Jimro

That's why you fire three of them At 60% odds of one of them hitting, you just raised your odds of busting a tank considerably... And when one does hit, it hits hard I think even Marines can count to three, or at least call for "Battery Fire"... Jimro

Most excellent Karl, It is always satisfying to repair your own equipment, whether it be lawnmower, vehicle, or firearm. Jimro

The A1 lower can be converted to the A2 lower, and an A2 lower can be made full auto by removing a spring. The A2 upper has a heavier barrel than the A1, and a much better rear sight, the elevation knob is in 1/2 MOA clicks. Set it to 300, pretty much everything is hold under, and dial it in for ranges beyond that. Jimro

"If you are not liberal at twenty, you don't have a heart. If you are not conservative at fourty, you don't have a head." Winston Churchill Jimro

Using hotter loads changes the internal ballistics of the weapon/ammo combination. A harder kicking load kicks the weapon back and up harder than a softer loading before the bullet exits the barrel. This is why 200 grain loads hit higher at 100 yards than 150 grain loads in the 30-06 (depending on the mass of the rifle). Jimro

There's no crystal ball for FEMA to foresee disasters other than history. NYC has been the target of more terrorist attacks than any other US city, no surprise there. Everbody knew that sufficient storm surge would flood the "Big Easy". California gets earthquakes all the time, everyone is just waiting for "The BIG One". If something 7.5 or larger hits LA or San Diego again it's going to be bad, it always is. But the way I see it, California is a lot better prepared to deal with the aftermath than Louisiana was. California gets more practice. Which is why if you live in South Carolina, you can pretty much laugh at natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Every summer a massive response exercise takes place around Ft. Bragg to keep the state/federal/local lines of communication properly lubed with familiarity. "A disaster is the last place you want to meet for the first time." Jimro

I'm at the point where I don't even try to "fix" what people bring me, but start from scratch. Lots of PC's are shipped with a fast hard drive, on the same IDE cable as the CDROM, this works, but IDE only works as fast as the slowest drive. Normally folks are quite happy with their PC once I optimize hardware, wipe the hard drives and reload the OS. The only time I "Fix" anything is when data is precious, and not backed up. Once it's backed up I wipe and reload. Jimro

Bring up NJ and how they are clamoring for more hunters to control the huge deer population that eats the wussies flowers. Heck, in 1997 there were 87 deaths caused by hunting incidents, and in that same year there were 85 deaths by lightning strike. I take my chances with lightning every day, considering that the two seasons I'll hunt this year will be two weeks combined, I'm statistically safer hunting. Bullets can travel "up to a mile" and beyond, but the number of deaths caused by bullets at that range is zero documented cases (with the exception of some well aimed .50 cal sniper rifles used in OEF). In the 1880's the 45-70 was tested against the 45-80 at long range, at 12'x12' targets. They just picked the rounds up out of the sand behind, and in front of the targets. There was not sufficient energy left to penetrate the beach where the testing was conducted. Jimro

I've worked with that model of Dell, and they can be a snooty machine. Reset the BIOS, then enter the bios and put each IDE controller to "Auto" and then see if the machine won't detect the HDD. Jimro

Most folks don't know but the biggest cattle drives in the US were from Eastern Washington east to the railheads in Montana. My great Grandfather actually worked as a cowboy for two years before getting on with the Forest Service. He didn't think it was such romantic work. Of course the West was pretty tame by then. Jimro

Isn't if funny how the best of the Marine Corps keep going to all those Army schools? Airborne, Ranger, pathfinder, air assault.... At least the Navy gives them SCUBA training.... Jimro

When was the last time that the Marines were issued a "Perfectly Good Aircraft"? I thought the purpose of the C130 was to make paratroopers WANT to jump out... Jimro

I have high hopes for black veterans leaving the military getting into successful civilian jobs like Law Enforcement. The military isn't a handout, but it is a great place to earn your education and some job skills. Much better than throwing money at a problem. However, the black community needs to stop demonizing the military for what it did in the past. Yes things were pretty bad as far as equality all the way up through Vietnam, but today you will not find a more diverse group of professionals. Focusing on the way things were, instead of the way things are, only hurts those who might enlist. Jimro

Religious fanatacism so extreme as this is not understood by the western mind. They're all ready to "drink the Koolaid" so to speak, but their version of koolaid involves a bomb or suicide attack to become a martyr. Jimro

