The Babylon Bee is, I think, the official paper of record of the US; despite being satirical.
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16 October 2019
15 October 2019
The M1911 And CMP
"As of September 2018, the Department of Army retained 90,016 surplus M1911/M1911A1s, not including the 8,000 already transferred to CMP or a prior cache of firearms that had been disposed of through the 1033 Program of the Law Enforcement Support Office within the DLA.7 The conditions and histories of the individual items vary considerably, as shown in Table 6.1. The DLA, which is tasked with storing the surplus items, defines supply condition codes, ranging from A to H, to describe that status of the items. In January 2018, the 8,000 M1911/M1911A1s were transferred to CMP. A large majority of the transferred items had the best condition codes, A (29.6 percent) or B (54.6 percent), while the remainder of the transfers were directly from the Army
Museum and TACOM and did not have documented DLA supply condition codes.
Most of the pistols remaining in possession by DLA/TACOM are in Condition F (84.2 percent) and require repair, overhaul, or reconditioning. About a tenth of the remaining inventory is condemned (Condition H, 9.5 percent). If future transfers are authorized and no new inventory is found, CMP will receive Condition B pistols or worse, and mostly Condition F pistols. This will have implications for the profitability of CMP sales of M1911/M1911A1s in the future and for whether 2018 is a representative year for the analysis."
1,242 guns from the museum system were shipped to CMP.
22 guns from TACOM were shipped to CMP
2,367 condition A were shipped to CMP, 0 remain in inventory.
4,369 condition B were shipped to CMP, 3,240 remain in inventory.
0 condition C were shipped to CMP, 0 remain in inventory.
0 condition D were shipped to CMP, 12 remain in inventory.
0 condition E were shipped to CMP, 2,407 remain in inventory.
0 condition F were shipped to CMP, 75,755 remain in inventory.
0 condition G were shipped to CMP, 14 remain in inventory.
0 condition H were shipped to CMP, 8,588 remain in inventory.
Condition A = New, used, repaired, or reconditioned material that is serviceable and issuable to all customers without limitation or restrictions. Includes material with more than six months of shelf life remaining.
Condition B = New, used, repaired, or reconditioned material that is serviceable and issuable for its intended purpose but is restricted from issue to specific units, activities, or geographical areas by reason of its limited usefulness or short service life expectancy. Includes material with three to six months’ shelf life.
Condition C = Items that are serviceable and issuable to selected customers but that must be issued before Condition A and B material to avoid loss as a usable asset. Includes material with less than three months’ shelf life.
Condition D = Serviceable material that requires test, alteration, modification, conversion, or disassembly. This does not include items that must be inspected or tested immediately prior to issue.
Condition E = Material that involves only limited expense or effort to restore to serviceable condition and that is accomplished in the storage activity where the stock is located.
Condition F = Economically reparable material that requires repair, overhaul, or reconditioning. Includes reparable items that are radioactivity-contaminated.
Condition G = Material requiring additional parts or components to complete the end item prior to issue.
Condition H = Material that has been determined to be unserviceable and that does not meet repair criteria; includes condemned items that are radioactively-contaminated, Type I shelf life material that has passed the expiration date, and Type II shelf life material that has passed the expiration date and cannot be extended.
Taken from "An Evaluation of the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety."
In a nutshell, if you didn't get yours in the first batch, you're very unlikely to get one at all.
They make an analysis of the cost to get those condition F's ready for sale and conclude that it's not viable at the rack grade price, which those pistols will most certainly be.
Bottomless Pit Of Agony And Despair
The Shitbox Precious is off to the shop.
I am getting ready to be fucked the old way... dipped in resin and rolled in ground glass... (100 points if you get that reference).
I am getting ready to be fucked the old way... dipped in resin and rolled in ground glass... (100 points if you get that reference).
14 October 2019
Rumor Has It
Willard has asked why one would want to buy a PMAG with the ammo counting window.
I now have an answer!
Apparently the medium coyote tan PMAG M3 with the window are held to slightly tighter or, at least, more consistent tolerances than the magazines the USMC aren't buying.
I'm getting twitchy that I don't have enough AR magazines again.
Must be because it's fall.
I now have an answer!
Apparently the medium coyote tan PMAG M3 with the window are held to slightly tighter or, at least, more consistent tolerances than the magazines the USMC aren't buying.
I'm getting twitchy that I don't have enough AR magazines again.
Must be because it's fall.
Make It More Illegaler
Ammunition background checks.
Theperson creature who shot up Mary Douglas Stoneman high school passed the background check to buy the rifle; therefore he it would have passed a background check to purchase the ammunition for it.
The problem wasn't that there weren't enough background checks; the problem was not a single politician in Broward County was willing to do what needed to be done with the creature in question and get them convicted/committed and on the prohibited person lists.
Once again it wasn't the citizens who will be punished by such a law who're responsible for the killer getting a firearm and ammunition but a failure of Democrat elected officials.
How about we ban Democrats?
Judging by the "illustrious" rolls of Illegal Mayors Against Illegal Guns; we'd do better without D in politics.
The
The problem wasn't that there weren't enough background checks; the problem was not a single politician in Broward County was willing to do what needed to be done with the creature in question and get them convicted/committed and on the prohibited person lists.
Once again it wasn't the citizens who will be punished by such a law who're responsible for the killer getting a firearm and ammunition but a failure of Democrat elected officials.
How about we ban Democrats?
Judging by the "illustrious" rolls of Illegal Mayors Against Illegal Guns; we'd do better without D in politics.
Glad I Saved It
I have an old Sears floor jack.
I bought it in 1991.
It lasted until just two years ago when it decided to stop lifting and start leaking oil.
The replacement from Northern Tools has decided to stop pumping except for the very bottom of the swing.
Today I looked for a seal kit for the Sears jack, expecting nothing like I got two years ago, and found a company selling the seals!
HUZZZAH!
