11/13/2022 - BLOG COMMENTS are again allowed and are moderated to exclude only the bots, advertisements, racial / ethnic pejoratives, and embedded links. I'll attempt to honor Chicago's historical "Bughouse Square" concept of free-speech and open debate --- spanning the curve from the far-left to the far-right. /JZ
Blogging to you from the Northeastern Badlands of The County of Lake, in the state currently known as Fatmanistan, DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP inside the heartland of the Banana Republic formerly known as the USA, WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! WARNING! ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE ADDICTIVE; EXCESSIVE USE MAY LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, REDUCED JOB PRODUCTIVITY, INSOMNIA, SOCIAL ALIENATION, GENITAL ULCERS, BLINDNESS, POLITICAL EROTICISM, AND / OR DEVIANT FUNAMBULISM. NOTICE: NO GUNS OR AMMUNITION ARE FOR SALE VIA THIS BLOG. (No, I will not trade my Colt Python for some lubricious adventures with your trophy wife and a future first-round draft pick.) CAVEAT: This blog is not suitable for viewing while at work, while inside a public library, while inside any public or private school, or while inside any public or private restroom. Do not view this blog while driving a motor vehicle or while piloting an aircraft. Viewing this blog may be illegal inside the EU, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and other parts of the Third World. THIS BLOG CONTAINS (albeit often very childish) ADULT-CONTENT. DISCLAIMER: This blog is a hobby, it is not a livelihood. Even though much of what I blog about relates to firearms collecting and recreational shooting, I am not an expert (by any measure) on any facet of guns, shooting, hunting, or personal defense. Entries at this blog are akin to good old-fashioned campfire chats or post hunt bourbon-fueled barroom-bluster; I offer no opinion on what you should or should not purchase, or what you should be using or doing. What does or does not work for me could be rugged-country-miles away from your tastes and your needs. All products, places, and miscellany that I review for this blog are purchased / rented / leased at retail price by me. I do not accept payment, gifts, discounts, freebies, products on loan, distilled spirits, recreational pharmaceuticals, plea-bargains, probation, parole, Papal Blessings, Presidential Pardons, or sexual favors for doing any review or blog post. TRACKING COOKIES: Google et al stick tracking cookies on everybody. If you are online, you are being spied on via one method or another, for one reason or another; 'nuff said. You may be able to minimize your online DNA residue by using Tor and Duck Duck Go. Vive la liberté! Vive all y'all! Ante omnia armari. To each of you, thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Illinois police seek authority to search homes for guns based on FOID card revocation



I’m very confused; I thought law enforcement officers already could do that VIA A COURT ORDER. I know of more than one instance when a local judge ordered guns removed for cause, but allowed the defendants’ attorneys to arrange for the sale of the guns so the defendants could pay legal fees. 

Are Illinois lawmen and lawmakers trying to make it possible for police to arbitrarily SEARCH homes of those with FOID revocations WITHOUT the due process of a court issued search warrant?  Having a FOID does not automatically mean someone OWNS A GUN.  For instance, I could not legally take my adult daughter to the range before she obtained a FOID card.  She had a good time at the range, but she never did buy herself a gun.  (BTW, she no longer needs a FOID; she now lives in WISCONSIN.)

There is also the issue of when a household has two or more people with FOID cards.  Does law enforcement plan on confiscating guns from all residents of a home based on the FOID revocation of one?


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Baby Browning threaded barrel and suppressor adapter available from Precision Small Arms (PSA).


The photos and the following text came in via email from our good friends at Precision Small Arms.


