Threat-Management
Be a wolf. There are already too many sheep.
Wouldn't you rather be this?
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Bio Link
This is supposed to be some biography crap about me. I think the photo pretty much says it. Thank you Adya for the fucking stunning freehand work. You know I will love you forever. Adya is at Living Canvas tattoos, Columbia MO. Not sure what website Dean is using so not putting one here. Google "Living Canvas Columbia MO" - but be prepared to wait for Adya to have free time and you get what you pay for, so bring a lot of $100s --- she is sure worth it.
THREAT-MANAGEMENT.COM
What A Day - For My Friends
In no particular order, what a day. A guy stops by with a HK P7M13, Chantilly VA marked SEAL contract gun. So, I get mine out (oh, yes...). My bank calls me 12 times about a line of credit. I call them, tell them what is going on, and they literally hung up on me. Cool! I have been awake since Tuesday morning working on trying to buy a little tiny piece of property. Heard from the buyer and he's not including the building in the price. How about priceless? I love wasting a night's sleep over an asshole.
A friend bought an Egnater amp today, said they flat scream. Good, I have one on order if I can figure out how to pay for it. Went to my attorney and signed my wife's divorce agreement/property settlement. She gets a lot of stuff, I get some stuff. Fine with me. I just want this done. Now that I signed it, texted her and get no response as to whether she signed it on her end. Perfect.
James G at Death Valley Magazine is going to kick me right in the nuts because instead of writing an article for him, I am out here with Beam & Coke wondering why life can fuck me so hard, yet I know the answer. God wanted to be sure I am indeed the "toughest son of a bitch in the valley." Life sucks, then you die. At least I know what I am going to do on the day that I find out I am divorced. Go live. My new cutie (think Tanya Tucker) is real supportive of this old cowboy. It is incredible that I got to hook up with her. No, she ain't no 21 year old smoking hottie with big tits (I already married three of those), she is somebody to talk with. And she can flat run a gun.
Though I lost the property battle, I will survive this crap. My attorney says about another week to get this done if the lovely bride signs. If she doesn't then it is go to war time. I think she will sign it. To those of you who have stuck with me through all this shit, I can't believe you did it and you are welcome on my 109 acres anytime. For those who decided I am crazy, fuck off.
Taka, Tammy, Beth, Cinda, Brandi, Tasha, Mesha, Angie, Kerri, Diana, Karen, Amy, Courtney, Adrianne, Iris - thanks. To Adya & Dean, who just flat care (Adya does my ink). To Don who loans me a $20 bill every week so I can buy diesel and get to work and patiently listens to me bitch about life. To Bill who just could not stand seeing me without a Gibson and sold me back the Les Paul Jr that I sold him and had to watch me cry over it. To Vicki and Dale, sorry I couldn't visit with you all over all these past years, I had no life. To Matthew, Beth's guy, who keeps me grounded. To Patrick, Angie's guy, who is my trusted friend, words can't begin to describe. To Sgt Bob, who told me to get rid of the drugs despite what a doctor "says." To Bear and Glenda, who are as cool as it gets - I can't ride Harleys anymore but it doesn't matter to them, we're headed to Sturgis in August. And to my new cutie, Steph, you showed me that life can be fun and yes, you are always right. I love you.
I'm off to make another drink and ponder on why I bought so many toys over the last 20+ years that I just gave away today. I don't miss them one damn bit.
A friend bought an Egnater amp today, said they flat scream. Good, I have one on order if I can figure out how to pay for it. Went to my attorney and signed my wife's divorce agreement/property settlement. She gets a lot of stuff, I get some stuff. Fine with me. I just want this done. Now that I signed it, texted her and get no response as to whether she signed it on her end. Perfect.
James G at Death Valley Magazine is going to kick me right in the nuts because instead of writing an article for him, I am out here with Beam & Coke wondering why life can fuck me so hard, yet I know the answer. God wanted to be sure I am indeed the "toughest son of a bitch in the valley." Life sucks, then you die. At least I know what I am going to do on the day that I find out I am divorced. Go live. My new cutie (think Tanya Tucker) is real supportive of this old cowboy. It is incredible that I got to hook up with her. No, she ain't no 21 year old smoking hottie with big tits (I already married three of those), she is somebody to talk with. And she can flat run a gun.
Though I lost the property battle, I will survive this crap. My attorney says about another week to get this done if the lovely bride signs. If she doesn't then it is go to war time. I think she will sign it. To those of you who have stuck with me through all this shit, I can't believe you did it and you are welcome on my 109 acres anytime. For those who decided I am crazy, fuck off.
