All under the sheets again.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
I've Heard of Bone-Swallowers Before...
...but never before this have I heard of a phone-swallower. A prisoner, in Ireland, for whatever reason decided to swallow a cell phone. He later told authorities about it. They had him brought to a hospital for x-rays and sure enough there was a cellphone in his gut. He did not pass it and it could not be removed by any means so doctors cut him open to pull it out. I can only imagine what else this guy has been swallowing in his lifetime. One thing is for certain, even though he may only be a phone-swallower and not a bone-swallower, he most certainly is a bonehead. More here.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
I Think I Am Going To Start Packing
No, I don't mean packing heat - I already do that. I think that as soon as I am done typing up this post, I am going to start packing for the trip to Alaska that Brendan and I are making in a couple of weeks. I usually wait until the last minute for almost everything but not this time. I already grabbed a suitcase from up in the loft of my garage and have a pile of clothes and gear that I may or may not bring all piled up in my basement. I also have a brand spanking new Plano All Weather gun case. Now I have to go through all of stuff, see what I really want to bring along and then get it packed. I hope to bring a lessor than greater amount of stuff but certainly am not a minimalist in that regard. As far as Brendan goes, he can take care of his own packing..
I figure on a weeks worth of clothes (who wants to do wash on vacation, at least until the last day), two pairs of boots and a pair of running shoes. I will probably wear my large pair of boots on the plane to save room in my luggage. Other than there will be whatever gear I decide to bring. My gear most certainly will include the following: Remington 870 12 gauge, Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag, my Remington R1 1911 and just enough ammo for each. Other than that, the gear will probably also include: a couple of compasses, matches (I have to check if they are okay in checked luggage), a magnesium fire starter, a couple of knives (a folder and a fixed blade belt knife), rain gear, flashlight and headlamp, a camera and my cellphone. What else could I need except for a bankroll!
I figure on buying bear spray, a first aid kit (or making one from stuff bought at a pharmacy), toiletries, some ammo, and maybe even fresh water fishing gear and tackle once we get to Alaska. As far as fresh water fishing stuff goes, I am thinking about possibly shipping it to myself, to either be held at UPS for pick-up or delivered to our motel. That would save a lot of money in AK on fishing gear we do not need more of and would save a lot of room in our luggage. The salt water fishing we plan on doing will be on a boat that supplies everything we will need except for the fish and the luck needed to catch them.
I have arranged it so Brendan will bring one checked bag and a carry on. I will bring two checked suitcases (one a gun case for my firearms) and a checked bag and maybe my laptop. Not even a single piece of checked luggage goes for free, so checking any bags has made the trip quite a bit more expensive than just the airfare. Oh well, it is going to be a once in a lifetime trip for me, so screw it and do it. I prepaid for that amount of luggage so it made it a few bucks less expensive.
Anyway, I had best get started otherwise I will wind up waiting until the last minute and be stressed out on the day we fly there. I don't need that and neither does Brendan. I want to see him smiling every day of the week we will have together there. So, that means I had better start on making it so right now.
Later for you,
Glenn B
I figure on a weeks worth of clothes (who wants to do wash on vacation, at least until the last day), two pairs of boots and a pair of running shoes. I will probably wear my large pair of boots on the plane to save room in my luggage. Other than there will be whatever gear I decide to bring. My gear most certainly will include the following: Remington 870 12 gauge, Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag, my Remington R1 1911 and just enough ammo for each. Other than that, the gear will probably also include: a couple of compasses, matches (I have to check if they are okay in checked luggage), a magnesium fire starter, a couple of knives (a folder and a fixed blade belt knife), rain gear, flashlight and headlamp, a camera and my cellphone. What else could I need except for a bankroll!
I figure on buying bear spray, a first aid kit (or making one from stuff bought at a pharmacy), toiletries, some ammo, and maybe even fresh water fishing gear and tackle once we get to Alaska. As far as fresh water fishing stuff goes, I am thinking about possibly shipping it to myself, to either be held at UPS for pick-up or delivered to our motel. That would save a lot of money in AK on fishing gear we do not need more of and would save a lot of room in our luggage. The salt water fishing we plan on doing will be on a boat that supplies everything we will need except for the fish and the luck needed to catch them.
