PawPaw's House

Our Song

2012-02-02T20:15:00.000-06:00

This is probably the first song that Milady and I danced to.

It's our song and I listen to it after a long day.

Long Day

2012-02-02T20:02:00.003-06:00

I'm so damned tired I don't know what I need to do. First, I'm pouring a drink, then I'm warming a pork chop in the microwave. Then I'm taking my sorry butt to bed. It's been a busy day, and no, I don't want to talk about it.

Cool Song

2012-02-01T17:58:00.000-06:00

About the time Milady and I started dating, this song came out and we played it at our wedding. A friend was asking today about songs for their wedding and I recommended this one. It combines the talents of two artists that I never thought I'd see together in on a stage, and I still think it's a very cool video. Barbra is having fun; it's easy to tell.

It's one of our favorite songs, and has become a motto for our relationship.

Powder Charges and Bullet Weight

2012-02-01T16:34:00.001-06:00

Wendy asks, in comments:

So, to drop down a bullet weight without getting into pressure problems, how much is a bullet weight? If my load for a K-31 uses a 174 grain bullet, is one weight down 168 or 150?

That's a good question and we can find the answer in Lee's Modern Reloading, Second Edition, (chapter 7, page 105), where Richard Lee tells us that:

Starting loads reduce wear on the gun and lengthen case life by a greater amount than the 10% reduction in charge. Never, never use a heavier bullet that that which is specified. Feel free to substitute a slightly lighter bullet. The velocity will remain about the same and the pressure will be lower. These conditions apply to full loads with normal working pressures. Reduced charges will be explained elsewhere.

My standard load for the .308 Winchester is a 168 grain Sierra Matchking and 43.0 grains of Reloder 15. We've found that load to be a good load in several rifles and we feel that it is one that almost duplicates the storied Federal Gold Metal Match load, at handloader prices. Lots of folks like Hodgdon's Varget in that cartridge as well, and if you look at most burn rate tables, you'll see RL15 and H-Varget next to one another. They are very similar powders.

If you look at almost any good reloading manual, we find that Reloder 15 is also a good powder for 150 grain bullets, albeit at differing charges, but that same 43.0 grain load falls into the acceptable range. It's also useful with 125 grain bullets, although the burning rate of the powder might not be optimal. However, it can be used.

Generally, the rule is that if you've got a good recipe for a particular bullet/powder combination, you can reduce the weight of the bullet and not get into pressure problems. In my case, I was looking for a lighter bullet for grandkid use in that caliber. The fact that one charge shoots well with 125, 150, and 165 grain bullets simplifies my record keeping. It's not optimum, but it works. I'll take some time later and chronograph all three loads and we'll be able to see the difference that bullet weight makes on velocity.

Ignerance, Pure ignerance

2012-02-01T16:04:00.000-06:00

So, if you're a teenaged girl and someone has been calling you stuff on Facebook, and you decide to get into an old-fashioned hair-pulling, would you believe that the best place to do that would be in the front lobby of the school house, right in front of the principal's office? Screaming and slapping and hair-pulling, right in front the principal's office?

I wouldn't have picked that spot either.

Some folks are just unbelievably ignerant. No, I'm not misspelling ignorant. I know how to spell the word. Ignorance isn't a bad thing. We can educate ignorance. When you're ignerant, there's not much hope for you. Those two were just plain-ole ignerant.

Revelation Model 205

2012-01-30T16:09:00.000-06:00

Back in 1991 I was a stuggling cop with a growing family, trying to outfit the growing kids with things like shoes and jeans. I wanted to buy a rifle for my son to hunt whitetail deer with me and in a used gun shop I stumbled upon a Revelation Model 205, a lever action rifle remniscent of the Marlin 336. Later, during my research, I learned that this particular rifle had been made by Mossberg for the Western Auto chain stores. Still, it was a knock-around lever action .30-30 and my son carried it hunting for several years. We lived in the country then, and the rifle accounted for it's share of varmints, to include alligators in the pond.

Sometime around 2000, the rifle started exhibiting a tendency to fail to feed. It would hang up tighter than a bank vault. I took it to a gunsmith and he told me that the rifle was worn out. Worn out. The receiver is two piece, an aluminum inner and a steel outer and according to the 'smith, the aluminum inserts in those rifles would wear out.

"What can we do about that?" I asked.

"You can say you wore out a rifle."

I took it home and put it in the locker. Eventually, my son claimed it and I forgot about it. My second son, Matthew, is a master mechanic and loves a mechanical challenge. Yesterday, he came by the house and told me that he had something in the truck. When we walked out to the truck, he handed me the Revelation.

"Here ya go, Pop! I rebuilt that old rifle for you."

I was stunned. The rifle he handed me didn't look anything like the old rifle that I remembered. The stock had be refinished and the action slipped open like butter. "What did you have to do to it."

"I finally decided to take it apart and see what the problem was. There was a pin, and a spring, and the e-clip on the pin was missing. After I figured out how it was supposed to work, the rest was fairly easy. While I had it down, I refinished the stock, media blasted the barrel bands and cleaned it up a little bit."

"Well, damn, son" I objected, "I bought that rifle for you."

"I know, Pop, and I fixed it for you."

It's in the corner near the desk. I'll play with it a bit, maybe kill a deer with it, and when his son is old enough, I'll have a story to tell him.

The Consensus

2012-01-29T18:12:00.000-06:00

It ain't happening. The science has spoken.

The supposed ‘consensus’ on man-made global warming is facing an inconvenient challenge after the release of new temperature data showing the planet has not warmed for the past 15 years.

Really? The globe isn't warming? What in inconvenient truth?

Shooting Sunday

2012-01-29T17:00:00.000-06:00

This afternoon after lunch, my youngest son and I slipped off to do a little evaluation. I had loaded some .308 ammo and he's got a gun that will shoot. It's a Savage 10FP, the heavy barreled cop gun and he's mounted it in a Choate Sniper stock. If you're evaluating ammo, you want a proven platform to evaluate it and his rifle is proven in that caliber.

Our standard load for that rifle is 43.0 grains of Reloder 15 under a 168 grain Sierra MatchKing bullet. It's a proven load in many rifles and I believe that it duplicates the long-proven Federal Gold Medal Match ammo.

One of the basic tenets of handloading is that if you want to change a load, you can drop down a bullet weight without getting into pressure problems, so I wanted to test that load with a 150 grain bullet and a 125 grain bullet. Both the 125 grain Sierra Gameking and the 150 grain Hornady Interlock SST are proven game bullets and if I could get them to fly from Joey's rifle, then they'd probably fly from any .308 caliber rifle.

So, after lunch, we loaded the bench and sneaked off to our range. It's a 100 yard range that we've built on family land, perfect for a quiet afternoon.

That's Joey on the bench. Yeah, that's a southpaw rifle and we had to modify the stock to fit the left-hand action. It wasn't much of a modification, though, only a simple cut on the off side to accommodate the bolt handle, and we had to fill the right-side cut where the bolt handle normally goes.

We decided to start with the 125 grain Gameking load, and it turned in a weird little target after we shot the fouler shot. The load looked like it was stringing vertically, but when we measured it, the vertical stringing was just barely over and inch.

1.04 tall and 0.811 wide, that's not a bad group for 10 shots. Not shabby at all. I might have found a soft recoiling load that I can use for pre-teen grandkids. We next tried the same load, but with a 150 grain Hornady Interlock SST. This is a great little bullet designed for hunting thin-skinned game, like the smallish whitetail deer we've got in these woods. After the barrel cooled from the first string, Joey hunkered down behind his rifle and tried to stack them all in the same hole. He very nearly succeeded.

Yeah, that's a one-inch target dot and the flier above the group he called as his 10th shot. That is a ten shot group, folks and it measures just 0.89". If you take the called flier out of the group, he's put nine shots into just 0.515. Damned fine shooting in my book.

Afterwards, we took out the .308 Handi-rifle and took turns ringing the 100 yard gong. Not a bad way at all to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Sunday Morning Dawg

2012-01-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

I missed a good shot last week for the Sunday Dawg. It seems that the dog was supervising activities near the pool, forgot where he was, lost his footing, and fell in the pool. Milady fished him out before I could get my camera. Another lost opportunity for the Sunday Dawg.

I suggested this morning that we re-enact the event. Throw the dog in the pool while I have my camera ready, and record for all posterity his frantic attempts to get out of the pool, then record his pitiful attempt to forget about the whole incident. A re-creation of the event for event for the amusement and edification of my internet audience. Milady objected, so that idea was quickly quashed.

The dog is disgusted with the whole scenario. Doesn't want to talk about it.

That's Racist!

2012-01-28T19:22:00.001-06:00

The way the anti-gunners think.

All in all, once again the VPC agrees with other organizations that African Americans should stay away from guns. Those organizations include, NAACP, Storm Front, ACLU, The American Nazi Party and your local Klan Association.

Well, anytime the NAACP and the local Klan association agree on something, it must be worth considering.

Hat tip, SayUncle.

Shooting with Termite

2012-01-28T12:24:00.001-06:00

My buddy Jonathan called me this week. I've known him for several years, we met on an internet gun forum (aka: Termite) and later realized that we lived just several miles apart. He wanted to help familiarize his teenage daughter with a revolver, so we went out to my private range to do a little shooting.

That's Jonathan and his lovely daughter, Nicole. She's a student at Louisiana Tech and wants to learn about revolvers. We began with a short safety course, talking about the Four Rules and instilling things like muzzle control and trigger discipline. Then we dry-fired a bit, got our eyes and ears covered, and started to learn the basics.

Her pistol is a little Smith and Wesson Centennial, an alloy framed revolver. We tried some .38 special loads and she seemed to handle the recoil fairly well. That's a light pistol and she wasn't sure about the grip. Her pistol has a Crimson Trace laser grip and it seemed to irritating her firing hand in recoil.

Her Dad let her try his Ruger, a heavier pistol to let her concentrate more on sight alignment and trigger control. That heavier pistol soaked up the recoil better and she was able to settle down and fire it just fine. Within a few cylinders, she was going through the firing drill like a pro. Of course, we stopped from time to time to laugh, answer questions, and reinforce both the practical and safety aspects of shooting revolvers.

She did really well with the revolvers, handling loading, unloading, and misfire drills. I had some .38 special loads that, frankly, had misfires. While I normally don't try to induce misfires, it's important to understand why they occur and what causes them. (In this case, I don't remember checking each round for powder, although that's part of my process.) Still, she handled them just fine.

