Thursday, June 30, 2011
Helping Dad
He did most of the work, he's a spry and very active mid-80's kinda guy. It's a narrow little space upstairs and needed new toity-unit which I picked-up at Costco. This one has a soft-close lid so it doesn't bang, and a two-stage flusher-hootchie. One for #1 and another for #2. Mom is pleased.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The glass gave-out with a huge bang
Could have been a BB gun, could have been age and settling, we'll never know -- but the sound of all those tiny little safety-glass bits fracturing, cracking and breaking all at once is very LOUD and startling. WHAM!
UPDATE: My glass-guy says that the rubber gasket around the whole 4'x8' pane of tempered glass protects it from racking/twisting/compression forces - and that it takes a hard hit to actually break it - sometimes a bird's beak, more oftentimes a rock from a weed-whacker, or a shot-fired -- but a bird that hits tempered glass will break its neck right there and be found dead, and there was no weed-whacking taking place at 9:00pm Sunday. Maybe I should go ask the kid across they way whether he was fooling with his air-gun Sunday night? Sheesh.
And it cascades down like sharp, cutting water. It keeps falling, tinkle-tinkle little shard. There was as much glass inside as outside, and it fell down through the deck-boards raining onto the downstairs neighbors.
My wife was yelling at me to get down as I popped my head up, trying to see out into the fading light of evening. The sliding door was jammed, the track loaded with crushed glass bits wouldn't easily open. Nobody else heard anything so... we think the noise was all inside.
It's good practice (or an object-lesson) for what could very likely happen in an earthquake. Didn't happen in the last pretty-big one, but it could easily. There's a LOT of cleanup and a shop-vac is hugely useful - you hope the electricity is still working. We keep a pair of shoes in a drawer at the bedside. Don't want to be walking around barefoot in this stuff, the shards were everywhere.
UPDATE: My glass-guy says that the rubber gasket around the whole 4'x8' pane of tempered glass protects it from racking/twisting/compression forces - and that it takes a hard hit to actually break it - sometimes a bird's beak, more oftentimes a rock from a weed-whacker, or a shot-fired -- but a bird that hits tempered glass will break its neck right there and be found dead, and there was no weed-whacking taking place at 9:00pm Sunday. Maybe I should go ask the kid across they way whether he was fooling with his air-gun Sunday night? Sheesh.
And it cascades down like sharp, cutting water. It keeps falling, tinkle-tinkle little shard. There was as much glass inside as outside, and it fell down through the deck-boards raining onto the downstairs neighbors.
My wife was yelling at me to get down as I popped my head up, trying to see out into the fading light of evening. The sliding door was jammed, the track loaded with crushed glass bits wouldn't easily open. Nobody else heard anything so... we think the noise was all inside.
It's good practice (or an object-lesson) for what could very likely happen in an earthquake. Didn't happen in the last pretty-big one, but it could easily. There's a LOT of cleanup and a shop-vac is hugely useful - you hope the electricity is still working. We keep a pair of shoes in a drawer at the bedside. Don't want to be walking around barefoot in this stuff, the shards were everywhere.
Friday, June 24, 2011
.45 single-stack followers
What is the general direction of follower design?
Front-to-back: 1943 Colt Risdon, Chip McCormick Shootin' Star, Sig P220.
I understand that Sig p220 magazines went through a bit of a trial period before finally settling on this design, but that had to do with the tubes and feed-lips too.
Front-to-back: 1943 Colt Risdon, Chip McCormick Shootin' Star, Sig P220.
I understand that Sig p220 magazines went through a bit of a trial period before finally settling on this design, but that had to do with the tubes and feed-lips too.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Old 1911 Stuff
Prompted by reading deeper into the most excellent Larry Vickers 1911 article in Military Times (H/T Jump the Stack), I started messing about with the old 1943 Colt. It justifies everything about my old gun, including 7-round magazines, but I am a bit concerned that this old warhorse has 1943 steel and all that that entails, that things wear out when they're old...Since I've been on something of a magazine hunt lately, a name popped up that I had to go take a look-at, Tripp Research. They make a 7-round colt magazine with a follower that looks a LOT like the one on my Sig P220. Woot!
This is the first time I've seen such a thing - anybody care to venture an opinion?
