Tuesday, February 15, 2011

MilitaryShooters.com (first impression)

Last week, I posted a blog post here about an order for ammo I made with http://MilitaryShooters.com. I placed an order for 1,000 rounds of Fiocchi 124 gr. FMJ 9mm ammo.

The order was confirmed and sent out within a day or two. I received it Tuesday (yesterday by the time I post this) via UPS, one week to the day after I placed the order. I opened the box and there were 20 boxes containing 50 rounds in each box of Fiocchi 124 gr. 9mm FMJTC ammo. Funny, I thought I ordered FMJ not FMJTC ammo. I checked my order and checked their website. The order was for FMJ and the website advertised it as FMJ but they sent FMJTC.

My first impression was some disappointment. I do not like it when I order one thing then get another, one that is so close it makes me think either they just made an innocent mistake or pulled the old bait and switch scheme. Now I am not saying that the FMJTC is not as good as, or maybe even better, than the regular FMJ (which is round nosed ammo). It is just I do not like getting something other than for which I paid without prior notice from the merchant and without the merchant getting prior approval from the customer (who would be me).

I sent them an email to ask them to straighten this out. Time will tell as to how they handle this. Maybe my second impression will be better.

While I am awaiting a reply from them: Does anyone who is reading this have any experience with the truncated cone shaped bullets? I seem to remember having fired this before but cannot for the life of me recall if it shot well or not. If someone can convince me it is as good or better than round nose FMJ, who knows - maybe I will keep it after all.

By the way, if you do not know what is a truncated cone, here is the dictionary definition:

1. a frustum formed from a cone

Now if you are unaware of the definition of as common a word as frustum, here is the geometric definition of it (because that was the definition in the dictionary):

1. the part of a conical solid left after cutting off a top portion with a plane parallel to the base.

2. the part of a solid, as a cone or pyramid, between two usually parallel cutting planes.

In other words, this bullet looks cone shaped, but as if the pointy end has been cut off to make it a flat nose that is parallel with the base of the bullet. Pretty neat looking but I have to wonder if it is balls on accurate when shooting. I mean that should be important to a guy nicknamed Ballseye - shouldn't it!

All the best,
Glenn B


PS: On that word frustum - can you think of the item on which, quite possibly as frequently as every day, you see one pictured? That is, at least you do, if you are in the USA.

Ballseye's Gun Shots 121: Beretta 70S Magazines - Possible Source (definite source for Bersa Model 644 mags, while they last)

Recently, someone sent me an email inquiring about whether or not I would sell him one of my 5 magazines for my Beretta Model 70S. I declined and tried to steer him to a source of aftermarket mags for said pistol. Well, if you are the person who inquired, and you are reading this, you may be able to get a really good deal on magazines that, while not made for the Beretta 70S, may fit and function in it. Of course, if you are not that person, and have a Beretta 70S, and want some mags that may fit and function in it, you might also be interested. If you own a Bersa 644 and need mags you will most likely be interested.

Tonight I received an email from the
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/ in which they advertised magazines for sale for the Bersa 644 pistol in .22LR at this link:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=771993&ecid=E107D&em_id=gbarthgwt@msn.com

When I saw the pic of the mag, I immediately thought it looked a lot like a Beretta Model 70S mag (in .22LR). I was curious so I did a web search for Bersa 644 magazine. I came up with a website, that apparently specializes in selling magazines and other gun parts, called Hoosier Gun Works. I checked their page for magazines A-D:

http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/magazine_pistol.html#a-d

One that page I saw they offered the Bersa 644 mags (in .22LR) for $25 each. Sportsmansguide has them at $19.97 each or $17.97 each for club members at the link I gave above. The thing about the Hoosier Gun works page was that it certainly seems to indicate that the Bersa Model 644 mags can be used in a Beretta Model 70. Now, mind you, I am not to sure that is actually the case, but if you are in need of mags for the Beretta 70 and it variations in .22LR, well it just may be worth checking into further. If you can get em at this price and they work in the Beretta 70S with no glitches - well you have probably gotten yourself a really good deal. Of course, if you do not want to chance it, you can always get after market mags elsewhere that were actually made to fit the Beretta 70.

That's it.

All the best,
Glenn B

SHARK...SHARK...GET OUT OF THE WATER

I was just watching Fox News and they reported on some new toys expected to be released sometime in 2011. One of them was basically a remote controlled blimp of sorts. It is shaped and colored to look just like a shark, well just as much like a shark as a toy balloon can look. The thing about this balloon is not only is it helium filled so it floats in the air, but it also is remote controlled and it appears to swim through the air propelled by waves of its tail fin.

Okay, sounds like a kinda fun, maybe even kinda scary, kids toy. I just can't wait to see who will be the first moron to bring it to the beach, my guess is that it will make the news. Hopefully it will either be released soon, well before the summer season begins so folks will be aware of it well before summer, or they will wait until after the summer has ended. Otherwise, I can just imagine the scene something like this could stir up at a crowded beach if it goes air swimming by, just above the water's surface, and just one person yells "SHARK" and starts to flee the surf.

All the best,
GB