[For Those in the Bible Belt, Better Get Those Generators Ready For This Weekend]

21 hours ago, watab kid said:

my BIL just sent a text - "if youve ever said youd do it when he!! freezes over - your scheduled to do it this week"

 

Satire from the Babylon Bee. This pretty much sums up the local tv coverage from the weather guessers in my home town. They’ve been at “OMG!!!” general quarters since Wednesday. I mean really, weather like this has been a staple of this area since like, forever. Reality? We might get 3”-4” over a couple of days. Maybe, but much likely less. Sigh…
 

https://babylonbee.com/news/gleeful-weatherman-excitedly-announces-dangerous-storm-likely-to-kill-everyone

[Are you running out to buy a glock?]

31 minutes ago, Dantankerous said:

 

The generation 5 had a slightly flared magwell that the gen 4 did not have which was very nice for quicker reloads. The gen 5 trigger was also better than the previous generations. The gen 6 continues this magazine well, flair, a little bit more without adding to any sort of conceal carry printing issues. 

 

The new gen 6 has a flat face trigger. It's my understanding it is the same trigger pull weight, but because it's a flat trigger, it feels more consistent and lighter throughout the press. The reset is also very typical Glock for proper trigger finger manipulation riding the trigger during the reset. Audible and tactile. It really makes follow up shots quicker and easier. 

 

Sadly, however, the sights are still the plastic typical Glock sights that suck suck suck and should be replaced immediately. 

 

 

Thanks, I’ll have to handle one if get a chance.
 

Sounds like I may have fixed the major issues on mine. I first installed a Ghost connector which solved the trigger pull, then installed a flat trigger. The trigger helped, but did not solve the Glock finger pinch, which I found out wasn’t unique to me. Still, it’s big improvement over the original stock trigger. Tape on my finger solves the pinch issue for range practice. I figure in a real-world defensive scenario I won’t notice. Talon grips were added too and were a nice addition. 
 

I’ve tried a number of other sub compacts for CCW, but none have impressed me enough to replace the Glock. 
 

[Are you running out to buy a glock?]

42 minutes ago, Dantankerous said:

The gen 6 Glocks in 9mm are out. The G17, G19 and G45. I had the opportunity to handle one recently and it doesn't feel like any previous generation Glock. Subtle yet very noticeable design changes to the grip shape completely changes how it feels in the hand. My gen 5 G45 and the gen 6 G45 feel nothing like the same gun. The grip texture is only part of the equation. A slight palm swell and a much better undercut of the trigger guard have made a huge difference. The balance is better. How it fits the hand is more ergonomic. Many times how a Glock fits one's hand has been likened to a block of wood. No more. I think if you go check one out you might be pleasantly surprised in the difference. Not saying you'll suddenly like the Glock feel but you may. What you will see is a vast difference in what previous generations of Glocks have felt like compared to the generation 6. 

Dan, I have a Gen 4 G43 (original frame, not the G43 X), which I understand is staying in the lineup. Do you know if they’ve made any changes to the grip since the Gen 4?

 

 

[Suppressors Since Jan 1, 2026]

1 hour ago, Texas Joker said:

What separates a $300 ar from a $1200 ar?

$900. Barney summed up the rest. Which leaves the question about suppressors unanswered. 

[Suppressors Since Jan 1, 2026]

I’ve never considered getting one given the (former) tax and expense that typically hovered at $900-$1,200. With this new offering, they’re now within reach, but I know nothing about them other than what they’re supposed to do. 

I’m now considering one for my 5.56 AR. What separates a $300 suppressor from a $1,200 one? I don’t shoot my rifles indoors, so maximum “silencing” isn’t important. 

[Sig Sauer M7 Rifle]

https://www.twz.com/land/army-captain-slams-new-xm7-rifle-as-unfit-sig-sauer-says-otherwise

[Brass marking machine seen at Land Run]

Just now, John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 said:

I’m going to buy a 1000 new Starline and want to mark them so I don’t get them mixed up with my older brass. 

But the Sharpie ink comes off when the cases are cleaned, so you’d have to keep doing it. Seems like a lot of work. Wouldn’t it be easier to separate the brass in labeled containers? 
 

Not being snarky. Straight up question. 

[Brass marking machine seen at Land Run]

18 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

OK.  I admit ignorance.  So what does it Do??  Why??  Where??

