I was looking through a reprint of a Sears catalog and it listed ".30 Government" in the ammunition section.
An 1899 edition of the catalog, so it had to mean .30-40. .30-30 is listed as .30 Winchester Centerfire.
I've got a book showing a Winchester add on one page talking about the Model 54 listing it in .30 Gov't and .30-40, not sure what year that ad is from.
Willard's Winchester Model 70 is stamped ".30 Gov't 06" for the caliber.
I like how .30 Government changes as the years change. I'll bet if we hadn't gone metric with 7.62x51mm NATO, it'd be .30 Gov't too!
I noticed something like this before.
Colt 45 can mean either an M1873 revolver or an M1911 pistol (or Billy Dee Williams' favorite malt-beverage).
31 January 2017
Like A Moth To A Candle
Apex has Yugo M70B parts kits, with US barrels for $310.
NoDak has (periodically) Yugo receivers for $115.
Being a monkey-curious DIY type... this is the oooooh, shiniest of shinies!
Need a semi-auto trigger set too...
And I'd need to learn how to do rivets.
This is a lot more involved than doing an AR.
NoDak has (periodically) Yugo receivers for $115.
Being a monkey-curious DIY type... this is the oooooh, shiniest of shinies!
Need a semi-auto trigger set too...
And I'd need to learn how to do rivets.
This is a lot more involved than doing an AR.
Condition Of Employment
While the press is panicking over President Trump firing an AG who outright stated she wouldn't do her job as directed...
They're forgetting that in her position she serves at the pleasure of the executive.
He could have fired her for no reason at all, but in this case she was fired for cause. Insubordination is with cause.
Quite frankly she refused to do her job, and took the consequences of her moral stand. Good for her!
Lefties, this is what taking a principled stand looks like.
Also: firing recalcitrant executive branch appointees and employees is well within the purview of traditional presidential power and authority. This is not a newly created executive overreach.
They're forgetting that in her position she serves at the pleasure of the executive.
He could have fired her for no reason at all, but in this case she was fired for cause. Insubordination is with cause.
Quite frankly she refused to do her job, and took the consequences of her moral stand. Good for her!
Lefties, this is what taking a principled stand looks like.
Also: firing recalcitrant executive branch appointees and employees is well within the purview of traditional presidential power and authority. This is not a newly created executive overreach.
30 January 2017
EPA And ATF Hardest Hit
Wow.
Just wow.
Read up!
I can't wait for the lawsuits!
Edit:
Copy paste this http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/30/trump-signs-executive-order-to-drastically-cut-federal-regs.html since the finely crafted link I created doesn't work directly.
Just wow.
Read up!
I can't wait for the lawsuits!
Edit:
Copy paste this http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/30/trump-signs-executive-order-to-drastically-cut-federal-regs.html since the finely crafted link I created doesn't work directly.
It's The Little Things Sometimes
Because Damage put their foliage green stuff on clearance, I ordered a complete carbine set for less than I originally paid for just the stock part once.
When you buy the stock by itself, you get a sling loop.
When you but the furniture set, you don't.
Since the entire point of their stock is to get the QD swivel socket...
... and the loop digs into my shoulder, I didn't need a redundant place to mount a sling.
Something nice about the loop-less version is the little plug to make things look neat and clean.
When you buy the stock by itself, you get a sling loop.
When you but the furniture set, you don't.
Since the entire point of their stock is to get the QD swivel socket...
... and the loop digs into my shoulder, I didn't need a redundant place to mount a sling.
Something nice about the loop-less version is the little plug to make things look neat and clean.
New Barometer
I figure that I'm on fairly firm footing when the dancing monkeys condemn the things I support.
It makes me think I should support more things they oppose.
It makes me think I should support more things they oppose.
Quote Of The Day
I didn't make politics into a knife fight.
But neither will I just stand around getting stabbed.
You want a knife fight? Fine. But by god, you're going to fucking bleed too.
But neither will I just stand around getting stabbed.
You want a knife fight? Fine. But by god, you're going to fucking bleed too.
John_Wayne777 on Arfcom
Changes To Marvel Characters That Somehow Didn't Offend
James "Rhodey" Rhodes, in the comic was a Marine pilot.
In the movies, he's Air Force.
We simply have to make a stand and stop Blueyonderwashing pilot characters.
In the movies, he's Air Force.
We simply have to make a stand and stop Blueyonderwashing pilot characters.
29 January 2017
Long Magazine
The PMAG-40 is one long magazine.
Round per round, the 40 is lighter than the 30, but it has the same problems as the MP.44 had with regards to the magazine hitting the ground before the rifle is down far enough to use prone.
Round per round, the 40 is lighter than the 30, but it has the same problems as the MP.44 had with regards to the magazine hitting the ground before the rifle is down far enough to use prone.
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Orange you glad this isn't the whole knock-knock joke?
Proving my yellow is repeatable with a 40 round AR mag.
Orange you glad this isn't the whole knock-knock joke?
Proving my yellow is repeatable with a 40 round AR mag.
Fence Photo
The old fence is also pictured.
This morning I am so very sore. Using a post hole digger uses muscles that you really don't use otherwise.
28 January 2017
I Have A Fence
Because The Boy pried a loose panel open to go walkabout last week, we decided that the fence needed to be fixed.
That meant replacing all of the panels.
We are victorious!
Maybe some pics once there's daylight.
That meant replacing all of the panels.
We are victorious!
Maybe some pics once there's daylight.
27 January 2017
Richer Than The Neighbors
Sweden, unlike Finland, had money and time to develop a completely new service rifle.
The AutomatgevÃĪr m/42 B is far more advanced than new barrels and stocks on an extant Mosin.
In Finland's defense, literally, they did as good a job as money, time and space would allow considering that The Soviet Union was being quite unneighborly to their east.
The Ljungman is one of only two rifles to reach general issue that use direct impingement. The other one is the French MAS Mle. 49.
You may notice that I did not include the AR. That's because it's not direct impingement, it is its own thing where the bolt carrier becomes the gas expansion chamber and the bolt becomes the piston.
The AG-42 uses a tilting bolt and there's no passage from the bolt carrier to the bolt at all.
The gas simply impinges directly on that face recessed inside that little cup and that sends the carrier back.
Disassembly instructions are here.
The AutomatgevÃĪr m/42 B is far more advanced than new barrels and stocks on an extant Mosin.
In Finland's defense, literally, they did as good a job as money, time and space would allow considering that The Soviet Union was being quite unneighborly to their east.
The Ljungman is one of only two rifles to reach general issue that use direct impingement. The other one is the French MAS Mle. 49.
You may notice that I did not include the AR. That's because it's not direct impingement, it is its own thing where the bolt carrier becomes the gas expansion chamber and the bolt becomes the piston.
The AG-42 uses a tilting bolt and there's no passage from the bolt carrier to the bolt at all.
The gas simply impinges directly on that face recessed inside that little cup and that sends the carrier back.
Disassembly instructions are here.
Everything Must PMAG!
Since I've got a PMAG for every other gun now...
I got a PMAG 17 GL9 for my Glock.
They are measurable lighter than the factory magazine. 9.4 oz. loaded for Magpul and 10.5 oz. loaded for Glock.
