So Far I've Been Lucky With My Older Guns...

 ...and as I say to myself "knock on wood" and then as I knock on my own head I say to myself (and to anyone who may overhear me) "the thickest wood in the house". What I have been lucky with is that for the ones I've had for awhile, none have ever badly broken. Some though have needed new parts though, either to replace missing ones or worn/broken small ones like an ejector, an extractor or sights on mostly older guns I have had for awhile. I have also been lucky to find the parts.

 

The first old gun I needed to repair, as I recall, was my Ortgies pistol in 32 ACP. It's firing pin was not hitting primers hard enough to ding them enough to fire. I cleaned it, tried again, same thing. Took it totally apart, cleaned it, paid special attention to the chamber and slide rails, lubed it, and fired it - all to the exact same effect. So, I searched online for a replacement firing pin spring. As best I recall the company name, I got a newly made reproduction from a place called Marstar Canada. Since those two words immediately prior to this sentence are now a link, I recalled the company name correctly (kudos to the little gray cells!). Tried to get Ortgies grips, for another Ortgies pistol, later on but had no luck there or anywhere except GunBroker; however, the price of the grips there was cost prohibitive, at least for original grips.

 

A few other times I needed parts for C&R rifles. My Marlin 36 needed a new ejector. I could not recall where I got that but Blogger did when I searched for "ejector" in my blogposts and that place was Wisner's Inc.. They make replacement parts for various firearms, including pistols, rifles & shotguns. Nice workmanship on that new ejector, it fit and worked perfectly. (I hate that I later sold that Marlin 1936 - what a simple but yet gorgeous machine and piece of nature was it - at least to my eyes.) 

 

I hate that I later sold my Marlin 1936 - what a simple & yet gorgeous machine & piece of nature was it - at least in my eyes.

 

Another rifle that needed a part was a Mosin Nagant 91/30 or three. I have had a few and changed a few minor parts on at least two of them; for instance replacing missing sling grommets that fit into slots in the stock to protect the wood. Then there was one of my Chilean Mausers 1895. It was missing something but I'll be damned if the little gray cells are working as good as they were a couple of minutes ago when I lauded praise upon them two paragraphs above! I've also gotten some things like grip screws, buttplates and such from online dealers. Lest I forget (gray cells going good again) I got magazines & magazine parts too and also got a few different parts (for spares) for a Voere 22 rifle. Another gun I wish I would have kept. 

 

In fact, everything I have mentioned so far has been bought from online dealers. The online gun parts dealer from where I have gotten most of those parts was: Numrich (AKA: Numrich Gun Parts Corp. and just Gun Parts Corp.) in Kingston, NY. Sadly, I never saw the place personally when I lived in NY and heck I drove by Kingston many times in my travels to upstate NY. I never even thought of the place when on those drives - dah. Anyway, I should have stopped by for a visit and a chat at least once - there is an actual shop that Google Maps indicates is a gun shop (pretty sure they do not have an FFL) and sell just parts other than receivers but don't hold me to that). Oh well, back to never having stopped there: should have - could have - would have - wished I had!  

 

As far as parts availability goes, they have lots of different used, factory new (OEM) stuff and reproduction parts. That is not to say that Numrich is going to have all the parts for any specific gun for which they have some parts - especially with regard to older guns. Yet, they have come through for me more times than not and thus this free plug for them. They also often have indexed parts schematics. You can purchase them or while on their site, you can often just look at them & their parts lists. I am fairly certain I have a couple or few of their schematics downloaded on my laptop but I am certain that even if the little gray cells were at their all time peak performance, they'd not help me recall for which guns; although, a Beretta something or other comes to mind as the subject of one of those schematics. I am sure there were other parts I needed over the years since I started fiddling with the workings and such of my guns.

 

My most recent purchase from Numrich was a mainspring for a revolver. The hammer of which maybe has not had enough force to make the firing pin strike the rim area hard enough to get some rounds off during each cylinder's worth of cartridges. This spring however is not the normal regular strength mainspring, they evidently did not have them in stock. What they had and what I got was a heavy duty mainspring or at least that is how it was listed. That spring is the one that powers the hammer on its way to making the gun go bang. If the new one makes the gun go bang every time but seems too heavy when firing double action, then I will look for a newly manufactured regular mainspring to see how a new one of those will work. That would probably take awhile as I could not find any of the regular strength ones anywhere. Hopefully this one, which was the only one I could find and which I found at Numrich, will be okay.