You put your favorite color Sharpies in it and it puts colored rings around the cases, kinda like the rings on a duck’s neck. Why anyone sees a need to do that is beyond me 

[Taylor & Co pistols]

40 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Thanks. 
 

I was told that they were factory SS. Would that be a Taylor doing since they imported them ? 

I’ve had mine about ten years, shortly after Taylor’s began offering them. They were called “Taylor Tuned” at the time, meaning their gunsmith refined whatever short stroking had been done at the factory. I’ve been really happy with them and shoot both real BP and smokeless in them. 

[Taylor & Co pistols]

23 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Looking for a place to date my pistols. And trying to get some information about them. I cannot find anything online so hoping to get some help before calling Taylor on Tuesday. Is there a chart or website to look up serial numbers for Taylor pistols. 
 

I have a pair of Runnin Irons in .357. Serial numbers start with TA. 
 

Thanks in advance 

 

SD

The RIs are made by Uberti.  Taylor’s is a distributor. Do a search on Uberti serial numbers and proof marks. You’ll find a lot of threads on the topic. 
 

[Why the end of your tape measure jiggles]

Last time (and only) time I tried welding, I had so many craters it looked like a moonscape. 

[Why the end of your tape measure jiggles]

When I used to do home renovations with a partner, he & I would use the caveat “by my tape measure…” which would suffice for most everything. A 1/16” or so here and there wasn’t that critical. When it was, like cutting tile, we used a common measure. 

[Why the end of your tape measure jiggles]

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

It's surprising how much 2 different tapes can be off. I've got a nice stainless 100' Lufkin that is off by 2" compared to my steel 100' Stanley at full measure.

If you have some yelling measurements to you, compare your tapes to determine error margin! A sixteenth to an eighth can matter!

I have a number of tape measures, but for that reason, I make sure to use the same one for the duration of a job.

[Aircraft carrier question]

I don’t know the exact answer, but the arresting and launch systems have to occupy some of that space as they rise to penetrate the flight deck. 

[John Wayne Story]

There were a lot of fabricated stories like this about members of Easy Company in the wake of “Band of Brothers”.  Shifty Powers was a favorite topic. 
 

Regarding the photo above, has anyone noticed that all the children have nearly identical facial features and wear the same outfits?  
 

Recently I watched my grandson use AI on his iPhone to populate a room with my image and his father (my oldest son) at a family gathering. My facial features and son were sort of merged so it wasn’t clear which one of us was which. It looked totally natural and was a bit frightening too. 

[Skijoring anyone?]

Yup, they do it in Leadville, CO too. Awesome!

[Iowa battleships]

 Adding on, this is from an internet search illustrating the Yamato has a similar nostalgic pull in modern culture as the Iowas.
 

“The battleship Yamato remains a potent cultural symbol in modern Japan, representing national pride, technological prowess, hubris, and tragic sacrifice, appearing in films (like Otoko-tachi no Yamato), anime (Space Battleship Yamato), manga, and museums, often as a metaphor for Japan's wartime experience, its idealized spirit (Yamato Damashii), and the human cost of war, embodying the Japanese cultural theme of "nobility in failure". 

[Iowa battleships]

36 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

https://www.amazon.com/BBN-63-Ross-Carson/dp/B0FM3ZWF8C

Sounds like the Japanese sci-fi tv series, “Space Battleship Yamato” 😊

 

[XP-55]

Burt Rutan also designed the Beech Starship which was supposed to compete with executive/business jets. While interesting, it was a dismal sales flop for a variety of reasons. One of them was it really noisy inside compared to bizjets due to the turboprop configuration. I watched one take off once and it sounded like a huge buzz saw. 
 

Before it took off I got to crawl around inside it. Interesting bird. 

[XP-55]

2 minutes ago, Rough 'N Ready Rob said:

I think there is a plane made like this that they call very easy, just for personal use. I have seen one flying, not up close.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_VariEze

[XP-55]

As I recall, that project cost Curtiss a lot of money, eating up a significant amount of their R&D budget. 
 

The C-46 Commando and SB2C Helldiver were other maintenance and developmental nightmares that further damaged the company’s reputation.

[A Civil War Bolt Action]

7 hours ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

Thanks for posting this video!  I have had a Greene rifle since 2015 and had read how it worked but this is the first time I have seen one loaded and fired.  Here are some photos of mine.

