fritz

"With the exception of the "perfect powder measure" I have found Lee equipment to be as good as any. Karl" I agree, and although I never used the Lee Perfect measure, I did have one of their older disk measures. It leaked powder all over the place, and since then I have stuck with the RCBS powder scale and just weigh out the charges for rifle cartridges. For pistol and .223 cal rounds, I use the Lyman 55 measure. I have found it to be pretty reliable, and good enough for volume use ammo. I only load small batches of rifle ammo, and I want each round to be the same. fritz

Thanks, I'm going to slug the barrel of the carcano and if it appears to be close to the correct .264 dia. I may do the reamer job. If the bore is worn, I'll probably just leave it as a wallhanger. I already have the headspace guages for the .257 (same as 7x57 mauser) and I believe the reamer co-op may have a .257 Roberts reamer. Do you think that a finish reamer will do the job? It looks like you would need to ream the chamber out to 57mm from the 52mm of the carcano. If a finish reamer will work, I'll give it a try. fritz

Here is a pic of the hand-turned tools sold by Brownell's. I have used them for years with good sucess--- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/fritz/MVC-029S.jpg fritz

So, after reaming the chamber of a carcano to .257 Roberts, do you then reform the .257 Roberts brass to .264? fritz

Anyone know of a reasonable source of the new brass? Graf's is backordered, and Midway only has the high priced stuff at around 90 cents each, just the brass. It would be cheaper to buy loaded ammo, and even that is overpriced. I may have to sell the old carcano after all. fritz

Just a brief reminder to the gaseous chanticleer----remember that in order to make Hawaiian music, all you need do is combine beans and pineapples (in your diet). You are a natural for it. Give Hawaii some more music. fritz

I can think of a lot of places worse than Hawaii Iraq comes to mind. And there are others, many others, that are worse. Have fun, fritz

WAL-MART APPLICATION >>>>This is an actual job application that a 75 year old senior citizen >>>>submitted to Walmart in Arkansas. >>>>They hired him because he was so funny ... .. >>>> >>>> >>>>NAME: Kenneth Way (Grumpy ) >>>> >>>>SEX: Not lately, but I am looking for the right woman (or at least one >>>>who will cooperate) >>>> >>>>DESIRED POSITION: Company's President or Vice President. But >>>>seriously, whatever's available. If I was in a position to be picky, I >>>>wouldn't be applying here in the first place ? >>>> >>>>DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz >>>>style severance package. If that's not possible, make an offer and we >>>>can haggle. >>>> >>>>EDUCATION: Yes. >>>> >>>>LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility. >>>> >>>>PREVIOUS SALARY: A lot less than I'm worth. >>>> >>>>MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and >>>>post-it notes. >>>> >>>>REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked. >>>> >>>>HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any. >>>> >>>>PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. >>>> >>>>DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a >>>>more intimate environment. >>>> >>>>MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here? >>>> >>>>DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING >>>>UP TO 50 lbs.?: Of what? >>>> >>>>DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be >>>>"Do you have a car that runs?" >>>> >>>>HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be >>>>a winner of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, so they tell me. >>>> >>>>DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job - no! >>>> ; ; On my breaks - yes! >>>> >>>>WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas >>>>with a fabulously wealthy dumb sexy blonde supermodel who thinks I'm the >>>>greatest thing since sliced bread. >>>>Actually, I'd like to be doing that now. >>>> >>>>NEAREST RELATIVE ....7 miles >>>> >>>>DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR >>>>KNOWLEDGE?: Oh yes, absolutely. >>>> >>>>***Old People Rock!*** fritz

Jim, if you can somehow keep on with the row crop farming, do it. Grain, especially corn, is at all-time highs. I guess the ethanol thing has something to do with it. Just as I predicted several months ago when talk was going around that more grain was going to be used in fuel production, sure enough, the price of my cattle feed has gone up drastically in the last two weeks. As I said at the time, there will be consequences when corn is used for other than feed. If you still are able to keep that tractor and combine going, plant lots of corn next year. And get crop insurance of course. I'm sure you already do, as it is hard to plant anything in today's climate without a safety net. The best to you always, fritz

"I would buy it without question" Me too, when the new House and Senate meets next year look for this type of firearm to be probably banned. At least they will increase in price (when available again). fritz

Two months ago was my 42nd wedding anniversary, and I forgot it. Well, she did too. That comes with long marriages (and old age). But we both remembered it at the last moment, and that's what counts. fritz

Jim, I am certainly happy to hear that. You are really blessed to have such caring folks around you. I heard that the Mennonites do that, barn raisings etc. I never imagined that there were some near you. Glad that some of the weight has been removed from your shoulders. Things like this make us remember that there are still good people in the world. Wishing you the best, fritz

Karl, I must take exception to your assumption that only liberals apply for federal grants. If that is true, then most every county in Texas must be liberal, because they all apply for every grant (federal, state, etc) that they can get. And some of these counties are considered "rich" as defined by the Robin Hood school finance law. Even "rich" conservative counties apply for these grants. Speaking of Robin Hood (you have to be a Texas taxpayer to understand the usage of the word in the school financing), I wonder if old Robin would be called a democrat today. He did steal from the rich and give to the poor, did he not? And the Sheriff of Nottingham, he had to be a republican today. fritz in the Sherwood Forest

Fun With Love and Marriage ~~~ Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, the "y" becomes silent. ~~~ A husband said to his wife, "No, I don't hate your relatives. In fact, I like your mother-in-law better than I like mine." ~~~ The honeymoon is over when the husband calls home to say he'll be late for dinner and the answering machine says it is in the microwave. ~~~ Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry. ~~~ How do most men define marriage? A very expensive way to get your laundry done. ~~~ A man meets a genie. The genie tells him he can have whatever he wants provided that his mother-in-law gets double. The man thinks for a moment and then says, "OK, give me a million dollars and beat me half to death." ~~~ A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" And the father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm still paying for it." ~~~ A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did. ~~~ Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener. ~~~ The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once. ~~~ Cosmetics: A woman's way of keeping a man from reading between the lines. ~~~ Words to live by: Do not argue with a spouse who is packing your parachute ~~~ Boring husband: Honey, why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger? Bored wife: Because I married the wrong man! ~~~ First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!" Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive." ~~~ Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand. ~~~ Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen. ~~~ Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish. Marriage is a three ring circus: engagement ring wedding ring suffering fritz

I'm going to send them a special card this year. I am going to have fun coming up with just the right one for them, but it definitely won't be what they would like to get for Christmas! I will have to find just the right words to say what Christmas is really all about, and it all started before there was such a thing as the ACLU. Unless they claim to have been established in Bethlehem. fritz

Subject: 1973 - 2006 progress > > Subject: 1973-2006 Progress > > > Senario: Jack pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack. > > 1973 - Vice Principal comes over, takes a look at Jack's rifle, goes to > his > car and gets his to show Jack. > > 2006 - School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and > never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized > students and teachers. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. > > 1973 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up > best friends. Nobody goes to jail, nobody arrested, nobody expelled. > > 2006 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. > Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students. > > 1973 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by Principal. Sits > still in class. > > 2006 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. School gets > extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his father's car and his Dad gives him > a > whipping. > > 1973 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, > and becomes a successful businessman. > > 2006 - Billy's Dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster > care and joins a gang. Billy's sister is told by state psychologist that > she remembers being abused herself and their Dad goes to prison. > Billy's mom has affair with psychologist. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some headache medicine to school. > > 1973 - Mark shares headache medicine with Principal out on the smoking > dock. > > 2006 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car > searched for drugs and weapons. > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Mary turns up pregnant. > > 1973 - 5 High School Boys leave town. Mary does her senior year at a > special school for expectant mothers. > > 2006 - Middle School Counselor calls Planned Parenthood, who notifies the > ACLU. Mary is driven to the next state over and gets an abortion > without her parent's consent or knowledge. Mary given condoms and told to > be > more careful next time. > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Pedro fails high school English. > > 1973: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college. > > 2006: Pedro's cause is taken up by state democratic party. Newspaper > articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a > requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit > against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English > banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing > lawns for a living because he can't speak English. > > +++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the 4th of July, > puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed. > > 1973 - Ants die. > > 2006 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic > terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, > computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is > never allowed to fly again. > > +++++++++++++++++++++ > > Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. > He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary, hugs him to comfort > him. > > 1973 - In a short time Johnny feels better and goes on playing. > > 2006 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. > She faces 3 years in State Prison. > > All in the name of progress! fritz

z1r is right Oxygen/acetlyene is the worst culprit in spreading heat. The torch has to be played over the parts long enough to start the melting process. TIG starts with a more concentrated heat, directed at the precise spot where you apply the filler rod. Stick electrode is in the middle. If you use a very small rod (1/16 or 5/64) and if you are good and quick, it will work. I did many bolts with stick before getting a TIG. I never used O/A for that. The bolt welding jig that Brownell's sold did have directions for using arc or O/A (and the positioning of the parts was different for each), but I found that TIG is just quicker and more precise with less slag. fritz

Jim, I would like to help you, but being the distance we are apart, all I can offer is my prayers that you are able to recoup something out of this disaster. It really makes me feel like, just when something bad weather related happens to me, that there are others that have suffered worse. It makes a drought seem like small potatoes. My thoughts are with you, and I believe that you will come through this, albeit it may be a setback, it can be overcome. fritz

