Ranger6

Grams Engineering! Send them to Blevin. Send some $. Great guy. Great Service. My mags never fail. Ranger6

I like IDPA. It's a Game. Rules are hard to understand (sometimes) and (unfortunately) arbitrary. A few ardent competitors were running off new shooters with multiple "Failure to do right" and "you would never do that in a gunfight" penalties. A new IDPA Match Director has turned that around and currently our club gets a lot of its new members from IDPA. Now, if someone shows up with a .22, Great - he wins the .22 caliber division. That guy had a good time and plans to be back with a 9mm next time. Moral - Don't let some rule stop you from enjoying your sport. "If it's on the internet, then it's got to be true. Like dude, they wouldn't put it on the internet if it wasn't!" A. Lincoln

"If it's on the Internet, then it's got to be true. Like, it's on the Internet dude!" A. Lincoln

Casablanca "I'm shocked to discover that there is gambling going on here"; "Your winnings Inspector." "Thank you." If it's on the internet, it's got to be true! - - - A. Lincoln

An empty Claymore bag works great. Rgr6 If it's put on the Internet, you know it's got to be true. (Abe Lincoln)

Yes

Hit the mag release with your strong hand while you grasp the next magazine with your weak hand and insert into the magwell. Challenge yourself and only use 12 round magazines! (Can you say S A I G A ?) Discovered this some time ago; went over to the "dark side" (aka Open); haven't looked back. Ranger6

Stay out of Idaho! It's like living in a foreign country here. It is way too far to the nearest range. (Mine is over 5 miles away.) There are not enough surrounding communities that have shooting matches (unless you want to shoot every weekend). The gun laws are oppressive. We can only own twin 50 cals, suppressors, or a gatling type firearm. Hunting is tough too. Now you have to get a tag to gun down those #@$%# wolves! Well enough rant. Just heed our advice and cross Idaho off your list.

Mounts ? They have Mounts? (Great stuff BTW!) I buy their equipment solely to get the BBQ Rub !!!!!!!! Ranger6 <- (Collects Bev Entry Tools)

How about "Mr. Peabody" (from the Rocky the Flying Squirrel show) Golden Retrievers are super smart dogs. In Idaho if you own a pickup truck (who doesn't) you are required to have a Golden Retriever or Black Lab to ride in the back. <-- State Law !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol Ranger6

Some years ago a fellow shooter recommended NOT using a brush at all. "I tends to take the dirt inside the magazine and grind it into the finish inside." Use a soft cloth instead. Get some silicone spray (found in most bike/auto shops) and spray the cloth. Run the cloth from the bottom out through the top of the mag. It cleans the inside and leave a light silicone coating. If the cloth becomes dirty, throw it away and get a clean one. (They're a lot cheaper than new mags.)

My daughter is a redhead with a classical A-type personality. Serving in one of those '=stan' countries for our government but due home in August. My only problem is every time she comes home I loose another firearm. "Gee dad, you're not really using this (AR, handgun, etc.) are you?" Great kid though. Also a NRA firearms instructor. Redheads are keepers! Ranger6

Warning: Daughter is grown now. Works for the government. Currently in one of the 'stan countries. Everytime she comes home to visit I loose another firearm! "Gee dad, you're not really using this (9mm, AR, 12 gauge)- - - just fill in the blank right now, are you?" Ranger6

Tim is right. My typo. The handgun was a G-21, not G-22. Ranger6

At our IDPA match yesterday one of our competitors had his G-22 discharge prematurely. The round went off (apparently) as it was being chambered. This destroyed the magazine and broke the trigger guard from the gun. The shooter (luckily) only received mild injuries to his finger and hand. He has 4 stiches in his finger and a few pieces of metal embedded in his hand. He was firing "strong hand" at the time. The exact cause of the discharge could not be readily identified. According to those on the stage, there was no "squib" load prior to the blast. Causes include the possibility that that the primer was struck by the ejector, the magazine fed the round in incorrectly, or some obstruction in the chamber set up the discharge. The shooter stated that the rounds had been reloaded (which could lead to an overcharge situation) and that they used lead bullets. Some shooters stated that the lead bullets could be the cause of the problem. If so, should Safety Officers be addressing this as part of the Safety Briefing prior to the start of our matches?

