My Week in Podcasts

I started listening to podcasts in my commuting time about three years ago, when I decided the cost of satellite radio had outstripped its usefulness. At that time, I found only two worth listening to, GunTalk and Downrange Radio, and I still listen to them.

It’s been a while since I reviewed any podcasts, and for that I apologize. I do listen to quite a few regularly, and you can read the reviews I've written by searching the label "podcast." Any time I hear of a new gun podcast, I try to give it a go for at least 3 or 4 episodes.

My attitude on podcasts is simple – I listen to get information about guns and shooting, and I listen to be entertained. Naturally, some podcasts resonate with me and some don’t. After a while, I stop listening to the ones I don’t get a lot out of, or that just don’t click with me, or that irritate me.  So, if you read about a podcast here, know that it’s one that I listen to, and enjoy.

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Having said that, around the first of the year I started listening to Shooting the Breeze with Walt White. I’ve been remiss in not writing a full review, but I plan to fix that in the near future. Suffice it to say that I like his podcast a lot, and not just because he references my stuff. Walt and I have a lot of similar interests and background, so he talks about things I am interested in.  Look for the review soon.

I also have half a review written on Julie Golob's podcast. Look for a review of it soon as well.

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Some podcasts come out on a regular basis, pretty much the same day of the week every time, and some come out either less frequently or on a sporadic basis. The latter shows I refer to as Free Agents, and I use them to fill in when the Regulars are gone.

Here is what my typical podcast week looks like. Note that the links are to the respective home websites of the podcasts. All of these are also available on iTunes, and most are on the Gun Rights Radio Network.

MONDAY

GunTalk with Tom Gresham in the morning. I don’t always get through all three hours of it, but I save some for weekend chores and fill ins.

The RoadGunner podcast with the Unknown Trucker in the evening. He once referred to my review of his podcast as "the greatest blog post ever written."  Gosh . . . .

TUESDAY

Gun Dudes in the morning. If you have a high tolerance for hijinks, this is a great show. These guys are serious about having fun shooting. They do tend to fool around a bit, and there are quite a few inside jokes, but I like the show.

The Power Factor Show in the evening. This is a video podcast with Steve, Rick, and Caleb, and it focuses on IDPA and USPSA shooting, with shotgun sports thrown in. I listen to the audio portion only. This is a little confusing at times but it's still a good show. This is not a podcast for new shooters - you have to know your shooting and guns, because they do, and they assume you do.

WEDNESDAY

Downrange Radio with Michael Bane in the morning. This is, to me, the daddy of them all. Michael produces the shooting shows on the Outdoors Channel, and has been a music critic and adventure sports writer, among many other careers.

That's Walt. He doesn't have a logo.

Shooting the Breeze with Walt White in the evening. This is actually a video podcast, but I only do the audio version. Walt reviews cigars as well as shooting and competition. He sometimes refers to this blog. But he's still a good podcaster.

THURSDAY

Handgun World with Bob Mayne in the morning. Bob is a salesman who travels throughout central Texas, shooting and talking about it. He shoots IDPA and describes it well.

Free Agent in the evening.

FRIDAY

Friday is Makeup Day. I will either finish a podcast I’ve started, or listen to a Free Agent. Sometimes I find a new podcast and give it a try. Who knows, I’ve added some before.

FREE AGENTS

These podcasts are irregular, but I listen to each episode when it comes out. (These are in alphabetical order.)

Empty Mags from JP. JP hasn’t put out a new episode in a while, but his slot is still open.

The Gun Runner Podcast, with Ryan Rocquin. Ryan is a former Marine and does an almost-daily podcast. I admit I can't listen to them all, but he is in the rotation.

Gunsmithing Radio with Fred Zeglin. This podcast comes out as Fred has topics to discuss. I leave them all on the iPod so I can go back and review them as I get Free Agent spots open. On the Fast mode on the iPod they take about 30 minutes so I can always find time

Julie Golob's Podcast. She's new to the podcast gig, but not to shooting. The reigning Ladies Bianchi Cup and Ladies USPSA Single Stack Champion, among a zillion other titles, Julie has been doing a podcast on competitive shooting since early this year. Her monthly podcast is a mix of interviews, how-to's and reviews.

