I am not a proponent.
Before Friday Colin Powell had endorsed Hillary. Then the Wiener Docs drop. And Secretary Powell gets humiliated again.
And he might have already voted!
My ex-wife early voted before the Wiener Explosion. How do you go back and change your vote?
Just make it the one day. Have firm and clear absentee balloting rules. Such that you know the count from those before election day, so folks know ahead of time if there are shenanigans with those.
Heck, I'm even for purple thumbs. Yes, in the USA.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Korean Train Zombies
The Korean motion picture industry have been making some intriguing train movies of late. First it was that ice age forever train with Captain America in it. Snowpiercer. Loved Tilda Swinton in that, but I like her in everything.
Now... a Zombie Train movie. So, here I sit, intrigures. Train to Busan. T-Bolt has a must-see.
Especially if the movie is half as exciting/good as the trailer.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Smoke Detectors
My local fire department is doing som PSA that if your smoke alarm is over 10 years old, you should throw it away.
You bugged me all that time to put up a smoke detector, now you want me to trash it? Ok. Wish you'd make up you mind.
The car people made us get air bags in our cars, then they told us the airbags kill children and now they are recalling them completely because of shrapnel. Apparently they kill more people than they save, and notice they don't put em in motorcycles. Another expensive add on I didn't want that they are now taking out of cars. Well, too late! I always disable to airbags on any car I own. I don't even fasten my safety belt. I remember when dad brought home the 1978 Bonneville, having traded in the 1960s era LeMans. This was the first car I had sat in with a lap and shoulder belt. I grabbed the belt to buckle it when dad grabbed my hand, "I'd rather see your sister in a whorehouse than you in a seatbelt." Then he beat me bloody with a sjambok. That was my ninth birthday.
You bugged me all that time to put up a smoke detector, now you want me to trash it? Ok. Wish you'd make up you mind.
The car people made us get air bags in our cars, then they told us the airbags kill children and now they are recalling them completely because of shrapnel. Apparently they kill more people than they save, and notice they don't put em in motorcycles. Another expensive add on I didn't want that they are now taking out of cars. Well, too late! I always disable to airbags on any car I own. I don't even fasten my safety belt. I remember when dad brought home the 1978 Bonneville, having traded in the 1960s era LeMans. This was the first car I had sat in with a lap and shoulder belt. I grabbed the belt to buckle it when dad grabbed my hand, "I'd rather see your sister in a whorehouse than you in a seatbelt." Then he beat me bloody with a sjambok. That was my ninth birthday.
Range Trip Oct 26th
Instead of pairs, I did tres this time. Try to do a good trigger pull T-Bolt. You're getting too fast with that. Sure it is a better fast, but you have a long way to go before you can rush things and get good results. That was my thought going in. I only succeeded so much.
First set of three has a vertical line above the hole. Second set is circled. .22 Remington bulk ammo, 25 feet.
Look at that highlighted target! All three from one set in one hole. Never done that before. That made me happy.
Hey! Let's measure! Measuring progress is always a good idea. How did I do with the first set versue the second set? Am I getting fatigued and the score is falling off as I go? Or am I just warming up?
1st set: 199 1x
2nd set: 213 3x
I think with all this practice I've been doing I am getting in better shooting shape and relaxing better when I am shooting, so I am not fatigued less, my stamina is better.
---
Since starting this regime I have gone throw 150 of one brand of CCI, 500 of another brand, 200 of trash Remington Gold, and 250 of Federal bulk ammo. I've had a quite a few magazine related FTEs, especially with the first 100 rounds a year ago before I took a magazine out of circulation. One dud round.
All with the Wilson branded Ceiner .22 conversion on a middling quality Springfield 1911 frame with a creepy trigger.
First set of three has a vertical line above the hole. Second set is circled. .22 Remington bulk ammo, 25 feet.
Look at that highlighted target! All three from one set in one hole. Never done that before. That made me happy.
Hey! Let's measure! Measuring progress is always a good idea. How did I do with the first set versue the second set? Am I getting fatigued and the score is falling off as I go? Or am I just warming up?
1st set: 199 1x
2nd set: 213 3x
I think with all this practice I've been doing I am getting in better shooting shape and relaxing better when I am shooting, so I am not fatigued less, my stamina is better.
---
Since starting this regime I have gone throw 150 of one brand of CCI, 500 of another brand, 200 of trash Remington Gold, and 250 of Federal bulk ammo. I've had a quite a few magazine related FTEs, especially with the first 100 rounds a year ago before I took a magazine out of circulation. One dud round.
