Carried In GFDZ's Today

Not once, but twice.

Our local school held their annual Veteran Breakfast and program. I was armed with my Ruger LCP in a pocket holster. Not my preferred firearm for cold weather, but better than nothing and perfect for deep cover. Absolutely no chance of anyone inadvertently catching a glimpse of my firearm or holster. I was deep inside the school, full of students, faculty, and other veterans from town. No one there was EVER in danger, regardless of what panty-peeing hoplophobes or anti-gun tyrants want you to think. But you know who would have been in danger? Anyone wishing to carry out mass murder unopposed.

From there, I went to the Post Office to mail a bunch of first class items. The USPS is closed for the federal holiday but the P.O. Box lobby is open and I used the inside mail drop. It is debatable whether I actually violated the law, since postal carry prohibitions have been declared unconstitutional in the U.S. 5th District. These constitutional rulings cover the 5th District region of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, as well as anyone that was a member of the FPC (Firearms Policy Coalition) and the SAF (Second Amendment Foundation) of which I am a Life Member of the latter when the ruling came down. Those gun rights organizations were plaintiffs in the case, therefore the ruling applies to their members.

GFDZ's will always cease to exist when I am there. 

 

 

GFDZ = Gun Free Death Zone 

To The Range Today

My wife was out of town at a Christmas Craft Fair at Mohegan Sun, so I just felt like throwing some long range lead today out to 200 yards this afternoon. I only took 30 rounds with me and at that just shot 12 in a little less than 2 hours. Set up and break down took quite a bit of time. My rifle is zeroed to 100 yards. Using my dope card I dialed up the windage and elevation required to get out to 200. The 7.62x54r cartridge shoots a hair flatter than .308 with a 100 yard zero. Out to 200 the .308 drops 3.7 inches but the 7.62x54r drops 3.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got mixed results. I cleaned the bore and then touched off a fouling shot at the 200 yard gong. A previous shooter painted all the plates black, which is hard to see with a black reticle that most scopes have, So I painted a white spot in the middle. My hit is circled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I took aim at this Birchwood-Casey spatter type bullseye target. The first shot was right on the line of the 9-10 ring at about 11 o'clock. The next one was just above it. The third shot was just above the red center at 12 o'clock. A little disappointing to say the least. On the other hand, it's been about 7 months since the last time I did some long range shooting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then moved over to this target also made by Birchwood-Casey. The next two shots were at the large center diamond. First shot was left, the second was right. Geez, I am really sucking today! The shot in the upper left small diamond was later in the session and after the next shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just for ha-ha's I took a shot at the thick disk lying on it's side. It too, had been painted black so I rotated it for an unshot surface and sprayed about a 3" diameter spot of white. I had hit this target before and just like then, I put one round dead center where I was aiming. That's when I decided to go back to the target with diamond and aim for the upper left one pretty confident I was gonna punch the center. DAMMIT! off by about an inch. WTF?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did an internet search on what my problem could be. Basically the response was "aim small, hit small." So I tested that theory with my next 3 shots against some rocks I rounded up a little bigger that my fist. I hit each one with one shot at 200 yards turning them into clouds of dust. Apparently my trouble is all psychological because it certainly isn't my equipment.

This last shot was because I don't like odd numbers and wanted to shoot an even 12. This was at the 75 yard gong without readjusting my scope but holding low on a guesstimate. Centered by windage and just a bit low on elevation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This rifle performs better than I can make it unless I spend a lot more time at the range with it and make a shit ton more ammo. But knowing that the purpose of this rifle is to engage and destroy "man sized" targets of opportunity from a hidey hole in a case of FAFO, I need to not be so hard on myself. Every one of today's 12 shots would have produced satisfactory results, and unlike the SEAL snipers in the movie "Captain Phillips," I won't be lying prone on the fantail of a pitching naval destroyer while taking aim at an also pitching small craft with bad guys inside.

