On line shopping has another negative

I want some long sleeved, turtle neck tee shirts. What stock of them exist seem to be bought up instantly. I have learned the remedy to this is to buy such items (non-available) is on line. I do have to know what I want and sizes and some details. But it’s not hard. Right?

Not so much. I found what I wanted in several places and several of them require an email address AND a pass word. The email is for – no matter what they say – sending all sorts of junk mail to the email. I don’t know what password they want, but I’m not giving anyone such an item.

Those companies will not formalize an order and sale without such.

You all can make up your own minds, but I’m just flat going to refuse. I’ve done without before and I can still do without.

What New Cartridges are reasonable?

Much of the time I see advertisements – some overt, some mildly camouflaged – about the newest, freshest, niftiest, smartest and least likely to turn green on your finger “new” cartridges.

Let us consider that a bit. To do this, we must ask a few questions:

What is the point of “new” cartridges? In my considered and not quite humble opinion, “new” cartridges are a means to get the consumer (you and me) to buy something we do not have.

How new is this? Is it really new at all? No, this isn’t really a new idea. I remember TV ads about all manner of products claiming ‘new and improved’. Sometimes they went as far as changing the color of the box.

Is the claimed ‘flatter trajectory’ and ‘less bullet drop’ really meaningful?

Is the ‘new’ cartridge really more powerful? How?

The 6.5 Creedmoor is very much in the firearms news for the last few years. However, it is a .308 Winchester case necked down to 6.5mm bullet diameter. Does any one recall a round called the .260 Remington? That round was a .308 Winchester case necked down to .264 inches which is oddly the same diameter as 6.5mm. Both cartridges – in commercial form – employ 140 grain bullets.The main difference is the shoulder angles which are distinct enough to make them ‘different’ cartridges in the eyes of SAMMI and the Patent Office.

The .260 Remington was adapted from a wildcat called – usually – the 6.5mm-08. This may remind one of the 7mm-08 and for good reason. There’s more details, but look them up. I don’t want to re-write the history.

The 6.5mm-08 is, to my thinking, a modernization of the 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser. However, the change over does a few things the original 6.5 Swede could not do. The head size of the 6.5 Swede is larger than the head size of the 30-06 Springfield, which is the same as the .308 Win, which is (intentionally) the same as the head size of all the Mauser “anything”x57mm cartridges. Consequently, the round may be used in many currently manufactured rifle without have to re-do the bolt face. The .308 case length is shorter than the 6.5 Swede and therefore the ‘new’ cartridge can be used in ‘middle’ length actions and save a bit of weight. Finally, as the cartridge can by used in modern actions, the operating pressures are higher and therefore muzzle velocity is increased. So far, not a bad idea. Especially if one did not have a 6.5x55mm rifle already.

The fly in the ointment is the Swede rifle was such a good game stopper and killer was partially due to the 160 grain (or in metric 10 grams equalling 154 grains) bullet of the originally loading. Such a long (therefor heavy bullet) delivered penetration into the vitals of big critters. Moose and such. The .260 Remington was built into rifles with the thought that 140 grain bullets were going to be used and the twist rate (of the rifling) was eased to 1:9 (1 bullet rotation per 9 inches of barrel travel) whereas the 160 grain prior bullet was spun (in the Swedish rifles) at 1:7.9. It seems the slower twist will stabilize the heavier bullets, most shooters seem to agree accuracy is not as good as might be.

I do like the 6.5x55mm round. I have never had (purchased) a .260 Remington as I already have a couple Swedes. Theoretically a .260 Remington chambered rifle with a 1.7 twist would be excellent for me. (I like the heavier bullets.)

Back to 6.5 Creedmoor. The cartridge and rifles so designed are make for precision bench rest type competition. Not for hunting so much. For most of us, so what?

The same is rather true of the .284 Remington. All the ‘new’ aside, the .284 Remington is a 7mm-06. Not a bad idea, but nothing really exciting, either. The original 7x57mm Mauser was designed and used in the 1892 Mauser designed action. It is officially considered weaker than the ’98 Mauser action. So the 7mm-06 cartridge is ‘faster’ from the muzzle in all bullet weights. So? The 7x57mm round is well known as a game-getter of most everything.

The faster muzzle velocity does give a flatter trajectory; less drop – all other factors being equal – than the 7x57mm. So what? That bullet drop doesn’t really matter at ranges shorter than 300 yards. How often does one shoot at a game animal further than 300 yards?

For long distance target shooters (1000 yards and more), high velocity and resistance to cross wind is important. Bullet performance on game is not. (Poking a hole in paper is not the same as poking a hole in a deer.)

The same thing is true of many ‘new’ cartridges. Get out the big heavy reference books which hold information regarding cartridge dimensions and start comparing case heads and case lengths.

I will suggest the reason for some to buy the newest cartridge or stock or scope and so on is to be thought ‘cool’ (if anyone uses that word any more). By spending on and possessing a ‘new’ concept, one has the illusion of being really ‘cutting edge’.

Now for another tack. Do any of the advertised improvements really matter to ‘me’. Maybe.

I am older. Older than I was a little while ago, older than many of you all. I do not predate dirt or fire, but I do recall the wheel being a new thing. My limited hunting days are over. (Never really hunted as much as I thought I’d like; but always have had a hunter’s outlook.) But I do study and comprehend ballistics.

