Sniper Country Duty Roster

March 2008

Shooting a .30-30 trapper hurts. Mine did, anyway. The comb is way too low and I used a load that seemed to have a short duration recoil. It felt like an especially sharp rap in the shoulder with a ball-peen hammer.

I wouldn't give one to a young kid.

CDC'
Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 04:37:42 (ZULU)

Click my name. Winchester .375 H&H mag on sale. Cheap, I think.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 05:31:14 (ZULU)

DAMMIT, CDC,

I'm trying to NOT shoot the gun!

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 05:47:32 (ZULU)

What the..........? Click.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 11:59:35 (ZULU)

Gents,

Travis, Have to agree with CDC on his assessment of the Trapper. Neat rifles, but sharp recoil and rather obnoxious muzzle blast due to the short barrel. My own Marlin "Marauder" exhibited that same characteristics. Still have it...

First deer rifle...probably pass it to my grandson if he's interested.

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, 97304 - Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 21:29:01 (ZULU)

Steve,

Thanks for the reduced .30-30 loads. Do you have any data on them? Are they any good for coyotes or larger, or small game/plinking only?

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 02:58:28 (ZULU)

Click for a laugh. Work safe.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 03:09:19 (ZULU)

re: .30-30

I've made reduced .30-30 loads too. M1 carbine duplication, 110g projectile at around 2000 ft/sec. Soft recoil in a W94.

I use the 110g SP bulk projectile made by Winchester. The SP will deform enough that it is safe to use in a tubular magazine.

I'e also loaded 110g HP's. Performance on small game would be same as M1 carbine loading.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 03:38:24 (ZULU)

I'm not overly familiar with the .30 carbine loading. I've only played with other folks' carbines at the range.

Travis Morgan
Wichita , Ks., U.S.A. - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 03:53:40 (ZULU)

Insomniacs may want to click my name for a Chris Hitchens interview at the Hoover Institute at Stanford. The subject is the Iraq war.

CDC'
Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 08:57:16 (ZULU)

Travis,Like Rod said it duplicates the 30 cal carbine load.

You've fired the carbine so you know what it's recoil is like.

The 10 grains of Unique or Blue Dot under the same weight bullet

in the 30-30 will give about the same recoil in the Winny 94.

Probably less.

I,ve used many of these for plinking or lettin a youngin have

some hi-power fun.

Theirs no centerfire rifle hunting allowed in New Joisey except

for Varmints so I can't say how they would work on Game.

Just be very careful not to double charge the cases.

A marked dowel helps check for that before seating the projectiles.

Have fun & be safe.

Regards,

Joisey Steve

Steven Dzupin
Ridgewood, New Joisey, Usa - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 12:22:22 (ZULU)

Greetings,

With the price of bulk ammo skyrocketing, I am going to start reloading 5.56. I will be shooting them out of slow twist ARs, 55 grain FMJ.

Anybody have any pet loads out there? Also, having never reloaded for an AR platform, what about trimming the brass? I am not reloading for match accuracy, simply service ball.

For the short term, I will be using a single stage. Whether a Dillion 550 is in my future, Time will tell.

Also, for those of you reloading military brass, What are you using to decrimp the primer pocket? Dillion Super Swage?

Any help is appreciated.

Pat II
Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 18:23:05 (ZULU)

Gota love those "Beta-Mags"!

The M-60 Gunner's not too bad either. LOL

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/877795/sexy_girls_shooting_guns/

Regards,

Joisey Steve

Steven Dzupin
Ridgewood, New Joisey, Usa - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 19:43:34 (ZULU)

re: M193 dupl loading

Rem bulk 55g FMJ are a better projectile (accuracy, consistency) than the Win 55g FMJ bulk.

I use the Dillon Super Swage 600 to deal w/crimp primer pockets.

H335 works fine. W748, Varget and IMR4895 are also good choices.

If you want a better bulk projectile, the Rem 55g PLHP is very accurate.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 21:42:05 (ZULU)

video - 155 shell 1, 5 friendly militia impromptu EOD techs 0 :-(

http://www.liveleak.com/player2.swf?token=18f_1201000704 (or click my name)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, March 3, 2008, at 03:03:56 (ZULU)

Click for deals on used AR's and others. $570 for a truck gun ain't bad. I was thinking of getting an AR just to piss people off, anyway.

They also have HK/Benelli Top Folding M3 Super 90 LE trade ins for $899. Is that a good price?

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Monday, March 3, 2008, at 03:10:53 (ZULU)

Rod,

"Now, I'm only gonna show you this once!"

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Monday, March 3, 2008, at 04:51:39 (ZULU)

I've always used IMR 4198 in my ball duplication loads. When I was churning them out, that was the cheapest powder I found. Accurate too.

WR Moore
Monday, March 3, 2008, at 07:12:34 (ZULU)

Dumbass of the day. Click.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks. , U.S.A. - Monday, March 3, 2008, at 07:59:30 (ZULU)

Need to do quick maintenance - you guys may be unable to post for a couple of minutes. Please bear with me. And if afterwards you cannot post, please contact me and let me know.

Marius

Marius
Monday, March 3, 2008, at 19:00:38 (ZULU)

Test

Marius
Monday, March 3, 2008, at 19:14:49 (ZULU)

Test

Sarge
Southern Area 51, NM, USA - Monday, March 3, 2008, at 20:03:54 (ZULU)

Test

;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, ta' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 02:12:07 (ZULU)

Test/Exam. :)

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 02:41:31 (ZULU)

Test

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 02:54:00 (ZULU)

Test????

Awww, crap! I forgot to study.....

Joe M
Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 03:05:51 (ZULU)

Test? I don't need no steenkin' test!

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The rainy Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 03:49:53 (ZULU)

Don't go gettin' testy on us.

jc
Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 05:40:09 (ZULU)

Test, Test

Steve Racer
somewhere in Dillsburg, PA, - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 06:15:12 (ZULU)

Does this mean we are all 'testees'?

Interview for director position this afternoon.......wish the Boltster luck. I'm facing a deck probably stacked with diplomas but I am the bastard son of adversity.

Bolt out!

Bolt
Nasty weather on the way to........, NC, - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 10:19:33 (ZULU)

BoltsterDudeski...

>"Interview for director position this afternoon..."<

Does that mean you have to take a test???

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 11:01:29 (ZULU)

Can anyone out there help me out a poser, or point me in the right direction?

She's about 40 to 45-ish, says she was in the marines.

Name is Jacquelyn Conlon. Says she can't find her DD214.

The bitch was my rug rat's lawyer, and sold him down the river.

Aside from being a piece of shit that sells out kids for a living, she is a whiny, wimpy POS, and I can't see her ever going to Girl Scout Camp, much less the Marine Corps.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 11:31:41 (ZULU)

'lito san,

Is this her?

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Conlon_Jacquelyn_25293011.aspx

Say she was 'counsel to' (but not IN) the Marines...

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 14:26:30 (ZULU)

Thanks Sharon...

Yeah, that's "Da bitch".

She sure sank a long way down the ladder - she doesn't do any of that stuff any more.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 21:04:12 (ZULU)

I don't know, she looks like she was in "military intelligence" in the Marine Corps, if military and intelligence can go together in this case...... :)

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 02:14:46 (ZULU)

Sounds like she's the asshole they were always looking for to give shoot/don't shoot advice on ROE's when they started hanging marines for shooting people IN A BTTLE ZONE.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 04:19:48 (ZULU)

"Prior to attending law school, she worked as a military analyst with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for eight years specializing in surface and amphibious warfare. "

Doesn't say anything about "Intelligence". Just says she was a military analyst, not a military Intelligence analyst.

Ask her what her MOS was. Not the description, but the designator.

jc
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 05:37:30 (ZULU)

What JC said- notice the blurb says "Worked with...." if she was in, would read something like: "While serving.....". She could have been a Kelly Girl for whoever may have been assisting with statistical analysis.

The MOS designator generally trips up most Corps posers, also ask for recruit class and where boot camp was.

WR Moore
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 10:24:42 (ZULU)

Thanks guys...

I can't ask her any more questions... lets say we're not on speaking terms anymore. ;))))

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 12:53:50 (ZULU)

test

Keith
Northcentral, WV, U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 16:42:24 (ZULU)

Lito,

Says she's a member of "Moot Court Honor Society". When is "Moot" season up there?

Duman
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 22:44:13 (ZULU)

Need some starting loads for an 18" barrel 308 DPMS gas gun....... I've got 4064, 4895, RL15 and Vargay. I've got 155, 168 and 175 SMK's, Win brass, BR2 and 210M primers. Help a brother out.......I hates wasting time and money fiddling around with dozens of loads. I got decent groups with BH175's and M118 Special Ball but me thinks it will do betterer with some reloads.

I'm now a prime example that no matter how much experience a person has they will probably loose out to graduate degrees. More to come......probably.

Bolt, out!

Bolt
Survived the storms in ......., NC, - Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 01:24:33 (ZULU)

Bolt,

A load that works really well for me, with both the 168's and 175's is 44.0 gr Varget, whatever commercial brass (not GI) you want to load it in, with Fed 210GM primers. Edited to add: OAL 2.80 inches.Haven't shot this load out of a AR, but have shot it out of ALOT of M1A's!

Maybe Bravo is lurking and can chime in on this too.

Bobby Whittington
Grandfield, OK, USA - Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 21:21:26 (ZULU)

Bolt,

Trie 46.0 grains of RL-15 behind the 175's. Might have to back that down a little in the summer, but it is a very good load.

Good shootin'

jc
Friday, March 7, 2008, at 05:30:15 (ZULU)

apparently CNN doesn't consider this newsworthy.

Guess it conflicts with their agenda:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961703.html

Jerusalem yeshiva student: I shot the terrorist twice in the head

By News Agencies

Tags: Jerusalem, terror

A student at the Jerusalem yeshiva where eight people were killed in a terrorist attack Thursday evening shot the gunman who opened fire inside the religious school's crowded library, neutralizing him before a soldier killed him with an automatic rifle.

Yitzhak Dadon said he climbed onto the roof of a nearby building, armed with a rifle, and waited for the gunman to emerge.

"He came out of the library spraying automatic fire ... the terrorist came to the entrance and I shot him twice in the head," he said.

(continued)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Friday, March 7, 2008, at 22:42:05 (ZULU)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080307/ap_on_re_us/combat_hearing_loss

AP IMPACT: US troops losing hearing

SAN DIEGO - Soldiers and Marines caught in roadside bombings and firefights in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home in epidemic numbers with permanent hearing loss and ringing in their ears, prompting the military to redouble its efforts to protect the troops from noise.

Hearing damage is the No. 1 disability in the war on terror, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and some experts say the true toll could take decades to become clear. Nearly 70,000 of the more than 1.3 million troops who have served in the two war zones are collecting disability for tinnitus, a potentially debilitating ringing in the ears, and more than 58,000 are on disability for hearing loss, the VA said.

(continued)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Friday, March 7, 2008, at 22:58:24 (ZULU)

Whaaaaa?

Speak up, Rod, I can't hear a word yer sayin'!

So, does this mean that the ringing noise isn't my TV? And my TV hasn't been following me around everywhere I go with that noise?

Joe M
Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 05:16:13 (ZULU)

I actually know how to spell the word 'try'. I don't have any idea where my head was when I typed 'trie', and I really do know better, but the system WILL NOT let me edit that post.

Well, anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

jc - looking for an online remedial spelling course.

jc
Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 05:16:16 (ZULU)

Huh, what?

Good grief I'm debilitated and didn't know it. I flunked my draft physical way back in the previous century because of tinnitus and a hearing loss induced by gunfire. We didn't have ear protection in those days. Stayed away from shooting for two years and regained enough of my hearing to join the Navy. Five years of flying and guess what? Yep. A high frequency hearing loss from airplane noise! Sure saves you money when you buy stereo speakers. ;o)

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The sunny Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 13:27:33 (ZULU)

hearing protection:

I was fascinated by a small sub-plot in one of W.E.B. Griffin's books set during the early days before and during the United State's entry into WWII. One of the characters knew a military rifle competitor, who gave him one of the latest pieces of competition gear - (proper) ear plugs! This helped him to shoot great range scores with the new service rifle - an early match conditioned M1 Garand.

Stuff we now take for granted didn't always exist.

A shooting buddy who served with the Cdn Navy and retired told me about his personal experience with such issues. They had a range qual session in the 1960's where they fired the issue FN C1 (FAL) without any issue hearing protection. He indicated that his ears rang for several days afterwards. I strongly suspect he sustained permanent hearing damage just from that experience alone.

I would speculate that low clearance active earmuffs attached to helmets or active earplugs will eventually become standard issue kit for all deployed US service personnel. Still not perfect protection, but then neither is body armor. (But an improvement on what came before).

As mentioned in the article I referenced earlier:

"The Navy and Marines have begun buying and distributing state-of-the-art earplugs, known as QuietPro, that contain digital processors that block out damaging sound waves from gunshots and explosions and still allow users to hear everyday noises. They cost about $600 a pair."

This is it:

http://www.defense-update.com/products/q/quietpro.htm

QuietPro Combat Headset

Integrated Intra Squad Radio (IISR)

Hearing Protection Headset (IISR-HPH)

The Norwegian company NACRE introduced a new combat headset system combining hearing protection, Voice Activation radio Transmission (VOX) and programmable control for tactical radio sets.

The system called QuietPro has already been integrated with the Marine Corps' personnel radio communicators and Special Operations' PRC-148 MBITR radio systems and the German Bundeswehr iDZ soldier modernization program.

According to NACRE, over 24,000 units have already been ordered. The system uses a digital signal processor to facilitate automatic, adaptive digital hearing protection by passive and active noise reduction. Using both passive and active means, QuietPro's can achieve 34-42 dB attenuation (depending in frequency).

By attenuating ambient noises and canceling excessive acoustic peaks and impulses, resulting from nearby running engine, explosions and gun shots, QuietPro helps protecting the soldier's hearing.An in-ear microphone and loudspeaker support simultaneous operation on two radio networks while an adaptive, digital talk-through and directional hearing facilitates a 'bionic ear', capable of localizing sounds and maximizing hearing sensitivity at specific directions.

In September 2007 Nacre AS was awarded a $27 million firm-fixed-price commercial contract by the Marine Corps System Command to supply the Quietpro Integrated Intra Squad Radio (IISR) Hearing Protection Headset (IISR-HPH).

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 14:56:24 (ZULU)

On Active Noise Reduction (ANR), it works. It REALLY works. With flying small prop planes there is a choice for pilots between standard muffs and ANR headsets. There is absolutely no comparison. Aviation radio is AM. With standard muffs the AM radio sounds like an AM radio. With ANR headsets, the sound is more like FM and engine noise is reduced to a usable level. My ears don't ring with ANR headsets. Regular headsets also add to fatigue.