That should be worth a 0.1 lb. reduction per magazine in GURPS, but the 10.5 oz. is shown as 0.6 lb. (0.65625 lb. to be exact) in High-Tech when it should be 0.7 lb. The Magpul mag is 0.5875 lb., so closer to the 0.6 lb. from the table.
Go figure.
Reality testing can be disappointing sometimes.
I got a PMAG 17 GL9 for my Glock.
They are measurable lighter than the factory magazine. 9.4 oz. loaded for Magpul and 10.5 oz. loaded for Glock.
That should be worth a 0.1 lb. reduction per magazine in GURPS, but the 10.5 oz. is shown as 0.6 lb. (0.65625 lb. to be exact) in High-Tech when it should be 0.7 lb. The Magpul mag is 0.5875 lb., so closer to the 0.6 lb. from the table.
Go figure.
Reality testing can be disappointing sometimes.
26 January 2017
We All Know One
"He's got more magazine capacity than IQ points."
I feel that way some days, and it'd be true even if I was talking about a muzzle loader.
I feel that way some days, and it'd be true even if I was talking about a muzzle loader.
Obligatory
If you're going to dye sand PMAGs, you are obligated to do an AK one in yellow with a banana sticker on it.
4 Tbsp Lemon Yellow. About 2 qt. of water.
Obligation fulfilled; I don't even own an AK.
For the record, a loaded PMAG 30 AK MOE weighs 1 lb. 8.0 oz.
4 Tbsp Lemon Yellow. About 2 qt. of water.
Obligation fulfilled; I don't even own an AK.
For the record, a loaded PMAG 30 AK MOE weighs 1 lb. 8.0 oz.
Brown Like When The Fit Hits The Shan
Marv, having a bit of OCD has been playing with formulas to better match Damage Ind. SHTF Brown.
His first effort is here.
Formula #3 was very close. Tonight we added an extra 1-1/2 tsp of Graphite to it.
So: 3 Tbsp of Chocolate Brown, 1-1/2 tsp Graphite, 1 tsp of Purple and 1 tsp of Aquamarine gets you:
Compared to the furniture he's trying to match:
While it's not quite a perfect match, I think we're at the limits of what we can do with Rit dye with this material.
His first effort is here.
Formula #3 was very close. Tonight we added an extra 1-1/2 tsp of Graphite to it.
So: 3 Tbsp of Chocolate Brown, 1-1/2 tsp Graphite, 1 tsp of Purple and 1 tsp of Aquamarine gets you:
Compared to the furniture he's trying to match:
While it's not quite a perfect match, I think we're at the limits of what we can do with Rit dye with this material.
25 January 2017
Legislators Change Their Minds
Yes, I am aware of this.
What makes me aware of this is open carry was a "done deal" until committee assignments were made.
Then suddenly bills are withdrawn from committee for lack of support from the members.
Then the talk of breaking the bills apart into their subcomponents to make them more palatable to the various committee members.
What makes me aware of this is open carry was a "done deal" until committee assignments were made.
Then suddenly bills are withdrawn from committee for lack of support from the members.
Then the talk of breaking the bills apart into their subcomponents to make them more palatable to the various committee members.
Misinformation
Florida Carry has just put out that it's irresponsible for us to post what we've found out on our own if it disagrees with what they've found out.
They're nicer about it than that, but it's the core of it.
"Shut up and let the pros handle it" is the rudest way to paraphrase it.
It's not what they mean at all.
They're really saying to not go off half-cocked.
But you wanna know something?
I am sick of every single victory being measured in decades.
Open and campus carry has been on the agenda since 2010.
Seven years of pretty much the same thing.
Calm down.
Don't worry, we'll get it next year.
Sure thing, Lucy, I believe you this time.
The ONE time it's made it to the floor for a vote we WATCHED Marion Hammer and her minions going around the offices and talking to the staff and torpedoing the bill. Despite her protests to the contrary, in fact.
Bills in committee are very much a place where if you're not for it, you're against it.
We have four Republican senators who are not for it.
OK, so I posted they're against it and Florida Carry says, "Thinking that legislators never change their minds about how to vote on a bill as the legislative process moves forward is nothing short of idiotic. Reporting that there are four republicans on the committee that are against the bill is blatantly FALSE." But if they don't hear from us, why would they change their minds?
OK, let's talk about the four Democrats changing their minds about it then. Can we? Bet we can't.
If there's four Republican senators on this committee that support it, then why was SB140 pulled for lack of support from the committee?
You have, "There is one, perhaps two, republican Senate Judiciary Committee members that have not yet committed to support all portions of the original bill." That means you have two who have come out to support it. NAME THEM!
Name them so we can barrage the weak ones with letters, emails and phone calls. Name them so we can thank the ones who support us.
Name them so that if they don't end up voting for this bill in committee we can punish them later.
Name them so we know they exist.
Get them on record so they cannot hide. Stop providing them cover.
PS: calling us idiots for posting what we we've found out on our own is uncalled for. It's not like you were keeping us up to date until we DID post what we'd found out; were you? Thanks, you fucking assholes.
PPS: This is seven fucking years of this on the agenda with a Republican Governor and Republican supermajority in the state legislature. My pessimism is more accurate than your platitudes and optimism so far.
They're nicer about it than that, but it's the core of it.
"Shut up and let the pros handle it" is the rudest way to paraphrase it.
It's not what they mean at all.
They're really saying to not go off half-cocked.
But you wanna know something?
I am sick of every single victory being measured in decades.
Open and campus carry has been on the agenda since 2010.
Seven years of pretty much the same thing.
Calm down.
Don't worry, we'll get it next year.
Sure thing, Lucy, I believe you this time.
The ONE time it's made it to the floor for a vote we WATCHED Marion Hammer and her minions going around the offices and talking to the staff and torpedoing the bill. Despite her protests to the contrary, in fact.
Bills in committee are very much a place where if you're not for it, you're against it.
We have four Republican senators who are not for it.
OK, so I posted they're against it and Florida Carry says, "Thinking that legislators never change their minds about how to vote on a bill as the legislative process moves forward is nothing short of idiotic. Reporting that there are four republicans on the committee that are against the bill is blatantly FALSE." But if they don't hear from us, why would they change their minds?
OK, let's talk about the four Democrats changing their minds about it then. Can we? Bet we can't.
If there's four Republican senators on this committee that support it, then why was SB140 pulled for lack of support from the committee?
You have, "There is one, perhaps two, republican Senate Judiciary Committee members that have not yet committed to support all portions of the original bill." That means you have two who have come out to support it. NAME THEM!
Name them so we can barrage the weak ones with letters, emails and phone calls. Name them so we can thank the ones who support us.
Name them so that if they don't end up voting for this bill in committee we can punish them later.
Name them so we know they exist.
Get them on record so they cannot hide. Stop providing them cover.
PS: calling us idiots for posting what we we've found out on our own is uncalled for. It's not like you were keeping us up to date until we DID post what we'd found out; were you? Thanks, you fucking assholes.
PPS: This is seven fucking years of this on the agenda with a Republican Governor and Republican supermajority in the state legislature. My pessimism is more accurate than your platitudes and optimism so far.
Discontinuing
A problem with odd colored gun stuff is they trend to unpopular.
I've the jones for a CAV-15 Mk II lower from GWACS in Zombie Green.
It's only a bit more than $200 but other things keep coming up, or it's not as high in the wants list as other things.
