Dusty Devil Dale

I used to (15+ years ago) buy Duracell batteries for my many flashlights and other battery appliances. I bought them from local hardware stores or drug stores and they always worked well, lasted well and had no obvious problems. A flashlight would last me all night, hiking or working. Then, about 10 or so years ago, I began to buy them at COSTCO in much cheaper bulk packages. It looked to be a good deal. But WAIT! "Made in China" should have signaled me to be cautious. But I put them into my many lights and appliances, just as I had always done. These included expensive tachometers, wood moisture meters, temperature instrumentation, Cameras, and other tools that are expensive to replace. The Duracells did not last very long, which actually ended up to be a blessing. Thankfully, I now have to open the battery compartments much sooner than usual to replace the cells. I very often find tell-tale white (acid) powder and blue galvanic corrosion that if left unnoticed for a time will slowly destroy the expensive appliances' battery harness. The Duracell external cases are now very fast-corroding, seemingly regardless of humidity or other environmental conditions. And I am lucky to get a half-hour of use before the flashlight starts dimming. So, I'm frustrated and looking. Short of converting everything to Lithium batteries, do any of you have any good reports to share about ordinary batteries? Is there a good quality dry cell battery brand out there any more? I'm looking for a source of all sizes of dry cell batteries that are of similar quality to what we used to buy.

IMO, the hybrid technology is much more versatile for people travelling more than a small mileage radius. TESLA is getting a lot of criticism over their EVs not achieving the advertised mileage. I suspect the things Alpo mentioned are the reason. I would love to be able to fuel up my cars right in my own garage, but only if my lifestyle only included short trips. Unfortunately, the short trip lifestyle doesn't match with my needs. Off Topic but related --electric tooling: Next year, it will be illegal to sell or buy a new gasoline powered lawn mower, leaf blower, chainsaw, etc., in CA. I need to do heavy logging, so I gave in and bought a battery powered saw to give them a try. (It is my 13th chainsaw -- I do a lot of logging and fire fuel clearing work) I normally use gas-powered saws: Stihl 390 with a 28" bar, 490 with 36" bar, 660 with a 46" bar or 860 with a 56" bar, all using chisel tooth chains. The largest battery model currently available has a 26" bar, so I was limited right off the starting block. I tested the saw yesterday, limbing and bucking a +- 33" dbh previously felled Jeffrey Pine about 140' in length. Limbing went ok, but much slower than with a bigger, heavier, higher RPM gas saw. It took three batteries to limb the fallen tree (about 30 large 12-16" limbs and many more small branches). Normally, I walk the top of the log, reaching down and cutting limbs with longer saw bars -- i.e., not having to bend over. The shorter bar necessitated bending over and finally dismounting the log and having to climb through branches and snakes on the ground to do the remaining limbing work. Log bucking to length was a different story. 2/3 of the way through the first bucking cut, using a fresh (4th) battery, the battery became exhausted. While I paused to change batteries, the log predictably settled and impinged the saw. The fresh (5th) battery did not supply sufficient energy/torque to restart the impinged chain, and the high torquing effort exhausted the battery after a few minutes of trying. I hiked out to get a gas-powered saw to free the saw and finish the work. Net conclusion: The $550 electric saw and FIVE batteries ($140 apiece) could not do the work that a gas-powered saw can do on a pint of fossil fuel. Electric saws definitely have a place and are even impressive in lighter home maintenance and some commercial tree work. They're lighter and less maintenance intensive and they can get a lot of light work accomplished with less effort. But , their current development is insufficient for constant heavier work. The electric tooling is not yet up to the work requirements of commercial or heavy logging. I can't carry enough batteries and wedges in the field to keep them operating for a day. And their lower RPM and slower cutting rate is a major production handicap. I guess I'll be driving my gas-powered pickups to Reno or Kingman for future gas-powered saw purchases.

Possibly, but I suspect a more likely outcome is to see distance travel being greatly reduced. After all, gradually limiting our ability to travel and escape their ultimate One World Government control was the central theme of UN Agenda 21, which is the core of the current progressivism and climate hysteria.

No. It takes only a few minutes to type and cross a blood sample, so the hospital would do that first. But that is not saying mistakes don't get made. quite a few people handle donated blood, so there is opportunity for human error in labeling, etc.

No, in fact I agreed with him.