 

I should point out that wen I mentioned fiddling with my guns parts,  I meant only for actual repairs and almost always with original spec parts. I almost never modify guns out of spec except for stock refinishing, different grips, adding glass optics and rarely adding after market sights. Of course, in the current case of the revolver spring I got most recently I am using a heavier duty spring; that is a very rare exception to me almost always using original spec parts. While I will use that spring, I'd never use a weaker spring, for example just to make the action smoother. That's because a weaker spring could make the gun fail when needed; this heavier spring should have no such consequence but may make the action stiffer. Anyway, as I said, if this spring is found to not be right, as in too stiff, I'll look again for a regular strength one.

 

Back to Numrich. If I regularly wore a hat (it'd likely be a fedora or a bowler), I'd give the guys & gals at Numrich a hat tip. Good company, often has what I need, ships pretty fast and has what are decent prices although if you just need one small inexpensive part, shipping may cost more than the item. 

 

And just so you know: No they (Marstar Canada, Wisner's Inc., Numrich) did not request a write-up, did not suggest or hint at one, did not pay me in any way-shape-or form for this review/compliment and did not know I was going to write this in the first place.

 

So, all I am wondering now is: Where do you, my readers, get your guns parts?

 

All the best,

Glenn B

So There I Was Standing In Line Thinking...

 ...of the Hobbit when Bilbo Baggins was playing a perilous riddle game with Gollum and Bilbo told him he was the lucky number, in other words the 14th member of his party of the dwarves, Gandalf the wizard & himself. That's when I tried to remember how many Mega Millions games I had already played for tonight's drawing and when I decided 14 would be a good number. I thought I had already bought 9 games worth  broken down to 1 game on the first ticket, 3 on the next and 5 on the most recent before that thought. So, I bought another $10 worth - or another five games on a single ticket to equal 14 games in all.

 

When I got home and checked the previously bought tickets, I realized the number of games I had played in total, with the newest ticket included, was thirteen. I really am THAT guy! Oh well, never one to follow the norm, I always liked it when Friday The 13th rolled around; so maybe, just maybe - at least this one time - 13 will wind up being extremely lucky for me and one of those 13 games will have the winning numbers just right. That would be nice.

 

Of course the odds of me winning are as small as are the odds of you winning with all the winning  numbers in one game. That said, I can also say good luck to each and every one of us who bought a ticket in tonight's Mega Millions, myself included. To be honest to my readers, I must add, I hope my luck is at least a bit better than yours but if not then I hope it is equal to yours and it winds up we split the big pot evenly between two or a few of us.

 

All the best,

Glenn B

If Pelosi Visits Taiwan - Maybe China Will Do Us A Favor...

 ...and keep her there or find some other way so that she will never return to the USA. I mean, they certainly gave us a grave warning:

 

""Those who play with fire will perish by it. It is hoped that the US will be clear-eyed about this," a Chinese readout of the Biden-Xi call said." (source).

 

Is Pelosi a goer, she's not saying (source) - Know what I mean, nudge-nudge, say no more...

 

 

All the best,

Glenn B

What's It Been - 5 Days Since My Last Post

That's because there essentially is little new in my personal life, in the news or when considering the grand scope of things going on in the world. Here is the way I see things as far as current events and such go:

 

China is still the enemy of freedom and Joe Biden & his administration are kissing their east Asian arses;

 

The leftists (democrats, liberals, progressives & RINOs) in the USA have truly lost their mind(s) (individually & collectively); 

 

Law & Order is a thing of a bygone era as is respect for it;

Crime is running rampant throughout much of our land, people are being injured & killed, property being burned down or defaced, other property is being stolen at alarming rates - ad what do the leftists politicians do - they are still investigating Trump and are essentially not doing diddly-squat to stop the criminals;

 

Black Lives Matter, groups like BLM, only when a black person has been killed by police but blacks of any other profession (or lack thereof) shooting & killing other blacks is okay as long as the guy shooting the other is not a black cop;

Racism runs rampantly throughout the nation, seemingly with more black folks committing it than white folks nowadays but there are still plenty of white racists as well;

 

Democrat politicians are evil hateful types for the most part;

 

Politicians of any ilk are perpetual liars and I am talking about lies that are about vitally important subjects and that should be of intrerest & importance to all of us legally in the nation;

 

Our current president blames everything wrong on just about anyone he can blame (other than himself) and then hopes to get media attention by doing so and he evidently believes that he (himself) can do absolutely no wrong; 

Boring is often good and my life has been a bore as of late - well, except maybe for days I go shooting or to a gun show or visit my son (saved the best for last).

 

 So there have not been any other blog posts than this one for 5 days or so.

 

When I think of something worthy to write about, I'll post again. Hopefully that will be sooner than later.

All the best,

Glenn B

 

 

 

The Second Order Off 44 Special...