Hank
Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 02:32:30 (ZULU)

The ANR headsets kick butt! I'm one of the few cropdusters that doesn't wear a helmet when working. But, I've always had to wear a headset at least, to talk to my ground crew on our private channel. I've always worn a walkman, or now MP3 players, underneath the headset and had to have them set on high to be able to hear the music good over the engine/wind noise that came past the headset. This year I broke down and bought a $1200 ANR headset and it is just amazing, not to mention I can hook the MP3 player up and have it play through the headset instead of putting the little speakers in my ears. Previously I had to customize the MP3 headset to get it to fit under the earcuff, which also caused discomfort untill I had been using it for a week or so and got used to it. Now I keep the MP3 player turned a quarter up and hear it fine and it also mutes when the ground crew talks to me. I've had "crickets in my ears", redneck for tinnitus, for years from shooting as a kid, and not knowing better. Then the years of flying 600hp unmuffleld radial engines. The damage done isn't reversible, but the new ANR headset will sure slow down the progression. I've already lost 50% in my right and 65% in my left. Do you guys notice more loss in your left ear from having it forward when shooting? After we get an air conditioner in one of the planes I'll start wearing helmets again, and the ANR type I want will probably run 2K but I won't bat an eye at it after using the ANR headset this summer.

How's everyone been? I hope well, I haven't checked the logs yet. I've been too busy working on the planes to check in in about a month and we've sold 1 so I've got a 8 ferry flight to FLA next week in a Cessna AG Wagon. God won't that be fun. At least it's all expenses paid, plus pilot pay. I told the guy $800, then he told me he wanted me to give his son some lessons, and I told him that was per day, so he said ok 3 days plus expenses. I would have done it for free just to get to FLA for a day, but money comes in handy when your last pay check was last fall.

Jeff Cooper
Gadsden, TN, - Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 08:00:20 (ZULU)

Jeff...

What kind of ANR headset did you get.

I have a 15' Airboat with a Lycoming 320, and expect to get it in the water sometime this summer (if I can find the money for an A&P do put in a new camshaft).

I'll need a headset and want one that I can play a Marine band radio, or music through.

... and I get whistling in both ears - just about the same level, but haven't lost any hearing except a 15db dip at 6,000 Kcs in both.

The audiologist asked "Are you a shooter?"

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 14:02:29 (ZULU)

you're welcome for the ANR thread starter :-)

Marine Band Radio - ok, he means a utility channel, not a music channel. Had me going for a moment...

http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 17:06:09 (ZULU)

After living the last two years in Cincinnati, Ohio because of work...I finally got to move back to Oregon. I'm sooooo much happier! Everything back there is so regulated and the people truly are sheep. The city even made me surrender my FFL to the ATF...no firearms sales allowed within the city limits. So now I am in the process of reapplying. (I even met an ATF agent who was nice enough to write me a reference letter for my new FFL application.) Anyway, I didn't make it to the Shot Show but there was a fun link going around work in the email. Did all of you already discuss the "toys" at Magpul? My apologies if this is old hat...

Gerry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99NHb6B03s

Gerry
Newberg, OR, USA - Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 18:42:39 (ZULU)

rod...

>"Marine Band Radio - ok, he means a utility channel, not a music channel. Had me going for a moment..."<

No dummy ;)

Marine like "oceans", "boats", "Coast Guard", all that stuff.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, March 9, 2008, at 21:56:37 (ZULU)

'Lito, that there radio your talking about, is that the one where you hold it up to your ear, and you can hear the ocean? :}

Looking forward to the snow getting gone, so's we can go sight 'em in!

Sean T.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Monday, March 10, 2008, at 00:50:52 (ZULU)

old news, but a good story:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-01-14-Rangers_N.htm

Gunfights, insurgents, multiple tactical air missions, heroism...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, March 10, 2008, at 01:02:39 (ZULU)

heads up for you LEO's

(copied from Michael Bane's blog)

Interesting Take on Low-Light Shootings!

http://www.forcesciencenews.com/home/index.html

Fascinating Stuff from the Force Science Research Center at Minnesota State University on point-of-aim in low light encounters, specifically the "Triangle of Death" visible white t-shirts on police officers:

The rumor bouncing around various law enforcement listservs piqued Cmdr. Michael Richards' curiosity.

Street gangs in California, the story went, were training members to shoot cops at night by aiming for the highly visible patch of white T-shirt exposed above the top of many officers' vests. "The Triangle of Death," posters to the listservs called it.

Whether the rumor was fact or fiction, Richards wondered: Just how dangerous is this so-called Triangle of Death for LEOs?

He set up a little experiment that he says shocked him.

On the indoor range of his department, Mundelein (IL) PD, an agency of 50 sworn in a suburb northwest of Chicago, he positioned a 6 ft.-tall mannequin target, buttoned a blue uniform shirt on it, and slipped a sheet of white, legal-sized paper behind the shirt so that just enough was exposed at the top to simulate a bit of T-shirt.

He then dimmed the lighting to resemble "what you'd find in an older residential neighborhood, with some streetlamps and a lot of heavy trees," he told Force Science News. "You could make out the target, but you had to strain to really see what was going on." In other words, a lot like normal nighttime patrol conditions in many areas. From the control booth, Richards says, "the contrast between the patch of white paper and the dark shirt was really obvious."

One at a time, he brought in a series of randomly selected officers he knew, as the department's rangemaster, to be "average" shooters. "They typically qualify with low numbers, don't necessarily like to shoot and go to the range only because they have to," he explained. "I figured they'd be like the typical suspect who gets into a shooting with an officer-not overly proficient with a handgun. I didn't want any of the top shooters involved."

Explaining only that this was a "quick course in low-light shooting" so as not to tip off the true point of the test, Richards led each officer to a spot about 10 feet in front of the target. He told each to draw at the sound of a timer buzzer, step to the left or to the right, come up on target, fire 3 rounds as fast as possible, then scan the area. By incorporating movement, scanning and time pressure, "I wanted to distract them from thinking too much about the target."

Each officer fired a total of 18 rounds (6 sets of 3 shots apiece), using his duty pistol (either a .40-cal. Glock or a Sig). After an officer finished, the "T-shirt" was changed before the next test subject was brought in.

"The shot placement was shocking" when he analyzed the results, Richards says. "On our department we train to shoot center mass, usually using flat, 2-dimensional targets on a fully lit range. In training, our shots consistently tend to go to the center. If officers are shooting at high speed, their rounds may drop down toward the stomach, but they don't often go higher."

In his low-light experiment, by contrast, more than 80% of the shots across all the officers and all sets of fire hit in or immediately around the Triangle of Death simulated by the peek of white paper. In other words, Richards concluded, in low light they overrode their training and focused their shots on what was most vividly visible. All the officers confirmed in a post-shooting debrief that the patch of white had drawn their aim.

"Absolutely right," says Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the Force Science Research Center at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Although Richards' sample was limited (only 6 officers) and his methods admittedly not scientifically pristine, the thrust of his experiment and his thinking are right on track, Lewinski maintains.

"Our research on attention shows that when people are trying to understand what is happening in a stressful, uncertain situation, they scan the scene quickly and grasp little bits of available information," he explains. "This process is automatic, almost instinctive. For the most part, their attention is attracted to something first and then shortly after that they recognize why it caught their attention.

[...]

So far as the Triangle of Death is concerned, "Don't equate looking professional with wearing a crisp white T-shirt under your uniform," Avery cautions. "Dress for your mission: that's the dress code for the modern officer."

Cmdr. Richards now urges all his officers to wear dark T-shirts on duty. He and all the department's firearms instructors do so, as a show of "leadership by example." Most patrol officers have followed suit. A few officers still wear white, unmindful of what Avery calls "a no-brainer."

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, March 10, 2008, at 02:26:52 (ZULU)

Sean T...

>" 'Lito, that there radio your talking about, is that the one where you hold it up to your ear, and you can hear the ocean? :}"<

That's the one.

If you wait and use it on a night with a full moon, you can hear the radio stations from Venus ;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Monday, March 10, 2008, at 14:14:05 (ZULU)

Lito,

Ref: LED Lights. Check this out...

http://www.electronicproducts.com/ShowPage.asp?FileName=hlrc04.apr2008.html

Duman
Monday, March 10, 2008, at 16:39:33 (ZULU)

Rod - Good post, it is interesting what the human mind does under stress. We try to get our guys used to not tunneling out when stressed and seeing the whole not one bit. You would be surprised how many "Trained Observers" will tunnel in on a far target that appears first and try to engage it even when a very near, less then 100 meters, targets appears shortly after. All you can do is make people aware and hope they follow through.

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 00:42:19 (ZULU)

humor

Shrine of the Mall Ninja :-)

http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

QOTD:

‘If Plan A is to take multiple .338 shots to the back, you really need to come up with a Plan B.”

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 01:49:02 (ZULU)

In response to Rick's comments on target fixation:

This is one of the range techniques taught to try and avoid target fixation and letting your guard down after engaging the obvious threat. After completing a range target engagement sequence, shooter reloads, holds at a low ready and scans left and right before reholstering. (Or something like that).

(For other readers - Rick is likely already familiar with this material :-)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 01:57:57 (ZULU)

Well, it's six in the morning here in Kabul. I was awakened by the soothing strains of morning call to prayer, being screetched out by someone who was imitating a goat being strangled.

Haven't seen too much of the place yet, but I'll send more after I get my bearings. So far, no major problems, but jeez, that was a long time in the air. Dubai was different. I've never seen and indoor ski slope, complete with lifts and a sled run. There's a lot of loose money in this world, and a bunch of it seems to have rolled into Dubai.

Flying into Kabul was a hoot. Standing in the airport in Kabul, it reminded me of the bar scene in Mose Isley, the original Star Wars movie. Afghani ideas of personal space and propriety are going to take a LOT of getting used to. Hygeine, as well. So far, though, no complaints, starting Idoc this morning, with weapons zero and some other stuff to take care of. Probably won't go to my first team for abut five or six days. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 02:29:26 (ZULU)

Guys,

I'm going in for a Diskogram this Thursday. Any of you had one? How painful is it? What's realistic for recovery time?

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 08:13:45 (ZULU)

Charles S. Hunt: Keep us posted. Be cautious.

CDC'
Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 10:02:12 (ZULU)

I'll be damned. Click.

Travis Morgan
Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 11:53:01 (ZULU)

Subject: Denmark learned the hard way

Denmark learned the hard way...........A must read lesson of lax immigration law!

Some nations have enough guts to do the right thing. We will have to do it sooner or later or perish.

Salute the Danish Flag - it's a Symbol of Western Freedom

By Susan MacAllen

In 1978-79 I was living and studying in Denmark . But in 1978 - even in Copenhagen , one didn't see Muslim immigrants. The Danish population embraced visitors, celebrated the exotic, went out of its way to protect each of its citizens. It was proud of its new brand of socialist liberalism one in development since the conservatives had lost power in 1929 - a system where no worker had to struggle to survive, where one ultimately could count upon the state as in, perhaps, no other western nation at the time.

The rest of Europe saw the Scandinavians as free-thinking, progressive and infinitely generous in their welfare policies. Denmark boasted low crime rates, devotion to the

environment, a superior educational system and a history of humanitarianism.

Denmark was also most generous in its immigration policies - it offered the best welcome in Europe to the new immigrant generous welfare payments from first arrival

plus additional perks in transportation, housing and education. It was determined to set a world example for inclusiveness and multiculturalism.

How could it have predicted that one day in 2005 a series of political cartoons in a newspaper would spark violence that would leave dozens dead in the streets - all because its commitment to multiculturalism would come back to bite?

By the 1990's the growing urban Muslim population was obvious - and its unwillingness to integrate into Danish society was obvious.

Years of immigrants had settled into Muslim-exclusive enclaves. As the Muslim leadership became more vocal about what they considered the decadence of Denmark 's liberal way of life, the Danes - once so welcoming - began to feel slighted. Many Danes had begun to see Islam as incompatible with their long-standing values belief in

personal liberty and f ree speech, in equality for women, in tolerance for other ethnic groups, and a deep pride in Danish heritage and history.

The New York Post in 2002 ran an article by Daniel Pipes and Lars Hedegaard, in which they forecasted accurately that the growing immigrant problem in Denmark would explode.

In the article they reported:

'Muslim immigrants constitute 5 percent of the population but consume upwards of 40 percent of the welfare spending.' 'Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser, disproportions are found in other crimes.'

'Over time, as Muslim immigrants increase in numbers, they wish less to mix with the indigenous population. A recent survey finds that only 5 percent of young Muslim immigrants would readily marry a Dane.' 'Forced marriages - promising a newborn daughter in Denmark to a male cousin in the home country, then compelling her to marry him, sometimes on pain of death - are one problem'

'Muslim leaders openly declare their goal of introducing Islamic law once Denmark 's Muslim population grows large enough - a not-that-remote prospect. If present trends persist, one sociologist estimates, every third inhabitant of Denmark in 40 yea rs will be Muslim.'

It is easy to understand why a growing number of Danes would feel that Muslim immigrants show little respect for Danish values and laws. An example is the phenomenon common to other European countries and the U.S. some Muslims in Denmark who opted to leave the Muslim faith have been murdered in the name

of Islam, while others hide in fear for their lives. Jews are also threatened and harassed openly by Muslim leaders in Denmark , a country where once Christian citizens worked to smuggle out nearly all of their 7,000 Jews by night to Sweden - before the Nazis could invade. I think of my Danish friend Elsa - who as a teenager had dreaded

crossing the street to the bakery every morni ng under the eyes of occupying Nazi soldiers - and I wonder what she would say today.

In 2001, Denmark elected the most conservative government in some 70 years - one that had some decidedly non-generous ideas about liberal unfettered immigration.

Today Denmark has the strictest immigration policies in Europe . (Its effort to protect itself has been met with accusations of 'racism' by liberal media across Europe -

even as other governments struggle to right the social problems wrought by years of too-lax immigration.)

If you wish to become Danish, you must attend three years of language classes. You must pass a test on Denmark 's history, culture, and a Danish language test.

Yo u must live in Denmark for 7 years before applying for citizenship. You must demonstrate an intent to work, and have a job waiting. If you wish to bring a spouse into Denmark , you must both be over 24 years of age, and you won't find it so easy anymore to move your friends and family to Denmark with you.

You will not be allowed to build a mosque in Copenhagen . Although your children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools in Denmark , they will

be strongly encouraged to assimilate to Danish society in ways that past immigrants weren't.

