Friday, March 31, 2006

Blogroll Additions

Porta's Cat has been added because he's....good.

Ninth Stage seems to be a more thoughtful commentator than you current host.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

As you can see, 3 3-shot groups. The tunnel is 100 yards and we were shooting rifles with 400 yard rough zeros. The shots came in as far as windage, and that was the point of the exercise. Posted by Picasa

My primary: a Browning A-medallion bolt, chambered in .300 WSM, with the same honking scope I bought for Boomershoot last year. Posted by Picasa

The Old Man's M-14, with ARMS mounts and a Leupold M4 mil-dot, modeled nicely. Posted by Picasa

The Old Man is, bar none, a better photographer than I. This shot is probably the best. Posted by Picasa

Shooter's eye view of the tunnel. A little eye candy with the NM Springfield M1A with the diesel M4 Leupold scope. Posted by Picasa

The Old Man shooting down the tunnel. Posted by Picasa

Overview of the tunnel set up. Posted by Picasa

Range Report (The Tunnel Edition)

First off, pictures will be posted above.

We took out all four rifles on Tuesday afternoon (being the Old Man's primary and backup and my primary and backup). The only purpose of this trip was to shoot in the 100 yard tunnel and bring in the no-wind zeros on all rifles involved.

It was a bit weird, in that all rifles have a 400 yard zero, elevation-wise, (that is the minimum range at Boomershoot), so at 100 yard we were having to aim low and still shooting above the bullseye. In any case, it's not about nailing a group in the center of the target, it's about getting your wind zeroed so you can accurately call shots.

All in all, it took about an hour and after that we shot .22 pistols. Not a bad day.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Boomershoot: The Final Countdown

My mother (God bless her) had her first day of Spring break today. When I got off work she had a tear off calendar counting the days until the Old Man and I split this town for Idaho. I think she noticed that it was all I have been able to talk about for several weeks now. Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Bubba guns, I guess

Head brought up a point today that I have been stewing on for quite awhile.

Any fool who will take a vintage rifle and degredate it to improve its "tactical value" or "I'm just a dumb fuck, who wants to fuck up a rifle", will sizzle in Hell, at least for a little while.

The egregious actions taken by the previous generation (THAT MEANS BABYBOOMERS), have led to an entire class of rifle that, while accurate, are worthless and without historical value. In the last 2 years I've either handled or been in possission of 5 sporterized Mausers. One actually had 5 eagle stamps, signifying that a German plant had retooled the rifle.

In the same time frame, I have not seen an authentic Mauser.

This is indicative of a general trend towards spending a lot of money on gunsmiths to modernize rifles that had a specific purpose the populace wants to modify.

If you want a varmint rifle, buy one. If you want a CQB, buy one. If you want to hunt, buy an appropriate hunting rifle. Don't fuck with history.

HeartlessLibertarian has an especially heinous post with links.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

30 Carbine reload problems

The Old Man recently did his first batch of 30 carbine reloads. At this point, we've shot through the initial batch. He was using a Hornady manual and was loading well below the maximum limit.

Upon inspection of the twice-fired casings, he found a number of ruptured cases.

Now the original ammunition was from MagTech. I've never shot this stuff through any gun before. It may just be shitty ammunition.

On the other hand, I've never loaded straight-cased rifle ammo either, so I'm confounded.



Carbine Posted by Picasa

Monday, March 13, 2006

Boots

I used to be addicted to mid-century combat boots. My first choice was always Jump-boots. Of course, I wouldn't jump off of a doghouse.




I'm not complaining; these boots served me well throughout high school, a little college, and life beyond. I feel adoration for this model boot, but times change.

My last pair were Tanker Boots:




Alas and alack, I decided to go with something more modern. With Boomershoot coming up and the quail hunting performed in the last several months, I decided I needed a post-Vietnam era boot.




These boots came in Friday. I've been trying to break them in and reconcile them with my existing wardrobe. I got tired of uncomfortable boots that really had no advantage over commercial offerings. The Altimas seem to have a very sturdy lower (i.e. sole, leather, etc.), while retaining a light-weight, breathable upper.

