Fuckin' Home Depot!

Both of my garage doors have Genie screw drive openers. My parent's had one for their garage and replaced it once in over 40 years. When I built my house with an attached garage 17 years ago, there was only one choice for me for an automatic opener.

The original 2005 vintage Genie HP6000A-2K where wifey parks. It got lots of hard use.

 

When I bought my Goldwing in 2018, I knew I was going to finally need an opener on the other bay. When I had my classic car, it was no big deal to get out and manually lift the door because I hardly ever drove the car. The bike is a different story. First, I use it way more than I did the car, and second getting on and off to open the door is a pain in the ass.

In the extreme cold weather this past winter, the garage door opener where my wife parks started having issues bringing the door down. It would go down about a foot and then reverse back up. I quickly sprayed some silicone based lube on the screw drive and it started working again. Well, it didn't hold up very well, because we recently had a cold snap and the door was refusing to go down again. This time I put some Lucas Oil Red-n-Tacky #2 grease on the screw drive and tweaked the "close" reversing mechanism. It is working for now, but I believe I am on borrowed time so I wanted to secure a replacement.

I located the same model I have over the bike at Home Depot, a Genie Model #4063. Moves the door up and down fast and it is super quiet. Listed for $278.00 and plenty in stock. I boogied over to the store closest to home right after work to grab one. Found it in two minutes and headed for the register to cash out. That's when the problem started.

Genie model #4063. Wi-Fi capable, but not in my house!

The girl asks me if I would like to save $25 by opening a Home Depot credit card account. I pulled out my existing card I held since 1993 and said I didn't think so. The total came to $295.65 so I stick my card in the reader. It says "DECLINED" she says to try it again and I get the same result. She does an account lookup by my social security number that I punch in on the keypad. Now she tells me the account is closed and asks when was the last time I used my card? I said it's probably been a couple of years, and she tells me that's why. They automatically close accounts after 6 months of inactivity. Now I start to get pissed and tell her I think that's BULLSHIT! I had that account about 29 years with never an issue, and I probably charged well north of $50,000 in home renovation projects at two houses in that time frame. Fine... let's open a new account and I'll take the $25 off.

The process is done right at the register, by me entering data on the P.O.S. keypad. Well, something fucked up somewhere because now the girl has to call the Home Depot Credit Center... but she doesn't know how to use the phone system to call out. She asks for help, and another woman shouts over the simple instructions, but she still can't do it, and she's still carrying around my drivers license. I look over at the other associate standing there watching and loudly say, "You guys are NOT scoring any favorable points this evening!" THAT statement is overheard by and attracts the store supervisor who comes over to try and smooth things over. I tell her I am about 30 seconds from walking out the door without my purchase. She tries to convince me to be patient while they try to open my new account. I am starting to boil... and say "Forget the new account, gimme back my ID, I will just pay for it with another card, screw the $25!" I get my ID back and pull out a Platinum VISA with no balance on it, and the supervisor now sees how close she was to losing a sale AND a long time customer. She tells the cashier to give me the $25 off I would have gotten for opening a new account anyway in the interst of customer service. Finally, a break my way for a change. I got my receipt, thanked them both and got the hell out of there. When I got home, I promptly did this:

 

One less card to have in my wallet is fine with me. I will chop up wifey's card when she gets home.

Anecdotal Evidence To Be Sure, But...

 

At my firehouse (and at my home) we monitor 3 area dispatch centers on the scanner, our own and two others we sometimes deal with on a mutual aid basis. All day long, we hear the calls for chest pain, cardiac distress, and cardiac arrest (which usually ends in an on-scene presumption of death). Running a close second are the breathing problems. Today has been no different and is what prompted this post. So I wonder to myself... jab induced cardiac problems? COVID infections in immunological compromised jabbed individuals? I mean, after all... (p)Resident Joey Poopy-Pants told us this was going to be a winter of sickness and death for us jab-free pure-bloods. But not so much, huh? I remain happily jab-free and quite healthy, just having passed my annual interior attack firefighter physical and received a DOT Medical Card for my CDL. It seems every one of these patients I have dealt with are double jabbed and once boosted (and proud of it). To be fair, most of those patients I see have comorbidities that probably warrant them getting jabbed because COVID, at least the early variants would probably kill them. What I am going to try to pay attention to in the future are those with NO previous cardiac history all of a sudden having cardiac issues. Unfortunately due to HIPAA laws and department policy, I will only have direct knowledge of calls that I am actually on. Even those will be referenced in the vaguest of terms for discussion.

