AzRednek

Years ago when somebody would buy a single rifle. It was intended to last a lifetime. The consumer was more concerned about quality. Today it seems there is not many one rifle owners. They, myself included have more than one. Separate rifles for varmints, deer, elk, pigs etc. Then there are fun guns like AR’s, 22’s or lever actions. I guess owning multiple rifles we are more conscious of price and willing to live with plastic stocks and without iron sights. I have two older bolt actions from the 60’s I got cheap. One is a Sears Model 50 which is a FN Mauser with a chrome lined barrel. The other a JC Pennys Foremost which is really a Parker Hale Mauser. Both are 30/06 and very accurate. I just can’t guess what they might cost today with walnut stocks and adjustable iron sights.

I have a feeling that figure might come from wedding planners to fool one into believing they are getting a bargain. I’m not saying a wedding couldn’t cost that much or even more but as an average I just can’t buy it. As a young teen I attended a wedding of one of my mom’s wealthy friends daughters. It had to have cost mega bucks and the couple got a lot of expensive gifts. They managed to some how get the initiation list published in the paper. There were numerous celebrities names on the list but they were mostly no shows. Some people say Jewish weddings are the best. IMHO it’s Mexican weddings, a lot of beer, drunks, dancing, celebrations and simply a lot of fun. I had to pay for one of my twin’s wedding as the bride’s family couldn’t afford it. Cost me a bit less than 2 G’s as I eliminated the sit down meal at the reception. Had a friend in the catering business kept the food costs way down. For the reception I furnished a beer keg and if the guests wanted hard liquor they had to pay for it. My catering friend got me good price for a fairly large reception room at a hotel. I know I was being a cheapskate renting the room on a week day. Paid about 1/3 of the Saturday and Sunday rent. I did the photography, film and lab cost a hair over 100. They got the negatives, two each of the photos. I passed them coupons from the lab for copies and enlargements. My last wedding cost me about $40-50.00. License, 20 to the JP and dinner at Dennys for the couple I needed as witnesses. The couple followed us home where I opened a bottle of Champagne one of my postal patrons gave me at Christmas. The majority of the Champagne went down the sink as it tasted like sh!t.

Beautiful photography but I was shocked at the cost shown in the budget. I did wedding photography for a couple years back in the film era. I usually made a 100 over cost and 150 if they wanted me to stick around for the reception. I didn’t mess around with enlargements or copies and gave the couple the negatives. The photo lab was usually 120-160 and the premium color enhanced film was about $6 a roll. If the bride had a real pretty face I often did some portraits in B&W. I started when a minister friend needed a photographer at the last minute. I enjoyed doing it as I discovered weddings are ideal for connecting with single women.

Rob dont give up on the disability claim. Most likely the denial letter said something to the effect if you’re not satisfied with our decision and should leave a pathway for an appeal. In a written appeal ask for specifics. Why should be your first question and demand to see contract or policy language. Just keep fighting and if there’s enough money involved a lawyer might take it on. Another avenue is complaining to your state agency that regulates insurance. Try your best to hammer them down for the specific reason for the denial. My guess and it’s only a guess there is policy language that exempts elective surgery. If that’s the case the burden is on you to prove it was medically necessary. I know some chicken sh!t short term disability policies only cover off the job accidental injuries. Years ago my lawyer cousin had to retire due to a disease. His firm’s disability policy denied his claim. The insurance didn’t think his disease was severe enough and pressured his law firm to make work for him. My cousin nailed them after filing a lawsuit. He subpoenaed all the paperwork and work product. The insurance co forked up bad by not removing an inter office memo saying something about stalling as long as you can before we make a settlement offer. I don’t know how much he got but it was plenty and all my cousin had to do was agree drop his action with the Arizona Insurance Dept. My brother accompanied him to the meeting and there was pretty strong language in the written agreement about keeping it undisclosed. My brother said he couldn’t tell me the amount. My brother told me I’ll put it to you this way. My cousin left the meeting humming happy tunes smiling from ear to ear. I worked for Farmers Insurance Co for a year. One thing I learned don’t trust insurance companies. The claims adjusters earn their brownie points by paying as little as possible. The adjuster calculates the total possible amount the loss could be. Then earns their attaboys by settling for less. The adjusters get awards, plaques and bonuses based on the dollar amount they save the company in a fiscal year. Just before I left I confronted a real b!tch adjuster asking her how she sleeps at night. A car was stolen and when it was recovered there were two impact points. The adjuster said there were two collisions and two separate deductibles deducted from the payout. If I remember right it was $500X2, a thousand bucks. I sold the policy so I had to take the arse chewing from the insured and his wife calling me at home.

