tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49759239771486066712024-03-18T20:19:24.282-07:00SHOOTIN' THE BREEZE and other things...Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-73995349289728921482014-11-07T15:59:00.000-08:002014-11-07T15:59:00.809-08:00mytherapy dogI'm still aliveand k icking.since my stroke on Jan.28th of this year I've been in 5 different hospitals and Iall Ican sayis I've been in jails that were easIier to get out o f because once they get you in<br />
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It is almost impossible to bond out! I'm home now and working with my theraptists as in physical, occupational and speech. My left arm still doesn't work, but I can talk without slurring my words and walk with the use of a hemi-cane. A big part of my recovery has to be credited to my dog Quincy, a miniature Dachshund. He is a very small dog with a very large heart! It's good to be back. Thank you all for your prayers and support. They worked!<br />
All the Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
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/with a GIAN T SIZE PERSONALITYas.he is my constant compian. he watches TV with me. <br />
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///////Petting him as he sleeps in my lap is iextremely soothing and calming for me<br />
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and the history channel is my favorite.right behind the American Heros Channel.all this to ggetherness ha sgiven the dog and I the chance to reconnect , my wife and <br />
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I Ibelieve .he blamed her for my disappearance aall those weeks I wasin the hospital asQuincy did'n 'tunderstand my absence IIstill think I'mgoing to beat this thing because my physical progresshas been fantasticwhen compared to the beginninoo f this mess.Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-57806641066933199222014-01-23T13:15:00.001-08:002014-01-23T13:15:12.170-08:00I-65...I live in the northwest quadrant of the state of Indiana. Traversing the entire area is a major interstate highway, Interstate 65. Essentially it runs on more or less a somewhat straight diagonal line southeast of the Chicago area down to Indianapolis. As such its four lanes have become a major commercial and personal transportation artery; both for those in each major city as well as those who live beside it.<br />
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Being old enough to know what life was like prior to its construction, I can also testify to the fact this thoroughfare has probably contributed more to the impoverishment of local communities and their school systems than any number of Walmarts or other big box discount retail establishments. A number of local community leaders would take exception to that statement and cite chapter and verse on the businesses created that cater to the conveniences offered by the proximity of this four lane road of commerce and the number of interstate trucking firms would seem to support these contentions, but I feel otherwise.<br />
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There are few high paying, good benefit 'positions' in the area and of those that are they are often filled with high end job consumers who use that same interstate to commute in and out of our area. This directly affects our local school system as well as things like civic affairs and even the attendance at our local churches. <br />
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Most of the 'educated' families live in the major urban centers that dot this arterial freeway because the wives and mothers refuse to live in the small towns out in the hinterlands. They turn their noses up at our schools, don't want to drive far to do their shopping and generally complain about the lack of sophisticated entertainment in the local area. (We are all rubes you know and low class uneducated stumble bums. Such women rub my ass raw.)<br />
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(If you denote a tone of sour grapes on my behalf, then you understand why I generally oppose economic development bond issues in small rural communities. These initiatives do bring growth, but its low economic, poorly educated growth and I'm often left wondering what good is this after you consider the damage done to the social welfare system, the upheaval in the schools and lack of tax revenue to the schools and the counties because of politicians who will give away the family jewels just to say they brought 'jobs' into the community?) <br />
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All these initiatives do is create bad kool-aid. Companies move into the area and offer jobs, but the jobs are mostly low-wage, minimum benefits jobs with little substantial training or expertise required. The kind of employment that attracts what can charitably be classified as low-paid, poorly educated, multi-ethic gypsies. They most often move on when they find something that pays marginally better. The result is schools are often in turmoil because of the children's unsettled family life. It's hard for these folks to justify the better homes for sale in our community and as a result real estate values suffer.<br />
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But for every curse there is a karma and we've been witnessing it during the past few weeks as the traffic on I-65 is simply excessive for the capacity of two lanes running north and two lanes running south even during 'normal' conditions. Add in extreme weather conditions on terrain that this winter more closely resembles something out of the Artic and that high speed thoroughfare connecting two of the Midwest's major urban centers becomes a linear parking lot; often populated with bent metal, multiple injuries and more than a few deaths.<br />
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It's all because of motoring nincompoops who don't have a clue what black ice can do. These morons will continue driving 5 mph OVER the posted speed limit of 70 mph without a clue that at any moment the rear end of their vehicle is going to try and pass the front end.....or my fear; take out the vehicle driving at the same speed or slightly faster beside them.<br />
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Last Saturday near Lafayette, Indiana at mile marker 175, a passenger car spun out, the car following slowed down as did the tractor-trailer behind the 2nd car. Unfortunately, six tractor-trailers behind the first mentioned tractor-trailer DID NOT. The result was a pile-up, a fire and devastation so vast the interstate was shut down for 13 hours! That's right 13 hours! I was told the State Police went to the truckers parked behind the carnage in the traffic lanes and told them to climb into their bunks and get some sleep because it was going to be awhile before they were moving again.<br />
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This morning as I went over to get my usual cup of coffee at Mickey D's the south bound lane was packed solid and nothing was moving for miles in either direction of the overpass I crossed over. Again, someone spun out and took someone with them. My wife said the local emergency guys (who often get little sleep during these conditions for days on end) posted on the book of face there was a fatality involved.<br />
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In weather conditions like we've been experiencing I've stopped driving the Interstate highway systems. There are just too many imbeciles with operator's permits. I've reverted to driving the back roads and state highway systems that we used when I was a kid. Yes, it is slow, but in these conditions slow and steady wins the race if not keeps the body and soul together.<br />