Taka, Tammy, Beth, Cinda, Brandi, Tasha, Mesha, Angie, Kerri, Diana, Karen, Amy, Courtney, Adrianne, Iris - thanks. To Adya & Dean, who just flat care (Adya does my ink). To Don who loans me a $20 bill every week so I can buy diesel and get to work and patiently listens to me bitch about life. To Bill who just could not stand seeing me without a Gibson and sold me back the Les Paul Jr that I sold him and had to watch me cry over it. To Vicki and Dale, sorry I couldn't visit with you all over all these past years, I had no life. To Matthew, Beth's guy, who keeps me grounded. To Patrick, Angie's guy, who is my trusted friend, words can't begin to describe. To Sgt Bob, who told me to get rid of the drugs despite what a doctor "says." To Bear and Glenda, who are as cool as it gets - I can't ride Harleys anymore but it doesn't matter to them, we're headed to Sturgis in August. And to my new cutie, Steph, you showed me that life can be fun and yes, you are always right. I love you.
I'm off to make another drink and ponder on why I bought so many toys over the last 20+ years that I just gave away today. I don't miss them one damn bit.
Live Rural? What's Really Needed?
Since I have moved back to a way out in the sticks place, like incredibly remote, 109 acres of nothing - thought I'd pass along what toys I have found that I just am thrilled to have and others that I need to buy badly. If you live in a city, maybe you won't ever need these. And no, this isn't a killer ninja tactical gun list either. Also going to tag on some personal messages at the end, so if you're not interested, no worries. You're an adult (I hope) and can decide for yourself what you read. If not, then grow some bollocks and make some decisions.
First thing - go get a big first aid kit. Second thing - get some training in how to use it. Out in nowhere, it's helicopter time if you chop yourself up. Ambulances can't go places where a monster F350 has trouble.
Get a big dog or a pair of them. I "inherited" a pair of Great Pyrenees and they are great for letting me know that something isn't right. First choice for me would have been three Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but since the GPs were free, they get the vote. It's like having a pair of ponies with teeth. One of them tore into a coyote a day or two back. Bad for the coyote. Sucked to be him. Also have my killer rat terrier, all five pounds of her. She takes care of the real big threats.
Get a shovel, a pair of Crescent or other US made fencing pliers and a pile of rope and stick it in your truck. Shovel is self-explanatory. You will get stuck - right in the middle of a road that has no bottom. Fencing pliers are so when you're way lost out on thousands of acres, you can let the barbed wire down (since you can't find a gate) and then (please) put it back up. Rope is for everything else. Hell, I learned a new knot from a cowboy I ran into just this afternoon while loading up some used furniture.
Find a big, giant knife. I got a Kukri from Amazon for less than $40. Had to take a file to it, but it's cheap and it works. Uses are endless. I love tomahawks and have a pile of them, but they are pretty much worthless for anything real. In fact, I am going to list my fancy VTAC tomahawk on ebay next week. Just can't find a use for them, but they sure are cool looking.
Buy the absolute brightest flashlight you can find. I thought a Streamlight Ultrastinger was it. Not hardly. Its 275 or whatever lumens won't reach for shit. Next one is the Surefire M6 —- when you need to see out in the flats, you really need to see. Badly.
Stop by an army surplus store for a couple of wool blankets. Always handy. James G over at Death Valley Magazine (see sidebar on the left for a link) recommended some lightsticks. Absolutely. Like he said, nothing sucks more than sitting in a broke down vehicle all night in the dark. Carry some big Milkbones for the crazy dogs you'll run into. Suddenly, you have a friend for life. Get on ebay and look for a current issue DPM British "smock" - their rain gear. These coats just rock. Ventilated, tough as nails and really waterproof. SAS (Special Air Service) beret would be an option. I have a beret but don't have the balls to wear it away from here, since I'm not SAS and don't want my ass kicked by a real tough guy.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but what I listed is important. Trust me. I have fucked up on each of these by not having them when I needed them.
And a personal note: thanks to Mike who sent me the blazer badge for SAS Rhodesia. Where the hell is "Stockton on Tees" England? Mike, wherever that is, I owe you a pint and when I go see Anthony, I am buying. Looks like I sign my final, final divorce papers tomorrow. I wish the very soon to be ex-wife all the best. My only advice to her is I hope her new guy isn't an asshole like me.
First thing - go get a big first aid kit. Second thing - get some training in how to use it. Out in nowhere, it's helicopter time if you chop yourself up. Ambulances can't go places where a monster F350 has trouble.
Get a big dog or a pair of them. I "inherited" a pair of Great Pyrenees and they are great for letting me know that something isn't right. First choice for me would have been three Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but since the GPs were free, they get the vote. It's like having a pair of ponies with teeth. One of them tore into a coyote a day or two back. Bad for the coyote. Sucked to be him. Also have my killer rat terrier, all five pounds of her. She takes care of the real big threats.