Guess a congrats are in order building a good shooter on the economy plan. Wish I had the patience and skills to do one.

For what it might be worth. A machine shop I called on selling auto parts. Used a mix of rubbing alcohol and Marvel Mystery Oil then forcing it into the threads with a high pressure air hose attachment. The owner joked saying if it fails even after reading the instructions I have a set of Snap-On nut splitters. He was trying to remove an exhaust manifold from an old Hudson he was restoring. The shop’s owner claimed in the old days we used warm Coca Cola. He said the warm and thin Coke would dissolve rust eating it’s way into the threads and by morning it left a sticky sugary residue in the threads that was like grease. The machinist was among the numerous auto mechanics in the Scottsdale and Tempe area. After seeing and hearing of the incredible prices old cars running or not were selling for at the Barrett Jackson auctions as an opportunity to make some easy money. I can’t recall the numbers but one of our regulars at the parts store made a small fortune auctioning off his barely running 1950-51 Crosley.

The M-16 is the last of his NFA guns, he sold off his M-60 about ten years ago. It was a Scottsdale class three dealer that only offered him 15 G’s. I’ve seen it twice in the past 4-5 years. Now when desert shooters shoot full autos. Cops arrive demanding to see the the federal paperwork. I wonder how police react to Dillon’s range with his Miniguns, quad 50’s and no telling what else he might have.

I don’t know. As a spot remover it started evaporating almost instantly. Within a minute or two it turned into a grayish white powder then brushed off. If I remember right I used a wet paper towel to remove the powder. I think it was in the early to mid 70’s Arizona dropped the fair trade laws. I assume the govt overreaching on lost leaders was likely ended as well. Best I recall it was the liquor distributors that lobbied unsuccessfully to keep it in place.

Aldi is just coming into Phoenix scheduled in March. I’ll check them out as I love grocery store grand openings. When I worked in a grocery store as a teenager. One job I had was changing price tags and stamps. Lower on Wednesday then raise beginning about 6:00 PM Saturday through Sunday. One grand opening I did had a lot of so called lost leaders. Selling advertised goods below cost to attract customers. I don’t know how it works now. In the 60’s they could sell the lost leaders for about a week, any longer they got into trouble with the state govt. I only saw them get into trouble once most likely reported by a competitor. My store and the chain bought a bunch of Tide. I mean they had Tide stocked in every nook and cranny imaginable except the produce and meat depts. They placed a huge order for the Tide, got it cheap and it was actually marked it up a few cents when the state looked into it. I recall when a lost leader of a name brand of toilet paper backfired. The store sold a lot but within a few days customers were returning it. The same complaint “it’s like sandpaper”. I wasn’t there one day about 1968. The FBI came into the store and bought up all of one brand of spot remover. The feds told the manager don’t bother to order more. They claimed to have bought the company and closed it down. It was being used to manufacture speed and LSD. It was to bad as it really worked well. I spilled egg nog on my tie and shirt. I helped myself to the spot remover and it immediately removed the stain on my tie.