Emul8, I was talking with my Aunt, we rent from her, and she keeps her "BOB" in the trunk of her car, LOL, I thought I was the only paranoid one. But we live in a house built at least in the 50's, probably earlier. It would take a dang big earthquake to bring it down, small single story structures "ride" the shockwaves a lot better than tall buildings. But if we ever did get "The BIG one" then all bets are off and I'll need that BOB. So, gotta put one together and store it outside the house. Jimro

Huh, I like my cars without chrome, cheaper to buy. But, it always pays to dress up a house with a new coat of paint, roof, and any trim you can before selling it to get the most for it. Jimro

Well, given the geography of where I currently live, my biggest danger is earthquakes. That being said we have dry food and canned food on hand, plenty of ammo, and two well stocked first aid kits. I don't plan on "bugging out" but you guys have got me to thinking that I should prep a duffel bag full of essentials just in case we do have to evac sometime. Jimro

Ya know, watching all this going on TV I told my wife, "This is why we have rice and beans in the basement, a well stocked first aid kit, and plenty of ammo." I guess growing up learning the value of hard work, and of being prepared has been a blessing to me. Lived through two floods now, not flash floods, just the gradual kind that sneak up on you and isolate you from the world for a couple days. When it happens again, cause it always does, we will be ready. I don't know if it will be earthquate, hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, famine or pestilence, but it's best to be prepared. Jimro

If you are going to spend the money on a good varmit barrel, and all the parts for turning a Turk into a 223 I think that you would be better off buying a Savage heavy barreled 223 Rem. Savages are easy to rebarrel and tinker with and are darn accurate. Not saying that it wouldn't be a rewarding project, but that a 70 dollar rifle, 190 dollar barrel, 30 dollar trigger, 60 dollar stock adds up to 350 bucks before scope rings and bases, acraglass and miscellanious parts. I'd keep searching the used gun racks because heavy barreled 223's show up all the time, and a lot of them just need a really good cleaning job to turn them into top shooters. Brand new Savage 10FP's from Dixie Ammo Dump http://www.armthepopulace.com/ only cost $130 bucks more than the parts necessary to begin modifying a Turk. Just my advice. Jimro

Eotechs are the cat's meow. One guy at snipersparadise uses his as backup for his tactical rifle, an added bonus is the NVG setting that EOtechs have so that you can shoot in total darkness without having your illuminated reticle give your position away. They are a lot cheaper than a nightvision scope, and you can use them with ANY generation of NVG, but obviously the more you pay, the better it your night vision will be. Jimro

LOL Karl, Somebody put that essay in the archives NOW!!! Thanks, I needed a good laugh. Jimro

I'm probably sounding like a cold hearted , but I don't want you to fall behind on your bills over a charity case. I guess I'm one of those "charity when it's convenient" types, guess I need to work on that. Jimro

FC, I feel your pain, and I only had one female troop, civilians HAVE to be worse. I almost beat the living crap out of her when she refused to do what I told her to do. She told me this "I'm not going to do anything I don't understand." Thank goodness Mama taught me not to hit girls. Every male troop I had never had a problem taking orders. After the crisis was over (The General's telephone center was cut off from the rest of the network) I "calmly" explained to her how the rank structure worked. She would do what I told her to do, and when I had time I would explain the "why's" and "how's" to her so that she could understand. You might try that tactic with your crew if you think it might help them to trust your leadership. I have always appreciated bosses who were "no nonsense" and "life ain't fair". The best bosses are always consistant a**ho*e's. Just like your daughters, your nurses need consistancy. And I realize that only a man with no heart can stand a woman crying, but it really is emotional blackmail, tell her to check the drama at the door. Best of luck, and I hope that your crew shapes up. Jimro

Not to sound negative, but pulling a broach cutter through a long rifle barrel will leave the steel chips in front of the broach cutter where it would build up and bind the tool. Maybe by pumping oil to remove the chips? But broach cutting is inherently inacurate, which is why only short pistol barrels are made with broach cutters, so broaching the grooves out to .338 will probably not make a very accurate rifle, no matter how perfectly the lands are reamed or cut to .330. Lapping would help, but lapping is an art, not a science. I think that a better way is the old fashioned way, use a lathe to machine out the lands and make a smoothbore .323 barrel first, then use a reamer to ream to .330, that's only 3.5 thousandths difference in radius, pretty tight. Then find a source for a .338 button reamer, then heat treat the barrel to relieve the stresses induced by the rifling process. Cut rifling does not stress the metal, but making a cut rifling machine is a whole nother project. This requires deep drills of appropriate size, an oil pumping and filtering system, finish reamer of appropriate size, and a rifling system. No wonder they charge so much for reboring. If you could make your own deep drills and reamer that would cut down on price. Reboring sounds like a definate project for a guy with a shop and plenty of time on his hands. Jimro