Get a shovel, a pair of Crescent or other US made fencing pliers and a pile of rope and stick it in your truck. Shovel is self-explanatory. You will get stuck - right in the middle of a road that has no bottom. Fencing pliers are so when you're way lost out on thousands of acres, you can let the barbed wire down (since you can't find a gate) and then (please) put it back up. Rope is for everything else. Hell, I learned a new knot from a cowboy I ran into just this afternoon while loading up some used furniture.
Find a big, giant knife. I got a Kukri from Amazon for less than $40. Had to take a file to it, but it's cheap and it works. Uses are endless. I love tomahawks and have a pile of them, but they are pretty much worthless for anything real. In fact, I am going to list my fancy VTAC tomahawk on ebay next week. Just can't find a use for them, but they sure are cool looking.
Buy the absolute brightest flashlight you can find. I thought a Streamlight Ultrastinger was it. Not hardly. Its 275 or whatever lumens won't reach for shit. Next one is the Surefire M6 —- when you need to see out in the flats, you really need to see. Badly.
Stop by an army surplus store for a couple of wool blankets. Always handy. James G over at Death Valley Magazine (see sidebar on the left for a link) recommended some lightsticks. Absolutely. Like he said, nothing sucks more than sitting in a broke down vehicle all night in the dark. Carry some big Milkbones for the crazy dogs you'll run into. Suddenly, you have a friend for life. Get on ebay and look for a current issue DPM British "smock" - their rain gear. These coats just rock. Ventilated, tough as nails and really waterproof. SAS (Special Air Service) beret would be an option. I have a beret but don't have the balls to wear it away from here, since I'm not SAS and don't want my ass kicked by a real tough guy.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but what I listed is important. Trust me. I have fucked up on each of these by not having them when I needed them.
And a personal note: thanks to Mike who sent me the blazer badge for SAS Rhodesia. Where the hell is "Stockton on Tees" England? Mike, wherever that is, I owe you a pint and when I go see Anthony, I am buying. Looks like I sign my final, final divorce papers tomorrow. I wish the very soon to be ex-wife all the best. My only advice to her is I hope her new guy isn't an asshole like me.
Fuck The Banks
For all of you who have been following my personal saga of divorce and destitution (which will make a great country song once I'm divorced), I have learned a couple of things; this post is one of them.
I had to close all my bank accounts when I filed for divorce and open a new "clean" one with a different bank. And I had to take out a $5K loan with that same bank on the same day. I run on about no money, but with a $7K credit line, I figured I am pretty safe. Wrong. In the last 30 days, the bank has run the same three checks through, again and again, and each time they do so, they charge me $33.00 - so, $1,254 later, I have decided that banks may not be the best place for my money. I asked my girlfriend about this and her answer was "that's how banks treat poor people." I think she's right.
On Tuesday morning, I am going to close my bank account. Then, I am having my attorney call them and demand all the returned check charges back. He's a good guy and since I told him I would split the $1,254 with him if he gets it back, he's in. Meanwhile, I have learned that I am better off not dealing with banks at all. Why do I need a bank? I felt so bad about being late on bills this month that I paid one. Don't ever do that. The leeches are coming out of the woodwork over $100 or $200 - WTF? They call me a dozen times a day over $100 yet I bought $70K worth of motor vehicles this year and nobody bitched.
I decided I will run on cash and Paypal. Oh, yes, I know that Paypal and ebay are anti-gun. Great. Take your stand and avoid them, which is pretty much like avoiding Amazon.com or Chase Bank. Since I don't give a shit about who is in favor of what (as I sure know I won't let anybody take my Hi-Power away), I don't care about who is or is not being politically correct about firearms. Like I am going to boycott XYZ and make a difference. What I am going to do is drop off the financial grid.
My two cents of advice: don't let banks fuck you over with stupid charges. Just say "NO" and move to the cash economy. I have learned that it is very strong.
Update: went to the bank today (6.2.2010) to close the account. This is after talking to three other banks, Paypal and Wells Fargo [and a pile of others including my attorney]. Incredible how the manager said she'd refund the fees. Since I was late to an appointment with the afformentioned attorney so I could sign my bollocks off to my lovely bride, the manager said she'd call me. Of course no call and no credit in my account as of 9:28 PM CSDT. Like I said, fuck the banks.
I had to close all my bank accounts when I filed for divorce and open a new "clean" one with a different bank. And I had to take out a $5K loan with that same bank on the same day. I run on about no money, but with a $7K credit line, I figured I am pretty safe. Wrong. In the last 30 days, the bank has run the same three checks through, again and again, and each time they do so, they charge me $33.00 - so, $1,254 later, I have decided that banks may not be the best place for my money. I asked my girlfriend about this and her answer was "that's how banks treat poor people." I think she's right.