From what I’ve seen and heard from those who do venture into the woods to pursue game, more deer are taken in the U. S. at less than 200 yards than over. (Some tell me 100 yards…) So a cartridge that advertises long range accuracy and smaller bullet drop is probably not so important. Unless long range bench rest is your goal, of course.

Power? How much power is needed to kill a deer? Or moose or elk for that matter? A certain level, surely. Interestingly, the late Walter (Karamojo) Bell killed 300 elephant with a 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer. When he could not get the good (fully jacketed) ammo anymore (WW1 complicated an Englishman getting Austrian made ammunition for some reason) he moved up to .275 Rigby – known to most of us as 7x57mm Mauser (ammunition available from British makers). Seemingly, bullet energy is not all that important for success.

There are some other factors in efficiency important in a good hunting round. Muzzle energy is ‘kinetic energy’ and is the result of velocity. At a given weight, moving the weight faster generates more energy. So a light bullet propelled really fast gives an impressive ‘energy’ reading. At the muzzle. This is easy to measure and easiest to advertise. However, there are less than inspiring consequences. As a fact of physics, a lighter projectile will loose velocity quicker than a heavier projectile of the same shape. As a result, a lighter bullet looses kinetic energy faster than a heavier bullet.

I’m not trying to turn this into a physics lesson, but I am trying to arise awareness of several factors in hunting.

Another consideration to the hunter is penetration on whatever game one is pursuing. I think it not a secret that the projectile – the bullet – has to penetrate into the ‘vitals’ to have the desired effect. Simply put, heavy bullets – all other factors the same – penetrate deeper. This derives from ‘sectional density’, the ratio of weight to bullet length. Bullet shape has a serious effect on penetration as well. Again, simply put, a pointy bullet will penetrate deeper than a flat bullet. Much like an axe will penetrate wood more than a equal weigh hammer. One notes the hammer has a different effect on the object being struck.

The result is a combination of factors determine utility in harvesting game animals, which is not so simply put. Looking at the above information, keep in mind that no matter how much energy or how derived, the energy or shock HAS to be delivered to the target (game animal). The perfect balance of velocity, weight and shape will not function very well if the game is simply penetrated completely without passing on much of the potential energy. This is not so important for shooting rabbits in the vegetable patch, but is quite serious when shooting a moose or Kodiak Bear.

My point is this: Will the new and improved cartridge work for YOUR purpose any better than what you have right now? Look farther than the shiny and hype.

God’s Salvation

Salvation.  From the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

1 a:  deliverance from the power and effects of sin;

1 b:  the agent or means that effects salvation and

3 a:  preservation from destruction or failure; b:  deliverance from danger or difficulty.

One can see all these are related.  This essay will deal with 1a primarily and solely within the realm of Biblical Christianity.  That statement is not to suggest or assume any other Christian teaching is wrong, immaterial or lacking; it is just to say this is, at a minimum, what the Bible – as the message of God – requires.

The first important note is salvation is a gift.  It is not a reward or earned honor based on human endeavor.  It is not attained by Being Good; not smoking or drinking alcohol; refraining from the use of words like ‘dang’ and ‘heck’; never committing a felony or sassing one’s mother.  It is ONLY the gift of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

So what is needed?  Not everyone has it, it seems.  Is this function entirely random?

Ask for it.  It is as simple as that.  This, of course is composed of a number of other factors.  Among them are:

1.  Believe God exists.  I would find it rather silly to pray to someone or something one refuses to recognize.  No one – not thinking and aware anyway – would pray to the Easter Bunny.  No one seriously petitions the money gods to make one rich.  This is not to say that one must have a full and formal knowledge of God as one with a Divinity Degree might have.  In fact, part of the salvation ‘package’ is a fuller and deeper knowledge of God Himself.  But one must be willing to allow God to grant salvation.  At the same time, it is not a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ proposition.  One can have a certain uncertainty, but be willing to believe. 2nd Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  (If this sounds like I took it out of context, read the entire paragraph.)

2. Recognize that one is incapable of attaining Heaven is impossibly by one’s own worth or effort.  No cash payment, no amount of offerings either to a church or charitable organization, no amount of good works, neither sweeping the church building or helping little old ladies across the street will make that difference.  No earned title; not even Pastor or King of Siam.  (Not to pick on Kings of Siam.)  So recognizing that only God can grant the request.

3. Ask for it.  Mentally and verbally.  Prayers are essentially thoughts directed to God.  Yes, He can hear you.

4. Mean it.  Be sincere.  Yes, God can tell the difference.  Many preachers and theological thinkers have put together variations of “the Sinner’s Prayer”.  All are reasonable valid.  However, they are NOT a magical incantation to bend God to your will.  One cannot do this just to cover all one’s bets if all else fails.

Yes, it is that simple.

“What next?”  you ask.  “I have to be good and obey all the rules, right?”

Sort of.  At the point of making the contract with God – verbal contract, no signing in blood required – one is slowly – for me anyway – to following the teaching and actions directed by Jesus Christ, who is God.  (Complicated concept of the Trinity.  Not going to cover it here, next essay or so.)  A Christian is not required to act in such a manner, but finds it normal.  Many of the things seeming required feel natural rather than obligatory.  No, it doesn’t happen instantly in a thunderclap, but over time.

Do not worry overmuch about not doing things correctly – sinning.  One notes King David committed adultery and murder in the same episode, confessed and was still identified as a ‘…man after God’s own heart’.  On the other hand, any willful misconduct will typically generate some discipline.  Kind of like a child who transgresses the family ‘rules’ is not exiled from the family, but may have to go to the wood shed.