I can't make a recommendation yet, except if you need shoes, jump boots will not fail. Other than that, I hope to have the desert boots broken in within a month.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Killing Offense

I'm probably going to make a list for this one.

It's a simple question, really: What constitutes the offense where you would not rely on the authorities?

-Rape/killing of your wife/girlfriend?

-Fucking with your kid in any way?

-Untowards aggressive action against your person?

-Targeting your specific property?

At what point do you say "fuck it", and find and kill the motherfucker?

And to some extent why depend on cops. Of all systems of government, theirs seems to be the most out of control. You give a yahoo a badge and a gun and what the fuck do you expect? It ain't Don Knotts, I'll vouch for that.

I've never started a meme, but the subject of this one I've been thinking about for awhile and I'm asking 5 individuals. If they reply, cool. If not, cool. I don't expect it to be passed on.

Uncle

David at RNS

James at Hell in a Handbasket

Bullseye

Of course, it might take several months, but the opinion of Mr. Huffman has inspired me from the start. I don't know if he thinks I'm a wacko or not at this point, but my respect for his opinion remains.

UPDATE: Uncle and Bullseye have come back.

UPDATE II: James.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Slime in a Sea of Pus

My brother called me at about half-past midnight last night. He got off late from work and found that his house (a rental) had been burglarized.

X-Box games, DVDs, etc. The bitch is these morons stole his CZ-75.



Bedside gun, reliablie, honest, and his first firearm purchase. My first handgun was the bog-standard Glock 17. Let it be known, that if you ever steal that gun, you will be hunted to the ends of the earth.




The Glock 17 is not rare or invaluable. It is standard issue to most cops in this town. That doesn't change the fact that it was my first pistol and anybody fucking with that would fundamentally piss me off.

As to the motherless fucks that ripped my brother off, they took magazines to guns they didn't steal, while leaving my brother's backup CZ mag.

In addition, they stole X-box games and some other shit.

Brother didn't have any .45 ammo and was a bit paranoid about it. If you remember the 1911 Christmas, the boy does have a back-up; it just doesn't do you a fuck of a lot of good with no ammo.

This experience has taught me several things. First, insure your shit. It costs a little extra, but it's worth it when you need it.

Don't live in shitty neighborhoods and don't live where an alley abutts your backyard.

Get a CCW license and keep your primary with you. The rest of the shit can go in the safe. The only thing worse would have been my brother walking in on these yahoos unarmed.

UPDATE: It appears that CZ did not appreciate me jacking their bandwith. This will be a revolving post that includes a CZ pistol with different features whenever they try to turn me off.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

New Non-Firearm Purchase

For several reasons, I've been looking at purchasing a 2-way radio for the last year. I finally took the plunge last week and scored a Garmin Rino 120.



First reason being, we actually have a military-style range at the club, with pits and all that. Obviously, the only way to utilize this facility safely is with 2-way communications.

The second reason being, I'd like to be able to clock "cease-fire"s and whatnot at actual shoots.

The deciding reason had to do with my last quail hunt of the year. A buddy and I went quail hunting in Southern New Mexico just several days after the Cheney shooting. We were hunting late in the season, as was the Vice President, probably, like us, just looking to get in that one last hunt. My buddy actually negotiated Valentine's Day with his wife so we could shoot and then clean birds and order pizza in the evening.

As with any hunt, there was plenty of shooting, but also plenty of time for bullshitting. As this was the last, we began to discuss next season. As I am relatively unexperienced, I was questioning him on seasons as a whole. Unsurprisingly, there are more birds, hunters, and even members of your own party at the beginning of the season.

They inaugurate the season on Thanksgiving weekend and their party usually consists of five walkers and a couple of teenagers on 4-wheelers. The teenagers call out new coveys over the radio and then the old fuckers ride over in vehicles to flush the birds out.

My guide advised that GPS-equipped radios help out a lot. You know where everyone is at, and if Mr. Whittington falls behind, you can see where his 78 year old ass is on the GPS and try to avoid shooting quail running in his direction.

This final reason was the one that prompted my choice of the Garmin.

