Ms Sink's bid to become Florida's 13th Congressional District's representative has failed.
I guess I'll never find out what she meant by bipartisan now.
Frankly, I am surprised. Pinellas County is on the blue side of purple.
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11 March 2014
I Cannot Believe That Happened
Here I am, putting together an AR lower...
I forgot how the trigger spring was supposed to go.
I've only put together about twenty of these things now, how did I forget that?
It's together!
I like CMMG's parts kits, but I loathe the 4/5 scale pistol grip and the socket head cap screw to attach it.
I'm pretty sure that Cavalry Manufacturing is who makes the grip since its identical to the purple one.
I forgot how the trigger spring was supposed to go.
I've only put together about twenty of these things now, how did I forget that?
It's together!
I like CMMG's parts kits, but I loathe the 4/5 scale pistol grip and the socket head cap screw to attach it.
I'm pretty sure that Cavalry Manufacturing is who makes the grip since its identical to the purple one.
Daily Life
Role playing gaming centers around people who aren't everyday folks.
GURPS: Accounting and GURPS: Fast Food Worker didn't do well in playtesting...
Yet, even in the Traveller universe those same people you see everyday will have their counterpart.
Most people live the same life you do today. They never really travel, they go to work, they socialize they're just normal people.
It just happens there's a starport or two on their planet and goods can conceivably shipped in from a lot farther than China.
It's pretty boring and not good adventure fodder. It makes the future so... mundane.
It's a bit strange to think that a city in Traveller will look a lot more like Los Angeles than Logan's Run.
GURPS: Accounting and GURPS: Fast Food Worker didn't do well in playtesting...
Yet, even in the Traveller universe those same people you see everyday will have their counterpart.
Most people live the same life you do today. They never really travel, they go to work, they socialize they're just normal people.
It just happens there's a starport or two on their planet and goods can conceivably shipped in from a lot farther than China.
It's pretty boring and not good adventure fodder. It makes the future so... mundane.
It's a bit strange to think that a city in Traveller will look a lot more like Los Angeles than Logan's Run.
Memories Really Are That Short
I got an email from the NRA telling me that gun owners are poised to take back the Senate from Harry Reid.
I remember the last time Senator Reid was up for re-election that the NRA backed him over the republican candidate because he'd been so good about guns...
Since the NRA was instrumental in handing the senate to Mr Reid, they should adopt a different tone about killing the monster they had a hand in creating. *POP* Pulling my head out of my ass.
I occasionally wonder if, perhaps, that getting someone less good on guns but far better on every other liberty would be preferable.
If we had more of our general liberties, I think the gun thing would matter less.
Edit:
Memories are so short, in fact that I can't remember a timeline.
In 2010 Senator Ried had been pretty good on guns and there were solid reasons to think he'd continue to be.
The NRA had no way of knowing how things would turn and now they're in the rough position of having to oppose a former friend.
Thanks to Tam for kicking me in the teeth so my head would be propelled from my nethers.
I remember the last time Senator Reid was up for re-election that the NRA backed him over the republican candidate because he'd been so good about guns...
I occasionally wonder if, perhaps, that getting someone less good on guns but far better on every other liberty would be preferable.
If we had more of our general liberties, I think the gun thing would matter less.
Edit:
Memories are so short, in fact that I can't remember a timeline.
In 2010 Senator Ried had been pretty good on guns and there were solid reasons to think he'd continue to be.
The NRA had no way of knowing how things would turn and now they're in the rough position of having to oppose a former friend.
Thanks to Tam for kicking me in the teeth so my head would be propelled from my nethers.
E4A Shush
Here's my recreation of the HEL E4A. It's preliminary, of course, since some details will change depending on the processes chosen to make the parts.
I've even come up with a not-suppressor version for a not-NFA clone.
The not-NFA would have to be welded closed, I think. But it'd be easy to make the body in a way that the baffles could be dumped and the plain tube substituted.
The threaded part that goes on the muzzle (almost dead center) on the silencer version has vents to allow gas into the chamber that overlaps the barrel. I am not sure how many and what size those holes are. They'd have to be absent in the not-NFA version.
10 March 2014
Details
The AN-PVS-2 has a funny looking rubber eyepiece.
It's a light lock!
By pressing your eye to the eyepiece it opens a clamshell sort of deal and lets you see the image. That clamshell doesn't open until the outside of the cup is all around your eye, so no light escapes to be seen by the enemy.
A very clever design!
Numbers
A 1976 Formula One car put out about 450-500 horsepower.
A 2008 Corvette puts out about 430.
Of course, that F1 car only weighs 1,325 lb. The Vette is more than double.
A 2008 Corvette puts out about 430.
Of course, that F1 car only weighs 1,325 lb. The Vette is more than double.
Throw Back
I carry a 1911...
That makes sense.
My car has a clutch pedal, eight cylinders and the back wheels spin too.
Yet I also embraced smart-phones, sequential electronic fuel injection and traction control.
I guess I am just confused.
That makes sense.
My car has a clutch pedal, eight cylinders and the back wheels spin too.
Yet I also embraced smart-phones, sequential electronic fuel injection and traction control.
I guess I am just confused.
Retro Shush
That's a section of an HEL M4 noise suppressor. Mounted to an M16A1 it's way overgassed and needs an additional gas vent hole on the bolt carrier. That makes it an integral suppressor because without it, too much gas is vented and your M16A1 is a straight pull bolt action.
Take 5 baffles off the front and shorten it the length of those baffles and you have an HEL E4A noise suppressor. It's louder than the M4, but can use a standard bolt carrier.
I think that I can scale that drawing.
Time for another Form 1 it looks like!
Damn I have too many irons in the fire.
09 March 2014
Is That Singing I Hear
I've sailed too close to the shoals by buying that Browning.
Like a Warlock too close to the hills of Aldagmor; I hear the faint muttering...
Glock.
Glock the sirens sing.
I am damned.
Luckily I've committed too much to the STEN project and The Lovely Harvey has balls in the air with the Purple AR Revivification.
Yet, I can see a Glock 17 in the moderately near future.
I've owned one or three before. The last one became a gift to Aunt Bat when she graduated college. Dear Gods, has it really been nearly 20 years?
Like a Warlock too close to the hills of Aldagmor; I hear the faint muttering...
Glock.
Glock the sirens sing.
I am damned.
Luckily I've committed too much to the STEN project and The Lovely Harvey has balls in the air with the Purple AR Revivification.
Yet, I can see a Glock 17 in the moderately near future.
I've owned one or three before. The last one became a gift to Aunt Bat when she graduated college. Dear Gods, has it really been nearly 20 years?
On Kicking In Doors
I've written before that if my existing guns become illegal I've no incentive to not upgrade to something that's illegal at present.
If there's no difference between a full-auto M4A1 and a semi-auto M4gery; in for a penny, in for a pound.
The seeming excitement of some Connecticut cops to start kicking doors are forgetting an extremely ancient gun. Setting one up is illegal, but what have they to lose?
It gets scarier when you consider that plans to make remote and automated gun turrets that can track, lead and fire are readily available. You'd have to ban Digi-Key...