Another Conspiracy Theory To Come True?

OOPS! Accidentally dropped this post too early. It's up for good now.

 

Early on in the jab roll out, when I saw the immunity from lawsuits and prosecution given to all involved in every step of jab distribution excluding the recipient, I had a thought. Those willing to roll up their sleeves had to sign away their rights because they were not receiving a tested and licensed vaccine, they were (and still are) voluntarily receiving an experimental medical procedure. I wondered; what if they die, the cause of death is complications from the jab(s), and their life insurance company determines they did this to themselves causing their own death, akin to suicide? Well, stories swirl around the internet about the possibilities and unconfirmed reports that it happened. Of course, the "fact checkers" (meaning deputy ministers of state propaganda) are currently reporting that all as false. But as we've seen with many other facets of the Chi-Com Xi Flu dem-panic, things pooh-poohed as conspiracy theory and "fact checked" as false, turns out to be TRUTH!

Be Like Glypto (and Phil)

And learn to turn a wrench. You save a ton of money and keep your sanity.

Up on ramps for the oil change and lube. It is much easier to change the oil filter by removing the engine lower splash guard (next to the right front wheel). The mounting bolts are coated with anti-seize so they always go in and out easily.

 

I spent the afternoon yesterday doing the 5,000 mile oil & filter change, lube job, and tire rotation on my `07 Tundra with 159,264 miles on it. I have always done my own regular maintenance, refusing to pay to have incompetent monkeys do it and fuck something up. While I have had this garage for the past 16 years, at my prior house it was outside in the driveway weather permitting, and when I lived in apartments before that it was at my parent's house in their garage. Once upon a time, I had a home based company vehicle that required servicing be done at a not to be named but large chain quick lube place, so I got to see the quality of employees and workmanship first hand. No thanks.

I got those Michelin LTX AT2 tires (LT275/65/R18) this past August at Town Fair Tire exactly like the last set I got almost 80,000 miles out of. Unfortunately, I have to depend on others to dismount, remount, and balance tires. I also get their 4 wheel alignment, which I am obviously not able to perform at home. However, the first thing I do when I get home is jack up each wheel one at a time, crack the lugnuts (which are either too fucking tight, or not tight enough), and then hand torque each one properly to 97 ft/lbs. Alloy wheels improperly installed on a Toyota truck will warp the rotors. The monkeys will not hand torque lugnuts (do they even know how?), they hammer on them with an impact wrench and a color coded torque extension. Uh yeah... NO! So the tires get rotated front to back and back to front. Because I have "eliminated" the stupid TPMS nanny, I pay attention and regularly check my tire pressure which I keep at 55 PSI. The tire pressure monitors are sitting in a box of spare stuff on the shelf and simple rubber valve stems are on the wheels. The TPMS main system had a problem which I was not about to spend several hundred dollars to fix.

I do the same preventative and simple maintenance on my wife's RAV-4 and on "The Beast" (2008 Honda Goldwing). As my vehicles age, the maintenance and repairs I am willing to perform becomes more advanced because shit seems to get more expensive. I have done engine swaps in the past, and I tore out and rebuilt the whole front end of a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 classic car I had for 19 years.

That's Not How You Do It

I understand the emotional need some people have to show support for Ukraine by flying a Ukrainian flag, but this...