In 2006, the Danish minister for employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, spoke publicly of the burden of Muslim immigrants on the Danish welfare system, and it was

horrifying: the government's welfare committee had calculated that if immigration from Third World countries were blocked, 75 percent of the cuts needed to sustain the

huge welfare system in coming decades would be unnecessary. In other words, the welfare system as it existed was being exploited by immigrants to the point of

eventually bankrupting the government. 'We are simply forced to adopt a new policy on immigration.’

The calculations of the welfare committee are terrifying and show how unsuccessful the integration of immigrants has been up to now,' he said.

A large thorn in the side of Denmark 's imams is the Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshoj. She makes no bones about the new policy toward immigration, 'The n umber of foreigners coming to the country makes a difference,' Hvilshøj says, 'There is an inverse correlation between how many come here and how well we can receive the foreigners that come.' And on Muslim immigrants needing to demonstrate a willingness to blend in, 'In my view, Denmark should be a country with room for different cultures and religions. Some values, however, are more important than others. We refuse to question democracy, equal rights, and freedom of speech.'

Hvilshoj has paid a price for her show of backbone. Perhaps to test her resolve, the leading radical imam in Denmark , Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, demanded that the government pay blood money to the family of a Muslim who was murdered in a suburb of Copenhagen , stating that the family's thirst for revenge could be thwarted

for money. When Hvilshoj dismissed his demand, he argued that in Muslim culture the payment of retribution money was common, to which Hvilshoj replied that what is done in a Muslim country is not necessarily what is done in Denmark. The Muslim reply came soon after: her house was torched while she, her husband and children slept. All managed to escape unharmed, but she and her family were moved to a secret location and she and other ministers were assigned bodyguards for the first time - in a country where such murderous violence was once so scarce.

Her government has slid to the right, and her borders have tightened. Many believe that what happens in the next decade will determine whether Denmark survives as a bastion of good living, humane thinking and social responsibility, or whether it becomes a nation at civil war with supporters of Sharia law.

And meanwhile, Americans clamor for stricter immigration policies, and demand an end to state welfare programs that allow many immigrants to live on the public dole. As we in America look at the enclaves of Muslims amongst us, and see those who enter our shores too easily, dare live on our taxes, yet refuse to embrace our culture, respect our traditions, participate in our legal system, obey our laws, speak our language, appreciate our history . . we would do well to look to Denmark , and say a prayer for her future and for our own..

If you agree with this article, then please pass it on....

(Susan MacAllen is a contributing editor for FamilySecurityMatters.org)

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 12:06:48 (ZULU)

Travis:

If you're going to post a copy of an article from another source, please include the URL. That would allow others to easily pass it on with the source detail included (which adds to the credability of the original for 3rd party readers). Otherwise we'll have to hunt down the URL, which can be easy or hard depending on how obscure the original article is and the WWW search skills of the hunter.

Thanks

Salute the Danish Flag - it's a Symbol of Western Freedom

By Susan MacAllen

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/index.php?id=1172085

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 16:45:37 (ZULU)

http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news38.htm

NORTH AMERICAN MILITARY AGREEMENT SIGNED BY US AND CANADA

By Jim Kouri

Posted 1:00 AM Eastern

March 11, 2008

NewsWithViews.com

While Americans are being bombarded with large doses of presidential primary news coverage, the US entered into an agreement with its northern neighbor that may have an impact on future internal military action.

In a political move that received little if any attention by the American news media, the United States and Canada entered into a military agreement on February 14, 2008, allowing the armed forces from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a domestic civil emergency, even one that does not involve a cross-border crisis, according to a police commander involved in homeland security planning and implementation.

It is an initiative of the Bi-National Planning Group whose final report, issued in June 2006, called for the creation of a "Comprehensive Defense and Security Agreement," or a "continental approach" to Canada-US defense and security.

The law enforcement executive told Newswithviews.com that the agreement -- defined as a Civil Assistance Plan -- was not submitted to Congress for debate and approval, nor did Congress pass any law or treaty specifically authorizing this military agreement to combine the operations of the armed forces of the United States and Canada in the event of domestic civil disturbances ranging from violent storms, to health epidemics, to civil riots or terrorist attacks.

"This is a military plan that's designed to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act that traditionally prohibited the US military from operating within the borders of the United States. Not only will American soldiers be deployed at the discretion of whomever is sitting in the Oval Office, but foreign soldiers will also be deployed in American cities," warns Lt. Steven Rodgers, commander of the Nutley, NJ Police Department's detective bureau.

In Canada the agreement paving the way for the militaries of the US and Canada to cross each other's borders to fight domestic emergencies was not announced either by Prime Minister Harper's administration or the Canadian military. The agreement met with protests and demonstrations by Canadians opposed to such treaties with the US.

"It's kind of a trend when it comes to issues of Canada-US relations and contentious issues like military integration," claims Stuart Trew, a researcher with the Council of Canadians.

"We see that this government is reluctant to disclose information to Canadians that is readily available on American and Mexican websites," he said in a press statement.

The military Civil Assistance Plan is seen by critics as a further incremental step toward creating a North American armed forces available to be deployed in domestic North American emergency situations. According to the NORTHCOM press release, the plan "allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency."

The agreement was signed at US Army North headquarters, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, by US Air Force General Gene Renuart, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, or USNORTHCOM, and by Canadian Air Force Lt. General Marc Dumais, commander of Canada Command.

"This document is a unique, bilateral military plan to align our respective national military plans to respond quickly to the other nation's requests for military support of civil authorities," Renuart said in a statement published on the USNORTHCOM website.

Lt. Gen. Dumais seconded Renuart's sentiments, stating, "The signing of this plan is an important symbol of the already strong working relationship between Canada Command and U.S. Northern Command."

"Our commands were created by our respective governments to respond to the defense and security challenges of the twenty-first century," he stressed, "and we both realize that these and other challenges are best met through cooperation between friends."

"It's hard to believe that Americans and Canadians will go along with this agreement," opines conservative strategist Michael Baker.

"That's why [there's] all this secrecy. Has anyone heard Clinton, Obama or McCain complain about this significant policy shift? All three of these presidential hopefuls are in the US Senate, yet not a peep from them about a foreign army being called to 'police' US neighborhoods under the guise of an 'emergency,'" he said.

The statement on the USNORTHCOM website emphasized that the plan recognizes the role of each nation's lead federal agency for emergency preparedness, which in the United States is the Department of Homeland Security and in Canada is Public Safety Canada.

The US Northern Command was established on October 1, 2002, as a military command tasked with anticipating and conducting homeland defense and civil support operations where US armed forces are used in domestic emergencies.

Meanwhile, the Canada Command was established on February 1, 2006, to focus on domestic operations and offer a single point of contact for all domestic and continental defense and securities partners.

In May 2007, President Bush took it upon himself to sign the National Security Presidential Directive 51 which is also known as Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20, authorizing the president to declare a national emergency and take over all functions of federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, without necessarily obtaining the approval of Congress to do so.

While Americans are being kept in the dark about this treaty, Canadian citizens are being totally ignored by their government. The extent of military integration called for by the BNP is unprecedented and has received absolutely no public debate in the House of Commons. If they wish to read about the details of this military agreement, Canadians must go to the Northern Command website to see any evidence of the new agreement.

"Once the Canadian people discover they can be [legally invaded] by US troops, they will take to the streets and protest and use the very effective weapon of civil disobedience. Canadians will not stand for occupation by a foreign army same as Americans won't," said conservative columnist and commentator Rachel Marsden.

"I'm surprised that the Canadian people haven't already displayed their opposition to such a treaty. Economics is one thing, but military use of force is quite another. We have our own police, security and military forces, thank you. We don't been Americans coming into Canada with weapons," she said. "And Americans don't need Canadian soldiers.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 02:31:12 (ZULU)

Click. Man loses thumb to cylinder gap on his .460. I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 12:07:13 (ZULU)

Some people's kids.........

Sheriff: Woman Sat on Toilet for 2 Years

By ROXANA HEGEMAN, AP

WICHITA, Kan.  Authorities are considering charges in the bizarre case of a woman who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for two years  so long that her body was stuck to the seat by the time the boyfriend finally called police.

Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple said it appeared the 35-year-old Ness City woman's skin had grown around the seat. She initially refused emergency medical services but was finally convinced by responders and her boyfriend that she needed to be checked out at a hospital.

"We pried the toilet seat off with a pry bar and the seat went with her to the hospital," Whipple said. "The hospital removed it."

Whipple said investigators planned to present their report Wednesday to the county attorney, who will determine whether any charges should be filed against the woman's 36-year-old boyfriend.

"She was not glued. She was not tied. She was just physically stuck by her body," Whipple said. "It is hard to imagine. ... I still have a hard time imagining it myself."

He told investigators he brought his girlfriend food and water, and asked her every day to come out of the bathroom.

"And her reply would be, `Maybe tomorrow,'" Whipple said. "According to him, she did not want to leave the bathroom."

The boyfriend called police on Feb. 27 to report that "there was something wrong with his girlfriend," Whipple said, adding that he never explained why it took him two years to call.

Police found the clothed woman sitting on the toilet, her sweat pants down to her mid-thigh. She was "somewhat disoriented," and her legs looked like they had atrophied, Whipple said.

"She said that she didn't need any help, that she was OK and did not want to leave," he said.

She was reported in fair condition at a hospital in Wichita, about 150 miles southeast of Ness City. Whipple said she has refused to cooperate with medical providers or law enforcement investigators.

Authorities said they did not know if she was mentally or physically disabled.

Police have declined to release the couple's names, but the house where authorities say the incident happened is listed in public records as the residence of Kory McFarren. No one answered his home phone number.

The case has been the buzz of Ness City, said James Ellis, a neighbor.

"I don't think anybody can make any sense out of it," he said.

Ellis said he had known the woman since she was a child but that he had not seen her for at least six years.

He said she had a tough childhood after her mother died at a young age and apparently was usually kept inside the house as she grew up. At one time the woman worked for a long-term care facility, he said, but he did not know what kind of work she did there.

"It really doesn't surprise me," Ellis said. "What surprises me is somebody wasn't called in a bit earlier."

__________________________________________________

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 03:01:16 (ZULU)

The Talibani

A fleeing Talibani, desperate for water, was plodding through the

Afghanistan desert when he saw something far off in the distance.

Hoping to find water, he hurried toward the object, only to find a

little old Jewish man at a small stand selling ties.

The Talibani asked, "Do you have water?" The Jewish man replied, "I have

no water. Would you like to buy a tie? They are only $5."

"Idiot!" The Talibani shouted, " I do not need an overpriced tie. I need

water! I should kill you, but I must find water first."

"OK," said the old Jewish man, "it does not matter that you do not want

to buy a tie and that you hate me. I will show you that I am bigger than

that.

If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will

find a lovely restaurant. It has all the ice cold water you need.

Shalom."

Muttering, the Talibani staggered away over the hill.............................................. .................

Several hours later he staggered back. "Your fucking brother won't let me in without a tie."

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 04:58:29 (ZULU)

Click. You might be a gun nut..........

Really good one.

Travis Morgan
Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 07:26:03 (ZULU)

Border patrol game. Click.

Travis Morgan
Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 11:45:55 (ZULU)

Ran my first convoy today. I guess someone decided to break me in right. Just after we left the compound, someone popped a VBIED right after we hit Jalalabad Rd, just behind us. Big one. This is going to be an interesting year.....hoo boy. Gonna make another one, tomorrow. Fortunately, the Allah Akhbar loonies seem to like the U.N. and ISAF convoys, and don't really pay attention to the private side guys. No press coverage.

I like the M240. Never fired one until today. Kool.

I have now been to the moon. This place is worse than Mogadishu. Like I said, this oughta be fun......

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 14:02:45 (ZULU)

Charles:

Stay safe on the moon. We're rooting for you!

Take some pictures when you can, those who haven't been there

will get a better understanding...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 16:22:07 (ZULU)

Charles, ain't it wild how they build mud shacks right up the hillsides? WY6 heading northward to Bagram---pretty much a known choke point on the outskirts of kabul. FWIW, it's the same going south too:(( See if yer eligible for the ringroutes...best way to go town-to-town if you travel lite

Joe M
Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 17:21:21 (ZULU)

Joe, what's really weird is the mud wall beehive looking huts on the plains around Bagram. Standing at the ANA range, looking toward Bagram, they're all over the place. Most are caved in, but some appear to still be used. There was a bombed out village between us, but still some movement, I guess the nomads still hang out there. Man, this country has been so repeatedly gang-raped.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Friday, March 14, 2008, at 02:19:32 (ZULU)

Charles - Stay safe bro!

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Friday, March 14, 2008, at 03:51:16 (ZULU)

I know that news from the financial sector is comparable to watching paint dry...but you all should be targeting this stuff for a read. Bear Stearns is on the rocks (and just lost 50% of market value this morning), the euro--once bailed out in 2000 by the US among others--has doubled against the dollar since, gold went over a grand/ oz, and oil is north of 110. The dollar is falling and "fixes" on economic woes such as mortgages and consumer spending slowdowns are exactly what is driving the dollar down. Credit is the problem--it is all but tapped out worldwide--and the supposed fix is to free up more credit? I dunn tinksow! Inflation is here---it is a bottom up driven process, so it lags indicators. Dubai is backing out of the citigroup bailout too.

I was cool with this being a normal cycle of a correction, until i started to realize that the house of cards we built our banking system on is based on debt securing more debt. Think the fed, monetary policy and private and foreign interests all having sway on dollar supplies; I said "two years" to the bottom...I could be wrong by 18 months! Unraveling the securities losses will take years--but banks are hitting the rocks faster than i thought.

It ain't pretty...and it ain't the sort of thing most people grasp even when led to the facts. That is part of the economy too---"belief" out of ignorance that nothing changes keeps "normal" activity going right past the abyss...and it is the wildcard that made me think 2 years was about right. But if a bank goes T/U, that is the bitch-slap most people wake up to. The fed, by slashing rates is trying to shore up banks. But, as I said, this creates a host of conditions that is killing the currency...and our currency holdings overseas, if exchanged for euros all at once, will turn the economy third-world before your next cup of coffee. Credit scarsity is not the disease--it is the symptom! The disease is debt, both public and private and my rationale for stating this is too damned boring for a shooting forum--just apply "debt reductions" to every problem rocking the economy now, and tell me where it fails.

Still, the fed and congress (the noted economists that they are) are bent on easing credit and spurring spending. But others are now begining to realize that the problem lies deeper (and more pervasively) than mere foreclosures; a WND-linked article today (on yahoo) lays it out fairly well. Just remember: You heard it here first:))

Gawd...I gotta get a life and some range time:))

Joe M
Friday, March 14, 2008, at 15:46:17 (ZULU)

Charles, be safe. If you need any thing made let me know

Joe, been gone but sent package a few days ago. Telll your daughter extra is for troop.