On Tuesday morning, I am going to close my bank account. Then, I am having my attorney call them and demand all the returned check charges back. He's a good guy and since I told him I would split the $1,254 with him if he gets it back, he's in. Meanwhile, I have learned that I am better off not dealing with banks at all. Why do I need a bank? I felt so bad about being late on bills this month that I paid one. Don't ever do that. The leeches are coming out of the woodwork over $100 or $200 - WTF? They call me a dozen times a day over $100 yet I bought $70K worth of motor vehicles this year and nobody bitched.
I decided I will run on cash and Paypal. Oh, yes, I know that Paypal and ebay are anti-gun. Great. Take your stand and avoid them, which is pretty much like avoiding Amazon.com or Chase Bank. Since I don't give a shit about who is in favor of what (as I sure know I won't let anybody take my Hi-Power away), I don't care about who is or is not being politically correct about firearms. Like I am going to boycott XYZ and make a difference. What I am going to do is drop off the financial grid.
My two cents of advice: don't let banks fuck you over with stupid charges. Just say "NO" and move to the cash economy. I have learned that it is very strong.
Update: went to the bank today (6.2.2010) to close the account. This is after talking to three other banks, Paypal and Wells Fargo [and a pile of others including my attorney]. Incredible how the manager said she'd refund the fees. Since I was late to an appointment with the afformentioned attorney so I could sign my bollocks off to my lovely bride, the manager said she'd call me. Of course no call and no credit in my account as of 9:28 PM CSDT. Like I said, fuck the banks.
Of Comments And Coyotes
What a strange day it has been. If you visit here much, have you noticed in the sidebar down on the left the link about Death Valley Magazine and how I said you should sign up for their daily emails? Well, James G, their founder and editor in chief, has incredibly given me a position as a staff writer there (yes, he said he had read my diatribes here). I am stunned and very happy. In fact, I dropped my weekend plans to stay at home with my cutie and write some articles to submit to him. There's good thing #1 for today.
Good thing #2 - Iron M had a very astute comment on my (just before this one) post about BP Oil's spokesidiot, Iron M likened those actions to companies who advertise stuff that they don't have. I replied to him in my usual conservative style (yep, right...). I don't know who he is yet, though I have strong suspicions, and I will definitely buy him a beer or six. Spot on with his comment. Please do not let companies do that to you. Bitch a lot and take your business and money elsewhere. Does Amazon.com do that? I think not.
Good thing #3 - I had to cut short my reply to Iron M as it seemed, at least to the two Great Pyrenees dogs here, that I had a coyote on my front porch. Went to blast away and the Mossberg 930 spx was empty! I must be getting very relaxed out here to have an empty gun around. Remember, an empty gun is a paperweight. Keep all guns loaded, all the time. Oh, and I am going to check on one of those incredibly expensive Surefire killer-laser beam-holds 15 batteries for 10 seconds of light-flashlights. I'd have just now paid a shitload for one. My 200+ lumen light won't reach for shit out here. If I am burning 123A cells, might as well throw off enough light to melt critters.
I hope you all have a great Holiday weekend - I know if you are following this blog, that means you know what Memorial Day is for. Find somebody who was in service to keep us free and give them a hug or a kiss or both. I couldn't be out here and you couldn't be reading this if not for their sacrifices. Thanks.
Good thing #2 - Iron M had a very astute comment on my (just before this one) post about BP Oil's spokesidiot, Iron M likened those actions to companies who advertise stuff that they don't have. I replied to him in my usual conservative style (yep, right...). I don't know who he is yet, though I have strong suspicions, and I will definitely buy him a beer or six. Spot on with his comment. Please do not let companies do that to you. Bitch a lot and take your business and money elsewhere. Does Amazon.com do that? I think not.
Good thing #3 - I had to cut short my reply to Iron M as it seemed, at least to the two Great Pyrenees dogs here, that I had a coyote on my front porch. Went to blast away and the Mossberg 930 spx was empty! I must be getting very relaxed out here to have an empty gun around. Remember, an empty gun is a paperweight. Keep all guns loaded, all the time. Oh, and I am going to check on one of those incredibly expensive Surefire killer-laser beam-holds 15 batteries for 10 seconds of light-flashlights. I'd have just now paid a shitload for one. My 200+ lumen light won't reach for shit out here. If I am burning 123A cells, might as well throw off enough light to melt critters.
I hope you all have a great Holiday weekend - I know if you are following this blog, that means you know what Memorial Day is for. Find somebody who was in service to keep us free and give them a hug or a kiss or both. I couldn't be out here and you couldn't be reading this if not for their sacrifices. Thanks.
Gulf Oil Spill
No, this isn't some tirade on oil companies or the environment. This is a rant on how the press and company talking heads deal with what they consider the "unwashed masses." A couple days ago on the way to work, I heard on the radio that the oil company was going to plug the well with drilling mud to stop the mess. My girlfriend, who has never been around oil rigs, asked if that stuff was like concrete or something. A reasonable question and that's what the oil company and the press would expect people to think. For those of us who have worked oil rigs, we know that drilling mud is used to hold the oil in the pipe. In other words, the drill pipe is filled with mud. The mud is mixed at a rate where the weight of the column of mud in the entire pipe equalizes the pressure of the oil that is trying to blow up out of the pipe. So, with the correct drilling mud mix, the pipe stays in the ground and so does the oil. The stuff is like concrete in that if it's not quite the right mix, it comes blowing out of the pipe and then you get to wear it for days as it hardens on you. It's not like fix a flat, though. It won't just plug leaks. If it did plug leaks, it wouldn't be drilling mud, since it couldn't be used while putting the pipe in the ground.
Anyway, I get to work today and the CNN breaking news email says "BP's top official upgrades impact of Gulf oil spill from "very modest" to "environmental catastrophe." You think? And what a jump that is, too. Is that a one to a ten jump?
"What went up?"
"Somebody set off a grenade."
"Oh. Lots of flash for a grenade."
"Not a grenade, a nuclear missile. Fallout to follow."
Where do these companies get their press handlers? I can do better at bullshit than that. At least upgrade on the hour or something so you're not caught with your ass out in the breeze, going from very modest to environmental catastrophe. The guy should have jumped up yesterday and called it a "disaster" or some such thing. Stupid is everywhere and we're expected to believe it.
Personally, I think there's a village that's missing its idiot.
Anyway, I get to work today and the CNN breaking news email says "BP's top official upgrades impact of Gulf oil spill from "very modest" to "environmental catastrophe." You think? And what a jump that is, too. Is that a one to a ten jump?
"What went up?"
"Somebody set off a grenade."
"Oh. Lots of flash for a grenade."
"Not a grenade, a nuclear missile. Fallout to follow."
Where do these companies get their press handlers? I can do better at bullshit than that. At least upgrade on the hour or something so you're not caught with your ass out in the breeze, going from very modest to environmental catastrophe. The guy should have jumped up yesterday and called it a "disaster" or some such thing. Stupid is everywhere and we're expected to believe it.
Personally, I think there's a village that's missing its idiot.
Hostile Innovations - Very Close & Personal Weapons
There are all kinds of weapons besides guns. Tomahawks, Katana swords, Estwing framing hammers, butcher knives, rocks and sticks. For those of us who carry guns and other weapons, sometimes we just like to have "the best" of whatever it is. That's where Taka Kage, the lady behind Hostile Innovations, comes into the spotlight. She apprenticed with Eric Draven, who is pretty well known for his amazing knife designs. In 2008, Taka decided to try her own hand at knives and other neat toys, with some incredible results.
Anybody can buy a $10 blackjack. What if you want yours braided with kangaroo?
A custom neck knife?
Taka moved recently, so she doesn't have her website up and running yet. But, she can be reached at hostileinnovations@gmail.com
Note that great work isn't cheap. Taka's toys are great. Depending on a $20 knife to take care of a problem is just fucking stupid, so you decide what you are worth.
I put my money where my mouth is - Taka sent me a red & black kangaroo-braided jack this week and she's heat treating a "Mercenary Bowie" - I can't wait to get it.
Finally, if the blade doesn't have this symbol on it, then she didn't make it:
Update: Taka has her website up and running at www.hostileinnovations.com
Remington 1911 R1 Pistol - Buy One?
The "Tactical Wire" had a story in it today about Remington's new 1911 pistol. A few comments from the author of that story:
"The R1 is a stove-stock M1911 with the A1 style short trigger and the M1911 flat mainspring housing. The frame is cast. The barrel and bushing are match grade. The fixed three-dot sights are high and easily seen. The rear sight looks robust enough to use to rack the slide one-handed. The stocks are wood, diamond checkered. The trigger pull was service grade, with a clean break. There were a few stoppages with UMC ball, but a number of shooters shot the Rogers qualification drill with no problems.
What do the writers think? A number of them had chatted with Remington media personnel about buying R1s while we were still on the range with them. I'm not a fan of the ejection port, think the sights need some altitude adjustment and I don't like add-on firing pin safeties. That said, I'm sorely tempted to get out the old credit card. I'd like to take this basic pistol, break it in and wear it for six months to a year to see how it holds up.
I'm betting it would do just fine.
Remington's back in the 1911 business."