Well, This Should Be Fun

On Wednesday November 19th, I will be visiting my daughter's Kindergarten classes, reading them this book:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will read it aloud to them while wearing my firefighting boots and pants. At the end of the story, Fireman Joe gives all the kids plastic fire hats which I will do as well. Afterwards I will demonstrate putting on the rest of my gear including an air pack, and show the kids what we look and sound like if we have to come into their house to rescue them. We tell the kids not to be scared and go run and hide, but to come to us even though we look and sound kinda scary. Afterwards an open Q & A which is always entertaining. My daughter seems to think the questions will be all about the amazing fact that I am her Dad, not about being a fireman.

In October I did my 19th Fire Prevention program at our local school. I have been in charge of it since 2006 when the subject came up and the Chief was looking for someone to run it. I have done it ever since. Sometimes I have a helper to do the gear demonstration, but other times it is just me like it was this year. We currently do Pre-K to second grade, but I have spoken to the school about moving the program up to second to fifth grade. My thought is if we REALLY want to engage the kids in fire prevention, they need to be a little older where fire safety points make sense, and it's not just about seeing a big red fire truck.

DAMMIT!!!

While installing the new grip and following the instructions, the grip got stuck halfway on the handlebar. As I twisted it to get it to move, I heard and felt the telltale "cracking" sounds of the heater mesh breaking. I got it off and checked it with an Ohmmeter. Wide open.... and trashed! FUCK! $226 down the shitter. Prior to removing (and destroying) the old grip I put the Ohmmeter on it to verify it was open, which it was. The new one showed continuity. 

I spent some time to try and source a new one from a different vendor, but the eBay seller in Japan I bought the first one from is still the cheapest for OEM. I checked with Manchester Honda because sometimes the dealer is actually cheaper (I have run into this with Toyota). Nope. Just for the left grip they quoted me $302 plus tax. I looked into some aftermarket grips made by Show Chrome that are supposed to be plug and play with the Goldwing system, but the ones I need are out of stock everywhere. If I had gotten those I would then return the Kuryakyn ISO Grips because the Show Chrome version has ISO grips built in.

I felt like an idiot ordering the same item from the same seller, but the deed is done. I did a test with the one I broke and it seems that coating everything with Windex makes it slide on easily, and once the Windex dries no glue will be necessary. I work tomorrow and then have the following 6 days off. I'll tackle it again then. I had the last one straight from Japan in just a few days.

 Excuse me while I go outside and scream at the sky. 😮

Working On "The Beast" Today

I am finally.... FINALLY going to work on the heaters on my bike, affectionately known as "The Beast." 

My 2008 Honda GL1800 HPNA Goldwing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have been out way too long making cold weather riding not as pleasant as it can be. I have ridden when it was below 20 out, wearing cold weather gear, and with the heaters on finding myself quite comfortable. Rather than troubleshoot the entire system, I took a chance on buying a new heated left grip, which is what normally goes bad. $226 on eBay for a brand new OEM unit straight from the Land of The Rising Sun. What happens is the heater mesh inside breaks from people using too much torque on that grip to get the bike on the center stand, instead of mostly using the seat handle. I believe it broke in summer of 2020 when I had my bike in for service, but I can't prove it. But it all worked prior. The exterior of my original grip looks rough and was rotated way out of position putting strain on the power cable. Unfortunately the Honda heater system is way over-engineered and when one component goes out, the whole system goes out. The troubleshooting procedure is about 8 pages in the service manual, and also requires disassembly of the trunk and left saddlebag, because that's where the heater control box is and the main wiring connector. So dumb. Anyway, I am just going to install the new heated left grip and give it a try. Part of the engineering of this nightmare has to do with the operation if it is above a certain outside temperature and the air intake reporting, toggling ON/OFF from the main ECM. So if YOU happen to be chilly and want heat, you won't get it if the system says it is too warm out. I don't recall what the cutoff is... 62F? 64F? Most heated grip and seat systems are simply heater elements with a rheostat in series connected through a fuse to the battery that you can turn on and as high as you want at will. Simple. Not this. There are also thermistors on the seat heaters so they shut off if they get "too hot." 🙄

I have these Kuryakyn ISO Grips on order from Wingstuff. They are clamshell type covers that go right over the OEM grips. My old riding buddy had them on his Goldwing and he loved them. The heat transfer is superb. I want them to protect the grip heaters from future damage. $161.99 with no sales tax (Ha Ha fuck you Kommiecticut!) and free shipping.