Busy Weekend

Took Friday off from work to spend the 3 day weekend working on the deck construction.  Got all the deck boards installed, including the ramp.  This morning I cut the post sleeves to length and covered the posts so they're ready for railing installation. The problem is that I ran out of the correct screws.  Went to the local Lowe's to no avail.  Guess I'll run to Menards before coming home from work tomorrow.

On the way home from Lowe's I stopped by to see the horse Lucy.  Didn't know if the granddaughter had been there recently to clean the stall, and the Boss is out of state.  Lucy was absent.  The granddaughter was on a trail ride with her instructor, the lady we bought the horse from.  They got back from their ride just as I was finished cleaning the stall.  Timing is everything.

There's something wrong with this arrangement.  I'm supplying most of the money, cleaning the stall, and doing none of the riding.

Got another 3 day weekend coming up, but I won't be working to finish the deck.  I'll be in Michigan for a 2 day paintball game at Hell Survivors.  Our annual trip to hell and back.

Originally planned to go to the range today, but didn't make it.  Decided to spenf the late afternoon and evening sitting on my butt.  My feet can use the rest.

Engineering

He got my attention by talking about engineers and politicians.

engineers SOLVE problems by breaking big problems and big issues into small ones, which can be solved one at a time.  Politicians cannot and will not do that, instead making problems bigger and bigger, while lying (to themselves and others) about how they have the knowledge and experience (and power) to solve the big problems.

And that difference is why I hold politicians in such low esteem.

I must confess that I've made my living by being an engineer for several decades.  Actually since 1975.  And yes my career is close to the end, maybe another 5 or 7 years and I'll retire.

Not only is engineering my profession, it is who I am.  Even my hobbies are technical in nature.

I must confess that I have no understanding of the mind that does not use logic and problem solving techniques on a daily basis.

Loading The 454 Casull

Since I'm waiting on materials to finish the deck and I've needed a break from the physical labor, I now have 100 rounds of brass all prepared for loading 454 cartridges.  Well I did. Tonight I stuffed AA#9 and 240 grain XTP/Mag bullets in 50 of them.  I dropped the charge by 1-1/2 grains, expecting the muzzle velocity to be reduced from close to 1800 to somewhere about 1700, or maybe 1750 f/s.  According to my Hornady manual, running at 1800 is a near Max pressure load, and rough on the hand as well.  25 rounds out of the big Ruger at that velocity causes my hand to swell.  It's like getting hit with a small hammer every time I press the trigger.

My 300 grain bullet load is more like a heavy push in the revolver.  Been using H110 to push it close to 1600 f/s from the revolver and close to 3200 from the rifle.  Since higher pressure and longer burn time can both increase velocity, I sent an e-mail to Hornady asking if that much velocity increase means it's pushing the pressure limit in the lever action.  I think I'll wait a little for a response before trying the 300 grain load in the rifle again.

The next time out I'll try the new 240 grain load in the revolver and lever action across the chronograph.

Off The Horses Ass

Apparently the new horse dumped the granddaughter 3 times last week.  The Boss and I went over there today.  Saddled the horse, and the mare went crazy when the Boss even started to mount.  The Boss walked her around the pasture for a while and tried again.  This time Boss got her leg in the air over the saddle, and the mare twisted aware from her.  The Boss slid right off the horses butt and landed on her feet.  Expert help was called.

Seems the granddaughter has been riding bare back, on a horse that's never been ridden that way before.  The horse is part arabian, so a bit spirited, in a new environment with new people.  Seems the granddaughter has caused the issue. It may take several training sessions to fix this. It took the expert about 45 minutes to calm the mare.  She stood as still as a rock being mounted.  The Boss and the expert took a trail ride while I snoozed in the truck.

The Boss ended up riding a saddle that didn't fit her.  It got her bad back hurting, but temporary.  We'll see how she feels in the morning.

We're still learning about horses.

Broke no More

In between house projects I managed to get the 454 lever action back together.  In the process I learned why it locked up at the range.  There is a pin that goes through the bottom of the bolt that keeps the spring loaded ejector in place and is also the connection to the lever.  That pin worked loose.  It then jammed on the inside of the receiver.

The empty case removed showed no signs of excessive pressure.  Having said that, I'm going to reduce the powder charge a little, or maybe find a suitable powder that burns slower than H110.  Dropping the 300 Gr bullet to a little under 2250 F/S won't really bother me much.