Just Wondering About the Potential Outrage…

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Some time ago I posted an essay regarding ignorance and judgement.

Now I have a question.  Of course, the question needs some introduction.

The causal story in the previous essay was that of Pastor Jack Schapp having an affair with a seventeen year old girl and thereby losing his pastorate.  Cafe Mom thought it horrible a fifty-four year old man would be having sex with a seventeen year old girl.

For reasons I will explain momentarily, I looked at Cafe Mom again just a couple minutes prior to writing the above (on Tuesday, 21 August 2012) and noted Cafe Mom had also posted a commentary on Congressman Todd Akin’s remarks about killing babies using rape as an excuse.  They seem to not like Congressman Akin – who admittedly gave a really bad response when questioned.

Now, today I see a headline about Minnesota Representative Kerry Gauthier (a ‘male’ Kerry, to avoid confusion) who has admitted to both advertising on Craig’s list for ‘no strings attached sex’ and, as a result of said advertisement, having oral sex with a seventeen year old boy.

Former pastor Schapp had an ‘affair’ which connotes a serial conduct of improper sexual events.  As a Christian and church attendee and advocate, such a person cannot be trusted in such a position.  I have no specific mention former pastor Schapp was married or not Without addressing that specifically, the act of cheating on one’s wife is ‘horrible’.  By the same Biblical standards, committing sexual acts with a person not one’s spouse is forbidden (and I suppose, horrible).

Congressman Akin’s comment about abortion – without further information – is contrary to Biblical standards as well.  So is rape, for that matter; but two wrongs do not make a right as is said.

Representative Gauthier appears to be an open homosexual.  While not having any specific animus toward the representative, (he may be a good fellow in the normal conduct of life) that action is indeed contrary to Biblical standards.  The concept of ‘no strings attached sex’ is reducing a deep and meaningful act of love into a fun and pleasurable experience.  Which is the same for heterosexual non marital sex, by the way.

Does anyone find this ‘horrible’, or is most everyone afraid of being politically incorrect?

They’re at it again…

The news is Hamas – the most recent version of Islamic terrorism – has commenced open warfare on Israel. How surprising.

One notes Islam has been hating Jews and Judaism since Ismael had children. During the Roman Empire, Saudi Arabia and what is now Iran and much of that area was not under Roman rule. When Rome was finally fed up with the resistance of the Jews to surrender to Roman culture and standards of ‘normalcy’ the Romans essentially destroyed the ancient nation of Israel by exiling all the inhabitants to various places – the Diaspora. The pre-Islamic Arabs – descendants of Ismael – cheered and moved in to the land.

In more recent times (pre 1948) one notes the area called ‘Palestine’ was populated by the rejects of the Islamic nations of that area. One observes the rather slap-dash area called Palestine was essentially raw land occupied by peoples exiled from other nations and countries, living lives of bare subsistence tending sheep largely.

During the 20th Century, Jews moved back to the area of Ancient Israel and became part of the landscape. In 1948, the Country of Israel was recognized (and the Islamics went wild.)

1948 saw the Arab- Israeli war. Israel won. And It should be noted Israel did not absorb all the land of the ancient nation of Israel. Several invasions and brouhahas later, Israel is the most prosperous nation in the Middle East (save perhaps Saudi Arabia with oil, and Saudi Arabia has a lower GDP per capita than Israel). In fact, Israel has the most personal earnings on average of any middle eastern country. In fact, Israel is 19th in the world (2018 figures).

But, global Islam hates the Jews anyway – envious, maybe?

The Palestinians, those who derive from being exiled from other Islamic controlled nations, claim the land is theirs by history. That Israel existed there prior to Islam is ignored.

All that aside for the moment; on 7th October 2023 the next incarnation of Islamic terrorism, Hamas attacked Israel without declaration of war or warning or even issuing demands. They have murdered (killed non-combatants and helpless people) and torn up all they could.

Allow me to point out the 11th September 2001 attacks were committed by Al-Qaeda, the then current version of Islamic terrorists. No big stretch to connect the 11/11 attacks and the current invasion of Israel. The two attacks were occasioned by the same hive mind.

I can see no doubt that an attack on our ally is not a threat to the United States. Despite some elected officials claiming otherwise.

The Fall of the United States

In the Biblical book (Old Testament) of Jeremiah is a record of the destruction of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The tribes of the Hebrews.
It is a record of Jeremiah detailing the messages (word in the sense of message) given to Jeremiah the Prophet by the Creator of the Universe as prophecy and explaining the reasons the Lord will move in this matter.

The simplest division of topics I can arrange are three. (No doubt another commentator will see more or less than I do, but this will do for the current discussion.)
1. What is going to happen. In short, the Babylonian Empire under the direction of Nebuchadnezzar II or sometimes Nebuchadrezzar II, was going to conquer and enslave the land and people known as the Jewish nation. They would be taken to Babylon as slaves.
It did happen.

2. Why did the Lord decide this would happen? The majority of the Jewish people had more or less ignored the Lord – who had made a deal with Abraham their ultimate Earthly forbearer – and instead worshipped other gods. They ignored the prophecies given to various prophets, including Jeremiah while giving lip service to the Lord and claiming His protection.

3. What they could do about it. The command issued by the Lord directed all the conquered people to submit to Babylonian rule AND start paying attention to the Lord only, again.

Following, the nation of the Jews were indeed conquered by Babylon and most deported to Babylonian territory. They were enslaved in the sense they were forced to move and live where they were directed, but the following accounts show they were not treated as ‘slaves’ in the sense of working in mines and being whipped daily. They had their own property, both real and portable; could marry of their own choice (subject to the traditions of the Jews) and more or less live regular lives.

So. What does that have to do with the United States ‘falling’?

One notes the United States was founded on Christian principles and largely by Christian people. Not exclusively believers, but near total agreement on the Christian ideals of a greater goal, equal and fair treatment of citizens and residents and so forth. (Yes, I know some will scream and holler about that statement.)

One also notes over the time of my life, I have seen a great departure from not only those actions, but a departure from the concepts involved.

A good portion – perhaps a majority – of U. S. citizens and residents give some lip service to the ideals of equality, but really value themself to be the only important one.
The Lord of Life is no longer valued, obeyed and praised. The worldly gods of pleasure and convenience are far more important than the maker of the universe and all therein.

The Lord and Creator of the Universe is rather long suffering. However, He does indeed get fed up. (Ask Jeremiah and Isaiah.)

One should understand this about the Lord. His primary and ultimately His only goal is the recovery of all souls from the power of Hell. That is of greater importance to Him than any individual’s earthly happiness, any business venture or a country like Israel or Judah, like the current state of Israel; like the wonderful United States.

My thought is not to push the Lord any more than we have already. Take your pick.

Basic knowledge about entering the world of Handguns

You need to look over a reloading manual.

Some basics:

Caliber is the diameter of the bullet and as it happens, the bore, or interior ‘tube’ the length of the barrel. The bigger it is, the heavier the projectile – usually, but not always. U. S. and some older British calibers are measured in decimal inches, usually hundredths or thousandths of an inch. European (and most of the rest of the world) calibers are measured in millimeters.

Caliber is also used as the ‘name’ of a particular size and shape of total, loaded cartridge. One is familiar with many such names from the movies, if nothing else. Usually one hears of “a 38” or a “a 45” or “a 9”. These are incomplete terms. There are a number of cartridges – which is a ready to shoot, assembled artifact of specific size and shape – all called “38” something or other. .38 Special, .38 Smith & Wesson, .38 Short Colt, .38 Colt and Super .38 just as a start. They are all different cartridges and not fully interchangeable. Some will fire in handguns designed for other cartridges safely, and some will not. Usually, cartridges will not fit properly in weapons not designed for that cartridge.

Cartridge names can be rather confusing. For instance, a time-honored British cartridge called “.380/200” is essentially the same as one of the cartridges listed in the preceding paragraph. The famous – at least in movies – “.44 Magnum” uses a projectile with a diameter of .429 inches. One presumes “.43 Magnum” just didn’t sound right. The semi-obsolete “.38-40” or “.38 Winchester Central Fire” cartridge uses a bullet of .400 inches. As I mentioned early on, the reader really needs a reloading manual for full explanations.  For those really curious, the latest edition of Cartridges of the World (currently #17 in April 2023).  One gets a bit of history and development.

Loaded cartridges contain a primer which is the ignition device for the whole assembly, powder contained inside and a bullet wedged into the mouth of a case, which is usually brass.

Bullets are the projectiles. The bullet is the part that actually flies through the air down range to do whatever is intended. They are weighed in grains (1/7000 of a pound) in the U. S. and in grams – usually fractions – in the rest of the world. Gunpowder is also measured in grains or grams. Typically the heavier the bullet and the more gunpowder used, the more powerful the cartridge and firearm. Bullets can be lead alloy made by either casting, which is molten lead poured into a mould, or swedged, which is a process of forcing solid lead into a form at high pressure. Bullets can also be jacketed, which is a lead core with an outer covering of a brass variant alloy. There are also some very specialized bullets for specialized purposes made from solid brass or other metals.  (There are – or were – tank rounds with projectiles of depleted uranium.  But one likely will not encounter such.)

Gunpowder is a progressive burning propellant. This is not the compound of ‘charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate’ called ‘Black Powder’. Smokeless powder is made from a colloid of nitrocellulose, treated with various coatings and formed into specified shapes. Modern ‘smokeless’ gunpowder is NOT explosive. It is however, very combustible and burns faster when confined. It is to be handled carefully, but is less dangerous than a half empty gasoline can. Gunpowder comes in different burning ‘rates’ and is identified by name. Each named powder is a separate entity. Powders have certain pressure levels – derived from burn rates – in which they work best. Some powders are useful in shotguns, some in pistols and some in rifles. There is some overlap in powder use. Usually powders for handguns and shotguns burn faster than rifle powders.

Regardless of what has been heard, “slow” powders are not made for long barrels and “fast” powders for short barrels.  While some truth exists in the use, powder ‘speed’ varies more with allowable pressure and section density of the bullet than barrel length.    As mentioned in the prior paragraph, handguns and shotguns can use many of the same burning rates of powder.  The pressures for both shotguns and handguns are lower – relatively speaking – than rifles.  Also, some hand gun rounds and some (usually small) rifle rounds use the same powders.  But do not bother to try to memorize what goes where.  That is what loading manuals do.

Cases are the most obvious part of a cartridge. Most are made of brass. Some lower priced ammunition use cases of mild steel. This also has occurred in military use during times of limited material resources. The case is the container for the parts of the cartridge. The case also is what makes the cartridge one unit easily carried and used. It is sort of like a tortilla, except it isn’t consumed in the process of use.

