leroy

Blue:_________ I am old enough to have both 45 cal 1911's and the old colt 38 super 1911's --- early vintage series 70's. The great bane of the OLD 38 super was headspace which caused accuracy problems. A 45 ACP headspaces on the case mouth. The old 38 super headspaces on a tiny case rim. What happens is that the chamber tolerances get a little sloppy and the rim is too small for the round to reliably catch the rim recess in the barrel of the super. That causes eratic headspacing (the round will drop off this rim and into the barrel a little way) and poor accuracy results. Whenever this happens, accuracy is terrible. The only gun in our gun locker that i can outshoot is a series 70 38 super. That being said, there is a way to fix this problem. The way we hillbilly yahoos used to fix this problem (which i dont recommend) was to seat the bullets out where they just touched the lands of the barrel -- that fixed the headspace problem -- the pistol would shoot like a house afire -- deadly accurate. The problem was that it was hard on brass. The old supers did not have a fully supported chamber (thats the reason for ramped barrels -- look at the glocks and newer ramped 1911's). That unsupported area allowed the brass to bulge and it would usually rupture on about the second reload. As you can see, that's a bad idea. But all this was done when we were young and ignorant -- it all seemed to be ok at the time. Thankfully, times have changed. Several aftermarket barrel makers, Barsto being the first of them, make barrels that fixed the head space problem by using a case mouth headspace arrangement similar to the 45 acp. The barrel cost is from about $200 up, depending on vendor. That one change turns the 38 super into a great and accurate pistol. I like the 38 super, but it needs to be handloaded to bring out its true potential. Recoil is milder than the 45 because the bullets are lighter. There are those who will tell you that the 38 super is a rimless 357 magnum. It aint -- one look at any good reloading manual will reveal that a 38 super is a little more powerful than a plus + 38 special or a 9 mm luger. They will not do what is 357 sig will do. The 38 super is a great choice for a low recoiling round in a 1911 type pistol. It is fun to shoot. I know that there are practical pistol shooters who will find fault with this post; but they shoot modified pistols with ramped barrels and hotrod the super. That is a whole different ball game from shooting a stock 38 super 1911. All said, all done, if you can find a super that headspaces on the case mouth with a fully ramped barrel; you will find an accurate, reliable auto pistol. If you find and old Colt; you will find a great old pistol that needs a new barrel to be as accurate and reliable as it should be. Hope this helps. Kind regards, LEROY

Dear folks:____________ Thanks to all of you who took the time to provide your thoughts on Para products. It looks like now all i need to do is to get to work on finding the best deal i can on a GI. Thanks again. Kind regards, LEROY

Warbird:_________ If its a "Fat Boy" it will hold a 4 inch n frame smith or a 5 inch 1911. The smaller one wont. Hope this helps. Kind regards, LEROY

Check this link out: USATODAY.com - New digital camera? Know how, where you can use it When my son was younger we spent lots of time on public property taking railfan pictures. The old rules were " if you can see it, you can take a picture of it." some LE and RR personnel didnt like it; but they couldnt do anything about it. As far as the railroad thing was concerned, when you got on their property (thats private property), you were tresspassing -- they didnt like that and would prosecute you for it -- thats another issue. You have no right to tresspass on someone elses property and do anything; including taking pictures. That being said, there are places where you cant take pictures. They are usually inside the gates of a company that does proprietary things (or simply has a "no picture taking" policy -- real "intellectual property"), concerts (alledged "intellectual property" -- hehehe), other places where you pay for the priveledge of entry and has a "no picture taking policy". RE: Sensitive areas, dams, power houses, nuclear power plants, defense facilities, etc. Since 9/11 there are many who will tell you that you cant take pictures of certain things from public property. I'm not sure that they can legally do anything but try to intimidate you as long as you are on public property. I worked for a company (a large utility) that would immediately investigate any "suspicious" picture taking. They sent the security guys out and asked bunches of questions. Hope this helps. Kind regrds, LEROY