I suspect that the green will be going away soon since the zombie craze is running out.
One reason for my delaying was the lack of a zombie green handguard to match it.
It appears that Magpul will finally be releasing sand colored furniture this year and I've got a good formula for that green to dye them.
Now I just need the money to coalesce.
I've the jones for a CAV-15 Mk II lower from GWACS in Zombie Green.
It's only a bit more than $200 but other things keep coming up, or it's not as high in the wants list as other things.
I suspect that the green will be going away soon since the zombie craze is running out.
One reason for my delaying was the lack of a zombie green handguard to match it.
It appears that Magpul will finally be releasing sand colored furniture this year and I've got a good formula for that green to dye them.
Now I just need the money to coalesce.
On A List
My Gods, how many lists must I be on?
I'm a veteran.
I'm a disabled veteran.
I'm a C&R holder.
I'm a multiple Form 1 maker.
Bunches and bunches of 4473's.
Now with the cops swinging by to look for The Boy... probably another list now that they've seen the rifle rack.
I guess I could get paranoid about it.
Or I could just live my life.
Living my life sure seems simpler.
I'm a veteran.
I'm a disabled veteran.
I'm a C&R holder.
I'm a multiple Form 1 maker.
Bunches and bunches of 4473's.
Now with the cops swinging by to look for The Boy... probably another list now that they've seen the rifle rack.
I guess I could get paranoid about it.
Or I could just live my life.
Living my life sure seems simpler.
Odd
I'm on the contact list from Remington for the Model 700 et al settlement.
Considering that my sole Remington rifle is my Grandpa's Sportmaster... it's very odd.
The Remington 700 is a gun I've tried to love for a long time, but it just doesn't grab at my imagination.
Maybe it was my brief dalliance with that .458 Win Mag gun with the split stock I got in Boone for almost nothing that got me in "the list". That gun was typical hot-rodder "great deal". By the time I'd fixed the stock I was into it as much as just buying a gun in a caliber that I actually wanted.
Luckily I had a rhino-hide buddy who loved recoil who was willing to pay me more than I was into it.
Considering that my sole Remington rifle is my Grandpa's Sportmaster... it's very odd.
The Remington 700 is a gun I've tried to love for a long time, but it just doesn't grab at my imagination.
Maybe it was my brief dalliance with that .458 Win Mag gun with the split stock I got in Boone for almost nothing that got me in "the list". That gun was typical hot-rodder "great deal". By the time I'd fixed the stock I was into it as much as just buying a gun in a caliber that I actually wanted.
Luckily I had a rhino-hide buddy who loved recoil who was willing to pay me more than I was into it.
23 January 2017
Lucy Is Bound To Let Us Kick The Ball Next Time!
Remember last year when it was just one recalcitrant Republican state senator refusing to let open/campus carry out of committee?
Well, now it's four (possibly five) nominally-Republican state senators in a different committee.
Senator Greg Steube(R) - Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the bill.
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) - Vice Chair
Senator Anitere Flores (R)
Senator Rene Garcia (R)
Senator Debbie Mayfield (R)
Well, now it's four (possibly five) nominally-Republican state senators in a different committee.
Senator Greg Steube(R) - Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the bill.
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) - Vice Chair
Senator Anitere Flores (R)
Senator Rene Garcia (R)
Senator Debbie Mayfield (R)
These are the problem children this time.
Steube has pulled his bill from the committee because those four are anti-gun and they'd vote against it.
I want them to vote.
I want them on record opposing pro-gun legislation so that they cannot claim, next election, that they're with us.
But Steube is providing them the cover they need by pulling his bill.
And let's say we get those four replaced. What will it be next time? Will we recycle Marion Hammer making back-room deals to kill it like 2011?
You know what would end this crap is the Florida Republican party taking a page from the Democrats and if you don't toe the party line, you're not funded next election. Of course that would also require the spineless fucks to make the party line, officially, pro-gun.
Which prolly has as much chance of happening as Charlie Brown kicking that football.
Cost Plus Contract
Weaponsman led to a Legal Insurrection Post.
It appears that we're going to be paying SIG $207 per M17.
However, that's not what each gun is going to COST.
Why?
Because of all the money we pissed away getting to the decision point.
On the bright side, we're finally getting guns for our money instead of smoke and noise. It is now $$$$/M17's rather than $$$$/0... and you can't divide by zero!
Frankly with all of the Lucy like withdrawals DoD made over pistol submissions I am surprised anyone bothered to bid at all for the contract with anything more than what's already on store shelves.
It appears that we're going to be paying SIG $207 per M17.
However, that's not what each gun is going to COST.
Why?
Because of all the money we pissed away getting to the decision point.
On the bright side, we're finally getting guns for our money instead of smoke and noise. It is now $$$$/M17's rather than $$$$/0... and you can't divide by zero!
Frankly with all of the Lucy like withdrawals DoD made over pistol submissions I am surprised anyone bothered to bid at all for the contract with anything more than what's already on store shelves.
Pure Happenstance
Way back 15 years ago, The Boy indicated that he wanted a swing-set.
He indicated at Wal Mart or Home Depot that he wanted one of the cool wooden ones.
Being handy, Marv and I figured we could build one better than we could buy one.
It's still in use today!
When you're building your own swing-set, you need to find something to use for the seats. I found some at a playground supply center just like you see in real gubmint owned places. Of note was them saying they were designed in such a way so as to not be grabbed by the wind.
Not false advertising. In category 2 hurricane winds, those seats don't budge.
As The Boy has gotten older the second seat has become less and less used.
The Lovely Harvey found a video of someone making a swing-chair out of an old pallet.
Being handy, Marv and I knocked that project out in an afternoon.
Last night we had some 25 knot winds from a storm.
That pallet-chair-swing wasn't moving any more than the swing seat that was designed to stay put.
I'd love to take credit for this aerodynamic miracle, but it was pure chance that we eyeballed the angle of the seatback and what angle the whole thing hangs at.
He indicated at Wal Mart or Home Depot that he wanted one of the cool wooden ones.
Being handy, Marv and I figured we could build one better than we could buy one.
It's still in use today!
When you're building your own swing-set, you need to find something to use for the seats. I found some at a playground supply center just like you see in real gubmint owned places. Of note was them saying they were designed in such a way so as to not be grabbed by the wind.
Not false advertising. In category 2 hurricane winds, those seats don't budge.
As The Boy has gotten older the second seat has become less and less used.
The Lovely Harvey found a video of someone making a swing-chair out of an old pallet.
Being handy, Marv and I knocked that project out in an afternoon.
Last night we had some 25 knot winds from a storm.
That pallet-chair-swing wasn't moving any more than the swing seat that was designed to stay put.
I'd love to take credit for this aerodynamic miracle, but it was pure chance that we eyeballed the angle of the seatback and what angle the whole thing hangs at.
Context Is Everything
Long lost from my pile of gaming stuff is a "detailed" plan to blow up the White House.
The "detailed" floor plan is from National Geographic.
As the GM, I was responsible for the NPC's and their attack plan.
The players were to thwart the attack.
I think we were using the Top Secret rules at the time (which dates this "plan" pretty firmly).
The campaign never launched because my players rejected me as the GM for Top Secret.
They liked me better with Traveller and Twilight: 2000 in those days.