I have arranged it so Brendan will bring one checked bag and a carry on. I will bring two checked suitcases (one a gun case for my firearms) and a checked bag and maybe my laptop. Not even a single piece of checked luggage goes for free, so checking any bags has made the trip quite a bit more expensive than just the airfare. Oh well, it is going to be a once in a lifetime trip for me, so screw it and do it. I prepaid for that amount of luggage so it made it a few bucks less expensive.
Anyway, I had best get started otherwise I will wind up waiting until the last minute and be stressed out on the day we fly there. I don't need that and neither does Brendan. I want to see him smiling every day of the week we will have together there. So, that means I had better start on making it so right now.
Later for you,
Glenn B
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
At Least He Keeps His Gun Clean...
...but he apparently doesn't do likewise with himself or his clothes. Reuters reports on a man who evidently shot himself while cleaning a gun but who did not realize he had done so until three days later when he changed his shirt! Heck, didn't he take off the shirt to shower even just once before he finally decided to change it? By the way, must be some good dope he has been taking for his back pain if he did not feel any pain and thus did not realize he had shot himself; just goes to show that gunpowder and mind (or pain) numbing drugs do not mix. More here.
All the best,
GB
All the best,
GB
See Yourself As A 1911 Expert?
Do you fancy yourself as an aficionado of the Colt 1911 pistol and its history? Maybe you are and maybe you are not. One thing for sure is that if you do not answer all ten of these questions correctly then you are not because these questions ought to be easy for a real 1911 type.
I certainly am not a 1911 expert in any regard. I took the quiz and answered 9 out of 10 correctly but that was only do to a few lucky guesses. I pretty much knew the answers to only 5 questions with any amount of certainty. See the quiz here:
http://www.fflunleashed.com/how-well-do-you-really-know-the-1911/
All the best,
Glenn B
I certainly am not a 1911 expert in any regard. I took the quiz and answered 9 out of 10 correctly but that was only do to a few lucky guesses. I pretty much knew the answers to only 5 questions with any amount of certainty. See the quiz here:
http://www.fflunleashed.com/how-well-do-you-really-know-the-1911/
All the best,
Glenn B
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Monday, May 9, 2016
The Happy Gardener...
...would be me today or should I say the happy tortoise enthusiast or both. While getting some garden work done today, I checked around looking for my missing female Russian Tortoise. I spotted what I was certain was a disruption in the soil and debris of my compost pile since I had last looked for her. I moved some stuff around, cleared a little debris and soil of about an inch in depth, and there was her shell beckoning me to scoop her up and bring her inside. It am guessing she had been out and about for at least part of today the first warmer day in a week or so. Even though it's only about 62 out there right now the warmer weather and a good deal of sunshine probably had her out and about for a bit. It was chilly and raining most of this past week and while she might have been out then, I kind of doubt it - today though was a tempting day for any turtle or tortoise to enjoy basking in the sun. I brought her inside and showed her off to my wife and son and scolded my wife in jest for not thinking me observant. As I always tell her, I have an eye for things when different than they were before in a not right sort of a way or when things are suspiciously dangerous appearing that others often miss. Yet, she thinks me a dolt because I ignore it when she moves around furniture or buys new pieces and ask a month layer "Is that new?".
As for the tortoise, she has been on the lam for awhile now. I had been concerned she may have escaped the inner fenced in portion of our backyard because there had been a sizable gap under the fence that I did not see when I left her out there one day about a month or so ago (so much for noticing what is not right or different, maybe my wife is right but in my defense it was under a bush). She was the only tortoise out of my five that I couldn't find at the end of that day. I plugged the gap and was not all that concerned because it was a small gap and, even if she had gotten out, the rest of the yard was also enclosed.