 ...is slated to arrive today, it is supposedly out for delivery. Not at all bad since I ordered it on the 17th. The order is with Saint Barb's Bullets. The first order took longer but I guess that was because I ordered it on July 3 only a day before the holiday. I have to say, the packing of the first order was the absolute best packing I have ever seen for an order of pistol ammo.

 

Once I have this ammo, I'll have 150 rounds, enough to last me the year I think (if I skimp during range trips) but I'll probably order more just in case and of course so I can have some fun with the Charter Arms Bulldog!

All the best,

Glenn B

Fist Bumps Do Not Prevent Covid

What a friggin jerk-off with his fist bump. 

 

The bad things about him having Covid (along with maybe having cancer & dementia) are that if he croaks, the cackling ho Harris becomes president. It also could gain a lot of sympathy votes for any democrat who tries to fill his shoes in 2024. Then again, if Harris becomes president, even for only a few months, my guess would be that the country will implode under her and the dems will not win another major election for at least a decade. One can hope.

 

More at the source.

All the best,

Glenn B

Got My 44 Special Ammo Yesterday...

 ...and despite usually being THE Great Procrastinator, I hit the range today with the Charter Arms Bulldog that I only got with the last week or two. I also brought along my Marlin Model 70P (Papoose) which I received back in February this year and was unfired until today and my Remington 870 that I got this past January which was & sadly remains unfired. The reason the Remington remains unfired is that the range I went to today, Texarkana Gun Barn, does not allow shotguns even if firing slugs. That was a disappointing revelation.

 

Anyway, I got to shoot the other two. First off, I started with the Marlin Papoose. I fired 7 rounds (what its mag holds) at a target set at 15 yards from a standing unsupported position. The group was not too pleasing but nor was it extremely displeasing. It was off to the right and mostly high and just too big for my liking. Still, it would be okay for a hiking carry survival rifle if I could adjust the windage but alas it did not look like it could be adjusted to me. I will have to check the manual and take another look at the front sight to see if it can be drifted but it looked as if it could not at first glance. I was anxious to shoot the Bulldog so did not look too long.

 

I put that same target back out but only to 7 yards the next time and loaded up the Charter Arms Bulldog. The first shot went kaboom and it kicked like a small mule (as opposed to my Ruger Redhawk in 44 Magnum that kicks like a full sized mule). I fired its compliment of 5 shots. At first I thought I somehow had missed the paper with one of the shots but they are all there in two holes. I was firing slow fire, two hands unsupported. I am pretty darned happy with the group.

 

 

After those first shots, I put the target back out to 15 yards and shot the Papoose from a seated position with only ,my left elbow resting on the bench. The group size improved markedly but was still off to the right and a bit high. 

 

 I was firing Aguila, 40 grain, standard velocity, lead round-nose ammo at it. Although either would do as a survival rifle, I probably would carry this takedown rifle with me on hikes instead of my Henry U.S. Survival rifle, it is definitely the more accurate of the two. Granted, it does not breakdown and then fit into its own stock like the Henry but does break down to barrel & stock/receiver combo and comes with a case in which to store it.

 

After that it was back to the Bulldog. I fired another 10 shots from it, this time at 10 yards. I shot with an unsupported two hand hold, slow to medium rate of fire. For a revolver that has only a ramp front sight and groove for the rear sight, it shoots pretty darned good. 

 

 

As you can see, my groups on this and the previous 5 shot target were low and there was the one low flyer too on the 10 shot target. I am not sure if my groups were because of the gun, the ammo or me anticipating recoil (it certainly was on my mind at least a little bit considering the caliber but not much). Yet, I am quite happy with the way it shot. It was the only gun, in the last Hessney Auction on which I bid without first asking for & getting a rundown on its condition from the auction house. I do that now and again and have regretted it a couple or few times but this one had some better quality photos of it on the auction site and I took a shot. I am happy I did! 

 

In all I fired 25 rounds through the Bulldog - not many but enough to assure it went bang every time. I had suspected the trigger pull seemed as if someone maybe had ground down the main spring when fired single action (I only fired it double action today). Yep, even with the factory bobbed hammer, it can be cocked easily enough (at least at the range but you do need to be careful since it is a very short hammer spur if you can even call it a spur) to fire it single action and it has one heck of a light single action trigger pull. Double action felt pretty heavy - by my guess at least 10 pounds. When I looked at the spent primers after firing it, I no longer had any concerns about the mainspring maybe having been worked because the indentations in the primers were pretty deep and were consistent from round to round. 

 

Now to hope for ammo prices to fall for this not rare but still not very popular round. I got three boxes of 25 rounds each for about $25.00 per box; the ammo I used was PMC 180 grain JHP (actually looks more like semi-JHP). I need to order at least a few more boxes because that was the same price or less than I saw for FMJ 44 Special Ammo. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention why I need more ammo - that's because this one is a keeper!