The Rimfire Podcast with Ken Kowalski. Ken is currently deployed in Afghanistan and that doesn’t let him be as regular in posting as he could be, but we’ll let that slide.

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The New Shooter Podcast with Nick. Nick covers a lot of stuff for a new shooter, like competition and different kinds of guns. Maybe he meant New . . .  Shooter-podcast.

The Urban Shooter Podcast,  with pastor Ken Blanchard. I've met Ken and he is a great guy to visit with, and a great shooter. Ken covers shooting, rights, life, music, and zombies.

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As always, if you know of a shooting podcast that I should try out, please leave a comment. I'd also like to know what you think of these shows.

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Should I start a podcast? Maybe record them during the Friday commute? Hmmm . . . .

Just Because It's June

Julie Golob is giving away a Midland XTC video camera that clips on your hat. Go enter to win.

Actually, I want to win so I can have neat videos like Walt.

From Steve Rogers to Captain America - Part 3: Behind The Scenes

A follower on Twitter recently asked me for some details about the paint job I did for Captain America, and I realized I had been remiss in providing those earlier. So, here they are . . . .

Captain America started life as the lowly Steve Rogers, a bone stock Ruger 10/22 I bought at a big box store.

The gun was a good gun, accurate, but certainly with room for improvement. The only real complaint I had was an alarming number of failures to extract, especially late in the day when the extractor was getting dirty. The Ruger factory piece is stamped, and that means one side of the part has a slightly raised ridge on it. Rather than do the gunsmithing,  I replaced it with a Volquartsen extractor. This piece is cut by EDM and is sharp and clean on all sides.  The result has been spectacular: zero failures to extract in almost 2,000 rounds since installation.

I also replaced the factory furniture with a Tapco T-6 stock kit. This provided a very good platform, and the gun performed flawlessly.

 

I shot it several times with the plain colored stock, until I had the opportunity on Memorial Day to paint it. 

The key to any good paint job, as Bob Vila or Chip Foose will tell you, is preparation. One of the problems in the past has been to get paint to adhere well to plastics. For guns, one choice is to used Duracoat, similar to what I did on Lee, my Mossberg 500. However, Krylon makes a paint called Fusion that is designed to apply to plastic, and at about one fourth to cost.

To prepare it for paint, I read the back of the paint can and followed the instructions. First I removed the stock, and washed it with detergent and rinsed it well with water. I then wiped down all the parts to be painted with paint thinner, I stuffed the inside, where the gun action goes, with newspaper, to prevent over spray. I also inserted a foam ear plug into the main screw hole that connects the gun receiver to the stock, since the threads needed to stay clean.

I hung the stock up by a piece of wire and painted the base coat, blue, using long flowing strokes, and light coats. The key is to not add enough paint that there’s enough to run. I let it dry 10 minutes between coats, and put on 4 coats of blue.

I then taped off everything except the area I wanted the red strip to be, and did three passes in red.

I admit I wasn’t sure if I wanted the white stripe, so at this point I stopped. But I did decide on the white, so I had to wait 24 hours before taping it again and adding three coats of white.

Finally, it was done, and after an hour I pulled the tape. I let the paint cure for several days, then installed the gun action.

I didn’t try to install the optics until a full week had passed, because by then the paint has set up to a very hard finish.

I re-installed the front grip and the red dot sight, and now I'm looking forward to a range trip with the finished gun. Stay tuned.

From Steve Rogers to Captain America - Part 2

Some time back, I used a Tapco stock kit, bull barrel, and other parts to turn my Ruger 10/22 from Steve Rogers to the beginnings of Captain America.

Basically I turned this stone stock Ruger 10/22

to this tactical tack driver:

I will tell you, it shot very well indeed.