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As for I-65, after witnessing and hearing about all the accidents in recent days (many of which are extremely serious) I am convinced that the "I" in I-65 NOW stands for "IDIOT-65" and not Interstate...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-29216354110999185912014-01-19T00:50:00.000-08:002014-01-19T00:50:01.176-08:00BEST PART OF THE SHOT SHOW FOR ME WAS...The privilege of getting to meet a true and Great American HERO....<br />
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The LONE SURVIVOR....<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-34246060697633168362014-01-14T01:49:00.000-08:002014-01-14T15:22:05.424-08:00ANOTHER THING SEEN ON THE DAY BEFORE THE SHOT SHOW...After I left the SIG thing I drove out to the Desert Sportsman's Rifle and Pistol Club for the 'Military' weapons demos. Most of the 'demos' were pretty standard stuff; belt-fed 50's behind an armored shield and mount, M-60's, MAG-58's and so on. HK did have their new HK121 belt-fed on display with 10 round belts, but that's not a test of a belt-fed, in my opinion.<br />
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There were several different silencer manufacturers on the line and LMT had their 40mm grenade launcher out there as well which I got to shoot. (Yes, it's a hoot! And unlike the old Vietnam era M79 it doesn't 'thump' you with its recoil. Neat.)<br />
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I have no photos to offer because cameras were verboten! Emphatically.<br />
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Colt had a system set up they called a "technology demonstrator" that operated like something out of a futuristic war movie or the most far out Tom Clancy movie anyone has ever thought of. It involved two rifles (one equipped with a 40mm grenade launcher); a small quad-propeller electric drone, an I-phone on the main rifle and a command and control center.<br />
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Essentially, about an half-pound of equipment was added to the rifle with the grenade launcher that enabled it to send a visual image with what the shooter was seeing through the Leupold scope, receive a visual image from what the drone was seeing overhead and all this visual information (and more) was displayed on the 3 computer/video screens in the command and control center.<br />
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But the vital information was the fact the computer in the system enabled the shooter to automatically make the necessary corrections about wind velocity, elevation, humidity, and other factors that influence the flight of the 40mm grenade after launch. The targeting was accomplished by the GPS co-ordinates supplied by the small quad-propeller drone that had been carried into action in a backpack by a soldier in the team. Additionally, the command and control center was able to identify the target and then give the command in "real time" to engage or disengage the illustrated target. After the "Send It" command was given the drone enables the C&C, as well as a platoon leader some distance away to watch the impact. If minute corrections are needed the operator makes them in the I-phone attached to his rifle!<br />
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I watched this system work on a visible target just in front of a target berm, but what was even more impressive was its performance on a target in 'defilade' behind the impact berm. With the drone overhead and because it is so small and so high it can be virtually invisible to the naked eye, it is able to send a picture and with GPS technology it is also able to send a co-ordinate locating the hidden threat for a first round hit by the shooter who can't see the target, except through this entire system. The platoon leader has a viewer that isn't any larger than an I-phone and he can watch the action and stay apprised of the situation even if he is some 'klicks' away.<br />
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This demonstration was a clear example why American troops are always 'upping' their game and American industry remains among the forefront. I asked how quickly the system could be deployed and in action by a small squad of soldiers out on foot patrol out in the boonies and the answer was "...in less than a minute!"<br />
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Pretty neat demo and I wish I could taken pictures but I was told more than once to put my camera away as I walked around with it hanging over my neck. Still, it was a neat demo and I thought I'd share what I witnessed...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
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<strong>POSTSCRIPT: UNDER THE TITLE "WHAT SENSE DOES THAT MAKE?"</strong> I discovered today that the system I wasn't allowed to photograph yesterday is now on display today at the Colt booth. Its called "SWORD" which stands for "Sniper Weapon & Observer Reconnaissance Devices".<br />
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They are using the rattle battle gear to house the battery powering everything. Another thing I forgot to mention is the light colored picatinny rail on top of the rifle......well, it really isn't a picatinny rail. It is full of sensors and it measures a number of factors going on inside the gun and the system records them. It can measure the barrel wear internally as the gun fires and the C&C can check the data in the system to tell if all the systems like the gas rings and what have you are working properly on this weapon. They record when the weapon fires, how many times, from what GPS location and in what direction it fired. In short everything pertinent to a lethal force encounter.<br />
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More later....<br />
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Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-2071582458454194572014-01-13T21:16:00.002-08:002014-01-13T21:16:16.612-08:00DAY BEFORE SHOT SHOW STARTS...And it wasn't the Media Day at the Range event, but one that was invitation only from SIG SAUER. <br />
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I got to work a little with the new MP-X Sig submachine gun. I know a lot of folks who think that pistol caliber subguns are obsolete, but don't count me among their number when they are fed modern self-defense ammo. Sig is also in that market having purchased an ammunition plant in Kentucky.<br />
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I LIKE the new MP-X as I feel it has a number of innovative and interesting features. As for Sig having a separate event away from the massive Media Day thing and making it invitation only, I applaud it. I couldn't have had the range time with this firearm I got at the Sig event if it had been held at the Media Day giant......nor would I have been able to get these photos. I know I was there for a couple of hours, but it's too big and too massive to cover so I headed to the invitation only Sig event and I'm glad I did....<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-8630771321486092402014-01-09T16:57:00.000-08:002014-01-09T16:57:04.328-08:00INTERESTING DRIVE AFTER COFFEE THIS AMI've hunted red fox, coyotes or more correctly coy-dogs since I was a teenager and to say I'm an 'old hand' at it around here in this part of Indiana would probably be one of the few actual facts about me.<br />
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One of the things I've learned about what is called a coyote in this neck of the woods is they are capable of doing 35 mph for about 2 miles, solid and continuously, and then they will slow to between 20 and 25 mph. It usually takes about 5 miles of this kind of running before they start to tire and when they get tired.......they get stupid! <br />
