Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Hillary Sez

"One in three gun Stores break federal law, and she demands they be shut down." 

Hillary, YOU break federal law.  Shut yerself down.

Semi


I knew, I guess, that other countries prepping for the coming WWII that was on their calendar (September 1939...  start fighting the next war... Hmmm, that's only 10 years away!) and wanted to upgrade their bolt action rifles.  Academically.  But I didn't know what the huge scale of it was.  

But Forgotten Weapons is reminding me. 

Yes, the USA was the only one to pull it off with the Garand.  But the French almost had something for WWI.  This was a new one to me.  AND using that Lebel 8mm cartridges.  Yikes

And there were Browning designs before that, and I guess he really planted the seed with practical offerings.  The Czechs were working hard.  The Germans came up with the Gewehr 43, but long before that Mauser was working on something in 1913.  The Rooskies had something 3 years before that with the SVT.  Nothing as widespread as the Garand, but none of them had the industrial capacity behind them.


 ---

Then the Germans invented the Assault Rifle in the middle of the war and folks wanting semis became also-rans to folks wanting the new hotness of the Assault Rifle.

 But, instead of being unique, the Garand was one of many designs in a crowded field.  If they had only scheduled the war for a few years later, nigh everyone might have fielded battle rifles that fired semi-auto



Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Trigger

You know how I said the trigger seemed worse?  It might not just be me getting more sensitive.  It may be getting worse on it's own.  A .22 conversion may be as bad for munging up the sear as dropping the slide on an empty chamber.  It bangs around the whole thing clankity clankity.


I must get in the guts and see...

Monday, August 29, 2016

Easy Access

A Masaad post was making the rounds.

Essentially "What is your easiest access firearm when you are to home?"

Sorta implied apart from your CCW, I guess.  The Bump-In-The-Night gun.

My CCW that is also easy access is still the dang snubbie, and the quick access house gun is... a larger revolver.  Other stuff is more securely... uhh... secured

I am thinking no-bueno.

I am thinking a carbine with a flashlight needs to be more to hand.

But I don't want it just sitting out for the burglars or handyman come to fix the Dryer to see.

Maybe an odd narrow shelf in the closet on the inside but the doorside of the space.  Non-usual shelf.  I found the perfect brackets for this evolution, you see.  Now I have a plan...  I've had this inkling before, now there is execution...

There is also those gun furniture ideas, but I can't think of any I'd spend money on.  Except maybe a giant bookshelf.

So carbine with a flashlight or finally get something plastic to replace that larger revolver and have a light rail on the new gun.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

This Ever Happen to You?

"Gah!  So frustrating!  If another thing goes wrong with this car I'm gonna eat my Glock."


"Hey, Buddy?  Can you do me a favor?  Could you jump off a bridge or something?  The fewer firearms deaths the better for the 2nd Amendment, ya know?  Yeah, I know suicide shouldn't count against the forces of freedom, but the gun banners are irrational types.  You can't drive to a bridge?  Right.  The car.  Any train tracks near your place?  Are you good with knots?"


And if you HAVE to go on a murder spree can you use a knife or something?


It's a horrid hope.  "Please don't use a gun because that is bad for me, politically.  Use something else." 

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Kong Dongs

"I know!  We will carry around giant silicone phalli around out Austin campus.  Doing so will so inflame and aggravate and appale the firearm enthusiasts that they will concede their carry rights!  The plan is foolproof!"

How did they ever come around to that idea?  That rubber thingies to us are like garlic to vampires?  I don't understand.   A huge subsection of us are clearly libertarian and it's not like that is a secret.

Speaking of libertarian, I wish the Libertarians would run libertarians again.  Instead of gun-banning tax and spenders that drank the Glowball Warmening Kool Aid..





DAMMIT, JIM!

Friday, August 26, 2016

Range Reportage

Uh, went shooting last night.  Effectively applying the things I learned from last time.  You know, to shift the group to left and more on center.


