Blogmeet Boomsticks

I mentioned in the last post (read it if you have any intention of being anywhere near San Antonio, TX on Feb. 7!!!) a couple of guns I'm going to try to bring to the blogmeet.

The now-complete - thanks again, Cowtown Cop for the handle! - Armalite AR is coming out for certain. It remains unfired, so it will get a thorough breaking in I'm sure. I've got it, the USGI (I think?) mag that came with it, five Magpul 30rd PMAGs, 100 rounds of 55gr .223 and 100 rounds of 55gr 5.56, both FMJ. I've never shot any AR platform gun before, but Murph assures me that one could easily do the 200 rounds alone. Still, there will be enough ammo for that thing to go around. Maybe one of y'all can help me sight it in, too?

The next two are projects I'd been putting off for far, far too long. First, a CZ-52 chambered in 7.62x25. I've had this gun for about 4.5 years, and it took a couple of those years before I even did any kind of research on it. When I learned how fragile the firing pins are, I back-burnered the project indefinitely. Only recently did the bug bite me, and I decided that it was time to get off my arse and get into that pistol. A little help from YouTube shows that checking the firing pin on that gun couldn't be any easier. Turns out mine is just fine. Huzzah! A long, detailed cleaning later, and that pistol is ready for the range!

Next is a Polish-built Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine (7.62x54R). My research tells me that this thing was built in 1955, factory-fired, stripped, cleaned, cosmolined, and stored until my maternal Grandfather picked it up (when, unknown). He never so much as loaded it. When he passed away, it became mine (as did the CZ-52), and I left it in storage mode until last weekend. Like the CZ, I decided that the time had come for this prestine Safe Queen to come out and play. It's still in sploded form on the table behind me, but I assure you that it looks like it just came from the factory yesterday. No part of this gun has a nick or scratch. It is time.

Only catch is ammo. You see, both of these guns are chambered in obsolete calibers, so ammo, while abundant, can usually only be found online. Only time I've ever seen either on a shelf was a box of Wolf 7.62x54R at Cabela's. Otherwise, you'll be point-and-clicking yourself either of these. I point-and-clicked myself 150 rounds for the CZ and 60 rounds for the Mosin this past Thursday night. Fingers crossed!

We'll see what happens, and I'll post up later. I guess I'd better get to it on the Mosin. Gun pr0n later.



tweaker

More On The Blogmeet

Finally, something new!

After much going back and forth about rescheduling - sorry Murph! - I finally got some solid range information and we finally decided to go ahead with February 7.

We'll be shooting at Bracken Rifle and Pistol Recreational Range in northeastern San Antonio, Texas. We're gonna go in when they open at 0900, as they get quite busy on Saturdays and do not take reservations. Depending on the number of guests at the final tally* I'll get a few pistol tables and rifle tables. They charge $3.50 per firearm, so y'all gonna have to pony up for your arsenals (I'll bring at least three guns myself). Tables and the first few targets are covered.

I recommend acquiring your ammunition beforehand. The range does offer ammo in the more common calibers, but if you're bringing out your Beretta 98 Inox, don't expect more than a grin if you go asking for 9x21 IMI. Last time I was out there, most of their ammo was Sellier & Bellot (which I am not fond of). They also have eyes and ears if you don't.

I have also found a great location for lodging with several choices. Because I don't want to advertise where folks will be staying, I won't be posting any further lodging details here; email me and I will let you know privately.

Murphy and I figured we'd see how the day progressed, and see if folks were interested in some sort of post-shooty-meal. I'll dig up the area eateries and see if I can't come up with a place with decent food and/or drink.

I'm going to bring out my AR for sure. My Mosin-Nagant will likely be coming out, as will my CZ-52, both if I can get the ammunition in time. (I can't believe no one stocks 7.62 Tokarev and 7.62x54R!) If not, then I'll probably bring the 92FS instead. Feel free to post up what you plan on bringing; build up the excitement!

Housekeeping note: if you see that someone's bringing a gun that you think you might take a particular liking to, it'd be awful courteous to be willing to throw in a box of ammo. We all know how 'spensive ammo is these days;)

I'll be posting up more often between now and then. Y'all keep the comments/emails coming, and don't forget to email me if you need overnight accomodations!



tweaker

*I'm going to try to get a final head count, probably the Friday before the meet, so I can get a good number of tables. I'll be getting pistol and rifle lanes, so if you want shotgun let me know in advance!