Mike/Undude

Mike Miller
Ca, - Friday, March 14, 2008, at 17:10:54 (ZULU)

Joe M,

Can you say "recession"?? And that's almost depressing. Isn't it?

jerry L Copeland
Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 05:03:43 (ZULU)

Mike I heard you just had a big F-Class win congratulations. I shot the 'Hide Cup last week and got my ass kicked bigtime but loved it and learned alot. There was a guy there from the British F-Class team but I can't remember his name right now. T. Burkes knows him well. Also Tony got third place beating George Gardner, Terry Cross, Jim Clark and others. Good shooting Tony!

Charles I hope you stay safe over there. Do let us know if you need stuff.

I also have a permanent ringing in one ear and it's a shitty deal. Audioligist asked if I work around alot of heavy equipment. I said yes because I'm a construction superintendent and I also do alot of shooting. She said, in a matter of fact sort of way with a thick Indian accent "Ok then you will stop shooting and start wearing the ear muffs at work". Yeah sure lady no problem.

Later fellas,

Marc

MarcS
East S.F. Bay area, CA, - Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 07:02:44 (ZULU)

Interesting day today. Found out how the State Dept. people feel about the guys that guard their asses. I suppose I'll have to feel the same way, right back at them, but a bit more professional in how I portray it.

Went around and got some OJT on what is basically a pedestrian and vehicle traffic flow problem. Right up the alley of an old cop, watching people and controlling where they go and how they get there. Tomorrow, though, I start doing what I trained to do, ERT. Train and wait. Train and wait. For the thing that I really don't want to do, but might.

Food here sux. The accomodations are better than some, not all the creature comforts, but the showers work and the bunks aren't rock hard. We get mail in and out on a regular basis, and free internet and TV. The people seem to be extremely motivated, with one or two, like every crowd. The Ghurka guard force is absolutley incredible. I think I'm gonna like working with these guys. They got moxie.

The guard Force Commander is a retired Croatian Brig. General. I won't name him, as I haven't asked him if I can say anything about him. He is also a U.S. citizen and hails from Chicago. He's a hoot, and reminds me of the old Maxx Headroom TV character.

Anyway, enough for now, I got laundry in the washer and I have to go get it in the dryer because roll call is at 0515 and it's already 2015. I like keeping my M249 in my room. Beats a night light....

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 16:42:53 (ZULU)

Heads Up!

Very important 45 cal. ammo info. Read both for full story.

Article from 3/13/08:

http://www.theledger.com/article/200...803130481/1039

Article from 3/14/08:

http://www.theledger.com/article/200...803140389/1134

Chuck, be safe Bro.....or at least lucky

S/F

Finger

Jim Reifinger
Pearsall, TX, USA - Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 22:40:26 (ZULU)

Finger.........

Here is a better link. That's bad juju for Speer. I do like the Gold Dots.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20080314/NEWS/803140389/0/FRONTPAGE

Bolt out!

Bolt
Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 02:50:37 (ZULU)

.223 Rem / 5.56 reloading:

For those residing in The Great White North, good cost bulk pricing on Hornady 75g OTM .224 projectiles (w/moly):

http://www.higginsonpowders.com/images/07hp3.pdf

(Hornady) 22796 75 BTHP (600) 116.71

http://www.higginsonpowders.com/pricelists.html

For those that came in late, *US* ITAR export rules prohibit export of cartridge brass or projectiles w/o *US* export permits. Not worth it for small orders (say <$1000), so finding a domestic retailer of US-mfgr reloading components is worthwhile. Ironically it's now easier for me (in Canada) to buy some reloading components from non-US sources than the US.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 13:55:50 (ZULU)

Wow, honest, straight talk from a product manufacturer involved in an accident...

I'm going to have to give Speer products a second look. That sort of behavior is a competitive differentiator in my book...all bullet manufacturers produce some bad bullets. Speer is not the only one that has had em' get to customers. They are the only ones I've heard admit it.

medicjim
Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 14:25:44 (ZULU)

RE: Speer and "bad bullets".... bad bullets??? I can understand loaded ammunition having a problem, like a double charge or the wrong powder or exceptionally weak cases or somethin' like that, but a "bad bullet"? Enlighten me how a bullet can cause the "kaboom". Onliest way I can imagine is an oversize bullet that raises pressure, but it'd have to be so "oversize" that it wouldn't chamber in a straight wall case.

Of course the average "news correspondant" knows about as much about firearms and ammunition as I know about the sex habits of golden marmosets.

By the way, Erin go Braugh!

SteveinButte
Butte, Montana, You' think Ireland - Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 14:46:50 (ZULU)

SteveinButte...

>" RE: Speer and "bad bullets".... bad bullets??? I can understand loaded ammunition having a problem, like a double charge or the wrong powder or exceptionally weak cases or somethin' like that, but a "bad bullet"? Enlighten me how a bullet can cause the "kaboom". "<

You gotta remember that to a newspaper asshole, all "thingies" that go into "guns" are "Bullets"... not cartridges. The empty thingies that fall on the ground at crime scenes are "fired bullets".

So when they say "bullets", they mean the whole enchilada - the case, the primer, the powder, and the "bullet", makes up a media "bullet".

Got it??? Good!

There will be a test on Monday - look for it on page 73 of the New Yawk Times ;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 18:35:05 (ZULU)

Hawgs,

Just received the following bad news:

********************************************************************

Greetings,

It is with regret and our sincere apologies that after 30 years, due to irreconcilable differences between every Chapman Academy instructor and our host range facility, that we have decided it is in the best interests of the Academy and our students that the instructors cease teaching.

The instructors (Rich Greiner, John Leveron, Craig Johnston, and Jeff Harper) are not going to compromise what we've delivered to thousands of our alumni, and we'd like to thank them all for making it a great experience for us over our many years. Again, our apologies for the inconvenience this will cause.

To contact the instructors, please reply to this message. To contact the Academy, please call (800) 847 - 0588. Sincerely,

John Leveron

P.S. Please forward this to your shooting friends, and feel free to post online.

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Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The cloudy Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 20:19:37 (ZULU)

Well hell!!! Just heard from a guy that I worked with in Saudi, Phil Singleton an ex-22 SAS bloke. He informed me that his partner in crime in the 22, and another guy I worked with in Saudi, has Parkinson's real bad and the drugs he takes has him not all screwed up. Guess age gets to you when you have had a misspent youth of fun and games. You guys probably have seen them. Look at the Princess Gate film and you will see two black clad figures jumping from balcony to balcony and then affixing a super charge to what was supposed to be bullet resistant glass. It wasn't and the rest is history.

Guess I will have a bottle of wine and just veg out tonight.

Of course my wife keeps asking when I am going to grow up and I tell her when she slams the coffin lid shut. :)

What's up kittywhacker?

Joe M. - How are things in your life and the rest of you guys as well?

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 02:54:36 (ZULU)

Rick: "...another guy I worked with in Saudi, has Parkinson's real bad and the drugs he takes has him not all screwed up."

The drugs are a mixed blessing. Mirapex dampens the oscillations but it can make the patient crazier than a three-balled billy goat. It keeps me from sleeping more than four hours a night. Shopping, gambling, sex and such can easily become obsessions. It made me more than a little strange, but the biggest effect was on my physical activity. On Jan 01 of '07 I put a weight gym and a good treadmill in my basement and have been getting up at 05:00 every day, using the weights and doing high intensity cardio.

Sinimet (carbo/leva/dopa) works too but it is irreversably destructive.

Other than hosing short-term memory, artane is not bad.

I'm not bitching, but I could have passed on the whole deal.

CDC'
Monday, March 17, 2008, at 03:24:38 (ZULU)

Some of Phil Singleton's exploits are written up in the publically purchasable books on the SAS. (for those not part of the inner circle...). As an interested outsider I've read a few.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 03:55:23 (ZULU)

CDC - My typing sucks that should have read has him all screwed up and not all there. Guess his memory is shot and he does act a bit weird. I have not talked to him in about seven years so am remiss and will now not ever really be able to BS with him again. Sorry to hear you are afflicted with that crap and glad that it is under control, to a degree. I just can't believe that life is going by so dam fast and that I am losing so many friends.

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 04:41:54 (ZULU)

Guys,

That diskogram HURTS! Looks like my options will be spinal fusion or total disc replacement. Anyone had either?

What kinda recovery time did you have? How much mobility did you regain? With the total disc replacement, will I be able to get back to 100%? I really want to be able to get back to being able to kick ass and take names, but with a little more common sense.

If it works, I think this go-round, I'll use a tractor to lift some stuff. Dad was right; I WAS gonna ruin my back with my mind set. I figured if I could get my arms around it, I could pick it up. If I could pick it up, I oughta be able to carry it.

Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD!

Rick,

Your buddy's diagnosis is just more proof that you need to live as much as you can, while you can!

I'll be 31 on the 19th, and I've done most of the major stuff I really wanted to do, but if the back surgery works out, I have a whole nother(is "nother" a word?) list of stuff I want to do as soon as I'm able bodied again. Moose, bear and sheep hunting in Alaska is near the top of the list. Hopefully I can get a gig running a haul truck at a diamond mine up there, or something. And I just HAVE to ride in a chopper, sometime. I'll probably never be able to ride NFR broncs, but I'm okay with it.

If the back surgery works out, I might need to get my wife a good heart surgeon, 'cause it's gonna be rut season for quite a while.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 07:20:18 (ZULU)

Happy St. Patrick's Day !!

Regards,

Joisey Steve

Steven Dzupin
Gaithersburg, Maryland, US of A - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 10:43:22 (ZULU)

Greetings from Afghanistan. Just one adventure after another. I finally got a day off today. Some of the guys on my truck team decided to go to the Embassy to get some edible food, so I thought I'd tag along to see if I could rustle up a can of Copenhagen somewhere. Well.....as soon as we get out the gate, everyone else decides that we should go to Camp Eggars, instead, to get chow. I didn't get to vote. Driver starts asking how to get there, which is not a good idea in this environment, and I start getting that little tickle on the back of my neck. We got turned around somewhere in town, and spent a good forty minutes driving around seeing the real estate. We finally find a gate to the Camp, and find out we need different ID's to get in. One guy gets out to parlay with the guards, and we're idling on the side of the road, which is definitely NOT a good idea. The Afghans start looking at us crossways, then start yelling at us to move. I'm starting to wonder how my little Glock is gonna stack up against all those AK's if things go any farther south, and the team guys comes back and says he managed to wangle a pass. All I wanted was to go to the Embassy and get a stinkin' can of Cope. Well, I settle down and go in the PX to find some, and get a shemagh and a few other items, then we head over to the chow hall. No bags allowed, so I play nice guy and hold the bags while everyone else eats, then head in to get some food. Oops...I'm the only one wearing an ArmorGroup shirt, and the only one to get ID'd. No AG allowed to eat there. Sooooo....I'm scared shitless, starving, no Copenhagen and then find out that I'm carrying on a military base in contradiction to company policy. We finally get out of there, then the driver says "well, we could just drop by the Embassy if you want to". I wanted to reach up and garrot him on the spot. I found the Cope, but by that time I was so would around the axle that I got a sixpack of Corona and a bottle of Islay scotch. We get back on the road to the camp, some moron has an accident and the drivers decide to get out and go mano a mano on the spot, causing a damned riot and massive traffic jam that we have to get on the sidewalk (alleged) and swing around. Finally got back to Sullivan, so I'm gonna go kill the Corona and probably some of the Scotch and get my teeth unclenched. Happy days in the 'Stan! I'm staying in the compound for a while.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Monday, March 17, 2008, at 11:51:52 (ZULU)

Charles: Hit me with your APO or whatever they have for your mailing addy--I'll send ya some cope. I am of modest means, but we have the two-can specials around here--so it ain't so bad. Plus, it ain't that psuedo-cope plastic can:))

T-bonds go unsold and trade at lowest level in 50 years. At this rate, the scenarios I depicted in a few emails and posts will play out much, much faster than originally thought...click

Joe M
Monday, March 17, 2008, at 17:53:58 (ZULU)

Ditto on the Cope, Charles. That shit would be stressful enough without having a nic fit!

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 01:22:03 (ZULU)

Joe, Mamacita is sending me a whole roll. I know what you mean about the psuedo-Cope. Blah. We walked across the the ISAF compound last night to play some darts. Coronas kept appearing in front of me. Teeth are now unclenched. Head has taken over....

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 07:23:43 (ZULU)

"Obama's extraordinary dash to the forefront of American politics is less a measure of the man than of the hunger in white America for racial innocence."___Shelby Steele (Click)

Rick: "Sorry to hear you are afflicted with that crap..."

Thanks for the thought. As long as I last long enough to get the kids raised, I'm good.

Charles Hunt: If you were 20 I'd tell you that continuous drinking leads to continuous drinking. You're not, so I won't.

CDC'
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 10:16:11 (ZULU)

CDC....yeah, I found that out on my first deployment. A quick brush up against the UCMJ cured that. But I did go across the the ISAF camp and play darts for a couple of hours. Coronas did the trick, teeth and now in non-gnash mode.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 13:07:38 (ZULU)

CDC',

The supreme court is hearing the DC gun case today. What news source would you recommend, reporting the arguments presented?

Duman
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 15:54:27 (ZULU)

Charles: On your adventure; BTDT. Things that sound like a good idea on paper quickly devolve into pure stupidity in action. The downside is that these forays are the stuff of the best war stories...do me a favor: Keep all your war stories "on the job"--it is far better that way, since support is usually easier to get if you are supposed to be there:)) Now, send me your friggin' addy anyway...Oh, and I ressurected my dart game in retirement. I'm getting good (but not UK-pub good yet). I'd enjoy a game and a beer on your return--so keep your head in the game and your ass out of the line of fire.

Our side whiffed on a Scalia question: Why not have a view that the second ammendment provides both an individual right AND the militia theory? The counter argument wasn't exactly clear (I'm jonesing for transcripts), but the answer should have been that the militia is provided for in the articles, whereas the unalienable rights in the ten ammendments serve to enshrine INDIVIDUAL rights and to strictly curtail federal usurping of unspecified rights (9, 10)...but a view that it does "both" is where we have essentially been all along without a clear ruling; to rule that way is an "out" on the larger question. If it means both--which is precedent? That answer could be bad...

Today's market was fun to watch. The idea of a full point cut drove stocks up 300 points. Within minutes of the 3/4 pt cut, the market dropped 100 points. Then, after a while, it is sharply up. That shows the problem in predicting overall economic trends: People act and react on narrow segments, which tends to delay wider effects. Next up is a tic up in gold, and a bottoming of the dollar. Foreign markets will interesting to watch in the next 24; ours will follow.

CDC: Obama's new problem is far bigger than his followers can allow themselves to believe. That too is fun to watch, since i also made my prediction on this subject too: "WTF have we done?" by the Dems in November.