The moral of the story is never back someone who has nothing to lose into a corner. That makes the only path out through you.
If there's no difference between a full-auto M4A1 and a semi-auto M4gery; in for a penny, in for a pound.
The seeming excitement of some Connecticut cops to start kicking doors are forgetting an extremely ancient gun. Setting one up is illegal, but what have they to lose?
It gets scarier when you consider that plans to make remote and automated gun turrets that can track, lead and fire are readily available. You'd have to ban Digi-Key...
The moral of the story is never back someone who has nothing to lose into a corner. That makes the only path out through you.
Partisan
OK, Ms Sink.
You are correct, we're sick of partisan bickering in DC.
What Republican policies are you going to accede to and adopt to become bipartisan?
I'll give you a clue here, Ma'am; it's not just the partisan politics we voters are sick of. We're also sick of bipartisan being defined as "agrees with the Democrats".
I think we're also sick of politicians who keep coming back over and over again despite repeated rejections at the ballot. You share this with Mr Crist.
You are correct, we're sick of partisan bickering in DC.
What Republican policies are you going to accede to and adopt to become bipartisan?
I'll give you a clue here, Ma'am; it's not just the partisan politics we voters are sick of. We're also sick of bipartisan being defined as "agrees with the Democrats".
I think we're also sick of politicians who keep coming back over and over again despite repeated rejections at the ballot. You share this with Mr Crist.
Realizing The Goal
My previous screed makes it seem like you can't make a good sporter from a mil-surp.
The fact is you can. People have been doing it to Mauser actions for close to a century now.
Mauser actions.
The barrels are normally replaced, often the caliber is changed at this point too.
If the stock is retained, it's heavily modified.
The action is often bedded to the new stock.
The scope mounts are drilled into the receiver and irons are often discarded.
In short, not much original rifle left.
Plus, in today's gun market where there isn't a mountain of old Mausers to shop from, there's just not much sense in it. Modding an old Mauser to be a good sporter is literally making a custom rifle and the people who do that have figured out they can charge a lot more than a production Remington 700 or Winchester 64 for it.
In some ways it's good. It takes the pressure off "wrecking" historical examples.
In other ways it's bad. I've seen some of these guns for sale on Gunbroker and there was some real art working them back in the '50's and '60's. Art that nearly dried up and blew away as the supply of actions dwindled to nothing.
Art that hasn't revived with the new supply of surplus Mosin-Nagant.
The fact is you can. People have been doing it to Mauser actions for close to a century now.
Mauser actions.
The barrels are normally replaced, often the caliber is changed at this point too.
If the stock is retained, it's heavily modified.
The action is often bedded to the new stock.
The scope mounts are drilled into the receiver and irons are often discarded.
In short, not much original rifle left.
Plus, in today's gun market where there isn't a mountain of old Mausers to shop from, there's just not much sense in it. Modding an old Mauser to be a good sporter is literally making a custom rifle and the people who do that have figured out they can charge a lot more than a production Remington 700 or Winchester 64 for it.
In some ways it's good. It takes the pressure off "wrecking" historical examples.
In other ways it's bad. I've seen some of these guns for sale on Gunbroker and there was some real art working them back in the '50's and '60's. Art that nearly dried up and blew away as the supply of actions dwindled to nothing.
Art that hasn't revived with the new supply of surplus Mosin-Nagant.
Modified
Sporterizing a mil-surp rifle is a time-honored procedure. It's controversial because there's a moment in time where the supply of unaltered rifles drops off and the collectors and the modders come into conflict.
Hey, look, another parallel with cars! I guess shooters can console ourselves that Hollywood doesn't drive guns off cliffs.
Back to guns...
I am more of a collector than a modder. Mostly because it's just not cost effective to modify a mil-surp to a sporting configuration any more. The only money related excuse for modding a mil-surp is that weird realm where you have a small disposable income that cannot be saved up. I have been in that realm and I understand.
But lets not fool ourselves that you got a better rifle than a Savage Axis from your Mosin or Yugo Mauser.
The end point is influenced by the starting point. If you start with a rifle that can't hold a group or strings; then cutting off the stock and bolting on a scope isn't going to fix that. Sure, those changes certainly can improve on the base rifle; but there's a limit.
Mosins are the current tinker's choice because they are out there for very cheap; so's ammo. The Mosin is also rather famous for being inaccurate. This is because the Soviets defined what was acceptable accuracy far looser than just about everyone else. This makes the average Mosin group with a crappy Mauser. Soviet ammo is also not known for consistency. Combine the two and you have minute of dude at 100arshins yards meters. Which will get the job done in combat, but it's not a target rifle level of accuracy.
And that's a NEW rifle.
7.62x54mmR was corrosive ammo for most of its history and the Combloc kept using it longer than the West. The level of training and maintenance is much lower with their conscripts than the West too. Lots of guns have damaged crowns and damaged rifling. Slapping a scope in place of the rear sight, replacing the stock with comfortable polymer and installing a match trigger do not repair a shot out barrel. This gun has been in the hands of soldiers for at least thirty years. Then it sat in an arsenal for at least thirty more. The chances that it was not abused are pretty low.
I've seen several passionate defenses of making big changes to their rifles based on the fact that what they were doing was essentially the same process that yielded a sniper rifle back in WW2. Except for one teensy, but essential detail. Sniper rifles were select rifles. They are the guns that fell on the right side of the accuracy and consistency curve during acceptance testing. The cream. They weren't made by randomly picking a rifle in an infantry battalion; which is what buying a milsurp at a gun show statistically emulates.
There's a kernel of truth here. That scope, stock and trigger aren't going HURT the accuracy (unless your scope mount is inherently bad). A good gun will remain a good gun and will likely be enhanced by the changes. The reason I am hanging the bullshit flag on the play is everyone claims they got that good one.
You may have seen a couple Mosin pics on this blog. Those are the keepers. Guess how many 91/30's I've owned. Fifteen. Fourteen of them wouldn't give repeatable results. They got sold for what I paid for them, so it didn't cost me anything but some time and ammo. The tragic thing about my selection process is I carefully examined them and they all had bright shiny bores.
Let's accept as a given that you beat the odds and the randomly selected gun is a good one.
Did you consider that your rifle was designed to be configured the way that it is? Changing that stock might just have a negative consequence on repeatability. Look to what the nation fielding that gun did when making sniper version for clues. Adding the weight of a scope encourages them to remove weight elsewhere; did they? If not, ask yourself why.
The parallels between hot-rodding and Wile E Coyote gunsmithing are astonishing. The stated goals and the achievements are often widely separated. Achievements are often overstated if not outright lies. Self delusion runs rampant. Styles and fashions have undue influence detrimental to the stated goals.
This above all else, to thine own self be true. If you don't lie to you, you won't have to lie to me.
Hey, look, another parallel with cars! I guess shooters can console ourselves that Hollywood doesn't drive guns off cliffs.
Back to guns...
I am more of a collector than a modder. Mostly because it's just not cost effective to modify a mil-surp to a sporting configuration any more. The only money related excuse for modding a mil-surp is that weird realm where you have a small disposable income that cannot be saved up. I have been in that realm and I understand.
