gun sane

It's another scorcher out there today, but I knew you guys just couldn't wait much longer to hear about the groundbreaking trial of Shooters World Clean Shot powder. I gotta admit the Lovex online reloading data sucks. They have two ranges for the same 158-grain round nose lead boolit, one starting at 3.9 grains and the other at 4.2. I decided to do a tried-and true comparison test of the powder with Blackie, my .38/.357 Blackhawk thumb buster, since that's the cowboy that won me a Bersa Chat Meet & Greet prize a couple of years ago using an AA2 handload. So I made up five rounds of Clean Shot with 3.9 grains behind a 158-grain LSWC boolit, the same recipe that got me the title with AA2. The experiment was far from scientific. The American Legion range I use isn't big on marking distance lines. It's about 45 yards from the covered wickiup to the backstop, but that's for long guns only. Handgunners just walk up to the wall, turn around and spit a watermelon seed at a 45-degree angle into the air. Where it lands is about seven yards for the average set of lungs. Shooting one handed (I said it wasn't science), the first boolit from Blackie went straight into the bullseye, just like the day I won the match.  The other four rounds went nearby, all within a couple of inches. If you put me on the witness stand, I would say that Clean Shot is close enough to AA2, depending upon how you hold your gun and how much sweat is in your eyes. I don't own a chronograph, which keeps me out of the Reloading Hall of Fame, but I'd say the boolit went pretty danged fast (853 fps, according to Lovex figures). Rather than stand out there in the heat like an idiot and only shoot five shots, I brought along some more Clean Shot loads to test the stew. Lovex recommends you stop at 4.6 grains for .38 Special, regardless of which 158-grain lead round nose bullet data you try. Since Blackie is a .357 powerhouse, I threw away that envelope and ventured out into +P territory. The first few loads went to crap, group-wise. But when I got to 4.9 grains they tightened again. My last set, at 5.0 grains, left five beautiful holes a mere inch apart.  Again, this is from an old geezer shooting off-handed from seven yards away. Clean Shot is now my go-to for .38 special, since I used the last of my AA2 months ago. Now to get started developing a nice meal for Nickie, my shiny nickel-plated S&W Model 19. I'm looking forward to the results, even though Blackie fills your heart with joy playing cowboy for awhile. I couldn't stop humming the Frankie Lane theme from Gunfight at the O.K. Corral all the while I stood out there in the heat like a western sharpshooting idiot putting tight holes into the paper Clanton gang.

Three North Carolina men are facing conspiracy charges of manufacturing pipe bombs and grenades, with one planning to make a straw purchase of a firearm. As near as I can figure, that's why they're in deep do-do. But the AP story also leads you to believe that buying weapons, ammo and tactical gear to prep for martial law is the bigger charge.   http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONSPIRACY_ARRESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-03-16-34-13   If owning multiple firearms, ammo to feed them and mall ninja gizmos is a crime, I'd say most of us are guilty.....except those who lost them in that terrible tornado.  ;)

^^^^ Thanks, Major....I'll check them out. 

Blowtorches were made for anthills.  ;)

A class action lawsuit involving nine of Taurus' PT series pistols has been approved for repair or cash exchange beginning in August.  The claims cite an alleged defect that permits the pistols to fire accidentally when the safety is engaged.   http://www.guns.com/2015/07/31/claims-in-taurus-settlement-to-be-collected-in-august/

  How many of us engaged in BB gun wars?  I had several until the rich kid on the block bought a pellet rifle.  Instant armistice!

Bud's is catty-cornered from the gigantic Smoky Mountains Knifeworks wonderland store, which has a nice selection of guns, ammo and reloading stuff but also conveniently marked up for tourists.  I'd go to Bud's if I was looking for firearms and SMK if I had cutlery on my mind.  The real fun is traveling down Winfield Dunn Parkway on Saturday afternoons with the construction going on.  :wall:

It's a wonder so many kids got through those thrilling days of yesteryear alive. Now we have safer things to play with....like guns.   http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/us/8-insanely-dangerous-toys-from-the-past-will-leave-you-speechless-photos   As one commenter says, "The gene pool was deeper."