The old Sears jack is an excellent piece of kit, very controllable. It's not as low profile as TheShitbox Precious would like, but otherwise...
I am happy that I didn't throw my old jack away now.
UPDATE: The Strongway brand jack responded to air purge procedure that's in the owner's brochure. Looks like I'll have two working jacks now.
I bought it in 1991.
It lasted until just two years ago when it decided to stop lifting and start leaking oil.
The replacement from Northern Tools has decided to stop pumping except for the very bottom of the swing.
Today I looked for a seal kit for the Sears jack, expecting nothing like I got two years ago, and found a company selling the seals!
HUZZZAH!
The old Sears jack is an excellent piece of kit, very controllable. It's not as low profile as The
I am happy that I didn't throw my old jack away now.
UPDATE: The Strongway brand jack responded to air purge procedure that's in the owner's brochure. Looks like I'll have two working jacks now.
Cracker Day!
Since we can't celebrate Columbus any more...
Today has been labeled "Indigenous People's Day" by the SJW community.
Fine.
Then today we celebrate the folks who were actually born in Florida, as opposed to the carpet-baggers and snowbirds.
Today has been labeled "Indigenous People's Day" by the SJW community.
Fine.
Then today we celebrate the folks who were actually born in Florida, as opposed to the carpet-baggers and snowbirds.
Service Life
You never know how contentious an issue is until you hit the internet...
At issue is the service life of the M14.
One of the "experts" defending the design has stated that it has a longer service life than the Garand as the primary issue infantry rifle.
The Garand began issue to troops in 1936 and was replaced by the M14 in 1959. That's 23 years for the math deficient.
The M14 began issue to troops in 1959 was dropped to limited service use in 1964. That's five years and 18 years shorter than the Garand, just in case math is too hard.
I am sure they're going to dissemble and try to claim that the limited service counts. If we're going to count that, we need to find out when the last Garand left US service... One could even say that because of the USMC's silent drill team that the Garand is in more active service than the M14 was until they started trying to make ersatz DMR guns from moldy guns in deep storage.
Kent state shows that the Garand was still being issued to the National Guard as late as 1970. If we accept 1975 as "early 1970's or later" for Guard issue then the Garand hung in there for 39 years.
The M14 wasn't issued like that. The M1 still being issued to Guard units as the M14 was being replaced with the M16A1 is very telling. Many (most?) Guard units transitioned straight to the M16A1 from the M1!
For all intents and purposes the M14's service ends when enough M16A1's became available to equip troops. It is not, despite limited issue as a DMR, 1959 to present.
At issue is the service life of the M14.
One of the "experts" defending the design has stated that it has a longer service life than the Garand as the primary issue infantry rifle.
The Garand began issue to troops in 1936 and was replaced by the M14 in 1959. That's 23 years for the math deficient.
The M14 began issue to troops in 1959 was dropped to limited service use in 1964. That's five years and 18 years shorter than the Garand, just in case math is too hard.
I am sure they're going to dissemble and try to claim that the limited service counts. If we're going to count that, we need to find out when the last Garand left US service... One could even say that because of the USMC's silent drill team that the Garand is in more active service than the M14 was until they started trying to make ersatz DMR guns from moldy guns in deep storage.
Kent state shows that the Garand was still being issued to the National Guard as late as 1970. If we accept 1975 as "early 1970's or later" for Guard issue then the Garand hung in there for 39 years.
The M14 wasn't issued like that. The M1 still being issued to Guard units as the M14 was being replaced with the M16A1 is very telling. Many (most?) Guard units transitioned straight to the M16A1 from the M1!
For all intents and purposes the M14's service ends when enough M16A1's became available to equip troops. It is not, despite limited issue as a DMR, 1959 to present.
13 October 2019
HALP!
In light of the Roh case...
Besides the AR, is there another rifle where the half with the trigger and hammer is the "gun"?
So far, it appears to be the only rifle where the barreled part isn't the serialized part.
Maybe the AR-180?
Besides the AR, is there another rifle where the half with the trigger and hammer is the "gun"?
So far, it appears to be the only rifle where the barreled part isn't the serialized part.
Maybe the AR-180?
I Think I'll Just Burn Gallons Of Gas In An Open Pit
AOC has indicated that global warming/climate change has made her decide to not have children.
Anything that keeps them from breeding is a good thing in my book.
Anything that keeps them from breeding is a good thing in my book.
12 October 2019
Barely Overlapping
My life and Dieudonne Saive's barely overlapped.
I'm just past 50 and he's been passed on for just less than 50 years.
I've used, own and carried three of his most famous designs (pictured below) and been issued and used a fourth (MAG / M240 not shown). None were found wanting except the Baby, which is entirely too small for my mitten-like paws.
A person armed as above cannot be considered ill armed.
Repose en paix monsieur Saive!
I'm just past 50 and he's been passed on for just less than 50 years.
I've used, own and carried three of his most famous designs (pictured below) and been issued and used a fourth (MAG / M240 not shown). None were found wanting except the Baby, which is entirely too small for my mitten-like paws.
Repose en paix monsieur Saive!
Feeling A Little Better
I occurred to me this morning that even though I failed to track down and eliminate the gas smell from The Shitbox Precious, what I attempted was the most difficult job on a sixth generation Corvette when you're laying on your back with the car suspended from jack-stands.
After speaking with more than one mechanic about this, they all congratulated me for dropping and reinstalling the tank three times. "These things happen," was a common refrain followed by, "I don't think I would have attempted it without a lift."
When I mentioned that the first two attempts were with the torque-tube, trans and rear cradle out of the car...
They applauded my thinking about it being easier to get at the cross-over with those out of the way and mentioned that a clutch swap was close to being the second hardest job just from the sheer number of things to keep track of.
The fuel system on these things have too many places where luck is the deciding factor of success rather than skill or planning. That's bad engineering.
After speaking with more than one mechanic about this, they all congratulated me for dropping and reinstalling the tank three times. "These things happen," was a common refrain followed by, "I don't think I would have attempted it without a lift."
