VA-ALERT: Richmond meeting, gun review, gun shows and events

[OakRidgeStars]

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Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join.html
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VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. Richmond membership/pre-Lobby Day meeting January 12th
2. Gun review: Sig Sauer P250
3. Gun shows and events!

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1. Richmond membership/pre-Lobby Day meeting January 12th
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There will be a pre-Lobby Day meeting in Richmond on Thursday, January 12, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at:

Glen Allen Library
10501 Staples Mill road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Fellowship will start at 6:15 PM.

We will be discussing the upcoming Lobby Day, which will be on January 16th. The discussion will include bills that VCDL is working on and will be an introduction to Lobby Day.

The meeting is open to the public, so bring friends, family, and co-workers.

Afterward we will adjourn to a local restaurant for continued fellowship.

Thanks to EM Brandy Polinowski for making the arrangements for the room.


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2. Gun review: Sig Sauer P250
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This review is for the Sig-Sauer P250. Your mileage may vary. (I had one member email me who had a bad experience with his Kahr P380 malfunctioning.)

In my search for a reliable, high-capacity, concealable, and flexible handgun, I came across the Sig Sauer P250 series. The P250 is chambered for .40 S&W, 9mm, .357 Sig, or .45 ACP. There are subcompact, compact, and full size models.

What is neat about the P250 is that it can be reconfigured using optional kits. You can change caliber and/or size of the gun in about a minute. The key is that the part of the gun that requires the background check to purchase is the trigger group! The trigger group can be easily removed and put into a larger or smaller frame, changing the gun, for example, from a compact to a subcompact or a full size. Or by simply changing the slide (which includes the barrel and recoil spring) and magazine, you can change calibers in seconds.

There are interchangeable slides for 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig. .45 ACP slides do not interchange with the other calibers, so the frame would need to change along with the slide to go between .45 ACP and the other calibers. The kits are not inexpensive, but they are cheaper than a new gun and they can be shipped to you directly as no background check is required for them. The kits include a complete side, frame, and magazine - just no trigger group.

One can also get three grip-sizes for compact and full-size frames and two grip-sizes for the subcompact. I have smaller hands, so I purchased the smallest size and I like how it feels - much more comfortable than some of the thicker guns, like the Glock.

I normally carry the P250 configured as a subcompact .40 S&W. For more inexpensive practice, I can switch the slide and magazine and shoot 9mm. If I am planning on carrying the .40 S&W back home, I also switch the frame. That way when I am through shooting, all I have to do is wipe down the trigger group and put it in the original (and clean) frame and put on the .40 S&W slide (which is clean, too) and in a minute or two I’ve got a clean gun ready to protect me on the way home from the range.

One of the things I like about the P250 is that it is extremely reliable – right out of the box. Malfunctions are simply not an issue with this gun.

I’m not thrilled about the trigger. It is smooth but long and a little heavier than I would like. But the gun is accurate and the trigger is workable. The trigger also has a double-strike capability should a round not go off on the first hit.

With the P250 the bullet will hit where the front sight is pointing, not slightly above the front sight as is common for many other guns. So, to hit a bulls-eye, you would cover the bulls-eye with the front sight.

The gun comes with night sights. Like the Glock and the Kahr, there are no external safeties, and all internal safeties are disabled automatically when you pull the trigger.

For .40 S&W and .357 Sig, the capacities are 10 + 1 (subcompact), 13 + 1 (compact), and 14 + 1 (full-size). For 9mm, 12 + 1, 15 + 1, 17 + 1 For .45 ACP, 6 + 1, 9 + 1, 10 + 1.

Here is a link to the P250 page on the Sig Sauer web site:

http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductL ... -p250.aspx

Next review will be of the Chiappa Arms Rhino revolver in .357 Magnum.


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3. Gun shows and events!
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The Virginia Citizens Defense League thanks the following
member-activists who generously gave of their time to advance and
help defend the rights of their fellow gun owners by working our
recruiting and information booths at gun shows and events around
the state.

Richmond, December 3-4
George Lawson, Bob Sadtler, Carl Shuler, Walt MacKay, Alan Konkle,
Chuck Williamson, and David Crosby

Salem, December 17-18
Sherrill Smith, Ken Modica, Ed Noell, Charlie & Bonnie Giese, Bill Noell,
Edward French, Kathy Smith, Don Beheler, Bill Brown, and Al Steed Jr.

Dale City, December 17-18
Thomas Pietras, Richard Kroh, Terrell Prude, Tess Ailshire, Dr. Jerry Coffey,
Dexter Guptill, and Michael Burnham


As an all volunteer organization, VCDL depends on YOU to volunteer
your time at our area events, where we recruit new activists and keep
gun owners informed. No experience necessary; if it's your first time
we'll pair you with a veteran volunteer. To find out more about
helping at our gun show tables, go to:

http://www2.vcdl.org/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/vcdl/gs.html

and click on any of the blue links, or contact the coordinator for
the show/event listed below with which you are interested in helping.
Here are the upcoming events with which we need YOUR help:


a. FREDERICKSBURG http://www.guns-knives.com, December 31-January 1

Saturday, December 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to
help in Fredericksburg.


b. ROANOKE http://www.showmasters.us, December 31-January 1

Saturday, December 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Roanoke.


c. RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, January 7-8

Saturday, January 7 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 8 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Showplace in Mechanicsville.


d. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, January 14-15

Saturday, January 14 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 15 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Michael Burnham at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.


e. HAMPTON http://www.guns-knives.com, January 21-22

Saturday, January 21 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 22 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Ron Lilly at HamptonRoadsgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Hampton.


f. SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, January 21-22

Saturday, January 21 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 22 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Salem.


g. FISHERSVILLE http://www.showmasters.us, January 28-29

Saturday, January 28 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 29 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Fishersville.


h. RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, February 4-5

Saturday, February 4 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Richmond Raceway Complex.


i. CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, February 10-12

Friday, February 10 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 12 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Danny Paulson at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Chantilly.


j. NORFOLK http://www.showmasters.us, February 18-19

Saturday, February 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 19 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Jerry Brunner at Norfolkgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Norfolk Scope.


k. VIRGINIA BEACH http://www.guns-knives.com, February 18-19

Saturday, February 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 19 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Gary Moeller at VBgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Virginia Beach.


l. DOSWELL http://www.guns-knives.com, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to
help at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, near Kings Dominion.


m. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Michael Burnham at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.


n. HARRISONBURG http://www.showmasters.us, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Harrisonburg.



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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]