Range Trip

Took some time on Friday to run out to the range and get some much needed trigger time in.  Decided to take a few guns.  The Makarov, The ARP, Marlin Camp Carbine in 45ACP, Kimber Pro Carry, and the CZ-82.

Guns!

Since I posted info on the Makarov, and Brigid said a friend was looking at one, I decided to try and film my Makarov while shooting to get some feel for the operation and recoil.

Do you know how hard it is to shoot a DA/SA gun one handed, while  aiming through the camera on an iPhone?  It is harder than it seems...  That's why I'm pretty damn happy with the group I got while shooting:

I also tried filming through the Primary Arms red-dot on the Camp Carbine.  It was slightly easier, but still an exercise very similar to patting your head while rubbing your stomach.

Everything ran great.  The testing continues on the ARP.  So far, no failures, and I can hit a basketball sized group offhand at 60 yards.

Good time at the range. 

SHOCKING kind of stupidity

Police in Fayette County said a man was electrocuted when he picked up a live power line that he had shot down in order to steal copper from it.

Yo Dawg... I heard you like magazines...

So we made a magazine for your magazines.

H/T to Robb Allen

Best BBQ in the world

Salt Lick!

Sunday morning ride

For Wirecutter- Fire Glass

Wirecutter posted a pic on his blog of a "Fireglass" pit.  It closed with the great line "That **** looks like sorcery"

Totally agreed.  That's why I built one in my back yard using some spare rock (there is a lot of it lying around Texas), and old copper firebowl, a turkey fryer burner that was 'spare', and some fireglass that I sourced locally.

I first saw one of these while on a work trip to Palm Springs where they had a couple of these that people were getting drunk around at the bar:

Fire, superheated glass chunks, and drunk people- what could possibly go wrong?

When I had the parts in place, I was able to build this in something close to 45 minutes:

I'll be building another one soon.  I have more glass left over.

Central Texas CHL Holder assists police and stops suspect from entering a Middle School

LINK

"After witnessing a man become violent and evade Kerrville Police, Kerrville businessman Ronnie Bock was not going to take a chance on the suspect being able to enter Hal Peterson Middle School.
"He was running and screaming and heading toward the middle school," Bock said. "I didn't really think of anything else except I was not going to let him get into that school. He wasn't going to get near those children."
Bock, whose business is located directly across the street from HPMS, ran across the street with his licensed handgun and ordered the suspect to stop and get down on the ground.
The suspect complied and KPD officers took him into custody."

This is how school security should work.   Normal, everyday citizens and vigilance. 

New Leather Gear- El Paso Saddlery Crossdraw and Cartridge Slide

While strolling through the Fun Show  I was surprised to see one of my favorite holster companies, El Paso Saddlery, had a booth.  I stopped just to tell the guy there that I was a customer and I love their leatherwork.

Turns out that the guy at the booth was Robert Taylor, Director of Sales for El Paso Saddlery.  I struck up a nice conversation with him, and mentioned that I had been carrying in one of their rigs for years.

You can tell the age of the photo from the vintage cell phone

I also have a nice crossdraw rig for an S&W 686 with the cartridge belt...  I don't have a good pic of that whole rig, but here is a crop without all the identifying stuff

I use that rig when woods bumming out on the lease.  Carrying that with a full load of cartridges in the loops and the Marlin .357, I'll good for anything.   Why cross draw?  Because I usually have a rifle slung on the other side, and this keeps the wheelgun from banging into the long gun.

I mentioned to Robert that I just bought an SAA clone, and would love to get a holster for that.  Well, we talked for a bit, and he made me a great deal for the holster and a 12 round cartridge slide.

I walked out with a beautiful #44 Outfit crossdraw holster and slide that I was totally not planning on buying.  I am so happy with this purchase.  I had to do a picture for this post, but I was running out of light.  So this is adjusted a bit.

Damn straight.

The craftsmanship of this, and all of my EP Saddlery holsters, is just... perfect.  Beautiful leather, perfect stitching, and that leather SMELL.  If you need a holster, these guys should be on your list.  They have been making holsters since 1889, and they have it down pat.  For concealed carry, the Street Combat holster I have pictured above allows me to carry a freaking N-Frame Smith and Wesson under an untucked polo shirt.  It is a well thought out and useful bit of gear.  They cost money, but they are worth it.

 Oh, and over the weekend, I started the antiquing process on the Pietta SAA clone.  Spent about half an hour with a scotchbrite pad.  Here is the 'before' pic:

Dark, matte black.  Cheap, but not... nice

...and the 'in process' pic

Getting better!

I'll do a couple more treatments like that, and make it look old.

This pic just looked good, had to include it.

Reflections on a great weekend

This was pretty close to a perfect weekend.  Only things that would have made it better was getting to go shoot, and finding any *%#%*ing gunpowder in stock at the gun show.

Saturday morning, That Wife and I took That Kid to his t-ball game, and he was the one that got the medal for doing a good job.  He was super ecstatic for finally getting the medal, so that was a high point for the weekend.  The weather was gorgeous, so That Wife and That Kid went to go lounge in the MIL's pool while I went to the Fun Show!

While there was no gunpowder to be found, and prices were wildly varying - One table had a WASR AK for $1100, and 5 tables over was another WASR for $650- but supply was getting better.  Every table had ammo.  Every table har ARs, AKs, and pretty much every other flavor of Evil Black Rifles.  Prices have not come back down all the way yet, but they are trending downward.

I picked up some minor stuff, a cheap light, a holster (I'll do a full review soon), and a little CRKT neck knife that I'd been wanting for a while:

I left the show, joined the family in the pool, and just enjoyed the rest of the day.

Sunday, we had a great morning outdoors with the family, then That Wife and I went to see Willie Nelson in concert at The Backyard for Willie's 80th birthday.  It was a great concert, Willie's son Lukas rocks, and the finale of the show had Randy Travis and David Allen Coe on stage with Willie and family. 

Look for a report on the new leather gear coning soon. 

It's Willie, damnit!