When I mentioned that the first two attempts were with the torque-tube, trans and rear cradle out of the car...
They applauded my thinking about it being easier to get at the cross-over with those out of the way and mentioned that a clutch swap was close to being the second hardest job just from the sheer number of things to keep track of.
The fuel system on these things have too many places where luck is the deciding factor of success rather than skill or planning. That's bad engineering.
Quote Of The Random Interval
Zoon.
“If you can get past those awful idiot faces on the bleachers outside the theater without a sense of the collapse of human intelligence, and if you can go out into the night and see half the police force of Los Angeles gathered to protect the golden ones from the mob in the free seats, but not from the awful moaning sound they give out, like destiny whistling through a hollow shell; if you can do these things and still feel the next morning that the picture business is worth the attention of one single, intelligent, artistic mind, then in the picture business you certainly belong because this sort of vulgarity, the very vulgarity from which the Oscars are made, is the inevitable price that Hollywood exacts from each of its serfs.”
-- Raymond Chandler
Positive/Negative
Pro-gun people read about a mass shooting and think, "Oh God, NO!"
Anti-gun people read about a mass shooting and think, "Oh God, YES!"
I think that says all that needs to be said about whether the respective groups want there to be more or less mass shooting.
Anti-gun people read about a mass shooting and think, "Oh God, YES!"
I think that says all that needs to be said about whether the respective groups want there to be more or less mass shooting.
There Goes The Cure For Cancer
Armed robber shot dead at Dollar General.
Of note: This is not the first of ten siblings to be shot and killed.
The corpse's sister claims that the clerk who did society a favor should not have been armed and should have called the police, "like he was supposed to".
I think I can sense the disconnect here.
Her criminal siblings should not be impeded from armed robbery. If only the clerk had followed the script, everyone would be happy.
Personally, I think that we have the happiest ending already. Look at all the money we saved on tedious trials and incarcerations and lathering, rinsing and repeating until... he got shot and killed anyways.
Of note: This is not the first of ten siblings to be shot and killed.
The corpse's sister claims that the clerk who did society a favor should not have been armed and should have called the police, "like he was supposed to".
I think I can sense the disconnect here.
Her criminal siblings should not be impeded from armed robbery. If only the clerk had followed the script, everyone would be happy.
Personally, I think that we have the happiest ending already. Look at all the money we saved on tedious trials and incarcerations and lathering, rinsing and repeating until... he got shot and killed anyways.
Fascinating Read
I'm not sure how to summarize it, so just go to the link.
This guy appears to have gotten a "go forth and sin no more" plea deal because a judge ruled that ATF designating the lower receiver of an AR as the serialized part is not in compliance with ATF's own regulations concerning what constitutes a receiver; and that they want this ruling buried because of its implications on future enforcement efforts.
I think I got that right.
I think the judge is correct. The upper is the serialized part on most other rifles with split receivers.
This guy appears to have gotten a "go forth and sin no more" plea deal because a judge ruled that ATF designating the lower receiver of an AR as the serialized part is not in compliance with ATF's own regulations concerning what constitutes a receiver; and that they want this ruling buried because of its implications on future enforcement efforts.
I think I got that right.
I think the judge is correct. The upper is the serialized part on most other rifles with split receivers.
Another Gun Control Success Story
4 dead, 3 injured in Brooklyn.
Two handguns found at the scene of the crime.
And here I was thinking that handgun ownership was severely restricted in New York (spit) Fucking City.
So restricted that the owners are taking a case all the way to the supreme court to get the restrictions reduced.
Restrictions that, I am assured by several, well funded, organizations will make mass shootings impossible.
Well, I guess it's a good thing nobody was open carrying a rifle. Someone might have gotten hurt or gotten a restrictive anti-gun law passed or something.
Two handguns found at the scene of the crime.
And here I was thinking that handgun ownership was severely restricted in New York (spit) Fucking City.
So restricted that the owners are taking a case all the way to the supreme court to get the restrictions reduced.
Restrictions that, I am assured by several, well funded, organizations will make mass shootings impossible.
Well, I guess it's a good thing nobody was open carrying a rifle. Someone might have gotten hurt or gotten a restrictive anti-gun law passed or something.
Can Your Game Do That
The fireball pistol question also raises the reason I love GURPS and why so many people don't.
There are rules for making such a thing at all.
Most games will either have the fireball launching gun in the weapons table, or it's not available at all.
This is the soul of what GURPS IS!
Generic. Universal.
That means a lot more work for the GM in both creating the world, but also informing the players of the definitions and boundaries.
What does having magic, mages and enchantments mean to you? Does it mean the same thing to your players?
What are their assumptions?
World specific games define everything and set the boundaries starting at character generation.
GURPS puts that on the GM.
I'd rather have the flexibility to go anywhere and do anything.
What other game has actual rules for a magic fireball firing single action revolver and a light-saber built right in?
It will, you'll find, be a rather short list.
There are rules for making such a thing at all.
Most games will either have the fireball launching gun in the weapons table, or it's not available at all.
This is the soul of what GURPS IS!
Generic. Universal.
That means a lot more work for the GM in both creating the world, but also informing the players of the definitions and boundaries.
What does having magic, mages and enchantments mean to you? Does it mean the same thing to your players?
What are their assumptions?
World specific games define everything and set the boundaries starting at character generation.
GURPS puts that on the GM.
I'd rather have the flexibility to go anywhere and do anything.
What other game has actual rules for a magic fireball firing single action revolver and a light-saber built right in?
It will, you'll find, be a rather short list.
Fireball Pistol
It came up.
I threw together a world where magic existed in 1879 and had existed for a long time.
It was my modified GURPS: Magic system with a requirement of Mage's Guild membership and an athame for spell casting.
One of the players misunderstood how much magic this implied.
He wanted to go to the hardware store and buy a gun that fired fireballs.
That's not a standard magic item. Not even close.