One of my older gun-club compadres has been going up to Susanville since the late 90's and attending gunsmithing classes at Lassen College, and he's going to take it to play with in Armorer's School, and give it a quick and thorough cleaning...
He once had a match where he and Carlos Hathcock shot, he lost but he later beat him in smallbore. They were shooting instructors in the same group at Annapolis.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday Match
I get tired of lugging all this crap around, even with a wheeled cart. And you're not seeing the scope-stand with the 20lb weight.
I shot on #3 - and can't believe I shot well enough to break 400, this is a perishable skill. My off hand sucked with a measley 62.
It wasn't hot, it just looks that way since the sun came out from underneath the clouds. It was pretty mild.
click to enlarge
Down on the multi-purpose range below to the right, Alpha Dog Tactical was blasting away, having a rootin' tootin' shootin' Basic Tactical Shotgun training-day.
I drove by as I was leaving to see if Olav was there, but didn't notice anyone of his stature.
LMS Pistol-1 is here next month, Jul 23-24, but I'm not sure about the $400 registration fee. The Lewis Awerbuck 2-day class isn't until November, and costs $500.
Sheesh.
I shot on #3 - and can't believe I shot well enough to break 400, this is a perishable skill. My off hand sucked with a measley 62.
It wasn't hot, it just looks that way since the sun came out from underneath the clouds. It was pretty mild.
Down on the multi-purpose range below to the right, Alpha Dog Tactical was blasting away, having a rootin' tootin' shootin' Basic Tactical Shotgun training-day.
I drove by as I was leaving to see if Olav was there, but didn't notice anyone of his stature.
LMS Pistol-1 is here next month, Jul 23-24, but I'm not sure about the $400 registration fee. The Lewis Awerbuck 2-day class isn't until November, and costs $500.
Sheesh.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Dry-Fire Practice
Srsly? This is supposed to be hard? MAKE SURE YOUR GUN IS UNLOADED - that's the hard part.
Maybe the Sig's just a cheater, it's like a stage, the Flat Earth Society loves it. But does it beat a brick Glock? Yes, because it has a double-action trigger, I can snap all day.
Maybe the Sig's just a cheater, it's like a stage, the Flat Earth Society loves it. But does it beat a brick Glock? Yes, because it has a double-action trigger, I can snap all day.
Achiote Mahi-Mahi
I got tired of watching the same re-runs of Rick Bayless, El Capitano del Yucatano, and went out and made my own, it was yummy.
UPDATE: this simple Recipe consists of Mahi-Mahi, hot Weber grill, achiote paste thinned with juice from half a lime. And a stainless-steel grill thing that will fry your hand-skin if you don't use a mit or ove-glove or something... sprayed with Pam so the fish doesn't stick too bad. That's it. The Achiote paste is not very spicy but has a nutty-earthy flavor and prevented the fish from drying out.
Rick's fish isn't quite as red as mine.
UPDATE: this simple Recipe consists of Mahi-Mahi, hot Weber grill, achiote paste thinned with juice from half a lime. And a stainless-steel grill thing that will fry your hand-skin if you don't use a mit or ove-glove or something... sprayed with Pam so the fish doesn't stick too bad. That's it. The Achiote paste is not very spicy but has a nutty-earthy flavor and prevented the fish from drying out.
Rick's fish isn't quite as red as mine.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Combat Sights
Am I opening a huge can of smelly worms here? It's not tight t-shirts and mini-skirts or pink guns.
I called and talked to "my" guy and asked what I was doing wrong. Nothing much, things I need to fix in a class. He knows and has worked with Louis A. and Scott R. teaching classes mainly of Cops and Military. Locally with Mike Lamb (of Magpul Dynamics). The only issue is windage, if any.
click to enlarge Get it up, get the trigger going, and put the threat down. If this hold hits low, bring it up a bit, but mainly get it going.
Don't fuss around with a 6-O'clock hold and mentally measuring your tiny, 2-inch, bragging-rights groups in an emergency. These are combat sights, not adjustable target sights - center-hold, center-hit. At least that's what I think he said...
I called and talked to "my" guy and asked what I was doing wrong. Nothing much, things I need to fix in a class. He knows and has worked with Louis A. and Scott R. teaching classes mainly of Cops and Military. Locally with Mike Lamb (of Magpul Dynamics). The only issue is windage, if any.