All with the Wilson branded Ceiner .22 conversion on a middling quality Springfield 1911 frame with a creepy trigger.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Simulator Straining
The training guns at my gunsmiths simulator go through a lot of trigger springs. One a week for the one gun people generally choose. Every two weeks for the one with the sights no one likes.
A spring a week?!
Yes.
Do the math. An average day is 5 half hour sessions. 200 'shots' a session. (Trigger pulls. It goes fast when you don't need to reload magazines.) Average. 1000 trigger pulls a day, 6000 a week. Plus Sam and the apprentices mess around in there a LOT. So the number may well be higher.
How many rounds do you go through on your Glock before you need to think about the spring? 120 boxes of ammo?
A spring a week?!
Yes.
Do the math. An average day is 5 half hour sessions. 200 'shots' a session. (Trigger pulls. It goes fast when you don't need to reload magazines.) Average. 1000 trigger pulls a day, 6000 a week. Plus Sam and the apprentices mess around in there a LOT. So the number may well be higher.
How many rounds do you go through on your Glock before you need to think about the spring? 120 boxes of ammo?
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Tux
If you bought a tux 21 year ago, and it still fit, and you put it on right now, it'd look ok.
21 years ago if you wore a tux that was 21 years old people would laugh and laugh.
21 years ago if you wore a tux that was 21 years old people would laugh and laugh.
Ability questions
And self assessment.
- Have you worked from a holster under time pressure?
- Concealed?
- Can you draw and hit a 3x5 index card at seven yards on command?
Yes, not enough, not fast enough
Yes. Even slower.
Yes. Sometimes.
Oh I am fully aware of my limitations. And I am currently still all torn down, and unsatisfied with how fast I am being built back up despite most every available weekend doing some sort of firearm training. Hmmm.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Why do I bother?
Why do I bother to adhere to my state's gun laws when my state doesn't care to enforce them?
I further minimize even SEEING a police officer, much less having a, to me, negative interaction with said law enforcement officials by avoiding do stupid things with stupid people and stupid late times of night.
---
The last time I was pulled over was 3 years ago come December. They passed a law that you have to move over to the far lane if there is a cop on the shoulder. And right after the law went into effect they were trapping people for revenue with a cop car on the shoulder for no reason. I had a car FULL of guns. The guns never came up. Got my ticket and off I go.
"Gun-Running again, T-Bolt? I thought you gave up you illicit arms dealing ways?"
No no, nothing like that. It was a range trip to Hap Baker, actually.
I further minimize even SEEING a police officer, much less having a, to me, negative interaction with said law enforcement officials by avoiding do stupid things with stupid people and stupid late times of night.
---
The last time I was pulled over was 3 years ago come December. They passed a law that you have to move over to the far lane if there is a cop on the shoulder. And right after the law went into effect they were trapping people for revenue with a cop car on the shoulder for no reason. I had a car FULL of guns. The guns never came up. Got my ticket and off I go.
"Gun-Running again, T-Bolt? I thought you gave up you illicit arms dealing ways?"
No no, nothing like that. It was a range trip to Hap Baker, actually.
Pop-Tart Pew-Pew
The elementary school kid who got in trouble for chewing his pop-tart into the shape of a gun here in the great state of Maryland? Remember him?
He got suspended for it because of zero-tolerance policy. The parents sued because of course they did, and the whole thing was just monstrously silly.
Well, the court case is settled. The 2 day suspension the 7 year old will be stricken from his Permanent Record.
I wonder what flavor breakfast pastry it was?
He got suspended for it because of zero-tolerance policy. The parents sued because of course they did, and the whole thing was just monstrously silly.
Well, the court case is settled. The 2 day suspension the 7 year old will be stricken from his Permanent Record.
I wonder what flavor breakfast pastry it was?
Beretta Boom Better
I asked the gunsmith how they accurized an M9 at the Army Marksmanship Unit. I know a bit about the 1911, but the Beretta is different.
It's complicated.
I asked Sam what it entailed. A bit of his explanation was over my head.
The barrel doesn't move, but lockup is happening all around it. And you want that to be consistently going to the same place every time, and be tight when it gets there. To start, get a slide with a hole for the barrel that needs to be reamed out to fit that barrel a lot tighter than factory.
Complicating matters is the aluminum construction. This accurized gun you make will be done in a season.
The sear engagement is very important, of course.
A commenter was kind enough to find an online resource in the same vein. A lotta stuff in that pdf link mirrors what Sam Hatfield was talking about.
It's complicated.
I asked Sam what it entailed. A bit of his explanation was over my head.
The barrel doesn't move, but lockup is happening all around it. And you want that to be consistently going to the same place every time, and be tight when it gets there. To start, get a slide with a hole for the barrel that needs to be reamed out to fit that barrel a lot tighter than factory.
