let me start by commenting on a previous blog. the one about the 5.56 NATO.
the current AR-15/M-16/M-4 platform from what I've seen of it and read about it is a truly versatile one now...it's evolved into a reliable platform from which to build to now after the tragic 'bugs' of the Vietnam models have been sorted out. it's sad so many of our soldiers had to pay the price of our leaderships poor selection.
i had two cousins and three very close friends who had the misfortune to have been saddled with that poor selection. fortunately they survived to recount their harrowing experiences when they were let down by it in the worse possible scenarios.
the two cousins i mention were a career marine and a career soldier...both of which later were taken by agent orange consequences. ironic; they survived the horrific battles of Au Shau, Hue, Da Nang and numerous other only to be overcome by one of our own weapons in later years. both had numerous combat tours there each, they had a combined sixty-five (65) months of combat tours between them and were never severely wounded.
since i was there prior to the days of the M-16, i was not exposed to it as a soldier. for that I'm grateful.
many of you would say "that's ancient history..move on...get over it".
it's very difficult to overlook mistakes and decisions that effect us and our military by our leaders is my point.
the current occupant of the white house has killed the f-22 fighter program, is attempting to lift the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allow women crew members on submarines, imposing really, really, questionable rules of engagement on the soldiers who are fighting our wars.
my opinion is that all those decisions are very detrimental to the overall moral of the fighting man and the nation.
we, the United States, are the best military on the face of the planet but are fading rapidly due to those decisions.
no other time in our history have we had such a 'wishy-washy' congress. A congress who's is afraid to win wars. or, rather, do what it takes to win wars, i should say.
there is a great emphasis on reduction of collateral damage and the killing of civilians during an engagement.
where it's true many civilians in this day and age do not and are NOT actively engaged in opposing us, they more times than not, are in support of the "other side" in one way or another.
if you don't believe that...i feel sorry for you. all you have to do is go back to the pages of WWII archives and read about the war efforts on the home front by ALL participants.
who was building the planes, tanks, bombs, weapons for their armies? that's right...wives, sisters, mothers, fathers and brothers...now i ask you, are they innocent?
during the fight for falujah the enemy were seeking refuge in mosques...the mosque are known for aiding, hiding and supporting the enemy. are they not a legitimate target? the enemy does NOT hesitate to attack ANY target they deem they need to. why do we not do the same?
during WWII there was a horrific battle, the battle of Monte Cassino, where an 11th century monastery was attacked, and very nearly obliterated, because German paratroopers were "holed up" in it; IT WAS NECESSARY. what's difficult to understand about that?
that's just ONE example...history is replete with many,. many other examples of what needed to be done in order to win.
here's my whole point: the enemy should be pummeled until they submit...period. once they've unconditionally surrendered or been defeated beyond a doubt, then, and only then, should mercy be shown.
war is ugly at it's best...if we MUST engage in it, for what ever the reason(s), why not do our very best to win?
that is not to condone or support atrocities or criminal acts...just do what it takes to win otherwise...don't get involved.
that's my rant for the day...i guess i should start drinking unleaded coffee...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
hmmmmmmm...tradition...what's tradition?
as i age, i find it more and more difficult to grasp my bowstring in the customary way archers have for centuries; with the fingers of my right hand. i find myself utilizing what is referred to as a release aid. in my case i use a "mechanical" release aid as it is a machined, metal, hand held device that could also be called a triggering device.
some in the archery community refer to them as 'crutches' or 'hooks'...they seem to have a belief that you MUST not use anything that is not "traditional" if you are using a bow that is not in the compound bow family as they believe that compounds are NOT "traditional" archery.
let me say this: i don't really care what you shoot, or don't shoot, and what you use to shoot it with...if it works for you, you like it...that's what matters isn't it?
I'm sure if you look into history you'll see that the mongols used a device called a thumbring to grasp the bowstring with. would someone call the mongol archers "non-traditional"? i don't think so.
that's but one example.
drawing a bow, any bow, can be excruciating to the fingers and it's taken it's toll on my fingers over the years. not only does the string abrade the fingers if no protection is used, be it a finger tab or a glove OR a release aid, but it also can stretch the fingers in an unnatural manner causing tendon and tissue damage over a period of time. the heavier the draw weight poundage, the worse the stress. those reasons alone are justification enough to consider using a release aid, in my opinion.
some say: "i like to have as few encumbrances as possible and keep it simple...you can always lose or break a release aid; you don't normally lose your fingers..."
yeah...there is merit to that...however...to me it's like listening to those that complain about wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle. a helmet WILL help preserve life if your head hits the pavement...like it or not, it's good sensible thinking. i know that to be fact, not fiction; i rode motorcycles over forty years in all fashions and manners. my head was saved on more than one occasion by the wearing of a helmet.
in fact, i have a skateboard helmet i wear when i go out hunting; although, i have camouflaged it with dull paint patterns AND i wear safety 'goggles'...horrors!!! heaven forbid that one be cautious when out and about...at my age, I'm not nearly as agile as i once was and the trees and brush around where i live is notoriously given to have sharp, broken, branches right at eye level. they're extremely unforgiving, bayonet like, and...absolutely final in their brutality when it comes to inflicting eye poking, puncture, wounds to the face and head of the careless. that' why i wear them...common sense.
i also do NOT use sights on my bows (the recurve and longbows, that is) some are critical about that, too, both for, and against, sighting devices. again...use what you like and use best...i don't care...what ever works for you and you want/like.
now...here's a picture of what it looks like: i, quite a while back, was emerging from the bush not far from where i lived at the time and there happened to be a car parked near where i came out on the road (a dirt road in a rural area in a national forest)...along side the car was a man, a woman, and a little girl. the little girl was perhaps four or five years of age and they were, what looked like, gathering some wild flowers. it's not uncommon for folks to gather the flowers for their home decorations in this area.
i had to use this road to get home; i was within walking distance of my house.
anyway...here i come walking out of the brush wearing a skateboard helmet, elbow and knee pads, safety goggles, a back quiver full of brightly fletched arrows and carrying a bow in fully gloved hands...truly a strange sight in the eyes of a four or five year old, I'm sure, as i heard her ask her momma "what is that mom?"
it's my guess they were a city family on an outing and the little girl had just been exposed to something she had never seen or heard about; a bowhunter.
a very strange looking one, i must admit, but one that's not afraid of breaking "tradition"...one that is into being safe and sensible in the pursuit of one's interests.