But no fear, oh liberals: For the repubs have nominated a dem for ya:))

Joe M
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 20:05:12 (ZULU)

SCOTUS Link

http://www.c-span.org/Radio/web/schedule.a...TV&Code=CSR

medicjim
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 21:51:03 (ZULU)

OK guys had to do some looking but here is where to find some pretty good info on the D.C. vs Heller Supreme Court hearing today. Go to: www.washingtonpost.com you'll have to register to read the articles but there are several including some excerpts from the hearing.

Worth the time and effort!

Sarge

Sarge
Southern Area 51, NM, USA - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 22:03:28 (ZULU)

Rickster-Dudski...

>"What's up kittywhacker?"<

Well... today was the day for "emancipation" of Ruggus Rattus.

The Judge was uneasy about emancipation, because it left him without any protection - he could be sued, he wouldn't have any medical coverage, etc.

So "Da' Judge" twisted some arms, and took away her custody, and gave full guardianship to me - she gets no visitation, no phone calls, no "nuttin'"... she was in tears, and couldn't even speak.

She was "broken"!

After it was over, she told the Rat that she wanted to talk to him for a few minutes, and he said, "I have nothing to say to you, and there is nothing you have to say to me that I want to hear!"

And we left.

So... after four fucking years, and 98 tons of heartbreak, it's really over - da' fat lady has done sung like a tweety birdy!

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 23:14:12 (ZULU)

Lito,

Congratulations. Time for a cigar and a drink.

Duman
Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 23:31:51 (ZULU)

'Lito CONGRADULATIONS!!! MAYBE there is some "Justice" in the Justice system. Now let things settle for a very little bit and GO GET HER AND THE REST of the slim!

Sarge

Sarge
Southern Area 51, NM, USA - Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 23:42:03 (ZULU)

Damn Lito, I never thought that I would read those words after all these years. Almost made my eyes leak. It just couldn't happen to a better pop and son. All in all it is still very sad how a mom could be so dang stoopid and hard headed. Tell the Rug Rat that he's got a buncha buds cheering him on to a bright future.

Happy for ya, Bolt out!

Bolt
Good on ya Lito!, NC, - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 00:18:34 (ZULU)

Great news Litto!!!! Congratulations to you and Ruggus!

SSG Mac
338LM Heaven, - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 01:34:20 (ZULU)

18-Mar-2008 SCOTUS oral arguments District of Columbia v. Heller transcript:

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/07-290.pdf

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 01:57:16 (ZULU)

'Lito - That is GREAT news hermano! I am really glad for you and ruggus ratus. Now you guys can put that crap behind you and start life as a true family without interference from the ********!!!

SCOTUS seems to say yes individual, yes it can be restricted. Leaves the banners with wiggle room and the ever present interpretation of what the word "reasonable" means.

Will wait and see.

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 02:50:23 (ZULU)

'lito,

>>>Congratulations. Time for a cigar and a drink.<<<

For BOTH of you...

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, US of A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 03:35:23 (ZULU)

'lito,

OUTSTANDING!!! Time for the DDR's & LJ.

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The rainy Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 03:59:18 (ZULU)

The end of that nightmare is long, long, overdue! Congratulations, 'Lito! Here's to you, and to the young man!

Lindy
The Northern Occupied Territories of Mexico, Texas, U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 04:07:06 (ZULU)

Pablo: Tenacity prevails. Good deal.

Duman: Powerline and Instapundit would be worth trying.

CDC'
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 04:25:32 (ZULU)

Lito that's fantastic news man congratulations.

It's unfortunate that the young mans mother has caused him to have those feelings for her. That must hurt. It is fortunate that he has a great father to be with him through this time. A father that he will always remember as one that went to the mat for him and never, ever gave up on him.

Good work dudeski :)

MarcS
East S.F. Bay area, CA, - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 04:48:36 (ZULU)

Mr. 'Lito Goes To Washington!!!!!

I can see the remake of that old classic now. Way to go, both of you. I first pray that you and 'the Rat' start making up for whatever time may be considered lost.

And then, on a unified front, mow down the enemy. Each and every one responsible.

Way to go, truly.

Sean T.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 05:02:12 (ZULU)

'lito - Congrats!!!

On SCOTUS and the 2nd Amendment - listen to the arguments here - rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/sc/sc031808_2amendment.rm

jc
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 05:39:04 (ZULU)

'Lito,

Time to "take it to the mattresses"?

Well, I'm 31 today. Any words of wisdom from the BTDT crowd?

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 07:33:51 (ZULU)

Lito,

Congradulations on your long faught win. But then, some things are just worth it. Time to celebrate! Enjoy the time you spend with him, it's something you'll never be able to get back later. I'd drink a beer to toast it but it just isn't quite the same with nearbeer but I'm holding one up in spirit.

It's sunny and in the 80's here Kuwait with a bit of dust in the air. Any body else in or about Camp Patriot?

Murph

John Murphy
kUWAIT, - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 09:08:47 (ZULU)

'Lito....Bravo Zulu, mang. You now know what Conan meant about true happpines.

Travis. Keep breathing.

JoeM. Charles Hunt

Armor Group N.A.

APO/AE 09356

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 11:33:32 (ZULU)

Charles Hunt: John Milius shamelessly plagarized Ghengis Khan for the "Crush your enemies..." quote. He removed the part about raping the women.

Duman: Instapundit has some 2nd amendment/Supremes links that look informative. I just glanced at a couple of them.

CDC'
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 16:09:28 (ZULU)

kittywacker,

CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!!! Its been a long time coming!! I was just catching up on the DR and seen that you had finally won.

Rick B.

Good to see you back and posting too!! Damn near like old times on here!!

Pat
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 17:20:45 (ZULU)

Well, we got the house sold, so back to NC the 29th free and clear. Next drama, new house getting built. Geez! At least I will be back for Spring Gobblers.

Chuck, Just remember boy, get it right.....It's pillage then burn. :)

S/F

Finger

Jim Reifinger
Pearsall, TX, USA - Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 18:30:18 (ZULU)

Pat - How goes it? Got another class starting Monday so am trying to build good habits of stopping by here each night before I pass out. :)

Finger - What area are you moving back to, the old stomping grounds?

'Lito - Now you can concentrate on the nice things in life, like shooting and enjoying being with the rug rat. :)

Hold Hard Guys!!

Edited because I can't read!

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 02:31:52 (ZULU)

Pretty much Rick. I am building a house just outside of J'ville out near the Airport.

I was just talking to Bolt. I might hafta come out to Butner for a match and see who is around.

S/F

Finger

Jim Reifinger
Pearsall, TX, USA - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 03:07:44 (ZULU)

Click. Awesome. Creepy. Work safe.

Travis Morgan
Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 10:02:45 (ZULU)

CLick. Interactive map of "The great escape." The anniversary of which is coming up in a few days.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 10:36:41 (ZULU)

Greetings,

Lito: Congratulations

Charles: Stay safe. Email me your address and I'll mail you some Cope.

Pat II
Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 11:06:36 (ZULU)

Pat II:

Charles posted his snail-mail adrs in his Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 11:33:32 DR entry.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 16:37:49 (ZULU)

QOTD:

"...if the SCOTUS rules for Heller there's going to be enough litigation going on in the future years to put a lot of attorney's kids through college."

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 16:47:08 (ZULU)

Damn. NYC handgun permit application is TWELVE PAGES. I can't believe some of the questions. WTF does employment history have to do with owning a gun?

Click to see it.

Travis Morganq
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 17:28:49 (ZULU)

Rick B,

Actually we have been to busy. Meth is taking over the reservations and the crime really is going up so we stay plenty busy in Fed court.

I still shoot every chance I get. I am really lucky to have a place only a few miles out of town where I can shoot out to 1300yds if I need. I have cardboard backers for shooting at paper plates out to around 900 and have steel plates on odd distances for playing around.

PatII shoots with me alot, hes one of you ex "Snake Eaters", so I have to give him a hard time about his MOA of a man mil holds and he gives me a hard time about dialing and my caliber of the month guns.(HA)

How the hell are you keeping up with all these young studs your teaching??? My son is in the Neb. Guard and is and instructor for them and still does comps when he can, he loves it too.

Well you take care Rick and hope all is well with you. I still owe you all the beer you can drink if we ever get hooked up!!

Pat
Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 21:06:16 (ZULU)

Trav...

>"Damn. NYC handgun permit application is TWELVE PAGES. I can't believe some of the questions. WTF does employment history have to do with owning a gun?"<

Yeah... and it's a damn $450 to "apply" for it - you don't get that back if you are denied, and they deny 99% of them.

I lived in the city way back when, and in 1967, and some asshole named John Lindsay decided that gun control of hunting rifles was the solution to New Yawk's crime problem.

I went to register my paltry eight rifles, and the police gave me a ton of shit about "Why do you need an arsenal like that in the city"... it took 8 months to get the permit.

When I left the city (shortly after), the police contacted me and said that since I hadn't told them where I was going with my "arsenal", I was in BIG trouble.

I reminded them that... "Your permit is just a paper that allows possession inside city limits - outside city limits, your permit is worthless, and your jurisdiction stops at the north end of the Bronx."

To which they answered, "If you ever come back to the city, you will never get another permit!"

HA! (as Original Pat would say), like I'm dying to move back to that sewer with my 90 firearms (~30 of which are pistols ;).

NYC is gun owners hell...

... some years after, they used the registration lists to go around and confiscate ALL self-loading rifles... even 22 rimfires.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 22:04:54 (ZULU)

'Lito,

Congratulations, you old Geezer! It has been a long, hard walk to freedom for Ruggus Rattus, and a well-deserved victory for both of you.

Stay safe and good, and take good care of him now that it is done.

Marius

Marius
Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 22:09:06 (ZULU)

Marius

E-Mail inbound through the Roster

Gary Kaney
N, ILL, - Friday, March 21, 2008, at 11:06:52 (ZULU)

Gents,

Just checking in...

'Lito, that's incredible news. "Free at last, Free at last, good god I am free at last". I doubt MLK felt anywhere near the relief and jubilation that you and your son felt. Especially, after his comments to "mom".

Lookslike you had the legal folks by the short hairs and didn't even have to twist...;-)

Anyone seen anything on the new 6.5 Creedmore? SGN had an article on the new cartridge. Supposedly, it's the cat's meow for high power shooters and is a darn fine hunting cartridge, as well. Think it's an answer in search of a question. Especially, when there is the .260 Remington with slightly more capacity and better brass availability. Time will tell, but I think Hornady fell on their own sword. Seems to me they did that with the 6.8, too.

Have been playing with the Winch .223 Stealth and JLK 70 grain VLD bullets. Have not been able to chrono them yet or shoot at long range. The 100 yard groups are sub 3/8" consistently. Velocity should be right at 3,000 FPS which is what I get from my 69 gr. SMK's. Using Federal cases(prep'd), Federal 205M primers, and 24.4 Gr. of N140. More when I get a chance to shoot "out there".

My best to all,

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, 97304 - Friday, March 21, 2008, at 21:04:25 (ZULU)

Hey Wes I hear there's some guys on 6BR that can get a .223 to reach the same velocities as a .22-250 LOL!

MarcS
East S.F. Bay area, CA, - Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 05:10:47 (ZULU)

MarcS...

>" Hey Wes I hear there's some guys on 6BR that can get a .223 to reach the same velocities as a .22-250 LOL!"<

I heared the same thing! ;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 10:13:20 (ZULU)

Sir Wesley...

Have you tried any of the Hornady 75gr A-Maxs in the Win 223??

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 17:40:09 (ZULU)

Gents,

Had a .22/250. Good cartridge, but went back to a .223 bolt gun because of availibility of brass and the 1:9" twist rate of the barrel. As for getting the .223 to reach .22/250 velocities I'll pass. Some of the BR crowd seem to get away with an awful lot because their chambers and rounds are so precise. Personally, I'd prefer to load my stuff so the brass doesn't flow...:-(

Haven't tried the 75 gr. A-Max's. Not sure they'll stabilize in that 1:9" twist barrel. Guess the best bet is to try them and see. I do have a couple boxes laying around.

Way back when I tried 69 gr. SMK's in a .223 Rem 700 Varmint Special. Of the 20 rounds fired at a 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper only one hit and it went through sideways. That was at 100 yards.

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, USA - Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 22:38:56 (ZULU)

re: Winchester Stealth .223 rifle with 1:9 twist.

Hornday indicates that the minimum twist rate for the 75g .224 AMAX is 1:8. Research into user experiences indicate that Hornady "conventional" 75g .224 HPBTM projectiles are marginal in 1:9. Some guns like it, some don't. The AMAX version is slightly longer than the conventional version, so this is all consistent. I have a 100-piece box of 75g conventionals on order to trial in my Mike Rock button-rifled 1:9 barrel AR15 pattern rifle.

If rifle won't demonstrate projectile stability with 69g loadings, it is most doubtful that it will do well with heavier (longer).

The 75g AMAX projectiles I have are 1.090" overall length, if you have a stability calculation you want to use to cross-check. Based on pictures in John Feamster's "Black Magic: The Ultra Accurate AR-15", I would estimate the 75g Hornady conventional at around 1.020. If someone can provide an actual measurement I would be grateful.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 01:20:50 (ZULU)

Rod...

The 9" twist will easily spin the 69gr SMK - Wes was talking about a Rem 700 Varmint Special - those have 14" twists, up until the last few years, and then they went to 12" twists. The heaviest the 12" will handle is the 60gr V-Max.

The length of the Hornady 75 HP Match is 0.966", and the 75 A-Max is 1.106"

I was hoping that he 9" would handle the 75 A-Max... :(

Wes...

MarcS was referring to a pie fight over on 6mmBR.com, where a jerk assed guy was trying to be an "espert", and claimed he was loading his .223 as fast as a 22-250... he has a chronograph built into his keyboard (if you know what I mean!!).

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 01:54:27 (ZULU)

I haven't had stability issues with the Hornaday 75 gr HPBT (Not A-Max) using either factory ammo or handloads with 24.9 gr RE15 and the Remington BR primer in a 26" Shilen 1-9 barrel. Clocks 2770 and was stable at 500 yards. The factory stuff was 1/2 MOA @ 200 yards, the handloads at least as good. 200 yard zero was 2 clicks up from the 69 gr over 25.5 748, same primer (3000+ fps).

I tried the 75 gr over 748, accuracy sucked-comparitively speaking.

