Saturday, April 22, 2017

Two 2 Pistol Qualifications Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will be taking both my annual LEOSA and Armed Guard firearms training and qualification courses. To that end, I finally got the replacement rear sight windage spring into the rear sight of my Ruger Redhawk (44 REM MAG). After some finagling of the spring to get it held in place, to be able to drop in the rear sight blade, I finally got it right or at least it seems that way. Then I cleaned both the Redhawk and my Glock 26. 

Some folks consider me a bit on the nutty side to consider qualifying with the Ruger Redhawk and I will say that when I did it last year it made one heck of an achy impression on my right hand and wrist. I imagine it will do likewise this year although I will be using somewhat lighter loads than the Prvi Partizan 300 grain semi-jacketed flat point solids I used last time around. I plan to use Remington 240 grain lead gas check rounds (a sort of semi wadcutter). I'm praying they will be a bit easier on my old bones and joints. Now that I think of it though, I have not shot the Ruger since the sight blade broke many months ago. I imagine that means my hand is in for a pounding to which it has not been recently accustomed nor which it is ready to receive! Ouch...

Should be some somewhat painful fun.

All the best,
Glenn B

Target Sports USA - My Go To Ammo (and more) Dealer

I have no clue how much ammo my son has on hand now that he has moved to Arkansas (about two months or so ago). I am sure he did not have room to bring all that much and he did not take any from the basement where I keep mine - so I am pretty sure it is not too much. Once he go to AR, he ought himself his first pistol a Glock 43. I recently ordered him a couple of extra magazines for it from Sportsmansguide, they had a decent price on them at $50.38 for two shipped.

After that I ordered him some ammo too. It was not 9mm ammo since he said he bought a couple or few hundred rounds of 9mm when he bought the Glock 43. So, I bought him some 5.56x45mm for his ARs. I ordered an ammo can of 420 rounds through Target Sports USA for about $155 shipped. I sent it to him with an adult signature required.

Target Sports USA shipped the ammo via FedEx. The ammo was delivered within 5 days of my order, maybe even on the 4th day. That was great but the thing I noticed when I checked the FedEx tracking information was that they essentially left it on his doorstep without getting an adult signature. I had requested and paid $4.50 extra to assure an adult signature for the shipment. He got the order but I got charged for something that was not delivered - the adult signature. I called Target Sports USA about it.

As was explained to me, and I believe because I had difficulty assigning my son's address to the Target Sports USA order as the delivery address, they had to create a manual shipping label. When they did so, it appeared as if they forgot to add the adult signature requirement for FedEx. Well, as a result of my call to Target Sports USA customer service, I received a refund that same day for the adult signature option. That was quick and handled well and the rep was extremely courteous.

They have been my go to ammo dealer in the past two years or so. I shop at others too but I like them the best for price and speed of delivery and now because they seemingly have excellent customer service too. A hat tip to them and especially to the lady who handled my call.


All the best,
Glenn B

So Speaking About Costco (as I did in my previous post)...

...I figured I should share why at least one person will no longer be shopping there:

"A RETIREE'S LAST TRIP TO COSTCO

Yesterday I was at Costco buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Necco, the Wonder Dog, which weighs 191 lbs. I was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had? An elephant? So, because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that "No, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet, again".

I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a "Perfect Diet.” The way it works is, to load your jacket pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, so it works well and I was going to try it again.

Now I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me?

I told her "No, I stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me".

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was howling with laughter as he rolled on the floor. The rest of the folks were just bent over and laughing.

Now it's not that I don't want to shop at Costco any more. It is that Costco won't let me shop there anymore and they revoked my Costco card.

Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say."
 
All the best,
GB

I've Been Meaning To Pick Up A Set of These...

...for quite the while but kept forgetting while on my weekly or biweekly grocery and dry goods runs to Costco. Today while I was walking out of an aisle where I had just grabbed some needed stuff, I saw a guy at the end of the aisle rummaging through a stack of ammo cans. I had seen them before and I thought maybe I could use a set but did not pick any up because there was no room in my cart. Then, when I really needed another can or three, I just plain out forgot to grab a set. Today tough, the other guy grabbing a couple of sets was the kick in the head I needed, so to speak, to grab myself a set.

The set I am talking about is a heritage Security products 30/50 caliber set of two ammo cans. The 30 caliber sized can comes packaged, wrapped in bubble wrap, inside the 50 caliber can.

I have no clue if they are as good as ones I already have that I think were made in the USA. These were, (I found out after I got home) made in China. I guess the quality probably lacks some as compared to those made here but they look and feel alright. Anyway, I took a shot  without checking where they were made and grabbed one set. I figure as long as the gasket creates a good seal they will be alright and the gasket appears well made and fitted. They seem about the same gauge steel as the USA made cans but I am not sure about that and have no way to measure. The paint looks good and so too the welds. The hinges also look good and function well. My guess is they will be as good for my purposes as any other ammo cans I already own. If the ammo boxes stored in them don't smell moldy after 6 months to a year, I will know I made a good purchase. Time will tell.

Compared to prices I have seen online, that require a shipping fee as well as the cost of the cans, these were offered at a decent to good price. At $18.99 (plus tax) per set, it was about as good as it gets for one of each of these cans and I did not have to wait for them to be shipped, was able to examine them before making the purchase, and have ammo in them already. In fact, these are brand new and they were offered at a better price than the prices most places ask for used cans. Now if only Costco would start selling ammunition (and American made ammo cans)!

All the best,
Glenn B

Working In Retirement Sucks...

...but it does help put some cash in one's pockets. Working full time, for the past three weeks, has been a a good thing more or less. Less because the job is boring, sucks, takes a lot of my time, has me too tired to blog when I get home and requires me to spend just over a full days pay (after taxes) to commute each week to the particular job site at which I've been working. Of course what is left over, after taxes, is mine to help pay the bills. That is the more part of more or less because it is going to help with my upcoming road trip to see my son. Hopefully I will sell one or two of the things I have up for sale before tis weekend and that will add to my gas and motel money.

All the best,
GB