flaco

These are traditionally referred to as "Tomato Stakes." flaco

Sheesh. What's next? A group hug? flaco LOL.

Seems to me this is a reflection of greedy mortgage brokers and loan officers, large profits to be made up front, and placing folks who really didn't qualify into homes that they, almost certainly, couldn't afford. The common opinion is that the crash of '29 was caused by too many buying stocks on margin, with no margin requirements. Up until recently, you could buy a house with no money down? Long live the fixed rate mortgage. flaco (No reflection on you, FC. I'm certain your financial judgment is good, and you have job security. It's just that the whole market is forced down by those who lack your judgment, and are forced to sell.)

Seems like no time ago you applied, Jimro- Congratulations, and good luck. And Thanks. flaco N.B. Does this mean we have to call you "Sir"? LOL.

Sorry to hear about your boys, DT- flaco

Monty- I never thought I'd see the day I'd order a Richard's stock, but I have two "Old Classics" coming to use for target/varmint rifles. I spoke to the production manager, and he said their CNC inletting for an FN Commercial would work for both a 1909 and a Mark X. (I did tell them I wouldn't be using the Mark X safety.) flaco

Well- Someone a hell of a lot better with Photshop than I put that image together. Sadly, Snopes on Moose. LOL. Good for a laugh, though. flaco

Also... I believe the "Banner" Mauser title is most appropriately used for the Standard Modell Mauser, built in 1936. Or thereabouts. It is true that other Mausers are called "Banner," due to the presence of the Mauser banner on the bridge. I know a few of the Chilean short rifles used by their mounted police had banners. Hopefully, BobVZ or Vlad or z1r will be along to correct me in any mistakes. flaco

AzRednek- The "Preduzece 44" stamping on your ring indicates it's a Yugo refurb of a 98. Nice rifle. flaco

Standard preparation step, walnut. flaco

Good to see you posting, Brad- Welcome back. Oxalic acid is a common ingredient in commercial "wood bleach". Check the ingredients on the products at your store. I lifted the idea from Duane Wiebe, a Guild member and inspired custom rifle builder, who lifted the idea from the old British "Best Gun" builders. The oxalic acid I have is in crystal form, and I dilute it more than the label suggests. I'm wary of leaving any product in the wood that might cause the wood to deteriorate. flaco

Acetone, and then, when finish sanding, whisker with dilute oxalic acid. flaco

Clemson- I was glad to be able to help. And... really nice tutorial. flaco

Tony- Roosevelt was almost certainly pleased that Germany declared war on us. It gave the US the moral high ground. And above all, Roosevelt wanted to save Great Britain. We had been flaunting the laws of neutrality for a long time by then. The Ireland issue is more egregious: It was an important factor in the war in the Atlantic. One needn't be an Historian to know about Ireland. As to Isolationism, you're wrong there too: I believe that while it was not in our best interest to invade Iraq, it's now a necessity to stay. Whether or not I think the goal of an "Iraqi democracy" is worth even one American life is another matter. The whole fiasco has been a monumental foreign policy blunder. From the equally fuzzy thinking of George W. Bush, aided and abetted by Sureshot Cheney, and largely instigated by an academic named Wolfowitz, to every not-all-that-smart early supporter of the idea of the invasion. As usual, the little guys pay the price. In this case it's American GIs, and the Iraqi people. To use a fine definitive Military Term, Tony, it's now a Cluster F*ck of the highest order. flaco N.B. As to North Korea and Iran, you make my point. There were serious foreign policy issues far more threatening than Iraq. You named them. And as to "my generation," I'm probably older than you are Tony. Although I'm flattered. LOL.

More fuzzy thinking. I wish you guys would pay more attention to the drivel you post. This guy can't even get the factual part right. Just two mistakes at the very beginning. (I don't have time--or patience--to parse the rest.) 1. Germany declared war on the US before we declared war on them. 2. Ireland was not our ally. (This cost many lives, as transatlantic shipping was decimated on the Northern Approaches to England by U-Boats.) What makes you think the rest of this trash has any more substance? Facts, I think, are the easy part. Opinions are always just that. Opinions. flaco

z1r, I believe, is in the process of moving from California to Colorado. I'd bet he'll get back to you--as he has responded to so many of us needing advice--when he gets a chance. He's the only member of the forum I've met personally, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to shoot with him on our 200 yard range. Let's hope he still has time--with his new job--to help the many of us on the forum needing advice. flaco

There's a funny typo in your title. flaco

Currently reading--slogging, really, as it's not as concise as, say, McCullough--Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton". Had no idea Hamilton was so important to our nation. flaco

Don't mean to butt in, machinist, but this sounds like a nice component list. May the gods be with you on this project. flaco

Merry Christmas, Gents!!! flaco

Conversely, excellent Lapua brass is available for the 6.5x.284. My understanding is that getting it to feed well with the cartridge's rebated rim is the #1 issue. And... 6.5x.284 barrels don't last long. Serious target shooters--and many use this chambering--replace barrels at about the 1,000 round mark. flaco

Sad to say, Jim, I'm a non-believer- I don't like the idea that some dude--Christ--died for my sins. I expect I'll do my own dying. Anyway, enough for the metaphysical. While I don't believe in religion, I do believe in some other things. Like the Law of Karma. Anyone who's read your posts here knows you're a straight-up guy. That you probably give more than you take. No wonder the help showed up. As to the turkeys, hell yes they're dumb, but perhaps smart enough to get out of the way of a falling ceiling? I couldn't be happier than to read this good news. flaco

Jim- Seems like we have a federal bureau to help with this kind of stuff. Yup, FEMA!!! Isn't it common for the governor to declare a "disaster," so funds will be forthcoming for either low interest loans, or outright grants? Still, it sounds like you had the foresight to get the snow load insurance, so you may not have anything more than a great inconvenience, and the loss of the birds. Good luck to you, whichever way it goes Jim. You've been a contributor to this forum. flaco N.B. And Tony? My hat is off to you for your generous offer of help.

DT- I appreciate your use of the word "Patriots." And wonder if it applies? I guess what we'll find out is whether loyalty to tribe, or religious faction, outweighs loyalty to Iraq. Which is basically a cobbled together nation. I'm thinking of the violent differences among our Founding Fathers. I'm not certain whether it was their hate for George III, love for the concept of Democracy, or a vision of a new, better nation that resulted in the United States of America. Because the differences were profound. Didn't some delegates abstain from voting on important early issues--was this the Continental Congress, Karl?--so a few important measures could be passed unanimously? flaco

Tony- I'm impressed that you would post these stories from three of the much maligned liberal media. All three perhaps a little to the left, but nonetheless good newspapers. I have no reason to doubt the veracity of these stories--do you?--and they give us an idea of the magnitude of the problem our policy makers now face. Not to mention our troops in the field!!! In general, I think it's a good policy to avoid placing blame: It takes our attention away from solving existing problems. And I guess that at least to some degree, the American people have expressed their displeasure with those who got us into this jam. Mainly, the bad guys are long gone. Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld. My view (ironically) is that knowing what we do now, we should have had Saddam on the payroll. No doubt he was a bad guy, but not as threatening as the current leaders of North Korea and Iran. Thanks for posting these, Tony. flaco