Additionally, GPS would greatly lend to my job sometimes when I'm out in the sticks and my directions to a particular location include things like "the red mail box on your left," or "the road kind of twists."

Last time I looked at GPS must have been five years ago, and the price was needlessly prohibitive. I scored this 2-way with GPS for $250. I'm pleased.

Range Report

Got out to the range last Tuesday, trying to get the final tuning in on the primary Boomershoot rifles, my Browning .300 WSM and the Old Man's M14. Unfortanately, there were sustained winds of 25 mph and gusts up to God knows what.

Gene stresses the importance of wind-doping, but also understands that it is for naught if you don't have a good "no-wind zero."

Thankfully, we took our Boomershoot clean-up rifles: a stubby AR-15 and an M1 Carbine, respectively. For lack of anything better to do, I torture tested the AR, to some extent. It was a direct crosswind from the west, which heads straight into your ejection port at our range. It was kicking up a shitload of sand, as well. We traded up firing the AR and put about 250 rounds through it in less than half an hour. It heated up pretty good and took on about a pound of sand. One jam. Needless to say it was a bitch to clean.

The Carbine performed flawlessly from both an offhand and kneeling position.

At the end, the wind subsided down to 15 mph or so and we got some rounds through the M14. It's got a rough 400 yard zero so we decided to dope wind at 600 yard steel. It did remarkably well.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Badly formatted email

Probably been posted before, but I've never seen it. If creds are due, someone let me know.