Did the U.S. conquer Ukraine in a war? Someone in this town must think so

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...is never appropriate. It is a display of conquest, and last I knew the U.S. had not conquered Ukraine. Not only that, but this is in front of an area municipal building, not someone's yard (although I have seen several of those, too). The flag is at half-staff for the dead diplomatic windbag Madeline Not-Too-Bright. Below is USC 4 Chapter 1 Section 7 "Position and Manner of Display." I have emboldened and italicized paragraph (e) and (g).

§7. Position and manner of display

The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.

(a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.

(b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.

(d) The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.

(e) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.

(f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.

(g) When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

(h) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

(i) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

(j) When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.

(k) When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

(l) The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument.

(m) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection—

(1) the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;

(2) the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5;

(3) the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and

(4) the term "first responder" means a "public safety officer" as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284).

(n) When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

(o) When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east.

Improper display and handling of MY FLAG irks me to no end. At my own home, my flag flies on a lit pole 7/24/365, except in extreme windy wet weather. That shit will shred any flag to pieces. When I take it down for an impending storm, it is handled with reverence and laid out with respect to dry.

So, yeah... you wanna show your support for the Ukrainians and disdain for Mother Russia and Putin, be my guest. But don't be insulting to those you wish to support, you look pretty stupid.

BOHICA - New Chi-Com Xi Flu Variant

Omicron variant COVID-19, BA.2

New COVID variant - Reuters Story 

Because no one is running out to get the booster (#4) that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is pushing, and everyone is distracted by Ukraine.

OMG... We Are So Fucked!

This is what gets burped up when a (p)Resident narrows the choices not only to a like-minded LIBTURD but only a black woman to be a SCOTUS justice.

Watch the whole video for the lead up, and then get the money shot at 6:52

 

Really? You are a woman, married to a man, with children you bore together, and you are unable to "define a woman?" Disgusting... and DISQUALIFYING!

Ms. Brown-Jackson... you are ONLY unable to state such a definition for political and ideological reasons, and for virtue signalling to the mentally ill that either don't know what they are or have been confused by indoctrination, so allow me to help you. Let's see, a WOMAN IS...

• Born with XX chromosones
• Has female genitalia at birth
  
• Has reproductive organs that produce eggs, female hormones, and can allow a fertilized egg to develop into another human being INSIDE her body
  
• Develops breasts that actually produce milk to feed the infant (not like the fake strap on set that Mayor Buttplug was pictured wearing. What a douche!)
  
• Pelvic bone structure that allows a baby to pass through the birth canal and out the vaginal opening
• Does not typically have facial hair and has finer and less body hair
  
• Has a higher pitched voice and an Adams Apple that is not pronounced
• Smaller overall bone structure and stature
• Will never be able to "compete" physically with a man that has gone through male puberty (although there are certainly exceptions).
  
• Lower body strength, as opposed to men that have upper body strength
• Pronouns are SHE/HER
• A woman is more emotional, where a man is more logical
  

You see, it's not that hard. Anything else is what's known as ENABLING. Just like the way it happens with addictive behavior and abuse. Playing into someone's mental illness only hurts them.

So I hereby urge every US Senator; those on the Judiciary Committee; DO NOT PUT HER FORWARD TO A FULL VOTE. If the Judiciary does put her nomination forward (you know damn well they will) then I urge every Senator to vote "NO" on her confirmation. Of course I know how the two dimwits from Kommiecticut will vote, since they are both LIBTURD Commies.

Review - On Your 6 Designs Kydex Holster

In Friday's afternoon mail delivery was my second dual mag carrier and holster for my Ruger SR9c from On Your 6 Designs. I had previously reviewed the dual mag carrier I bought for my Glock 21 Gen 3. The one that came for the Ruger was exactly the same, just smaller in overall size for the smaller magazines. The holster was a right hand OWB for wear at my 3 o' clock.