After a short session with the Ruger, she went back to the Centennial, saying that she liked it's compact size and weight better than her Dad's big Ruger. A little familiarization goes a long way and shortly we were shooting a variety of pistols with different grips so that she could form opinions based on actual experience.

She shot everything on that tailgate, including my Airweight, so that she could learn what grip type she best enjoys, or more particularly, what types don't work for her. A valuable learning experience for any shooter. By the end of the morning, she was doing quite well, as evidence by her target with her revolver.

As we ended the session, I asked her if she'd like to try my .44 and she happily agreed to try it. I had it loaded with Skeeter's Load and after showing her how to operate the pistol, she gladly gave it a try.

In that photo, I managed to catch her in recoil with the big revolver. I'll also note that I got the same insane giggle that I've gotten when I let other young ladies shoot that handgun. It's quite heartwarming.

All in all, a beautiful day, a lovely young lady and a sack full of revolvers. What a way to spend a Saturday morning!

Saturday Morning

2012-01-28T08:31:00.000-06:00

I'm finishing my third cup of coffee while piddling, waiting for a friend to show up so we can go shooting. He's got a college age daughter who has expressed an interest and we're taking her to my private range to familiarize her with handguns. I may try out my Airweight depending on how the session goes. I might not even take it out; we'll see. This is about her confidence and first steps, not about me.

I've got all my gear stacked and I'm going through the mental list in my head. In another half hour, we'll be heading to the range.

Goblin Down

2012-01-26T18:44:00.000-06:00

I remember when Kim duToit used to do a feature about goblins who earn their just desserts. I don't know of anyone that's doing that meme, but here's a little item I found.

It seems that some old coot in Pennsylvania was riding his bicycle and some young punks tried to rob him. Oops, wrong ole man.

The man was riding his bicycle about 11 a.m. on the Thun Trail near the Bertolet Fishing Dock in West Reading when the boys knocked him off his bicycle and pinned him against a fence in an apparent robbery attempt, police said.

Only problem with their plan, is that no plan survives the first contact, intact.

Two of the boys were assaulting the man when he pulled a handgun and shot them, police said.

Julias Johnson, a 16-year-old on probation, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other boy was taken to Reading Hospital with a single gunshot wound and is expected to survive.

Well, hell, that's 50%. I'm betting that the surviving boy will be charged with murder. That peculiarity in most codes where when you're committing a felony and someone dies, you're guilty of murder.

Berks County District Attorney John Adams said he does not condone violence, but said the man had no choice but to defend himself against the teens.

An altogether fitting and proper end to this scenario, the codger won't be facing charges, one goblin is in the ground and the other is facing a long prison term.

I'm going outside to do my happy dance. Hopefully, I won't scare the neighbors.

Weather

2012-01-25T19:58:00.000-06:00

We're under a helluva storm, it's been lightning and raining and thundering since dark. The dog, of course, is freaked out.

We need the rain, and I love a good thunderstorm.

Why We Win!

2012-01-25T16:12:00.001-06:00

Did y'all see this? It seems that a US Special Operations team has rescued an American citizen and an associate who had been kidnapped in Somalia.

U.S. special operations forces have rescued a kidnapped American aid worker and her Danish colleague in Somalia, the White House and officials with the aid organization said Wednesday. During the raid, all nine of their captors were killed.

All nine of the captors was killed. I bet that sends a message to the lowlife scum who threaten American citizens.

Way to go, SpecOps guys.

USA! USA!

Silliness

2012-01-25T16:05:00.000-06:00

A friend sent me this clip, and I'm in the mood for some silliness. This is a clip from a nursing home talent show, and I was thinking about my sister who administers a nursing home.

I bet that fellow is a hoot around the bingo table.

This one's for you, Patty!

TSA Equality

2012-01-24T05:25:00.000-06:00

I notice that Senator Rand Paul had a problem yesterday trying to get on an airplane to attend a session of Congress. TSA defends itself, saying that they treated the Senator just like everyone else. Good for them. The government should treat Senators like everyone else.

My problem is that they treat everyone like that, a stunning over-reach of government authority and a huge pain in the wazoo to traveling Americans. I'm one that believes that the government has no business in the airline security business. Let the airlines take care of their own security and the travelers will reward the airline that does the best job.

Jindal's Education Plan

2012-01-24T05:01:00.000-06:00

I see that Steve Monaghan, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, has come out against Governor Jindal's education plan.

This is still a conversation we need to have, but if the LFT is against it, then I take that as a ringing endorsement of the plan. Monaghan says, "We need to have a debate over the value of experience." No, Steve, we don't. What we need to have a debate about is the value of teachers unions.

Keystone Pipeline

2012-01-22T20:09:00.000-06:00

I don't know if you've been following the Keystone Pipeline brouhaha, but Obama turned it down last week. It ain't happening, and he bowed to the environmentalists, killing jobs, increasing our dependence on foreign oil, and cutting off a valued ally. Alberta has a lot of oil and they're going to sell it somewhere. If not to us, then to whom?

Newt Gingrich tells us:

“An American president who can create a Chinese-Canadian partnership is truly a danger to this country.”

That's right. A quick look at a map and we see that it will be easy to build a pipeline to the Pacific and sell it to the highest bidder.

Look at fuel prices, look at shortages of heating oil and look at what our President just did. Tell me that he's not an idiot.

Vouchers again

2012-01-22T18:04:00.000-06:00

The issue of school vouchers came up on Chad Rogers site. Our governor is pushing an education reform agenda and I believe that it's a conversation that we need to have. One part of that agenda is vouchers for students attending failing schools to use the voucher to attend a public school. As in all grand schemes, the devil is in the details.

Opponents of vouchers remain wary. They say a voucher plan would send government money to schools that can "cherry pick" students and don't have the same obligations to educate the disabled or those with special needs. While students attending private schools with public money would have to take the same standardized tests as public school students, the schools themselves would not be subject to the same accountability standards, which include the assignment of rankings and letter grades to individual schools.

Those special needs and disabled children often drive the school's score down. While federal law requires that the schools provide services to such children, the simple fact of the matter is that few of them graduate and are listed as dropouts on the school performance score. That's not fair to the school.

We need to have this conversation, and we need to level the playing field. I'm not proposing that we cast those kids aside, but I am proposing that the school accountability score not take those kids performance into account. It's certainly not a teacher's fault if a child can only progress to a limited education, but at age 22 those kids have received all the services that they're entitled to receive and they end their public school experience. They're then listed as dropouts simply because they didn't graduate. Let's serve the kids, and lets do what makes sense.

Herrett's Grips

2012-01-22T16:09:00.000-06:00

When I bought that Bodyguard yesterday, it came with a set of ugly grips. Ugly is in the eye of the beholder and the more I handled the revolver, the more I liked the way it felt in my hands. As I inspected the grips more closely, some interesting things came into focus.

They're made by Herrett's Stocks, Inc and Herrett has been making gun grips for a long time.

These are wooden grips and I'd suspect walnut, but I'm not ready to bet on that. They're finely checkered but the points aren't sharp. The effect gives the grips a pleasing roughness without feeling "pointy".

The frontstrp is open and these stocks don't have a filler behind the trigger guard. Also, there's an additional 3/8ths inch of wood below the grip frame, which mean all three fingers of my hand can grip the stock.

The backstrap is covered in wood, which is something we don't see a lot of these days. The effect of the open frontstap and closed backstrap tends to move the grip back away from the revolver, just a quarter-inch or so. It seems to make the gun longer, increasing the length of pull, which is a measurement we don't often take with pocket revolvers.

I had seen Herrett's stocks before, but I've never owned any. From looking at Herrett's website, it looks like they make stocks the old-fashioned way, one stock at a time. You also order stocks the old-fashioned way, by printing an order form and sending it to them, either by fax or mail. They want a tracing of your hand, which tells me that they understand how the human hand interacts with a revolver.

I went to their website originally to try to see what type grips I had on this revolver. I have to admit that I still don't know what model I have, but they fit and feel good, so I'll keep them on the pistol. They may be custom grips and if so, that only deepens the mystery of this little revolver.

Sunday Morning Dawg

2012-01-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Milady's mother came over to spend the weekend and the dog hangs out under her feet. When Meemaw sits at the kitchen counter, the dog is right there, figuring that food might be involved and hoping that something will hit the floor.

Even as hope wears thin, he lays by her feet. He's a shameless mutt. Shameless, I tell you.

I don't know where he got the idea that he could beg for table food.

In the Tank

2012-01-21T16:07:00.000-06:00

So, ABC news publishes a pictorial about nine historic politicians that have philandered. Interesting in that they seem to omit William Jefferson Clinton, the guy that was impeached over such shenanigans.

How in the tank for the Democrats can ABC news be? I mean, come on, is there any pretense at being objective? They cover things like Gingrich's infidelity 10 years ago, but during Edwards campaign they failed to cover it while it was happening. Everybody knew, but you didn't see it in the news cycle.

And they wonder why nobody watches the evening news anymore? Amazing.

Model 38

2012-01-21T10:38:00.000-06:00

The Smith and Wesson Model 38 revolver is an iconic piece, immediately recognizable from it's humpbacked hammer shroud. You either love them or hate them, but it's been a pistol long recognized by firearms enthusiasts. It's a lightweight, aluminum frame revolver chambered for the .38 special cartridge. It's also known as the Bodyguard

Probably the most iconic image of the Bodyguard revolver is that unforgettable image that comes from Vietnam. Graphic in nature, the image shows Vietnamese general Nguyen Ngoc Loan shooting a Viet Cong captain named Bay Lop in the head. Historians agree that General Loan had sufficient justification for shooting Captain Lop, but this image is one that is forever tied to the Model 38.

My daughter-in-law wants to get her concealed carry permit, so I've been shuffling around, trying to find a suitable firearm. She told me that she liked a .38 special revolver, and she really likes my Model 60. She prefers a steel frame for the weight, which tends to mitigate recoil. In my browsings, I happened to stumble across a Model 38, and while I've never owned one of those revolvers, I've always wanted one. This morning I went to look at it again, did a Jim March Checkout and found the revolver to be solid. It's pinned, but SW never recessed this revolver. Herrit grips, which seem to fit my hand particularly well. The price was such that I promised the counter guy I'd never discuss it. He treats return customers surprisingly well.

After I got home, Milady happened to see it and wanted to inspect it more thoroughly. She then exclaimed that this is the revolver she wants to use to get her concealed carry permit.

Huh! I guess I'm still looking for a Model 38.

Takes the Fifth?

2012-01-20T16:43:00.000-06:00

I see where a DOJ official under subpoena from Congress has advised through counsel that he intends to invoke the 5th Amendment when called to testify to Congress.

The chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona is refusing to testify before Congress regarding Operation Fast and Furious, the federal gun-running scandal that sent U.S. weapons to Mexico.

Patrick J. Cunningham informed the House Oversight Committee late Thursday through his attorney that he will use the Fifth Amendment protection.

Why, pray tell, would he invoke the 5th Amendment. The normal reason is so that he won'[t have to incriminate himself under oath. Think about that for a minute. The head of the US Attorney's Office in Arizona does not want to incriminate himself under oath. I expect that he'll be disbarred and immediately fired from DOJ. If that doesn't happen, then we'll know that Fast and Furious is a criminal conspiracy.

Education

2012-01-20T15:57:00.002-06:00

The big question these days, is how do we educate our children; to best prepare them for the future? It's a great question and we have to explore the conversation from time to time. Our governor, Bobby Jindal, has a plan to allow vouchers for some kids at schools earning a C, D, or F on the school performance scores. Jindal also wants to change the way that tenure is earned and make it easier to fire teachers who are not effective.

This is a conversation we need to have. I work in a high school and I see the challenges faced every day by the educators who work in that school. The school where I work is a wonderful high school with a long, storied tradition of academic excellence. Those teachers still produce some of the smartest students I've ever seen, yet the school only earns a "C" in the accountability score, while also showing the highest ACT average in the parish. There is a jarring dissonance in those two facts and that dissonance is mainly a factor of the school system.

First, we have a large population of special-needs children. I revel in the time I get to spend interacting with those children, but the simple fact is that they count against the school. They'll never graduate, so they count as drop-outs when they leave. Those students alone increase our drop-out rate to a point where it's virtually scandalous.

Second, our school's main population zone is low-income, minority students who struggle with traditional education, at a school that stresses academic excellence. It is not uncommon to find a 17-year-old freshman who recently came to the school from the 8th grade. If that student buckles down, gets serious about his education and passes every class, he'll graduate at age 20 or 21. A sizeable percentage of those students drop out as well, simply because they're not prepared to start high school. They've already been programmed to fail. Don't misunderstand, I'm not down on kids that might be at-risk, but when you send a kid to high school at age 17, don't be surprised that he drops out at age 19.

Third, the public schools have to accept nearly any student who walks in the front door. Public schools don't get to pick and choose their students.

So, those three factors mitigate against a very successful high school. Our students win academic competitions, dominate literary rallys, earn scholarships at an astounding rate, but the simple fact of the special needs kids and at-risk students keep the school performance scores low.

If a kid decides to take a voucher, where is he going to attend school? If five hundred of those kids decide to take a voucher, will there be enough desks at the private schools to accept them?

Lets level the playing field here. Adjust the definition of a drop-out to reflect reality. Find out which schools are truly in need of supervision. Accept the fact that one-size-fits-all education isn't going to work for some kids. Then, lets talk about whether we should be in the business of accepting federal tax dollars if those dollars come with onerous pre-conditions. I'd rather see us forgo federal tax money if we could have greater control over the way we educate our students.

This is a conversation we need to have.

Another Quiz

2012-01-19T05:53:00.000-06:00

Mostly Cajun linked to a Pew Research Quiz and I went over to take it.

Nailed it, 13 out of 13 questions, along with 8% of the public. I try to pay attention to current events, and my teachers in High School made damned sure that I paid attention to maps (as well as did my instructors in the Army).

Go take the quiz. Every high school student in the country should take this quiz today.

O.F. Mossberg

2012-01-19T04:29:00.001-06:00

O.F. Mossberg is an old name in American gun manufacturing. They've been making firearms of very stripe for a long time. Their model 500 pump shotgun is a basic, no frills, pump shotgun much loved of the people here in Louisiana. It's rugged, durable and can be had for a week's pay, which is a great motivator for a working man. For very little money he can put a shotgun on layaway, get pay it off "on time" and have a shotgun to enjoy the hills and swamps of our great state.

I see that Mossberg has been branching out into other firearms, most notably into bolt action and semiauto rifles. However, I was cruising a firearms forum and saw that they're producing a lever action .30-30 rifle as well. There's a lot to love in the .30-30 lever action rifle and readers of my scribblings know that it is a caliber that I've long admired. The iconic American deer rifle is the lever action rifle and with the demise of Winchester several years ago, the only choice left was Marlin. Marlin makes great rifles, but several years ago, Remington bought Marlin. Remington itself is owned by the Freedom Group, part of Cerebus Management, a large holding company, and reports of recent months indicate that when Remington closed the Marlin plant and moved production to New Ilion, some problems arose in quality control and manufacturing. This left room for another manufacturer to step to the plate and fill the niche.

It looks like Mossberg has done that. While I haven't had a change to look at the new rifle, it looks like it has some nifty features, like the ability to easily mount a scope even though the rifle ejects from the top, probably like the old Angle Eject Winchester rifles. Wood stocked, traditional, it should fill a niche and if it is as robust and durable as other Mossberg firearms, it should be a great seller. It seems to have a tang safety, which is a feature that some folks will like, and the receiver is drilled and tapped.

However, with innovation comes the ability to make changes that leave some folks scratching their heads. I'm fairly traditional in my tastes, but I'm smart enough to realize that some folks like the Modern Rifle concept. Rails, collapsible stocks, flash hiders, all those things have a place in the gun world. If it's tactical, it sells and the business of a gun manufacturer is to sell firearms. I get it. However, this particular model leaves me chuckling. The Mossberg SPX Lever Action Rifle.

Hehehe. Collapsible stock, rail forend, flash hider, it's all there. It's got me scratching my head and chuckling, but I hope they sell a boatload of them. Really, I do. Lots of folks think that the .30-30 cartridge is fuddy-duddy when the truth of the matter is that it is still useful for 90% of whitetail deer hunting in the wooded states. Perfectly capable of taking a deer out to 150 yards or so with the newer ammunition. Handloaders find it extremely versatile with both jacketed and cast bullets, you can load it from mild to wild with bullets from 110 to 170 grains or so. The .30-30 is a magnificent cartridge and one suited to a lever action firearm. Mossberg may have a winner on their hands.

Deadbeat

2012-01-18T16:30:00.000-06:00

The Rev'rund Jackson is a deadbeat dad? Really? Why does that not surprise me.

In official documents filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The ENQUIRER, Karin Stanford claims the 70-year-old famed civil rights leader owes $11,694.50 for their daughter Ashley, now 12.

Any person who won't take care of his or her children is a worthless sonofabitch. Of course, I've put the Rev'rund Jackson in that category before. If this is true, they ought to throw his sorry ass in jail.

SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T16:23:00.002-06:00

If there were ever two examples of misguided government over-reach, SOPA and PIPA might head the list. These two pieces of pending legislation are heralded by the big media concerns. The RIAA, among others, are supporting this legislation as a way to stop online piracy. The simple fact is that the legislation will not stop piracy and will do irreparable harm to a free and open internet.

I have a website and I'm a copyright holder. I certainly don't support online piracy, but I don't want my website shut down in the event that one of my commenters happens to post copyrighted material on my site. This is bad legislation and unless we get involved, it might pass into law.

I spent some time today, contacting my Congress-critters. I sent emails to "Dumbass" Rodney Alexander, and to "Katrina" Mary Landrieu. I tried to email "Diaper" Dave Vitter, but his email was down, so I called his satellite office locally. The staffer there told me that he was painfully aware of the issues, that his email was clogged and that the phones are ringing off the hook.

If you haven't yet, call your Congress-critters. This is important.

UPDATED. Via Hot Air, we learn that Chris Dodd, a former senator and an executive at the Motion Picture Associaton of America (MPAA) thinks that we're complaining unfairly about SOPA.

It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It’s a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.

It's interesting to note that when Dodd was a senator, he was listed as one of the most corrupt in the halls of Congress. Really? Most corrupt? That's a high bar for Congressmen.

Just for the record, I should remind ex-Senator, now-shill Dodd that I'm not a corporate interest and I still oppose the legislation.

Call your Congress-critters. This is important.

Tuesday night

2012-01-17T21:48:00.000-06:00

Basketball games make for a long day. Went to work at 0700, got home at 2130 local. Not a bad day, but certainly a long one. My boots are off, my uniform is ready for the morrow and I've poured myself a drink. The alarm clock will go off in seven hours, so I've got to sleep fast.

Just another day for a school-house cop. I think I'll upgrade my resume and go talk to the incoming sheriff. I'm about ready to graduate from the school-house beat.

Reloading Woes

2012-01-16T13:40:00.000-06:00

I found myself off this morning, part of the national celebration to commemorate Martin Luther King. I spent about ten minutes ruminating on the man's life and his notable achievements, then decided my time would be better spent on the reloading bench.

I went out and reloaded some .308 Winchester, with some youth loads I want to try. That went quickly, then took out a box of new .25-06 brass and got down my manuals.

Back in September, a gracious reader sent me some ancient .257 bullets that he had no use for. I thought I'd load some with Reloder 19 powder and see how they do in my Ruger 77. The Nosler manual says that RL19 powder is great for that weight bullet.

So, I started weighing powder and seating bullets; I got about 20 done when I lifted one cartridge and realized it was leaking powder. Turned the brass over and saw that I'd forgotten to prime the brass. Well, crap! I took down my bullet puller and started whacking bullets from the cases. Dumped powder and bullets into a suitable container. After I'd cleaned up the mess and started sorting bullets from the powder, I realized that I had totally wrecked the noses of all those bullets. A simple whack with the bullet puller was sufficient to upset the lead nose past being usable.

I primed all the brass and started over, loading a series of cartridges with those bullets. It'll probably be a week or so until I can see how they fly, but I know that those are very soft bullets. Probably designed for the .250-3000. I remember reading an article back in the '60s where Jeff Cooper was talking about the .250-3000 as a cartridge for the Savage 99 rifle. Here's his latest thoughts on the cartridge, from his Commentaries, Vo 7, No 1.

The manufacturer made a point of issuing it in caliber 250-3000, maintaining that you could reach the magical 3000 fps figure with an 87-grain 25-caliber bullet. The 250-3000 (or 250 Savage) was a good enough deer gun, if your deer were not too big, and it was gentle as a lamb to shoot.