Thx Doc, I’m not currently interested in selling but my blind bud is beginning to sell his collection off. I watched as one collector at our gun club take advantage of him on several Nazi medals. When he put up his M-16 for sale a couple guys offered 15 and another 16K. Fortunately he listened to me and recently took a 15K deposit and another 15 when ATF clears it. He also has pretty much all US rifles beginning with the Krag only lacking a Johnson. He has 3 or 4 M-1 Carbines and 1911’s. He’s got a 1980’s Springfield M-1 Garrand that is highly desirable by collectors. We were both shocked seeing the value of his WW2 German K-43. He bought it unfired in the 80’s for about 300 and change. It’s still in near mint condition. He also has several pristine Mausers of various types. He has Lugers, Nazi stamped P-38’s and several pre and post war European pistols. We had a lot of good times years ago when several us got together on weekends and did a lot of long range shooting at metal dongs with mil-surp rifles. One time we got together after dark and literally lit up a mountain with tracers and some Brit 303 anti aircraft rounds. The British ammo was designed to start fires in air to air combat. When the bullets hit something solid a small explosion and a very bright white flash that lasted 2-3 seconds.. After we packed up and drove away we discovered several Deputies and one Phx cop were near the road were watching us. I waved as I passed them and one cop waved back. We were expecting to get pulled over but it never happened.

What is unique or different about a pre ban AK 47 ?? I’ve also heard and seen references to pre ban AR-15’s. My AK is from the 80’s and my Colt AR is from the early to mid 70’s. Are there any mechanical differences?? Im told by a shoestring relative the early Colt AR-15’s worked more reliably with the so called drop-in auto sears. I never tried it once because it’s illegal but I imagine it would work well. A former friend had a few legal serialized auto sears until he became a prohibited possessor after a Cocaine arrest. He claimed using the auto sear on off brand lower quality AR’s and his first assembled from parts. When fired full auto it often continued shooting until empty. Releasing the trigger didn’t always stop it shooting. Incidentally my blind friend just sold his legal Colt M-16 A1 for $30,000. Not a bad investment costing him just a few bucks short of $1,000 including sales tax, shipping and dealer fee. The $200 tax stamp was extra. I’ve heard the NFA stamps are worth bucks to stamp collectors. My friend and I both have 1980’s China Sports AK’s. At the time China Sports was the exporting company for Norinco. I know the Norinco AK’s are in demand because there are plenty of junk AK’s out there. My friend is selling off his collection and trying to determine the value of his AK as well as his Norinco SKS. He also has a Vietnam War capture Russian SKS. My Norinco SKS was stolen.

Do pay attention staying on the Oxygen. My X #1 ignored Dr instructions. The lack of the oxygen starved her heart causing permanent damage.

The poster fiasco was indeed a third party vendor. How they managed to get the pop up on the grocery website was clever. I’ve complained in the past on Wally’s website. The response is the same. Something like we apologize for not meeting your expectations please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve your shopping experience. The last time I responded with. You can take my complaint seriously and do more than respond with a canned answer. They responded with, we have forwarded your message to the store manager and you should hear from us shortly. I never heard anything. I’ve done comparisons to other grocery pick up services. Wally’s is at a minimum of 10% or more cheaper. For a $200+ monthly order it is worth the aggravation to save 20 or more bucks. Fry’s Food (grandfather to the founder of Fry’s electronics) I discovered having a PIA arraignment. Have to go inside to a waiting area where they push the order out in carts. No help like Wally’s where they assist in loading into my SUV. I haven’t used Safeway because of their higher prices. I got spammed from Safeway offering 15 bucks off my first order so I might try them next.

I didn’t do bad at all with my Wally’s pickup order. A few of the substitutes weren’t to good. 2% milk got me whole, Diet Dr Pepper was subbed with the regular and coffee was subbed with decaff. Some of the other subs weren’t to bad or a problem. Different brand of tortillas, relish, a very large jar of peanut butter instead of the smaller size I ordered, oddball brand of crackers instead of Ritz and another I haven’t figured out or possibly I ordered it by mistake. A small jar of grape jelly I didn’t discover until I got home. Another screw up, I ordered a cheapie pack of three scissors. At home I discovered it was subbed with a single pair labeled rose stem scissors. I try to be patient considering I was likely dealing with a minimum wage employee but I don’t really want to go through the BS of waiting in the return line. In the past I’ve caught Walmart twice not following through giving refunds for refused items. About six months ago my order was so botched up. I returned the entire order and made them start over. I got things I didn’t order and I was missing numerous things I was charged for. After being double charged and not getting credit to my debit card I had to get on the phone and raise hell about ten days later. Another order I think I mentioned here previously. On Wally’s website I got a pop up for an AR-15 for $115.00. Knowing it was likely to good to be true I took the risk anyway. A few days later a AR-15 wall poster showed up at my door. I wasted no time returning it. The returns clerk told me I’d get credit in a few days and also telling me it was the third person returning the poster. A little more than a week later I went into the store and raised hell with an asst manager. She went back into her office, did something and came out telling me I’d get credit the following day which I did. I’ve got eyes on my account now after refusing the decaff coffee and Dr Pepper. I stopped on the way home getting both at Dollar General.