What's different between what I wrote and what Madonna said?
Context.
My White House attack was fictional from day one and was never intended as a real plan.
Madonna messed up by making it seem like she was making real plans. Of course, her interview with the Secret Service will reveal it for the hyperbole it was.
But that might not save her from a Secret Service visit every time ANY president is in town and might just ban her from being around any president in the future.
Me? I doubt the Service will come to chat with me. My threat to the White House was as realized as any attack Tom Clancy carried out.
Of course, if the Secret Service does visit, well, I made this statement in public, didn't I?
So I should repeat, the notes are long gone. My Mom tried to mail me my gaming stuff to me while I was in Germany and two of the five boxes did not make it.
The "detailed" floor plan is from National Geographic.
As the GM, I was responsible for the NPC's and their attack plan.
The players were to thwart the attack.
I think we were using the Top Secret rules at the time (which dates this "plan" pretty firmly).
The campaign never launched because my players rejected me as the GM for Top Secret.
They liked me better with Traveller and Twilight: 2000 in those days.
What's different between what I wrote and what Madonna said?
Context.
My White House attack was fictional from day one and was never intended as a real plan.
Madonna messed up by making it seem like she was making real plans. Of course, her interview with the Secret Service will reveal it for the hyperbole it was.
But that might not save her from a Secret Service visit every time ANY president is in town and might just ban her from being around any president in the future.
Me? I doubt the Service will come to chat with me. My threat to the White House was as realized as any attack Tom Clancy carried out.
Of course, if the Secret Service does visit, well, I made this statement in public, didn't I?
So I should repeat, the notes are long gone. My Mom tried to mail me my gaming stuff to me while I was in Germany and two of the five boxes did not make it.
Quote Of The Day
"Novices in mathematics, science, or engineering are forever demanding infallible, universal, mechanical methods for solving problems"
J.R. Pierce
22 January 2017
The Divide That Unites
Polynesian culture teaches that the ocean connects the islands, not separates them.
I'm stealing this for spacer culture for my Traveller settings.
Worlds are not separated by The Black, they are connected by it.
I'm stealing this for spacer culture for my Traveller settings.
Worlds are not separated by The Black, they are connected by it.
But It's Brand New
Marv's Corvette needed a water pump.
Because 80% of the work to change the water pump is the same as changing the Optispark® distributor on his LT4 engine, I cajoled him into changing that too.
The engine bay on a 4th generation Corvette is extremely tight.
You have to remove a lot of things just to gain access to things you have to remove to gain access to the thing you want to remove. The worst item is getting the harmonic balancer out of the way of the distributor. You can, at best, get two of the bolts but then have to rotate the engine 120˚ to gain access to the third. And even with it "removed" it's trapped between the frame and the stub of the crankshaft.
It's a slog, but straight forward.
Because C4's run hot normally, Marv bought a new thermostat thinking a 180˚ stat would help out in traffic over the stock 195˚ one. He'd previously put in an all aluminum BeCool radiator with two extra cores over stock.
Everything was going fine until we were doing the coolant air purge stage.
What you do is idle the car, let it get hot, and once the temps are around 200˚ open a little cock on the thermostat neck to vent air that's trapped in the block out.
Normally you get spurts of air and steam for a little while then, eventually, a stream of fluid.
We got air, then steam, then higher pressure steam... and the temperature kept climbing. The manual says shut it off at 260˚ to prevent damage, we shut of at 242˚.
Let it cool down, check levels, add a gallon of fluid, start over.
Same thing.
There had been a clicking rattle on first start that went away, so we begin to worry the new water pump had shed its impeller. For a part that requires so much work to install, it has a surprisingly easy to get to access plate to see the impeller chamber.
Impeller is fine.
Could it be the thermostat?
Out comes the pot of boiling water and we find out that the new thermostat is not retracting the lower valve. We also find out the old thermostat was 180˚.
Putting the old stat back in cured the problem and we got a fairly steady 197˚ even sitting in the stop-and-go cruise route around the bars on South Howard Ave.
Huzzah!
PS: The clicking rattle turned out to be the serpentine belt shedding a rib's worth of width.
PS: The clicking rattle turned out to be the serpentine belt shedding a rib's worth of width.
21 January 2017
Squeaky Clean
Yesterday's visit from law enforcement underscores something I've long held.
I don't think hardly a person is arrested for a firearms violation as the reason they're dealing with the police.
In my case, they were looking the house over for The Boy, but all my guns are legal, so nothing happened.
I'm pretty certain they ran my name when I called The Boy missing, and likely Harvey as well.
I work pretty hard to keep my nose clean because I've seen what happened to former friends who didn't clean up their acts and remained in their nefarious lives.
Some of them don't have the life part. Some of them are in prison. Most of them just never go anywhere.
Even the ones who've managed to avoid the felony rap are going to get a stronger response from a cop seeing guns in their house than I got.
Because they are known to the cops already. A couple of them are walking around free because although the cops know they're guilty, they cannot prove they're guilty. They'd run all the guns serial numbers hoping for a hit.
Oh, by the way, the search of the house, the deputies ask permission to enter. Wanna bet if I'd said, "no," that the warrant would have been more expansive than just looking for The Boy? But once you've given permission for them to come in, they're free to act on anything criminal they find; a warrant limits the search to what's listed on it.
Step One to avoiding an ass-whupping from the police: Obey the law.
I don't think hardly a person is arrested for a firearms violation as the reason they're dealing with the police.
In my case, they were looking the house over for The Boy, but all my guns are legal, so nothing happened.
I'm pretty certain they ran my name when I called The Boy missing, and likely Harvey as well.
I work pretty hard to keep my nose clean because I've seen what happened to former friends who didn't clean up their acts and remained in their nefarious lives.
Some of them don't have the life part. Some of them are in prison. Most of them just never go anywhere.
Even the ones who've managed to avoid the felony rap are going to get a stronger response from a cop seeing guns in their house than I got.
Because they are known to the cops already. A couple of them are walking around free because although the cops know they're guilty, they cannot prove they're guilty. They'd run all the guns serial numbers hoping for a hit.
Oh, by the way, the search of the house, the deputies ask permission to enter. Wanna bet if I'd said, "no," that the warrant would have been more expansive than just looking for The Boy? But once you've given permission for them to come in, they're free to act on anything criminal they find; a warrant limits the search to what's listed on it.
Step One to avoiding an ass-whupping from the police: Obey the law.
Walkabout
The Boy went walkabout on us, again, last night.
It's an ongoing risk with a retarded "adult" child that they just sneak out and head where their heart pulls.
People with elderly relatives with dementia deal with a similar flight risk.
Police SOP is to search every nook and cranny of the house to see if they're hiding someplace, regardless of if The Boy is the type to hide rather than abscond.
You might have a couple too many AR's when the deputy's response to checking the room with the M12 rack is, "WOAH!" and his lieutenant asks "how many hands do you have?"
I did get kudos for proper storage from them.
It's also nice to see that our local deputies are firearms enthusiasts.
It's an ongoing risk with a retarded "adult" child that they just sneak out and head where their heart pulls.
People with elderly relatives with dementia deal with a similar flight risk.
Police SOP is to search every nook and cranny of the house to see if they're hiding someplace, regardless of if The Boy is the type to hide rather than abscond.
