JVL

I read the report on Shuemann, but he used Moly coated COPPER PLATED bullets. That sounds like a double-whammy. The moly-coated bullets I've seen (and used one boxful) were just moly-coated lead. What's not clear to me is whether lead bullets made specially to be moly-coated are undersized maybe to .451 to account for the thickness of the moly. Or are they just regular bullets, coated?

I agree about the angle of the cocking serrations. Colts have vertical but most have them angled. Some match the angle of the grip, but some don't. I guess most makers just don't pay that much attention is the main reason they don't quite line up most of the time. Same question on the front serrations. It looks neater to me to have the rear-most serration (of the front set) meet the point where the dustcover cutaway starts. I don't think I've ever seen it, but several pistols are just one serration away from my ideal. Does no one but Avalanche and I think of these things?

Been reloading one year this week. Started with the Lee manual. Found an old (1967) Speer manul for $2. Have the Hodgdon manual (which also lists powders from Winchester, IMR, and Alliant.) The book I use most, and recommend most is the LoadMAP from Midway. They show various brands of bullets and powder, and have many more velocity measurements. By this I mean, Bullseye for example, it shows the velocity at 3.5, 3.7, 3.9 , etc. all the way to 6.8 or whatever the maximum is. Very useful for guys like me who load way down on the scale from maximum. Most books just list the maximum load, and say "start 10% less". The Midway LoadMAP shows the velocity of the lesser charges, and almost always has a MUCH lower starting point as well. I think they may be phasing them out, they're no longer in the Midway catalog, but I saw some for sale at the gun show last weekend. Too bad, if they stop. The best book by far, for me.

There are different "schools" of Zen, just like there are 386 branches of Southern Baptist church. It looks like John and Brian are approaching the same problem from different angles. Maybe one or both can't see the merit in the other's approach. That's why they are approaching from different angles! I'm just glad to see two different avenues(IPSC and Bullseye) talking about Zen and shooting. I've been doing both types of shooting for over a year now. I've been trying to 'grok' zen for just over thirty years now. I read Eugen Herrigal's book, while trying archery. Read Miyamoto's Book of 5 Rings, while studying fencing. Lots of books, good and bad, regarding Buddhism and Zen. Now I hope to get Brian's book soon, since I've started recently both IPSC and Bullseye. I applaud John's work on the Bullseye site, I've found it very informative and useful on Bullseye so far. I hadn't even noticed before his stuff on Zen. My small gripe is all the Japanese words. Right now, it's a little evocative of Islam, which mandates the follower learn Arabic. Zen originated in India, developed more in China, then was more widespread in Japan, before coming to America. I'm put off by all the Japanese language lessons John includes in his brief dissertations. But still, overall, I'm glad to see the dissertations there, even if I don't agree with everything he says. Here's a quote taken from John's website that seems more applicable to IPSC than the (relatively) tranquil sport of Bullseye shooting: Takuan Roshi explains, "Keeping the mind tranquil as it moves in the myriad directions in the midst of uproar and commotion is true tranquillity. Tranquility in tranquility is not true tranquility; it is tranquillity in action that is the true tranquility."

How long since you read the book? (If ever...) Been over 20 years ago for me, I don't think I even have them (the trilogy) any more. I loved the books, even though I couldn't bring myself to finish all the footnotes, where Tolkein starts talking about the grammar of the various languages that he invented. That guy was really in that other world. The last few years, I like to see the movie before I read the book. Because of the movie 'Dune'. I read the book the night before I saw the movie, and throughout the movie I kept thinking "that's not how it was in the book!" Since then, I'd rather see the movie first, and enjoy it, and then read the book, and enjoy it too. The book always adds more detail, background, depth, complexity, whatever.

Grasshopper: What is the first principle of zen? GrandMaster: Have you shot yet? Grassopper: Yes, GrandMaster. GrandMaster: Go and clean your gun. (Edited by JVL at 12:59 pm on Dec. 20, 2001)