All firearms have a pressure level. This is the internal pressure that propels the bullet out of the firearm and down range. In some firearms, this also operates the mechanism to remove the fired case and load another cartridge for firing, or prevent the opening of the action prematurely. This pressure is generated by the gasses given off internally resulting from the powder burning. The pressure levels from the range of 8,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) or so for shotguns to 10,000 to 35,000 PSI for handguns and small rifles to over 60,000 PSI for some rifles. Even the lowest pressure firearms develop pressures dangerous if not contained. One notes that burning temperature varies with pressure. But even the lowest pressures (8,000 PSI or so) has a temperature (just for an instant) above stove top burner heat.

All handguns are not alike. Not only are there different manufacturers, there are different types of handguns AND they have different functions.

Contrary to the opinion of the uneducated, all guns are not made for killing. Hunting handguns are of course made to kill game animals of various sizes. A goodly number of guns are made for self-defense, which includes all handguns for police and law enforcement use. However, self-defense is not in the least the same as killing. Death may be a side-effect of self-defense, but is not the primary goal; either for law enforcement or private citizens.

The idea that guns are made for killing is pretty close to the idea that candy is intended for child molesters to lure prey. Or cars are made only for excessive speed or showing off one’s financial superiority. Or clothing is only for demonstrating how ‘sexy’ one is or – again – financial superiority.

Handguns are made for several specific purposes. Self-defense comes to mind, of course. Bear in mind that a handgun is – in the field of general firearms – a rather close range device. When I was in the Marine Corps (beginning in 1969), the ‘official’ maximum defensive range for a handgun was fifty yards. I later joined the U. S. Border Patrol and the maximum distance handgun qualification was held was fifty yards. A couple years later, this maximum range was reduced to twenty-five yards. Still later, the agency I then held employment decided that fifteen yards was as far as anyone needed shooting.

From reading of pertinent material, most European militaries considered that fifteen meters was suitable for pistol qualifications.

Other handguns are made for ‘formal’ target shooting.  Even among target pistols, different forms of shooting require different designs of handguns.

Some handguns are made for hunting various game animals.  Game ranges from squirrels to elephants, and one pistol will not comfortably serve for all.

The same holds true for rifles.  There are various hunting rifles, target shooting rifles and military rifles for conducting warfare.  The all have different goals and therefore different design features.

In today’s thought, fifty yards is a long way to shoot a handgun. It is commonly shot in various competitions, but those are generally decried as ‘not the real world’. The commonly cited distances for self-defense encounters are typically around five yards or less.

As a self-defense tool, a handgun must fulfill some specific requirements.

Laws in these United States typically agree that ‘lethal physical force’ (which includes firearms) may be used ONLY when faced with immediate danger of life or great bodily harm, and AFTER all other means of reducing the threat have been exhausted.

Therefore, a defensive handgun must be able to use immediately. Noting the restrictions of ‘immediate’ threat and ‘all other means exhausted’ really limits the defender to reaction rather than initiation of action. As Our Lord recommended, “That thou doest, do quickly!”

A defensive handgun must deliver a solid blow. As noted, lethal force is a last option. One does not have time to ‘give the effect time to work’. The attack is imminent and one must act now! This concept of ‘power’ is subject to many different interpretations and limitations, not the least of which is the physical ability of the defender. (Having physical ailments such as arthritis can limit the ‘size’ of handgun used.)

A defensive handgun must be utterly reliable. It simply has to work first time, every time. Muggers and murderers do not usually grant ‘do-overs’.

A defensive handgun must be ‘precise’ within reasonable limits of the circumstance. Statistically, that means the arm must deliver a shot to a human sized torso (more or less) within five yards. Or, in very optimistic (perhaps pessimistic) conditions, fifty yards. Most modern handguns will provide intrinsic accuracy of such precision.

Rabbits

I haven’t been here for a while. Part of it was I didn’t have anything to say, part of it I was down. Perhaps depressed. Well, down.

I hadn’t been paid my annuity (common folk call it retirement) since last December. Yup, last December of 2022. Happily I had some money saved up in my bank account. But the months drug on… My old bank account was closed. I have moved banks. So the ‘old’ bank merely declined the electronic payment from then on.

I still wonder why no one at OPM noticed that and was curious. It didn’t seem to bother them.

At this point, I want everyone to know every month I (and my son) ate and all the bills were paid. I/we didn’t go into any new arrears. But as the months drug on my savings got slimmer and slimmer.

God was in fact watching out for us. We didn’t go hungry, had gas in the car and kept up my charitable giving.

I made attempts to make contact with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM); it was all blocked. The phone number to call on the website was never answered. Never. The FAX number to sent changes to the direct deposit portion refused to accept FAXs. No email address except for an office that seems to ignore communications. A promise to set up an ‘account’ with OPM to message them, but it would refuse to allow me access. (Something about quoting a plate on the dark side of Jupiter’s seventeenth moon with a poem by a dead Klingon poet.)

August. I had enough money to get through August. If I made no elective purchases and cut back on my eating. Which I did in June and July, too. Looked like I could make it through September, but it’d be close and I had no idea about October.