You might have a couple too many AR's when the deputy's response to checking the room with the M12 rack is, "WOAH!" and his lieutenant asks "how many hands do you have?"
I did get kudos for proper storage from them.
It's also nice to see that our local deputies are firearms enthusiasts.
Did Anyone Else Notice
That neither Hillary Clinton nor Beau Bergdahl got a pardon?
With Mattis as SecDef, I think the prosecution knows they can go for it now on Beau.
With Mattis as SecDef, I think the prosecution knows they can go for it now on Beau.
I Am Gray
1 tbsp Pearl Gray, 1 tsp Taupe. 4 minute soak for the gray on the PMAG-20 Gen M3.
This is the same color you get from half as much dye for twice as long, and was the point of the experiment because the matching dust cover was made using the more dilute solution.
It's an attractive color. No idea if it matches anything, but it doesn't really clash with anything either.
Clearing Out
If you've been following my dye adventures with bated breath, you might wanna hit Midway for your magazines.
They have sand PMAGs on clearance and the price keeps dropping.
The mags that Geff and I bought were $11.45 each last week and last night had dropped to $10.07.
That's a hella deal on Gen M3 PMAGs!
They have sand PMAGs on clearance and the price keeps dropping.
The mags that Geff and I bought were $11.45 each last week and last night had dropped to $10.07.
That's a hella deal on Gen M3 PMAGs!
Pistol 9mm M17 Thought
One of the novel features of the P320 is the modularity.
It's a neat theory. But how about practice?
In theory; theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
The vast majority of M17's will be the full sized service size. I do not see the Army buying a complete set of grips, barrels, slides and magazines for every gun just to have the unused components languish in storage some place for at least a decade.
The theoretical savings from having "one" pistol that's several sizes only saves on the very margins.
Springs and magazines are the parts that get busted most, and those aren't the same between sizes, are they?
It's a neat theory. But how about practice?
In theory; theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
The vast majority of M17's will be the full sized service size. I do not see the Army buying a complete set of grips, barrels, slides and magazines for every gun just to have the unused components languish in storage some place for at least a decade.
The theoretical savings from having "one" pistol that's several sizes only saves on the very margins.
Springs and magazines are the parts that get busted most, and those aren't the same between sizes, are they?
19 January 2017
20-30-40
The PMAG-20 Gen M3 uses the same spring and followers as the PMAG-30 Gen M3. That's why it's longer than the old 'Nam issue 20-rounder.
The PMAG-40 Gen M3 uses a different spring, same follower and has a lock plate marked special for the 40 rounder.
Dyeing A Little Each Time
I've found the formula that gets as close to Magpul's discontinued Foliage Green as you're going to get with Rit. It's just a bit too green, but reducing the green makes it too gray.
4 cups of water for 3-4 minutes.
1 Tbsp Pearl Gray, 1-1/2 tsp Taupe, 1/4 tsp Camel.
The inconsistency in color is because I didn't manage the clock and water temperature as anally as I could have. The far right magazine is the one I did last night in Foliage Dark Earth (see below) re-dyed with the above mixture.
With the black of the receiver between the parts, the color variance isn't very noticeable.
In the process of figuring out foliage, I think I stumbled over a decent Magpul Stealth Gray combination.
L-R
8-minute soak. 4 cups water.
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/2 tsp Taupe.
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 3/4 tsp Taupe.
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 3/4 tsp Taupe, 1/4 tsp Camel.
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/2 tsp Camel. I call this one Foliage Dark Earth because it's got aspects of both colors.
 |
| Foliage Dark Earth (L) compared with Foliage Green (R). |
 |
| 1/2 tsp Tangerine, 1/4 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/4 tsp Dark Green. This is Rit's official formula for Flat Dark Earth. It's too orange. |
 |
| 1 tsp Camel, 1/2 tsp Emerald, 1/2 tsp Aquamarine. This color looks closest to Foliage Green in Rit's color guide. |
 |
| 4 tsp Dark Green, 2 tsp Lemon Yellow. The next closest to Foliage Green in Rit's guide... |
 |
| 1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/2 tsp Dark Green. |
 |
| 1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/2 tsp Dark Green. |
 |
| 2-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray, 1/2 tsp Dark Green. |
Some Sort Of Ism
Chelsea Manning will likely (continue) to receive better government paid healthcare after a dishonorable discharge than honorably discharged veterans with service connected disabilities.
Just because she used to be a he.
Heck, they were using up the Fort Leavenworth medical budget up on him -> him/her -> her and literally letting other inmates with life threatening conditions hang.
Two outrages in one.
Just because she used to be a he.
Heck, they were using up the Fort Leavenworth medical budget up on him -> him/her -> her and literally letting other inmates with life threatening conditions hang.
Two outrages in one.
18 January 2017
Weight Penalty
PMAGs are heavier than USGI.
A standard, loaded, 30-round USGI magazine is 16.7 oz. 20-rounders are 10.2 oz.
PMAG 30, 17.9 oz.
PMAG 30 RevM, 17.9 oz.
PMAG 30 AR/M4 Gen M2 MOE, 17.9 oz.
PMAG 30 AR/M4 Gen M2 MOE (with window), 17.8 oz.
PMAG 20 AR/M4 Gen M3, 12.6 oz.
PMAG 30 AR/M4 Gen M3, 17.8 oz.
PMAG 30 AR/M4 Gen M3 (with window), 17.8 oz.
PMAG 40 AR/M4 Gen M3, 23.3 oz.
PMAG D-60 AR/M4, 44.8 oz.
TMAG 30 AR/M4 Gen M3, 17.3 oz.
PMAG 30 AK MOE, 24.0 oz., this is lighter than a standard steel AK magazine by about 5 oz.
PMAG 30 AK Gen M3, 24.6 oz.
PMAG 20 LR/SR, 22.7 oz.
Those ounces add up if you don't watch them.
One reason this might matter is if I give PMAGs the Malf bonus I talked about earlier. It changes the AWt from 1 to 1.1 for a 30-rounder and 0.6 to 0.8 for a 20-rounder.
More Rit Dye On Sand PMAG
First, Marv attempted to use the Rit color remover on his green magazine.
A breadpan is almost not enough water for one packet of the solution.
Despite my warnings, he heated a pyrex pan on a burner! He got away with it though.
One hour steeping in the solution lightened it a lot, but it's still quite green.
Two hours didn't really change much.
Marv wanted brown. Rit's browns tend to make sand PMAGs green...
#1 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown.
#2 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple and 1/2 teaspoon of Aquamarine.
#3 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple and 1 teaspoon of Aquamarine.
#4 is the #3 recipe applied to the magazine baseplate from the color removed magazine.
#5 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple, 1 teaspoon of Aquamarine and 1/2 teaspoon of Emerald Green.
Marv says that formula #5 might be a bit closer of a match.
 |
| Compare with undyed magazine. |
A breadpan is almost not enough water for one packet of the solution.
Despite my warnings, he heated a pyrex pan on a burner! He got away with it though.
One hour steeping in the solution lightened it a lot, but it's still quite green.
Two hours didn't really change much.
Marv wanted brown. Rit's browns tend to make sand PMAGs green...
#1 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown.
#2 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple and 1/2 teaspoon of Aquamarine.
#3 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple and 1 teaspoon of Aquamarine.