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I mean I've seen 'em do some really dumb things; like one time we chased a coyote into a guy's backyard dog house. The coyote must have thought he was hidden. Well, he was, but we saw him run into the dog house while house's normal occupant stood at the back door of his owner's house, barked at us and wondered what the hell was going on? When we all drove up the farmer came to the back door and asked what was wrong? We said he had a coyote in his doghouse and he denied it. We asked then if it wasn't there if it would be okay to look and kill whatever was IN THERE. He said sure and we lined up as one guy walked up with a stick and poked him out. It was kinda of a firing squad sort of thing that followed. He didn't make 10 yards before four 12 gauge shotguns loaded with #4 buckshot cut him down.<br />
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OK, so this morning the dog and I go over to the Mickey D's on the interstate to get my morning coffee. I don't stay. I just go in and get a 'senior' coffee, come back out and the dog and I usually take the long way home or go do errands.<br />
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Well, we're driving past the west place (which is just 3/8ths of a mile from the interstate) when I see a coyote coming north out of my south field. He crosses the state highway behind me, so at the corner of my farm I turn left and go north.<br />
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What I've learned to do is "Parallel" them and keep a visual on them. You don't need to do anything more because for the first few miles you want them to become aware of your vehicle. So, he goes to just over half way through that section and then he stops. I stop because by now I'm on the north road, a mile north of the state highway, and I watch him through the binoculars. <br />
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He looks at me and I look at him from over 3/8ths of a mile away. He's figured out I'm not a good thing. He starts to go east and when I turn around he doubles back and heads toward the northwest. This means I have to go to the next neighbor to turn around to head back north and west because of the snowy roads.<br />
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After I turn around, he turns to the northeast and at one point he stopped not more than a 100 yards from me as we stared at each other. Of course, the little dachshund standing on the console next to me is having a fit; what with whining, growling and generally having a hissy fit because he can clearly see the 'yote.<br />
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I get the folding stock M-1 Carbine from behind the seat, unfold the stock and start to take aim and this is where the coyote made the first, correct 'chess' move. He started going straight east which meant from my position he was going against the angle for me in the driver's seat and aiming out the driver's window.<br />
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I fired twice, but each time I was behind the power curve and behind the coyote. He scored the first points and crossed the road BEHIND me, which is never what you want when you're doing this sort of thing.<br />
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I back up like a damn fool. One of the few times I believe in speed when doing these things and I can see he is once again headed toward the center of the next square mile. I decide to circle that square mile clockwise which means I have to look out my right side window from the driver's seat which is not something I like to do because what with dirty windows, the door frame, the window post and the right side outside mirror together with the natural 'folds' of the terrain, fence rows and what have you it is pretty easy to lose the 'visual' and then you are literally lost and the coyote gets away.<br />
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However, if the coyote is the driver's right and he is headed to the driver's left, then the shot can be made after the coyote crosses the road just in front of the moving vehicle and it is an easy straight away shot. Yes, you are aiming at his butt, but there is NO right or left lead, and there is hardly ever any ducking or weaving on the coyote's part. His is a straight "Let's get out of Dodge" run.<br />
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An important point in all this is your vehicle speed. When I was young I drove like a bat out of hell and I always OVER-DROVE the target. That meant I beat the coyote to the targeted crossing and they usually crossed BEHIND me and by the time I got turned around they were gone......as in forever.<br />
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Today I motored around between 35 and 40 mph while stopping every so often to glass the center of the targeted square mile. NOTHING. I figured he had outsmarted me and he was gone, but I continued at my pace of 35 to 40 mph figuring that would be his speed if he was still moving and I was sure to intercept him if he was still on the move.<br />
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Sure enough, I spotted ahead of me and he had gained quite of bit ground on me crossing into the next square mile to the east, but the important point is he was AHEAD of me now and I had regained the 'visual', so the game was in my ballpark. I had the home field advantage (figuratively speaking of course). Now the thing was to 'worry' him simply with the presence of my vehicle and you do that by stopping when he stops and moving at the pace and in the same direction as he does when he moves. We did this dance for a few minutes and in the process we continuously got closer to each other.<br />
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Now, the next part is a little hard to describe because it has become almost intuitive. You want the coyote to believe he has the advantage and he can outrun you. So, you don't go too fast......just fast enough to keep up. Bearing in mind the goal is have him cross the road just in front of your vehicle and you have to be going slow enough to stop rather quickly on icy, hard packed snowy roads. Once you stop, the shot from that point is rather elementary. He's running straight away and its front sight, trigger press before he gets too far out for the gun in question which in this case was about 75 yards with the Universal receiver folding stock M-1 Carbine.<br />
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He kept getting closer and he kept picking up speed. I kept him just in front of the right front door post because now we are on two intersecting tangents. I suppose I was trying to maintain approximately a 60 degree to 70 degree angle to my forward direction in terms of my observation and postioning relative to his position.<br />
<br />
Throughout this maneuver the little dachshund is going bananas. He sees the coyote and he's bouncing, literally, all over the seat and inside the cab, growling and whining.<br />
<br />
It looked like my plan was going to work perfectly, but as the coyote approached the road we were also approaching a house and buildings at the corner of the square mile. At the last moment, the coyote turned right and ran through the homestead and a stand of evergreen trees headed straight for the intersecting cross-road.<br />
<br />
I floored the truck, looked for cross traffic and turned right, expecting at any moment to see the coyote burst in front of me as he crossed this road. Just as I cleared the house on the corner he came out of the evergreen trees they had for a windbreak and reached the blacktop road in front of this house.<br />
<br />
Then he did something I never expected. He turned right and ran straight down the middle of the road going away from me.<br />
<br />
I turned to the little dog and said, "This is just TOO EASY." We picked our speed up to 52 mph and soon we were rewarded with a series of hard bumps as the coyote disappeared under the front of my Ford F-150.<br />
<br />
I couldn't see him in the mirrors after we passed over him so we went to the next house and turned around and sure enough there laying on the side of the road was one deceased coyote. I let the little dachshund out and he tore into him as if he had killed him all by himself. In fact I had a hard time pulling the little dog off the dead coyote. <br />
<br />