Don't fuss around with a 6-O'clock hold and mentally measuring your tiny, 2-inch, bragging-rights groups in an emergency. These are combat sights, not adjustable target sights - center-hold, center-hit. At least that's what I think he said...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
6-O'clock or Center Mass?
So do you want the hit-zone obscured, or does it just happen naturally in the fight-or-flight panic already?
UPDATE - More SIGHT PRESENTATION images:
Center-mass hold gets the X-ring.
Fixed sights, non adjustable.
Interesting...this looks like a ghost-ring rear-peep.
This is what I like, dots aligned...but hits will be low.
Dots aligned...
Focus on the target...dots aligned...
Get's hits 3-inches low...
UPDATE - More SIGHT PRESENTATION images:
Center-mass hold gets the X-ring.
Fixed sights, non adjustable.
Interesting...this looks like a ghost-ring rear-peep.
This is what I like, dots aligned...but hits will be low.
Dots aligned...
Focus on the target...dots aligned...
Get's hits 3-inches low...
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Low and to the Right
Finally last Friday I got myself over to Targetmasters in Milpitas and blew off a few caps (about tem magazines) to see where the new sights, installed by retired SWAT gunnery-master and winner of Best in the West 1994, 1997, 1999, were setting. My guess is he uses a center-mass hold because 6-O'clock put me low.
I slipped the plastic the target at the top right under the frame-clip and prayed not to hit the frame, and ran it out to 7-yards or so - it's hard to tell how far away stuff is hanging out there.
My first two shots were the X's, and then I tried to see what I was hitting and started spotting them low again.
I did the same with the left-side shoot-n-see and got similar results - but without the X's.
Maybe I need a taller front sight to get a 6-O'clock hold working.
The diagram on the lower right is a (cut-off) graphic explanation of rimmed vs. non-rimmed cases, from a discussion with my sweetheart.
The rim prevents the cartridge from sliding through the cylinder holes in a revolver (her preferred firearm), and allows the star-extractor to grab them. Of course.
I slipped the plastic the target at the top right under the frame-clip and prayed not to hit the frame, and ran it out to 7-yards or so - it's hard to tell how far away stuff is hanging out there.
My first two shots were the X's, and then I tried to see what I was hitting and started spotting them low again.
I did the same with the left-side shoot-n-see and got similar results - but without the X's.
Maybe I need a taller front sight to get a 6-O'clock hold working.
The diagram on the lower right is a (cut-off) graphic explanation of rimmed vs. non-rimmed cases, from a discussion with my sweetheart.
The rim prevents the cartridge from sliding through the cylinder holes in a revolver (her preferred firearm), and allows the star-extractor to grab them. Of course.
Friday, June 10, 2011
June 10, 1898
Spanish-American War: U.S. Marines land on the island of Cuba. They did not have Krag rifles. It would be a month before U.S. troops marched on San Juan Hill.
New Krag (and Garand, and '03, and Carbine) Barrels from the CMP
Just got a CMP eMail update (another reason to join a CMP-affiliated club) and found some interesting stuff among the piquant mix of cordite and brass shavings:
Also included in the mix are stock sets and bayonets:
The whole email is here:
LATEST CMP SALES NEWS – JUNE 10, 2011:
*** PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS IS AN AUTOMATED ACCOUNT AND REPLIES WILL NOT BE READ ***
CMP STORE SCHEDULES FOR 2011: Operating hours for the remainder of 2011 are now posted on the web pages for the CMP North store at Camp Perry, OH and the CMP South store in Anniston, AL. Please see http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/stores.htm.
NEW MANUFACTURE CRITERION BARRELS: We now have the following new manufacture replacement barrels in stock and available for purchase: M1 Garand .30-06; M1 Garand .308; M1 Carbine; M1903; M1903A3; M1917; Krag .30-40 Carbine; Krag .30-40 rifle. For pricing and to place an order, please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=BAR.
STOCK SETS NOW AVAILABLE: We now have the following new manufacture stock sets in stock and available for purchase, while quantities last: CMP item number 084 – M1 Garand unfinished walnut sock set with no metal; CMP item number 086 – M1903 “C” stock set; CMP item number 087 – M1903A3 “C” stock set; CMP item number 088 – M1903 “S” stock set; CMP item number 082 – M1 Garand walnut stock set with no metal (wood finished); CMP item number 082M – M1 Garand stock set with metal (wood finished). CMP item number 083M – M1 Carbine stock set with metal (wood finished). For pricing and ordering, please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=PAC.