It was also outside the scope of how I imagined magic in this world so I tabled it.
But I got reminded of it while chatting with FuzzyGeff this evening.
One way to do it is to buy it with points:
The total of the enhancements and limitations add up to -40%. That comes to 7.2 points or [8] because we always round to more expensive for the player!
8-points is fairly cheap, to be honest.
The rules state that if something can be bought with money, then it should be rather than with points.
What would this firearm that uses magic cost?
It the magic is inherent to the firearm itself and conventional .44-40 ammunition comes out as a fireball, then it requires the attention of a real live enchanting mage to make. That's going to make it more expensive than the normal Peacemaker ($450 in G$ or GURPS dollars)
If it's the ammunition that makes it special and the gun is a normal Colt, then we need an alchemist making the projectiles. There are very few to no alchemical products that are cheaper than $50. A normal round of .44-40 is a mere 60¢.
If they're both magic... Mage and alchemist.
They cost whatever I, as the GM, say they should cost. If I like the idea and think it fits the world, they're going to be cheaper than if I don't. A player's attitude about asking for such things can certainly affect my willingness to allow it as well. I've allowed too many things which ended up unbalancing my worlds before.
Basically I need to decide if it's the gun, ammo or both that make the item and decide the relative merit against 2d+1 pi+ versus 2d+1 burn.
Better wipe that gun off if you buy it, the arbitrarily set prices are pulled straight out of my ass.
I threw together a world where magic existed in 1879 and had existed for a long time.
It was my modified GURPS: Magic system with a requirement of Mage's Guild membership and an athame for spell casting.
One of the players misunderstood how much magic this implied.
He wanted to go to the hardware store and buy a gun that fired fireballs.
That's not a standard magic item. Not even close.
It was also outside the scope of how I imagined magic in this world so I tabled it.
But I got reminded of it while chatting with FuzzyGeff this evening.
One way to do it is to buy it with points:
Innate attack; 2d+1 burn damage. Range 10/100, Acc 3, RoF 1, Rcl 1. 5pts per die. [12]
This needs to be modified to be more like an 1879 era revolver's stats or nobody would buy one.
Increasing the range to 120/1200 is a +40% enhancement.
It should be able to be fanned, the rules for fanning led me to rule that the increase in the RoF is completely offset by the reduction in skill while doing so, so +0% enhancement.
Revolvers of the day are less accurate than the default power: Acc 2; -5% limitation.
Revolvers have six shots: Limited Use, 6 shots, slow reload 5-sec per round, -5% limitation. This assumes that ammo is readily available.
Revolvers have recoil and it will come up when fanning, so Rcl 2, -10% limitation.
It's magic so it cannot be used in a no-mana zone: Accessibility, not in no-mana; -5% limitation.
It's a physical object that can be damaged, broken or break-down: Breakable, DR 14, 6 HP, can break down; -15% limitation.
It's a small physical object: SM -6; -10% limitation.
It's a physical object that can be stolen: -30% limitation.
The total of the enhancements and limitations add up to -40%. That comes to 7.2 points or [8] because we always round to more expensive for the player!
8-points is fairly cheap, to be honest.
The rules state that if something can be bought with money, then it should be rather than with points.
What would this firearm that uses magic cost?
It the magic is inherent to the firearm itself and conventional .44-40 ammunition comes out as a fireball, then it requires the attention of a real live enchanting mage to make. That's going to make it more expensive than the normal Peacemaker ($450 in G$ or GURPS dollars)
If it's the ammunition that makes it special and the gun is a normal Colt, then we need an alchemist making the projectiles. There are very few to no alchemical products that are cheaper than $50. A normal round of .44-40 is a mere 60¢.
If they're both magic... Mage and alchemist.
They cost whatever I, as the GM, say they should cost. If I like the idea and think it fits the world, they're going to be cheaper than if I don't. A player's attitude about asking for such things can certainly affect my willingness to allow it as well. I've allowed too many things which ended up unbalancing my worlds before.
Basically I need to decide if it's the gun, ammo or both that make the item and decide the relative merit against 2d+1 pi+ versus 2d+1 burn.
Better wipe that gun off if you buy it, the arbitrarily set prices are pulled straight out of my ass.
11 October 2019
K-15 Korrection
The Model 15-3 Willard generously donated to my SEALs in Vietnam gun collection came with some God awful ugly stocks:
Before bequeathing it to me, he found much nicer target stocks.
While they're period correct for the model, they're not for the setting.
So I got a replacement set from Midway and applied the no-name grip adapter from The ElectroySmith Model 10. The down side of no-name grip adapters is you might have to file off some material to make them fit your gun and stocks...
That's more like what a budding gun-snob SEAL would pack!
It also has the bonus of making the ElectrolySmith more in keeping with her neglected appearance. Never mind that the grip adapter wasn't available when she was new...
Before bequeathing it to me, he found much nicer target stocks.
While they're period correct for the model, they're not for the setting.
So I got a replacement set from Midway and applied the no-name grip adapter from The ElectroySmith Model 10. The down side of no-name grip adapters is you might have to file off some material to make them fit your gun and stocks...
That's more like what a budding gun-snob SEAL would pack!
It also has the bonus of making the ElectrolySmith more in keeping with her neglected appearance. Never mind that the grip adapter wasn't available when she was new...
CVE-63 Has Been Located
USS St. Lo was located back in May.
She's something of a confirmation of the idea of it being bad luck to rename a ship.
She was laid down as USS Chapin Bay then USS Midway then USS St. Lo.
Then she was murdered by a kamikaze.
Speaking of bad luck names, Samuel B Roberts is only running at 1/3 success for avoiding catastrophic damage, but interestingly 2/3 for making it to decommissioning.
FFG-58 had terrible and excellent luck.
She's something of a confirmation of the idea of it being bad luck to rename a ship.
She was laid down as USS Chapin Bay then USS Midway then USS St. Lo.
Then she was murdered by a kamikaze.