Dear fellow pistol affectionados: I have been watching and reading about the PARA stuff for quite a while. I really like the looks of the new Para mil spec type 1911, and you cant beat the price. The problem to me seems to be that opinions are sharply divided concerning the quality and reliability of PARA products. Please school me concerning your experiences with them if you would. What do you like about them? What do you not like about them? What goes wrong with them? How do they shoot? ect, ect. Thanks in advance. Kind regards, LEROY

I like the PPS for "sunday go to meeting" carry in khakis and dress pants --- thin and a bit lighter. The only down side is the price -- i think they are expensive for what they are -- simply put, a plastic pistol. If you can live with the thickness, any of the baby Glocks are great. After all the studying and opinion gathering; the best solution is most likely exactly what HEX said: Probably the best advice based on cost, size, capacity, and firepower. Kind regards, LEROY

I agree with Canynracer here. The folks in Kalefornia have done some pretty good things in the past. Sadly, there have been some serious mistakes in judgement. As Crimsonauto opined: Sadly, they did elect Jerry Brown and Gray Davis -- two great buffoons -- both Democrats. The only two democrats elected since 1967. That aint a bad average. Now, Kalefornia seems to be closely divided between real people and nuts; with the battle raging back and forth -- all elections are hotly contested. There is an additional plague on Kalefornia due to their State Supreme Court and the US 9 th Circuit that slaps the citizens around pretty regularly with rabidly partizan rulings that thwart the will of the people at the ballot box. They also (like all of us) seem to be swamped by demigogues telling lies to get elected, or folks with no core values who can simply be lead around by others -- that's exactly what is happening to the "Governator" in my opinion. Folks need to look deeply into the policies, beliefs (yes, beliefs!!), passed experience, and actions of those they choose to vote for. They do make a difference. Those views can be translated into governmental policies and law very quickly -- just as the "Governator" has done. Right here in Tennessee; we elected a fella by the name of Sundquist. He claimed to be Republican. He was simply a crook polititian from Missouri who used the vehicle of the Republican party to be a candidate for office. He was neither a Tennesseean or a Republican -- he was a disgrace --- again, no core values. That precipitated the election of a fella by the name of Bredesen. He said he was a conservative Democrat. He is not -- he is a yankee carpetbagger liberal who made lots of money (by the way, making lots of money aint necessarily a bad thing as long as it has been done honestly --- its called capitalism. Its a great thing!!!) and wanted to run the state. He did a pretty good job the first term -- the second term was a lot different -- the truth came out. The sad fact is that Bredesen, sorry as he is, is a credit to Sundquist. Again, its the old problem of character and truth-telling. Also, the problem transends political party -- both Dems and Republicans are guilty. At the national level, there was a fella by the name of Clinton who told the people of the USA that he wasn't like the "left wing nut" Demorats. He was elected on that platform. He was right. No Democrat before him had sold out the USA to as great an extent as he did with regards to foreign nations. He made China a real military threat to the USA. The "nuts" openly said who they were and couldnt get elected except in the northeast and left coast. Clinton lied about his core beliefs and did get elected . Fast forward to 2008. Barak Noboma said the same thing with the "hope and change" baloney. Another lie --- look at how the "hope and change" is turned into Chicago machine politics at its worst. Be careful who you choose to vote for. Character does matter. Food for thought. Kind regards, LEROY

Dixie Gun Works, Paris, TN. Bout an hour or hour and a half from your place. Web address here: Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies. A veritable treasurehouse of this type stuff. Check out their website. I believe you can still walk in to their store. Hope this helps. Kind regards, LEROY