This review is going to be about the holster. I only have a couple of other kydex holsters, so I don't have a lot of experience with them. Because I was on ambulance duty that evening, I could only try it out for a couple of hours. Just like the mag carriers, the holster is securely threaded onto your belt. If I had to respond to a call, I would have to try and un-ass the holster and mag carrier, so I switched to my IWB setup that I can ditch quickly. But I found out something I would take care of the next day.

Saturday morning, I took the holster down to my gun bench. While wearing it the afternoon before, I discovered the back end of the slide of my SR9c digging into my side a bit. The holsters, like the mag carriers are adjustable for cant. Changing the holster to a forward cant eliminated the problem. With the gun empty, I drew and re-holstered it several times. Draw was smooth and natural feeling, and when placing the gun back in, it locked into place securely with an authoritative snap. The gun did not wiggle at all in the holster. I loaded the gun, placed it in the holster, and put two loaded mags in the carrier. I covered everything with a light denim shirt for concealment and proceeded to wear the rig for the day.

Comfort was reasonable, walking around, driving, sitting in a chair while watching TV, etc. There was no forgetting I was wearing a firearm, I always knew it was there. A few times during the day, I swept my shirt back and placed my hand on the grip of the gun ready to draw. It stayed in place on my belt and was always in exactly the same spot.

Bottom line... time will tell how they hold up, but I don't anticipate any failures. I have no issue with the price. I don't mind theading the holster onto my belt, but I wish the mag carrier could go on and off easier. I may try modifying one of the three sets of 1.75" belt loops into clips, and if that works, do the same with the 1.5" loops to be permanent. If it works I'll do another post about it.

 

Random Shit From The Past Few Days

Here is some stuff I thought you'd like to read about because I am oh so important and interesting. I actually started composing this Thursday evening but didn't get too far because I haven't had the keyboard time. Now this post spans several days.

Wednesday March 16th:  A mid-week day off for me but wifey had to work. I made myself a big breakfast (spam and cheese 3-egg omelette with an English muffin). When the early morning fog cleared and the sun came out temps went from the 30's to the 50's pretty quick. I took my Ridgeback boy for a nice 3 mile walk/hike. When I get up to the stop sign at the top of my road, there is no through traffic to the right. He comes off leash at that point. We then head up a colonial era dirt road that the town doesn't maintain in the winter and barely keeps it passable through the other three seasons. There are old stone foundations from homesteads from the colonial days if you know where to look.

The only remaining live utility is the CATV that feeds my road

 

While my walk was 3 miles, the dog did about 4 running on ahead, then running back to me, as well as all the exploring he did in the woods and fields. When we get back to the intersection at the top of my road he goes back on leash for the last 1/2 mile to home. When we got home he was pooped for the rest of the day. I got busy getting stuff together to go to the range.

As usual I had the range to myself since it was a weekday afternoon. An assortment of rifles , a couple of pistols, ammo, paper targets, and some 1 gallon water jugs. I also had some small bottles of sterile water from the ambulance that were expired and were going to be thrown away, but I grabbed them. A .22LR makes them explode pretty well. Punching holes in paper, popping water jugs, and whacking the fixed steel gongs at ranges from 50 to 200 yards. After that I moved to my handguns.

At my old club, drawing and shooting from a holster was forbidden. Not at my present club. I set up a full sized silhouette target at 7 yards and repeatedly drew and fired a doubletap to the chest, and one to the head. I did that several times, and then reloaded to a full compliment. I then did the "Hearts and Minds" shot again, and then did a mag dump on the steel plates at 25 yards behind the silhouette, dropped the empty, reloaded and banged all the plates again.  I did this evolution first with my Glock 21 then my S & W 45 Shield. When I was finished I packed up and headed for home to put everything away. Since the handguns both see carry duty, they were cleaned and put away. The rifles I will get to in the next several days.

Thursday March 17th: One of the big post Chi-Com Xi Flu Dem-panic and lockdown concerns is mental health, especially among children due to the isolation and face diaper wearing. We took in a juvenile on a law enforcement emergency committal. Related to Chi-Com Xi Flu or not, those calls always break my heart. My partner and I are both Dads, so we usually calm the situation by the time we get to the hospital. The patient was crying uncontrollably at the house, but calm and kind of smiling upon arrival. The very next day our department got another call for another juvenile psych, same age and sex but from a different address. Jeezus!