WEB SLINGS BACK IN STOCK: We have received a new shipment of new manufacture web slings for the M1 Garand. CMP item number is 854WEB. Price is $7.95 each. Please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=EQA.
M1D SNIPER RIFLES: We have completed inspection and grading of the remaining M1D sniper rifles and now have both Field Grade (RM1DF @ $1200) and Rack Grade (RM1DR @ $900) available for purchase. See http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/rifles.htm for more details.
REMINGTON MODEL 40X AND WINCHESTER MODEL 52: CMP has completed the inspection and sorting of all the model 40X and model 52 rifles we accumulated over the past two years. Please see http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/rifles.htm for description and pricing of available options. Quantity is relatively small and we expect these will sell quickly. Orders will be processed in sequence received while quantities last. There is no reason for us to expect to receive any more of these rifles.
CARBINE BAYONETS: We now have M4 carbine bayonets available for purchase. These bayonets are used and in fair to good condition. Many are unmarked and of unknown manufacture and are probably foreign manufacture. For more detailed description and pricing, please see http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/relatedsales.htm (Accessories Tab).
CMP AUCTION PROGRAM: Brian Vick, the CMP Auction Coordinator, is relocating to accept a position at another company. We wish him well. As part of transitioning to improved auction software and a new coordinator, we will not be adding any new items to the auction site for a few weeks, until all current items are sold and shipped to successful bidders. Visit the CMP Auction Site at http://auction.odcmp.com/auctions/index.asp.
Orest Michaels
Chief Operating Officer
Civilian Marksmanship Program, Programs & Competitions, Camp Perry Training Site, Bldg 3, Port Clinton, OH 43452 * (419) 635-2141 * info@odcmp.com
Civilian Marksmanship Program, Sales & Distribution, 1401 Commerce Blvd, Anniston, Alabama 36207 * (256) 835-8455 * custserve@odcmp.com
New Barrels
| ITEM # | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 065CRI/03 | Barrel, New Criterion, 1903 | $189.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/A3 | Barrel, New Criterion, 1903A3 | $189.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/1917 | Barrel, New Criterion, 1917 | $189.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/M1 | Barrel, New Criterion, 30-06 M1 | $179.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/3040C | Barrel, New Criterion, 30-40 Carbine | $199.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/3040R | Barrel, New Criterion, 30-40 Rifle | $199.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/308 | Barrel, New Criterion, 308 M1 | $189.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
| 065CRI/CARBINEPS | Barrel, New Criterion, Carbine | $189.95 - S&H $9.95 per barrel |
Also included in the mix are stock sets and bayonets:
M1 Garand Stock Set (New Production)
| ITEM # | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 082 | M1 Garand Stock Set - No Metal | $118.95 S&H $8.95 per stock set  |
| 082M | M1 Garand Stock Set - With Stock & Handguard Metal | $149.95 S&H $8.95 per stock set |
M1903A3 Stock Set (New Production)
Garand Bayonets (just a very short list):
| ITEM # | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| PB003AFH | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 Modified (Shortened) - used - Manufactured by American Fork and Hoe. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB003UC | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 Modified (Shortened) - used - Manufactured by Utica Cutlery. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB003UFH | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 Modified (Shortened) - used - Manufactured by Union Fork and Hoe. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB004AFH | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 - Used - Manufactured by American Fork and Hoe. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB004ENS | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 - Used - Manufacturer unknown. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB004UC | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 - Used - Manufactured by Utica Cutlery. Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture. | $65 |
| PB004UFH | Garand Bayonet - Model M1 - Used - Manufactured by Union Fork and Hoe Scabbard (used) may be foreign manufacture.. | $65 |
The whole email is here:
LATEST CMP SALES NEWS – JUNE 10, 2011:
*** PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS. THIS IS AN AUTOMATED ACCOUNT AND REPLIES WILL NOT BE READ ***
CMP STORE SCHEDULES FOR 2011: Operating hours for the remainder of 2011 are now posted on the web pages for the CMP North store at Camp Perry, OH and the CMP South store in Anniston, AL. Please see http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/stores.htm.
