Today I heard this: "Dude, we have this, on it". Coming from these people it means much. They mean it. I have watched their children grow up, had one in a Basic Pistol class not so long ago, a very nice young lady that I was stunned to see in class. A shy pre-adolescent in the day, now shooting a Handgun. The other is now a newly minted Grandfather. I trust these people with my life.
If these people tell me they have it, I believe them. The other thing is after all these years with them I would truly miss them in my life. They have witnessed many things blow up in my life but they were always there. I have done the same with them.
I hated this place 20+ years ago. All I wanted to do was go home. Now I have some peace here, friends that mean much. It is not so much a physical location that you end up in where you feel comfortable, it is the people that surround you, the ones that you are comfortable with to draw into your circle. As they do with you.
The Blogger world is much like this.
To my friends here I say thank you. I am a better person to have met you.
I would let you know later if my friends truly "have it" but it is a foregone conclusion.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Yea!
Congratulations are in order for Mrs. Curmudgeon. She passed the written and live fire tests for a CCH permit!
Come to find out Mr. Curmudgeon made my job much easier with loading/unloading exercises with a semi auto and a revolver and the use of a laserlyte training cartridge with dry fire exercises on an M&P.
40 for 40 rounds on target at 3,5,and 7 yards. Woo-Hoo!
After qualification she wanted to shoot the M&P! 9 ring at 7 yds =)
Sorry about the photo, but my Blackberry camera well, uh sucks.
Congrats again Ma'am!
Oh, I did eat some great food too!
Come to find out Mr. Curmudgeon made my job much easier with loading/unloading exercises with a semi auto and a revolver and the use of a laserlyte training cartridge with dry fire exercises on an M&P.
40 for 40 rounds on target at 3,5,and 7 yards. Woo-Hoo!
After qualification she wanted to shoot the M&P! 9 ring at 7 yds =)
Sorry about the photo, but my Blackberry camera well, uh sucks.
Congrats again Ma'am!
Oh, I did eat some great food too!
Friday, July 6, 2012
I have a special student tomorrow
Tomorrow I have a challenge. A woman that is near and dear to me has decided to obtain a Concealed Carry Handgun Permit. Although she comes from a long line of shooters, people that ran the guns back in the day were exclusively male. She is approaching 70 years of age. That is a generational thing. She has to my knowledge never shot a firearm although she could have reached one any time in the house she grew up in.
Recent events where she normally shops has led her to this. An abduction in mid-afternoon in a parking lot.
Tomorrow, I will give the class one on one and here is what we start with:
A Smith and Wesson model 34-1 Kit revolver in .22LR. My favorite for new shooters. We will go from there. My State does not have any requirements on what you shoot to qualify with. We will start here.
On the plus side I know I will get fed well tomorrow!
Wish us both luck tomorrow. I have a passion for empowering people. Especially this person.
Recent events where she normally shops has led her to this. An abduction in mid-afternoon in a parking lot.
Tomorrow, I will give the class one on one and here is what we start with:
A Smith and Wesson model 34-1 Kit revolver in .22LR. My favorite for new shooters. We will go from there. My State does not have any requirements on what you shoot to qualify with. We will start here.
On the plus side I know I will get fed well tomorrow!
Wish us both luck tomorrow. I have a passion for empowering people. Especially this person.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Some assembly required....
So I get a belated Birthday gift today from my parents. We have never been date specific on anything anyway. A joke about shutting the Cracker Barrels now as a goal now struck a nerve.
A rocker to replace the well worn one on the porch.
In case you were wondering, the big black thing upper right in the pic is a variable ratio power steering gear from a '71 Mustang. Is toast.
The other thing to arrive today is this:
This will present a bigger DIY project. I love the fact that it is load side switching and does not require a true and formal sub panel from the main breaker box. The fact that I have an obsolete panel makes this even more useful. The problem now is the Darwin award winning redneck call of "hey y'all watch this" that has forced OSHA to mandate that the neutral and ground be bonded on the generator. That immediately makes this useless as the neutral and ground are bonded in the breaker box. Add the fact that you need to do some simple math.
I am leaning toward a Briggs and Stratton or a Generac for the generator. I'm holding on a 9Kw peak, 8Kw load.
Now however, the lawyers will not tell you how to put the gen set on a floating neutral. No worries however. If it has wires, I can figure it out.
Oh, this looks cheesy enough to be entertaining. It's not here yet.
.
A rocker to replace the well worn one on the porch.
In case you were wondering, the big black thing upper right in the pic is a variable ratio power steering gear from a '71 Mustang. Is toast.