Well, if Cooper says that the 87 grain bullet is sufficent for deer, then our smallish whitetails around here should certainly qualify. I'd feel better shooting at them with a 115-117 grain bullet and I've got some of those worked up too, but I just had to load some of those 87 grain bullets to see how they shoot. I have no doubt that I can push them past 3000 fps with the bigger case of the .25-06 and new propellants, but that's not the purpose of this exercise. I never approached a max load, preferring accuracy over velocity. Those bullets are plenty soft and should upset well at any reasonable velcity. I bet they'd vaporize a crow, or do just fine for coyotes or like-sized varmints.

Sunday Morning Dawg

2012-01-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

I noticed that every time I got around the dog, I was overcome by the odor of dirty dawg, so Milady decided it was time for a bath. Every time we give the dog a bath, he goes into full freak-out mode when he's released. It's not a pretty sight.

He's moving a little fast for the camera. It was having trouble focusing.

He'll calm down shortly, and he'll be a better smelling dog.

Becky

2012-01-14T10:02:00.000-06:00

Back when I met Milady, we were both exploring the internet and learning about online problems that might crop up, not the least of which is privacy. We found each other on Yahoo! Personals and she used an alias in her online persona to try to keep the creeps out of her life. Evidently it didn't work out well for her, because she got me in her life and she'd be much better off if she had come to her senses and run me up the road.

Lots of folks use aliases online. My alias is PawPaw, and several times over the years people have come to me and asked if I were PawPaw from PawPaw's House. Yup, that's me.

Last week, we got a letter from AARP, trying to sell Milady some insurance. Only thing is that it came addressed to her internet persona. We laughed and laughed, because I don't believe that Becky is going to buy any insurance.

They even got the address right, which has been redacted in this photo, but which in itself is not a huge secret. I guess that Yahoo! has sold their mailing list to AARP, but how they connected the name with the address still has me scratching my head.

It's all for naught, 'cause Becky ain't buying any insurance. If they'd send us a voter registration card, we might be able to use that.

Disasppearing Labor

2012-01-13T16:15:00.000-06:00

Via Instapundit, we learn that the labor force is shrinking, the combined result of the economy, the job creation that's going on, and the Obama administration. A more complete explanation can be found at Investor's Business Daily, but this graph tells the story.

Under the Obama administration, the labor pool has shrunk by a million workers. These are folks who are so disenfranchized that they're no longer looking for work. They've dropped out of the economy.

In the 30 months since the recession officially ended, nearly 1 million people have dropped out of the labor force — they aren't working, and they aren't looking — according to data from Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the past two months, the labor force shrank by 170,000.

This is virtually unprecedented in past economic recoveries, at least since the BLS has kept detailed records. In the past nine recoveries, the labor force had climbed an average 3.5 million by this point, according to an IBD analysis of the BLS data.

This is the government's own data and it shows that there are less of us working than ever before. This isn't a recovery until those folks are back at work. This is our President's fault, purely and simply. Folks aren't hiring until the uncertainty is over and those folks who can't find jobs aren't looking. Some may have gone Gault, but I suspect that 99% of them have given up hope, or turned to crime. It's a damned shame.

PIss on 'em

2012-01-12T22:31:00.000-06:00

It's been a long day and I've been watching the brouhaha about the Marines accused of urinating on the bodies of the deceased Taliban.

It might not have been the politically correct thing to do, and GIs and Marines are fighting a tough fight, coupled with the additional burden of the internet. Lots of things posted that should be kept between warriors. Yet it looks like our government is over-reacting to the battlefield antics of some enlisted heroes who took a little time to de-stress after a firefight. This whole thing is one huge over-reaction, and by that I'm not only talking about the delicate sensibilities of the Pentagon. Piss on 'em. We're in a shooting war and warriors have to urinate occasionally. If there happens to be the dead bodies of the enemy there, it's a happy coincidence.

As far as the Kabul government outrage, piss on them too. We weren't invited over there and we're doing the job that they're either unable or unwilling to do. It appears that the Afghani government is hopelessly corrupt and we should remember why we went to that country in the first place; to kill Taliban. We should unleash our warriors, kill the Taliban, then come home. If, on the way, we piss on a few dead enemy, who gives a crap?

But, investigating warriors for this type of indiscretion is certainly no way to conduct a war.

Salmon Croquettes

2012-01-11T18:29:00.000-06:00

Digging around the larder, looking for supper, I spotted a can of Pink Salmon, packed fresh in Alaska 14.75 oz. Salmon Croquette! We haven't had those in a while.

Salmon Croquette

1 can Pink Salmon
1 roll Ritz crackers
1 egg
Vegetable oil

Crush the Ritz crackers in a large bowl. Add the canned salmon, juice and all. Crack an egg into the mixture and mix. When the mixture is thoroughly gooey, divide the mix into six portions, pat flat and fry in a skillet using vegetable oil. Makes six salmon patties.

Pictures you ask? Ha! Ain't none left. Milady and I had them with a baked potato. Milady took hers with a glass of wine, while I settled for a diet soda.

Whack-A-Mole

2012-01-11T16:18:00.000-06:00

It looks like someone whacked another Iranian nuclear scientist today.

An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a bomb placed on his car by a motorcyclist in Tehran on Wednesday,

So, this motorcyclist drives up, sticks a bomb on the scientist's car, and detonates it. Hmmm. Wonder who is doing that?

Fuel Prices

2012-01-11T16:13:00.000-06:00

I notice that prices for unleaded gasoline jumped 12 cents the other day then I noticed this story that's making the rounds. It appears that the EPA is fining companies for not blending their gasoline with a biofuel that does not yet exist in production quantities.

Penalizing the fuel suppliers demonstrates what happens when the federal government really, really wants something that technology is not ready to provide. In fact, while it may seem harsh that the Environmental Protection Agency is penalizing them for failing to do the impossible,

This is big government at work, folks. I personally see no reason for the government to be regulating the fuel business at all. This is government over-reach and it's costing us all money.

The sooner we disband the EPA, the better off we'll be.

Louisville Leather

2012-01-11T15:59:00.000-06:00

I was recently contacted by Ryan Kuhl of Louisville Leather. They're a small custom shop that produces custom leather holsters. He said that he'd send me a product to review, but I don't believe that's necessary. He seems to make holsters for semi-auto pistols and most of my carry work is done with revolvers. If he ever gets into revolver work, I might like a nice thumbreak for my Model 60. We'll see.

I do like the looks of that pancake holster. If you're in the market for a custom holster for one of the pistols on his list, give him a call at 502.403.8002. I'm sure that he can fix you up.

About that Game

2012-01-10T20:21:00.001-06:00

Alabama made a masterful performance, nearly perfect football. It was a matchup between two great teams, and Saban & Company had done their homework. Great game from an Alabama perspective.

LSU sucked from the get-go. Jefferson stunk up the field, and Lee rotted on the bench. The Honey Badger was impotent and toothless. Still, LSU is the SEC champion this year and they beat everyone that needed beating, including the teams in most of the Bowl games. Alabama ain't the SEC champs this year. Alabama won a bowl game, but they didn't win their division nor their conference.

I heard that the LSU team bus got stranded on the interstate today, heading back to Baton Rouge. Some wag had painted a 50 yard line across the interstate and LSU couldn't cross it.

Monday afternoon

2012-01-09T16:45:00.000-06:00

It's been a rainy, miserable, foggy, humid day. The weather has been just lousy.

However, this afternoon, absolutely nothing was scheduled at the school-house. PawPaw came home, took care of a couple of errands and chores and talked to Milady about supper. I believe that we're going to the barbeque house, get a couple of rib plates, then come home and watch the football game.

What football game is that, you ask? Why LSU vs Alabama, of course. The Cajun Smurf offers a few words of counsel for the Alabama fans.

That's what I'm talking about.

Light a candle

2012-01-08T10:00:00.003-06:00

I understand that the Brady Bunch wants everyone to light a candle to stop violence. This one time I'm linking to them, hoping they check their trackbacks.

That's a great idea. Being able to see clearly is part of being a responsible citizen, and responsible citizens want to throw light where it will do the most good. I'd prefer a flashlight, so that I could see more clearly as I'm engaging the threat, but a candle sends a symbolic warmth.

Hat tip to Weer'd World and Say Uncle.

Rodger's Italian Beef

2012-01-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

I'm known to plunder around the internet, looking for interesting things and one of the blogs I read regularly is Rodgers Curmudgeonly and Skeptical. It's a fun blog with occasional bits of interesting news, commentary, and recipes. Just before Christmas I saw this recipe for Italian Beef, and while I'm a pretty good backyard cook, I've never dabbled much in Italian cooking other than the odd pot of spaghetti. However, Rodger made this recipe look so appetizing that I had to try it.

What's not to love about this sandwich?

Doesn't that look luscious? I thought you'd agree. So, I went out and bought the ingredients. I've never been one for using much parsley or basil, and who would think to boil a good beef roast in Italian dressing? Still, I like to expand my horizons, so I tried it. Put it in the slow cooker last night. When I awoke this morning, the house was filled with the aroma of beefy wonderful.

Rodger's Italian Beef

Ingredients:
3 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style
salad dressing mix
1 (5 pound) rump roast

Directions:
1. Combine water with salt, ground black pepper, oregano, basil, onion salt, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf, and salad dressing mix in a saucepan. Stir well, and bring to a boil.
2. Place roast in slow cooker, and pour salad dressing mixture over the meat.
3. Cover, and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours, or on High for 4 to 5 hours. When done, remove bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork.

After 10 hours in the slow cooker, the beef is falling apart. I sampled just a taste and the flavor is incredible.

What's not to love about easy, tasty recipes?

Sunday Morning Dawg

2012-01-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is the big game, the BCS Championship between LSU and Alabama and we're all excited about it here in the Bayou State. Of course, nothing is ever a sure thing, so we look to the dog for prognostication, in case PawPaw wants to lay a bet on the game.

Looks like the dog believe that LSU will triumph. I believe it too.

He won't give me a point spread, but he believes that LSU will remain victorious and have a sweep season.

What Say Ye?

2012-01-07T08:33:00.003-06:00

I've seen this brouhaha in several locations over the last several weeks, and I admit that I'm ignorant about the situation.

It seems that the US is looking for a new light attack aircraft, and early on the two pretenders were the US-Canada company Hawker Beechcraft and the Brazilian firm Embraer.

Hawker Beechcraft is upgrading it's T-6 aircraft to carry weapons, and Embraer is supporting it's Super Tucano. Now, it seems, the Beechcraft has been excluded from the competition and the company is howling.

My knee-jerk reaction is that we should support American companies over foreign competition in military contracts, but there's evidently something that I don't understand. Please educate me. What say ye?

