Ok, since the 1986 Miami shootout the FBI made a standard to judge minimum performance of self-defense ammo. We've been going over this in the gun blogosphere (again) since the FBI announced that maybe they didn't need the .40.
And, since the standard was set, I am betting the ammo makers were kinda thrilled. While it would take work to meet the standard they could point to it and have it mean something. "Acceptible to the FBI!" Before that the ammo was... maybe good? Or was it a gimmicking thing with a lotta marketing going for it? Things that had explosives in the top or TRAC II razor blades (the first blade lifts and cuts...) or whatever.
So, I am wondering... What do the 'other' bullets look like. Not the super gimmicky, but the standard older stuff. What is the difference in minutest detail between HydraShok and HST? What does 158 grain SWCHP lead bullets in .38 Spl. look like? FMJ stuff is prolly going all the way through 2 feet of gelatin, but let's see how it does that. How about .25ACP? .44 magnum? 5.7FN? I want that one comparison picture, but for everything. Not because I want to choose a load out for myself. I just want to know what they are all like. Cuz I am geeky that way.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Sunday, October 12, 2014
CDC
I'm getting tired of liberals whining, "if only the Rethuglicans didn't block the funding the Centers for Disease Control could study gun violence and help put an end to it."
Look, genius, the CDC mission creep is so bad that they can't do their original mission half effectively. So when we DO need Big Gov to address something, they fail at it. It'd be nice if they were still sorta kinda experts on the subject of communicable disease, what with some respiratory ailment spreading amoung young kids and... uh... what was it? Oh, right, EBOLA.
That what I like about over reaching Big Gov pols. They aren't smart enough to make Big Gov effective and just rent seek and turf grow, so voters see it becoming incompetent and leaves the issue vulnerable to effective libertarian arguments against.
But go ahead, CDC. Study how many people get their toes run over by a forklift at work. Reinvent the wheel. What a waste.
Look, genius, the CDC mission creep is so bad that they can't do their original mission half effectively. So when we DO need Big Gov to address something, they fail at it. It'd be nice if they were still sorta kinda experts on the subject of communicable disease, what with some respiratory ailment spreading amoung young kids and... uh... what was it? Oh, right, EBOLA.
That what I like about over reaching Big Gov pols. They aren't smart enough to make Big Gov effective and just rent seek and turf grow, so voters see it becoming incompetent and leaves the issue vulnerable to effective libertarian arguments against.
But go ahead, CDC. Study how many people get their toes run over by a forklift at work. Reinvent the wheel. What a waste.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Garand Thumb
I always said Garand Thumb was a myth. It's HARD to get your thumb jammed in the action when loading the rifle. Even if you load it stupid.
Oh, but of course you gotta be careful closing the bolt when empty, no clip. Yes. THAT I can see.
But it's hard to with a full clip.
So, myth half busted.
Oh, but of course you gotta be careful closing the bolt when empty, no clip. Yes. THAT I can see.
But it's hard to with a full clip.
So, myth half busted.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Zebola
You know, I'd make more zombocalypse/ebola references but as soon as I did four seperate new cases of the disease would crop up the next day and have nothing to do with the Dallas guy, and then I'd look like a bigger asshole than I normally am.
In an ebola outbreak you won't be shooting shamblors in the head. No, you will have to defend yourself from other humans that AREN'T sick yet but are panicky and a bit grabby about things that don't belong to them and also settling perceived scores in the chaos: "I'll show YOU you hotdish serving Episcopaleans! Think you can snipe our fundraising marks? Book of Common Prayer and Infant-Christening my Aunt Fanny!" And then a bloodbath with the Pentecostals.
In an ebola outbreak you won't be shooting shamblors in the head. No, you will have to defend yourself from other humans that AREN'T sick yet but are panicky and a bit grabby about things that don't belong to them and also settling perceived scores in the chaos: "I'll show YOU you hotdish serving Episcopaleans! Think you can snipe our fundraising marks? Book of Common Prayer and Infant-Christening my Aunt Fanny!" And then a bloodbath with the Pentecostals.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Lewis Gun
Who invented the Lewis Gun? I'm gonna guess it was John Moses Browing (pbuh).
What? You say sumdood name Isaac Newton Lewis. Naw, that's a made up name. You can tell. Next you will give me some quote of Lincoln's about the internet.
So I guess the inventor's name is lost in the mists of time, never to be known...
What I do know is that I don't like the Chief of the Ordnance Department. When? Well, EVER. But in this case it's General William Crozier. Ass. Hate that guy. Bureacratic busy body. And ordnance guy that collect crystal and fine china tableware? Whoever heard of such a thing? Anyway, he didn't like the Lewis gun.