KWE:____ Take a look at these guys: Andrews Custom Leather Check out the McDaniel II. I just got one; but havent broken it in yet. Dont plan to use it until cold weather when i usually wear a coat. If you are like me (a bit rotund -- hehe); Allen Miller, Greenville, TN, (would have given the website; but couldnt pull it up -- just google allen miller, greenville--) makes a left or right handed kydex inside the pocket that works like a charm for either front pocket or hip pocket carry -- costs a whopping $30.00. The holster is curved to fit the leg (or hip) and stays where you put it. I carry a Glock 33; its the same as a 26; only difference is caliber. Check these guys out; they are both great to deal with. Kind regards, LEROY

congratulations!!! Kind regards, LEROY

It's sad but true. The "Govenator" has turned into a weenie -- now he is a "looooser" too. I had great hopes for him; but it goes to show that when you have no core values; you can be talked (or hen-pecked) into anything. The people of the State of Kalefornia deserve better. Keep up the good work. Kind regards, LEROY

I aint beating ya up; but you might want to read and think on this: This is part of a supreme court ruling. This little tidbit cuts both ways. Most folks (me included) think that we should speak responsibly. Some folks (including operatives in both political parties and their serfs) spend all their time speaking "speaking foolishly and without moderation". They destroyed George Bush with it; they tried and failed to destroy Ronald Reagan with it -- he answered them back -- Bush didnt. They even slandered Harry Truman by making fun of his daughter's piano playing -- he called their hand. They did the same thing to Sarah Palin. Politics is a tough line of work -- lots of examination, dirt, and recrimination by your enemies. Remember, as Harry Truman so famously said: "If you cant stand the heat; stay out of the kitchen". If they take unflattering pictures and say unflattering things; thats too bad. If they say untrue things and doctor pictures; thats slander. You can sue for that. I vote to leave the First Amendment alone. If they can change this one; they can change all the others -- Especially the Second -- the one we really like. The First Amendment cuts both ways. Food for thought. Kind regards, LEROY

I really like lthis one!! Lets stir this hornets nest up again. Check out this opinion piece from Dennis Prager. He is exactly right: Why President Obama Was Awarded the Nobel Prize — The Patriot Post Why President Obama Was Awarded the Nobel Prize By Dennis Prager · Tuesday, October 13, 2009 The Nobel Peace Prize, already devalued, has sunk to a new low. This assessment has nothing to do with one's estimation of this year's recipient, President Barack Obama. Most of those on the left, with a few predictable exceptions such as the New York Times, regard giving the president the award as belittling him and the prize. How did this happen? What was the Oslo Committee's motive? They may be moral idiots, but they are not stupid: I believe that they had two clear aims. One is to undercut American exceptionalism -- the notion that America has a superior moral value system to that of the "world" (specifically the United Nations and the European Union) and America's willing to use its unique power, alone when necessary, in accordance with that value system. The other is to promote an essentially pacifist agenda. Here is the entire announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize committee: 1. "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Meaning: No more Lone Ranger America. 