#4 is the #3 recipe applied to the magazine baseplate from the color removed magazine.
#5 is 3 tablespoons of Chocolate Brown, 1 teaspoon of Purple, 1 teaspoon of Aquamarine and 1/2 teaspoon of Emerald Green.
 |
| Formula #3 on a virgin mag next to the decolored mag. |
 |
| As formula #3 compares to the Damage Ind. SHTF Brown he's trying to match. |
Dear National Rifle Association
Thank you for your message urging me to call Senator Bill Nelson and urge him to confirm Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.
Just one, teensy, little problem...
You say, "Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein and their anti-gun allies in the U.S. Senate..."
Mr Nelson is one of those anti-gun allies, I am afraid.
Next year, God willin' and the crick don' rise we'll be rid of him...
But for now, wasted effort.
Even though I emailed his office anyway about it.
Just one, teensy, little problem...
You say, "Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein and their anti-gun allies in the U.S. Senate..."
Mr Nelson is one of those anti-gun allies, I am afraid.
Next year, God willin' and the crick don' rise we'll be rid of him...
But for now, wasted effort.
Even though I emailed his office anyway about it.
17 January 2017
Can We Stop Paying For Her Now
I see Obama has commuted the sentence of one Chelsea Manning.
Now that she's released, does that mean the taxpayers no longer have to foot the bill for her sex change?
Now that she's released, does that mean the taxpayers no longer have to foot the bill for her sex change?
Made The Top 30 Three Times
10% of the "Most Dangerous Cities In The United States" are in Florida.
Miami, Orlando and St Petersburg.
They've something in common with Chicago... Democrats in charge (not! See below).
Unlike Chicago, St Pete has been under Republican management recently. Miami is under Republican management right now!
Orlando, on the other hand is presently under Democrat management.
It's of note that Pinellas County, where St Pete is located, went for Trump this time around. Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located went for Hillary and Tampa did not make the top 30 for violence, and has had a Democrat for a mayor since 1986.
It's almost as if the crime problem can be independent of who's in the mayor's office.
Miami, Orlando and St Petersburg.
They've something in common with Chicago... Democrats in charge (not! See below).
Orlando, on the other hand is presently under Democrat management.
It's of note that Pinellas County, where St Pete is located, went for Trump this time around. Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located went for Hillary and Tampa did not make the top 30 for violence, and has had a Democrat for a mayor since 1986.
It's almost as if the crime problem can be independent of who's in the mayor's office.
16 January 2017
Gee Gaws Revisited
All the multitudinous things for the AR that make every control easier to use bemuses me because FAL.
Forward assist? These are words you are just making up!
Charging handle? You're right handed, right?
Selector? How long are your thumbs?
Bolt catch? Thag strong!
Magazine release? Thag still strong!
Plus rock and lock magazine into a tight mag-well. Thag persistent!
The best battle rifle ever made is not near as easy as a bone stock M16A1 on controls, and there's damn little you can do about it too. The best rifle ever designed is defined as the rifle that worked when you absolutely needed it to and never didn't. The worst rifle ever designed is defined as the rifle that failed when you absolutely needed it, if even only once.
You might notice this definition isAS BIASED AS ALL FUCK a mite subjective.
I'd explain why my best rifle is an FAL but it's not a very exciting story and it boils down to a single event that while exciting and interesting to me... is actually a tawdry footnote about the end of the Cold War.
Willard, on the other hand, will talk your ear off all day about what a great rifle the FAL is. He's right! His experience is broader, sharper, and more interesting.
Forward assist? These are words you are just making up!
Charging handle? You're right handed, right?
Selector? How long are your thumbs?
Bolt catch? Thag strong!
Magazine release? Thag still strong!
Plus rock and lock magazine into a tight mag-well. Thag persistent!
The best battle rifle ever made is not near as easy as a bone stock M16A1 on controls, and there's damn little you can do about it too. The best rifle ever designed is defined as the rifle that worked when you absolutely needed it to and never didn't. The worst rifle ever designed is defined as the rifle that failed when you absolutely needed it, if even only once.
You might notice this definition is
I'd explain why my best rifle is an FAL but it's not a very exciting story and it boils down to a single event that while exciting and interesting to me... is actually a tawdry footnote about the end of the Cold War.
Willard, on the other hand, will talk your ear off all day about what a great rifle the FAL is. He's right! His experience is broader, sharper, and more interesting.
Another Childhood Nostalgia Death
Amazon Prime has The Macross Saga digitally remastered.
Sadly, even with such remastering, it did not age well at all.
Sadly, even with such remastering, it did not age well at all.
Possibly Useful Trivia
The Magpul Gen M2 dust covers work on Gen M3 magazines.
But not vice-versa.
Since you can buy three packs of the Gen M2 covers, that could be handy to cover losses of the easily lost things.
The reason the new covers don't work on older magazines is the two lugs pictured here (M3 in purple):
Of course, without those lugs, there's a bit of a gap at the back of the mouth:
But not vice-versa.
Since you can buy three packs of the Gen M2 covers, that could be handy to cover losses of the easily lost things.
The reason the new covers don't work on older magazines is the two lugs pictured here (M3 in purple):
Of course, without those lugs, there's a bit of a gap at the back of the mouth:
That Tears It
When I was a boy and just starting to become interested in aviation and space you'd never have convinced me that I would outlive the last person to walk on the moon.
Today I did just that.
Godspeed Gene.
Today I did just that.
Godspeed Gene.
Celebrate
Happy African-American Civil Rights Leader Whom Everyone Thinks Was A Democrat But Was Actually A Republican (Look It Up) Day!
Let's Experiment
If it was 98 years ago, we'd be staring at the reality that it was illegal to manufacture, transport and sell alcohol.
It's also significant that in those heady, pre-FDR, days that they still bothered to pass amendments to empower the government properly to conduct social experiments.
It's also significant that in those heady, pre-FDR, days that they still bothered to pass amendments to empower the government properly to conduct social experiments.
15 January 2017
In GURPS Terms
According to GURPS 4e translation of the GURPS 3e/R: Special Ops 3e...
Willard was once a 200+ point character.
I have to say, I'm impressed!
The template for a Ranger is 200 points by itself and his being an officer and attending SERE can be absorbed into the 20 optional points, with 6 left over for customization.
Just so he can cluck a bit when he reads this... A tank crewman is a mere 85 point template.
Now...
In a 150 point campaign, someone recreating 1LT Chomps will have to find 50 points of disads to tack on.
Someone recreating SGT McThag doesn't have to find any considering there's 65 points of slack to play with.
Willard was once a 200+ point character.
I have to say, I'm impressed!
The template for a Ranger is 200 points by itself and his being an officer and attending SERE can be absorbed into the 20 optional points, with 6 left over for customization.
Just so he can cluck a bit when he reads this... A tank crewman is a mere 85 point template.
Now...
In a 150 point campaign, someone recreating 1LT Chomps will have to find 50 points of disads to tack on.
Someone recreating SGT McThag doesn't have to find any considering there's 65 points of slack to play with.
Magazine Malf
In GURPS the AR-15 and M16, from day one with the R601, have the standard Malfunction chance of 17.
What this means is you need to roll a critical failure when you're rolling to hit before you check to see if the weapon breaks in some way. See p. B407 for the rules.
