[ever feel you're living in the past?]

6 hours ago, watab kid said:

i wonder at these willing participants motivations when they look so ridiculous and act like morons for the camera coverage ,,,,,but it is what it is i guess , 

As I said, trying to relive their glory days as protesters. They did, after all, pretty much cause us to get out of 'Nam.

[ever feel you're living in the past?]

54 minutes ago, watab kid said:

im watching the news and wondering how these idiots pulling their stupid stunts have time and financial ability to dress up in those costumes and go to protests to behave like moronns  

Most of them are actually paid to be there. There are ads on craigslist for rent-a-mobs. I don't know exactly who IS paying them, but you will notice that their signs look to be professionally made too. And how about the convenient pallets of bricks that seem to be just where they need them?

If you look at the latest No Kings protests, most of the protesters are people in their 60s or older trying to relive their glory days as Vietnam era Anti-War protesters, which coincidentally, is right on topic here.

 

Mods, not meaning to Go There, but if I once again have, feel free to delete my comment.

[ever feel you're living in the past?]

Every ache and pain I have tells me that I'm living far from my past. Of course I remember Moonbase Alpha and "Space 1999". My best friend of those long ago days and I used to watch it in the evening and discuss it the next day. Same with "Star Trek", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "Starsky and Hutch", and many others. 

Despite my lost youth I wouldn't go back, though I'm admittedly a borderline Luddite. (Yes, I still have a flip phone, my newest car is a 2006, and I carry a RNV as my EDC). But back then we didn't have the many modern conveniences we have today. Back then I wouldn't have been able to tell you guys about the fun I had or discuss Alpo's latest inanities. I also dearly LOVE my DVR. And back then I WASN'T retired!

[vertical forearm]

I agree with you, (I know, it scares me too). I've tried a couple and just couldn't get used to it. I had an M-4 type buttstock on my shotgun for a while too, but decided that I prefer the traditional style, however on my AR it's fine.

[I wonder if the police would believe you?]

13 hours ago, Joe LaFives #5481 said:

So normally smoke detectors are hard wired and the battery is just for a backup.  Did someone cut the power?

 

11 hours ago, Trailrider #896 said:

Apparently not anymore! I picked up 4 brand new ones at Ace Hardware, and they are wireless with a battery in them and both the detector and the battery are supposed to be good for 10 years! Haven't installed them yet, and am having an electrician come in for something else. Will ask him if these are okay. 

Mostly not. When we bought our house, they were hardwired, but have since been replaced by battery powered types. But I remember "changing the batteries" commercials and PSAs as far back as I remember having HEARD of smoke detectors. 

The ones I have work okay too. When the guys were installing my new Air Conditioner, () and were sweating the pipework, it set one off.

[Keep and Bear Arms . com down?]

Just checked again and they're back.

[I wonder if the police would believe you?]

It depends. Does this guy know you?

[Keep and Bear Arms . com down?]

I just tried again and got a HTTP Error 404. The requested resource is not found.

[On the subject of pedantic]

I'll throw a couple things to add to the confusion:

(1). A lever Action, (1892, 1894, etc.) Rifle has as standard a 20", 24" or 30" barrel. A Carbine can ALSO have a 20" or shorter barrel. The difference between the rifle and carbine is defined by the Stocks, both butt and fore, and whether the barrel is octagonal or round. So as far as Lever guns are concerned it's NOT barrel length. 

(2). In the Marine Corps Infantry Platoon, the Marine designated to use his M-16 on "Automatic" was called an "Automatic Rifleman", not a "Machine Gunner". That term was for the Marines in the Weapons Company Machine Gun Platoon who crewed the M-60s. 

[Controversy]

If you have turkey loaf it doesn't matter.

[Fascinating video essay on historic holsters and guns]

20 minutes ago, Howlin Mad Murdock SASS #4037 said:

Interesting video, there is more incorrect information than accurate information, and almost none of the images match the narration.  

Their videos are so bad, especially the AI voice, that I've blocked their feed from my suggestions.

[What would you do in this situation?]

I'd at least flash a light in to see what might be lurking inside.

[Pistols and revolvers]

1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

It's .45Colt. There was never a .45 Long Colt!