Karl, I was trying to find my 1858 Remington when I ran across the thing-a-majig I posted here. I guess my Remington is in the vault because I have only shot it once (but I cleaned it good afterwards) and that's where everything is when I need it. Is your's blue or nickel? Mine is nickel, and I like the cylinder removal better than the Colt 1860. fritz

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/fritz/MVC-001S-1.jpg fritz

Twas the month before Christmas When all through our land, Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand. Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away, The reason for Christmas - no one could say. The children were told by their schools not to sing, About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say December 25th is just a " Holiday ". Yet, the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it! CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod Something was changing, something quite odd! Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda. As Targets were hanging their trees upside down At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found. At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty Are words that were used to intimidate me. Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton ! At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter. And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace. The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded The reason for the season, stopped before it started. So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree" Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me. Choose your words carefully, choose what you say Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday ! fritz

It's 33 here in the coastal bend and the wind is dead calm. But yesterday morning when it hit, it was up to 45 mph gusts. We had a 35 degree temp drop in one hour. I put out a lot of hay in the woods for the cattle before it blew in, then stayed indoors as much as I could the rest of the day. Today it is supposed to be up to 60. fritz

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." -- Mark Twain -------------------------------------------------------------- The Old Prospector (or, think about it before picking on us "old" guys!!) An old prospector walks his tired old mule into this western town one day. He'd been out in the desert for about six months without a drop of whiskey . He walked up to the first saloon he came to and tied his old mule to the hitch rail . As he stood there brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a gunslinger walked out of the saloon . He had a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other hand he looked at the old man and laughed . Then he said "Hey old man have you ever danced?" The old man looked up at him and said "No I never did dance, I just never did want to". A crowd had gathered by then and the gunslinger said "Well you old fool you're gonna dance now". And he started shooting at the old man's feet.The old man was hopping around and everybody was laughing. The gunslinger fired his last bullet then holstered his gun and he turned around to go back into the saloon. The old man reached up on the mule got his shotgun and pulled the hammers back making a clicking sound . The gunslinger heard this then every thing got quiet . He turned around and was looking at both barrels aimed at him . The old man asked him " Did you ever kiss a mule right on the ass?" The gunslinger swallowed hard then said, "No but I've always wanted to." -------------------------------------------------------------- "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes." -- Thomas Jefferson fritz

Karl, you have lost the faith. But when has Aim began "almost" giving anything away? I remain skeptical, and probably am a sinner meself. See you in the afterlife--it has to be better than here. While the M-48 will have a shot-out bore, it still is worth the price of the action. Just get out the stillson wrench. fritz

When we think of discrimination, we usually think of race or gender. Let me assure you that there are other forms of discrimination. In my county, there is a uranium mining company that has 2,000 acres leased for uranium exploration (and hopefully production). There is at least one land/mineral owner that they are drilling on at the present. Just test holes (I posted a pic last month). But they need water to drill these holes. Well, there is a certain segment of my county landowners who are strongly opposed to uranium mining, exploration, etc. These are folks that already have oil wells and they don't need any more income. So they formed a group, under state law, that is called a "Ground Water District". There is a difference between ground water (beneath the surface) and surface water (rainfall runoff, ponds, etc.) Surface water is regulated by the state (it fell from Heaven and the state owns Heaven). Ground water is from wells drilled into the aquifers, and it comes under the control of the newly formed districts in each county. The object of forming a water district in each county was to keep the county's water from being exported to the big cities (that are in a pile of schitt as to water). So far, so good. But, when the "district" denies a permit for a water well to be used for uranium exploration is just plain and simple discrimination. Especially when there is a big water supply coming from one of the big shots that is being sold to oil companies. There are 18 wheeler loads of water leaving his place 24 hours a day. It is for oil well drilling. The hitch is this---oil and gas wells are regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission (and thus the water for them). The discrimination comes in when a "district" can regulate, control, maneuver, whatever, the water used for anything other than oil and gas exploration. It's a loophole in Texas law right now, and the "district" is using their power to try to shut down an industry that would benefit some others than their elite members. Well, the landowner came forth and told the "district" that since he could not change the grandfathered use (livestock and domestic) of the water, he would just continue to use the water well for livestock and GIVE some water to the uranium company. I see nothing wrong in that. Now the "district", which was formed under the limitation of taxing at a max of 1.5 cents per hundred valuation, is going to hire a lawyer (they don't come cheap) and is asking the county for help----read county taxes going up. All for the few (I can't use the word because it would be censored) members of the "district" and their incessant, arrogant, greedy, etc. reasons to shut down an industry that could be a safe (yes, there has been advances made in the mining process) that could happen if they would just cool it. It's all going to end up in the courts (just as I predicted in a post here months ago). Sorry to bother you with this, but it is discrimination in a form that we don't usually think of. fritz