But the little guy is convinced HE KILLED the coyote and I've had a barrel of fun all this afternoon asking him if he is a coyote killer. He replies by barking and almost howling. It's hysterical I honestly think he believes he killed the coyote.<br />
<br />
As for me, I was pleased I was able to get him by myself as in years past it usually has taken multiple vehicles and a number of shooters, but even idiots like me can learn a thing or two over the years and I feel vindicated with my methods and beliefs on how to work these things.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6KYm-9FsX7W4kTYizivcXhXkXkNmF5OKfMHe9UPfNTgZ3SQivqF7aH1NDdf-rX4NIIW_M6DLdGv3g3Rts9sBJFyZs0Yy74TB4XKA2nOm82Tgvo1G8XgAiEon9X3ZCapwe49PKiY_5eo/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6KYm-9FsX7W4kTYizivcXhXkXkNmF5OKfMHe9UPfNTgZ3SQivqF7aH1NDdf-rX4NIIW_M6DLdGv3g3Rts9sBJFyZs0Yy74TB4XKA2nOm82Tgvo1G8XgAiEon9X3ZCapwe49PKiY_5eo/s1600/IMG_1130.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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I would have put the little dog in the picture but I couldn't stop him from chewing on this beast, so all you get is a shot of my carbine....</div>
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All The Best,</div>
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Frank W. James</div>
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Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-42938515292716460062014-01-07T09:31:00.001-08:002014-01-07T09:31:21.923-08:00COLD WEATHER PART IIWell, we're still here and everyone (including the doxie dog) is suffering cabin fever. BUT, it looks like we're going to have to endure it for awhile longer because my wife is getting reports on the book of face that several local residents have received $500 traffic tickets for getting out and driving on those roads that have been opened.<br />
<br />
I was planning on busting out this afternoon, but I don't need a $500 aggravation. Indiana presently has 29 counties under Emergency orders and they are threatening all but emergency personnel and farmers with livestock in distress with these tickets. I guess regular work is no excuse.<br />
<br />
I got out and found the snow-thrower stored in the barn wouldn't start. I didn't think it would, but I had to try. It never fired once on the 110 volt starter, but the starter kept kicking out so I guess it's too damn cold for it to run. (Still it could be bad fuel because I can't remember when I ran the dman thing last.) Maybe later on one of the tenants will help me by putting it in a heated shop to where we can figure out what's wrong with it.<br />
<br />
I got the impacted snow shoveled away from the two doors that were blown shut, so now we can get out all four doors to the house, but unless this place is on fire I'm not sure why anyone would want to go outside. I was out for about 45 minutes and the cold just flat penetrated my clothing to the point I had to warm my clothes up as much as myself when I came back in.<br />
<br />
Side note: I found a lot of dead birds laying around on the ground outside the out buildings; sparrows and starlings. So obviously it was cold enough that even they couldn't cope with this cold. <br />
<br />
That just shows how cold it really is outside.<br />
<br />
Stay WARM....<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-28858305562465945292014-01-06T08:59:00.000-08:002014-01-06T10:22:48.197-08:00COLD WEATHER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is looking straight to the West out our 'front' door.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UtNLNTXyxhMY6rS0HnlexS3RTgDCqjvEI4PG54gVMWigZq8AqEtc7TJlofuHHp-2PHSenkf70FbIubWpowRX8kEkVS2Qk0-1d3lh_LWCUKoyO9eepcsgEZW69A5B0Nt3Sv74BEFHOg/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UtNLNTXyxhMY6rS0HnlexS3RTgDCqjvEI4PG54gVMWigZq8AqEtc7TJlofuHHp-2PHSenkf70FbIubWpowRX8kEkVS2Qk0-1d3lh_LWCUKoyO9eepcsgEZW69A5B0Nt3Sv74BEFHOg/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is looking straight to the south past the reloading building we call the 'studio'. It's also where the 2 outside cats reside, who I have not seen in 2 days now because I can't get out. This building has heat, not much (I've got the thermostat set at 45 degrees), but what it does have they APPRECIATE very much.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxPpJZZuyRbnzkxL7t2fJ5iwvhaib3xmlR-7MNjTNc-KTnK6WskVctMD5wABJzwLVytVHeVY5gBay2FTwT23gLDOCXs3-8xdquCQmaFj6PYf0xMB4ttOuWQ19EgZFMccVmDNuSpikv2o/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxPpJZZuyRbnzkxL7t2fJ5iwvhaib3xmlR-7MNjTNc-KTnK6WskVctMD5wABJzwLVytVHeVY5gBay2FTwT23gLDOCXs3-8xdquCQmaFj6PYf0xMB4ttOuWQ19EgZFMccVmDNuSpikv2o/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a><br />
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This is looking straight to the North.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYETdpjUnVGEIk20srP8NabGqD9o8Wq41Nd-bB4lRUx3-6BeC_UWCvLoBZKANU0SOomrfbCVp5NwRAyvumyStugQajNPcVbrsHbwr9tF0NTU5a2XSfTJq-dM_jiQ6oQCG9KgKrR-Qp5k/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYETdpjUnVGEIk20srP8NabGqD9o8Wq41Nd-bB4lRUx3-6BeC_UWCvLoBZKANU0SOomrfbCVp5NwRAyvumyStugQajNPcVbrsHbwr9tF0NTU5a2XSfTJq-dM_jiQ6oQCG9KgKrR-Qp5k/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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And of course, this is my shooting range. I don't think I'm going to be testing any guns today....or this week! Current temperature is a Minus 15 below Zero. The weatherbug app on my phone says with the 29 mph wind gusts that the wind chill feel like Minus 39 degrees!!!! I've always told my friends on both coasts that we are the North American equivalent of the Russian Steppes. In fact it's probably warmer in Siberia than it is here today.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEPbqGJYIk5hh6UecPFkfIKaOMbD_pJIKcy0VWH6Rce8JBikofCCIi6XgBZo8Hu_fqY0p3eIbQSQ_Lq2XIDAWlHnkO5d3XasS5OlABzyC7V_rCw53fxrvE8oK9fbUQYmusihgZTf9bFg/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEPbqGJYIk5hh6UecPFkfIKaOMbD_pJIKcy0VWH6Rce8JBikofCCIi6XgBZo8Hu_fqY0p3eIbQSQ_Lq2XIDAWlHnkO5d3XasS5OlABzyC7V_rCw53fxrvE8oK9fbUQYmusihgZTf9bFg/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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But boy I feel bad for my cousins they have livestock to care for in this weather. Cattle outside and Hogs in confinement buildings where water lines freeze and other problems caused by these temps. Additionally few homes, even the new ones, are insulated for these sub-zero temps. We've got all our faucets dripping to keep the water lines from freezing inside the walls. That's the LAST thing we need right now......NO, the last thing we need is for the power to go out!<br />
<br />
Hopefully by tomorrow the wind will die down and I try and start the snow thrower I've got stored out in the barn. Right now out of the 4 entry and exit doors to the house 2 of 'em have 3 feet of snow packed against them.<br />
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Stay warm....<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
<br />
Postscript: Just 15 minutes After I posted this, THE POWER DID GO OUT!!! Front room is already down to 48 degrees. I've drained all the faucets and saved about 2 gallons of water to flush toilets, but it's going to be grim if this goes on much longer.<br />
<br />
Post-Postscript: The power is back ON but the west side of the house is now cold and the furnace can't catch up. Such fun....Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-31106599169331797972013-12-21T07:53:00.000-08:002013-12-21T07:53:59.002-08:00HOLIDAY BELIEFS...In having coffee the other day with a retired cop of long service, he mentioned during the conversation he always hated the "Suicide Season", meaning of course the period between Thanksgiving and mid-January when most people decide to do away with themselves and then he went into a couple of the more graphic examples from his experience.<br />
<br />