Having a bad day and.... Someone just dropped a house on my sister!

If you have a two day match, do it on Friday-Saturday. That gives everyone a full day (Sunday) to get back home. (Just like Rocky Mountain 3 Gun) At most of the BIG matches the "Pro" shooters win the top prizes. They need their own category. Ranger6

This target seems to work. Cut up a standard 2"x4" 8-foot board into blocks. Size them as 4"x4" (actually ~ 3.75"x3.75"). You end up with 24-25 wooden blocks for targets from each board. Set them up on top of a standard 2"x4" or 1"x2" post. Shoot them off for score. If it is windy, place a piece of on the backside to secure them in place. The tape acts like a hinge allowing the block to be knocked off but easily placed back on top of the post. Most blocks will take several hits before breaking apart. (5.56mm seems to pass right through.) Painting the blocks seems to make them last longer. The cost per block is minimal. A few 2"x4"s provides a lot of targets. At 50-100 yards these can be a challenge. Advantages: Easy to make, easy to replace, low cost per target, provides a challenge. Disadvantages: Will break apart after a few hits, can be blown off on windy days, can fall off post if post is struck by bullet. (Use of tape can help to keep targets in place before taking a direct hit.) Ranger6

Bleven is a great guy. I don't recommend putting any magazine into a gun without him tuning it first. He's also a shooter. Saw him last weekend at Area 1. He LIVES the sport. Jim Roberts RO - Stage 5 ~ 2011 Area 1

Does this mean that I'll be able to play the piano after this? Wait, the time has already past us. Darn, now I'll never be able to play those keys!

Understand that Bin Laden's last Facebook entry was - - - BRB, I think I hear someone at the door!

Unfortunately the courts have challenged the "Unearned Valor Act" that was passed by Congress some time ago to prevent persons claiming to have received a Medal of Honor, etc. The courts claim "free speech" under the Bill of Rights to the Constitution as the basis for their ruling. I believe (strongly) that the impersonators must be exposed whenever discovered. A few years back I met some Navy Special Operations personnel at the Little Creek, VA base. After some conversation, one of the NCOs went out for a few minutes and returned with a thumbs up and a grin. Apparently they wanted to check everyone and I passed their test. I traded one of my 1st Ranger Battalion coins with them and received an "honorary" SEAL coin in return. The SEALS have done an awful lot over the years and tend to downplay their accomplishments. I am honored just knowing some of them. Jim Roberts CO, B Company, 1st Bn (Abn), 75th Infantry (Ranger) '77-'78

I am the Admissions Field Force representative for S.E. Idaho for West Point. The appointment process depends a lot on your Congressman. I was able to have one of our Senators in Idaho "swap" two cadets who had appointments to the Air Force Academy and West Point, but each wanted to go to the other academy. The Senator agreed and a call from his office to both of the academy admissions offices greased the skids and made it happen. Geography also has some influence. The West has more kids wanting to go to the Air Force Academy. Idaho is doing great in getting more than our allotment into West Point. This is due to our State Field Force rep who regularly obtains open postions from other areas. (He is a real go-getter and a great guy!) There should be a USAFA representative in your area. Contact them. If you do not know who they are, start with the Air Force Academy's admissions web page. It takes some coordination, but the swap can be done. There are also several good books out there on what the academy's programs are like. The academies are actually very similar. One of the key areas for all is motivation. Your son will be challenged mentally, physically, and psychologically. His determination will be what pulls him through. I have personally discouraged candidates who want to go solely because a family member has served or attended an academy. Good luck to your son where ever he goes. Jim Roberts, USMA 1967 West Point Admissions Field Force Jim.Roberts@West-Point.org Oh, I almost forgot - - Go Army / Beat Navy

Went to a fight once and a Hockey Game broke out. I admit that I really did not understand the game until a friend pointed out all of the things that one player can get away with by just using their skates or their stick. Now I watch for those "professional fouls" to see how many get caught or how many they get away with. (Some fun, eh Bambi?)

Certainly the real problem with Daylight Savings Time is that your get a extra hour of sunshine every day and that makes your drapes fade and gives you skin cancer. (Yep, it's a conspiracy, alright.)