There are penalties assessed for various rule violations occurring before the beep, for example(s): 1) moving from the loading table to the staging location with a closed long gun with a chambered round. 2) Dropping a gun off the loading table. 3) Leaving the loading area with loaded pistols before being called to the stage. 4) Dry firing at the loading table. 5) Sweeping a loading table officer or other person with an empty or loaded firearm. You are correct that these are safety related, but they nevertheless are penalties incurred before the beep. But the Failure to Engage section makes no mention of when infractions occur with respect to the beep. When a shooter is on the stage or firing line, as defined, I would assume that all rules and conventions apply. And I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on whether or not there is competitive advantage afforded by skipping a part of the stage instruction. My experience has been that those who commonly skip over the start lines argue there is no advantage. Those who follow the stage instructions believe skipping the start lines is taking unfair advantage. We re unlikely to settle it here. The fact that folks so very strongly resist being required to say the lines suggests they do see an advantage of some kind. For my part, I will continue requiring shooters to comply with the stage instructions, including making a reasonable effort to say a line at least similar or equivalent to the start lines in the instruction. But with that said, I often write stages requiring very simple one or two word starting lines. Lots of people adlib the lines and have fun doing it. That isn't what I was referring to in my original statement. Somebody invented creative starting lines for some reason. It appears those reasons are lost now on many here.

Thank you for clarifying. I was in fact mixing the two sections in memory. Are you in agreement that the start lines are non-shooting "stage instructions" or required "non-shooting procedures"? SHB p11: Failure to Engage A “failure to engage” penalty occurs when a competitor willfully or intentionally disregards the stage instructions in order to obtain a competitive advantage and is not assessed simply because a competitor “makes a mistake.” A “failure to engage” applies only to non-shooting situations such as refusing to rope a steer, throw a stick of dynamite, or otherwise make an attempt to complete any other non-shooting procedure written within the stage instructions. In such case, a 30-second “failure to engage” penalty is assessed in addition to any penalties for misses, procedurals, or minor safety infractions.

Look at the front under Spirit of the Game.

Capt, Pls remember that the top ranks of our matches are sometimes separated by fractions of seconds. Interrupting one person's focus to say a reasonable start line (like your first two examples) v. not requiring it of others seems to me to be a differential time factor at that level of competition; particularly in a sport where focus and rapidly remembering a course of fire on top of transitioning plans is such a big part of the competition. Like you, I never have seen a SOG penalty of any kind assessed, so there is obviously a lot of flex, as there needs to be. But following the stage instructions seems like an easy thing to expect --otherwise, let's just write all the stages to require "ready" as the start line. Easy enough.

No. Don't overplay or put words into my mouth. . Any reasonable attempt at the line, or creative approximation is OK and welcome with any T.O. I've ever known. Creative approximations to the lines are common and many are pretty entertaining. But saying "shooter ready" at every stage in every match is not OK. That gives you an easier path through the matches than the other shooters who are expected to follow ALL of the stage instructions. Again, I didn't write the rules, but I do associate very closely with friends who were original SASS Rules Committee members. My pause/coach approach was their recommendation, andhwhat I've watched them repeatedly do. It was also the advice given in response to questions aaked at my latest ROII course. Again, change the rule if it's important to you, but let's require the same things of all shooters and not play favorites by allowing corner cutting.

I agree that the line signifies when ready, but there are reasons why the rule authors didnt simply be nonspecific or use "ready" for every stage, as in other shooting sports. And there must have been a reason why they made failure to make an effort to say the line a major (30 sec) violation. I wasn't there so I won't represent myself as all-knowing, but the original Rules Committee appears to have been looking for more than simply informing the TO that we are ready. The T.O. (and all other responsible match officials) are expected to assure that the SASS rules are followed by everybody, so shooters have a level playing field. My pausing/coaching, as I described, is a pretty inoffensive way to make the point, without any penalties. Alternatively, as a T.O. I would need to assign a SOG violation, per the explicit rules. If we don't like those circumstances we should change the rules as written, but apply the same standards to EVERYONE. It's about fair play, not T.O. chest pounding or being a hard a$$. No need to take offense. If you simply say the lines properly and follow the other stage instructions, there won't be any conflicts warranting either of us leaving, and the two of us should get along just fine. Looking forward to it!

I think our western attire does help us to recruit new shooters to our game. When they see us assembled, the attire is often what attracts them to come over and ask questions and get involved. And I think that goes double for recruiting wives, daughters and new women to our game. The dress is what many of them are here for. So at least be mindful of recruitment as you make clothing decisions. How we look at all of our functions has importance, IMO.