Some guns, like a Glock 17, get a malfunction note of: "Very Reliable. Won't malfunction unless lack of maintenance lowers Malf."
There's five levels of malf in the rules.
Very Reliable 17+ twice (see High-Tech p. 79)
Reliable 17+ (default for TL6+)
Unreliable 16+ (default for TL5)
Very Unreliable 14+ (default for TL4)
Very Very Unreliable 12+ (default for TL3)
Spending the money for Fine (Reliable) (+25% cost) will move you up one step; Very Fine (Reliable) (+125% cost) moves two steps.
Historically, the Sten's malfunction rating of 16 can be traced to bad magazines, and the weapon's description mentions it.
In trying to find the introduction year for the M16 family's military issue magazines I started to wonder about their effect on the Malf. Especially looking at all the effort the Army (and the aftermarket) is taking to improve the magazine.
The Sten gets a one step reliability improvement if one finds good magazines... that means the design of the weapon is inherently at the default for TL6+, but there's a flawed part.
What if the AR family is inherently "Very Reliable" if you merely supply it with a better magazine (or just an inexpensive follower)? Full-30's mud test might be demonstrating that very thing.
If this is true, you can also say that you can make it Unreliable or Very Unreliable by supplying worse than USGI magazines.
What this means is you need to roll a critical failure when you're rolling to hit before you check to see if the weapon breaks in some way. See p. B407 for the rules.
Some guns, like a Glock 17, get a malfunction note of: "Very Reliable. Won't malfunction unless lack of maintenance lowers Malf."
There's five levels of malf in the rules.
Very Reliable 17+ twice (see High-Tech p. 79)
Reliable 17+ (default for TL6+)
Unreliable 16+ (default for TL5)
Very Unreliable 14+ (default for TL4)
Very Very Unreliable 12+ (default for TL3)
Spending the money for Fine (Reliable) (+25% cost) will move you up one step; Very Fine (Reliable) (+125% cost) moves two steps.
Historically, the Sten's malfunction rating of 16 can be traced to bad magazines, and the weapon's description mentions it.
In trying to find the introduction year for the M16 family's military issue magazines I started to wonder about their effect on the Malf. Especially looking at all the effort the Army (and the aftermarket) is taking to improve the magazine.
The Sten gets a one step reliability improvement if one finds good magazines... that means the design of the weapon is inherently at the default for TL6+, but there's a flawed part.
What if the AR family is inherently "Very Reliable" if you merely supply it with a better magazine (or just an inexpensive follower)? Full-30's mud test might be demonstrating that very thing.
If this is true, you can also say that you can make it Unreliable or Very Unreliable by supplying worse than USGI magazines.
Birthin'
Eight years on, we still do not know what or why Barack Obama spent all that money on keeping the most basic records of his background suppressed.
Millions of dollars spent to keep people out of the records, starting with his first record, a birth certificate and progressing through his grades in college.
If the records say what he says they say, then there's no reason I can discern to spend even a cent to suppress them.
The thing is, I don't doubt that they say what he says they say, but that he's suppressing things they say that he hasn't said they say. Follow?
Millions of dollars spent to keep people out of the records, starting with his first record, a birth certificate and progressing through his grades in college.
If the records say what he says they say, then there's no reason I can discern to spend even a cent to suppress them.
The thing is, I don't doubt that they say what he says they say, but that he's suppressing things they say that he hasn't said they say. Follow?
"MilSpec" Magazine Timeline
This is a rough guide for M16 magazines, more aimed at gaming...
1964 - Original "waffle" 20-round.
1965 - Alloy follower 20-round. NSN 1005-00-056-2237
1972 - Black plastic follower 20-round. Same NSN.
1967 - Original Colt 30-round, dark-green follower.
1972 - Black follower 30-round. NSN 1005-00-921-5004.
1992 - Green follower 30-round. Same NSN.
2004 - Magpul Gen I Self-Leveling Follower (coyote tan).
2006 - Magpul Gen II Self-Leveling Follower (gray or orange).
2008 - Magpul Gen III Self-Leveling Follower (foliage green or yellow).
2009 - Tan follower 30-round. NSN 1005-00-561-7200.
2016 - Enhanced Performance Magazine, tan body with blue follower 30-round. NSN 1005-01-630-9508.
2007 - Magpul introduces the PMAG 30.
2009 - PMAG 30M or Rev M introduced.
2009 - EMAG introduced.
2013 - Rev M rebranded as PMAG 30 Gen M2 MOE.
2013 - PMAG 30 Gen M3 introduced, merges PMAG and EMAG lines.
Some PMAGs have NSN's (depending on generation and color) but aren't actually adopted until the USMC standardizes the Gen M3 windowed magazine in Medium Coyote Tan with NSN 1005-01-659-7086 in late 2016 / early 2017.
1983 - Thermold 30-round for Canada.
1982 - Orlite 30-round introduced.
1992 - Orlite 30-round with metal feed lip reinforcement.
1964 - Original "waffle" 20-round.
1965 - Alloy follower 20-round. NSN 1005-00-056-2237
1972 - Black plastic follower 20-round. Same NSN.
1967 - Original Colt 30-round, dark-green follower.
1972 - Black follower 30-round. NSN 1005-00-921-5004.
1992 - Green follower 30-round. Same NSN.
2004 - Magpul Gen I Self-Leveling Follower (coyote tan).
2006 - Magpul Gen II Self-Leveling Follower (gray or orange).
2008 - Magpul Gen III Self-Leveling Follower (foliage green or yellow).
2009 - Tan follower 30-round. NSN 1005-00-561-7200.
2016 - Enhanced Performance Magazine, tan body with blue follower 30-round. NSN 1005-01-630-9508.
2007 - Magpul introduces the PMAG 30.
2009 - PMAG 30M or Rev M introduced.
2009 - EMAG introduced.
2013 - Rev M rebranded as PMAG 30 Gen M2 MOE.
2013 - PMAG 30 Gen M3 introduced, merges PMAG and EMAG lines.
Some PMAGs have NSN's (depending on generation and color) but aren't actually adopted until the USMC standardizes the Gen M3 windowed magazine in Medium Coyote Tan with NSN 1005-01-659-7086 in late 2016 / early 2017.
1983 - Thermold 30-round for Canada.
1982 - Orlite 30-round introduced.
1992 - Orlite 30-round with metal feed lip reinforcement.
14 January 2017
Almost
Willard almost bought a .308 Garand today.
He declined because it didn't have a spare magazine.
<rimshot>
I'm here all night, tip your wait-staff.
He declined because it didn't have a spare magazine.
<rimshot>
I'm here all night, tip your wait-staff.
But I Don't Even Own Bell Bottoms
Or have a man-bun.
I don't feel like a hippie.
Or a hipster.
But would I know? How could I tell?
Maybe I will find the answer In The Garden of Eden baybuh...
I don't feel like a hippie.
Or a hipster.
But would I know? How could I tell?
Maybe I will find the answer In The Garden of Eden baybuh...
Non Event
While reading another series of criticisms about the F-35 project, I recalled something about another plane...
The placement of the gun port on the F/A-18, centerline and on top of the nose, would blind the pilot with smoke or flash, especially at night.
To date, no pilot has reported even being dazzled by the muzzle effects even at night.