THREADED 6,35 MM (.25 CALIBER) BARREL AND SUPPRESSOR ADAPTER FOR USE IN ANY FN BABY BROWNING, PSP OR PSA-25 PISTOL. WILL ALSO WORK WITH BAUER AND FRASER .25 CAL MODELS. KIT INCLUDES ONE SWISS SCREW MACHINED HEAT TREATED 416 STAINLESS STEEL THREADED BARREL, 5/8-24 INDUSTRY STANDARD SUPPRESSOR ADAPTER AND ADAPTER CAP (NOT SHOWN) IN MACHINE GRADE FINISH. 180 DEGREE FLATS TO FACILITATE QUICK TIGHTENING AND REMOVAL. DELIVERIES COMMENCE FEBRUARY 2013. ORDER YOURS BY VISITING OUR WEB STORE AND CLICK ON "BARRELS". DEALERS CALL FOR QUOTE FOR QUANTITIES OF 5 OR MORE.  SUPPRESSOR NOT INCLUDED. $169.95




New Jersey gun control laws may be working



Man resorts to using bow and arrow. 


I truly do not want to believe this

EDIT:  Perhaps it was not true; the article is no longer available at the link.  It was pulled for some reason.  What was it about?  Well, I don't want to write a summary of something that may have been total B.S.

The idea itself is just utter madness.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Skeet tastes like chicken



You know, after this prolonged media honeymoon period, the silliest damn thing for the press to finally challenge Obama with is whether he shoots skeet “all of the time.” 

To my knowledge, not one of these hard charging “journalists” bothered to ask the POTUS, “What in all thundering tarnation does shooting skeet have to do with pending gun-ban legislation and The Second Amendment?” 


Ethics Commissioner in Illinois violated ethics rules




Why does Government stick with worthless, prohibitively expensive, programs?



I have no problem with either major party trying something new, however, if it turns out that the program sucks, end it with malice.


Monday, January 28, 2013

9mm Federal 9BP available at LuckyGunner



Click HERE to stock on up!  This load is often hard to find.

Once upon a time, the police in the United States found the transition from revolvers to 9mm pistols problematic; hollowpoints would not feed reliably and ball ammo would not stop felons reliably.  Federal came up with the 9BP, which remained the 9mm hollowpoint standard for police departments for many years.

Not all 9mm handguns are rated for +P loads.  Not all handguns were designed to reliably feed hollowpoint ammunition.  If you own such a pistol and you are looking for a solution, this load just may be your salvation. 



Saturday, January 26, 2013

Seven more shopping days left until GROUNDHOG DAY!



Glenn B and I are very fond of this day.  The worst-case Groundhog-shadow scenario is six more weeks of winter; I can do that standing on my head, in a snowdrift, buck-naked. 

Por fin! Spring is nigh!  To celebrate, this morning I walked barefoot in the unblemished snow on the public sidewalk in front of our house.  Yeah, that goofy little kid who gave so much anguish to my loving Mom is alive and well.


Friday, January 25, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Tossing my gun magazines into the recycling bin


Pistol magazines, rifle magazines, and some shotgun magazines are being tossed, probably close to a hundred of them so far. It is amazing how much stuff we accumulate over the years. 

I suppose I could have tried to sell them on eBay or at a trade show, but I just do not have the time.  Once I have cleared the basement of all the old gun magazines, then I’ll work my way through the other stacks of magazines, such as Field and Stream, National Geographic, Popular Mechanics, Playboy, etc.  My reading today is almost all done online, and I need the basement space more than I need the pulp archives.


Meowlon labe



Coyote is our Queen of Cats; she is pushing 19-years-old; she was 4-years-old when we found her at a shelter.

Soon after adoption we discovered how Coyote earned her given name; when she wants attention, she howls like a coyote. 

Judging by her choice of personal protection, she may be planning a trip to New York State.

(NOTE: Obviously, I was just being silly; Coyote prefers to carry a Seecamp.  The replica flintlock pistol has a broken spring, and for the photo I rechecked it to make sure it had no primer powder and that the bore was void of powder and ball.  That powder flask is genuine and well over a century old.)


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Stainless Steel .25 ACP Baby from Precision Small Arms



The photo and following announcement arrived via email from our good friends at Precision Small Arms.