 

51 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I suspect Black Angus knows that and was trying to be funny.😄 

 

34 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Bettin the Sarge was too! 

 

32 minutes ago, Black Angus McPherson said:

I get a kick out of getting some folks' knickers in a twist when I talk about ".45 Long Colt".  And they all know

 

Angus

Yep! I was just playing along. 

[Pistols and revolvers]

27 minutes ago, Black Angus McPherson said:

 .45 Long Colt cartridges.

 

Angus

It's .45Colt. There was never a .45 Long Colt!

[Pistols and revolvers]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

And now we are off the original subject completely! 🤣🤣😂

You say that like it's unusual or unexpected.

[Pistols and revolvers]

47 minutes ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

it is being willfully obtuse.

So what's your point? Sometimes it just fun to shine on people that are really full of themselves. And sometimes it's fun to argue for no reason at all.

[Analog Bags]

They mostly look like the canvas "grocery" bags people use in places that outlawed plastic bags carry.

[Deer hunting question]

Until the Vietnam era, I remember EVERYBODY wearing pretty much head to foot orange. About the only thing not orange was their boots. Then guys started bringing home cammo uniforms and then everybody wanted THOSE for hunting. But the didn't do any better than the "old guys" in orange, because the animals can't see it anyway. 

Cammo is great if you're hiding from somebody / thing that sees colors, but not so much basically black and white.

[The name of the next generation of AI]

3 hours ago, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

I just saw an article from Nvidia about the newest AI processor.  They have named it after Vera Rubin.  She was an astronomer.  That is great....but isn't naming the newest fastest most powerful AI after an astronomer getting awfully close to naming it Skynet?????

Maybe she'll become the mother of Skynet.

[What would be the simplist and easiest way to remove fingerprints from loaded ammunition?]

On 11/8/2025 at 5:15 PM, Alpo said:

This is something I find amazing.

 

I will ask a question. It might be a simple question - how much is 2 + 2

How much do you want it to be?

[Ba-Dump Tissssh - Memes]

2 hours ago, Alpo said:

I think I get behind her every time I'm at Walmart.

[Let’s Talk Fruitcake]

No disrespect to your daughter, but that looks as disgusting as any fruitcake ever. Anybody ever giving me one of those would be invited to go with me to watch me shoot it.

[Pistols and revolvers]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

That's something that's always sort of tickled me.

 

The Newnited States gubmint has decided that a pistol is one of them semiautomatic doobers, and that thing with the turny cylinder is not a pistol but is a revolver.

 

And the people that get all upset about crap like that will be so happy to show you that the government says that that's not a pistol it's a revolver. The fact that the government uses those terms justifies their belief.

 

But if you point out to them that the same Newnited States gubmint calls that sound modulating device a silencer, not a suppressor --- they will tell you that the government is wrong.

People have already formed their opinions, they don't want to be confused with facts.

[Pistols and revolvers]

4 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

I've never had panties in a bunch, when I was younger I had a good collection in my glove box  

Maybe you should have done your laundry more often.

[Pistols and revolvers]

41 minutes ago, Buckshot Bear said:

ChatGPT

 

what is a pistol

 

ChatGPT said:

A pistol is a type of handgun — a small firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• 🔫 General definition: A pistol is a gun with a short barrel that fires bullets using the force of expanding gas from a gunpowder explosion.

• 🧩 Technical distinction:

  • Pistol often refers specifically to semi-automatic handguns, which use part of the energy from firing a round to load the next one automatically.

  • Revolvers, which have a rotating cylinder to hold ammunition, are also handguns but technically not pistols (though in casual speech, people sometimes call them pistols too).

• ⚙️ Basic parts:

  • Barrel – directs the bullet

  • Slide – moves back and forth when firing

  • Magazine – holds the ammunition

  • Trigger – releases the firing mechanism

  • Grip – where the shooter holds the gun

Would you like me to explain how a pistol works or the different types of pistols (e.g. semi-automatic vs revolver)?

From Google AI:

Samuel Colt was granted his U.S. patent for the revolving pistol on February 25, 1836, which established his monopoly on revolver manufacturing until 1857. This patent was for the design of his first mass-produced revolver, the Colt Paterson, and was based on his design for a practical, repeating firearm that used a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers.