Every single holster that I'd bought for my Glock 21 fits the M&P like it was made for it.
Which is odd because they're all fitted holsters for a G21.
I'm not going to complain, saves a couple bucks on holsters for it.
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31 December 2014
30 December 2014
Eight Years Of Jeb
I voted for Jeb Bush. Twice.
I still think he was an outstanding Governor of Florida.
He did an excellent job of balancing the various factions and making a workable state government.
That did mean going against the base on a few issues, of course.
It's odd, but some of the properties that make a good governor I don't think would make a good president.
All of that is secondary to the high pitched whine we can expect from the MSM over a third Bush in office.
I think he was a bit too pragmatic to be allowed the Big Seat. The unpopular conservative type decisions he made were most often forced, like cutting funding for schools because we have a balanced budget amendment.
I'll give him credit for prioritizing spending, but I don't think he's got the stones to cut funding where he isn't forced to.
And after two Bush presidencies where they didn't really support gun rights at all... I'd rather not risk it. I want the next person I vote for president to be an enthusiastic gun owner and to wear a III hat to SHOT 2016.
I still think he was an outstanding Governor of Florida.
He did an excellent job of balancing the various factions and making a workable state government.
That did mean going against the base on a few issues, of course.
It's odd, but some of the properties that make a good governor I don't think would make a good president.
All of that is secondary to the high pitched whine we can expect from the MSM over a third Bush in office.
I think he was a bit too pragmatic to be allowed the Big Seat. The unpopular conservative type decisions he made were most often forced, like cutting funding for schools because we have a balanced budget amendment.
I'll give him credit for prioritizing spending, but I don't think he's got the stones to cut funding where he isn't forced to.
And after two Bush presidencies where they didn't really support gun rights at all... I'd rather not risk it. I want the next person I vote for president to be an enthusiastic gun owner and to wear a III hat to SHOT 2016.
Wait WHAT?
 |
| Image Copyright National Organization of Women. |
Why is there an iron in the center of a woman's rights organization's logo?
White Power
Have YOU ever attended a White Power rally?
I have.
Did I attend because I was seeking fellow racists to share my feelings of racial superiority with?
No.
I attended because I was a conservative seeking fellow conservatives to share my feelings and ideas with. They invited me because they'd heard what they wanted to hear about my feelings on the Randy Weaver situation.
And it was presented to me as a "meeting" of fellow conservatives. In fact the people who invited me hid its true nature all the way up to the private sit down with the guy in charge where I learned it was the Jews using the blacks... something something.
Where I went wrong was trusting someone to be honest with me. They weren't until the private sit-down. Almost as if they knew that nearly everyone would not agree to attend unless some subterfuge was applied. Almost as if they knew they were wrong and that they should be ashamed.
Mere attendance at a single rally is nothing to be condemned over, I've seen how you can be tricked into that initial meeting. The proof is in continued attendance and support; the support portion is a lot harder to prove than the initial meet.
I remember feeling the same way about "have you ever attended a communist party meeting?" questions from the McCarthy era. One meeting to see what's going on does not a joiner make.
I have.
Did I attend because I was seeking fellow racists to share my feelings of racial superiority with?
No.
I attended because I was a conservative seeking fellow conservatives to share my feelings and ideas with. They invited me because they'd heard what they wanted to hear about my feelings on the Randy Weaver situation.
And it was presented to me as a "meeting" of fellow conservatives. In fact the people who invited me hid its true nature all the way up to the private sit down with the guy in charge where I learned it was the Jews using the blacks... something something.
Where I went wrong was trusting someone to be honest with me. They weren't until the private sit-down. Almost as if they knew that nearly everyone would not agree to attend unless some subterfuge was applied. Almost as if they knew they were wrong and that they should be ashamed.
Mere attendance at a single rally is nothing to be condemned over, I've seen how you can be tricked into that initial meeting. The proof is in continued attendance and support; the support portion is a lot harder to prove than the initial meet.
I remember feeling the same way about "have you ever attended a communist party meeting?" questions from the McCarthy era. One meeting to see what's going on does not a joiner make.
Not About The Clothes
I read that Mark Zuckerburg only wears a gray t-shirt because that reduces the number of decisions he has to make everyday by one.
Goody for you, Mark.
Except you can get the exact same effect with a huge variety of shirts by simply not caring which one you wear next.
I know, my way doesn't sound edgy or cool; but it's the exact same number of decisions.
Goody for you, Mark.
Except you can get the exact same effect with a huge variety of shirts by simply not caring which one you wear next.
I know, my way doesn't sound edgy or cool; but it's the exact same number of decisions.
29 December 2014
10mm ACP
Arfcom never fails to disappoint...
A guy wants an M&P semi-auto in 10mm.
He really wants 10mm, but doesn't like Glocks or 1911's...
The reply I didn't make:
I really like .600 Nitro but I don't like double rifles...
I really like .458 Win Mag, but I don't like bolt actions...
Sometimes your caliber choice dictates what's available and sometimes that's a bummer.
A guy wants an M&P semi-auto in 10mm.
He really wants 10mm, but doesn't like Glocks or 1911's...
The reply I didn't make:
I really like .600 Nitro but I don't like double rifles...
I really like .458 Win Mag, but I don't like bolt actions...
Sometimes your caliber choice dictates what's available and sometimes that's a bummer.
28 December 2014
Maths
There are occasionally times when I'm thankful I was awake in a couple of my math classes.
Last night I asked, "is my rear sight centered?"
No. It was not. From the side of the frame to the base of the rear sight on the left side of the gun it measured 0.109" and from the right side it measured 0.083".
I could have moved the sight to the left and measured both sides until they matched, but I can haz maths!
The distance to center is one half the difference of the measurements.
(0.109" - 0.083") / 2 = 0.013"
The sight mover uses a 3/8-16 UNC thread pusher. So every complete rotation of the screw is 1/16" of an inch or 0.0625".
0.0625 / 0.013 is 0.208 which means about 1/5 of a turn to move the sight where I needed it.
And you thought I wasn't listening, didn't you Mr Smalling?
Last night I asked, "is my rear sight centered?"
No. It was not. From the side of the frame to the base of the rear sight on the left side of the gun it measured 0.109" and from the right side it measured 0.083".
I could have moved the sight to the left and measured both sides until they matched, but I can haz maths!
The distance to center is one half the difference of the measurements.
(0.109" - 0.083") / 2 = 0.013"
The sight mover uses a 3/8-16 UNC thread pusher. So every complete rotation of the screw is 1/16" of an inch or 0.0625".
0.0625 / 0.013 is 0.208 which means about 1/5 of a turn to move the sight where I needed it.
And you thought I wasn't listening, didn't you Mr Smalling?
Modern Indeed
The M&P is my very first firearm designed THIS century.
It feels funny.
Especially since the ammunition it fires is a full 100 years older than the gun...
It feels funny.
Especially since the ammunition it fires is a full 100 years older than the gun...
Shootin'
Confirmed that I got the TruGlo sights on the Glock correctly.
Confirmed that the M&P 9 shot.
The little white plastic dealie in the front sight came out, leaving me with a two-dot sight...
TruGlo to the rescue!
Installation in the Glock was easier. I borrowed Marv's sight tool for the rear and killed my brass punch on the front. I finished the front with a steel punch, and because I have a deft hand no damage is evident.
Now Marv and I have near identical pistols. His is newer so it's got the tighter rifling; plus he's got the Apex duty kit in his.
I tested mine with Hornady 135gr Critical Duty and 115gr Critical Defense. As could be expected from the slow twist rate, the Critical Duty didn't group as well, but it grouped well enough that I wouldn't feel defenseless with a magazine full; it's just the 115gr grouped much better.
Harvey's pistol will soon have TruGlo sights as well, Marv's Christmas present to her. SHHHHHH! Don't tell her.
I don't think she reads the blog...
Related to Harvey's gun, the sear block housing I bought from Midway as insurance against mine being an early small sear spring gun... It wouldn't fit in my gun since mine is after the change-over. However, it should work in her gun, allowing us to self-install an Apex kit in her gun, should she want one.
I am on the fence with the Apex kit for me. I shoot well enough without it; but I like the positive reset Marv has.
Confirmed that the M&P 9 shot.
The little white plastic dealie in the front sight came out, leaving me with a two-dot sight...
TruGlo to the rescue!
Installation in the Glock was easier. I borrowed Marv's sight tool for the rear and killed my brass punch on the front. I finished the front with a steel punch, and because I have a deft hand no damage is evident.
Now Marv and I have near identical pistols. His is newer so it's got the tighter rifling; plus he's got the Apex duty kit in his.
I tested mine with Hornady 135gr Critical Duty and 115gr Critical Defense. As could be expected from the slow twist rate, the Critical Duty didn't group as well, but it grouped well enough that I wouldn't feel defenseless with a magazine full; it's just the 115gr grouped much better.
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| Critical Defense 115gr at the 10 and Critical Duty 135gr at the 9. The lack of a dot on the front was goofing with my elevation aim for some odd reason. 115gr DOES group better, but I'd not call the heavier round inaccurate. I did no testing with NATO spec 147 grain. |
Harvey's pistol will soon have TruGlo sights as well, Marv's Christmas present to her. SHHHHHH! Don't tell her.
I don't think she reads the blog...
Related to Harvey's gun, the sear block housing I bought from Midway as insurance against mine being an early small sear spring gun... It wouldn't fit in my gun since mine is after the change-over. However, it should work in her gun, allowing us to self-install an Apex kit in her gun, should she want one.
I am on the fence with the Apex kit for me. I shoot well enough without it; but I like the positive reset Marv has.
27 December 2014
30 Day Hold
The counties to the south do everything they can to make buying a gun burdensome.
With a state level pre-emption on gun laws, that's not much.
But the little they do squeeze in borders on the retarded.
This is where the 30-day hold on used guns comes in. It's using the "pawn hold" and taking it to its maximum allowed limit. The intent was for any used goods being sold to a pawn shop, but the law reads that you can apply it to any used good sold to a business that will later be resold.
So if you sell a gun to a gun shop in Pinellas or Hillsborough county, the gun shop will have to sit on it for a month before they can sell it, ostensibly to allow for a thorough check to see if the gun was stolen.
Here's where the retarded starts.
An FFL has access to shipping methods that I don't. Cheaper methods.
Some FFL's won't accept a firearm from a non-licensee either.
If you hand your gun to an FFL to ship for you, they've got to enter it into their bound book and note its disposition when they ship it out. Legally, the ownership changes.
In Pinellas and Hillsborough, that triggers the wait. It's the wording of the law that trips things up again a "sale" of $0 is still a sale.
With a state level pre-emption on gun laws, that's not much.
But the little they do squeeze in borders on the retarded.
This is where the 30-day hold on used guns comes in. It's using the "pawn hold" and taking it to its maximum allowed limit. The intent was for any used goods being sold to a pawn shop, but the law reads that you can apply it to any used good sold to a business that will later be resold.
So if you sell a gun to a gun shop in Pinellas or Hillsborough county, the gun shop will have to sit on it for a month before they can sell it, ostensibly to allow for a thorough check to see if the gun was stolen.
Here's where the retarded starts.
An FFL has access to shipping methods that I don't. Cheaper methods.
Some FFL's won't accept a firearm from a non-licensee either.
If you hand your gun to an FFL to ship for you, they've got to enter it into their bound book and note its disposition when they ship it out. Legally, the ownership changes.
In Pinellas and Hillsborough, that triggers the wait. It's the wording of the law that trips things up again a "sale" of $0 is still a sale.
26 December 2014
Blogger Brew And Burger
Met up with Dan at Tampa Bay Brewing Company for lunch, FuzzyGeff in tow.
Good hefeweizen. Good burger. Fun company. Music piped in from the '80's making me think I needed to get back to home room or something!
Good hefeweizen. Good burger. Fun company. Music piped in from the '80's making me think I needed to get back to home room or something!
25 December 2014
Safe
My M&P 9 is the sku 206301. What that means is it's a 9mm full size with normal sights, no internal lock, no magazine safety with thumb safety.
I got it because the praises sung on them were relentless and the price was rather good.
Marv and Harvey's guns are sku 209301; 9mm full size with normal sights, no internal lock, no magazine safety, no thumb safety.
Immediately after playing with mine Marv is proposing swapping the frames because he likes the peace of mind from having a thumb safety while I, being used to Glock, don't really care one way or another.
Except... I do care. I didn't know until the moment swapping parts was suggested. My gun came with a thumb safety, and it shall retain it! Yes, it's silly. If the gun I'd found in the pawn shop had no thumb safety, I'd have bought that one. Heck, I'd have bought it with the internal lock and magazine disconnect (and removed them).
But I find I am passionate about retaining the thumb safety now that I have it.
Turns out Marv wanted a thumb safety enough to order parts as I mentioned here.
I am happy to report that his installation was successful! And we forgot to take pictures.
The afternoon I got my gun, we immediately tore them apart to compare the guts. I wanted to make sure I had the large sear return plunger. We noticed that the sear housing block on both guns appeared to be identical.
Since the safety just blocks the trigger bar from moving and there was a recess for the safety's spring detent; it appeared to be a simple mod.
Remove the plugs from the frame, install the detent and spring in the sear block, install the safety with the block.
Done.
I could convert to a no-safety configuration just as simply. I'd have to buy the little plugs for the frame, $3.10 each for aesthetics reasons.
Harvey's gun is an older version of 209301 with a plug where the internal lock would go and no slots in the frame for the manual safety (and thus no readily removable plugs). This is because the manual safety wasn't added to the M&P until 2009 and her gun is a 2008.
I got it because the praises sung on them were relentless and the price was rather good.
Marv and Harvey's guns are sku 209301; 9mm full size with normal sights, no internal lock, no magazine safety, no thumb safety.
Immediately after playing with mine Marv is proposing swapping the frames because he likes the peace of mind from having a thumb safety while I, being used to Glock, don't really care one way or another.
Except... I do care. I didn't know until the moment swapping parts was suggested. My gun came with a thumb safety, and it shall retain it! Yes, it's silly. If the gun I'd found in the pawn shop had no thumb safety, I'd have bought that one. Heck, I'd have bought it with the internal lock and magazine disconnect (and removed them).
But I find I am passionate about retaining the thumb safety now that I have it.
Turns out Marv wanted a thumb safety enough to order parts as I mentioned here.
I am happy to report that his installation was successful! And we forgot to take pictures.
The afternoon I got my gun, we immediately tore them apart to compare the guts. I wanted to make sure I had the large sear return plunger. We noticed that the sear housing block on both guns appeared to be identical.
Since the safety just blocks the trigger bar from moving and there was a recess for the safety's spring detent; it appeared to be a simple mod.
Remove the plugs from the frame, install the detent and spring in the sear block, install the safety with the block.
Done.
I could convert to a no-safety configuration just as simply. I'd have to buy the little plugs for the frame, $3.10 each for aesthetics reasons.
Harvey's gun is an older version of 209301 with a plug where the internal lock would go and no slots in the frame for the manual safety (and thus no readily removable plugs). This is because the manual safety wasn't added to the M&P until 2009 and her gun is a 2008.
Gifts
Marv got me radioactive materials for Christmas!
A set of TruGlo sights for my Gen2 Glock 17!
I've been envious of the sights he'd put on his M&P for a long time, so he figured I needed a set as well.
I think they're very neat sights. There's a fiber optic section that gathers light from the top and presents the dots when there's light and in the dark the tritium (Genuine SWISS tritium!) shines through the fibers.
Installation was routine stuff. Tapped out the depleted Meprolight sights with a brass punch and tapped in the new rear the same way. Since I had an official GLOCK™®© front sight tool, short work was made of that tiny screw too.
Unrelated, Marv is exploring alternative uses for his night vision scope...
A set of TruGlo sights for my Gen2 Glock 17!
I've been envious of the sights he'd put on his M&P for a long time, so he figured I needed a set as well.
I think they're very neat sights. There's a fiber optic section that gathers light from the top and presents the dots when there's light and in the dark the tritium (Genuine SWISS tritium!) shines through the fibers.
Installation was routine stuff. Tapped out the depleted Meprolight sights with a brass punch and tapped in the new rear the same way. Since I had an official GLOCK™®© front sight tool, short work was made of that tiny screw too.
Unrelated, Marv is exploring alternative uses for his night vision scope...
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| What could go wrong? |
24 December 2014
Subjective
If it's wrong to do something, it's wrong for anyone to do it.
It the wrong is dependent on the actor, then it's bigotry on the part of the observer and not the act itself.
The media is full of such dependent wrong. The coverage of racism and sexism is their main forte.
White person who hates people of another color: BAD.
Black person who hates people of another color: GOOD.
Man who thinks he deserves a job he didn't get: SEXIST PIG.
Woman who thinks she deserves a job she didn't get: VICTIM.
Group of people who want a manger scene in a public square: VILE OPPRESSORS FORCING THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON ALL OF US.
Group of people who oppose a manger scene in the public square: PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!
And on and on and on...
It's Like Crossfit
How do you know someone doesn't like 6.8x43?
They tell you every chance they get.
They tell you every chance they get.
23 December 2014
The Bells! The Bells!
Am I the only person who wants to take a spray-bottle to the Salvation Army person and use to train them like a cat to NOT ring that headache inducing bell?
Arrived
FuzzyGeff is arrived!
Let the ever expanding spiral of destruction begin!
Some gun related adventure occurred at the airport.
Because you can't CCW into the terminal, I had to disarm before going in. When I went to open my (lockable) glovebox, there was a crunching noise and a small shower of tan plastic parts. But it opened! I put my gun inside and closed it up and tried to open it again...
The latch just flopped limply.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Now I'm pissed off and having to do one of my least favorite things, deal with throngs of people wandering around aimlessly chewing gum like cattle chews cud. I loathe the airport.
The.
4.
G.
Signal.
At.
Saint.
Petersburg.
International.
Airport.
Is.
Slow.
So I am having a frustrating time of seeing if the problem with the latch is common (it is), how do you get the thing open with a broken latch (see below) and if there's any way to repair it (more than one option). Corvette John managed to sooth me via vox while HE used a real computer to look up solutions. Thanks! John!
The problem seems to be particularly common with cashmere interior (tan) cars. The latch is genuine plastic (don't settle for imitation), a square stud on the side bears against a metal bar and the bar does the actual unlatching.
This is an intact latch (pic stolen from an Amazon ad selling them) GM p/n 15924033. On the right side you can see a bit that looks like an 'E', that's the part that broke off. The silver bar is what actually works the latch.
To get the box open again once that 'E' breaks off is simple, reach up in the latch recess with a pair of needle nose and pull down on the bar.
Once you have the box open there are two screws on the inside and you can remove the entire assembly.
Corvette John noticed, and I did too once I'd gotten home, that 'Vette people don't actually repair things, if they work on their own car at all. They're remove and replace parts all the live long day. I hate that solution because it's the second most expensive route and it sets you up for the exact same failure that just happened. The vast majority of threads about this problem end with "took it to the dealer."
However, one fellow C6 owner is my hero!
TomZarbo's video on Photobucket
I skipped the hot glue because I don't think it's really needed.
Of course, I found this solution after I'd ordered a replacement latch assembly...
Let the ever expanding spiral of destruction begin!
Some gun related adventure occurred at the airport.
Because you can't CCW into the terminal, I had to disarm before going in. When I went to open my (lockable) glovebox, there was a crunching noise and a small shower of tan plastic parts. But it opened! I put my gun inside and closed it up and tried to open it again...
The latch just flopped limply.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Now I'm pissed off and having to do one of my least favorite things, deal with throngs of people wandering around aimlessly chewing gum like cattle chews cud. I loathe the airport.
The.
4.
G.
Signal.
At.
Saint.
Petersburg.
International.
Airport.
Is.
Slow.
So I am having a frustrating time of seeing if the problem with the latch is common (it is), how do you get the thing open with a broken latch (see below) and if there's any way to repair it (more than one option). Corvette John managed to sooth me via vox while HE used a real computer to look up solutions. Thanks! John!
The problem seems to be particularly common with cashmere interior (tan) cars. The latch is genuine plastic (don't settle for imitation), a square stud on the side bears against a metal bar and the bar does the actual unlatching.
This is an intact latch (pic stolen from an Amazon ad selling them) GM p/n 15924033. On the right side you can see a bit that looks like an 'E', that's the part that broke off. The silver bar is what actually works the latch.
To get the box open again once that 'E' breaks off is simple, reach up in the latch recess with a pair of needle nose and pull down on the bar.
Once you have the box open there are two screws on the inside and you can remove the entire assembly.
Corvette John noticed, and I did too once I'd gotten home, that 'Vette people don't actually repair things, if they work on their own car at all. They're remove and replace parts all the live long day. I hate that solution because it's the second most expensive route and it sets you up for the exact same failure that just happened. The vast majority of threads about this problem end with "took it to the dealer."
However, one fellow C6 owner is my hero!
TomZarbo's video on Photobucket
I skipped the hot glue because I don't think it's really needed.
Of course, I found this solution after I'd ordered a replacement latch assembly...
22 December 2014
About That Blue Line
I'll be the downer.
I've talked about the cops numerous times.
I am in the odd position of not hating the police, but often finding myself hating what the police do.
I'm getting over my hang-up over the military look to my local deputy's uniforms because since the present sheriff took the job they've become leaps and bounds more cop-like in demeanor. I can accept that compromise.
I've also said more than once that they are "the police" and not Officer Johnson to most people.
That whole uniform thing... When you all dress alike you all look alike, it's deindividualizing.
The cops are an extension of The State and thus become a portion of a collective rather than an individual.
The shootings in NYF(spit)C might be a good example of how the "thin blue line" covering up all manner of abuse and corruption for the "few" bad apples is making the "many" good apples targets.
It's a predictable consequence to it. I've chattered around the edges of it a couple of times.
When A cop is bad ALL cops are bad to the people they're policing. This is why when a bad cop is discovered ALL of the good cops MUST disown them publicly and loudly, because they serve the public; not the other way around.
To protect the bad officers is, at minimum, a disservice to the community they are sworn to protect and at worst a betrayal of the trust put in them.
Once the community has lost trust in the police, bad things happen. Sometimes really bad things.
The ability to fix this problem is largely out of my hands. Yet it can be fixed and my local sheriff has done a fair job of getting his deputies to be part of our community (even if the prick won't sign for some NFA items).
But even if your local police are paragons of virtue... They will still interact with people from places where corruption is rife. They will deal with "people" who've learned that the police are just another gang.
The bad apples affect the good far beyond their direct contact. Time to be rid of them. Perhaps the best way is to restore liability.
I've talked about the cops numerous times.
I am in the odd position of not hating the police, but often finding myself hating what the police do.
I'm getting over my hang-up over the military look to my local deputy's uniforms because since the present sheriff took the job they've become leaps and bounds more cop-like in demeanor. I can accept that compromise.
I've also said more than once that they are "the police" and not Officer Johnson to most people.
That whole uniform thing... When you all dress alike you all look alike, it's deindividualizing.
The cops are an extension of The State and thus become a portion of a collective rather than an individual.
The shootings in NYF(spit)C might be a good example of how the "thin blue line" covering up all manner of abuse and corruption for the "few" bad apples is making the "many" good apples targets.
It's a predictable consequence to it. I've chattered around the edges of it a couple of times.
When A cop is bad ALL cops are bad to the people they're policing. This is why when a bad cop is discovered ALL of the good cops MUST disown them publicly and loudly, because they serve the public; not the other way around.
To protect the bad officers is, at minimum, a disservice to the community they are sworn to protect and at worst a betrayal of the trust put in them.
Once the community has lost trust in the police, bad things happen. Sometimes really bad things.
The ability to fix this problem is largely out of my hands. Yet it can be fixed and my local sheriff has done a fair job of getting his deputies to be part of our community (even if the prick won't sign for some NFA items).
But even if your local police are paragons of virtue... They will still interact with people from places where corruption is rife. They will deal with "people" who've learned that the police are just another gang.
The bad apples affect the good far beyond their direct contact. Time to be rid of them. Perhaps the best way is to restore liability.
Used
Of the four M&P's that have come into my life, three have been used guns.
Marv's is the only one that was new.
Not that it's made one whit of difference because the three used guns weren't very used at all.
The Lovely Harvey's M&P 357 was a 2013 made gun and had some brass traces on the slide showing that it'd been shot. May the thief burn in Hell.
The 2008 made M&P 9 we replaced it with doesn't even have the bluing worn off the barrel hood. If fifty rounds had gone through it before I test fired it that was all that it'd fired.
My recent acquisition of a 2011 made M&P 9 is also nearly unfired.
Doesn't anyone go shooting anymore?
I can't find the exact quote but Tam once said something to the effect that you could make a gun that turns to dust immediately after firing the 100th round and 95% of gun owners would never know.
Someone paid full tare on three of these guns, took them to the range once and decided, "not for me thanks." Their short ownership didn't keep them from losing parts though. The now stolen gun was missing the small backstrap. Mine is missing everything from the box but the spare magazine (yet they still had the box) and the small strap was on the gun.
As an aside, because Harvey prefers the small strap I had to buy one separately and losing that part along with the gun actually hurt us worse than the loss of the gun. I got it special for HER and now it's gone.
It's got me wondering. When I was looking to own a Glock 17 again, most of the guns I looked at were rode hard and put away wet. I accepted a fair amount of wear to have a Gen2 gun that wasn't priced like a new Gen4.
Is the M&P one of those guns you either love or hate instantly? I know I was pretty ambivalent about them until I took Harvey's for it's function check.
Another aside: To Ravenclaw Eric, this is the most ambidextrous pistol I've ever had, you can even swap the magazine release for sinister purposes.
Marv's is the only one that was new.
Not that it's made one whit of difference because the three used guns weren't very used at all.
The Lovely Harvey's M&P 357 was a 2013 made gun and had some brass traces on the slide showing that it'd been shot. May the thief burn in Hell.
The 2008 made M&P 9 we replaced it with doesn't even have the bluing worn off the barrel hood. If fifty rounds had gone through it before I test fired it that was all that it'd fired.
My recent acquisition of a 2011 made M&P 9 is also nearly unfired.
Doesn't anyone go shooting anymore?
I can't find the exact quote but Tam once said something to the effect that you could make a gun that turns to dust immediately after firing the 100th round and 95% of gun owners would never know.
Someone paid full tare on three of these guns, took them to the range once and decided, "not for me thanks." Their short ownership didn't keep them from losing parts though. The now stolen gun was missing the small backstrap. Mine is missing everything from the box but the spare magazine (yet they still had the box) and the small strap was on the gun.
As an aside, because Harvey prefers the small strap I had to buy one separately and losing that part along with the gun actually hurt us worse than the loss of the gun. I got it special for HER and now it's gone.
It's got me wondering. When I was looking to own a Glock 17 again, most of the guns I looked at were rode hard and put away wet. I accepted a fair amount of wear to have a Gen2 gun that wasn't priced like a new Gen4.
Is the M&P one of those guns you either love or hate instantly? I know I was pretty ambivalent about them until I took Harvey's for it's function check.
Another aside: To Ravenclaw Eric, this is the most ambidextrous pistol I've ever had, you can even swap the magazine release for sinister purposes.
21 December 2014
Gun Videos
Asthma seems to be a common gunsmith ailment.
"Take your GASP punch and GASP remove the GASP roll pin."
"Take your GASP punch and GASP remove the GASP roll pin."
On Kool Aid
This recent post. was my feeble attempt to talk myself out of buying it.
Damn me for doing all the research I did on these guns.
As long as it was an epic pain in the ass to put an Apex kit into the gun, I was safe. Since it's the later revision of the sear housing block; I was doomed.
DOOOOOOOOMED!
Completely unrelated.
Yesterday I got to use my once a decade, "husband was right!" card.
Damn me for doing all the research I did on these guns.
As long as it was an epic pain in the ass to put an Apex kit into the gun, I was safe. Since it's the later revision of the sear housing block; I was doomed.
DOOOOOOOOMED!
Completely unrelated.
Yesterday I got to use my once a decade, "husband was right!" card.
Vocabulary
When I was learning the engineering-lite that comes with drafting and machine design a phrase that stuck but hard is "counter-intuitive".
I'm willing to bet that neither of my readers needs that explained to them, but just in case...
It's when the common sense or apparently logical conclusion is flat wrong. In drafting that means that you have to do (spit) math to see the answer.
I found a related term that I think sums up so much liberal policy.
Meretricious.
Apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity. It's also, archaically, "of, relating to, or characteristic of a prostitute."
I'm willing to bet that neither of my readers needs that explained to them, but just in case...
It's when the common sense or apparently logical conclusion is flat wrong. In drafting that means that you have to do (spit) math to see the answer.
I found a related term that I think sums up so much liberal policy.
Meretricious.
Apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity. It's also, archaically, "of, relating to, or characteristic of a prostitute."
I think of meretricious every time I hear the term "media whore."
Backstrap
The M&P has a changeable backstrap.
The Lovely Harvey and Marv prefer the small.
I think I like the medium.
Fellow M&P owners, what size do you prefer?
The Lovely Harvey and Marv prefer the small.
I think I like the medium.
Fellow M&P owners, what size do you prefer?
Decades Of Wonder Nine
There's almost 80 years of progress in materials science here; but that old Browning Grand Puissance's method of unlocking the barrel is still used on the M&P9.
20 December 2014
I Have Drunk Of The Kool-Aid
It's grape!
SKU 206301, made on 28OCT11 according the the codes on the box. That means it should have the large spring and plunger and that means that I can self install an Apex trigger should I decide it needs one.
Compared to Marv's Apex equipped M&P 9 the reset is vague. Compared to my Hi-Power, it's crisp and positive.
The placement and feel of the safety also reminds me of the Browning.
Range report to come. Once again I have the same gun as The Lovely Harvey. Once again it's a Smith and Wesson.
Update:
We took it apart and confirmed the larger sear plunger and spring.
Marv took his apart and we've discovered that our sear housing blocks are identical. This is handy because he's decided that he wants a thumb safety. Speed Shooter Specialties carries the parts he needs to convert his gun, for a mere $20. Luckily enough, his gun is a later frame with little plugs where the safety exits the frame.
Something
Something that dramatically reduces the allure of the M&P 9 at the local pawn shop is that manual safety guns with the small diameter sear spring cannot be self-upgraded to use the Apex trigger kits. You have to send it to them for the work and that's a bit more money and a lot more headache.
The kit I'd want is $110. The service is $185 plus shipping and handling, which thanks to the ATF regulations is significant, between $110 and $160. So $300 to $350 on top of a $400 gun...
I can get a newer M&P that already has the larger sear spring and the kit for less. Or a NEW one that's current production which doesn't seem to need the Apex kits so desperately. Edit to add: Found the same model (206301) with a 2013 manufacture date on Gunbroker for $489 buy it now. $489 + $25 s/h + $30 transfer + $110 kit is... $654 for this with the Apex, compared to $700-$750 on the pawn-shop gun. Edit to add even more: A local dealer has an M&P 9 Pro Series (which I hear basically comes stock with an Apex trigger) for a mere $529. Far cheaper than modifying.
The main problem is that Smith and Wesson doesn't sell the sear housing block for the guns with manual safeties. There is a rumor on a couple of forums that the current revision of p/n 390900000 works with the manual safety. I do not know, but I've ordered one from Midway to have a look at the right side of the block. If it uses the small pin ejector and has a rectangular cavity for the safety plunger, it might just work.
The reason for the rumor is that the M&P 45, where the thumb safety is more common, switched over to a common housing for all the non-internal lock variations.
On the gripping hand, the stock trigger is not really that different from my Hi-Power and I shoot that rather well. The Lovely Harvey's new gun appears to have such a stock trigger.
The kit I'd want is $110. The service is $185 plus shipping and handling, which thanks to the ATF regulations is significant, between $110 and $160. So $300 to $350 on top of a $400 gun...
I can get a newer M&P that already has the larger sear spring and the kit for less. Or a NEW one that's current production which doesn't seem to need the Apex kits so desperately. Edit to add: Found the same model (206301) with a 2013 manufacture date on Gunbroker for $489 buy it now. $489 + $25 s/h + $30 transfer + $110 kit is... $654 for this with the Apex, compared to $700-$750 on the pawn-shop gun. Edit to add even more: A local dealer has an M&P 9 Pro Series (which I hear basically comes stock with an Apex trigger) for a mere $529. Far cheaper than modifying.
The main problem is that Smith and Wesson doesn't sell the sear housing block for the guns with manual safeties. There is a rumor on a couple of forums that the current revision of p/n 390900000 works with the manual safety. I do not know, but I've ordered one from Midway to have a look at the right side of the block. If it uses the small pin ejector and has a rectangular cavity for the safety plunger, it might just work.
The reason for the rumor is that the M&P 45, where the thumb safety is more common, switched over to a common housing for all the non-internal lock variations.
On the gripping hand, the stock trigger is not really that different from my Hi-Power and I shoot that rather well. The Lovely Harvey's new gun appears to have such a stock trigger.
Sight
Testing The Lovely Harvey's new M&P also marks the first time I've gone to the range with my prescription glasses.
Being able to clearly see the target is actually a plus for accurate shooting.
Who knew?
It took me a long time to admit that my eyesight was subject to the aging process...
Being able to clearly see the target is actually a plus for accurate shooting.
Who knew?
It took me a long time to admit that my eyesight was subject to the aging process...
19 December 2014
Is Gun Is Not Safe
Replacing The Lovely Harvey's M&P and checking all the pawn and gun shops around here for the missing one has me really looking hard at all the variety of safeties you can get with one.
You can get no safety at all. Which is what Marv and Harvey have.
You can get a manual safety that works like a 1911 or Hi Power.
You can get a magazine disconnect.
You can get an internal lock.
After disabling the internal lock on my 640-3 I think we know where I stand on those things.
I was the proud owner of a Gen1 Glock 17 way back in 1988 and have had a Glock 21 since 1992; so you can see I am OK with no safety at all. Owning the 640 also shows this since it's got no safety either.
Being a 1911 owner means you can see I am OK with manual safeties.
Being an HP owner means that I can cope with both the manual and magazine disconnect.
Many of the .25's come with magazine disconnects too.
In the HP's case, the disconnect makes the trigger pull kinda gritty.
Willard and I had a discussion about it and we came out ambivalent.
I am not going to seek out a gun that has a magazine disconnect because I must have that feature. As long as the disconnect doesn't hurt the trigger pull, I tend to not care if its there. So far the HP is the only gun where the disconnect hurts the pull where I've kept it.
I got the HP to have an HP, which means warts and all.
Which combination of safeties boils down to personal choices that won't be the same for everyone. Willard does maintain that he's right and disagreeing means you're wrong. I think he's kidding. Maybe.
Regardless you've got to get familiar with the gun you have and the safeties it's equipped with.
You can get no safety at all. Which is what Marv and Harvey have.
You can get a manual safety that works like a 1911 or Hi Power.
You can get a magazine disconnect.
You can get an internal lock.
After disabling the internal lock on my 640-3 I think we know where I stand on those things.
I was the proud owner of a Gen1 Glock 17 way back in 1988 and have had a Glock 21 since 1992; so you can see I am OK with no safety at all. Owning the 640 also shows this since it's got no safety either.
Being a 1911 owner means you can see I am OK with manual safeties.
Being an HP owner means that I can cope with both the manual and magazine disconnect.
Many of the .25's come with magazine disconnects too.
In the HP's case, the disconnect makes the trigger pull kinda gritty.
Willard and I had a discussion about it and we came out ambivalent.
I am not going to seek out a gun that has a magazine disconnect because I must have that feature. As long as the disconnect doesn't hurt the trigger pull, I tend to not care if its there. So far the HP is the only gun where the disconnect hurts the pull where I've kept it.
I got the HP to have an HP, which means warts and all.
Which combination of safeties boils down to personal choices that won't be the same for everyone. Willard does maintain that he's right and disagreeing means you're wrong. I think he's kidding. Maybe.
Regardless you've got to get familiar with the gun you have and the safeties it's equipped with.
Out Of Pawn Jail
The Lovely Harvey's new gun to replace that which was stolen.
I put 33 rounds and Marv put 17 rounds of PMC Bronze 115gr JHP through it (his are at the 5 on the neck) at 7 yards. My first 17 are at the head and the last 16 at the chest. It's definitely different from a Glock, and I think I like it!
One of the local pawn shops has an M&P 9 with the manual safety for $400 too... Dammit! I need another gun like I need a hole in my head. WANT is another matter entirely, of course. The recent sale of my 03A3 technically means there are funds that could be used for such a purchase.
The problem really is that I kind of like having the money laying around.
Decisions decisions.
18 December 2014
Someday
Some day we're going to look back and exclaim how useful computers used to be.
We'll mourn that things take six to eight weeks and all records are on paper exclusively again.
Because at least someone has to physically break into the building to access paper records and you can hire a dog to bite them while they're in there.
We'll mourn that things take six to eight weeks and all records are on paper exclusively again.
Because at least someone has to physically break into the building to access paper records and you can hire a dog to bite them while they're in there.
17 December 2014
Crunch
I gravitated towards games like Traveller then GURPS because they tended to be crunchier than AD&D.
Traveller was science fiction and reasonably internally consistent; with a huge body of fans poking holes (and patching them as fast as they poked).
GURPS introduced the reality check to the rules. If the rules and reality disagree, go with reality.
The appeal of the reality check really comes from one player.
We were playing Twilight 2000 and I decided that I'd attempt to railroad one player to contrive a scenario where the other players would rescue him.
It required that he be overwhelmed by the opposition by sheer numbers once his rifle had run out of ammo or jammed. He rolled a critical failure and his gun jammed.
Thinking things were going well, I get ready to tell him about his capture... and he says he takes out his other gun.
Did I mention that both his jammed gun and the other gun are M16A2s?
I grumble a bit, but we continue the fight. I have unlimited mooks so I can wait him out on ammo. He gets another jam and again draws a fresh M16A2!
You can't do that, I attempt to rule.
"Show me the rule that says I can't," he replies.
Putting aside the "The GM is always right" Rule Zero... with the rules as written, he's well within the constraints of the encumbrance system (even with the FIVE M16A2s he's packing).
We stopped playing T2K right after that.
Traveller was science fiction and reasonably internally consistent; with a huge body of fans poking holes (and patching them as fast as they poked).
GURPS introduced the reality check to the rules. If the rules and reality disagree, go with reality.
The appeal of the reality check really comes from one player.
We were playing Twilight 2000 and I decided that I'd attempt to railroad one player to contrive a scenario where the other players would rescue him.
It required that he be overwhelmed by the opposition by sheer numbers once his rifle had run out of ammo or jammed. He rolled a critical failure and his gun jammed.
Thinking things were going well, I get ready to tell him about his capture... and he says he takes out his other gun.
Did I mention that both his jammed gun and the other gun are M16A2s?
I grumble a bit, but we continue the fight. I have unlimited mooks so I can wait him out on ammo. He gets another jam and again draws a fresh M16A2!
You can't do that, I attempt to rule.
"Show me the rule that says I can't," he replies.
Putting aside the "The GM is always right" Rule Zero... with the rules as written, he's well within the constraints of the encumbrance system (even with the FIVE M16A2s he's packing).
We stopped playing T2K right after that.
Not Working
I have something to post until I hit the post button.
Once the screen I am typing on appears, it evaporates.
It's like trying to recall a dream.
I have the impression of a post, but not the words.
Once the screen I am typing on appears, it evaporates.
It's like trying to recall a dream.
I have the impression of a post, but not the words.
Get Well Soon!
Dr Jerry Pournelle has had a mild stroke.
He appears to be recovering and the prognosis is positive at present.
He appears to be recovering and the prognosis is positive at present.
15 December 2014
Shocked!
I am noticing two basic responses from non-liberals to the outgoing Congress' Republican arm caving in on the cromnibus.
First is shock, SHOCK! that they'd do this after receiving a clear mandate from the voters in November.
Second is a weary, "we tried to tell you that's how they are..."
I think I am going to join the weary and accept that it can't be changed.
First is shock, SHOCK! that they'd do this after receiving a clear mandate from the voters in November.
Second is a weary, "we tried to tell you that's how they are..."
I think I am going to join the weary and accept that it can't be changed.
New Machine Guns
The Firearms Blog had a bit of a spat over someone using my unerring ability to say what they wanted to say in exactly the wrong way for their meaning to be conveyed. They apologized for not seeing how it would be taken.
A sore spot among many people who can't afford a pre-86 MG is the feeling that those who can are actively working to prevent anything which would post-86 guns to be "freely" transferred.
As bumbling as NFATCA was over what leads to rulemaking 41P... Jury's still out.
But what would happen to the value of those pre-86 guns?
On a lot of them, the value is going to plummet. No way around it.
Guns made from parts kits will probably be affected. They're not original at all. No real provenance.
Completely original guns are likely to remain valuable as will guns with famous provenance.
I think the guns most affected will be the AR15. I've recently seen conversions from semi-auto going for $25,000. Such a gun is not really any more valuable than an ordinary semi-automatic AR if you can do your own Form 1; perhaps a few hundred more just in the saved effort.
$25,000 to (maybe) $2,000 is a heck of a hit.
The $16,000 for a registered drop in auto-sear will evaporate like a fart in the wind. There isn't but $100 worth of professional machining in one of those; and you don't even need that level of skill to crank one out.
The Lightning Link will take a hit like that too.
People who bought MGs as investments probably are working against any change to the status quo that increases the supply of transferables. People who bought MGs because COOL! are, I think, a lot more likely to be willing to take the depreciation because more MGs means more COOL! for them as well as everyone else.
There's something we can do to test the devaluation hypothesis. Amnesty. There's bound to be guns made right before an amnesty that are made just for such an event that don't exist now. It'd be a good gauge of the pent-up demand as well.
Kinda related, I wonder if a case could be made that all pre-86 MG's are Curio and Relic.
Because...
Compare the price of a transferrable M16A2 to what a police force would pay.
A sore spot among many people who can't afford a pre-86 MG is the feeling that those who can are actively working to prevent anything which would post-86 guns to be "freely" transferred.
As bumbling as NFATCA was over what leads to rulemaking 41P... Jury's still out.
But what would happen to the value of those pre-86 guns?
On a lot of them, the value is going to plummet. No way around it.
Guns made from parts kits will probably be affected. They're not original at all. No real provenance.
Completely original guns are likely to remain valuable as will guns with famous provenance.
I think the guns most affected will be the AR15. I've recently seen conversions from semi-auto going for $25,000. Such a gun is not really any more valuable than an ordinary semi-automatic AR if you can do your own Form 1; perhaps a few hundred more just in the saved effort.
$25,000 to (maybe) $2,000 is a heck of a hit.
The $16,000 for a registered drop in auto-sear will evaporate like a fart in the wind. There isn't but $100 worth of professional machining in one of those; and you don't even need that level of skill to crank one out.
The Lightning Link will take a hit like that too.
People who bought MGs as investments probably are working against any change to the status quo that increases the supply of transferables. People who bought MGs because COOL! are, I think, a lot more likely to be willing to take the depreciation because more MGs means more COOL! for them as well as everyone else.
There's something we can do to test the devaluation hypothesis. Amnesty. There's bound to be guns made right before an amnesty that are made just for such an event that don't exist now. It'd be a good gauge of the pent-up demand as well.
Kinda related, I wonder if a case could be made that all pre-86 MG's are Curio and Relic.
Because...
Any other firearms that derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare, bizarre, or because of their association with some historical figure, period, or event. Proof of qualification of a particular firearm under this category requires evidence of present value and evidence that like firearms are not available except as collector's items, or that the value of like firearms available in ordinary commercial channels is substantially less.
Compare the price of a transferrable M16A2 to what a police force would pay.
Merlin 4
This is a variation of the GURPS: Technomancer world, Merlin.
Merlin 4 is a Quantum 3 world with a present date of 2014.
The point of departure is in 1975 when Soldier of Fortune magazine ran a full page ad titled, "Be A Man Among Men" with the text, "The Rhodesian Army offers you an interesting and varied career with new allowances for fighting troops and experienced mages."
With combat in Vietnam winding down (see GURPS: Funny New Guys) and racial tensions still running high, this ad was answered by many returning chimera veterans; many of whom had never felt they'd belonged at home anyway; especially spider and snake people.
Because Rhodesia was well outside the mana fall, it had very few native mages and almost no chimeraism. The influx of experienced combat mages answering the ad changes the history of Rhodesia from both Merlin 1 and Homeline.
See Secrets and Sense Foes turn out to be devastating to guerilla warfare making ambushes, mines and weapons caches easy to find. Widespread healing magic eliminate many casualties and are extremely positive propaganda for the Rhodesian government both at home and abroad.
The real turning point occurs on September 19, 1976 when the Rhodesian Parliament passes The Oath Acts. These acts require all government officials to submit to an Oath spell when taking their oaths of office and Analyze Magic to confirm that the casting of Oath was successful. While seemingly small, this had huge repercussions with regards to international recognition.
The oft stated position of the Smith government that the majority black population was simply not educated enough to handle the responsibility and consequences of the vote was shown to be sincere when coupled with Truthsayer castings. With a magical compulsion to obey their oaths, laws were passed to begin the education of the black population in how a Parliamentary Democracy worked and what their responsibilities as citizens were.
The United States, over the objections of The United Kingdom recognized Rhodesia on April 19 of 1978. This ultimately leads to the defeat and annexation of Mozambique once theirZIPRA ZAPU ZANU ZEBRA ZANLA proxies had been defeated in 1979.
By mid-1988 "majority rule" had been established with most citizens being eligible to vote regardless of color. While the United States is critical of the requirement of citizens to pass an extensive civics examination to obtain the license to vote, it has to be admitted that it's the same examination for everyone and anyone can take the required classes free of charge (it is in fact mandatory for primary schools to teach).
Much mourned by many anthropologists and sociologists who specialized in Africa is the elimination of the extended system of familial obligation that had served to limit the ability of many blacks to succeed when compared to whites for many years. While it is often blamed on the effects of "westernization" it seems to have actually been a victim of the increased opportunities available to nearly everyone.
The pattern established by Rhodesia in bringing racial equality to a previously segregated government put a great deal of pressure upon South Africa to end Aparthied which ended four years earlier in Merlin 4 than Homeline. Many Aparthied policies had been unofficially abandoned years earlier but a significant Afrikaans voting block feared the Anglicization of South Africa by adopting Rhodesia's methods.
Angola turns out much the same in Merlin 4 as Homeline with Cuban troops being familiar with the same magic that was overwhelming to ZANLA and ZIPRA.
The success of The Oath Acts reach out to other Western democracies searching for ways to eliminate political corruption. Florida being the first to introduce such requirements via ballot measure in 1988. Several other US states adopted similar measures with it being adopted nationally as the 28th amendment in 2002 as bitterness over the Lewinsky scandal and passage of the USA PATRIOT act created a popular demand with many congressmen voting for it in hopes of placating the voters enough to keep their seats in the 2002 elections.
This applies to anyone who takes an oath of office or service, including bureaucrats and the military. Many elected and appointed officials refuse to submit the the spell and resign; hardly any in the military refuse (sometimes to their embarrassment). The effect on the War on Terror compared to homeline is staggering as honest (and magically compelled) politicians prosecute the war for the benefit of the nation without regard to their personal or party ambitions. The same spells which proved valuable in The Bush War and techniques developed in Vietnam virtually eliminate Islamic terrorism by 2004.
The trickle down effect of the 28th has been a dramatic downsizing of American government with the near elimination of the Departments of Energy and Education and Environmental Protection Agency. While the US has become fully deregulated, much of what we know as regulation has been replaced by law because the political goals are often the same, it's just Oath won't let Congress abdicate their legislative power to executive branch officials (who are also bound to refuse such powers).
With even politicians submitting to Oath, it becomes common practice to use it during the execution of contracts, greatly simplifying business and leading to a second magic induced economic boon. To do business in America means submitting to spells verifying the intent and honesty of all parties, despite the apparent loss of freedom, this has actually led more businesses to do business in the USA because it eliminates so many variables and concerns.
Of great concern to Infinity Unlimited is the 2012 discovery that natural nuclear reactors in Gabon have created gateways to another world. Merlin 4 is studying this intently and is close to learning The Secret in their own.
Merlin 4 is a Quantum 3 world with a present date of 2014.
The point of departure is in 1975 when Soldier of Fortune magazine ran a full page ad titled, "Be A Man Among Men" with the text, "The Rhodesian Army offers you an interesting and varied career with new allowances for fighting troops and experienced mages."
With combat in Vietnam winding down (see GURPS: Funny New Guys) and racial tensions still running high, this ad was answered by many returning chimera veterans; many of whom had never felt they'd belonged at home anyway; especially spider and snake people.
Because Rhodesia was well outside the mana fall, it had very few native mages and almost no chimeraism. The influx of experienced combat mages answering the ad changes the history of Rhodesia from both Merlin 1 and Homeline.
See Secrets and Sense Foes turn out to be devastating to guerilla warfare making ambushes, mines and weapons caches easy to find. Widespread healing magic eliminate many casualties and are extremely positive propaganda for the Rhodesian government both at home and abroad.
The real turning point occurs on September 19, 1976 when the Rhodesian Parliament passes The Oath Acts. These acts require all government officials to submit to an Oath spell when taking their oaths of office and Analyze Magic to confirm that the casting of Oath was successful. While seemingly small, this had huge repercussions with regards to international recognition.
The oft stated position of the Smith government that the majority black population was simply not educated enough to handle the responsibility and consequences of the vote was shown to be sincere when coupled with Truthsayer castings. With a magical compulsion to obey their oaths, laws were passed to begin the education of the black population in how a Parliamentary Democracy worked and what their responsibilities as citizens were.
The United States, over the objections of The United Kingdom recognized Rhodesia on April 19 of 1978. This ultimately leads to the defeat and annexation of Mozambique once their
By mid-1988 "majority rule" had been established with most citizens being eligible to vote regardless of color. While the United States is critical of the requirement of citizens to pass an extensive civics examination to obtain the license to vote, it has to be admitted that it's the same examination for everyone and anyone can take the required classes free of charge (it is in fact mandatory for primary schools to teach).
Much mourned by many anthropologists and sociologists who specialized in Africa is the elimination of the extended system of familial obligation that had served to limit the ability of many blacks to succeed when compared to whites for many years. While it is often blamed on the effects of "westernization" it seems to have actually been a victim of the increased opportunities available to nearly everyone.
The pattern established by Rhodesia in bringing racial equality to a previously segregated government put a great deal of pressure upon South Africa to end Aparthied which ended four years earlier in Merlin 4 than Homeline. Many Aparthied policies had been unofficially abandoned years earlier but a significant Afrikaans voting block feared the Anglicization of South Africa by adopting Rhodesia's methods.
Angola turns out much the same in Merlin 4 as Homeline with Cuban troops being familiar with the same magic that was overwhelming to ZANLA and ZIPRA.
The success of The Oath Acts reach out to other Western democracies searching for ways to eliminate political corruption. Florida being the first to introduce such requirements via ballot measure in 1988. Several other US states adopted similar measures with it being adopted nationally as the 28th amendment in 2002 as bitterness over the Lewinsky scandal and passage of the USA PATRIOT act created a popular demand with many congressmen voting for it in hopes of placating the voters enough to keep their seats in the 2002 elections.
This applies to anyone who takes an oath of office or service, including bureaucrats and the military. Many elected and appointed officials refuse to submit the the spell and resign; hardly any in the military refuse (sometimes to their embarrassment). The effect on the War on Terror compared to homeline is staggering as honest (and magically compelled) politicians prosecute the war for the benefit of the nation without regard to their personal or party ambitions. The same spells which proved valuable in The Bush War and techniques developed in Vietnam virtually eliminate Islamic terrorism by 2004.
The trickle down effect of the 28th has been a dramatic downsizing of American government with the near elimination of the Departments of Energy and Education and Environmental Protection Agency. While the US has become fully deregulated, much of what we know as regulation has been replaced by law because the political goals are often the same, it's just Oath won't let Congress abdicate their legislative power to executive branch officials (who are also bound to refuse such powers).
With even politicians submitting to Oath, it becomes common practice to use it during the execution of contracts, greatly simplifying business and leading to a second magic induced economic boon. To do business in America means submitting to spells verifying the intent and honesty of all parties, despite the apparent loss of freedom, this has actually led more businesses to do business in the USA because it eliminates so many variables and concerns.
Of great concern to Infinity Unlimited is the 2012 discovery that natural nuclear reactors in Gabon have created gateways to another world. Merlin 4 is studying this intently and is close to learning The Secret in their own.
Restored
iPod functionality restored to The Lovely Harvey's car from where the thief broke the cable.
Simple but awkward.
The center console and ash tray have to come out to route the cable, which is the awkward part since the seats have to be moved every which way and since the shifter can't be in "PARK", you've got the door chime bonging at you most of the operation.
Simple but awkward.
The center console and ash tray have to come out to route the cable, which is the awkward part since the seats have to be moved every which way and since the shifter can't be in "PARK", you've got the door chime bonging at you most of the operation.
13 December 2014
Long Term Frog Lube Report
For about a year I've been using Frog-Lube CLP instead of Shooter's Choice solvent and LSA.
One gun that it did a great job of cutting through years of accumulated gunk was my Grandfather's H&R top-break.
Today I was fondling the guns in the safe and noticed the ejector star was sluggish about returning back home into the cylinder.
Taking it apart I found that every place that had accumulated Frog-Lube CLP was now a red-brown sludge. No evidence of rust, but it was not slippery anymore.
I've read that you should apply the Frog Lube and remove "all" of it. Well, if you can't easily get to the part you want lubed, don't drip it in the area needing lube!
Got the thing completely cleaned out now and back to LSA for the H&R.
One gun that it did a great job of cutting through years of accumulated gunk was my Grandfather's H&R top-break.
Today I was fondling the guns in the safe and noticed the ejector star was sluggish about returning back home into the cylinder.
Taking it apart I found that every place that had accumulated Frog-Lube CLP was now a red-brown sludge. No evidence of rust, but it was not slippery anymore.
I've read that you should apply the Frog Lube and remove "all" of it. Well, if you can't easily get to the part you want lubed, don't drip it in the area needing lube!
Got the thing completely cleaned out now and back to LSA for the H&R.
12 December 2014
Torture?
I am not going to say it was torture or not.
What I am going to say is that anyone who can make National Socialists look good by comparison deserves to be tortured good and hard by someone who takes delight in administering such suffering.
Hitler and his buds didn't set that bar very damn high either.
What I am going to say is that anyone who can make National Socialists look good by comparison deserves to be tortured good and hard by someone who takes delight in administering such suffering.
Hitler and his buds didn't set that bar very damn high either.
11 December 2014
How Far
Do you live within 2,500 feet (that's almost half a mile) of a daycare, library, nursing home, park, playground, school, or school bus stop.
Think hard about that.
That's the radius that my sheriff wants to put around those places and forbid "sex offenders and predators" from living there.
The current exclusion zone is 1,000 feet around a daycare, park, playground, or school.
It's almost ceremonial since if the offender already lives in the zone, they won't be forced to move out of it.
But I wonder if there's many places in the county where you're not within 2,500' of one of the aforementioned places. Going way out in the country is probably not an option since those places are very expensive around here and most felons aren't exactly rolling in dough.
Again I question our treatment of sexual predators. If they're so dangerous we can't trust them living within 1,000' of our children, why aren't they locked up? Being convicted of a sexual predation crime is already a life sentence with the registration and living restriction requirements; why don't we be honest and make it a real life sentence?
By the way, a close examination of what the law says is a sexual predator probably doesn't coincide fully what what you think of as such a predator. We've stripped intent from the laws. One could quite legally be convicted of molesting a child if said child wandered into the bathroom while you were taking a shower.
Think hard about that.
That's the radius that my sheriff wants to put around those places and forbid "sex offenders and predators" from living there.
The current exclusion zone is 1,000 feet around a daycare, park, playground, or school.
It's almost ceremonial since if the offender already lives in the zone, they won't be forced to move out of it.
But I wonder if there's many places in the county where you're not within 2,500' of one of the aforementioned places. Going way out in the country is probably not an option since those places are very expensive around here and most felons aren't exactly rolling in dough.
Again I question our treatment of sexual predators. If they're so dangerous we can't trust them living within 1,000' of our children, why aren't they locked up? Being convicted of a sexual predation crime is already a life sentence with the registration and living restriction requirements; why don't we be honest and make it a real life sentence?
By the way, a close examination of what the law says is a sexual predator probably doesn't coincide fully what what you think of as such a predator. We've stripped intent from the laws. One could quite legally be convicted of molesting a child if said child wandered into the bathroom while you were taking a shower.
10 December 2014
For Once Ahead Of The Curve
I notice lots of folks talking about sitemeter today.
Welcome to January under the desk.
Nuking sitemeter also dropped hits from spam collectors too.
I am astonished that I figured this out on my own months before everyone else. It doesn't normally work that way.
Welcome to January under the desk.
Nuking sitemeter also dropped hits from spam collectors too.
I am astonished that I figured this out on my own months before everyone else. It doesn't normally work that way.
Civilized
It's very depressing when you read a line , "The last enemy we fought that even paid lip service to these rulebooks was Nazi Germany, a lifetime ago," and realize that despite the holocaust the FUCKING NAZIS were more civilized about warfare than anyone we've fought since.
WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK!?!?
WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK!?!?
09 December 2014
Pulsing Beams
I've been reading my Little Black Books again.
In Book 2 there's no combat difference between the beam and pulse lasers. Despite descriptions that imply that beam weapons are more likely to score a hit and pulse lasers do more damage; neither gets a die modifier that differentiates them.
The pulse laser is half the cost of the beam laser, so I'd go with those.
You'd have thought I'd have noticed this thirty years ago, but I've honestly never used Book 2's combat rules.
Book 5 rewrote the entire combat system and there is a difference between beam and pulse lasers there that make beams worth paying extra for; it takes fewer beam lasers to increase the USP code rating for a given battery. A single triple beam laser turret has the same rating as two triple pulse laser turrets.
Book 5 also adds plasma guns, fusion guns and particle accelerators in both turreted and barbette form.
Most of this is now trivia since GURPS: Traveller uses an entirely different combat system derived from 3e GURPS: Vehicles.
The difference between beam and pulse lasers there is a firing mode and not a physical difference in the weapons.
Traveller Tuesday officially belongs to Erin, I'm just dangling from her coat tails on the idea.
In Book 2 there's no combat difference between the beam and pulse lasers. Despite descriptions that imply that beam weapons are more likely to score a hit and pulse lasers do more damage; neither gets a die modifier that differentiates them.
The pulse laser is half the cost of the beam laser, so I'd go with those.
You'd have thought I'd have noticed this thirty years ago, but I've honestly never used Book 2's combat rules.
Book 5 rewrote the entire combat system and there is a difference between beam and pulse lasers there that make beams worth paying extra for; it takes fewer beam lasers to increase the USP code rating for a given battery. A single triple beam laser turret has the same rating as two triple pulse laser turrets.
Book 5 also adds plasma guns, fusion guns and particle accelerators in both turreted and barbette form.
Most of this is now trivia since GURPS: Traveller uses an entirely different combat system derived from 3e GURPS: Vehicles.
The difference between beam and pulse lasers there is a firing mode and not a physical difference in the weapons.
Traveller Tuesday officially belongs to Erin, I'm just dangling from her coat tails on the idea.
Thag Remember
I do recall when a certain someone blogged about taking a class on the disassembly and repair of the item in question.
It's so amusing watching them deal with helpful suggestions.
Related, I learned that roofing tar is not a recommended firearm lubricant.
It's so amusing watching them deal with helpful suggestions.
Related, I learned that roofing tar is not a recommended firearm lubricant.
Poking Around
In a vain hope of finding The Lovely Harvey's stolen gun, Willard and I canvassed the local gun and pawn shops.
What I have discovered is the used market is awash in M&P40's. So many that you save about $100 if you're willing to go .40 S&W instead of 9mm.
It seems about even whether they will have the external safety or lock or not.
The local market is not awash in used Glock.
I noticed the shift back to 9mm a bit ago (just after everyone else started talking about it!) and understand why there's lots of used .40's out there.
I wonder if we're seeing more M&P than Glock locally is the much larger number of optional features on the S&W. Manual safety or not; internal lock or not; magazine disconnect or not... and people discovering they didn't like said feature as much in real life as they thought they would.
With Glock your only options are generational.
What I have discovered is the used market is awash in M&P40's. So many that you save about $100 if you're willing to go .40 S&W instead of 9mm.
It seems about even whether they will have the external safety or lock or not.
The local market is not awash in used Glock.
I noticed the shift back to 9mm a bit ago (just after everyone else started talking about it!) and understand why there's lots of used .40's out there.
I wonder if we're seeing more M&P than Glock locally is the much larger number of optional features on the S&W. Manual safety or not; internal lock or not; magazine disconnect or not... and people discovering they didn't like said feature as much in real life as they thought they would.
With Glock your only options are generational.
08 December 2014
Things That Don't Work
Attempting to hold up my end of the conversation with Willard after just an hour of sleep and half a pot of coffee.
Also, the thin skim of a nation's history you need to make to have a gaming world hold up to players who've never bothered to go that far does not make one even remotely knowledgable.
Even if I feel rested and alert, the back of my head knows the front is on mush.
Also, the thin skim of a nation's history you need to make to have a gaming world hold up to players who've never bothered to go that far does not make one even remotely knowledgable.
Even if I feel rested and alert, the back of my head knows the front is on mush.
05 December 2014
Routine
Tam notices that these launches were supposed to be as routine as backing out the family car...
They sure could have been.
Just in case anyone doesn't know.
The space program was in direct competition with LBJ's Great Society for funding. There was a constant hue and cry that continues to this very day about how much money we're wasting on space and how it could be better spent right here on Earth.
It's one of the first examples of me noticing the media can manipulate things.
We plopped two dudes on the moon in 1969. Ten months later not one of the three (yes just three) national television networks bothered to air the launch of the THIRD mission to the moon or cut into normal programming for a live broadcast from space. Ironically that mission was Apollo 13; which got lots and lots of coverage.
Two successful all up flights and the media of the day decided it wasn't worth covering anymore!
There was nothing routine about a Saturn V launch. First, they were damn near hand built with a bewildering array of variations and revisions. Some were official changes, some were from the people building them figuring out a better way to assemble something and just implementing it. Read this about the F-1 engine and pay attention to what they say about how the engine they have doesn't match the blueprints. Every launch was different, yet eerily similar. I wonder how many small mistakes were made because CSM-103 was different from CSM-108.
It also bears mentioning just how marginal the entire Apollo stack was. It could do the job with almost no room to spare. Those changes I mentioned to the vehicle? Apollo 11 couldn't have carried the lunar rover and made it back.
On our evolution to becoming Pierson's Puppeteers we're going to insist on wider margins for our manned craft. Challenger and Columbia underscoring the demand. It's an awkward place to be. Aviation is a dangerous place to learn on the job, but sometimes there's no other classroom.
I notice the freak-outs associated with V-22A crashes and compare them to the numbers who died learning helicopter. Or how many who died just learning winged flight? Every venture into the unknown is literally filled with unknowns. Sometimes you find them the hard way.
Apollo 1 did. Soyuz 1 did. 56-6672 did. Soyuz 11 did. Challenger did. Columbia did. Spaceship Two did.
There. Will. Be. More.
We. Should. Keep. Going.
They sure could have been.
Just in case anyone doesn't know.
The space program was in direct competition with LBJ's Great Society for funding. There was a constant hue and cry that continues to this very day about how much money we're wasting on space and how it could be better spent right here on Earth.
It's one of the first examples of me noticing the media can manipulate things.
We plopped two dudes on the moon in 1969. Ten months later not one of the three (yes just three) national television networks bothered to air the launch of the THIRD mission to the moon or cut into normal programming for a live broadcast from space. Ironically that mission was Apollo 13; which got lots and lots of coverage.
Two successful all up flights and the media of the day decided it wasn't worth covering anymore!
There was nothing routine about a Saturn V launch. First, they were damn near hand built with a bewildering array of variations and revisions. Some were official changes, some were from the people building them figuring out a better way to assemble something and just implementing it. Read this about the F-1 engine and pay attention to what they say about how the engine they have doesn't match the blueprints. Every launch was different, yet eerily similar. I wonder how many small mistakes were made because CSM-103 was different from CSM-108.
It also bears mentioning just how marginal the entire Apollo stack was. It could do the job with almost no room to spare. Those changes I mentioned to the vehicle? Apollo 11 couldn't have carried the lunar rover and made it back.
On our evolution to becoming Pierson's Puppeteers we're going to insist on wider margins for our manned craft. Challenger and Columbia underscoring the demand. It's an awkward place to be. Aviation is a dangerous place to learn on the job, but sometimes there's no other classroom.
I notice the freak-outs associated with V-22A crashes and compare them to the numbers who died learning helicopter. Or how many who died just learning winged flight? Every venture into the unknown is literally filled with unknowns. Sometimes you find them the hard way.
Apollo 1 did. Soyuz 1 did. 56-6672 did. Soyuz 11 did. Challenger did. Columbia did. Spaceship Two did.
There. Will. Be. More.
We. Should. Keep. Going.
.40 Anomaly
Should you find yourself playing in one of my worlds in GURPS want to use a .40 S&W pistol...
Take the published Damage, reduce it by 2 and increase the Rcl by 1.
Thus 2d+2 pi+ becomes 2d pi+ and 2d+1 pi+ becomes 2d-1 pi+... and so on.
For SMGs and pistol caliber carbines, only reduce the damage.
I think this accurately portrays the real world damage relative to 9x19mm and .45 ACP.
To the contingent that thinks that because .40 is a more modern round than those and deserves to do more damage, the modernity is reflected in the weight and number of shots. Glock is a good place to see it. A Glock 21 gets 13+1 shots of .45 and weighs 2.4 lb. loaded magazines are 0.8 lb. A Glock 22 gets 15+1 shots of .40, weighs 2.1 lb. with magazines which are 0.7 lb.
I am tempted to say where the stats are derived from a 9mm gun, increase ST by one as well. The only gun in High Tech 4e that's .40 S&W as the main table entry is a Kahr K40 and it's ST is 8, same as a Glock 17. All of the other pistols stats are based on the stats from the 9mm parent gun.
Armee Universal Gewher
I kind of have a soft spot for bullpup rifles, even if I don't think they're all that great.
The Steyr AUG was swoopy and cool when I was playing Twilight 2000. I've several character sheets with an L85A1 on them too.
But the AUG marks a bit of funny for me.
There's a bit in the film Jackie Brown where Samuel L Jackson's character is going on about this gun or that on a video and he mentions the Steyr; along the lines that if someone would put it in a movie, they'd sell like gangbusters!
This makes me giggle because: Look at how many times it's been in a movie! The AUG is no stranger to film! The earliest appearance I can remember is the Arnie action movie Commando. I've seen it off and on in lots of other movies too.
Perhaps the reason that it wasn't selling like gangbusters has a lot more to do with the legal climate?
The Steyr AUG was swoopy and cool when I was playing Twilight 2000. I've several character sheets with an L85A1 on them too.
But the AUG marks a bit of funny for me.
There's a bit in the film Jackie Brown where Samuel L Jackson's character is going on about this gun or that on a video and he mentions the Steyr; along the lines that if someone would put it in a movie, they'd sell like gangbusters!
This makes me giggle because: Look at how many times it's been in a movie! The AUG is no stranger to film! The earliest appearance I can remember is the Arnie action movie Commando. I've seen it off and on in lots of other movies too.
Perhaps the reason that it wasn't selling like gangbusters has a lot more to do with the legal climate?
.50 Cal Bottle Opener
The Lovely Harvey bought me a bottle opener made out of a .50 BMG round.
Marv expressed enough interest in it that she bought him one too.
Except... The vendor she bought mine from was out. So I found her a link to a different vendor.
It arrived today. It's a bottle opener made from a .50 round alright. 12.7x108mm instead of 12.7x99mm...
Russian brass!
Kind of neat, actually.
04 December 2014
Been Said Before
The most popular rifle in the US is the AR or some variation thereof.
But it's not new that military style rifles being popular among the general populace is a new thing.
Bolt action rifles weren't developed for snuffing hoof-rats then later applied to snuffing ourselves.
They started life as a way to raise the rate of fire of an infantry platoon. As was adding a magazine to them.
That scoped Remington, Ruger, Savage or Winchester shares a lot of DNA with guns that fought in both world wars and lots of others between and after.
But it's not new that military style rifles being popular among the general populace is a new thing.
Bolt action rifles weren't developed for snuffing hoof-rats then later applied to snuffing ourselves.
They started life as a way to raise the rate of fire of an infantry platoon. As was adding a magazine to them.
That scoped Remington, Ruger, Savage or Winchester shares a lot of DNA with guns that fought in both world wars and lots of others between and after.
Quest For The Holy Grail
Willard is now in possession of BOTH boxes of .300 Savage.
He as also stated he is not honoring the tradition of firing one round and passing the box on to the next .300 Savage owner.
He as also stated he is not honoring the tradition of firing one round and passing the box on to the next .300 Savage owner.
03 December 2014
Expanding On It A Bit
Adding in some other rounds for comparison, like .357 Magnum from a full length barrel...
SUMMARY
Round - Dmg - Ball, min - avg - max; HP, min - avg - max.
.25 ACP - 1d pi-; 0, 1, 3 -- 0, 2, 5.
.32 ACP 2d-1 pi-; 0, 3, 5 -- 0, 5, 10
.380 ACP 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.380 ACP 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
.38 Spcl 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.38 Spcl 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
9x19mm 2d+1 pi; 3, 8, 13 -- 3, 10, 18
9x19mm 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
SUMMARY
Round - Dmg - Ball, min - avg - max; HP, min - avg - max.
.25 ACP - 1d pi-; 0, 1, 3 -- 0, 2, 5.
.32 ACP 2d-1 pi-; 0, 3, 5 -- 0, 5, 10
.380 ACP 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.380 ACP 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
.38 Spcl 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.38 Spcl 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
9x19mm 2d+1 pi; 3, 8, 13 -- 3, 10, 18
9x19mm 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
.357 Mag 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
.357 Mag 3d pi; 3, 10, 18 -- 3, 13, 25
.357 SIG 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.38 Super 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.40 S&W 2d+2 pi+; 6, 13, 21 -- 6, 16, 26
10mm ACP 3d-1 pi+; 3, 13, 25 -- 2, 18, 34
.44 Magnum 3d+2 pi+; 7, 18, 30 -- 8, 22, 38
.45 GAP 2d pi+; 3, 10, 18 -- 2, 12, 22
.357 Mag 3d pi; 3, 10, 18 -- 3, 13, 25
.357 SIG 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.38 Super 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.40 S&W 2d+2 pi+; 6, 13, 21 -- 6, 16, 26
10mm ACP 3d-1 pi+; 3, 13, 25 -- 2, 18, 34
.44 Magnum 3d+2 pi+; 7, 18, 30 -- 8, 22, 38
.45 GAP 2d pi+; 3, 10, 18 -- 2, 12, 22
.45 ACP 2d pi+; 3, 10, 18 -- 2, 12, 22
Oh, and why is a pistol something you use to get to your rifle?
5.45x39mm 4d+2 pi; 6, 16, 26 -- 7, 22, 37 (AK-74)
5.56x45mm 4d pi; 4, 14, 24 -- 4, 19, 34 (11.5")
5.56x45mm 4d+2 pi; 6, 16, 26 -- 7, 22, 37 (14.5" or 16")
5.56x45mm 5d pi; 5, 17, 30 -- 6, 24, 43 (20")
.30 Carbine 4d+1 pi; 5, 22, 25 -- 6, 21, 36
7.62x39mm 5d+1 pi; 6, 18, 31 -- 7, 25, 45 (AKM)
.30-30 6d pi; 6, 21, 36 -- 7, 30, 52
7.62x54mmR 7d pi; 7, 24, 42 -- 9, 34, 61 (Mosin 91/30)
7.62x51mm 7d pi; 7, 24, 42 -- 9, 34, 61
.30-06 7d+1 pi; 8, 25, 43 -- 10, 36, 63
Notice how the average damage for even a short barreled 5.56 gun is almost the same as the maximum damage for most any pistol?
Oh, and why is a pistol something you use to get to your rifle?
5.45x39mm 4d+2 pi; 6, 16, 26 -- 7, 22, 37 (AK-74)
5.56x45mm 4d pi; 4, 14, 24 -- 4, 19, 34 (11.5")
5.56x45mm 4d+2 pi; 6, 16, 26 -- 7, 22, 37 (14.5" or 16")
5.56x45mm 5d pi; 5, 17, 30 -- 6, 24, 43 (20")
.30 Carbine 4d+1 pi; 5, 22, 25 -- 6, 21, 36
7.62x39mm 5d+1 pi; 6, 18, 31 -- 7, 25, 45 (AKM)
.30-30 6d pi; 6, 21, 36 -- 7, 30, 52
7.62x54mmR 7d pi; 7, 24, 42 -- 9, 34, 61 (Mosin 91/30)
7.62x51mm 7d pi; 7, 24, 42 -- 9, 34, 61
.30-06 7d+1 pi; 8, 25, 43 -- 10, 36, 63
Notice how the average damage for even a short barreled 5.56 gun is almost the same as the maximum damage for most any pistol?
02 December 2014
Time Delay
Because of the time delays involved, space traffic control (STC) for Starport types A and B cannot give direct commands most of the time; but there needs to be a means to get everyone on the same page to lessen the chances of collisions.
This is complicated by the fact that jump drives will insert traffic that literally wasn't there a second ago.
For initial guidance from the jump in points there are beacons transmitting generic instructions to get the ships on the proper vectors to get them into predictable lanes. Ships that aren't doing this in a timely manner will attract the attention of STC and other authorities, deviate too much and you might get shot!
Essential to STC is all traffic make noise! Ships are equipped with transponders that make it a lot simpler for the controllers to identify and locate them. Serious fines are levied for a non-functional transponder, regardless of the reason.
The pattern of traffic is kind of a double helix so that outgoing and incoming ships don't conflict. One spirals out one spirals in slightly off plane from each other.
As ships get closer to the destination world, more direct control is asserted to the incoming ship via direct communication.
No matter what, though, the individual ships are responsible for avoiding collisions and following instructions from STC.
Starport type C will only have very local control due to the much smaller volume of traffic they experience and will focus mainly on keeping the orbits around the destination world deconflicted.
Types D, E and X typically don't have any space control with type D having what we'd recognize as AIR traffic control over the down-port itself.
A note on transponders: They can be disabled with the flick of a switch from the bridge. There are many legitimate reasons for shutting one off, like not providing a source of radiation for a seeker head to track in on. The heavy fines are to ensure that captains have a good reason for shutting them off.
A ship not squawking its transponder should be as communicative and cooperative as it can be with the Navy and local patrol ships. You're a valuable training tool now, and you get to pick the training scenario! Intercept to render aid or a shoot-x; your choice!
This is complicated by the fact that jump drives will insert traffic that literally wasn't there a second ago.
For initial guidance from the jump in points there are beacons transmitting generic instructions to get the ships on the proper vectors to get them into predictable lanes. Ships that aren't doing this in a timely manner will attract the attention of STC and other authorities, deviate too much and you might get shot!
Essential to STC is all traffic make noise! Ships are equipped with transponders that make it a lot simpler for the controllers to identify and locate them. Serious fines are levied for a non-functional transponder, regardless of the reason.
The pattern of traffic is kind of a double helix so that outgoing and incoming ships don't conflict. One spirals out one spirals in slightly off plane from each other.
As ships get closer to the destination world, more direct control is asserted to the incoming ship via direct communication.
No matter what, though, the individual ships are responsible for avoiding collisions and following instructions from STC.
Starport type C will only have very local control due to the much smaller volume of traffic they experience and will focus mainly on keeping the orbits around the destination world deconflicted.
Types D, E and X typically don't have any space control with type D having what we'd recognize as AIR traffic control over the down-port itself.
A note on transponders: They can be disabled with the flick of a switch from the bridge. There are many legitimate reasons for shutting one off, like not providing a source of radiation for a seeker head to track in on. The heavy fines are to ensure that captains have a good reason for shutting them off.
A ship not squawking its transponder should be as communicative and cooperative as it can be with the Navy and local patrol ships. You're a valuable training tool now, and you get to pick the training scenario! Intercept to render aid or a shoot-x; your choice!
You Weren't There Man
Reading this post...
I am reminded of a day at the Union where Mikhail and I were playing GURPS and getting a little too much into character. It was a mercenary campaign and we were playing out the hiring process waiting for FuzzyGeff to finish with Bear's World.
We were confronted by a well meaning gentleman who told us, "Bullshit, you were never in Vietnam!"
Mike and I looked at each other, blinked twice, looked back at him and Mike (master of comebacks) brandishes his character sheet and says, "I was so in Vietnam, see that?" pointing at his quirks, "-1 Vietnam Vet! I'll bet YOU don't even have a character sheet!"
I am reminded of a day at the Union where Mikhail and I were playing GURPS and getting a little too much into character. It was a mercenary campaign and we were playing out the hiring process waiting for FuzzyGeff to finish with Bear's World.
We were confronted by a well meaning gentleman who told us, "Bullshit, you were never in Vietnam!"
Mike and I looked at each other, blinked twice, looked back at him and Mike (master of comebacks) brandishes his character sheet and says, "I was so in Vietnam, see that?" pointing at his quirks, "-1 Vietnam Vet! I'll bet YOU don't even have a character sheet!"
01 December 2014
One Shot Stops
...And GURPS.
Common self defense ammo... Let's go from small to big.
.25 ACP. The smallest unless we count .22 LR, but there's not near so many actual concealable guns for the rimfire as .25.
.25 ACP pulls 1d pi-. Center mass hits are body hits, so that's 1-6 raw damage, so 1-6 damage to penetrate then divide damage by 2 (round down min 1), so 1-3 points of damage vs the average of 10 HP. Not even a major wound!
Changing to hollowpoints bumps the pi- to pi; but adds a 0.5 armor divisor. That also makes normal clothing be DR 1. That gives us 0-5 for reals now! Now we have a chance to get a major wound.
On average vs the body: .25 ACP ball does 1 point and hollow point does 2.
.32 ACP is next. 2d-1 pi-. 1-11 raw damage. 1-11 penetrate then is divided in two for 0-5. HP negates the pi- for pi and there's the DR 1 for normal clothes: 0-10 penetrate.
On average vs the body: .32 ACP ball does 3 points and hollow point does 5.
.380 will depend on the barrel length. Short barrels like a SIG P238 get 2d-1 pi and longer barrels like a Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless get 2d pi.
Short barrels get 1-11 that penetrate and stay 1-11! While HP gets bumped from pi to pi+, the 0.5 armor divisor still lurks in the shadows (0-15 can penetrate).
On average a short barrel .380 ACP gets 6 points and HP gets 7. An aside here, the similarity in damage between ball and HP was actually noted in a recent ballistics gel test of .380 rounds! Go GURPS!
Long barrel .380's get 2-12 with ball (1-16 with HP). pi+ with HP and the divisor.
On average that gets us 7 for ball and 9 for HP.
.38 Special from a snubby is 2d-1 pi and gets the exact same effects as a short barreled .380.
.357 Magnum from that snubber or 9x19mm from a full sized automatic is 2d+2 pi. Ball 4-14 and HP 4-19!
Averages 9 for ball and 12 for HP.
Smaller 9mm's only get 2d+1 pi. 3-13 damage that averages to 8 for ball and 2-18 that averages 10 for hollow point.
Unorthodox rounds like .357 SIG and .38 Super get 3d-1 pi. 2-17 damage; averaging 9 for ball and 1-24 averaging. 12 for HP.
.40 S&W is an anomaly in GURPS. 2d+2 pi+. Like all pi+ rounds damage that penetrates does 1.5x as much damage. So it's 4-14 raw damage for ball that becomes 6-21 in tissue. The hollow point bumps the damage to pi++ though, still with that damned armor divisor for 6-26.
Average damages will be 13 for ball and 16 for hollow points.
The beloved .45 ACP is a "mere" 2d pi+ for ball. 2-12 that becomes 3-18. Averaged out, it's 10 for ball and 2-22 averages to 12 for HP.
Now that we've done all that math!
5 points of damage is a major wound on a typical ST 10 10 hit point person. That means they're likely stunned and knocked down because they only have about a 50% chance of avoiding it with such a non-PC HT score. Plus, any bullet that manages to do more than 10 means another HT roll to avoid being knocked unconscious.
While the benefit of the hollow points seem marginal on average, they can make the difference in whether the target keeps fighting next turn.
SUMMARY
Round - Dmg - Ball, min - avg - max; HP, min - avg - max.
.25 ACP - 1d pi-; 0, 1, 3 -- 0, 2, 5.
.32 ACP 2d-1 pi-; 0, 3, 5 -- 0, 5, 10
.380 ACP 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.380 ACP 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
.38 Spcl 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
9x19mm 2d+1 pi; 3, 8, 13 -- 3, 10, 18
9x19mm 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
Common self defense ammo... Let's go from small to big.
.25 ACP. The smallest unless we count .22 LR, but there's not near so many actual concealable guns for the rimfire as .25.
.25 ACP pulls 1d pi-. Center mass hits are body hits, so that's 1-6 raw damage, so 1-6 damage to penetrate then divide damage by 2 (round down min 1), so 1-3 points of damage vs the average of 10 HP. Not even a major wound!
Changing to hollowpoints bumps the pi- to pi; but adds a 0.5 armor divisor. That also makes normal clothing be DR 1. That gives us 0-5 for reals now! Now we have a chance to get a major wound.
On average vs the body: .25 ACP ball does 1 point and hollow point does 2.
.32 ACP is next. 2d-1 pi-. 1-11 raw damage. 1-11 penetrate then is divided in two for 0-5. HP negates the pi- for pi and there's the DR 1 for normal clothes: 0-10 penetrate.
On average vs the body: .32 ACP ball does 3 points and hollow point does 5.
.380 will depend on the barrel length. Short barrels like a SIG P238 get 2d-1 pi and longer barrels like a Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless get 2d pi.
Short barrels get 1-11 that penetrate and stay 1-11! While HP gets bumped from pi to pi+, the 0.5 armor divisor still lurks in the shadows (0-15 can penetrate).
On average a short barrel .380 ACP gets 6 points and HP gets 7. An aside here, the similarity in damage between ball and HP was actually noted in a recent ballistics gel test of .380 rounds! Go GURPS!
Long barrel .380's get 2-12 with ball (1-16 with HP). pi+ with HP and the divisor.
On average that gets us 7 for ball and 9 for HP.
.38 Special from a snubby is 2d-1 pi and gets the exact same effects as a short barreled .380.
.357 Magnum from that snubber or 9x19mm from a full sized automatic is 2d+2 pi. Ball 4-14 and HP 4-19!
Averages 9 for ball and 12 for HP.
Smaller 9mm's only get 2d+1 pi. 3-13 damage that averages to 8 for ball and 2-18 that averages 10 for hollow point.
Unorthodox rounds like .357 SIG and .38 Super get 3d-1 pi. 2-17 damage; averaging 9 for ball and 1-24 averaging. 12 for HP.
.40 S&W is an anomaly in GURPS. 2d+2 pi+. Like all pi+ rounds damage that penetrates does 1.5x as much damage. So it's 4-14 raw damage for ball that becomes 6-21 in tissue. The hollow point bumps the damage to pi++ though, still with that damned armor divisor for 6-26.
Average damages will be 13 for ball and 16 for hollow points.
The beloved .45 ACP is a "mere" 2d pi+ for ball. 2-12 that becomes 3-18. Averaged out, it's 10 for ball and 2-22 averages to 12 for HP.
Now that we've done all that math!
5 points of damage is a major wound on a typical ST 10 10 hit point person. That means they're likely stunned and knocked down because they only have about a 50% chance of avoiding it with such a non-PC HT score. Plus, any bullet that manages to do more than 10 means another HT roll to avoid being knocked unconscious.
While the benefit of the hollow points seem marginal on average, they can make the difference in whether the target keeps fighting next turn.
SUMMARY
Round - Dmg - Ball, min - avg - max; HP, min - avg - max.
.25 ACP - 1d pi-; 0, 1, 3 -- 0, 2, 5.
.32 ACP 2d-1 pi-; 0, 3, 5 -- 0, 5, 10
.380 ACP 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
.380 ACP 2d pi; 2, 7, 12 -- 1, 9, 16
.38 Spcl 2d-1 pi; 1, 6, 11 -- 0, 9, 15
9x19mm 2d+1 pi; 3, 8, 13 -- 3, 10, 18
9x19mm 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
.357 Mag 2d+2 pi; 4, 9, 14 -- 4, 12, 19
.357 SIG 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.38 Super 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.40 S&W 2d+2 pi+; 6, 13, 21 -- 6, 16, 26
.357 SIG 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.38 Super 3d-1 pi; 2, 9, 17 -- 1, 12, 24
.40 S&W 2d+2 pi+; 6, 13, 21 -- 6, 16, 26
.45 ACP 2d pi+; 3, 10, 18 -- 2, 12, 22
30 November 2014
This Is Why We Get Terms Like Rape-Rape
Shia LeBeouf's rape...
I know what murder is.
I know what robbery is.
I am losing what rape means.
I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that unless there's express written consent, sex is rape. Andrea Dworkin wins on a technicality?
All my life rape has included rendering the victim, through threats, intimidation, and or physical or chemical restraints; unable to resist the assault.
But sitting there and letting someone assault you is so alien and inhuman to me that I can't conjure understanding.
It probably is rape. If she'd announced, "I am going to shoot you in the forehead," and he sat passively until she'd shot him there, it'd still be murder. Taking his wallet would still have been theft.
What I can't comprehend is letting someone rape, steal from or murder me. I'm going to resist in some manner. So would everyone I've talked to. That I might fail doesn't matter; you just don't let someone violate you.
Maybe the process of becoming a dancing monkey so breaks you that you're no longer truly human anymore.
I know what murder is.
I know what robbery is.
I am losing what rape means.
I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that unless there's express written consent, sex is rape. Andrea Dworkin wins on a technicality?
All my life rape has included rendering the victim, through threats, intimidation, and or physical or chemical restraints; unable to resist the assault.
But sitting there and letting someone assault you is so alien and inhuman to me that I can't conjure understanding.
It probably is rape. If she'd announced, "I am going to shoot you in the forehead," and he sat passively until she'd shot him there, it'd still be murder. Taking his wallet would still have been theft.
What I can't comprehend is letting someone rape, steal from or murder me. I'm going to resist in some manner. So would everyone I've talked to. That I might fail doesn't matter; you just don't let someone violate you.
Maybe the process of becoming a dancing monkey so breaks you that you're no longer truly human anymore.
I Finally Get It
Most Youtube product reviews are for people who for one reason or another cannot or will not go to the manufacturer's web page and READ about the product.
Plus 90% of them would be better served just running an audio recording over a fixed image. A still life they reach into to pat the product lovingly from time to time while they drone on and on and on and on and on and on... doesn't justify making a video. What they're making is a podcast that takes up a lot of space on their hard drive.
Plus 90% of them would be better served just running an audio recording over a fixed image. A still life they reach into to pat the product lovingly from time to time while they drone on and on and on and on and on and on... doesn't justify making a video. What they're making is a podcast that takes up a lot of space on their hard drive.
29 November 2014
Go Go Black Friday
I have procured a replacement for the stolen M&P 357.
An M&P 9!
It's a 2008 made full size. No internal lock, no external safety, forgot to check for the magazine disconnect.
We were going to look for ammo and the price was too good to pass up.
$425 on the tag, but 20% off all used guns Friday only... $340 plus tax and background check!
It gets better. It appears to be nearly unfired, nothing missing from inside the factory hard-case.
The only snag is that we can't pick it up until the stupid 30 day hold on used guns expires.
Stupid policy, if you ask me, but... Actually I am not sure if it's store policy or some foolish county ordnance.
That's a dent in the finances, but we expect some return from the car insurance for the stolen gun as soon as we get a police report to send in to make a claim.
An M&P 9!
It's a 2008 made full size. No internal lock, no external safety, forgot to check for the magazine disconnect.
We were going to look for ammo and the price was too good to pass up.
$425 on the tag, but 20% off all used guns Friday only... $340 plus tax and background check!
It gets better. It appears to be nearly unfired, nothing missing from inside the factory hard-case.
The only snag is that we can't pick it up until the stupid 30 day hold on used guns expires.
Stupid policy, if you ask me, but... Actually I am not sure if it's store policy or some foolish county ordnance.
That's a dent in the finances, but we expect some return from the car insurance for the stolen gun as soon as we get a police report to send in to make a claim.
25 November 2014
The Federal Budget Issue
Well worth the 20 minutes of your time.
I think he's missed something though, IIRC insurance companies are specifically exempted from the anti-trust laws.
I think he's missed something though, IIRC insurance companies are specifically exempted from the anti-trust laws.
Pity Party
It just hit me that I have never, once, changed anyone's mind on anything.
I've shared my opinion, sometimes people have found that convincing, but only if they didn't already have an opinion on that topic, no matter what it was.
It bothers me that I lack any credibility at all.
Especially so since I've tried several times to be more credible only to discover that the effort always contains some fatal flaw that nullifies it completely in support of the argument I'm attempting at the time.
I quite often feel baited into venturing an opinion because I honestly think some of the people I talk to share the conversation with others as a sort of, "look at this idiot!" thing. I am sure the response is along the lines of, "wow, he thinks he's smart and he's too stupid to see you're playing him like this? Bravo!"
It's depressing because I really don't talk about things I don't give a shit about. To suspect that the things that matter to me are being used as a punchline really does kind of hurt.
I've shared my opinion, sometimes people have found that convincing, but only if they didn't already have an opinion on that topic, no matter what it was.
It bothers me that I lack any credibility at all.
Especially so since I've tried several times to be more credible only to discover that the effort always contains some fatal flaw that nullifies it completely in support of the argument I'm attempting at the time.
I quite often feel baited into venturing an opinion because I honestly think some of the people I talk to share the conversation with others as a sort of, "look at this idiot!" thing. I am sure the response is along the lines of, "wow, he thinks he's smart and he's too stupid to see you're playing him like this? Bravo!"
It's depressing because I really don't talk about things I don't give a shit about. To suspect that the things that matter to me are being used as a punchline really does kind of hurt.
Blaming The Victim
Part of the problem that come from "blaming the victim" is not so much the definition of blame, but whether there was a victim in the first place.
"You're blaming the victim," is intended to stop the conversation just like accusations of racism.
What I am seeing is too many SJW cases, there isn't really a victim.
That's what many of these debates are actually about, whether something that was previously victimless has become something that has a victim. I notice that victim status is something that's sought very eagerly by some and it never leads to anything good when they do.
"You're blaming the victim," is intended to stop the conversation just like accusations of racism.
What I am seeing is too many SJW cases, there isn't really a victim.
That's what many of these debates are actually about, whether something that was previously victimless has become something that has a victim. I notice that victim status is something that's sought very eagerly by some and it never leads to anything good when they do.
Responsible
A thing about date rape sex that would be consensual except one or both parties was drunk and then is later reported as rape that's bugging me. Edited to strike and add underlined portion.
I am responsible for everything I do while I'm drunk, including driving my car into a tree.
Why thenisn't a woman aren't people still responsible enough to say yes or no to sex while drunk?
That driving my car while drunk is a bad decision is why it's illegal; but being drunk doesn't let me blame the tree.
Whyare does it seem that woman exempt from the responsibility for saying yes to sex while drunk. Why just women? I really have never seen a story where a man has felt he was raped once he'd sobered up. Is this because such isn't reported because it doesn't fit the narrative? I really don't know.
There's lots of analogies that kind of illustrate something is amiss.
Except for awoman someone getting plastered and having sex she they regrets, we blame the person who got drunk for what happens later.
I get drunk, run over a pedestrian, I'm blamed.
I get drunk, wander into traffic and get run over, I'm blamed.
I get drunk, bet my mortgage payment on black. The casino is not blamed for the marble landing on red.
It's bugging me.
I am responsible for everything I do while I'm drunk, including driving my car into a tree.
Why then
That driving my car while drunk is a bad decision is why it's illegal; but being drunk doesn't let me blame the tree.
Why
There's lots of analogies that kind of illustrate something is amiss.
Except for a
I get drunk, run over a pedestrian, I'm blamed.
I get drunk, wander into traffic and get run over, I'm blamed.
I get drunk, bet my mortgage payment on black. The casino is not blamed for the marble landing on red.
It's bugging me.
Offensive
I have two posts battering around in my skull that really aren't meant to be offensive.
But every time I try to write out what I am trying to say...
Three edits later and I have it toned down to racist misogynism.
That's not at all what I am meaning, but it sure is how it's reading.
I'll keep trying. There's got to be a way to phrase this thought that doesn't come out wrong.
But every time I try to write out what I am trying to say...
Three edits later and I have it toned down to racist misogynism.
That's not at all what I am meaning, but it sure is how it's reading.
I'll keep trying. There's got to be a way to phrase this thought that doesn't come out wrong.
24 November 2014
Have You Seen This Gun
Smith and Wesson M&P357 serial DXW5180.
Stolen from The Lovely Harvey's glovebox between 0130 and 0630 this morning.
Because she works on a college campus, she can't carry at work, so it gets transferred from purse to glovebox and back a lot. With the hectic short work week and end-of-month crap she had about six times as much stuff to shuffle when she got home from work Friday and it was overlooked in the glovebox.
They took her iPod as well.
The car was locked, but it appears that The Boy may not have gotten his door latched all the way when they got home from running around Saturday. No damage to the car and not one print to be lifted.
Fucking thieves, may they burn in hell.
Not Dangerous
Geese are not dangerous.
They are aggressive and mean, but they aren't dangerous.
Their stupid bird necks break readily should they decide to get within opposable thumb range because not only are we smarter, we're faster and more coordinated.
What they can do might hurt, might even draw blood, but you're not likely to die from it.
The goose, very likely to die from what most any human can do to it.
They are aggressive and mean, but they aren't dangerous.
Their stupid bird necks break readily should they decide to get within opposable thumb range because not only are we smarter, we're faster and more coordinated.
What they can do might hurt, might even draw blood, but you're not likely to die from it.
The goose, very likely to die from what most any human can do to it.
Everyone Laughs
Everyone laughs at you for owning a broadsword.
But black friday rolls around and you've got the door-buster 75" flat-screen when you just drove to the store at opening time without camping out all night.
Who's laughing now?
But black friday rolls around and you've got the door-buster 75" flat-screen when you just drove to the store at opening time without camping out all night.
Who's laughing now?
Airsoft
G&P makes a Stoner Mk23 Mod 0 in two configurations.
This tickles my giggler so much!
$400 for a battery powered plastic bb launcher...
More than I got for such frippery, but it's amusing none the less.
This tickles my giggler so much!
$400 for a battery powered plastic bb launcher...
More than I got for such frippery, but it's amusing none the less.
Oh Gods Dammit!
See that line behind you Thag?
Yes I do...
Went over the line again!
Like the edge of a cliff in the dark, it's only clear once you're past it.
Yes I do...
Went over the line again!
Like the edge of a cliff in the dark, it's only clear once you're past it.
23 November 2014
Turn Of Phrase
I'm reading a Small Arms Review interview with Reed Knight.
He refers to the system in the AR as, "gas impingement," not "direct impingement."
That's veddy interestink.
Almost as if he considers them separate and distinct.
He refers to the system in the AR as, "gas impingement," not "direct impingement."
That's veddy interestink.
Almost as if he considers them separate and distinct.
Lawful Orders
It occurs...
That since the executive order on immigration exceeds his authority, that means that nobody is bound to follow it and those that do are culpable.
I was just following orders is not a positive defense.
It's high time we started enforcing on the enforcers.
I am at a complete loss as to what that would mean, but it feels good.
It seems that we have dereliction of duty at a minimum on many DHS officials, they live someplace and those places have law enforcement, someone should arrest them.
Not that it would happen since they tend to live places where the local law agrees with them.
That since the executive order on immigration exceeds his authority, that means that nobody is bound to follow it and those that do are culpable.
I was just following orders is not a positive defense.
It's high time we started enforcing on the enforcers.
I am at a complete loss as to what that would mean, but it feels good.
It seems that we have dereliction of duty at a minimum on many DHS officials, they live someplace and those places have law enforcement, someone should arrest them.
Not that it would happen since they tend to live places where the local law agrees with them.
22 November 2014
Important Disassembly Tip!
If you ever decide to take the stocks off your Baby Browning...
If the small pin at the heel starts moving with the stock, stop pulling!
That pin holds the magazine catch, magazine safety and the associated spring.
Getting everything lined back up for reassembly is a super fiddly job.
But should it happen to you...
The spring goes in first with the open part of the hook facing the magazine well and the main coil going into the recess in the butt.
