Miscellaneous Gun Stuff

Ever since I joined my new shooting club, I have been very active with all aspects of shooting. I have put in more work hours and range time since the first of the year than the past 3 years at my old club. Also, I have known many members of my new club for years, and know more members at a club with 90 members, than the old club that had up to 1300. So here are some items from the past week or so.

1). Marlin 1894CB in .357 Magnum now set up for grab-n-go

After the video from a prior post about the possibility of a LEO passing a modern rifle qualification course and using such a firearm as a patrol rifle, it got me thinking.

I went to Cabela's today to purchase a small inexpensive rifle case. Since the 1894CB is only 37" long, the case they advertised for a .22 selling for $12.99 fit the bill perfectly, at 40" overall length especially since I don't have a scope on it.

The rifle in the case. Notice the Marlin lever gun lock for security. Can't load, cock, or fire. The key is on my truck key ring.

  

A close up of the lock. The center tab fits in front of the partially open bolt. I wrapped the padlock to prevent scratches

Using a scrap bicycle tire inner tube, I cut and fitted two layers of rubber over the metal body of the padlock as sleeves. The two black metal pieces have a rubberized soft coating on them from the factory. I split my keys up, so only the ignition key is attached to the truck. The remainder are on my belt, and that lock opens fast.

 

2). The S&W 45 Shield is now set up for EDC 

I made a few purchases on eBay. The third 7-round magazine, a DeSantis Speed Scabbard holster, and a Desantis dual magazine carrier, all in black leather.

 

This setup works very well for me, and holds everything really close to my body. The front of the holster has two belt slots, an upper and a lower for adjusting the cant. I tried both and found using the upper slot is too aggressive, and puts the butt of the gun into my side. Using the lower slot is very comfortable and puts the gun where I can easily get it, with no discomfort. The mag carrier also rides comfortably at about the 7-8 o'clock position. While not the ammo capacity of my full size Glock 21 with two spare mags, this is much easier to carry and conceal. When the weather gets warm and the wardrobe get lighter, I will forgo the exposed mag carrier, go to the 6-round mag, and a pocket holster. Depending on what I am wearing I might carry this instead of the little LCP.

Flush fit 6-round mag in a Remora holster will fit in certain cargo shorts I have

The other option I have that I fit tested was a 7-round mag and a spare one in my Voo-Doo Tactical fanny pack. I am not vain enough to give a rat's ass how dorky it may look. I know what's inside, and it may work well when I am out on "The Beast."

 

3). Chamber flags

I bought an order of 18, high quality, made in the USA, bright yellow empty chamber flags for just under 30 bucks. The diameter of the rod will fit a .22 and they are permanently curved so they stay put in a larger bore. They had a couple at the range and I liked the idea, especially since the range house has a rifle rack to use instead of constantly fumbling with rifle cases. Also when going down range to change targets and the actions are open it will be a good visual indicator of safety.

You may have noticed the green mat I take the photos on. My Dad was in the printing business and he would bring home printing press blankets that were no good any more. We would cut them up for all kinds of projects. This piece is on my gun bench and is the last piece of the blankets from my Dad. When cleaning or working on my guns, the mat protects the gun, as well as the bench from gun juice slobber during cleaning. Solvent and dirt just wipes right off.

How Many More Times?

From the greatest rock band ever... Led Zeppelin "How Many More Times" Live 1969 on Danish TV

The question: How many more times will I have the opportunity to turn down the experimental jab?

The Answer: Three so far, so I guess until they stop fucking asking!

This post was prompted by a new PSA from Community Health Centers of CT I viewed during the local morning news featuring a black female doctor. The video is of her story initially rejecting the "vaccine" because of distrust, but then she took it and is now dispensing it so "people that look like her" will also be comfortable getting it. The part that annoyed me above treating "people of color" differently was the lecture at the end telling me I need to "do the right thing" when it is my turn. Bite me, lady! That experimental crap IS NOT going in my arm. I tried to find a copy of the PSA on line but it isn't out there to grab. If it does become available, I will embed it in a new post and link back to this one.

Here is the amusing and now most ironic PSA. UConn Ladies Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma (the highest paid state employee in CT BTW) lecturing us not to be selfish and to do the right things. The PSA video is a few months old. Guess who was infected and is currently in 14 day quarantine? That's right, Coach Geno has to sit out the playoffs because somehow he tested positive. That begs he question; is he a lying hypocrite that did the old "do as I say, not as I do?" Or are all the safety measures just bullshit Kabuki Theater that does NOTHING to prevent infection? Perhaps a combination of both?