The other thing to arrive today is this:
This will present a bigger DIY project. I love the fact that it is load side switching and does not require a true and formal sub panel from the main breaker box. The fact that I have an obsolete panel makes this even more useful. The problem now is the Darwin award winning redneck call of "hey y'all watch this" that has forced OSHA to mandate that the neutral and ground be bonded on the generator. That immediately makes this useless as the neutral and ground are bonded in the breaker box. Add the fact that you need to do some simple math.
I am leaning toward a Briggs and Stratton or a Generac for the generator. I'm holding on a 9Kw peak, 8Kw load.
Now however, the lawyers will not tell you how to put the gen set on a floating neutral. No worries however. If it has wires, I can figure it out.
Oh, this looks cheesy enough to be entertaining. It's not here yet.
.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Predator or Prey?
I just watched a Spider build a web. It was perfect, set up to angle between the kitchen window light and it. Nature can teach us if we will heed the lessons. The eight legged predator has set the trap, much like two legged ones.
The spider has chosen the time and place to execute the attack against the innocent. The spider has a huge advantage against an innocent insect that gets too close. That is a lesson to be learned. If you get too close, you cannot win against a seasoned predator. Awareness is key to me to avoid and back out of a potentially hostile situation if possible.
Many think if they strap on a Handgun, it is a Talisman to ward off evil. Sorry, it does not work that way on many levels. The BEST I have done presenting from concealment and getting the first accurate shot off is currently is 1.28 seconds. This is on a target that is not moving, not firing at me, and I know the test before hand. I also do not have anyone in my face to prevent me presenting the Handgun.
In so many ways it brings up "War Games".
Yes, have a Handgun. Learn how to run it. Learn how not to be put in that position by using situational awareness if at all possible.
Now before you get bent, remember I am an advocate of concealed carry, open carry and the Second Amendment. I tell my students that one of my main concerns on holster selection is the fact that the Handgun will stay in it if I need to run. My definition of self defense is that I get to go home at the end of the day. Period. I'm not LEO, nor am I some superhero.
The fact that the predator already has played this game and simply views me as fresh meat in a location they chose means a great deal. If I get into this situation, I probably will not win. I will fight, but I would rather choose not to play the predators game if at all possible. The odds are always in their favor if I play the game they have setup.
The spider has chosen the time and place to execute the attack against the innocent. The spider has a huge advantage against an innocent insect that gets too close. That is a lesson to be learned. If you get too close, you cannot win against a seasoned predator. Awareness is key to me to avoid and back out of a potentially hostile situation if possible.
Many think if they strap on a Handgun, it is a Talisman to ward off evil. Sorry, it does not work that way on many levels. The BEST I have done presenting from concealment and getting the first accurate shot off is currently is 1.28 seconds. This is on a target that is not moving, not firing at me, and I know the test before hand. I also do not have anyone in my face to prevent me presenting the Handgun.
In so many ways it brings up "War Games".
Yes, have a Handgun. Learn how to run it. Learn how not to be put in that position by using situational awareness if at all possible.
Now before you get bent, remember I am an advocate of concealed carry, open carry and the Second Amendment. I tell my students that one of my main concerns on holster selection is the fact that the Handgun will stay in it if I need to run. My definition of self defense is that I get to go home at the end of the day. Period. I'm not LEO, nor am I some superhero.
The fact that the predator already has played this game and simply views me as fresh meat in a location they chose means a great deal. If I get into this situation, I probably will not win. I will fight, but I would rather choose not to play the predators game if at all possible. The odds are always in their favor if I play the game they have setup.
The Arisaka Just Got Bumped a Notch!
Remember this post? The Arisaka Type 38, Nagoya Arsenal (1923-1945), Series 26. Serial # 8XXX, ca.1933-ca.1940 for 0-99,999 #'s.
I am still getting borepatches that look like this out of it.
I am still getting borepatches that look like this out of it.
So I call my friends to let them know that I am of the opinion that this rifle is worth far more in its current condition. Field strip, clean and oil is all it is getting from me. Any further ministrations and I fear I will lessen the value of this rifle.
Then they raise the bar. They say they have the Bayonet for it! They bring it.
Oh, WITH Scabbard? Really!?!?!
I am not a historian. I am not a Gunsmith, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night either. I think this is the real deal.
All this rifle is getting from me is a simple clean and go.
Does anyone have a ball park on the price of this rifle with newly discovered accoutrements? It's not for sale, nor will I charge the people that own it for my humble ministrations. They have a story on where it came from. Remember this tomorrow. It's not "the 4th", its Independence Day. Our Grandfathers faced these type weapons and won. How sad that few remember the cost then and the ongoing cost now of those that serve in the defense of this Country. It is now Bread and Circuses for the masses.
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