Some of you might recall the toilet paper oil filters. We sold a bunch of the kits then sales took a hit. Fram and Wix and possibly others did tests and determined the filters were very ineffective. The oil would open a channel in the toilet paper roll and flow through unfiltered. Fram was and likely still the lowest cost. Considered as whores by the competition because they sold factory direct to anybody that had the bucks for a large opening order. When I was on the road peddling parts including Fram. Fram cut me out and sold direct to a Shell franchisee that had three truck stops. I lost commission on a bit better than $1,000 per month in filters. About the time I left the parts business Fram started taking hits and dumped by independently owned parts stores. Fram filters started showing up in discount stores and large corporate parts stores chains. They were selling the popular and fast selling filters for the same or less than auto parts stores were paying for in case lots. I did however love being wined and dined by the Fram reps. They also had promotions for salesman like me. In 1971 I got what was new and expensive then. An electronic Lucien Picard watch. I was short for the gold version and later missed out on a Winchester shotgun. Before my time in the mid 60’s Fram had a promo for a Star 38/9MM pistol.

I very seriously doubt Toyota actually manufactures their line of filters. Guess you could save a few bucks if you could figure out who actually makes them. I assume there is likely a manufacture in Japan that likely also make them for other brand names. It was a joke in the auto parts business about competition of the boxes and labels. Same parts made in a factory but labeled or boxed for different competitive companies. When we used to confront factory reps about their parts being made by the same company as their chief competitor. Their response was always something about their specs being aren’t as tough as ours. With so much of the parts manufacturing going overseas and some real garbage coming from China and India. Something as important as an oil filter I can only trust brand names. Brake parts especially anything with rubber. I can only trust USA brand names or parts from the car dealerships. A few years ago I did buy a Chinese disc brake rotor from Autozone as it was about $25 cheaper than NAPA and I got an Idunno on the phone when I asked where it was made. The cost of a new rotor from Ford was more than double about $120. i can recall complaints about Fram oil filter metal cans being thinner. Mechanics griped that the cans often bent or collapsed when trying to remove an over tight filter with a band type oil filter wrench. Fram’s HP and HD (hi performance or heavy duty) line was simply a stronger no flex metal can with the same guts. I wasn’t involved but there was an incident in Arizona of a Fram filter can coming apart on an AC Cobra with a 427 engine. A Wix factory rep showed me photos. I was somewhat involved with lab tests sponsored by Wix and the then new synthetic oil made by a company named Olomo. I was simply the gopher. A fleet account I called on weekly was chosen by Wix for the tests. I’d pick up the oil samples then UPS them to a California lab. The fleet trying to save downtime doing oil changes was attempting to double the mileage between changes with the synthetic oil. Wix was involved as their goal was to still change the filter at the recommended mileage without new oil. They were also testing straight 30 against 10W30. The lab results at first was a real cluster screw. The fleet’s secretary had trouble keeping the samples in order. When another employee took it over the results at first we’re promising with the extended life with the synthetic oil and to Wix’s dismay particle tests showed the filter was still doing its job not being changed and used twice the previous milage with conventional oil. Wix did get bragging rights of the filter doing it’s job beyond the normal change milage but it meant they were losing sales. Best I recall the then new synthetic viscosity tests were still efficient at double the milage of conventional oil. I left that job long before the tests were complete. I have been using synthetic oil since, gives me an excuse to stretch the time between oil changes. I wasn’t around when they began tearing down engines checking for wear on synthetic vs conventional oil.