While waiting for a room assignment in the ER staging area, in came another town's ambulance with another psych case. This patient was in restraints and surrounded by two state troopers and four hospital security guards. I don't know what they did on scene to warrant the restraints, but the patient was calm and talking to someone on a cell phone while sitting on the stretcher. While I was standing near the nurses station, I noticed one of their computers was in screen saver mode. The hospital screen saver are like PSA's and reminders. One caught my eye, and I mad sure of what it said when it came around again

"Be sure to assess vaccine status, and vaccinate as indicated."

Yeah... fuck you! I had to go to that ER a year ago. I don't remember if they asked or not (the double doses of morphine makes my memory a little foggy), but I know for a fact I was not jabbed while there. I went alone and would not have been able to sign anything after the morphine, and no one was there to authorize anything on my behalf. The last couple of medical visits when asked about being jabbed, my answer has been "NO FREAKIN' WAY!" They just check the appropriate box on the paperwork and that's it.

I have noticed gas prices down some, but still over $4 per gallon. At the station I drive by the most in town, it is down to $4.39/gallon, down from the high about 2 weeks ago of $4.65/gallon. Since my commute is less than 4 miles round trip per day, my gas lasts a long time, and I only buy my gas out of town where it is even cheaper.

Friday March 18th: Another day off, but an 08:15 AM appointment for my annual FD physical and my DOT medical card. I passed the interior firefighter physical for the last time, because next year I will be over 60. That department policy may change though, because we have hardly any active interior firefighters and to lose another will be tough. The other problem is that the medical facility is holding up my DOT medical card. Because I have hereditary hypertension that is controlled with medication, I have to get an annual DOT card, not the normal biannual. Apparently, for the last three years, my doctor has not sent in the paperwork that verifies my blood pressure is under control and I am compliant with my meds. They faxed one to the doctor's office while I was still there, and I got a copy to hand deliver on my way home. My current DOT card expired today, so I will be on them every day this week until I receive it.

I had done a couple of errands on the way home, but forgot one. My wife's RAV-4 needed a new headlight. I only use Sylvania Silverstar Ultra in all my vehicles and needed to run back out to get one. Hey... that's a small errand, perfect for taking my bike instead of my big honkin' pickup truck! What a beautiful afternoon for a ride, 75 and sunny. I topped off the tire pressure, hooked up my cell phone for music streaming, and headed out. First, I had to stop at the firehouse to torment my normal shift partner. I pulled into the parking lot, and started doing circles in front of the day room window, music and horn blaring. I saw the vertical blinds part, and saw his hand giving me the proper salute I expected. Now before you call me a dick, this is a constant back and forth between he and I. On nice days when he is off riding and I am at work, I get a constant stream of photo text messages of every stop he makes while out riding. So this was a little payback for him. I took a little longer route to the auto parts store and back, but it was a nice 30 mile loop.

Back from the ride. This was just before I put the cover back on. Not sure when the next one will be

BTW... that spot under my bike is an old stain from the rear end of the classic car I once had. This is a Honda... no fluids come out unless I let them out.

Saturday March 19th: While getting ready to go to the town dump, I heard shooting coming from up over the hill at my other neighbor's range, and behind Mrs. Bitchy McBitchy Bitchface's house. It was pretty loud, so she must have been going apeshit! I finished loading up my trash and decided I would head up his range access road in my truck to see what he was up to.

I have permission to be on his property. Some horse people have asked if they could ride up there but he has turned them down. He has it posted with no trespassing signs that say there is an active shooting range. I have shot with him before on his old range, but not on this new one. I hiked up there a week ago and was amazed. He has modeled his range after youtuber Hickok45, just not as many targets.