Well, recently I had some time on my hands while I made barbecue for Memorial Day, so I painted the stock, to turn the gun, at last, into Captain America.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain:

Carried courtesy of the Dauphin

That's a $10 gun show foregrip, and a Tapco Red Dot mounted Scout Rifle style, which really works well. It lets me shoot it with both eyes open and preserves excellent peripheral vision. Quite a difference from the unpainted version.





Now, to paint the Gun Cart Mark II to match. I have plenty of paint left.

USA Ammo - Reader Help

Some time back, I shot and reviewed some 9mm ammo from USA Ammo. I even wrote a follow-up.

These posts continue to be some of the most popular on this site

However, I have had some problems with shipping on the last couple of orders, and some of the commenters on my posts have reported the same thing.

I have written them several emails which have gone unanswered, but before I close the door on them, I'd like to get your take -

What has been your experience with USA Ammo?

I will comment probably once a day, and on June 25 I will forward comments and all to USA Ammo.

Thank you for your help!

Kindred Spirit

Photo courtesy of Walt in PA

Over the past few months, Walt White over at Walt in PA has been blogging extensively about his USPSA shooting experience. In fact, he and I have corresponded a lot recently, via email and Twitter, so I thought, if my readers like my stuff, they should go check out his.

He's gone from an unclassified shooter last year to becoming a C Class Production shooter. I'm D Class, in Production.

He shoots a Glock 17. I shoot a Glock 17.

He makes video of his matches. I make video of my matches. (His are a lot better. I covet his head-cam.)

He's a architectural designer-drafter by trade. I'm a recovering engineer turned headhunter.

We have a lot in common.

Even our approach to shooting is similar. Take a recent post he had about his goals for shooting USPSA. Good stuff.

Go check him out, and while you're at it, subscribe to his podcast on iTunes* and follow him on Twitter.

* Sorry, I don't have the doohickey that does that. But go to iTunes and search for "Walt in PA." You're a grown-up.

Match Report - Cherokee Gun Club USPSA June 2012

On Saturday June 9, 2012, I shot in the USPSA match at the CherokeeGun Club in Gainesville, Georgia. The day was sunny and warm, never about the mid-80’s. There were 81 shooters total, and 7 stages.

I shot in Squad 7, so I shot the last stage of the day first. However, I’ll describe the match in order.

I also will track some lessons learned with numbers in parentheses (thus) and talk about them in the Debriefing.

STAGE 1

Stage 1 was Georgia State Standards, and, as the name implies, was borrowed from the Georgia State USPSA match. It consisted of twelve USPSA targets arranged in an inverted V shape, with distances ranging from 7 yards out to 40 yards. There was a box opposite each base. The course of fine was, from either box, one shot on the targets on that side of the center line, then moving to the other box and one shot on each target there. For a second string, you started in the second box, shot one per target, then moved to the other box. At this point you shot one per target with the strong hand only.

I started on the right, so I ended up on the right side shooting strong hand only. This was telling, since all three misses I had on this stage were on the farther targets on the right hand side, meaning I likely missed shooting strong hand only. (1)

The RO came to me after the stage and mentioned that I almost broke the 180 degree rule when I was moving from right to left while changing magazines. There’s not a really good way to do that for a right hander, except pay attention and do it right. (2)

STAGE 2

The next stage was called Sliding Away. We shot the two poppers from inside the box, then we could engage the 10 paper targets in any order. This was my best stage of the day. I ran it fairly quickly, and had all A’s and C’s, with no misses. In fact, I finished ninth of 29 in Production on this stage.

My key was making sure I had a good sight picture on the poppers, as well as moving while I shot. It seemed to be a theme of the day that so many shooters stood still while shooting, then ran like hell to the next shooting position. Since I’m not very fast* I can’t rely on running, and learned to shoot while moving.

We also started facing uprange with the gun unloaded and holstered (3), and had to turn, load the gun, and fire. If I had to guess, this stage was designed by someone who open carried in California.