Blogmeet Update!

Finally, at long last. After much discussion, Murphy and I have finally worked out a date for the blogmeet!

We have decided that the holy pilgrimage shooty goodness shall take place in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Stay tuned to this blog or Murphy's blog for further updates on specific times and locations. I will also be gathering up lodging information for the out-of-towners who need overnight accommodations.

If'n you are wondering just what cool kids will be at our little soiree, just check out the tentative guest list:

Jim
Ambulance Driver
10%
Joseph
the pistolero
JPG (which would hopefully include HollyB)
Shoothouse Barbie
Peter
Sabra
Old NFO
Mark

So come on out to SA, folks! Have a good time, put some faces to the names you've been reading, get a chance to shoot some stuff you don't normally get to shoot. Oh, and folks are encouraged to bring as many firearms as you feel like bringing. I'll likely have several, including an AR, a Px4, and maybe a CZ-52 and a Mosin-Nagant (couple of flamethrowers, there) for added, eh, emphasis;)

Y'all keep in touch!



tweaker

Everyone Else Does It

I read blogs like Jay's and Tam's pretty often. I see how they get together with area bloggers/commenters over food, drink, and guns. Then I think to myself, "Self? Wouldn't it be cool to try something like that?"

Then I read a post over at Murph's blog and realize he lives nearby. Then it hits me: between the three or four of my readers and the veritable plethora of folks that read him, we could do something like that here! So I dropped him an email and next thing you know, we're on the phone talking about everything from guns (duh) to gas prices to wives and kids.

So, we tossed around a few ideas, and came to the conclusion that maybe the best way to get this thing going would be to post at our respective blogs and see who was interested. I know there's more than a couple bloggers that live around Central to South Texas that would likely be interested, so we haven't even decided what city we'll do this in yet, but the choices pretty much fall between San Antonio and Austin somewhere.

So, whadday'all think? Any takers? This thing on?

Feel free to comment or email, either here or over at Murph's and give your $0.02. Again, we haven't made any official decisions yet, so we're open to ideas on where to shoot, eat, hide the bodies, etc. About the only thing we hammered out solid was that the shooting portion will most likely take place at an outdoor range to accomodate pistol, rifle, and shotgun (if anyone is bringing a .50BMG, please let us know ASAP so we can procure long-range accomodations;) We also haven't decided on when, so if you have any preferences please let us know.

One other thing that we do know: the invitation is open to anyone who blogs or comments at blogs that are into guns in one way or another. That includes collectors, recreational shooters, competition shooters, self-defense, hunters, etc.

Here's hoping to a good blogmeet!



tweaker

Range Report

I've really got to start photographing my targets. It would make these sort of things so much more interesting...

At any rate, some time was spent over the holidays wielding boomsticks at innocent paper targets, and showing them no quarter as volleys of lead were flung at will. A trip on New Year's Day was organized (loosely), and my next door neighbor's elder son (hereafter The Kid) +1 came along with The Wifey and I to one of my favorite local ranges for shooty goodness. We brought way more guns than we would end up shooting, but we had plenty of fun just the same. The Kid was on Christmas Vacation from West Point Academy, and I wasn't about to miss spending some good quality time with him while I had the chance. Dude's an Eagle Scout (both literally and figuratively). Seriously.

The arsenal that actually hit the range included a Magnum Research Baby Eagle Compact 9mm (polymer), a North American Arms .22 WMR Mini-Revolver, my Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm with three new mags, and The Kid's three-inch Smith and Wesson Model 586 .357 Magnum.

