Friday, November 30, 2012

I don't know where he gets it

My son picked out the targets by himself. I wasn't even there.



Yes, he has a NERF New York reload.
Mainly because we practice shooting zombies, not people right now.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

British Vet detained for war trophy pistol released.

The British Veteran that was locked up in England is at least not locked up anymore. He was released with a suspended sentence by appeals court judges. I guess they know bad publicity when they see it.

Why are the best prices at a home improvement store

I was looking for a new truck battery. I found my best price at freaking Menards. WTF.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Chicago has solved all other crime!

Wait, no they haven't. But, they are going after a woman for $105,000 in unpaid parking fines instead of solving all the other crimes. On a worn out POS. Apparently, her ex parked it at an airport employee lot, and the meter maids padded their ticket counts to the tune of 678 tickets. Any one of which deserved a tow.  Which never happened.

Hat tip to SCC.

Don't get between a buck and his smokes

A couple of bumpkins got their butts whooped and smokes eaten by a buck. Pretty funny if you ask me. What caliber for deer with nicotine withdrawal?

But I thought Obama Got Osama

Apparently he is only seen in file footage in Zero Dark Thirty. And that appearance doesn't really make him look all that good....

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Inexpensive Red Dot Battery Test

My first experience with a red dot was the Tasco Pro-point PDP2. It stood up to 44 magnum recoil, but had a battery life measured in hours. As in, change the batteries at the end of the hunting day or look through a blank tube the next morning. Obviously, this was first gen technology. I still have it; it resides on my 18" 870 that I turned into a deer gun after tiring of paying $4 a shot for sabot slugs.

Recently, I've decided to audition cheap Chinese red dots. By audition, I mean I bought a couple of cheap red dots, put them on ARs and left them turned on. Even shot a few rounds here and there.


First up is the Bushnell TRS-25. It is a small, micro style red dot. For now, it resides on a Rock River tactial carry handle. That gives me lower 1/3 cowitness with the irons. I've actually swapped the assembly between Fugly (11.5" painted thing) and my all Armalite 16" rifle. I first installed it sometime in September. So far, I have left it on in position 4 when not shooting. The battery is still up as of today. (2 months) I've read somewhere 3000 hour battery life. So far, so good. I do find the reflective coating on the front of the Bushnell to be annoying. I haven't looked into a Killflash for it.

The other is a Truglo Trition TG8365B open red dot. It has been on the PSA 6.8 through 1045 rounds. I bought it because it has the smallest MOA dot outside of an Aimpoint or EoTech. Shoots to the same place with the same loads.

2.5 MOA dot
 I don't really need all the extra features on it- it offers 3 different colors -red, blue, and green, all on the same dial. Each color only has 3 brightness settings. Doesn't seem to be a problem at the range.


2.5 MOA dot with ring

4 different dots are available with a twist of the rear knob. I have yet to see if changing to a different shape changes the POI. I have moved the knob, moved it back and the POI remains the same. I have no use for the other settings- The 5 MOA dot and the 2.5 dot with ring serve little purpose. I didn't even get a picture of the 5 MOA dot, it looks much like the 2.5 dot with the ring.

5 MOA dot with ring.

 I might find a use for the 5 MOA dot with the larger ring in snap shooting. Really, the outer ring could stand to be larger.


Blue!
The original battery did not last long at all. I left it on after one range trip. Three days later, it was so weak that it could not be seen on position red 3 in daylight, and the other two colors did not light at all. I put a new Energizer 2032 battery in it (same battery the TRS-25 takes) and left it on after one trip last Wednesday (10 days) on the red 1 setting. In my truck. Lows have been in the 30's to 20's this past week. I don't plan to turn it off any time soon.

Green!
I do like the clear glass when shooting with the irons. There are no emitters or knobs in the way for right handed shooters. Shooting left handed on a left hand rifle would not be bad, the brightness knob is below the plane of the glass.






All in all, neither sight pisses me off to the point that I would not buy another. I would love to run an Aimpoint PRO or a transverse Eotech. At this point in time, these fill a niche and accurately put bullets on target. I will update when the Truglo's second battery loses power

John Carter (of Mars)

Watched the movie. It didn't suck. (Ducks and runs)

Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday Funshow

Now that was a properly busy show. I arrived 40 minutes after the opening. Ended up parking outside the fairgrounds. The line was out the door and to the first parking lot. Took between 10 to 15 minutes to actually get in, and they had 2 people taking money instead of the usual 1. Found what I was looking for this time- primers, powder, and a sight tool. I could not find the guy who had the old, stanky A2 stripped upper (I have a plan) and did not feel like looking down every single row to find him. Also picked up some Froglube from this guy.