Thousand Yard Coyote

2012-01-06T19:42:00.000-06:00

I was over at the Firing Line forum and someone recommended that I watch this little video about John Burns of Greybull Precision hitting a coyote at 1017 yards.

That is as foreign to me as would be walking on the moon. I don't know how I'd act if I could see a target 1000 yards away. I'm pretty sure that my equipment is up to the task. In the piney woods where I hunt, 300 yards is a long way.

Bitten by a Goat

2012-01-06T15:40:00.001-06:00

The Friday news dump is that Jon Huntsman was bitten by a goat while campaigning in New Hampshire.

"He took a bite out of my kneecap,” Mr. Huntsman said “Is there a better indicator in the state of New Hampshire than how well you do with the goat?

While interesting I don't think it's much of an indicator, except that it indicates you were near a goat. Back duriing my Mother Earth News phase of life, I raised goats on our small hobby farm, along with a variety of other wildlife. Goats will bite you wherever is most available and because they're knee-high, they often seem to bite people on the knees.

If you're around goats, Jon, stand on a stump (in itself, an honored political maneuver). Then the goats will bite you on the toes.

The Honey Badger

2012-01-05T18:35:00.000-06:00

It's a drink being served in Baton Rouge.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the “Honey Badger” drink is a shot of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey dropped into a Bandit Blonde beer (the official LSU brew, of course) and is served in the Bayou.

Bandit Blonde is the official beer of LSU, produced in cooperation with Tin Roof Brewing Company.

Sounds like a boilermaker by another name, but LSU is known as a drinking college.

Do not hire this man.

2012-01-05T18:04:00.000-06:00

Really. He's not worth the hassle. If I found myself supervising him, I'd immediately start disciplinary procedures, prior to termination.

Don't hire this guy.

Goblin Down

2012-01-05T17:02:00.000-06:00

It's a fairly obligatory posting, but you've all heard by now of the 18 year old widow in Oklahoma who shot a stalker trying to get into her house. He had a knife and she shot him with a 12 gauge shotgun when the broke in the door. She was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and had been on the phone with them for about 20 minutes when the goblin broke through the door.

She shot him dead. Protecting her infant child. Protecting herself.

Of course, the prosecutors in Oklahoma say that she was totally justified. The dead goblin had an accomplice and he is now in jail on 1st Degree Murder charges. It seems that if someone dies while you're committing a felony, you're on the hook for the death, even if you didn't pull the trigger. That's good law.

Some say that it's a shame that she had to wait so long for the police to arrive. From all indications, she lives in rural Oklahoma, and when you're the only deputy in a wide zone, it might take 20 minutes to get to a call on the other end of the zone.

The little lady done good. Her child is safe, she's safe, and the goblins are accounted for. One's dead, the other is in jail.

Cutting Troops

2012-01-05T16:30:00.001-06:00

I see that our President wants to cut "tens of thousands" of troops from the military at a time when we're embroiled in a land war in Afghanistan, Iran is making noises about closing the strait of Hormuz, and China is ascendant.

The Obama administration will unveil a “more realistic” vision for the military on Thursday, with plans to cut tens of thousands of ground troops and invest more in air and sea power at a time of fiscal restraint, officials familiar with the plans said on Wednesday.

I'm a fan of air and sea power, but we still need boots on the ground.

Two things Mr. President. Where are you going to get 20,000 boots (each soldier has two) to stand on the ground when you need to hold it? And what are "tens of thousands" of high school graduates going to do to find work? Historically, high school graduates made up the lion's share of the first-time enlistments and if those slots go away, where are we going to find private soldiers?

Our President is an idiot.

Iowa

2012-01-04T05:40:00.000-06:00

I see that no one got 25% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses. Romney and Santorum flirted with 25%, but didn't go over the mark. Yet, they act like getting a quarter of the vote is a big deal. That's why the Iowa caucuses are bullshit. WIthout a clear majority, no one won. It's that simple.

Recipes

2012-01-03T05:28:00.000-06:00

My sister asked how she could find the recipes on the blog. The sphere on the right sidebar only uses the last 20 labels I've used, so sometimes the recipes fall off.

This should put it back on.

By the numbers

2012-01-02T14:17:00.000-06:00

I need to remember this, courtesy of Vodkapundit.

Every day, the U.S. government takes in $6 billion and spends $10 billion. This means that every day the federal government spends $4 billion more dollars than it has.

The real unemployment rate is a jaw-dropping 11 percent.

Every fifth man you pass on your way to work is now out of work.

College graduates are now 34% less likely to find a job under Obama than they were under President George W. Bush.

Every seventh person you pass on the sidewalk now relies on food stamps.

The ravages of the Obama economy now mean that more Americans live under the federal poverty line than at any time in U.S. history since records have been kept.

Under President Barack Obama, every fifth child in America now lives in poverty.

The whole article is here. It's not partisan, it's not right-leaning, it's not made up stuff. This is the truth about government the way it is today. In this new year, we can hope that things get better, but hope isn't a plan.

Officer Down

2012-01-02T13:25:00.000-06:00

It seems that some yahoo has shot and killed a park ranger at Rainier state park.

Park Ranger Margaret Anderson, a mother of two who was married to another ranger at the park, was shot about 10:30 a.m. after setting up a roadblock to stop a car that was fleeing another officer.

The guy was at a party in a nearby community and officers responded to a shots-fired call at the party. The shooter fled and Ranger Anderson was killed trying to stop the goblin at a roadblock. The guy has held up in Mount Rainier National Park and law enforcement is trying to find him.

But, the Seattle paper has to take a swipe at Congress.

Congress lifted a ban on carrying loaded guns in national parks in February 2010 amid warnings by critics that the action would lead to gun violence and poaching.

Really? You think that a ban on guns in national parks would have stopped this guy from going in there armed? Is the editorial board of the Seattle Times so clueless as to believe that a firearms ban would have made any difference whatsoever in this scenario?

I grieve for Officer Anderson, and send my heartfelt condolences to her family. I'll reserve my outrage for the editors at the Seattle Times, who chose to use this tragedy to take a cheap shot. If they, for one minute, think that any ban would have stopped this tragedy, they're too clueless to understand logic.

,357 for Deer?

2012-01-02T08:58:00.000-06:00

If you go to the gun forums, there is always the question of whether the .357 magnum is adequate for deer. The answer is always resoundingly yes. Not optimal, perhaps, but adequate. There the difference lies. As in all things about hunting, an adequate cartridge is one where it is used within the envelope that provides enough power and energy to do the job cleanly.

Recently, a buddy, John, emailed me about some success his daughter had using the .357 magnum in a lever gun. I'll let him tell you the story.

I think Rachel feels a .357 carbine is adequate for whitetail deer hunting, under 100 yds. Dec 27, Tuesday morning, she killed a 2.5 yr old 7 pt buck, live weight of 150 lbs. It is her first buck, and the first one I actually called in by grunting. We saw it grunting and chasing a doe thru the palmetto bushes, and when I grunted, the doe turned on her afterburners and left while the buck stopped and started looking for the "intruder". I grunted one more time, and the buck started easing our direction thru the brush. When he got within 40 yds, he slipped out onto the trail to get a better look, and my daughter was ready. Deer was quartering towards us, bullet hit forward on the on-side shoulder, penetrating diagonally thru the right lung, liver, stomach, and ended up just in the muscle in the upper part of the left hind quarter. Yes, nearly 3 ft of penetration from a factory Remington .357 Mag 158 gr soft-point load. I recovered the bullet when we were deboning the meat to grind.

There's a picture below and if you look at the picture, you'll see what I call a swamp forest. Mature trees, a mixed hardwood forest with a few conifers, mainly cypress. However, that forest has a thick undertory of brush and palmetto, which limits vision to 100 yards or less at ground level. This is the country for which a lever carbine shines. Ranges are short.

You're not going to make a 200 yard shot in that tangle. Rachel took that deer at 40 yards and from all indications the rifle was adequate to the task.

Good job, Rachel.

Sunday Morning Dawg

2012-01-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

After the rain this week, the pond near the house has filled considerably. We're still in a drought, but we've seen more water this week than we have in a long time. The dog and I decided to walk out and survey the water line.

That's much better, says the dog. The pond is nearly full. Only one thing left to do, and we all know the dog's fondness for feral water.

That's right! Gotta get a belly full while we're here. There might be water in the bowl, but it doesn't taste like this good pond water. Happy New Year, everyone!

Parallel

2011-12-31T07:03:00.000-06:00

This writer from the Daily Mail, a British newpaper, tries to draw some parallels between 1931 and 2011. He talks about depression, unrest in Europe, and the dawning and sunset of empire. You don't have to wonder what he's thinking, either. Sadly, there seems little point in looking across the Atlantic for inspiration.

In 1932, President Herbert Hoover, beleaguered by rising unemployment and tumbling ratings, flailed and floundered towards election defeat.

Today, Barack Obama cuts a similarly impotent, indecisive and isolationist figure. The difference is that in 1932, one of the greatest statesmen of the century, the Democratic politician Franklin D. Roosevelt, was waiting in the wings.

Today, American voters looking for alternatives are confronted only with a bizarre gaggle of has-beens, inadequates and weirdos, otherwise known as the Republican presidential field. And to anybody who cares about the future of the Western world, the prospect of President Ron Paul or President Newt Gingrich is frankly spine-chilling.

Has-beens, inadequates and weirdos. Ha! That's got to sting.

Range Friday

2011-12-30T17:35:00.000-06:00

That Savage 10 is destined to be a grandkid rifle, so after posting yesterday I started thinking about youth loads; something simple, something fairly accurate, with enough pop to make them realize they're shooting a centerfire rifle, with enough energy to bring down one of our smallish whitetail deer.

I went outside and looked on the bench and found a box of Sierra 125 grain Pro-hunter bullets. Then I started researching loads. What I was looking for isn't necessarily in the manuals, so I was breaking untrod ground. I settled on a load starting at 41.0 grains of IMR 4895 and loaded some ammo, then increased the charge to 42.0 and 43.0 grains of powder just in case that first load didn't fly.

I got to the range and set up at the 100 yard line. Fired a couple of fouling shots into the berm. Then I got steady on the bags.

That's a one inch target dot and it was fired at 100 yards. The subsequent loads opened up quite a bit. Not surprisingly, I fired the last two rounds of my #3 load (43 grains of IMR 4895 and that Sierra Prohunter) through my Remington 700. The Remington didn't like the #1 load, but it liked the #3 load, firing it into just 0.75 inch. If that Remington becomes a grandkid rifle too, I know which kid load to build for it.

