E-MAIL: trajectory1780@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Sweat Corrosion

Last Sunday I joined the eldest son for some fun at the range. It's a private club and we're both members. The weatherman predicted high humidity and temperatures near 90F, and he was right. I'm one of the minority in that the older I get the more heat intolerant I become. For instance I'm presently in the basement wearing sandals, shorts and a T-shirt. The temperature is a near perfect 64F according to the mercury on the wall.

My favorite carry gun is a Kimber UltraCarry. It has a stainless steel slide and a clear anodized aluminum frame. I knew I'd be sweating so Sunday I carried the Kahr PM9 instead. It also has a stainless slide but a polymer frame. I figured the polymer to be more resistant to my corrosive perspiration than the aluminum. Years ago I switched to titanium eye glass frames because the stainless frames would be corroded in about a year.

The polymer and stainless slide were just fine, but the magazine release button showed corrosion around the edges. When we get back from vacation I'll be looking for some stainless parts for the little Kahr.

Will There be More Than Just Talk??

While our way of life is openly under attack by those controlling the Fed, there's also not so public battles under way. That shouldn't be a surprise, because at least some of us understand that we're not on the slippery slope any more. We're on the fast track to government control of everything. In a back handed way the Fed is working on ways to disarm and mute The People. The battle lines have been drawn, but we've not yet lost the war.

Another positive indicator is the “nullification resolutions" that have been passed by some 25 states as of the time this was written in May 2009. The list of states is growing and it appears that we may be headed for a situation similar to that which led to the Civil War of 1861-65. Nullification resolutions state in essence that if the federal government infringes on the Bill of Rights, especially the 2nd, 9th and 10th Amendments, the compact established between the state and the federal government by the Constitution is nullified and the state will secede.

Quote of The Day

The left is always talking about cultural sensitivity, well here’s a culture that maybe it’s time for them to understand.

If you want to designate your right and your responsibility to protect your life, liberty and property to others, fine. You and others can hire cops to do that job for you. I choose not to burden society with the responsibility of my upkeep and protection. That means I provide my own food (no thanks, Welfare), I pay for my own health care (no thanks, Obama/Medicare), I provide value for others (no thanks, Unemployment), I plan for my own retirement (no thanks, Social Insecurity), I provide for my own defense (no thanks, cops). This would be the end of the story except that I’m forced to pay for services that I neither want nor need. Can you say protection racket?

William Kostric

Finally Going

I think it's been 10 years ago that the Boss and I first decided to spend some vacation time in Alaska. We had a cruise planned, but not booked, when my father got very sick. In a 3 month period I spent at least half of it away from home to be near Dad and other family members. Being a salaried employee I was paid for that time. It didn't seem right to then take a paid vacation, so the Alaska trip was cancelled.

About 3 years ago the Boss had another Alaska trip planned that would not be a cruise, but strictly on land. It was all the way to telling the travel agent to book it, but the Boss decided to wait until I got home and have a final discussion with me. If it was good for both of us, the trip would be booked the next day. I lost my job the day the trip was finalized but not booked, so we scrapped that trip also.

A year ago last spring we were starting to plan for Alaska once again. I learned that I had to attend a 2 day business meeting in Germany, so we spent some vacation time in Germany and Poland instead of Alaska.

Late tomorrow morning the Boss and I will board a plane heading for Dallas, then Seattle and finally Anchorage, Alaska. We'll spend a few days seeing the sights and traveling across land through Denali, Fairbanks and then back to Seward. In Seward we'll board a ship for a 6 day cruise through the Inside Passage to Vancouver, where we'll fly home.

As with the cruise we took 1-1/2 years ago, and the trip to Germany, I'm going to feel a little naked. I won't be carrying for a few reasons. The first is that cruise lines frown on firearms, and then there's the airports in Vancouver and Chicago coming home.

In Vancouver we're getting off a ship from the US and flying to Chicago. I wonder if we'll be escorted past the customs gates, or if we'll have to go through from US to Canada and then back to the US?

So after tonight you won't be hearing from me until the first of September. We're not taking a laptop. We need some 'two of us' time. We'll have our cell phones, but a lot of the time there won't be any service and I doubt they'll be turned on until we're heading back home. Anything going on around here can wait. We're getting away. We're out-a-here.

PS: I might manage to post a few pictures when we get back.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Deaf Hears - Finally

It sure took a lot of screaming, but it appears they finally got the message. I hear there's not enough votes to pass any health care legislation that includes single payer government control.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Plated Bullets - Again^6

Today I received my new taper crimp dies. One each for the .45acp and 9mm. I'll let you know how they work.

I didn't notice any problem with loading plated bullets in the 9mm, but then again I didn't notice the issues with the .45 either, until I did.
- - - - - - - - -
Update -

Those that recommended the taper crimp die be used with plated bullets were right-on. Ran through a hundred or so today without a hitch.

I've been shooting 7.5gr Unique behind 185gr Hornady and 7.0gr behind 200gr Hornady bullets. Both bullets chronographed about 1040f/s. When I switched to plated, the 200gr (Hornady) changed from 1040f/s to 1075f/s (plated). There's not been any pressure signs, but that seemed a bit fast for a relatively soft plated bullet, and it's faster than I should get from that powder charge.

I lowered the charge to 6.6gr for both plated bullet weights and shot a box or so of each. The heavier bullet chronographed 40f/s faster than the light bullet and had a smaller velocity spread. I find that unusual. My guts tell me to stay at 6.6gr for the plated 200gr and jump up to 7.0gr for the 185gr bullets.