> > You might be a gun nut if...
> > 1. If you've ever dabbed a little Hoppe's on your neck before going on> > a date.> >> > 2. If you bought checkering tools, checkered all your gunstocks and> > are now starting on the bedposts.> >> > 3. If you cannot really recall just how many guns you own.> >> > 4. If surplus ammunition suppliers call you to see if there was> > anything you were looking for.> >> > 5. If you bought a gun from a gun shop, only to realize you owned it> > years ago.> >> > 6. If you've ever "shot out" a 1911 barrel.> >> > 7. If you save brass and have a case tumbler, but don't reload.> >> > 8. If you ever stripped the paint off of your car and then blued it> >> > 9. If you've ever bought ammo for a caliber you didn't shoot, thinking> > that someday you might own a gun in that caliber.> >> > 10. If your computer passwords are gun related...> >> > 11. If your five-year-old can detail strip and fully reassemble an M-1> > Garand.> >> > 12. If you take your guns out of the safe and handle them, just so you> > can wipe them down before going to bed.> >> > 13. If the local gunsmith calls you for obsolete parts.> >> > 14. If you home-school and use ballistic tables for math lessons.> >> > 15. If your gun safe is bigger than your refrigerator.> >> > 16. If the speedometer on your car is in both m.p.h. and f.p.s.> >> > 17. If you call Brownell's and they recognize your voice.> >> > 18. If you own reloading dies for calibers that you do not shoot.> >> > 19. If you understand Smith and Wesson's model numbers.> >> > 20. If you ever bought two different brands of the same bullet just to> > see which one "shot better".> >> > 21. If you've ever had to explain "that it's not the same gun, it's a> > variant!"> >> > 22. If watching the Lion King gives you the itch for a .470 Nitro.> >> > 23. If you cut out your best groups and carry them in your wallet like> > photos.> >> > 24. If you've ever gone to a gun show three times in one month, and> > were excited every time.> >> > 25. If you feel that a golf course is a willful and deliberate misuse> > of a perfectly good rifle range.> >> > 26. If you ever accidentally seasoned a steak with FFFFg black powder.> >> >> > 27. If your brass tumbler used to be a small cement mixers.> >> > 28. If you identify the gun on the cover of Dillon's Blue Press before> > you notice the girl.> >> > 29. If you make $30/hr at work and spent 35 minutes on your knees at> > the range looking for that last piece of 40 brass.> >> > 30. If you have guns in your safes that you can't for the life of you> > remember how you came by.> >> > 31. If the FBI asks you to identify firearms they can't.> >> > 32. If ammo manufacturers had to layoff workers when you went to> > Europe for a month's vacation.> >> > 33. If you know the range of every tree in the neighborhood.> >> > 34. If you can tell the caliber of any spent casing just by feel.> >> > 35. If you plead with the gun shop to hold a rifle/shotgun until you> > have space for it.> >> > 36. If you can't figure out why your non-shooting friends laugh when> > you say "Bushmaster."> >> > 37. If you didn't get that last one because you don't have any> > "non-shooting" friends.> >> > 38. If you driver's license says "must wear night vision goggles."> >> > 39. If your shoulder is callused. (No more Mauser bruises!)> >> > 40. If manufactures ask you how their rifles hold up. (It was a scope> > mfg.)> >> > 41. If you get misty eyed every time you sell a gun.> >> > 42. If you alternate Silvertips, Hydra-Shoks and Black Talons in your> > magazines because they look prettier that way.> >> > 43. If you guess windage and range every time you look at a road sign.> >> >> > 44. If you went out to the range this weekend to shoot up ammo, just> > so you'd have some brass to reload.> >> > 45. If RCBS answers your phone calls, "What have YOU dreamed up this> > time?"> >> > 46. If you can name the parts of your post-ban assault rifle you had> > to swap out to make it legal.> >> > 47. If someone asks about the president and you think they're talking> > about Charlton Heston> >> > 48. If you know the model numbers of your Glocks and Smith & Wessons,> > how many and what size mags you have, but have no idea when your> > wedding anniversary is.> >> > 49. If you've ever had to explain why you need armor piercing rounds> > to someone> >> > 50. If you don't know that there is a difference between "the> > Internet" and "Glock Talk."> >> > 51. If you have ever run out of gas in your car, but have never run> > out of ammo.> >> > 52. If you know the serial numbers of your guns, but still get your> > kids' names mixed up.> >> > 53. If you hold a firearms related record in Guiness book of world> > records.> >> > 54. If you go to gun shows with a grocery buggy (painted camo of> > course.)> >> > 55. If the National Guard calls you when things get a little too hot.> >> > 56. If you had a gun rack on your bike when you were a kid.> >> > 57. If you know why 30-06 is pronounced "thirty aught six."> >> > 58. If you buy all of your clothes at Wal-Mart but own some of the> > most expensive holsters known to man.> >> > 59. If your name is on California's Assault Weapons ban list.> >> > 60. If you walk up on a conversation about horses and as soon as you> > hear "colt", you are immediately interested.