Speaking of bad luck names, Samuel B Roberts is only running at 1/3 success for avoiding catastrophic damage, but interestingly 2/3 for making it to decommissioning.
FFG-58 had terrible and excellent luck.
Just Wait Until They Ban Plumbing
At least when near a million people in Florida lose power, it's because something damaged the lines, like a hurricane.
California leads the nation in idiocy, again.
One wonders if the wealthy denizens of the area have generators which let them ride out this stoppage in comfort while the little people suffer.
One also wonders if the emissions from those generators is better or worse than the power plant that's shut down while in fire prevention mode.
I watch a crew every year clear trees away from the line running in my back yard. That's all it takes to prevent wind from hitting the lines and causing problems. 49 states call this normal maintenance.
One does not.
h/t Mike at Cold Fury
California leads the nation in idiocy, again.
One wonders if the wealthy denizens of the area have generators which let them ride out this stoppage in comfort while the little people suffer.
One also wonders if the emissions from those generators is better or worse than the power plant that's shut down while in fire prevention mode.
I watch a crew every year clear trees away from the line running in my back yard. That's all it takes to prevent wind from hitting the lines and causing problems. 49 states call this normal maintenance.
One does not.
h/t Mike at Cold Fury
Pocket Firepower
Just 109 years separated in design, but identical in intentions.
Colt Pocket Hammerless in .380 ACP and S&W M&P 9 Shield in 9mm Parabellum.
The Shield is smaller in every dimension but width, holds the same number of rounds with the flush magazine, has better sights, is lighter and fires a more powerful 9mm round. What's more, it's actually hammerless!
Technology marches on.
I think it's interesting is they both have a passive safety that's activated by the act of firing. The Colt with a grip safety, the S&W with the articulated trigger.
Colt Pocket Hammerless in .380 ACP and S&W M&P 9 Shield in 9mm Parabellum.
The Shield is smaller in every dimension but width, holds the same number of rounds with the flush magazine, has better sights, is lighter and fires a more powerful 9mm round. What's more, it's actually hammerless!
Technology marches on.
I think it's interesting is they both have a passive safety that's activated by the act of firing. The Colt with a grip safety, the S&W with the articulated trigger.
It'd Cost Me My NCRS Points
This entire fuel pump fiasco has me thinking of sacrificing my National Corvette Restorer's Society score and coming up with a way to make the fuel system serviceable without accidentally breaking things.
There's no real reason for the jet line and return to run inside the crossover.
But...
The real problem with this whole mess is the limited access to where the crossover enters the tanks.
Access that could be provided by cutting a slot into a frame gusset and box welding the slot.
Then you could lower the tank 6" and get at the collar from the wheel well instead of from underneath and between the back side of that gusset and the transmission.
But that would have added $20 to the cost of making the frame. GM hates spending money on things like making future repairs possible without replacing more than what's broken.
The tank pressure vent on the top should be a replaceable item on its own, not something that's molded into the tank. I loath inseparable assemblies and there's far too many of them in this thing's fuel system.
And it's ALL because of The California Air Resources Board. It's their standards on permeability that led to how this is all sealed up.
Ironically, this mania for sealing things lead to materials that grow brittle and begin leaking on their own. This releases more fuel vapor in a few days than the older "unsuitable" materials did over decades.
Gods be damned greenies!
There's no real reason for the jet line and return to run inside the crossover.
But...
The real problem with this whole mess is the limited access to where the crossover enters the tanks.
Access that could be provided by cutting a slot into a frame gusset and box welding the slot.
Then you could lower the tank 6" and get at the collar from the wheel well instead of from underneath and between the back side of that gusset and the transmission.
But that would have added $20 to the cost of making the frame. GM hates spending money on things like making future repairs possible without replacing more than what's broken.
The tank pressure vent on the top should be a replaceable item on its own, not something that's molded into the tank. I loath inseparable assemblies and there's far too many of them in this thing's fuel system.
And it's ALL because of The California Air Resources Board. It's their standards on permeability that led to how this is all sealed up.
Ironically, this mania for sealing things lead to materials that grow brittle and begin leaking on their own. This releases more fuel vapor in a few days than the older "unsuitable" materials did over decades.
Gods be damned greenies!
10 October 2019
Spoke To The Shop
The Shitbox Precious goes into the shop in St Pete on Tuesday morning.
Joe, the owner, made me feel a lot better about my predicament.
The nylon-like fuel lines that go from the pump in the driver's side tank to the passenger side tank and back are the bane of this design.
E is the driver's side pump/sender assy. H is the passenger side pump/sender assy. N and P are the lines in question.
The orange things at each end of N and P are where they separate from the tank assemblies.
These lines, while designed for being in fuel, are still attacked by it. They get brittle.
Dropping the tanks stresses them a lot.
I replaced the in-tank portion of these lines when I did the pump, but didn't do the lines in the cross-over or passenger tank.
Bearing in mind that any disturbance to these lines can break them, I dropped the tank THREE times.
A break was bound to happen.
Joe's going to send a camera up in there and find the break.
The good news is these parts are not expensive or scarce. The labor is what gets you in the ass.
Joe, the owner, made me feel a lot better about my predicament.
The nylon-like fuel lines that go from the pump in the driver's side tank to the passenger side tank and back are the bane of this design.
E is the driver's side pump/sender assy. H is the passenger side pump/sender assy. N and P are the lines in question.
The orange things at each end of N and P are where they separate from the tank assemblies.
These lines, while designed for being in fuel, are still attacked by it. They get brittle.
Dropping the tanks stresses them a lot.
I replaced the in-tank portion of these lines when I did the pump, but didn't do the lines in the cross-over or passenger tank.
Bearing in mind that any disturbance to these lines can break them, I dropped the tank THREE times.
A break was bound to happen.
Joe's going to send a camera up in there and find the break.
The good news is these parts are not expensive or scarce. The labor is what gets you in the ass.