The magazine catch has to go over the end of the gun first, if you line up the pivot hole first you can't get it all the way in. So hook it over the end of the butt, then push the pivot hole to line up with the pin hole.
This is harder than it sounds.
I used a 1/16" punch to line things up roughly.
Now that the catch is lined up with your punch, slide the pin in so it engages JUST one side of the magazine catch.
The magazine safety has a notch on the top that hooks the sear pin. Hook it then pivot it down between the legs of the magazine catch. The half circle's open side should be towards the magazine well.
Fiddle with it until you can drive the pin through all the parts.
See also this handy picture at Numrich.
If the small pin at the heel starts moving with the stock, stop pulling!
That pin holds the magazine catch, magazine safety and the associated spring.
Getting everything lined back up for reassembly is a super fiddly job.
But should it happen to you...
The spring goes in first with the open part of the hook facing the magazine well and the main coil going into the recess in the butt.
The magazine catch has to go over the end of the gun first, if you line up the pivot hole first you can't get it all the way in. So hook it over the end of the butt, then push the pivot hole to line up with the pin hole.
This is harder than it sounds.
I used a 1/16" punch to line things up roughly.
Now that the catch is lined up with your punch, slide the pin in so it engages JUST one side of the magazine catch.
The magazine safety has a notch on the top that hooks the sear pin. Hook it then pivot it down between the legs of the magazine catch. The half circle's open side should be towards the magazine well.
Fiddle with it until you can drive the pin through all the parts.
See also this handy picture at Numrich.
More On Stoner 63 Weights
What I cannot find is a complete break-down of what things weigh.
As I said before, I extrapolated the weights of some parts.
What would be nice is to have how much the common parts weigh so the intrepid player can have the parts for a different configuration in their pack.
Having the conversion parts at the ready is kind of a fool's errand.
There are three sight sets: rifle/carbine, belt feed and top feed. There are two handguards: rifle/carbine and belt/top feed.
The folding stock fits on the belt/top configurations, but will block the ejection port on the top feed and can't be locked folded on the belt feed because it hits the box/drum.
There are five barrels. Rifle, carbine, top feed (automatic rifle), short belt (commando) and long belt (LMG). Carrying a spare barrel makes some player character sense because it changes the bulk but the commando MG barrel has an increased chance for malf.
The real advantage that the design seems to have is the common core of the gun is the same, thus cheaper for the Army and simpler for the armorer.
I also discovered that M numbers were assigned thanks to wikipedia.
XM22 is the rifle, XM23 is the carbine, XM207 is the LMG. E1 is added for 63A and E2 for 1:9 twist barrels...
That last is interesting. We didn't start thinking in terms of 1:9 until the NATO ammunition trials in the late '70s; long after the Army had rejected the gun for service.
This has me thinking of another alt to add to T2K. While not simpler than the M16 to make, the Stoner is at least possible with more primitive tooling because it skips aluminum forgings. Instead of the M16EZ we have the M22...
As I said before, I extrapolated the weights of some parts.
What would be nice is to have how much the common parts weigh so the intrepid player can have the parts for a different configuration in their pack.
Having the conversion parts at the ready is kind of a fool's errand.
There are three sight sets: rifle/carbine, belt feed and top feed. There are two handguards: rifle/carbine and belt/top feed.
The folding stock fits on the belt/top configurations, but will block the ejection port on the top feed and can't be locked folded on the belt feed because it hits the box/drum.
There are five barrels. Rifle, carbine, top feed (automatic rifle), short belt (commando) and long belt (LMG). Carrying a spare barrel makes some player character sense because it changes the bulk but the commando MG barrel has an increased chance for malf.
The real advantage that the design seems to have is the common core of the gun is the same, thus cheaper for the Army and simpler for the armorer.
I also discovered that M numbers were assigned thanks to wikipedia.
XM22 is the rifle, XM23 is the carbine, XM207 is the LMG. E1 is added for 63A and E2 for 1:9 twist barrels...
That last is interesting. We didn't start thinking in terms of 1:9 until the NATO ammunition trials in the late '70s; long after the Army had rejected the gun for service.
This has me thinking of another alt to add to T2K. While not simpler than the M16 to make, the Stoner is at least possible with more primitive tooling because it skips aluminum forgings. Instead of the M16EZ we have the M22...
21 November 2014
Practice What I Carry
I pocket carry a J-frame.
It's a .357 S&W 640-3.
With pink grips!
That'n in fact.
I admit I was loathe to practice with it at all before I put in the Apex trigger kit (On the recommendation of the lovely Jennifer's Head.)
That made the trigger pleasant enough that shooting it wasn't a chore. The pink Hogue grips also made it so that shooting it wasn't painful. Deflagging it made it so that I wasn't worried about it locking up when I needed it.
It's just never occurred to me to not use the same loads in practice as carry. I'm still a hot mess reloading quickly, mostly because very few ranges around here allow for it during "free range".
I am getting a lot better. If I "aim" as fast as I can at the head I am making a nice group (5") right around the sternum at about 7 yards. Which is a lot better than it was, where if two bullets hit the silhouette I was good... Every time I run through 50 rounds the holes are getting closer to where I think I aimed.
Taking my time I can almost get all five to touch. Time I almost certainly won't have in a real situation, maybe. Opinion varies. I do notice that every 50 rounds of practice slow and sure has a noticeable positive effect on the speed round too.
It's like my old shotokan and kenjutsu classes are still applicable... Master the form, once you have form, speed follows, once you have speed, power follows; but it starts with form.
I practice with my .38 Super 1911 too, but that thing is so familiar and sweet that I have to sabotage something to get bad groups and even then they're not very large or off.
It's a .357 S&W 640-3.
With pink grips!
That'n in fact.
I admit I was loathe to practice with it at all before I put in the Apex trigger kit (On the recommendation of the lovely Jennifer's Head.)
That made the trigger pleasant enough that shooting it wasn't a chore. The pink Hogue grips also made it so that shooting it wasn't painful. Deflagging it made it so that I wasn't worried about it locking up when I needed it.
It's just never occurred to me to not use the same loads in practice as carry. I'm still a hot mess reloading quickly, mostly because very few ranges around here allow for it during "free range".
I am getting a lot better. If I "aim" as fast as I can at the head I am making a nice group (5") right around the sternum at about 7 yards. Which is a lot better than it was, where if two bullets hit the silhouette I was good... Every time I run through 50 rounds the holes are getting closer to where I think I aimed.
Taking my time I can almost get all five to touch. Time I almost certainly won't have in a real situation, maybe. Opinion varies. I do notice that every 50 rounds of practice slow and sure has a noticeable positive effect on the speed round too.
It's like my old shotokan and kenjutsu classes are still applicable... Master the form, once you have form, speed follows, once you have speed, power follows; but it starts with form.
I practice with my .38 Super 1911 too, but that thing is so familiar and sweet that I have to sabotage something to get bad groups and even then they're not very large or off.
Lemonade
I'm not a fan of the Real ID Act. If any of my more liberal friends had stopped the Bush=Hitler shit long enough I would have mentioned it to them. I've occasionally muttered to myself that it was a reason for the Democrat retaking of the Senate.
I think I've found a way to make lemonade out of this lemon.
There's a segment of illegal immigrants who don't cause any real problems and one could even make a solid case that their presence is a real benefit.
The huge problem is there's a larger segment that's merely devouring entitlement benefits without making any contribution.
My solution? You need some form of Real ID to obtain bennies and couple it with requiring such ID to vote. With the savings obtained from such a filter on services we could make the ID free to any citizen who has the accompanying paperwork to obtain such.
I think I've found a way to make lemonade out of this lemon.
There's a segment of illegal immigrants who don't cause any real problems and one could even make a solid case that their presence is a real benefit.
The huge problem is there's a larger segment that's merely devouring entitlement benefits without making any contribution.
My solution? You need some form of Real ID to obtain bennies and couple it with requiring such ID to vote. With the savings obtained from such a filter on services we could make the ID free to any citizen who has the accompanying paperwork to obtain such.
I Noticed Something
Last night I watched Big Bang Theory.
What I noticed was that I wasn't watching the president of Mexico, Barack Obama, stammer his way through an announcement he was taking greater steps to support his core constituency.
I can't think of another time when the networks blew off the president like this, can you?
What I noticed was that I wasn't watching the president of Mexico, Barack Obama, stammer his way through an announcement he was taking greater steps to support his core constituency.
I can't think of another time when the networks blew off the president like this, can you?
18 November 2014
Stoner 63A GURPS And Too Much Idle Time
The stoner system is modular, but nobody really breaks out the components.
Here we go!
Loaded aluminum 30-round magazine is 1.08 lb. 0.25 lb. empty.
Loaded steel 30-round magazine is 1.28 lb. 0.50 lb. empty.
Loaded plastic 100-round box is 3.31 lb. 0.21 lb. empty.
Loaded aluminum 150-round drum is 5.6 lb. 0.9 lb empty. This is what makes the malf 16.
Sling is 0.31 lb.
Bipod is 0.88 lb. (SEALs in Vietnam says they are 0.5 lb.)
Tripod adaptor is 1.875 lb.
Cleaning kit is 0.25 lb.
Fixed stock is 0.7 lb.
Folding stock is 0.75 lb.
Receiver with bottom magazine feed is 5.05 lb.
Receiver with top magazine feed is 5.92 lb.
Receiver with belt feed and box holder is 6.98 lb.
20" rifle barrel is 2 lb.
15.7" carbine barrel is 1.75 lb.
20" automatic rifle barrel is 4 lb.
20" MG barrel is 4 lb.
15.7" Commando MG barrel is 3.4 lb.
I extrapolated the feed/receiver weights from the manuals; same with the folding stock. I am not sure if that's the solid or wire version. Other weights are as taken from several manuals.
This gives the actually issued guns... No slings or cleaning kits.
XM207 LMG: 18.11 lb. loaded with bipod. SEALs in Vietnam says it should be 17.2 lb.
XM23 Carbine: 8.83 lb. with a steel magazine, 8.58 lb. with aluminum. SiV says 9.1 lb.
Mk 23 Mod 0: 14.39 lb. without bipod. SiV says 14.1 lb.
20" barrels will give 5d pi damage and 500/2,300 ranges.
15.7" barrels will give 4d+2 pi damage and 460/2,900 ranges.
Here we go!
Loaded aluminum 30-round magazine is 1.08 lb. 0.25 lb. empty.
Loaded steel 30-round magazine is 1.28 lb. 0.50 lb. empty.
Loaded plastic 100-round box is 3.31 lb. 0.21 lb. empty.
Loaded aluminum 150-round drum is 5.6 lb. 0.9 lb empty. This is what makes the malf 16.
Sling is 0.31 lb.
Bipod is 0.88 lb. (SEALs in Vietnam says they are 0.5 lb.)
Tripod adaptor is 1.875 lb.
Cleaning kit is 0.25 lb.
Fixed stock is 0.7 lb.
Folding stock is 0.75 lb.
Receiver with bottom magazine feed is 5.05 lb.
Receiver with top magazine feed is 5.92 lb.
Receiver with belt feed and box holder is 6.98 lb.
20" rifle barrel is 2 lb.
15.7" carbine barrel is 1.75 lb.
20" automatic rifle barrel is 4 lb.
20" MG barrel is 4 lb.
15.7" Commando MG barrel is 3.4 lb.
I extrapolated the feed/receiver weights from the manuals; same with the folding stock. I am not sure if that's the solid or wire version. Other weights are as taken from several manuals.
This gives the actually issued guns... No slings or cleaning kits.
XM207 LMG: 18.11 lb. loaded with bipod. SEALs in Vietnam says it should be 17.2 lb.
XM23 Carbine: 8.83 lb. with a steel magazine, 8.58 lb. with aluminum. SiV says 9.1 lb.
Mk 23 Mod 0: 14.39 lb. without bipod. SiV says 14.1 lb.
20" barrels will give 5d pi damage and 500/2,300 ranges.
15.7" barrels will give 4d+2 pi damage and 460/2,900 ranges.
Browning To Saive
FN Vest Pocket (.25 ACP), FN Hi Power (9mm Parabellum), and Browning Baby Browning (.25 ACP).
Hierarchy Of Customer Service
This is the abstract, not the paper...
Dear retailer... You help the customer in this order (barring emergencies).
Customer with product at the register, payment at the ready... before
Customer in the store looking for something... before
Customer on the phone asking questions... before
Stocking the shelves... before
Accepting deliveries... before
Doing your daily paperwork... before
Cleaning the store (unless its the aforementioned emergency).
Even in an emergency, the customers in the store are the priority; get them to safety first.
For the customers who are lower in the hierarchy, "I'll be with you in a minute..." goes a long way. You have to acknowledge that you've seen them and will help them. Try to remember that they can almost always go someplace else. Even someone set on buying a new Ford F-150 can go to a different dealer, so don't get to thinking that since only Ford sells them you're safe as a Ford salesman!
On reason you do things in this order is the level of commitment from the customer. Blowing off the customer at the register to dust the end-caps means that if they give up on the purchase they are giving up on more than someone price comparing on the phone. This makes them more likely to remember the experience and to let that color their next purchase.
Dear retailer... You help the customer in this order (barring emergencies).
Customer with product at the register, payment at the ready... before
Customer in the store looking for something... before
Customer on the phone asking questions... before
Stocking the shelves... before
Accepting deliveries... before
Doing your daily paperwork... before
Cleaning the store (unless its the aforementioned emergency).
Even in an emergency, the customers in the store are the priority; get them to safety first.
For the customers who are lower in the hierarchy, "I'll be with you in a minute..." goes a long way. You have to acknowledge that you've seen them and will help them. Try to remember that they can almost always go someplace else. Even someone set on buying a new Ford F-150 can go to a different dealer, so don't get to thinking that since only Ford sells them you're safe as a Ford salesman!
On reason you do things in this order is the level of commitment from the customer. Blowing off the customer at the register to dust the end-caps means that if they give up on the purchase they are giving up on more than someone price comparing on the phone. This makes them more likely to remember the experience and to let that color their next purchase.
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