NEW MANUFACTURE CRITERION BARRELS: We now have the following new manufacture replacement barrels in stock and available for purchase: M1 Garand .30-06; M1 Garand .308; M1 Carbine; M1903; M1903A3; M1917; Krag .30-40 Carbine; Krag .30-40 rifle. For pricing and to place an order, please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=BAR.
STOCK SETS NOW AVAILABLE: We now have the following new manufacture stock sets in stock and available for purchase, while quantities last: CMP item number 084 – M1 Garand unfinished walnut sock set with no metal; CMP item number 086 – M1903 “C” stock set; CMP item number 087 – M1903A3 “C” stock set; CMP item number 088 – M1903 “S” stock set; CMP item number 082 – M1 Garand walnut stock set with no metal (wood finished); CMP item number 082M – M1 Garand stock set with metal (wood finished). CMP item number 083M – M1 Carbine stock set with metal (wood finished). For pricing and ordering, please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=PAC.
WEB SLINGS BACK IN STOCK: We have received a new shipment of new manufacture web slings for the M1 Garand. CMP item number is 854WEB. Price is $7.95 each. Please see https://estore.odcmp.com/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=catalogList&cat=EQA.
M1D SNIPER RIFLES: We have completed inspection and grading of the remaining M1D sniper rifles and now have both Field Grade (RM1DF @ $1200) and Rack Grade (RM1DR @ $900) available for purchase. See http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/rifles.htm for more details.
REMINGTON MODEL 40X AND WINCHESTER MODEL 52: CMP has completed the inspection and sorting of all the model 40X and model 52 rifles we accumulated over the past two years. Please see http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/rifles.htm for description and pricing of available options. Quantity is relatively small and we expect these will sell quickly. Orders will be processed in sequence received while quantities last. There is no reason for us to expect to receive any more of these rifles.
CARBINE BAYONETS: We now have M4 carbine bayonets available for purchase. These bayonets are used and in fair to good condition. Many are unmarked and of unknown manufacture and are probably foreign manufacture. For more detailed description and pricing, please see http://www.thecmp.org/Sales/relatedsales.htm (Accessories Tab).
CMP AUCTION PROGRAM: Brian Vick, the CMP Auction Coordinator, is relocating to accept a position at another company. We wish him well. As part of transitioning to improved auction software and a new coordinator, we will not be adding any new items to the auction site for a few weeks, until all current items are sold and shipped to successful bidders. Visit the CMP Auction Site at http://auction.odcmp.com/auctions/index.asp.
Orest Michaels
Chief Operating Officer
Civilian Marksmanship Program, Programs & Competitions, Camp Perry Training Site, Bldg 3, Port Clinton, OH 43452 * (419) 635-2141 * info@odcmp.com
Civilian Marksmanship Program, Sales & Distribution, 1401 Commerce Blvd, Anniston, Alabama 36207 * (256) 835-8455 * custserve@odcmp.com
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Big Krag Picture
Jennifer asks:
Gunny-goodness is not how I grew-up, the situation at home was anti-gun and even the occasional squirt-gun was confiscated until I was about eleven. Everything was either School or Church as you'll understand later. My big-brother and I only got Gi-Joe's because our Grandparents sent them to us while we were overseas, and Mom wouldn't deny the Christmas gift.
While Grandpa #1 was a hunter, grandpa #2 was no longer with us and his son was my Dad. Ironically I learned Rule #1 very early-on, "Never point a gun (even a toy one), at someone!" But death, destruction, WWII, Annapolis Naval Academy, and lotsa young guys who never came home set the post-war tone.
At the War's end Dad left Annapolis and returned home, and got a MFA in Woodworking, then to a Seminary where he receive a Theology degree. He followed that with a PhD in Education, in the study of pedagogical training among youths. He was a Shop Teacher with a PhD. He and Mom became a missionaries and went overseas, where he was the Principal of a Technical School for orphan boys. The boys were taught skills and a trade to support themselves in life. In that piss-poor country you were/are absolutely SOL if you had lost your parents and family, there were no orphanages or even poor-houses, you became a beggar and were brutalized by people who ran gangs of beggars. In the same town there was a Girls School that taught similar subjects for girls who had lost their family - they were in an even worse position than a guy might be.