After not finding her over the next few warm days after her escape, I got a little concerned, especially when my son brought the aluminum remains of our wind destroyed gazebo to the scrap yard. Some were upright columns that had a wide enough interior to allow the female Russian Tortoise entry for a hiding spot. I hoped she did not crawl into one and then get taken to the scrap yard since my son forgot to check inside them when he hauled away the debris. I also wondered if a raccoon, opossum or hawk had gotten her or maybe even my one known larceny prone neighbor - my wife once saw him stealing one of our flower pots. I also thought, that if she was still around she was probably dug in underground because it got much cooler again after that first few days that she was missing.
As it turns out, all the worry was for naught, she was just dug in. She is found, she is alive and she is apparently well. Right now she is basking in the warmth of a heat lamp inside her enclosure in my basement and I am going to get my arse back to work doing some planting.
All the best,
Glenn
As for the tortoise, she has been on the lam for awhile now. I had been concerned she may have escaped the inner fenced in portion of our backyard because there had been a sizable gap under the fence that I did not see when I left her out there one day about a month or so ago (so much for noticing what is not right or different, maybe my wife is right but in my defense it was under a bush). She was the only tortoise out of my five that I couldn't find at the end of that day. I plugged the gap and was not all that concerned because it was a small gap and, even if she had gotten out, the rest of the yard was also enclosed.
After not finding her over the next few warm days after her escape, I got a little concerned, especially when my son brought the aluminum remains of our wind destroyed gazebo to the scrap yard. Some were upright columns that had a wide enough interior to allow the female Russian Tortoise entry for a hiding spot. I hoped she did not crawl into one and then get taken to the scrap yard since my son forgot to check inside them when he hauled away the debris. I also wondered if a raccoon, opossum or hawk had gotten her or maybe even my one known larceny prone neighbor - my wife once saw him stealing one of our flower pots. I also thought, that if she was still around she was probably dug in underground because it got much cooler again after that first few days that she was missing.
 |
| The female Russian Tortoise is the one on your left. The other is my male Russian and the big mother in the foreground my female Herman's Tortoise. |
All the best,
Glenn
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Maybe Some People Should Not Have Guns
This guy may be one of them. What do you think?
All the best,
Glenn B
A Nicely Executed Family Video...
...or should I call it a nice family execution video - first mom, then dad, then the kid. Who thinks these things up; therein is the next Quentin Tarantino kind of a twisted genius!
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Getting A Grip On It
As I promised myself yesterday, I ordered a pair of rubber grips for the Ruger Redhawk to replace the pretty looking rosewood grips it has now.
I chose to go with the Pachmayr Gripper Decelerator. I ordered them through Optics Planet since I have gotten good service and prices from them in the past. They still have decent prices and I am hoping good service too.
All the best,
GB
 |
| The top of the grips on the Redhawk are two narrow front to back and allowed the back-strap to bite the web of my hand between thumb and forefinger. The Pachmayr rubber grips should fix that. |
I chose to go with the Pachmayr Gripper Decelerator. I ordered them through Optics Planet since I have gotten good service and prices from them in the past. They still have decent prices and I am hoping good service too.
All the best,
GB
Saturday, May 7, 2016
First Shots Ruger Redhawk
Brendan popped the first 6 caps through the Ruger Redhawk. He shot like shit and he seemed pretty surprised as he told me it hurt like hell in the web of his hand between the thumb and forefinger. He added that it had one hell of a kick. I took the next half dozen shots and can confirm exactly what he said; although, I shot better than him. He got better as we went along with a little tweaking from me. He did okay with the Remington R1, in 45 ACP, that we had along - it was just that kicking mule 44 Mag that gave him trouble.
As for the pain in the hand from the recoil, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the area between the top-strap and back-strap is so thin in that large a caliber revolver and why Ruger insists on those fancy looking rosewood grips instead of something like the Hogue Monogrip that they use on the 4" barreled Redhawks. Yes, the rosewood grips sure look nice but they don't give enough to hold onto with the gun kicking and bucking wildly each time you fire it. I have absolutely no doubt, I will be getting a set of rubber grips like the Hogue Monogrip or the Pachmayr Finger Groove Decelerator Grip and will be getting them soon. They should prove to the cure for this beast's biting recoil and make it all that more controllable. And yes, it did bite, heck it took some flesh off of me.