But lets not fool ourselves that you got a better rifle than a Savage Axis from your Mosin or Yugo Mauser.
The end point is influenced by the starting point. If you start with a rifle that can't hold a group or strings; then cutting off the stock and bolting on a scope isn't going to fix that. Sure, those changes certainly can improve on the base rifle; but there's a limit.
Mosins are the current tinker's choice because they are out there for very cheap; so's ammo. The Mosin is also rather famous for being inaccurate. This is because the Soviets defined what was acceptable accuracy far looser than just about everyone else. This makes the average Mosin group with a crappy Mauser. Soviet ammo is also not known for consistency. Combine the two and you have minute of dude at 100
And that's a NEW rifle.
7.62x54mmR was corrosive ammo for most of its history and the Combloc kept using it longer than the West. The level of training and maintenance is much lower with their conscripts than the West too. Lots of guns have damaged crowns and damaged rifling. Slapping a scope in place of the rear sight, replacing the stock with comfortable polymer and installing a match trigger do not repair a shot out barrel. This gun has been in the hands of soldiers for at least thirty years. Then it sat in an arsenal for at least thirty more. The chances that it was not abused are pretty low.
I've seen several passionate defenses of making big changes to their rifles based on the fact that what they were doing was essentially the same process that yielded a sniper rifle back in WW2. Except for one teensy, but essential detail. Sniper rifles were select rifles. They are the guns that fell on the right side of the accuracy and consistency curve during acceptance testing. The cream. They weren't made by randomly picking a rifle in an infantry battalion; which is what buying a milsurp at a gun show statistically emulates.
There's a kernel of truth here. That scope, stock and trigger aren't going HURT the accuracy (unless your scope mount is inherently bad). A good gun will remain a good gun and will likely be enhanced by the changes. The reason I am hanging the bullshit flag on the play is everyone claims they got that good one.
You may have seen a couple Mosin pics on this blog. Those are the keepers. Guess how many 91/30's I've owned. Fifteen. Fourteen of them wouldn't give repeatable results. They got sold for what I paid for them, so it didn't cost me anything but some time and ammo. The tragic thing about my selection process is I carefully examined them and they all had bright shiny bores.
Let's accept as a given that you beat the odds and the randomly selected gun is a good one.
Did you consider that your rifle was designed to be configured the way that it is? Changing that stock might just have a negative consequence on repeatability. Look to what the nation fielding that gun did when making sniper version for clues. Adding the weight of a scope encourages them to remove weight elsewhere; did they? If not, ask yourself why.
The parallels between hot-rodding and Wile E Coyote gunsmithing are astonishing. The stated goals and the achievements are often widely separated. Achievements are often overstated if not outright lies. Self delusion runs rampant. Styles and fashions have undue influence detrimental to the stated goals.
This above all else, to thine own self be true. If you don't lie to you, you won't have to lie to me.
Shame
What I am not going to do is sit there with a sign around my neck proclaiming my "sin".
You ended it when you tried to shame me.
You ended it when you tried to shame me.
08 March 2014
Suspension
The unexpected visit by S. M. Stirling reminded me of the first time I noticed that I'd lost suspension of disbelief.
His Draka books.
The Domination books are kind of an oddity for me in that my objections aren't what other people are complaining about for the most part.
For me the alternate history and the geo-political situation were simply givens and I could accept them as such (even if I emphatically never wanted to find myself IN that world). Of course, I don't think you're supposed to WANT to live in a dystopia.
The part that jarred me was the unanswered tech the Domination had.
Military technology is a pendulum of measure, counter-measure. It swings fastest when the measure is very effective.
The Draka are shown with some proven weapon systems that are ahead of their time that would have been noticed as effective and changed their opponents thinking on their weapons development.
Semi-automatic detachable magazine guns are referred to as WW1 era guns, but the rest of the world didn't notice and still had bolt guns by WW2 (where the Draka have embraced the SCHV concept to the hilt).
Then there's that 1980's NATO spec main battle tank. What was that thing intended to fight and how did The Domination's procurement department justify spending the money on it instead of three lighter but still game stopping tanks? We skipped a bunch of steps in armor development here and I was left wanting an explanation. Especially since Zee Germans still had their real-world historical armor.
The rest of the world surely would have noticed the weapons and tactics being developed and responded. And that knocked the wheels off my suspension of disbelief.
Fortunately, not hard enough to keep me from finishing the story. I like dystopic science fiction and alternate histories.
PS: There might BE an explanation for the unanswered tech, I just didn't see it in the text if it was there.
PPS: Yes, I know I was supposed to equate the content of the alternate history with the author's burning desire to be a Draka or something while complaining about something in this series... But creating a world for the setting, even loving your creation, does not correlate with a burning desire to become what you've created. Something I think that Mr Stirling has pointed out.
His Draka books.
The Domination books are kind of an oddity for me in that my objections aren't what other people are complaining about for the most part.
For me the alternate history and the geo-political situation were simply givens and I could accept them as such (even if I emphatically never wanted to find myself IN that world). Of course, I don't think you're supposed to WANT to live in a dystopia.
The part that jarred me was the unanswered tech the Domination had.
Military technology is a pendulum of measure, counter-measure. It swings fastest when the measure is very effective.
The Draka are shown with some proven weapon systems that are ahead of their time that would have been noticed as effective and changed their opponents thinking on their weapons development.
Semi-automatic detachable magazine guns are referred to as WW1 era guns, but the rest of the world didn't notice and still had bolt guns by WW2 (where the Draka have embraced the SCHV concept to the hilt).
Then there's that 1980's NATO spec main battle tank. What was that thing intended to fight and how did The Domination's procurement department justify spending the money on it instead of three lighter but still game stopping tanks? We skipped a bunch of steps in armor development here and I was left wanting an explanation. Especially since Zee Germans still had their real-world historical armor.
The rest of the world surely would have noticed the weapons and tactics being developed and responded. And that knocked the wheels off my suspension of disbelief.
Fortunately, not hard enough to keep me from finishing the story. I like dystopic science fiction and alternate histories.
PS: There might BE an explanation for the unanswered tech, I just didn't see it in the text if it was there.
PPS: Yes, I know I was supposed to equate the content of the alternate history with the author's burning desire to be a Draka or something while complaining about something in this series... But creating a world for the setting, even loving your creation, does not correlate with a burning desire to become what you've created. Something I think that Mr Stirling has pointed out.
The Internet Is A Strange Place
I referred to an SM Stirling book...
I have a comment from SM Stirling...
I can't stop giggling!
This is just so far past my expectations I can't really process the event.
It also makes me self conscious about whether it should be SM or S. M. I've been using SM. Uh.
I have a comment from SM Stirling...
I can't stop giggling!
This is just so far past my expectations I can't really process the event.
It also makes me self conscious about whether it should be SM or S. M. I've been using SM. Uh.
If You Can Afford An X You Can Afford An AR
The expense of an AR is a common refrain.
I went through several options a couple years ago; let's revisit them.
The cheapest way into an AR is to build one from a parts kit.