"tradition" is what YOU MAKE IT...pure and simple.
cya later...
some in the archery community refer to them as 'crutches' or 'hooks'...they seem to have a belief that you MUST not use anything that is not "traditional" if you are using a bow that is not in the compound bow family as they believe that compounds are NOT "traditional" archery.
let me say this: i don't really care what you shoot, or don't shoot, and what you use to shoot it with...if it works for you, you like it...that's what matters isn't it?
I'm sure if you look into history you'll see that the mongols used a device called a thumbring to grasp the bowstring with. would someone call the mongol archers "non-traditional"? i don't think so.
that's but one example.
drawing a bow, any bow, can be excruciating to the fingers and it's taken it's toll on my fingers over the years. not only does the string abrade the fingers if no protection is used, be it a finger tab or a glove OR a release aid, but it also can stretch the fingers in an unnatural manner causing tendon and tissue damage over a period of time. the heavier the draw weight poundage, the worse the stress. those reasons alone are justification enough to consider using a release aid, in my opinion.
some say: "i like to have as few encumbrances as possible and keep it simple...you can always lose or break a release aid; you don't normally lose your fingers..."
yeah...there is merit to that...however...to me it's like listening to those that complain about wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle. a helmet WILL help preserve life if your head hits the pavement...like it or not, it's good sensible thinking. i know that to be fact, not fiction; i rode motorcycles over forty years in all fashions and manners. my head was saved on more than one occasion by the wearing of a helmet.
in fact, i have a skateboard helmet i wear when i go out hunting; although, i have camouflaged it with dull paint patterns AND i wear safety 'goggles'...horrors!!! heaven forbid that one be cautious when out and about...at my age, I'm not nearly as agile as i once was and the trees and brush around where i live is notoriously given to have sharp, broken, branches right at eye level. they're extremely unforgiving, bayonet like, and...absolutely final in their brutality when it comes to inflicting eye poking, puncture, wounds to the face and head of the careless. that' why i wear them...common sense.
i also do NOT use sights on my bows (the recurve and longbows, that is) some are critical about that, too, both for, and against, sighting devices. again...use what you like and use best...i don't care...what ever works for you and you want/like.
now...here's a picture of what it looks like: i, quite a while back, was emerging from the bush not far from where i lived at the time and there happened to be a car parked near where i came out on the road (a dirt road in a rural area in a national forest)...along side the car was a man, a woman, and a little girl. the little girl was perhaps four or five years of age and they were, what looked like, gathering some wild flowers. it's not uncommon for folks to gather the flowers for their home decorations in this area.
i had to use this road to get home; i was within walking distance of my house.
anyway...here i come walking out of the brush wearing a skateboard helmet, elbow and knee pads, safety goggles, a back quiver full of brightly fletched arrows and carrying a bow in fully gloved hands...truly a strange sight in the eyes of a four or five year old, I'm sure, as i heard her ask her momma "what is that mom?"
it's my guess they were a city family on an outing and the little girl had just been exposed to something she had never seen or heard about; a bowhunter.
a very strange looking one, i must admit, but one that's not afraid of breaking "tradition"...one that is into being safe and sensible in the pursuit of one's interests.
"tradition" is what YOU MAKE IT...pure and simple.
cya later...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
sighhh...if only
i am not an "expert" marksman...i am however a decent shot. i have shot my "share" of groups that are hard to rival, by any stretch of the imagination...but that was the exception, not the rule...in my case anyway. i qualified as "expert" with the M-1's. as many of you know, military qualifications tend to be a little different than out here in the civilian shooting world.
i received army marksmanship training as a soldier back in the early 60's. i trained with the legendary M-1 Garand and M-1 carbine and later the M-14. there were still some of the water cooled browning machine guns in use and the BAR was still AR of the infantry squad. if having to make a choice of having to go to combat again and having a selection of weapons i would probably select any of the above named weapons over the current M-16/M-4.
I'm certain the m-16/m4 has it's place, but, in my opinion, not on the battle field in the 5.56 cartridge configuration. the 5.56 is a short range, limited capacity cartridge and has proven to be ineffective at ranges over 300 yards under many battlefield conditions. i would not want to go into a gunfight thinking i was "under-gunned".
i find it odd that many states prohibit the use of the 5.56/.223 to hunt big game with and the military and law enforcement bow at the altar of the 5.56; the average deer is about the same size and weight as an average man in many cases and it's been deemed the 5.56/.223 and even the bigger cousin of the 5.56, the 22-250 is not adequate to harvest the deer with. the 22-250 approaches 4,000 fps with select hand loaded cartridges...
i, myself, have not used the 5.56 in combat...i used the .30 cals.
i do have friends and relatives who have used the 5.56 in combat and have nothing good to say about it. in fact, most them them "lost" their M-16's at the first opportunity to get an M-14, or even an AK. my closest friend was a marine squad leader in Nam and elected to carry the legendary M-60 over the M-16. to me, at least, that says something. i personally know a young marine who is NOT enamored with the performance of the 5.56, too; he used the M-4 in Iraq.
further evidence of it's question-ability lies in the fact that military groups such as special operations forces are requesting the M-14 back...and are getting it. maybe not in the same configuration as when i was "in", but never the less...the same basic operational system of the 7.62/M-14 platform. it now wears different stocks and optics are normally mounted and the barrel length and magazine capacity are different but you still have gained the superiority of the 7.62/.308 firepower.
the M-1 Carbine is another matter, though.
the M-1 Carbine cartridge is still in use today but as a 'varmint/plinker' cartridge. it's available in a few commercial carbine variations, and as a revolver cartridge; some of the military pieces fetch some serious cash when purchasing (mostly by collectors, though. i recently saw one at a Big 5 Sporting goods store with a hefty $1,000.00 price tag on it.) at one time many police/law enforcement used surplus M-1 Carbines as back up arms...no more. even thought the M-1 Carbine saw action, and was proven to be deadly, accurate and very reliable under all battle conditions, from WWII, up to, and including Vietnam, it's now not considered as being an effective combat cartridge or even as as an effective big game cartridge...go figure. i would believe it would stagger one if we knew how many were actually slain with/by it during those conflicts. it was used extensively by the paratroops as it was light, compact, accurate and one could carry much ammo to feed it with.