Just curious Fly, what is your preferred brand of oil filter?? I’m thinking way back when I was working in auto parts. On the retail end many had preferences to air and oil filter brands and spark plugs especially. Most mechanics didn’t seen to care but we did have to stock Delco brand batteries, ignition parts, solenoids and shock absorbers that had to have them for GM cars. That loyalty wasn’t the same for Fords except some demanded Autolite spark plugs for Fords. Filter loyalty on the retail end seemed to vary with what company was doing the most advertising. After Fram started advertising on sporting events their sales boomed. All brands of oil filter sales increased after Fram did the 60 second ad pushing the fact that having an oil change without a new filter is leaving a quart of dirty oil in your engine. The mechanics that demanded Delco usually insisted on AC filters as well as their spark plugs. Purolator did well when they did full page ads in magazines with a gorgeous model with greasy hands and face. STP with their so called double oil filters sold like crazy until the advertising ended. During STP’s ad campaign they hired four average looking guys to go into auto parts stores in the Phoenix area asking for the STP double oil filter then walk out after asking do you know where I can get one. Wix filters had loyal buyers that used them in big rigs and machinery then wanted them for their personal vehicles. Wix also made filters for oddball brands or private label biggies like NAPA, Sears, Wards and Western Auto. I might add being somewhat involved a defective oil filter destroying an engine. Fram stood behind their guarantee. Paid to rebuild the engine, a motel bill and rental car. Hastings filters using cotton instead of paper kept engine oil from turning dark as soon as the other brands but were pretty useless in keeping out micro sized particles as well as paper. Hastings added a paper insert surrounded by cotton and it was the manufacture of the STP double oil filter. I don’t know if Hastings is still around. They also made piston rings but their bread and butter was Motor Honey. Motor Honey being the same as STP and likely manufactured it for STP. Despite STP oil treatment being more expensive we hardly sold Motor Honey after STP’s massive advertising campaign. Before I wonder way off subject again with my keyboard rambling. STP shelled out major bucks to the feds for their false deceptive advertising. I think it was their spokesman racing legend Andy Granatelli that was forced to testify in a Congressional hearing. Basically all STP oil treatment does is increase the thickness of oil. Like changing 30 weight to close to 40 in a five qt oil pan. Less nowadays at it isn’t as thick as it was in the 70’s. STP reps back when gas stations were service stations with mechanics. They encouraged mechanics usually by giving them a case of oil treatment. The mechanics after selling the STP they would speed up the idle speed slightly and on GM V-8’s open up the window in the distributor cap and reset the gap on worn points. Giving cars a boost in acceleration and if the ignition points were really worn needing replacement the new and correct point gap setting made the engine run smoother. The customer believing it was the $2.00 can of STP. Myself and others loved rubbing elbows with the STP reps. They’d buy steak dinners and get us drunk on their dime.

I think the crash has started. I went Arbys a couple hours ago and they were out of roast beef. I settled for their 2 for 6 fish deal after the teenager on the speaker said we have corned beef. I looked at the menu seeing the $10+ meal deal for it and said no thx. They were also out of cherry and apple turnovers. I asked the young girl at the window how does Arbys run out of roast beef it’s like going to Goodyear and being out of tires. She told me their order didn’t arrive today and we ran out during the lunch rush. She had no idea why their order didn’t arrive. I wonder if it was due to a shipping delay, shortage or possibly the franchisee didn’t pay his bill. I was putting off my Wallys pickup order until the first but I better not wait.

During the Y2K scare a now gone friend stored rice, pinto beans and his home made deer jerky in large PVC tubes. He filled the tubes, smeared silicone on the caps then put a couple lit candles in before attaching the caps. He claimed the candles burned up the Oxygen smothered the flame creating a vacuum and pulled the caps tight. He went a bit overboard with guns and ammo sealed up then buried. I only saw him once before he died and I didn’t mention anything about it wanting to save him the embarrassment. I was told he invested a lot into generators believing he could make big bucks after the crash. I was told after he passed his daughters found a large cache of silver coins. I imagine his storage methods would preserve the beans and rice but I’d be a bit leery eating his deer jerky. I’ve heard mold can get into jerky not store correctly.