In fact, right after we were done shooting, I looked in the gun shop at the range but they did not have the right size Hogue Monogrip and had none by Pachmayr either. We also stopped at SARCO, right next to the range, and looked there but they had mostly surplus stuff and not the grips I wanted. Anyway, as I said, I will definitely get a good set of Hogue or maybe Pachmayr grips for the Redhawk really soon - I sure don't need to bleed because the darned Redhawk sinks its talons into me a second time. Brendan fared better than me in that department. He had no tearing of the skin. Yet, even though he has much stronger hands than me because he works doing deliveries for a lumber yard, he still got bruised in that same area and had had enough of shooting the Ruger after about 30 to 36 shots. As for my hand, that happened on the 30th round that I fired, the last round I fired with the Ruger today. Call me a wussy if you want, but once I started bleeding that was enough for me. Brendan fired another 6 rounds or so and that was it for him too. I should say that was it for the Redhawk and the 44 Mag ammo because after that we continued to take turns with my Remington R1 1911 which we had already been shooting between volleys with the Redhawk. The 45 ACP ammo was a pleasure to shoot after the 44 Mag, even after the back-strap of the Redhawk chewed up my hand a bit.
As for the pain in the hand from the recoil, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the area between the top-strap and back-strap is so thin in that large a caliber revolver and why Ruger insists on those fancy looking rosewood grips instead of something like the Hogue Monogrip that they use on the 4" barreled Redhawks. Yes, the rosewood grips sure look nice but they don't give enough to hold onto with the gun kicking and bucking wildly each time you fire it. I have absolutely no doubt, I will be getting a set of rubber grips like the Hogue Monogrip or the Pachmayr Finger Groove Decelerator Grip and will be getting them soon. They should prove to the cure for this beast's biting recoil and make it all that more controllable. And yes, it did bite, heck it took some flesh off of me.
In fact, right after we were done shooting, I looked in the gun shop at the range but they did not have the right size Hogue Monogrip and had none by Pachmayr either. We also stopped at SARCO, right next to the range, and looked there but they had mostly surplus stuff and not the grips I wanted. Anyway, as I said, I will definitely get a good set of Hogue or maybe Pachmayr grips for the Redhawk really soon - I sure don't need to bleed because the darned Redhawk sinks its talons into me a second time. Brendan fared better than me in that department. He had no tearing of the skin. Yet, even though he has much stronger hands than me because he works doing deliveries for a lumber yard, he still got bruised in that same area and had had enough of shooting the Ruger after about 30 to 36 shots. As for my hand, that happened on the 30th round that I fired, the last round I fired with the Ruger today. Call me a wussy if you want, but once I started bleeding that was enough for me. Brendan fired another 6 rounds or so and that was it for him too. I should say that was it for the Redhawk and the 44 Mag ammo because after that we continued to take turns with my Remington R1 1911 which we had already been shooting between volleys with the Redhawk. The 45 ACP ammo was a pleasure to shoot after the 44 Mag, even after the back-strap of the Redhawk chewed up my hand a bit.
The range we visited was The Heritage Guild in Easton, PA. When we arrived we were greeted by a courteous lass behind the counter who gave us two or three pages of forms to fill out, including the range rules, a bio sheet and the waivers that have become necessary because we never followed Shakespeare's advice to first kill all the lawyers. When finished with the paperwork, we watched an 8 minute orientation video. Then back to the counter, where there were only two other folks on the line (another father and son team from the look of them) and next thing we knew we had some targets, were all paid up (thanks to Brendan treating me) and directed into the range. The range had 5 or 6 shooting bays and had another room next to it consisting of a similar set-up. I think there was also another mirror image setting, or at least another range, on the opposite of the building. It, to my surprise, was not busy.