And this is what I got. I like 2 and 5 best, but not as good as last week's best.  25 feet.  CCI .22lr.

But... the centering is there.  Not perfect, but there.  And if anyone was looking over my shoulder when I was examining the target, none of these were anything I was ashamed of.  And believe me I have disappointed in myself in the past.

Oh, I hope the gunsmith does a sear class.  That trigger has a creep right before the break I do not like.   And it may be getting worse.  As I get better at shooting I notice that.  It's probably the same trigger that I thought was pretty good back when I was more ignernt.

Hmmm.  Maybe I'll sacrifice a sear and try to stone it myself, by my lonesome.  Worst that I can do is ruin it and put the creepy sear back in.  Best that I can do is maybe get it right myself.  

Thursday, August 25, 2016

The New Shooter Question

I get a lot of that.  New shooters chatting me up about what to get.   I guess the word it out that I am more reasonable easier than an internet gun forum.  It's just chatter, but I like that it is a pretty common thing. 

I need to get more urban dwellers shooting.  Make the metrocons I know get to a range.  We need more single issue 2nd Amendment voters inside city limits.  (C'mon Jonah Goldberg.  I can't beleive this is necessary for you!  You visit with your wife's relatives in Alaska every year!  We need to get you a firearm. )

But it's not easy.  I live in the suburbs most of my co-workers also live in the suburbs.  When I used to know people in the District...  I'd have to drag their asses quite a way out to shoot, but as for them buying a gun?   Still one of the hardest places in the country, I think, to get a pistol.  New York is harder?  Hawaii?

You people that live in the country?  You don't have to convince your neighbors to like guns.  They already do.  And it is even harder to find city folk.  But at least you might be able to shoot on your own property.  Yes, I'm jealous.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

"Trump Folds!"

"Trump folds on deporting illegal aliens!"

#NeverTrumpers go:  "See, we told you so!  The whole reason you rubes nominated him and he is gonna fold like a cheap card table."

---

But in 2008, Obama and Hillary were reported to BOTH support the 2nd Amendment.

#Progressives go: "Oh they are just saying that because they have to.  They really think the opposite. No worries."

---

I wonder why Trump can't just be 'saying that' and really thinks the opposite on deporting tresspassers?

New Shooter Wannabe, and Missus

Coworker:  "Yo, T-Bolt?  I wanna get my wife interested in shooting and junk.  What 5 pistols should I rent or borrow to take to the range to get her acclimated.  I don't own anything myself.  But I am gun shopping, sorta."


My advice?  Move out of Maryland.  The state is really doing its level best to dissuade folks from getting their first pistol.  You have to get the permit to purchase.  That requires fingerprints, passport photos, fees, training certificates.  Just to get a stupid $270 Model 10 revolver. 


As for trying out pistols at a range that rents them?  Many places won't rent to you if you don't have the permit to purchase or at least a gun of your own you came in with.


Failing that?  Get a 10/22, then get a lever gun or an AR10.  Maryland is still cool with them.
One thing about this co-worker.  He has a toddler.  So he is first shopping for gunsafes.  Good man. 


If he still wants to jump through the hoops I told him the usual for introducing a n00b.  Start with a .22, try a revolver, a couple variety of 9mm.  Maybe a .45 just to see.  And if she loves all them, then think about the .44 magnum, with proper warnings, for recoil fun.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

.38's

So, the security company my Gunsmith partners with does a lot of work in the District of Columbia.  And the city is finally letting up and allowing security firms to carry pistols that aren't revolvers.  So, now they had a stack of S&W Model 10s they can part with, and he bought them up.  Scores of revolvers.  Stuff he can then teach peeps how to revolver gunsmith, can sell some, etc.  All for good prices.  Many have low shooting mileage but the usual holster wear.  Most are bull barrels, but at least one is the pencil barrel.  And that one had marking from the Royal Hong Kong Police.  Cool.