“OUR ORDER BOOK IS NOW OPEN FOR EARLY SPRING DELIVERY OF 250 UNITS OF OUR MOST POPULAR STAINLESS STEEL PSA-25 PISTOLS.  SECURE WITH  A 35% DEPOSIT AND PURCHASE AT DISCOUNTED DROP SHIP PRICING (END USERS ONLY).

THESE BEAUTIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THREE FINISHES: 330 GRIT, HIGH POLISH "BEAUXARTS" (SHOWN) AND GLASS BEAD BLASTED BLACK VACUUM DEPOSITION COATED CARBON TITANIUM.

CNC MACHINED FROM NON-MAGNETIC 303 STAINLESS STEEL BILLET, ALL OF OUR PSA-25 PISTOLS SPORT POLISHED 416 STAINLESS STEEL BARRELS, INCLUDE A 6 SHOT MAGAZINE, BARREL CLEANING BRUSH, OPERATOR'S MANUAL AND PLASTIC STORAGE CASE. FRAME, SLIDE AND BARREL ARE MATCHED SERIAL NUMBERED. ONE YEAR PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY.

THE THREE PSA-25 STAINLESS STEEL MODELS ON OFFER HERE ARE THE MOST POPULAR MODELS WE MAKE. THEY ENJOY A WELL DESERVED REPUTATION FOR DURABILITY, ACCURACY AND GREAT GOOD LOOKS.

OPTIONAL GRIP PLATES MACHINED FROM CARBON FIBER, COCOBOLO, ZEBRAWOOD AND SILVER NICKEL WITH EBONY INLAY ARE AVAILABLE FOR A SMALL UP CHARGE.

DOMESTIC SHIPMENTS COMMENCE LATE FEBRUARY 2013. THESE PISTOLS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN UNTIL WINTER 2014. ACT NOW TO RESERVE YOURS. WHEN THEY'RE GONE, THEY'RE GONE!

MULTIPLE PIECE DEALER ORDERS WELCOME.”






Saturday, January 19, 2013

How long would the utopia of a gun-free USA last?


Let’s all entertain a fanciful thought, of a day when, by whatever governmental means you care or dare to imagine, 300-million firearms vanish from the possession of the U.S. citizenry, both the lawful and lawless.  POOF, they are gone, destroyed, along with every round of ammunition and their components.  Let us augment this miraculous event to include a worldwide ban on the private ownership of guns.  All you now have to fear are the thugs who are bigger and stronger than you are, and those armed with clubs, knives, caustics / acids, flammables, IEDs, etc. However, at least you no longer have to “fear” guns. How long do you believe the “New Polite Society” would last in the U.S.A.?

Considering that the U.S. Government’s War on Drugs has been a miserable failure, my guess is that the worldwide drug cartels, which collectively never gave a damn about international laws or treaties, would expand their horizons into gunrunning.  The gangs of Chicago, New York City, L.A., and Detroit would be back to full armament in short order, busily killing the hell out of each other and anyone in their way.  Other criminals will be paying top dollar to buy “syndicate guns” for use in robbing the general population.  Our politicians will be scrambling to come up with excuses and answers for their impotence.  For instance, the government may ban private airports and ownership of private planes and jets because “drug dealers and gun runners use them.”  “It’s only common sense.  Do it for the children.”  Besides, you don’t NEED your own private plane.

Aside from international gun running, I will speculate that an underground domestic gun manufacturing industry would emerge.  It isn’t that difficult to machine the components for guns and ammunition.  Politicians would then pass further useless laws to try to hinder this development, especially since many honest citizens may then be seeking to re-arm themselves with homegrown guns and ammo.  On and on the story would unfold. 

Your gun-free U.S.A. utopia would not last long.  The vast majority of those 300-million guns that “vanished” when we began this fantasy belonged to law abiding citizens, who are now at the total mercy of criminals who never knew a law that wasn’t worth breaking, and a government that never could protect honest citizens in the first place.