STAGE 3

The next stage had a left side and a right side shooting box. From the left you could shoot 5 poppers, one of which engaged a clamshell target. 

A clamshell target is a target that pops up, and then a second later gets covered by a No-Shoot target. This means you normally have to shoot the clamshell as soon as it’s activated, and that’s how the first person through the stage shot it. Soon, though, someone noticed there was a lot of target showing above the No-Shoot, so they decided to leave it till later, and take a head shot on the portion that was exposed. 

This worked just fine, and the rest of the squad shot it that way. I actually tried to shoot the clamshell in the center, but I didn’t double tap it (4), and had to end up settling for A/C, with the A in the middle under the No-Shoot.

I finished 41 out of 81 total on this stage, my best of the day.

Here's video of Stage 3.

Here's Dave Sevigny running Stage 3. Dave was in the group behind us.

You would think Dave would win the whole match. Sorry, KC Eusebio beat him.

STAGE 4

Stage 4 was called Dance Down The Middle, and it was made up of single shot paper targets around the perimeter, with a center fault line. All the targets on the left had to be shot from right of the fault line, and vice-versa.

Most people shot it thus: at the sound of the buzzer, they stepped over the line and started shooting at targets, standing still, until they had shot the number they had in mind. Then, they hopped over the line, some changing magazines as needed, and shot the other side.

Then, they ran like hell to the next shooting position, and did the same thing.

The whole time, I’m thinking “Sorry, isn’t this sport called ACTION shooting?”

Here’s how I shot it: At the sound of the buzzer, I moved over the line and shot the first five targets, moving up to where I was opposite the first target. Then, I moved over the line and shot the first five of the other side, while moving down range, keeping myself just behind a 180-degree line to the target. I then continued on thus till I was done.

Shooting on the move is a technique more shooters need to learn, or use. (5)

My Embarrassing Moment of the day came after my first string. As I was moving and changing magazines, the magazine fell out of my hand. Fortunately, this isn't a penalty, and I kept the presence of mind to keep my muzzle down range and retrieve the magazine (on the run, no less) and get it in the gun.

(This is where I'm glad I don't have a Hat Cam like Walt.

STAGE 5

Sorry, there wasn't a diagram of Stage 5.

Stage 5 was called Urine in Your Face, and I have no idea why.

It started with a lone steel target from the starting box, then a series of paper targets and No-Shoots shot from a lane moving down range. Again, most people moved, stopped, and shot several targets, while I kept moving and shot on the move.

But, again the dreaded Mike reared its head, as I tried to double tap the two paper targets close up and to the right, and instead shot Alpha / Mike on each. (4)

Here's another shooter on Stage 5:

STAGE 6

Stage 6 was a Classifier called Front Sight 2. It was almost like an El Presidente drill, except we ran it in two strings, and we started one run facing uprange with hands raised, and one string facing downrange with hands at our side. Draw and put two on each target.

When I finished shooting, someone behind me called out “sandbagger!” That's because I had shot 12 alphas with a time of about 8 and a half seconds. But I practice El Presidente, and this was easier, since there was no magazine change.

STAGE 7

Stage 7 was Humdinger, which was undoubtedly named for the noise it makes. Eleven steel targets, all shot from a shooting box and around some barrels.

This was my first stage of the day, and I hadn't shot at all before, so I probably shot 25 rounds to take out the 11 targets. My time was over 22 seconds. Instead of spraying and praying, I could have taken a one handed dueling stance and done better. (6)

DEBRIEFING

In retrospect, I didn't do the worst I could have done, nor did I do the best. In general, the Mikes meant I was shooting too fast. A little slower will means better hits. It's a tough realization for someone who is competitive and thinks they should be shooting fast. But if I am to get to that point, it will mean – shocker! - PRACTICE!