Woulda been nice to have some sort of 20th Century machine gun before we fell into World War One, wouldn't it? Naw.
Have you notices machine guns like to be in the 20-30 pound range. Well, man portable jobs like this. Ones that don't require a tripod necessarily. The BAR was 20, the M60 was around 24, the MG42 was in that weight class, and the M240 and M249 we use today is, too.
What? You say sumdood name Isaac Newton Lewis. Naw, that's a made up name. You can tell. Next you will give me some quote of Lincoln's about the internet.
So I guess the inventor's name is lost in the mists of time, never to be known...
What I do know is that I don't like the Chief of the Ordnance Department. When? Well, EVER. But in this case it's General William Crozier. Ass. Hate that guy. Bureacratic busy body. And ordnance guy that collect crystal and fine china tableware? Whoever heard of such a thing? Anyway, he didn't like the Lewis gun.
Woulda been nice to have some sort of 20th Century machine gun before we fell into World War One, wouldn't it? Naw.
Have you notices machine guns like to be in the 20-30 pound range. Well, man portable jobs like this. Ones that don't require a tripod necessarily. The BAR was 20, the M60 was around 24, the MG42 was in that weight class, and the M240 and M249 we use today is, too.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
I like to carry cash
But I keep it in a leather carrier hidden away at my hip. (I call it a wallet, or Money-Holster) I don't carry my money in a clear plastic bag out in the open where everyone can see. Not usually. That way, when I spring for a round of soft drinks or lunch for everyone it is a bit of a surprise.
Gun Service
I've never sent a gun back to the factory before for service. It feels kinda weird.
I am looking to contact Springfield and get the ejector staked. Something I guess they forgot to do when manufacturing the gun.
I think it can be mailed. And not FFLed and shipped. But I will talk to the people at the contact number for Service before doing anything.
Gonna look around for the case it came it. Put THAT in a box. Ship that.
I'm certainly insuring it.
I am looking to contact Springfield and get the ejector staked. Something I guess they forgot to do when manufacturing the gun.
I think it can be mailed. And not FFLed and shipped. But I will talk to the people at the contact number for Service before doing anything.
Gonna look around for the case it came it. Put THAT in a box. Ship that.
I'm certainly insuring it.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
So, on Bookface
An acquaintance posts one of those "Please pray for cousin Phillip" posts, and there is a picture of Phillip in a hospital gown with a lot of stitches and bruises on his face.
(this is a HS associate and won't be reading this blog, so, no harm can befall anyone. Also, no real names.)
Phillip was a Samaritan that tried to break up a fight between strangers and ended up stopping a bottle of Jack Daniels with his face. He's gonna be fine, except for some scarring.
But it brings up some CCW Self Defense related stuff.
When 'something goes down,' strapped or not, there is that deep down urge to help someone. Especially an underdog getting beat on and hurt. And then you come to the judgement and decision point on whether to intervene.
While Never Get Involved in one of these situations is the usual conventional wisdom, there are times where you do. You are certainly relinquishes control of your immediate future if you inject yourself into such a situation.
Damn that is fuzzy call to make, on the margins. De-escalate and decamp is still the rule of thumb, naturally. ANd it should be mucho rare-o to even have to choose, much less the tiny fraction where you choose to intervene for someone that you aren't responsible for.
(this is a HS associate and won't be reading this blog, so, no harm can befall anyone. Also, no real names.)
Phillip was a Samaritan that tried to break up a fight between strangers and ended up stopping a bottle of Jack Daniels with his face. He's gonna be fine, except for some scarring.
But it brings up some CCW Self Defense related stuff.
When 'something goes down,' strapped or not, there is that deep down urge to help someone. Especially an underdog getting beat on and hurt. And then you come to the judgement and decision point on whether to intervene.
While Never Get Involved in one of these situations is the usual conventional wisdom, there are times where you do. You are certainly relinquishes control of your immediate future if you inject yourself into such a situation.
Damn that is fuzzy call to make, on the margins. De-escalate and decamp is still the rule of thumb, naturally. ANd it should be mucho rare-o to even have to choose, much less the tiny fraction where you choose to intervene for someone that you aren't responsible for.
Monday, October 6, 2014
They still used cordite
Saw this at Tam's.
Sumdood noticed cordite in the Indian .303 milsurp stuff. He knocked the bullet out of a cartridge to reveal.
I was under the impression that cordite didn't make it much past the Great War, but apparently I was wrong. Still being used in the mid 60s AND later. "Production ceased in the United Kingdom, around the end of the 20th century"
Huh. Learn something new every day. Well, correct a previously 'learned' fact to make things more accurate and tidy in your head every day....