one MUST keep in mind, when thinking of the M-1 Carbine...it was designed and intended as a CLOSE RANGE weapon. i, in fact, qualified with it at 100 yards on the island of Okinawa. i think the M-16/M-4 fits this category, too.
when all the modern optics and accessories are fitted to the M-4 military version...it's weight is significant; i have handled one and was astonished at how much it weighed. there is in fact one version of a civilian model that weighs in at a hefty 11 pounds sans sighting devices/BUIS or a bi-pod and sling (if the latter two are selected as options) it would probably be at, or near, the 13 pound mark once all options and ammo is on board.
my question is: why have all that weight in a 5.56? why not have some real "knock down power and use a larger more capable cartridge if you're going to have to carry the weight"?
evidently, the military is waking up to that fact and now is adopting the 6.8MM SPC and/or 6.9MM Creedmoor cartridges for the M-16/M-4 platform.
i personally own two 5.56/.223 rifles and i dearly like them. they, in fact, fall into the "tack driver" category but are single shot rifles; i use them to shoot target and to hunt 'varmints' with.
i also owned an AR rifle (not of the M-16 variation, though) at one time and elected to get rid of it because of the stock...it felt too insecure and flexible, the mechanism was proven, safe and reliable, to a point, but it still had some "bugs" to work out. it was in the 5.56 and i felt it was not sufficient but for VERY close engagement.
some day in the future, i may decide to purchase an AR but not with intentions as utilizing in a defensory mode, but rather as a 'plinker/varminter' with the ability of upgrading to a HIGHLY capable defensory/offensive cartridge such as the 7.62x51 or even 30-06 if it ever comes available in an AR configuration. right now, for SD/defensory roles, i choose the 9mm, semi-automatic carbine and the 870 Remington shotgun...
that's my story and I'm stickin' to it...
i received army marksmanship training as a soldier back in the early 60's. i trained with the legendary M-1 Garand and M-1 carbine and later the M-14. there were still some of the water cooled browning machine guns in use and the BAR was still AR of the infantry squad. if having to make a choice of having to go to combat again and having a selection of weapons i would probably select any of the above named weapons over the current M-16/M-4.
I'm certain the m-16/m4 has it's place, but, in my opinion, not on the battle field in the 5.56 cartridge configuration. the 5.56 is a short range, limited capacity cartridge and has proven to be ineffective at ranges over 300 yards under many battlefield conditions. i would not want to go into a gunfight thinking i was "under-gunned".
i find it odd that many states prohibit the use of the 5.56/.223 to hunt big game with and the military and law enforcement bow at the altar of the 5.56; the average deer is about the same size and weight as an average man in many cases and it's been deemed the 5.56/.223 and even the bigger cousin of the 5.56, the 22-250 is not adequate to harvest the deer with. the 22-250 approaches 4,000 fps with select hand loaded cartridges...
i, myself, have not used the 5.56 in combat...i used the .30 cals.
i do have friends and relatives who have used the 5.56 in combat and have nothing good to say about it. in fact, most them them "lost" their M-16's at the first opportunity to get an M-14, or even an AK. my closest friend was a marine squad leader in Nam and elected to carry the legendary M-60 over the M-16. to me, at least, that says something. i personally know a young marine who is NOT enamored with the performance of the 5.56, too; he used the M-4 in Iraq.
further evidence of it's question-ability lies in the fact that military groups such as special operations forces are requesting the M-14 back...and are getting it. maybe not in the same configuration as when i was "in", but never the less...the same basic operational system of the 7.62/M-14 platform. it now wears different stocks and optics are normally mounted and the barrel length and magazine capacity are different but you still have gained the superiority of the 7.62/.308 firepower.
the M-1 Carbine is another matter, though.
the M-1 Carbine cartridge is still in use today but as a 'varmint/plinker' cartridge. it's available in a few commercial carbine variations, and as a revolver cartridge; some of the military pieces fetch some serious cash when purchasing (mostly by collectors, though. i recently saw one at a Big 5 Sporting goods store with a hefty $1,000.00 price tag on it.) at one time many police/law enforcement used surplus M-1 Carbines as back up arms...no more. even thought the M-1 Carbine saw action, and was proven to be deadly, accurate and very reliable under all battle conditions, from WWII, up to, and including Vietnam, it's now not considered as being an effective combat cartridge or even as as an effective big game cartridge...go figure. i would believe it would stagger one if we knew how many were actually slain with/by it during those conflicts. it was used extensively by the paratroops as it was light, compact, accurate and one could carry much ammo to feed it with.
one MUST keep in mind, when thinking of the M-1 Carbine...it was designed and intended as a CLOSE RANGE weapon. i, in fact, qualified with it at 100 yards on the island of Okinawa. i think the M-16/M-4 fits this category, too.
when all the modern optics and accessories are fitted to the M-4 military version...it's weight is significant; i have handled one and was astonished at how much it weighed. there is in fact one version of a civilian model that weighs in at a hefty 11 pounds sans sighting devices/BUIS or a bi-pod and sling (if the latter two are selected as options) it would probably be at, or near, the 13 pound mark once all options and ammo is on board.
my question is: why have all that weight in a 5.56? why not have some real "knock down power and use a larger more capable cartridge if you're going to have to carry the weight"?
evidently, the military is waking up to that fact and now is adopting the 6.8MM SPC and/or 6.9MM Creedmoor cartridges for the M-16/M-4 platform.
i personally own two 5.56/.223 rifles and i dearly like them. they, in fact, fall into the "tack driver" category but are single shot rifles; i use them to shoot target and to hunt 'varmints' with.
i also owned an AR rifle (not of the M-16 variation, though) at one time and elected to get rid of it because of the stock...it felt too insecure and flexible, the mechanism was proven, safe and reliable, to a point, but it still had some "bugs" to work out. it was in the 5.56 and i felt it was not sufficient but for VERY close engagement.
some day in the future, i may decide to purchase an AR but not with intentions as utilizing in a defensory mode, but rather as a 'plinker/varminter' with the ability of upgrading to a HIGHLY capable defensory/offensive cartridge such as the 7.62x51 or even 30-06 if it ever comes available in an AR configuration. right now, for SD/defensory roles, i choose the 9mm, semi-automatic carbine and the 870 Remington shotgun...
that's my story and I'm stickin' to it...