The placement of the gun port on the F/A-18, centerline and on top of the nose, would blind the pilot with smoke or flash, especially at night.
To date, no pilot has reported even being dazzled by the muzzle effects even at night.
Speed
The 12 gb of RAM remaining in the Mac Pro is actually faster than 16 gb with 2 gb in the process of failing.
I'm still ticked off that I have to have RAM in matching pairs to get any effect from them.
A 2 gb stick fails, so 4 gb goes down.
I'm still ticked off that I have to have RAM in matching pairs to get any effect from them.
A 2 gb stick fails, so 4 gb goes down.
The Same Two Sticks
I bought an iRAM memory kit for my Mac way back when...
This will be the second RMA on the lifetime warranty.
This will be the second RMA on the lifetime warranty.
13 January 2017
Who Knew?
Probably everyone...
Did you know that PMAG-30's (both Gen M2 MOE and Gen M3) use the same spring as your bog-standard USGI magazine?
I did not know that.
Did you know that PMAG-30's (both Gen M2 MOE and Gen M3) use the same spring as your bog-standard USGI magazine?
I did not know that.
How Did It Come To This
I think these things are breeding.
For years I was content with my huge collection of USGI 30-rounders with various followers...
Then I got the one black PMAG-30 Rev M. And it was my only plastic AR magazine of any kind.
Then I got two black Gen M3's to see what all the USMC hoopla was about.
Then four foliage green Gen M2's...
Then a flat dark earth windowed Gen M2 (just for Harvey)...
Then three sand Gen M3's, just to play with the dying of them... but no windowed ones for ME!!
Then another non-windowed one...
Then two windowed ones!
Hello, my name is Angus, and I quit any time I want.
Will Roll Failure
I succumbed to curiousity...
The original purple was 2 teaspoons of Rit Purple into a Pyrex breadpan full of just boiled water then a five minute soak flipping every thirty seconds.
L to R all with same quantity of water and soak times:
1 teaspoon Purple, 2 teaspoons Aquamarine. This is as close as I think I can get with these two colors.
1 teaspoon Purple, 1-1/2 teaspoons Aquamarine.
1 teaspoon Purple, 1 teaspoon Aquamarine.
The original purple was 2 teaspoons of Rit Purple into a Pyrex breadpan full of just boiled water then a five minute soak flipping every thirty seconds.
L to R all with same quantity of water and soak times:
1 teaspoon Purple, 2 teaspoons Aquamarine. This is as close as I think I can get with these two colors.
1 teaspoon Purple, 1-1/2 teaspoons Aquamarine.
1 teaspoon Purple, 1 teaspoon Aquamarine.
1 teaspoon Purple, 1/2 teaspoon Aquamarine.
I started with less Aquamarine and increased it each time. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the result.
Remember Farmville?
At one point I was caught up in the Farmville Phenomenon.
The Lovely Harvey is why I got wrapped up in it and it resulted in many of us having multiple Facebook Accounts.
I recently revived one of those accounts and noticed that I was still friends with people who've departed my life.
A shocking discovery was one of them had obviously been censoring their feed to keep me from seeing their liberal political postings.
On one hand, that was considerate, since they know that I am not a modern liberal.
On the other hand, it proves they flat out lied about their actual political beliefs to me.
So, good riddance!
The Lovely Harvey is why I got wrapped up in it and it resulted in many of us having multiple Facebook Accounts.
I recently revived one of those accounts and noticed that I was still friends with people who've departed my life.
A shocking discovery was one of them had obviously been censoring their feed to keep me from seeing their liberal political postings.
On one hand, that was considerate, since they know that I am not a modern liberal.
On the other hand, it proves they flat out lied about their actual political beliefs to me.
So, good riddance!
Must Resist
The temptation to try other color combinations for a better match of the purple plastic furniture is strong.
I have a theory that instead of pure purple that using half as much purple with half that of aquamarine would get much closer...
But that means buying another magazine...
I have a theory that instead of pure purple that using half as much purple with half that of aquamarine would get much closer...
But that means buying another magazine...
12 January 2017
That's Right!
Doing the magazine dye experiments reminded me of something...
Shooting and guns are supposed to be fun!
Dying magazines whimsical colors is fun! Even if the results are unexpected.
Talking about guns on the internet can get kind of grim sometimes and I need to remember to relax from time to time and smell the Hoppes #9.
Shooting and guns are supposed to be fun!
Dying magazines whimsical colors is fun! Even if the results are unexpected.
Talking about guns on the internet can get kind of grim sometimes and I need to remember to relax from time to time and smell the Hoppes #9.
Repeat Experiment
Three capfuls of Rit Dark Brown with 4ish cups of water.
I get OD green. Not quite the same green as at Marv's using his water and equipment. His is more of a forest green.
I think we've confirmed that most of Rit's browns react with Magpul's sand to make a green instead of a brown.
Since yellow (which works normally) and purple (which works normally) make brown, I wonder if those combined would give a brown on the magazine.
It doesn't contrast too badly with foliage green...
Dye Dye Dye My Darling
I now have a purple PMAG Gen M3 to go with Lavender Linda.
Cavalry Manufacturing's "grape" is a bit bluer and Rit's "purple" is a bit redder.
We didn't pursue it too hard because of how three formulas for brown came out various shades of dark green.
Blue came out great!
Zombie Green came out excellent. 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of Lemon Yellow and 2 teaspoons of Aquamarine into about 4 cups of water in a glass bread pan.
The purple is 2 teaspoons of Purple into the same bread pan.
The blue is 2 tablespoons of Royal Blue.
The green is 2 tablespoons of Dark Brown! Go figure.
Ready for Zombies!
We didn't want Willard to feel left out, so we dyed a PMAG-40 Gen M3 in this lovely shade of orange by putting 4 tablespoons of Tangerine into a 12x9 Pyrex pan.
And I forgot it at Marvs...
Cavalry Manufacturing's "grape" is a bit bluer and Rit's "purple" is a bit redder.
We didn't pursue it too hard because of how three formulas for brown came out various shades of dark green.
Blue came out great!
Zombie Green came out excellent. 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of Lemon Yellow and 2 teaspoons of Aquamarine into about 4 cups of water in a glass bread pan.
The purple is 2 teaspoons of Purple into the same bread pan.
The blue is 2 tablespoons of Royal Blue.
The green is 2 tablespoons of Dark Brown! Go figure.
Ready for Zombies!
We didn't want Willard to feel left out, so we dyed a PMAG-40 Gen M3 in this lovely shade of orange by putting 4 tablespoons of Tangerine into a 12x9 Pyrex pan.
And I forgot it at Marvs...
11 January 2017
To Dye For
Marv and I are going to attempt to dye some PMAG Gen M3 (MAG557-SND) magazines in various colors.
First there was this article for inspiration.
Rit has their own guide, which will likely not be quite right because of material being dyed and its natural coloration.
I'm going for a match to the Freedom 15 purple lower I made and a Zombie Green against a future pour. Besides, zombie green magazines stored in my zombie ammo box get a hit and damage bonus when used on actual zombies.
It's science, I checked with FuzzyGeff and his copy of GURPS: Zombies. Can't refute that!
Update:
Borrowing FuzzyGeff's upper for the shot, here's a "before" picture with a magazine still in its sand color.
I need to save some pennies and finish the plastic lower project.