> >> > 61. If your favorite saint is John Moses Browning.> >> > 62. If your favorite paint color is "gun metal grey".> >> > 63. If you break off on a dissertation on how badly congress screwed> > Bill Ruger.> >> > 64. If you anticipate another shooting session as you are putting your> > guns away at the range.> >> > 65. If you look at Shotgun News the way teenagers look at Playboy.> >> > 66. If every street sign within 5 miles of your house looks like it> > came from Chechnya.> >> > 67. If you went to college, but owned more gun manuals than text> > books.> >> > 68. If the National Guard armory has your phone number on "call block"> > because you keep making bids on their WWII artillery piece sitting out> > front.> >> > 69. If you carry a backup gun in case the backup for your backup> > fails.> >> > 70. If you carry concealed at the beach.> >> > 71. If third world arms dealers consider you to be the largest gun> > runner in the world (but you keep all the stuff for yourself.)> >> > 72. If you were arrested/questioned about the sniper shootings.> >> > 73. If you've filled out more "yellow forms" than income tax forms.> >> > 74. If you have your own VIP parking spot at gun shows.> >> > 75. If you hear someone say "it's about 9:45" and you think to> > yourself "good grief, the 9mm/.45 debates will never end!"> >> > 76. If you sit through a violent movie and aren't bothered by gory> > violence, but flinch when someone drops a firearm (might scratch it.)> >> > 77. If the above has ever brought tears to your eyes> >> > 78. If you have been banned from a movie theater because you always> > stand up in the middle of the movie and tell everyone you can't fire> > 30 rounds from a revolver without reloading.> >> > 79. If you ever took apart your Nintendo zapper and installed custom> > trigger, laser sight, scope, etc. for the "Duck Hunt" game.> >> > 80. If you have more firearms than friends.> >> > 81. If you have insurance covering your guns, but not you.> >> > 82. If Hillary Clinton makes your skin crawl.> >> > 83. If you slide your paddle holster on to check your mail.> >> > 84. If you slide your paddle holster on to take out the garbage.> >> > 85. If you find yourself rapidly disassembling/re-assembling your> > handgun....in the dark.....on the toilet.> >> > 86. If you drive to work with a $1500 Kimber in a $500 pick-up truck.> >> > 87. If your guns are named names usually reserved for people.> >> > 88. If you designed your own caliber and built a firearm to fire it.> >> > 89. If you grew up with loaded guns all around you, but it never> > crossed your mind to shoot up your school.> >> > 90. If you've read the Constitution.> >> > 91. If you know the Second Amendment by heart.> >> > 92. If you know the Second Amendment translated into more than 3> > languages.> >> > 93. If you used to have a hill as a backstop, but now it has become a> > 30 foot high mound of pure lead.> >> > 94. If you make your own reloading tools.> >> > 95. If you make your own powder.> >> > 96. If you don't label your reloading powder, because you can hear the> > difference when shaking the can.> >> > 97. If you have ever read an article in the crime section of the> > newspaper and read "the suspect had over 200 rounds of ammunition",> > then assumed it was a misprint. Who in his right mind would get down> > to only 200 rounds???> >> > 98. If your CCW is a shotgun. (Working on it!)> >> > 99. If your CCW is a 50 Barrett.> >> > 100. If your CCW is a LAW rocket.> >> > 101. If you find yourself doing trigger and muzzle control on the> > bottle of your wife's glass cleaner.> >> > 102. If your girlfriend/wife is jealous of the time you spend with> > your guns.> >> > 103. If your wish list on Midwayusa totals up to the price of a new> > car. (If that new car would be a Bentley.)> >> > 104. If you're already thinking about your next gun while you're> > filling out the paperwork on the one you're buying.> >> > 105. If the guys at the local gun shop send you a Christmas card.> >> > 106. If you own a gun you haven't shot yet.> >> > 107. If you have a room in your house dedicated to guns.> >> > 108. If when someone says "but what if you don't have a gun with you?"> > and after 15 minutes you still can't comprehend how that would be> > possible.> >> > 109. If the sound of full auto gun fire makes you feel all warm and> > fuzzy.> >> > 110. If you shook the presents under your tree, and one fired a round> > out of it.> >> > 111. If you've spent more money at Midway USA, Brownell's, and> > Cabella's than the companies are worth.> >> > 112. If your will specifies your favorite firearm(s) to be buried with> > you.> >> > 113. If the Glock talk logo is burned into your monitor.> >> > 114. If you have had a friend who thought knives were so cool and> > dangerous, then you showed him your AK-47 collection.> >> > 115. If you wonder why you must renew your CCW license every year but> > your marriage license won't expire.> >> > 116. If someone asks how many guns you have, and the answer begins> > with "about" (i.e. "about 50 or so").> >> > 117. If you took an ink blot test and your answers were things like> > "an AR-15 sear", "bolt release from Ruger 10-22", "firing pin from> > M1911", etc.> >> > 118. If you know you carry 45 caliber 230 grain full metal jacketed> > hydra-shock hollow points from Federal, but don't know the color of> > your wife's eyes. (That is what I have in the Kimber!)