09 October 2019
I'm Handing This To The Professionals
Convinced that because the cross-over o-rings were the source of the smell, I went to drop the driver's side tank today.
This is the first time I've tried it with the transmission in the car.
In the process of disconnecting the cross-over... the tank fell right out of the car.
Breaking the evap line that runs to the top of the tank.
This is a part of the tank, so you have to replace the tank if this breaks.
Luckily, I had a spare tank!
So I swap out the fuel pump from the old tank to the used tank. This is the biggest pain in the ass EVER.
JT came over and helped me get it in the car.
His help cost him more than I am worth because his Caddy just up and quit. We tow him to a dealer and I gave him a ride home.
I finish buttoning up The Precious and get her ass back on the ground.
I go to start her to get her nose out of the air and off the ramps...
Crank crank crank crank... nothin'.
FUCK!
I can't tell if the pump is running.
There doesn't appear to be pressure at the rails.
I jumper the relay and I think I can hear the pump running. Still no pressure at the rails.
Something is amiss.
There's a speed shop in St Pete that specializes in Vettes. They can tell me what's wrong.
Because in each of the four times I've had the tank out I've managed to break something else.
To date this has cost me more than just taking to St Pete in the first place would have cost me.
This is the first time I've tried it with the transmission in the car.
In the process of disconnecting the cross-over... the tank fell right out of the car.
Breaking the evap line that runs to the top of the tank.
This is a part of the tank, so you have to replace the tank if this breaks.
Luckily, I had a spare tank!
So I swap out the fuel pump from the old tank to the used tank. This is the biggest pain in the ass EVER.
JT came over and helped me get it in the car.
His help cost him more than I am worth because his Caddy just up and quit. We tow him to a dealer and I gave him a ride home.
I finish buttoning up The Precious and get her ass back on the ground.
I go to start her to get her nose out of the air and off the ramps...
Crank crank crank crank... nothin'.
FUCK!
I can't tell if the pump is running.
There doesn't appear to be pressure at the rails.
I jumper the relay and I think I can hear the pump running. Still no pressure at the rails.
Something is amiss.
There's a speed shop in St Pete that specializes in Vettes. They can tell me what's wrong.
Because in each of the four times I've had the tank out I've managed to break something else.
To date this has cost me more than just taking to St Pete in the first place would have cost me.
Other Side Of The Coin
While I don't blame victims for being victimized...
There's a lot of simple things you can do to keep from becoming a victim.
Like locking doors.
Like not leaving valuables visible, accessible and unattended.
Why make it easy for the criminal?
But there's some misconceptions about how hard you're making it for the criminal.
A car isn't less secure than your house.
A car is a different kind of opportunity.
The difference is in exposure time.
Someone stealing something out of a car is generally in plain view of any passerby.
Someone stealing out of a house is not, and thus has much more time to work on the problem of finding valuables.
Having your 72" flat screen visible from the street is in the same category as leaving your wallet on the dash.
In an ideal world, one without thieves, the wallet and the television are safe.
Because we don't live in that world, it's prudent to take precautions.
There's a lot of simple things you can do to keep from becoming a victim.
Like locking doors.
Like not leaving valuables visible, accessible and unattended.
Why make it easy for the criminal?
But there's some misconceptions about how hard you're making it for the criminal.
A car isn't less secure than your house.
A car is a different kind of opportunity.
The difference is in exposure time.
Someone stealing something out of a car is generally in plain view of any passerby.
Someone stealing out of a house is not, and thus has much more time to work on the problem of finding valuables.
Having your 72" flat screen visible from the street is in the same category as leaving your wallet on the dash.
In an ideal world, one without thieves, the wallet and the television are safe.
Because we don't live in that world, it's prudent to take precautions.
Saying What I've Said Before Again
All you have to do is search for the term "victim" and you can find how I feel about blaming the victim.
I literally said it years ago. Not that anyone read it...
But there's something about blaming the victim that doesn't often come up any more.
Have you ever looked at the FBI stats for rape and compared them to a change in how the police and courts handled the victims?
When we started applying the philosophy that the rapist was the one responsible for the rape, irregardless of the sexual history of the victim or their manner of dress...
More rapists went to jail. Fewer rapes occur.
Blaming the victim for their portion of the victim selection process absolves the criminal of their crime.
This absolution leads to less stringent investigations and fewer convictions.
It's easy to blame the victim. It's also lazy.
Blaming the victim is also morally reprehensible.
The immoral like to talk big and cluck at how stupid the victims are, but they're really enabling the criminal and providing cover for their actions. After all, the immoral aren't blaming them for their crimes...
The criminal is responsible for their crime. That the victim made it easy is irrelevant.
Focusing on irrelevancies is a good sign that someone has no point to make and no moral ground to stand on.
I literally said it years ago. Not that anyone read it...
But there's something about blaming the victim that doesn't often come up any more.
Have you ever looked at the FBI stats for rape and compared them to a change in how the police and courts handled the victims?
When we started applying the philosophy that the rapist was the one responsible for the rape, irregardless of the sexual history of the victim or their manner of dress...
More rapists went to jail. Fewer rapes occur.
Blaming the victim for their portion of the victim selection process absolves the criminal of their crime.
This absolution leads to less stringent investigations and fewer convictions.
It's easy to blame the victim. It's also lazy.
Blaming the victim is also morally reprehensible.
The immoral like to talk big and cluck at how stupid the victims are, but they're really enabling the criminal and providing cover for their actions. After all, the immoral aren't blaming them for their crimes...
The criminal is responsible for their crime. That the victim made it easy is irrelevant.
Focusing on irrelevancies is a good sign that someone has no point to make and no moral ground to stand on.
08 October 2019
Flying
Marv says The Precious should be eligible for frequent flier miles.
To get the tank high enough...
First, the front wheels go up on the ramps.
Then the ass end is lifted to the limit of the jack. Set jack stands.
Insert a block on top of the jack, lift to the limits of the jack again. Set jack stands.
