Adolph Vancinghand, SASS #28923

Absolutely perfect. And here I was thinking that I was the only closet Dune fanatic out there... Does that make Amazon the Guild?

A buddy in the mid-80s had a Firestar and it did a lot to educate me that "good guns are where you find 'em". Over the years I've had "name brand" pieces that were garbage and "garbage" that worked all day / every day. Example: when I feel like emulating 007, I carry an Astra Constable (a cheap PPK knock-off) that meets the above criteria. Likewise, my "everyday" 1911 says Taurus on the side. I've got Gold Cups and Springfield TRPs, but often as not the "garbage" goes along on my hip. Glad to hear about your Firestar, Forty Rod! Ad

I trust NO rifle to hit point of aim after being out of the stock, so that's no skin off my nose. I figure I'm "back to square one" and act accordingly. But that's just me... Ad

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." At the end of Casablanca (the 1942 film noir starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains and others), Rick Blaine (Bogart) is walking into the night with Captain Louis Renault (Rains) and delivers that famous (and often misquoted) line. Late this afternoon, I found a reason to recall that quote…I’ve long admired the M1A rifle (the civilian variant of the M14) but had never scratched that particular itch. Well, an opportunity to snag a Springfield Armory National Match M1A presented itself a couple of weeks ago and I picked it up. The seller claimed that it had only been fired three times and its condition certainly supports that claim.I finally had the opportunity to put a few rounds through it this afternoon but this wasn’t a serious session…just a “first date” to see if it could manage the basics: fire, eject, feed and maybe keep the holes in something snugger than an improved cylinder pattern. I hoped the rifle would hold up its end…but I also hoped I’d be up to the task. Trifocals and aperture sights ain’t the best combo (especially on a day with ragged overcast), plus I’d be managing the 4-5 pound two-stage trigger. Not to mention the afternoon heat that had a river of sweat running down the crack of my asterisk…Since this wasn’t a serious session, I left all my bench gear inside (stool, sandbags, etc.). I’d planned to simply kneel behind my bench, rest my forearms across the top and squeeze off five rounds. After hanging a target at 100 yards, I assumed that position, cranked twelve clicks of elevation out of the “cellar”, held six o’clock on the bull and squeezed off.Ever seen the old newsreels of Operation Rolling Thunder? The rain of bombs dropping onto North Vietnam from the bellies of B52s? Well, my first shot produced the same effect from underneath my bench…but this time the payload was red wasps and they were NOT happy with me. It’s amazing how proper motivation can overcome arthritis…I was twenty steps uprange in the blink of an eye; unstung and thankful that the muzzle blast must have slowed their target acquisition!A temporary truce ensued while I located a can of wasp spray and hosed down the 4” nest. Had I been using my normal shooting stool with my legs under the bench top, that load of wasps would have wound up in my lap…did I mention I was wearing a t-shirt and bush shorts? Oh, the horror…When my pulse rate got back to more-or-less normal, I figured it was time to pack up this carnival and head back up to the house. Once again hitting my knees I squeezed the remaining four shots off, shagged my brass and went to fetch my target. Well, happy days…I was greeted by a perfectly respectable group (given the circumstances). Five shots in 2” (four in 1 3/8”), right at 9 o’clock…elevation was perfect so I’ll just need to tweak windage (without wasps!).As Bogart would say, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”!

What Cyrus said. That's some reach to conclude Native American ownership just because a horse is barefoot AND has a split hoof! When I was just a boy, I wanted BADLY to have my horse shod 'cause, heck, all my buddies were astride shod horses. Daddy sez, "Tell you what. You get to where you can handle all four of that horse's feet, do whatever you want with 'em for as long as you want with 'em...we'll see about getting him shod." The Old Man was pretty crafty: by the time I had that horse where a half-blind grandmother could shoe him, I didn't care whether he was shod or not! I learned to keep him standing up on his feet with a pair of nippers, a rasp and a frog knife! In fact, I just got back from the barn. A palomino I bought a couple of weeks ago threw his front left shoe a few days ago and, since I couldn't find a decent farrier with a gap in his schedule, I just pulled his front right shoe myself. I'll ride him barefoot in front 'til Monday when I can get him re-shod all around. "Ad"

What? The Rabbit? I almost soiled my armor I was so scared...

Hey Charlie! Back in 1990 when my bride and I were living in Midland, we drove over and climbed Guadalupe Peak. We packed up to a primitive campsite on a little mesa, spent the night, then made the easy hike to the summit and descended the next day. Day hikers make the round trip every day, so what we did wasn't the norm. Beautiful, rugged country. While you're in the area, you can hike McKittrick Canyon. It's just to the east and a part of Guadalupe Mountains NP. https://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/mckittrick.htm "Ad"

Per our conversation, I'll take it. "Ad"

PM sent. "Ad"

I've never run the .25-20 as a CAS cartridge, but it's a sentimental favorite for me for coyotes, turkeys and just plain plinking! "Ad"

Hey Rex, If that 1911 comp bushing has a .45 hole in the end of it, I'll take it, the springs and the guide rod. Shoot me a PM with your info and I'll get funds organized. "Ad"

We got our start from a family friend 50-odd years ago. Usage frequency varies from weekly to close to a month between uses. The stuff is virtually bulletproof. If it sits unused for too long, some nasty gray water will accumulate on top. No worries, stir it back in, feed it...you're good to go. Aunt Hada Nuff does biscuits, breads, "buffins" (a cross between biscuits and muffins) and has recently started doing sourdough pizza crusts. Food of the Gods. "Ad"

Amen! My old RCBS Rockchucker was been loading everything from .218 Bee to .470 Nitro Express for better than 40 years and I've been a loyal Dillon customer since buying a 450 back when they first came out (still got it, too...but it got replaced by a 650 many years ago)! Dillon just replaced my primer tube alarm unit at no cost...wonderful customer service! "Ad"