2. "The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons." Meaning: The Nobel Committee wants no country to possess nuclear weapons. That an American president shares this dream and is working to achieve it excites the Nobel Committee -- and the world's left generally -- beyond words. Many people around the world -- not just Americans -- would characterize a world in which America and all other decent countries had no nuclear weapons not as a dream, but as a nightmare. But for the naive left-wing (a redundant phrase: If one is not naive about evil, one is not on the left) members of the Nobel Committee, the prospect of encouraging an American president to dismantle his country's nuclear arsenal was too tempting to allow to pass -- even at the price of appearing foolish. 3. "Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play." Meaning: To the international left, as embodied by the five members of the Nobel Prize Committee, the United Nations is the beacon of hope for mankind. To many Americans and others, however, the United Nations is regarded as a moral wasteland that rewards some of world's cruelest regimes with seats on its Human Rights Committee, does nothing to prevent genocides (some would way say the U.N. actually abets them), honoring tyrants, and mired in corruption. 4. "Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts." Meaning: As the pacifist bumper sticker puts it: "War is not the answer." Oslo's approach echoes what the British government under Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed vis a vis Adolf Hitler. But had Hitler been confronted instead of "dialogued" with, perhaps tens of millions of innocent men and women's lives would have been spared and the Holocaust averted. Europeans tend to believe that evil regimes will act responsibly because of dialogue, not threats of force. 5. "The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations." Meaning: We believe that a world in which no country possesses nuclear weapons will be a safer world. We believe that even though the technology to make nuclear weapons will still exist, no terrorist organization, nor any other bad people, will make such weapons. The existence and deterrent power of nuclear weapons have probably saved as many lives as have antibiotics. As David Von Drehle writes in this week's Time Magazine, "If the Nobel committee wants someday to honor the force that has done the most over the past 60 years to end industrial-scale war, they will award a peace prize to the bomb." 6. "Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting." Meaning: To our delight, unlike the previous president, this one believes in global warming and in changing the American economy to combat it. The "climate change" scare has become the most effective vehicle for compelling a transformation of Western economies along the lines that left-wing environmentalists have urged for decades. 7. "Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened." This, unfortunately, has no meaning; it is nonsense. Under Barack Obama, the United States has not been the friend of democrats around the world. America has responded weakly to the democratic movement in Iran, ended the funding of the largest pro-Iranian human rights groups in America, pressured democratic Israel, made overtures to Hugo Chavez while denying American ally and pro-democratic Colombia a free trade agreement, abandoned Honduran anti-Chavez democrats, and has obsequiously deferred to Vladimir Putin. 8. "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future." Meaning: Only very rarely does the European left have such a kindred spirit in the American presidency. 9. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." Meaning: With Barack Obama, we in Europe finally have an opportunity to end American exceptionalism. The Oslo committee's view is, tragically, true. Thanks to Barack Obama, America is for the first time is aligning its values with those of "the majority of the world's population." If you think the world's population has had better values than America, that it has made societies that are more open, free, and tolerant than American society, and that it has fought for others' liberty more than America has, you should be delighted. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM Food for thought. LEROY