Other side of things. I did a lot of praying. The Lord asked me – in my prayers – if I trusted Him. Did I want a fortune or did I prefer to let Him take care of me. For some reason the story of Job came to mind. Job was a pretty good guy with a family and was a rancher – not called so in those days and in the Hebrew language account, but it does record he had several acres of various critters, so he was what we would call a rancher. Then, through a series of events – and not because he was a villain (read the book in the Bible) – he lost it all to rustlers – okay, raiders from other nations who made raids on his property. And Job lost all his offspring (ten of them as I recall) in a storm that destroyed the house in which they were eating a party dinner.

Yuk! Then Job contracted a skin problem and was covered with boils over most of his hide. So he was destitute and miserable.

However. Job never gave up on God. Job still trusted God and was convinced God knew what was what and had a plan.

So I did too. To be honest, I did have my moments. Poor me. It’s not fair. What in the wide world of sports is going on here? (With apologies to Mr. Taggart.) But I alway prayed for God to replenish my faith and keep me going for another day. Which He did. And I will repeat, never starving and all bills paid.

So at some point – probably after I should have – I realized God wasn’t going to ‘take care of me someday’, He was already taking care of me. And I relaxed some. Probably not as much as I could have, but I did relax and kept trusting in God.

Today is Saturday, 12 August 2023. Yesterday. Yesterday I felt the need to examine a document from when I retired, some THIRTEEN years ago. It was a notice of application for retirement. My eyes were drawn to a phone number. A toll free phone number. So I figured ‘what’s one more dead end?’ and called the number. The call was answered by a recording. After the recording told me what number to select for updating my direct deposit (which was what I wanted and it was clear and no double talk) I pushed the number and was told to wait. And wait. And wait. Then the recording came on again telling me if pushed number seven, they would just call me back according to my place ‘in line’.

About an hour later, someone called. A real human being. She was nice, sounded fairly intelligent and competent. She did ask me about who I was and made sure I knew what my file contained. She satisfied took the information about the new account and was very professional in a gentle friendly way – not the cold “just the facts” sort of approach. Upon my polite question she told me – in a confident and genuine manner, not recited what the boss said to say – the process should be done in about two week and the 1st September check should reach my account on time.

So, a thirteen year old notice just comes to my notice with the functional phone number right there and the resolution is rather anti-climactic. My outlook is much better.

Yep, God pulled a rabbit out of my hat. Again.

Pet Peeves Regarding Firearms

Somewhat concealed rant.

 I attempt to be as rational and logical as possible.  For that reason, I attempt to be as knowledgable as I can.  Whereas I cannot and do not to know everything about everything, I read (all my life) about all sorts of things.  Upon reflection, most of what annoys me is using the wrong word or words and then assuming one is correct.  Like the distinction between ‘can’ and ‘may’ in common speech.  Or imprecise speech.  

Being human – and I will not enlarge on that – there are some actions and circumstances which annoy me.  In simpler, more direct terms, I have pet peeves.  These are some in the firearms field.  There is not much organization here, but I will attempt to be organized in each section.

One of those all sorts of things is the field of firearms.  Ergo, this essay.  I have included some bits of information of a basic nature intermixed.

Last but not least:  If the reader disagrees with anything in the following, look it up.  Check with several sources and get a decent cross section of information.  Then if you still disagree, tell me.  I do not want to spread nonsense.  If your father, mother or great uncle Oliver who fought in the Second World War (or uncle Flowing River, who fought in Viet Nam) tell you different, look it up quietly.  Don’t bother telling the source.  

The wooden scales on Smith & Wesson revolvers.

For many years, the entity of Smith & Wesson firearms referred to the wooden bits where the human hand interacts with the handgun as ‘stocks’, not grips.  One understands words do change meaning over time, much seems to be caused by lazy usage.  Stocks.

The difference between ‘bullet’ and ‘cartridge’. 

The bullet is the projectile, the payload propelled down the barrel of a firearm.  A cartridge is an entire assembled unit, ready to be loaded and fired.  ‘Round’ is also acceptable for a cartridge, normally used in the sense of a single unit of the entity.  In military context, a ‘round’ is one shot for each firing entity in the unit.  Cartridge can also, in context, refer to the design  – including all measurements – of a specific type of cartridge.  As a .32 ACP round is a different cartridge than an 8mm Lebel.  Cartridges are not Bullets.

Browning Firearms

John M. Browning (1885-1926) was a prolific firearms designer of genius level.  He designed all manner of firearms from pocket sized handguns to lever action rifles to machineguns.  He never – directly – manufactured anything.  He sold patents – his ideas and designs – to various manufacturing companies, most notably Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Belgium, Winchester, Remington and of course Colt.  The “Browning Firearms Company” has existed since 1878 but most of the pistols were made by FN and Colt and not under the Browning name until roughly the 1950s.  All the Browning pistols are still manufactured by FN and branded at the factory.  I think that there are one or two produced by someone else. Not really sure.

Weight and measures

In the U. S. and Great Britain (I think) both bullets (projectiles) and powder charges are generally measured in ‘grains’.  One grain is 1/7000 of a pound and was initially developed, I’m lead to believe, in the apothecary field.  It is about the right ‘size’ measurement for both powder and bullets.  Remember, a ‘grain’ of weight is not the same as a ‘grain’ of sugar or a ‘grain’ of wheat.  

In Europe, what we think of as ‘weight’ is considered ‘mass’.  (Look it up.)  Mass in measured in grams the basic unit and kilograms are one hundred grams.  

There is a specific ratio between ‘grains’ and ‘grams’ available on line.  I tend to use the online calculator rather than memorize the ratio.  