Complicating matters is the aluminum construction. This accurized gun you make will be done in a season.
The sear engagement is very important, of course.
A commenter was kind enough to find an online resource in the same vein. A lotta stuff in that pdf link mirrors what Sam Hatfield was talking about.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
And Now Bloomberg Contradicts
The whole narrative that gun-free zones are where shooters intent on mayhem select the location of their deprivations.
It's Johns Hopkins, but Bloomberg paid his money to work their mouths like a puppet. Check behind the researchers, see if don't see Bloomberg's arm shoved up back there.
He uses this study to establish a polar opposite narrative. I guess out side was getting across to folks.
Gun violence will go up not down, "Probably, experts say." Here is the link to the report.
Then, "Most laws allowing civilians to bring guns on college campuses are relatively new, and there have been no studies to assess their effects directly. " You don't say?
"concluding that neither 'gun-free' zones nor right-to-carry gun laws appear to affect mass shootings in public spaces." Oh? where do you get that?
"Proponents of right-to-carry laws that make it legal for individuals to carry firearms, both on and off college campuses, often blame mass shootings on 'gun-free zones' and argue that arming more civilians can deter or stop mass shootings. The best available evidence, however, does not support these claims." You said there was no evidence
They do say of the 111 mass shootings since 1966, only 13 were in a "truly gun free zone". So now we have something to argue against. I bet I can think of mass shootings off the top of my head and get more that 13. I wonder how they define their truly?
"Rather than deter gun violence, the most recent and most rigorous research on right-to-carry laws suggests that the laws are associated with increased violence with guns," Again, citation needed. That's a pretty big claim, and will require some pretty big backup
When folks cite Johns Hopkins be sure to correct them, "You mean Mike Bloomberg says, not Hopkins." Because that is true.
It's Johns Hopkins, but Bloomberg paid his money to work their mouths like a puppet. Check behind the researchers, see if don't see Bloomberg's arm shoved up back there.
He uses this study to establish a polar opposite narrative. I guess out side was getting across to folks.
Gun violence will go up not down, "Probably, experts say." Here is the link to the report.
Then, "Most laws allowing civilians to bring guns on college campuses are relatively new, and there have been no studies to assess their effects directly. " You don't say?
"concluding that neither 'gun-free' zones nor right-to-carry gun laws appear to affect mass shootings in public spaces." Oh? where do you get that?
"Proponents of right-to-carry laws that make it legal for individuals to carry firearms, both on and off college campuses, often blame mass shootings on 'gun-free zones' and argue that arming more civilians can deter or stop mass shootings. The best available evidence, however, does not support these claims." You said there was no evidence
They do say of the 111 mass shootings since 1966, only 13 were in a "truly gun free zone". So now we have something to argue against. I bet I can think of mass shootings off the top of my head and get more that 13. I wonder how they define their truly?
"Rather than deter gun violence, the most recent and most rigorous research on right-to-carry laws suggests that the laws are associated with increased violence with guns," Again, citation needed. That's a pretty big claim, and will require some pretty big backup
When folks cite Johns Hopkins be sure to correct them, "You mean Mike Bloomberg says, not Hopkins." Because that is true.
More on the 10mm
If I had been as into guns way back then as I was starting in 2007, I'd have TOTALLY been into the 10mm. Bad. Under its Svengali spell.
Let's say I had the wherewithal and interest in 1987 that I had in 2007. I'd have a Colt Python, I can almost guarantee, be really disappointed in my magazine-less Bren 10, and figure that there would only be 10mm semi-auto pistols available in 20 years.
Hmmm, what else?
Might have gotten a sub machine gun back then. I dunno if Uzi would sell itself to me, or a proper .45 Mac-10. Hopefully with a suppressor so I can grip it.
If I was smart I'd have sold that subbie in the early 2000s.
You know, I have never fired a 10mm. I've never fired a Beretta M9 style pistol, either. Or a Hi-Power. Prolly would have if I was into shooty goodness way back then in the Lethal Weapon and Miami Vice days.
Let's say I had the wherewithal and interest in 1987 that I had in 2007. I'd have a Colt Python, I can almost guarantee, be really disappointed in my magazine-less Bren 10, and figure that there would only be 10mm semi-auto pistols available in 20 years.
Hmmm, what else?
Might have gotten a sub machine gun back then. I dunno if Uzi would sell itself to me, or a proper .45 Mac-10. Hopefully with a suppressor so I can grip it.
If I was smart I'd have sold that subbie in the early 2000s.
You know, I have never fired a 10mm. I've never fired a Beretta M9 style pistol, either. Or a Hi-Power. Prolly would have if I was into shooty goodness way back then in the Lethal Weapon and Miami Vice days.
