Church Key, SASS # 33713

Used the replacement gel muffs tonight at an indoor ASI carbine match. Worked great; never noticed the muffs. Church Key

I have a couple of 50th Ann. Blackhawk's in .357 that I used for years until I went with New Vaquero's. They serve as (unneeded) backups. Work great. Just decided that I prefer stainless guns. The Blackhawk's were tuned by Mid-MD; Vaquero's by Cody. Probably should sell them, but too lazy. Church Key

I ordered the gel replacement that S. Dave recommended. Should arrive tomorrow. Will let the Wire know how they work. Church Key

I am currently using Caldwell electronic muffs for shooting indoors at Action Shooting International (ASI) matches, both pistol and carbine. These work OK, but get uncomfortable after a 1/2 hour or so. We shoot two stages and then do a reset which usually means about an hour before the headset can come off for a bit. I'd like suggestions on comfortable muffs. Ear plugs are not an allowable option for this range, unless they are under muffs. Appreciate all thoughts/suggestions. Church Key

A Winchester, VA policeman was killed in a cruiser crash while responding to a call late last year and his funeral procession went through the old part of town where I happened to be. His coffin was on a wheeled bier towed by a police motorcycle. It was a very impressive and quite moving procession. May he RIP. Church Key

Gee Wiz, many of the newer pistols made from late 2000's through now have dispensed with the older M designation and use a more modern letter like "G" such as the G-17, G-19, etc. They also upgraded from metal that can rust to more modern materials including various forms of plastic with rainbow colors molded into the frames. Progress marches on. Church Key

If you decline part B when you are eligible, there is a premium penalty of I believe 10% a year added to the part B cost whenever you do enroll. Part A (hospitalization) happens automatically when you hit the enrollment age. Part A is at no cost to you. I'd Google the Medicare rules. and also discuss with the Social Security folks in addition to your Wife's insurance plan. There is a final safeguard if you reject part B as you have to do it in person at a Social Security office and they will advise you of your options. That said, I'm a retired Federal employee and declined part B for both myself and my wife as my insurance coverage continues as if I was still working. My wife was hospitalized past December and there was some major foul-ups as the stupid hospital submitted a claim for part B which was rejected by Medicare. They then billed me for $6,500; duh! My insurance company squared it away. Church Key

I don't reload .44 Russian anymore, but recall using Dillon .44Mag/Spl for sizing and seating and a Lee .44 Russian crimp die on my 550. I remember contacting Dillon before I got their dies to confirm they would work. Suggest doing the same. Church Key

I have a Ruger SR1911 that I use in Wild Bunch. It's the best 1911 I've ever owned (have had a bunch including a Colt made in 1916). Works great with my reloads (4.5 Bullseye under 230 RNL bullet). Only problem with it was that mine was an early one that had "The infamous front sight issue." The earliest batch of SR1911's used a non-Ruger made front sight that would break off when used hard. A new front sight from Ruger cured the matter. Only change I've made is to add an Extended Wilson Slide Release that I had in my parts bin, as WB loves mag changes. I second the Tripp magazine suggestion. The Ruger mags are fine, but the Tripp's are head and shoulders above everything else I've tried. Ed Brown has recently come out with a WB legal mag for $20. I might try a couple as they usually make really good stuff. Final comment - When WB started, Bomar slide cuts were not legal, so I sold my tricked-out Springfield and got a legal one. As soon as I did, the powers-that-be changed the rules to allow Bomar sights. Am still irritated with the matter. Church Key

If you see the sign: "Use of Deadly Force Permitted" on a military fence/wall/etc., expect to get shot if you manage to get through the barrier. Legal recourse for your survivors = zero. Church Key

I have a Panasonic 5 remote phone system on my land line that I got at COSTCO for $99. It has a built in (selectable) call interceptor that blocks robocalls. If the calling number is not in my phonebook, it states: "Please press 1 if you want to connect this call." If 1 is not pressed, it disconnects without ringing. I usually find 3 or 4 calls a day that get logged into my call directory. Is especially useful at election time. It also allows you to block calls such as those from the weekly NRA panic de jour. Church Key

I just removed it on my 342. There are plenty of video's on how to do it. Don't care about the hole. Church Key

I recently dumped Direct TV and went to Dish. Use Frontier for internet. Wanted Direct to add another TV which requires them sending a box, and will cost me $75 plus a monthly fee of $3 or something, I could plug it in as the cabling was already there. They insisted on my contract being extended for 2 years even though I was paying for the box + a monthly fee; told them to pound sand. Found out Dish equipment has far better capabilities and does not drop out whenever it rains. Their installation was excellent. Only issues with Dish are those of too many capabilities such as a very obscure key that turns on closed captions. Drove my wife nuts until it was explained to her multiple times. They have multiple examples of techie "enhanced features" that are like a cell phone on steroids. I have an MS in Information Management and can deal with this crap, but my wife is a computer novice and does not like to read the really fine print buried in the pop-up boxes. Church Key

I was in a Winchester, VA Wally World yesterday and they had a Savage Axis for $279. It that price, it's a real bargain. Church Key

The Chiappa M1-9 uses Beretta 92 magazines. They are pricy critters compared to Glock mags. Also don't like metal mags (Beretta) hitting concrete as I shoot indoor matches with the Chiappa. That said, they work fine. Church Key