No Show

Like the sign said ... I could go either way.

Contacted Range Pard'ner. He responded that he was iffy.
I know. The pic doesn't look bad. Actual conditions was ice under a thin coat of snow.
Even though my range bag was hastily packed aboard and i was already on the road, i backtracked.
I could live without the hour commute on unsalted roads. I wussed out.

 Vowed that I'd make up for the missed range run with some solid dry firing excercises and clean out me range bag.

Saved the gas. Saved the ammo. Saved the range fee. All good.
However, the perishable hand/eye skills that make up the skillset to run a match continue to deteriorite.
Crap.

Oh. The trigger finger seems ok. Just a touch of pain in spots. Slight sprain?

Tunisia and trigger finger troubles

John Robb at Global Guerrillas takes the chaotic mess called Tunisia, that I just posted on, points out the threads running through it, then takes those threads and weaves it into tapestry of logic and clarity.

Gonna try and get off the politics for now.
S'posed to make a practice match in the a&m.

Trigger fingers actin' up. Never had this happen before.
The PIP joint and Proximal phalanx of right hand index finger,
present a sharp pain when going through range of motion.
Woke up with this condition, didn't go to sleep with it.
Almost feels like a sprain, or ???

Now that I've laid the groundwork for crappy scores ...
I won't worry that it's been 2 months since a range run.

And then ...

There is Tunisa.
I mean WTF?

It was like the citizenry, enmasse, snorked, and snorked, and spat out a huge green guvm'nt loogie.
They just aimed for the gutter and horked it out. Guvm'nt gone.
Not that there wasn't some discomfort


Reminded me of other "end-games" ... like  East Germany.

Ok ... I'll admit it ... a lil daydream ... i saw a huge rotunda, steps of a most capital nature,
paperwork strewn about, whilst civil throngs walked aimlessly through empty offices and hallways.

The game is being played on a rapidly evolving field ... 
Censored Tunisian Blogger Leaves Detainment, Enters Parliament ??

Seems like worldwide, ever'bodys got a thirst for a sip of that cool, clear freedom.

I can almost taste it myself.

Y'know ... I tried ..

I was thinking I'd start this lil gunblog. And just talk about shootin'. More as a notebook to record (hopeful) progress as I dipped my toe in the IDPA pool during senior swim time.

I didn't wanna go the full 'tard Politico here. I thought I could neatly bifurcate the subject. Leave the political circus and serious issues aside. Just concentrate on hardware, and training techniques for the "sport".

But I can't.
The news-cycle keeps circling around to mayhem in which gun(s) are an "evil-force multplier"
Knee-jerk reactions, teeth-gnashing, navel-gazing, and gen-u-wine hysteria ensue widely. 
The TJIC Affair is (I believe) a genuine ill-concieved, ill-timed, over-reaching, example.

Read up ... Raise yer arm and declare ... I ... AM ...

As i carefully glue this poster in place, i wonder,
What kind of America are my sons about to inherit?
Are we free to express our mind?  Mmmmmmm ... not always it seems.

"physical feminist art project"

Where else but the Sarah Conner Charm School!

A tribe of women that have formed a curriculum and catechism around (fictional??) Sarah Conner.

It's over the top and earnest at the same time. I heart it.

How'd I miss this one?

From the Chicago Tribune

Cops: Officer slain in plot to steal his gun collection

December 30, 2010 1:52 PM | 5 Comments | UPDATED STORY

The teenager charged with slaying off-duty Chicago Police Officer David Blake took his house key and intended to steal his extensive collection of guns from his residence, Police Superintendent Jody Weis said this morning.

Blake was shot to death last month in his SUV on a secluded street on the Southwest Side.
Bernard Williams, 18, of the 2500 block of West 81st Place, was  charged with first-degree murder Wednesday night. He also was charged with one count of armed robbery.
Williams was ordered held without bail today.
In court today, Williams wore a light-colored jumpsuit and bright turquoise gym shoes and spoke only to identify himself to Judge James Brown.

Prosecutors said Williams' older sister dated Blake and that the teen hatched a plan to rob the SWAT officer after seeing a safe full of weapons at an October party at Blake's home.

Earlier, officials said Blake and Williams knew each other and Williams may have stayed over at Blake's residence for a short period of time, police said, but they denied published reports that the two had lived together.
Williams never got the chance to steal the guns, because when he arrived at Blake's residence police were already there, Weis said. Police, who knew of Blake's weapons collection, had gone to the residence for the express purpose of making sure the guns were secure, Weis said. Police would not detail the extent of Blake's collection.
Police believe Williams was a member of the Gangster Disciples, said Sgt. Shawn McGavock.
Blake was off-duty when he was found dead inside the vehicle in the 2900 block of West Seipp Street in the Wrightwood neighborhood on the evening of Nov. 22.
Weis said the two met to discuss perhaps later watching a football game together and perhaps about Williams coming to stay with Blake again.
The location was chosen by Williams, police believe, because it was secluded, McGavock said.
Detectives identified Williams as a suspect after pouring through Blake's computer and phone records, Weis said.


Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis outlines the department's efforts to arrest and charge Bernard Williams, 18, with the Nov. 22 murder of off-duty police officer David Blake. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)

A cigarette was dangling from Blake's mouth when the body was discovered. The SUV's windows were up, suggesting the shots were fired from inside, several sources have said. His wallet and weapon were also recovered.Blake, a SWAT officer, was with the police department for 15 years. He had also been a member of the Chicago Enforcers, the department's football team. Blake was one of six Chicago police officers to die violently in the city in 2010
Rest in Peace Officer Blake.