Bole open

Moving internal portion to seat a bullet

Bolt closed

The bayonet was unique to the Greene - standard 1855 bayonet on top Greene bayonet on bottom

Different mounting

The 1855 went on and then turned 90 degrees to slide over the front sight, the Greene just pushed on no turning

Once over the front sight they were both locked in place

 

The Greene Rifle was the first bolt action ordered by the US as he stated but the Krag was not the next.  Others were tested by the Ordnace Department after the Civil War during the breech loading Black Powder Metallic Cartridge evolution.  Springfield Armory made 1,000 model 1871 Ward Burton rifles and 300 carbines for field trails by the US Army.  They were tested along with an 1870 Trapdoor, 1870 Sharps and 1870 Rolling Block all single shot in 50-70 and all made a Springfield.  After field trials ended in 1872 the Trapdoor was chosen as the breech loading action and the 1873 Trapdoor in 45-70 became the offical US Army longarm.  Here is my 1871 Ward Burton rifle.

 

Then in 1878 an Ordnace Board did testing of magazine fed actions and chose the Winchester-Hotchkiss rifle and carbine for field trials.  But again after field trials that ended in 1881 the single shot trapdoor remained as the official US Army longarm.  The W-H had a tubular magazine in the butt stock that loaded from the action and pushed back into the magazine.  Here is my first model W-H rifle and first model carbine with 500 rifles and 500 carbines made in 1879 as a joint venture between Winchester and Springfield Armory.

Second model W-H Carbine made in 1880.  Changed the right side safety and magzine cut off twist knob to a lever on each side of the action because of cracks in stocks due to the hole for the twist mechanism.

The military carbines had slots in the front of the stock to hold the cleaning rods.  Civilian versions by Winchester of the carbine did not have this.

Not too long after the 1878 Ordnace Board chose to keep the single shot trapdoor there was another Ordnace Board tasked to test more magazine fed actions and they chose 3 bolt acton rifles with different magazine designs for field testing.  The 1882 Chaffee-Resse rifle, the 1883 Remington-Lee rifle and the 1883 (third model) Winchester-Hotchkiss rifle.  But again after the trials were completed the singe shot Trapdoor remained the US Army rifle and by 1886 all the bolt action trial rifles were out of service.

 

Chaffee-Reese rifle with tubular magazine in the butt stock that filled from a twist sliding cover in the butt similar to the way a Spencer loaded.  Except the magazine had a stepped belt that kept the bullet nose from direct contact with the center of the brass head and primer.   Although submitted by Colt, they wanted 10 times what Remington and Winchester wanted to produce the trial rifles so Springfield Armory made the 753 C-R trail rifles.

 

 

The Remington-Lee rifle with a detachable box magazine.  Remington made 750 of the R-L trail rifles.  This one has had the oringal rear sight changed to a Buffington sight.

 

Third Model Winchester-Hotchkiss rifle with a tubular magazine in the butt stock that filled from the action like 1st and 2nd models.  This model now has a two part wood stock and the two levers are on the side of the action.  Winchester was contracted to make 750 trail rifes but only 715 were delivered in late 1884 for field trails.  This rifle is marshal marked and thus was part of the trails but the Third Model was also made and sold on the civilian market so those without the marshal markings are not trial rifles.

 

The US Navy actually adopted 5 different bolt action 45-70 black powder rifles between 1879 and 1885 which were in service until replaced by the 1895 Winchester-Lee Navy which used the  6mm smokless cartridge.  I won't post photos of those rifles. 

 

Then finally an Ordnace Magazine Board was convened in December 1890 to find a suitable bolt action rifle for US Army use and it was to use .30 caliber smokless ammunition instead of .45 caliber black powder.  In 1892 after review of 53 submitted rifles, 24 of which were of foreign design, the Board chose the Danish designed Krag-Jorgensen Rifle for ue by the US Army. 

 

Sorry for the long post with lots of photos.  Hope some of you don't mind the history leason about some of the US Breech Loading Metallic Cartridge longarms.

 

Your post was fascinating. Thanks. 

[RIP Scott Adams]

delete

 

[NFL Playoffs]

Like Noll and Cowher, I hope Tomlin walks away from coaching and finds a less stressful way to fill his days. He deserves it. 
 

And I hope Aaron Rogers fades into the sunset where he becomes invisible. 
 

[TONIGHTS PLAY OFF GAME]

Sporting events on TV, especially football, are best watched with the sound off. Only time I turn the sound on is when the ref announces a ruling on the field. All the pre game yammering, including some “artist” strangling the national anthem is best avoided to keep my blood pressure down.