His keyboard he daily would flog,
He now waxes poetic,
'bout a day quite majestic,
You can find it all on his blog
Sprayin'n Prayin, Runnin'n Gunnin', Scoot'n Shoot'n, in & around the Peoples Republic of ILL
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Hey Moe! I'm a poet! I just din't know it!
There once was a blogger named Og,
His keyboard he daily would flog,
He now waxes poetic,
'bout a day quite majestic,
You can find it all on his blog
His keyboard he daily would flog,
He now waxes poetic,
'bout a day quite majestic,
You can find it all on his blog
IL Politics
I apologise for the constant interruption of politics in this space.
However as a shooter living in the shadow of Mordor on the Lake, the stench intrudes into my daily life.
I promise a range run report later this week.
First ... to answer Oleg's question, Why do IL legislators side with criminals?
Cuz "birds of a feather flock together" is the short answer. Plus ya can't be a Savior without a VICTIM to save. Politicians want you to believe that they can solve your problems. In other words, they lie.
Kurt at the St. Louis Examiner writes an interesting article titled Illinois stands alone in banning armed self-defense. In it he quotes the Mighty Quinn espousing the need to keep our streets safe from hidden handguns (concealed carry) “We must ensure the safety of our neighborhoods, and allowing concealed carry does not advance that goal,”
There's a few things our esteemed (appointed via succession/Blago impeachment) governor fails to admit;
Illinois statehood was ratified in 1818. We've had almost 200 years of the political class legislating our general welfare, commerce and all other aspects of daily life. The system as practiced in Illinois appears to be corrupt and rotten to the core.
I'll end with a quote from an really smart, old dead guy, "The more laws, the less justice"
Folks round here even named a town after him.
Irony seems to be the one resource that Illinois has no shortage of.
However as a shooter living in the shadow of Mordor on the Lake, the stench intrudes into my daily life.
I promise a range run report later this week.
 |
| © Oleg Volk |
First ... to answer Oleg's question, Why do IL legislators side with criminals?
Cuz "birds of a feather flock together" is the short answer. Plus ya can't be a Savior without a VICTIM to save. Politicians want you to believe that they can solve your problems. In other words, they lie.
Kurt at the St. Louis Examiner writes an interesting article titled Illinois stands alone in banning armed self-defense. In it he quotes the Mighty Quinn espousing the need to keep our streets safe from hidden handguns (concealed carry) “We must ensure the safety of our neighborhoods, and allowing concealed carry does not advance that goal,”
There's a few things our esteemed (appointed via succession/Blago impeachment) governor fails to admit;
- Illinois is full of concealed carry. Criminal Concealed Carry. What we lack is legal CCW
- Government can never ensure safe neighborhoods. That is determined by the daily actions of you and your neighbors.
Illinois statehood was ratified in 1818. We've had almost 200 years of the political class legislating our general welfare, commerce and all other aspects of daily life. The system as practiced in Illinois appears to be corrupt and rotten to the core.
 |
| New tougher seatbelt law! Feel safer yet? |
I'll end with a quote from an really smart, old dead guy, "The more laws, the less justice"
Folks round here even named a town after him.
Irony seems to be the one resource that Illinois has no shortage of.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Blago Guilty
Verdict announced as of 2:15 Central. Guilty on 17 of the 20 charges.
Eligible for up to 355 years of prison.
I'd like to pull the .50 outta the safe and send a few rounds downrange in celebration.
 |
| Criminal conviction: Heartwarming! |
I'd like to pull the .50 outta the safe and send a few rounds downrange in celebration.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Hey Marcell !
Post spurred by Underground Carpenter2
Dave posits the question, "Does silence equal consent?"
Then asks "If the American military, out subjugating the world, hadn’t shown our local cops how to bust down doors and murder people, would we have multiplying SWAT armies here at home?"
I call "foul!" It ain't the mil. It's us. Pogo had it right.
SWAT armies, I believe, have largely been promulgated by spineless politicians not wanting to appear "soft on crime", legislating draconian punishments, enforced by might, and accepted by a largely apathetic public.
How many "wars" are we engaged in at home?
WAR on poverty, WAR on drugs, WAR on crime, WAR on terrorism ... How many more can you name?
I guess when your only tool is a war-hammer, every social problem appears to be a battle.
This leads to every street becoming a "battleground".
When phone companies are using a staged "dynamic entry" strictly as an attention getting device in commercials, I feel that we've slid pretty far down this particular slope.
The product being sold?
AT&T Multiview ... "With the My Multiview feature from AT&T U-verse, you can choose up to four channels and watch them at the same time on one screen.
Just in case yer not ADD enuf.
Dave posits the question, "Does silence equal consent?"