 

 

 

The far targets are across a gully, with the hill as a backstop

Homemade shooting benches

To the rear of the shooting area. The bottles are plastic and full of water for targets

I met him on the access road in his side-by-side. He was all done shooting and on his way back. We parked nose to nose, and I got out to chat with him. He was surprised I got up the road because it is a little steep and there was a soupy spot. I told him I have good all-terrain tires, just eased through it steadily, and then climbed the hills gently so I didn't rip up his road. He appreciated that and we bullshitted out there for a good 40 minutes. Afterwards, I got myself turned around and followed him out of the woods. I went to the dump and then came straight home.

When I got home, wifey informs me her brother and wife were coming over for dinner and to play marbles (the board game). She insists she told me, but she did not. I informed her we are out of beer, and that I need to make a beer and wine run to Yankee Spirits up in Sturbridge, MA. I race up there, get the beer and wine, and top off my truck with gas. I get back before they arrive. They show up about a half hour later and the few beers I threw in the freezer were nice and cold. We ordered pizza and had dinner. Then spent the next few hours playing marbles. We always play guys against girls, and it was the girl's night to win every freakin' game. They left around 11.

Today was puttering in the garage (I had to test fit a borrowed car top carrier and roof rack rails on the wife's RAV-4). She is going away on a dog event weekend in Maryland next month, so I didn't want to wait until last minute to find out there was a problem. It all fits fine. I then spent a couple of hours moving heavy wet leaves left over from the fall that I didn't get picked up before the snow fell. The last load on my 9' x 12'  tarp weighed about 300 pounds, and I had to drag it about 70' to the woods to dump it. The pile is considerably smaller, and now that the top layers are gone, it can dry out over the next couple of days. I'll pick away at it after work each night.

Hmmmm?

While watching the 10 PM news on Fox 61 a few minutes ago, their lead story was about skyrocketing gas prices. They played a video clip of (p)Resident Joey Poopy-Pants blaming the entire high fuel price problem on Putin, which got me thinking....

I have not seen one sticker on a gas pump with Vladimir Putin's picture and the caption, "I did that!" on it. In fact, I haven't even seen such a thing offered for sale. But there sure are plenty featuring the Demon-Craps, and especially (p)Resident Joey Poopy-Pants.

I guess that means no one believes the dementia fueled bullshit coming out of his drooling pie hole, or being repeated by L'il Red Lyin' Hood.

Shitty Day Outside? I Spent It Reloading

After today, I still have half a spam can of corrosive EVIL Russian (GASP!) surplus 7.62x54r that needs my conversion to non-corrosive. Also, the ammo is loaded in copper-washed steel cases... basically junk to a reloader.

The organized chaos that is my gun bench, which is made from an old base kitchen cabinet

I know, just super-duper clean your rifle afterwards and shoot the ammo as is, right? Nope. I don't even want that crap chambered in my rifles because I despise steel ammo (except some decent Hungarian made stuff I have that is zinc plated). So I recover the bullets and powder and replace it in my own primed brass cases. Labor intensive? Sure, but 50 rounds of ammo through a bolt action rifle lasts me for a couple of range outings. Plus, I enjoy reloading as much as actually shooting, so there's that. So for your reading pleasure, here is my procedure in great detail. (I used to write technical documentation, so that is part of my fun).

 

                       Military Surplus Ammunition Component Recovery and Loading

 

 

1.    Case Preparation

1.1. Assemble rifle ammo reloading platform and components.

1.2. Visually inspect all cases. Polish all case exteriors with steel wool using Lee Zip Trim. Clean all remnants of steel wool from cases and reloading area.

1.3. Lubricate all case exteriors, and inside the case mouth with a Q-Tip using Lee Resizing Lubricant.

1.4. Properly install Lee Case decapper/resizer die on Lee Reloader Press.

1.5. Decap and resize all lubricated cases (this resizes the ENTIRE case to factory ammo specs)

1.6. Use the Lee Primer Pocket Tool to clean residue out of the primer pocket. Tap the case bottom on a hard surface to remove loose debris.

