Offline for a Bit

The Blog will be dark for a while.

My brother died suddenly yesterday. He was only 53. He was 18 months older than me. He was my friend.

I'll miss you, Bro.

JRC Project Update

I seem to be having multiple projects out on the bench, at the same time, this weekend.

My grips arrived on Friday. I love the rubber texture of the matching grip set. The pistol grip is far superior than the cheap plastic original one. You can see the original one here.

The foregrip also functions in multiple different positions. It makes it very comfy in different settings. I put a Tactical Light/LASER unit on it but I am not all that happy with it.It will probably be removed/replaced in no time. I also ordered some Magpul flip up sights but only the back one has arrived so far.

Here's what left for the JRC Project:

• EOTech Sight
• An Excellent Sling
• Thread the Barrel 

--Plus a pile of more mags, maybe a hot green LASER, and an LED light.

Quotes of the Week

"It's never too late to become the person you might have been."

- George Elliot

Tec-22 Project

Intratec Tec-22

The Scorpion Tec-22 is now an official bench project. I found the original documentation in my files. This contained a full exploded diagram and parts list.

It has very simple architecture and I quickly discovered the single broken part and the fact that a tiny spring is missing.

Enter my Google-Fu.

In short order I found a ton of references to this specific failure on this model, of the Tec-22. There were detailed descriptions of this specific version of the original, pre-ban version.

Here is the order of project events:

Photoshopped rendition of possible mods

• Firing pin repair and tests
• Order a suppressor
• Picitinny rail installs
• LASER install
• Sling selection and install
• Let the can chasing begin!

Exact parts have been ordered and I will be able to replace them without the need of a gun smith.

--If the repairs work the next step will be a to order a suppressor. This will be fun.

Forbes Even Thinks We're Winning

I just read a great article in Forbes magazine of all places:


Disarming the Myths Promoted By the Gun Control Lobby


Here is a a sweet nugget:


"Caroline Brewer of the anti-gun Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has reported that “The research we’ve seen indicates fewer and fewer people owning more and more guns.” Yet one can only wonder where they are getting that information. In reality, public support for personal gun ownership is growing."


--Go and read it.

Honest Gun Owners Meme

My friend Nancy tagged me in the latest gun meme.

"I will write down 5 things that indicate, to me, that a gun owner or shooter maybe is an honest one; I say 'maybe' because I have known some seemingly honest gun owners to tell some really tall tales. Then I will tag 5 other gun owners who are also bloggers and I hope each will play along, each listing, in their blogs, at least 3 things that are indicative a gun owner is an honest one, then sending the challenge of this meme on to 5 other gun owner who are also bloggers."

Here's what I've got:

1. They never talk about "Big Boy Rules".
2. They talk about a drawer full of holsters they almost never use.
3. They talk about some of their guns like tools, some like heirlooms, and some like art.
4. They will talk about their failures as easily as their triumphs.
5. They treat waitresses with the same respect as their kids school principle.

Now for my tags:

• Breda - Yes, that Breda!
• TBolt - The New Jovian Thundarbolt
• Laura - Inserting a Witty Meme Here
• Murphy - Lagniappe is gone now, but his memory lives on.
• Agirlandhergun - A Girl and Her Gun Meme

--This list is about being honest. We need one about being safe and/or competent.

My New iPhone

I got my first iPhone this week.

Every time I turn around I find another cool thing, like the fact that it can plug directly into my range ear muffs so I can listen to music!

I remember reading on someones blog that there were cool iPhone apps for shooters.

Searching for them I found apps to help log competition scoring, inventory, log books and other small things.

I swear someone said there was an app that computed ballistic drop by caliber and distance.

Instead I found a ton of cool Zombie apps.Including Zombie Booth, a zombie creator tool.

--Going to have to use it to make some targets for the range!!

Ready to be signed

Today, after their passage in the House, three more pro-gun bills will now be sent to Governor Bob McDonnell for his approval:

Senate Bill 67, sponsored by state Senator Bill Stanley (R-20), would remove the option for a locality to require an applicant for a concealed handgun permit to submit fingerprints with the application.  This legislation was passed in the House of Delegates by a 72 to 24 vote.

Senate Bill 323, drafted by the NRA and sponsored by state Senator Bill Carrico (R-40), would repeal the prohibition on law-abiding citizens buying more than one handgun within a thirty-day period.  Anti-gun opponents have long claimed that gun rationing keeps handguns out of the hands of criminals, but history has shown this law to be ineffective, and to only affect and penalize law-abiding citizens.  This legislation was passed by a 64 to 32 vote. SB 323, is the companion Bill to House Bill 940, which was previously passed by both chambers and has been sent to the Governor for his approval. 

Senate Bill 563, sponsored by state Senator Frank Ruff (R-15), would alter certain application procedures to obtain a concealed handgun permit, including allowing for the submission of an initial application via U.S. mail. This bill would also restrict the clerk and the circuit court from requesting or requiring any information from an applicant other than that which is allowed on the concealed handgun permit application. This legislation was passed in the House of Delegates by a 79 to 20 vote.

