things in shag rugs or my garage, which has a nightmare of places where one can lose small parts.
Though the spring-loaded brass pins that hold a lot of things together are a trial at times. (Most of the "lower build kits" and the like include extras, because they tend to get launched across the room.)
Thanks for these tips! I have some people who want to help me, so I'm trying to decide whether to go that way or do a true DIY project. I'm not trying to prove anything so the former is attractive, but I do like novel experiences so the latter is too.
David, has anyone done a deep dive into the "non traditional gun community" to the level of a book? You have often touched on it. There are folks like Liberal Gun Owners, Pink Pistols, Operation Blazing Sword, BGOA, NAAGA, Women Gun Owners Assn. of America, etc. It's not just Duck Dynasty and White Guys in the Woods with ARs (recent NY Times piece**) anymore....
Have to say hunting used to be great fun for me, and a chance to spend a lot of time with my former in-laws and their friends. Since I stopped shooting animals and went vegetarian, I am out of that culture although I still admire folks who fill the freezer and still prize my Model 70 Winchester and Ithaca Mod 37. I think trophy hunting is unethical, other than putting up the eight (or whatever) point rack for the venison in the chest freezer.
Short answer is no, not yet. I am still working on a Gun Culture 2.0 book (probably) where I give space to those parts of the gun owning community.
Maybe if I were to add anything to the list it would be like that New York times article from last week. You know the communities of practice that are working on things beyond just firearms. I hesitate to call them the prepper communities, but you know what I mean. You referenced it as maybe gun culture 2.50 😉
Good reminder to keep my eyes out for Gun Culture 3.0 leaning developments.
That's the NY Times piece I was trying to find again.
David shared it as a gift article. Hopefully it still functions that way
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/us/prepared-citizens-guns.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-U4.z9l_.5Hco2CYqrSpI&smid=url-share
Thanks! I get the e-Times, but couldn't remember the title of the article.
On the gun build...
I bought a couple of cheap tools that I regret. A cheap set of gunsmithing tools from somewhere, (roll-pin punch, screwdrivers, brass/plastic hammer, etc.) and cheap torque wrenches from Harbor Freight. I have replaced a bunch of them. Shouldn't have gone dirt cheap to start, though some of them are OK. (I just can't decide if I trust the HF torque wrenched to be accurate.)
YouTube used to have a lot of videos on building an AR, but Alphabet has been killing 2A content. I don't know if those were included, but check Rumble as a lot of 2A content around guns has moved over there.
The M16, basis for the AR-15, was designed to be maintained by high school graduates with minimal tools in the field. You'll do fine.
Good tools are worth the long haul investment. I am still wrenching bicycles, cars, and motorcycles with Craftsman and Park tools I bought literally half a century ago. I recently bought an AR specific tool kit, but the tools are identical to what I'll need for a pistol trigger job I'm planning for tomorrow over morning coffee. But you nailed one problem: springs flying across the room along with other small parts. I plan on clearing the dining room with its wood floor for any serious surgery, to avoid losing things in shag rugs or my garage, which has a nightmare of places where one can lose small parts.
Though the spring-loaded brass pins that hold a lot of things together are a trial at times. (Most of the "lower build kits" and the like include extras, because they tend to get launched across the room.)
Thanks for these tips! I have some people who want to help me, so I'm trying to decide whether to go that way or do a true DIY project. I'm not trying to prove anything so the former is attractive, but I do like novel experiences so the latter is too.