In all, we only shot for an hour, both of us taking turns on a single point but we had loads of fun in that time. After shooting, we looked around the gun store part of The Heritage Guild for ten minutes or so and as I said above, we then headed over to check out SARCO right next door. We probably spent 45 minutes or more in there checking out the guns they had on display. Lots of milsurp stuff firearms, magazines, spare parts and stuff. I commented to Brendan that it was like going to a gun show and he agreed. They had some older 22 rifles I would have considered buying was I not broke after shelling out big bucks for the Redhawk and ammo for it. Did I mention Brendan paid for the range time - good kid and saved me some cash. he also drove his car there and declined the offer I made to pay for a fill up at a gas station.
After SARCO, we headed to Weyerbacher Brewing Company just a few blocks away. Brendan had two small brews (and I do mean small, I think they were 4 ounces each) just for taste. I had a pint of Blasphemy and it was terrible; Brendan took a sip and thought likewise. Before today, I had already had another of their beers, bought it at Costco, called Merry Monks. That one is excellent.
Brendan also liked the two different ones he tried today. I remember the first one was called Blithering Idiot because he said they had named it after me. The other one was Heresy, what he just committed by saying the other one was named for me. I picked up a six pack of the Merry Monks brew and another six pack of something called Insanity to bring home with us. After that, Brendan smoked a stogie out at a picnic table adjacent to the parking lot, then it was off to home.
Not a bad time at all and next time we go to The Heritage Guild, we will be sure to reserve one of their rental full auto weapons for some excess shooting goodness. I also will be sure to bring the Redhawk again but with rubber grips on it.
All the best,
Glenn B
Off To The Range In PA...
...about 2 hours later than expected but I guess both me and the lad had a couple too many of them moonshine cherries last night. Oh well, so we will shoot this afternoon.
All the best,
GB
All the best,
GB
Friday, May 6, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Twasn't My Package Fell Off That Truck
Mine actually got delivered. Either the UPS driver actually missed it on his scheduled delivery to my FFL dealer or once questioned by my FFL, when the UPS driver returned at my FFL Dealer to do a pick-up, he decided he had best deliver my ammo instead of conveniently forgetting it again and it following him to wherever. Nuff said.
Which translates to, now I have 150 rounds of Prvi Partizan 44 Rem Mag, 300 grain, semi-jacketed flat point ammo to shoot out of my new Ruger Redhawk. Brendan and I should have some fun at a range in PA this Saturday.
I have to comment that the 44 Remington magnum round looks pretty impressive as compared to other pistol round I regularly shoot.
I know, there are bigger and more powerful handgun rounds, such as the: 445 Super Mag, 454 Casull, 460 S&W, 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, 500 Linebaugh and 500 S&W. Some of those would probably be a lot better as a bear defense round than the 44 Rem Mag but I went with a round I figured we both could control in a gun that is supposedly of high quality and available at a decent price (not inexpensive but decent).
Anyway, as you can see, compared to what I had been shooting out of my current handguns, this cartridge is huge. I just hope it will be sufficient to get the job done should we need it for a charging bear. As I have said before though, if we have a chance, shooting the bear will not be our first resort, for that will use bear repellent pepper spray. From what I understand it gives you a better chance not only of surviving but also of not being mauled and injured by the bear than does a gun. I guess one of us can spray and the other may be able to stand ready to shoot if the need arises.
Then there is that other method of defending yourself against a bear attack - making the bear believe you are more bad ass than it. I would not want to be in a situation where the bear was attacking and I did not have any bear deterrent spray or a firearm but after watching the below video, I am convinced it is possible to fake out a bear.
Mind you, it's not like I have a death wish and that I want to try and find out if I could freak out an attacking bear only to find I was wrong. Then again, if no other options are available, I suppose it might be better than nothing in at least some attacks. It worked for this guy, whom I think was an out and out arsehat for evidently following the bear while making a video. The bear had enough and turned on him. He is lucky, it was a small to medium bear, probably not that experienced as a hunter and the guy was able to scare it off. A bit more about the video here.
