44 Special

Several years ago a friend managed to blow up a Super Blackhawk 44 Mag.  The ejector rod & cover was gone and the barrel was split from the frame to the front sight.  He gave it to me because he didn't want to use it anymore.  Through a local FFL I sent it back to Ruger asking for a quote to repair.  Instead of a quote Ruger sent it back to me completely repaired, at no charge.

Since I had a 44 Mag, I naturally purchased a 4" Charter Arms 44 Spl.  With time I determined that the Super Blackhawk wasn't for me.  It just didn't fit my hand, so it went back to the original owner.  That was 10+ years ago. 

Since owning the 44 special I've tried several different bullet and powder combinations, but never settled on any particular load for the revolver.  Yesterday I got to the range for a couple hours and shot groups with 4 different loads.  Two loads each with 240Gr JHP and 215Gr LSWC.  I don't think this revolver will ever have the consistent accuracy as my 357 or 454, so I'm picking one of the loads for each of the bullets and going with it.

I Know Who I Am

I got my engineering degree working 2 summers as a construction laborer, 1 year sorting packages and loading trucks, then 3 years working on an assembly line.  Those last 3 years I worked full time and maintained a full time status in school, while supporting a wife and child.  While working in the factory I was passed over for a promotion because I am white and male.  So much for "white privilege".

I don't care what color your skin is, your heritage or religion.  What matters is who you are and what you do.  I take responsibility for me and my family.  I worked for what we have.  If you do the same you have my respect, if not, I owe you nothing.

This gem arrived by e-mail.  I certainly can relate.
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As a man, I used to think I was pretty much just a regular person, but I was born white, into a two-parent household which now, whether I like it or not, makes me "Privileged", a racist & responsible for slavery.

I am a fiscal & moral conservative, which by today's standards, makes me a fascist because I plan, budget & support myself.

 

I went to High School, got a degree, (some how  I got into college) & have always held a job. But I now find out that I am not here because I earned it, but because I was "advantaged".

 

I am heterosexual, which according to "gay" folks, now makes me a homophobe.

I am not a Muslim, which now labels me as an infidel.

I believe in the 2nd Amendment, which makes me a defacto member of the "vast NRA gun lobby"

I am older than 60, making me a useless eater who doesn't understand Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.

I think & I reason, and I doubt much of what the "main stream" media tells me, which makes me a "Right-wing conspiracy nut".

 

I am proud of my heritage & our inclusive American culture, making me a xenophobe.

I believe in hard work, fair play, & fair compensation according to each individual's merits, which today makes me an anti-socialist.

I believe our system guarantees freedom of effort - not freedom of outcome or subsidies which must make me a borderline sociopath.

I believe in the defense & protection of America for & by all citizens, now making me a militant.

I am proud of our flag, what it stands for and the many who died to let it fly, so I stand & salute during our National Anthem - so I must be a racist.

Please help me come to terms with the new me because I'm just not sure who I am anymore!

Funny - it all took place over the last 7 or 8 years of Socialist Democratic control.

If all this nonsense wasn't enough to deal with, now I don't even know which restroom to use... and I gotta go more FREQUENTLY!

Lost My Riding Partner

So a week later my mare has yet to show any signs of damage from her fall.  My knee is improving also.  We are doing well enough that the Boss and I went for another trail ride last Friday.  It was a good ride. Quite enjoyable.

Unfortunately I've lost my riding partner for quite a while.  She's had 3 trail rides, and after each it's taken her 2 days to recover.  Her spinal surgery recovery was going very well until her knee went bone on bone.  Looks like the bad knee is causing her back pain in the surgical area.

The Boss is stubborn about me not riding alone, so I'm stuck with a very unreliable riding partner.  We were supposed to go riding this morning.  I just arrived at the barn when she texted me that she couldn't make it.  So now rescheduled for tomorrow.  That's very typical.

Last summer, my first summer of retirement, the Boss had 4 surgeries.  So I didn't do any riding or get to the range.  That summer sucked.  So far this one is only slightly better.

Oops

The Boss and I went riding today for about an hour and a half.  It was a beautiful day and a good ride before and after the oops. The dried up mud was everywhere and full of deep rutted hoof holes.  Our horses stumbled once in a while going through that stuff.  Then there was the oops. Not quite sure what really happened, but my mare went down with her right front leg folded under her along with my right lower leg.  My knee got either twisted or bend to the side.  Scared the Boss to see me on the ground with my horse laying on my leg.  My mare got up quickly and started grazing, waiting on me.

Quite a bit of pain when it happened, but reduced a lot when I walked on it, gingerly.  Walked my horse about 150 yards and we both seemed OK.  Found a place where I could stand on a little hill and managed to climb back in the saddle.  Rode the rest of the way back and didn't notice any issue with the horse, though my knee had stiffened and was very sore. 

I'll be checking my horse again tomorrow. She may have a delayed reaction like me.  Right now I'm sitting with a cold pack on my knee to reduce swelling.

I am Responsible for me and Mine

For several years I have carried a 45 concealed whenever I leave the house.  I usually leave it on me until bed time, where it's stored within easy reach from bed.  Unlike some I've never seen the need to carry a reload.  I'm rethinking that now.

The police have no requirement to protect the individual.

I don't live in a city or in a typical suburb.  I'm about 10 miles from a mid sized city surrounded by mostly farm land.  I know for sure that a 911 call for an ambulance has a 15 minute response time.  Calling for police help might be a few minutes quicker.  I keep both of my carry pistols, when not on me loaded and next to the bed.  In the corner of the room is a 12Ga also loaded and ready.  In addition I keep a loaded 45 in the basement gun room.  I'm now considering stashing other firearms around the house.

Paranoid? Maybe, but I am responsible for me and mine.

Ride Number 2

Went riding yesterday with the Boss and a riding friend.  The second ride of the year.  Other than my mare being in one of her energetic moods it went rather well.

It was hard for the Boss to get on her horse due to lack of strength and reduced flexibility.  I'm going to get her a taller mounting block.  Once in the saddle she did very well.  Riding comes natural for her. She's always been a better rider than me.

My mare has always been a little feisty.  One of the things I like about her.  When she's energetic, she walks very fast which is tiring for me.  Sometimes when walking fast in the woods, she forgets about the rider. That is slightly hazardous.

The Bosses bad knee started hurting quite a bit as did my arthritic hip.  Towards the end of the ride I noticed I was sitting to one side and leaning back in the saddle.  Sitting to one side is a response to hip pain, and leaning back happens due to tired core muscles.  Both just happen without thought.  A little more than 2 hours in the saddle was a bit too much.

How?

How can it be that a person(s) can record that cop brutalizing a man? How can that person do nothing but just watch? I couldn't stand to do nothing, regardless if other cops are around. I'd probably run and tackle the asshole.  Then I'd probably be arrested, but so be it.

Hopefully I wouldn't pull my weapon and shoot the cop. I think that would be justified, but "the law" most likely disagrees.