I also ran some 115gr plated bullets through the HiPower pushed by 6.5gr of AA#5 at over 1100f/s. I don't remember the actual and I'm too lazy to go look at my notes right now. That was the most consistent velocity of anything I've ever loaded. The total spread was a whopping 3f/s. That looks like a keeper to me.

I was shooting at a 100 yard rifle target at 25 yards, and managed to keep about all the holes in the black with the Kimber and HiPower. Next time I'll be shooting some groups off a rest.

That'll be a few weeks though, because Wednesday morning, the Boss and I are leaving for a vacation trip. We're doing a combined land and sea tour in Alaska.

Attacked by Our Own

As I write this, the movie Independence Day is on the TV. The aliens in their monstrous ships are placed around the globe and about to attack, changing the world forever. I may have some small idea as to how those people might feel. Instead of being attacked by aliens in huge ships, we're under attack by our own government. Sure hope we can keep our worldly liberties intact.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Trustworthy

The Obama says that special interest groups are the ones behind the resistance to the 'health care' reform. I'd bet it's beyond his comprehension that The People just don't want the Fed messing so directly in their lives. After all, our Gov has done such a wonderful job in everything else, surely they're competent and trustworthy.

On The Wish List

Ever since I started messing with my Ruger SuperRedhawk in .454 I've had a hankering for a short barreled lever gun so chambered. I think it would be great as a house rifle and 'relatively' short range hunting. Besides it would be just plain fun. The problem is the working pressure is most likely higher than lever actions can handle. But if somebody marketed such a rifle, it would be at the top of my list to buy.

After seeing this post, I just might consider something in .357 or .44.

No Discussion Necessary

When I got home from work today, the Boss was sitting and checking her e-mail on her laptop. Our 2 year old grandson was asleep beside her, and Beck was on the TV. So I sat in my recliner to watch the rest of Beck's show. He had 3 guests, and they were discussing the health care bills under consideration. I like to know enough about these things to identify my enemies.

My son arrived to pick up the grandson. He watched the show for a few minutes, then commented something like - "It's a good thing to be informed, but the problem is, there shouldn't even be a need for the discussion". He's a man of few words and strong traditional convictions. He distrusts and dislikes government as much as anybody.

The Boss did a good job in raising our son.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Plated Bullets - Again^5

The Tech guy from Hornady is now suggesting that I use a taper crimp die, set to squeeze 0.003" under the new sizer die. I do believe someone left a comment suggesting the same thing a while back. Go figure. Guess I need to learn things the hard way, or maybe I didn't want to invest in another die and an additional operation.

I'll be ordering a taper crimp die soon.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Fire The Federal Government

I've been thinking this for a while now. Yeah I know, thinking can get me in trouble.

FIRE
THE
FED
I've decided that a sign in the back window of my pick-up with the above message is now appropriate. I'm going to make one and put it there for all to see.
Thinking may not get me in trouble, but that sign might. I don't care. I'm going to do it.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Time For The Big Stick

Last Saturday there was a TEA party at the state capital building in Columbus, Ohio. According to Fox News, national, the police reported 6,000 to 10,000 people were there. As far as I can tell there was no coverage, at all, reported in my local area. Most of the old media have ignored these demonstrations, as have the politicians toward whom they are directed. Any mention from the politicians consists of a few hundred radicals. They have no clue, or most probably they're ignoring, that a very high percentage of us are objecting to the actions of our government.

This is the mind set of the "elite" in Europe. If the people object it's because they're too stupid to understand, so it gets done anyway. Are we so stupid that we'll let them get away with squashing our liberty? I hope not.

It seems to me that speaking softly has gotten us nowhere. Maybe it's time to pull out the big stick.

Fundamental Difference

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut.

After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut..

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it…

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Safety Device

The gun safe we purchased last winter is a good safety device. I have 3 of those e-v-i-l rifles that I keep locked up. (AR15, SKS, CETME) And that's a good thing. If they weren't, I'd probably have issues with one of them sneaking around and shooting someone when I wasn't looking.

Plated Bullets - Again^4

I was at the range this afternoon adjusting the sites on the HiPower, practicing one hand (right & left) shooting with the Kimber 45 and the HiPower, then experimenting with the plated bullet issue.

The plated bullet test consisted of reloads using various brass that was sized with my son's sizer die. It's about 0.005 smaller than mine. I measured the OAL of a cartridge and loaded it first into the magazine, followed by 2 more that I didn't measure. I fired the first 2, then ejected the measured cartridge without firing it for re-measuring.

The measured set-back due to the cycling of the Kimber.
Rainier plated 200gr FP: 0.000 to 0.002, Avg - 0.001
Rainier plated 185gr FP: 0.001 to 0.003, Avg - 0.0018
Berry plated 185gr HBRN: 0.001 to 0.005, AVg - 0.0028

That's a whole lot tighter than I had with my re-sizer. Some of those I could easily push the bullet deep into the case with my finger.

I only had 25 of the Berry hollow base round nose loaded, but I ran through about 100 rounds of the others. Then I fired some 185gr Hornady XTP that I've never had a problem with when loaded after re-sizing with my old die.

The measured set-back due to the cycling of the Kimber.
Hornady 185gr XTP: Avg - 0.005

Looks to me like the smaller die is the cure.
--------

After adjusting the rear site on the HiPower I ran about 50 of the Rainier 115gr plated HP bullets, and a few Vance 147gr lead FP bullets. There weren't any problems encountered, and surprisingly, there wasn't much point of impact difference at 25 yards.