All the best,
Glenn B
Which translates to, now I have 150 rounds of Prvi Partizan 44 Rem Mag, 300 grain, semi-jacketed flat point ammo to shoot out of my new Ruger Redhawk. Brendan and I should have some fun at a range in PA this Saturday.
I have to comment that the 44 Remington magnum round looks pretty impressive as compared to other pistol round I regularly shoot.
 |
| Pistol rounds I usually shoot (22LR, 32 ACP, 9mm Luger, 45 AUTO lined up with one of my Prvi Partizan 44 Mag, 300 grain, SJFP rounds. |
Anyway, as you can see, compared to what I had been shooting out of my current handguns, this cartridge is huge. I just hope it will be sufficient to get the job done should we need it for a charging bear. As I have said before though, if we have a chance, shooting the bear will not be our first resort, for that will use bear repellent pepper spray. From what I understand it gives you a better chance not only of surviving but also of not being mauled and injured by the bear than does a gun. I guess one of us can spray and the other may be able to stand ready to shoot if the need arises.
Then there is that other method of defending yourself against a bear attack - making the bear believe you are more bad ass than it. I would not want to be in a situation where the bear was attacking and I did not have any bear deterrent spray or a firearm but after watching the below video, I am convinced it is possible to fake out a bear.
Mind you, it's not like I have a death wish and that I want to try and find out if I could freak out an attacking bear only to find I was wrong. Then again, if no other options are available, I suppose it might be better than nothing in at least some attacks. It worked for this guy, whom I think was an out and out arsehat for evidently following the bear while making a video. The bear had enough and turned on him. He is lucky, it was a small to medium bear, probably not that experienced as a hunter and the guy was able to scare it off. A bit more about the video here.
All the best,
Glenn B
UPS Delivers - Or Not
I saw this image over at Knuckledraggin My Life Away in this post. I had to wonder how in Hades he got a picture of my ammo falling off of the truck!!!
You see, I am awaiting an ammo delivery by UPS to my FFL. About a minute or so before I saw that photo on Wirecutter's blog, I had just called the my local FFL dealer to find out if UPS had delivered my expected ammo shipment yet today. UPS showed it as on the truck since 730 this morning, which is an unusually long time for it to be on he truck when being delivered to a business. My FFL told me that UPS already had made it's single delivery for the day to his business but did not deliver my ammo. UPS still shows it on the truck despite the daily delivery to my dealer.
The same UPS truck should be back at my dealer soon, for a pick-up. My FFL guy is going to ask the driver to search the truck for it. I am hoping the driver just missed it and it will get delivered when he stops there for the pick-up. Yet, I am not the lucky type and I would not be surprised at all to learn that it fell off of the truck just like above.
All the best,
Glenn B
You see, I am awaiting an ammo delivery by UPS to my FFL. About a minute or so before I saw that photo on Wirecutter's blog, I had just called the my local FFL dealer to find out if UPS had delivered my expected ammo shipment yet today. UPS showed it as on the truck since 730 this morning, which is an unusually long time for it to be on he truck when being delivered to a business. My FFL told me that UPS already had made it's single delivery for the day to his business but did not deliver my ammo. UPS still shows it on the truck despite the daily delivery to my dealer.
The same UPS truck should be back at my dealer soon, for a pick-up. My FFL guy is going to ask the driver to search the truck for it. I am hoping the driver just missed it and it will get delivered when he stops there for the pick-up. Yet, I am not the lucky type and I would not be surprised at all to learn that it fell off of the truck just like above.
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
No 44 Ammo Yet
The anticipated delivery of the 44 MAG ammo I ordered has been delayed, supposedly by on day. In other words, I still don't have any ammo for my new Redhawk revolver. It's not a big concern as long as it does arrive tomorrow as it is now scheduled. That's because Brendan and I will be heading to a range in PA on Saturday, so if the ammo arrives tomorrow and I can pick it up, all should be well and good. I am truly looking forward to shooting this thing, especially with the fairly hot 300 grain rounds I am getting for it. More so though, I look forward to watching Brendan shoot it.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
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