From this, the question “What grain is it?” is rather non-specific and bad grammar.  Grain weight could refer to weight of bullet or weight of powder charge.  So the question needs to be more specific.  Also, the weight of anything is possibly a ‘what’, but the words ‘grains’ requires a ‘how many’.  The question’s answer can be bewildering as well.  See the section regarding ‘gunpowder’. 

Gunpowder

All sorts of erroneous thoughts revolve about gunpowder.  There are two major types of gunpowder:  

Black powder which is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate.  It is in fact a ‘low explosive’.  Explosive as it can be ignited by heat, open flame (not the same thing) or impact.  It is ‘low’ in the sense it does not burn as fast, does not have the same violent nature as dynamite, C4, or thermonuclear warheads.  It can be hazardous to handle.  Obviously it can be done, but careful handling is a must. 

Black powder is not normally used in modern firearms.  There are currently made firearms designed for black powder, but those are hobby weapons more than ordinary firearms.

Smokeless powder is a chemical compound made from cellulose (initially cotton was the primary part) dissolved in nitric acid and then treated with ‘stabilizers’ for safe handling and to control the burn rate.  Much safer to handle and leaves less mess behind than black powder.  By the way, smokeless powder does smoke.  Not as much as black powder, but…

Those interested should look to other sources such as loading books and various offerings on the internet.  I’ve just skimmed the surface and probably left out bits.  

All semi automatic hand guns – made by Colt – in .45 ACP caliber are NOT 1911s 

The commercial Colt product is a ‘Government Model’.  They are (maybe ‘were’ is a better qualifier) available in blued or nickel finish.  (That has likely changed since the early 1960s as well.) They are or were available in .45 ACP, Super .38 and 9mm Parabellum.  Colt also makes (made?) a version called a Commander.  It was made to the same specifications except they are about .75 inches shorter (barrel and slide are shortened that much), the frame is made not from steel but from an aluminum alloy, and a rowel (instead of spur) hammer.  (About twenty years later, Colt offered the Combat Commander with a full weight frame.)

The M1911 and M1911A1 was a Colt (and various other companies) product bought by the U. S. Government (War Department) and issued to the various Armed Forces of the U. S.   They are all fully made of steel, have a parkerized finish and are chambered for .45 ACP only.  

The term Colt .45 is vague and possibly confusing.  Colt also make (still makes?) a single action revolver chambered for .45 Colt, not .45 ACP.  One should be precise.  

Magazines and clips

Commonly the term “magazine” is confused with “clip”.  They are not the same thing.  

Magazine is used currently as the object or location of ammunition to be fired in a firearm.  As a secondary (and older) meaning and identified by context, it is a building (ideally a bunker) of some sort where munitions are stored.  

Magazines in the first sense are either ‘detachable’ as the magazine on a semi-automatic pistol or a semi-automatic rifle or any number of rifles in which the magazine can be removed by the operator for replacement of fired ammunition.  

Some magazines are “non-detachable” in they cannot be removed without stripping the arm down to component parts.  The Mauser rifle has such a magazine and a number of sporting (hunting) rifles.  

One notes that a magazine does not have a specific shape or method of stacking rounds.  Commonly a pistol magazine ‘stack’ rounds on top of one another, either in a single column or in a staggered column.  The ‘tubular’ magazine of lever action rifles and some early designs of bolt action rifles is also a magazine.  It’s the place ammunition is stored and ready to be chambered.  

Clips – stamped bits of sheet metal – come in two main types.  

The first type is the ‘charger clip’.  Often called a ‘stripper clip’.  One such carries a group (usually five or ten) of live rounds to be inserted in a firearm.  Typically, the firearm has a built in brace or mount to hold the charger in place to ‘strip’ the rounds into the non-detachable  magazine.  The Mauser, U. S. Springfield and the British Enfield rifles all used this mechanism.  

Charger clips can be used to load detachable magazines with the use of an adapter.  The U. S M16 rifle have such a device, at least used in the past.  

It is worthy of note just a bit of trivia if nothing else the U. S. M-14 rifle featured a detachable box magazine which could also be loaded by a charger clip (leaving the magazine inserted.)

The second sort of stamped sheet metal ‘clip’ is the ‘en bloc’ type.  This is a device that in many cases look like a charger clip but is entirely (en bloc) inserted into the arm, where it functionally becomes part of the magazine mechanism.  The device becomes the ‘walls’ of the magazine, controlling where the individual rounds may or may not go, and the feed lips of the magazine.  

The two main types of which I am aware. 

The first and likely more familiar is the M1 Garand loading system wherein the stamping holding the rounds is placed (shoved) into the rifle and then is ejected by a spring out the top as the bolt locks open for reloading.  

The second (and more known to collectors) is the Mannlicher system.  This was used on nearly all the Mannlicher designed rifles for black powder cartridge, a few Mannlicher early smokeless powder rifles, the German Empire gewehr 88 and the Italian Carcano.  There may be others.  This operates much as the Garand, except when the en bloc is empty, it is not forcibly ejected out the top, it simply falls out the bottom from gravity.

Sights, no sights, ‘gutter sights’

Sights on any firearm (rifle, handgun, mortar, cannon) are there to correctly direct the projectile(s) to the desired terminus.  They are not designed or intended for any other purpose. Accidentally they are status symbols. Adjustable sights do not make the firearm more accurate.