Monday, October 24, 2016
9mm Update
Thinking some more.
Thinking, "T-Bolt, you have plenty of guns. You are covered man. You are gonna MAKE guns in the future, probably, and then you'll have more. What is this new gun and new caliber FOR? Other than something that might be fun. Not that there is anything wrong with having something for fun.. But is it for anything else, really?"
Hmmm. I don't know, me. Those are good questions.
No GLOCKS! Not my style. More likely to get a C96 in 9mm or a Boberg than a Glock. Even a S&W. Too ho-hum. Did you see the part about "this one also shoots .22TCM"? That is not ho-hum.
Thinking, "T-Bolt, you have plenty of guns. You are covered man. You are gonna MAKE guns in the future, probably, and then you'll have more. What is this new gun and new caliber FOR? Other than something that might be fun. Not that there is anything wrong with having something for fun.. But is it for anything else, really?"
Hmmm. I don't know, me. Those are good questions.
No GLOCKS! Not my style. More likely to get a C96 in 9mm or a Boberg than a Glock. Even a S&W. Too ho-hum. Did you see the part about "this one also shoots .22TCM"? That is not ho-hum.
Talk me down
No gun out there has given me a case of the 'wants' in some time.
And I always liked my simplified inventory control with ammo by not clouding it up with a buncha different things. I've even been offloading .40 cal now that I have a 5.56 gun. So no extra complication, just a shift around.
But.
All the cool kids are getting 9mm. I am training in .22 only, and coming off that to big-boy centerfire, it might be better to go push the Easy-Button of recoild control. And I doubt the ghost of Jeff Cooper will haunt me too much.
So, I've been looking and dreaming.
"Time for that Glock 19, T-Bolt?"
Nah. While the simulator is all Glock, and I don't despise the platform as much as I once did, that wasn't what I was thinking.
"S&W M&P then, T-Bolt?" In .45 maybe. But no.
"Then what?"
THIS! RIA's .22 TCM 1911 single stack
I can get the trigger done myself in a 1911 class, and it comes with a 9mm barrel too. So I get the practical 9mm and the fun little fireball .22TCM. Plus, a light rail. And not all that expensive.
Crazy, I know.
The other option is a double stack 1911 like the STI Guardian, but different. For extra bangs. RIA makes a twofer. Or fourfer. Double stack AND .22TCM/9mm combo.
Plus I get to take 1911 classes with Sam to tune up the gun, either way.
So... why, why not?
And I always liked my simplified inventory control with ammo by not clouding it up with a buncha different things. I've even been offloading .40 cal now that I have a 5.56 gun. So no extra complication, just a shift around.
But.
All the cool kids are getting 9mm. I am training in .22 only, and coming off that to big-boy centerfire, it might be better to go push the Easy-Button of recoild control. And I doubt the ghost of Jeff Cooper will haunt me too much.
So, I've been looking and dreaming.
"Time for that Glock 19, T-Bolt?"
Nah. While the simulator is all Glock, and I don't despise the platform as much as I once did, that wasn't what I was thinking.
"S&W M&P then, T-Bolt?" In .45 maybe. But no.
"Then what?"
THIS! RIA's .22 TCM 1911 single stack
I can get the trigger done myself in a 1911 class, and it comes with a 9mm barrel too. So I get the practical 9mm and the fun little fireball .22TCM. Plus, a light rail. And not all that expensive.
Crazy, I know.
The other option is a double stack 1911 like the STI Guardian, but different. For extra bangs. RIA makes a twofer. Or fourfer. Double stack AND .22TCM/9mm combo.
Plus I get to take 1911 classes with Sam to tune up the gun, either way.
So... why, why not?
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Fodder
Some weeks the gun content flies off my fingers, unbidden, to the screen. Sorry it's been so thin.
One of the great advantages of going to the range, going to training, taking gunsmith classes, going to a gun show is that you can almost always think of some angle to blog about.
One of the great advantages of going to the range, going to training, taking gunsmith classes, going to a gun show is that you can almost always think of some angle to blog about.
What's the perfect shoe?
I mean for everything? A shoe that can do anything. Cleaned up and worn with a suit, traipsing in the barnyard or afield deer hunting, or what have you.
A Texan will tell you a cowboy boot. But I think Indian Jones has shown that the chukka is nigh perfect for everything.
Hmmm.
Can you recommend a chukka boot?
I got this on super sale a few years ago. The laces are a weakness and the sole wore pretty fast.
A Texan will tell you a cowboy boot. But I think Indian Jones has shown that the chukka is nigh perfect for everything.
Hmmm.
Can you recommend a chukka boot?
I got this on super sale a few years ago. The laces are a weakness and the sole wore pretty fast.
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