Jack is right. Lots of good advice here: Knife sharpening is a pretty important skill. It has been my experience that much of the problem with sharpening actually comes from getting the knife edge 'too sharp" (i know, it sounds crazy). The old timers called it a "wire edge". The "wire edge" is an extraordinarily thin edge that will bend or "turn" as the old guys said and appears to be dull. The "wire edge" needs to be broken off to expose the real cutting edge -- usually by "stropping" (stropping is simply rrubbing the edge in the trailing position (the opposite of "slicing the stone)) against a leather or canvas srop. You may want to re-try the sharpening thing, then strop the edge on some old leather. Also, here is a good resource for sharpening: Amazon.com: The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening (9780446380027): John Juranitch: Books Its a little old, but full of good information. By the way, once a knife is sharpened correctly, its pretty easy to touch up the edge with few licks on a stone and strop to keep it sharp. Kind regards, LEROY

Amen brother!! Well said. Remember Winston's great quote: "You are known as well by your detractors as your admirers." Sounds like RalphG.Briscoe has reappeared to educate all us home boys!! Bring on the dialogue and tell us how smart the great Booboma is and exactly why his policies are saving us all. LEROY

I really like this question -- I'm goin to take a shot at answering it. Always remember that the Nobel Prize committee is made up of a bunch of socialist, effiminate european weanies who love anyone (read that political demigogue, buffoon, dictator wannabee, or murdering son of satan) who trashes the US and embraces (or just says he or it embraces) the cowardly, socialist policies of the committtee. They are simply rewarding his anti american actions and sending a message that he will continue to recieve accolades from these weenie sons of satan if he keeps trashing the USA and making it weaker -- which i predict he will continue to do -- thats who he is at heart. Remember the list of former Nobel Peace Prize winners: 1. Yasser (or Youser --hehehe) Arafat. A real man of peace. Unrepentent terrorist. Avowed enemy of Israel. Advocated the "ethnic clensing" of all Jews and, in fact, fostered and participated personally in doing just that. 2. Jimmy (Im a buffoon) Carter. A one termer who was held hostage by the Iranians before they were even tough. A non-nobel peace prize winner and two term president caused Iran to release the hostages without putting an army in the field or firing a shot. A guy named Ronald Reagan. The socialists called him a warmonger and an uneducated buffoon. 3. Albert (Polar Bear) Gore, Jr. A presidential wannabee and real clown. It is sad, indeed, that he claims to be a son of Tennessee. (He's not -- he was raised in DC -- he simply has a residence here). 4. The Ayatoyla Komeni (I think). Another evil old man who lied to the weak minded and the cowardly and was lavisly praised as a "man of peace". The fact is that this son of satan was the real father of modern Iran (along with the first Iran -- Iraq war that killed a couple of generations of Iranians). He is also the father of that other noted peaceful organization -- Hezbolla. You see, he brought peace to the middle east along the iran/iraq border by killing millions of his children and brothers -- what a man of peace!!. Ya see, when you look at it this way; Barak fits right in. The real looser in this deal is Bill Clinton -- he was president of the world and armed the Red Chinese with enough american technology to perfect their ICBM program and make it as good as anyones -- never mind that it could be used against the US. He should have won the prize too. Remember the great words of Winston Churchill: "You are known just as well by your detractors as your admirers." There are simply some folks that you don't want to be numbered with. The modern Nobel Peace Prize list is one of them. As the old scotsman would say: "Th hell with tha Nobel Peece Priz and those wha give it awee!!". Dont worry about it. Just remember what has happened when election time comes. Food for thought. Keep up the good work! Kind regards, LEROY

Amen brother!! Well said. All gun control is good for is to make free people serfs. I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said: "Those who beat their weapons into plowshares will plow for those who dont." You need to go after any polititian or burecrat who goes after your guns in any manner!! Thts at the local, state, and federal level. As Chief stated, your vote does count and character in elected officials counts as well. Keep up the good work!! Kind regards, LEROY

Blaster:__________ Been thinking about this one a little bit since you posted it. Ive got an old remington 700 whose reciever and barrel look like a woodpecker has been drilling on it -- they are all filled with filler screws. All of the holes are for various scope mounts. I would sugguest that you talk to a gunsmith; but i would try to fill the hole with a filler screw (this is a screw that is the exact diameter of the hole (and the exact thread size if the hole is threaded) -- you can get them from Brownells), then stake the screw in or use a good locktite to hold it in place (red would be my choice). You probably need to have a gunsmith do this (you can do it yourself if you are reasonably "mechanical"); but YOU HAVE TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE FILLER SCREW DOES NOT INTRUDE INTO THE BARREL. That will take some precise measuring and looking to verify. A screw intruding into a barrel on a bolt rifle is a recipe for disaster (read that blowing up the barrel and maybe launching the bolt back into your nose -- thats a bad thing). If you really like this rifle, you may want to discuss this with a good gunsmith. I dont know any in Dayton; but there is a great one at Predator Firearms in Knoxville. My guess as to the repair cost if you can do this is in the $20 to $40 range. Sleevng it to a smaller caliber is probably "real money" . Hope this helps. Kind regards, LEROY