UGH.
Now the big question is if I can get the crossover off with the exhaust in the way. I dunno. The service manual says to drop the intermediate pipe.
To get the tank high enough...
First, the front wheels go up on the ramps.
Then the ass end is lifted to the limit of the jack. Set jack stands.
Insert a block on top of the jack, lift to the limits of the jack again. Set jack stands.
UGH.
Now the big question is if I can get the crossover off with the exhaust in the way. I dunno. The service manual says to drop the intermediate pipe.
Vichy Gunowners Support This Idea
Victim of gun theft gets rest of collection stolen by state under color of law.
This is where blaming the victim ultimately leads.
Punishing the victim is very popular with Vichy Gunowners.
They spend far more time condemning the practice of keeping a gun in a car than they do blaming the person actually at fault, the thief.
Congratulations, Vichy Gunowners, your advocacy has been codified in Connecticut!
Why stop at "don't keep a gun in your car and it won't get stolen" and go straight to "don't own a gun and there's no gun to be stolen!"
This is where blaming the victim ultimately leads.
Punishing the victim is very popular with Vichy Gunowners.
They spend far more time condemning the practice of keeping a gun in a car than they do blaming the person actually at fault, the thief.
Congratulations, Vichy Gunowners, your advocacy has been codified in Connecticut!
Why stop at "don't keep a gun in your car and it won't get stolen" and go straight to "don't own a gun and there's no gun to be stolen!"
Utterly Unmotivated
To get the tank out... The Precious needs to be 16-20" in the air at the tank.
That means raising it up in stages.
It gets increasingly precarious as you get higher.
Then the damned exhaust has to come out.
Now you can wrestle with the crossover by braille.
Now you can disconnect the evap by braille.
Then you can lower the tank to see if you can see where that gas smell has been coming from.
I'm spent.
I'm sick of the large number of steps to do get prepared to start working on the broken part.
I'm growing to hate this car so much.
That means raising it up in stages.
It gets increasingly precarious as you get higher.
Then the damned exhaust has to come out.
Now you can wrestle with the crossover by braille.
Now you can disconnect the evap by braille.
Then you can lower the tank to see if you can see where that gas smell has been coming from.
I'm spent.
I'm sick of the large number of steps to do get prepared to start working on the broken part.
I'm growing to hate this car so much.
07 October 2019
One More Character And I'm Done With The Project
I mentioned when I started this, I'd be making a TL8 character too.
TL8 is modern day.
TL8 is where the TL Project will stop because TL9 needs world building before you can start character generation.
Definitely need to make a Transhuman Space character though. Not sure what TL that ends up being because it's originally 3e and the tech levels are all slightly different for 4e.
TL8 is modern day.
TL8 is where the TL Project will stop because TL9 needs world building before you can start character generation.
Definitely need to make a Transhuman Space character though. Not sure what TL that ends up being because it's originally 3e and the tech levels are all slightly different for 4e.
Just Takes Buckets Of Money
Say you just dropped $1,500 on a new PC to play DCS.
Say you simply must play the F-14, because Maverick and Goose. $80. Your RIO has to plunk down for the machine and their own copy of the plane too.
Because immersion is all... You need some HOTAS.
Virpil makes a stick that sure mimics the F-14 one. Cleverly named the VFX. €159.95 ($175.72) and that is JUST the part you grab with the buttons and switches.
You'll need a base, €169.95 ($186.71); and an extension to connect them, €49.95 ($54.88)
Then you're going to need a throttle.
Virpel VPC MongoosT-50CM2 for €269.95 ($296.57)
or
Thrustmaster Warthog for $299.99
≈$715
There's an alternate plan where you buy the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS bundle, then replace the stick handle and add the extension.
$661.80
Then pedals...
Virpel VPC ACE-1 €299.95 ($329.53)
or
Thrustmaster TPR $533.99!!!
Yeah...
$1,200 on top of a $1,500 game machine and I'm not even sure that the game machine has the VR goggles included.
Of course you can go cheaper. Stick to the Warthog HOTAS for $446.97 and use the much cheaper Thrustmaster TFRP pedals for $89.99. $536.96.
Say you simply must play the F-14, because Maverick and Goose. $80. Your RIO has to plunk down for the machine and their own copy of the plane too.
Because immersion is all... You need some HOTAS.
Virpil makes a stick that sure mimics the F-14 one. Cleverly named the VFX. €159.95 ($175.72) and that is JUST the part you grab with the buttons and switches.
You'll need a base, €169.95 ($186.71); and an extension to connect them, €49.95 ($54.88)
Then you're going to need a throttle.
Virpel VPC MongoosT-50CM2 for €269.95 ($296.57)
or
Thrustmaster Warthog for $299.99
≈$715
There's an alternate plan where you buy the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS bundle, then replace the stick handle and add the extension.
$661.80
Then pedals...
Virpel VPC ACE-1 €299.95 ($329.53)
or
Thrustmaster TPR $533.99!!!
Yeah...
$1,200 on top of a $1,500 game machine and I'm not even sure that the game machine has the VR goggles included.
Of course you can go cheaper. Stick to the Warthog HOTAS for $446.97 and use the much cheaper Thrustmaster TFRP pedals for $89.99. $536.96.
Skirting WTF Japan Territory
I've been watching, and enjoying, an anime called Cells at Work, it's really strange.
It's also amazingly accurate with regards to science and biology if you accept the conceit that each individual cell is a person.
It's also amazingly accurate with regards to science and biology if you accept the conceit that each individual cell is a person.
Teachin'
Took a not-quite-a-new-shooter to the range yesterday with Marv.
It was a bit strange, I've known this person since she was nine. She's 22 now.
She's mid-process of getting her CCW and is a little nervous about the shooting portion of the class.
She needn't have been. She's a decent shot.
She's still making up her mind about if she's going to carry a snubby revolver or teeny 9mm, and has one of each.