1.7. Trim to length and chamfer all resized cases, using the Lee Zip Trim, Lee Large Case Trimmer, and Lee Case Chamfer tool. Tap the case mouth on the wooden bench to remove loos brass shavings. Clean up all brass shavings from cases and reloading area.

 

2.     Russian Mil-Surp Ammo Preperation

2.1. Use caution removing 20 round packs from the spam can. Edges are sharp.

2.2. Remove original packaging from cartridges and discard.

2.3. Visually inspect cartridges for corrosion or damage.

 

3.    Disassembly

3.1. Mount cartridge in kinetic bullet hammer

3.2. Strike hammer lightly several times against vise anvil to loosen the bullet. Monitor progress of bullet as it begins to separate from the case. Do not allow the bullet to completely dislodge.

3.3. Carefully remove cartridge from kinetic puller. Try to ensure the cartridge does not fall apart.

3.4. Holding cartridge vertical to prevent powder spillage, carefully remove bullet by hand. It should come free with some effort. With practice this will become easier to master.

3.5. Set pulled bullets aside for cleaning, and primed/charged shells in case holder to prevent spilled powder.

3.6. If this is the first time disassembling a particular type of cartridge, take the time to weigh a couple of powder charges to verify the charge and document. This will be important if the powder is stored for future reloading.

 

4.    Cleaning

4.1. Since this is military ammo, the bullets have a ring of lacquer paint around the bullet where it met the top of the original case. Use a rag and lacquer thinner to remove so the ring of paint does not interfere with seating the bullet.

5.    Loading

5.1. The press will need to have the bullet seating die installed and set for proper case O.A.L. before proceeding. Test fit bullets for O.A.L. using spare cases.

5.2. Insert the small powder funnel in the mouth of the case to be loaded. Carefully dump the powder from one of the mil-surp cases into the funnel. Tap the side of the case the powder came out of to ensure it all came out. Push any remaining powder grains down the funnel into the case. Remove the funnel.

5.3. Mount the freshly charged case on the press in the case holder.

5.4. Set one of the recovered and cleaned bullets on top of the case in the press, then operate the press.

5.5. Remove the new cartridge from the press and set in the cartridge tray.

5.6. Repeat the process for as many cartridges that will be loaded in this session.

5.7. When finished, remove the bullet seating die from the press.

6.    Crimping

6.1. Install the crimping die in the press before proceeding

6.2. Set a newly completed cartridge in the case holder, and operate the press for crimping. Repeat for all newly completed cartridges.

7.    Finishing

7.1. The leftover shells still have live primers that must be detonated. Because of the corrosive primers, DO NOT USE A RIFLE. DO NOT DO INDOORS. WEAR HEARING PROTECTION.

7.2. Mount the shells in a steel plate with a hole drilled in it, facing down towards the ground. Lightly strike the primer with a prick punch and hammer to set it off. Repeat until all primers are dead.

7.3. The dead cases can be discarded or drilled to make dummy rounds for training.

 

      The finished product is pictured below, next to the Lee 7.62x54r Four Die Set. I should get 2 to 4 more loadings out of these.

    

50 completed rounds and the Lee die set

The by-product of today's endeavor is this tray of fun, guaranteed to piss off my gun-hating neighbor, Mrs. Bitchy McBitchy Bitchface (H/T to Mr. Garabaldi for that little nickname).

The now empty but still primed steel cases

What I normally do is blow off all the primers which are just slightly louder than a .22LR. I will wait until I know that COTHO* is home and preferably outside before banging them off. She'll have no idea where it is coming from and hopefully look stupid once again by calling state police for someone shooting near her house. My front porch should be a good spot with cover from the forsythia bush.

After the primers are all rendered safe, the empty cases will be scattered all around my property to throw off anyone snooping with a metal detector. Even after the steel cases are gone, the leftover copper will be there and show up as a false positive.

*COTHO = Cunt of The Highest Order