WR Moore
Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 02:15:41 (ZULU)

Lito:

Tks for the 75g HPBTM projectile length - I'm getting a good feeling about them in the 1:9 Rock. Should have delivery of my sample in the next week. Still lots of cold weather for worse-case stability testing :-) They're forecasting a late "spring" this year in The Great White North.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 05:07:30 (ZULU)

http://www.downrange.tv/artman2/publish/shepherd/145.shtml

Connecticut Hears From Gun Industry – and Others

"... firearms and ammunition manufacturers from Connecticut were joined in that state’s capitol to express their displeasure with legislation introduced there which would call for two requirements that would effectively end firearms and ammunition sales there: microstamping capabilities in firearms and serialization of all ammunition sold there."

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 10:56:10 (ZULU)

Happy Easter everyone. Hope the Lord blesses you all. Catshooter, good for you and rug rat. You have accomplished what very few, if any, could.

HDR
OK, - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 15:44:46 (ZULU)

I haven't been around for a while but it's good to hear that Kitty Whacker finally whacked the right pussy. Great news 'lito.

Just a quick comment on the .223 bolt gun thread. I have a Rem 700 LTR that no one can understand. It has a 1x10" twist (IIRC) and shoots the 77 gr FGGM ammo like a champ. I can shoot 3/8 to 3/4 MOA groups with it consistantly. It's not supposed to do that but it does. Just think what it would do in the hands of a real shooter.

I've tried shooting bullets from 55 gr up to the 77's, even some 75 gr Hornady reloads of my own and the 77's still work best. I'm sure that I can tweak the 75's and get what I want once the FGGM stuff gets too expensive or I shoot up my supply. But I thought it would be an interesting addition to the discussion. It only goes to prove that there are really very few, if any, absolutes when it comes to ballistic performance.

Indiansinger

Roger C. Carpenter
Vardaman, MS, USA - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 16:06:50 (ZULU)

Roger:

I don't doubt the results you're getting, but it could be interesting to measure the actual twist rate. Perhaps the measured twist rate is tighter than 1:10, especially if the individual barrel isn't marked. Factory can change specs or make mistakes, which can result in a rifle as shipped being different from the nominal spec. Not all factory mistakes are horror stories...

One of the factors that makes exterior ballistics so interesting is that it's not completely cut and dried. There are hard-to-measure variables that can produce negative (and positive) results in non-obvious ways.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 16:47:21 (ZULU)

I've got a tikka t3 in .223 that I'm thinking of changing over to a .223 AI... is this particular conversion one I might be able to handle DIY by renting a reamer and doing it by hand? I've never even seen a chamber reamer, are they such that the conversion can be done while the barrel is still in the action? What are the chances I'll much things up horribly?

medicjim
Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 16:54:17 (ZULU)

MedicJim...

All of the AI chambers require the barrel to be set back 1 turn.

The chamber is actually shorter than the original case.

Injunsinger...

That rifle is 1:9", and that's why it stabilizes 77gr bullets.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 17:19:15 (ZULU)

Happy Easter!!!!!!

Jody Calhoun
Saraland, AL-Heart of Dixie, USA - Sunday, March 23, 2008, at 17:30:34 (ZULU)

Wes

The advantage of the 6.5 Creedmore is that there is factory match ammunition available from the start. .260 was pushed as a hunting round and Remington never recognized the advantage of the cartridge as a match cartridge.

MedicJim

Lito is correct that "All of the AI chambers require the barrel to be set back 1 turn. The chamber is actually shorter than the original case."

Some gun plumbers either forget or try to skip this step and you have an headspace problem with non-rimmed (magnum) cases.

Good luck

Jerry

Jerry
Annapolis, MD, USA - Monday, March 24, 2008, at 01:45:46 (ZULU)

Lito, Jerry - Thanks for the advice.

medicjim
Monday, March 24, 2008, at 02:50:43 (ZULU)

AQ threatened the pope with a tape release, and the pope baptized a muslim in Rome; talk about in your face. They had to know the "legal" aspect under Islamic law about that sort of thing...so this is unusual balls for the Vatican.

Yotes are getting bold, they've been coming close to the hacienda these last few nights. Ya just never know what bedside firearm is the better choice sometimes:))

Joe M
Monday, March 24, 2008, at 03:19:43 (ZULU)

Rod and 'lito,

You were both right. I went on line and discovered that the .223 Rem LTR is a 1x9" twist. For a light weight, accurate starting rifle, the LTR is a good choice for the money. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to tweak it into a deadly accurate rifle.

Indiansinger

Roger C. Carpenter
Sweet Potato Capital, MS, USA - Monday, March 24, 2008, at 14:51:23 (ZULU)

Gents,

Jerry, I understand about the 6.5 Creedmore being available as a factory round. My question is how many will really pony up for factory fodder...especially at today's prices. Most of the serious shooters that I know are all handloaders. On the other hand, if you have the back door key to Ft. Knox...

This effectively mirrored what happened when Black Hills Ammo legitimized the 6.5 X .284 Norma using Norma brass. Good Stuff and still my "go to" round for real precise work.

The .223 is a dandy cartridge. Although something with a bit more capacity might be better for the real heavyweight .224's (say 75 grains plus).

Wondere what the new 90 grainers would do in a fast twist barrel and a powder capacity like the .22/250?

'Lito-san, I'm going to have to get one of those "keyboard chronographs". I understand you don't even have to visit the range to get your results...;-)

Am visiting our range this week. Should be interesting...the .223 will be going along. Hopefully I can find and load those 75 grain A-max's before then. Any recommended loads?

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, USA - Monday, March 24, 2008, at 18:12:05 (ZULU)

Sir Wesley. This what MarcS was talkin about.

Seen on another site...

>"The 223AI gains 150-200fps more using light bullets - 40 to 55gr. That's enough increase to where it'll overlap the range of 22-250 velocities. A 223AI can actually replace the 22-250 depending on how it's loaded."<

He must pull the trigger Veeeeeeeeeeery hard!

Life is filled with assholes!

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Monday, March 24, 2008, at 21:56:58 (ZULU)

...and assholes are filled with...?

Joe M
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 02:09:41 (ZULU)

Well, started another class today. Seems like Ground Hog day everything new being old. Got 32 bright eyed students, will see what they look like 7 weeks from now. :)

Pat - It is getting harder with my age beginning to show, but the youngens are a breath of challenge and boost my energy level. I try to stay with them and only one week between classes can be a challenge at times. You be careful with the Meth labs, that is some dangerous, explosive s**t, as you well know. I want to drink some beer with you!

Well it is after 11 already and 0530 comes real early for this old fart.

Stay safe guys and Hold Hard!

Rick B.

Rick B
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 04:07:09 (ZULU)

Hello all, it has been a long time.You might remember me with the .338wm barrel frozen to my lips in alaska (long story)some of you might even remember the miss tropicana photo shoot,joe ?.I bought a zeiss diavari 6-24x72T and mounted it on a steyr hs.50 .Have not been able to find a range to sight in.

Litto,congrads on the ruggus.

out for now

scott s
key west, fl, U.S.A - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 04:10:01 (ZULU)

Sir Wes,

On those 75 AMAX's, put as much Varget as you can get into the case and still get the bullet in. Same thing for 77 SMK's. Seat into the lands and let 'er rip. Just to double check; you are using a bolt gun, right?

Enjoy,

jc
Cordova, TN, - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 04:55:15 (ZULU)

Can somebody tell me why every time I try to edit a post the system says I'm an imposter???

Never Mind - uppercase, lowercase defugilty (SP?)

jc
Cordova, TN, United States - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 04:58:04 (ZULU)

Scott S: Hey! Welcome back. I remember those shots---came in on the work server:)) Good plan, bad execution...remind me to explain CENTCOM GO#1 over a beer some day...

Joe M
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 05:20:40 (ZULU)

Rick B,

I don't go out to break up labs so thats not a worry. I sit in court and watch some slick willy try to get them off after they get hauled in.

I am glad your still able to keep up with the young ones!! I really admire you for what your doing for the young guys. Just remember, "Old age and trechery will always overcome skill and youth" At least thats what I tell myself kind of like the "Older I get the better I was" I am sure thats true too!!(HA) Keep your powder dry!!

Pat
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 13:15:44 (ZULU)

"Old age and treachery..." yup. Works. And it just keeps getting harder. Young guys on my team marvel at my ability to get in the turret and stay there, hour after hour, without having to get out for a break. What I don't tell them is that, after creaking my aged old ass up there, I really don't want to get out so I just stay put. Found out we don't just do Embassy security. Big boss is the RSO, so we do what he say. He say we do bank runs. Dismounted security for a soft-skinned Toyota carrying $(deleted). Like being a sardine in a sushi bar.....

Still having a blast, though. Like going back in time, but with all the arthritis and creaks, rattles and moans. ArmorGroup just got sold to some company named G4S. Never heard of them, supposed to be a big European fixed-site security company. Maybe they'll spend some money to teach Afghanis to cook.....

Got my first care package from Boudicca. A whole roll of Copenhagen, ahhhh......so if any of you were thinking of mailing some, I'm golden for now.

I miss my bolt gun.

Allah Akhbar, ya'll. (that's southern Pashto)

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 14:25:45 (ZULU)

Original Pat (HA!)

>""Old age and treachery will always overcome skill and youth""<

That has been my modus operandi for a long time - worked this last time too ;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 14:52:21 (ZULU)

Gents,

.223 Remington vs. .223 AI. For the life of me I can't see why you should have to turn the barrel back one full turn and then chamber to AI. Pulled the prints on the two cartridges and can see no reason why you can's just run a .223 AI reamer into the .223 Rem chamber and be done with it. Am I missing something here? Gotta admit the .223 AI is a sexy lookin' 'lil thing!

Mind you the only AI I've played with is the .35 Whelan AI and we started with a new Kreiger barrel on that one.

Charles, sounds like you're having a ball. Anything you need you can't get...with the exception of your bolt gun?

Rick B., Have fun with the new class. I know what you speak of since I just turned 57 this month. Now I know why I used to wonder why "old people" used to talk about medical problems so much! Now I are one!!! As an aside, what percentage of the class normally completes the course?

jc, yes, I am using a bolt gun for my .223 development. Although my M-4 seems to like 69 gr SMK's just fine! If I want gas gun precision I just reach for my G.A. Precision AR-10! The 75 grain A-Max's and Verget...is there any bullet/caliber combination that Varget won't work with?...;-)

'Lito, someone actually had the stones to submit that comment to the 6BR forum? He deserves what he gets. Can't happen unless someone repeals the laws of physics! Larger case capaciy will always deliver more velocity given the same bore diameter and bullet. Seems to me the .22/250 has 10-12 grains more capacity than the .223 Rem and probably 8-10 grains more than the AI version.

All for now. Have to take my two male mini-doxies to the vet for "sporterizing" and shots. Great little dogs.

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, USA - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 15:44:43 (ZULU)

"Sporterizing", eh?

Interesting choice of euphemism.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 16:36:07 (ZULU)

Sir Wesley...

>"'Lito, someone actually had the stones to submit that comment to the 6BR forum?"<

Same asshole - two different websites (6mmBR.com and PredatorMasters.com).

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 18:39:46 (ZULU)

GS4. I've seen a few of their armoured trucks rolling around Winnipeg lately. Just pointing out, that I've never seen or heard of them before, either.

Sean T.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 19:29:14 (ZULU)

Rick: Being amiong kids keeps ya young...or at least keeps ya trying--which is good for us old farts. I remember the first kid reporting in to me with a birthday this side of my enlistment date. Happened in the 82d. I redoubled my efforts to maintain that ever-harder 300 on the APFT...had to really push myself hard. Dunno for sure, but I gotta think that the attempt to run with the young dogs kept my broken body in the game much longer than it otherwise woulda. Enjoy the association; I sure miss that part of it myself these days.

Been turning the idea of joining Charles or something similar lately. Had the conversation with the wife. Seems she is not opposed to the money, just the geography:))

Sir Wes: Of course, the laws of physics only present safe limits to those willing to heed the warning signs:)) Maybe the clown in question has a death wish?

.223 AI---why? My love of the .223 is its versatility---it traverses my open spaces accurately, it lends itself to gobs of shooting fun with carbines and white boxes of ammo (used to, anyway:(( and it is prolific. "Improving" it would be costly and a loss of its endearing features. To each his own though!

Joe M
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 20:24:35 (ZULU)

AI chambers- per the original Ackley specs, the shoulder area at the neck juncture to bolt face measurement was slightly shorter (0.004 or so) than the original caliber in the AI chamber. This allowed factory ammo in the original caliber to be fired if'n you ran out of your handloaded ammo. Sort of a crush-fit headspace. Also simplified fire-forming brass.

Reamers in standard calibers are ground with due attention to the datum line [IIRC, that point on the shoulder where the diameter is 0.400 inches] , as that is where headspace is measured. What the tolerances to the neck/shoulder junction are, who knows? If your chamber is factory, 'tis not likely you have a minimum chamber in any case.

JoeM-they used to screaming for logistics pukes over there. The money and adventure might not be quite as good, but I hear the beers easier to come by and the scenery's better in Dubui(sp?) & Bahrain.

WR Moore
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 22:59:32 (ZULU)

G4S is a U.K.-based security company whose web site claims it is the "world's leading international security solutions group" with 500,000+ employees. Click on my name for their web site.

Lindy
The Northern Occupied Territories of Mexico, Texas, U.S.A. - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 00:22:07 (ZULU)

500K employees...

Gee, that's an army :-)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 00:28:40 (ZULU)

WR: Oh yeah, the loggie thing is on my mind too. Ya know, once they're talking 10K/ month, anything above that is pure greed. So, on one hand, I could go above for less time away from the family and more danger, on the other, a longer stay away with a mundane daily life in Kuwait. Doha and KC are decent cities as far as western standards go as long as you follow the same precautions you would in NYC or Phillie (avoid dark allies and "standing out" among strangers). I keep telling myself i should just go to school, but the lure of retiring debt (aka farm) and REALLY retiring is almost as strong as the need to get off my ass and do something now, something that would be familiar. Its been a year now at home....

Joe M
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 02:44:40 (ZULU)

Sadr making noise about "civil war" due to an ISF crackdown in Basra. Paul Bremmer is to blame (he tried re-writing his history since)--he called off the dogs at H-hour when we had this shitbag located. IMHO, his ducking and covering during the surge (and initial running away to Iran) just bought him time to ride out our attempts to stabilize the nation. His probable goal is to preserve forces for "later"--when we draw down. His sanctuary in Iran is all the clues you need to see where he would take things once he had a clear shot.

No morons here--but elsewhere in this country people have no freakin' clue what Iran-in-Bosra would mean to US interests for decades to come. How's Iran calling OPEC's shots sound? Fun? Geez. Yeah, let's just cut-and-run. That's a great idea! I bet three quarters of these "get out now" types could not place Iran and Iraq on a map, and if they tried may not have them sharing a border--and they wouldn't know where Saudi lies either. If they got past the geography, they'd stammer at the politics of any of this. Like how happy Saudi and Kuwait would about persians on their doorsteps...

