Airgun browsing & pellet buying

Took the clan to the beach today. A leisurely drive to the Western Peninsula. Of course, we made a few stops, checking the latest versions of the Diana 350 Magnum and the Model 34. Generic, plain looking rifles minus the beautiful checkering as in past models.

Sports & Games staff seem to be confused as to the correct prices of pellets. This confusion lost them a sizeable sale today, as I had planned to stock up due to a reported 20% sale. When the staff member insisted there was no sale on pellets, I walked.

I still bought pellets, but from one of their competitors.

The beach was uncrowded; the water warm and soothing. The children had fun, with The Goddess enjoying every minute.

Today was a good day.

Pellet prices up; Police arrested

Three of the arrested police officers. Photo: Newsday.

For months now, I’ve been suggesting that airgunners stockpile airgun pellets. Well, today I went to one of the cheaper suppliers and the one brand that’s stocked has a price increase of 30%! Needless to say I thanked the cashier and left it at the cash register.

Even though I have a few tins stockpiled in that brand, at the old price, I feel as though I should have bought more. Clearly, the prices of airgun supplies are not included in the government’s latest inflation figures.

What’s in your basket?

========================================

BOY ARRESTED WITH AIRGUN

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Chaguanas on Sunday night with an air-pistol. The minimum age for owning an airgun in Triniad and Tobago is 18. The report shows up the ignorance of the reporter and editor regarding airguns, and our national airgun laws.

==========================================

FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED

The four police officers who were caught on camera stuffing $96,000 in cash into their pockets were arrested and released on bail of $150,000 each. They are due back in court on Sept 8.

If police officers are unsure of the conduct that is expected of them while in the service, then here is the list of policing principles, offered by Sir Robert Peel. They are commonly called the Peelian Principles or The Peelian Police Principles.


Principles of Policing

1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.

3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.

7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Source: New Westminster Police Service

Police officer caught renting gun

Police Constable Curt Teesdale Photo: Newsday

A police officer with 20 years service has been caught in the act of renting out his gun. He is out on $125,000 bail, and is represented by attorney Anuusha Panday.

Constable Curt Teesdale, 43, of St Mary's Village, Moruga, attached to the Mon Repos Police Station. He faced three charges-misbehaviour in public office, the illegal transfer of a firearm and the illegal transfer of ammunition.

This officer’s misbehaviour has already cost tax-payers $28,400, for taunting and illegally arresting a gay man.


IMPENDING PELLET SHORTAGE?

On the issue of ammo, there are rumours circulating about a possible pellet shortage. After a meeting with some airgunners recently, a picture emerged. Some dealers have expressed concern about the difficulties they are experiencing in clearing their pellets from the port. Inordinate delays and increased bureaucratic ‘red tape’ from Customs and Excise officials. When contacted, one dealer said he will no longer import pellets. A couple dealers couldn’t even give a time frame for when they will have new supplies, as they had run out.

Remember, the hunting season begins October 1st. Airgun hunters need specific types of pellets for hunting. This impending shortage, can drive up the price of pellets significantly, making airgunning much more expensive than it already is.

New airgunners can be daunted by this and choose cheaper, less rewarding hobbies. Let’s hope this really doesn’t become a shortage. But it would be prudent to plan for this scenario. Again, I suggest that you stockpile airgun pellets now.

If you wait till the price has doubled, you’d be sorry. Airgunners are in a better position than firearms owners, as there is no legal limit to the number of pellets we possess.

Firearms Users License (FUL) holders have a legal ammo limit of 50 shells (shotgun), with only 200 shells purchased, per year. Pistol owners have a legal possession limit of only 25 cartridges. Sport shooters (rifle, pistol) are not allowed to possess any ammunition; all ammo to be purchased and shot at an approved range.

Stockpile now, avoid the rush.

Stockpile airgun pellets now

After checking pellet prices locally and abroad, it looks as though our local prices are competitive. This may soon change, as local airgun dealers place new orders. It may be that the local prices are competitive because the dealers buy infrequently and in bulk. Therefore the present prices reflect ‘old stock’.

Buying and stockpiling airgun pellets is a good idea, even if the prices aren’t going to increase in the near future. They are relatively cheap--and more importantly--available. Having a number of tins in your stockpile helps ensure security. If the dealers ran out of supplies for weeks or months-on-end, you won’t be caught unprepared. You’d still be able to practice, eradicate pest, hunt small game, and, if the situation required it, defend your home (with a little help). Tins containing 500 generally cost between $75-$200. One unscrupulous dealer in Arima, sells a tin of 10.5 grain Baracuda pellets for $300! The same pellets are sold in Chaguanas for $125.

Recently, someone told me about his visit to a dealer’s store, located at a popular mall in the west. The dealer was selling pellets with no information (on the tin) about the grain (weight). This is just one of the challenges that airgunners in Trinidad and Tobago encounter. When questioned, the staff usually give no satisfactory answers. Or they simply lie, to ‘save face’.

As airgunners, we should share information with each other. The free flow of information will help us to avoid expensive pitfalls and encourage new shooters to join this fun hobby. And it is fun. I have witnessed rabid anti-gunners giggle like schoolgirls the first time they took up an invitation to shoot an airgun. Many have gone on to become airgunners.

Stockpile now. Avoid the rush.