I agree the start lines often don't have a lot to do with history, often being the only thing a stage writer could come up with. Some are good for a laugh - like the Halloween match I saw where shooters held up a witches broom and said, "of course I can drive a stick". Laughs are a good thing in our matches! You didn't indicate if you object to the start lines or like them, so pls understand that I'm not directing this to you. Your remark struck a chord for me. My comment relates mostly to the OP. But there is another side to start lines. They were included in our game/sport for a reason. The SHB calls out "... refusal to say a line..." as an explicit example of a SOG violation. I shoot with several experienced and accomplished/championship shooters who are used to getting away with robotically saying "shooter ready" at every stage, while everyone else is expected to make an effort to say the start line, briefly interrupting their focus and concentration on the stage course of fire and transitions. Many other shooters, including myself, see refusal to say/approximate the line as taking unfair competitive advantage. That matters in close matches. When I'm running the timer, I do not call the SOG violation. Rather I wait quietly for the shooter to say the line as published in the stage direction. If the shooter asks about the delay, I tell them I'm still waiting for the proper line. But I see other Timer Operators letting them take advantage uninhibited. (Most clubs where I shoot post the line at the starting positions, so memory doesn't really become a factor. ) To be fair competition, the same set of rules must be applied to everybody, regardless of how well known or accomplished they may be. It's a part of the game and was created for a purpose. If the consensus is to get rid of that aspect, that's fine. Many people would miss it. Stage writers would probably rejoice.

The only problem with skipping the powder step, at least on my Dillon650, is that the case is not belled to accept the bullet. Sometimes that works, but on some cases it doesn't.

12 gn of ExtraLite with 7/8 oz. does the job with v/ little felt recoil... STS case, Claybuster ...75 (pink) wad.

Most of the Highway Patrol officers I see are watching double-fine construction zones, trying to keep workers safer. But recently I called 911 to report a drunk driver on the road ahead of me near Jackson, Ca.. Out of nowhere a CHP car showed up w/in a couple minutes and pulled the driver over. Just because you don't notice them doesn't mean they are not there and responsive.

Beekeeper advice to me that works very well: The dish soap treatment works, if you do it at night when the wasps are mostly at the nest. Mix about an ounce of soap per 5 gal sprayer. Use a several gallon weed sprayer, because the wasps will dribble out of the nest for ten minutes or so. You need to keep up pretty continuous spray at the openings. ( Make sure you find all of the nest access openings. ) When the soap hits the insects, they just fall to the ground and crawl around until they die. I have piled up several inches of dead wasps under big nests. DO NOT USE A FLASHLIGHT. Use car headlamps or a work light at a distance --do not position it near yourself. The wasps will respond to the light, like daylight, and any escaping wasps will go directly toward the source. We routinely get big German yellowjacket nests in the facade buildings at our club range. Some of them have 10,000 or more individuals. I go up at night and spray a dozen or so of the nests in advance of our matches. I've not yet been stung in the process. In the past, I used the commercial off the shelf 'blaster" type wasp sprays. The spray container held just enough to get the whole nest mad, then it ran out. I usually picked up a sting or two. The soap is much tamer, safer, and easier --also cheaper and less environmentally toxic. The soap also works great when poured into a fire ant nest.

Don't do what I did. Don't unintentionally drop in a powder charge (w/ no primer), seat a bullet, seal the primer pocket with silicone, then go to a grinder to trim the case rim. The grinding heat discharged the round in my bare hand. No pain or injuries, just a blackened hand and jangled nerves. I never found the empty case or the bullet. Im sure it could have been much worse -- thinking eyes-- BE SURE TO DISABLE THE POWDER DROP AND VISUALLY CHECK BEFORE SEATING A BULLET.