Monday, February 22, 2010
some days you have it, some days you don't
have you ever had one of those days when you can't seem to get anything to work right? of course you have...we ALL have them.
Mom told me there would be days like that...but she did not tell me there would be so many of them and they'd be so close together...
my son and i had worked hard to get a coyote hide for the wall or bedside carpet on one occasion in the desert east of San Diego. we were both sporting .22 rimfires we'd been working on and were eager to 'test' the results of the fruits of our labor. he's just finished modifying his 10/22 and I'd just finished installing a new scope on my NEF .22 WMR.
i had been concentrating on the one-hundred (100) yard mark for targets using the mag and he was concentrating on getting them to within the fifty (50) yard range for the .22 LR.
we had a wonderful stand in a cluster of huge boulders on a hilltop that was just like a hat; flat all around the crown for at least one hundred yards (100) all around in a 360 degree panorama. it was a clear field of fire all around and we were at a elevation above it that would make any sniper drool.
the rocks were very "prone with a bi-pod friendly" and were nice and warm so it was not uncomfortable at all...just set up the rifle after ranging some marks...wait and watch. we had even brought a thermos of coffee and some soft drinks in a small cooler for later in the day.
we made a few calls from our wounded rabbit call after settling in and waited to see what would happen.
sure 'nuff...after a few minutes...movement about a hundred yards out to the north of us...
after a quick adjustment to the objective for the range estimation it was determined to be canine...and moving in on us fast.
without rhyme or reason, it suddenly came to a screeching halt. the breeze was in our favor and we had used skunk scent to mask our odor, and even ghillie suited ourselves after a fashion, too. we had done everything right so this should be a slam dunk shot.
we all know hunting is full of surprises and wonders. we were having a surprise sprung on us.
i could not get a CLEAR view of the whole creature while it was far out due to the fact there was erosion ruts and some scattered brush around and this guy was utilizing every bit of it...a wonderful stalk was under way by it.
after stopping, it's nose went up in the air and you could see it sniff the air and look around with some degree of caution.
it was becoming more clear now...one more move closer and if it hesitates in the next opening in it's path...it was slated for a clear shot. i had indeed ranged it at 77 yards (the opening) and had adjusted my scopes objective to as close to that as possible, cocked the hammer on the single shot rifle and waited.
it stepped into the anticipated opening, and unexpectedly faced me directly as if to look right at me.
i centered the crosshairs in the center of the chest, below the chin, and started the squeeze of the trigger (NEF rifles have no slack in their triggers either) when it struck me: "that ain't no coyote"..."Geeeeeee...it's a fox!"
certain foxes are protected here in California. all i could tell at that time was it was a fox so i elected to decock the rifle and watch.
the moment of hesitation is all it needed...it swapped ends and disappeared into the undergrowth as fast as it had appeared.
legend has it, that if you spare a foxes life, it will lead you to bigger game.
I'm still waiting...
Mom told me there would be days like that...but she did not tell me there would be so many of them and they'd be so close together...
my son and i had worked hard to get a coyote hide for the wall or bedside carpet on one occasion in the desert east of San Diego. we were both sporting .22 rimfires we'd been working on and were eager to 'test' the results of the fruits of our labor. he's just finished modifying his 10/22 and I'd just finished installing a new scope on my NEF .22 WMR.
i had been concentrating on the one-hundred (100) yard mark for targets using the mag and he was concentrating on getting them to within the fifty (50) yard range for the .22 LR.
we had a wonderful stand in a cluster of huge boulders on a hilltop that was just like a hat; flat all around the crown for at least one hundred yards (100) all around in a 360 degree panorama. it was a clear field of fire all around and we were at a elevation above it that would make any sniper drool.
the rocks were very "prone with a bi-pod friendly" and were nice and warm so it was not uncomfortable at all...just set up the rifle after ranging some marks...wait and watch. we had even brought a thermos of coffee and some soft drinks in a small cooler for later in the day.
we made a few calls from our wounded rabbit call after settling in and waited to see what would happen.
sure 'nuff...after a few minutes...movement about a hundred yards out to the north of us...
after a quick adjustment to the objective for the range estimation it was determined to be canine...and moving in on us fast.
without rhyme or reason, it suddenly came to a screeching halt. the breeze was in our favor and we had used skunk scent to mask our odor, and even ghillie suited ourselves after a fashion, too. we had done everything right so this should be a slam dunk shot.
we all know hunting is full of surprises and wonders. we were having a surprise sprung on us.
i could not get a CLEAR view of the whole creature while it was far out due to the fact there was erosion ruts and some scattered brush around and this guy was utilizing every bit of it...a wonderful stalk was under way by it.
after stopping, it's nose went up in the air and you could see it sniff the air and look around with some degree of caution.
it was becoming more clear now...one more move closer and if it hesitates in the next opening in it's path...it was slated for a clear shot. i had indeed ranged it at 77 yards (the opening) and had adjusted my scopes objective to as close to that as possible, cocked the hammer on the single shot rifle and waited.
it stepped into the anticipated opening, and unexpectedly faced me directly as if to look right at me.
i centered the crosshairs in the center of the chest, below the chin, and started the squeeze of the trigger (NEF rifles have no slack in their triggers either) when it struck me: "that ain't no coyote"..."Geeeeeee...it's a fox!"
certain foxes are protected here in California. all i could tell at that time was it was a fox so i elected to decock the rifle and watch.
the moment of hesitation is all it needed...it swapped ends and disappeared into the undergrowth as fast as it had appeared.
legend has it, that if you spare a foxes life, it will lead you to bigger game.
I'm still waiting...