Thx Fly, I can afford it it’s just my being a cheapskate has me pissing and moaning about the price. I’m in a much better knee brace and can now stand in front of a stove.

I just went and took a quick look at McGowen’s website. The wait times if what is posted is correct aren’t bad at all. Only problem McGowen ain’t cheap. About 10+ years ago I bought or better said had them install a McGowen premium cyro froze in 35 Whelen and set for minimum headspace. The accuracy is beyond amazing. I can’t remember the cost but it wasn’t cheap and my later projects were on the economy plan opting for A&B, Shaw and an unbranded from Sporter Express. Ha remember Sporter Express? Had anything and everything for building a Mauser sporter. At the time I was a lot better off financially and physically fit as I opted on the medium weight. Harry McGowen sold out years ago and I don’t know if the quality is the same. I read net chatter years ago claiming McGowen purchased barrel blanks from Douglas. Don’t know if it is or was true. A former and now likely deceased rifle builder in my gun club. Claimed McGowen barrels chambered in 220 Swift out lasted all the others. I know there were plenty of Mauser rifle barrel manufactures in the 90’s but this guy claimed McGowen barrels were the best.

Read something on Facebook today spinning the story of the Muzzy being an anti semantic white supremacist. I think you’re wrong Fly it must’ve been a white hood and not a diaper on his head. Can’t wait to hear how the gun grabbers will spin it!!

I despise the masks, I feel like they are a breeding ground for germs and viruses. Unfortunately I have to wear one when visiting a Dr’s office or any medical facility like an X-ray lab. Even at my CVS there’s a sign on the door saying masks required before entry. Myself and others went in without a mask. One Dr’s office in particular I have to step up to a gizmo that scans my forehead taking my temperature before signing in. I know the masks make some people feel secure but I seriously doubt the masks are effective. About 7-10 days ago saw a woman at a Dr’s office double possibly triple masked with a face shield. I was more worried about her spreading something communicable and opted to sit as far away as I could. The Demoncrats and the lieing sack of sxxt Fauci are going to keep the scare going to enable remote voting in the midterms. Im not anti vax as I remember the kids back in the 50’s struggling with leg braces from Polio. I also recall sometime in the late 50’s we had to show a small pox scar before entering a public swimming pool. Both small pox and Polio were put into check with vaccinations. Dr’s being chastised and risking their careers and livelihood treating patients with certain drugs or treatment a big brother bureaucrat in Wash DC doesn’t approve of is political nonsense. If I were the planet dictator I’d prosecute and punish the naysayers with humiliating public floggings. I guess Trump’s right to try was killed by Uncle Joe. Guess I’m prejudice as a non FDA approved experimental drug most likely saved my life several years ago. Sorry again for the rant, I’ll climb off my soapbox and get back to sported Mausers!!

Hard to tell if it’s working this soon. The only way to tell if tumors are shrinking is with more PET and CAT scans. I guess MRI’s as well. I won’t do any scans until they are approved by Medicare because of the high cost. Years ago I got stuck with nearly a $2600.00 bill for a PET scan. I was eventually refunded a few years later. The second scan wasn’t really necessary but done to satisfy curious Dr’s. I was among the first in Phoenix and used to demonstrate for a bunch of Dr’s that observed the scan. It was before I was on Medicare and my insurance rejected the claim on the follow up as not medically necessary. Thx for the clue about Ensure, I’m going to check it out. I don’t really need it but use it to force feed myself when I’m to nauseated to eat and take pills on an empty stomach. If Medicare won’t foot the bill my secondary might pick up 75%.

Well I can’t lose any teeth this time. Lost them all the first time I did Chemo. Probably be a few more times before I start losing my hair again. The last time my hair grew back better after I finished. The bald spot on my crown disappeared as did they grey on my head but not on my beard. Hopefully this round being milder my fingernails stay intact. Best of all I don’t have to spend weeks in the hospital again getting the Chemo every morning. Can’t complain though it kept me alive.