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/071305openletter.htm July 13, 2005 OPEN LETTER TO FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS IMPORTERS AND REGISTERED IMPORTERS OF U.S. MUNITIONS IMPORT LIST ARTICLES The purpose of this open letter is to provide important information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels. Importation of Frames, Receivers or Barrels of Firearms Under Title 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3) Section 925(d) provides standards for the importation of firearms and ammunition into the United States. In particular, section 925(d)(3) provides that the Attorney General shall authorize a firearm to be imported if it meets several conditions: (1) it is not defined as a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA); (2) it is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes; and (3) it is not a surplus military firearm. However, the subsection further provides that “in any case where the Attorney General has not authorized the importation of the firearm pursuant to this paragraph, it shall be unlawful to import any frame, receiver, or barrel of such firearm which would be prohibited if assembled.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has determined that the language of 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3) permits no exceptions that would allow frames, receivers or barrels for otherwise non-importable firearms to be imported into the United States. Accordingly, ATF will no longer approve ATF Form 6 applications for importation of any frames, receivers, or barrels for firearms that would be prohibited from importation if assembled. No exceptions to the statutory language, for example for “repair or replacement” of existing firearms, will be allowed. ATF recognizes that importers have, in the past, obtained import permits authorizing the importation of barrels and receivers for non-importable firearms for "repair or replacement" and may have entered into contracts in reliance upon such authorizations. In order to mitigate the impact of ATF’s change in import policy and to allow importers a reasonable period to come into compliance, ATF will forgo enforcement of this import restriction for 60 calendar days and allow importers holding existing permits to continue to import barrels and receivers for a period of 60 calendar days. ATF believes this time period is adequate for importers who have entered into binding contracts for the sale and shipment of such barrels and receivers to complete the process of importing the items into the United States. ATF will advise Customs and Border Protection that in no event should these permits be accepted to release these items for entry into the United States after September 10, 2005. Importers are reminded that ATF previously approved permits for non-importable barrels and receivers for repair or replacement only, and this restriction was stamped on the face of the permit. Importers who import such components for any purpose other than repair or replacement of existing firearms, e.g., for assembly into new firearms, will be exceeding the scope of the import authorization in violation of law. If ATF determines, through inspection or otherwise, that an importer willfully violates the import provisions of the GCA, the importer's license is subject to revocation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 923(e). Importers holding approved import permits for non-importable barrels and receivers will receive a letter prior to September 10, 2005, advising them that their permit has been suspended. This determination affects importers as follows: 1. IF YOU SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS ON OR AFTER THE DATE OF THIS LETTER, AND THE PERMIT IS FOR NONSPORTING FIREARMS, SURPLUS MILITARY FIREARMS, OR NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS, ATF WILL DENY YOUR APPLICATION. 2. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DENIED OR APPROVED BY ATF AND THE PERMIT IS FOR NONSPORTING FIREARMS, SURPLUS MILITARY FIREARMS OR NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS, ATF WILL DENY YOUR APPLICATION. 3. IF YOU ALREADY HOLD AN APPROVED PERMIT TO IMPORT FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS “FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT,” ATF WILL BE SENDING YOU A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT YOUR PERMIT WILL BE SUSPENDED AFTER SEPTEMBER 10, 2005, AND PROVIDING YOU WITH INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHT TO SUBMIT ARGUMENTS WHY YOUR PERMIT SHOULD NOT BE REVOKED. Maintaining open lines of communication is vital to the successful future of ATF’s partnership with the import community. The Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch staff is available to answer your questions about the issues addressed in this letter. You may reach us by phone at 202-927-8320 or by fax at 202-927-2697. Additional information regarding this issue will be provided on our Website at www.atf.gov. ######## What does this mean so us? I realize that this is aimed at machine guns, but it seems to me that it is broad enough to block a lot of stuff from coming in. Jimro