--God I love Virginia.

Injuries

Last week I dislocated the ring finger of my right hand. My shooting hand.

I had plans and went to the range two days later my with my Glock 21 and my 1911. Both .45s.

I started with my Glock 21. I could not close my finger all the way around the grip. My shot brought tears to my eyes even though it was almost a bulls eye.

The rest of my shots were all over the place. Anticipation of the pain was destroying my shots. I only managed about 10 shots with that hand. I didn't bother trying the 1911 right handed.

--I spent the rest of the session shooting lefty. Good practice.

Flip Up Sights

I am currently shopping around for some flip up sights for the JR Carbine.

It has a nice long throw flat top so I will be able to get some distance between the front and back.

The current leading contender is this simple set of Magpul sights. You can see imprinted in the sight the peep pattern that it will have.

The price is medium at about $100 for the set from Cheaperthandirt.com but I would like to see them first.

I am sure they are fine. Gots any insights? Recommendations?

--Plus I am a total Magpul whore.

The JR Carbine

I purchase the JR Carbine at Nations Gun Show. The price was great: $549

I have now taken it to the range twice and ran a hundred rounds through it each time.

JR Carbine - .45 ACP

Here is the good stuff:

• The price point is excellent at $549
• It is easily, quickly, convertible to left hand eject
• The bolt handle can be on the left or right
• Controls are familiar and easy
• The internals are simple, I like simple
• The components exceed my expectations in quality
• My cheap $30 DOT scope did well
• I managed a free standing, 15 round, 10" group, at 50 yards, in 10 seconds
• It's .45 ACP! I could deer hunt with this baby

Here is the bad stuff:

• It came with only one 10 round Glock mag
• The single jam was using the 27 round mag
• When empty, the bolt does not stay open.
• It goes, "click" when empty. You have no sense it's empty
• To clean it requires 3 different tools plus cleaning gear
• 2 Alan wrenches
• An AR wrench
• You have to take the stock off in order to remove the bolt
• The Alan nuts rattle loose easily
• The bolt handle and lower Alan nuts are different sizes
• No storage in the hallow pistol grip. (for Alan Wrenches)

Even with all the negatives so far I must say I am loving this carbine. It has a little less recoil than the Beretta  Cx4 .40 I have.  I am very disappointed in the after market 27 round mags I bought. I need to find quality huge mags. I worry about how fast all the nuts work loose. maybe because it was so well oiled before shipping. We shall see how that plays out. I will withhold final judgement until the 500 round break-in is past. I am going to need another case of .45ACP!

I have purchased a suppressor for my Glock 21. I plan on threading this barrel the same. Not only will they be able to share mags they will be able to share the suppressor. I am so addicted to adjustable stocks! 

So far it's a big thumbs up for the JR Carbine.

What are my future plans for the JRC?

• Flip-up Sights
• An EOTech scope
• A threaded barrel for my suppressor
• A good sling
• A quality hot green LASER
• High capacity mags

--Need to find a gunsmith for the barrel threading!!

Quotes of the Week

"Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can."

- Samuel Adams

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself"

- Jim Rohn

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

- Thomas Edison

Blog Shoot

I am off to the NRA Range this morning to meet some people, shoot some guns, socialize, tour the museum and eat some burgers!

--More later!

2:15pm

I just got home. It was another great day. I am posting this update from the new iPhone.

I will wait for the computer to do a proper job.

2012 NRA HQ Blogshoot Tomorrow!

One Last reminder! 

If you can't make the shoot, come for the museum tour and/or lunch! See you there!

Once again will meet there on a Saturday morning, shoot for an hour and then take a tour of the National Firearms Museum at the NRA HQ in Fairfax Virginia.

• DATE:  February18th, 2012
• TIME: 7:30am or earlier.
• WHERE: NRA HQ Range in Fairfax VA
• WHO: You and people like you
• WHY: Because we are so damn pretty

Please note: If you have never been there before they will require that you take a short written safety test. It takes about 10 mins. It may be worth your while to stop in there, if possible, in advance to take the test and get your range card.

You do NOT have to be an NRA member to use the range.

The NRA headquarters building is located at 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

--We will go to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch!  It's only .7 miles away.

The Scorpion

I bought this firearm 25 years ago. It was very inexpensive and we had a lot of fun way back then chasing cans with this guy. it was a great plinker. I wish it was full auto. I could afford that!

It is an Intratec TEC 22 Scorpion. It uses Ruger 10/22 mags. The original TEC-22 variant featured a threaded barrel and a 25-round magazine. The barrel's threading is 1/2-20 and allows a barrel extension or other accessories to be attached. A small, knurled nut threads onto the barrel to protect the threading.

At the gun show last weekend I saw one that was fit with a suppressor. So I pulled this guy out of the safe. I have not shot this guy in many years because I could not find a gunsmith to fit the broken firing pin.

--I will take this by my new gun smith for a revisit!