Random Travel Thoughts…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Pro travel tip-  Those yoga pants and yoga tops are probably NOT appropriate for airline travel, especially if you don’t wear anything under them, and then sprawl out on the airplane sleeping…  Unless you’re advertising for your night time job.  Just sayin…

The flight attendants kept trying to cover her up the whole time…

And I’m truly thankful for my Nook, so far this trip I’ve read six books, one of them almost 1000 pages long.  And all of them fit in one nice little package!!!

A generation of freeloaders (and picky ones at that)-  At the hotel in San Diego I was sitting on the balcony overlooking the parking lot (such a view) and ‘enjoying’ an early morning cup of sludge.  I watched a set of seagulls ‘patrol’ over the trash cans in the parking lot, then watched one dive onto one particular trash can, dip in and pull out a McDonald’s bag…

It took the bag over to an open spot on the parking lot and drop it, when it didn’t come open, it landed (along with the other three birds) and it grabbed the BOTTOM of the bag and shook it till the contents spread out.  

When I went down and told the manager, she sighed and said they watched them do that every day but ONLY for McDonald’s bags, nothing else!!!

We had a discussion at lunch today about the ‘immigration’ bill(s) floating around including the latest from the administration gives illegals an immediate visa and they can become ‘legal’ in 8 years… However, there is no plan to actually enforce the fiscal self–sufficiency clause so that the illegals don’t immediately and permanently go on welfare (of course THAT is apparently not being enforced anyway)…  Cause if you actually make them ‘work’ for their money they’re not going to vote democrat.  

And I wonder if they really understand what will happen with minimum wage going to $9/hr…  What’s that going to do to prices for consumer goods?  How about the Big Mac?  $8-9 for a Big Mac??? $4/gal milk?  

Gas prices are still rising and no end in sight; because the companies can’t build/upgrade new refineries; while in other countries they can do all the environmental paperwork and build a new refinery in 2 years…

And why can’t we get some of those VW’s and Mercedes cars over here that get 70+ mpg on diesel?  TDI/clean diesel/Blue-e-motion is alive and well and being sold every day in Europe.  Hell in 2010 I had a little Mercedes A140 that got 70mpg (imperial), which equated to about 52mpg US…  And I heard Toyota and others in Japan are dropping the electric cars as a loss leader, and won’t be exporting/selling them in the US.  

And an odd little sunset picture… Dark and gloomy except for one high sirrus that was lit by the setting sun!


And this morning, it was HAILING in San Diego… sigh…

It’s coming…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
According to emails received this afternoon, it appears DOD has bit the bullet and sent out official notice today to DOD employees to expect possible furloughs to commence in 30 days.  

In other notes, under sequestration it gets even worse for the Navy-  4 Carrier Strike Groups (and associated Air Wings) deployments cancelled, 20+ small boy deployments cancelled, 20ish ships scheduled for upgrade/major maintenance cancelled.  Multiple aviation squadrons ‘cold iron’ for 30-60 days at a time, etc…

And of course it’s ALL the Pubs fault… BS…  I think the fiscal impact is going to be HUGE, and sure as hell our ability to defend the country is going in the toilet…  

And you know what is ‘really’ ironic?  Guess who does NOT get furloughed??? 

Congresscritters!!!  GAH!!!

Appleseed…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
One of my loyal readers is an Appleseed Red Hat and asked me to pass this along…

From 45ACP+P

As many of you know, I teach shooting on weekends.  Much of my effort is with a nationwide program, “The Appleseed Project”, an all volunteer 501c3 organization.   Tonight, the Colorado chapter and one of their shooting clinics is featured on the Outdoor Channel program “Shooting Gallery” from 10:30-11:30PM.  If you have had any curiosity about the program here is a way to sample it without committing a weekend. 

(that’s EST)

Folks, it’s a great program, and I highly recommend Appleseed, and this is a good opportunity to get some quality time and good instruction on rifle shooting!  You will NOT regret it, and it’s also great for younger children to take the course too!!!

Beer Machine…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
In response to an emailed question, yes the beer machine is alive and well in the Red Carpet Club at Narita… 🙂



It’s Asahi, but beggers can’t be choosers… Sigh…

More on 3D printing…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Now the Army is getting into the act…

But thanks to a joint Picatinny Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground Army Research Laboratory project, the Army can now provide manufacturers with part specifications in an interactive 3D format that can be easily read by modern machines.
The goal was to replace 2D PDFs with new versions that include a 3D visualization and the product manufacturing data.
In fact, they Army went beyond 3D: While the new TDPs include every detail about the part, the document didn’t have any information on how to make it.
The team has created not just a 3D TDP, but also incorporated a step-by-step guide to how specific tools can be used to make the necessary parts.


Full article HERE. 

And then there is the ‘Cuomo Clip’ from Defense Distributed…

But the laws are at least one step behind technology. Using 3D printers and schematics available on the Internet, gun owners can manufacture a fully functional, plastic magazine clip. Plans are free, although getting access to a 3D printer may prove expensive, at least for now.

“If you can download it, you can have it.”