I am beginning to think a simple test of civics ought to be required for voting. Just a quick quiz on the constitution and the federal system. First off, I would bet that most clueless asshats we share a continent with would just say "screw it" and not bother trying...which is fine with me. The thought of professional welfare recipients having the same say as productive citizens burns my ass sometimes...

Joe M
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 03:52:53 (ZULU)

JoeM...

>"Paul Bremmer is to blame (he tried re-writing his history since)--he called off the dogs at H-hour when we had this shitbag located. IMHO, his ducking and covering during the surge (and initial running away to Iran) just bought him time to ride out our attempts to stabilize the nation. "<

Hmmmm... quiting when we have the upper hand. Seems like echoes of 1991 in Kuwait. We got into a bad habit in the 70's.

Are we becoming a country that can fight like hell, but can't (politically) win?

Is the media coverage poisoning our ability to push forwards to the last - and are we caught up in looking like the nice guy that doesn't hit our enemy while he has a bloody nose.

Then we are doomed to fail and be overrun by the unwashed hoards that we seem to be so socially superior to.

Boogers to that shit!!!

On another note....

Remember Hillery ranting after the 04 election, about how the delegate system and the electoral college system was unfair, and out of date, and she was going to get rid of it (all by herself), cuz Al gore lost but had the popular vote.

Now that Obama has the popular vote, AND the delegates, Hilly babe is working over time to get the delegates to switch over to her side, in spite of the fact that they are from states that Obama carried.

What a hypocritical phony whore she is... and that's the polite version ;)

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 12:11:33 (ZULU)

Lito: Maliki(sp?), the PM of Iraq, is a shi'ite who came to power with Sadr's political support in parliment. So, he has been less than enthusiastic about cracking down on his ally. But now we have Iraqi forces moving in on fringe elements of the mahdi army. Makes sense; Patraeus would not overlook such a threat forever, and the "foreigner" sweep is well in hand now--so maybe the time came to take on the "next threat" to long term security.

In any case, I was wondering if we'd do this alone, or if the General could twist maliki's arm into taking the lead. Touchy subject with this, since we are dealing with "locals" exclusively (albeit heavily supplied by Iran)---the difference lies in the minds of Iraqis, and is not insignificant for public opinion/ support for our efforts there. For me, to see Iraqi forces leading off is the best possible scenario (they do it, we do it, or nobody goes after these guys being the possibilities). It also shows that Patraeus was able to acheive the last hurdle to actually stabilizing this thing (because, to actually secure Iraq by any measure made "not doing anything" a non-starter). The mahdi army isn't Iran's only path to meddling in Iraq (Hezbollah is there too), but it is their biggest and best way in. To neutralize mahdi is to set the persians back 4 years in their goals.

That's good shit...and long, long overdue thanks to initial stupidity on our part.

Expect Iran to openly condemn this new tactic:))

Joe M
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 14:07:12 (ZULU)

Joe M...

>"and long, long overdue thanks to initial stupidity on our part. "<

And we had the fat little shit ball in our sights at fallujah!

Will we ever learn??

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 14:18:46 (ZULU)

Any sniper matchs comeing up this summer?

LeMay
MI, - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 14:28:58 (ZULU)

Gents,

There's a new "Frontline", 2-part series, on the Iraq conflict. Detailing the situation from 9/11 onwards. The program "appears" unbiased, since the originally "classified" facts are now known, and nobody comes out smelling good. You can blame anyone you want, but it comes down to three goons: Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush. Period. End of story. They wrote, directed, executed, and produced everything, and are solely responsible for what has happened and is happening.

Bravo,

You cost me $$. I bought that "Swamp-Rat". Although, I'm not quite ready to chop down a tree. I'll give you a call later this week.

Duman
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 14:59:37 (ZULU)

Re: Book - "Shooter"

I finished the book, found it entertaining but....I will leave it at that. Funny thing though, both he and I were in at the same time and the Marines I knew where not what he described. Guess we both lived in a different world.

My question to all of you, what are your thoughts on the content of the book and the credibility of Gunny Jack Coughlin? Please, the intent of this post is not to create a flame war of any type but just to see what others have gleaned and to see if said thoughts are similar to mine. As a side note, he does remind me of one of my buddies who was in the Corps but is known for putting up good stories, not about himself, but about everyone else including me and the environment he has worked in (past and present tense).

Darren

Semper Fi

85-90

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 15:03:11 (ZULU)

Sir Wes....Yes, I am. I'm getting paid to do what I've wanted to do for several years now. There's the usual whining and moaning around here, that's to be expected. But, yeah, it's kinda fun. I'd forgotten what it's like t be switched on every time, and all the time, you step out of the wire.

JoeM....anything over 10k a month is "greed"? Why? If you have the experise, and someone wants to pay you what you're worth (or, what they think you're worth) why is that "greed"? Sir, you been underpaid too long. Check it out. If I can drag my sorry, wrinkled old ass through the program, I know you can. Come on over and we'll head over to the NATO compound and have a pizza and beer. I'm not getting paid to the "greedy" level yet, but damn close. From what I've seen, you could be running the place in six months.....

Besides, where in the States can you get real, fried goat twice a day for free? Hmmmm? Thought so.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 16:45:33 (ZULU)

Duman: No flame intended but Frontline is, and always has been, very heavily biased. They are the next best thing to Pacifica or The Nation.

CDC'
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 17:36:36 (ZULU)

Charles: I did not mean to imply greed for others; what I meant to say is that there is a balance between enough money, and unnecessary danger:)) A-stan is the one place I'd be comfortable running contracts in the field. I saw too much cowboy attitude, ill-planned ops, and under-resourced ops in Iraq---a BIG thumbs down. Yeah, i know--not all firms operate this way....but the odds of landing in one seem high, and finding out the hard way seems dumb:) The main difference is bad-guy modus operandi; the stan was different...

Joe M
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 19:22:24 (ZULU)

Rosterfarians,

Now I'm behind on my emails, and thus missed a special note sent by a special lady. I don't think there's anybody here that do not know Mike Rock, barrel-maker.

Well, Mike had his birthday on March 13. I know it is late, but if you guys have his email (unfortunately I don't, only Valerie's) I suggest flooding him with (belated) well-wishes!

Marius

Marius
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 21:24:17 (ZULU)

CDC',

I trust your judgement. But I'm struggling. When generals are interviewed, reporters articles withstand scrutiny, and written documents are produced (with Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush signatures), I have a hard time coming to another conclusion. The press was manipulated by both sides, but the paper trail 'appears' to lead to only one place.

Once the decision to invade was made, fine. Do it. But to micro-mis-manage every aspect (from low troop counts, little/no anticipation of blow-back from insurgents, no transition plan, and subterfuge amongst the three amigos) what other conclusion could be drawn?

Unless there's a 'shadow' government, which is even more incompetent, running things. I do think congress and senate could have done a better job, but it still comes to the white house.

My apologies. Rant-off.

Duman
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 21:24:21 (ZULU)

Was looking at something else and just saw this link by accident.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/25/campaign.wrap/index.html?iref=topnews

You just gotta love this: '"I say a lot of things -- millions of words a day -- so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement," she said.' So she doesn't lie, she just "misspeaks".

Millions of words? No wonder the budget is always shot, they've got no concept of figures...

============

(Extract of the first part of the article)

(CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton said she "misspoke" last week when she gave a dramatic description of her arrival in Bosnia 12 years ago, recounting a landing under sniper fire.

Sen. Hillary Clinton discusses housing woes Monday in Philadelphia ahead of Pennsylvania's April 22 primary.

Clinton was responding to a question Monday from the Philadelphia Daily News' editorial board about video footage of the event that contradicted her assertion that her group "ran with our heads down" from the plane to avoid sniper fire at the Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for rival Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, said the Bosnia claim was part of "a growing list of instances in which Sen.

Clinton has exaggerated her role in foreign and domestic policymaking."

Clinton told the paper's editorial board it was a "minor blip."

"I say a lot of things -- millions of words a day -- so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement," she said.

Marius
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 22:41:52 (ZULU)

Duman: I'm just saying that I'd take nothing on faith from the Leftist idealogues who produce Frontline. If they are right, they are right but keep in mind that they are expert propagandists and they have an agenda.

CDC'
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 22:53:14 (ZULU)

Howdy Gents,

Well I know that it's been a while since I've posted. I have been moving around like a mad man. Other than shooting at Army Qual ranges, I haven't gotten to do any shooting for well over a year now. I hope that when I get back, I'll be able to get back into some long range stuff. My Stealth is crying to get hot!

Last yall heard I was stationed in Germany. Now i'm in Iraq, about half way through my tour... 15 months. It is not at all what I expected. I find myself fighting boredom more than the enemy.

My Company is a Sryker Route Clearance Company. We have been hit 3 times and lost 3 tires. We have found 35 IED/EFPs in the 3 AOs that we have opperated in. I have only seen 1 complex ambush, and I'll tell you what... We made a name for ourselves. They threw everything including the kitchen sink at us. Arty, IED, EFP, RPG, SAF; no friendly casualties 6 enemy KIA. It's awesome to watch 2 M240B rockin' on each side of 1 vehicle.

Other than that i've been shot at once, and the guy ran away before I could get PID. I wanted to kick myself.

Well if any of yall Texans are around in early June, I'd like to link up and send some lead down range and toss a few back afterward. 18 days will be a nice get away from here. Yall take care and I'll catch ya on the flip side.

Mayhem Out!

Mayhem
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 22:57:18 (ZULU)

Just dropped by to congratulate the big DOG, on the final slam.....

litosan', long time a comin, but good things come to those that wait.........

I know it was a lot loger than YOU wanted.

But Victory at last.........

Congrats dudeski.

Two Shoes

Two Shoes
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 23:51:43 (ZULU)

Hey Shoes...

Welcome home DudeSki.

Thanks for the good words.

I had a face to face meeting with the mayor of the town that my ex ripped off for $300,000 - he is very interested...

I think she is in deeper than she can handle this time.

I guess it's that old thing about never make enemies of people that have knowledge of your bad deeds ;)))

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 01:38:36 (ZULU)

Pat - Old age and treachery is how I always win! :) That old age stuff is how SF works, it is a vicious circle. I remember in 1970, I am humping the woods and mountains of the lovely state of New Hampshire with my team. The mountains are killing me and my ruck feels as if it has added about 50 lbs. I look up front and there is this old guy with just as big, if not bigger ruck, that is still going. I am now thinking that there is no way that that old fart Team Sgt, yes young dumb and full of it back then, was going to show me up! FLASH FORWARD to 1989 and I am moving my new young team, full of new young "Green Berets", through the mountains and jungle of Panama with heavy rucks and weapons and ammo. I am sweating my a** off and my breath is coming in a ragged wheezing manner befitting a 3 pack a day habit. I keep looking back at the youngens and thinking that there is no way I was going to let those young studs show me up! IT is a vicious circle!! :)

Charles - IN those circumstances you are never golden, only good for the moment. As soon as you say Golden you will not get an other package for months. :)

Wes - Not to be a downer but, I am now the ripe old age of 60 and it is not getting better. I have to use the hot shower now and again to make sure I can walk back to the coffee pot to get my second cup. Yes, my wife has to get the first for me. It was still worth the ride though! :)

Joe M. As you can tell from my tale of woe above, that circle never dies, it just keeps everyone on their toes! Take care with the contracts, there are some real stinkers out there. You do not have QRFs, med evac, supporitng fires nor air assets, all of which make one hell of a difference when the s**t hits the fan. As far as pay, go for the most as you want to be able to quit as soon as possible. They don't call it mercenary for nothing you know. :)

Rod - 500 K is bigger hen our army.

'Lito - We started loosing our political will during the end of WWII. We have not found it since. They talk about us losing Viet Nam, nope we gave that one away using the same mealy mouth BS tactics being used today by the same bunch of loser a**holes. It seems that the media feels that its job is to turn the public against any and all gov't. Opps, sorry off on a rant and I told myself I would stay calm for a while. How about that Hillary?!! :)

Well late and I need sleep, I over slept this morning and had to roll right into work mode this morning upon arriving and that is not good for my constitution. :)

You guys stay safe and Hold Hard.

Rick B.

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 03:05:14 (ZULU)

Greetings,

Microtech Small Arms Research is a new company that is producing a clone Steyr AUG. They started offering rifles for sale in January.

If anybody has had first had experience with one, I would be interested in what you have to say.

The unoriginal Pat.

Pat II
Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 04:43:44 (ZULU)

"How about that Hillary?!! :)"

Rick: I think the veracity of a war story is inversely related to how far and wide you tell it...ya think she is bad, just wait a dozen more years when everybody was a green beret in Iraq:))

Joe M
Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 06:08:00 (ZULU)

story implying *that's* where all the surplus ammo went...

http://www.newsobserver.com/nation_world/story/1014586.html

Could have been a sub-plot from the movie "Lord of War" :-)

In the book "Charlie Wilson's War" it was claimed that most of .303BR surplus was acquired by the CIA to covertly supply the Mujahadeen during the earlier phase of their fight with the Russians...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 16:52:43 (ZULU)

Joe....I'll give you a contact email for the AG project manager. Appparently, G4S is leaving everyone in place, recruitment will continue. If I remember, you're a few years younger than I, and you were for-real Big Army while I was munching donuts. Shouldn't be too hard with your certs and resume.

One right thing, medevac and medical is a bit different. If we get fubar'ed REAL bad, we'll PROBABLY get a military flight out. If we get in a real shitstorm, the Army or NATO troopers are gonna watch, and say "man, that's gotta suck." It's constantly pounded into us that we is all we's got.

Wes....true words.

Pat...got your email, muchas gracias, mi amigo. Soy a sus ordines!

Got my first promotion today. Team leader, Delta shift, ERT. Now I'm the one that gets yelled at.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 17:04:01 (ZULU)

CDC',

Thank you for the feedback. As always, I appreciate your perspective. Looking back, there were several places where the information was probably presented in a manner to be inflammatory.

All the best...

Duman
Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 19:51:06 (ZULU)

Rosterfarians,

In about 8 hours we're off for a week, coming back next week Friday. Please don't wreck the place while I'm gone. Nor when I'm here :-)

Hopefully when I'm back I'll have finished the review on Plaster's new "Encyclopedia of Sniping and Sharpshooting" which Paladin sent me to review. Man, that is one interesting book. Every page I go "I must remember this!" - just too much too remember. From way back when before they were accurate to now in Iraq - it's all there.

Ken will look after all of 'yer.

Take care

Marius

Marius
Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 23:46:31 (ZULU)

Mike Rock's web page is:

http://www.rockcreekbarrels.com/

His corporate email adrs is on that page.