Unless you're super-human, have perfectly working guns, flawless ammo, and have a LOT of practice time on your hands, don't expect to be shooting very many clean stages under 30 seconds during your first year. The practice advice above is all good, but only if you put in the time and expense. Get a good timer that is capable of reviewing split times shot by shot. Then practice for a time, checking the timer afterwards and recording times for pistol, rifle and shotgun strings, plus transition times between them. You will quickly realize where you can cut seconds off your total times. You will find that transitions and shotgun loading are the big time consumers. You will not be a fast shooter until you master those two items. Pistol and rifle speed will come with practice, as will precision. But don't neglect transition practice. Here are a couple exercises that I found helpful. Pistols: Draw - Fire 1 round - reholster. Do it over and over again. Same for GFs, except fire one rd with each hand. Rifle: Dry fire a LOT, until the timing and cadence become natural to you. Set up a handful of Post-it targets on your living room wall and dry fire away. ( BE SURE TO DOUBLE-CONFIRM THAT THE GUN IS UNLOADED-- sounds obvious, but accidents have occurred) File the top of the rim off of a dummy/snap cap round so it does not eject when you work the lever, then practice rapid levering and trigger timing. You need to have your lever-trigger timing under control to avoid jacking out rounds, costing reload time in matches. Shotgun: More time is used for shotgun loading than any other stage activity, so PRACTICE LOADING. If shooting a double barrel, hold the open empty shotgun at roughly firing position and repeatedly load the chambers with dummy rounds. With two shells in-hand, go back and forth from the belt/ bandolier to the chambers, (never releasing your grip on the shells), and push them only halfway into the chambers, then back to the belt. Go back and forth 100 times, then repeat and repeat with multiple sessions until you can hit the chambers every time - with minimal watching. (Hint: align the top of the cases to the top curves of the two chambers, then tip them in) In this exercise, you're only developing muscle memory for finding the belt and alignimg shells to the chambers rapidly, so it isn't necessary to take time to release the shells and re-grab them. Those tasks require different exercises. Practicing shucking of empties pretty much will require live fire practice. If shooting a 97, load your SG belt with snap caps and repeatedly load the chamber either over the top (left handed) or dropping them in right handed and working the action to chamber, then eject them until you have the motions, positions and timing down. There are lots of ways to practice, and I suggest you ask other shooters for advice. I'm only a medium fast shooter, usually breaking 30 sec in only about 70% of stages and 20 sec in maybe 5%. The above practice hints were shared with me early on, and I found them helpful. And they reduced practice cost and reloading time considerably. Once you reach the plateau where this kind of practice ceases to help you improve further, you're on your own to develop live-fire practice techniques that work for you. Best of luck. Hope this is helpful.

We surely can do better. After all, we are here for fun. I can't imagine wearing a buckle that I know I cheated to win. Truth is, if a buckle is all that matters, I can just go online and buy one much more cheaply than the cost to shoot a match. Few except me will ever notice -- or care.

Writing stages is not an easy thing; especially if the expectation is to please everybody with everything -- or else. More realistic goals might be to assure fair competition, i.e., by avoiding penalty traps, hazards, spotting/officiating difficulties, overtly strenuous or difficult scenarios, and assuring that everyone faces the same level of challenge. Stages will always vary in difficulty or length, and appeal to different peoples' tastes. Competition shooters, ought to have the ability to work out how to shoot different stages and handle what comes, without grousing and walking away. We surely can decide which matches we personally choose to shoot, based on preferences and good or bad experiences. But looking broadly, we might also keep in-mind that CAS clubs and their events need our support and participation to be successful, and our sport needs the clubs and matches to survive and hopefully grow. Sometimes, it benefits us collectively to take some of the bad with the good. There are no hard rules governing stage round counts, to my knowledge -- only traditions or customs. Personally (and IMO), I enjoy working out how to shoot different stages. Competitively handling varying difficulty and unusual round counts or reloads is just a part of our game and pretty much every other shooting sport.

Roofers all wear long sleeve cotton shirts because they are cooler. I tried it and they are correct. But you have to drink enough water to generate some sweat. Water is the key to staying alive/cool.

I wish I could do that. I agree fractional seconds add up. I always start with great intentions, when I have a choice to shoot revolvers last, to set the first one on the table. But somehow, when the beep occurs, my attention focuses on the shooting, and my best strategic intentions seem to escape me. At the end of the stage, I realize I once again fell into my reholster reflex mode. I think there is something to be said for practicing doing things exactly the same way every time. But those fractional seconds and podium opportunities do get away by doing that ( But not the fun!)

Yep. You're right! 51+ yrs now with Misty Q and I still have my sanity and respect for both of us !

About to leave on a long trip, towing travel trailer. I thought I ought to at least know where the jack is stowed in my truck (never noticed it anywhere). So I get out the manual and look up Jack under 'J' ---- Nothing at all. So I try Tire, under 'T' ---- Still nothing about tires except pressures, and how to use the tools to remove the spare wheel, but no word about where the tool are located. This is getting fun now, and my wife gets involved. She wisely suggests that the book is probably written in Mexico, so look up the verbs. I scoff a bit, but look up 'R' for raising the axle. Nothing except raising the hood. But now I know she is correct to look up verbs. I look up 'C' for changing a tire. Sure enough, there is the jack and tool location under 'C'. Along with changing cabin temperature and a couple dozen other possible changes. Wives are smarter than we sometimes give them credit. Ford less so.