Really? Remington's brand new pistol won't reliably feed Remington's own UMC full metal jacket (ball) ammunition and they are "back in the 1911 business"? I have never, ever seen a 1911 that would not feed ball ammo. (No, I take that back. I fixed a Commander for a guy who said it wouldn't feed ball ammo - somebody had cut about a third of the length off the recoil spring. A new Wolff standard recoil spring fixed it right up.) I can't even remember how many Colt 1911s I have. Every one of them, from stock 5" Government models to a 3" Defender will all feed ball ammo all day long, clean or dirty. I had a Springfield for a long time and an Ed Brown, too. They fed ball ammo (of course - I thought everything would feed ball ammo).
That's the good thing about gun writers: nothing. If Remington handed me their new pistol and it failed to feed one time with their own ball ammo, I'd call it a piece of shit.
"The R1 is a stove-stock M1911 with the A1 style short trigger and the M1911 flat mainspring housing. The frame is cast. The barrel and bushing are match grade. The fixed three-dot sights are high and easily seen. The rear sight looks robust enough to use to rack the slide one-handed. The stocks are wood, diamond checkered. The trigger pull was service grade, with a clean break. There were a few stoppages with UMC ball, but a number of shooters shot the Rogers qualification drill with no problems.
What do the writers think? A number of them had chatted with Remington media personnel about buying R1s while we were still on the range with them. I'm not a fan of the ejection port, think the sights need some altitude adjustment and I don't like add-on firing pin safeties. That said, I'm sorely tempted to get out the old credit card. I'd like to take this basic pistol, break it in and wear it for six months to a year to see how it holds up.
I'm betting it would do just fine.
Remington's back in the 1911 business."
Really? Remington's brand new pistol won't reliably feed Remington's own UMC full metal jacket (ball) ammunition and they are "back in the 1911 business"? I have never, ever seen a 1911 that would not feed ball ammo. (No, I take that back. I fixed a Commander for a guy who said it wouldn't feed ball ammo - somebody had cut about a third of the length off the recoil spring. A new Wolff standard recoil spring fixed it right up.) I can't even remember how many Colt 1911s I have. Every one of them, from stock 5" Government models to a 3" Defender will all feed ball ammo all day long, clean or dirty. I had a Springfield for a long time and an Ed Brown, too. They fed ball ammo (of course - I thought everything would feed ball ammo).
That's the good thing about gun writers: nothing. If Remington handed me their new pistol and it failed to feed one time with their own ball ammo, I'd call it a piece of shit.
Roush 427R - What A Great Toy
I got one of these in February. Of course, since I was living down a bulldozer path, it sat in a garage for months. Now it's sitting in another garage waiting for the dirt road to the new place to get fixed. Like most people, I have driven a lot of different cars, some were "high performance" models like Corvettes, V12 Jags, Z28s, GT Mustangs, etc. No, I didn't own all of them, but I'd get a test drive or some friend would buy one. All neat cars. Fast, smooth. And ultimately a bit dull.
Then there's Roush. I talked with my Ford dealer about getting me a fast Mustang. He had a Cobra but it was sold. He couldn't find me a Bullitt edition Mustang. I just told him I was in no rush and let me know. So, one Friday night about 8 pm, I'm sitting in a bar out in the sticks and the sales guy Jim calls me, says he has one fast Mustang, a Roush. I ask him what the hell a "Roush" is - yep, I am not exactly a fount of fast car knowledge. He says "very fast." I say "sold."
The next morning I arrive at the dealership and find out the car has a flat rear tire, sidewall is cut from a piece of glass, and the tires are on the way. They are not the correct tires, they are some Japanese brand, since the stock Cooper Zeon RS3 tires would take five days to get. Some hours and hours later, I actually get to see what I bought. A used 2007 427R with 4,000 miles on it. I get in the thing, realize it is a world more power than anything I have ever driven and idle down the road. Of course, some texting idiot almost cuts me off and I just tapped the pedal. Sixty feet of burnout later, I think Holy Shit! Seems I will be getting Cooper tires pretty quick as I suspect tire life on this car is measured in feet, not miles.
I am getting better at driving it. After installing a boost gauge, I can watch that and keep from bringing the blower up into where the tires just come apart. At zero boost, it almost drives like a regular GT Mustang. Well, except for the noise, since the exhaust seems to be non-existent. Forget listening to the radio (fine with me). And the heat, there is a lot of engine heat. And merging onto an interstate has become a non-event since it's not merging when you are doing 125 mph at the end of the ramp. I always thought Harleys were fun. Now, due to some surgery on my leg, I can't ride bikes anymore. And I don't miss them a bit. This Roush flat rocks.
Here's a 2010 playing smoke some Coopers. Just shows there are a few real cars left. Thank God.