That tempts me.  The good price.  I needed this 10 years ago.

But it was fun seeing him go through the pile of pistols, checking the cylinder, checking the timing... Even I know, now, how to check Smith and Wesson timing.  And all these were good.  If a bad gun came up it was obivious from the start and rejected.  For sale.  That'll be a class gun.  Maybe a parts gun.  It's hard to get parts from Smith itself and folks often have to cannibalize.

Oh, I did find out that the Security folks had to use a retention holster where you have to pivot the revolver forward in the holster to get it to release.  That this is harder if your elbows are closer to your belt as they can be with female officers.  Harder to get good leverage.  And you have to get the pistol out and 3 shots off in three seconds to qualify.  Not the easiest hoop to jump through

Monday, August 22, 2016

Hunting

People get up in arms because you run with a GUN with a SCOPE on it.  You are big and brave with a firearm, you oughta hunt with the odd more even!

Then some guy hunts a bear with a spear and the anti's lose their damn minds.



They just don't want you to hunt.  Or own firearms. And now I need another source of longjohns. Stupid Maryland companies

Sunday, August 21, 2016

ITAR

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-gunsmithing-itar

I don't normally go in for these petition things.  But adding gunsmiffing to the International Traffic in Arm Regulation schemes is just gun banning by pieces parts.  Attacking the shooting culture by regulating it to death.

It's ridiculous.

And if gunsmithing without Federal permission is gonna make me a notorious gun runner, well... call me Viktor Bout.

I wanted to get the word out.


Oh, and my gunsmith had no opinion.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

I hate WalMart

And not just because it is festering with criminals.  Or I'm a snob.

I went to one with Amish parking in rural Ohio, and it was kinda nice.  If there are buggie outside I might stick my head in.

But the check out situation is no good.  I like Harris Tweeter because they actively try to keep the lines moving.  I am too rage filled to deal with regular grocery store lines, it's much worse at WalMart.

The grocery selection is usually drek, too.  

Fortunately I live in a liberal country near to Washington DC.  And the only ones that hate WalMart more than me are those elites running the show here.

That said... You go online and order from them with more than $25 you get free shipping.  And you can use PayPal.  Good way to stock up on Charmin and laundry detergent.  Save a bundle.


Friday, August 19, 2016

Ok, that's the ticket.

See targets 4 and 5?  Aw, yiss...






So, I am 3 weeks out of practice with the pistol, being absconded to my undisclosed location in the interim, working with the teams in the hot-n-moist, so I promptly hied to the range to shake the cobwebs off. 


The first 3?  Not bad.  Working on a thing and just trying to get in the groove.  Mashing the trigger a bit too much.  Mashing, to me, is "Make-Boom-Now!"  I am not doing enough to surprise myself.  And oh yeah, the right drift from the finger tip I had been working on before. 


Then shot two magazines for 4 and 5, no pause between.  I am doing a lot of things.  Something I've been doing and doing right since day one.  It's automatic.  There are other things I am doing right and are half habit and I am trying to reinforce the good ones and get away from the bad ones.  With a lot from the help of Coach.  


The big break through on 4 and 5 that are different from the others?  I am still fresh enough.  I am really looking for the surprise break with those two.  Plus the new thing.  Putting the tip of the finger pad on the trigger pushes the holes off to the right.  But placing the finger pad better didn't fix the problem enough.  So I am trying to self fix that by changing the way I pull the trigger back.  To me, it feel like a just perceptible pull to the left with the pad.  Apparently that feel is really "pressing straight back" because those two targets are the result.


BING!


I can't wait to show coach.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Nattering Nabobs

So standard campfire bull sessions often sound like gun shop bull sessions at times.

"You could use a LAWS rocket to bust into that zombie bunker"

"Pff, the army doesn't even use LAWS anymore."