She asked more questions about the law than the guns, which is a solid sign she's paying attention to the right stuff about carrying.
We learned something about the SIG P365 and astigmatism too. The shape of the rear sight tends to make an arc thanks to the corners of the rear sight notch fuzzing out when you're focusing on the front sight; so you put the front sight at the top of the arc instead of flush with the top of the rear sight and you end up shooting low.
She says she can see the correct alignment if she concentrates, so that's what she's working on.
We also discovered that my Ruger Standard doesn't like 21gr CCI Copper-22™. Several stoppages.
It was a bit strange, I've known this person since she was nine. She's 22 now.
She's mid-process of getting her CCW and is a little nervous about the shooting portion of the class.
She needn't have been. She's a decent shot.
She's still making up her mind about if she's going to carry a snubby revolver or teeny 9mm, and has one of each.
She asked more questions about the law than the guns, which is a solid sign she's paying attention to the right stuff about carrying.
We learned something about the SIG P365 and astigmatism too. The shape of the rear sight tends to make an arc thanks to the corners of the rear sight notch fuzzing out when you're focusing on the front sight; so you put the front sight at the top of the arc instead of flush with the top of the rear sight and you end up shooting low.
She says she can see the correct alignment if she concentrates, so that's what she's working on.
We also discovered that my Ruger Standard doesn't like 21gr CCI Copper-22™. Several stoppages.
06 October 2019
Still Need More Smoke
The F-16CM block 50 has hit DCS for early release.
Lots of stuff is not yet enabled.
Watching a few vids on YouTube about it is like a walk down Falcon 4.0 Memory Lane.
I'm one of the people who downloaded the realism patches and had the full start-up on the ramp enabled.
I am so familiar with what they're showing from all the time I spent playing Falcon...
DCS is also now the first combat flight sim to have all four teen fighters native to the game.
F-14B (A coming soon), F-15C, F-16CM/50 and F/A-18C lot 20.
Shut up and take my money?
Well...
So far, only the F-15C is full release and it's running the standard model for the systems. The others are at various stages of pre and open release but run full advanced system modeling (every switch works or will work and every system works or will work).
I'm excited that flight sims are experiencing a renaissance.
I am bummed that I don't have the system to even begin to enjoy it.
I'm squirreling those pennies though!
Also on my list of wants is the announced F-4 Phantom (likely a late model F-4E) and F-8J Crusader.
Lots of stuff is not yet enabled.
Watching a few vids on YouTube about it is like a walk down Falcon 4.0 Memory Lane.
I'm one of the people who downloaded the realism patches and had the full start-up on the ramp enabled.
I am so familiar with what they're showing from all the time I spent playing Falcon...
DCS is also now the first combat flight sim to have all four teen fighters native to the game.
F-14B (A coming soon), F-15C, F-16CM/50 and F/A-18C lot 20.
Shut up and take my money?
Well...
So far, only the F-15C is full release and it's running the standard model for the systems. The others are at various stages of pre and open release but run full advanced system modeling (every switch works or will work and every system works or will work).
I'm excited that flight sims are experiencing a renaissance.
I am bummed that I don't have the system to even begin to enjoy it.
I'm squirreling those pennies though!
Also on my list of wants is the announced F-4 Phantom (likely a late model F-4E) and F-8J Crusader.
But He Wasn't Armed
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/man-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-punch
Punch, fall, head hit, dead.
Just making sure this gets noted outside Tampa.
Punch, fall, head hit, dead.
Just making sure this gets noted outside Tampa.
04 October 2019
What A Dog's Breakfast
HB 273 would change:
790.053 Open carrying of weapons.—(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device. It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.(2) A person may openly carry, for purposes of lawful self-defense:(a) A self-defense chemical spray.(b) A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.History.—s. 1, ch. 87-537; s. 173, ch. 91-224; s. 3, ch. 97-72; s. 1205, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 2006-298; s. 1, ch. 2011-145.
to
790.053 Open carrying of weapons.—(1) Except as otherwise provided by law and in subsection (2), it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any electric weapon or device.(2) A person may openly carry, for purposes of lawful self-defense:(a) A self-defense chemical spray.(b) A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.History.—s. 1, ch. 87-537; s. 173, ch. 91-224; s. 3, ch. 97-72; s. 1205, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 2006-298; s. 1, ch. 2011-145.
That translates to open carry, no license required.
For some reason 790.01 is amended from:
790.01 Unlicensed carrying of concealed weapons or concealed firearms.—(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(3) This section does not apply to:(a) A person who carries a concealed weapon, or a person who may lawfully possess a firearm and who carries a concealed firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to chapter 252 or declared by a local authority pursuant to chapter 870. As used in this subsection, the term “in the act of evacuating” means the immediate and urgent movement of a person away from the evacuation zone within 48 hours after a mandatory evacuation is ordered. The 48 hours may be extended by an order issued by the Governor.(b) A person who carries for purposes of lawful self-defense, in a concealed manner:1. A self-defense chemical spray.2. A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.
to
790.01 Unlicensed carrying of concealed weapons or firearms.—It seems to me like the changes to 790.053 eliminate the need to mention firearms in 790.01 (3) (a).(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who is not licensed under s. 790.06 and who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person who carries a concealed firearm on or about his or her person into any place described in s. 790.06 (12) (a) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083.(3) This section does not apply to:(a) A person who carries a concealed weapon, or a person who may lawfully possess a firearm and who carries a firearm, on or about his or her person while in the act of evacuating during a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to chapter 252 or declared by a local authority pursuant to chapter 870. As used in this subsection, the term “in the act of evacuating” means the immediate and urgent movement of a person away from the evacuation zone within 48 hours after a mandatory evacuation is ordered. The 48 hours may be extended by an order issued by the Governor.(b) A person who carries for purposes of lawful self-defense, in a concealed manner:1. A self-defense chemical spray.2. A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.
Unless there's other language barring the carry of firearms in an evacuation zone not changed with this bill.
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