The Baby Eagle is blessing. Since I won't likely find a Mini-Cougar or compact 92 in like-new condition for less than the cost of my first-born child, this gun fills that role beautifully. The Baby Eagle Compact is a shorter-barrelled and smaller-gripped version of the full-sized pistol, which is a CZ-75 clone manufactured by Isreal Weapon Industries. From the same company that brought you the Uzi, we have a pistol that has been imported by several different stateside companies under several different names. Originally the Jericho 941 - whose name was derived from the fact that early iterations of the pistol included a feature that allowed the pistol to easily convert from 9mm Luger to the short-lived yet powerful .41 Action Express with a barrel and magazine swap, hence 9-41, or 941 - the Baby Eagle also imported as the Uzi Pistol. If you get the chance to shoot one, take it. It's as simple as any 92-variant or CZ-variant to operate, and it's a pleasure to shoot. The sights are quick to acquire, and the pistol runs flawlessly. New versions (i.e., RIGHT after my model; D'OH!) include Novak sights with Tritium inserts. Nice.

It ate up 200 rounds like it was no big deal. The Wifey had exactly zero buyer's remorse. It was every bit as good as she'd hoped it would be. More magazines are on the way.

I've run around 1,000 - 1,500 rounds through my Px4. Number of failures? Exactly zero. I'm gonna have to get some snap-caps to practice failure drills on this thing, because I don't think it's gonna screw up any time soon. I love this gun. Beretta is the shit. The three new magazines ran no sweat. The Kid and his buddy ran most of those rounds, and they loved it. The Kid has been waiting to shoot the Px4 for a while, so he was smiling from ear to ear pretty much from the time I called him.

Next up was the NAA Mini-Revolver. I cannot remember shooting a more ornery, difficult, inaccurate, pain in the ass firearm in all my life. Though recoil is barely noticeable, muzzle flip is nigh uncontrollable whether you're shooting 30-gr high velocity or 40-gr heavy varmint rounds. All that said, it is, after all, strictly a back-up-gun, and if I've got to go to that thing I'm close enough to jab it into someone's ribs before I start pulling the trigger. Despite it's shortcomings, it's still very fun to shoot. Though only two rounds of about 80 hit the 10-ring, the relatively low recoil and high novelty makes this little BUG an absolute winner. Now if I can get a match-grade barrel, night sights, and an accessory rail for it...:)

Last up was The Kid's Smith. I don't know for sure how long the Model 586 has been in production, but this one had two features that led me to believe that it was one of the earlier models: first, the firing pin is on the hammer; second, the trigger pull. See, I've heard from many that you haven't experienced a good trigger until you've fired an old Smith wheelgun. Well, it's DA TROOF. Without a doubt, that revolver has the smoothest, most consistent, greatest trigger of any firearm I have ever held in my hands. Zero exaggeration. Granted, we were shooting 158-gr wadcutters, but follow-up shots were so easy to acquire due largely to the heavey barrel and full-length shroud. I tried to get some heavy .357 loads, but the range had none, and neither did Bass Pro Shops. I HAVE to have an old Smith L-frame. Wow.

I must have spent four hours the next day cleaning guns. I loved it. I like cleaning my guns anyway, but this time it meant that the Baby Eagle could take on a couple mags-full of Hydra-Shoks, the NAA could load up and begin its career as my pocket gun, and that I had plenty of magazines to have a regular rotation for my primary carry gun. I also spent a nearly obscene amount of time cleaning The Kid's .357. (I must have dry-fired that gun 150 times, no joke. It was that nice.)

Hopefully, I'll be hitting the rifle-range soon since I acquired a rear sight for my AR (thanks for the sight and all the patience, Cowtown Cop!!!). I've also got to spend some quality time breaking clays with the new .20 ga.

Hmmm. Needing to shoot guns. That's a good problem to have.



tweaker

If At First You Don't Succeed...

I was gonna come home from work today and post something cool.

Honest.

No, really, stop laughing. I was gonna do up a good one. Srsly.

But, the Car Gods decided that I should experience some slight difficulty, compounded by excessive troubleshooting. So instead of coming home and posting up a doozy, I went to my buddy's shop and fixed my car. Then went and celebrated for a little bit with the money he saved me.

It was the least I could do to spring for dinner and a couple cold brews. It was nice. We haven't done that since before either one of us had kids (at least six years).

SO, mo-betta content tomorrow. For tonight, I leave you with some more ear candy. This one is quite a bit darker than videos I've posted before. It's a little sinister, and the music is pretty brutal. It's great. When I snap, this song will be part of the soundtrack:



How many serious metal bands can pull off having tympanis in the video? I thought these guys were kind of a fad when they first broke into mainstream metal, but Slipknot has proven to be a juggernaut of heavy music. Their new album will be stuck in my car's CD player for a few days at least. Enjoy, those of you who can!

