Or . . . you can just practice with your carbine

http://www.houtsenterprises.net/dur_hell-and-back.html

The time for being vain may soon be at an end with the way things are going in this country.

What is vanity?

vān/
adjective
1. 1.
having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth.
“their flattery made him vain”
synonyms: conceited, narcissistic, self-loving, in love with oneself, self-admiring, self-regarding,self-obsessed, egocentric, egotistic, egotistical; More

2. 2.
producing no result; useless.
“a vain attempt to tidy up the room”
synonyms: futile, useless, pointless, to no purpose, hopeless, in vain; More
While I respect that right to buy whatever paint scheme you want for your rifle/carbine, I do not respect the purchasing of enamel that says “this rifle has been to hell and back” (meaning combat), when it really hasn’t at the hands of the user. That is vanity at its worst. It says “let’s pretend I’ve been in combat with my carbine, because it LOOKS COOL”.

If the paint scheme above is purchased for anything other than a novelty firearm build, you’re wrong.  The problem with mixing “looking cool” with self-defense tools, is that there becomes a conflict of interest.  Looking cool is based on vanity.  Self-defense is based on preservation of the life and your “tribe” e.g. selfless behavior.  Vanity and selflessness don’t mix.  You cannot serve two masters . . .

And that’s the problem with some “would-be” preparedness folks out there today – they have no clue where the line is between novelty items and tools used to save lives. That’s why we see folks spend $1000 on a flat rail carbine only to throw plastic fold down sights on it. If violence continues to grow in this country, vanity and novelty is going away . . . it’s the way of things man.

“Irish, who cares what you value . . . “ Okay, I get you’re point, and even agree to some extent. However, my value is based on a desire to see my fellow citizen perform when the “chips are down” instead of looking cool in a self-defense situation. I promise you, a couple cans of Krylon camo paint will break up that black carbine and be relatively dry in 15 minutes (it says so on the bottle 🙂 ). The guy who’s more intrigued with the idea of getting off “the x” while protecting his family instead of looking cool . . . that’s what I value, and hopefully you do too.

(I have to take a side bar here and say that Hout’s Duracoat is great stuff. I love the durable finish they provide, and applied correctly in an ugly camo pattern, it’ll do well to disrupt pattern and blend the rifle into whatever background you may choose to imitate. If I didn’t have the scratch though, I’d feel fine with a couple coats of Krylon and some Matte clear coat.)

Bottom Line: I’m tired of hearing folks say “I bought this self-defense rifle for x, y and z . . . AND it looks really cool!” No one who’s serious about self-defense cares if you look cool . . . can you hit what you’re aiming at even when you’re tired, can you use cover, can you watch my back, can you PERFORM? And the only way to figure that out is to learn (go take courses), and practice.

While our society is obsessed with things that do not matter, specifically vain things – you and I should be different.  If you want a battle worn rifle look, earn it – GET OUT AND PRACTICE, GO TAKE SOME COURSES, GET YOUR CARBINE DIRTY, HIT THE DIRT WITH IT! I promise in no time, you will have that “look”. But do it because you need the practice, not because you want the vain “look” of something that hasn’t been achieved through hard work and study.

Folks, the time is drawing neigh in our country when we’re going to have to cling to what matters and get rid of things in our life that doesn’t. How cool you look with your rifle doesn’t matter, what you can do to protect your loved ones from criminals does.

Wake up your buddies man, give them a hard time about being posers if necessary. Do some PT. Make friends in your community and Harden up. Your gear is either effective for the task or it isn’t.

Stay safe,

“Irish”