Not To Offend The Irish, But...

I can't stand St. Paddy's Day. I have no irish heritage and refuse to pretend I do. Green dyed beer is stupid and looks like liquified puke. I despise corned beef (actually corned anything). Milkshakes should only be thick and chocolatey, NOT green and minty (fucking gross). I make extra sure not to wear a single item of green clothing, the only exception was when I was in the Army, where EVERYTHING was OD green anyway.

So you folks of Irish heritage enjoy your "holiday," but don't expect any enthusiasm or participation from me.

More Freedom From "The Mask of Oppression"

This morning at 9 o'clock my wife and I bought a house. Actually, we re-bought our house in a deal from our existing bank to re-finance at a lower rate. Every month for the last six, we were getting notices in the mail offering an easy re-finance at a lower rate. It seemed that every notice had a lower rate offer than the previous one. We finally jumped at it and the closing was this morning at my dining room table, because, you know.... COVID! You can't possibly go to someone's office to conduct business in person. We reset the term to 30 years, which initially concerned my wife that we'd be almost 90 before the loan was paid off. However, I reminded her how many mortgages and other loans we have had over the last 38 years, and have never taken a single one to term. That put her mind at ease. The goal is to take out a 30 with a lower payment, and pay extra when we can. It doesn't take much to add up quick! Take out a 15 year loan at a lower interest rate but higher monthly payment and you'd better come up with it every month, no excuses or else. This way, if we need some extra dough for an unplanned expense we just pay the normal payment, easy-peasy.

I received a call yesterday afternoon from the attorney confirming the appointment. Of course, since it came from an unknown number my call blocking app sent it right to voicemail. She left a message stating she would be here at 9 AM. She also said she would be wearing a mask, and requested my wife and I do the same. THAT was going to be an issue. NO ONE tells me what to do in my own home, especially when it comes to the Mask of Oppression and having to wear one. I decided to see what would happen if I declined, but would end up wearing one under verbal protest if it meant the closing would not happen. $300 a month more in my pocket I guess is my principles sellout price.

She arrived promptly and my Blink Outdoor camera let me know she was here. Since we can't see when someone comes up the driveway that little device does the trick for us with no subscription needed. I opened the garage door and met her as she approached. She was wearing a mask and said we really didn't have to wear one if we didn't want to. I then told her she could leave hers in the car if she wanted to breathe some nice fresh air for a change. She pulled it off and stuffed it in her bag. This young lady was easy on the eyes, and no one wearing a Mask of Oppression conducting face to face business was like the "old normal" Fraud-Chee says we can never return to. Fuck that little evil elf and Gov. "Jolly" Ned Lamont and their diktats.

Exceptions To My "No Mask of Oppression" Rule

 I do not wear the "mask of oppression" except for a couple of instances, which are:

1). In a clinical setting performing EMS duties and at the hospital.

2). In a small shop or restaurant, but only so the establishment doesn't get in trouble.

3). At a funeral with the Patriot Guard Riders in MA & RI, but not in CT.

The last one I was reminded of today. I attended the military funeral of A2C Jerome Morin at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. It was the destination for the final motorcycle ride of the winter. I do not want to be "the guy" to disrupt someones funeral for refusing to wear a mask. That is not the hill to die on fighting tyrannical face diaper diktats, whereas waltzing into a big box store or other public place certainly is.

It was great to be out on "The Beast" today. I had been looking forward to today all week at work. Temps were in the mid 60's and as usual for a PGR mission at the Veterans Cemetery, we meet up at the Dunkin' Donuts on Main St. in Agawam. It was good to see everyone that we haven't seen since last year. The 2 mile ride down RT. 159 from D.D. to the cemetery is police escorted at the front and back, and today was a good turnout. The ceremony for us is about an hour. We set up the flag line before the family arrives, and stay in formation until the family leaves. If its the last funeral of the day and the family hangs around, we wait until the family member that was presented the flag leaves. If it is apparent no one is leaving, we'll stay standing for a good 10-15 minutes before we are dismissed by the ride captain. 

After I have done my PGR duty there, its time to make the rounds. My parents, an aunt and uncle, and a cousin are interred there. I visit each of their graves and leave a bright shiny penny on the top of the markers. I know the penny isn't there long, but hopefully long enough to tell either cemetery workers or other visitors that those graves matter to someone that still comes to pay respects.