The irony is this is supposed to be a season of joy and warmth. Whether you are a believer in Jesus Christ, some other faith or an agnostic, the season is SUPPOSED to be a good one, but all I can say from person experience it's a tough one to negotiate. <br />
<br />
Quite simply, when you are a bereaved parent it is a no win situation no matter how we shape or endure it.<br />
<br />
Yes, I am one who believes that Jesus Christ was my savior. He was born of a virgin birth and he died on the cross for my sins and he arose into Heaven. I also believe the Holy Bible is the word of God. (And NO, you can't prove the concept of faith through science, so I don't go there. That's why it called 'FAITH'!) I also believe there are codes or hidden messages in the scriptures that will only be revealed to the believers when the 7th seal is broken on judgement day and until then it is beyond human comprehension to understand either all of 'The Word' or 'The Will of God' and to claim you can borders on sheer idiocy, if not a supreme example of human arrogance. <br />
<br />
I try to be a student of the scriptures, but for the past few years I've been a terrible backslider. I say all this because of the current controversy over the characters at DUCK DYNASTY (a program I've never been able to endure for more than ten minutes btw) and how it has become a social crime to offend someone by stating your personal beliefs; whether they are politically incorrect, obnoxious, crude, extremely religious or just plain stupid. <br />
<br />
The world through use of social media and the internet scrutinizes things to the N'th degree when in years past, little thought would have been given to such items. The very concept of speaking your mind is now completely unacceptable.<br />
<br />
Everyone has an agenda and politically the new media has created more chasms than it has bridges.<br />
<br />
As for the Duck Dynasty clan, I will start to believe they are the geniune article if they walk away from the 'suits' at the present network and move to another, but my cynicism is such that I believe this is all a ratings ploy by a group of money grubbing, greedy non-believers to sucker punch their viewers and get an even bigger audience next season.<br />
<br />
As for the isssue of homosexuals; I think the Christian Fundamentalists (which I probably would fall into the fringe area) are missing or at best obscuring the main point of Christianity and that is simply LOVE for your fellow man. The caring, nurturing concern for others, unselfish kind of LOVE. <br />
<br />
I also believe that a wide, wide, wide number of Christians have skipped over the passages in the Scriptures about GOSSIP and how God views it as bad as cold blooded murder. Many believe that sin is on a graduated scale somewhat like our ciminal laws or criminal justice system, but if you study these things outside of Blasphemy and Gossip, sin is pretty much sin, so the sin of homosexuality is no worse than pornography. That calls into the question the whole 'people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' scenario. <br />
<br />
I know in our family we've had cousins who came out of the closet and my response was (as we were raised to behave) they were still a large part of our family and we loved them because we knew who they were. They were each of us in some way and they were always accepted as family and NEVER ostracized, but then we've always had a tendency to stick together through thick and thin no matter how much we may have disagreed because WE WERE STILL FAMILY!<br />
<br />
If I were perfect maybe I could have done something different, but I'm not and all I'm trying to accomplish for the next few days is get through this period of time where memories are wonderful and powerful, but the physical absence of someone I cherish and love so much is every bit as painful and empty...<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-90294264255753314902013-12-16T01:30:00.004-08:002013-12-16T01:30:51.165-08:00WE LIVE IN A 3 DIMENSIONAL WORLD...Repulicans and Democrats, Republicans and Democrats.....Two dimensional politics when we live in a three dimensional world...<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-6921906052382708942013-12-07T19:58:00.000-08:002013-12-07T19:58:06.211-08:00THE NFL AND DANIEL DEFENSE...Personally, I think Senator Tom Coburn has the right idea and the NFL should have to pay taxes. I mean afterall they aren't really a church.....although I suppose a strong argument that in many areas their local franchise has better attendence than most of the local congregations.<br />
<br />
However, I still don't believe that professional football is a legitimate religion; especially so after they refused to accept Daniel Defense's advertisement request for the Super Bowl.<br />
<br />
Therefore, I think those of us on the 2nd Amendment side of things should argue and petition our Congressional representatives to get behind Coburn's idea and make 'em pay taxes just like the rest of us. I mean after all they're only making 7 Billion dollars a year, it's not like they can't afford it....<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-6522181795469222952013-12-02T11:35:00.001-08:002013-12-02T11:36:14.030-08:00BLACK FRIDAY SCAM...I'm not much for online shopping but even I see how much better it is in terms of convenience and cost.<br />
<br />
Big example: I mentioned we went to a big box store while out in LA over Thanksgiving during a visit with our son and the fact a "STRIKE-BACK" DVD was 'on sale' for $44.95, when I had ordered the same thing out of a small shop in a local mall just a month ago for only $39.95!!!<br />
<br />
Our son mentioned he could use a new monitor at his editing bay and since we were there and we won't be together for Christmas, it made sense for his mother and I to get him one while we were visiting as our Christmas present to him.<br />
<br />
When we found one however he was shocked at the price and he said, "We're not doing that. That's simply too much." <br />
<br />
Turned out he was right. We went to his house, he looked the same thing up online and ordered it (with shipping) for 17% less than what the big box store was asking.<br />
<br />
PT Barnum is alive and well with all this Black Friday/Gray Thursday shopping deal nonsense....<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-33696620160240264662013-11-29T15:15:00.001-08:002013-11-29T15:16:05.740-08:00THANKSGIVING WEEKENDFor the past couple of days we've been visiting the kid in LA. It's raining today, but the big difference between here and home is <strong><em>THERE IS NO WIND</em></strong>. Probably the single thing that recommends this place.<br />
<br />
We went to a big box store this afternoon....<em>madness, madness, madness,</em> not mention the fact there were no bargains. I found a first season DVD of STRIKE-BACK, a series on MAX that is my new passion and they wanted $45 when I ordered a copy through some store in the local mall that only cost me $39 back in Indiana.<br />
<br />
I think that pretty much explains all the hype about Black Friday, it helps justify a huge mark-up for the retail establishments.<br />
<br />
No thanks, I'll pass.<br />
<br />
We had a great day yesterday. Our son and his room-mate deep fried a turkey in 40 minutes!!!! <strong>And it was delicious.</strong> I was well and truly amazed. We are having a good time just "...chillin'..." with the kid. Great family experience.<br />
<br />
I say it all the time, but I wish ALL THE BEST to everyone this Holiday weekend.<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-50021595539038621592013-11-10T09:29:00.001-08:002013-11-10T09:29:47.852-08:00IT'S BEEN AWHILE...I haven't posted on this blog for some time and it has been for a number of reasons; laziness being the biggest one.<br />
<br />
As many of you may know by now I am the new Shooting Editor for SHOOTING TIMES magazine and to say I'm thrilled with this new position is an understatment. I'm over the moon. I wasn't getting along well with 'retirement' and this new position has given me someting to do and concentrate on. <br />
<br />