Then there's Roush. I talked with my Ford dealer about getting me a fast Mustang. He had a Cobra but it was sold. He couldn't find me a Bullitt edition Mustang. I just told him I was in no rush and let me know. So, one Friday night about 8 pm, I'm sitting in a bar out in the sticks and the sales guy Jim calls me, says he has one fast Mustang, a Roush. I ask him what the hell a "Roush" is - yep, I am not exactly a fount of fast car knowledge. He says "very fast." I say "sold."
The next morning I arrive at the dealership and find out the car has a flat rear tire, sidewall is cut from a piece of glass, and the tires are on the way. They are not the correct tires, they are some Japanese brand, since the stock Cooper Zeon RS3 tires would take five days to get. Some hours and hours later, I actually get to see what I bought. A used 2007 427R with 4,000 miles on it. I get in the thing, realize it is a world more power than anything I have ever driven and idle down the road. Of course, some texting idiot almost cuts me off and I just tapped the pedal. Sixty feet of burnout later, I think Holy Shit! Seems I will be getting Cooper tires pretty quick as I suspect tire life on this car is measured in feet, not miles.
I am getting better at driving it. After installing a boost gauge, I can watch that and keep from bringing the blower up into where the tires just come apart. At zero boost, it almost drives like a regular GT Mustang. Well, except for the noise, since the exhaust seems to be non-existent. Forget listening to the radio (fine with me). And the heat, there is a lot of engine heat. And merging onto an interstate has become a non-event since it's not merging when you are doing 125 mph at the end of the ramp. I always thought Harleys were fun. Now, due to some surgery on my leg, I can't ride bikes anymore. And I don't miss them a bit. This Roush flat rocks.
Here's a 2010 playing smoke some Coopers. Just shows there are a few real cars left. Thank God.
Mossberg 930 SPX - Revisited
I had commented on some mods I did on this shotgun here but since I had pretty much just received it, I couldn't give any particular long term likes or dislikes. Now, after dragging this thing around through three or four counties, I have a bit more understanding of its capabilities and shortcomings. And, since it's a Sunday and I really don't have much to do until I cook dinner, might as well put all this out here, good and bad. And there is a hell of a lot more good than bad.
This shotgun is kind of the unknown workhorse. Yep, I've seen plenty of forum entries about how they don't work, but since I don't give a shit whether I break mine or not, I have not bothered to keep it clean or be nice to it. Yes, I do clean the gun every 100 rounds or so, but after some couple thousand rounds of anything I have fed it, not yet one jam. I have had pump guns that do worse. It just shoots and shoots fast. Like a buckshot hose. Which brings up a negative (besides operator headspace causing the negative), it will run out of ammo about instantly since it is so easy to shoot. I know, shoot one, load one. That's fine but this thing is shoot 6 then wonder what happened. I don't bother with trying to load when training, like Gabe Suarez teaches, I just flip it over my head and shoulder and transition to my pistol. Much faster anyway.
That brings up negative point number two. The 930 is heavy. Very heavy. No, I don't have a scale, so I don't know what it weighs but more than an M4 and since it's longer, it tends to feel worse than it is. Ain't no truck gun. This is like a small howitzer. I've got a light on mine and it does OK for checking stuff out at night but it's still a lot of gun. The plus hiding in there is it's not much trouble to fire it one handed using the pistol grip, since there's so little recoil (though I have no idea why one would want to do that, but hell, I might get picked for a movie part sometime...).
Besides feeding anything, what's it got? The low recoil I mentioned, and I said it was fast. That's not a good enough word. My girl had never shot one and she emptied it like a machine gun and all the buckshot stayed in a zombie target at 10 yards. She's little, too. It is easy - real easy - to have multiple empties in the air at once. Think about Gabe Suarez's "shoot them to the ground" concept - generally using a Glock, but instead, you are throwing buckshot. I would never, ever want to be on the receiving end of a 930 and I don't care if it was a little kid shooting it. Outside of the usual tactical applications, I believe that's where this shotgun just excels. It POURS buckshot, even for an inexperienced operator. No pumping the action, just hammer the trigger and watch stuff come apart in front of you.
Last night, a nice little lady apologized to me because her ex-boyfriend had threatened me. Hey, no worries. Then, she asked if I could get her a riot gun since she's afraid the jackass might come back. I am looking for another Mossberg 930 SPX in the morning.
This shotgun is kind of the unknown workhorse. Yep, I've seen plenty of forum entries about how they don't work, but since I don't give a shit whether I break mine or not, I have not bothered to keep it clean or be nice to it. Yes, I do clean the gun every 100 rounds or so, but after some couple thousand rounds of anything I have fed it, not yet one jam. I have had pump guns that do worse. It just shoots and shoots fast. Like a buckshot hose. Which brings up a negative (besides operator headspace causing the negative), it will run out of ammo about instantly since it is so easy to shoot. I know, shoot one, load one. That's fine but this thing is shoot 6 then wonder what happened. I don't bother with trying to load when training, like Gabe Suarez teaches, I just flip it over my head and shoulder and transition to my pistol. Much faster anyway.
