Actually Made it

to the range today and spent about an hour & a half launching lead.

Looks like the Remington target 22 edged out the CCI Blazer at 50 yards from my old Marlin.  I got inconsistent group sizes from the Blazer.  Some were smaller, some larger than the Remington.  The Remington produced very consistent 2 inch groups.  Not too bad for a 40 year old rifle with a 4X scope and old eyes.

The SUB2000 is now adjusted for windage and elevation when shooting off hand with my 9mm hand loads developed for my Hi-Power.  When shooting from a rest it hits about 6 inches high and 2 inches left, with a 4 inch group at 50 yards.  A group that large is not uncommon for my old eyes using aperture sights. It appears to do better when shooting off hand at dirt clods on the hill. And yes it is fun to shoot.

I drug the old 30 carbine along and ran a couple of magazines shooting at dirt clods.  It also has aperture sights.  With factory ammunition I did better than with the SUB2000 as far as accuracy goes.  I've always been able to consistently hit 4 inch clay birds at 50 yards.  Today was no exception even with my old eyes. 

I'll probably run the old Marlin and the new SUB2000 again to verify the results.  But my next trip will primarily be to run groups from the Charter Arms Bulldog.  I never did settle on a hand load for that revolver.

New Toy

My collection now includes a Keltec SUB2000 in 9mm.  My son fired it before bringing it to the house, so I know it's functional.  I don't know when I'll be able to get to the range to play with it a bit.  I wonder how accurate it will be with my hand loads developed for my Hi-Power.

The Boss is snoring (see post below) so I guess I'd better get some of the grass mowed. 

Helping Hand

Surgery went OK, and now she's sleeping in a recliner with her hand propped up. The post-anesthesia shakes have disappeared.  I don't know the expected recovery time, but until then she's one handed.  And I'm her servant.

Early up and Wait

Tomorrow, in the early hours I'll be taking the Boss to get her right hand repaired.  She managed to break a tendon, without any sign of injury.  Hopefully that'll be healed by the time she has spine surgery.

Piracy

I don't think it's well known that the US navy was initially created to protect merchant ships from pirates and slavers.  Those pirates and slavers were Muslim.  Recently Iran, a muslim nation, has captured 2 oil tankers.  Makes me wonder, is piracy ingrained in the muslim religion?

SUB 2000

A couple of years ago I was shooting at my eldest back yard when he pulled out his Keltec SUB2000 in 40S&W.  It's an interesting little carbine that folds in half to about 16 inches long.  It'll fit into a back pack, and is just fun to shoot.  The only issue I had was that occasionally the bolt would grab my whiskers.

Yesterday he called and said he ran across a second generation version chambered in 9mm for $250.  He wanted to know if I was interested, if not he might buy it for himself.  I expect he'll be bringing it to me sometime within about a week.

We have 3 pistols chambered for 9mm in the house, and I reload 9mm.  I also have 4 pistols chambered in 45ACP that I also reload.  Never seen a reason to have anything in 40.

Starting Bitless

Dropped off feed and bedding at the horse barn this morning. I took a few minutes to try different head gear on my mare while she was in the stall.

Light weight side pull rope halter:  She practically put her head in it on her own.  It fit more snug than the usual rope halter, which I think is good for a side pull.  Slight force with a single finger on the side ring and she turned her head.  Looks promising.

Heavy weight side pull rope halter:  This one is a bit hard to use.  Everything is double roped and is stiff.  It has a braided nose band and brow band.  It also requires tying a cheek strap and a throat latch.  I got it loosely put on her, but not as it should be.  Again a light pull caused her to turn her head.

Low leverage bit: I rigged a spare bridle with the new bit I ordered.  It can be used as a solid bar snaffle or as extremely low leverage curb bit.  She didn't like it very much.  It has a larger diameter bar than the one she's gotten used to.  It'll probably be OK once she wears it some.

Partners

In the 3 years I've owned my horse I've hit the ground a total of 4 times.  Of the 4, three have been totally my fault and the other at least half my fault. 

The first time was when reaching the top of a hill, she stopped and stepped to the right.  I was leaning forward all the way to the ground.

Numbers 2 and 3, she was going faster than I wanted.  I applied too much force on the reins that caused a small buck.  I went sideways to the ground.

This last time she was spooked and once again I pulled too hard on the reins.  She tried to launch me into orbit.

The common factor is me.  Most of the time I use very little rein force, but once in a while I instinctively pull too hard hurting her mouth.  I need to become a better rider for both of us.

Improvement takes riding time.  Time that is presently in short supply.  So as a crutch I'm going to quit using the short shanked curb bit.  I've ordered a bit that has a similar mouth piece, but no force amplifying leverage.  I've also ordered 2 types of side pull halters.  The halters don't have a bit at all.

Maybe becoming a better horseman along with the new gear will have us becoming partners on the trail.

Another LEO Supporter

Yesterday I stopped in the local gas station/ convenience store.  The lady at the counter said she liked my 2nd amendment T-shirt.  As I was getting ready to leave a deputy sheriff walked in, and no he didn't buy donuts.  We talked briefly about the Glock he was carrying and why double stack hammer-less handguns aren't for me. The counter lady said she has a carry license.  The deputy said he wished everybody had one.

Actually she said she had a permit.  I despise that term.  It implies that I need government permission to have a weapon for self protection.  That's just BS.

I've been in contact with maybe half a dozen LEOs the past few years, and they all voiced support for the individual right to be armed.  Makes me wonder why the LEO top brass and unions are so against individualism and for big daddy government control.

And Again

The Boss passed out late this morning while sitting in her hairdressers chair.  That's the second time in a couple of months. The first time was in her orthopedic doctors office.  Each time EMT was called.  Her blood sugar was checked as normal both times, and both times they wanted to transport her to an ER, and both times she refused.  This is worrying me a bit.  I wish she'd get checked out.  I keep thinking about stroke or heart issues.

One More Thing

The other day the Boss came in from outside with one of her fingers hanging loosely when her palm is down.  She has no memory of hurting her hand, but the doctor said (ultrasound) the tendon along the back of her hand broke.  He'd never seen that before without some sort of injury.

So she will be having hand surgery in about 2 weeks as a warm up to her back surgery scheduled for late September.  Just wonderful!

Or two . . . . .. .
The contractor finally finished, so we once again have a functional kitchen.  So now I'm a busy slave putting all the stuff back, with the Bosses strict supervision.

Or three.. . . . . .
Took the old Marlin 22 semi-auto apart the other day.  It's amazing how gummy the action can get from 22 ammunition.  The next opportunity I'll shoot groups again with the various ammo.

Or four . . . . .
Last week took my mare out for a short ride.  She doesn't like going alone so it was an adventure until we met up with someone, & horse, we both knew.  It was at sundown, heading down the narrow country road to the barn, things were normal, for a while.  Vehicles don't normally spook my horse, but a van coming up behind, near dark with headlights on, turned out to be different.  She shifted into her fastest racking gate all the way back to the barn.  We got there a lot faster than usual.  I'm glad she's a gated horse, because I'm not that great a rider.

We plan on meeting up again this Monday for a ride.

Maybe next year the Boss can enjoy riding again.

Or five . . . . .
Been wanting to work with my horse, to get her used to me riding her without a bit in her mouth.  So far there's not been time for that or spending much time at the shooting range.  Never thought that retirement would have me so damn busy.