The flashlight there is the extent of my Black Friday door shopping. It is a Ruger branded 540 lumen LED. The only downside is that it takes C batteries instead of 123. And the beer was brought to me by a friend in from Michigan. Fairly tasty.

Spot Batboy's party

I'll give Cnet this, they put it in the second sentence in the article about Leahy's heavy handed desire to read our email without a warrant. And in the follow up article about him being caught and pulling the language. Somebody takes his Batman cameos a little too seriously.

It's Black Friday

I'm working on seasoning my cast iron skillet. Seems fitting....

Why Romney Lost the 'Asian' vote

From the Weekly Standard article, Romney lost the GEOGRAPHICALLY Asian vote. Because now we are Formerly Great Britain and are lumping together those formerly known as Indians (Convenience store not casino) with those of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese descent. So, are Jewish people now Asian, because Israel is not in Europe or Africa? Stupid political correctness.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Merry Thanksgiving

I am thankful for Black Friday sales. I think I'll be able to find some parts I need.....

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Why I hate "store exclusives"

Because then I find something like this, that Borepatch posted about yesterday. The closest Dick's is in Cedar Rapids, not exactly a short trip away. Especially to look for a rifle that may be on sale, and may be in stock.


I like the blurb about "disassembling the magazine voids the warranty." I was planning on tearing the whole thing down :) I like the lower to match with a 6.8 upper, as PMags are alleged to have problems* with the Troy lowers. No PMags in 6.8 means no big deal there. And at $799, the cost of buying the fore end, folding sight and stock (ugly, but useful) add up to over half the cost of the rifle.

Oh, well.

*It is in that post, somewhere. Plus linked at Borepatch's site. Gen M3 Pmags have an overtravel stop that hits on some lowers, especially those with one piece trigger guards. Which not all Troy rifles have, judging by the M4carbine thread.

It's hard to get excited

When you are sick. Especially when the running of the nose is more powerful than the Sudafed. Only 2 more days of work this week. Yay.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Autocorrectisms

Sent a text to Ace about the new Hitman game. Phone changed it to Whitman for me. Of course, I never checked before I hit send. He texted back "WTF is that?" I sent him back the correct name. Then added, "Whitman is the one with the clock tower."

More goodies

From pro shooter supply. Nosler overruns.






Update:
Bullets on the right had a cannelure, on the left did not.




Ahh, traffic engineers

Ankeny is getting a new exit off of I-35 to reduce congestion at the other three exits. One of which is unusable 90% of the time because it has stop signs instead of traffic lights, and is designed to be the "industrial exit" that trucks can't make a turn at. Because the geniuses behind traffic calming won't put in a traffic light until the number of deaths, serious injuries, or property damage hits some magic number. Did I mention it has the new look bridge that everywhere else in Des Moines have No Right on Red signs because of the non-existent sight lines?

So what does the new exit have sitting at the bottom of it? Stop signs. Seriously, you spend $35 million, move 2 rest areas, move the whole interstate 200 yards east, and can't spring for a set of lights?

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Return to the Clinton Tax Code

That is exactly what letting the current tax breaks expire would do. Plus the Dem's stupid payroll tax cut. I pointed out what some of the costs would be to a coworker. (non D) His jaw about hit the floor. Half of my coworkers could be considered disabled due to past injuries/pain problems. But most are the type that are too damned proud to work for a living to get free shit from the government.

Against secret ballot before they were for it

Damn, are the Teamsters presidential candidates? From the story at Hot Air, they have quotes from the Teamster's website throwing the Baker's Union under the bus.

....Teamster Hostess members were allowed to decide their fate by voting on the final offer conducted by a secret mail ballot.  More than two-thirds of Hostess Teamsters members voted with 53 percent voting to approve the final offer.

....Without complete information, BCTGM members voted by voice votes in union halls. The BCTGM reported that over 90 percent rejected the final offer and three of its units ratified the final offer. .....

....We may never know unless the BCTGM members, based on the facts they know today, get to determine their fate in a secret ballot vote. Teamster members would understand that the will of the BCTGM Hostess membership was truly heard if that was the case......
(Emphasis mine)

So unions want card check when it benefits them, i.e. camel's nose under the tent. But they admit people vote differently when not subject intimidation. Plus the whole under the bus thing, as in they are giving them one more chance to not screw this one up for the Teamsters.


On my DO WANT list

LWRC Six8 article in Shotgun news. Even at the high price, and I've heard 2 years before upper/lowers will filter to the civilian market. Plus they talk about the Federal ammo, too.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Smokers card?

Oh, oh, I know. If that doesn't work, they could make them wear patches with cigarettes on their arms. That works every time! I'm not really sure if this is for Australia, Formerly Great Britain, or here. Power mad fascists know no borders.

With public health care as the endgame, how close are we to rounding up and shooting euthanizing tobacco users? We are already subject to a tax for NOT buying something. I wish they would take the mask off and stop this slow boiling pot shit.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I snuck out to the range

It was sundown, but I made it there to shoot some of the S&B 6.8 110 grain fmj. These were shot from 2 guns. The group on the top left was solely from my SOTA upper with scope. The top right were all from the PSA upper. All shots at 50 yards. Magazine rest, jerking the trigger all the way. My main goal was to fire all 59 rounds (one just missed) before someone got pissed that I was shooting after the official sundown (4:54 pm, I got there at 4:50 and was done by 5:05)


Oh, while I wasn't 106 miles from Chicago, it was dark out, and I was wearing sunglasses. Because I didn't have time to find my shooting glasses with the clear lenses.

People with power abuse it?

 Shocked! shocked! that the FBI operates on an Old Boy (Girl?) network.

But operating from our semi-veil of ignorance, it does seem clear that the FBI did the following based on the complaints of one person in Tampa who knew a bunch of generals:

Yes, because law enforcement is always by disinterested public servants with no personal opinions about the cases they look into. It is nice to know how easily the FBI can read emails. Might at well publish all correspondence on a blog...

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

PAC spending for naught?

Another post wherein I am too lazy to link to a story on. Why? Because any PAC spending for the loser is for naught. The winner will go out of his way to give kickbacks to his side, and won't take the time to unzip his fly to put out burning supporters of his opponents.

Factory 6.8 Teardown

Well, if I can't shoot the factory S&B surplus 6.8 SPC ammo, I sure as hell am going to take one apart and see what it is made of.

OAL 2.224"

30.2 grains of ball powder.

Bullet weighed in at 110.4 grains

Case was 119 grains with the primer in it.

This was with a Hornaday scale, whatever the basic scale part number is, so take those with a grain of salt.

This only took 3 hits with an inertia puller to dislodge. I've had to beat the ever loving hell out of most of my reloads that I crimp to dislodge a bullet.

National security?

This scandal sounds more like an episode of Jersey Shore. And now the first chick's house is getting tossed. Hope she didn't post any you tube videos.....

Monday, November 12, 2012

This is the guy behind the zombie outbreaks

You know, the ones caused by bath salts. John McAfee, founder of the antivirus company, is wanted for murder. Gizmodo also notes he had been experimenting in the jungles of Belize, (allegedly) refining the compounds that make up bath salts. Great, he was making them stronger. That is all we need.

New toy chow

I am sad that I can't use it yet.



Small rifle primers, unlike their commercial ammo.

140% voting turnout

In any precinct that has over 100% turnout, if there are no provisional ballots to make up the difference, the people running the polls need to be arrested and charged with election fraud every time. Or tarred and feathered. Contrary to popular opinion, math is not hard.

Veterans Day (Observed)

Thank you to all of our Veterans for your service. I think my favorite post yesterday said "Thank a veteran; punch send a strongly worded letter to a politician."

On second thought, it did say punch. I misremember.

As the news spins

So the angle of the Petraeus women story is going to be "open secret." And I heard that on Fox News Radio at 5am this morning, not on MSNBC. An open secret that the FBI had to investigate.

The story also serves to remind the country that Diane "all your guns are belong to me" Feinstein is the head of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“The FBI has briefed me now. I actually wish we had been briefed a little bit earlier. … We received no advanced notice. It was like a lightning bolt,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told “Fox News Sunday.”


I'm glad that she is on top of this stuff, not running around bragging about banning guns again. Oh, wait....

Addeed: I guess FBI employees warned actual Congresscritters last month.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Time to clean after 1000 rounds

Broke down and cleaned the PSA 6.8 upper/rifle after last month's 1005 round fun fest. Yeah, it was a little dirty. Funny, the two 5.56's I cleaned had a similar number of rounds between cleanings. They were lubed with a 5w20/ATF mix. They weren't half as bad. The PSA was lubed with Froglube.






It did clean up with a brush and a little time. And I did lube it with a little CLP at the 605 round mark, that may account for some of the buildup.





Saturday, November 10, 2012

6.8 reloading deal alert

115 grain Nosler overrun bullets $15.95 /100 at Shooters Pro Shop.

I guess I will find out how long it takes for them to ship. I've never caught them with blems/overruns in stock before.

New Benchmade

Just celebrating the last time I will have to vote for Mitt Romney. I guess I can thank Obumbles for that small miracle. Plus we will get to see another impeachment trial. Or not.

Maybe my colander is too tight

But doesn't it seem strange to spare Petraeus until after the election but before he is to testify before Congress? Guess sending him a dead fish would be a little too obvious.

Pic vaguely related:
Note: From a Huffpost article last month. I mean no disrespect to Mick's daughter or dead tuna....

Jeez, you get busy and ignore the internet for one day

And all hell breaks loose. The CIA director was blowing journalists or the other way around.

Romney's campaign was a collection of dumbasses. And they hired moronic consultants to line their pockets write software make a website that never worked. While the Obama campaign had a side office in every pissant town to pound the pavement.




All the news a week late

Hey, Iran has been shooting at our drones. Last week. Just came out today. Had that pesky election and all. Couldn't talk about it until today. Most transpart administration never.

Bloody pirates

I mean knee jerk ammo buyers. All the .223 and 5.56 was wiped off the shelves at Sportsman's Warehouse. Says the guy buying 3 lbs of powder and all the 6.8 bullets he can buy.... Hey, I just shot 1k rounds last month, gotta get the levels back to normal. Plus, they had AA2200 in stock.

I don't know if this was a joke

Tampon/ birthcontrol hoarding? Played out on Twitter on a massive scale. Or Obama voters really are that stupid. Yeah, it might be a joke towards people who are hoarding certain other items. Then again, the mask is off on the UN Small Arms treaty...

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Way to bend over, Boner

Or whatever that sissy boy running the House calls himself. It isn't like the Republicans lost by 20 million votes.

So, what will the RINOs blame this time

The powers that be in the Republican party really wanted Romney. Just like they really wanted McCain. They've lost twice in a row. They blamed Palin last time, so will they blame Ryan this time? Nobody gives two shits about the bottom half of the ticket- Biden, anyone?

And the rewriting begins

Obama was the one running to the middle this time, who knew? Gosh, all those ads telling his special interests that they were all he cared about were confusing me.

Oh, gas prices are shooting up. Guess after Obama wins, the little people need to pay a little more.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Political thoughts from coworkers

One coworker suggested that we should have two presidents. You lead whatever states you win. Another coworker immediately noted "They tried that. It didn't work out so well."

Monday, November 5, 2012

Great sign for the Presidential visit

Guess this was posted on the business next door to Zombie Burger. Raygun T-shirts. I've got to get me one of these shirts.

This Mayor Thing is Hard

That has to be going through Bloomberg's mind right now. Guess he just can't ban natural disasters away like guns, transfats, big gulps and non-union relief crews.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Not to repeat myself

Re this post. This pic was taken at the Adventureland gunshow around 2pm today. Normally the parking lot where the Dodge with the trailer is parked is full, as are the lot to the right and far lot on a Saturday.
Prices last night seemed normal to slightly high- i.e. no screaming deals. The guys with ammo seemed to sell 5.56 at $185/500 just fine. Saw my first M&P Shield. It didn't follow me home for $449. My wife was mumbling something about a pink gun, guess she didn't see the pink M&P15/22. Not like I would have stopped her from buying it....

And everyone and his dog had 5.45 Russian ammo. Weird how stuff suddenly appears everywhere at the same time....

I might swing in on Sunday to check for deals. No one had powder or brass that I wanted at prices that made sense.

Blackout plans on hold

Something I've been waiting to come off of perpetual backorder at Midway just did. At least I could buy it and get in line now....

The worst part of this election

No matter who wins, the Democrats will put up some jackass in 2016 that is even further left of Obama. Or just a plain idiot. Cough, Biden, cough.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Looks like a Romney win

Only 20 cars waiting before the gun show opens.

At least Bloomberg has his priorities straight

Screw the little people, we have a race to run.

Update: canceled the race

Hope this doesn't give Obama any ideas

They are lowering the voting age in Argentina to 16 so the little nutjobs they have indoctrinated can vote sooner for the ruling party.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

300 BLK makes sense to me in one way

All the leftover parts I have accumulated would put one together once I find a barrel. And old, split neck 223 cases would feed it quite well. I just need a source of pulled 308 bullets to make the total package a used clusterflog. Wonder if that guy with the old, nasty stripped A2 upper will be at the show tomorrow...

And now for something completely stupid

Shooting guns into the air in at a wedding in Saudi Arabia kills 24 at a wedding. Guess they shot a cable, that then electrified a metal door. Looks like the authorities will treat it as a non crime, after all, it was mostly women killed. And we all know how many craps the Saudis give about women's rights and worth. Fine religion to bow down to.