(proud owner of 2 Rock barrels :-)

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 00:38:21 (ZULU)

T-bonds shunned by world's 5th largest investment fund. This plays out on so many levels: New debt cannot be financed, so congress can either print more money just for the hell of it, or they can seriously curtail spending. OK, so they just keep spending cuz that is all they know; so, they just crank up the presses and release the greenbacks. And printing money that represents nothing more than a desire to spend it (no productivity behind it) which devalues a currency faster than you can say "weimer". So, devalued currency doesn't also devalue grain or copper--hence, inflation. Only this sort is on steroids. So, congress just keeps on writing bad checks, GW keeps endorsing them, and nobody is willing to step up and cover the bad checks overseas anymore. And, all the while they see these little meltdowns and say "wall street sure fucked up this time" All the while, the problem lies in federal deficits finally reaching the saturation point. But since nobody wants to connect those dots due to the political "suicide" of cutting someone's pet entitlement program--we march on into this abyss.

Otherwise smart people collectively being stupid---it sure is fun to watch.

If you have a credit card set aside for emergencies, you may want to use it to buy flour:))

Joe M
Friday, March 28, 2008, at 05:10:17 (ZULU)

Lito - sent you a PM two days ago.

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 14:39:23 (ZULU)

Re - spotting scope, need help

I have a Bushnell Spacemaster Camo 15X40X60 (5 years old ~). Just spoke with Bushnell and was informed that to look at it I will have to cover both to and from the S/H charges. Also, to replace the eye piece cover, due to the thread being stripped, I would have to pay the cost given that the eye piece cover is of a soft material. Also, to change the eye relief on the eye piece is not covered and that I will also be required, most likely, to pay its cost too.

Any have any suggestions on how I can address this issues without breaking the bank?

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 16:02:10 (ZULU)

Darren...

Sorry I didn't answer you - I was getting the Rug Rat registered in school and it has been crazy here.

I'll answer it today or tomorrow.

On the Bushnell...

I have one of the Bushnell "Space Master" scopes. The plastic eyepiece cover is very fragile, so there is nothing you can do except order another one. My threads are a little shaky too ;)

The eye pieces for the Bushnell have always been an issue. They are not the best.

Many years ago, I bought eye pieces from Mirador that have the same thread - they are outstanding.

I bought a 22x Long eye relief eyepiece and a 30x.

Also, one of the other scope companies had a 11x33 power zoom eye iece that is very nice.

I don't know if these are still made, but they might show up on ebay - I will look into it if you want - they WERE expensive (new), though used ones might be cheap.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 16:31:44 (ZULU)

JoeM,

"Otherwise smart people collectively being stupid---it sure is fun to watch."

That's the human condition. Individuals are intelligent. Groups become increasingly dumber the larger they become. Heinlein observed this 60+ years ago, and I'm sure it's probably somewhere in Plato's dialogues...

Duman
Friday, March 28, 2008, at 16:49:05 (ZULU)

Thanks for the post Lito. Do you know off hand what the thread description is. I want to search for a replacement eye piece that has has the variable adjustment.

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 16:58:14 (ZULU)

Darren...

I answered your e-mail.

>" Thanks for the post Lito. Do you know off hand what the thread description is. I want to search for a replacement eye piece that has has the variable adjustment."<

One of the good eyepieces is marked "Mirador 50s-16x 60s-20x", meaning that if it used with the 50s scope it is 16x, and if it is used with the 60s scope, it is 20x it is a LER (Long eye relief) eye piece.

The other two don't have names on them, but they came from one of the better Japanese spotting scope makers - Kowa. They are for the old Kowa 50mm and 60mm scope with Kowa "Screw in" eye pieces.

If you call Kowa, they might be able to help you.

... all of them were in the $75 to $95 range each.

I would have not gone through the trouble, except that this Space Master is an "ED" scope that was made for only a year, and discontinued. It was killed because of the standard bushnell eyepieces that are crap - so people didn't want the scope - which is outstanding with other maker's eye pieces.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 18:15:02 (ZULU)

Lito, the prices have gone up, I have a price range of $210 up to $360 for the Kowa eye piece. Can not find Mirador anywhere. Still looking.

Darren

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 18:40:01 (ZULU)

Darren...

Call Kowa and ask them. These are OLD eyepieces for discontinued scopes - you won't find them in stores.

Ask Kowa if they have any left down in the basement ;))

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 18:52:35 (ZULU)

Will do Lito, when I spoke to them initially this is what they gave me but I will speak to them again but be clear on what I am looking for.

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 18:54:33 (ZULU)

Lito, Kowa asked when you picked up the eyepiece.

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 19:06:17 (ZULU)

Gents,

Charles H., Joe M., and all. Private contractors and greed. Tough one. If they are willing to pay $180K (or more) for a first tour employee it makes me wonder what the company is getting paid for your efforts. It's not greed if someone is willing to pay the tariff or you are willing to go in harms way for the money. I used to feel very differently when I was on active duty making peanuts by comparison. Looked at most contractors as incompetent opportunists and same for those in their employ with a few notable exceptions. Being older I view things a bit differently. How about 1 tour paying off your house, paying living expenses, and allowing you to invest a nice chunk of change? Honestly, I'd be there now if it weren't for medical issues that make me non-deployable. That sucks. Call me greedy too...;-)

As for contractors leaving your ass hanging, if things get bad, it's possible. I've looked at it as the government can barely sustain itself do you really think they'll ride to your rescue if it turns into a real fur ball? The better contractors may have a plan, but we know that no plan survives contact with the enemy. I've always viewed this as YOU better have a plan of your own. Even if it includes fighting your way to a safe area for extraction or simply making it to a friendly area. Lot's of what if's in this one and that makes your's truely nervous.

Duman, your comment on a "shadow government" at some second level may be correct. Question is who are they? I'd bet on special interest groups of some type that play behind the scenes. Who was it that got JFK kind of thing? Your right, if they exist they seem to be less competent than our legitimate government, if that is possible. Question is what is their true agenda? That's the kind of stuff that gives me headaches and nosebleeds.

Rick B., my wife doesn't need to get my coffee, yet. Just can't keep up with the youngin's any more tho'. The ride was a good one and I wouldn't trade a moment of it. Still, I'm paying the price for being 5'3" and trying to keep up with the big guys most of my life.

Will have to get a copy of Plaster's new work. Why? I don't know since I'm not a real sniper, but a RKI. Still it's a area of interest and provides a lot of enjoyment.

So, Mike Rock has had a birthday. I've only had one of his tubes and it was as good as any I've used. I'm still an Obermeyer man, when you can get them and have a number of Kreiger tubes. All have been excellent. Still a case of you get what you pay for.

Joe M., like you, I love the .223 and can't see a reason to go to the AI version. I don't like fire forming brass that much and I get plenty of once fired Federal brass from our ranges. It's not Lapua, but it's free and when properly prep'd I see no big difference. At least at my level of shooting. Have always felt if I needed more I'd go to the .22/250 or the .243 Winch/6mm Rem. Of course we both know that real men shoot 6.5's! The benefit I see to the .223 is that it does 95%+ of what I need with no fuss or bother. Just like it's big brother the .308. Simply put, they both work if the loose nut being the buttplate can get his shit together.

More later. You gents WY6.

Semper Fi,

Sir Wes

Wes Howe
Salem, OR, USA - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 19:20:41 (ZULU)

Darren...

>" Lito, Kowa asked when you picked up the eyepiece."<

Back in the "Stone age"

;)

About 10 years ago... maybe a bit more. :((

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Friday, March 28, 2008, at 20:52:52 (ZULU)

Sir Wes,

"Will have to get a copy of Plaster's new work. Why? I don't know since I'm not a real sniper"

As long as you've ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express you're GTG.

Duman,

"Individuals are intelligent. Groups become increasingly dumber the larger they become." That should leave the average IQ of Congress at somewhere close to four points above plant life. Ain't Government grand?

Everybody have a good weekend.

jc
Cordova, TN, United States - Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 06:07:47 (ZULU)

Wes wrote: "I've always viewed this as YOU (the Contractor) better have a plan of your own. Even if it includes fighting your way to a safe area for extraction or simply making it to a friendly area."

I'd take the $$ and not look back. It isn't "greed".

CDC'
Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 15:28:46 (ZULU)

Internet went down due to phone line BS off property; pissed me off to no end, especially the part about pro-rating my monthly charges. I won that one, after a fashion. DSL over phone lines is a shakey deal overall. But then, the satellite service I tried prior was just as bad:(( Country living...gotta deal with it.

Wes: Dudeski, I sure hope you are feeling better by an order of magnitude by now. I know it got real bad, but I was sure happy to hear it didn't get "worserer." You sure rode that fenceline though...so enough of this downer stuff---time to be well!

CDC: It goes from safe/ decent cash to downrigth scary and stupid cash. For me, I need to balance between 'nuff money and 'nuff chances to be a daddy (and grandpa, etc). The other way to look at it is short/ fast money, vs. more time away to acheive the same paycheck. Greed may have been a lousy way to express that scale.

Heheh, Maj John Plaster lives just down the road from here. I should go and coin his ass. Of course, I'll have the beer in hand, cuz I rather doubt I'd catch him without one:))

Joe M
Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 16:35:33 (ZULU)

The way I looked at it was this: I could have stayed with the PD for seven or eight more years, until I got my 87% pension. I would have still had a mortgage, and I would probably be divorced and a cardiac case. Or, I could opt for two, three years of this, and be debt-free, with money in the bank AND a pension. This way, I can spend alll the time I want being a Dad, grandad and husband. While it may be crass to look at it in purely monetary terms, you kinda have to, because it translates into personal gain. Just in the last two months, Boudicca is happier, I'm a LOT less stressed, and I'm actually looking forward to the future again.

I ALWAYS have a backup plan in case the situation turns completely south on me. Here, that is. I always keep my passport and at least a grand on me at all times. Unless both the Embassy AND the airport get overrun at the same time, I figure I have a backdoor. Maybe I'm whistling in the wind, but you gotta have some kinda plan. Also, with the DoS clearance, there's still a lot of other companies that are hiring. One of the men in my class was getting held up by some paperwork snafu, he is now in Iraq with AFCOM/SMG and that on the strength of the DoS training. The gravy train days may be over, and the field may be a bit thinned out, but I think the opportunities are still out there.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 17:22:09 (ZULU)

Al-Sadr is offering a truce, his followers to crease fire if those captured released. Nothing about disarming. Douche bag did it once, hope the Iragi Government doesn't fall for it again. Won't take bets.

WR Moore
Sunday, March 30, 2008, at 14:48:01 (ZULU)

Joe M: Yeah, "Greed" is the wrong word. Right now I can't think of a better one.

WR Moore: Al Sadr is playing us against ourselves. We'll keep falling for it because - as a country - we are goofy.

Charles Hunt: Good luck with your plan. Be cautious.

CDC'
Sunday, March 30, 2008, at 17:32:48 (ZULU)

Well, about to start an other week of fun and games. They get to try and make head shots at 200 and 300 with the target exposure of 3 seconds and it coming up over a 7 meter front, that is about 8 yards to you non metric gnomes. :)

Get to do movers as well and they are introduced to 800 meters later this week. All in all a fun week for all. A bit humbling for some as well.

Contractor greed and what do you get compared to the company. In 91 - 94 I worked Saudi training the Royal Guard, I found out that while I was being paid 500 a day plus per diem. They were getting 1000 a day. Not bad except that I was doing what amounted to and they were paid for, three separate job descriptions. Thus I was doing it for 500 and they were getting 3000. Yep watch yourself. On getting pulled out. The military will only come in if they can and most of the time they can't due to numerous reasons some of which are political. Few contractors have true E&R plans, and fewer have planned QRFs. Too many are there to make what they can with what they have.

Wes - Many of the contractors are incompetent and liars. They got their job by lying on their resume and only now are there resources to catch them. You would not believe the pin heads we have caught in vetting personnel that are already over there. In that point I can only say watch your back. The next thing is the guys that is always spouting how high speed he is is unusually full of s**t. He is a poser and will run at the first shot.

On the morning coffee, it will go good and then all of a sudden you will wake up and not want to move. :)

Al Sadr - Should have capped him on the first go. He is doing the standard fight until he is hurt a bit then truce until rested. They did that in Viet Nam. Yep, need to hurt him so bad he runs to Iran and stays there, of course a bad car accident during the run would not be bad.

Well, time to go crawl into bed and for sleep. Tomorrow on the range could be fun. :)

Hold Hard guys!

Rick B.

Rick B.
Fayetteville, NC, USA - Monday, March 31, 2008, at 04:17:58 (ZULU)

Chuck,

Glad to hear you are having fun. I am still the overtime runner up. Bad new for you maybe the propsed pension changes. 70% at 20 yrs. Crap I maybe gone at 22 yrs. 75% and Im done. The pension made 16% last year. For those of you that don't know our PD & FD manage thier own fund. We pay folks to advise us but we make the final decisions. 16% ok 1.3 Billon is a bunch.

Mayhem glad you are still around. I would like to go shooting some time with you. Damn it has been a while. Was it 5 yrs ago we shot at the Bullet Hole? Don't know what I'll be doing in June but should be around.

Dirty Steve back to napping mode.

Dirty Steve
San Antonio , Texas, USA - Monday, March 31, 2008, at 05:33:24 (ZULU)

Hygenically challenged Steve:

Glad to hear about the pension. Hope you enjoy it. 30% more, proposed, don't beat 120

Hygenically Challenged Steve:

Hope you guys get the increase in pension. I quadrupled my takehome pay in a month, and I'm happier'n I been in 19 years. Can't put a price tag on that!

Got bumped up to "Team Leader". Fancy name for "He who has more work to do, now".

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Monday, March 31, 2008, at 17:26:30 (ZULU)

Re: Islam

There is a video called FITNA on Liveleak. It is about the radical side of islam and the true nature of this beast. Click my name to view it or simply go to liveleak.com and search for FITNA. Liveleak had to take it down because of threats to their employee but now they have it back up. Below is their commentary.

** 30/3/2008: Liveleak Update **

On the 28th of March LiveLeak.com was left with no other choice but to remove the film "fitna" from our servers following serious threats to our staff and their families. Since that time we have worked constantly on upgrading all security measures thus offering better protection for our staff and families. With these measures in place we have decided to once more make this video live on our site. We will not be pressured into censoring material which is legal and within our rules. We apologise for the removal and the delay in getting it back, but when you run a website you don't consider that some people would be insecure enough to threaten our lives simply because they do not like the content of a video we neither produced nor endorsed but merely hosted.

Interview of the individual who made the video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d26_1206135902

Darren
East Bay, CA, USA - Monday, March 31, 2008, at 21:49:32 (ZULU)

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