– Cody Wilson, Defense Distributed/Wiki Weapons Project
“If you can download it, you can have it,” said University of Texas law student Cody Wilson, who is part of Defense Distributed, a group that has created the design for what they refer to as a “Cuomo Clip” along with other gun parts. It is all under an initiative they refer to as the Wiki Weapon Project.

/snip/

Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., has called for amending the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988, which initially sought to ban guns that could be sneaked through metal detectors, to include a ban on “homemade, 3-D printed, plastic high-capacity magazines.”
“Congress passed a law banning plastic guns for two decades when they were just a movie fantasy,” Israel told FoxNews.com. “With the advent of 3-D printers, these guns are suddenly a real possibility, and the law Congress passed is set to expire this year.

“We should act now to give law enforcement authorities the power to stop the development of these weapons before terrorists and criminals can easily bring them on planes. We need to be proactive and keep ahead of the technology. When the legislation was originally passed in 1988, no one would have imagined that parts of a gun and a magazine could be made with a printer — imagine what the technology will be even five years down the road.”


Full article HERE.


So is the ‘next’ ban on 3D printers??? Or certain types of plastic for 3D printers???  Or will you have to sign your life away to get that plastic (like we do today for Sudafed)???


   

"Public Safety" drones…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
As the FAA dickers with trying to find six ‘safe’ testing areas for drones, DHS continues down the path of new ‘public safety’ drones…

The Department of Homeland Security is advancing its plan to use surveillance drones for “public safety” applications, announcing last week that it had received a deluge of “excellent” responses from potential vendors and was set to carry out more tests of the technology.

From Infowars, HERE.

Now the FAA says there will not be any ‘armed’ drones allowed over the US…

“We currently have rules in the books that deal with releasing anything from an aircraft, period. Those rules are in place and that would prohibit weapons from being installed on a civil aircraft,” said Mr. Williams, who heads the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, formed last year to shepherd drones into already-crowded American skies and integrate drone use with the manned-aircraft system

(bold/italics mine) Note the rules ONLY apply to civilian drones, which the DHS ones would NOT be…

Full article HERE.  

Now when you add in the CIA director Brennen, and the Prez death lists, anybody want to bet there won’t be armed drones flying in the US in the next couple of years???  

I sure as hell don’t…

In lieu of actual content…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
From the mil-email net comes this one…



It’s pretty sad when a DOG is better and boogie boarding and skateboarding than I am… Sigh…

Triggers and trigger pull…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
I ‘know’ I’m opening a can of worms here, so let me state from the outset these are “MY” views, not anybody else…

For simplicity, I’m NOT addressing rifle/AR/long gun triggers here.  Chuck Hawks has a good description HERE. 

First of all, terms-

DAO (Double-Action Only): The firing pin is disengaged prior to firing. Pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer/sets the firing pin and then releases it, firing the cartridge. After firing, the hammer/firing pin is returned to “decocked” position; same as you would find in DA revolvers.  

These are notoriously LONG triggers and pull can range up to 8 lbs for a NY Glock.

DA/SA: The firing pin is disengaged prior to firing. Pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer/sets the firing pin and then releases it, firing the cartridge.  After firing, the hammer/firing pin remains cocked, resulting in a shorter, lighter trigger pull for subsequent follow-up shots. Pistols in this group are equipped with a manual safety and/or “decock” lever; that returns the firing pin/hammer to “uncocked”, and thus returning the trigger to the longer, firmer double-action (DA) pull.  Beretta M-92 or FNH Tacticals are examples of this. 


Again DA is notoriously LONG triggers and pull can range up to 8 lbs; in SA the trigger pull is much shorter (reset only), and much lighter 3-4 lbs.

SAO: The hammer/firing pin is cocked whenever slide is racked. These pistols are carried “cocked and locked,” meaning the firing pin/hammer is cocked with the manual safety on “Safe”. Typically  1911-style pistols, which may or may not have an additional grip safety.  


SAO trigger pulls are short and ‘light’ by comparison to the DA or DAO, and are the easiest to ‘set’ for take up, overtravel and precise break.  Can be set as low as 2 lbs, normal carry pistol triggers set for 5-5.5 lbs but feel ‘much’ lighter.

SA/DA: As far as I know, only found in Taurus’ pistols, this set-up maintains a “cocked” hammer/firing pin whenever the slide is racked. However, if the primer of the chambered cartridge fails to ignite upon firing, the trigger releases to a heaver double-action (DA) pull.  


The reverse of earlier pistols, SA trigger pull is short (reset only), and much lighter 3-4 lbs; DA is LONGER and trigger pull can range up to 8 lbs.

SAA – Single Action Army, e.g. old Colt pistols…  Light trigger pull 2-4 lbs, always keep the hammer down on an empty chamber.  

DA/SA revolvers, can either be cocked using your thumb, and get a short/light trigger SA; or DA which rotates the cylinder, cocks and fires the gun.  The DA trigger pull on a revolver can easily be 12 lbs or more. 

Now what?  Well, how do you ‘train’ if you carry multiple guns?