Here's what I need to practice:

1. I need to shoot one handed a lot more. This was evidenced on Stage 1, as well as on the “reverse handed” stage at the Memorial Day shoot at Creekside Firing Range.
2. I need to practice moving right to left while changing magazines
3. I need to practice drawing an unloaded gun, loading it, and firing. In case I open carry in California. Or I’m ambushed coming out of a gun show.
4. I need to work on double taps.
5. I need to practice shooting on the move. This may require a lot of dry firing or Airsoft work, since there are a limited number of places I can practice this.
6. Slow down and make hits. My score will go up. I can't miss fast enough to win.

* I'm told that somewhere there is a baseball scouting report on me that says "he's short, but he's slow to make up for it."

Unexpected Gunners, Part 2 - David Feherty and Greg Norman

Photo courtesy of The Golf Channel

Sometimes people who you would not expect to be shooters turn out to be just that. First was Alton Brown, and then golfers David Feherty and Greg Norman.

Feherty hosts a self-named talk show on The Golf Channel, and in one episode last year he went to visit golf legend Greg Norman at his home in Colorado. One of the things Norman shared was his gun room, shown above.

Photo courtesy of The Golf Channel

They shot a lot of guns, including a Barrett .50BMG rifle and a lot of handguns and shotguns.

In a candid shot from another episode last year, while on a flight, Feherty was reading a gun magazine that had an AR-15 on the cover. He put the magazine down as the camera came toward him, noticed the AR, and said to the camera that he had two of those. Nice.  He also tweets about them from time to time.

A Prayer for the Greatest Generation

Almighty God:

Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true. Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard, for the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed. But we shall return again and again. And we know that by Thy grace and by the righteousness of our cause our sons will triumph.

They will be so tried by night and by day, without rest until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise and tolerance and goodwill among all thy people. They yearn, but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father and receive them Thy heroic servants into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home, fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them, help us, almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee, in this hour of great sacrifice.


— President Franklin Roosevelt, announcing the D-Day invasion to the country, June 6, 1944.





H/T Daddy Bear

The Greatest Feat of the Greatest Generation

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 6, 1944




(Listen to General Eisenhower give his speech, here.)

Then They Came For Me

First they came for the communists,
  and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
  and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
  and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
  and there was no one left to speak out for me.

- Martin Niemöller, German pastor and theologian, 1946

Some of us have learned the lesson, and are speaking out.

David over at Musings Over a Pint wrote today about the movie For Greater Glory, about the Cristeros War in Mexico, which started in 1925.

If you are worried about government intrusion into the affairs of religious groups, especially the Catholic Church, you should check out his post.

The lesson - if we don't speak out against injustice at any level, against any group, then we shouldn't  expect anyone to speak out against injustice done to us. You can pick your own example.

So, Why Do You Carry A Gun?

I get asked that often, and most times I politely explain that I do so to protect myself and my family.

We live in a Southern town, where the idea of gun ownership is never questioned, except perhaps in the negative, as in "What do you mean, you don't own a gun?" In fact, as you probably know, city ordinances in Kennesaw where I live require every home to have a gun. When I moved in the neighborhood ten years ago, the second or third question, behind where did I grow up and where do I go to church, was what kind of guns do I own. We then compared the guns we were carrying. It was nice.

But at dinner a few weeks ago with some fellow bloggers, Sean Sorrentino, whose profile as a gun blogger exposes him to that question many times more often that I, quoted Tam* and gave a more tacit explanation:

Because F**K YOU, that’s why.

Thanks to the Second Amendment, we don't have to give anyone a reason why we own guns. I give one to people who ask nicely, because I want to be a good ambassador of gun ownership.

There are those, however, who oppose guns, gun ownership, gun portrayal, gun media, gun owners. And, as Jay G said in an expansion of this thought on his site:

For those whose minds are slammed shut like a steel trap, "BECAUSE F**K YOU THAT'S WHY" works just fine...

Sad that we have to answer that way, but they don't seem to understand any other reason.


* Edited. Thanks Sean.