Frontsite vid

I especially like the mildly inspiring, western-y, background soundtrack!

Thanks and a tip 'o the hat to Stormbringer

REMINDER: Follow the rules!

The Four Rules of SAFE Gun Handling:

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Stray from these rules at your own peril.

enter here

exit this way

Ratbelly at Ar15.com 'splains what happened when he decided to ignore a rule or two ... here.

Vid of the week

A Girl and A Gun Trailer from Cathryne Czubek on Vimeo.

Tip o' the Hat to Thirdpower at Days of our Trailers

'tis the Season!

Make sure all yer gift-giving is all legal-like.

National Shooting Sports Foundation has a news release with pertinent info.

IL State Police have a brochure all ready for download to 'splain the details (for Illinois).

Loaded pistol found outside Wheaton school

From the Chicago Tribune;

 Loaded pistol found outside Wheaton school

December 15, 2010 2:05 PM | No Comments

A loaded gun was found outside a Wheaton school on Wednesday morning about 75 yards away from the building, police said.

The 9mm semiautomatic pistol was located by a citizen around 8:30 a.m. on the grounds of Madison Elementary School, 1620 Mayo Ave, according to a release from Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni. Officers responded immediately and "made the weapon safe." It was located next to a dog leash along a dirt walking trail. It was found before the school day began, the release said.

I hate when that happens.  Kids! Heaters belong in holsters! Not in gym bags. Not in backpacks. Not laying loose somewhere in the ride.

Srsly ... When will Americans admit and embrace that our society is wide open? Security measures we meet on the street, in the real world, call for Mom 'n Pop to be ... i dunno ... mebbe ... "condition anything but white!"

BTW ... Kudos to "citizen" that called the locals about said heater.

Create a Link

Man slain with own gun by customer ... Customer gets free tans for life!

 From the outskirts of Chicago, via the Chicago Tribune the story of unsolved murders being connected to a dead BG during foiled robbery. Brave and courageous customer given accolades.

Chicago Tribune

The money quotes ...
- Orland Park police did not file charges against McDaniel. They said in a statement that he "showed extreme bravery and courage and clearly may have saved the lives of the two females inside the salon as well as his own."
L.A. Tan is giving him a $5,000 reward -- and free tans for life for him and his wife.

Christmas shopping!

Rob at Personal Armament Podcast has put together a shopping list full of awesomeness.
Over the top selections for the Yuppie shooter in particular, include plexiglass ammo boxes ...

Ammobox from Technoframes

perfect for making those finely crafted handloads sun-bake into triple digit temps on the firing line.

Or hows 'bout an ammo wallet, holds 6 rounds, costs, ummm, well more than this shooter will spend on a six-round ammo wallet. Might be handy after the Zombie Apocalypse tho ... when we all trade ammo for food. "I'll give ya 1 round of .308 win. for that ham, lemme pull out my wallet!"

QotD

Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet.
  - Dave Barry

 

Revolver failz

Ferfal at Surviving in Argentina has a short recap of what sounds like a frustrating range run.

It's been repeated so often ... it's accepted as truth ... "revolvers don't fail" or somesuch silliness. While most top shelf manufacturers put out sturdy machines ... they are still only hunks of steel, plastic, wood, etc., machined to work together as a system. Any machine can fail. For any number of reasons.

My 625 runs like a top. When ever'thing is dialed in. I learned through a year of shooting several things.
Revolvers can and do have malf's. Rounds without a heavy enough crimp will make a moonclip difficult to run all the way home. Mixed brass can cause problems. Even with a wheelgun, brass brand makes a difference. Some manufacturers have very slight dimensional differences ... enough that combined with a very slightly bent moonclip ... will bind the cylinder tight.

Tam over at View from the Porch, has a few enlightening things to say about revolvers also.

Stephen Hunter's new book

writes a decent book.
shoots a rifle well.
OWNS A THOMPSON???

Gotta look into that writin' stuff!



Tip o' hat to the firearm blog

Video of the week

I'll take all three calibers, pleeze. Wonder what the MSRP is.

'Run-and-gun' shooting sport surges in Pa.

From the Centre Daily Times ...
Which serves the Lancaster, Pa. area, comes a positive well balanced informative article.

Welcome to the surging world of defensive pistol shooting.
Also known as action or practical shooting - or "run and gun" to be catchy - the competitive sport blends speed and accuracy for shooters who test their skills while moving.
Though it has several branches and can involve a range of weapons including shotguns and rifles, action shooting generally involves testing the skills of shooting pistols or revolvers for self-defense.

Read more here

Oh, wait. Thats "fly-over territory". Nevermind. 

New shooting facility in IL

From the news crawl ...
Carpentersville, IL
Thru a Special Permit approval, Carl Swanson of Chicago Armory LLC plans to open the school, which is to include a rifle range, a pistol range and physical training facilities. Anyone — from individuals to security firms and municipal, county and state governments — will be able to train at the facility. The site is in the Spring Hill Center industrial park off Route 31 on the north edge of the village.


View Larger Map

Wonder when it'll be open to the public.
A bit off my well-travelled path, but worth the ride ... dependin' on whats available there.

Just a memory now ...

Note to self; WRITE DOWN Match Schedules. The IDPA match that I thought was this morning, evidently was LAST week. Giant disappointment. As it is, I'm sorry I hadn't starting shooting here years ago. To discover that I missed the last match eveh here... well it just sux. I'll have to check out the Filipino Mafia YouTube channel to see if they've got any vids posted.

Howell Shooting Club IDPA match 09/25/10... assembling before safety briefing