I figure that load is traveling about 2600 fps, plenty good medicine for the whitetail deer around here. Recoil is light, the load is easy on the shoulder. I think that the grandkids will like it fine.

On the way home, I recalled that I had a rifle on layaway and it was time to get it out. I went to my favorite pawn shop and dropped some change on the counter guy.

That's a Ruger 77, tang model, in 25-06. According to the serial number, the rifle was pushed out the door in 1971, the same year I started college. It came with a Bushnell Banner scope, probably made about the same time the rifle was made. The counter guy threw in a new soft gun case so I wouldn't have to carry it from the store naked.

That one is not a grandkid rifle. PawPaw has been lusting over this rifle since I was in college and this one is mine.

Range Thursday

2011-12-29T16:32:00.002-06:00

After I hair-lipped the rose bush today, I sat down at the bench and worked another series of reloads based on Newberry's OCW method of finding a good load. I couldn't decide if the ugly rifle didn't like those Fusion bullets, or didn't like Reloder 15 under those bullets, so I looked for something different and found a box of 155 grain Matchkings that I had forgotten about. Then, I looked at four references and got an idea of what loads might be suitable for IMR 4895 powder and that bullet. I came away with six loads, starting at 41.5 grains, progressing upward in 0.9 grain increments to 46.0 grains, all under that 155 Matchking.

I went out to the Woodworth Range, and it was closed. There were six or eight cars waiting at the gate, so we all got out of our vehicles and talked. We all verified that we had checked online and the range is supposed to be open today at noon, so I whipped out my smartphone, did a quick google search, and found the number to the state office of Wildlife and Fisheries. I got someone on the phone and started raising hell. In about fifteen minutes, someone else called me back, told me where a key was located on a tree near the gate, and told me to let everyone in.

Once on the range, I got set up and started running the line, along with shooting my groups. After firing my string I looked downrange through the spotting scope and was fairly pleased. All six 3-shot strings averaged 1.26 inches, and three of those groups were under an inch! Very good. There is something that rifle likes about IMR 4805 powder and 155 grain Matchkings. Somewhere between 44.2 grains and 45.1 grains there is a sweet spot, and I'll have to find it, then start tuning loads to that rifle. After I get the load tuned, I'll run it over the chronograph and enter it into my pet load records.

Funny thing. Hodgdon shows a max load of 47.3 grains of IMR 4895 under a 150 grain bullet. I filled a case with powder and couldn't stuff but 46.4 grains to the junction of the neck and shoulder. My hottest load was 46.0 grains and it's too hot for my rifle. When I touched that load off, it blew the primer, jammed my ejector, and pushed the extractor out of the bolt. I managed to find all the parts and get the rifle running again, but I was mighty concerned for a few minutes. This comes as a caution to check your sources, make your own judgement and pay attention to what your rifle is telling you. A load that's too hot in your rifle may be okay according to the published literature. When you handload ammunition, you're on your own. Be safe.

I've done more shooting in the last two days than I have in the last three months. It feels good to get a little recoil therapy. It also feels good to see that rifle shoot like I thought it might.

Rooting Roses

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000-06:00

We've got a rose bush, over an arbor that leads to the backyard. It's a climbing rose and it's made some lovely pictures over the several years it's been there, but I admit that I haven't been as dutiful as I should have been to keep it pruned. As a result, it's grown all out of control, threatening to tear down the fence and climb up the electric service drop that is nearby.

Here is Milady in front of that rose last spring. As you can see in the picture, it's expanded considerably beyond the arbor, and is climbing on the fence.

This morning I changed all that. I got some pruners and some nippers and I set to work on that overgrown rose. In the words of my Dad, I hair-lipped it pretty good.

This rose has been in my family for several generations, so after I finished the haircut, I went to the hardware store, bought some rooting powder and some potting soil. I found a bunch of pots behind the backyard fence and rooted eight of those cuttings. If half of them "take", I'll have four plants to give away in the spring.

So, bury the Bastard already

2011-12-28T19:15:00.001-06:00

I figgered they'd have buried him already, but The Atlantic is reporting that they buried The Korean Madman today, December 28th. The pictures at the link are truly creepy, everyone crying, wailing, it's disconcerting.

Of course, all this is done for propaganda, but damn people. I mean, whose consumption are these pictures for? None of the rest of the world believes that anyone could be this heartbroken over the loss of this tyrant. This is a guy who nearly starved a country to death, sent his own people to Siberia when he couldn't feed them, then bankrupted the country for his own ego, and the people are crying for him?

Worst damned case of Stockholm Syndrome I've ever seen.

Christmas Gift

2011-12-28T15:25:00.000-06:00

The Cold Steel Two Handed Machete:

My brother-in-law gifted me one of these for Christmas, and if you're looking for a cutting/slashing/hacking implement that's lighter than a full axe, this is the one to consider. It weighs under two pounds, is easy to carry on a vehicle, and is just the ticket for lopping limbs on a shooting lane, trimming trees, or light cutting chores where a full axe might be too much.

Mine lives under the bonnet of my Mule and it'll stay there for the forseeable future. The Cold Steel Two Handed Machete has the PawPaw seal of approval.

Range Day

2011-12-28T14:43:00.002-06:00

I found myself with a couple of hours to kill this morning and I haven't had any trigger time since the start of the deer season. So, I loaded some ammo for the .308, so that I could try some new bullets. Back in the autumn, I had bought some pulled bullets from RMR Reloading. They were billed as 150 grain Federal Fusion bullets and today was the first time I'd had a chance to take them to the range.

So, I checked multiple data sources and decided that I could safely load from 42.0 to 47.0 grains of RL15 under those bullets. I got out a bag of prepped Winchester brass, some WLR primers and got to work assembling ammo. I decided to use Dan Newberry's OCW system to find a load that would work in this rifle. With high hopes and new ammo, I headed for the range. I decided to give the Ugly Rifle an outing this morning. It's been languishing in the locker all winter.

By 11:00 I had shot my rotations and was looking through the spotting scope. Disappointment. After a review of my shooting, I can't find anything that really stands out. No group under 1.25 inches, the average of all groups is 1.56 inches. Not an auspicious beginning to new load development.

I've got a load that shoots well in this rifle. Heck it shoots well in every .308 I've tried it. 43.0 grains of RL15 and a 165/168 bullet is a sure-fire shot in this rifle. But, in this rifle, that same 43 grains of RL15 with a 150 fusion bullet turns in a 1.32" group. Poot!

Back to the drawing board. I might try 4895 next.

Move, Shoot, Communicate

2011-12-28T07:02:00.000-06:00

Back in 1976 I was introduced to the concept of Move, Shoot, Communicate. That simple term is a mantra for mobile combat and as a fledgling tank commander I was responsible for mobility, firepower, and keeping my commanders and subordinates informed about the current status of the battlefield. Communication is every bit as important to a commander as firepower. I would submit that if the Civil War commander would have had a good set of walkie-talkies and a way to charge their batteries, the fight might have been decidedly different than the one we study today.

I see that the Mexican military has set about disrupting the communications of the drug cartels. That's a great idea. If they can't communicate, then their network has to work harder to coordinate ideas, forces, orders, and drug movements. Making the enemy work harder is always a good idea.

If there is a war on our southern border, and all indications are that the operations of the drug cartels nearly constitute a civil war, then shutting down one of the three legs of battlefield mobility is a good idea. An excellent idea.

Shooting Illustrated closes the loop. They note that anyone can walk into a cell-phone store and purchase high level communications devices without so much as a background check. These devices are so powerful that they can be loaded with mapping software, encryption codes, transmit voice, text, or data, and are virtually untraceable. Moreso, these devices are so inexpensive that they can be used and tossed away. Yet, I don't hear politicians clamoring to restrict the right of Americans to buy powerful handheld communications devices.

If you talk to a troop returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, they'll tell you that simple, cheap, prepaid phones can be used to make roadside bombs, set ambushes, move troops, and cause havoc on the battlefield. It makes sense to restrict the other side's ability to communicate. Yet, it seems that all the politicians are focused on are the guns.

iPod meme

2011-12-27T14:25:00.000-06:00

All the cool kids are posting the most played songs on their iPods.

I don't even own an iPod.

Cajun Pawn

2011-12-26T16:51:00.000-06:00

I'm seeing the commercials now, so I can tell folks that there is a new pawn show premiering next week on the History Channel. My favorite pawn dealer, Jimmy Deramus and his store, Silver Dollar has been my favorite gun shop for the past ten years. I've got a rifle on layaway there now that I intend to pick up in January.

Here's a commercial they filmed last year.

I walked in on a filming session this past autumn. Didn't see the barricade and walked into the middle of a film session. "Oh, hell. Cut!, Cut! Cut! How did you get in here?"

"Came in the side door, like I always do. What are y'all doing?"

"Filming a TV show. We're going to be on the History Channel."

"That's great, Jimmy. Got that pistol I ordered?"

No, PawPaw isn't going to be on TV, but Deramus' shop will be on the History Channel on Sunday, January 8th. Y'all watch for it. Maybe he'll make more than one season. We'll see.

Soldier shot at Welcome Home Party

2011-12-26T16:33:00.000-06:00

I've seen this story several times over the past several days, and I think it's a durty-dog shame. This kid joins the Army, goes overseas, is injured in combat, comes back to the US to recuperate, gets home on leave and gets shot at his welcome home party. Durty-dog shame.

However, the cop in me says that the official story stinks.

Sullivan, 22, a 2008 San Bernardino High School graduate who was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., was taken to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds. His condition was not known, but family members described him as being in extremely critical condition and paralyzed. Suzanne Sullivan said he suffered two gunshot wounds to his back, which shattered his spine.

Here's where the stink starts:

Family members said a man at the party got into an argument with Sullivan's brother. When Sullivan intervened, the man pulled out a gun and fired at him.

So, there's this guy at the party who took out a gun and shot the soldier. Friends and family, right? Somebody is bound to know the guy.

Police have not identified a suspect in the case.

Don't even go there. This guy comes to the party, and no one knows who he is? Why was he allowed to stay? Who did he come with? Who was he talking to? No one knows who the shooter was?

When I throw a party, I might not know everyone there, but I know who they came with. I enjoy entertaining, but I watch my guests closely. Someone knows who this guy is, and if they aren't telling the cops, the family has more problems than the police can help solve.

Rain, or the lack thereof

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

It's been raining here in Central Louisiana for the better part of the week. Our drought isn't over yet, but I'm seeing water in the ditches and in low spots of the yard that haven't held water for the better part of the year.