I misnomer I hear many times over is the ‘no sights’ comment.  A few times the term ‘gutter sights’ is used.  

Many of the double action revolvers of this and the last Century have been equipped with fixed sights.  Most take the form of a sighting slot milled into the extreme aft position of the frame, that main part of the arm to which all other bits and bobs are attached.  The front sight is located close to the forward end of the barrel.  (At one time I thought is was somehow machined from  the barreI itself, now I’m pretty sure it fits into a mortise milled into the barrel.)  I hear this arrangement called ‘no sights’ or ‘gutter sights’ far too often.  THEY ARE SIGHTS!  Not adjustable sights, but sights nonetheless.  

Someone will at this point say “That’s what I meant”.  My response is “Why didn’t you say what you meant?”

Fixed sights are not made to adjust – easily, by adjustment screws.  I have adjusted any number of fixed sight arms by alternate methods.  

First, I must say I have found many of the revolvers I’ve bought to be remarkably close if not dead on the impact of the bullet.  

For all these suggestions, remember, a little adjustment on the sights goes a long way.  Also, do not adjust anything until your shot group is a reasonably circular group.  Get rid of your bad shooting tendencies before changing sights.

For a non movable rear sight, the right or left (windage) is adjusted by using a short, fine toothed file to widen the rear sight notch on the side desired.  To move impact to the right, widen the rear notch on the right side.  

For elevation (up and down) file down – off the top – the front sight in order raise the strike of the bullet.  To bring the strike of the bullet down, file down the top of the rear sight.  This may be limited by the structural form of the frame.   A taller front sight will also work, but is rather difficult in most cases.  

In the matter of most semi-automatic pistols, if the rear sight is mounted in a dovetail slot, the whole rear sight can be moved from side to side (using a brass drift and small hammer) to adjust windage. For elevation, use the file or consider having it replaced with a taller sight and file it to adjust.

Gutter sight.  This actually exists in fairly rare instances.  Such an arrangement was used on the “Asp” pistol.  It is designed for fast and close engagements, with speed being of greater urgency than precision.  The entire affair is essentially the rear notch extended for the length of the barrel or perhaps shorter.  One simply points the ‘gutter’ toward the target.  

That’s all for now. I am grumpy, so I may remember more. Write if you get work!

In Defense of the Heel Release Magazine

In current handgun doctrine, the heel release is at best antiquated, mostly bothersome and cursed as being slow and ‘European’.  I’m not so sure any of those accusations and criticisms have valid reason.

Heel release magazines are rather early in pistols.  Of course, there were other solutions.  Most other magazines were loaded from the top with charger clips.  One invention had a trap door to retain the magazine.  

Much later, 1899 or so, John Browning sold the patent for his first semi automatic pistol to Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Belgium.  Then he designed the Colt 1903 and the FN 1910 pistols.  Just for the record, they all featured heel magazine releases.  

Just to be fair, Walther used a push button magazine release on the PP and PPk.  1929 by the way.  Not sure of the first use of push button release on a handgun magazine, but the M1911 (designed by John Browning to specifications issued by the War Department [Army]) was an early example.   However, one should note the Army had horse mounted cavalry at the time, and the push button magazine release make changing magazines whilst upon a excited horse much easier.  Also consider the hand gun was for mounted calvary an offensive weapon, being as deadly and a bit further ranged than a sword.  

In infantry use, a handgun is not a primary weapon of combat.  Having one is comforting, but handguns have little effect in winning or losing wars.  

Police use.  A police officer is not expected to maintain a barrage of shots.  In the event such sort of thing will occur, usually short rifles are issued out prior to the engagement or as quickly as such is known.  

So why is a fast and easy way to remove a magazine mandatory?  (Not preferred, mandatory.)  The point is to insure a quick reload.  (Any objection?  Reply to this point, please.)  

Therefore, I ask, why is a quick reload required?  

if the first ‘quantity’ of ammunition did not solve the problem, then why not?  Either none of the rounds (or a sufficient number of them) actually impacted the target, or all the attempts were erroneous.  (They all missed!)  

I, being the old curmudgeon for which I am famous, suggest perhaps better training (both of handgun and of self-control) is needed.  (Having been a career law man, I know that all agencies aim for the absolute minimum scores – per state or country requirements in nearly all fields of competence.)  

Back to magazine releases.  The ONLY place where one is required – no matter what – to shoot extended strings of fire is in civilian competition.  

If you’re not a competition shooter, there is no need for extended strings of fire.  

One of the bits of information from the grand totaled FBI statistic charts was the typical ‘shoot out’ involving policemen (of all types as I understand) took place under fifteen feet and half of shooting took place within five feet.  Average of 2.5 shots fired and an average of 3 seconds duration.  Now that information came from possibly thirty years ago and may have changed.  Feel free to pitch in with something other than opinion or rumor.  

The point of this is one will have no need for a reload.  The problem will have ended (good or bad) before the need arises.  

Of course, there is the funny (since no one was harmed according to reports) case of a police officer attempting to arrest the subject of an active arrest warrant.  The Officer recognized and challenged the subject.  The subject recognized the Officer (uniform and such), drew his own handgun and commenced firing.  The Officer returned fire.  

Three magazines later, they both were devoid of ammunition.  The evil doer won the foot race.  (That time anyway.)  

Embarrassing at best.  Don’t count on your adversary being less competent than you.

Make the first hit and a heel release will not bother one at all.