The school was started years and years ago as an actual rescue mission, when some British in the vicinity got word that a bunch of kids had been taken into the woods for a "special ceremony" - of human sacrifice. This was a pretty backwards and backwoods part of the world where such things occasionally transpired even up until recently - and so they (The Brits) went out there and found them and and got about twelve very young kids who were orphans away from the local jungle-priestly miscreants. They had their hands full with all the kids and decided to establish a school for them, since nobody else was going to do it. And so it continues today.
When I was about Nine, one of our friends at the School had a spring-powered .177 pellet gun, and my older brother and I were allowed to go shooting at small critters, the three of us lads. We went out through the rice paddies into the jungle, you had to be very careful about certain wild animals always, snakes especially, and our Parents trusted us with Scout Knives and other things. I wanted to kill all the bold, nasty, constantly-squawking crows that were everywhere and ate dead things in the road, and maggots in cow-pies, and pecked at turds - I hate crows - but they would leap aside just as the pellet arrived. In the end I shot a small, pretty song bird and felt really bad.
Later, an older kid at Boarding School got into a lot of trouble because he accidentally shot and killed a person with his rifle while hunting (in another part of the Country), and his family had to leave their Station after paying a huge sum in repatriations and to settle the legal case - so guns were not proving to be a positive kind of example-thing.
When we returned state-side to the USA, our home's location in Ultra Liberal Land was not conducive either to being or becoming a gunny. But they were always around. I always knew someone who had one, and one rich kid's dad had a stack of Weatherby rifles that he took on Safari. And my Grandpa and Uncle hunted, but never with us...
Anyhow enough of that for now.
But whether I’ve met you or not, I want to know your story. The vast majority of my readers are firearms enthusiasts of some stripe. How did that happen? How did you become gunnies?Sebastian answers, but me - I'm a late bloomer... I was 42 when my grandfather died (he was 98 years and 11 months) and left me an old gun. It's hard to take pictures of such a great, long thing - it's 49-3/8" from steel buttplate to muzzle - and I like to get close-up. What's so cool is it shoots nicely.
Click to see full-frame.
Gunny-goodness is not how I grew-up, the situation at home was anti-gun and even the occasional squirt-gun was confiscated until I was about eleven. Everything was either School or Church as you'll understand later. My big-brother and I only got Gi-Joe's because our Grandparents sent them to us while we were overseas, and Mom wouldn't deny the Christmas gift.
While Grandpa #1 was a hunter, grandpa #2 was no longer with us and his son was my Dad. Ironically I learned Rule #1 very early-on, "Never point a gun (even a toy one), at someone!" But death, destruction, WWII, Annapolis Naval Academy, and lotsa young guys who never came home set the post-war tone.
At the War's end Dad left Annapolis and returned home, and got a MFA in Woodworking, then to a Seminary where he receive a Theology degree. He followed that with a PhD in Education, in the study of pedagogical training among youths. He was a Shop Teacher with a PhD. He and Mom became a missionaries and went overseas, where he was the Principal of a Technical School for orphan boys. The boys were taught skills and a trade to support themselves in life. In that piss-poor country you were/are absolutely SOL if you had lost your parents and family, there were no orphanages or even poor-houses, you became a beggar and were brutalized by people who ran gangs of beggars. In the same town there was a Girls School that taught similar subjects for girls who had lost their family - they were in an even worse position than a guy might be.
The school was started years and years ago as an actual rescue mission, when some British in the vicinity got word that a bunch of kids had been taken into the woods for a "special ceremony" - of human sacrifice. This was a pretty backwards and backwoods part of the world where such things occasionally transpired even up until recently - and so they (The Brits) went out there and found them and and got about twelve very young kids who were orphans away from the local jungle-priestly miscreants. They had their hands full with all the kids and decided to establish a school for them, since nobody else was going to do it. And so it continues today.
When I was about Nine, one of our friends at the School had a spring-powered .177 pellet gun, and my older brother and I were allowed to go shooting at small critters, the three of us lads. We went out through the rice paddies into the jungle, you had to be very careful about certain wild animals always, snakes especially, and our Parents trusted us with Scout Knives and other things. I wanted to kill all the bold, nasty, constantly-squawking crows that were everywhere and ate dead things in the road, and maggots in cow-pies, and pecked at turds - I hate crows - but they would leap aside just as the pellet arrived. In the end I shot a small, pretty song bird and felt really bad.