Simplistic answer is LOTS of shooting; the secondary is to stay with ‘one’ type of action (not practical, because there is always that ‘one more gun’); the third way is to shoot a variety of pistols and find out which type of action YOU are most comfortable with. 

Some folks are ‘much’ more comfortable with guns like Glocks and shoot them well (because they have trained with that trigger pull and reset), rather than 1911s because of the cocked and locked carry.  

Others prefer the 1911 model, cocked and locked with the shorter/lighter trigger pull and quicker reset.  

Another option for triggers/trigger pull is to buy a .22 in the type of gun you prefer, be it a revolver, a DA/SA, a DAO or SAO.  The next thing is to get the sight picture and trigger pull of the .22 matched to that of your carry pistol.  

Now before you ‘shoot the messenger’ here, lets take a look at $$…

A Ruger 22/45 for example is about $350, with a Volquartsen trigger mod (Thanks to Sean Sorrentino for that lead), $450…

Now since I have it matched to my .45 carry let’s look at ammo pricing-  CCI .22 $7.95/100  Winchester .45 ~$30/50  

When I go to the range, I’ll routinely shoot 1-200 rounds for proficiency,  so the .22 costs me $16/200 the .45 $120.  So if I go to the range FOUR times I’ve effectively paid for the 22/45 in saved ammo costs.  

Now if I have, for example S&W M&P series pistol, you could also get the M&P .22 for a trainer; then go in and put the APEX mods in both pistols and you’d have a matched set of trigger pulls and sight pictures.  

How much trigger pull is right???

Well, it depends on whether it’s a bullseye gun, and race gun (IPSC/IDPA/3 Gun) or a carry piece.   


First Semi-autos-

Bullseye guns can run as low as 2 lbs for triggers, some folks are even lighter (although that scares me).  Even a slight bump will fire the gun, and dropping the slide can also fire an old steel trigger version.  There is just ‘enough’ sear engagement to allow the gun to fire safely.  And they fire very specific target/match rounds with the gun ‘matched’ to the rounds or vice versa.

Race guns ‘tend’ to run between 3-4 lbs, and have VERY short take up/reset to maximize trigger speed.  They also don’t fire full power defensive rounds, and have lighter recoil springs to minimize recoil allowing a quicker return to target.  

Carry guns can run from 4-12 lbs, with most above 5.5 lbs and some NY trigger Glocks at the 12 lbs range.  Also, unless they’ve been ‘tuned’ the take up tends to be longer, and grittier with the same said for reset.  For training folks tend to fire FMJ (cheaper), but one always needs to at least fire a mag or two of full power defensive ammo (which also helps cycle your ready ammo).  


And now Revolvers-

Bullseye guns can run as low as 2 lbs for SA triggers, and 3-4 lbs for DAO triggers.  And they fire very specific target/match rounds with the gun ‘matched’ to the rounds or vice versa.

DA/SA Race guns ‘tend’ to run between 7-9 lbs in DA and down to 2-3 lbs in SA, and have been tuned to maximize trigger speed.  They also don’t fire full power defensive rounds, and have lighter hammer springs to minimize trigger pull and have just enough power to actually fire the rounds. 

Carry guns can run from 3-4 lbs SA-12+ lbs DA. Also, unless they’ve been ‘tuned’ the take up tends to be longer, and reset is longer than semi-autos since one needs to let the trigger out completely to pick up the pawl and rotate the cylinder for the next round.  For training folks tend to fire FMJ or wadcutter (cheaper), sometimes in .38 rather than .357 (cheaper still) but one always needs to at least fire a cylinder or two of full power defensive ammo to relearn the recoil (going from .38 WC to .357 Hollow Point WILL get your attention).  This will also helps cycle your ready ammo.  



For a carry piece, in my opinion, you DO NOT want a 2 lb trigger; simply said, if you’re down to having to use a carry weapon, you’re going to be lacking ‘fine’ motor skills.  Having said this, with a 2 lb trigger you might actually discharge the weapon without even knowing it. 

What ever your choice of pistols, please go practice with them.  Learn the take up, the reset, and most of all the sight picture and nature of the recoil with your defensive loads.  

Remember, YMMV, I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, and I don’t play a lawyer on TV…  Feel free to comment, and provide your insights.  

Vets helping Vets…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Linoge is running another giveaway to help Vets, this time it’s HAVA, Honored American Veterans Afield, which gets folks back into the field and hunting.  

The link is HERE for the giveaway.  If you’ve got a few spare bucks, this IS a good cause and kudos to Linoge for putting yet another one together!  Last year over $2300 was raised for Soldier’s Angels.

And here’s one for all of you that think the .50BMG is just NOT enough gun…



Snerk… User friendly my ass…  I ‘might’ shoot it once, just to say I did…

h/t to JP for the 20mm

Larry the Flag Man…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
This one is from last year, but well worth viewing…



It truly IS the little things…

Like the wreaths at Arlington, the Patriot Guard riders, the flags provide a measure of comfort to the families and give all of those present a way to honor the fallen…

h/t JP