Then asks "If the American military, out subjugating the world, hadn’t shown our local cops how to bust down doors and murder people, would we have multiplying SWAT armies here at home?"
I call "foul!" It ain't the mil. It's us. Pogo had it right.
SWAT armies, I believe, have largely been promulgated by spineless politicians not wanting to appear "soft on crime", legislating draconian punishments, enforced by might, and accepted by a largely apathetic public.
How many "wars" are we engaged in at home?
WAR on poverty, WAR on drugs, WAR on crime, WAR on terrorism ... How many more can you name?
I guess when your only tool is a war-hammer, every social problem appears to be a battle.
This leads to every street becoming a "battleground".
When phone companies are using a staged "dynamic entry" strictly as an attention getting device in commercials, I feel that we've slid pretty far down this particular slope.
 |
| Hey Marcel, watch this! |
AT&T Multiview ... "With the My Multiview feature from AT&T U-verse, you can choose up to four channels and watch them at the same time on one screen.
Just in case yer not ADD enuf.
Friday, June 24, 2011
McCarthy-ism redux
Mordor on the Lake developments:
New Super-tenent o' Police sets new record for mendacity.
The take-away concept: .gov is sending arms to the ghetto to kill you.
New Super-tenent o' Police sets new record for mendacity.
 |
| Goebbels would be proud |
The take-away concept: .gov is sending arms to the ghetto to kill you.
S.W.A.T. Tots
Served up by Amazon® over at Tam's place.
I know. I know. No blogger hasmuch any? control over what Amazon serves up on their affiliated ads.
But this one just slays me. Only $29.99! Clown shoes extra.
Can we get the kids to do "dynamic entry stacks" for potty time?
How 'bouts flash bangs after nap-time?
You be the terrorist drug lord, I'll be the SWAT leader!
I know. I know. No blogger has
But this one just slays me. Only $29.99! Clown shoes extra.
 | |
| Can I get the battering ram with that? |
How 'bouts flash bangs after nap-time?
You be the terrorist drug lord, I'll be the SWAT leader!
The Gallagher of Firearms
h/t Mad Saint Jack
Wish at times that my home range allowed trash 'n fruit shootin' like this.
Reminds me of the stage antics of this guy.
Wish at times that my home range allowed trash 'n fruit shootin' like this.
Reminds me of the stage antics of this guy.
Friday, June 10, 2011
How'd YOU become a Gunnie?
Well, Jennifer, thanks for asking.
Not sure. Partly just by being born American I s'pose.
Dad had a 12 gauge. He went pheasant hunting a couple times a season. I got to tramp along at his side.
His pistols were "never touch" little pocket semi's. Never did shoot those.
In the early 60's, especially before the GCA of '68, guns weren't demonized.
Aisles of Toys r Us looked like plasticized gun shops.
TV had a plethora of Westerns, Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel (Paladin), Death Valley Days, The Rifleman (my fave!), Rawhide, Wanted Dead or Alive.
Oddly enough, despite all this cultural ingraining, I've never owned a traditional SA Cowboy gun.
Uncle Terry somehow sent me a LAWS rocket tube from 'Nam.
First gun: Crosman BB rifle, modeled after a M1 Carbine.
I was about 12. Santa left it under the tree for Christmas morning. Not sure I even opened any other presents.
First subscription of my own at 13 years old; Outdoor Life.
Jack O'Conner, sparked an interest in rifles. Years of exposure in popular culture, reading years of "outdoors" magazines built up a powerful, unfulfilled hoplomania. Living in the 'burbs of Chicago, left little room for my disease to progress.
Enter Army. Shoot an honest-to-God M16 in basic. Think over the course of several days training, we got to shoot maybe, maybe 100 rounds max. Only qualified as "marksman". Earned "sharpshooter" with grenade tossing though!
Somewhere in there, got my F.O.I.D., Illinois's solution to keeping guns out of the wrong hands.
Discharge pay from Army was $400 and change. In '79, that was just enough to purchase a brand new 4" Colt Python.
Sold to me by a high school buddy working the counter at Chucks Guns Shop.
Anyways, thats how it started. We don't have time now to talk about the years of American Handgunner subscriptions, or traveling across state lines in the family mini-van, rear seats removed to hold guns 'n gear, to try and put half-inch holes in paper from far, far away.
My name is Art. I am a shooter
Not sure. Partly just by being born American I s'pose.
Dad had a 12 gauge. He went pheasant hunting a couple times a season. I got to tramp along at his side.
His pistols were "never touch" little pocket semi's. Never did shoot those.
In the early 60's, especially before the GCA of '68, guns weren't demonized.