If you're going to build the common as dirt M4gery you're going to need a couple of specialized tools to put the lower together. A stock wrench to tighten the castle nut they run between $9 and $65 depending on if you want one that does other things. I got this one ($33.49). A pair of channel-lock pliers and some tape on the jaws let you put in all of the fiddly roll pins without marring or breaking anything off. Google AR lower assembly and pick a set of instructions; they are numerous.
Then you're going to want a lower. There are lots of choices. The average price is about $100. Plus about $50 for shipping and FFL.
Then you need a parts kit.
I've used Del-Ton for several builds. Their M4gry kit starts at $510.
M&A Parts' kit runs $545.
J&T Distributing has them from $549.
Gen 2 Magpul Backup Irons are still the go-to for cheap and decent rear sights. $55.
If you know someone like me, you can swing by and borrow the tools.
So for $715 you have a basic 5.56x45mm 16" M4 flat-top. Sevenish months at $100 a month.
That's less than quite a few guns!
If you feel like spending more on tools and doing a lot more research you can improve on the basic kits and end up with a better gun for about $100 total more, but you're going to have to buy nearly everything individually and put it all together yourself. That's how all of my ARs are done now. It's more fun and I trend towards non-popular configurations.
I went through several options a couple years ago; let's revisit them.
The cheapest way into an AR is to build one from a parts kit.
If you're going to build the common as dirt M4gery you're going to need a couple of specialized tools to put the lower together. A stock wrench to tighten the castle nut they run between $9 and $65 depending on if you want one that does other things. I got this one ($33.49). A pair of channel-lock pliers and some tape on the jaws let you put in all of the fiddly roll pins without marring or breaking anything off. Google AR lower assembly and pick a set of instructions; they are numerous.
Then you're going to want a lower. There are lots of choices. The average price is about $100. Plus about $50 for shipping and FFL.
Then you need a parts kit.
I've used Del-Ton for several builds. Their M4gry kit starts at $510.
M&A Parts' kit runs $545.
J&T Distributing has them from $549.
Gen 2 Magpul Backup Irons are still the go-to for cheap and decent rear sights. $55.
If you know someone like me, you can swing by and borrow the tools.
So for $715 you have a basic 5.56x45mm 16" M4 flat-top. Sevenish months at $100 a month.
That's less than quite a few guns!
If you feel like spending more on tools and doing a lot more research you can improve on the basic kits and end up with a better gun for about $100 total more, but you're going to have to buy nearly everything individually and put it all together yourself. That's how all of my ARs are done now. It's more fun and I trend towards non-popular configurations.
07 March 2014
Not A Finisher
Ever see one of those oval 13.1 stickers on a window and want to walk up to the owner and say, "Quitter!"
Machine Shop
Talked to a former boss of mine.
He's a Type 7 FFL and SOT and has a complete shop for the making of guns.
Using his facilities to make the STEN makes it less ghosty, but a lot more likely.
He suggested that there might even be a legal way for his shop to not officially have made the gun, he's checking.
I think I have a viable way to make it a closed bolt semi-auto.
The Mk 2 STEN has a selector switch.
In semi there's a disconnector that catches the bolt to the rear after one shot and releases it against the sear when the trigger is reset. It occurs to me that this system can grab the tail of a striker instead of the whole bolt. It shouldn't take too much effort to make sure the selector does nothing, making it semi-auto only. My sear is going to be farther forward than the historical gun and the ID of the receiver tube too small for a vintage bolt to fit.
This is exciting stuff!
He's a Type 7 FFL and SOT and has a complete shop for the making of guns.
Using his facilities to make the STEN makes it less ghosty, but a lot more likely.
He suggested that there might even be a legal way for his shop to not officially have made the gun, he's checking.
I think I have a viable way to make it a closed bolt semi-auto.
The Mk 2 STEN has a selector switch.
In semi there's a disconnector that catches the bolt to the rear after one shot and releases it against the sear when the trigger is reset. It occurs to me that this system can grab the tail of a striker instead of the whole bolt. It shouldn't take too much effort to make sure the selector does nothing, making it semi-auto only. My sear is going to be farther forward than the historical gun and the ID of the receiver tube too small for a vintage bolt to fit.
This is exciting stuff!
Inflexible
Shotguns are often touted for their flexibility.
You can tailor your shot size to the flimsiness of the target.
You can get an ersatz rifle by using slugs.
Rifled slugs make it better than a Charleville Musket, but that's an improvement in sectional density and accuracy not trajectory.
The fallacy of this flexibility for the apoxyclips is that it's bought with specialized rounds. You can carry dove and quail rounds for small birds, buck shot for larger animals, #4 shot for medium sized animals and slugs for when you need more range. And every round of one type you carry precludes the carry of another type. There's a degree of overlap with each round's effective envelope, luckily, but if you need the capabilities of one in particular and misjudged the number to bring... You could be in the embarrassing situation of not being able to participate in a gun fight while still carrying ammo.
Plus, changing ammo mid stream can run afoul of your choke. The best choke for a given load is bad for others and some slugs are not safe with some of the tighter chokes.
Shotguns really are specialist weapons. They were developed to fill a need and that was killing birds. That's a handy capability, because birds are everywhere and they're nearly all edible and tasty. Birds are also fragile, which means it doesn't take much to bring them down. So a single hit from a small round lead ball will do the job.
Small, fast, mammals like rabbits and squirrels share some characteristics with birds and shotguns, again, are good at bagging them.
Part of the idea that a shotgun can be THE gun comes from frontier history. Muzzle loading history. The flexibility offered is more real here because you were making your load's composition every time you charged the gun.
Yet... the west was won with rifles. Cartridge rifles.
Most of the development of non-fowling shotgun ammunition comes from banning hunting of larger species with rifles for one reason or another. The shot spread that's such an advantage for taking birds on the wing becomes a liability when hunting a deer or hog.
Then there's the range... I mentioned that a slug gun is an ersatz rifle. That's because it's got a trajectory that makes .45-70 seem like a laser-flat shooter. Look up rainbow trajectory to get the joke. Shotguns are essentially pistol range guns.
Shotgun ammunition has the double whammy of being both bulky and heavy. A 2-3/4" 12 gauge round weighs approximately twice as much as a .30-06 round. A loaded 12ga shotgun with 8 rounds weighs the same as a Garand. So I'd get twice as many shots (for a given weight), comparable damage (with slugs), far better range and much better accuracy. The .30-06 gives up the shooting birds on the wing (not really, it's actually easier to shoot flying things with a rifle, you don't have to lead near as much; the reason we don't use rifles on flying ducks is because of Rule 4).
If we go for a given number of rounds instead of weight, then we've opened up the loadout to carry other stuff. .30-06 is considered a fairly hefty round too, .30-30 is about 80% the weight and 7.62x39 64%; meaning either more shots or more stuff compared to a shotgun loadout. Even better, the guns for the lighter rounds are themselves lighter! Freeing up even more weight for other things.
More shots is a good thing if you're living off the land. A rifle is suitable or any game that needs #4 or heavier shot to take. More than a century of the .30-30 demonstrates that. In fact, the efficiency of .30-30 is the reason that rifle hunting of deer is banned in many areas, the hoof rats were becoming endangered. 7.62x39mm is damn similar in performance to .30-30.