> >> > 119. If you have ever shot a hole in something on accident.> >> > 120. If that something was your TV during a Bush/Gore debate.> >> > 121. If you buy Hoppe's solvent in 50 gallon drums because your> > howitzer "likes" it.> >> > 122. If the gun show owners let you in free.> >> > 123. If you named a dog after a gun.> >> > 124. If you name your kids after your guns.> >> > 125. If you time yourself each time you fill out one of those yellow> > forms, and you're down to a minute flat.> >> > 126. If you're only dating/marrying a girl so you can shoot her gun> > collection.> >> > 127. If the wallpaper on your desktop is firearm related.> >> > 128. If the wallpaper in a room of your house is firearm related.> >> > 129. If you have no wallpaper or house, but live in a dug-out> > underground bunker to keep your guns safe.> >> > 130. If CNN does a report on gun control and shows a table of guns> > from a gun show, and one of them has your name engraved on the side.> >> > 131. If you carry pictures of your guns in your wallet.> >> > 132. If you ever heard gun shots outside your house late at night, but> > fell into a state of sheer panic because you couldn't decide which gun> > to grab.> >> > 133. If your favorites in the computer only have one folder, "guns."> >> > 134. When your wife has .357 Sig brass as earrings.> >> > 135. At the Tupperware party you show them your Glock.> >> > 136. Your gold tooth is made from a recycled brass casing.> >> > 137. You get arrested for possession of a gram of black powder.> >> > 138. Your son's middle name is "Glock."> >> > 139. Your kid's bike is on a bipod.> >> > 140. You go out with bird watchers with a 3x9 scope.> >> > 141. Your Walkman is made by Peltor.> >> > 142. Your kids vocabulary consists of words like; "ballistics,> > trajectory, bullet-coefficient and parallax."> >> > 143. Your wife loves to shop at Glockstore, Glockmeister, Topglock> > etc.> >> > 144. You shower the bride and groom with brass.> >> > 145. You double tap when knocking on doors.> >> > 146. You get excited when you see the Target store logo.> >> > 147. You buy your kids a book each and buy yourself five gun> > magazines.> >> > 148. Your tennis attire has Glock, Smith & Wesson, Colt and Ruger> > logos.> >> > 149. Your Golf bag has a gun compartment.> >> > 150. You lubricate your kid's bikes with Breakfree.> >> > 151. Your car is coated with Tennifer.> >> > 152. You light your charcoal with gun powder.> >> > 153. Your kids would rather go to a gun show than Magic Mountain or> > Disney World.> >> > 154. You are the only one wearing a vest without a camera.> >> > 155. If your apartment complex cites -you- as the reason they don't> > need on-site security.> >> > 156. If someone you've never met comes to your door and says, "I was> > given your name. Can you help me while I get my stuff out of my> > boyfriend's/husband's apartment?"> >> > 157. If the person who gave your name is a local Police Officer.> >> > 158. If your local Police Department makes a point of calling you at> > home to tell you about the sex-offender/felon who just moved into your> > area.> >> > 159. If you've been in a local gun shop and had a sales clerk ask you> > a question about a firearm, because no one else in the shop knows the> > answer. (Happened last week! He needed advice on a FAL.)> >> > 160. If the above occurs so they can make a sale.> >> > 161. If one of your local gun shops asks you to come work for them,> > because you've shown more knowledge than their employees.> >> > 162. If the above occurs at a shop you don't normally frequent.> >> > 163. If your local Police Department asks you what you think about the> > new handgun they're thinking about issuing.> >> > 164. If you've ever been asked by your local Police Department to> > bring in one or more of your weapons for them to show off, because> > they're "better than this crap we're carrying."> >> > 165. If you've ever gotten out of a ticket by offering to take the> > Officer shooting. (Talked guns with the cop after the traffic> > hearing.)> >> > 166. If you've ever been pulled over by a Police Officer so she can> > ask you to take her shooting.> >> > 167. If you've ever been pulled over by a local Police Department just> > so they can ask you a question about one of your weapons, or your> > ammunition.> >> > 168. If you've ever had people fly into the state, or country, just to> > fire some of your weapons.> >> > 169. If you've ever talked about your latest acquisition and heard the> > words, "How the hell did you get your hands on that?"> >> > 170. If your name has ever been given to a new recruit at your local> > Police Department along with the words, "Don't bother asking, he's> > going to have a gun on him somewhere."> >> > 171. If your boss has ever given you a box of ammunition as a reward> > for a 'job well done', and you don't work in a firearms friendly> > place.> >> > 172. If you've ever taken the day off work to go shooting, hunting, to> > the gun smith, or to purchase a new handgun, and yet you refuse to> > call in sick.> >> > 173. If your primary requirement for a soft-side briefcase, for work,> > is how well it can carry one of your preferred handguns.> >

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