She also showed some rifle clips. I am pleased the first thoughts that came to mine was JFK and Frog. You see the Italians used those blunt ended long bullets that you see whenever they do JFK assassination stuff on the TeeVee. And I knew the Lebel had very tapered cartridge cases. So my guess was close enough.
Not so NEW Jovian Thunderbolt.
Sumdood noticed cordite in the Indian .303 milsurp stuff. He knocked the bullet out of a cartridge to reveal.
I was under the impression that cordite didn't make it much past the Great War, but apparently I was wrong. Still being used in the mid 60s AND later. "Production ceased in the United Kingdom, around the end of the 20th century"
Huh. Learn something new every day. Well, correct a previously 'learned' fact to make things more accurate and tidy in your head every day....
She also showed some rifle clips. I am pleased the first thoughts that came to mine was JFK and Frog. You see the Italians used those blunt ended long bullets that you see whenever they do JFK assassination stuff on the TeeVee. And I knew the Lebel had very tapered cartridge cases. So my guess was close enough.
Not so NEW Jovian Thunderbolt.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
State of Cinema
Here is a list of upcoming movies. Well, the upcoming movies that are remakes of previous movies. Many of them movies never should have been made in the first place and now they are are rebooting them.
This is depressing. All this clutter gumming up what little original material there is. Sucking up all the oxygen in the room.
It must make the studios money. Or makes them money at a lower risk level.
Sometimes it's ok. It's was 55 years between the Walter Mitty movies, and they were different enough to be different things. And the modern was actually halfway decent. Decent enough for me to forgive the presence of Sean Penn and Ben Stiller in the picture.
But does the world ache for another Dirty Dancing? Wasn't Time Bandits good enough the first time.
Now a better Starship Troopers, closer to Heinlein's vision, might be fine. And a new Wild Bunch? We'll see what Peckinpah-less gets you.
This is depressing. All this clutter gumming up what little original material there is. Sucking up all the oxygen in the room.
It must make the studios money. Or makes them money at a lower risk level.
Sometimes it's ok. It's was 55 years between the Walter Mitty movies, and they were different enough to be different things. And the modern was actually halfway decent. Decent enough for me to forgive the presence of Sean Penn and Ben Stiller in the picture.
But does the world ache for another Dirty Dancing? Wasn't Time Bandits good enough the first time.
Now a better Starship Troopers, closer to Heinlein's vision, might be fine. And a new Wild Bunch? We'll see what Peckinpah-less gets you.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
African Queen
So, I am re-watching African Queen. Classic Bogart/Katherine Hepburn flick. Noticed something.
Bogie shaved with a straight razor. FAST! I've been shaving that way every weekend, but Man o' Manischewitz, not THAT fast. Wow. You gotta watch old movie to see people that shaved normally that way demonstrate the natural way to do it. It's a bit of a lost art. Oh sure, people are shaving that way now, but they have to relearn with few people learn from from the old days. My grandfather used an electric shave when I knew him. My father used a safety razor until Trac II's came along. Which you also can't get anymore without a slime strip. Pah!
Bogie shaved with a straight razor. FAST! I've been shaving that way every weekend, but Man o' Manischewitz, not THAT fast. Wow. You gotta watch old movie to see people that shaved normally that way demonstrate the natural way to do it. It's a bit of a lost art. Oh sure, people are shaving that way now, but they have to relearn with few people learn from from the old days. My grandfather used an electric shave when I knew him. My father used a safety razor until Trac II's came along. Which you also can't get anymore without a slime strip. Pah!
You know... THEM
Well, THEY say the patient has malaria, not ebola. Of course they'd say that.
It's one thing when this is way far away in Dallas, but I am too close for comfort to NIH and Fort Dietrick. Plus every infected Al Queada terrist is gonna wanna lick someone that might get within sneezing distance of the President, Cabinet members, Pentagon brass hats...
It's one thing when this is way far away in Dallas, but I am too close for comfort to NIH and Fort Dietrick. Plus every infected Al Queada terrist is gonna wanna lick someone that might get within sneezing distance of the President, Cabinet members, Pentagon brass hats...
Range
I went to the range last week.
No pictures. I still tend low and right, but less low and right. I am shooting a big hole with a pistol slight off center from the bullseye. Another 10 years of this and I will be halfway decent.
The pistol runs well. After tweaks at the armor class. Swapped from another gun a better after market slide stop, plus all the tweaks one in class.
Now I have to think about sending it off to get the staking done.
No pictures. I still tend low and right, but less low and right. I am shooting a big hole with a pistol slight off center from the bullseye. Another 10 years of this and I will be halfway decent.
The pistol runs well. After tweaks at the armor class. Swapped from another gun a better after market slide stop, plus all the tweaks one in class.