"Naw, I've seen em on the news"

"That was a new thing... can't think of the name...  Not a Dragon.  That was the replacement for the
LAWS that was bigger that they also don't use anymore.  Something from Norway.  Maybe Denmark."

"The Javelin?"

"Naw that's a pop up job.  Not for straight on hits"

"Not the TOW"

"Naw..."

"Why don't we just do RPGs?  Works great for the commies, still"

"But if one of those gets shot with a bullet you go up like a Roman candle"

"Carl something?"

"Yeah"

"Carl Gustav!"

"That's it!"

"But that's Sweden."

"Right right"

"Still, it's a old design.  Like we went full circle, back to the original bazooka, almost"

"Still should use the LAWS"

"Oh hush"

"But it's so light and easy!"

And so on. Keep in mind I am the only person with any military experience.  And what little of that there is was in the Navy as an officer.  I was lucky to put my hands on a pistol.  Never shouldering anything larger.  Like a rocket.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Howdy Folks

Been away for a while and I STILL don't have the blog fodder.  Bit of a rut.

Lessee... since I been gone I've gotten tanned and tired.  Growing old sucks.  But brown as a nut. Your metabolism is no help like it was, and you run out of gas sooner.  I don't think I could take my little brother.  Much less a bad guy.  Not hand to hand.  And if I held my own somehow my stamina would soon fail me.  More argument for letting Citizens be armed, per the Constitution, to defend themselves.


But that means even some of these idiot around here would be armed as well!  I wouldn't trust some of these people locked overnight in a padded room, nekkid, with 2 bowling balls.  Much less a gun.  The next morning one bowling ball would be broken and the other missing.  Probably turn up later, pregnant.


That's the thing with rights.  Even the idjits have them, and that's well and proper. 
But fer criminy, stop playing with your firearm.  Please.  And, if it's not too much trouble, it'd be nice if you tried to get better with it. 


Of course, all these things, apply to me.  Plenty of folks would consider ME the idjit, in mixed company.  But at least a self-aware one.


---


I need to try this corn dodger recipe.


Slate, yes, I know!   But it looks simple, and that appeals.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

New Range Bag

This has been my range bag of late.




Lockable.  Plenty of room for the essentials.  If I shoot something with bigger bullets I take out the gun rug and carry is separate.  I can fit a buncha mags and a box of ammo in it then, easy,  But this has been .22 of late.

Much more convenient than the big gym bag looking thing.  Simple. But no stapler or first aid kid or tools or what not.  Or more than one gun.

It's a plastic ammo can, if you can't tell.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Spy!



You know, the way jewelry salesmen, do. He was in the import export bidness

And 25 years later... GITMO!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Friday, August 12, 2016

Youtube

Youtube likes to recommend anti-American videos to me, for some reason.  Example:  A video where the Zero wins over the Mustang.  F.  U.

This if for you.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Nike

I grew up in the shadow of a Nike base.  The missiles were removed in the early 70s.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Hustle

I've kinda liked this model since I saw Fail Safe as a kid.



Yikes, you don't see this ejection scheme much anymore. Nice helmet, too.



Monday, August 8, 2016

This is the longest

Trailer for a Porno I have ever seen.

Get in the van with the fella, Linda...



And drat that inflation.

With that streamlining

Those 1936 models really cut through the air.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

And more Chevy



Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride in T-Bolts Chevrolet.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

I love this stuff.



Old B&W informational, like you might have seen when there was a substitute teacher. Plus: Machines!

Friday, August 5, 2016

If you see this

A BIG ol shockwave coming at you...



Put your fingers in your ears and open your mouth. 

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Big Guns

So much violence in such a tight space.



The ballet of movement to get these cannons running is just amazing to me.

BB61 Class. You know what those are? The four Battleship we kept and used into the 1990s. Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconson. Yes, you know em.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Nukular



I liked this one for the theme music.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Stay Safe

Careful, this is classified material.