The law, over and over again, is why we don't use rifles on much of the game taken; not because a rifle is a bad choice.
It is one thing to be caught out and only have a single gun available. It's a similar thing to only be able to afford one gun.
But I thought we were talking about being prepared in advance so being caught out (you know, unprepared?) isn't a factor.
See also: This and this.
You can tailor your shot size to the flimsiness of the target.
You can get an ersatz rifle by using slugs.
Rifled slugs make it better than a Charleville Musket, but that's an improvement in sectional density and accuracy not trajectory.
The fallacy of this flexibility for the apoxyclips is that it's bought with specialized rounds. You can carry dove and quail rounds for small birds, buck shot for larger animals, #4 shot for medium sized animals and slugs for when you need more range. And every round of one type you carry precludes the carry of another type. There's a degree of overlap with each round's effective envelope, luckily, but if you need the capabilities of one in particular and misjudged the number to bring... You could be in the embarrassing situation of not being able to participate in a gun fight while still carrying ammo.
Plus, changing ammo mid stream can run afoul of your choke. The best choke for a given load is bad for others and some slugs are not safe with some of the tighter chokes.
Shotguns really are specialist weapons. They were developed to fill a need and that was killing birds. That's a handy capability, because birds are everywhere and they're nearly all edible and tasty. Birds are also fragile, which means it doesn't take much to bring them down. So a single hit from a small round lead ball will do the job.
Small, fast, mammals like rabbits and squirrels share some characteristics with birds and shotguns, again, are good at bagging them.
Part of the idea that a shotgun can be THE gun comes from frontier history. Muzzle loading history. The flexibility offered is more real here because you were making your load's composition every time you charged the gun.
Yet... the west was won with rifles. Cartridge rifles.
Most of the development of non-fowling shotgun ammunition comes from banning hunting of larger species with rifles for one reason or another. The shot spread that's such an advantage for taking birds on the wing becomes a liability when hunting a deer or hog.
Then there's the range... I mentioned that a slug gun is an ersatz rifle. That's because it's got a trajectory that makes .45-70 seem like a laser-flat shooter. Look up rainbow trajectory to get the joke. Shotguns are essentially pistol range guns.
Shotgun ammunition has the double whammy of being both bulky and heavy. A 2-3/4" 12 gauge round weighs approximately twice as much as a .30-06 round. A loaded 12ga shotgun with 8 rounds weighs the same as a Garand. So I'd get twice as many shots (for a given weight), comparable damage (with slugs), far better range and much better accuracy. The .30-06 gives up the shooting birds on the wing (not really, it's actually easier to shoot flying things with a rifle, you don't have to lead near as much; the reason we don't use rifles on flying ducks is because of Rule 4).
If we go for a given number of rounds instead of weight, then we've opened up the loadout to carry other stuff. .30-06 is considered a fairly hefty round too, .30-30 is about 80% the weight and 7.62x39 64%; meaning either more shots or more stuff compared to a shotgun loadout. Even better, the guns for the lighter rounds are themselves lighter! Freeing up even more weight for other things.
More shots is a good thing if you're living off the land. A rifle is suitable or any game that needs #4 or heavier shot to take. More than a century of the .30-30 demonstrates that. In fact, the efficiency of .30-30 is the reason that rifle hunting of deer is banned in many areas, the hoof rats were becoming endangered. 7.62x39mm is damn similar in performance to .30-30.
The law, over and over again, is why we don't use rifles on much of the game taken; not because a rifle is a bad choice.
It is one thing to be caught out and only have a single gun available. It's a similar thing to only be able to afford one gun.
But I thought we were talking about being prepared in advance so being caught out (you know, unprepared?) isn't a factor.
See also: This and this.
In The Immortal Words Of Mike Muir
Just 'cause you don't understand what's going on
Don't mean it don't make no sense
And just 'cause you don't like it
Don't mean it ain't no good
Don't mean it don't make no sense
And just 'cause you don't like it
Don't mean it ain't no good
and let me tell you something
Before you go taking a walk in my world
You better take a look at the real world
'Cause this ain't no
Mister Roger's Neighborhood
You better take a look at the real world
'Cause this ain't no
Mister Roger's Neighborhood
Can you say, "Feel like shit?"
Yea maybe sometimes I do feel like shit
I ain't happy 'bout it, but I'd rather feel like
Shit than be full of shit
I ain't happy 'bout it, but I'd rather feel like
Shit than be full of shit
And if I offended you, oh I'm sorry
But maybe you need to be offended
But here's my apology
But maybe you need to be offended
But here's my apology
And one more thing, fuck you!
'Cause you can't bring me down
06 March 2014
Drug Reality
Once upon a time there was a book or story where the inhabitants of a modern western town were transplanted to a medieval setting. Edit: It was "Dies The Fire" by SM Stirling.
"Wow, isn't that neat setting!" Friend A exclaims!
We started talking about what we'd do if we'd been among the people transplanted.
FuzzyGeff's reply was simple and galvanizing, he said, "Die."
FuzzyGeff has several severe respiratory ailments that he takes medications for. With those meds, he leads a pretty normal everyday life; without them, he's a deader and dead in a long lingering suffering way.
His response colored a lot of our post-apocalyptic role-playing sessions. For example in Twlight 2000, since the war went nuclear and societal collapse happened in 1997, by 2000 there are no people like FuzzyGeff alive anymore. Their meds ran out and they died.
You can't even stock up well either. It's generally hard to get more than your just-in-time model prescription grants you and those things have expiration dates. Eventually they'll lose potency no matter how many you've stashed away.
"Wow, isn't that neat setting!" Friend A exclaims!
We started talking about what we'd do if we'd been among the people transplanted.
FuzzyGeff's reply was simple and galvanizing, he said, "Die."
FuzzyGeff has several severe respiratory ailments that he takes medications for. With those meds, he leads a pretty normal everyday life; without them, he's a deader and dead in a long lingering suffering way.
His response colored a lot of our post-apocalyptic role-playing sessions. For example in Twlight 2000, since the war went nuclear and societal collapse happened in 1997, by 2000 there are no people like FuzzyGeff alive anymore. Their meds ran out and they died.
You can't even stock up well either. It's generally hard to get more than your just-in-time model prescription grants you and those things have expiration dates. Eventually they'll lose potency no matter how many you've stashed away.
Process
This is a retread from my LiveJournal Oct 2008:
When I post, I assume that you've read all the preceding material and remember it. Mostly, because I remember it.
When something doesn't make any damn sense, it's likely a continuation of an earlier post. Or it really doesn't make any damn sense and it's just steam escaping.
This blog's primary purpose is to keep me off the local water tower. Demanding I prove my position to your satisfaction will not lead to that end.
If you have enough time to research every little thing I misspoke or got wrong, then you certainly have enough time to post to your very own blog. If you don't have a blog already, you should get one.
I am not good at debate. I never have been. Debate has rules that can be used to bury the truth or facts in a discussion. Debate does not allow for shooting my opponent between the eyes and yelling, "Rebut that motherfucker!" This is why I am not on a debate team.