Monday, February 15, 2010
another old rifle
this one is a '93 Mauser. it was made in the Oveido arsenal in Spain in 1923 according to the stamp on the receiver; it's in the venerable 7x57 caliber; one of the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges ever designed.
it was given to me by my brother after he returned from living in Wyoming for a while where he had worked part time in a gunsmith/shop as well being a full time police officer. he had others he wished to "play with" at the time.
that was circa 1980.
i have a very near and dear friend who is an extremely competent machinist as well as a competent and knowledgeable, gunsmith and after leaving the barreled action lay around my garage and workshoppe for many years, i decided to ask him if he would finish it for me; he said he would. he said he'd do the work if I'd supply the parts...fine with me. he also had a similar '93 action he was working on, too. i purchased him his choice of stocks for his action and some tooling in exchange for his knowledge and labor.
i was in no rush to have the rifle completed, after all, i had other centerfire rifles i could use if necessary. he worked on it at his leisure. when he would start something and need a part or tool to work on it, he called me and I'd get it for him. (it required very little in the way of tooling as he is very well equipped, though)
in the end, it took many years before i was able to chamber and fire a round from it.
what i now have is: a '93 Mauser, 7x57 in a custom varminter, thumbhole stock, with a Timiney trigger, with a heavy firing pin spring, turned down bolt with a Bushnell 3-9x32 scope and a speed-lock two position safety.
it has the standard military barrel that's been cut to 26" and I'm hoping to replace it some day with a good commercial barrel in the same caliber. but the bore is in excellent condition so I'm in no hurry at this time. i might also consider the .257 Roberts if a rebarrel is to be done...it's the only barrel/chambering recommended for this older action by knowledgeable gunsmiths and reloaders. the action is not as strong as it's younger brother, the legendary '98 Large ring Mauser.
the only thing i do NOT like about this rifle is the lock time when i pull the trigger. it's something i cannot (reasonably) change. but what can i expect from a military rifle that was designed in 1893? it was, after all, designed as an infantry weapon for a standing army, not for a sportsman's rifle. it was designed with the simplicity, ruggedness, combat accuracy, (which is normally MOA by most armies. the British army required their battle rifles to be able to shoot 1 MOA@100 yards) ease and cost of maintenance needed by an army in order to keep them in the fight and to be operated by, sometimes, very poorly trained, conscripted, soldiers.
the first place American soldiers faced this rifle was in Cuba at San Juan hill. they found how deadly and accurate it is. it's what prompted the U.S. Military to adopt the 30-06 Springfield rifle; the, then, standard issue 45-70, single shot, trap-door Springfield and the .30 caliber Krag-Jorgensen bolt action rifles. both are fine rifles for their day, but could not compete with the one thousand yard killer...the '93 Mauser. the casualties the Americans suffered that day was proof of that.
my '93 is very accurate to fifty yards with factory ammo...i haven't tried it more than that yet...hopefully soon. i still have a few things left to do to it, but it's mine and I'm keeping it...
i find it very interesting that the battle rifles of military powers, past and present, are still in service in the hands of sportsmen the world over. some still in military service, too. the Mauser, Enfield, Springfield, Moisin-Nagants and even the Japanese Arisaka appear to have lives and legacies of their own that will probably outlive me by far and i happen to own a part of that history.
it was given to me by my brother after he returned from living in Wyoming for a while where he had worked part time in a gunsmith/shop as well being a full time police officer. he had others he wished to "play with" at the time.
that was circa 1980.
i have a very near and dear friend who is an extremely competent machinist as well as a competent and knowledgeable, gunsmith and after leaving the barreled action lay around my garage and workshoppe for many years, i decided to ask him if he would finish it for me; he said he would. he said he'd do the work if I'd supply the parts...fine with me. he also had a similar '93 action he was working on, too. i purchased him his choice of stocks for his action and some tooling in exchange for his knowledge and labor.
i was in no rush to have the rifle completed, after all, i had other centerfire rifles i could use if necessary. he worked on it at his leisure. when he would start something and need a part or tool to work on it, he called me and I'd get it for him. (it required very little in the way of tooling as he is very well equipped, though)
in the end, it took many years before i was able to chamber and fire a round from it.
what i now have is: a '93 Mauser, 7x57 in a custom varminter, thumbhole stock, with a Timiney trigger, with a heavy firing pin spring, turned down bolt with a Bushnell 3-9x32 scope and a speed-lock two position safety.
it has the standard military barrel that's been cut to 26" and I'm hoping to replace it some day with a good commercial barrel in the same caliber. but the bore is in excellent condition so I'm in no hurry at this time. i might also consider the .257 Roberts if a rebarrel is to be done...it's the only barrel/chambering recommended for this older action by knowledgeable gunsmiths and reloaders. the action is not as strong as it's younger brother, the legendary '98 Large ring Mauser.
the only thing i do NOT like about this rifle is the lock time when i pull the trigger. it's something i cannot (reasonably) change. but what can i expect from a military rifle that was designed in 1893? it was, after all, designed as an infantry weapon for a standing army, not for a sportsman's rifle. it was designed with the simplicity, ruggedness, combat accuracy, (which is normally MOA by most armies. the British army required their battle rifles to be able to shoot 1 MOA@100 yards) ease and cost of maintenance needed by an army in order to keep them in the fight and to be operated by, sometimes, very poorly trained, conscripted, soldiers.
the first place American soldiers faced this rifle was in Cuba at San Juan hill. they found how deadly and accurate it is. it's what prompted the U.S. Military to adopt the 30-06 Springfield rifle; the, then, standard issue 45-70, single shot, trap-door Springfield and the .30 caliber Krag-Jorgensen bolt action rifles. both are fine rifles for their day, but could not compete with the one thousand yard killer...the '93 Mauser. the casualties the Americans suffered that day was proof of that.
my '93 is very accurate to fifty yards with factory ammo...i haven't tried it more than that yet...hopefully soon. i still have a few things left to do to it, but it's mine and I'm keeping it...
i find it very interesting that the battle rifles of military powers, past and present, are still in service in the hands of sportsmen the world over. some still in military service, too. the Mauser, Enfield, Springfield, Moisin-Nagants and even the Japanese Arisaka appear to have lives and legacies of their own that will probably outlive me by far and i happen to own a part of that history.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
this ole bow
back in the late 70's or early 80's i was getting heavily into archery and bow hunting. i had already purchased several competitive compound bows from a man by the name of Rube Powell, a five time NFAA national champion that had a shop in the town where i lived at the time, Chula Vista, CA; he had become my, and my youngest son's mentor. we had the pleasure and honor to have shot beside him on many occasions, including major archery tournaments here in southern California such as the Fresno safari, the King Arthur tournament and many, many, local tournaments.