This station in Lake Charles has noticed that the lack of water is affecting the duck hunters. If we don't have fresh water flowing to keep the salt water out of the marshes, we see more salt intrusion which kills vegetation and species dependent on fresh water.

We've noticed a problem in north-central Louisiana too. My lease is in the piney woods in LaSalle parish and the hunting area is notable for several creeks that the deer depend on for water. This summer those creeks were dryer than I've ever seen them. Even the deep holes were dry. Deer need water and when those natural water holes dry up, the deer have to move to find a drink. Our deer harvest is down this year and the only leases that are reporting success have water on them. That's basic biology and it's left us high and dry this year.

We got some rain on the lease last week, and my ramblings last Friday showed that the creek was flowing, but my quick meander up and down the creek bank didn't reveal any deer tracks in places where there is normally evidence of movement. The water is there, but the deer aren't. Our cameras are telling the tale as well. We had pictures of deer on the cameras in October, but in November, we quit seeing the animals. It's dispiriting.

So, the Monday after Christmas, PawPaw is sitting home, watching the drizzly gray morning and is grateful for it. My one hope is that the water fills the Saline basin and drives the deer out into the hills surrounding it. When the Saline/Catahoula complex fills with water, the deer move and I've got a stand on Momma's place that should provide one to two late-season hunts. I've got a camera there and we'll check it later this week. If it doesn't provide any action, the season might well be over before the deer move.

Signing Statements

2011-12-26T07:37:00.000-06:00

It seems that our President used issued a signing statement on a law passed by Congress last week, immediately before he left for Hawaii. Much has been made on the use of presidential signing statements, and the left excoriated President Bush for his use of such statements. It's easy to talk bad about someone when they're doing something that you disagree with, but it's another thing entirely when you use the same tactic several years later.

I recall candidate Obama's promise to not use signing statements.

Obama explained that “Congress’ job is to pass legislation,” and when that happens, a President has only two options: “the President can veto it or sign it.” In contrast to Bush — who, Obama said, “has been saying ‘I can change what Congress passed by attaching a statement saying I don’t agree with this part, I’m going to choose to interpret it this way or that way’” — Obama said he, by contrast, believes “that’s not part of [the President's] power.” He punctuated his answer as follows: “we’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.”

It's hard to be more clear than that.

Lots of pundits are talking about the signing statement this morning. Whether they're constitutional or not is a question for better minds. In my experience, intent isn't really criminal unless it is followed by action and as long as folks follow the law, it doesn't matter if they rail against it. I rail against laws all the time, but I intend to follow them.

If the President truly thought that this was bad law, he could have simply vetoed it. He chose to sign it, as is his prerogative. It is now law, and he's bound to follow it.

I'm particularly enamored of Instapundit's thoughts on the matter.

The next Attorney General is going to be busy. Or maybe the one-after-next, since Holder may not be around much longer.

Heh!

Sunday Morning Dawg

2011-12-25T06:00:00.005-06:00

Our family celebrates Christmas all week, but the big blow-out is on Christmas Eve, when we invite friends, family, in-laws and outlaws over to the house for the evening meal. Milady and I decided years ago to map out that evening as ours and that lets the kids have one less thing to schedule for Christmas day. Every parent wants to be home Christmas morning with their young'unns and the other side of their respective family wants to see them as well. So, Christmas Eve, the PawPaw house is busy, festive, and noisy. Lots of treats for the dog, lots of grandkids to supervise, lots of friends from whence to beg food. Christmas eve is a festive occasion.

The next morning, not so much. Christmas Day at PawPaw's house is a quiet affair. The pup wonders what happened to all the fun, and he gets in a humbug mood.

That's okay, Pup. Later on, we'll break out the leftovers and see if they left us anything to eat.

Merry Christmas from the Dawg.

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T06:00:00.002-06:00

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD" (Luke 2:11).

Joy to the World. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T16:36:00.002-06:00

Today is Christmas Eve, a source of joy and celebration for the Christian faith. Reflect this evening on the story of the child.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Sneakers? Really?

2011-12-24T10:34:00.000-06:00

Disturbances erupting across the nation as Nike rolls out a limited edition Air-Jordan sneaker. Really?

Yeah, in Charlotte. In Atlanta. In Tukwila (wherever that is). And in my hometown.

There are lots more examples of basketball-culture idiocy. Idiocy, pure idiocy.

I would remind my gentle readers that basketball is a game that is played by girls. Anyone who aspires to the game, who follows the game, who emulates the culture of basketball as it's currently practiced in the United States needs plenty of psychological treatment. Years and years of expensive treatment.

I understand our President likes to play basketball. 'nuff said.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T09:38:00.001-06:00

It's Christmas Eve, and there's a lull at PawPaw's house. It's quiet, Milady is napping in preparation for the evening. She'll start cooking this afternoon and kids and grandkids, family, friends, inlaws and outlaws welcome for the feast. Hams, yams, cornbread dressing, assorted desserts, and maybe a little liquid refreshment for those adults interested.

It'll be a lot of fun, but we should take time to remember those who are standing on the front lines. Those wondering if the world is about to change and have made preparations for that change. Our troops in Korea come to mind. The tyrant across the border is dead and a new pretender is taking the reins, and I'm sure that our troops are watching, and waiting, and wondering.

This photo, shamelessly taken from Mostly Cajun, comes from my brothers in the 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor, standing the line in Korea. Think of them tonight as you say your prayers and grant that they might experience the wonder of Christmas. Ask also that they get a great meal tomorrow. Some of them standing in the snow might not.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Ave Maria - V

2011-12-23T16:21:00.000-06:00

Tonight we conclude our review of Ave Maria with the final rendition in this series. The incomparable Lucianno Pavarotti singing the Schubert version.

Maestro! Bravo!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

No, Really

2011-12-22T16:26:00.000-06:00

These two are having a bad day. Having your mug shot plastered across the internet is bad enough, but damn. Just damn.

Korin Vanhouten, 47, and Eldon Alexander, 36, were cited for shoplifting at WinCo Foods in Ogden. Moments later, they discovered that someone had broken into their vehicle and stolen $60 worth of items. (Weber County Jail)

Oh, well, what goes around, comes around.

Hat tip to Rodger.

Ave Maria - V

2011-12-22T16:18:00.000-06:00

Tonight, on a rainy Thursday, we find the Charlotte Church rendition of Ave Maria.

Lovely.

Rainy Thursday

2011-12-22T10:48:00.001-06:00

It was raining when I awoke and after coffee, it hadn't let up. I went out into the carport when Milady left for work and decided that it would be a good time to catch up on projects that were stacked on my bench.

Fixed a kid's toy, a plastic truck that makes lots of noise. I'll have to send that home with him the next time I see that particular grandkid.

Then I took out my Remington Model 700. Someone told me recently that all Remington .30 caliber barrels were a 1:12 twist. That didn't sound right, but I thought I'd measure it. My particular Rem 700 was made in August 1983, although I didn't buy it until January 2011. I realized I didn't know the barrel twist, which is an arcane bit of knowledge that might be useful, so I took down my cleaning rod, fitted a patch to a jag and measured the twist. Mine is 1:10, just like my other .308s. The only 1:12 rifles I own are my Win94s.

That being done, I noticed some brass from the Thanksgiving shoot that I needed to sort. I collect brass, and it gets thrown into a box under my bench until a rainy day when I decide to sort brass. That's not one of my favorite activities, but something that a handloader must do occasionally. Before too long, I was on my knees by the brass box, pulling out zip-lock bags and wal-mart bags from shoots long past. I commenced sorting brass and had to find new containers. Before it was done, I had sorted two gallons of .38 special brass, a full gallon of .45 ACP, nearly a half-gallon of .44 magnum, and several dozen pieces of .44 special. Exactly one piece of .357 magnum brass, though for the life of me, I can't imagine who took just one shot with the .357. That ain't natural.

I took down some rifles and gave them a good wiping, then put everything away. It's 10:45 a.m. and I've cleared my bench. Dishes are washed, clothes are folded and put away. I guess I could run the vacuum, but I'm not nearly that bored yet.

It's still raining outside. In another hour, the dog and I will eat lunch.

Ave Maria - IV

2011-12-21T17:36:00.000-06:00

Tonight we follow a commenter's advise and listen to the version by Perry Como.

That's a voice from my youth.

Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T16:21:00.000-06:00

I almost forgot. Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Normally that doesn't count for much, because it's also the longest night of the year and the whole day is still 24 hours. Go figure.

For those of us who keep track of weirdness, the winter solstice next year is when the Mayan calendar says that the world will end. Okay, then! We've got one more year, one more trip around the sun. I'm told that the Mayans have launched a celebration to commemorate the last year on their calendar. That's great, too. Nothing like a party to drum up tourism Hopefully, they won't go back to their quaint traditions of ripping the hearts from living sacrifices. But Hey! In Mexico, anything is possible.

Personally, I've seen their calendar, and I believe that the sculptor simply ran out of space on the rock. "What the hell" he figured, "I've carved until sometime in the next millennium. If they can't figure it out, they don't deserve a calendar."

Googling around while doing this posting, I learn that the solstice this year won't happen until December 22 at 0530 UTC.

Status of Forces

2011-12-21T08:25:00.000-06:00

Before we get all huffy about our troops being withdrawn from Iraq, we might do well to remember that the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was negotiated under George Bush.

On November 17, 2008, the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker signed the agreement in an official ceremony.

We'll recall that President Obama didn't take office until January 20, 2009 and at that time the US government had already agreed that all US forces would leave Iraq by midnight, December 31, 2011.

I don't believe that we should have negotiated nor signed an agreement. We were not invited into Iraq. As it turns out, the Iraqi government is probably not stable enough to stand at this time and some observers believe that the country might slide into sectarian and political violence. That's for the Iraqi people to decide.

However, President Obama's promise to bring the troops home was an empty promise, one that he hadn't negotiated. Under the terms of the SOFA, he had no choice; it was already written in an agreement negotiated under the Bush administration. However, his decision to make political hay out of leaving Iraq might become a huge strategic blunder if Iraq devolves into chaos.

Crime and Punishment

2011-12-21T07:15:00.000-06:00

Instapundit links to an article concerning arrest records for teens, citing statistics that 1-in-3 teens will be arrested during their formative years.

Now, Blumstein says, youth may be arrested for drugs and domestic violence, which were unlikely offenses to attract police attention in the 1960s. "There's a lot more arresting going on now," he says.