Now I have to think about sending it off to get the staking done.
Friday, October 3, 2014
William Morgan Thomas
He was mentioned in the comments of a previous post.
And I don't know enough about him. Still don't.
He falls in an era on US history in between areas I was more interested in and I haven't fully fleshed out those gaps in my knowledge. So I concentrate on a Browning or a Garand and am not as strong with a Samual Colt or a William Morgan Thomas. But I should be.
The internet doesn't proffer up a lot of info on the history of Union Metallic Cartrdige without some digging.
But they made a lot of the cowboy loads before a new renaisaance of ammo came about in the beginning of the 20th Century. I know their stuff from reproduction 19th century Sears or Montgomery Wards catalogs printed more recently. They are chockablock with old ammo box top 'images.'
But precious little on the web. About the man or the ammo company. Apart from him being the chief ballistician.
What a GREAT job title. Chief Ballistician.
And I don't know enough about him. Still don't.
He falls in an era on US history in between areas I was more interested in and I haven't fully fleshed out those gaps in my knowledge. So I concentrate on a Browning or a Garand and am not as strong with a Samual Colt or a William Morgan Thomas. But I should be.
The internet doesn't proffer up a lot of info on the history of Union Metallic Cartrdige without some digging.
But they made a lot of the cowboy loads before a new renaisaance of ammo came about in the beginning of the 20th Century. I know their stuff from reproduction 19th century Sears or Montgomery Wards catalogs printed more recently. They are chockablock with old ammo box top 'images.'
But precious little on the web. About the man or the ammo company. Apart from him being the chief ballistician.
What a GREAT job title. Chief Ballistician.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Metrocon complains about hoplophobia
A non-gun-media journalist used the term 'hoplophobia' in the first instance I have ever seen, here. And it was National Review's Charles Cooke. Nice!
Speaking of the CDC
"Center for Disease Control Spokesman Dave Daigle stated that the US would not be preventing flights from countries with massive outbreaks of the Ebola virus from coming in to the United States"
Why?
Why?
Armed Man
Armed Man Shared Elevator With Obama
Now I am no fan of the President or his policies. And I'd certainly never vote for him for even dogcatcher (yum!). But if I was trapped on an elevator with Obama and I had a 1911 in my hand, in how much danger would the President be?
(Assume the president acts like himself, and this is not some parallel universe where he is some kinda icepick murderer.)
How much danger would he be in if you were armed and in an elevator with him?
Right! None whatsoever. I'd even be polite.
Yeah, yeah, this case with the guard might be slightly different. Unlinke you and me, he had a 'criminal record.' Can't be that bad a criminal record. He was hired as a guard at a Federal institution. He at least sounds like a fan. If a bit over-exuberant. Perhaps creepily so.
Now I am no fan of the President or his policies. And I'd certainly never vote for him for even dogcatcher (yum!). But if I was trapped on an elevator with Obama and I had a 1911 in my hand, in how much danger would the President be?
(Assume the president acts like himself, and this is not some parallel universe where he is some kinda icepick murderer.)
How much danger would he be in if you were armed and in an elevator with him?
Right! None whatsoever. I'd even be polite.
Yeah, yeah, this case with the guard might be slightly different. Unlinke you and me, he had a 'criminal record.' Can't be that bad a criminal record. He was hired as a guard at a Federal institution. He at least sounds like a fan. If a bit over-exuberant. Perhaps creepily so.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Nagant
The only reason the Mosin Nagant ever makes it onto Top However Many Badass Battle Rifles of All Time is that the Soviet Union collapsed of its own weight and they ended up sell a crapton over here in the surplus market for four double sawbucks each.
Soviet Union had never gone away, no one would talk about em.
The only reason. Quantity has a quality of its own.
But they'd still would talk about the AK. maybe more. Because they'd still be used by the bad guys and they'd be as rare as hens teeth. It would still make Lists even if no one you ever knew had ever even touched one. Or touched the 7.62x39 ammo.
But a clunky bolt action rifle? Ho hum. There are better bolt action rifles out there. There are crappier bolt action rifles out there. Get in line with all the other bolt action rifles. You want a bolt that killed Nazis, pick the SMLE.
Soviet Union had never gone away, no one would talk about em.
The only reason. Quantity has a quality of its own.
But they'd still would talk about the AK. maybe more. Because they'd still be used by the bad guys and they'd be as rare as hens teeth. It would still make Lists even if no one you ever knew had ever even touched one. Or touched the 7.62x39 ammo.
But a clunky bolt action rifle? Ho hum. There are better bolt action rifles out there. There are crappier bolt action rifles out there. Get in line with all the other bolt action rifles. You want a bolt that killed Nazis, pick the SMLE.
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