Rube had won his championships shooting recurve bows in the 1950's but he had accepted the compound openly, willingly and never looked back; it was with no wonder that when i told him i wanted a recurve, he said "why do you want a recurve?". he believed the compound to be superior even though all of his laurels were gained with the recurve bow. you can find him in the "Hall of Champions" in San Diego, California now. he has been honored there for his accomplishments with the bow and arrow.
Rube passed on in 1992. i had the sad experience to visit with him when he was hospitalized one day before he died; i have a fanny pack and that recurve bow and some other archery equipment i got from him that still functions perfectly to this day.
i was just getting started at the end of an era of many of the bow hunting greats like Howard Hill, Fred Bear, Jim Daughtery, Doug Walker, Ben Pearson, Art Laha, Harry Drake, Jack Howard, Duke Savora, Bill Cropp, Frank Eicholtz and Bob Swinehart to name a few. i had read about their adventures and felt the lure of the recurve or longbow.
i read an article about Art Laha, as an example, about he and a friend who would, yearly, parachute into the wilds of New Mexico with their bows and equipment and bowhunt their way back to 'civilization'...I've never heard of ANY modern day bowhunter who's EVER done that. (maybe our Special Forces of today could learn from him if he were still around.)
i walked into Rube's shoppe, on Broadway in Chula Vista, one day to just "hang around" and there on his used bow rack was a green and blue Bear Kodiak Hunter recurve that immediately caught my eye. i asked Rube to string it for me so i could 'handle' it; i made a deal with him and took it home.
the bow was one that was made in Grayling Michigan before Bear relocated to
Florida, which makes it a 'collectors item' of a sort, it's very graceful in it's lines and reasonable in it's draw weight poundage (being marked 45XX which means it's in excess of 45 pounds...the X's used before, or after, after a given number denote more or less poundage. the number of X's denote more excess...so "45XX" would denote closer to 55 pounds than 50 pounds draw weight, "XX45" would denote closer to 35 pounds draw weight; the system is no longer in use.) at the time i purchased this bow, i was very capable of drawing a bow of that draw weight so it was not of concern to me and it is sufficient for most north American game animals.
it is 60" long and i shoot it off the shelf utilizing a mechanical release aid now (age causes problems with fingers ya know)
I've had the bow ever since.
it now has many dings and scars in it from the years and i did machine and install some brass inserts to install to use a bolt on bow quiver with but it's still as capable now as it ever was, i still shoot it and I'm still amazed at it's performance. some today might scoff at it but it still delivers an arrow with grace, authority and accuracy. what more does an archer/bowhunter want? what more is needed? very little, if any, I believe.
I've taken more live game with that old bow than any bow i own or have owned and it even accounts for a feral dog that was very aggressive towards my son and i when we were hunting.
it's walked the deserts of southern California and Arizona in the quest of game in 110 degree heat and near zero, knee deep snow of wyoming with me in quest of adventure and game. I've made some beautiful shots, and some horrendous shots with it. the horrendous shots were not it's nature they were because of MY shortcomings.
as we all are aware of, a bow is NOT a living organism and does not have a life of it's own or possess a soul but yet it's been a true and faithful companion that has yet to let me down when called on. it in itself, is a memory generator. nothing more...nothing less.
i don't know if it's because it was my first recurve bow, or because i got it from Rube, but,it has a place in my minds eye, memory and on my bow rack until the time comes for me to answer to the call of our Lord and God to come home to Him. until then, hopefully there are more memories to be made waiting for us.
Rube had won his championships shooting recurve bows in the 1950's but he had accepted the compound openly, willingly and never looked back; it was with no wonder that when i told him i wanted a recurve, he said "why do you want a recurve?". he believed the compound to be superior even though all of his laurels were gained with the recurve bow. you can find him in the "Hall of Champions" in San Diego, California now. he has been honored there for his accomplishments with the bow and arrow.
Rube passed on in 1992. i had the sad experience to visit with him when he was hospitalized one day before he died; i have a fanny pack and that recurve bow and some other archery equipment i got from him that still functions perfectly to this day.
i was just getting started at the end of an era of many of the bow hunting greats like Howard Hill, Fred Bear, Jim Daughtery, Doug Walker, Ben Pearson, Art Laha, Harry Drake, Jack Howard, Duke Savora, Bill Cropp, Frank Eicholtz and Bob Swinehart to name a few. i had read about their adventures and felt the lure of the recurve or longbow.
i read an article about Art Laha, as an example, about he and a friend who would, yearly, parachute into the wilds of New Mexico with their bows and equipment and bowhunt their way back to 'civilization'...I've never heard of ANY modern day bowhunter who's EVER done that. (maybe our Special Forces of today could learn from him if he were still around.)
i walked into Rube's shoppe, on Broadway in Chula Vista, one day to just "hang around" and there on his used bow rack was a green and blue Bear Kodiak Hunter recurve that immediately caught my eye. i asked Rube to string it for me so i could 'handle' it; i made a deal with him and took it home.
the bow was one that was made in Grayling Michigan before Bear relocated to
Florida, which makes it a 'collectors item' of a sort, it's very graceful in it's lines and reasonable in it's draw weight poundage (being marked 45XX which means it's in excess of 45 pounds...the X's used before, or after, after a given number denote more or less poundage. the number of X's denote more excess...so "45XX" would denote closer to 55 pounds than 50 pounds draw weight, "XX45" would denote closer to 35 pounds draw weight; the system is no longer in use.) at the time i purchased this bow, i was very capable of drawing a bow of that draw weight so it was not of concern to me and it is sufficient for most north American game animals.
it is 60" long and i shoot it off the shelf utilizing a mechanical release aid now (age causes problems with fingers ya know)
I've had the bow ever since.
it now has many dings and scars in it from the years and i did machine and install some brass inserts to install to use a bolt on bow quiver with but it's still as capable now as it ever was, i still shoot it and I'm still amazed at it's performance. some today might scoff at it but it still delivers an arrow with grace, authority and accuracy. what more does an archer/bowhunter want? what more is needed? very little, if any, I believe.