When I was a teen in the '60s I knew that possession of marijuana might get me arrested. That hasn't changed, it's still illegal to possess marijuana in most jurisdictions. It's true that domestic violence laws have tightened up since the '60s, but that's a result of the legislature placing greater emphasis on violence, which might not be a bad thing.

There are a lot more laws now and the police are tasked with enforcing them. It's not my fault, nor the fault of my brethren that there are more laws on the books. In fact, if you ask most police officers, we'd be better served with fewer laws on the books. It seems, though, that every time the legislature meets, there is always a cause de jure that results in new laws. Another problem with the way laws are written is that the concept of intent has been written out of the laws. Back in the old days, laws used to take intent into account, with verbiage that made motive part of the offense. Nowadays, intent is likely to not be addressed.

The average teenager who steals an iPod or is arrested for possession of marijuana — why do we make that define their lives?"

I would submit that 40 years ago it was impossible to steal an Ipod. They didn't exist and while theft was still illegal, you simply could not steal an Ipod. However, marijuana existed and arrests were made for possession of dope.

If you want the law changed, talk to your legislator. They're the ones that make the laws. The police only enforce them.

I am reminded of a quote from Mark Twain: "No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session."

Birthday

2011-12-20T12:41:00.003-06:00

Today is PawPaw's birthday. Fifty-eight years ago I started this trip, and I'm not near-about through. However, at my advanced age and decrepitude, this milestone only marks another trip around the sun.

I'm just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning, and it's good to know it's out of my control.

Ave Maria - III

2011-12-20T09:47:00.001-06:00

Continuing the meme of Ave Maria on Christmas week, we turn now to a popular entertainment show and hear a young artist, Jackie Evancho sing. You can turn the video off after the 2:10 mark, it's all TV after that, but this little girl can sing.

She didn't win the contest, but I believe that she has a magnificent career ahead of her. Lots of training and she should do well. Once again, Merry Christmas, everyone.

Skeered Dawg

2011-12-20T09:20:00.000-06:00

We're getting a little rain outside, along with the lightning and thunder that accompanies a winter frontal system. The dog, of course, is freaked out. He's hiding under my desk as I surf the web.

He really doesn't like stormy weather. He's a skeered dog this morning.

Berdan Primed

2011-12-19T16:22:00.000-06:00

I went out to the training center to take Bud some bullets for his muzzleloading team and while I was out there I went to the rifle range to scrounge the brass bucket. I found about 30 cases of Remington 7mm Rem Mag brass, and about 10 rounds of RP 30-06. There was also a bunch of .308 brass with NATO headstamp, so I brought it home. The primers were still crimped, so I was fairly sure that it was once-fired, but I didn't recognize the headstamp.

NATO headstamp with RG 93. I came home and found that it is made in the Royal Ordnance factory, Radway Green, in England. So, I set about decapping it and found Berdan primers.

Good, thick NATO brass and not a damned thing I can do with it. There was also about 40 rounds of good Federal Gold Medal brass in the bucket. It's already been added to my stocks.

I wonder how that British ammo got all the way over to a Louisiana sheriff office range?

Mr. Holder, you lose

2011-12-19T11:58:00.000-06:00

According to the Daily Caller, our Attorney General used the race card yesterday.

Attorney General Eric Holder accused his growing chorus of critics of racist motivations in a Sunday interview published in the New York Times. When reached by The Daily Caller Monday morning, the Department of Justice provided no evidence to support the attorney general’s claims.

There is is, plain as day, Eric plays the race card. No one's told him, though that when the chips are down and you play the race card, you automatically lose.

I've been accused of racist motivations my whole life. When I was a child, there were real racists around. Most of them were Democrats, using truncheons and fire hoses to quell disturbances during the civil rights marches. Those days are long past, and also long past are the times when a public official can paint opponents with the RACIST brush.

You lose, Eric. You've shamed your profession and your office. Go home.

Ave Maria - II

2011-12-19T05:26:00.000-06:00

The first time I heard Ave Maria, it was on my Dad's stereo. It was the Schubert version, played on trumpet by Al Hirt. Because it was the first time I'd heard it, the Schubert became my favorite version and I eventually learned to play it on trumpet.

This one, sang by Andrea Bocelli.

Simply beautiful.

Out of Iraq

2011-12-19T05:04:00.002-06:00

I'm told that the last of our troops left Iraq today. That's probably not true. If we've got an embassy, some poor Marine is still on watch, and some good Army supply sergeant is inventorying sheets in the supply room.

However, the narrative is that the last troop left Iraq today. President Obama has kept his promise to have the troops out by Christmas, and may God have mercy on the Iraqi people.

My war was Desert Storm. We had troops near Baghdad, superbly trained combat troops who had just defeated everything that Saddam Hussein had in the desert. The way was clear to Baghdad and George HW Bush shut us down. Told us to stop in place. We could have ended it in another couple of days, but he bowed to coalition pressure to let a madman stay in power. If we'd gone to Baghdad and killed Hussein, we might have averted this whole chapter. But we didn't. We turned around and came home.

You see, as a soldier, I don't care much for politicians though I am subordinate to them. One of our great strengths as a nation is that the military is absolutely subordinate to the civil authority. The military goes where it is sent and does what it is ordered to do. HW Bush sent us into the desert to destroy an army. Once that army was destroyed, we looked longingly toward the source of the evil and HW told us that we had done what we were sent to do, that we were not allowed to destroy the head of the hydra, only to kill the body. I believe that was the greatest mistake of his presidency.

Now another president has taken us out of Iraq. Let history observe that this is the second time we've left Iraq in my lifetime, and let's remember that a second trip should not have been necessary. Let us rejoice that the troops are coming home, but pray God that we don't have to make a third trip.

Kim Jong-Il Dead

2011-12-19T04:37:00.000-06:00

Sveral places are reporting that the Korean madman, Kim Jong-Il is dead. According to the BBC:

Mr Kim, who has led the communist nation since the death of his father in 1994, died on a train while visiting an area outside the capital, the announcement said.

No tyrant should ever be allowed to die a natural death. His son is tapped to take over the country and if I were his geographical neighbor, I'd be watching the developments in the country very, very closely. I'm sure that South Korea and Japan are on full alert with all their intelligence apparatus working overtime. I wonder how long it will be before the Great Successor dies on a train outside the capitol?

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2011-12-18T07:54:00.000-06:00

Christmas is upon us, this week the fourth Sunday of Advent where we redouble our efforts to prepare for Christ. It is altogether appropriate and fitting that we think of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Sunday Morning Dawg

2011-12-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

This past summer, some of the grandkids were playing with a frisbee and was left in the backyard. After a rainstorm, we noticed that the dog liked drinking from it. He really loves mudholes and ditches and thinks that rainwater tastes great. So, we left the frisbee on the deck to collect dew and rainwater from the drip edge of the house.

It's the best water in the backyard.

Friday night

2011-12-16T18:00:00.000-06:00

PawPaw is home, drinking egg nog with a splash of bourbon. I'm in my slippers and not going anywhere.

Today went a whole lot more smoothly than I expected. Generally, if I'm going to have problems at the school, real problems like serious fights, it'll be just before school releases or while they're getting on the bus. The day before a holiday, the kids are wild as March Hares and mad as hatters. Additionally, they won't be at school for two weeks, so if there's any getting-even to be done, the day before a holiday is the best time to do it.

Needless to say, I'm always on high alert the last school day before a holiday. Any holiday. However, today the weather screwed with them. It started off warm and rainy and all the kids wanted to do was get out of the rain. Along about noon, the front moved through and the wind shifted around to the north. The temp dropped twenty degrees and the wind picked up. All those kids wearing shorts and no jackets got cold. All the knuckleheads wanted to go was get on the bus and go home. About fifteen minutes after school was over, the parking lot was clear and PawPaw came home. That was as nice a present as I could have hoped for.

Tomorrow I'll be in the woods and tomorrow night, Milady and I are invited to a Christmas party. Life is good.

Firewall

2011-12-15T20:57:00.000-06:00

Bill Whittle has a new Firewall up. Here he proposes a voter's guide to the Republican Party, along with historical data to back it up. Go watch.

It's worth the few minutes it takes, even if it's only for the history.

'Nilla Wafers

2011-12-15T16:52:00.002-06:00

The dog and I are eating vanilla wafers. He loves them as much as I do.

I've gotta go back to work, and that's a shame. Plus, we're out of 'nilla wafers. The dog thinks that's a shame as well.

The Republican Nominee

2011-12-15T16:43:00.000-06:00

The Republican nominee, whoeverthehell it might turn out to be, has got a hard row to hoe until the convention in August. I'm told that it will be in Tampa FL this go-around.

We've seen pretenders come and we've seen pretenders go. I'm told today that Gallup says that Newt Gingrich's numbers are slipping, and that's to be expected. Pretenders come and pretenders go, and until the voting starts it's hard to know who'll wind up on top. Iowa and New Hampshire will start separating the sheep from the goats, and by late July or early August, we'll know what's up.

I'm not really worried about it. Let 'em rise or fall at their peril. Eventually we'll pick a nominee, then we can all get behind him or her and move forward to elect a President. This is all part of the process, folks. Don't get too worked up about it.

No Confidence

2011-12-15T16:27:00.001-06:00

According to the Daily Caller, 73 congressmen have signed a resolution of No Confidence in Eric Holder.

Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar’s office announced on Thursday morning that it has 73 cosponsors on its House of Representatives resolution of “no confidence” in Attorney General Eric Holder’s ability to serve.

I, on the other hand, have lots of confidence in our Attorney General. I'm confident that he's obstructing justice, I'm confident that he's stonewalling Congress, I have every confidence that President Obama isn't going to fire him. He'll have to be indicted and impeached.

I have lots of confidence in the man, all of it bad.

Confusing

2011-12-14T17:33:00.000-06:00

It's getting so that you can't tell the players without a score card. It seems that President Obama wants to extend the payroll tax holiday, but the evil Republicans are saying that they don't want to extend it. I thought that Obama wanted more taxes and the Republicans wanted less taxes. Weird, isn't it? Now, the President is threatening a government shutdown if the evil Republicans don't extend the payroll tax cut. That's simply the most bizarre thing I've heard lately.

Where I come from, a government shutdown is a feature, not a bug. As long as the Social Security checks go out, and the military gets paid, I don't give a good damn if the government shuts down or not.

One question: If we're cutting the payroll tax (which we all know funds Social Security) who is going to pay for the SocSec checks? There is no SocSec fund, it's been raided years ago, and now all those checks come out of the general fund.

This electioneering is simply getting too bizarre.