Of course, SHOOTING TIMES is owned by Intermedia and this past week has been overshadowed with the events surrounding the back page editorial on the current edition of GUNS&AMMO, another magazine owned by Intermedia. All I can say about the whole thing is when it comes to 'reasonable' discussion with those opposed to our 2nd Amendment rights I feel it's time for the other side to start making some concessions in this ongoing game of give and take; as in 'We Give' and 'They Take'. I'm tired of it and I suspect that is the majority feeling of those who were upset by Dick Metcalf's piece. I've known Dick for many years, but the reaction to his piece was predictable and I fail to see why it wasn't foreseen? That's all I'm going to say on the matter other than it was a hard way to end an otherwise note-worthy career.<br />
<br />
On other subjects, I see Google has once again changed their format and I can't reach this blog from my laptop for posting, but I can from my desktop (which uses Window XP [versus Windows 7 on the laptop] so this machine is slated for replacement after the first of the year because MicroSoft is ending their support for Windows XP in April) so it may be when I replace this machine this blog will come to an end as well.<br />
<br />
I spent all of last week in Texas deer hunting for the magazine. Essentially I sat in a ground blind for two days and watched the little birds fly by. There was absolutely NO movment and I was beginning to get worried about what I was going to write if I didn't even get the chance to shoot something? Fortunately, on the last day I did get a good size doe and a gobbler. I never did see a buck of any kind while others in our party saw several. (Maybe I needed to take a bath??)<br />
<br />
I was going to post some pictures but Blogger won't let me, at least not where I want them, so once again Blogger and me are at odds. This really is a stupid system, but I shouldn't complain because it is free...<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
<br />
Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-89959656188238468112013-10-14T09:42:00.003-07:002013-10-14T09:49:18.183-07:00PESSIMISM....I've been going to gunshows for the better part of my 67 years, but I saw something this past weekend at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot I've never seen before.........whole families, not just individuals but WHOLE FAMILIES, buying ammunition in case lots and in quantity. And they weren't just buying a case of 9mm or .38 for weekend plinking, they were purchasing anywhere from 2,000-3,000 rounds to more than six or 8,000 rounds and most of it was of Russian manufacture and in centerfire rifle calibers.<br />
<br />
Quite simply, I think many in my particular culture class are scared.<br />
<br />
Now granted the vast majority of the people doing this were like myself; non-hispanic 'white' in terms of racial origin and ethnic background, but I think it is safe to say that events in Washington over the past month or so have un-nerved enough people that are many are fearful and extremely pessimistic in their personal views of the future.<br />
<br />
In talking to a number of friends and acquaintances, it is pretty plain the cost of 'Obamacare' is going to eliminate a huge portion of the 'discretionary' spending available to this same group of people, either through the increased cost of the healthcare itself or the resutling reduction in work hours because it will almost mandate a less than 30 hour work week.<br />
<br />
(This reduction in discretionary spending is also going to have an effect on gun values because even though the demand may remain strong, less money means fewer sales and a drop in values for many firearms collections and I think the Class III/NFA crowd is already seeing this.)<br />
<br />
Add in the factor that so many of our citizenry is now firmly embedded in an entitlement program of some sort from the Federal Government for their income like Social Security, various federal pension programs, Welfare, WICS programs, veterans benefits, even deficiency payments to farmers through the Dept. of Agriculture, that a severe reduction or slow-down of these payments is going to result in severe 'social upheavel', which usually manifests itself somewhere in the form of riots or some other act of violence.<br />
<br />
People are scared and uneasy and I'm seeing little in terms of leadership out of Washington to qualm their fears. <br />
<br />
In fact I feel more than a few are doing their best to fan the flames and increase fears in order to increase their own personal political capital and I say...<br />
<br />
DAMN THEM!! for such behavior and performance...<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-10539854495114328172013-10-08T14:22:00.001-07:002013-10-08T14:22:01.470-07:00JUST BECAUSE....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_4N9KoRPs-9iMBoH9gSPr0UMqsg50i7G2mLawxakTGTPsOf73QERmm7zZc00_FjIq-Y9N_NMbwhErjRWPqDNYrCJGTQIU7WSxrNAttO1b8otqVb3Kkb867t88uGNwX2j74EszCXzZXM/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_469473="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_4N9KoRPs-9iMBoH9gSPr0UMqsg50i7G2mLawxakTGTPsOf73QERmm7zZc00_FjIq-Y9N_NMbwhErjRWPqDNYrCJGTQIU7WSxrNAttO1b8otqVb3Kkb867t88uGNwX2j74EszCXzZXM/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" dsa="true" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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No point other than the fact I love these things. Yeah, they're too heavy and the sights are crude, but they're still damn neat. So the tile of this piece.....JUST BECAUSE...<br />
<br />
All The Best,<br />
Frank W. James<br />
Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-87998814839864520932013-09-29T17:48:00.001-07:002013-09-29T17:48:44.312-07:00RUSH, the movie...Went to see RUSH, a Ron Howard film about Formula One racing in 1976. It's the best film I've seen in the past 6 or 8 months. It has flaws and problems at a couple of points, but I'm willing to see it again. IT'S THAT GOOD! Can't really say much more...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-52544200752058071482013-09-27T06:15:00.000-07:002013-09-27T06:15:08.321-07:00A RELOADING TIP AND REFLECTIONS ON THE .30 CARBINE...I've been spending much of this week in my reloading building. (We call it a "studio", but it's really an ammo shack.) The nice thing for me is my shooting range is right beside it so I can develop a load and then just step outside and test it. Fun way to spend my 'retirement', that is when I'm not struggling to meet my deadlines.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago my friend and gunsmith Steve Snyder gave me a priceless tip for those like me who fight 'static-cling' in our powder measures. It's pretty simple actually, just wipe 'em down with one of those sheets you throw in the dryer to reduce static cling.<br />
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I've been having a problem with my loads changing as the reservoir lowers in the powder measure on both my Dillon Square Deal B and the Dillon 1050 presses. Yet, the other day I loaded over 500 rounds of .38 Special wadcutter target loads and throughout the day the thrown powder charge never varied. Before I started however, I totally dismantled and cleaned the powder measure, then before reassembly, I wiped everything down with a sheet of "Bounce" to make sure all the surfaces were spotless and treated with this anti-static stuff. It was amazing how consistent my loads were for the remaining two days as I loaded .38 Special wadcutter target loads using Bullseye powder. It's a new wrinkle for an old dog and one I intend to maintain.<br />