That brings up negative point number two. The 930 is heavy. Very heavy. No, I don't have a scale, so I don't know what it weighs but more than an M4 and since it's longer, it tends to feel worse than it is. Ain't no truck gun. This is like a small howitzer. I've got a light on mine and it does OK for checking stuff out at night but it's still a lot of gun. The plus hiding in there is it's not much trouble to fire it one handed using the pistol grip, since there's so little recoil (though I have no idea why one would want to do that, but hell, I might get picked for a movie part sometime...).
Besides feeding anything, what's it got? The low recoil I mentioned, and I said it was fast. That's not a good enough word. My girl had never shot one and she emptied it like a machine gun and all the buckshot stayed in a zombie target at 10 yards. She's little, too. It is easy - real easy - to have multiple empties in the air at once. Think about Gabe Suarez's "shoot them to the ground" concept - generally using a Glock, but instead, you are throwing buckshot. I would never, ever want to be on the receiving end of a 930 and I don't care if it was a little kid shooting it. Outside of the usual tactical applications, I believe that's where this shotgun just excels. It POURS buckshot, even for an inexperienced operator. No pumping the action, just hammer the trigger and watch stuff come apart in front of you.
Last night, a nice little lady apologized to me because her ex-boyfriend had threatened me. Hey, no worries. Then, she asked if I could get her a riot gun since she's afraid the jackass might come back. I am looking for another Mossberg 930 SPX in the morning.
FBI NICS Check Appeals
I thought I'd put a few words out about the National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS for short) since I have learned a whole lot about that "process." In March, I ordered a Browning Hi-Power from my distributor, figured I might as well have a 9mm again. She shipped it, came in here on a Wednesday - the same day that my attorney was in court getting a pending order of protection against me dismissed by the judge. I didn't think a thing about it, orders of protection can be good but if you're hit with one that has no substantive evidence, and if you have an attorney, no worries. Or so I thought.
The FFL dealer ran my 4473, the form used to purchase guns, through the FBI's check system. It came back denied. A first for me. So, I look up the appeals process and get it started. The FBI wanted court documents stating that the protection order had been dismissed. Fine, that was easy. I mail them off and they receive the papers on March 29th. Then they send me a letter telling me that they are going to send me a letter. Yes, I can't make this shit up. Our goverment at work. Meanwhile, I bought another gun from another dealer and the NICS check was approved (of course, since there's no order of protection anymore).
I wait. I call the FBI and ask them to just rerun me. No, they can't do that, it's "against procedure." I tell the field agent that I have since bought another gun, he says I can buy all the guns I want, I just can't buy that particular gun from that particular dealer. I wait some more.......
Today, I called the FBI again to get a status update. Well, there ain't one because I am told that it will be 135 days from March 29th before they will even process the appeal. I guess they are just too busy. So, now I am working with another dealer to see if the first dealer will transfer the gun to the second dealer so I can buy it. Meanwhile, my soon-to-be ex-wife is bringing me yet another Browning Hi-Power from out of my gun safe at "her" house. This is the same wife who filed the order of protection against me in the first place, and she's bringing me my old Belgian Hi-Power.
Is this just too fucking stupid or what? No wonder I drink....
The FFL dealer ran my 4473, the form used to purchase guns, through the FBI's check system. It came back denied. A first for me. So, I look up the appeals process and get it started. The FBI wanted court documents stating that the protection order had been dismissed. Fine, that was easy. I mail them off and they receive the papers on March 29th. Then they send me a letter telling me that they are going to send me a letter. Yes, I can't make this shit up. Our goverment at work. Meanwhile, I bought another gun from another dealer and the NICS check was approved (of course, since there's no order of protection anymore).
I wait. I call the FBI and ask them to just rerun me. No, they can't do that, it's "against procedure." I tell the field agent that I have since bought another gun, he says I can buy all the guns I want, I just can't buy that particular gun from that particular dealer. I wait some more.......
Today, I called the FBI again to get a status update. Well, there ain't one because I am told that it will be 135 days from March 29th before they will even process the appeal. I guess they are just too busy. So, now I am working with another dealer to see if the first dealer will transfer the gun to the second dealer so I can buy it. Meanwhile, my soon-to-be ex-wife is bringing me yet another Browning Hi-Power from out of my gun safe at "her" house. This is the same wife who filed the order of protection against me in the first place, and she's bringing me my old Belgian Hi-Power.
Is this just too fucking stupid or what? No wonder I drink....