Til next time,



tweaker

Near-Bad Experience

Here a few months ago, The Wifey finally got out of a job with a company that contracted to the military. She had been looking for a job for a few weeks, and even tried to get a Civil Service position at the office she was in. For those who don't know, Civil Service is basically civilian personnel who work for the military/gubmint. She took a position in the private sector with a company who works with military.

Fast forward a little, and she gets a call (while at her new private sector job) from Civil Service, telling her that she's been selected for the job she applied for, and asks if she's interested. We talked about it at great length. I told her that as long as she's meeting her financial responsibilities here at Casa De Tweaker that she can dance on a pole if it makes her happy. She decided to take the Civil Service job (I don't even think she even considered the pole dancing thing...). It did have the unfortunate timing in that it would only allow her to give one week's notice.

She started gathering the massive load of paperwork, etc. that is required to get a federal .gov job. It was then that we realized we could not find her original papers (more than a birth certificate; she was born overseas on a military base). She immediately began the process of getting new papers (six weeks minimum), and notified the folks at Civil Service of the situation. They told her not to worry about it, and sent her an official temporary waiver that told her to have them by March.

She gave notice at work.

Then, for no reason whatsoever, some moron on base called The Wifey and told her that since she could not provide the necessary documentation that the job offer was being officially revoked, and that the job would likely go to the second candidate. She wanted to freak, but she kept it together and told her boss what was going on. He's a good guy (retired full-bird Colonel, USAF), and told her that they'd work with her until the situation got straightened out.

Well, he's a decent guy. HIS boss, however; not so much. He took the I Eat, Sleep, And Shit This Company approach. He felt all betrayed, so he told The Wifey that she would continue to work her last week with the company, and that she'd still be cleaning out her office that Friday.

Dick.

Naturally, The Wifey freaked. I really wanted to as well. Since it was Thursday, his pretty much meant that my wife would be gainfully employed for eight more hours. She contributes almost exactly 50% of this household income. This is bad.

She was screwed, and it smelled alot like someone at the military base screwed the pooch something fierce. She did exactly what she was told, followed the rules, and took a Signed Government Document to mean what it said, and it cost her both jobs. The Wifey talked to everyone there that would listen, and some saint mentioned that she should contanct the Inspector General's (I.G.) office. She spoke directly with the I.G., who told her that she'd look into it.

The I.G. has a great deal of authority. Part of it must include the ability to light fires under the asses of many. As we understood it from folks she talked to, the I.G. pointed out the severe case of Recto-Cranial Inversion Syndrome that someone was experiencing, and to get their shite together post haste. The I.G. called her - again, personally - on her last day at the private sector job and told her to wait by the phone for a call, and that it would be good news. She hung up her cell and it immediately rang in her hand.

Civil Service was very apologetic as the told her to report for duty promptly at 0900 on Monday.

Worst 24 hours of my life.

But the beer was better that night than it had been in quite a long time. Appreciation for what you have knowing how easily you can lose it will do that.



tweaker

Been that long?

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (If'n you don't do Christmas, well, you can still have a merry one, and I hope whatever you did celebrate was groovy.)

Well, hello at long last. I know it's been awhile since the last one (again). I was on a pretty good roll there, but then the holidays hit. I took some time off work and focused on as little as possible from Christmas Eve all the way until this morning.

For once, I can say that my vacation was actually long enough. I didn't get the feeling that I needed a few more days, nor was I ready to go back to work before my vacation was up. It was just right.

So, what all's happened in the last couple weeks? Well, there's plenty, actually. I've got a great deal of blog fodder to last me for a few days easy, and each passing day presents itself with new opportunities to bitch and moan, rant and rave, or maybe even an occasional positive note.

So, I have returned to the helm. Expect more excitement soon. I've got a few good posts a'brewing, including a couple range reports and other assorted gunnie goodness, some gunnie badness (!!!), and a view on modern wannabe sports cars.

Til then, stay tuned!



tweaker