Later, an older kid at Boarding School got into a lot of trouble because he accidentally shot and killed a person with his rifle while hunting (in another part of the Country), and his family had to leave their Station after paying a huge sum in repatriations and to settle the legal case - so guns were not proving to be a positive kind of example-thing.
When we returned state-side to the USA, our home's location in Ultra Liberal Land was not conducive either to being or becoming a gunny. But they were always around. I always knew someone who had one, and one rich kid's dad had a stack of Weatherby rifles that he took on Safari. And my Grandpa and Uncle hunted, but never with us...
Anyhow enough of that for now.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
S*n ofa g*n!
The damn 2-yr old, 40-gallon, AO-Smith ProMax-Plus keeps losing the pilot and I have to re-start it. Cold showers are a bitch, especially at 6:30AM. This is not fun.
UPDATE: Since the pilot continues to function when lit or re-lit, we are not in too much danger of cold-water showers, a new part is in the works...
UPDATE: Since the pilot continues to function when lit or re-lit, we are not in too much danger of cold-water showers, a new part is in the works...
John C. Garand Match Tomorrow
Tomorrow bright and early, rain or shine, is my club's John C. Garand Match and bar-b-que, so I'm getting things ready and loading my range-bag. Between the re-model and the rain, and the rain and the pistol-focus, and holster after holster and more rain, I havn't been to club events or shooting the Garand much - or the AR.
And it's been raining the past three days - that never happens here. It's June already. Usually (for the past thirty years) you could count on the rain being over and done-with by mid-May, and by the time this particular Match rolls around everyone is in shorts and t-shirts and the hills are dead-yellow, and it's hotter than hell.
Oh well. Should be fun anyhow!! Boom! Boom! *Pa-Ting*!! Reload: boom, boom, boom, boom, etc. :-)
UPDATE: Rain-out, rescheduled for later, yet to be determined.
Seriously, you guys who want one just need to shoot practice and get scored with a CMP club. Click on the Find a CMP Affiliated Club link to find a club near you. :-)
And it's been raining the past three days - that never happens here. It's June already. Usually (for the past thirty years) you could count on the rain being over and done-with by mid-May, and by the time this particular Match rolls around everyone is in shorts and t-shirts and the hills are dead-yellow, and it's hotter than hell.
Oh well. Should be fun anyhow!! Boom! Boom! *Pa-Ting*!! Reload: boom, boom, boom, boom, etc. :-)
UPDATE: Rain-out, rescheduled for later, yet to be determined.
Seriously, you guys who want one just need to shoot practice and get scored with a CMP club. Click on the Find a CMP Affiliated Club link to find a club near you. :-)
Friday, June 03, 2011
And Now We Are Six
Seven actually, there's one in the '43. The Brown Truck of Happiness made a delivery, and my magazine stand is full-er.
I've heard some negative stuff about Kimber 1911 quality control lately, but I kinda really-really hope it doesn't extend to the magazines.
These are hella stout - and if I get another 1911 later with a funnel for a magazine chute, I can always put the humongous base-pads on them.
These are the Kim-Pro TacMags - 7-rounder like His Excellency JMB indicated and designed-for, and which fit the old '43 best.
Fully loaded 8-round mags, even the ChipMcCormick, are hard(er) to seat and drag noticeably on the slide - at least I noticed it, so I'm just living with it as-is.
How many magazines are enough?
So far I have these seven and a few more, including an original WWII Scoville and a Risdon - both of which operate and function perfectly, btw. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the Chip McCormic 8-rounder, maybe give it to a friend with a modern gun that can handle it...
I've heard some negative stuff about Kimber 1911 quality control lately, but I kinda really-really hope it doesn't extend to the magazines.
These are hella stout - and if I get another 1911 later with a funnel for a magazine chute, I can always put the humongous base-pads on them.
These are the Kim-Pro TacMags - 7-rounder like His Excellency JMB indicated and designed-for, and which fit the old '43 best.
Fully loaded 8-round mags, even the ChipMcCormick, are hard(er) to seat and drag noticeably on the slide - at least I noticed it, so I'm just living with it as-is.
How many magazines are enough?
So far I have these seven and a few more, including an original WWII Scoville and a Risdon - both of which operate and function perfectly, btw. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the Chip McCormic 8-rounder, maybe give it to a friend with a modern gun that can handle it...
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