A link to a web site will never trump my lying eyes. The argument there would have to be insanely good to convince me that I didn't see what I saw. Try to remember I was on the line in West Germany often on the Inter-German and Czechoslovakian borders, in 1987-89. I've seen what Communism looks like and don't want it imported here. Try not to make too much fun of the angry old man.
Much of my anger has to do with being punished for the actions of others.
On the topic of gun control: The core issue is that my guns have killed no one, let alone murdered someone. No gun control law yet passed affects the criminal more than me.
On racism: I've never owned a slave. My family has never owned slaves in recorded history. My family arrived here too late for the Civil war. I and my family have never oppressed. Therefore you are mad at someone else. Using the government to get even with "Whitey" is only tarring me with the same brush.
On Socialism/Communism: The only entity I owe money to is the bank holding my mortgage. I certainly owe my friends things and they owe me. Those associations are entered into freely and openly. I do not owe anyone else anything, nor do I think they owe me. I resent that my taxes are taken to feed and shelter people I don't know. Other than sucking O2, what have they done to earn it? This is punishing me because they are lazy.
On Equality: I have absolutely no objection to equal. But equal is where I draw the line. I will not abide a reversal of positions just because my Dad and Grandfather were racists or sexists (they weren't racists). Go after them, not me. But things must be equal.
Now! If you want to not trip my trigger, when you are part of a group that espouses that I must be punished for the trespasses of others, you must be crystal clear that you are not just rephrasing what the greater organization said in a new and novel way. Without such a clear statement, when a black Democrat talks about the civil rights movement, redistribution of wealth and the Constitution being a barrier, it gets read as reparations to slaves. By the way, the last slave died years ago.
I care far more about what people do than what they say.
When I post, I assume that you've read all the preceding material and remember it. Mostly, because I remember it.
When something doesn't make any damn sense, it's likely a continuation of an earlier post. Or it really doesn't make any damn sense and it's just steam escaping.
This blog's primary purpose is to keep me off the local water tower. Demanding I prove my position to your satisfaction will not lead to that end.
If you have enough time to research every little thing I misspoke or got wrong, then you certainly have enough time to post to your very own blog. If you don't have a blog already, you should get one.
I am not good at debate. I never have been. Debate has rules that can be used to bury the truth or facts in a discussion. Debate does not allow for shooting my opponent between the eyes and yelling, "Rebut that motherfucker!" This is why I am not on a debate team.
A link to a web site will never trump my lying eyes. The argument there would have to be insanely good to convince me that I didn't see what I saw. Try to remember I was on the line in West Germany often on the Inter-German and Czechoslovakian borders, in 1987-89. I've seen what Communism looks like and don't want it imported here. Try not to make too much fun of the angry old man.
Much of my anger has to do with being punished for the actions of others.
On the topic of gun control: The core issue is that my guns have killed no one, let alone murdered someone. No gun control law yet passed affects the criminal more than me.
On racism: I've never owned a slave. My family has never owned slaves in recorded history. My family arrived here too late for the Civil war. I and my family have never oppressed. Therefore you are mad at someone else. Using the government to get even with "Whitey" is only tarring me with the same brush.
On Socialism/Communism: The only entity I owe money to is the bank holding my mortgage. I certainly owe my friends things and they owe me. Those associations are entered into freely and openly. I do not owe anyone else anything, nor do I think they owe me. I resent that my taxes are taken to feed and shelter people I don't know. Other than sucking O2, what have they done to earn it? This is punishing me because they are lazy.
On Equality: I have absolutely no objection to equal. But equal is where I draw the line. I will not abide a reversal of positions just because my Dad and Grandfather were racists or sexists (they weren't racists). Go after them, not me. But things must be equal.
Now! If you want to not trip my trigger, when you are part of a group that espouses that I must be punished for the trespasses of others, you must be crystal clear that you are not just rephrasing what the greater organization said in a new and novel way. Without such a clear statement, when a black Democrat talks about the civil rights movement, redistribution of wealth and the Constitution being a barrier, it gets read as reparations to slaves. By the way, the last slave died years ago.
I care far more about what people do than what they say.
05 March 2014
Zero
The retro 5.56 guns are once again returned to zero after the great upper swap around switcharoo.
No forward assists were involved.
Willard's new AR is also now able to be zeroed. He was a victim of tolerance stack-ups and an attempt to "tighten" the upper design by not cutting the slot to spec. A bit of filing and a shim put the front sight base vertical like it's supposed to be and now the rear sight is near centered instead of being full travel left.
Now there's only the high-powered scoped guns and Harvey's platoon carbine to zero...
Damn, more excuses to hit the range? The horror!
Addendum:
Charlotte the, M16 clone, is zeroed with M193 as befits her original 1:12 barrel.
Sabrina, the GAU-5A clone, gets zeroed with 69gr SMK because she's only got 11.5" of 1:9 barrel.
Tabitha is without a barrel and bolt carrier group at present, but she's going to have a 20" 1:12 barrel soon enough and be a late M16A1 clone.
No forward assists were involved.
Willard's new AR is also now able to be zeroed. He was a victim of tolerance stack-ups and an attempt to "tighten" the upper design by not cutting the slot to spec. A bit of filing and a shim put the front sight base vertical like it's supposed to be and now the rear sight is near centered instead of being full travel left.
Now there's only the high-powered scoped guns and Harvey's platoon carbine to zero...
Damn, more excuses to hit the range? The horror!
Addendum:
Charlotte the, M16 clone, is zeroed with M193 as befits her original 1:12 barrel.
Sabrina, the GAU-5A clone, gets zeroed with 69gr SMK because she's only got 11.5" of 1:9 barrel.
Tabitha is without a barrel and bolt carrier group at present, but she's going to have a 20" 1:12 barrel soon enough and be a late M16A1 clone.
04 March 2014
Idiosyncrasies
Been reading Hilton Yam skewering the 1911 lately.
He definitely knows them intimately.
Something that's lost, again, in these "1911 has been rendered obsolete" discussions is the needs of a department aren't the needs of the individual.
My single gun is not being treated like an issue gun and the attention I need to apply to the quirks of the 1911 aren't onerous to me. I can see those needs being too much for a department armorer to want to deal with.
It's a small price to pay for a gun I shoot very well. Not that I've needed to address any idiosyncrasy of the gun yet. I've been lucky that way. I've yet to encounter a single one of the "routine" failures associated with one.
It makes me wonder. I harken back to my Army days and I recall how we abused the snot out of every single item we were allowed to touch; and I wonder if abusing the gun is now the norm in people's minds.
Gun X can be beaten like a red headed step-child and sits there and asks for more like a puppy! OK.
When did we decide that's how the gun SHOULD be treated?
It's like cars. My Biscayne CAN sling along at 155 miles per hour; SHOULD I?
He definitely knows them intimately.
Something that's lost, again, in these "1911 has been rendered obsolete" discussions is the needs of a department aren't the needs of the individual.