SEA, CSM, Pellets

Congratulations to all the students who did well in the 2009 Secondary Entrance Assessment exams. Parents, now is the time to enroll your boys in the TT Cadet Force. A 99 year old institution that helps boys develop their discipline and leadership qualities during their restless, testosterone-filled years. Now that the Defense Force has a functioning Air Guard, there is a program underway to develop Cadets for the Air Guard.


CARIBBEAN STEEL MILLS TO CLOSE

So Caribbean Steel Mills is to cease operations and send home 85 employees. Back in September 2008, this blog suggested that, “…the local iron and steel industry can look at producing (airgun) pellets for local and regional markets.”

Is it too late? Maybe not. I urge CSM Executive Chairman, Janice Bain-Mottley to recapture her father’s entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit, and look again. There is a large market of airgunners throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Think big. Move fast. Have fun.

No need to stop at airgunners. Venezuela recently bought 100,000 AK103 assault rifles from Russia. Our own TT Defense Force made recent arms purchases as well. What about manufacturing the parts that are prone to break easily and often? What about ammunition, magazines, barrels? Why should we constantly be dependent on foreign nations for our national defense needs?

Gas price increases and pellets

Filled up at the pump the day after Budget reading and immediately felt the new gas price at the pump. Ouch. Must consult mechanic to determine whether a switch from ‘premium’ to ‘super’ would have any adverse effects on the car. The gas station owner recommended the switch along with a bi-monthly dose of fuel injector cleaner.

Bought some pellets today. The much-touted, extra heavy Diabolo Baracuda. A couple tins to start the hunting season. The dealers prices range from $108 to $300 per tin. Having a few thousand pellets feels good. Especially since the prices of most consumables keep increasing almost monthly. Perhaps the local iron and steel industry can look at producing pellets for local and regional markets.
Happy Republic Day to all. I’ll celebrate by taking my family shooting this morning. After a hearty breakfast, a couple hundred pellets downrange can work wonders for the soul.

- Trini Funshooter

Budget Day

Today the 2008-2009 Appropriation Bill will be read in Parliament. For the first time in our nation’s history it will be introduced by a woman; Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tescheira. AirgunsTT congratulates Minister Nunez-Tescheira, and wishes her well in her first Budget reading.

We’d also like to draw her attention to the high cost of airguns and related expenses. One glaring example comes to mind. A spare magazine for the 15 shot FX Revolution cost US$20-30 retail in the US, but is sold here for TT$1,000! The dealer has expenses such as sales tax, shipping, 40% customs duty etc., but even with the most liberal calculations, and allowing for a 100% profit, this should still be sold for less than $700. But that’s for another post. Hopefully, we can alert Madam Minister about our plight, so that she can alleviate some of the strain that T&T airgunners feel in the 2009-2010 budget.

We’d also like to invite her to join us on the range any day she feels like. We promise her that if she hasn’t yet shot airguns, she’d love it. We have seen numerous hoplophobes become shooters after only a couple minutes of safety instructions followed by a few minutes of target shooting. Yes, air gun shooting is fun, indeed. That’s the main reason we do it. The fun factor.

While on subject, we have seriously archaic laws drafted in the stone age regarding airguns. Will the Minister of National Security please look at these laws again? Most airgun manufacturers around the world no longer produce smooth bore airguns. Some suggested relevant changes:

1. Allow present (and future) airgunners to own rifled airguns.
2. Allow present (and future) airgunners to own .22 airguns.
3. Allow present (and future) airgunners to own multiple airguns.
4. Allow present (and future) airgunners to keep tools, spare parts, equipment and supplies necessary for maintenance of the guns we own.
5. Allow present (and future) airgunners to set up workshops, courses to produce airgunsmiths.
6. Give tax relief to airgunners where possible, especially for hardware and training.
7. Have the Planning Ministry incorporate airgun ranges in all new HDC and other planned communities.
8. Introduce airgunning to Form One students at all secondary schools, perhaps with MILAT involvement.
9. Encourage local steel industry to look at the manufacture of pellets for local and regional sales. As far as we know, there is no competition here, and it is an opportunity to be a foreign exchange earner. Perhaps IAC (International Airgunning Centre)? Why not? At least regional! We have experienced shooters (even Olympic level), coaches, shooting administrators, technical persons. Leverage this resource.

Happy Budget Day. Happy Republic Day.

- Trini Funshooter

Backyard shooting fun

Today, Kev, Dave and I had some fun backyard shooting. Dave brought paper targets and we shot to our hearts content. Finally shot some of the much touted ‘Baracuda’ pellets. It’s fairly heavy (10.5 gr) and suitable for our powerful rifles (the ads hype quote 1250 fps). Liked them enough to immediately buy a tin of 500 and stashed them away in my preps. Dave was kind enough to sell me from his stash. The paper targets were used to zero the rifles.

Dave shot 2 birds, 1 zandolee, 1 Julie mango (at the stem) 2 coins, 2 plastic bottle covers and a number of baby oranges. One of those birds was a pigeon shot from about +100 metres away. I admire both his speed and accuracy. He even skinned and gutted the birds for our education. There’s no doubt that in a grid-down disaster situation, he’ll be able to survive on his own by stocking the larder with game. He’ll also be an asset to any group that can use those skills. Fortunately the man lives merely a few blocks from me. A pharm tech in training, he hunts, fishes and yes, shoots air guns.

Between the 3 of us we shot about 100-120 pellets.