All the best,

Glenn B

Jill Biden's New Name

Talking Taco Tina! If they made some of those old fashioned pull the string to make em talk dolls, or even just some bobbleheads, in her image and named em like that, I bet they'd sell tens of thousands. No surprise she'd make an asinine comment like that about an ethnic group - like husband - like wife I guess.

All the best,

GB

So - I Have This New Toy...

 ...but about all I can do with it right now is use it as a paperweight. That's because I have no ammo for it. It is a Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 S&W Special (aka: 44 Special). No one has it locally, at least not the stores I have tried. So, I ordered some online from a place called Saint Barb's Bullets. That was on July 3rd, now it is the 8th and their site tells me my order is still "Processing". If it has not been sent out by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, I will give them a call. Just sent them an inquiry via their internal message system. When I placed my order, they supposedly had over 400 boxes of PMC 44 Special JHP in stock, so I have to wonder - what the frick is the delay! 

 

Yeah, I know, this past Monday was a holiday but three days plus part of today ought to be more than enough for an efficient ammo supplier to get their product into the system and on its way to the buyer. Maybe, being that I am The Great Procrastinator, I should be more patient but I really want to shoot this thing ASAP if for no other reason to make sure it is not too good to be true. It looks so nice and seems to lock up nice and tightly but the action seems oh so smooth and the single action trigger pull is probably 2 pounds or less and my guess is less. Thus, I suspect someone may have ground down the mainspring (hammer spring). I hope not but if so it is easy enough to replace. 

 

About the only external sign of use is a light cylinder ring.

Of course, maybe I just got really lucky and I found myself a really nice and fully operational Bulldog from the original Charter Arms. One can hope but I'd like to do more than hope and take it to the range for a shoot.

All the best,

Glenn B

I Would Have Sworn She & Others Said...

 ...she did absolutely nothing wrong and that she was innocent and more or less was being falsely accused by the Russians for political reasons. Yet, the news today is that she has made a guilty plea. More at the source.

 

Oh well, my life goes on either way whether she is guilty or not. Quite frankly, I do not give a rat's arse about a person whom I consider to be someone who seemingly thinks she has special privileges and deserves special attention from the president of the USA to get her off the hook.

All the best,

Glenn B

The Axles Have Been Greased &...

 ...the wheels are already in motion even if only slowly so far. Hopefully, I will be bound toward Rogers, AR to arrive on July 12 or toward Dallas, TX to arrive on July 15 and to get to either in time to attend the Santana & Earth Wind & Fire concert at either location. 

 

I would prefer Rogers, AR as it is north of here and thus maybe will be a bit cooler and because my son lives in AR and maybe it is more convenient for him if he chooses to come even though on a work day's night. If he chooses not to attend either, then I hope that maybe I can drop off Skye (my mongrel) with him or his girlfriend for the 12th and go up to Rogers. Another reason to choose Rogers though is that tickets will be about $100 less expensive there and that is for each ticket. What a difference! Of course, being Dallas is on a Friday night, if my son can make it, I will be obliged as a decent pop to get tickets there. He'd have to foot the motel bill.

 

Either show would be nice to attend and going with my son would make either one a grand affair. His gal-pal can come too but he'd have to foot the ticket price for her. Besides it being grand to have Brendan, and maybe Niki too, with me to see Santana - it would be excellent to see him and his group perform if they played some of their classic hits from long ago. The man is a musical genius. Saw him last an an ice skating rink (in warmer months) within Central Park in NYC many, many, many years ago. Seeing Earth Wind & Fire playing as the backup band would be a nostalgic treat as well. 

 

So, I sent Brendan an email for him to read tomorrow and hopefully he will tell me he can attend one of those shows. If not, then I hope I can drop off Skye (my mongrel) with him early next week and then head up to Rogers.

 

Of course, all of this also depends upon whether Carlos Santana recovers from the heat exhaustion he suffered last night. More at the source. It also depends upon whether or not any tickets are left tomorrow after Brendan gets back to me.

 

All the best,

Glenn B

Painting A True Picture Of Liberals

 

All the best,

Glenn B

Happy Independence Day

 

Never Listening To Her Singing Again...

 ...would only be possible if I had ever listened to Pink's singing in the first place. So, her demand that people like me stop listening to her music (more at the source) has essentially fallen on deaf ears relative to me and I suppose others like me.

 

While I coincidentally may have overheard her before when someone else was playing her stuff, I would not have even known who was singing. She is, in my opinion, nothing of any importance nor is there any allure for me at all to her singing. So while never listening to her singing AGAIN may be impossible for me, never listening to her in the first place will be one of the easiest things I will have ever done.

All the best,

Glenn B