My single gun is not being treated like an issue gun and the attention I need to apply to the quirks of the 1911 aren't onerous to me. I can see those needs being too much for a department armorer to want to deal with.
It's a small price to pay for a gun I shoot very well. Not that I've needed to address any idiosyncrasy of the gun yet. I've been lucky that way. I've yet to encounter a single one of the "routine" failures associated with one.
It makes me wonder. I harken back to my Army days and I recall how we abused the snot out of every single item we were allowed to touch; and I wonder if abusing the gun is now the norm in people's minds.
Gun X can be beaten like a red headed step-child and sits there and asks for more like a puppy! OK.
When did we decide that's how the gun SHOULD be treated?
It's like cars. My Biscayne CAN sling along at 155 miles per hour; SHOULD I?
Value
I have been chided on occasion for spending more than I need to on things.
It's a lesson I learned way back when I was a starving mooch. I was in physical therapy for my leg and unemployable. I needed to be able to get to the doctor's appointments, so I needed a car (friends don't suffer mooches for long).
The shit-boxes I could afford were never very reliable and I learned a lot about fixing cars. I also learned a lot about fooling myself into thinking I'd saved money.
The $200 rust bucket Camaro devoured an uncounted amount of money in repairs to keep it running that it's $1,200 replacement never did. It it is illustrative of how much those repairs were costing that I unassed $1,200 to get a different Camaro!
Since the '79 Camaro didn't break every week, mods started. Again you can literally throw money away to no good effect modifying a car. You can lie to yourself about the gains, or you can measure them objectively. Then you can start over. By the time I was done I had an impressive list of things that didn't do any good on a small-block 305 and a very short list that did. First on that list was "get a 350 because 90% of small-block parts are designed for the bigger motor."
Guns are no different than cars.
Finances might trap you into a bad decision loop where it's a choice between a shitty gun or no gun. The trick is to accept that it's a shitty gun and you're not really going to make a great gun out of it; despite marketing hype or even popularity.
The second trap of finances is that you get desperate to get any gun at all, no matter how shitty, for the money you have in your pocket; then once you have that gun you spend far too much trying to make it not shitty. Like I did with my Mini-14.
At some point you need to have a serious talk with yourself about what you are REALLY trying to do with the gun. An honest talk. Then once your real goal is defined, do what it takes to achieve it. I know from hard experience that it's much easier said than done. It's easy and seductive to walk the path of justifications and excuses.
I also know that once you start doing it you utterly and absolutely grok, "Pay once, cry once."
It's a lesson I learned way back when I was a starving mooch. I was in physical therapy for my leg and unemployable. I needed to be able to get to the doctor's appointments, so I needed a car (friends don't suffer mooches for long).
The shit-boxes I could afford were never very reliable and I learned a lot about fixing cars. I also learned a lot about fooling myself into thinking I'd saved money.
The $200 rust bucket Camaro devoured an uncounted amount of money in repairs to keep it running that it's $1,200 replacement never did. It it is illustrative of how much those repairs were costing that I unassed $1,200 to get a different Camaro!
Since the '79 Camaro didn't break every week, mods started. Again you can literally throw money away to no good effect modifying a car. You can lie to yourself about the gains, or you can measure them objectively. Then you can start over. By the time I was done I had an impressive list of things that didn't do any good on a small-block 305 and a very short list that did. First on that list was "get a 350 because 90% of small-block parts are designed for the bigger motor."
Guns are no different than cars.
Finances might trap you into a bad decision loop where it's a choice between a shitty gun or no gun. The trick is to accept that it's a shitty gun and you're not really going to make a great gun out of it; despite marketing hype or even popularity.
The second trap of finances is that you get desperate to get any gun at all, no matter how shitty, for the money you have in your pocket; then once you have that gun you spend far too much trying to make it not shitty. Like I did with my Mini-14.
At some point you need to have a serious talk with yourself about what you are REALLY trying to do with the gun. An honest talk. Then once your real goal is defined, do what it takes to achieve it. I know from hard experience that it's much easier said than done. It's easy and seductive to walk the path of justifications and excuses.
I also know that once you start doing it you utterly and absolutely grok, "Pay once, cry once."
Philosophical Differences
What to use to defend yourself? It's not a simple question.
We carry handguns about in public because most of us are forced by law or social convention to hide them from view. Even the staunch open carriers carry a handgun because it's small and light.
There's a great deal of truth to the statement, "you use a pistol to fight your way to your rifle." Handguns are underpowered compared to just about any rifle. Even the vaunted .44 Magnum is not bringing as much energy to the fight as the maligned .223.
Shotguns are fowling pieces. That they are used for other purposes is a matter of law not prowess. If you are choosing a shotgun for home defense and cite over-penetration by a rifle; see this link. This link too. 00 Buck is nine .36" round balls running about 1,300 fps. each. Combined it's quite a load, individually not so much. They conspire to be about the same damage as .223 or 7.62x39.
Pistol caliber carbines are really big pistols and not small rifles. Yes, the extra barrel length might boost a 9x19mm round's velocity to .357 magnum speeds; but .357 is still what? Yes, a pistol round. Cruise through that box-o-truth site and you're going to notice that you're not solving the over-penetration problem here either.
What are you gaining when you eschew the rifle?
Cost has been trotted out.
If you're able to afford a $500 Glock, you're also able to afford a $300 SKS. A $400 Kel-Tec is still $100 more than a $300 SKS. A $300 SKS is the same as a $300 Mossberg.
And they are all cheaper than a $1,200 Colt AR. But there are much cheaper examples of AR out there, hit up the pawn shops for examples. A Century M16A1 kit-bash refurb will be in the $500 range. It's not in a stylish tacticool configuration, but it's going to work.
Update: To show the relative bulk; and the stratospheric price of a well equipped AR.
Update 2: "What you've made with your shotgun is a long arm as handy as an M1 Garand with 1/10th the range with ammo that weighs twice as much." Thanks for the perspective, Willard!
We carry handguns about in public because most of us are forced by law or social convention to hide them from view. Even the staunch open carriers carry a handgun because it's small and light.
There's a great deal of truth to the statement, "you use a pistol to fight your way to your rifle." Handguns are underpowered compared to just about any rifle. Even the vaunted .44 Magnum is not bringing as much energy to the fight as the maligned .223.
Shotguns are fowling pieces. That they are used for other purposes is a matter of law not prowess. If you are choosing a shotgun for home defense and cite over-penetration by a rifle; see this link. This link too. 00 Buck is nine .36" round balls running about 1,300 fps. each. Combined it's quite a load, individually not so much. They conspire to be about the same damage as .223 or 7.62x39.
Pistol caliber carbines are really big pistols and not small rifles. Yes, the extra barrel length might boost a 9x19mm round's velocity to .357 magnum speeds; but .357 is still what? Yes, a pistol round. Cruise through that box-o-truth site and you're going to notice that you're not solving the over-penetration problem here either.
What are you gaining when you eschew the rifle?
Cost has been trotted out.
If you're able to afford a $500 Glock, you're also able to afford a $300 SKS. A $400 Kel-Tec is still $100 more than a $300 SKS. A $300 SKS is the same as a $300 Mossberg.