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In working over the past two weeks with 2 different M-1 Carbines, I'm amazed at how good they really are and how I've ignored them. Years ago (when I was in college) I had one and used it alot but like most guys I moved on and forgot about it. Today the focus is on some sort of AR-platform and I'm not a critic of them, but all too often we hang too much stuff on the AR and it soon becomes an 18 wheeler of a personal vehicle (and I'm no exception to this as I am as guilty as everyone else), but the Universal Receiver M-1 carbine with the pseudo WWII folding stock is an absolute delight because it is by comparison so light in weight, with an overall short length, handy and ACCURATE. Last night just before I quit I was shooting steel at 100 yards and averaging over 60% hits on the first round! Which for me is pretty impressive.<br />
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When you really think about it, the .30 Carbine round is little more than a minature .357 Magnum. It's a straight walled case and it uses many of the same propellants. The big problem, now as well as over its history, has been the lack of good bullets. I'm loading plated FMJ's that are 110 grains over 14.0 grains of H-110, but both guns shoot it extremely well. I just wish there was a good hollow point bullet that was widely available for this round. I know Hornady is making a new bullet for it and I've asked for it, but I have yet to have the little brown truck deliver any. When it does, I fully intend to find out how they work on real targets.<br />
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As you can see I'm developing a new appreciation for this round and the carbine that originated it. The problem of course is the collector market dominates the prices on used M-1 Carbines, but still many are bargains when compared to high end AR's. Compared to the standard AR-15/M-4 platform the M-1 Carbine is pretty spartan and simple, but I'm beginning to wonder if that isn't a good thing? It might even get far better with the addition of good bullets...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-29919468645349084422013-09-17T16:56:00.002-07:002013-09-17T16:56:57.352-07:00Open Mic Night After The Apoclaypse is ON Hulu...Great News! Our son's film has been accepted by Hulu and is available for viewing FOR FREE to Hulu subscribers, so if you are signed up for HuluPlus all you have to do is type in OPEN MIC NIGHT AFTER THE APOCALYPSE and it will come up on your screen.<br />
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Please pass this info around as he needs as many 'hits' as physically possible. Do me a favor and pass the word around the web. It would be doing me a tremendous kindness if you would.<br />
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Thanks again...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-48640872764024554112013-09-03T04:10:00.000-07:002013-09-03T04:10:11.965-07:00I WAS LATE, SHE WAS EARLY...Okay, so I almost forget to lock up 'The Studio' (you know the out building where I keep the cat food for the outside cats as well as 'some' ammunition) before heading off to bed last night. So I run out a little after 10:00PM and its pretty dark out.<br />
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I close the pet door first then I think I better check and make sure I haven't locked up one of the two outside cats in for the evening. I open the door, turn the light on and guess who I meet?<br />
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That's right a rather large female raccoon who was as surprised as I was and who was also extremely disappointed her avenue of exit was now closed. She then turned and climbed over a bunch of 50 cal. ammo cans hiding beneath the big reloading bench.<br />
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I leave the light on, close the door and run to the house where I retrieve a Smith & Wesson Model 17 with an 8-3/8" barrel, which was already loaded with 40 gr. Winchester hollowpoints.<br />
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Long story, short; the world is now minus one rather large and heavy female raccoon........and I have a hell of a bloody mess under my reloading benches which I have to clean up today.<br />
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I think this makes eleven raccoons and 'possums this summer that I've eliminated due to their affinity for cat food. It must be due to the dry weather we've been having because even for me this is an abnormally high number of varmit intrusions.<br />
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But I also think she was the one responsible for the muddy paw prints on the doorknob I posted a couple of weeks ago......as well as all the damage that was done to the Studio early last spring. She was certainly big enough for both.<br />
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I wonder what's going to show up next? I just hope it ain't a skunk.....<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-35167431495150809572013-08-28T10:03:00.001-07:002013-08-28T10:03:34.747-07:00USA GETTING READY TO BOMB SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS...That's what President Unicorn is getting ready to do. Oh! He ain't going to say that, but here's the deal. <br />
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If he isn't going to put boots on the ground (the early stages of the Afghan conflict were a success and the 'model' to follow, but then Dickhead Cheney got involved way back when and everything spiraled downward from there) and if it is an 'air only' assault the first thing they have to do is take out the Syrian Comand and Control centers and all those surface to air missle sites around the country.<br />
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Wanna guess where the Syrians are going to park 'em?<br />
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That's right, right next to schools and hospitals. Just like the North Vietnamese did, Just like the Serbs did in Kosovo and just like the Iraqis did in Baghdad and elsewhere throughout Iraq. And oh yeah, let's not forget Clinton's 'surgical' strike in east Africa with cruise missiles, that went real well and accomplished alot didn't it?<br />
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President Unicorn opened his mouth a year ago and overloaded his ass today. <br />
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I am so sick of this incredibly stupid S.O.B....<br />
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All the Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-77818441198998845172013-08-26T18:14:00.001-07:002013-08-26T18:14:54.709-07:00SOMETHING IS SCREWED UP WITH THIS BLOG...And it's not my fault, or at least I don't think so, but it is painfully obvious that for some reason the ability to comment to postings on this blog has been deleted or eliminated.<br />
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I have no clue how to fix this screw-up and it only reminds me while I killed the first blog. Blogger is NOT your friend.<br />
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Sorry...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-31991561793293186532013-08-23T11:08:00.000-07:002013-08-23T11:08:02.114-07:00I'M GLAD RACCOONS DON'T HAVE THUMBS...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was the scene that greeted me yesterday morning when I went out to my reloading/ammo shed we call "the studio". It also houses a very large bag of cat food for the 'outside' cats. Last winter as you may recall if you are a regular reader of this nonsense I suffered a 'break-in' by a gang of critters that left multiple piles of raccoon feces after tearing Hell out of everything , so I must assume they were raccoons. They ruined the RCBS lead furnace as well as a 4 cavity bullet mold. So, altogether their little food raid cost me over $500.</div>
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My response, other than trapping and killing multiple raccoons and possums since then, has been to close the 'pet' door every night and make sure everything is locked up tight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ojuBCHXQgNoHvh-al4HPrHEMbwwNKZOJnFPPunQq69wa8zdVXeRDyHurORJYjuFoqglv6SPa8-8AM1pFmzLvcDIVxNx4K7GYqE2KJg0UWN65aCeD9dax_53xpM0f6QNIjhR6TmbZNOY/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ojuBCHXQgNoHvh-al4HPrHEMbwwNKZOJnFPPunQq69wa8zdVXeRDyHurORJYjuFoqglv6SPa8-8AM1pFmzLvcDIVxNx4K7GYqE2KJg0UWN65aCeD9dax_53xpM0f6QNIjhR6TmbZNOY/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" /></a></div>