Aisles of Toys r Us looked like plasticized gun shops.
 |
| Dolls for boys!? |
TV had a plethora of Westerns, Bonanza, Have Gun Will Travel (Paladin), Death Valley Days, The Rifleman (my fave!), Rawhide, Wanted Dead or Alive.
Oddly enough, despite all this cultural ingraining, I've never owned a traditional SA Cowboy gun.
Uncle Terry somehow sent me a LAWS rocket tube from 'Nam.
 |
| I ruled the block when it was time to play army. |
First gun: Crosman BB rifle, modeled after a M1 Carbine.
 |
| Best Christmas Gift EVAH! |
First subscription of my own at 13 years old; Outdoor Life.
Jack O'Conner, sparked an interest in rifles. Years of exposure in popular culture, reading years of "outdoors" magazines built up a powerful, unfulfilled hoplomania. Living in the 'burbs of Chicago, left little room for my disease to progress.
Enter Army. Shoot an honest-to-God M16 in basic. Think over the course of several days training, we got to shoot maybe, maybe 100 rounds max. Only qualified as "marksman". Earned "sharpshooter" with grenade tossing though!
Somewhere in there, got my F.O.I.D., Illinois's solution to keeping guns out of the wrong hands.
Discharge pay from Army was $400 and change. In '79, that was just enough to purchase a brand new 4" Colt Python.
Anyways, thats how it started. We don't have time now to talk about the years of American Handgunner subscriptions, or traveling across state lines in the family mini-van, rear seats removed to hold guns 'n gear, to try and put half-inch holes in paper from far, far away.
My name is Art. I am a shooter
Friday, June 3, 2011
Watch your brass
One issue with taking the M1A out for a walk last week was case separation. This was the fourth loading of this lot of brass. With only 20 rounds fired from a 100 round lot ... case separations were running HIGH. Not Good Attall! Zero % is the acceptable ratio.
One of the most tiresome chores of reloading, for me, is the pulling of (bad) loads. I appreciate that I can deconstruct the round and recycle most of the components. That's all good. Investing extra time on the endeavor, not so much.
My guess is that my rifle is doin' what M1A's are famous for ... beatin' the tar outta brass.
To make sure my reloads are within spec, I check with a gauge. Stu has nice lil post on how he uses his. Keep in mind, firing reloads of ANY type voids the warranty with most all rifle manufacturers .
Anyhow ... I'm wishin' Wayward Son was still hangin' around. Pullin' rounds is the perfect chore for a Reloading Apprentice.
 |
| Durn auto-focus, misses brass to focus on mat. |
 | |
| Positively lo-tech Kinetic Puller works |
To make sure my reloads are within spec, I check with a gauge. Stu has nice lil post on how he uses his. Keep in mind, firing reloads of ANY type voids the warranty with most all rifle manufacturers .
 |
| Accuracy and safety are assured with proper case dimensions |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Range Run Report
Tuesday brought a run to the ISRA range.
Just a quick "been too long" run.
Couple o' pistols. Couple o' rifles.
Son was pleased that he put a group exactly where he wanted.
Especially since he used "Kentucky windage" to put it there.
Won't set any records. Not bad at all for someone that hadn't touched this rifle for a couple years.
Just a quick "been too long" run.
Couple o' pistols. Couple o' rifles.
Son was pleased that he put a group exactly where he wanted.
Especially since he used "Kentucky windage" to put it there.
 |
| 100 yards from bench |
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I hate when that happens ...
 |
| Humor App; 404 |
Found out that my humor app was all FAIL on my startup boot.
Obviously needed more java.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Excellent interview
Andrew at The Firearm Blog has posted an excellent interview with Champion shooter Rob Leatham. It's even got subtitles to make up for poor sound quality. Whats interesting to me, is how the whole topic has been broken down into its most fundamental elements, then scientifically, ergonomically, even psychologically studied, experimented on, tested, then refined. Then tested again and proofed in the crucible of competition.
Watch. Learn.
Watch. Learn.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Love, Guns 'n Money
CRETE TOWNSHIP — ... A woman reportedly stole money from the man paying her for sex. He allegedly retaliated by hitting her. And the confrontation stopped when a nearby homeowner got their attention — by firing a gun in the air.
Read all the details in their prurient glory here
Read all the details in their prurient glory here
Dry Fire Safety Zone
As discussed earlier, dry fire practice is a worthwhile endeavor to keep and build eye/hand skills. However safely done, it's not without inherent dangers. Anytime ... ANYTIME ... human interacts with {firearm (automobile, table saw, electricity)} the potential for injury/death/dismemberment is present.
To minimize this potential danger, strict adherence to the 4 rules is mandatory.