I've taken more live game with that old bow than any bow i own or have owned and it even accounts for a feral dog that was very aggressive towards my son and i when we were hunting.
it's walked the deserts of southern California and Arizona in the quest of game in 110 degree heat and near zero, knee deep snow of wyoming with me in quest of adventure and game. I've made some beautiful shots, and some horrendous shots with it. the horrendous shots were not it's nature they were because of MY shortcomings.
as we all are aware of, a bow is NOT a living organism and does not have a life of it's own or possess a soul but yet it's been a true and faithful companion that has yet to let me down when called on. it in itself, is a memory generator. nothing more...nothing less.
i don't know if it's because it was my first recurve bow, or because i got it from Rube, but,it has a place in my minds eye, memory and on my bow rack until the time comes for me to answer to the call of our Lord and God to come home to Him. until then, hopefully there are more memories to be made waiting for us.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
this ole rifle...my first "real" rifle
back in the mid fifties, we had just returned from a tour in Germany...dad was posted to Ft. Sill, Okla.
i was a teen then and getting interested in the huntin', fishing' and such things; Oklahoma is a great place for that sort of thing for a growing kid. (at least it was then)
i used to hang out with an Indian kid by the name of Jerry that supplemented his family larder by hunting and fishing; he had ten (10) sisters and brothers. he was about the same age as i. he had an ancient .410 single shot shotgun and a hickory longbow.
we used to manage to get to "hunting grounds", outside of town, where we could hunt for 'coons, possums, prairie dogs, squirrels, moles, gophers...basically, anything that is edible. he would take them home for the stew pot. i normally would borrow his longbow. wow! i never imagined what a journey that would start me on.
i was also at the age where i began working part time for spending cash...and...got my social security card. back then, the middle 50's, soldiers were NOT paid very well at all and dad could, in no way, afford to buy me a rifle. so i worked and saved some cash for one and since i was not of age at that time to legally purchase it myself, i asked dad to buy it for me. he and mom agreed he would.
i went to a pawn shoppe in town and selected the rifle, gave the $15.00 I'd managed to save, to dad to purchase for me.
it was a "beauty"...a sears & roebuck, model 101, bolt action, manually cocked, single shot .22 rimfire that will shoot shorts, longs and long rifles. i did some research on it recently and estimate it was made somewhere around 1939 by Marlin.
i recall that i seldom had enough cash to purchase ammo and i occasionally lent the rifle to Jerry for his hunting; dad would occasionally give me a box of shorts to feed it.
as many of you may, or may not know, these rifles are very rugged, quite dependable, simple, efficient and tend to be very accurate once sighting has been 'figured out'. and, by the way, came with the finish being "browned" instead of blued.
after dad retired from the Army, he and mom decided to relocate to California, where's mom's parents had migrated to from Oklahoma; the rifle came with me.
once settled in California, i decided to make a Jr. high school (now called 'middle school') wood shoppe "project" of refinishing the stock...it has the finish to this day! it's in very sad shape and i intend to re-do it in the near future.
i gave the rifle to two of my sons (at different times, of course)...they didn't want it...it's "to old fashioned" ya know...being a single shot and all...oh well...it's mine forever now.
at one time, one son was using it and left the bolt in the glove compartment of my truck, to legally transport the rifle here in California, which he borrowed for some long forgotten reason, and when he brought it back i later wanted to re-install the bolt in the rifle so as not to lose it, i discovered the bolt handle had been severely bent. it was bent so badly it would not close. of course, "i don't know how it happened" was the reply to the question of how it got bent. i have to imagine what force it took to bend that handle! no...on second thought...i probably shouldn't...
i had to cut the handle off, drill and tap it for a handle. it now looks like one of the old Moisin rifles. i will redo it soon, too.
i recently managed to replace all the springs in it and installed a lighter trigger spring, recrown the damaged muzzle and am preparing to replace the trigger itself as it's worn so badly it has side-to-side movement but it still locks into the "cocked" position securely.
this ole rifle probably cost less than what i paid for it when it was new, but i surely have gotten a LOT of use and enjoyment from it. i have take my share of small game with it and have shot so many tin cans it's beyond my 'guesstimate' at how many there have been.
i wonder if i will be able to restore it in a manner that's befitting of it?
I'm gonna find out...soon.
i'm somewhat capable and have limited tooling and knowledge to do most of the rewstoration of it
i was a teen then and getting interested in the huntin', fishing' and such things; Oklahoma is a great place for that sort of thing for a growing kid. (at least it was then)
i used to hang out with an Indian kid by the name of Jerry that supplemented his family larder by hunting and fishing; he had ten (10) sisters and brothers. he was about the same age as i. he had an ancient .410 single shot shotgun and a hickory longbow.
we used to manage to get to "hunting grounds", outside of town, where we could hunt for 'coons, possums, prairie dogs, squirrels, moles, gophers...basically, anything that is edible. he would take them home for the stew pot. i normally would borrow his longbow. wow! i never imagined what a journey that would start me on.
i was also at the age where i began working part time for spending cash...and...got my social security card. back then, the middle 50's, soldiers were NOT paid very well at all and dad could, in no way, afford to buy me a rifle. so i worked and saved some cash for one and since i was not of age at that time to legally purchase it myself, i asked dad to buy it for me. he and mom agreed he would.
i went to a pawn shoppe in town and selected the rifle, gave the $15.00 I'd managed to save, to dad to purchase for me.
it was a "beauty"...a sears & roebuck, model 101, bolt action, manually cocked, single shot .22 rimfire that will shoot shorts, longs and long rifles. i did some research on it recently and estimate it was made somewhere around 1939 by Marlin.
i recall that i seldom had enough cash to purchase ammo and i occasionally lent the rifle to Jerry for his hunting; dad would occasionally give me a box of shorts to feed it.
as many of you may, or may not know, these rifles are very rugged, quite dependable, simple, efficient and tend to be very accurate once sighting has been 'figured out'. and, by the way, came with the finish being "browned" instead of blued.
