It's BACK!! The OPTI-GRAB made NCIS New Orleans tonight!!

[treadlightly]

I just saw the last few seconds of the show. The bad guys got tricked, they showed up at the aircraft hanger cocked, locked, and ready to rock - and it was a trap.

Slowly, they laid their weapons down except for the one guy who looked like more of an operator than James Yeager himself. Seriously. The real deal.

And I swear the bridge of his nose was resting against the charging handle on his AR, on target, ready to fire. Maybe that contributed to how much I thought he outshone, in his own special way, professional Youtube operators.

I don't own an AR. I do not often shoot at 100 yards, but when I do, I prefer to hit the X-ring with my Colt Government Model.

Don't ask me for rifle advice. I barely know what the charging handle is. But it seems to me the pull on that stock was seriously off. Or maybe someone didn't tell the actor you don't actually shoulder the buffer tube on an AR pistol, if that is in fact what the weapon was.

Or, just maybe, he's one of those boys of summer The Eagles sang about, used to shooting with hair combed back and his sunglasses on, baby, and uses his charging handle as a makeshift Opti-grab.

Could be. Ouchless bandaids, anyone?

Opti-grab details http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079367/synopsis.

[JP171]

to properly sight the AR-M series of rifles the tip of your nose is SUPPOSED to be in contact with the charging handle. so yea ummm SHHHH!!!!

[WildBill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaz2hxZLycY

[Jago668]

Went and watched it just to see. It was just an AR15 with a collapsible stock. Stock was collapsed all the way, so impossible for him to shoulder it (which you can see he didn't have it actually set in his shoulder when he sets it down). First half of the close up he is about the right distance away, there is a cut-a-way to the police, and when they come back he is actually touching his nose to the charging handle.

Typical stuff of having an actor that knows nothing about guns getting 5 minutes of "instruction" from someone right before they film.

[The Annoyed Man]

What the heck?

BTW, I have fired my AR carbine with the stock collapsed all the way a whole bunch of times. It's not THAT big of a deal. Not sure what the fuss is all about.......

[JP171]

What the heck?

BTW, I have fired my AR carbine with the stock collapsed all the way a whole bunch of times. It's not THAT big of a deal. Not sure what the fuss is all about.......

because people don't know the weapon system and don't practice with it to become proficient

[mojo84]

I don't understand the big issue either. I've seen some unconventional methods before that seems to work just fine for the individual using them.

Then again, I'm certainly no operator or AR expert. Can someone elaborate on what's the big issue?

[treadlightly]

I don't understand the big issue either. I've seen some unconventional methods before that seems to work just fine for the individual using them.

Then again, I'm certainly no operator or AR expert. Can someone elaborate on what's the big issue?

There was a scene in a TV show about a week ago that hit my funny bone. Without really thinking it through, I posted.

A guy on a TV show appeared to have his AR against his nose in a posture otherwise suggesting he was about to shoot. Bracing a rifle against one's snoot reminded me of Steve Martin's old schtick.

In other words, no big deal, just something that probably wasn't worth the energy it took to post.

But, hey, cut me some slack. I like to write. I share Thomas Paine's birthday, although his common sense made the rounds better than mine ever will - and that's probably no mystery. I see something, I heckle something. It's my way of honoring the cap and bells of my office.

[mojo84]

Got it. I was wondering if some thought the charging handle cycled when the gun was fired and would hit the guy in the nose.

[Abraham]

"Slowly, they laid their weapons down except for the one guy who looked like more of an operator than James Yeager himself."

Do a little research on this guy - his actual status is laughable.

[Jago668]

I know the charging handle doesn't cycle. But if you don't have it shouldered, and your nose is pressed against the charging handle; you are going to get booped in the nose.

[Scott in Houston]

While camping in college, one of my idiot friends, bet us that he could shoot his little Marlin .22lr semi off his nose. He put the butt of the stock up to his nose and fired. It bloodied his nose. We take for granted how much even smaller caliber rifles kick just because our shoulders barely feel it. Having that charging handle near your nose without having the stock shouldered is a recipe for a bad cut and bloodied nose.

[treadlightly]

"Slowly, they laid their weapons down except for the one guy who looked like more of an operator than James Yeager himself."

Do a little research on this guy - his actual status is laughable.

Quite so, but there is an important lesson he can teach.

Think about the students on his firing line, banging away at targets next to people. Most of them are probably perfectly decent folk who wouldn't have done such a thing prior to being corrupted.

Like the subjects in the Milgram experiment, those shooters came to accept conditions counter to their upbringing.

I recognize my willpower and judgement has vulnerabilities, just as theirs did. Not because I'm a wuss or overly pliable, but because I'm human.

That, to me, is an important lesson even if it came from a dangerous buffoon. Decide beforehand to be "that guy," the one willing to risk being a party-pooper in the name of common sense. That makes me a more responsible person.

Sure, I'll hold your beer while you do something moderately stupid and would ask the same of you. No need to be a prude - but on the other hand, nobody could coerce me to fling lead in a friend's general direction. Because I've decided in advance to resist such things, it's not going to happen, nor will other violations of important personal rules.

And see what I just did to myself, there? Now I'm in the hot seat not to be stupid. I'm no saint and have no real grip on good judgement, but after spouting off like this, today would be a really bad day for an ND. Let a little fear of peer pressure work for me, for a change, and maybe I can avoid ventilating my leg.