As a tip of the hat to reality and the law o' Murphy, Rule 4 (Be sure of your target and of what is beyond it) gets special consideration. Not less. Just in case of massive brain fart, spike in stupidity, or other human failing, dry firing must be practiced with a secure backstop. Not something every home or apartment has. I've lived in spots that really had no such zone.
At the Redoubt Ruinenlust, luckily, I have an acceptable zone. It's not a large zone. An earthen and railroad tie retaining wall should contain any dim-witted shorts staining events.
It forces me to place dry-fire targets at floor level, only practicing at a downward angle. It's not ideal. But preferable to the possibility of perforating several neighbors Dubble-Wides, much less neighbors.
An adjunct rule is "clear all live ammo from the practice zone".
So ... bottom line... Dry fire practice helps. Cranial Rectal Inversion of practioner must be guarded against. Always. Every. Time.
 | |
| This could be you Meatbag |
To minimize this potential danger, strict adherence to the 4 rules is mandatory.
As a tip of the hat to reality and the law o' Murphy, Rule 4 (Be sure of your target and of what is beyond it) gets special consideration. Not less. Just in case of massive brain fart, spike in stupidity, or other human failing, dry firing must be practiced with a secure backstop. Not something every home or apartment has. I've lived in spots that really had no such zone.
At the Redoubt Ruinenlust, luckily, I have an acceptable zone. It's not a large zone. An earthen and railroad tie retaining wall should contain any dim-witted shorts staining events.
 |
| Artist's depiction of actual retaining wall |
It forces me to place dry-fire targets at floor level, only practicing at a downward angle. It's not ideal. But preferable to the possibility of perforating several neighbors Dubble-Wides, much less neighbors.
 |
| Example of FAIL at Human/Machine interface |
An adjunct rule is "clear all live ammo from the practice zone".
 | |
| Area NOT ready for dry fire practice. |
Friday, May 13, 2011
At the nexus of firearms and fine art
Therein lies the engraver's endeavors. Time honored. Painstakingly rendered pictorials and embellishments take a mechanical tool to a "whole nuver level". See the dracula gun I wrote 'bout afore.
It would be awesomeness to someday own a piece of art that went "bang".
It would be awesomeness to someday own a piece of art that went "bang".
Monday, May 9, 2011
A perishable skill.
That's how shooting is often described. Skills will deteriorate without practice.
So I've had about a half year, six months of perishing skills. That's a loooong lay-off of no matches, no range trips, no nuthin. That's alot o' nothin'. No excuses. Just what it was.
So when Shootin' Pardner insisted on goin' to the Saturday mornin' match, I had to go.
Glad I did. Thanks Pardner.
In anticipation of the vote on CCW for the Peoples Republic of Illinois, Jack ran us through his Concealed Carry Fundamentals. And I mean FUNDAMENTALS. Draw. Shoot. No scoot. No times. No scores. Longest distance? Seven yards.
It was a good day to be back at the range. After 150 rounds over three hours, I finally felt warmed up.
So I've had about a half year, six months of perishing skills. That's a loooong lay-off of no matches, no range trips, no nuthin. That's alot o' nothin'. No excuses. Just what it was.
So when Shootin' Pardner insisted on goin' to the Saturday mornin' match, I had to go.
Glad I did. Thanks Pardner.
In anticipation of the vote on CCW for the Peoples Republic of Illinois, Jack ran us through his Concealed Carry Fundamentals. And I mean FUNDAMENTALS. Draw. Shoot. No scoot. No times. No scores. Longest distance? Seven yards.
 |
| Nonagenarian Jack running the firing line |
It was a good day to be back at the range. After 150 rounds over three hours, I finally felt warmed up.
 |
| The Two Phils (Senior and JR) running a seated draw drill |
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Clearly!
 |
| Oh yes, for sure. - Imgur |
Guess if'n I was aching to shout out this message to the world ...
think I'd go with a t-shirt mebbe.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Dry fire danger
I have a confession. I done hung the guns up.
Aint touched em. In months.
It happens.
Life intrudes. Ya get busy.
When I pick 'em back up again, (soon. soon!) I'll be doing some dry-firing to warm up a bit.
But not a single trigger will be pulled til I do three things.
Aint touched em. In months.
It happens.
Life intrudes. Ya get busy.
When I pick 'em back up again, (soon. soon!) I'll be doing some dry-firing to warm up a bit.
But not a single trigger will be pulled til I do three things.
- Review the lines of sight / downrange details to determine a CERTAIN safe backstop in the advent of a negligent discharge.
- Print and post a poster to remind myself of the 4 Rules.
- Surf over to Evyl Robot Soapbox and review his AD/ND story.
It's a chilling story.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
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