  Robert at Farnsworth stickers the item with the total price, so that's $29.99 including tax, title, license and drive-out.  I buy from David at the Knoxville gun show and enjoy his low prices, but I have to pay $8 at the door and about $5 at the gas pump.  When I must go to a show, I make a beeline for his table and don't bother splitting up my cost among a bunch of hijacking vendors.  :grouchy:

  It's at Farnsworth Firearms in Vonore for $29.99/bottle, not bad if you figure in Powder Valley's price + hazmat.  He's got about 6-7 bottles as of today.  Give them a call at 423-884-6462 and ask to hold some for you.

I was browsing at my favorite LGS today and saw a 1 pound bottle of this pistol/shotshell powder. It's made in the Czech Republic and packaged by an outfit in South Carolina. It's burn rate is in the vicinity of AA #2, Titegroup and W231. The LGS owner says he can get plenty of it and it's priced a few bucks lower than the three mentioned. Since powder is getting scarce I wondered if a bottle would be good to have for 9mm, 40 S&W and .38 Special. Anybody try it or heard of it?   http://www.shootersworldsc.com/

And then there is the "political panic" type of sale which rises and ebbs according to gun grabber activity.  Does everyone remember ARs hitting $3000+ a couple of years ago?

I've heard a lot of Crimestoppers messages, but this is the best by far:   http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/27/watch-this-lieutenants-message-to-a-burglar-thats-so-powerful-its-being-shared-around-the-world/

In Pinellas County, Florida, you must keep your BBQ smoke in your own backyard.   http://www.opposingviews.com/i/social/florida-official-tells-men-their-barbecue-smoke-cannot-cross-property-line-video

I'll ditto 10-Ring on the TCP, except mine didn't need any tweaking.  Mine's a black stainless "B" model (the last digit of the serial #) and has functioned great from the first mag full.  I've heard reports that some of the A models needed some adjustment as 10-ring says, but I suppose Taurus worked that out.  It belongs to my wife now, but lately she's been wanting to carry something heavier.  If you want a perfect sized belly gun, I give the TCP high marks.

I'll check with the wife to see if she's lost a tooth.

It's reported that one of the Marines killed in Chattanooga may have been armed during the attack.   http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/20/marine-may-have-been-armed-during-chattanooga-attack/?intcmp=trending

If the government believes by scanning SS files that a person is mentally incapable of responsible gun ownership, follow due process and call for a competency hearing before a federal judge and present medical evidence why this person's rights should be revoked.  From what I've seen, Obama could do with a guardian himself.

  Funny you should bring up 1984.  The government is way behind in achieving George Orwell's utopian scenario.

I shoot Berry's 100-grainers in my .380s and can use them in a 9mm case as well.  Both give good results.  I think that a heavier weight in a .380 case is an elusive and dicey quest.  Even factory loads stop at 95 grains and I'm sure there's good reasons for that.   If you're looking for a bullet that will satisfy two calibers and not put you into dangerous territory, I'd stop at the 100-grain and be happy, happy, happy.

A  Kingsport woman attempted to pass a phony $5 bill, saying Obama made a law for the private printing of money.   http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/07/14/police-woman-blames-obama-for-counterfeiting-money/   She would have stood a better chance if she'd put Dear Leader's picture on it.  :whistle:

As a comparison, let's see the AR.....   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSizVpfqFtw

One of the cheapest "entry level" AK rifles was converted to full auto for a torture test to determine how many rounds it would take to render it useless. It may surprise you....stay to the end.   http://www.guns.com/2015/07/13/how-many-rounds-does-it-take-to-make-an-ak-meltdown-video/

A Connecticut flea market shopper almost caused another Battle of Bull Run upon seeing a merchant selling symbolic items of the Confederacy and Nazi Germany. It took the mayor and police chief to calm things down, citing First Amendment rights on behalf of the seller.   http://www.theamericanmirror.com/offended-flea-market-shopper-calls-911-over-confederate-merchandise/

I had the all-steel compact 9mm for just a few days until I let the wife shoot it. Guess who owns it now. [url=http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php][/url] It's accurate as all get out and that low bore axis makes recoil next to nothing.