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We had a rainstorm during the night and as you can see the critters were smart enough to know the door handle was the reason they couldn't get in and eat a big supper of cat food. When I first went out, there was actually mud and dirt on the door handle itself, but I guess their strength or grip was not sufficient to turn the door knob and open the door. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWt_5vl1Mf-IMJtL_VBQnDYJrUp9PkyzlsByaW1R7_KmJbyvInzZC4BEK9UP3sL7lj4AgzEd3FQh9n4VotU7N2byK93BF355tt8DAiczlimvhKM21r1GLeKU4VIa1FAYwzIG3PflMmHw/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWt_5vl1Mf-IMJtL_VBQnDYJrUp9PkyzlsByaW1R7_KmJbyvInzZC4BEK9UP3sL7lj4AgzEd3FQh9n4VotU7N2byK93BF355tt8DAiczlimvhKM21r1GLeKU4VIa1FAYwzIG3PflMmHw/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" /></a></div>
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I wiped the dirt and mud off the door knob but as you can see by their muddy tracks they had it figured out. They just couldn't get the knob to turn.</div>
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My wife said, "Gee, wouldn't it have been neat to have a video of them trying to open the door and break-in?"</div>
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I said, "I would rather have had a picture of them in my gun sights."</div>
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The following was sent to me by a friend the other day and I thought everyone would enjoy the sentiment in this 'cartoon'. I've come to the opinion that President Unicorn has exceeded the incompetence of Jimmy Carter while maintaining and surpassing the venality of Dick Nixon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIA32LOw375KshQAe_gY8fVog-ND2tK6MXYORPNHfqNOWuiuTwfFNX8VAwXs0pWd5uVnZILXXg9HH5dDZn-wnPeMYh-FleTlP7l4jJHfy2h3Y4vXTyud8Lhz7RV_Becasek7r0p34DJM/s1600/Obama+spying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIA32LOw375KshQAe_gY8fVog-ND2tK6MXYORPNHfqNOWuiuTwfFNX8VAwXs0pWd5uVnZILXXg9HH5dDZn-wnPeMYh-FleTlP7l4jJHfy2h3Y4vXTyud8Lhz7RV_Becasek7r0p34DJM/s320/Obama+spying.jpg" /></a></div>
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Have a Great Day....</div>
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All The Best,</div>
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Frank W. James</div>
Frank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-34241754934316189082013-08-15T18:27:00.000-07:002013-08-15T18:27:04.262-07:00UNPACKING ALWAYS MAKES A MESS...I've been gone all of this week while attending an Intermedia Editorial Round Table. Essentially, its where the advertisers comes in and show us all the stuff we're going to see being introduced to the marketplace in the next few months and at the Shot Show in January. <br />
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And NO, I can't talk about it because a lot of the stuff has an embargo on it and even if it doesn't my employer wouldn't take kindly to my revealing what's new on this blog. (I know what side of the bread slice gets buttered.)<br />
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Of course, you get several free t-shirs out of these show and tell processes. Valerie always used to say "That's nice, Dad, but they all have NAMES on them." She wasn't impressed. <br />
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Still I think it's funny when I see my wife doing house cleaning on the weekends in a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off that has a SCAR-16 on the back and FN's logo on the front.<br />
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The biggest problem with all this stuff is unpacking. My wife had everything neat and clean and now our sunroom looks there was a luggage explosion of some sort because there is crap everywhere. (I'm posting this because I'm procrastinating cleaning it all up and putting it away.)<br />
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I enjoy travel, but it's always good to get home, be greeted by the little dog (who always pees on me in his excitement. Hey, that's part of the deal) and get back into a routine of some sort. I didn't exercise these past few weeks of travel and I feel it. <br />
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One thing I doing tomorrow for sure is my 2 mile walk.<br />
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Otherwise the next best thing will be sleeping in my own bed tonight.<br />
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It's always great to be "...BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA"...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975923977148606671.post-56922677976774054422013-08-07T16:59:00.000-07:002013-08-07T16:59:23.105-07:00"ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK" on NETFLIX...My son told me about this series and I've just completed watching the entire 13 episode run. That's one of the advantages of Netflix, you can go through the entire 13 episode series in five nights (or less if you want); er. at least I did.<br />
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It's the story of this east coast liberal woman in her 30's who plea bargains to a 15 month sentence in a federal pen for being a drug mule and money launderer ten years prior. Yep, it's a fish out of water story, but mostly it's well told and there is some good writing and even better character development.<br />
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the setting of course is a woman's prison in upstate New York and we are dragged along as this blond yuppie learns the ropes of prison life. Whether the degree of lesbanism that is shown on this show is accurate or not is kinda beside the point because we know without any of it, few would watch this series due to their own purient interests. So it makes sense that such activity is a plot motivator throughout. Also, there is heavy use of the "F" Bomb so if offensive language bothers you.....Just don't go there. You will be offended.<br />
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Problems with the series include the fact that in the beginning it is kinda slow. then near the last 2 or 3 episodes it puts out an anti-religion message through a stereotypical protrayal of a homicidal nitwit evangelical Christian. Look I know those idiots exist, but I don't buy how it is shown here. It is just too easy and obvious. Additionally, even though this is supposed to be a minimum security prison, I don't buy there aren't hardened criminals or repeat offenders developed in the plotline. Not all of these inmates can have heart-warming stories to tell. I don't buy it. I also have a problem with how they depict every member of the prison staff being corrupt in one form or another. So, yeah I think it has a liberal agenda of an extreme order.<br />
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However, having said all that the show does grab you in that some characters are so real and with plenty of pathos. In many ways this series reminded me of "THE WIRE" which I've always felt was one of the best series ever put on television. I don't like the main character 'Chapman'. To me she is not at all sympathetic and I can't feel sorry for her predicament. She is a self-absorbed screwed-up idiot, nor I do care for her fiancee (another self-pitying unsympathetic idiot) or her prison girlfriend (yes, there is THAT), but some of the others make you want to know more and that to me at least is the sign of a well written, well acted production.<br />
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I give "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK" 4 bullets out of a cylinder of 6...<br />
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All The Best,<br />
Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13226349436102265762noreply@blogger.com2