after dad retired from the Army, he and mom decided to relocate to California, where's mom's parents had migrated to from Oklahoma; the rifle came with me.
once settled in California, i decided to make a Jr. high school (now called 'middle school') wood shoppe "project" of refinishing the stock...it has the finish to this day! it's in very sad shape and i intend to re-do it in the near future.
i gave the rifle to two of my sons (at different times, of course)...they didn't want it...it's "to old fashioned" ya know...being a single shot and all...oh well...it's mine forever now.
at one time, one son was using it and left the bolt in the glove compartment of my truck, to legally transport the rifle here in California, which he borrowed for some long forgotten reason, and when he brought it back i later wanted to re-install the bolt in the rifle so as not to lose it, i discovered the bolt handle had been severely bent. it was bent so badly it would not close. of course, "i don't know how it happened" was the reply to the question of how it got bent. i have to imagine what force it took to bend that handle! no...on second thought...i probably shouldn't...
i had to cut the handle off, drill and tap it for a handle. it now looks like one of the old Moisin rifles. i will redo it soon, too.
i recently managed to replace all the springs in it and installed a lighter trigger spring, recrown the damaged muzzle and am preparing to replace the trigger itself as it's worn so badly it has side-to-side movement but it still locks into the "cocked" position securely.
this ole rifle probably cost less than what i paid for it when it was new, but i surely have gotten a LOT of use and enjoyment from it. i have take my share of small game with it and have shot so many tin cans it's beyond my 'guesstimate' at how many there have been.
i wonder if i will be able to restore it in a manner that's befitting of it?
I'm gonna find out...soon.
i'm somewhat capable and have limited tooling and knowledge to do most of the rewstoration of it
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
my talon 'hits the spot'
i have a PCP (Pre Charged Pneumatic)air rifle; one that i believe is the best way to go for a serious air-gunner. (by no means is it the ONLY way, though.)
this particular rifle is very evident as it's probably the most distinguishable/noticeable looking one out there...the Airforce Talon.
one of the beauties of this particular rifle is that it comes with accessory rails as an integral part of them. it means you don't have to spend more bucks to be able to accessorize the rifle; just for the accessories themselves. i happen to have the ability to use at least three different sighting methods; open sights, telescopic and HUD style. all available in minutes.
yes, you do need to have a method(s) to recharge the air supply. there's two basic methods that work quite well; the hand pump and the SCUBA/SCBA adapter. neither of which is terribly expensive. i, like many others, I'm certain, have chosen to have the SCUBA adapter and i have the hand pump as a backup. it's like having an unlimited source of power, all you have to do is supply the projectiles.
there are the proponents of the "springers" over the PCP and i also happen to have springers. the fact of the matter is; PCP rifles pick up where 'springers' leave off, performance wise. a very powerful magnum springer is some where in the power range of a down tuned PCP.
I'm certain there are those out there that will contest that...but...they're entitled to their opinion and i have both and i have done comparisons...the conclusion I've arrived at is that what the "springer" lacks in performance is made up in it's lack of need for a power source...the mainspring. the PCP does have to be recharged frequently and even more frequently if you have a very powerful one. it's simple; more power uses more air. that's what limits the springer, the mainspring will provide only so much power.
that being said, the PCP rifles have an enormous potential and are in fact, powerful enough to hunt big game with...not so with a springer. the particular rifle i have, the 18" barrel, .22 caliber, is capable of near .22 rimfire capabilities with minor adjustments and modifications i can make right here at home.
accuracy? PCP rifles have NO recoil...absolutely NONE. that alone is an important factor with accuracy. PCP rifles are capable of some astounding accuracy at ranges that reach out to , in some cases, well over one hundred (100) yards as a matter of fact.
while airgun technology is not new, it certainly is worth your while to look into if you're thinking of getting into hunting, shooting, plinking or target work with an arm that is not difficult to support and in many cases not as heavily regulated as a firearm and does not seem to be as threatening to legislators or regulatory bodies.
i sure do enjoy mine...give them a try...you just might be surprised.
this particular rifle is very evident as it's probably the most distinguishable/noticeable looking one out there...the Airforce Talon.
one of the beauties of this particular rifle is that it comes with accessory rails as an integral part of them. it means you don't have to spend more bucks to be able to accessorize the rifle; just for the accessories themselves. i happen to have the ability to use at least three different sighting methods; open sights, telescopic and HUD style. all available in minutes.
yes, you do need to have a method(s) to recharge the air supply. there's two basic methods that work quite well; the hand pump and the SCUBA/SCBA adapter. neither of which is terribly expensive. i, like many others, I'm certain, have chosen to have the SCUBA adapter and i have the hand pump as a backup. it's like having an unlimited source of power, all you have to do is supply the projectiles.
there are the proponents of the "springers" over the PCP and i also happen to have springers. the fact of the matter is; PCP rifles pick up where 'springers' leave off, performance wise. a very powerful magnum springer is some where in the power range of a down tuned PCP.
I'm certain there are those out there that will contest that...but...they're entitled to their opinion and i have both and i have done comparisons...the conclusion I've arrived at is that what the "springer" lacks in performance is made up in it's lack of need for a power source...the mainspring. the PCP does have to be recharged frequently and even more frequently if you have a very powerful one. it's simple; more power uses more air. that's what limits the springer, the mainspring will provide only so much power.
that being said, the PCP rifles have an enormous potential and are in fact, powerful enough to hunt big game with...not so with a springer. the particular rifle i have, the 18" barrel, .22 caliber, is capable of near .22 rimfire capabilities with minor adjustments and modifications i can make right here at home.
accuracy? PCP rifles have NO recoil...absolutely NONE. that alone is an important factor with accuracy. PCP rifles are capable of some astounding accuracy at ranges that reach out to , in some cases, well over one hundred (100) yards as a matter of fact.
while airgun technology is not new, it certainly is worth your while to look into if you're thinking of getting into hunting, shooting, plinking or target work with an arm that is not difficult to support and in many cases not as heavily regulated as a firearm and does not seem to be as threatening to legislators or regulatory bodies.
i sure do enjoy mine...give them a try...you just might be surprised.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