And they are all cheaper than a $1,200 Colt AR. But there are much cheaper examples of AR out there, hit up the pawn shops for examples. A Century M16A1 kit-bash refurb will be in the $500 range. It's not in a stylish tacticool configuration, but it's going to work.
Update: To show the relative bulk; and the stratospheric price of a well equipped AR.
 |
| Remington 870 with light, Magpul furniture, extended magazine and Sage sights. 10 lb. $750. 7+1 shots. Laconic Arms AR-15 with light, Magpul furniture and EOTech. 8.7 lb. $1,822. 30+1 shots. S&W Sigma SW40F. 2 lb. $500. 15+1 shots. |
 |
| The same $750 that bought the shotgun also bought this M16A2 clone. 8.2 lb. 30+1 shots. I've seen AR's in this configuration going for less if you're willing to accept some cosmetic dings and that it's not in a stylish configuration, like the carbine shown above. |
03 March 2014
Inflationary Index
Charlotte is an early R604 (again).
Tabitha will soon be a late R603.
I keep track of my parts sources and prices.
In 2009 it was possible to make an R604 for about $750.
Today to replicate that feat is more along the lines of $900.
The blame is squarely affixed to retro becoming popular and the panic making ANY AR part more desirable as the preferred parts dried up.
Coupled with whomever in DC decided that barrels could not be imported or reimported and you end up with a perfect storm of price increase.
Tabitha will soon be a late R603.
I keep track of my parts sources and prices.
In 2009 it was possible to make an R604 for about $750.
Today to replicate that feat is more along the lines of $900.
The blame is squarely affixed to retro becoming popular and the panic making ANY AR part more desirable as the preferred parts dried up.
Coupled with whomever in DC decided that barrels could not be imported or reimported and you end up with a perfect storm of price increase.
Fire
Fired up the fire pit.
All of the wood we'd had stacked behind the shed from pruning and deadfall is gone.
It was fun sitting in the back yard with The Lovely Harvey and Marv chit-chattin' and looking at the stars. We even saw an impressive shooting star!
We also discovered that wood from an orange tree doesn't really flame. It just smolders as embers. It is an outstanding choice for toasting marshmallows!
All of the wood we'd had stacked behind the shed from pruning and deadfall is gone.
It was fun sitting in the back yard with The Lovely Harvey and Marv chit-chattin' and looking at the stars. We even saw an impressive shooting star!
We also discovered that wood from an orange tree doesn't really flame. It just smolders as embers. It is an outstanding choice for toasting marshmallows!
Adding It Up
The Purple AR is tentatively Princess Twilight.
The Boy is a Brony!
Going through The Lovely Harvey's build list and accounting for the values of parts already bought...
$663 $698 total. Update: I should mention that all but $300 of that total was sunk costs from the parts bin and swapping from other rifles.
Because I have tools for the most part. It's easily $400 more if you have to buy completed subassemblies.
The Boy is a Brony!
Going through The Lovely Harvey's build list and accounting for the values of parts already bought...
Because I have tools for the most part. It's easily $400 more if you have to buy completed subassemblies.
02 March 2014
Hilarious
Sean just renewed his Utah non-resident carry permit.
Looking at the list, I think I might just get me one too.
Washington and Minnesota, where I have friends and family, are off limits with my Florida resident permit.
Looks like I have to take the class again though.
Looking at the list, I think I might just get me one too.
Washington and Minnesota, where I have friends and family, are off limits with my Florida resident permit.
Looks like I have to take the class again though.
The AR 15 On $100 A Month
The Lovely Harvey has come to a decision about the configuration of The Purple AR.
We're also going to follow along as she builds (well as she picks and I assemble).
What we have on hand:
Cav Arms purple furniture set.
Commerical carbine receiver extension with buffer and spring.
Mid-Length 16" 6.8 SPC II 1:11 barrel and bolt with A2 style flash-hider and standard FSB with front sight parts.
YHM folding rear sight.
Echo's Purple Sling
Having a parts bin is handy (some links are representational).
What we need:
Upper receiver.
Lower receiver.
Lower parts kit.
Upper parts kit.
Bolt carrier.
The upper and lower have been ordered. Aero-Precision's Huckleberry set for $150. That leaves about $65 for the lower parts kit, $20 for the upper parts kit, $125ish for the bolt carrier group.
Then a name.
Optional is getting something engraved on the mag-well and cerakoting the receivers purple.
Some sort of optic is likely as well.
All in all, a fairly standard build except for the alternate caliber.
We're also going to follow along as she builds (well as she picks and I assemble).
What we have on hand:
Cav Arms purple furniture set.
Commerical carbine receiver extension with buffer and spring.
Mid-Length 16" 6.8 SPC II 1:11 barrel and bolt with A2 style flash-hider and standard FSB with front sight parts.
YHM folding rear sight.
Echo's Purple Sling
Having a parts bin is handy (some links are representational).
What we need:
Upper receiver.
Lower receiver.
Lower parts kit.
Upper parts kit.
Bolt carrier.
The upper and lower have been ordered. Aero-Precision's Huckleberry set for $150. That leaves about $65 for the lower parts kit, $20 for the upper parts kit, $125ish for the bolt carrier group.
Then a name.
Optional is getting something engraved on the mag-well and cerakoting the receivers purple.
Some sort of optic is likely as well.
All in all, a fairly standard build except for the alternate caliber.
Woo Hoo
Of late I've been culling the parts bin of AR stuff I'm never going to use.
It actually feels pretty darn good!
Black Rifle Disease is something of an addiction and Retro-BRD is worse.
By selling the parts the urge to build that early Project Agile AR is greatly diminished.
The only planned retro build now is to get a 20" pencil barrel and do some parts juggling. The XM16E1 will become a late M16A1 and the retro 6.8 will become an early R604 (or very late R602 depending on the source). Eventually I might get another A1 upper and change the GAU-5/A back into an XM177E2. Nodak is behind on getting new ones made.
The purple AR project is in what I'm calling development hell, Harvey calls it "look at all the choices". A flat-top 6.8 middy seems most likely at this point.
It actually feels pretty darn good!
Black Rifle Disease is something of an addiction and Retro-BRD is worse.
By selling the parts the urge to build that early Project Agile AR is greatly diminished.
The only planned retro build now is to get a 20" pencil barrel and do some parts juggling. The XM16E1 will become a late M16A1 and the retro 6.8 will become an early R604 (or very late R602 depending on the source). Eventually I might get another A1 upper and change the GAU-5/A back into an XM177E2. Nodak is behind on getting new ones made.
The purple AR project is in what I'm calling development hell, Harvey calls it "look at all the choices". A flat-top 6.8 middy seems most likely at this point.
01 March 2014
Price To Pay
Putin will, indeed, pay a price for an invasion of The Ukraine.
He will have to buy fuel, ammunition, spares, food and pay his troops.
That stuff is not free; he will have to pay for it.
I am not sure why President Obama is reminding him...
He will have to buy fuel, ammunition, spares, food and pay his troops.
That stuff is not free; he will have to pay for it.
I am not sure why President Obama is reminding him...
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