You may want to be careful what you ask your lawmakers to do in the passion of a moment.  They may just do it, and you just might not like how it all turns out.


Thursday, January 17, 2013

WANTED: Law abiding New York gun owners.




The Mob still controls Bloomberg’s NYC in the heart of little Andy Cuomo’s New York State



It is easier for Bloomberg and the mini-Cuomo to go after citizen-rights than it is for them to tackle organized crime.  Maybe they are just not trying at all to battle The Mob.  There is always the chance that if it were not for The Mob’s influence, neither of those two would be in office.

Boycott New York State and New York City.  It’s only common sense.  Do it for the children.


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Boycott anti-gun states


Here is a grassroots start on Facebook.   Please pass the word.  Make some noise.

Don’t forget to put Illinois high on the list of states to boycott.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Holsterpro Gun Leather



Holsterpro is a new-to-me USA holster maker that has been creating holsters since 1997, and does some mighty fine looking work from what look to be top quality materials.


Monday, January 7, 2013

HP Pavilion g7-2217cl with Windows 8 and IE-10 NOT RECOMMENDED


While it works okay via an Ethernet cable to the router, the Wi-Fi just plain sucks.  Sometimes it connects, most of the time it fails.  On the rare occasions that it does connect, more often than not it loses the Internet connection or moves slower than a 300-baud modem.

I’ve worked on Microsoft products since the beginning; I am not a novice.  I’ve owned more PC and laptop brands than I care to remember.  I updated every piece of software (and drivers) and I’ve run every diagnostic.  I’ve Googled the web for answers and all I find is a large group of people with the same problem(s) and no fix.  This has been a big waste of time and money.  Bill Gates should go out, purchase a few of these laptops, and see for himself what a wonderful piece of crap Windows 8 truly is.

In case you are wondering, my wife’s old Toshiba (with the broken hinges) on Windows 7 still works fine on the Wi-Fi, as does my MacBook Pro.  Something is hinky in Windows 8 and my best advice is to avoid it as you would a syphilitic blind date.


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Health Insurance rates soar


Whenever government does something to control costs, it usually means we are going to pay heavily for it. 

“Redistribution of Poverty” is proving to be a much more efficient policy than “Redistribution of Wealth.”  It is the great equalizer.  It humbles the masses.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The rumor is ILLINOIS TO INTRODUCE NEAR TOTAL GUN BAN ON JANUARY 2ND



“The ISRA has learned from a credible source that Illinois Senate President John Cullerton will introduce a so called “assault weapons” ban on Wednesday when the legislature returns for its “lame duck” session.  Cullerton hopes to ramrod the bill through and get it to Governor Quinn for signature by Friday.  If he is successful at doing so, nearly every gun you currently own will be banned and will be subject to confiscation by the Illinois State Police. 

Based on what we know about Cullerton’s bill, firearms that would be banned include all semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.  Pump action shotguns would be banned as well.  This would be a very comprehensive ban that would include not only so-called “assault weapons” but also such classics as M1 Garands and 1911-based pistols.  There would be no exemptions and no grandfathering.  You would have a very short window to turn in your guns to the State Police to avoid prosecution. “


Is there a run on .25 ACP ammo?



The Fishing Musician sees some evidence of it.  A run would not surprise me any.  THIS POST is the second most popular one here at this humble blog for last week, and the third most popular for all time.  For whatever their reason(s), many people still make this minimal caliber their choice.  Pistols chambered for the .25 ACP were targeted during the Gun Control Act of 1968 and it would not surprise me to see the .25 ACP again demonized in pending legislation.

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Be they Republican, Democrat, third party, fourth party or beyond, make each candidate earn it. Vote NO MORE GUN LAWS!

'We the Politicians of the United States, in Order to avoid a more perfect Union, manipulate Justice, destroy domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common offense, promote general Warfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Progeny, do blaspheme and eviscerate this Constitution of the United States of America." ("Zack," circa 1966 -1970)
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