Will do!!! Kindest sympathy, LEROY

I love this!!! Sounds like me!! Keep up the good work!! Kind regards, LEROY

Dave:_________ I happen to believe that it is, indeed, a government conspiracy AT THE LOCAL LEVEL; not the Federal level. Big city police departments (as well as other departments) are populated at the top by political operatives; and always have been. These people are chosen because their opinion are congruent with their bosses; and because of their willingness to take orders; not their views on upholding the constitution or regard for private citizens. Take a look at any large metropolitan police department in the united states, including the state of Tennessee. There are regular posts on this forum that discuss the political bents and legal views of those at the top -- and the actions discussed are many times are clearly overbearing, are full of political moves -- in many cases, contrary to established law (the HCP in the parks issue is a good example). Chiefs of Police wield lobbying power in the political arena that you and i can never hope to match -- but they never answer directly to the people they are sworn to "serve and protect". They are responisble for lobbying for changes in laws and have a great influence on the judiciary. That's why im always concerned when i see these people say things that are contrary to the basic freedoms enumerated in the constitution, or putting forth concepts that are antithetical to common decency -- such as ratting on your neighbor. They are also responsible for developing the policies used in the department and the officers of the department are obliged to follow them if they want to stay employed. Their pronouncements can be implemented, legal or not, by purely giving the order. They are only changed when they are challenged in court and ruled on. I'm sure you can find a few exceptions; but for the most part these folks are motivated not by the constitution and right doing; but by partizan politics at its worst. The genesis of "shall issue" handgun carry laws are the direct result of abuses of the old system that allowed individual chiefs of police and sheriffs to hand out carry permits to their political friends and deny them to others -- thats why the state laws say that the state "shall issue permits". Sadly, one of the biggest problems that this nation faces is the problems of these big cities like New York, Chicago (who elected a president recently), Los Angeles, etc being reduced to political fiefdoms in which the mayors and city councils look like the old Politburo of the USSR and act that way. They are busy buying and selling the weak minded and the gutter trash with pennies and are robbing and oppressing the real producers that live within the city or metro limits. That's why the big cities are experiencing an exodus of real people who pay their taxes and are producers. I am not bashing any legitimate attempts by law enforcement to protect the general public; but i do believe that the techniques endorsed and methods used should be congruent with the law and common decency. I do believe that there are serious flaws in both the police enterprise and legal enterpirise in some of these large cities -- including some in Tennessee. We have plenty of laws on the books which give ample authority to investigate legitimate issues; and always have had. This latest round of "security enhancements" is nothing more than an excuse for tightening the noose on more peoples freedoms by telling the weak minded that it is their civic duty to "rat on their neighbors". I happen to believe that most people are responsible enough to take a look at" suspicious activities" and have some judgemental ability to evaluate them without some armchair admiral in a big city police department telling them what to look for and encouraging them to so. You may thing this is 'tinfoil hat" stuff but i encourage you to research what happened at Athens, TN right after WW2 as well as other places in the US.. I believe there is a post on it in the blog section of this forum. Food for tought. Kind regards, LEROY

I like em too!!! Thanks for reminding us all of their greatness again!!! Kind regards, LEROY

Amen brother!! I'ts great to hear from a fellow Colt affectionato!! You and i are both old enough to remember when Colt was the only 1911 --- As Jeff Cooper said: "They Yankee Fist"!! Thanks for remembering!! Kind regards, LEROY

Amen brother!! Well said!!! Keep up the good work. Kind regards, LEROY

You may want to do this: 1. Charge the powder -- measure it with the snout on your powder flask. The powder flask snouts screw on and come in graduated sizes; that is, they throw a constent charge of "x" grains of powder. I dont remember the graduations; but folks like dixie gun works and others sell them for the reenactors. ( I think the old "fill er up to the top of the cylinder" thing came from real old timers who used FF powder (you may want to look in an old Elmer Keith "sixgun" book for this one). I wouldnt advise doing it with FFF. Then you compressed the powder charge with the loading lever.) 2. Put in a lubed felt wad. Then the ball. Then compress. The lubed wad does a couple of things. First, it keeps the powder charge from "chain firing"; which is a multiple cylinder ignition comming from firing one cylinder due to the fire jumping cylinder hole to cylinder hole. Secondly, the lubed wad makes it easier to keep the revolver clean. You can buy the high dollar lubed wads, but i always made them by the thousand by buying one tube of thompson center lube (or any other lube you like), melting the lube in a small pan or old coffee can over low heat, throwing in the wads and stirring them a little bit. The wads will soak the lube right up, and you can use the can to store them once it cools down. The wads and lube probably cost 10 or 15 dollars total, and make one thousand. That way they are cheap and you never run out. 3. Some folks put crisco or lube over the ball to lube it. We never did. Some use the lube over the ball method and get rid of the wad. I dont like that either. We found that the accuracy with swaged round balls and lubed wads was super. Muzzle loading pistols are a blast to shoot and display amazing accuracy if you take the time to fugure out the right load and get the sights adjusted. The old timers who used the percussion guns were well armed indeed. Hope this helps. Kind regards, LEROY